Snowy Day Activity: Homemade Magnets

As a child – I always remembered the fridge as the “trophy area” for my homemade pictures, photos of the family, report cards, and other fun projects that I would take home from school. In general, the kitchen is the main gathering spot for many parents and kids. It has been snowing like crazy in New York so what better than an arts and crafts activity such as clay magnets! And when your child crafts clay magnets for displaying these mementos, he or she can work on artistic skills and show off his or her school accomplishments at the same time! Clay is a great tool to work with because it encourages young children to simply manipulate and pound clay into various shapes. By using their fingers to roll tiny balls for eyes or other details, kids will also exercise their fine-motor skills.

After the shape cools, your child can bring the object to life with paint and other decorations. Give your kids the 3 primary colors of red, blue and yellow and let them mix and match to make secondary colors. Add other details such as wiggly eyes, spots, stripes and other marks or even glitter to let your kids express themselves!

Items Needed:

• Sculpey clay or other polymer clay material
• Waxed paper
• Rolling pin or large empty soda bottle
• Felt-tipped pen
• Craft knife or kitchen knife
• Picture wire or beading wire (optional)
• Scissors or wire cutter (optional)
• Metal spatula
• Baking tray
• Artist’s brushes
• Acrylic craft or poster paint
• All-purpose sealer (optional)
• Magnetic tape (available at craft stores)
• Glue or hot-glue gun

Directions:

1. Knead clay into a ball. Place on waxed paper on flat work surface. Roll clay flat to about 1/4″ thickness with rolling pin or empty soda bottle. (Keep the shape small and fairly thin or the magnet won’t be strong enough to hold it to the refrigerator.)
2. Ask your child to draw the outline of an animal or any other shape desired with a felt-tipped pen on the clay. Using a craft or kitchen knife, parents should carefully cut out the shape and peel away the excess clay. Gently reshape edges of the shape if they stretch when you peel away the extra. Ask your child to add details such as eyes, a nose, or stripes by rolling small balls of clay or cutting shapes and strips.
3. If desired, older children may cut whiskers, manes, or tails from picture wire or beading wire with scissors or wire cutters (younger kids can paint them on). Press the wire into the clay at the appropriate place. Using a spatula or your fingers, gently lift the shape and place it on a baking tray. Bake the shape in a preheated oven following the manufacturer’s instructions on the package of clay.
4. Let shape cool. Paint it using poster or acrylic craft paint and artist’s brushes. For fine details like eyes and nose, use finer brushes (small children may need help with details). If using poster paint, apply an all-purpose sealer after the paint is dry.
5. Cut a magnetic strip to fit on the back of the shape. Check to see which side of the tape adheres more strongly to the refrigerator. Then, using glue or a hot glue gun, attach the weaker side of the magnet to the shape. Let it dry.

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She’s Crafty!

Kira making Lion and Lamb Note Holders

For us here on the West Coast, April weather seemed to roar in like a Lion, but move out like a lamb.  So, I thought these crafty Lion and Lamb Note Holders that my co-worker Robyn, mom to Kira (10-years-old) and Alyssa (2 ½ -years-old), created for their refrigerator last year were apropos.  Not only were they fun to make, but their family still uses them on a daily basis! The ‘legs’ hold small pieces of paper that are useful for writing all of “those lists and notes” that so many of us parents must tally and keep track of.  I found a couple of different ways to make these nifty holders, depending on your (and your child’s) attention span and skill level. 

Option #1: (up to 2 hours)
Difficulty Level: 2 (of 10)
Note: This uses quilling, a decorative paper-rolling technique.

Materials:

• Colored construction paper (white, orange)
• Toothpick
• Card stock (white, yellow, black)
• Glue (Elmers type and non-toxic)
• Googly eyes (found at your nearest craft store)
• Colored Marker Pens (orange or black)
• Clothes pins (2 per note holder, and found at your nearest hardware or craft store)
• Magnetic strip (optional)

Directions:

Step 1

1. For each, start by cutting a few dozen 1/8-inch-wide strips of colored paper, each at least 4 inches long. Curl each strip tightly around a toothpick.
2. Next, cover a rounded, 3-inch card stock body with glue and attach the curls. Cut out a card stock face and ears, adding googly eyes and other facial features, and glue them all in place. Allow the glue to dry (20 minutes).
3. For the legs, which also serve as note holders, glue 2 clothespins to the back of the body. Stand the critter on a table or attach magnetic strips to the back and stick it to your fridge, then post your message in the clips. For an added touch, either paint the legs to match the bodies or cover them with an appropriate colored cardstock.

Option #2: (up to 1 hour)
Difficulty Level: 1 

Materials:

• Cotton balls or white pompoms
• Orange yarn
• Card stock (white, yellow, black)
• Glue (Elmers type and non-toxic)
• Colored Marker Pens (orange and black)
• Clothes pins (2 per note holder, and found at your nearest hardware or craft store)
• Magnetic strip (optional)
• Googly eyes (optional, found at your nearest craft store)

Directions:

1. For the lamb, cover a rounded, 3-inch white card stock body with glue and attach cottonballs.
2. Cut strips of yarn and glue to a rounded, 3-inch yellow card stock body with on end starting in the center and moving to the outside of you circle.
3. Cut out a cardstock face and ears for each. Draw the nose and mouth on the cardstock then attached googly eyes (or draw on eyes or cut eyes out of colored paper). Glue faces in place.
4. For the legs, see option one (3).

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