Kids Art: Winter 'Magic' Painting

We are overly fond of Oil Pastel Resist. (I am. Corollary: Ana is too.)

And we love the amorphous effect of Salt Sprinkled Painting.

This Winter 'Magic' Painting seems to be the latest trend in Ana's impromptu art works. It combines Oil Pastel Resist and Salt Sprinkled Painting in cool watercolors on heavy-weight paper to create winter backdrop for some of the layered/collage pieces, or even as stand-alone pieces.

White oil pastel on white paper creates the 'magic': Since white on white is practically inconspicuous at first, when we wash over it with inky watercolors, it reveals itself.

Dots, snowflakes, stars, piles of snow etc., even snowman were Ana's favorite... snow-laden evergreens, penguins on icy shores and such were some of the things I initially shared with her, nothing breath-taking. Most of Ana's creations became Thank You cards we sent post-Xmas.



Items Used: Oil pastels, water colors, faux sable #12 flat brush (or any brush - large flat brush makes the wash easier), common salt (in shaker to minimize mess/wastage), heavy weight paper (card stock is fine, but effects vary with paper weight); optional: scissors, pinking shears, double-sided foam adhesive tape, glue

1. On white heavy weight paper, create some design/scene with white oil pastel for the 'magic' painting; (any colored oil pastel can be used for the scenery, reserving the white to depict snow/ice in the finished work)
2. Use a large flat brush with inky watercolors to wash over it
3. When it is still in the glossy state, not dry yet, but not soggy either, sprinkle salt on the wet watercolors just painted
4. Allow to dry completely and brush off the salt

Some of the things we used this for:

• Book Mark: Make Winter Magic Painting on a desired rectangular piece of medium heavy-weight paper; fold in half with a piece of Ric Rac ribbon or raffia in between, and glue together to make a book mark. For extra protection, I "laminated" it with clear contact sheet. For Nana, we glued one of the penguins Oggie made on this wintry background, and Ana wrote, "Happy Reading, Nana!", before I laminated it.


• Cut-paper Collage: Cut out pictures from old greeting cards or wrapping paper, or create your own figures - we went with the ubiquitous reindeer, penguins, snowman, pine tree and suchlike. Glue them on with double-sided foam tape for that extra dimension. We made small 3x5 inch or 4x6 inch ones for greeting cards


• Cards: Cut a 3x3 inch or so square using pinking shears with interesting edges; glue this with double-sided foam adhesive tape on to a piece of card stock paper that is slightly larger; then attach this combo to the front of a handmade paper card, with mild sprinkling of glitter where preferred


• Rubber-Stamp: We created a whole 8x11 heavy weight paper with teal, indigo, lilac, purple Winter Magic Painting; when completely dry, add snowflake or any favorite rubber stamp in interesting colors. (As before, I like to use food-color inks for rubber stamping). Apply a gentle layer of glitter for that extra magic little girls love

As always, inspiration comes from many places. This combination of Oil Pastel Resist and Salt Sprinkled Painting can be be used for non-winter themes as well, using the white oil pastel to preserve the whites/light where needed.

Merry Christmas!

Much like the last couple of years, we baked fresh cookies on Christmas Eve and left them with a mug of milk and a note for Santa.

All Ana could think of asking was, Why do you come only on Christmas?

(We are still working on the spelling, learning the rules and exceptions to the rules of standard/accepted writing, which is probably not a quick-and-short drill ...)

After he talked to the kids via PNP "web-cam" a couple of days ago, reminding Ana to try harder at getting ready for bed when her parents ask her to, and asking Oggie to listen to his parents when they want him to do something, we were expecting Santa to stop by. And he did.

Looks like he had most of the cookies and milk, and possibly carrots too, or maybe the reindeer ate the carrots, we can't be sure, we were asleep...

Anyway, he did leave a note for Ana explaining why he comes only once a year: apparently, he has to be there every day of the year (except Christmas), else the elves would get very playful and forget to get their work done... and how else can he get some presents to all the children in the world if the elves don't help with the toy-making?!

