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Art Works! is a series of blog posts created by the staff at www.EscapadeDirect.com that offer children of all ages and abilities the opportunity for hands-on art activities that allow them to explore, discover, and express their individual creativity.
We encourage parents to join in on the activities, too, and create their own Art Works!
 Art Works! Activity #10: Create Your Own Tangrams
A tangram is a simple Chinese puzzle in the shape of a square. The square consists of seven pieces – five triangles, a square, and a rhomboid – which may be arranged to form thousands of different shapes.
Make your own tangram puzzles and create new arrangements and patterns! This activity sparks imaginations and enhances spatial thinking skills. It’s also a fun way to learn about shapes and geometry.
What You Need:
 What You Do:
- Use a ruler to measure a 4″ x 4″ square on a piece of cardstock or chipboard, then cut out the square. (If you prefer, click the Tangram Template link above for a free template you can download and print).
- Use a ruler and a pencil to lightly mark off a 1″ x 1″ grid inside the square to use as guidelines.
- Using the gridlines as a guide, use a ruler and pencil to draw the shapes as shown in the diagram.
- When all seven shapes are drawn, use a scissors to cut them out. Your shapes are now ready to use!
Variations:
- Make different size tangram puzzles! Use a copy machine to enlarge or reduce our tangram template.
- Create your tangram pieces out of a variety of colored cardstock paper. Allow your kids to mix the colored shapes when creating their puzzles.
- Make your own tangram magnets! Print our template on a sheet of Magnetic Inkjet Paper, then cut out the shapes. Let your kids experiment with the magnetic tangram pieces on your refrigerator – a great way to keep young children occupied while you are busy in the kitchen.
You Might Also Like:
Magnetic Tangram Pieces – This magnet set of tangrams is perfect for creating puzzles! It includes four different colors of easy-to-use vinyl magnets.
IZZI – Tease your brain with these challenging puzzles!
Share Your Art Works! Activities!
If you have an Art Works! project that you would like to share, email us a digital picture (or scan) of your project , and we will post it in our Kids Gallery. If you would like, include the artists first name, age, and your state. It’s fun for kids to see how other children interpreted the project!
As always, encourage your children to come up with their own new ideas for art – and make sure to check back next week for another Art Works! activity in this series!
Copyright © 2007-2009 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
Join us on an educational adventure through each state in the USA! Each post in this series focuses on one state, and includes a regional recipe from that state. This is a fun way to get your kids involved in cooking, as well as learn a bit about United States geography! The post also includes a link to the featured state’s website, where you can learn more about the state. We also include free forms that you can download and print to use along the journey. Geography has never been so delicious!
Make sure to check back each week for the next post!
RECIPE:
Did you know that Florida is the number one producer of citrus fruits within the United States? Oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes are plentiful in Florida.
This recipe takes advantage of Florida’s citrus crop. Kids of all ages love to help make this recipe, and eating it is even more fun!
FLORIDA Key Lime Pie
What You Will Need:
- 4 large Eggs
- 1 14-ounce can Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1/2 cup Bottled Key Lime Juice
- 1 9-inch Prepared Graham Cracker Pie Shell
- 1 cup Heavy Cream for whipping
- 2 Medium Mixing Bowls
- Wire Whip
- Electric Mixer
What You Do:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Use an egg separator to separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. Put the yolks in a medium bowl and freeze the egg whites for another recipe.
- Whisk the egg yolks for 3 minutes.
- Add the condensed milk and lime juice to the eggs, and continue to whisk.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pie shell.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until the center of the pie is set.
- Cool completely.
- Make the whipped cream by beating the cream in a small bowl with an electric mixer on high speed. This takes about 2 to 3 minutes. Do not overbeat. Spread a thin layer on top of the pie.
- Serve the pie when done, or refrigerate for later.
STATE INFORMATION LINK:
Florida State Information – Click this link to learn more about Florida attractions, activities, and to request free brochures, maps, and so much more!
FREE STATE PRINTABLES:
US Geography Journal Pages – Use these journal pages to create a geography journal as you collect information about each state.
Florida Outline Map – Use this state map to label capitals, major rivers and lakes, and other areas of interest. Draw a star on the place you would most like to visit in this state!
