To extend our love for paper crafts like the DIY Paper Folding Rainbow Craft and the DIY Paper Tree Craft, we have come up with a classic yet cute paper plate aquarium craft, a project your kids will love working on. The project will take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the age and skill set of the kids. So, ready to see how you can make a cute paper plate aquarium that will transport you to an underwater wonderland? Let’s begin!

Paper plate aquarium: Easy paper plate craft for kids

You’ll need:

• Paper plates – 2
• Light blue acrylic paint
• Soya chunks
• Colored paper 
• Black marker
• Paintbrush
• Pencil
• Scissor
• Glue
• Hot glue gun

Instructions:

Begin your paper plate craft by taking one white paper plate and coloring it with blue acrylic paint with the help of a wide paintbrush. If one layer of paint does not suffice, apply another coat of paint after the first one dries up. 

While your paper plate is left to dry, let’s work on making fish for the aquarium. Take three colored papers of your choice. We have used orange, pink, and yellow paper. 

Draw outlines of fish on each piece of paper. Make sure the fish are of different sizes to add depth and variety to your paper plate craft.

Similarly, draw aquarium grass on green paper and keep it aside so you can use it later while assembling the craft.  

Now, use a black marker to cover the outlines of the fish and cut them out using a pair of scissors. 

Use the black marker to draw eyes for your paper fish on white paper. Cut them out too! 

Be careful during this step, as it is easy to cut through the eyes if you are not very good at using scissors. Take the help of an adult if you find this step difficult. 

Next, use regular glue to stick the eyes on your fish cutouts. 

Check the above images to see where you need to position the eyes exactly. 

Remember the green paper on which you had drawn aquarium grass and set it aside? Pick that paper and start cutting the grass outlines at this point. 

Cut as many pieces as you would require to cover the paper plate. The number of grass cutouts would vary depending on the size of the plate you’re using. 

Apply some glue to each piece of grass cut out and paste it somewhat closer to the bottom of the paper plate. Don’t forget to leave some space for rocks as well!

Now, glue the fish cutouts on the blue paper plate. Paste them at different heights and have them face different directions to give the aquarium a natural look. 

After finishing the previous step, pick up the second white paper plate and make a hole in its center. 

Use the scissors to cut out the central portion of the plate. First, insert the scissors in the hole and make a straight cut toward the rim. Then change the direction of your scissors and cut a full circle, separating the central portion of the paper plate from its rim. 

Set it aside. 

Take a bowl of soya chunks and glue them one by one on the blue paper plate, as shown in the above images. 

Use a hot glue gun for this step so that the chunks strongly adhere to the plate and do not fall off. 

Finally, apply hot glue to the white paper plate rim you prepared earlier and stick it over the rim of the blue paper plate. 

And there you have it! Your paper plate aquarium is ready for display!

Extra tips for your paper plate project

Here are some quick tips to help you make your paper plate craft:

1. Gather all supplies in one place to avoid interruptions when working on your craft.
2. Use the layering effect to add depth to your paper aquarium.
3. If you don’t have soya chunks, replace them with small pebbles, cereal, or sand.
4. Use light and deep blue colors to paint the base plate if you prefer to add color variations. 
5. Be cautious when using scissors and the hot glue gun. Though these make great fine motor skills activities, parents and teachers must supervise the kids during this time. 
6. Have fun!

Wrapping up

Paper plate crafts make fun projects for kids 4 years and older. These crafts introduce kids to the world of creativity and nudge their minds to bring their imaginations to life. The paper plate craft we made today is a quick example of how kids can make an adorable aquarium using something as simple as a paper plate and a few other materials. 

You can always encourage the kids to explore their own creativity and add interesting elements to their paper plate aquarium. When done, kids can use their crafts to decorate their room or classroom and proudly show their work to everyone. Happy crafting!

Priyanka Sonkushre

I am Priyanka Sonkushre, a writer and blogger. I am the person behind “One Loving Mama,” a mom blog. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree along with an MBA, my healthcare background helps me deeply understand learning difficulties. I know how challenging it can be for parents to find the right resources to help their children excel in life. So, here I am to blend my healthcare expertise with my parenting experience to create valuable and helpful resources for parents and teachers supporting children with learning differences. If you wish, you can follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn.

onelovingmama.com

The post DIY: Paper Plate Craft appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Kids love clay crafts because of the sensory stimulation they receive while manipulating soft and squishy clay. And we love them because they are great for helping kids build fine motor skills. While manipulatives and board games for building fine motor skills are effective, clay crafts, too, are fun activities to boost fine motor skills. Ready to see what we have here today? Keep scrolling!

3 Creative clay craft ideas to try today!

Things you’ll need

• Clay
• Glue
• Acrylic colors
• Décor varnish
• Artist’s gesso
• Talcum powder
• Paint brushes
• Clay modeling tools

1. Cloud Clay Topper

Specific items required:

• Pencil

Sprinkle some talcum powder over your work area so that it’s easy for you to work with clay.

Cut out a small amount of clay from the main brick and start rolling it to smooth it out.

Once you’ve prepared a smooth ball, spread it with a flattening tool on your work area.

Cut out a small paper cloud and place it on top of the flattened clay.

Use a pair of scissors to cut out the clay in a cloud shape.

Now take another piece of clay ball and roll it to make a thin strip.

Flatten the strip using a ruler and cut it into a small piece using the ruler’s edge.

Make a small crease in the middle of the clay piece so that you have a guiding point for making a small bow.

Fold the edges of the strip and make them touch the center crease with the help of a clay modeling tool. Then, pack the joint with a thin strip of clay. You can also add detailing, such as creases close to the center of the bow, using an appropriate tool.

Once the bow is ready, apply some glue to its base and attach it to one corner of the clay cloud you made previously.

Next, make five small clay balls and roll them into thin strips.

Role one end of the strips to make shapes, as shown in the image above.

Make five such shapes of different sizes to represent rain falling from the cloud. Arrange them close to one another and keep them ready for the next step.

 Now apply a thin line of glue to the edges of the clay cloud.

Make another very thin strip of clay and set it on the cloud’s edges. You’ll now have two distinct pieces to make the cloud topper.

Put some glue on the upper portion of the clay rain and attach the cloud part to it.

You now have the basic structure of your cloud topper. All you need to do is decorate it with some color before you can attach it to your pencil.

So let’s begin the decoration part. 

Before you start coloring, apply a layer of Gesso to the dried clay topper so that the paints do not get absorbed in the clay and look nice and bright.

After the Gesso dries up, paint the clay topper in your favorite colors or as shown in the image. Use a very thin paint brush to make eyes, cheeks, and a smile on the cloud. 

Keep the topper aside to dry up after you paint the backside of the topper with black color.

You can now add a layer of décor varnish to the topper to maintain its color and shine.

The final step involves attaching the topper to your pencil. To do this, place your pencil on the backside of your topper and attach the two using a piece of clay. Press the clay firmly so that it keeps the pencil in place even when you are writing.

