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Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Our Fun Party Crackers!

There is still time to surprise your kids with our cool Party Crackers! They are very easy to make, require very few supplies — and kids of all ages think they are so much fun!

For complete instructions and ideas, read our How to Make New Year’s Eve Party Crackers article.

We wish you and your families a fantastic, fun-filled New Year!

Now get crackin’ on those party favors….

Party Cracker Filler Ideas

LaQ Mono – Open a box of LaQ building pieces and place the pieces inside your party cracker. These building pieces make a fun rattle-sound inside the crackers before they are opened. (Several different LaQ sets are available).

ZOOB Tube – Use colorful pieces of ZOOB building sets for a filler! Kids can begin building models as soon as their party crackers are opened.

UberStix – UberStix make a unique party cracker filler! Download the instructions on how to build a catapult using these pieces for even more fun!

Puzzle Calendar – Place pieces from our Puzzle Calendar into the party crackers for a “timeless” surprise! Perfect for keeping track of the New Year!

Vinyl Magnets – Use our Vinyl Magnet set to create your own custom magnets to use as a favor filler. You could write words that describe what you like about the gift recipient, wishes for a new year, or even leave the magnets blank and let your kids create their own word tiles.

Blank Dice – Use our set of blank dice to create a custom game. For example, you could write action words on one die and put numbers on the other die. When the gift recipient rolls the dice, they must do the selected action how ever many times the number die specifies. Be creative!

Thinkets Game – Use the pieces from a Thinkets game as a filler for your party crackers. Encourage your kids to create their own stories based on these cool trinkets.

Can O Worms – Place several worms from this game into each party cracker. When all the guests have opened their favors, encourage them to play the Can O Worms game!

Classic Jax Game – Open a package of Jax and place the pieces in the crackers. A classic prize!

Jar of Stars – Add several glow-in-the-dark stars to your favors for a cosmic surprise!

Glow Stick – Light up the night with a glow stick party favor!

Spectra Stone – Calculate your “mood” based on the color of the cool Spectra Stone! A fun surprise to add to your party cracker.

Touchable Bubbles – Get the party going with these way-cool touchable, long-lasting bubbles! A perfect party favor!

Art Works! Series – Activity #16: Snowflakes

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 #16: Snowflakes

We took two weeks off from our Art Works! series, but we’re making it up with several fun snowflake activities. Create works of art that celebrate the season!

These hands-on activities inspire creativity, and are easy for children of all ages to do.

Snowflake Window Clings

What You Need:

Pencil

White Paper

Large Glass Baking Dish

Glitter Glue (see below to make your own)

What You Do:

Create a snowflake template by drawing a simple snowflake onto a sheet of paper.

Place the snowflake template beneath a large clear glass baking dish.

Use glitter glue to trace over your pencil lines, applying the glue directly to the glass dish. You’ll want to make sure the glue is applied in fairly thick lines to ensure the snowflake won’t fall apart when it is dry. Remember that as the glue dries, it will shrink. We recommend making your lines at least 1/8″ thick.

Repeat the above steps to create as many snowflakes as you’d like. Vary the size of the snowflakes, and use different colored glitter glue if desired.

Allow your snowflakes to dry thoroughly before removing from the glass. We recommend you let the snowflakes dry for at least 12 hours (24 hours is even better).

When the snowflakes appear dry, carefully peel them from the glass dish. If the bottom of the snowflakes are still wet, simply lay the snowflakes back down until they are completely dry.

Press your completed snowflakes onto window glass for a wintery decoration.

Variations:

If you prefer, hang your snowflakes in a window with a length of fishing line.

If you would like to make your own glitter glue, pour white glue into a squeeze bottle container then add several teaspoons of fine glitter to the glue. Use a craft stick to mix the glitter into the glue. Add more glitter if needed. Place the top back on the squeeze bottle and your glitter glue is ready to use.

If you do not have glitter or glitter glue, regular white glue works well and makes nice white snowflakes.

Paper Snowflakes

What You Need:

Paper (thin copy machine paper works very well)

Sharp Scissors (blunt scissors that are sharp work well for young children)

Paper Folding Instructions

What You Do:

Fold a sheet of paper to create a snowflake preform. See our paper folding instructions for more information.

Use a sharp scissors (pointed or blunt) to cut out various shapes from the folded paper. Be creative!

Unfold your paper to reveal a unique snowflake!

Tape snowflakes to your windows for wintery fun decorations.

Variations:

Use new coffee filters instead of paper to make your snowflakes. When the snowflakes are cut out, decorate the edges of the snowflakes with water-based markers. Use a Pipette filled with water and drop a few drops of water onto the marker drawings. The water will cause the marker to bleed and create interesting patterns.

