Clothes Pin and Popsicle Stick AirplaneHere is a way to make a miniature airplane using a clothes pin and Popsicle sticks.
Personalized Flat Felt DollMy grandson likes Mario so I made him a personalized "Mario" doll.
Tissue Paper Roll Face Switch ToyI got the idea from my eldest son. I found him playing with a tissue paper roll as if he was telling a story with 3 characters and changing his voice as he switched the tp roll.
Simply Stuffed BearsI am making these for a charitable donation to a local police station to give to children who may be facing a traumatic situation. They are simple to make and you can use small scraps of fabric and ribbon and a little stuffing, so they are inexpensive. Just requires your time.
Topsy Turvy Cinderella DollLet me show you how to make two dolls in one, a princess and a peasant!
Lion Spoon PuppetMake cute animal puppets with a spoon! My daughter had a phase on liking puppets and I've made a few before and now she's begun liking them again, so here's a lion I made!
Quiet Time Play Tins for ChildrenHere are smiles in a tin. I make these little slices of everyday life always with a dog, cat, or other critter in the scene. The tins depict recognizable objects and always have a removable animal or object that hopefully make you or your little one smile. These are great for keeping kids busy and quiet on car trips or in doctor's offices of anywhere where a quiet diversion is needed.
Wood and Yarn CentipedeUse a wooden Popsicle/ice lolly stick and scraps of yarn to make this cute centipede. It's a fun rainy day project for children.
Paper and Drinking Straw RocketsThey are easy to make and fun to play with. Kids will love this simple toy which is similar to the old fashioned pea shooter, but a lot safer! Pop a rocket on the end of a drinking straw and blow. You'll be surprised how far they travel.
English Paper Pieced Flower PillowMy grandson was visiting one day while I was working on some English paper pieced hexagons. He asked if I could make him a pillow. By adding several more rounds to the size I was making for a quilt top block I was able to make a flower. That part was fairly quick. Then he announced that there needed to have a stem with leaves; the project expanded in time and minor complexity.
Paper FishWhen there's pure boredom and you have nothing but colored paper, turn it into something that will make you smile. Here's one idea that came to my mind that satisfied my boring day. This craft is also good to try out with your kids.
Making a Paper Worm Race GameWho says you can't have fun indoors during summer? Make your summer weekend fun with just art paper. Gather your family members and grab a snack while you play this game.
Yarn BirdWhen there's Mr. Octopus yarn, then here's Ms. Birdie yarn. It just started with collecting yarn in preparation for my baby's upcoming christening, but it turned out that I had to procure some more as I discovered these cute little masterpieces.
Penny Top SpinnerBefore you toss out any food/box packaging, you could make this penny top spinner. This craft/toy is essentially free and fun for the entire family!
Making a Craft Stick Catapult for KidsA fun catapult toy for kids can be made with everyday simple supplies. You will need some craft sticks, rubber bands, hot glue, a bottle cap, and your choice of item to shoot, we used pom poms.
Mr. Octopus Made of YarnI have been trying to make handmade toys for my 9 month old son. So I was thinking of felt plush toys, but I found out something easier and I don't have to be knitting and sewing the materials together.
Making Geometric Bubble WandsThis is a fun all-ages craft for the summertime! Using just pipe cleaners and equal-sized bits of drinking straws you can create standard and advanced geometric shapes. Dip into your favourite bubble solution and have a great time! This is a fantastic craft for learning about shapes and dimensions.
Bath Cork Boat ToyThis is a quick and easy bath toy, that can be made with saved wine corks and regular household essentials (rubber bands, felt, and a wooden dowel or chop sticks).
How to Make a Travel Tic Tac Toe GamePlanning a road trip? Family gathering? Going to the park? Hanging out with friends or just a game night at home.
Plastic Spoon Mermaid DollThis is a cute little spoon doll that your child can bring as a companionship toy on a walk, on car rides, to the park/restaurant/friend, or family's house. This is small, lightweight, and will be entertainment for your child.
Kid Toy Rattle DrumThe kids are enjoying music right now. Here is a rattle toy drum (twist straw to play) - we made this in two versions - one with a metal jar cap and one with a ribbon cardboard roll.
Making Toy Banjos from Jar LidsDo you have extra jar lids laying around? You can turn those lids into a fun banjo! This is a 3-in-1, a craft/toy/musical instrument, all for free made with supplies you have at home.