Merry Christmas!

Letters From Father Christmas

Letters From Father Christmas
J.R.R.Tolkien

Ages 4+

Houghton Mifflin, 2004

Nana always brings precious books for the kids. I'm sure working at a charming little book store helps her screen, sift, and sort through the huge collection out there and select only the ones that somehow resonated with her.

Her latest present for the kids is Letters From Father Christmas by J.R.R.Tolkien. It is a collection of letters written by Tolkien to his children (as Father Christmas, and sometimes his Secretary Ilbereth), every year, from 1920 onwards for nearly twenty years, till about 1943. In one letter, Father Christmas asks the children to give his love to John who has stopped writing back, thus letting us learn a little about John.

The first letter was for his then 3-year old son John, and as the years passed the letters were addressed to his three sons John, Michael, Christopher, and his daughter Priscilla. "Cheer up, chaps (Also chaplet if that is the feminine)." says North Polar Bear in one of his postscript scrawls.

The elaborate world Tolkien created for his children, with Father Christmas in the North Pole, his chief assistant North Polar Bear, and even his Secretary Elf Ibereth, along with drawings and paintings, is a treat to read. The imagination, creativity and facility with which Middle Earth was created is hinted at in this collection of intimate and delightful letters.

The book reproduces many of the original letters and paintings, transcribed in print to make it easier to read the spidery old writing. A Goblin attack leading to an almost never-was Christmas, reindeer running loose, accident-prone North Polar Bear creating mini disasters everywhere and everywhen he could, all make for a magical experience of the world many children today learn to dismiss and disbelieve.

I fell in love with this book at first read. And after reading a few of the letters, looks like it is exercising its charm on Ana as well.

[image source: tolkien.co.uk]

Kids Craft: Easy Paper Penguins

Penguins seem to have captured Oggie's heart, enjoying a special sort of attention only a toddler can command. This holiday season, while looking for easy cards Oggie can make, it was clear to me that it has to be either penguin or snowman. Penguin won, no contest.

Either construction paper or card stock will work. I went with card stock as it stays firm and withstands the pressure of the little hands without creasing much or tearing.



Items Used: Black, white and orange card stock paper, stick glue, pre-folded greeting cards preferably made out of thick card stock paper in various colors.

(†: Done by a grown-up for toddlers)

1. †On a template paper, draw a lumpy egg shape with only one axis of symmetry for that extra cuteness. Or, symmetric oval or rounded triangle or any reasonably discernible penguin shape for that matter. Make a slightly smaller/larger template roughly the same shape
2. †Cut pieces of black and white card stock using the appropriate templates
3. †Cut small pieces for nose and feet from orange card stock, proportionate to the penguin body
4. Activity Set-up for toddlers: In a tray, set up separate small shallow containers with the black, white, and orange pieces, and a stick glue along with pre-folded cards so it is easy for small hands to access and assemble
5. Let the child apply glue on the front of the greeting card and place the black piece; apply glue to this black piece and stick the white piece on top; and finally apply glue to add the beak and feet, allow to dry
6. †Add the eyes with a marker,or use googly-eyes if preferred
7. Typically, for a specific outcome like this, I show Oggie what to do the first time to demonstrate clearly; it helps if the feet and beak are not too small, but since the stick glue was rubbed all over the card anyway, it was fine to pick up and reposition if needed

This "activity" became so popular he started asking for more... so, I used a few of these finished paper penguins to hang as decorations around the house - punch or poke a hole and attach a piece of thread/ribbon; or attach a piece of masking tape folded over on itself to form a double-sided tape and stick it to the wall. (Masking tape is gentler on the wall-paint than regular tape).

And a couple of them with added glitter and ribbons became Xmas tree ornaments.

Some of them, of course, went to family and friends with the warmest Season's Greetings.