And there you have it. Your cute cloud clay topper is ready for use!

2. Owl Fridge Magnet

Specific items required:

• Magnet

Now let’s make an adorable owl magnet for your fridge.

Sprinkle some more talcum powder on your work area and prepare a medium-sized ball of clay.

Spread the clay with your fingers to make the owl’s body. Make an oval shape, and then use a sharp cutting tool to cut out a small portion of clay from the top. 

Smoothen the edges of the cut portion to make it look like owl ears. 

If you have difficulty visualizing the shape and design, you can refer to the images available on the Internet to see how owl drawings are made.

After you prepare the base, roll two small balls and spread them a little to serve as owl ears. 

Attach ears on both sides of the base before moving on to the next step.

Now use another clay ball to create your owl’s tummy. Flatten the ball using a ruler, and then place the flat clay sheet on the lower half of the owl’s body.

Use a sharp tool to cut out the excess clay sheet, and make sure the structure looks similar to the one shown in the image above.

Going forward, prepare three tiny clay balls to make the owl’s eyes and nose.

Flatten the balls and give them a nice, round shape. Place them on the owl’s body to check if their size looks okay.

Now apply some glue to one side of the eyes and place them in the same position as before. 

Cut out a small triangular nose from a flat piece of clay and place it under the eyes.

You can now use a design tool to add a series of dots around the circumference of the owl’s tummy. Adding a small flower detail to the owl will look good too! 

Now leave it to dry.

Touch the clay owl after an hour or so. If it feels dry, apply Gesso all over it.

Now, let it dry before you start painting your owl.

Paint the owl’s head in light pink and the tummy area in dark pink. Paint the ears orange if that’s what you like.

Color the eyes and flower, too. You can also put small white dots on the tummy and ears to enhance the overall look of your owl. 

Don’t forget to add a layer of varnish after the paint dries up.

Next, spread a small amount of glue on a magnet and stick it on the owl’s back. 

You can now mount your owl magnet on your fridge to showcase your artistic talent.

3. Doughnut Keychain and Hairclip

Specific items required: 

• Plier
• Keychain
• Jump ring
• Screw eye pin
• Snap hair clip

So, like we did in the above two clay projects, we will first start by preparing a ball of clay.

Roll the ball evenly so that you don’t see any visible cracks. 

Now, divide the large ball into two small balls and roll them evenly before making a hole right in their centers to make doughnuts.

Roll a very thin strip of clay and cut it out into small pieces. Place these pieces on top of a doughnut, as shown in the image above.

Make another thin strip. But this time, don’t cut it into pieces. Rather, place it on a doughnut in a random style.

Your two doughnuts will look like the ones shown above. 

You can now apply a layer of Gesso to the doughnuts.

Let the doughnuts dry for a bit, and then start painting them.

Color the base of the doughnut with sprinkles on top in brown color. Then paint the sprinkles in a variety of colors of your choice.

You can leave this doughnut as it is if you would like or paint it a dark brown color, as we have done with our clay project. 

Paint the other doughnut too with contrasting colors like brown, light blue, and dark blue.

When the paint is no longer wet, apply a layer of varnish to protect it from dust and retain its color for a long time.

It’s now time to assemble the hair clip and the key chain!

Pick the blue doughnut and apply a little glue to its base before attaching it to a snap hair clip. We suggest you use a strong glue for this purpose so that the clay doughnut does not fall off the clip when you wear it.

Make your doughnut keychain by inserting a screw eye pin in a small hole on one side of your doughnut. Use a plier to insert it properly inside the hole.

Now open the jump ring and insert it into the screw eye pin. Join its ends together with the plier in order to prevent the doughnut from sliding out of the key chain.

Once the donut is secure, your doughnut keychain is ready for use!

Look at these beauties! Don’t they inspire you to try making them on your own?

That’s a wrap!

So, you see how wonderful these clay crafts look! 

Yes, we know they are a little intricate for little hands, but believe us when we say they are a really good exercise to strengthen hand muscles and fine motor skills. Older kids can obviously make these crafts on their own, but if your younger kids too are eager to make a clay craft, give them a helping hand and teach them how to make things out of clay. The project may take a little bit more time than usual, but it will be a great learning experience for your children. 

So, make a quick trip to your nearest art store to grab all supplies and wait no more to get started!

Priyanka Sonkushre

I am Priyanka Sonkushre, a writer and blogger. I am the person behind “One Loving Mama,” a mom blog. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree along with an MBA, my healthcare background helps me deeply understand learning difficulties. I know how challenging it can be for parents to find the right resources to help their children excel in life. So, here I am to blend my healthcare expertise with my parenting experience to create valuable and helpful resources for parents and teachers supporting children with learning differences. If you wish, you can follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn.

onelovingmama.com

The post DIY Easy Clay Craft appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

So today, we will share with you three interesting activities you can involve the kids in to reinforce their understanding of the autumn season. Let’s begin!

Get more than 10,000 Kids Worksheets, Activities Pages, Coloring Pages, Templates, Classroom Posters, and Other Educational Resources at just $1.99 (Lifetime access).

Creative autumn activities to celebrate the season of transformation!

1. Dry Leaves Tree

You’ll need:

• Dry leaves
• A4-size paper (blue)
• Black marker
• Brown pencil color
• Paint brush
• Glue

Instructions:

Take a blue sheet of paper and draw a tree trunk with branches using a black marker and brown pencil color. 

Collect some dry leaves and break them into small pieces. 

Apply small dots of glue all over the tree branches and spread it evenly using a brush. 

Now, grab a handful of broken dried leaves and spread them over the paper. 

Dab, dab, dab with your fingers so that most leaves stick to the paper. 

Shake off any excess leaves on the plate.

Do the same close to the bottom of the paper to create the effect of fallen leaves on the ground. 

Add some fine details to the tree trunk once you are done with gluing the leaves. 

And your beautiful autumn tree is done! Simple, isn’t it?

2. Dry Leaves Painting

You’ll need:

• A4-size paper (white)
• Black marker
• Brown watercolor
• Semi-dried leaves
• Acrylic paints
• Paint brush

Instructions:

For this activity, use a white A4-sized paper and lay it flat in landscape orientation.

Draw a small area of land and fill it with brown watercolor. Add a few tree silhouettes on top of it.  

Pick a semi-dry leaf and color it with red acrylic color. Then place the leaf, with color-side down, on the paper and press it all over. 

Make sure to paint the side with prominent veins so that when you stamp the leaf on paper, the imprint forms perfectly. 

Now, lift the leaf gently to reveal the beautiful imprint. Align the imprints with tree branches so that your painting looks well-made. 

Complete the tree and repeat the same on another tree silhouette. However, this time, choose a different color. Orange, yellow, and brown are perfect fall colors!

To avoid mixing colors, use a separate leaf for every color. Also, try experimenting with different leaf sizes to make the painting look more natural. 

Once you’re done with the leaf painting, write a little something like “Hello, fall!” on one corner to celebrate the beautiful season of autumn.