How to Make a Mini Kiddie KiteIt's a windy weekend, just perfect for flying a kite that my son has long been asking for. I have nothing in my pocket to buy those colorful kites in the store, but I have a brilliant idea on how to make it which I learned from my childhood.
DIY Paper Towel Roll KaleidoscopeDo you have an empty paper towel roll? Recycle the roll and turn it into this fun kaleidoscope toy for your kids, you can make 2 kaleidoscopes per roll!
Recycled Plastic Bottle BoatNeed a fun activity for the kids on a rainy day? We made boats out of plastic bottles and decorated them with supplies on I had on hand. They kept the kids occupied and they had fun making their toy boats.
Paper Spider HatTeddy bears, dolls, and toys in general, especially the accessories, can get pricey. Instead, you can make "some" accessories out of construction paper like this spider hat.
Baby Shark from Easter EggDo you have left over plastic eggs from Easter? You can turn them into cute bath toys! My daughter loves baby shark so this was perfect. This is an incredibly simple, easy to make toy with supplies you probably already have at home.
Submarine Craft and ExperimentThis is a free and fun craft/experiment that my toddler son really enjoyed! He made an experiment out of this by seeing how many coins it takes for the submarine to sink (it was a trial and error experiment).
Plastic Egg Spider CraftHave left over Easter eggs? Upcycle them into these cute spider crafts. My daughter absolutely loves spiders so I'm glad we can make some more spider craft toys for her! This would double perfectly for Halloween as cute/not scary decor for a kids Halloween themed party!
Plastic Egg FirefliesDo you have extra plastic eggs? You can make these cute fireflies - that actually light up!
Making Superhero StrawsThe kids are into super hero/super powers lately! They wanted a super hero "toy" so I made these super hero straws they can run around with! These would double as cute decorations for a banner or decoration if you're having a super hero kids' party!
Paper Rocket ToyMy son loves making rocket-ships, helicopters, and plane crafts! This is another paper rocket-ship version we made together. It is very easy to make and fun for your child to play with!
Standing Giraffe ToyThis is an easy animal toy craft you and your child can make together. My toddler is making a zoo exhibit with his Legos and wanted to make a giraffe.
Frog and Fly Catcher GameThis is a free, fun and challenging game. You can make one frog, two, or five and make your own rules.
Plastic Cup Pet BirdHere's another cute and fun pet bird craft your toddler/children can make (without actually having a real pet bird). We are not ready for a bird either.
Easy Pom Pom Finger PuppetWith simple supplies that you probably already have laying around at home, you too can make this easy finger puppet. Your child will have lots of fun with this puppet too!
Making a Paper Drinking Straw SnakeI enjoy gardening and the kids like to watch/help out. Sometimes their toy of choice can damage the plants, so when they're playing over the plants I suggest lighter and more gentle toys.
Child's Travel BuddyThis project I made with my grandchild and other small children in mind. It can be put together using a suit case, makeup case, or caboodle caddy. This a convenient carrier and play toy that can be used as a carry on, on a plane, or when traveling by car. Your child's favorite toy(s) are easily tucked away for travel and clean up.
Ribbon WandThese are perfect wands to make for a girl's birthday! Or for your child to play with. Your child can play with this wand at home, during dress up, or outdoors. They are very inexpensive to make and are made with items you may already have around your home.
Happy Sad BeanbagThis is a simple fun toy to make with a happy face on one side and a sad face on the other. If you are no good with a needle and thread, that's OK, just use a marker pen to draw the mouth instead of stitching it. The rest is just tying knots, so no sewing involved.
Making a Woolly MonsterWoolly monsters are cute, not scary. They just want to be loved. make your own woolly monster to love. It's easy peasy for kids and adults. Hope these give you a lot of fun.
Popsicle Stick Gazebo and BenchI made a Popsicle stick gazebo and bench for my girls' Barbies.
Lidded Cake Pan for Kinetic SandMy toddler loves to play with his kinetic sand, but it has been a challenge to contain the mess. I also needed to find a storage solution for the sand, tools, and molds. I decided to try a lidded cake pan. It works great!
Foam Fun ActivitiesThis is an easy activity for kids to practice their cutting skills, motor skills, and sense of creativity!
Felt Story BoardThe possibilities are endless when it comes to using felt and creating a story board. This is a fun way to engage reading hands or allow your child to create their own stories.
Sushi Plush ToyMy mother and I love to spoil my brother's daughter with gifts. It's not quite in our budget to always buy her the latest trends in toys so we love to make our own renditions. Here is a homemade sushi plush toy.
