Natural Paint BrushesThis is a fun kids' activity! Collect items such as leaves, branches, and grasses from outside. Dip the items into paint and use them as paint brushes.
Rainbow Nature HuntCan you find natural items outside that make up the colors of the rainbow?
Nature Collection BraceletsThis is a fun way to collect items outside, especially if you are out on a walk. First wrap a piece of masking tape loosely around your wrist, sticky side out.
Frog Play MatTo go along with the worm play mat that I created, I also made a simple frog pond play mat. My son enjoys using small plastic frogs on it. He created lily pads and plants to put in and around the pond as well. We will also be making some origami jumping frogs for the pond. I would suggest laminating it so that it will stay clean and last longer. Have fun!
Worm Play MatHere is a fun play mat that I created. Kids can make worms for it out of Play-Doh, pipe cleaners, or even paper. If you laminate it they can also draw worms and tunnels onto the mat with a dry erase marker. Enjoy!
Remaking 'The Scream''One of the projects assigned in my daughter's art class was to recreate a famous painting with items found at home. My son loves the painting "The Scream" by Edvard Munch and volunteered to help her in recreating it. They used clothing, blankets, and strips of cardboard to create the background. My son posed as the figure in the painting. I think it turned out pretty amazing!
Touchpoint Math KeyMy son is in kindergarten and they have been working on touchpoint math. His most recent worksheets don't have the touch points on the numbers and he doesn't have all of them memorized to do it without the dots.
Making Simple Sock PuppetsMeet Bob, the sock puppet!
Play Placemats and StovetopI made these for the kids in my preschool class. They are made out of scrapbooking paper and were laminated. For the placemats I traced around a small plate, cup, utensils, and made a triangle for a napkin to create templates on cardstock. Then I used the templates to trace each shape onto scrapbooking paper. I attached all of the pieces to the placemat with a glue stick and then laminated them.
Reusing Cardboard Pieces as Sturdy Art CanvasMy kids like to save cardboard pieces from boxes that are shipped to our home. Cardboard is sturdy enough for the kids to glue or use hot glue without the cardboard bending - like with paper.
Artwork into Paper Necklace for KidsMy son loved his paper rocket toy that he wanted to make his artwork into a paper necklace and wear it for fun! He was also nice enough to make his sister a butterfly necklace too.
Ice Cream Bucket Frog TotemMy son's junior kindergarten class put on a play this winter, based on the story of the Rainbow Crow. Each child was one of the forest animals in the story and they each made a totem piece of their animal. My son was the frog and this is the frog totem that we made:
Ecobag Turned into a Coloring ApronThis craft is made from a white ecobag from the grocery. My brother made it himself as a gift to my son. The picture was printed into the bag first and then he transformed it into an apron which my kid enjoyed coloring and at the same time he can use it as he helps me in the kitchen.
Felt Wrist Control PanelI made this control panel for my 4 yr old son. He told me that he needed something that would charge his engine and control the mechanical parts of his body. He is amazingly creative and I just had to make that happen. This is what I came up with:
Recycled Cardboard Box as a Child's CanvasI save all of my boxes from online orders to reuse. One usage is to treat a box like a canvas - fun and free outdoor activity your little ones can enjoy.
Painted Pumpkin DecorationRecently we were given a couple of pumpkins not in the greatest condition - they were dented, but it was perfect for the kids!
Heart Shaped Paper ChainMaking a paper chain is a fun and satisfying craft which all children, and adults too, love to do on special occasions.
Mess Free Painting for KidsA fun way to use paint without the mess is putting the paint in a Ziploc bag. Make sure the Ziploc bag is securely closed all the way and to not use too much paint.
Hands-on Interactive Learning ShapesThere are tons of interactive hands on learning activity sheets that you can print out for free! My recommendation is to laminate these sheets. To make learning shapes more hands on and fun, you can add velcro dots on the shape.
Flexible Cutting Mat as Drawing BoardI found this flexible cutting and chopping mat at Food City. I bought it for use as a dry erase board or marker board. Dry erase or color markers show up well and come off right away with a wet cloth or baby wipes.