3. Rolled Paper Tree

You’ll need:

• Brown and white paper
• Black marker
• Watercolors
• Paint brush
• Scissors
• Glue

Instructions:

Making a rolled paper tree could be a little challenging (specifically for little kids); however, the result is stunning and worth the time and effort!

Start by cutting out a tree crown from a white sheet of paper and a tree trunk from some brown paper. 

Next, paint one A4 sheet with red, yellow, orange, and brown colors. Paint the colors in small sections to allow quick differentiation and easy cutting. Let it dry for some time.

Cut the colored paper into thin strips, as shown above. 

You can also use ready-made colored paper to cut out thin strips if you don’t want to paint it yourself. 

Now, apply glue close to the edges of the tree crown and paste strips in alternate colors. 

Make sure you cover the edges completely. Leave a small area at the bottom, as it will be covered with rolled paper in the subsequent steps. 

Take one strip at a time and start rolling it, as shown in the image above. 

Once you have rolled it sufficiently, apply a drop of glue at the end of the strip.

Press the glued end firmly on the paper. Do the same with other paper strips. 

Don’t worry about pasting the strips at a particular point. You can paste the ends anywhere you find space, as long as the entire tree crown is covered evenly with rolled paper. 

Finally, glue the tree trunk you cut out earlier to the colorful tree crown to finish the rolled paper autumn tree. And just like that, you will be done!

Get more than 10,000 Kids Worksheets, Activities Pages, Coloring Pages, Templates, Classroom Posters, and Other Educational Resources at just $1.99 (Lifetime access).

Final words

Though writing and number sense activities are important, learning through art and craft is so much fun! Kids love it, and so do we! Our selection of autumn activities is perfect to engage kids on a cool autumn day and talk about the nuances of this beautiful season. Why do leaves change color, the weather gets cooler, and days get shorter. 

You can explain all of this in simple and easy-to-understand language and convey a lifelong lesson for kids to take away – That change is inevitable and it is the only constant. So, one must embrace change and say hello to new beginnings. 

Priyanka Sonkushre

I am Priyanka Sonkushre, a writer and blogger. I am the person behind “One Loving Mama,” a mom blog. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree along with an MBA, my healthcare background helps me deeply understand learning difficulties. I know how challenging it can be for parents to find the right resources to help their children excel in life. So, here I am to blend my healthcare expertise with my parenting experience to create valuable and helpful resources for parents and teachers supporting children with learning differences. If you wish, you can follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn.

onelovingmama.com

The post DIY Autumn Activities – Tree Craft appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Cute bubble painting idea for budding artists

Materials required:

• White sheets of paper
• Dishwashing liquid or hand soap
• Acrylic paints or watercolors
• Cloth rags or paper towel
• Paper cups
• Paintbrushes
• Pencil
• Straw
• Water

Instructions: 

Before you start making your bubble painting, gather all the supplies mentioned in the list. Keep cloth rags or paper towels handy to clean up the mess (yes, this is a messy but fun activity!).

Pour or pump out a small quantity of dishwashing liquid or hand soap into a cup. Then add some water and mix well.

Add color to the soap and water solution you just prepared. Here we have prepared one soapy water cup with deep blue color. You can prepare more cups depending on how many colors you want to use for your painting.

Acrylic paints and watercolors work well. You can also try using tempera paints for this activity. For darker and brighter results on paper, add a substantial amount of paint to the solution. For subtle paintings, a small amount of color will do. 

Now comes the fun part! Place a straw in the cup of your choice and start blowing air through it. You will notice beautiful and color-filled bubbles forming in the cup. 

Don’t know how to do this yet? Get yourself a glass of plain water and try blowing bubbles in it. The key here is to not pull the liquid upward, but instead push air down the straw. This air, when it escapes from the liquid, forms bubbles. Interesting, isn’t it? 

Try this for some time until you get the hang of it, and then switch to blowing bubbles in the color-filled cup. 

Before you start painting, experiment on an extra sheet of paper and adjust the color output as per your liking. 

Once you’re done, start the actual painting process by blowing bubbles in the cup. Pick the white paper and place it on top of the bubbles. Turn the paper around to see a beautiful bubble imprint! 

Be swift during the process because bubbles tend to pop real quick. Don’t worry if you don’t get it right the first time; keep practicing. You will get there!

Make sure you don’t touch the rim of the cup while taking the imprint, or else you will get a circle surrounding the bubbles. Gently place the paper carefully over the bubbles and lift it before it touches the rim. 

Do the same with other colors too! (In case you’re using multiple colors.) Take bubble imprints strategically over the paper so it looks like a bunch of hydrangea flowers.

Next, use a pencil to draw leaves and a pot to go with your hydrangea flowers. 

Squeeze out dark green, light green, yellow, and brown colors on a mixing plate.

Take a fine brush to paint the leaves. Use a combination of greens and yellow to give depth to the painting. 

Small kids can also paste green paper cutouts for the leaves instead of painting them. 

Then take a flat brush, dip it in brown paint, and fill the pot with color. 

Now, add details to the pot by highlighting some areas with the color’s darker shade. 

And voila! With just a few steps and lots of messy play, your bubble painting will be ready in no time.

These are just examples of how to make a bubble painting. 

For toddlers and preschoolers, bubble painting can be limited to merely taking prints on paper. For kindergarteners and first graders, simple drawings are more suitable. And finally, older kids can make more intricate paintings using this technique and come up with their own classic masterpieces. 

After your painting is dry, frame your artwork and see how lovely it will look hanging on a wall or standing on a table.

Why should kids try bubble painting?

Besides being so much fun, the bubble painting technique benefits kids in many ways. Here are some of the positives of doing bubble painting:

1. Bubble painting, like manipulatives, helps kids develop fine motor skills and serves as a hand-eye coordination activity.

2. It provides sensory stimulation in the same way as that offered by a DIY sensory bin.

3. It supports scientific exploration. Kids can be taught about surface tension, the behavior of liquids, color mixing, and so on.

4. It encourages them to experiment and explore their creativity.

5. It gives them an artistic outlet to express themselves freely.

6. It is a calming activity that promotes relaxation by means of bubbles. 

7. It raises their confidence and self-esteem as kids get an appreciation for their unique works of art. 

Wrapping up,

Bubble painting sure is messy! But because kids love messy play, they wouldn’t mind all the splashing and spilling happening around while they create their unique bubble designs. Yes, we know, all that mess would mean more work for you, but don’t let some extra cleanup stop your kids from having a really good time. 

After all, learning through art and play is one of the best ways to engage kids, satiate their curious minds, and boost their overall development. So, parents! When do you plan to have a bubble painting day for your kids? We hope it’s sometime soon!