Fabric and Button Tic-Tac-Toe GameHere's a simple little version of the popular game of tic tac toe, also known as noughts and crosses. Of course you can always play this at any time with just a pen and paper, but this pocket game is pretty and fun to carry around. I have used floral fabric.
Penny SpinnerWhen the kids are out of school, sometimes it is hard to keep them occupied. They seem to become bored very easily, even with all of the electronic gadgets. If you want a very easy craft that will entertain younger children, this spinner is perfect! The entire family can make them and then challenge each other! Who will get their spinner to go the fastest? Who will get theirs to spin longer? Can you make your spinner bump other ones out of spinning? With this craft, your child will have something fun to do and the family can spend quality time together.
Holiday Pathway Board GameThere are certain holidays that are so exciting for children. On Valentine's Day, there are numerous cards and special treats. Easter has the Easter bunny and egg hunts. Halloween brings trick-or-treating, costumes, and tons of candy. Extend that fun and create more family time by playing board games!
Butterfly Peg (Clothes Pin)This is a cute little craft project for older children. Younger children could get a finger pinched painfully so be careful. It doesn't take long to make and uses materials that many people already have around the house.
Origami Cup and Ball GameA traditional child's toy that can be made in a jiffy from things everyone has in the home. Any paper can be used for this, but if you have traditional origami paper, all the better.
Perler Bead Tic-Tac-ToeThis tic-tac-toe game, made completely out of peeler beads, is fun and easy to make and play with. It also makes a great present. It is a great rainy day activity and the best part is that you can be really creative while making it. I hope that you enjoy making it.
Paper Clip Mini Hangers for Barbie ClothesMake cute little Barbie, or other similarly sized, doll clothes mini hangers using paper clips!
Rainy Day Flying DiscA special project for bad weather days that will give the kids something to look forward to playing with when the sun comes out. All children love colouring in so they will especially love making these easy Frisbee-like flying discs.
Bunny Finger PuppetsHow cute are these little bunnies? Ok so they are a bit fiddly to make with those tiny eyes and nose, but really quite simple and a bundle of fun to play with.
Felt Recyclables for Toy TruckMy son loves his recycling truck (aka "trash truck"). I thought he would enjoy having some recyclables to put into it and dump out, so I made him some items out of felt.
Toy Missile LauncherThis project is unbelievably cheap and simple. Children love this toy and older children can make it themselves. It is especially good because there is no glue and no sewing involved.
No Sew Sock Baby DollDon't toss out those old socks. Make a baby doll!
Giant Pom Pom MonsterMy little guy is in love with the giant pom poms I have been making. So I decided to make him a pom pom monster to play with.
Pin Curling an American Girl Doll's HairI wanted to curl my doll's hair so my mom helped me put her hair up in pin curls.
American Girl Pencils and ClipboardThese pencils and clipboard can easily be made with items you have around the house.
Yarn Octopus DollCreate a fun, easy, cheap yarn doll in no time!
Quick Rag DollsThese little dolls are brilliant for unexpected young guests because they are so quick to make. You can use materials that most people have around the house and the children can have fun making them with you.
Felt Fruit BasketMy mom and I created these felt fruits to go along with the Felt Veggie Garden that we made for my son. These are great to take along in the car or make a nice addition to a play kitchen. :)
Felt Veggie GardenMy mom and I recently made this fun toy for my son. It turned out cuter than I ever imagined. :)
Stuffed Animal Eye PatchMy son's beloved lobster, Larry, recently lost his eye after our dog found him all alone in the living room. :) In an effort to make him more comfortable with his injury I made him an eye patch.
Making a Seek SackThis sort of thing is also called an I Spy Bag or a Peek-A-Boo Bag, but I call them Seek Sacks. I'm a sucker for alliteration. Anyway, this is a sort of solitaire hide-and-seek game involving a bag with a clear window, some sort of neutrally colored filler, and small tokens, toys, or other items.
Scrap Fleece Puppy PillowsThese adorable toys are perfect travel and bedtime companions for small children. Great way to use your fleece and other fabric scraps. I also use small scraps as part of the stuffing by mixing it in with the fiber fill.
LEGO TableOur kids love to build with LEGOs. We wanted to give them a place to build and display their creations so we made these awesome tables! You can build this table for under $30 using a table you can get at IKEA.
Mini Fishing GameThis mini fishing game is a perfect activity to entertain little kids. The best part is that it is so small, it can go anywhere with you!
