Wednesday, 09 January 2013
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"Cereal Sand Art" Craft for Kids!
Over these last two weeks I have really been on a cereal crafting kick. You may have seen the last cereal craft post I wrote titled “Easy Cereal Craft for Toddlers” where I showed how I made necklaces and bracelets using Tootie Fruities (store brand of Froot Loops). Anyhow, I have a new craft, “Cereal Sand Art” to share and again all you need are a few easy to find, inexpensive items and the desire to have fun with your child!
This project can be done with older toddlers if you aren’t afraid of a little mess! Older children will definitely enjoy this craft as well so why not grab the whole family to make some beautiful cereal art decorations! Before we get started I just want to point out that this is a safe project to do with children because even if they are young and still put everything into their mouths since cereal is edible you don’t have to worry! Just make sure they are old enough to not choke on whatever type of cereal you choose to work with! Have fun!
Supplies:
- Brightly colored cereal such as Tootie Fruities
- Plastic Bags-the Ziploc freezer bag type is the best
- Plastic bottle-water bottle works perfectly
- Funnel
Once you have gathered all of your supplies grab one freezer bag for each color Tootie Fruitie (or your cereal of choice). Have your children separate the cereal colors. This reinforces the learning of colors for younger children and is fun to do all on its own! Once your children have separated all of the cereal by color you are ready to move onto the next step!
Make sure that each freezer bag is securely sealed and prepare for some fun! Have everyone take a freezer bag or take turns doing one at a time but the goal is to smash each and every last piece of cereal in the bag until you are left with a sandy like substance. I enjoyed discovering various cereal smashing techniques while doing this craft myself.
Crushing the cereal in between your fingers works very well but within minutes the tips of your fingers may begin to hurt and your hands may get tired. I also tried putting the bag on the floor and using a thick, heavy book to smash the cereal to smithereens and it worked but not fabulously. I found that the best way to smash the cereal is by putting it on the floor (preferably hardwood or concrete-basement, road or driveway) and jump on it! Kids will loooove doing this! You could use a food processor or blender but you will be taking away part of the fun for the kids if you do so : )
Once all of your cereal has been smashed you are ready to start creating some beautiful cereal art. Grab your plastic bottle, removing all labels. Now, place the funnel into the mouth of the plastic bottle and scoop in one color of cereal. You may need to shake the funnel slightly to help the cereal enter the bottle. Once you have the desired layer of cereal in whichever color you chose move on to the next color. Repeat this process until your bottle is full.
Now you have a beautiful cereal art decoration and you have had hours of fun with the family!
Do you have any craft ideas to share? What types of crafts have you done with your kids?
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About the Author
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- From: michcoy@xanga
- Name: Michelle
- About Me: I am a full-time nanny who loves to write whenever I can. I also love being outdoors whenever possible. Camping, hiking and kayaking are a few of my favorite activities.
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Comments (26)
...Then you can pour milk in the bottle and drink your breakfast? :)
WOW
In a water bottle? Sorry but that's dumb. Cool idea, but why would you want sand art in a ugly plastic water bottle? At least get like a glass jar or bottle or something.
@eartheagle@xanga - You can definitely use whatever type of vessel is attractive to you, I just work with small children most of the time and am afraid of them accidentally breaking anything that is glass.
Yeah, here in South Florida that craft would be eaten by ants. So I'd just use the sand. Plus, isn't that wasting food??
people are rude.. It is a great idea may not be for everyone... The ceral would not last long enough to make the craft but great idea. I know they use alot of dry pasta in preschools for art projects.
@nickiesneon@xanga - that is why you put the lid on it. Hints the water bottle with the lid. As for wasting food it is cheaper then buying colored sand and looks like my preschoolers would like the smashing ceral. It takes a simple project and makes it afforable and longer and more intresting. I think it was a great idea.
