Tag Archives: little artists

Easter tree decoration – homemade clay recipe for kids


easter tree decoration |marmite et ponpon

Hop in Easter mood with us and let’s start the decoration with this beautiful tree. Let your kids DIY the ornaments with a homemade clay recipe, ready in less than 10 minutes and with only 3 ingredients:

  • 1 cup cornstarch (cornflour)
  • 2 cups baking soda
  • 1 1/2 cup water

Mix all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to medium heat. Whisk continually  until it starts to thicken. It will take couple of minutes to look like mashed potato in consistency, remove it immediately from the heat. Place it in a bowl and cover it with damp cloth until it’s cool.

Knead it on a smooth surface, adding cornstarch if it feels a bit sticky, hand it to your kids and let the fun begin!

Cut out eggs and bunnies, using the cookie cutters and let them dry overnight. I am sure not all kids will have this patience, you can dry it in the oven for couple of hours on very low, so your kids can color them in the same day.

Don’t forget to make small holes (with a straw) before they dry, to be able later to insert a thread and hang it on the tree.

easter tree decoration |marmite et ponpon

This year the fun is double, i am crafting with my two boys! Let me be honest and say it’s beautifully insane 🙂 i need to tame my 19 months old boy excitement who is still discovering, exploring and creating that artistic mess, so overwhelmed with colors and beauty, he doesn’t believe rules exist and everything for him is edible! While my 4 years old boy, my charming little artist, who’s been doing this for a quite time, doesn’t fail to show me his passion and innate artistic skills. They both have it actually and i am so happy about it!

Back to our decoration, and while the paint is drying, get some dry branches and fix them in a pot (fill it with sand or pebbles not to fall) to have a tree like shape. And let the kid enjoy hanging up their handmade deco when they are completely dry.

easter tree decoration |marmite et ponpon

By the way, we prepared a lot more ornaments, but before having our final tree up, my little monkey dropped it 3 times and broke some! Well let me tell you this is part of the game, part of the fun and part of the learning. The most important is to be patient, and try to enjoy with them!

Those cracks make it more beautiful and real, and they will tell you later million story and laugh. Crafting with kids is not about the final outcome, the least you care about is working for the end result, let them enjoy the creative process, be patient again and enjoy as much as you can those priceless moments.

easter tree decoration |marmite et ponpon

If those bunnies and chick are striking your attention, they were made last year by my eldest son. You can check the link to that post.

If you like this post give it many likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

Magazine flowers & food jar vase – recycling craft


Magazine flowers & food jar vase - recycling craft|marmite et ponpon

Like i said before, the earlier you teach good habits to your children, the easier they are incorporated into daily life and routine. Recycling crafts became our routine, Nady is getting more and more aware about waste and more than that he is concerned about preserving natural resources.

For instance, he turns off the water while brushing his teeth because this is a waste for water “c’est du gaspillage maman!”(gaspillage=waste). I can’t but be proud of you Nady ❤

Today we are recycling food jars into a vase and magazine papers into flowers.

Magazine flowers & food jar vase - recycling craft| marmite et ponpon

First start by peeling off the packaging paper, spray it with white so your little ones can paint later with acrylic colors after completely dry. Better leave it for overnight.

After the paint is dry, attach the jars together (using the wax gun) to make one center piece vase.

Now it’s the turn of magazine paper flowers. Follow the scheme for the easy tutorial.

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And here is the beautiful flower vase, that can make an awesome gift for a special person or simply decorate your house with it.

Magazine flowers & food jar vase - recycling craft |marmite et ponpon

If you like this post give it many likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.