For an older child, can prepare pieces of fleece or felt hats and scarves, even incorporate those cute flapless wings with the black card stock, so they can embellish the penguins whimsically.

Also, potato stamp penguins would make lovely cards for the Winter Holidays.

Paper Snowmen



Similar to the penguins above, paper chain snowmen or paper snowmen strung together make a simple decoration for the season. Alternately, use Watercolor Cling Wrap paper in light blue/teal as the background and glue the white snowmen on it for that snowy day effect.

• Divide an 8x11 inch white card stock paper roughly evenly; draw as many snowmen as can be fitted without wasting paper yet leaving enough room to cut around; try different sizes to create a family
• Use scraps of fleece, felt, flannel fabric to make hats, scarves, even mitts if making arms for the snowmen
• Color in features with markers (puff paint adds dimension but is not easy for kids to control); embellish with beads or ribbons
• String them together with ribbon

Kids Crafts: Holiday Cookie-cutter Cards

These simple holiday cards using cookie-cutter shapes are easy enough for the resident 5½ year old to create independently. And, I enjoyed making a few as well.

The various Textured paper and Watercolor Cling Wrap papers we had made on and off came in handy to make easy and elegant cards.

Items Used: Cookie-cutters, double-sided tape, pre-folded color paper "cards", scissors, pencil, Watercolor Cling Wrap paper, pre-printed messages like "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays" or "Joys of the Season" etc.

1. Trace the cookie-cutter shapes on to the back of the watercolor cling wrap card, cut them out
2. Use double-sided tape to apply this piece on to the front of the pre-folded card
3. I like the double-sides tape as it is easy for a five-year-old to apply, and gives a nice extra dimension and depth to the card; but, we can just as well glue it on with plain old school glue, or use a piece of tape folded on itself to act as double-sided tape
4. We used the printed messages on the inside - simply glue it on, add the greeting and signature to get the cards done within reasonable time frame. Alternately, can let the children add their own hand-written messages inside

Ana made a list first of friends she wants to send the cards to and systematically set about making cards while I worked on some of mine.

She was particular about decorating each envelope - choosing anything from elaborate oil pastel resist to Spartan stickers and rubber stamp designs.

Also, she had saved some Melted Crayon Stained Glass cards we had made last year, so she gave them away as well.

The care and joy with which she went about making them was just as rewarding for me as the finished product.


Aromatic Sandpaper Gingerbread Cookie Man/Woman cards



Items Used: Gingerbread Cookie Man/Woman shaped cookie-cutter or stencil, sandpaper, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, crayons, puff paint, washable white school glue, glitter

1. Trace and cut out the shapes on sandpaper
2. Rub the sandpaper with favorite spices like cinnamon sticks, cloves etc.
3. Decorate with puff paint, allow to dry overnight
4. Remember to add a note to the recipient to scratch and sniff :)
5. If preferred, gently color with sides of crayon to "trap" the rubbed-on spices before applying puff paint
6. Instead of puff paint, can decorate with glue+glitter, buttons and beads
7. (Note: Puff paint can be quite frustrating for small hands to apply with control)

Cookie-cutter 2-for-1 Cards:



Items Used: Card stock pre-folded cards in various colors, washable white school glue, glitter, pinking shears (optional), kids small craft scissors, cookie-cutters, Scotch™ tape, double-sided tape, "fancy" paper like Watercolor Cling Wrap paper or Salt Sprinkled Painted paper or any other Textured paper, (FOR ADULTS ONLY: X-acto knife, NOT FOR KIDS)

1. Trace the cookie-cutter shape on the inside of the card front
2. Adults: Use X-Acto™ knife to cut out this shape from the card if preferred
3. Alternately, poke a hole along the traced outline large enough for the child to insert the small craft scissors and cut out the shape carefully, without ripping the paper
4. Cut a square or rectangular piece of the "fancy" paper (we used watercolor cling wrap paper) with pinking shears that is large enough to cover the shape cut out from the card front and scotch tape it over the hole so this fancy paper shows through
5. Use the cut out shaped piece to make another card: use double-sided tape for extra dimension; decorate with glue and glitter
6. (Note: Pinking shears gives a nice decorative edge to the piece of watercolor cling wrap of paper we tape to the inside, so we leave this taped-on piece exposed. If preferred, can cover up this exposed taped piece of paper on the inside of the card)

