Crafts with kids

[jacobsmom]

What cool craft ideas do you do with your kids? I'm constantly doing crafts with my future niece and my son--as well as cousins and youth who stop over and I could really use an idea boost.

Recent projects include:
Building a wood tool box and painting it
Painting/decorating birdhouses
decorating clay pots
painting canvas shoes to wear to school
painting belts
decorating sunglasses for summer
stepping stones
mini scrapbooks of our favorite things
beaded necklaces (for the girls--DS9 thinks that's girlie )
beaded pens for school
photo beaded ornaments
paint swirled ornaments
gluing happy meal/old toys/game pieces to picture frames or putting them in grouted pots
Painting canvases
Painting plates at a pottery studio

 

[lewdyan1]

My kids loved making the solar flare t-shirts!

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11237

 

[runskyhy]

I mentor junior & high school kids so I know how you feel - they are always thrilled by new crafts... no matter how simple. Here are some we've tried:

Dough ornament making & decorating:
http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/cinnaclay.html

Making paper flowers - great craft for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day:
Tissue paper: http://www.dltk-holidays.com/spring/ptissue_flower_vase.asp
Coffee filter: http://crafts.kaboose.com/coffee-filter-flowers-markers.html

snowglobes: example at http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/snowglobe.htm

bird seed feeders
PB birdfeeder: Tie a string on a pine cone, spreading the cone with peanut butter, then roll it in birdseed and hang it on a tree branch.
Donight Birdfeeder: Sandwich a bagel between two plastic lids. Thread a string through the center, and tie a big knot at the bottom. Hang from a tree.

paper garland for special occasions: check out an example at http://www.marthastewart.com/article/clip-art-craft-festive-garland?autonomy_kw=circle garland&rsc=header_5

Easy paper kite making:
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11420

Paper frisbee:
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10468

washcloth animals:
Bunny: http://www.makingfriends.com/spring/bunny_washcloth.htm
Fish: http://www.teacherhelp.org/make_a_washcloth_and_soap_fish.htm
Elephant (bathtowels): http://crafterscommunity.com/crafts/animal-towel-crafts-53/bath-towel-elephant-craft-project-217/

Chocolate mint spoons - good gifts from kids:
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/mmintspoon.html

Decorate cookies, cupcakes, cakes (and bake, too, if they are interested.)

bamboo airplanes: purchase $2 bamboo airplane kits and paint with acrylics (or even markers). Let dry, assemble go fly in park.

digital scavenger hunt: create a list of fun, not so obvious items around a neighborhood (or house on a rainy day) and go for a walk together so the kids can take pictures witha digital cameras and then make scrapbooks or photo albums. This is also fun on vacation, say, a cruise, or a pirate party activity.

orgami (google for a variety of instructions at various expertise levels)

pinhole camera (google for a variety of types)