For very detailed snowflakes, cut small shapes close together. Make sure to cut shapes from both sides of the folded paper – this creates a very interesting completed snowflake.

Experiment with different kinds of paper and different colored paper.

Brush a thin layer of glue over your completed snowflake and sprinkle glitter to create a shimmery showflake.

At the end of the season, carefully store your snowflakes in a zip-top storage bag for next year. Each year, add more snowflakes to your collection. Make this activity a fun family tradition!

Cinnamon Snowflakes (that you can eat)!

What You Need:

8 or 10 inch Flour Tortillas

Sugar

Cinnamon

Butter

Scissors

Cookie Sheet

What You Do:

Place a flour tortilla in the microwave for several seconds to soften it, then remove from microwave.

Fold the tortilla in half, then fold in half again. You will end up with a triangle-shaped tortilla.

Use a clean scissor to cut small shapes into the tortilla – much like you would do when cutting paper snowflakes.

Unfold your tortilla and place on a cookie sheet.

Mix equal parts sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.

Brush a little softened butter onto the tortilla snowflake, the sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon mixture over the butter.

Put the tortilla snowflakes in a 350 degree oven until they are golden brown (about 3-5 minutes).

Remove completed snowflakes from oven and eat!

Variations:

If you prefer, sprinkle powdered sugar or edible glitter on the tortilla’s instead of sugar and cinnamon.

You Might Also Like:

Snowflakes – Creative Paper Cutouts – Get your scissors ready! This creative book shows you how to make your snowflakes wild and wonderful! A perfect activity for families or holiday … and includes instructions for folding, cutting, and decorating your snowflakes.

Snowflake Bently – This book includes beautiful photographs of snowflakes and is a great way for children to learn more about snowflakes.

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!

Celebrate the States Series – #18: Louisiana

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 Southern Louisiana is home to descendants of the original French and Spanish settlers, called Creoles, as well as descendants of French settlers from the Acadia region of eastern Canada, called Cajuns. Both the Creoles and Cajuns have their own styles of cooking. Typical Creole dishes include spicy stews served with rice, such as gumbo and jambalaya. Typical Cajun dishes include red beans and rice, and boudin, which is a spicy sausage.

This recipe is for an easy-to-make jambalaya – a delicious regional recipe that is also fun to make.

LOUISIANA Shrimp Jambalaya

What You Will Need:

1 large Onion, finely chopped

1/2 medium Green Pepper, chopped

1 clove of Garlic, finely chopped

3 tablespoons Vegetable Oil or Olive Oil

1 pound of raw medium sized Shrimp

1 cup uncooked White Rice

2 cups Chicken Broth

1 teaspoon table Salt

1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried Thyme

1/8 teaspoon crushed Red Pepper

1 can (16 ounces) Whole Tomatoes

1/2 pound sausage, cooked and chopped into bite-sized pieces

Large stock pot

What You Do:

In a stock pot, combine the chopped onion, green pepper, garlic and 2 tablespoons of vegetable or olive oil. Saute these ingredients over medium heat for 3 minutes.

Stir in the shrimp and cook for 5 minutes or until they are no longer pink. You will need to stir it frequently to prevent sticking.

When shrimp are done cooking, remove the shrimp mixture from the pot and set aside in a bowl.

Cook the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable or olive oil and the rice in the stock pot over medium heat, stirring often, until the rice has browned. This will take 8-10 minutes.

Stir in the chicken broth, salt, pepper, thyme, crushed red pepper and can of whole tomatoes. Heat this mixture to a boiling and then reduce heat. Cover and simmer until rice is tender (about 12-15 minutes).

Stir in the shrimp mixture and the chopped sausage. Cover and continue to cook until shrimp and sausage are hot.

Serve immediately.

STATE INFORMATION LINK:

Louisiana State Information – Click this link to learn more about Louisiana 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.

Louisiana 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!

Celebrate the States Series – #17: Kentucky

Make sure to check back each week for the next post!

RECIPE:

Did you know that Kentucky is called the Bluegrass State? Parts of Kentucky are covered with a type of dark, lush grass called bluegrass because in the spring it has bluish-purple buds that make entire fields look blue when they bloom. Foods grown in Kentucky include corn, dairy products, and soybeans. Apples, peaches, and popcorn are also grown.

This recipe is a famous dish from Kentucky, dating back to the frontier days.

