Kids can find creative outlets using just about any type of material, but every now and then, they have to be given a nudge. On those days when foul weather drives them indoors, or they just feel a bit antsy and don’t know what to do, try getting them involved in a marshmallow arts and crafts project. The great thing about this type of activity is that it can often turn into a snack when they’re finished. Here are some fun ideas for projects using marshmallows that will keep your youngsters busy, while stimulating their creative juices.
MR. SNOWMAN AND FAMILY
This is a very simple project that can be enjoyed by all age groups using a bag or two of marshmallows and some thin pretzel sticks. A combination of large and miniature marshmallows is usually best for this type of activity, since it provides flexibility in the way that kids can develop their creations. Simply pour some marshmallows on the work surface, along with some thin pretzel sticks, and allow them to create a snowman - as well as his wife and children – by pushing marshmallows onto the pretzel sticks in order to form the parts of the bodies. If time and materials permit, they can turn this into a lengthy project by building an entire village of snow people. When finished, they can be set aside until the marshmallows dry and harden a bit, or – if there aren’t too many figures – they can be eaten as a daytime snack. These also make great tree ornaments after they’ve dried and hardened.
MARSHMALLOW STARS
Marshmallows of both the large and miniature varieties will be needed for this project, as well as toothpicks to provide a foundation for the shape. Push six miniature marshmallows onto one toothpick, leaving one pointed end sticking out. Do the same for five others, so that there are six altogether. Push the pointed ends of these toothpicks into a large marshmallow – in equal distances from each other - to form a star. When finished, youngsters can continue to create them until they either reach their designated allowable limit, or until the materials are diminished. When allowed to sit in the open air for a few days, the marshmallows will dry and become hard, making a perfect Christmas tree decoration (simply push a hook through one of the smaller marshmallows to attach each star to the tree).
MARSHMALLOW NAME PLATE
This is a great project for kids, and only requires some long graham cracker strips (full, unbroken rectangles), large marshmallows, white frosting and fruit flavored decorator candies. Using a graham cracker rectangle as the base, have children count out enough marshmallows for each letter in their first name (e.g., Mary = 4 letters, so you’ll need 4 marshmallows; Alexander = 9 letters, so 9 marshmallows will be needed). Have the youngsters coat one of the flat sides of each marshmallow with some white frosting and stick them onto the graham cracker base, so that they’re touching sides. With that done, it’s time to place the letters of their names on the marshmallow surfaces. Have the kids dab a bit of frosting on one side of the fruit flavored decorator candies (one at a time, as needed) and place them on the sides of the marshmallows so that each one contains a single letter. In other words, the four marshmallows that are used to make the name “Mary” should have the “M” on the first marshmallow, “A” on the second marshmallow, and so forth, until the name is completed. The result is a delicious snack or, if allowed to dry and harden, a great craft project that can be used for a desk or work area.
MARSHMALLOW COOKIE TREE
During the Christmas season, when baking is on the rise, parents can integrate that task into a fun project for the kids. Using a plain cookie variety, such as a sugar cookie or butter cookie, prepare your favorite recipe and – with the help of a tree-shaped cookie cutter - bake them in the form of a Christmas tree. After they’ve been baked and cooled, spread them out on the surface that the youngsters will be using for their crafts project. Supply them with green decorator frosting, white sprinkles and a bag of multi-colored miniature marshmallows. Allow each child to spread a coat of green decorator frosting onto the cookie and immediately push the marshmallows into random positions of the frosting. Next, place a light coating of white sprinkles over the rest of the cookie’s surface. They should be careful to finish decorating the tree before the frosting dries, or the decorations won’t adhere. Repeat the steps for each cookie until all of them have been decorated. The result will be a delicious treat that looks like a snow-covered Christmas tree with multi-colored ornaments.
MARSHMALLOW POP BUDDIES
Parents will need to supervise this activity, as well as provide the materials – large marshmallows, 4”-6” lollipop sticks (found at any arts and crafts store), candy melts (any color will do), black decorator’s gel and parchment paper. Have the children push lollipop sticks into large marshmallows (one marshmallow per stick) and place them in the freezer for 15 minutes. Next, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and melt the candy in the microwave – one color per dish - using the instructions on the bag. Once the candy has been melted, remove the marshmallow pops from the freezer and instruct the youngsters to dip each one into a bowl of melted candy coating mixture, until thoroughly coated. Then, place on the parchment paper to dry – stick side up. When the coating has completely dried, kids can use the black decorator gel to make faces on their marshmallow pops.
MARSHMALLOW BUNNY
Here’s a great craft idea for kids that’s perfect for some indoor fun on a bad weather day, or as an Easter project during the days that lead up to the holiday. You’ll need large and miniature marshmallows, 8” pieces of thin ribbon (any color), white frosting, thin licorice whips and fruit flavored candy decorations (small and round). For each bunny, have the children put enough white frosting on one of the flat sides of a large marshmallow to cover it, then place another large marshmallow on top of it, so that the two attach in an upright stack. Once the two are firmly in place, they can tie an 8” piece of ribbon around the middle, covering up the line that divides them (this will be the bunny’s bowtie). Next, have them put a small amount of frosting on each of five miniature marshmallows – four will be used for arms and legs, and the fifth will be used as the cottontail. Instruct them to push two miniature marshmallows onto the front side of the upper part of the bunny (top marshmallow), far enough apart to resemble arms. Have them repeat the process for the bottom half of the bunny, to resemble legs. For the fifth, youngsters should place it on the lower half of the backside of the bunny, to be used as the tail.
Cut the remaining large marshmallow into quarters and, using frosting, coat one end of two of the pieces so that they can be pushed onto the top of the bunny to resemble ears. When all of the bunny pieces have been put into position, colorful little decorator candies can be used to create facial features – frosting will need to be applied so that they’ll adhere to the bunny’s face. Short lengths of licorice whips can be pushed into the top marshmallow to create whiskers.
Rather than a structured project, you can give younger children a paper plate (graham crackers work, too, if you’re planning to turn it into a snack when finished), miniature marshmallows and colorful frosting, and encourage them to make their own pictures.
