Photo: _PaulS_ on FlickrHow cold is it where you live? You know we're in the middle of a serious cold spell when even Florida and Texas have dipped below freezing. I love to look at the beautiful, crisp snow outside my window, but I don't weather the cold too well. I'm all for frozen slushies and frozen yogurt... but frozen toes? No thank you. So after a while at the sledding hill or some time spent building snowmen, I'm quick to suggest my son and I play a game or work on a project together. Inside. Where it's warm. A cup of hot cocoa doesn't hurt, either.
Recently, I went old-school with an afternoon craft. I remember making crayon and waxed paper sun catchers with my mom when I was a kid. It's an easy, fun craft suitable for almost every age (as long as a parent takes charge of the iron). My son and I made some sun catchers recently and we had a ball.
All you need are crayons in several colors of your choice, a crayon sharpener or grater, waxed paper, two thin towels, scissors, and an iron. You may also want to use a paper punch and ribbon to hang your sun catchers.
- Lay a thin towel on an ironing board or countertop then spread a sheet of waxed paper on the towel.
- Let your kids use the crayon sharpener to scatter multi-colored crayon shavings on the waxed paper. Or, if you have a crayon sharpener-less household like mine, a parent can also do the job with a handheld grater.
- Cover the shavings with a second sheet of waxed paper. Then cover with the second thin towel.
- Iron using low to medium heat. Lift the top towel frequently to check on your progress; continue ironing until all of the crayon shavings are melted.
- After the waxed paper/crayon sheet has cooled, let your kids draw fun shapes and cut them out. Cookie cutters make great stencils.
- If you choose, use a hole punch to create a hole at the top of each stencil then tie a loop of ribbon. Then hang your sun catchers in the window for the whole family to enjoy.
Jake, Age 3
Kalie, Age 5
4 comments:
My mother used to do that with me and my sister when we were little. I completely forgot about that craft! Thanks for the reminder.
That's a favorite craft in our house. We like to string them and make banner-like things to hang on the windows. My kids also love to make bracelets out of beads and pipe cleaners, draw, and make macaroni art. I'm not the most creative when it comes to crafts, but my kids still love it!
I feel a bit silly, but I never knew about this craft.
I remember doing this when I was little too! Funny, I've not yet done this with my own kids. Well, we've got a rainy couple of days ahead of us. Thanks for the idea!
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