KENTUCKY Burgoo

What You Will Need:

3 cups Water

1 cup Chicken Broth, homemade or canned

2 cups Crushed Tomatoes, canned

3/4 pound Chicken Tenders or Strips, uncooked

3/4 pound Stew Beef, cubed

3 medium Boiling Potatoes

1 medium Onion

1 cup frozen Lima Beans

1 cup frozen Corn

1 10-ounce package frozen Cut Okra

1 cup frozen Sliced Carrots

2 teaspoons Curry Powder

1 teaspoon Sugar

1/2 teaspoon Pepper

4-1/2 quart heavy covered baking dish

What You Do:

Combine the water, chicken stock, and crushed tomatoes in a baking dish and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

While the broth is simmering, cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces.

Add the beef and chicken pieces to the pot and simmer, covered, for 1 hour. Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Peel potatoes and cut them into cubes. Place them in the pot.

Remove the papery skin from the onion and cut the onion in half, then chop into small pieces and add to the pot.

Add the lima beans, corn, okra, carrots, curry powder, sugar, and pepper to the pot. Return the mixture to boiling, then reduce the heat.

Simmer, covered, for about 25 minutes or until the vegetables are cooked through and tender.

Add chicken back into the pot and cook an additional 5 minutes to warm up the chicken.

Serve and enjoy!

STATE INFORMATION LINK:

Kentucky State Information – Click this link to learn more about Kentucky 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.

Kentucky 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 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!

Celebrate the States Series – #16: Kansas

Make sure to check back each week for the next post!

RECIPE:

Did you know that Kansas is a leading producer of beef cattle in the USA? Kansas is also first in the country in producing wheat. Other crops include corn, sugar beets, oats, and apples.

Use some high-quality beef to make these delicious gourmet hamburgers! Children especially love to form the hamburger patties – it’s sort of like playing with playdough!

KANSAS Grilled Swiss Cheeseburgers

What You Will Need:

1 pound Lean Ground Beef

2 tablespoons Ketchup

2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce (have your kids say that three times fast!)

1/2 teaspoon Salt

Dash Pepper

2 tablespoons Margarine

1 cup Fresh Mushrooms, washed and sliced

4 Hamburger Buns, split

3/4 cup Shredded Swiss Cheese

Large Mixing Bowl

Saucepan

What You Do:

Stir the beef, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Mix well with your hands (kids LOVE this)!

Shape the meat mixture into four 1″ thick burger patties and put them on a broiling pan.

Preheat the broiler. Place the broiling pan about 4″ to 5″ from the heat element or flame. Broil about 8 minutes on each side until no pink meat remains. If you prefer, use your grill for this step.

Using oven mitts, remove the pan from the oven. Allow the burgers to rest for about 10 minutes. Turn the broiler off.

Meanwhile, preheat the frying pan on medium heat. Put the margarine in the pan and saute the mushrooms for about 3 to 4 minutes or until cooked through.

Turn the broiler on again. Assemble the cooked burgers on another broiling pan by placing the burger on the bottom half of each bun. Top each burger with shredded cheese and mushrooms. Lay the top halves of the buns upside down on the broiling pan.

Broil the assembled burgers and top halves of the buns just until the cheese melts and the rolls are lightly toasted.

Serve and enjoy!

STATE INFORMATION LINK:

Kansas State Information – Click this link to learn more about Kansas 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.

Kansas 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 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!

Art Works! Series – Activity #15: Finger Painting Fun

We encourage parents to join in on the activities, too, and create their own Art Works!

Art Works! Activity #15: Finger Painting Fun

Kids of all ages just love to touch and feel their artwork – and this activity is hands-on fun!

Make sure to see our additional ideas for this product below.

What You Need:

Finger Paints (click our Finger Paint Recipe to make your own, easy paint)

White Paper or Art Board

Art Tray or Cookie Sheet

What You Do:

Place several colors of homemade finger paint (see recipe link above) or purchased finger paint into small bowls (recycled margarine tubs or plastic ice cube trays work great).

Place a sheet of paper or art board on an art tray or on a cookie sheet (the tray or cookie sheet helps contain the paint).

Let your children scoop out small amounts of paint onto the paper, and begin painting. Encourage your children to cover the entire paper while they create their works of art.

When your child is finished with one painting, place it on an old newspaper to dry, and give them another sheet of fresh paper! Let your child create as many paintings as they would like.

When the paintings are dry, have your child sign and date their artwork. This gives your children a sense of ownership and pride in their work.

Hang the finished paintings on a bulletin board or on your refrigerator for the entire family to enjoy!

Variations:

Use the finished paintings to create greeting cards or postcards to share with friends and family.

Play music softly in the background as your child works. We highly recommend The Mozart Effect, Music for Children!

