As we watched the snow falling outside our window the other day it seemed like we were looking at a giant snow globe.

It inspired this fun paper plate snow globe craft.

Last week’s snow, followed by super cold temperatures, meant we did a lot of staying inside and just looking at the winter wonderland outside our window.  Thank goodness for these fun ways to beat cabin fever!

Kids crafts are always a fun way to beat boredom caused by being stuck in the house.  You might want to check out this beautiful snowflake painting craft, too!

Affiliate links are used below.  See my full disclosure for more details. 

Paper Plate Snow Globe

Materials Needed:

• Paper Plate
• Blue Construction Paper
• Plastic Wrap
• Markers
• Clear Tape
• Glue Stick
• Silver Glitter Glue 
• Fake Plastic Snow 

To make your own snow globe craft, start by cutting the center out of a paper plate.

Use the center of the plate to trace a circle on blue construction paper.

Have your child use markers to draw a scene for their snow globe on the blue paper.  My kids chose to draw a tree.  Your child could also draw a snowman or Christmas tree.

Use the glue stick to secure a piece of plastic wrap to the inside of the paper plate so it covers the hole you cut out.  Make sure to hold the plastic wrap snugly in place.  Use a couple pieces of clear tape to help hold the plastic while the glue dries.

Once your child has finished drawing the scene for their snow globe, lay the construction paper on the plastic wrap.

Make sure you can see the drawing through the plate’s center.

Before taping the plate to the construction paper, it’s time to add a bit of snow to the snow globe!

We tried two different ideas.  You can see how they worked out below and choose the one you like the best.

My daughter chose to paint the inner portion of plastic wrap with glitter glue and then sprinkle a bit more glitter on for a sparkly winter wonderland.

My son chose to use a bit of fake snow (you could also use a small amount of white confetti).

First he painted a bit of glitter glue onto the plastic wrap, and then he carefully sprinkled the snow on top.

Once your snow is in place, use clear tape to secure the construction paper circle to the paper plate.

If desired, your child can also decorate the outside of the paper plate.

This paper plate snow globe craft looks beautiful hanging up.  It’s a fun winter decoration your child will be proud to show off.

You may also like these posts:

• Adorable Snowman Crafts
• Fizzing Snow
• Water Beads in Snow
• Melting Snowman STEM Activity 

Originally published January 12, 2015.

The post Paper Plate Snow Globe Craft first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

When it comes to kids winter crafts, snowflakes and snowmen are always popular.

My daughter had so much fun mixing painting, her favorite type of craft,  and cutting snowflakes out that we couldn’t wait to share this fun snowflake craft with relief painting.

This craft is perfect for those cold December – February months.

You might also like this sparkly snowflake craft idea.

And if your child loves slime as much as my daughter does, be sure to check out this simple DIY snowflake slime recipe.

Snowflake Craft with Relief Painting

Affiliate links have been provided below.  See my full disclosure here. 

Materials Needed:

• Construction Paper
• Paper Plates
• Sponges (Snips of clean kitchen sponges will work.)
• Acrylic Paint (I love these washable paints!)

Start  by cutting out several snowflakes from construction paper.  The thicker paper holds up better with the paint.

Older kids can do the folding and cutting on their own.

For younger kids you may want to fold the paper and draw triangles, half ovals, etc. along the paper folds and allow the kids to then try cutting on the lines.  Make the shapes super simple for the youngest ones!

Or, you could even have the snowflakes pre-cut.

Once you have your snowflakes cut out, it is time for the real fun.

Pour a little paint, in “winter colors,” onto several paper plates.  (We chose to use white, blue, and purple.)

Give each of your artists a thick sheet of paper, suitable for painting, and a small sponge.

Using the cut out snowflakes like stencils, lay the snowflake on the paper and use the sponge to dab paint along the snowflake’s edges.

Start with the largest snowflakes first.  This allows you to layer smaller ones on top.

You can lift up the snowflake once you have finished dabbing paint on and around it.  Then you can place the snowflake down on the paper again and use a different color paint.

