Fun & Frugal Summer Activities for Kids # 5 - Popsicle Stick Puppets

Ok, this is the last popsicle stick craft, I promise!

I don't about your kids, but my kids love to put on shows of all sorts and kinds.  They love to act things out, as well as put on puppet shows. When I saw these little popsicle stick puppets I knew they would be something all of my kids would like!

There are lots of different popsicle stick puppets that you could make.  There are farm animals puppets like these....

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or like these....


 


You could also make people stick puppets like these....

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 If your child has a favorite cartoon you could even print out some characters from online and attach the popsicle sticks to the back, like these...




 You can make these simple or more involved, depending on the art supplies you have on hand.  You could even give the kids some small boxes to make props.

Be sure to check out all of the Fun & Frugal Summer Activities for Kids that we have posted so far. 

Have Fun!

Fun & Frugal Summer Activities for Kids #4 Popsicle Stick Trinket Box

Today I thought it was be fun to use up some more of those popsicle sticks, this time to make a trinket box.  I know the picture looks all girlie, but boys could do this too!  Did you notice I am calling it a trinket box, and not a jewelry box?  {insert double wink here}

Here it is....

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Here's what you need:

• About 60 Popsicle Sticks {yes, again!) 
• Tacky or Elmers Glue 
• Chunky button or knob for the top

Stuff to decorate your trinket box:

• Markers
• Paint
• Gems
• Beads
• Buttons
• Glitter

Directions:

1. Lay several craft sticks on the wax paper, next to each other and touching. Make sure to line them up evenly.  
2. Use two more craft sticks and glue on top of the others, one at each end, to hold the rest together.  Kinda like a fence or log raft. 
3. Use two more craft sticks and glue ends of stick to the ends of the sticks that are already in place so that they create a square. Keep repeating this alternating process to build up the sides as high as you would like. 
4. Make the lid by repeating steps 1 & 2 above.  
5. Let everything dry completely.  
6. You can leave your box plain or choose to paint it. You can also add a shiny effect by painting on a layer of glitter glue over white paint. 
7. Glue a chunky bead or button to the center of the finished lid to use as a handle.  
8. You can further embellish your jewelry box by decorating it with craft jewels. If you don't have a pony bead, find a couple of matching buttons and stack them with glue.

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Be sure to check out all of the Fun & Frugal Summer Activities for Kids that we have posted so far. 

Enjoy! 

Fun & Frugal Summer Activities for Kids #3 Popsicle Stick Puzzles

I hope you aren't getting tired of popsicle sticks yet {smile}.  At this point, I think I am making that my theme this week. You did buy a big box of those things, right?

Today's activity is a Popsicle Stick Puzzle.  I think this craft is very versatile.  You can use pictures from old books, magazines, postcards, birthday cards, whatever.  You 

could even copy a picture of the kids and use that.  

Another possibility would be to just line all of the popsicle stick up and color your own picture or message.  I think it would be cute to send one in the mail for a child's birthday, or the kids could even make one for a relative.  

 

Here is what you need:

• Modge Podge would work best, but Elmers Glue would be just fine.
• Popsicle Sticks - enough to make as may of these little puzzles as you want.  You can use the thick or thin ones.  
• Whatever you are going to use as your picture (see above suggestions) or to decorate your puzzle.
• Razor or Exacto Knife - this is the part that older siblings or parents will need to help with : )
• Paintbrush or craft sponge. If you are not using a picture or card you will need tape, like masking or painters tape instead of the glue/ modge podge.

Directions: 

To make a puzzle from a picture or card - 

1. Lay the picture face down on top of newspaper or an old tray.
2. Spread Modge Podge or Elmers Glue all over the back of it. 
3. Lay the popsicle sticks one by one over the back of the picture.
4. Now flip the picture and cover the front.
5. Allow time to dry.
6. Use razor to cut in between popsicle sticks. 

To make a puzzle by decorating it yourself - 

1. Lay popsicle sticks in a neat row until you have your desired puzzle size. 
2. Tape sticks to a flat surface.  
3. Decorate.
4. Remove tape and your all finished! 

Note: If you are doing this for a very young child you can number the top of the popsicle sticks so they have a little bit of help putting it back together.


Be sure to check out all of the Fun & Frugal Summer Activities for Kids that we have posted so far. 

Hope your having fun! 

See the Light - Paper Jungle Project

Recently, I got the chance to learn from a master artist, right from my kitchen table!  The kids and I got the chance to review the Art Project - Paper Jungle DVD from See the Light artist Pat Knepley.

Talk about cool!  Rarely do I get into a project like I did with this one.  It was a lot of fun!!  The day we finished our paper jungles, I grabbed my completed Paper Jungle and showed my husband my picture the minute he walked in the door.  Like a child, I kid you not, I said "Honey, look what I made!"  The poor guy barely had time to walk in the door and put his bags down.{wink}

If you have never heard of the See the Light art lessons please let me introduce you.  Pat Knepley has started a Christian based, homeschool, video art curriculum.  When I say Christian based, I don't mean Christian friendly, I mean Pat actually weaves scripture into the art lessons.  

As we watched the 4 lessons on the Paper Jungle video we got to learn about artist Henri Rousseau, listen to scripture and watch Pat take us step by step through the lesson.  I felt that she was very detailed in her lesson.  She encourages you to pause the video if you need a little extra time, which we did a few times.  

