8 Days 'til Christmas!!!
In case you have been following these posts closely and are wondering if you missed yesterday's post.... Nope. It isn't your imagination that "8 Days 'til Christmas" and "7 Days 'til Christmas" are going up on the same day. Yeah... some days are like that. I was just waiting to nab some pictures of my little guy's finished puzzle before posting, and my daughter had a Calculus Crisis. Really, I think anything to do with Calculus is a crisis, but last night she was tackling a particularly difficult assignment and it was winning. So I quickly changed my plans, and she and I spent until late in the evening solving some mind-boggling Calculus word problems. It is just how things roll around here sometimes! Now that the crisis has passed and she is back to her happy self, I can post both activities. If there is one thing I have learned as a parent, it is to be flexible. :)
We had fun with this activity! In fact, my daughter (who is 18) would have joined us in a heartbeat if she wasn't up to her neck in math... :) Hopefully you will find it fun as well!
Craft Stick Christmas Puzzles
Puzzles are a fantastic activity for growing minds, and they are even more fun when you have made it yourself! These craft stick puzzles are easy to make, and the kids will have fun putting them together over and over.
Materials
*craft sticks
*painter's tape (the thin type will work just fine... I just could only find the fat roll) :)
*markers (sharpies or washable)
*old Christmas cards (optional)
*acrylic paint/paintbrushes (optional)
*Mod Podge (optional)
*craft knife (optional)
*sandpaper (optional)
*craft knife (optional)
*sandpaper (optional)
1. Line up the craft sticks side-by-side. You can make the puzzle any size you want.
2. Lay a piece of painter's tape on the sticks to hold them together.
4. Use the markers to draw a picture on the sticks. It is best if objects cross over from one stick to another. This will make it easier to reassemble the puzzle later.
Optional:
*Use paints instead of markers to create your picture. I would recommend sketching your design in pencil first, and then fill the picture in with paints. Once the paint is dry, you could seal it with a clear coat spray or Mod Podge.
*Rather than drawing your own picture, use an old Christmas card for the image on the puzzle. Lay the sticks out as described above. Then paint over the sticks with a layer of Mod Podge. Press the card onto the sticks, making sure that it sticks nicely to the adhesive. Then, paint a layer of Mod Podge over the top of the card, being careful to coat around the edges of the card. Allow this to dry. Once dry, remove the tape and carefully (VERY CAREFULLY) cut in the cracks between each stick with a craft knife or other sharp tool. After cutting, I gently sanded the edges of the cards/sticks to make them smoother and then applied a thin layer of Mod Podge to seal the edges.
I hope you have fun creating and solving these puzzles!!
*Use paints instead of markers to create your picture. I would recommend sketching your design in pencil first, and then fill the picture in with paints. Once the paint is dry, you could seal it with a clear coat spray or Mod Podge.
*Rather than drawing your own picture, use an old Christmas card for the image on the puzzle. Lay the sticks out as described above. Then paint over the sticks with a layer of Mod Podge. Press the card onto the sticks, making sure that it sticks nicely to the adhesive. Then, paint a layer of Mod Podge over the top of the card, being careful to coat around the edges of the card. Allow this to dry. Once dry, remove the tape and carefully (VERY CAREFULLY) cut in the cracks between each stick with a craft knife or other sharp tool. After cutting, I gently sanded the edges of the cards/sticks to make them smoother and then applied a thin layer of Mod Podge to seal the edges.
I hope you have fun creating and solving these puzzles!!
Materials needed for tomorrow:
*white or silver glitter! (yeah.... sorry....) :)
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