Or you can use different snowflakes and layer them.

Just like real snowflakes, each picture comes out unique and beautiful!

My oldest chose to use her small snowflakes, mixed with the larger one, to create this lovely design.

As a bonus, you can let the paint dry on your snowflake stencil and then hang them with a pretty ribbon.

This simple snowflake craft, using relief painting, looks beautiful hanging on the doors.

You may also like:

• Shaving Cream Paint Snowman
• Fizzy Snow Winter Science
• Melting Snowman STEM Activity

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The post Snowflake Craft: Relief Painting first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

There is just something about the stretchy, slightly sticky substance that kids love.  And since liquid starch slime is so easy and quick to make, you can make a batch in just about any theme, like this snowflake slime, in just minutes.

You can make this ahead of time, or get the kids involved in making their own homemade slime.  They’ll have a fun, ooey, gooey slime to play with in just 5 minutes.

Snowflake Slime

Affiliate links provided below. 

Ingredients:

• 5 oz. Bottle Clear Elmer’s Glue 
• 5 oz. Liquid Starch 
• Snowflake Confetti
• 5 oz. Warm Water
• Measuring Cup
• Bowl and Spoon

Make Your Own Snowflake Liquid Starch Slime:

Pour your clear glue into your bowl.

Then add in the same amount of warm water.  Mix until the two are thoroughly combined.  (I find using warm water helps it mix better.)

To make snowflake slime, add in a generous helping of plastic snowflake confetti pieces.   We also tried adding artificial snow, but it wasn’t as noticeable in the finished slime.

Now for a bit of science!

Slowly pour in your 5 oz. of liquid starch and stir it with your spoon.

The mixture will immediately thicken. This is because glue is a polymer and the liquid starch is changing the structure of that polymer as the two come together. Head over to Little Bins for Little Hands to find out more about the science of slime.

Pretty soon it will become too thick to stir with a spoon.  It’s time to pick it up and finish mixing in the liquid by hand.  This is a great step for kids!

The slime gets better the more it is played with.

We had fun pairing this winter-themed liquid starch slime with some polar animals.

This snowflake slime also makes a fun DIY gift idea for kids.

Put the slime in a clear container with a screw on lid and add a polar animal or two for lots of sensory play fun.

The slime should keep for at least 2 weeks, and then you can mix up another batch in a whole new theme!

You’ll also love these posts:

• Christmas Slime Recipes, from The Chaos and the Clutter
• Sparkly Valentine’s Day Slime 
• Rainbow Water Bead Slime 
• Googly Eye Liquid Starch Slime Recipe 
• Make Your Own Snow — Taste Safe Cloud Dough 

The post Mix-Up Some DIY Snowflake Slime & Beat Cabin Fever first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

But intricate designs can be hard for kids to cut out of folded paper.  Coffee filters are so much thinner, they make it easier to cut out those beautiful designs.

This colorful coffee filter snowflake suncatcher craft combines 2 classic crafts:   coffee filter suncatchers and cut snowflakes. 

Coffee filter suncatchers are so easy to make.  And this snowflake twist is perfect for winter.

If you like this colorful idea, you will also want to check out our relief painting snowflakes.

Coffee Filter Snowflake Suncatcher Craft

Affiliate links are provided below.  See my full disclosure policy for more details.

Materials Needed:

• Coffee Filters
• Washable Markers
• Scissors
• Spray Bottle
• Paper Towels

To begin, flatten the coffee filters and decorate them with the washable markers.

Your child may want to just use a couple colors to add splashes of color to their finished snowflake, or they may choose to cover the entire surface for a more vibrant coffee filter suncatcher.

Once the filters are colored, spread them out on paper towels.

Then use the spray bottle to generously spray each one.  The paper towels will help contain the mess.   (My son loves using his squirt gun sprayer from this Qixels set.)

The water will cause the colors to quickly spread and blend together.  This was one of my son’s favorite parts of this craft.

After spraying them, let the coffee filters dry completely.