United States Outline Map – Use this USA map to track your journey as you “eat your way across the USA”! Color in each state that you’ve tried one of recipes for.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
- The United States Cook Book – Take a Tasty Tour of America’s 50 States, and learn a lot of United States geography along the way! (PLEASE NOTE: The recipe featured above is not included in this book.)
- US History Cook Book – Serve up a heaping lesson of history with delicious recipes from our nation’s past… from the pilgrims’ first feast to today’s high-tech, low-fat fare.
- Maps of the United States – This reproducible book contains geopolitical maps of each of the fifty states; political maps of the six regions; and political, physical, and thematic maps of the United States. You’ll also find fun facts, geography bee-type questions, and review pages.
- DK State-by-State Atlas – More than an atlas, this book shows and tells young geographers who, what, when, where, and why.
- The Geography Book – From finding directions by the stars, to mapping your neighborhood, to making an earthquake in a box, you’ll have a great time learning about the world with The Geography Book.
- Professor Noggins USA Geography Game – From rural farming communities to urban cities, from snow-capped mountains to tropical islands, this game covers both the natural and political geography of the United States. Learn about the states, cities, and natural geographical wonders that make this country such an interesting place to visit.
- State by State Card Game – Learning about United States geography is made fun and memorable with this unique deck of cards!
- GeoPuzzle USA Puzzle – GeoPuzzles provide a hands-on approach to learning geography.
Make sure to check back next week for the next state in this series!
Copyright © 2007-2009 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
Art Works! is a series of blog posts created by the staff at www.EscapadeDirect.com that offer children of all ages and abilities the opportunity for hands-on art activities that allow them to explore, discover, and express their individual creativity.
We encourage parents to join in on the activities, too, and create their own Art Works!
 Art Works! Activity #9: Spell Your Name With Nature
Kids love to collect things when going for walks in the woods. Here is a fun activity to use all the twigs, branches, leaves, nuts, seeds, and flowers they’ve collected. Express yourself!
This activity makes great Fall decorations for your home, too.
What You Need:
- A Variety of Twigs (different kinds of trees, and different lengths and diameters)
- Dried Flowers
- Nuts
- Seeds or Seed Pods
- Leaves
- Long Pieces of Sturdy Grasses
- Craft Wire
- Wire Cutter
- Needle Nose Pliers
- Hot Glue (optional)
What You Do:
- Cut or break twigs and small branches into lengths needed to spell your name. We recommend using twigs and branches in 8″ lengths.
- Carefully cut approximately 4″ of wire and twist it around several branches to join them together to form a letter. A needle nose pliers can be helpful when twisting the wires.
- Once your letters are formed from the twigs, embellish them with dried flowers, nuts, seeds, grass, or any other item from your collection – attaching these items to your twig letters with short pieces of wire.
- Twist small pieces of wire into interesting shapes and add these pieces to your letters as extra embellishments. For example, twist a length of wire into a spiral or other interesting shape.
- When all your letters form your name or other word, they are ready to be hung on a wall or in a window.
Variations:
- If you prefer, you could use hot glue (with adult supervision) in place of wire (or in addition to the wire).
- When you have created your name or desired word, use these letters on your dining room table as a unique centerpiece.
- If you want your letters to stand up, wire them to a short piece of log. The log can then be used as a centerpiece or seasonal decoration.
Please Note: We recommend using twigs and other items found on the ground versus cutting them from a tree or plant.
You Might Also Like:
Flower Press Kit – Preserve the flowers from your garden with this easy-to-use pressing kit.
Sharing Nature with Children – This book is packed full of fun, interesting activities to help you enjoy and explore nature with your children.
Share Your Art Works! Activities!
If you have an Art Works! project that you would like to share, email us a digital picture (or scan) of your project , and we will post it in our Kids Gallery. If you would like, include the artists first name, age, and your state. It’s fun for kids to see how other children interpreted the project!
As always, encourage your children to come up with their own new ideas for art – and make sure to check back next week for another Art Works! activity in this series!
Copyright © 2007-2009 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
Join us on an educational adventure through each state in the USA! Each post in this series focuses on one state, and includes a regional recipe from that state. This is a fun way to get your kids involved in cooking, as well as learn a bit about United States geography! The post also includes a link to the featured state’s website, where you can learn more about the state. We also include free forms that you can download and print to use along the journey. Geography has never been so delicious!
Make sure to check back each week for the next post!
