Jewelry Jar Moms will be thrilled to keep their rings and other small treasures in this glittery little jar. Invite each child to make this gift and then present it to her mother on Mother s Day. 1 small baby food jar (no lid) waxed paper colored plastic wrap curling ribbon glue glitter in a solid color 1. Paint the jar with glue; then sprinkle glitter on it. Rest the jar upside down on a piece of waxed paper to dry. 2. Set the jar upright in the middle of a piece of plastic wrap. Pull the wrap up snugly around the jar. Use a length of ribbon to tie it in place around the top of the jar. 3. Trim the excess plastic wrap to about one inch above the jar opening; then fluff the edges. 4. Curl the ends of the ribbon. Teacher Tip To make a really colorful jar, sprinkle multi-colored glitter on the jar. When the glue is dry, cover the jar with clear plastic wrap. Kimberli Carrier Nashua, NH
Lollipop Pot Convert a lollipop into this pretty bloom! Encourage each child to take his potted pop home to share with his family if he can get that far before eating the tasty treat in the center! 3 or 4 clay pot 1 round lollipop five 4 squares of tissue paper in assorted colors floral foam Spanish moss sponges (for painting) tempera paint in spring colors clear tape Step 2 Step 3 As an alternative, use an eightounce foam cup instead of a clay pot. If floral foam is not available, pack crumpled paper into the bottom of the pot; then top it with homemade play dough. 1. Use sponges to dab paint onto the pot. Then set it aside to dry. 2. Cover the lollipop with a tissue paper square; then tape the ends of the paper around the stick. 3. Stack the remaining tissue paper squares together with the corners staggered (see diagram). 4. Poke the lollipop stick through the center of the stack; then slide the papers up to the lollipop. 5. Tape the papers in place around the stick; then shape and fluff them to resemble flower petals. 6. Slide a piece of floral foam into the pot. Top the foam with moss. 7. Poke the lollipop flower into the foam. Susan DeRiso Barrington, RI
Recipe Card Holder Clip each child s special Mother s Day message to this unique flower. Then have the child give her flower to her mother to use as a recipe- or note-holder. I love you Mom tagboard flower tracer (see Teacher Tips) colorful 5 poster board square 8-oz. foam cup 9 length of 18-gauge floral wire (wrapped) clothespin tissue paper scraps small tissue paper squares water-thinned glue (see ) brown glue (see ) rice crayons pencil hot glue (for adult use) Steps 2 and 3 1. Trace the flower onto the poster board and then cut it out. Glue a scrunchedup tissue paper center in the middle. 2. Slip one end of the wire through the spring on the clothespin; then bend it across the clothespin as shown. 3. Have an adult hot-glue the clothespin to the back of the flower. 4. Use the water-thinned glue to paint tissue paper squares all over the cup. 5. Fill the cup with rice. 6. Poke the stem into the rice so that it stands upright; then cover the rice with a thin layer of brown glue. Let the glue dry. 7. To make leaves, tie a green tissue paper square around the stem; then glue it in place. To make a tracer, cut out a tagboard copy of the flower pattern on page 30. To make water-thinned glue, mix equal parts of white glue with water. To make brown glue, mix a few drops of brown paint into white glue. If desired, complete Steps 1 3 for your students in advance. Elizabeth Trautman Greensboro, NC
Letter-Perfect Picture Frame Youngsters are sure to capture the hearts of their loved ones with these letter-perfect frames. tagboard copy of picture frame (pattern on page 27) photo of child (to fit opening of frame) watercolor paints pasta letters (see ) glue To make colored pasta, mix one tablespoon of alcohol with a few drops of food coloring in a resealable plastic bag. Add some pasta, seal the bag, and shake it to color all the pasta. Spread the pasta out on paper towels to dry. For added stability, fold over one-quarter inch of the bottom of the stand. 1. Cut out the picture frame; then cut out the heart-shaped opening. 2. Paint the frame with a coat of watercolor paint and let it dry. 3. Glue the photo to the back of the opening. 4. Fold the frame in half as shown. Glue pasta letters on the frame to spell a message or a name, or just to create a design. 5. When the glue is dry, cut along the dotted lines on the back of the frame to create a stand. Fold the stand up and away from the frame. 6. Glue the back and front of the frame together. Do not glue the stand. 7. After the glue dries, stand the picture upright on a flat surface. Cynthia Holzschuher Lebanon, OH
My Candleholder Light up smiles with these custom-made candleholders. After each child completes her project, invite her to use it as a centerpiece on her family s dinner table. baking dough (see ) plastic knife cookie sheet votive candle oven curling ribbon milk jug lid tempera paint pencil clear acrylic spray 1. Press out a portion of the dough to about one-quarter inch thick. 2. Use the point of a pencil to lightly draw or trace a shape on the dough. 3. Cut out the shape; then use the milk jug lid to cut out a hole from the center of it. 4. Bake the dough shape at 200 for three hours; then allow it to air-dry for about three days. (Or eliminate all baking by air-drying the shape for about seven days.) 5. Paint the cooled shape. 6. After the paint dries, spray it with clear acrylic; then let that dry. 7. Tie a ribbon around the candle; then position the candle in the hole in the shape. To make baking dough for about eight candleholders, mix together 2 1 / 2 cups of flour, 1 / 2 cup of salt, and 1 cup of water. Add flour as needed to form a firm dough. If desired, attach a note to remind parents to remove the ribbon before lighting the candle. Jana Sanderson Stockton, CA