How to Make a Pumpkin Monster, Cute Halloween Craft for Kids

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Looking for a fun Halloween craft?  Look no further, because this cute pumpkin Halloween craft is a sure crowd pleaser.  This craft is fun and easy to do.  It’s a great craft to do with a group or individually. The kids will love making scary teeth on their pumpkin.  Is it a pumpkin or a monster? You decide!  Follow the step-by-step directions below to make your very own Monster Pumpkin!

Tip:  Love your monster pumpkin?  Instead of a pumpkin draw a monster, werewolf, animal, ghost or what ever your creative mind can come up with.

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Materials: white construction paper (for a bigger monster use long construction paper), crayons

 

Step 1:  Hold your construction paper long ways and fold it in half.

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Step 2:Hold the paper so that the fold crease is at the bottom.  From the top, fold down the top layer of the paper so that it touches the fold.

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Step 3: draw a pumpkin in the middle of the paper.  It needs to be in the middle of the folds on the paper.

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Step 4: Open the paper so that it is long ways.  Draw lines going down on each side of that the line connects that top and bottom of the pumpkin.  Draw monster teeth for your pumpkin.

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Step 5: Fold the paper back up.  Now it looks like a cute little pumpkin, open it out and it’s a monster pumpkin.  Instead of a pumpkin you can draw a monster, animal or whatever your creative mind thinks of.

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Fun Summer Camp Crafts for Kids, How to Make a Foil and Cardboard 3D Craft for Kids

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This 3D craft project using aluminum foil and cardboard will keep kids busy. Because this craft requires household items, it’s also a good craft to teach kids about recycling.  Not only is this craft fun to make but it also comes out beautiful. We did this project in our summer camp program with kids ages 8-12.  They all really loved the project. I don’t recommend doing this with children younger than 8 as it may be a little tricky for them.  Follow the step-by-step directions below to make your very own aluminum foil and cardboard project.

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Materials: A square piece of cardboard any size.  Since I was working with a large group of kids, I made mine 6×6, sharpies or colorful permanent markers, aluminum foil, pencil, tape and a glue gun (only to be used by adults)

Step 1: Using a pencil have the children draw a design on the cardboard.  Encourage them to make a big design such as a large heart, flower, abstract design.

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Step 2: Have the adult outline their design with the hot glue gun.  Make sure you make the outline thick.

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Step 3:  Once the hot glue dries, cover the front of the cardboard in aluminum foil, over lap the sides.  Turn the cardboard over and tape the foil around the sides, so it stays on.

 

Step 4:  Turn the cardboard over so the side with the design is facing front.  Press down on the foil and the design will start to show through.

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Step 5:  Have the children color in their design using the sharpies of permanent markers.

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All finished!  We displayed all of the kids projects at the end of the summer art show and it was a success.

DIY Aquarium Craft, Fun Summer Craft for Kids, Cute Camp Activity for Kids

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I did this aquarium craft in our summer camp program with children ages 5-13.  It was a big hit, they all enjoyed the craft.  If you work with kids you know that finding something they all like is hard, but this worked.  It was fun and easy to make.  The kids couldn’t wait to take it home.  I also did this craft at home with my niece aged 11 and my daughter aged 2, they both enjoyed making it too.  This is a great craft to do with a large group of children or a small group.  This craft can also be part of a summer birthday party or an under the sea theme party.  Follow the step-by-step directions below to make your very own aquarium.

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Materials: mason jar or plastic bottle (I used a both a 1/2 pint and a full pint), aquarium rocks or gravel, aquarium trees tiny shells, blue food coloring, distilled or regular water

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Project materials are available at Amazon, Wal-Mart, pet stores and some dollar stores

Other aquarium fillers: treasure chest, sunken ship, scuba diver, artificial fish

Step 1: Fill your jar 1/4 with the aquarium gravel.

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Step 2: Place aquariums plants into your jar. I used one per jar.  Depending on the size of your jar and plant you may need to cut them down a little so it will fit.  Make sure the bottom of your plant is completely covered by the rocks.

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Step 3: Place a couple of tiny shells into your jar.  You can buy them or find some at the beach.  You can also add in other items such as a treasure chest or scuba diver.

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Step 4:  Fill your jar with water and add 1 drop of blue food coloring at a time to get the color you like.  It is very important to add one drop at a time.  You may only need to use one drop.

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Materials for this project are available on Amazon.   Click on pictures below to reach Amazon.

Circle Abstract Art for Kids, Summer Camp Arts and Crafts Project Idea

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I run a summer camp for children ages 5-16.  I was looking for a craft project that everyone can do as a group.  I came across this craft and it was a big hit.  Children of all ages and trace and color the circles to make cool circle abstract art.  The kids enjoyed tracing different objects and coloring the circles.  We used oil pastels which the kids really liked (we don’t use the oil pastels very often).  The crafts came out so nice that I collected them all and will display them at our end of summer kids art show.  Follow the step-by-step directions below to make cool circle abstract art.

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Materials: black construction paper, pencils (for tracking), circle objects for tracing (I used a salt container, masking tape rolls, highlighter caps, different sized cups and bowls), oil pastels

Step 1: Give each child a piece of black paper, a pencil and objects to trace.  Let the children trace the circles onto their paper, letting some of the circles overlap.

 

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Step 2: Have the children trace their circles with a white oil pastel crayon.

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Step 3: Have the children shade in the rest of the circles using oil pastels.

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Kidsplayandcreate tip: If doing this craft with a group of children, connect of the pictures together to make one large abstract circle mural.

Have to Try Arts and Craft Project for Kids, Fun Abstract Art Project for Kids

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I saw this idea on Pinterest and I had to try it.  I am do happy that I did.  It was a big hit.  This was by far the best craft project I have done in a while.  I tried it at home with my daughter age 2, my niece age 11 and her friend age 10.  They all loved it.  I do recommend doing this with children 8 and up.  You can do this with younger kids if you assist them,  We did the project a couple of times to try different ideas.  They wanted to do it over and over again.  Follow the step-by-step directions below to my your very own abstract art.

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Materials: Water color paper 90lb or more, matte acrylic paint, (4-5 colors), thick gel dish soap (I used Dawn),  glossy Krylon spray paint (I used black and light blue)

Step 1: Cover the entire paper with acrylic paint, blend the colors so they overlap.  Make sure you don’t do a heavy layer of paint.

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Step 2: (We did the rest of the project outside) Lay your picture on newspaper outside.  Pour some dish soap onto a spoon and drizzle it over your painting.

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Step 3: Spray spray pain over the entire picture and let dry (about 20 mins).  Do this outside in a well ventilated area. Children need adult supervision when using spray paint. We had fun with this.  We did some with just black spray paint, some with just blue and some half and half.

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Step 4: When the spray paint in completely dry, rinse it off in the sink.  Let the paper dry (about 1-2 hours).

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