Felt Fishing GameMy 11 year-old son asked me to help him make this for his little brother's Christmas present. It was a huge hit! My 6 year-old loves his fishing set and our 3 cats were utterly delighted.
"Tiny" Doll - PteranodonsThis quick craft is inspired by the "Tiny" dolls seen on the children's program "Dinosaur Train." The dolls are meant to look like pteranodons made from sticks and leaves.
Homemade Fishing GameFor almost no cost, you can make a fun gift for young kids. I've seen this idea all over the internet and came up with my own version.
Zik the ZinosaurI enjoy making a lot of the gifts that I give my grandchildren and when you have 5, it always helps to get an early start on Christmas. I try to think of a new idea each holiday for them and this year, as one of their gifts, they will be adopting an alien and a pet.
Dapper Dad DollMirror, mirror, on the wall...You're the best dad of them all! Show your dad how special he is by creating a mirror image of him and capturing his personality in a doll. A simple pattern plus 10 easy steps, make this a project you will enjoy creating every stitch of the way.
Travel Tic Tac Toe GameTraveling with children on long trips is sometimes a difficult task for them and they often get bored. I made this quick and easy game for my grandchildren to keep them entertained while traveling and no lost pieces!
Barbie Doll and Clothes "Trunk"I made these decorated "Barbie Doll Clothes Trunks" for my great-granddaughter who loved her Barbie dolls and wanted to take them everywhere she went along with every shoe, purse, and dress those dolls owned.
Duck Push ToyThis duck is sure to delight the little ones. It is a wood project, and does require either a scroll saw or a jig saw, but the smiles of those little ones is a great reward in return for time spent on the project.
Baby Sock PuppetsTurn mismatched baby socks into cute little friends for your kids. They are the perfect size for little hands.
Red Heel Sock MermaidThis is Elsy she is made from Red Heel Socks, the kind used for sock monkeys. I used one sock for her body and sewed it into a fish shape. Then I cut her arms and mouth from the other sock. Hand stitch the fins. Her hair is that twisty yarn used for scarves.
Miniature Dollhouse DollsMake your own miniature doll characters to put in any doll house, book shelf, or just as a gift to someone special!
Extreme Barbie MakeoverIn this article, I will try and give you instructions with pictures for giving an old Barbie that you have bought at a thrift store a new makeover. Believe it or not it is not as hard as you would think.
Dollhouse from Recycled ItemsMake a dollhouse from recycled items, have fun and wow the kids!
Swing And JumpThis is the homemade version of a toy you can buy at a toy store or through a catalog. Cut the center from the plastic lid to make a ring. Tie one end of your piece of string to the ring. Wrap the ring with electrical tape.
Tea With Me - Toy Travel Tea SetThis tiny tea set-to-go should delight the little traveler on the plane or in the car. Similar ready made sets sell for as much as $16, but we picked up the tea set and dolls at the dollar store.
Recycled Wire Hanger Yarn DogThis is something I made for my children when they were little and am now making for my great grandchildren.
Solo Cup Doll Lamp with InstructionsHere is a Solo cup doll lamp or night light. This lamp is made with clear solo drinking cups, a craft doll, and clear Christmas tree lights.
We now have complete instructions!
Fleece Doll Bunny SlippersThis simple no-sew project promises to keep a baby doll's feet toasty during winter months. You can do this project in conjunction with the baby doll blanket for a original gift set that little girls will treasure.
Clothespin Puppets on a StickRound-headed peg clothespins have been a quick crafts staple for decades - so much so that many crafting supply companies package them as 'crafting pins' or some similar name.
Hair Accessory DollAre you tired of helping your daughter search for her hair clips and scrunchies? I have the perfect solution. Make her a doll to hang on the wall or door and she can put them there.
Elephant Ring Toss GameDo you love the circus? How about a fun day at the fair? Bring both to your own backyard with this adorable elephant ring toss game!
Sock MonkeyI always hated retrieving the toy that had been dropped from the stroller or the walker when my daughter was little. A sock monkey solved the problem. It was soft and would drape over the edge of the stroller or walker.
Sneaky SnakeIf you have an adult male in your home, you are bound to have a huge array of ties. And if it is anything like at my house, I'll bet that many of those ties go unworn year after year!
Crazy Caterpillar CraftDo you like bugs and creepy crawlies? Even if the answer is no, you are sure to love this particular caterpillar! Caterpillars are very cute, especially if they are made with tube socks or tights!
