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Stained Glass Sun Catchers

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In February 2025, Halley Zitterkopf, Digital Engagement Manager for KC Parent updated this article to include the latest information on this activity.

A fun spin on traditional ornaments, these stained-glass decorations are beautiful as sun catchers in the window or on your tree illuminated with lights.  They also make wonderful gifts for teachers, friends, and family!

Materials needed: 

    • String or fishing line
    • Cookie cutters
    • Plastic beads
    • Cookie sheet
    • Drill and small drill bit (I used 1/8th)

Step one:  Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Step two: Arrange beads in whatever pattern you choose inside the cookie cutter on the baking sheet in a single layer. You can do as many as will fit on the sheet!

Step three: Bake for 8-12 minutes.

Step four: Let cool and admire! To speed this process, put baking sheet in the freezer for 10 minutes.

Step five: Gently pull the edges of the cookie cutter away from the plastic and push out each shape.

Step six: Drill a hole at the top of the ornament and tie with your string to hang.

Step seven: Optional: use Sharpie to have your child write his or her name and the year (or whatever you’d like) on the ornament.

Megan Coffey is a former kindergarten teacher and lives in Overland Park with her husband and two kids. She loves encouraging creativity with her children through art and play.

Turkey Place Cards

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Busy prepping for Thanksgiving dinner? Let your kids help out with table decorations with these fun and simple place holders your guests will love.  

Materials needed: 

  • Brown, red and orange paper (or color white paper these colors!) 

  • Black marker/pen 

  • Scissors 

  • Hershey Kiss candy 

  • Hot glue/regular glue 

  • Googly eyes  


Step one:  Draw your turkey’s feathers on brown paper and cut out.  A scalloped circular shape works well! 

Step two: Draw the turkey’s wattle on red paper and cut out. 

Step three: Draw a small triangle on orange paper and cut out for the beak.  

Step four: Write the guest’s name toward the top of the brown feathers. 

Step five: Glue the brown feathers to the back of the Hershey kiss.

Step six: Glue the googly eyes toward the top of the candy, adding the wattle below the eyes and the beak on top.  

Step seven: Place your turkeys around the table and enjoy your Thanksgiving meal with your family! 

Megan Coffey is a former kindergarten teacher and lives in Overland Park with her husband and two kids. She loves encouraging creativity with her children through art and play. 

Heart Name Puzzle

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This fun and simple Valentine’s craft doubles as an educational tool to work on letters and your child’s name recognition.  You can easily make this your own with whatever craft materials you have in the house!

Materials needed:

  • Cardstock or construction paper (cardstock will hold up better over time)

  • Scissors

  • Markers

  • Any craft materials to decorate (glitter, pom-poms, stickers, sequins, etc.)


Step one: Cut a heart out of your paper (or draw it and let your child work on those scissor skills to cut it out).

Step two: Write your child’s name with a bit of space between each letter and then draw various types of lines to divide up each letter. 

Step three: Cut on the lines to turn the heart into a puzzle.

Step four:  Let your child have fun decorating however he or she chooses.

Step five: Put the puzzle back together!

Megan Coffey is a former kindergarten teacher and lives in Overland Park with her husband and two kids. She loves encouraging creativity with her children through art and play.

Salt Dough Keepsake

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This is the perfect keepsake for you or loved ones that can easily be turned into an ornament, as well. Be creative and have fun making this special keepsake of your little one to remind you of how small that little hand once was!

Materials needed:

  • 1 c. salt

  • 1 c. flour

  • 1/2 c. water

  • Mixing bowl

  • Rolling pin

  • Paint/glitter spray (optional)

  • Straw and ribbon (for turning into an ornament)


Step one: Mix the first three ingredients together in your mixing bowl. You may need to add more flour or water to get a play-dough-like consistency.

Step two: Roll into a ball and flatten with the rolling pin.

Step three: Press your child’s hand into the dough.

Optional step: If you want to turn this into an ornament, make a hole using the end of a straw at the top. Writing the date on the back with a toothpick is another idea. 

Step four: Bake at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours. If your handprint is still doughy, put back in for another hour.

Optional step: Paint or use glitter spray to cover your handprint; use ribbon to turn it into an ornament. 

Megan Coffey is a former kindergarten teacher and lives in Overland Park with her husband and two kids. She loves encouraging creativity with her children through art and play.

Melted Snowman

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Need a snowy day activity for those days off school? Pull out some of these everyday household items to create a fun 3D melted snowman. Get as creative as you want with this!

Materials needed:

  • Buttons

  • Two googly eyes

  • Two twigs

  • Paper cutouts of nose, mouth and hat

  • Material to use for a scarf (ribbon, paper, fabric)

  • Shaving cream

  • School glue

  • Bowl

  • Spoon

  • Paper for background of picture


Step one: Mix together in a bowl a 1:1 ratio of school glue and shaving cream—no exact measurement.

Step two: Pour/scoop onto your paper. To help your snowman stand out in contrast, use a colored piece of paper instead of white.

Step three: Have fun adding the hat, eyes, nose, mouth, scarf, arms and buttons to your melted snowman.

Step four: Lay it flat to dry.

Step five: Hang and proudly display your melted snowman creation!

Megan Coffey is a former kindergarten teacher and lives in Overland Park with her husband and two kids. She loves encouraging creativity with her children through art and play.

Sock Snowmen

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Need a snowy day activity for when school is closed? Old socks find a whole new purpose with these darling and easy-to-make snowmen.  Use everyday items from around the house to create sock snowmen that can be used as decorations, door stops or just for play!

Materials needed:

  • Uncooked rice

  • Scissors

  • Rubber bands

  • Buttons

  • Googly eyes (or more buttons)

  • Socks (2)

  • Sharpie

  • Hot glue and glue gun (or any strong glue)




Step one: Cut the bottom off your sock for your snowman’s body.  If you want to make two snowmen, use the other half for the other body.

Step two: Fill with rice.

Step three: Tie the top closed with a rubber band.

Step four: Create your snowman’s head and middle by separating two more sections with rubber bands.

Step five: Use hot glue (or glue of choice) to add your eyes and buttons. Draw on nose with Sharpie. Washable marker works, too.

Step six: Cut other sock to create your hat and scarf.

Step seven: Tie the top of the hat with a rubber band. Cut end of scarf to create frays.

Step eight: Dress up your snowman and find him a cozy spot in your home!

Megan Coffey is a former kindergarten teacher who lives in Overland Park with her husband and two kids. She loves encouraging creativity with her children through art and play.

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