On a sheet of paper, lay down a coat of Magic Craft Paint with a paintbrush. Apply a desired amount of Magic Craft Paint in a contrasting color to base coat. Create amazing marbleized patterns by dragging,swirling or dotting toothpicks through the wet paint. Because different colors of Magic Craft Paint won’t bleed together, patterns will hold their shape to create a dimensional effect.

Use washable paint. Paint child’s arm to the elbow and hand brown. Open fingers and print the arm and hand on a large sheet of paper. Let dry. Sponge paint green leaves on the tree. Let dry. Make a fist and press either thumb end or pinky end in red paint. Press these hand apples onto the tree. Make one apple for Mom, Dad, self, siblings. When dry, add their names.

Take an old or new children’s glove, the stretchy kind is best, then you sew a jingle bell to the end of each finger. You can get the jingle bells in different sizes or you can do them all the same size.

Take metal bottle caps and punch holes in the centers, then nail two back to back (loosely) to a small piece of wood.

Use empty, dry, 16 oz plastic soda bottles and fill with all kinds of interesting things, such as popcorn, colored paper clips, water, oil, blue color mixture, old beaded necklace, pasta…on and on!!!! Hot glue the top on! Can also glue paper around it and decorate!

Let the child color/decorate her piece of paper. Cut or have the child cut the six straws so that they are all different lengths. (None of the lengths should be less than 1″.) Now, have the child prearrange the straws from longest to shortest, touching side by side. (Great cognitive exercise.) Put glue on the back of the paper so that the straws will stick to it when dry. The straws must be placed across the paper so that both ends of the straw stick out. One end of the straws should lie even while the other end is at different lengths. Now simply wrap the paper around the center of the straws keeping them flat and let dry.

Play this instrument by holding it in your hands and gently blowing air over the straws - not through. Lips need not touch the straws.

Decorate paper plates as desired. Hot glue or tape around the sides; fill with rice or beans before sealing.

Kazoos are very easy to make. Get an empty TP tube and a piece of tissue paper to cover the end.

Secure it on with a rubber band. With a needle, poke a small hole near the other end.

Punch a hole in the bottom of the coffee can, thread string thru the hole and secure on the inside. Tie the other end of the string to the end of the dowel. (You might want to put some heavy tape on it so it doesn’t slide down.) To play it, put one can on the floor to hold it in place, rest the end of the dowel without the string on the coffee can or on the floor, which ever is more comfortable for the child, and tilt the dowel back until the string is tight. Then pluck it!

Take 2 paper cups and put a handful of rice in one, tape the 2 cups together with masking tape and you have maracas.