While your child is painting, encourage them to talk about what they are feeling and thinking as they work. This can be a very relaxing time for children, and a great way to get to know them even better than you already do!

For something really fun, let your kids use their toes to paint! The ooey-gooey feeling on their toes is just too fun to miss! Make sure to have your camera ready!

Create a background with the finger paints and allow to dry. When the painting is completely dry, use a black permanent marker to draw pictures on top of the painted background. Be creative!

Make a unique puzzle out of the finished paintings! Simply cut the painting into a variety of shapes. Mix up the pieces, then put them back together. This activity works best when the painting is created on an art board.

Preserve your child’s paintings by taking digital photos! Set your camera for macro photographs and snap away. Digital pictures are easy to store and are fun to look back on when your kids are older. Make sure to take pictures of your children creating their artwork, too!

You Might Also Like:

Blank Art Boards – This set of art boards comes complete with easy-to-use hangers! Perfect for any work of art!

Water Wizard Buddha Board – Paint with water with this amazing buddha board!

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!

Celebrate the States Series – #15: Iowa

Make sure to check back each week for the next post!

RECIPE:

Did you know that Iowa’s most prominent crop is corn? On summer nights, Iowa farmers say you can hear the corn growing! During peak growing time, corn stalks can actually grow 3 to 5 inches a day.

This recipe uses the sweet corn from Iowa in a vegetable dish that kids can’t get enough of! This recipe has been in our family for generations – and it’s still an all-time favorite!

IOWA Cheesy Corn

What You Will Need:

1/3 cup All Purpose Flour

1 16 ounce can Cream-Style Corn

1 8 ounce package Cream Cheese, cubed

1/2 teaspoon Onion Salt

1 16 ounce can Whole Kernel Corn

1 cup Shredded Swiss Cheese

Large Saucepan

Oven-proof Glass Casserole Dish

What You Do:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a a large saucepan, stir the flour into the cream style corn.

Add cream cheese and onion salt to the corn and flour mixture, stir well.

Heat the mixture on low heat, stiring until the cheese melts, then remove from heat.

Add the remaining ingredients to the saucepan and mix together well.

Pour mixture into a casserole dish.

Top with buttered breadcrumbs, if desired.

Bake uncovered at 400 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes.

STATE INFORMATION LINK:

Iowa State Information – Click this link to learn more about Iowa 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.

Iowa 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!

Art Works! Series – Activity #14: Alter Ego Art

We encourage parents to join in on the activities, too, and create their own Art Works!

A 10-year old with a sense of humor!

Art Works! Activity #14: Alter Ego Art

Have you been naughty or nice this year? Here’s your chance to show your alter ego!

This activity sparks imaginations, stimulates creative thinking, and enhances spatial thinking skills… and it’s fun to see what your kids will come up with as their alter ego!

What You Need:

A close-up photo of your face. Both sides of your face should be visible in the picture. Although any size picture will work, we recommend a photo that is at least 5″ x 7″. (See Variations below for more ideas)

Ruler

Scissors

White Paper or Art Board

Glue Stick

Pencil

Colored Pencils or Markers

What You Do:

Use a ruler to draw a vertical line down the center of the face in the photograph.

Cut along the vertical line to create two halves of the photo.

Use a glue stick to glue one half of the photo to a piece of paper or art board. Make sure to glue the photo in a way that leaves plenty of drawing room for the other half of the face.

Use a pencil to draw the missing half of the face. Use your imagination! Will you draw a space alien face? A princess? A monster? Be creative!

When your drawing is finished, use colored pencils or markers to add color to your photo. What fun!

Variations:

If you have a digital camera and a color printer, take a close-up photo of your child’s face. Use a digital photo editing program to crop the photo so only half the face is showing. Enlarge the photo so that it fills an 8-1/2″ x 11″ sheet of paper. Print the half-photo on a color printer. Give the completed printout to your child and let them draw and design the other half of their face.

This activity is fun with photos from magazines, as well!

You Might Also Like:

Lyra Wax-O-Glass Window Crayons – These cool crayons are made for glass! Fun to draw with, and easy to clean.

3D Drawing Pad – Watch your drawings jump off the page with this fun set!

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!

Shop our Store!

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Our Fun Party Crackers!

Art Works! Series – Activity #16: Snowflakes

Celebrate the States Series – #18: Louisiana

Celebrate the States Series – #17: Kentucky

Celebrate the States Series – #16: Kansas

Art Works! Series – Activity #15: Finger Painting Fun

Celebrate the States Series – #15: Iowa

Art Works! Series – Activity #14: Alter Ego Art

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