Priyanka Sonkushre

I am Priyanka Sonkushre, a writer and blogger. I am the person behind “One Loving Mama,” a mom blog. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree along with an MBA, my healthcare background helps me deeply understand learning difficulties. I know how challenging it can be for parents to find the right resources to help their children excel in life. So, here I am to blend my healthcare expertise with my parenting experience to create valuable and helpful resources for parents and teachers supporting children with learning differences. If you wish, you can follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn.

onelovingmama.com

The post DIY Bubble Painting Art Ideas appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Typically, store-bought squishies are filled with soft and slow-rising polyurethane foam. But when you make them at home, you can use paper and easily available fillers like cotton to create these fun, fluffy toys. Ready to know how to make a soft paper squishy? Then, let’s get started!

What is a squishy, and why do kids love them?

A squishy is a small fidget toy that one can squeeze, play, and have fun with! It is similar to a stress ball and works as a great stress reliever. Kids love squishies because squeezing them relieves tension and calms the mind. They feel happy to see them get back in shape after compression.

Though kids play more with squishies, a squishy is great for adults too! It serves as a sensory toy and helps people relax by distracting their minds from the daily grind.

How to make a soft and fluffy paper squishy at home

You’ll need:

• White A4-sized paper
• Pencil colors
• Colorful markers
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Transparent tape
• Cotton balls

Steps to follow:

Take an A4-sized white paper and fold it in half. You don’t need to tear it or cut it at this moment and save the step for later.

Use a pencil to trace or draw items of your choice. You can make a smiley, a donut, an ice cream, a car, or anything you like. Today we are creating paper squishies of one of the most-liked fast foods in the world – a burger with a soft drink!

Once you complete your drawing, grab some colors and start coloring! You could use pencil colors for lighter portions of the drawing and markers for portions you want to appear nice and bright.

Notice how we have used markers to highlight the cheese, patty, tomatoes, and lettuce in this drawing.

After you color the entire image, use a black marker to outline each layer of the burger so everything appears distinct.

Color the soft drink cup as well before you move on to the next step. 

With a pair of scissors, cut the paper in half, as shown in the image. This will make it easier for you to cut out the drawings properly.

Begin cutting the burger first, and then do the same with the soft drink cup. And yes, be careful when you’re cutting the complex edges of your drawing.

You will now have two pieces of cutouts for each drawing—one plain white cutout and the other with the drawing.

Now that you have your cutouts ready, let’s start putting together your paper squishies.

Take the burger cutouts and place the white one on the table.

Make several pieces of transparent tape and start covering the white cutout with them. Try not to leave any space between the tape and cover the paper entirely.

Keep the length of the tape longer than the size of the cutout for easy handling and assembly.

Fold the extra portion of tape and secure it on the opposite side of the cutout.

Once this is done, place the colored cutout over the taped white cutout.

Cover the colored cutout with tape in a similar manner. See that the two cutouts remain aligned while you are applying tape to the top cutout.

While you must cover the cutout with tape, leave a small portion at the bottom of the burger to insert the filler in the paper squishy.

Make small cuts on the tape at the intricate edges for easy folding. Cover the top of the burger and other edges properly so that the filling does not come out of the squishy after you seal it.

Remember the small portion we did not apply tape to? Apply gentle pressure to both sides of the burger, and you will see a small opening at the base of the burger.

Use this opening to fill cotton balls inside the paper squishy. If you don’t have cotton balls, you could also use foam pieces, thin plastic grocery bags, or even tissue paper to puff up your squishy.

Now seal the opening with more tape. See that the edge is covered appropriately. And, you’re done! Your burger paper squishy is now ready.

Use the same technique of covering the cutouts with tape and filling them with cotton to make your soft drink squishy as well.

Now enjoy!

Paper squishy: A tool for sensory exploration

In addition to being a fun craft activity, paper squishies are great for sensory play and can enhance sensory skills in children. They engage the senses of touch, sight, and hearing (sometimes) and give kids a multisensory experience.

Parents of toddlers and preschoolers can make paper squishies and use them along with books to develop sensory skills. They can also support their child’s vocabulary development by introducing them to suitable sensory words like “fluffy,” “spongy,” “glossy,” “crackle,” and more while they play with their paper squishy.

Final thoughts

Making paper squishies is a fun, engaging activity. The fact that these are inexpensive and easy to make makes them a perfect craft activity. Kids can make them at home, at a birthday party, and even at school!

So, the next time your kids want to do something creative, give them the idea of making a paper squishy. Share our step-by-step guide and let them enjoy the process. The outcome will be so cute and satisfying that it will surely nudge them to make many more squishies in the future.

Priyanka Sonkushre

I am Priyanka Sonkushre, a writer and blogger. I am the person behind “One Loving Mama,” a mom blog. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree along with an MBA, my healthcare background helps me deeply understand learning difficulties. I know how challenging it can be for parents to find the right resources to help their children excel in life. So, here I am to blend my healthcare expertise with my parenting experience to create valuable and helpful resources for parents and teachers supporting children with learning differences. If you wish, you can follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn.

onelovingmama.com

The post DIY Paper Squishy appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Why make your own journal?

Here are some reasons why making a DIY journal is better than buying a store-bought one:

• A DIY journal allows you to personalize and customize the pages. 
• It is a cost-effective way to start journal writing.
• It gives you a creative outlet where you can put your thoughts and ideas on paper. 
• It supports self-expression and gives you a chance for self-reflection. 
• It allows you to repurpose old, unused paper and other materials lying around at home. 

DIY Journal: Create your own personalized pages to express yourself artistically!

Things you’ll need:

• Thick cardstock
• Blank white paper
• Acrylic paints
• Paintbrushes
• Black marker
• Craft jewels
• Binder clip
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Glue

Steps to follow:

First things first! Get yourself all the supplies mentioned in the list provided. If you have a set of acrylic colors, well and good. If not, buy the colors used in this project or a few of your choice. However, make sure you don’t miss out on buying the white acrylic paint. You’ll need it, for sure!

Take around 15-20 A4-sized sheets of blank white paper. These will form the pages of your journal. Now, pick one of those sheets and fold it in half.  

Fold the other sheets of paper in the same way. You will now have a bunch of pages that you can turn into a journal. 

Gather the folded sheets of paper and hold them in place using a binder clip. Make sure all sheets align accurately. The same way you would find in a notebook!

Use another sheet of white paper, fold it, and cut it in half. Keep the two pieces aside so you can use them in the following steps. 

Next, pick up the bundle of paper held by the binder clip and apply a generous amount of glue to the spine area. 

Use an old paintbrush to evenly spread glue on the spine area so that the pages bind together properly. 

To hold all the sheets together, pick one half of the white sheet we cut out earlier and spread glue all over it. Again, use a paintbrush for spreading and save your fingers from the mess. 

Place the spine of the glued paper booklet right in the middle of the white sheet and wrap it over on both sides—front and back. 

Keep the booklet aside. Now, use the second half of white paper to cut thick cardstock or an old book cover.

Place the white sheet on top of the thick cardstock and use a marker and a ruler to mark its size. 

Use a scissor to cut it out. 

Take the cutout and mark another thick sheet to obtain a second cutout. These two pieces of thick cardstock will be used to form the cover of your journal. 

