Spring Craft Guide

Perfectly Plaid Placemats

Fold a piece of construction paper lengthwise and help your child to cut the paper every two inches up from the fold (leave a one-inch border at the end of the sheet). Unfold the paper. Take various colors of construction paper, and while holding it horizontally, cut into one-inch vertical strips. Now it's time to weave. Pick a strip and weave it under and over the first sheet, sliding it all the way to the uncut border when finished. Take a strip of different color paper and weave it through the next-to-last strip, however, weave the opposite way this time, over rather then under. Alternate colors and weaving (be sure to push the strips tightly together). When you have finished, tape the loose edges together and add cutout paper flowers with stems that can also be woven into the mat.

Turn a Caterpillar into a Butterfly

It takes a caterpillar about two weeks to become a butterfly, but with this craft you can witness the metamorphosis in seconds. First, take a piece of construction or drawing paper and fold it in half. To make the chrysalis, cut out a half-heart shape—just like when you make a cutout heart. Next, make the caterpillar by folding another piece of paper in half, this time cutting out a long tube shape along the fold (just like half a caterpillar). Fold a third piece of paper in half and cutout a half butterfly shape to make the butterfly. Find some books with pictures of different butterfly species for your children to look at, and have them color the three different pieces.

Tape the caterpillar together, then open up the chrysalis and place the caterpillar inside with only a small bit of its head sticking out. Tape the tail of the caterpillar to the bottom of the butterfly (make sure the top of the butterfly is sticking out of the top of the chrysalis). Now fold the chrysalis up and tape it closed along the side; leave enough room for the butterfly to emerge. Now, when you pull down on the caterpillar, the butterfly should go inside the chrysalis. And when you push the caterpillar in, the butterfly should emerge.

Springtime Bonnets

Spring is the perfect time to wear fancy hats. It's even more fun to invite friends to join you in a bonnet making party. Have a contest to see whose bonnet is best! Straw bonnets are readily available at craft stores, or recycle various hats around the house. Add ribbons, bows, pom-poms—or anything you can think of for decoration. You can even create a scene on your hat by adding some tiny toy springtime animals or pictures of birds and flowers. Add cut shapes from foam sheets and stick them to the top of the hat, or add gift-wrap ribbon to dangle down the back. Other ideas include adding small plastic eggs or fabric scraps rolled up to look like flowers. Small touches like feathers, sequins, or jewels can really make a bonnet beautiful, too. After you've finished decorating, add a ribbon tie by gluing about a foot of ribbon onto the inside of the hat to tie under your chin.