RECIPE:
Did you know that Delaware is the second smallest state in the United States? Delaware also has a large fishing industry and the catch includes crabs, clams, oysters, sea bass, and weakfish (the state fish).
This recipe celebrates the delicious crabs from Delaware! It’s an easy recipe that is fun to make, and one that kids really enjoy!
DELAWARE Crab Puffs
What You Will Need:
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- 2 cups Flour
- 3 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1 Egg
- 1 cup Milk
- 1/2 pound Crabmeat
- Small Mixing Bowl
- Large Mixing Bowl
What You Do:
- Heat cooking oil to 375 degrees.
- Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl.
- In separate bowl, beat the egg and add milk and crabmeat.
- Stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture and mix well.
- Drop mixture from spoon into hot oil, and fry until delicately browned.
- Serve crab puffs while warm.
STATE INFORMATION LINK:
Delaware State Information – Click this link to learn more about Delaware attractions, activities, and to request free brochures, maps, and so much more!
FREE STATE PRINTABLES:
US Geography Journal Pages – Use these journal pages to create a geography journal as you collect information about each state.
Delaware Outline Map – Use this state map to label capitals, major rivers and lakes, and other areas of interest. Draw a star on the place you would most like to visit in this state!
United States Outline Map – Use this USA map to track your journey as you “eat your way across the USA”! Color in each state that you’ve tried one of recipes for.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
- The United States Cook Book – Take a Tasty Tour of America’s 50 States, and learn a lot of United States geography along the way! (PLEASE NOTE: The recipe featured above is not included in this book.)
- US History Cook Book – Serve up a heaping lesson of history with delicious recipes from our nation’s past… from the pilgrims’ first feast to today’s high-tech, low-fat fare.
- Maps of the United States – This reproducible book contains geopolitical maps of each of the fifty states; political maps of the six regions; and political, physical, and thematic maps of the United States. You’ll also find fun facts, geography bee-type questions, and review pages.
- DK State-by-State Atlas – More than an atlas, this book shows and tells young geographers who, what, when, where, and why.
- The Geography Book – From finding directions by the stars, to mapping your neighborhood, to making an earthquake in a box, you’ll have a great time learning about the world with The Geography Book.
- Professor Noggins USA Geography Game – From rural farming communities to urban cities, from snow-capped mountains to tropical islands, this game covers both the natural and political geography of the United States. Learn about the states, cities, and natural geographical wonders that make this country such an interesting place to visit.
- State by State Card Game – Learning about United States geography is made fun and memorable with this unique deck of cards!
- GeoPuzzle USA Puzzle – GeoPuzzles provide a hands-on approach to learning geography.
Make sure to check back next week for the next state in this series!
Copyright © 2007-2009 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
 Since this month is National DIY Month, we’ve put together a list of fun, easy projects you can do with your kids.
Create Your Own Puzzles
Putting together a puzzle is a fun activity for kids of all ages. And it’s even more fun when you create the puzzle yourself!
Create Your Own Puzzle
- Puzzles can be made from our DIY Blank Puzzles, Chipboard paper or any other sturdy cardstock paper. Just draw your designs and color them in. If you are using chipboard or cardstock, cut out random shapes after your puzzle is drawn – the more pieces you cut, the harder your puzzle will be to reassemble.
- Do you have an old puzzle laying around that you no longer need? Recycle it into a new puzzle! First assemble the puzzle, then carefully turn it over. The backside of the puzzle can be used to create your new puzzle. Lightly sand the backside of the puzzle pieces to ensure the paint adheres well, then use a white acrylic paint to paint the entire backside of your puzzle. After the paint has dried, this white surface provides a bright drawing surface for your designs. Of course, if you prefer, you can draw directly on the back of the puzzle pieces without painting them first. We have also found that painting over the picture of an old puzzle works well. Just lightly sand the picture side of the puzzle, then apply a product called KILZ primer. This primer paint will completely cover the old picture in one coat, and provides a fresh start for your new puzzle. Please note: After painting the pieces of the assembled puzzle, you may need to use an Xacto knife to cut through the paint in order to take the puzzle pieces apart. The other option is to paint each individual puzzle piece separately with the white paint.
- Puzzles can be colored and decorated with a wide variety of art supplies – crayons, watercolors, acrylics, pastels, pens, markers, or stamps all work very well. Be creative!
