Collage is one of the most creative of the creative arts. Introduce the subject by discussing the work of Eric Carle, the famous author and illustrator of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." Have the children collect all kinds of collage materials such as fabric, buttons, colored paper, ribbon and aluminum foil. Then let them have a blast cutting, arranging and layering their works of art.
Preschoolers can print with just about anything from sponges to rubber stamps. An interesting method is to select fruits and vegetables such as potatoes, mushrooms, apples and oranges. Cut them in half and let the kids sponge bright tempera paint on the cut surfaces. Print onto pieces of paper or make decorative note cards.
Puppets are fun to use---and to create. An easy project is to sew squares of material on three sides and leave the fourth side open to insert the puppeteer's hand. Cut out and glue on features, and you have an instant hand puppet. For finger puppets, use the same principle with a smaller piece of material.
You can also use paper bags. Draw, paint or glue on the eyes, ears, nose and mouth (and, of course, the tongue). Add buttons, fabric and yarn for a three-dimensional look.
Stick puppets are even simpler: Just draw or paste facial features onto a paper plate and attach it to a stick.
It's interesting to see what preschoolers think of themselves, so have them create self portraits. Each child lies down on a big piece of butcher paper, and an adult draws an outline around the child's body. The children then color in their facial features, clothes, shoes, jewelry or whatever catches their fancy.