@eartheagle@xanga - I'm sure young children aren't too worried about the aesthetic appeal of the container, and more entertained with the fact they get to crush things and play with food
For those who are complaining, this definitely seems like a craft that's more about the fun process than the beautiful outcome. Most toddler crafts are that way. They make a mess and they look like a mess when they're finished, then they get thrown away later. This one seems very low-waste, actually. If you're going to buy craft supplies, may as well make them completely biodegradable, so that when it does come time to have to throw it away, it will break down and not sit in a landfill somewhere. Nothing more biodegradable (and less dangerous to give to toddlers) than food! I don't buy plastic water bottles because I try to avoid wasting that much plastic, but if I did have one on hand, I'd rather let it become a pretty decoration my kid would enjoy for awhile than chuck it in the trash/recycling right away. Who cares if it's not in a pretty glass bottle? Yeesh.
p.s. I totally agree that the plastic is safer than glass. Plus then the kids can use them as noise makers afterwards by shaking them and/or hitting them on things, if there's a little air left in the bottle.
@opster25 - I'm guessing you don't live in Southern Florida. Ants can work their way into a sealed dishwasher, as well as a "capped" bottle. Colored sand at the dollar store costs...get ready for this...A DOLLAR!!
Plus, when those kids take that bottle home and figure out how to uncap it, their parents are going to be not to happy when sweeping crumbs out of the carpet. And if you're going to post ideas, be prepared for comments that are both positive and negative. That's how the world runs!!
@nickiesneon@xanga - Here is a idea keep your house clean and keep the ants outside. I have lived all over the place never had a problem with bugs getting into sealed bottles. As for the kids here is another idea teach your preschooler some manners and put it up where it is looked at at not touched.. Another thing humm $1 store sand lets say it is there which I have never seen.. That is $4 for 4 colors and humm the $1 store brand ceral humm WOW It is cheaper.. WOW amazing how that works.
Cute idea! No buying extra supplies or having leftovers that you don't know what to do with (eat 'em!) and a great re-use of a plastic water bottle! Genius.
@opster25 - LOL I know...I've had ants get inside ceramic containers with those clip lids (not airtight by any means, no matter what the company claims) but NEVER a screw on cap.
Really, why are there so many neighsayers out there? Have you never spent time with an 18 month old? This is an AWESOME idea and I'm pretty sure that those Fruit Loops in the cabinet that I use at snack time will now be introduced into art time. Thanks for the idea!
Seems like a waste of food to me.
@opster25 - I assure, you my house is cleaner on it's worst day than your house would be on it's best day of the week.
I find it hard to believe that you've lived all over and never had to contend with ants. Apparently, you don't know that if you live in a townhome...and your neighbor is infected that means you get infected too. Ants can work their way into sealed bottles, as when we first moved here I found a bunch of black headed ants in my bathroom inside a mouthwash bottle.
My local dollar store sells craft sand where they sell the silk flowers. It comes in a 1 pound tub of 4 colors for a dollar.
@nickiesneon@xanga - I have lived in 15 states in the last 20 years of my life.. including south texas.. And trust me I have OCD no ones house is cleaner then mine plus I am a vet. So it is miltary clean. YOU just want to be mean to this poor lady how about find something postive to say I have yet to see a postive comment from you.
@opster25 - Blah, blah, blah. If this lady's gonna post, she better take the bad with the good. Same with you too! Go wash your hands now, I'm sure they are dirty from typing on your otherwise immaculate keyboard.
@nickiesneon@xanga - Safer for the kids, they can eat the cereal sand :)
@nickiesneon@xanga - and how old are you?
@opster25 - I believe it's in my profile. You do the math. Although, with your lack of grammar skills, I'd put you in the 8th grade.
@nickiesneon@xanga - Hey good guess I am actaully 28 in the 7th grade my dum ass can't pass.. humm.. Wonder what the problem is but thanks for the nice comment.. Have a great day.
I love this idea... as others have said these projects often get tossed. This one the cereal crumbs will easily biodegrade, and you can dump them out and recycle the bottle! I love it!
This is definitely a great idea for crafting! Especially for children to do at home or at school! (: It's safe and creative!
For the people who are complaining, if you can come up with a better idea, go for it. But food is wasted everyday in restaurants when it's unfinished, or when it's expired and uneaten, etc. Can't really do much about it after it happens.
The point of this blog post was to share ideas for children. If you don't like the idea, don't do it. that makes 1 less person not to worry about wasting food. :D