Create a Sparkling Magic Wand

You've probably noticed that there are plenty of kids books, shows, and movies about wizards, fairies, and witches. Whether your child wants to become the next Harry Potter or Tinkerbell's best friend, there's one tool she shouldn't be without: a magic wand! Make this sparkling prop that will be sure to cast a spell on everyone. We can't promise that bunnies will start leaping from hats or that she'll sprout fairy wings, but we can promise that this art project is a lot of fun!

What You Need:

• Newspaper
• 1 unpainted wooden dowel, between 12" and 18" long (if you don't have time to get to the hardware store to buy one, you can use a tinker toy but you won't be able to paint it)
• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Thin silk ribbon in assorted colors
• Corrugated cardboard
• Craft glue
• Glitter (any color)

What to Do:

1. Lay down newspaper to avoid any mess.
2. Skip step one if you're using a tinker toy, otherwise have your child pick her favorite color and help her paint the entire dowel. You might want to help her choose a color by offering suggestions, such as black for a magician, pink for a fairy, etc. Set it in a place where it won't get knocked over or stuck to anything, and leave it to dry.
3. Trace two identical star shapes onto the cardboard and cut them out.
4. Invite your child to spread glue over one side of each star, and then sprinkle glitter over the entire thing. You don't want to skimp on the magic by missing any spots, so be sure the star is completely covered! Let it dry.
5. Trace a line of glue around the edges of the inside of the stars, leaving a small section at the bottom unglued. Make sure this section is big enough for the dowel to fit into. Sandwich the stars together so that both sides sparkle. Set it aside so the glue can dry.
6. Cut three long strands of ribbon and knot them around the top of the dowel. Let your child mix and match colors for a funky, personalized look. Add a small dot of glue to keep the ribbons in place.
7. Put a dab of glue at the tip of the dowel, and slide the star on. Add another dot of glue at the bottom of the star to make sure it doesn't fly off, and let it dry.
8. Abracadabra! Now your child is ready to become a wizard, a fairy, a magician, or anything she wants!