To assemble the cover, start by applying glue to the front of the booklet. 

Spread it all over and paste one piece of cardstock on it. See that all edges are in proper alignment. 

Repeat the same with the second piece of cardstock. Apply glue to the back of the booklet and fix the cardstock to it securely. 

Once the front and back covers dry out, move on to the next step. 

Take a fresh paintbrush, not the one you have been using for gluing purposes, and start painting the cover with white acrylic paint. 

After you have finished coloring the front and back covers in white, allow the paint to dry. 

Repeat the same binding trick using a half-white A4 sheet as you did earlier. 

Apply glue to the sheet and spread it lightly to form a thin layer of glue all over. 

Take the white booklet and wrap the glued paper around its spine. 

While doing so, check that you place the booklet right in the middle of the glued sheet so you have equal sized paper wrapped around the front and back of the booklet.  

Now it’s time to decorate and personalize your journal! Use your favorite colors to make colorful cloud-like shapes on the outer side of the front cover. 

Cover the entire area with cloud-like shapes. Now use a black marker to form flowers on all these shapes. See the above image for reference. 

Also, add a few green leaves here and there to complete the beautiful design. 

When the design is dry, give a title to your journal. We have written “Handmade Journal” on ours. You can write anything of your choice. Try experimenting with different fonts on a separate piece of paper and use the one that you like the most.

Lastly, add some fancy craft jewels to the cover to elevate the overall look of your journal. 

That’s it! See how beautiful this journal has turned out to be! We’re sure yours, too, is nothing less than fantastic!

You can now use this journal to write your ideas, share your thoughts, and pen anything and everything that comes to your mind.

All you need to do is create interesting backgrounds and designs on every page, or keep it simple if you want, and write away!

Here we have created a page highlighting the goals of the month and things to remember in the month of March. By merely using some colored pens, markers, and washi tape, you can create something similar in your journal too!

Journaling is fun. So use your creativity and design beautiful pages in your journal that highlight all about YOU!

Journaling techniques you can try in your DIY journal

1. Bullet Journaling

This is all about using elements and symbols to create a monthly, weekly, and daily plan layout. You don’t need any artistic skills to try bullet journaling. Just jot down your points, and you’re good to go. Bullet journaling is also great for tracking your goals and habits. 

2. Art Journaling

This type of journaling is more about self-expression and can be a great creative expression activity. You can draw, paint, or make a collage and combine it with writing about your experiences, thoughts, and emotions. You don’t need to be an expert artist for art journaling. Just set yourself free, as there are no rules to it, and enjoy the space to express yourself. 

3. Written Journaling

This style of journaling requires you to write your heart out. You can either pen your thoughts straight away or use self-reflection journal prompts on days when you don’t know what to write. Written journaling is a safe outlet where you can express yourself without guilt or pressure. Practicing journal writing improves your mental well-being, provides you with a creative outlet, and allows you to document your daily life. 

Conclusion

Journaling is a wonderful practice for kids as well as adults. If you’re new to journaling, it is best to make a personalized DIY journal for yourself so that it inspires you to stay consistent with journaling. You can later make a DIY notebook planner too! 

The best way to maintain consistency is to allot a specific time for it in your daily schedule and stick to it every day. Once you get into the habit of journaling, you will for sure enjoy its benefits in the long run. So, don’t wait until January to start this routine, and make yourself a cool journal today!

Priyanka Sonkushre

I am Priyanka Sonkushre, a writer and blogger. I am the person behind “One Loving Mama,” a mom blog. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree along with an MBA, my healthcare background helps me deeply understand learning difficulties. I know how challenging it can be for parents to find the right resources to help their children excel in life. So, here I am to blend my healthcare expertise with my parenting experience to create valuable and helpful resources for parents and teachers supporting children with learning differences. If you wish, you can follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn.

onelovingmama.com

The post DIY Easy Handmade Journal appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Drawing simple objects helps children build their creativity and prepares them for more complex artistic projects in the future. It’s an excellent starting point for young artists.

While a blank sheet of paper and some crayons are often enough, using letters or numbers as drawing prompts can make it even more exciting. This method gives kids a clear starting point and sparks their imagination.

Additionally, drawing with letters or numbers helps reinforce learning. It strengthens their skills in word and number recognition in a fun and interactive way.

To make this process easier for parents and teachers, printables are a great tool. They provide structured activities and are simple to use in any learning environment.

With this in mind, we’ve created downloadable files filled with fun drawing ideas using the alphabet and numbers. These resources are designed to inspire creativity and support learning.

Feel free to use these printables in any way that suits your needs. Let the young artists explore their creativity and craft their own masterpieces!

Benefits of drawing for young children

Drawing is not just a form of creative expression. For young kids, it supports the development of fine motor skills necessary to learn to write. Other benefits of drawing in early childhood include:

• Enhanced memory
• More attention to detail
• Opportunity to express oneself
• Improved hand-eye coordination
• Boosts creativity and imagination
• Supports cognitive development
• Improved concentration
• Better problem-solving

Incorporating alphabet and number-based drawings in art-integrated learning

All these years, drawing was considered an extracurricular activity. However, educators now understand the importance of art integration in education. Schools have started to incorporate different art forms in subjects like language, math, and science to engage students and improve learning outcomes.

Similar to other art integration examples, alphabet and number-based drawings are also great add-ons to facilitate student learning. These can be weaved seamlessly into lesson plans to provide a well-rounded learning experience for the kids.

For example, drawing with letters of the alphabet can be combined with other interesting ways to teach letter recognition, and number drawings can be a part of math and art integration lesson plans.

This will allow kids to focus on letter and number formation through a novel approach. It will help creative learners get into their comfort zone and learn without hesitation. And it will nudge reluctant writers to practice writing in a fun and engaging way.

Easy drawing ideas using the alphabet and numbers

In this section, you will find four sets of printables — drawing ideas using letters of the alphabet both in uppercase and lowercase, and 2 sets of different drawing ideas using numbers 0 to 9. Both printables have an attention-grabbing yet clear and simple copy to ensure kids understand the steps involved in the drawing easily.

Get more than 10,000 + Kids Worksheets, Activities Pages, Coloring Pages, Templates, Classroom Posters, and Other Educational Resources visit our store .

To download the printable file, click on the download button available at the end of the images and save the file on your computer. You can now turn on your printer and print as many copies of the printable as you would like. Don’t have a printer? No worries! Save the files on a pen drive and get them printed at your nearest store.

Once you have the prints, ask the kids to grab a few items, like some blank sheets of paper, pencils, markers, crayons, etc., to get started with their drawing activity.

Bonus Drawing Ideas Using Alphabets

At times, children may not enjoy drawing simply because they cannot find a common point to start. So, this bonus set of worksheets is perfect for little learners. They are designed especially for preschool and kindergarten kids. These printable activity pages include both big (capital) and small (lowercase) alphabets for drawing unique things. It helps children improve handwriting, letter recognition, and early learning skills.

