New Years Noise Maker

Paper Fortune Cookies

During the 15-day celebration of Chinese New Year, children and adults alike will take part in dances, feasts, and parades, all meant to clear the way for a happy and prosperous year ahead. One tradition families enjoy is writing and displaying chun lian, simple expressions of wishes for good fortune in the coming year. Your own well-wishers can easily create these colorful, fortune-filled paper cookies for their friends and family.

Materials
  • Paper
  • Paper cupcake baking liners
  • Markers
  • Craft glue
Instructions
  1. To make a batch, first help your child write a host of fortunes on small slips of paper.
  2. For each one, fold a paper cupcake baking liner as shown, slip the note inside, and apply a dot of craft glue to the bottom of the liner to secure it in place.

Sock Toss

Here is a fun game that puts those old sock to good use – especially the ones whose mates have long since disappeared to good use…. and its more than simple to get started. First fill each sock with about a cup of sand or dirt – you will need 3 socks per player. Use rocks to form two 2-foot circles about 10 feet apart each with a single rock in the center. Players take turns at one ring tossing the socks to the other ring. They get 5 points for each sock they land inside the ring, 10 if the sock lands resting against the center rock. First player to fifty wins the game!

Masquerade Mask

Print out using a picture manipulation program or a desktop publishing program and adjust the size to fit you or your childs face. Cut out and glue fabric to one side and trim – then repeat for the opposite side. Tie a ribbon that goes well with your fabric to both sides that can be tied around head. Trim with ribbons around edges, or dangling, sequins, or any other findings you want. Think feathers, boas, plastic spiders (for Halloween), tiny ornaments (for Christmas), bows, paper cutouts, and beads.

Also consider these a childs activity at a party… then can be painted or drawn on in marker or crayon. Print out a size appropriate for children and trace onto poster board and cut out. If they are going to paint, color or draw directly onto the paper it will need to be stiff because they wont have the extra strength from the fabric on both sides.

This could also make a great invitation: make with one side covered in fabric that goes with your parties theme and print the information for your party on the back. It would fit in a legal sized envelope so no special purchase would be required.

Spruce Up Your Mouse Pad

Just in time for that rainy day… one of many that approach several areas of the country… a simple little craft that will brighten up and personalize a place you never thought of doing.

Use a scrap piece of fabric or get one ready to go for the next rainy day! It needs to be slightly larger then the mouse pad.

You will also need an spray can of all purpose glue and a sharp pair of fabric scissors.

When you are ready simply spray the underside of fabric and top of mouse pad…. lay fabric top up on mouse pad. Use a ruler of pencil to roll the folds off the edges. Let dry for recommended time on can.

Then trim the edges to fit the shape of the mouse perfectly. When done use fray check (fray stopping glue) around edges.

Your done…. you spruced up an old mouse pad and personalized it to fit your personality. Now try another (even if you have to buy a cheap mouse pad) for a friend!

Enjoy!