Play-Doh Stamping Activity for ChildrenStamping has always been fun for me and so has playing with Play-Doh. When put together they are even more fun. The little stamps make cute impressions on the Play-Doh. If you place holes in the top, you can put ribbon through the little works of art and hang them up.
Fake Play SnowThis is fluffy and feels cold. You can pack it down and even make "snowballs". It is best used outside, since it is messy. Kids will enjoy this. For 4 little snowballs use 2 1/2 cups baking soda and 1/2 cup white hair conditioner. Mix and enjoy.
Markers and Coffee Filter Spray ArtThis is a fun art project which is simple. First, a coffee filter is colored with markers, (not permanent) in no particular design and sprayed with a spray bottle filled with water.
Melted Crayon ArtThis requires adult supervision since a flame is held to the tip of a crayon. The crayon with the now melted tip is shaken, towards and onto, a piece of paper. This creates a large amount of colored dots. They look rather striking, when the paper is full of them.
Paper Mache MasksMy daughter's 5th grade class made these amazing paper ache masks in their art class! I wanted to share them in hopes of inspiring someone that might want to make their own. The bases for the masks used recycled items such as newspaper, egg cartons, cardboard tubes, and metal hangers.
Cardboard Vehicle Play MatWe recently bought some furniture at Ikea and used the broken down boxes to protect our floor while we assembled the furniture. When we were done our daughter decided to make her baby brother a play mat to drive his cars on.
Paper Shadow Self PortraitsOne of the fun 5th grade graduation traditions at my kids' school is to have each child make a paper shadow self portrait of them doing an activity that they enjoy. Then they line the hallway leading to their classroom with the shadows for graduation night! It is really fun to see how each kid represents themselves.
Make a Rainbow Crayon from Broken PiecesI've melted short crayon pieces in the past, using silicone molds. But, I saw a different idea that looked like fun using empty medication canisters.
Making Watercolor Paints with Dried Up...Instead of throwing away all those dried up markers, you can create paint for the kiddos, or yourself, with them. Separate the colors - reds, blues, greens, etc. Put each group of colors in a small jar with water.
Baby Wipes for Flannel Graph BoardI print pictures from my computer. Then I spread a baby wipe out flat. When it is completely dry, I cut it to fit the picture. Use a glue stick to glue it on the back of the picture. Either scented or plain baby wipes can be used. It is a very inexpensive easy way to tell flannel graph (flannel board) stories.
Slime for KidsWinter is coming up too fast. This is a great thing for kids to do when stuck inside! I have also done it for Halloween Parties!
Spray Bottle Sidewalk ChalkIt is summertime! This will keep the kids happy for awhile. You will need food coloring, warm water, spray bottle and flour. I get the spray bottles from the dollar store.
Homemade Faerie BubblesFaerie bubbles are very important to every little girl and boy you meet. They bring the magic of the faeries into anyone's heart. When you blow a bubble make a wish before it pops!
Safe Homemade Tempera PaintsWhen my kids were little, I did daycare. I soon found "homemade" supplies were cheaper and safer than buying them for crafts. I never had to worry about "not safe to eat" labels and the older children had a blast making supplies! Now I do them for my grandchildren!
Making Homemade Sidewalk ChalkMake your own sidewalk chalk.
Corral for Grandkids Art ClassTo keep really artistic moments with your grandkids contained, use a plastic swimming pool in your front room. The kids can create without worrying about making a mess on my carpet or furniture.
Markers Instead of Ink for Kids' StampsI have a stamp that used to be used by my children for their cards and stuff, to decorate with. It says "Peace". I knew we didn't have the stamp pad anymore, so I took a simple color marker, like a Crayola marker, and marked all over the stamp, and it worked perfectly!
Artwork Stuffed AnimalsMy daughter took a children's sewing class awhile back. The project was to draw a creature and then using old t-shirts, turn your drawing into a stuffed animal.
Decorating Fall GourdsThe kids are always asking us to buy those funky decorative gourds at the grocery store in the fall. I usually say no, but last year I gave in and let them each pick one.
