I've been making art with kids non-stop for the past few weeks in my studio here in Jersey City and this craft in particular I thought came out pretty cute - so I wanted to share with you how to make it at home. Pinterest offers many variations of this idea, but I enjoyed using the cardboard tube instead of a paper cup, etc. like many of the other examples show online.
This craft is great for toddlers and preschoolers - as adults can help with the tricky part - and the kids just get to do the decorating.
You will need:
paper plates, assorted cut paper, glue, a hole puncher, scissors, string, pom poms, pipe cleaners, cute animal stickers, markers and an empty cardboard roll - a stapler or hot glue
Punch a hole at the top of a paper plate and feed through some string as shown above.
Have the kiddos add a pattern to their balloon by gluing cut paper, tissue paper and pom poms.
Cut an empty toilet paper roll or paper towel roll into sections for the 'basket' of the hot air balloon. (This part - an adult definitely has to do!) Afterwards, tie two pipe cleaners to the cardboard basket as shown to form the balloon strings.
Kids will enjoy decorating the balloon baskets with markers and stickers. Animals stickers work great as the tiny passengers for the balloon ;)
Attach the basket and strings to the plate balloon with a few staples or hot glue if you have it handy.
Attach the basket and strings to the plate balloon with a few staples or hot glue if you have it handy.
Ta-da! My preschool morning class did a lovely job of decorating - I especially like the round circle of pom poms featured on the left.
Bonus - add some balloon coloring pages to the table as a treat after the craft is over!
xox Lady Lucas