Ideas for Your Puzzles
- Create a Challenge! Create three separate puzzles with abstract designs – similar to those pictured here. Make sure to use the same colors on each puzzle, as well as similar design elements. When the puzzles are done, take them apart and mix up the pieces. Reassemble all three puzzles at the same time. This is more challenging than it may sound! Challenge your family members to see who can reassemble all three puzzles in the least amount of time, or see if you can beat your own best time.
- Create Greeting Cards! Write your special greeting on the puzzle, such as “Happy Birthday”, then use markers, paints or pastels to decorate the puzzle. Make sure to add lots of colors and ensure your drawings are on each piece of the puzzle. Take the puzzle apart, place the pieces in an envelope and mail! Not sure what to draw? How about drawing things you know the card recipient enjoys – birds for a bird lover, classic toys for a child – you get the idea.
- Create Invitations! On a blank puzzle, write information about your event – such as the date, time, and location. Use markers, paints, or pastels to illustrate and decorate the puzzle with items that represent the theme of your event. For example, for a birthday party invitation, illustrate the puzzle with balloons or a big birthday cake! When your puzzle is done, take the puzzle apart, put the pieces in an envelope, and mail your invitation.
- Create Place Settings! This activity is a fun way to create custom favors for your party guests. Before your party, create a puzzle for each one of your guests. On the day of your party, take apart each puzzle and place the pieces in a special glass – such as a wine glass – or small bowl at each place setting. When your guests come to the table, and while they are waiting for their food, they can set their own special puzzle! When the party is over, send the puzzles home with your guests.
NOTE: We’ve used this activity at Thanksgiving dinners with our family. We created a puzzle for each person. We wrote why we are thankful for that person on their puzzle, then illustrated the puzzle. We placed the puzzle pieces in a wine glass at each person’s place at the table. After the Thanksgiving dinner was finished, each family member got to assemble their puzzle. This was a fun activity for the entire family!
Want more DIY ideas? Check our our DIY Blank Products for lots of creative DIY items and ideas.
Copyright © 2007-2009 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
 In the spirit of National DIY Month, we’ve put together a list of fun, easy projects you can do with your kids.
Create Your Own Magnets
Our Magnetic Inkjet Paper allows you to create magnets using your inkjet printer, or using permanent markers or colored pencils! Kids love to design their own magnets. When the image is done, simply cut it out and it is ready to use.
Need some ideas to help get started? Try one of these ideas:
- Play and Learn Alphabet Magnets – This article shows you how to make a set of alphabet magnets for your children. The article includes free printables you can download and use.
- Play and Learn Vegetable Magnets – This article shows you how to make alphabet magnets, much like the article above, but the free printables include a vegetable alphabet! Perfect for Fall learning!
- Favorite Games to Go – This article shows you how to take your favorite game and make it into a magnetic game that you can take with you while traveling or running errands!
- Design your graphics on your computer, then print them in color with your inkjet printer. Cut out the magnets and they are ready to use. Fun for making custom magnets for your refrigerator!
- Have your children use permanent markers and draw their own designs right on this paper. When the drawings are done, cut them out with a scissor and use them for gifts. Put the magnets in our Drawstring Sachet Gift Bag and give to friends and family. (Grandparent’s especially love these homemade magnets).
- Make photo magnets of your children! Take digital photographs of your kids, then print the photos on the magnetic paper. Cut the photos out and you have magnets of your kids! A wonderful gift for grandparents. (We like to take pictures of our kids standing up so we have a whole-body magnet. Pictures taken against a neutral background gives you a clearer outline of your photos and makes it easier to cut out the photos subject).
- Want to make your own magnetic poetry for your refrigerator? Check out our Flexible Pre-Cut Vinyl Magnets! Great for creating vocabulary words, math equations, and just for fun!
Want more DIY ideas? Check our our DIY Blank Products for lots of creative DIY items and ideas.
Copyright © 2007-2009 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
Art Works! is a series of blog posts created by the staff at www.EscapadeDirect.com that offer children of all ages and abilities the opportunity for hands-on art activities that allow them to explore, discover, and express their individual creativity.
We encourage parents to join in on the activities, too, and create their own Art Works!
 Art Works! Activity #8: Shrunken Apple Heads
Last week, we shrunk fun decorations with shrink art – this week, we’re shrinking heads! Apple heads, that is.
Kids can’t resist making these unique shrunken apple heads!
