toilet paper stamped pumpkins

 This was one of Claire's favorite crafts. Simon enjoyed it too. He loved stamping the pumpkins on the paper, but not as much as he loved painting his little hands and smearing them all over the paper!

Save your next toilet paper roll, because that's what you'll need to stamp the pumpkins! When I first saw Michelle's post about using a toilet roll to stamp hearts, I thought that it was a great idea. The paper rolls are so easy for the kids to hold and use. Simon is 2, and he was able to stamp these with no problem. I gave the kids a couple of sheets of white paper and had them stamp lots of orange circles on the paper. (I just poured some orange paint on a piece of tin foil.) Once all of the stamped circles are dry, have a child draw the stems on the pumpkins. 

Materials needed:

paper (I used cardstock)

orange paint

green & black crayon/marker

googly eyes

orange tissue paper

orange sparkly paint (or glitter if you like cleaning up the glitter mess)

Of course, the best part of my list above is that you can just use what you have on hand. No tissue paper? Don't make those pumpkins.

For the sparkly paint pumpkin, I mixed some white glitter paint with the orange paint. I had planned to use glitter, but then I remembered how much I hate cleaning up glitter messes. This was perfect, Claire loved the glittery paint. 

For the tissue paper pumpkin, I cut out squares of tissue paper for Claire. No need to be exact cutting these, just cut them 1inch-ish by 1 inch-ish. Claire crumpled them into balls, and then glued them on her pumpkins. 

For the last two pumpkins, Claire drew the faces on the pumpkins. On some of the pumpkins she glued on googly eyes, and the others she drew triangle eyes. She had a great time drawing scary, happy and surprised faces. 

How's that for a festive Halloween craft? Break out the toilet paper rolls, and show me what you've made with them!

Linking up with: Six Sister's Stuff & Just Winging It &  Skip to my Lou & Tip Junkie & Tatertots and Jello

wee little shamrock men

 

 Claire and I had such fun making our Valentine's Day craft that I wanted to make one for St. Patrick's Day that used similar materials. We made a few different varieties this year- so you can make which ever one you have the materials for.

 What you need to make these: (this is a list for the supplies to make all of them)
toilet paper rolls
construction paper & foam (we used two different colours of green)
white computer paper

markers/crayons (not pictured)
googly eyes (older kids could draw on the eyes)
decorative tape or strips of coloured paper (could use leftover wrapping paper)
scissors
paint & paint brush
glue
paper trimmer
shamrock template (I used this one)

                          1                                                        2                                                       3

For shamrock #1
1. cover the toilet paper roll with white paper
2. decorate with green masking tape (you can buy green electrical tape at the dollar store)
3. using green foam (or construction paper) cut out a shamrock
4. glue eyes onto the shamrock
5. tape the shamrock onto the toilet paper roll
6. cut a strip on construction paper and fold it like an accordion, glue it to the side of the roll

For shamrock #2
1. have child paint a piece of white paper & let dry
2. cover the roll with piece of painted paper
3. using green foam (or construction paper) cut out a shamrock
4. glue eyes onto the shamrock
5. tape the shamrock onto the toilet paper roll
6. cut a strip on construction paper and fold it like an accordion, glue it to the side of the roll

For shamrock #3
1.have child draw & colour on green construction paper
2. using green foam (or construction paper) cut out a shamrock
3. glue eyes onto the shamrock
4. tape the shamrock onto the toilet paper roll
5. cut a strip on construction paper and fold it like an accordion, glue it to the side of the roll

If you're using construction paper to cut out the hearts, you will need a stick to help support the shamrock. The googly eyes will weigh it down.  No big deal, just tape a stick to the back of the shamrock, and add a piece of tape on the inside of the toilet paper roll too.

Have you made these with your kids to celebrate & decorate for St. Patrick's Day? Leave me a note in the comments, I'd love to see them.



Linking up with So You Think You're Crafty & Skip to my Lou & Molly Moo & Tatertots and Jello & What Allie's Making Now & Somewhat Simple & ABC and 123 Learning & Today's Creative Blog & Making the World Cuter & The DIY Home Sweet Home Project