Cut-out Fabric Tree Cards


Items used: scrap fabric, glue, scrap paper, pre-folded greeting card paper, scissors, X-Acto™ knife (for adult use only), marker

1. Glue scraps of fabric onto the scrap paper, allow to dry
2. Trace and cut out tree shape (or any other shape) from the front of the greeting card
3. Cut a large enough piece of the paper-backed patchwork fabric to cover the tree shaped hole, and tape it to the inside front so it shows through
4. With a marker, draw small dashed lines along the shape to simulate running stitch

As always, inspiration comes from many places... certain articles online spark off ideas and help things come together for such projects.

Kids Activity: Feltboard

Felt boards are a wonderful toy/tool that can be used for storytime or independent play, its benefits attested by parents and teachers alike. Considering that these felt boards have been well-loved and well-used at home, I don't doubt its merits.

The simpler the toy, the more complex the play, I remember reading somewhere.

These felt boards are easy for parents to make at home with just a few readily available materials. A 20x32 inch foam board cut in two makes two good-sized felt boards for small hands, 20x16 inch each. Felt fabric is usually under $2/yard, and being quite a wide bolt, quarter of a yard is more than enough for covering the foam board; and small pre-cut 9x12 inch or so rectangular felt pieces are available in various colors for making the shapes.

Items Used: Felt fabric in various colors, foam board, glue, scissors, tape, sandpaper (optional)

1. Measure and cut a large piece of felt fabric to cover a foam board, fold the edges and glue/tape the felt fabric to the foam board
2. Cut out small felt pieces in various shapes for the play; optionally glue on a piece of sandpaper at the back of these so the pieces stick better on the felt board
3. Can also cut out pictures of favorite things from magazines and glue it on to felt fabric and cut around to make the felt pieces to play with
4. Let children use their imagination and make creatures, machines, and things with these pre-cut felt pieces, or even tell a story

I went with a double color - blue and green with a horizon - so blue can represent the sky or ocean, with green being land or forest/jungle... Ana chose teal blue with green, whereas Oggie liked the more royal bright blue with the green for his board. But a solid single color felt fabric covering the foam board would be fine too.

Initially, geometric shaped felt pieces in various colors worked well for Og - a square or rectangle with a triangle on top became a house or a barn, a rectangle with two circles at the bottom edge became a car... and as he got comfortable with arranging/rearranging the felt pieces, animal shapes like penguin, pig, lion etc. came about from other pieces I had pre-cut and kept handy.

The kids each have their own felt board, with plenty of felt pieces to play with, along with some googly eyes and maybe even some yarn. The sand paper at the back helps hold the pieces - stick firmly - onto the felt board if they pick up the board and tilt it. But, even without the sandpaper, felt pieces stay put when flat on a work table. And can be easily picked up and moved around to change the scene/story.

Ana makes up stories about fairies and snowman and such, "decorating" each of her characters with care. Oggie leans more towards assembling cars, trains, animals etc., and talking about them as he builds.

There are felt board kits available - with themed felt pieces like Fairy Tale or Nursery Rhymes which can be used by parents for creating a magical storytime session with the very young.

The more a toy does, the less a child learns.
The less a toy does, the more a child learns.

Five Autumn and Harvest Books

Autumn, Fall, whatever name we choose to use, is a wonderful time of the year, cherished and celebrated around the world. As we enjoyed the pageantry of leaves - bursting with bright red, deep burgundy, sparkling yellow, shocking orange, and even dark pink, eventually falling from the branches leaving the trees bare for the upcoming winter - we also enjoyed a few books about Autumn.