This is a fun Fall activity – and the finished shrunken heads make great Halloween decorations, too.
CAUTION: Adult supervision is required.
What You Need:
- Firm, Round Apple – 1 for each head
- Small (Sharp) Knife
- Permanent Marker
- 1 cup Lemon Juice
- 1 tablespoon Salt
What You Do:
- Peel and core an apple to begin your shrunken head.
- Use a permenant marker to draw a face on the apple. Make sure to include eyes, a nose, and a mouth – ears are optional. Remember that the apple will shrink as it dries, so make sure to draw these features fairly large.
- Use a sharp knife to carve the apple flesh, following the face you drew as a guide. Please supervise children closely when using sharp knives!
- When you are satisfied with your “apple head”, soak it in a mixture of lemon juice and salt for approximately 30 seconds. The lemon juice and salt will help to preserve the apple so it doesn’t turn brown. After 30 seconds, remove the apple and gently dry it on a paper towel.
- Place the apple in a warm, dry area to begin the shrinking process. After several days, the apple will shrink and the facial features will become more obvious.
- If desired, insert a stick or branch into the bottom of the apple, and put the stick in a vase.
Variations:
- Click this link to read our complete article for this project, which includes additional tips and variations: Shrunken Apple Heads
You Might Also Like:
Grow Your Own Apple Tree – This easy to grow kit includes everything you need to start growing your own apples!
Pumpkin Nyokki – Grow your own plant pet with this limited edition kit!
Share Your Art Works! Activities!
If you have an Art Works! project that you would like to share, email us a digital picture (or scan) of your project , and we will post it in our Kids Gallery. If you would like, include the artists first name, age, and your state. It’s fun for kids to see how other children interpreted the project!
As always, encourage your children to come up with their own new ideas for art – and make sure to check back next week for another Art Works! activity in this series!
Copyright © 2007-2009 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
Join us on an educational adventure through each state in the USA! Each post in this series focuses on one state, and includes a regional recipe from that state. This is a fun way to get your kids involved in cooking, as well as learn a bit about United States geography! The post also includes a link to the featured state’s website, where you can learn more about the state. We also include free forms that you can download and print to use along the journey. Geography has never been so delicious!
Make sure to check back each week for the next post!
RECIPE:
Did you know the name Connecticut comes from the Native American word “quinnehtukqet”, which means “beside the long river”? While the state of Connecticut is only about 70 miles wide, it has over 600 miles of shoreline along Long Island Sound.
Connecticut has a booming fishing and seafood industry, and this recipe takes advantage of the clams found off the coast of Connecticut. It’s a simple, easy recipe that kids can help prepare – all in a slow cooker!
CONNECTICUT Clam Chowder
What You Will Need:
- 25 ounces of Minced Clams with Juice (4, 6-1/2 ounce cans)
- 1/2 pound of Bacon, diced (we like to use the pre-cooked bacon bits found in the meat aisle of the grocery store)
- 1 cup Onion, chopped
- 8 medium Potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 3 cups Water
- 3-1/2 teaspoons Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
- 4 cups Half-and-Half Cream (milk can work as a substitute)
- 3-1/2 tablespoons Cornstarch
- Fresh Parsley, chopped
- Crockpot or Slow Cooker
- Skillet
What You Do:
- In a large skillet, saute bacon and onion until golden brown. Drain excess liquid.
- Add the following ingredients to a slow cooker: bacon and onion mixture, clams, potatoes, water, salt, pepper.
- Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or until potatoes are tender.
- During the last hour of cooking, combine 1 cup of cream (or milk) with cornstarch, stir until well mixed.
- Pour cornstarch mixture into slow cooker with the remaining cream and stir well.
- Continue heating until soup is warmed through.
- Use parsley to garnish individual servings. Serve with French bread.
STATE INFORMATION LINK:
Connecticut State Information – Click this link to learn more about Connecticut attractions, activities, and to request free brochures, maps, and so much more!
FREE STATE PRINTABLES:
US Geography Journal Pages – Use these journal pages to create a geography journal as you collect information about each state.
Connecticut Outline Map – Use this state map to label capitals, major rivers and lakes, and other areas of interest. Draw a star on the place you would most like to visit in this state!
United States Outline Map – Use this USA map to track your journey as you “eat your way across the USA”! Color in each state that you’ve tried one of recipes for.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
- The United States Cook Book – Take a Tasty Tour of America’s 50 States, and learn a lot of United States geography along the way! (PLEASE NOTE: The recipe featured above is not included in this book.)