The set has exciting drawing ideas where children can transform letters into cute animals, fun shapes, and creative characters. For example, they can turn the letter “A” into an alligator to create a playful illustration. Similarly, drawing ideas for all 26 letters are given in the PDF.

Children ultimately learn how simple alphabets can lead to creative imagination. It also helps them practice letter formation and handwriting skills. Teachers, parents, and adults can use these sheets to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination among young ones.

With easy tracing patterns and illustrations, these bonus worksheets make ABC practice feel less like study time. So, it eventually helps children remember the alphabet better. They can be used for home learning, classrooms, homeschooling, or extra practice sessions. Such a set of worksheets inspires them to draw, color, and admire different objects.

How to use our printables

Here are some ways in which the kids can use our printables and derive maximum benefits from this activity.

1. Practice session

As it may not be easy for little hands to draw merely by looking at the picture, it is best to engage them in a short practice session. You can give each child a copy of the alphabet or number drawing and have them trace all the steps with a marker or crayon. 

Have them select a color other than black so they can easily differentiate their lines from the base drawing. After tracing, they can also decide on the color combination and try it on the final image so that they know exactly how their drawing will turn out.

2. Draw on your own

After the kids have taken a practice session, you can have a “draw on your own” activity. Kids can either make their drawings without any help or you can place a large copy of the printable on your whiteboard for them to refer to. 

And even if you see kids not drawing on their own and copying the steps entirely, rest assured, they are still working on important skills like memory, hand-eye coordination, concentration, and more.

3. Combine letters and numbers for drawing challenges

Combining letters and numbers can open doors to more creativity and imagination. It also adds an extra challenge for the kids. These challenges help instill a sense of healthy competition and push kids to showcase their best artistic sides.

We suggest you try this activity after the kids are done with all the individual letters and numbers. By the time they completed them all, they would gather enough ideas on how to create new art, starting with something as simple as letters and numbers. 

Tips to conduct alphabet- and number-based drawing sessions

1. Some drawings with letters and numbers are more complex than others. So, let the kids start with simple drawings and later move on to more challenging ones.
2. Remind kids to draw inspiration from objects in their surroundings. You can even show them some examples to spark their creativity.
3. After the kids have tried their hands at directed drawings with uppercase letters, let them experiment with different styles of lettering and numbering, like cursive and block numbers.
4. Conduct regular practice sessions so kids can improve their drawing skills.
5. Encourage kids to add extra details and a beautiful background to the final drawing if they like.
6. After the completion of the activity, have the kids show their artwork to everyone. They can even come up with a story revolving around the picture they created and share it with their family or peers.

Click the buttons below to download the drawing Ideas Sheets for FREE!

That’s a wrap!

So, the next time you want to try something different with your kids or students at school, feel free to download our drawing ideas using the alphabet and numbers. Provide kids with ample time and the required resources to practice these drawings and enjoy a session encompassing creativity and learning.

Last but not least, don’t forget to offer them guidance throughout the session to improve their drawing skills and shower them with lots of appreciation to boost their confidence and motivate them to participate in more such activities in the future.

Priyanka Sonkushre

I am Priyanka Sonkushre, a writer and blogger. I am the person behind “One Loving Mama,” a mom blog. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree along with an MBA, my healthcare background helps me deeply understand learning difficulties. I know how challenging it can be for parents to find the right resources to help their children excel in life. So, here I am to blend my healthcare expertise with my parenting experience to create valuable and helpful resources for parents and teachers supporting children with learning differences. If you wish, you can follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn.

onelovingmama.com

The post Drawing Ideas Using Alphabet and Numbers [Printable Included] appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Pencil toppers are a great way to add an element of fun and excitement to regular pens and pencils. Kids love to write more when their pencils are adorned with beautiful toppers. And showcasing their prized possessions to everyone boosts their self-esteem to another level!

So, let’s see how to make easy pencil toppers with construction paper, as it is one of the most readily available craft materials.   

5 Cute construction paper pencil toppers to decorate your writing tools and brighten your desk!

1. Leaf Pencil Topper

Things you’ll need: 

• Construction paper (your choice of colors)
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Tape
• Glue

Steps to follow:

• Take a 3-inch wide piece of construction paper. We have used teal and red for this craft. But feel free to use any color you like. 
• Fold the paper to form a middle crease on both pieces of construction paper and cut them in half. 

• Make another fold on each of the pieces. You will now have four small pieces of folded paper in all. 

• Use a pencil to draw a leaf-like outline on each of these pieces. 
• Cut them out with the help of scissors. 

• Your leaves are now ready. Assemble the topper by placing the pencil’s unsharpened end on one leaf and applying tape to secure it in place. 

• Now apply some glue close to the leaf’s margin and place the other leaf of the same color on top of it. Press the leaf with your fingers so that both pieces adhere properly. 
• Wrap the base of the leaf with some tape so that the topper doesn’t fall off while writing. 

• Once secure, use scissors to create tiny cuts all over the leaf. 

• And your leaf pencil topper is ready! Make a similar one with teal-colored paper so you have two beautiful and feathery toppers for your pencils. 

2. Rainbow pencil topper

Things you’ll need: 

• Construction paper – white
• Colorful markers or crayons
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Tape
• Glue

Steps to follow:

• Gather all the supplies mentioned in the list above. 

• Take a piece of white construction paper and draw a cloud.
• Make another cloud at a short distance from the first one. 
• Draw funny facial expressions on both clouds.

• Join the two clouds with a rainbow arc. 
• After you complete making one, draw a similar one next to it. 

• Use a black marker to outline the clouds and the rainbow arcs in both drawings. 
• Fill the arcs with rainbow colors using your set of colorful markers or crayons. 

• Cut the shapes out with a pair of scissors to get two colorful rainbow toppers. 

• Cover the topper completely with tape to protect it from wear and tear. 
• Trim the excess tape off the edges so that the topper looks nice and neat. 

• Next, keep the topper upside down and place the closed end of the pencil on it. 
• Secure it with a small piece of tape, and you’re done! See how lovely these toppers look on the pencils?

3. Bow Pencil Topper

Things you’ll need: 

• Construction paper – white and red
• Markers
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Glue

Steps to follow:

• Tear or cut out a 3-inch wide strip from full-size white construction paper.
• Fold the strip vertically to form a middle crease. 

• Open the fold and cut the paper along the crease to get two thin paper strips of equal width. 

• Take one strip and fold it once, as shown in the image. 
• Now make another fold so you obtain an M-shaped form when you see it from the side. 

• Draw two slanting lines close to the corners of the folded paper. 
• Cut along these lines to get a shape as shown below.

• Now open the fold once and make similar cuts on the other end of the paper. 
• You will obtain a series of shapes, as shown above when you open the paper strip entirely. 

• Hold the right end of the strip and fold it in such a way that the first node aligns with the middle node. 
• Similarly, fold the left end of the strip and align the last node with the node at the center. 

