- Age Guideline: 4 Years and Up
- Time Required: 30 minutes (Does not include drying time)
The above age and time guidelines are estimates. This project can be modified to suit other ages and may take more or less time depending on your circumstances.
Materials Needed:
- Craft Sticks
- Paint (optional)
- White and Colored Cardstock
- Puzzle Pieces
- Colored Pencils
- Thin Ribbon
- Craft Glue
- Paint Brush (optional)
- Scissors
Instructions:
Kelly explains, "My son made this craft in kindergarten for Mother's Day. Although it could be adapted for any occasion or holiday by changing the phrase and or the small items decorating the frame."
You can use pre-colored craft sticks, paint plain sticks, or use plain sticks as-is. Lay two of the sticks on your work surface parallel to each other. Now lay the other two in the opposite direction but parallel to each other to form a square with the ends of the sticks overlapped. Glue the sticks together at the corners where they overlap to complete the square. Allow to dry.
Cut a 5 1/2-inch square of cardstock or decorative scrapbooking paper. Also cut a 3 1/2-inch square of white cardstock. Use a colored pencil to write "You keep all the pieces together!" on the white cardstock, with it oriented on the diagonal and leaving a space in the middle for one puzzle piece. You may change the phrase as you wish.
Glue the white card stock centered onto the colored paper, keeping the white on the diagonal and the colored square. Now, glue your plaque to the back of the craft stick frame, sandwiching the ends of the narrow ribbon between the center of the top stick and the paper plaque. Make sure your phrase is facing out the window not on the side that is glued so the edges of the paper are hidden.
Glue miscellaneous puzzle pieces scattered around the frame and one in the middle of the white diamond paper with the phrase. It looks nice to vary the colors of the puzzle pieces and overlap a few to give dimension.
Here are some ideas for making variations of this craft:
- For Valentine's Day: "My heart belongs to you!" with sticky-back pink, red and white hearts.
- St. Patrick's Day: "Luck of the Irish" with sticky-back foam clovers.
- Teacher gift: "#1 Teacher" with a,b,c letters and 1,2,3 numbers, miniature pencil and ruler or just apples.
- Father's Day: "You're my handyman" with miniature tools, nuts and miscellaneous hardware.
Use your imagination and the possibilities are endless!