- US History Cook Book – Serve up a heaping lesson of history with delicious recipes from our nation’s past… from the pilgrims’ first feast to today’s high-tech, low-fat fare.
- Maps of the United States – This reproducible book contains geopolitical maps of each of the fifty states; political maps of the six regions; and political, physical, and thematic maps of the United States. You’ll also find fun facts, geography bee-type questions, and review pages.
- DK State-by-State Atlas – More than an atlas, this book shows and tells young geographers who, what, when, where, and why.
- The Geography Book – From finding directions by the stars, to mapping your neighborhood, to making an earthquake in a box, you’ll have a great time learning about the world with The Geography Book.
- Professor Noggins USA Geography Game – From rural farming communities to urban cities, from snow-capped mountains to tropical islands, this game covers both the natural and political geography of the United States. Learn about the states, cities, and natural geographical wonders that make this country such an interesting place to visit.
- State by State Card Game – Learning about United States geography is made fun and memorable with this unique deck of cards!
- GeoPuzzle USA Puzzle – GeoPuzzles provide a hands-on approach to learning geography.
Make sure to check back next week for the next state in this series!
Copyright © 2007-2009 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
Art Works! is a series of blog posts created by the staff at www.EscapadeDirect.com that offer children of all ages and abilities the opportunity for hands-on art activities that allow them to explore, discover, and express their individual creativity.
We encourage parents to join in on the activities too, and create their own Art Works!
 Art Works! Activity #7: Shrink Art
Extremely popular in the ’70s, shrink art is back! Kids absolutely love to watch their works of art shrink before their eyes! The shrunken artwork can be used for charms, zipper pulls, ornaments, window decorations, jewlery, buttons, and so much more!
This activity sparks imagination and creativity … and it’s so much fun to do!
Shrink art objects make great Halloween decorations, too! Make sure to see our pumpkin decorating ideas below!
What You Need:
What You Do:
- Use sandpaper or a sanding block and lightly sand a sheet of PolyShrink plastic. Sand across the plastic from left-to-right, then sand again from top-to-bottom.
- Wipe the sanding dust off the plastic, and use a pencil to draw a design on the sanded side of the plastic. If you are drawing words, make sure to draw them backwards, since you are drawing on the backside of the plastic. See additional notes below regarding templates. Make sure your designs are fairly large, because they will shrink to approximately half their original size.
- Once you have your design drawn, use colored pencils to add color to your design. Make sure to press hard to ensure good coverage.
- If desired, outline your design with a black permanent marker to make the design elements stand out more.
- Use a scissors to cut your designs out of the plastic sheet.
- If desired, use a paper hole punch to punch holes in your design. The holes will allow you to hang your finished shrink art, and are useful for making charms, jewelry, or ornaments.
- Place a paper grocery bag on a cookie sheet, and lay your designs on the bag, colored side facing up.
- Place the cookie sheet in a warm oven (about 300 degrees) for about 3 minutes. The plastic will curl slightly as it shrinks, but it will then flatten out again.
- After the plastic flattens, remove them from the oven. If your designs are still slightly curled, use the back side of a spoon to flatten them before they cool off. You can also reshrink any pieces that aren’t quite flat, if needed.
 Variations:
- Not sure what to draw? Download and print our Halloween templates to use as a guide for your designs. Simply place a sheet of PolyShrink paper over the template and trace the design onto the plastic.
- Have a favorite cartoon or color book image? Use them as your template!
- Use your shrink art designs to decorate a pumpkin for Halloween! Cut an opening at the top of your pumpkin and scrap the insides out – just like you usually do when carving pumpkins. When the pumpkin is hollowed out, carve slits into the pumpkin, as shown in the diagram to the right, starting just below the opening to the pumpkin and extending almost to the bottom of the pumpkin. We like to make these slits approximately 1-1/2″ wide. Draw and color shrink art rectangles and squares that are about 3″ wide before shrinking. Punch holes in all four corners of the designs before shrinking. When you are done shrinking the squares and rectangles, use straight pins in the punched holes to attach the shrink art over the slits in the pumpkin. When the pumpkin is illuminated from inside, the light will make your shrink art objects appear like stained glass! A classy way to decorate a pumpkin!