• Use a little tape to hold the folds together. Turn the paper over to reveal a beautiful bow. 

• Now, cut out a thin strip of red construction paper and wrap it around the bow’s center. Use a little glue to fix the strip’s end in place. 
• Give some definition to the bow by puffing up the bow’s folded portion. 

• Once that is done, turn the bow around and attach it to your pencil or pen with the help of some transparent tape. 

• Finish off your adorable construction paper pencil topper by adding small red polka dots to the flat areas of your bow topper for an extra pop of color and charm.

4. Star Pencil Topper

Things you’ll need: 

• Construction paper – yellow
• Glue
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Black marker

Steps to follow:

• Pick a sheet of construction paper and make markings at a distance of 3.5 cm each, starting from one end of the paper. 

• Using the markings as a guide, draw straight lines along the length of the paper with the help of a ruler and a pencil. 
• Cut the paper along these lines to obtain three same-width paper strips. 

• Glue the ends of the three strips together to form a long paper strip to work with. 
• Make a bow shape as shown in the figure above. 

• Insert one end of the strip through the gap formed and pull it out completely. 

• You will obtain a pentagon-like shape when you pull both ends of the strips and arrange them neatly. 

• Fold the smaller end of the strip over the pentagon and insert the end into the pocket formed in the structure. 

• Now, keep folding the longer portion of the strip, following the sides of the pentagon, and continue until you get close to the end. 

• Push this end into the pocket formed on the hexagon. You can see how this is done in the images above. 

• Cut off the excess, if you have any, and glue the end if you like. 

• Place the hexagon over the leftover construction paper and trace its margins using a pencil. 
• Cut this out and apply a little glue to one of its sides. 

• Stick the paper on the hexagon and draw a winky smiley on it using a black marker. 

• Make a small V-shaped cut on the hexagon and insert your pencil in it. 
• Define the star shape by pressing the midpoints of each of the hexagon’s sides. 

• And your star topper is all set on your pencil. Show it off to your friends, and let your creativity shine as you write and draw with this delightful writing tool!

5. Butterfly Pencil Topper

Things you’ll need: 

• Yellow construction paper or any color of your choice
• Glue
• Scissors
• Crayons
• Pencil
• Black marker

Steps to follow:

• Make yourself two small squares out of a large piece of construction paper. Divide one of these squares into two smaller pieces of paper. 

• Fold the large piece of paper and draw a butterfly wing on it.
• Similarly, take a piece of smaller paper, fold it in half, and draw a small butterfly wing on it. 

• Use a pair of scissors to cut out the butterfly wings—one large and one small. 

• Beautify the wings by adding fine black lines using a marker. Now fill the sections with color using an orange crayon. 

• Take another small piece of yellow paper and roll it on one end of your pencil. 
• Put some glue on the end and press it firmly to seal it properly. 
• Press the portion of the rolled paper that extends out of the pencil to form a flat portion. 

• In the next step, cover the small set of butterfly wings with tape and cut off the excess. You just need to cover the smaller wing and leave the larger wing as it is. 

• Apply glue to the midline of the smaller butterfly wings and attach it to the large wings. 

• Once the wings are held together, turn them over and place the flat yellow portion of the pencil on top of them. 
• Turn the pencil and see for yourself how beautiful this butterfly topper looks! 

• Make as many of these toppers as you would like.

Wrapping up,

Pencil toppers make the writing and drawing experience enjoyable for kids. These can be made in a variety of shapes, colors, and designs, allowing kids to add an element of personalization to their writing tools. Pencil toppers can also support sensory stimulation. All you need to do is use a variety of tactile elements with unique textures to enhance the sensory experience for kids.

DIY pencil toppers along with a DIY pencil holder are fun activities to boost fine motor skills wherein kids also get to express their artistic flair. Plus, having distinct pencil toppers helps kids quickly identify their writing tools when everyone around them has the same kind, reducing the chances of mixing up or getting lost.

As you can see, pencil toppers have many functional and creative benefits for kids. So, why wait any longer? Go get the kids and make a handful of creative toppers to elevate their writing experience and never hear them say “I don’t want to write” ever again!

Priyanka Sonkushre

I am Priyanka Sonkushre, a writer and blogger. I am the person behind “One Loving Mama,” a mom blog. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree along with an MBA, my healthcare background helps me deeply understand learning difficulties. I know how challenging it can be for parents to find the right resources to help their children excel in life. So, here I am to blend my healthcare expertise with my parenting experience to create valuable and helpful resources for parents and teachers supporting children with learning differences. If you wish, you can follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn.

onelovingmama.com

The post DIY: Cute Construction Paper Pencil Toppers appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

In this blog post, we are going to share with you an easy guide to help kids make their own pen stand with basic items like glue and construction paper. So, ask your kid to gather the supplies and create a crafty masterpiece to get rid of their desk clutter in no time! 

Why making a DIY paper pen stand is a beneficial activity for kids

Crafting offers a host of benefits for children. Whether kids are doing it at home to spend their time constructively or at school as a part of a lesson plan or extracurricular activity, there are ways in which making a DIY pen stand benefits young crafters: 

1. Craft projects, like this one, encourage creativity and resourcefulness in school and at home.
2. It allows kids to develop crafting proficiency and other valuable skills like patience, attention to detail, and problem-solving. 
3. It provides kids with an opportunity to relax and enjoy a stress-free activity. 
4. Kids can customize their pen stands based on their tastes and personal preferences. 
5. A paper pen stand is a cost-effective alternative to store-bought products. 
6. It boosts self-esteem as kids use their skills to create something praiseworthy. 
7. They imbibe the lifelong skill of keeping their belongings organized. 

Easy construction paper pen stand for kids: Store your stationery and stay organized!

Materials required:

• Colorful construction paper (any 6)
• Craft jewels or stickers of your choice
• Pencil/markers
• Glue
• Scissors (Disclaimer: Adult supervision is required as scissors are a sharp tool. Please be vigilant.)

Step-by-step instructions:

• Find yourself a comfortable workspace and arrange all the materials required within your arm’s reach.

• Pick one construction paper. We are starting with blue paper. 
• Place the paper vertically and fold it diagonally.
• Next, fold the excess paper at the bottom as shown in the image, and form a crease. 

• Use scissors to get rid of the excess portion. Follow the crease while cutting. 
• Prepare the other five sheets in a similar manner. You will now have six large triangles of construction paper. 

• Pick one triangle and open it to reveal a square. 
• Fold this square vertically. Align the edges properly and use your fingers to form a crease. 

• Open the fold and make sure the crease runs right in the middle of the paper. 
• Hold the top right corner of the paper and fold it to the middle crease. 

• Repeat the same with the top left corner of the paper to form a triangular shape. 
• Fold the remaining paper at the bottom and align its edge with the base of the triangle formed. 

• For the next step, fold the right side of the paper till the middle crease. 
• Repeat the same with the left side to obtain a shape as shown above. 

• Here, you will notice pocket-like structures on both sides of the folded paper. 
• Apply some glue to the inner portion of one of these pockets, and gently insert the other side into it. 