Easy Cleanup Shaving Cream PaintThis is a simple tip to use for toddlers and it will keep them busy for awhile. My granddaughter is around two and her mom makes this paint for her. In a muffin tin or ice cube tray, put some shaving cream, then add a few drops of food coloring, mix and there you have it, paint!
Life Saver and Flower Vase Vacation Bible...My daughter brought home these adorable sea oriented crafts from VBS. One is a lifesaver made out of a swim noodle held together with red and white duct tape, with nylon string made out of red attached to the red parts of it.
Make a Sailing Boat from Old Plastic BottleA fab little project for you to make with your children and grandchildren this summer. Make these great little boats and then go sailing!
Paper Plate PinwheelMake these easy and fun twirling paper plate decorations for your child's room.
Floating Flower DisplaysWhen the grandchildren came to visit we went for a walk and they picked some small flowers from our garden. This was the creative result of that activity.
Painted Rock GiftsOur kids were looking for Christmas present ideas for their grandparents last year and I wanted them to make homemade gifts. We have a never ending supply of large rocks in our yard so we went hunting for flat ones to paint on.
Drumstick As Magic WandMy niece wanted a magic wand after watching some Harry Potter movies. I found an old drum stick at a yard sale and painted it in colors that she likes and added glitter. She really likes it.
Bicycle Name PlateMake a personalized name plate for children's bicycles. Allow children to create their name plate with foam letters and embellishments. Tie the plate onto the front handlebars of your children's bicycles.
Salt Dough For CraftsMix together flour and salt with a big wooden spoon. Slowly stir in the water. Keep mixing until the dough follows the spoon around the bowl and then knead with your hands until smooth.
Sand JarsHere is a great craft for kids to make and use for passing time.
Use Old Jars for Kids' Craft ItemsI had some old jars laying around and put some acyrilic paint in the bottom with a little bit of water and shook them up and then let them sit to dry over night. Now the kids have colourful jars to store pencils, crayons, and scissors.
Vacation Bible School T ShirtsWe order plain white t shirts from a bulk store, fabric markers from Oriental Trade Company, and iron-on computer paper. Before Bible School, we design an iron on based on our VBS Theme and print it on the iron-on paper.
Creating "Canvas Art" Without a CanvasIf you want to create incredible, long-lasting, vibrant, and ready-to-hang masterpiece but all you have around you are old throwaway materials such as Sheetrock, plywood, or some other sturdy but unremarkable surfaces...
Walmart Paint-a-Mug KitMy daughter received a kit from Walmart where you paint a mug. Here is a picture of what she painted. It is so cute. I see that it is a great craft kit.
Cookie Cutter DecorationsWhen my children were home, we were on a pretty tight budget. I would save the white foam meat trays and use the cookie cutters to cut designs in the meat trays.
Teacher Pointer Stick GiftA 'cute' gift for any kindergarden teacher can be made easily by taking the plastic arm off an old doll and inserting a wooden dowel (1/2 to 3/4 inch round, to fit). You have created a unique (and adorable) pointer stick for use in the classroom.
Reusing Coffee CansCoffee cans make really cute drums for the toddler and preschool set. The drum can be decorated with stickers, colored tape, etc.
Foam and Bead Necklaces for Young ChildrenThere are lots of foam shapes that you can use. You pick one out and then poke two holes or cut two small holes in each side. Pick a matching yarn, and then beads to go on the yarn, and then you have a cute little necklace.
Homemade Flour Finger PaintMix 1 cup of flour and 2 tablespoons of salt in a saucepan, add 1 and 1/2 cups of cold water, stir until there are no lumps. Add 1 and 1/2 cups of hot water and bring to a boil.
Milk Art CraftMake milk art with your little ones with just milk and food coloring! Pour the milk in a shallow dish and add drops of the food coloring and swirl the food coloring around slowly. It is kind of mesmerizing to watch the colors float around in the milk!
"Harry" the Pencil TopperThese make the erasers stay on the pencil and not fall off. Tommy the kitten is offering to pose in these pictures.
Save Items For Kids' Craft BoxIt is time for me to start filling up a craft box for the holidays. I save cardboard and paper of green and red. I also save orange for fall harvest decorations, Thanksgiving, etc. I will pick up little stickers at the store and put things in it for the kids to do.