You Might Also Like:
PolyShrink Transparent – This transparent PolyShrink film makes your designs more opaque!
Glassine Bags – Our Glassine bags make perfect party favor bags – and a wonderful way to wrap your shrink art to present as a gift!
Here are some other shrink art objects we made for Halloween:
Share Your Art Works! Activities!
If you have an Art Works! project that you would like to share, email us a digital picture (or scan) of your project , and we will post it in our Kids Gallery. If you would like, include the artists first name, age, and your state. It’s fun for kids to see how other children interpreted the project!
As always, encourage your children to come up with their own new ideas for art – and make sure to check back next week for another Art Works! activity in this series!
Copyright © 2007-2009 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
Kids of all ages enjoy Halloween! Sure… Halloween Candy is sweet, but FUN (and educational) Halloween Party Favors are even sweeter!
We’ve listed our favorite party favors, unique gift ideas and Halloween decorations – as well as some of our fun ideas below. Make sure to visit our Halloween Shop for even more fun items!
Happy Halloween!
HALLOWEEN PARTY FAVORS
Spooky Noggin Bops – Makes fun favors and spooky surprise gifts! Bop along with Drac, The Count; Mummy, The Wrapper; Jack-o-Bop, The Pumpkin; Skully, The Skeleton; Frankenhead, The Monster; and Cackle, The Witch. Click this link to watch the video!
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Pumpkin Nyokki Pet Plant – Grow a pet just in time for Halloween; a fun project for kids leading up to Halloween! Easy to grow, contains everything you need. This is a limited edition Nyokki, and quantities are limited – get yours today!
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HALLOWEEN GAMES
Boooo-opoly – It’s creepy, and ghoulish! It’s a scream! This is a fun game to play at Halloween parties – or on the days leading up to Halloween! Buy your favorite Halloween properties, collected Haunted Houses and trade them for Full Moons!
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Monster-Opoly – A fun game for little ghouls to play! Perfect for Halloween parties! Don’t be afraid of monsters – sit down and play a game to get to know them!
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Jenga, Halloween Edition – Set this Halloween Jenga game out on your Halloween party table and let your guests have fun! A classic game, with a Halloween twist!
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HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS
Halloween Stickers Box (Vintage Halloween Labels) – Create your own Halloween party invitations and decorations with this set of vintage stickers! Fun for kids and adults!
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Human Skeleton Model (34 inches tall) – Not only is this life-like model educational, it’s great fun as a Halloween dinner guest!
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Ice Dessert Mold – Use this easy-to-make mold to create creepy lights for your Halloween dining table! Freeze candy corns, gummy worms, or other fun surprises in the ice for a ghastly lantern! Of, if you prefer, make an ice dessert mold and serve green ice cream!
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Glow Sticks – Not only are glow sticks fun for trick-or-treaters to use while outside at night, they make fun and spooky Halloween decorations, too! Place an activated glow stick in a test tube or beaker for eerie lights for a Halloween party. They look cool inside pumpkins, too!
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Laser Stars – Light up the outside of your house with this cool light display of thousands and thousands of tiny stars! Fun for welcoming Halloween party guests – it will look like they are being sucked into a black hole as they enter your house!
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Jack-O-Lantern Table Sprinkles, Black Bat Table Sprinkles, and Spider Table Sprinkles – Sprinkle a handful on a party table, or use as gifts in a treat bag.
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HALLOWEEN DRINKWARE
Glass Beaker (50 ml) and Glass Beaker (150 ml) – Serve your favorite beverages in a “mad scientist” beaker! Buuuhaaahaaahaaa….
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Glass Test Tubes and Glass Beaker (800 ml) – Place ice cubes at the bottom of the large beaker, place test tubes into the ice in the beaker, and use the test tubes to serve a spooktacular beverage this Halloween! The ice in the beaker keeps your drink cold.
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Glass Erlenmeyer Flask – Add a straw and serve your favorite “potion” in this “mad scientist” beaker! Kids absolutely love drinking out of these flasks!
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Glass Petri Dish (with Cover) – Serve your party treats in these large glass petri dishes! Mad science fun!
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Make sure to check out our Halloween Fun with Test Tubes article, as well as our Creative Ideas for Using Petri Dishes article for even more fun ideas!
HALLOWEEN BOOKS
Have a Happy Halloween!!!
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