• Push the paper all the way inside the pocket and press firmly so that the folds do not open. 
• You have now completed one holder for the pen stand. 
• There’s still some work left to be done on this holder because it is open at the bottom. But don’t worry, we will take care of this later.

• Make five more holders with the leftover triangles you prepared earlier. 
• Attach the holders by applying glue to their outer walls. Begin by fixing two holders together. 

• Make two more pairs of attached holders by gluing the remaining ones.

• Now, put together all three pairs of holders using glue on their outer walls. 
• Once done, it’s time to seal the base so that the stand can hold stationery properly. 

• Grab a white construction paper (or any other color of your choice) and place the stand on it. 
• Use a pencil or marker to trace its base. Cut this shape out with a pair of scissors. 

• Spread a good amount of glue on this paper cut-out and attach it to the base of the pen stand. 
• You can also add some craft jewels or stickers to decorate the pen stand. Enthusiastic crafters can also make small origami stars or origami hearts and use them as embellishments for their pen stands. 

This is the final look of the construction paper pen stand. 

Store your pens, pencils, markers, and other light stationary items in it and find them easily whenever you need them!

A few extra tips for this DIY project

1. Choose construction paper with vibrant colors for a visually appealing result.
2. Explore different construction paper textures and prints to find something you like. 
3. Use your imagination to add creative touches to the pen stand.
4. Do not overload your pen stand with too many items. It is made of paper, after all! 
5. Clean the pen stand regularly to keep dust from settling in the pockets. 
6. If you notice signs of wear and tear after daily use, make a new one!

Summing up,

Organizing is an important skill to have. Teaching this skill early on helps kids navigate their tasks smoothly. Our construction paper pen stand and DIY desk organizer tray are just small steps to instill this skill in children so they learn to keep their supplies organized and pay attention to their task at hand.

Having their own pen stand will mean kids know exactly where to find necessary items without losing track. They can organize their stuff and keep their desks or study tables clean so they can focus better. So, encourage your kids to try this DIY project and feel the joy of setting up a well-organized space for themselves. 

Priyanka Sonkushre

I am Priyanka Sonkushre, a writer and blogger. I am the person behind “One Loving Mama,” a mom blog. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree along with an MBA, my healthcare background helps me deeply understand learning difficulties. I know how challenging it can be for parents to find the right resources to help their children excel in life. So, here I am to blend my healthcare expertise with my parenting experience to create valuable and helpful resources for parents and teachers supporting children with learning differences. If you wish, you can follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn.

onelovingmama.com

The post DIY Craft: Easy Construction Paper Pen Stand appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Young kids, like preschoolers and kindergarteners, often spend their time doing fun tracing activities, color activities, and math activities in class every day. Try making a fun DIY dinosaur craft with the kids to break the monotony of regular activities and add an element of fun and excitement. Want to know how? The details are right below.

Fun preschool dinosaur craft to transport kids to the Jurassic period

Things you’ll need:

• Glue
• Scissors 
• Button – 1
• Paintbrush
• Paper cups – 2
• Yarn or thread
• Orange acrylic paint
• Black marker or pencil
• Divider (or anything with a pointy end)
• Colored paper – white, orange, and violet

(Disclaimer: Adult supervision is required as scissors and divider are sharp tools. Please be vigilant.)

Steps to follow:

For the first step to making a cute dinosaur craft, you will need two paper cups, an orange acrylic color, and a wide paintbrush. 

Start coloring by dipping the paintbrush in the bottle of acrylic paint and then spreading it evenly onto the paper cup. When you finish coloring the first cup, color the second one as well. 

Let the paint dry for some time. 

The next step involves making small holes in both cups. So, use a divider or any pointy item to make the holes. 

Parents must be vigilant during this step, as kids will be using a sharp tool. You can also choose to do this step for your child if you would like to. 

Take the first cup and puncture a small hole in its closed end. The hole must be close to the circumference and not near the center. 

Now make two holes in the second paper cup. The first hole will be similar to the one we made in the previous step and should be made on the closed end. 

Make the second hole close to the open end. It must be on the wall of the paper cup, right below the top hole. 

After you have made the holes, use scissors to cut the rim of the first paper cup, i.e., the paper cup with only one hole. 

Now press the cup in the middle of the rim and form soft creases on both sides. 

Cut the cup along the creases on both sides. Make sure the cut is all the way to the base of the cup. 

This is how the cup will look after cutting it from both sides. 

Can you guess what this cup will be used for? Yes, the dinosaur’s face!

Moving on, take a piece of yarn or a thick thread and insert it into the hole from the inside.

Grab the yarn peeping out of the hole and pull it out of the cup.

Before you insert the yarn into the hole, tie a small button on one of its ends to stop the yarn from coming out completely. 

Next, grab the cup with two holes and insert the yarn from the hole on its closed end. 

Pull the string out and insert it again into the hole close to the open end of the cup. 

This time, insert the string from the inside and pull it from the outside of the cup. 

Once you have got this right, pull the string all the way so that the first cup gets on top of the cup with two holes. 

To make sure the cups don’t displace from their positions, apply some glue to the base cup and stick the other one onto it. 

You can also use double-sided tape if glue is not sufficient to hold the top cup in place. 

Now that the basic structure of the dinosaur is ready, it’s time for some detailing. Use small pieces of white, orange, and violet paper and draw teeth, eyes, a tail, and back plates for your dinosaur. 

Cut these shapes out and keep them ready for the next step. 

Use glue to attach the details you just made for your dinosaur. Add eyes, hands, and teeth on both sides. Glue the back plates too!

Add the small violet plates to the tail. Cut the excess string off and glue the yarn to the back side of the tail. You can also add some tape to hold the yarn in place. 

There! Your fierce yet cute dinosaur is complete. Just grab its tail and pull it back to see its jaws and sharp teeth moving up and down. Have fun!

Engaging books to read and enjoy with our dinosaur craft

Kids are always up for a good story and love to spend their time reading or listening to it. Make things more interesting by reading a dinosaur-based book before or after the craft-making session. Our favorites include:

• How to Catch a Dinosaur by Adam Wallace
• Have You Seen My Dinosaur? by Jon Surgal
• Dinosaurs Love Underpants by Claire Freedman
• A Very Dinosaur Birthday by Adam Wallace

You can also have a quick story-retelling session wherein kids come forward and use their dinosaur craft to retell the story. What a fun activity this would be! 

It’s time to wrap things up!

Crafting is a popular activity among young children. They love to cut, glue, draw, and color to make things for themselves. Besides nurturing kids with good skills like creativity, coordination, problem-solving, and critical thinking, our dino craft also teaches them to work with patience. 

Believe us when we say, it does take time to cut all the detailing we add to the dinosaur! Some kids will enjoy the challenge. Some might get frustrated. So, offer help to the kids who need it. When complete, the smile on their faces after all the hard work will be totally worth it!

Jaspreet Kaur

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