Again, not an exhaustive list or top-five of any kind on the subject, but, just a handful of recent reads that informed and engaged the kids.


Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf
by Lois Ehlert

Ages 4-8

This is the story of a sugar maple tree, as told by the girl who planted it in her yard and watched it grow. Lois Ehlert has many wonderful books to her credit with quite amazing art work. Leaf Man and Color Zoo were a couple of Ana's favorite a few years ago. This book is no exception.

The vibrant reds and yellows on some pages, and the blues and greens on the others, with beautiful collages created from various objects makes this book a visual treat.

The simple text makes it easy for the 2½ year old to follow along, even if not all the words are in his vocabulary yet.

Back of the book provides information about the sugar maple tree - seeds, leaves, buds, bark, tree flowers etc., plus how to select and plant a sapling. Inside the back flap is a simple idea for making a Bird Treat to hang in the tree to invite the local birds.


We Gather Together
Celebrating the Harvest Season
by Wendy Pfeffer
illustrated by Linda Bleck

Ages 4-8

Pfeffer-Bleck author-illustrator team has presented Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, Autumnal Equinox and Spring Equinox in a child-friendly way with some basic scientific facts and celebrations around the world.

We Gather Together introduces the science behind the Autumnal Equinox, roots of agriculture which leads to harvest season and celebration of Nature's bounty across cultures through the ages.

This non-fiction survey of harvest traditions is not too staid or uptight despite providing factual details, which makes it an easy read for the five year old.

Notes at the back of the book provide recipes, craft ideas, science activities, and further reading.


The Autumn Equinox
Celebrating the Harvest
by Ellen Jackson
illustrated by Jan Davey Ellis

Ages 4-8

Much like the Pfeffer-Bleck book above, in the Jackson-Ellis book, we read about the autumnal equinox and harvest celebrations around the world.

The book starts off like a story: Long ago, the Chinese relied on movement and phases of moon to tell them when planting and harvesting should begin. And we learn about the seasons observed by different people in different parts of the world and how they came to celebrate it with a tradition of their own. From Celts to Germanic people of northern Europe, Native American Iroquois, Nigerian Yoruba.

Being a child-friendly survey of harvest traditions, it brings home a general sense of appreciation for farming and harvesting - our ability to produce and share foods - which makes life a lot easier than it used to be before Man stumbled upon agriculture.

There is usually a mild struggle between stereotyping and abstracting-and-highlighting cultures, and if the adult mind can get past it, the illustrations and text are quite engaging for a five-year-old.


It's Fall!
by Linda Glaser
cut-paper illustrations by Susan Swan

Ages 4-8

While the five-year-old found this book rather boring, the 2½ year old enjoyed it. The bright colors, and pictures, plus the story as told by a little boy probably appealed to him better via the simple sentences.

The exquisite cut-paper illustrations by Ms. Swan reminded me of Steve Jenkins/Robin Page creations, with beautiful dimension and depth and rich colors and action, adding to the experience.

The simple yet descriptive text captures the happenings and delights of fall season. Back of the book lists some Nature Activities to Do in the Fall.


Hello, Harvest Moon
by Ralph Fletcher
illustrated by Kate Kiesler

Ages 4-8

When the harvest is over and the crops have been processed and stored, what do we see rising at the edge of the world, coming up over the ripe corn and wheat fields? Why, the Harvest Moon, of course!

The text flows like poetry as it describes the scenes illuminated by the radiant moon: The harvest moon has its own work to do. It paints the wings of owls and night hawks with a mixture of silver and shadow.

The oil paintings with deep velvety night scenes bathed in soft yet brilliant moon light evoke feelings of wonder and mystery.

The lush language, imagery, and artistry packaged into this book is certainly a treasure for my five-year-old to unwrap and appreciate as she grows older.

[image sources: TTLG, 109things, Swap, Naturally Educational, EllenJackson.net]