Peacock Puppet Craft + Elmer's Early Learners Prize Pack and $25 Visa Gift Card Giveaway

This post is sponsored by Elmer's Early Learners Academy. The craft tutorial and all opinions expressed are my own. 

My older boys started back at school this past week. I sure miss them during the day but I also enjoy all the quality time I get to spend with my little preschooler. With some of our one-on-one time today we tried out some Elmer's Early Learners Products and created this Paper Bag Peacock Puppet. Then we played and giggled with them to our heart's content.      

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SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED:

• paper lunch bag
• blue, green and yellow construction paper
• Elmer's Early Learners Glue Stick
• Elmer's Early Learners Gel Pen
• pencil
• scissors
• googly eyes
• small blue fluffy feathers
• gold and teal sequins (not pictured)

DIRECTIONS:

Before having my daughter start her craft, I did some prep work (Note: Depending on yours child's skill level, they may be able to do some of these steps on their own):

-- Start by cutting off three (3) inches from the bottom of your paper lunch bag. You can throw away the cut off section as you won't be needing it.

-- Measure and cut two rectangles out of your blue construction paper to fit the bottom of the paper bag (peacock head) and the front of the lunch bag (peacock body).

-- Cut two triangles out of your yellow construction paper for the peacock beak.

-- Take your lunch bag and lay it onto your green construction paper. Use your pencil to draw light markings on the paper of where you want your peacock feathers to lay around your bag (see picture above), and then cut out the shape from your green construction paper. 

Now you're ready for your child to make their Peacock Puppet!

1. Use your Elmer's Early Learners Glue Stick to add glue to the bottom rectangle of your lunch bag and attach your small blue rectangle. Now add glue to the front of the lunch bag (you'll have to lift the flap slightly) and attach the larger blue rectangle.  One of my favorite features of this Glue Stick is it's triangle shape. Not only does it help encourage children to use the tripod grasp, but it never rolls off the table!

2. Use your Elmer's Early Learners Glue Stick again to glue on your yellow triangle beak. Glue one of the triangles on the bottom of the small blue rectangle, and the other one underneath the flap, directly underneath the other triangle.   

3. Next glue your green construction paper feather shape onto the back of your paper bag.

4. Use your scissors to cut small feathers all the way around the green construction paper. This is great scissor practice for a preschooler! You can see my daughter pictured above, using Elmer's Early Learners Scissors cutting her feathers. I cut my feathers extra small and crinkled them a little to give my Peacock some extra texture.

5. Glue on your wiggly eyes and your small blue fluffy feathers with your Elmer's Early Learners Gel Pen. The Gel Pen also has the triangle shape so it doesn't roll AND it has a sponge tip which makes for much less mess!

6. Lastly, add dots of glue onto the Peacock's green feathers with your Gel Pen and add gold and teal sequins to make the fun designs on the feathers. Once your glue is dry have fun playing with your new Peacock Puppet!

Here is a side by side of my puppet next to my daughter's who just turned 4 years old. I love bonding with my children through arts and crafts. It is seriously the best! Check out the Elmer's Let's Bond Pledge for information on how important crafting with your children is and ideas on ways to nurture cognitive development through crafting.   

Try coupling this craft with Three Hens and a Peacock by Lester Laminack

GIVEAWAY

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!
Win an Elmer's Early Learners Prize Pack which includes the Elmer's Learns Glue Stick and Glue Pen, together with a $25 Visa Gift Card for all your crafting needs. To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter Form below.

You must be 18 years old to enter. Prize can be shipped to US addressee only. The giveaway ends on September 3, 2014 at 12:00 am (MST).  Winner will be notified via email and has 48 hours to respond to the email with their mailing address. If winner does not respond, a new winner will be randomly chosen.

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