If your house is anything like mine, there is a lot of screen time going on right now. Screens for school, screens for work, screens for fun, screens because you are stuck inside while it is sleeting in April and there is nowhere to go.  I wanted to share some ideas with you that I've created over years of teaching art to kids for ways to unplug and tap into the creative process.  All of us can use these - even myself!  After long days of working on digital illustration I can feel disconnected from the world.  Some hands-on crafting reconnects me to the playful side of art making. 

I've chosen to create these in pdf form instead of making a video because I feel overwhelmed by all of the (fantastic) educational videos and online events being created right now. Sometimes what we all need is to slow down, unplug, and do a home scavenger hunt through our recycling. 

Feel free to download or print this first "class."  Please credit my work and link to it here if you share.

Click on the image below to view pdf: 

1. Print out the frame template onto colored card stock.  (download below) 

2. Carefully cut out heart, leaving edges intact. (Younger children may need assistance getting started.)
3. Fold paper on center fold line.
4. Use glue stick to glue photo into inside of frame. 

5. Glue interior of paper together.
6. Decorate with handprint, stickers, crayons, markers, or wherever your imagination leads. 

This is a craft I developed for a public library event.  Young children will need assistance from an adult. Older children can work in pairs.  For a large group project, it is easier to prep the craft before the event by cutting out the felt pieces so that kids can focus on assembling their penguin chicks.

You will need: 

Gray adult socks (one pair will make four penguins)
Colorful adult socks
Light gray felt
Dark gray felt (try to match the socks)
Rice (one cup per penguin)
Rubber bands (5 per penguin)
Fine point marker, such as a sharpie
Black construction paper
Glue (I used tacky glue, a glue gun would also work)

Step 1: Cut the sock in half, avoiding the heel

Step 2: Turn sock inside out. Use a rubber band to close one end of the tube, then turn inside right again. 

Step 3: Pour rice into your sock.  Using a measuring cup with a spout or a plastic cup that you can squeeze into a spout shape makes this step less messy. 

Step 4: Pour the entire cup of rice into the sock, then tie off the top with a rubber band.  

Step 5:  Use another rubber band to create a neck for your penguin chick. 

Step 6: Slide the light gray felt belly piece under the next rubber band to create Kipling's belly fuzz. Then slide the arms under the rubber band to attach them.

Step 7: Cut off the toe of the colorful sock to use as a hat.  You can also create a beanie hat with a pom pom on top by cutting a wide band of the sock and rubber banding one end.   Cut a narrow strip of the same sock to create a scarf.

Step 8: Put on the hat and scarf.  Adjust the belly and arms until your chick looks symmetrical, then glue into place. 

Step 9: Draw dots for eyes right above the cheek line.  Cut out a small triangle of black construction paper for your chick's nose, and glue it on. 

Let your new friend dry before playing with him or her! 

Click below for a printable PDF pattern.

Small cardboard box (reduce, reuse recycle!)
Pink or red paper for cutting out hearts (if desired, use the template to print 6 hearts to a page)
Used postage stamps cut off envelopes
Glue stick
Stamps and stamp pad for “cancelling” the stamps
​Crayons or markers
“Treasures” to put in the box, like rocks, feathers, pom poms, buttons, beads, or other found objects

Pro tip: avoid the problem of kids cutting one heart out of the center of piece of paper by printing out this heart template that fits six hearts to a page. I like to print it onto pink card stock.