Cherry Craft for Kids - Practicing Shadows and Highlights

The United States is the second-largest producer of cherries in the world (Turkiye is #1). We grow two main types: sweet cherries and tart cherries. The top cherry-producing states for sweet cherries are Washington, California, and Oregon (in that order). Michigan dominates tart cherry production; Traverse City is called The Cherry Capital of the World and home to the National Cherry Festival. Interestingly, only one state has named the cherry as its state fruit and it's not any of those four. It's Utah, which is the only state in the top 5 producers of both sweet and tart cherries. Cherry proponents in Michigan have attempted to name the cherry their state fruit, but the powerful blueberry lobby has thwarted their efforts. 

Today's project allows young creators to practice adding shadows and highlights to their artwork. It starts with a basic pair of cherries cut from cardstock and uses student-grade Crayola colored pencils. Affiliate links below. 

 

Cherry Craft: Practicing Shadows and Highlights

Materials:

• cardstock (red, green, white)
• scissors
• craft glue
• colored pencils (grey, brown, black)

Steps: 

Cut two cherries from red cardstock. Start with rounded shapes, then add a dimple on one side. Cut two skinny green stems and a green leaf. Finally, cut a tiny green square shape that connects the two stems. Glue everything to a piece of white cardstock. 

Find a reference photo of cherries and look closely at the shadows and highlights on them. Cherries are quite reflective, so you'll see shiny white highlights on them. Notice the shadows as well. Drawing in a tiny circular motion, use a white colored pencil to add the highlights to your cherries. Then use a grey pencil to add shadows, using the same circular motion. 

Don't forget the stems and the leaves! Draw veins on the leaf, then shade the lower half with grey and the upper half with white. Add a shadow to each stem. Finally, color the little rectangle brown. 

It only takes a few minutes to add so much dimension to your project. For additional practice, you can choose another reference image with the light source coming from a different direction and repeat this activity. Or, switch to a coloring an apple. Like cherries, apples are glossy and provide great practice for highlights and shadows. 

Candy Melts Crafts for Kids

I love the versatility of Candy Melts (affiliate link). Not only can you use them on their own, but lots of different foods can become the base of a fun craft by adding Candy Melts. They're available in a wide variety of colors, which can in turn be mixed to make an infinite number of shades. I consider Candy Melts a staple when it comes to kids craft supplies. I've made dozens of crafts using Candy Melts over the years; below are some of my favorites. 

Candy Melts Crafts for Kids

Pac-Man Marshmallow Treats - These retro treats are ridiculously easy to make and are perfect for an 80's themed party or for everyday fun. 

Pretzel Raccoons - I'm really proud of these raccoons. They're so cute and I had a blast making them. Which version do you like best? 

Edible Roses on Ice Cream - Celebrate Mother's Day or another special occasion with edible roses served on top of ice cream. They're so easy to make and you can match them to any color scheme. 

Marshmallow Bunnies - I love these marshmallow bunnies! Each is slightly different, which gives them their own personality. 

Pretzel Monarch Butterflies - These monarchs take some patience and decent fine motor control, but most teens should be able to be successful with this project. The effort is worth it - they're gorgeous (and delicious)!

Edible US Flag - This patriotic dessert is easy to make and features different flavors for each of the three colors. 

Graham Cracker Owls - Make edible owl snacks that are packed with personality! Candy corn makes the perfect beaks. 

Rice Krispie Treat Pig with Chocolate Mousse Mud - This pig is so cute and tastes delicious, especially the chocolate mousse mud. Click the link to see his adorable curly tail!

Candy Melts Campfire - Create a gorgeous campfire treat for a Scout event, camping trip, or outdoors-themed party. The combination of sweet and salty is delicious. 

Pretzel Elephant on a Stick - What's more fun that dessert on a stick?! This elephant craft is fun to make and is a tasty treat. 

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This is only a small number of the many Candy Melts crafts I've made. Visit my Edible Crafts page to see the rest, along with all of the other edible crafts I've done over the years. 

Little Dipper Constellation Ornament

There is only one state which has named an official state constellation. Do you know which state it is? Here's a hint. The constellation they selected is the Little Dipper, to honor their nickname as the North Star State. Read here to discover which state it is, then learn how to make an ornament inspired by this constellation. Affiliate links below. 

Little Dipper Constellation Ornament

Materials: 

• wood slice ornament
• acrylic paint (Navy Blue)
• sponge
• 0.7 white Posca marker
• rhinestones
• craft glue
• silver cord

Steps: 

Mix a drop or two of paint with water to make a wash. Use a sponge to stain the wooden ornament. You should still be able to see the rings of the wood. 

While the paint dries, draw the constellation on a piece of scratch paper, cut to fit onto the ornament. Select rhinestones for each star of the constellation. It's a nice touch to use larger rhinestones for the larger stars.  

Set the rhinestones aside and turn your constellation upside down. Use the pencil scribble transfer technique to make a pattern on the wood ornament. 

Trace the pencil lines with the white Posca. Add tiny white dots randomly on the ornament, then glue the rhinestones where they belong on the constellation. Tie a loop with the silver cord and your ornament is done. 

While I made the Little Dipper because it's the state constellation of Minnesota, this project can easily be adapted to make any constellation. Try zodiac signs for especially nice ornaments; they make a wonderful gift.

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While researching constellations, I came across an absolutely fascinating blog post called Visualizing cities as constellations in the night sky. Check it out!

Published in Scrapbook & Cards Today

It was a dream come true when my 2-page layout about my favorite and least favorite things was published in what turned out to be the final issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today. This is the layout I made to document it. 

Published in Scrapbook & Cards Today (affiliate link)

I included a picture of the cover of the magazine, the page where my layout appears, and a notecard from the founder and publisher of Scrapbook & Cards Today. I'm happy with how the completed layout looks and am so glad to have it in the album. 

Pipe Cleaner Lollipop

Did you know that the lollipop (originally Lolly Pop) was invented in Connecticut? This beloved treat was first produced in 1908 by George Smith of the Bradley Smith Company of New Haven. Connecticut named the lollipop its official state candy in 2024. Celebrate this sweet treat with a quick and easy pipe cleaner craft. Affiliate links below. 

Pipe Cleaner Lollipop

Materials:

• pipe cleaners (orange, yellow, green, blue)
• 4" lollipop stick
• glue gun

Steps: 

Stack the four pipe cleaners and begin to twist them together. You can twist them loosely at first and then go back and tighten them, or twist them tightly from the beginning. Either way, you want a tight twist. 

When you've twisted the pipe cleaners together all the way to the end, begin coiling the twist. Keep the coil tight as you twist. It should hold on its own, but you can also add a drop of hot glue occasionally to keep it totally secure. 

Use hot glue to attach the lollipop stick to the finished coil. 

Quick and easy! Now go enjoy a lollipop in honor of George Smith, the Bradley Smith Company, and the great state of Connecticut.