Shaving Cream FingerpaintMix shaving cream and a tablespoon or so of Kool-Aid to make a tinted, scented finger paint material for small children. A cookie sheet makes a good table on which to mix paint colors and serves as a play surface for the kids to swirl the shaving cream.
Craft: Foam Art MagnetsMy daughter made these little foam art magnets for her dad on Father's Day. You could use these for any season or occasion. She cut out shapes and put adhesive backed magnetic stripping on the back.
Reuse Meat Tray for Art ProjectsStyrofoam meat trays or plates make great bases for children's drawings or decoupage projects.
Use Beans and Pasta For Children's CraftsWhen I was a Girl Scout Brownie troop leader, our little troop didn't have much money to spend on supplies for the "making art" segment of the meetings. One of the ideas that I came up with was not only very thrifty, but ended up being one the favorites.
Teach a Child To SewYou can teach a child as young as six years old to sew with supervision. Get a piece of regular ruled school paper. Take all the thread from your machine including the bobbin. Put the paper under the needle and drop pressure foot.
No Bake Craft ClayFor no-bake craft clay, mix 1 cup cornstarch, 1 1/4 cup cold water, 2 cups baking soda, and food coloring (optional). Combine cornstarch, water, and baking soda in a saucepan and stir over medium heat 3-4 minutes. The mixture should look like mashed potatoes.
Chocolate Scented PlaydoughThis is so fun and if the wee ones eat some, it is okay! Mix the dry ingredients. Add the oil and boiling water. Stir quickly, mixing well. When cool, mix with your hands. Store in an airtight container.
Use Sharpie to Decorate FabricDo you have a child or teen's birthday coming up? How about a church youth group? Here is something we did that youth of all ages enjoy. We bought a package of colored Sharpies.
Craft: Decorated Snow "Cake"I filled a tray with snow, which then became my cake. I filled containers with a few drops of food coloring and some water. I gave my 2 year old a paint brush and told her to decorate her cake how ever she liked.
Sculptures from Packing PeanutsRecyclable packing peanuts made from peanut starch make a great sculpting medium for an activity for kids. Wet the ends and press them together to build fantastic sculptures.
Car With Stick PeopleThis was a spur of the moment craft created when a three year old noticed a sheet of felt circles I had sitting around. As they were self stick pads for the bottom of chair legs and I had extras, I began to think what he could stick them on.
Drink Mix Finger PaintIn a large bowl, mix together the flour, powdered drink mix, and salt. Put it aside. Measure the water in a medium size pot and bring it to a boil. Add the oil to the boiling water.
Perfume Gift TagsMy girls were creating little foam crafts the other day that had a loop around them. I saw them put one on an old bottle of cologne that was sitting on a shelf. I thought what a cute way to present a present of cologne.
Homemade Sidewalk ChalkPour into an egg carton container, and let harden for 24 hours. Pop the molds out and enjoy. The shape of the sidewalk chalk is easy for smaller hands to use.
Make Your Own Moon SandFor "moon sand", mix 9 cups play sand (really fine sand you can find at Wal-Mart). Add 3 cups cornstarch and 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups water. Start with 2 1/4 cup and continue adding water until you have the desired consistency. Mix well. Cover and store in an airtight container.
Paper Plate Smiley FaceCut 2 silver dollar size circles from black construction paper for the eyes. Cut out a 2 1/2 inch smiley face mouth or alternately another circle.
Dish Soap PaintTo make paint that is great for painting temporary designs on windows or even sidewalks, try dish soap paint! You can also paint on paper with it. Once it is dry, it has a nice shiny finish. Clean up is a breeze. You need to use clear or light colored dish soap.
Puffy Paint RecipeTo make a batch of puffy paint, simply mix equal parts of shaving cream and Elmer's glue. Add food coloring, a few drops at a time, until you get the desired color. Apply the glue to heavy paper using a sponge brush. Let the painting dry before moving it.
Make Your Own Percussion InstrumentsYou can make percussion instruments out of almost anything (a la the show "Stomp").
Use Everyday Items For CraftsInstead of going out to Jo-Ann Fabric's to buy things for children's crafts, use some everyday items like aluminum foil and tissue paper.