Once they are dry, fold the coffee filters in half.  Then fold them in half again, and one more time.  Use scissors to cut out your snowflakes.

I love how the coffee filter suncatcher my daughter colored in a rainbow pattern turned out.  It reminds me of a classic tie-dye shirt.

These tie-dyed coffee filter snowflake suncatchers look beautiful hanging in our sunny kitchen window.

More Kids Snowflake Crafts:

• Sparkly Craft Stick Snowflakes
• Recycled Cardboard and Yarn Snowflakes from Creative Jewish Mom
• Cinnamon Sugar Snowflakes from Happy Hooligans

The post Tie-Dyed Snowflake Craft first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

Whether you are looking for a fun homemade Christmas ornament or just a winter craft idea, these craft stick snowflake crafts are sure to be a hit with kids of all ages.

We had so much fun with our relief painting snowflake craft that we couldn’t wait to try our hand at another fun craft with snowflakes.

These sparkling snowflakes look pretty on a tree or can be turned into magnets to hang on the refrigerator.

Affiliate links have been used below. 

Craft Stick Snowflake Craft

For each snowflake you will need:

• 3 craft sticks
• Hot glue
• White craft glue (We used Elmer’s School Glue.)
• A variety of small beads, sequins, glitter, and gems

To begin your snowflake, hot glue three craft sticks together in a snowflake shape.  (As seen in the picture.)

If you are crafting with young children, it is best to do this step ahead of time.

Older kids can hot glue them on their own, with an adult present.  Since hot glue dries fast,  you will be ready to decorate right away!

Once you have your snowflake shapes ready, allow your child to use craft glue to add small beads, sequins, gems, or glitter to decorate the snowflakes.

Allow to dry for several hours, depending on how much glue your little ones use!

Once the snowflakes are completely dry, you have several options.

• Your child may choose to leave a sparkly snowflake somewhere for someone to find and enjoy.  (We left one near our favorite librarian’s desk.)
• You can hot glue a magnet to the back and hang them on the refrigerator.
• Or, hot glue a loop of ribbon or yarn to the backs and turn them into snowflake ornaments.

Snowflake crafts are perfect all winter long.

These sparkly craft stick snowflakes are sure to brighten up those grey winter days.

Be sure to also check out:

• Craft Stick Ornaments —  3 more ways to have fun with craft sticks this season.
• DIY Snowflake Slime Recipe — A sparkly slime that is perfect for winter.
• Puffy Paint Snowman — Make your own puffy paint for this fun winter craft.

The post Easy Snowflake Craft first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

As I promised earlier this week in my post of snowflake crafts and activities, here is the recipe for some cute snowflake meringue cookies!

Meringue Cookie Recipe:

• 2 large egg whites
• 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 1/4 tsp. flavored extract (lemon, peppermint, orange, almond… I used vanilla)
• 2 Tablespoons colored sugar to decorate

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.  In large bowl beat egg whites and cream of tartar with electric mixer until frothy (about 3 min.).  Set mixer on high and beat another 3 min. or until fluffy.
2. 
3. Add in confectioner’s sugar, a little at a time, and continue beating until the egg whites are stiff and glossy (about 5 min.).
4. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.  Spoon meringue into large pastry bag with a 1/4 inch tip and “draw” snowflake cookie shapes.  Error on the side of being thick so the finished cookies don’t break.  (I used a sandwich bag and just cut the tip off.)  Decorate with colored sugar if desired.

   

5. Bake until cookies are dry, but not brown (about 1 hour).
6. Use scissors to cut the parchment paper and separate the cookies.  Carefully peel cookies from the parchment paper.  Cookies should stay crisp for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container at room temperature.  (Do not refrigerate them.)

   

The recipe should make approximately 20 cookies.

I cut the recipe in half, which also cut down on the time it took to mix the batter.  (Good thing, little guy was super impatient when he learned I was making cookies!  Of course, he still had to wait the hour while they cooked….)

There you have it, a special winter treat to brighten your day.  Great if you want to do a snowflake or other snow day theme kind of day!

The post Snowflake Cookies Recipe first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.