Recipe Card Holder
Clip each child's special Mother's Day message to this Unique flower. Then have the child give her flower to her mother to use as a holder for recipes or notes.

Materials (per child)
tagboard flower tracer (see teacher tips)
colorful 5" poster board square
8-oz. foam cup
9" length of 18-gauge floral wire (wrapped)
clothespin
tissue paper scraps
small tissue squares
water-thinned glue (see Teacher Tips)
brown glue (see Teacher Tips)
rice
crayons
scissors
pencil
paintbrush
hot glue (for adult use)

Directions
1. Trace the flower onto the poster board and cut it out. Glue a scrunched up tissue paper center in the middle.
2. Slip one end of the wire through the spring on the clothespin; then bend it across the clothespin as shown.
3. Have an adult hot-glue the clothespin to the back of the flower.
4. Use the water-thinned glue to paint tissue paper squares all over the cup.
5. Fill the cup with rice.
6. Poke the stem into the rice so that it stands upright; then cover the rice with a thin layer of brown glue. let the glue dry.
7. To make leaves, tie a green tissue paper square around the stem; then glue it in place.

Teacher Tips
To make a tracer, cut out a tagboard a copy of the flower pattern found here.
To make the water-thinned glue, mix equal parts of white glue with water.
To make brown glue, mix a few drops of brown paint into white glue.
If desired, complete Steps 1-3 for your students in advance.

Letter-Perfect Picture Frame
Youngsters are sure to capture the hearts of their loved ones with these letter-perfect frames.

Materials (per child)

tagboard copy of the picture frame pattern found here.
photo of the child (to fit opening of frame)
watercolor paints
paintbrush
Alpha-Bits cereal (see Teacher Tips)
scissors
glue

Directions
1. Cut out the picture frame; then cut out the heart-shaped opening.
2. Paint the frame with a coat of water-color paint and let it dry.
3. Glue the photo to the back of the opening.
4. Fold the frame in half as shown. Glue cereal letters on the frame to spell a message or a name , or just to create a design.
5. When the glue is dry, cut along the dotted lines on the back of the frame to create a stand. Fold the stand up and away from the frame.
6. Glue the back and front of the frame together. Do not glue the stand.
7. After the glue dries, stand the picture upright on a flat surface.

Teacher Tips
To preserve the cereal glued to the frame, lightly brush white glue over each piece. Let the cereal dry.
For added stability, fold over one-quarter inch of the bottom of the stand.

Strawberry Glasses
It's a strawberry world when youngsters peer through these special glasses.

Materials (per child)
tagboard strawberry glasses and cap tracers ( see Teacher Tips)
red and green craft foam
two 8" lengths of red pipe cleaner
gold paint pen
craft glue
scissors
pushpin
pencil

Directions
1. Trace the glasses on red craft foam and the strawberry cap twice on green craft foam. Cut out all the patterns.
2. Use the gold paint pen to dot seeds on the glasses.
3. Glue the strawberry caps to the glasses. Carefully push the end of a pipe cleaner through each hole; then twist it to secure it in place.
5. Put on the glasses; then bend the earpieces to fit your head.

Teacher Tips
To make tracers, cut out a tagboard copy of the glasses and strawberry cap patterns found here.
If desired, have adult volunteers cut out a class supply of glasses in advance.
Bend the tip of each earpiece back on itself to avoid scratching.