Craft: Sandycast Shell FacesThis was one of the most fun and memorable things we ever did on a beach vacation with the kids. Sandycast faces made with sea shells.
Link: Make Your Own Finger PuppetsI just came across this and thought it would be so much fun for the wee ones to print, cut out and glue! Since school is out for the summer soon the children could make a bunch of them and put on finger puppet shows to enjoy.
Paper Plate ArtThis is a simple idea, but a great one to keep kids busy while preparing a meal. Invest in a few clear glass plates (an easy and inexpensive find in a thrift store). Have the child draw a picture on the paper plate.
Cereal Box Liner for Child's Craft SurfaceI use the cereal box liners as a protective surface when children are painting or gluing. Open the bag up on the seam so that you have a good size surface.
Peanut Butter Play DoughThis makes a dough children can mold and create with. But if they are still young enough to put in their mouth, chew and swallow, you have no worries!
Recycle Lids for Kids GameSave opaque plastic lids of the same kind and make games for young kids. Hide small treats like marshmallows or small crackers under a few of the lids and lay 10-20 of them upside-down on the table altogether.
Kool-Aid Play DoughTons of fun for kids! Combine flour, salt, Kool-Aid and oil. Mix until water is ready, then add water (be very careful). Have an adult pour the boiling water and stir with a spoon until cool enough for a child to touch and mix thoroughly with hands.
Recycled Lacing PuzzleCut a large shape out of a laundry bottle. Next cut an identical smaller shape. Punch holes along border of both shapes. Cut the smaller shape into 3-4 pieces to create puzzle. Provide string with knot on end. Show a child how to line up the puzzle shapes to lace.
Children's Play DoughThis is lots of fun for kids to make and play with! My kids used to love it! Combine ingredients. Knead well. Add desired food coloring. Store in tight container.
Wax Paper Place MatsCut 2 sheets of wax paper, about 8x10 inches. Place card or a picture on one sheet. Next, place second sheet of wax paper on top.
Foam Bead BraceletWhen my daughters were school age they were into making their own jewelry. One of the neatest projects they came up with was this bracelet made from the sheets of foam.
Make Your Own Toddler CrayonsUse clean, dry glass baby food jars to melt broken crayons. I get my crayons from restaurants that give my daughter crayons with a kid's menu. Sort crayons by color and peel off any paper. Put the crayons into separate jars in a hot water bath.
African MasksI had my 5th grade students create African masks from milk jugs. It was a great way to show them how to recycle materials and help our planet. I do a lot of recycle projects with all my students.
Who Remembers Paper Dolls?My 5 year old granddaughter's favorite words are "play with me". I try to find crafts to make, cutting out pictures, coloring, glitter, drawing; she loves it all.
Homemade I Spy BagI made an I Spy Bag for my grandson's 5th birthday present. There are 50 small items inside this beanbag type pillow that is filled with plastic pellets. He can look at the laminated picture card with the written list on the back for when he starts to read.
A Puzzling CraftThis clever craft produces a nice gift or an educational kid's toy using recycled materials. You will need a sturdy, but not thick, piece of cardboard. Choose a photo, a magazine picture, the front of a greeting card, etc. and glue it onto the cardboard.
Aluminum Foil SculpturesChildren love making these sculptures and you can add more fun by encouraging them to make up a story using their efforts. The possibilities are endless.
Craft: Baby Bottle Snow GlobesI help raise four grand-daughters, all crafty. It is very expensive with art supplies for four. I asked a friend of mine who is also raising grandchildren (babies) for some of her taller baby food jars, and lids.
Next time you are at the store pick up a bag of mini marshmallows and a box of toothpicks. Then when the kids say "we're bored" take them out and watch the kid's imagination and building skills soar!
Thomas The Tank Engine MailboxComplete with Velcro open roof for easy retrieval of Valentine's day cards and a slot is on the back of Thomas where the cards will go in. Wheels are nut/bolted and are moveable.
Anything With a Slick Surface Can Be a "Whiteboard"You can make little "white boards" to use while working with kids or for them to use in the car with any pieces of cardboard that are coated with a slick surface.
