Sparking Imagination and Creativity

The monthly Preschool Sparks ezine brings parents/teachers/caregivers great preschool craft ideas and tips to do with your child/children. Monthly-theme-related craft ideas, tips, quotes, resources, opportunities and articles will all be included for extra value!

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Contents:

Hi,

I forgot to include live links to various web sites in last month's newsletter. I guess it's all part of the learning as doing an ezine is very new to me. I think I 've worked out the glitches with this month's ezine.
I love the month of December! I love the Christmas season and all that it involves. I love celebrating the birth of Jesus and what He has done for me in my own life. God is so good!

I'm adding new material on a regular basis. I have recently added some more great preschool craft ideas under the preschool section at create-kids-crafts.com

Don't miss the opportunity to consider adding a new dimension to YOUR life. Would you like to be a stay-home-Mom or supplement your income, or have a hobby or interest you would like to share with others?

An online business is affordable, flexible, and convenient. You can work at your website and business when you like, at the speed you want, and still put the all-important needs of your family first.

I want to share with you the wonderful opportunity that I have discovered which has allowed me to build this website. I am not a very technical person. If I can do this, YOU can too!

Here are some wonderful Christmas crafts that will WOW your kids!

1.Snowman Christmas cards

Glue a snowman cut-out to the front of a construction paper card. After decorating the snowman, attach the poem below and a small packet of hot chocolate or apple cider to the inside of the card. Have your child tape a candy cane to the front of the card for the snowman's cane.

Poem: To Keep You Warm

Here's a little snowman soup
Complete with stirring stick
Add hot water and sip it slow
It's sure to do the trick

2.Christmas Wreath

Cut out the center of a white paper plate and paint the outer part of the plate green. Glue trios of Cheerios cereal to the wreath. When the glue is dry, dip a paint brush in red paint and dab over the cheerios so they resemble holly berries. Glue on a gift bow to the bottom of the wreath.

3.Milk carton Gingerbread Houses

Supplies Needed:

White icing(store bought or a recipe)
empty, clean 2L milk cartons
graham cracker squares
decorations:a variety of candies, sprinkles, etc.

Have all of your decorations, candies etc. in individual bowls. Prepare white icing/frosting if you are not using store bought.

Cut your milk carton in half width-wise and staple the tops closed. Cut each milk carton to make one or two doors. Secure the milk carton with the white icing onto a paper plate or a sheet of wax paper on top of cardboard. Attach graham cracker squares to sides of milk carton by spreading icing on milk carton and pressing cracker firmly onto carton. Do the same for the roof. For the area between the sides and roof, cut a graham cracker in half on the diagonal to form a triangle and attach the same way.

Once you have your sides and roof attached, use icing to attach decorations and candies to your house.

For the craft ideas coming your way in the January and February Preschool Sparks ezine, save some of those free calendars that real estate companies and pharmacies give away at Christmas time. Also, stock up on some miniature candy canes from the after-holiday sales for some neat Valentine craft ideas.

Those of us who have "finally seen the handwriting on the wall" are probably the parents of toddlers.:-)

I have found to get my little one's art work off the wall, a mixture of cornstarch(cornflour) with water works well. Just mix about 2 tsp cornstarch with 1 to 2 tsp water. Rub over crayon marks with a cloth dipped in the mixture and then rinse with a damp cloth.

Quote:

"Christmas Gift Suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect."
Oren Arnold

Merry Christmas!