Trees can be made from three sheets of paper with scissors, tape and paint. Roll the three sheets of paper loosely into a tube and use a piece of tape to secure them in place. Use scissors to cut slits one inch apart and four inches deep, all around the tube. Pull on the fringe to create branches of the tree. Paint the trunk of the tree brown. Cut flowers or apples out of construction paper to make blossoms to tape on the branches.
Preschoolers can make papier-mâché bowls to give as gifts or use to hold small treasures. You will need newspaper, paste, paper towels, tissue paper, a bowl, vegetable oil, shellac and scissors. Mix 3 cups cold water and 1 1/2 cups flour to make the papier-mâché paste. A drop of peppermint oil extract can be added for scent. Rip strips of newspaper into one-inch strips. Grease the bottom of the bowl with vegetable oil. Dip one strip of newspaper into the paste and show the children how to run the strip through thumb and forefinger to remove excess paste. Lay the strips over the bottom of the bowl. creating two or three layers of strips. Smooth with hands and trim the excess from the edge of the bowl. Let dry for a minimum of 24 hours, then add two or three more layers. Consider using colorful tissue paper and paper towels for the final layers. Allow the papier-mâché to dry completely and then lift off the bowl. Paint the surface and then seal with shellac.
Treasure boxes can be made from a small box with a lid, glue, pasta and paint. Pour glue into a container and use a paintbrush to spread a thick layer of glue on the lid of the box. Place pieces of pasta close together in the glue until the lid is covered. Paint the entire box with acrylic paints. Pasta noodles can be used to write a preschooler's name or create a border along the bottom of the box. Alternately, use shells, crumbled up pieces of tissue paper or buttons instead of pasta. Spray the entire box with a layer of shellac to seal. Use clear or glitter spray paint.