The Paper Jungle video is broken down into 4 lessons, the entire DVD is 100 minutes long.  The entire project should take about 3-4 hours to complete.  You could take an afternoon to work on the project all at once, or spread it out over several days.  Here is the lesson break down for this particular video:

• BACKGROUND: CUTTING TREES (22 minutes)
• FOREGROUND: GRASS AND LEAF SHAPES (27 minutes)
• FOCAL POINT: FLORA AND FAUNA (26 minutes)
• THE FINAL STEP: OVERLAPPING AND GLUING (25 minutes)

The Paper Jungle Project is recommended for ages 10 and up.  I think I agree with that, especially since there is a pretty good amount of cutting.  If you desired to have a younger child do this they would most likely need some help.  My older daughter (12) and I really enjoyed this video.  My younger daughter (9) struggled a bit to keep up, but I just encouraged her to press on, and paused when we needed to.  Once her Paper Jungle started coming together a bit more she was a happy camper.  

We have another one of Pat's videos, Art Class - Lesson 1 The Basics.  That class focuses on drawing.  The kids have really enjoyed that one as well.  

See the Light currently has several lessons, with different topics and mediums with which she uses.

Art Projects

• Tiffany Window - IN THE STYLE OF LOUIS COMFORT TIFFANY
• Repeated Sweets -IN THE STYLE OF WAYNE THIEBAUD
• Paper Jungle - IN THE STYLE OF HENRI ROUSSEAU
• Pointillism Fruit - IN THE STYLE OF GEORGES SEURAT
• Poppy Collage -IN THE STYLE OF GEORGIA O’KEEFFE 
• Dreams of Joseph - IN THE STYLE OF MARC CHAGALL 
• Horsing Around - IN THE STYLE OF EDGAR DEGAS 
• Peaceful Seas - IN THE STYLE OF WINSLOW HOMER 
• Sunflowers - IN THE STYLE OF VICENT VAN GOGH  
• Cartooning - WITH PAT KNEPLEY

Art Class

VOLUME 1- The Basics VOLUME 2 - Shape & Space VOLUME 3 -Value & Color VOLUME 4 - Color Blending Techniques VOLUME 5 -Proportions For Composition VOLUME 6 -Texture & Form  VOLUME 7- Perspective For the Landscape VOLUME 8 -Balancing & Foreshortening VOLUME 9 -The Portrait Bible Stories  Each DVD in this series has a Bible and Art Lesson. The Crossmaker  Shipwrecked God's Runaway The Gift of Love God's Special Surprise I really do like this program, and hope to collect more of the lessons.  I think that the lessons are very well done and that each step is well explained.  The videos Pat is a very good encourager to her students, that was something I picked up on and appreciated.  So even for the reluctant artist, this program would be a great fit! In addition to Pat's art lessons, I was glad to see that she includes the Lord in her lessons.  The way that she pulls scripture in and tries it to the lesson is brilliant! See the Light would make a great addition to any homeschool curriculum.  You can purchase the See the Light art lessons that I have mentioned directly from their website.  The lessons are all available individually, as well as in boxed sets according to the series.  The individual DVD's are $14.99 and the box sets range from $74.95 to $99.99. Members of the TOS Crew reviewed The Paper Jungle DVD, as well as many others.  Be sure to check out their reviews too! You can see more reviews by clicking here.

Fun & Frugal Summer Activities for Kids #2 Popsicle Stick Bird Feeder

Ok ladies and gentlemen, since we already have our popsicle sticks out from yesterday's activity, lets try another.  

We love birds!  Every spring for the last several years the Lord has blessed us with birds that nest on our front porch in a wreath.  Usually, we have house sparrows visit us, this year we have robins.  The babies just flew the coop last week. 

Beings that we like birds so much, we like to have a bird friendly yard with things that make them feel invited. Which brings me to our next project... Popsicle Stick Bird Feeders.

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The Stuff You Need:

50 popsicle sticks
1 large popsicle stick (the kind the doctors use)
1 bag of bird seed
1 tub of outdoor paint
2 long pieces of hemp cord to hang their bird feeder
Glue - Tacky or Elmers

Glue Gun & Sticks
 

If you want to get all fancy, and of course I know you do. You might also want:

Glitter glue sticks 

Puffy Paint (y'all remember that stuff?)

Gems 

Directions:

1. Line up 12 popsicle sticks.  Glue 2 sticks across them.  Turn it over.
2. Do a second row of popsicle sticks going in the opposite direction to strengthen the base (I actually did this at the end because it was a last minute decision, but doing it at the beginning will give it more support as you build).
3. Alternate popsicle sticks around the frame once.
4. Glue down to the large popsicle stick.
5. Continue alternating popsicle sticks around the outside until you have 6 rows, gluing each popsicle stick down as you go.  Set aside to dry.
6. Let the kids paint their bird feeder, and set aside to dry.
7. Parents: using a hot glue gun, attach the hemp cord to the underside of the bird feeder.
8. Thread the cord underneath the top round of popsicle sticks (as shown above) and again, glue using a hot glue gun.
9. After everything is dry, find a safe place outside to hang and fill with bird seed.  

To go along with these bird houses, you could even study some birds.  One of our favorite bird books for kids is Birds, Nests & Eggs (Take Along Guides) by Mel Boring. My oldest is our bird fact girl, I attribute that to this little book.

Another goodie is Bird Log Kids: A Kid's Journal to Record Their Birding Experiences by Deanna Brandt.  This little gem is a great way to encourage kids to learn about, and journal the birds that they see.  You could even continue this through the summer.
 

Be sure to check out all of the Fun & Frugal Summer Activities for Kids that we have posted so far. 


Have fun!