Fun Activities For Kids – Craft Activities Throughout The Year

Looking to get creative and have some fun with your kids during special holidays? These fun projects will have your children laughing, giggling and remembering those very special moments. Guaranteed!

Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day Cards Age suitability: 6+ You will need: cardboard, a selection of suitable magazines and newspapers

Make the most of Valentine’s Day by fashioning some eccentric and original cards. To send an anonymous card, create a message of love using cut-out letters and words from newspapers and magazines and sticking them on to a red paper heart. If you would prefer to give your Valentine a clue who you are, find photos of yourself that you no longer need and cut them up to make a Picasso-style face with lips sticking out of an ear, eyes skew-whiff and an upside-down nose floating in a corner.

April Fools’ Day

Practical Joke Ideas Children all over the world love April Fool’s Day and, although the tricks are supposed to end at midday on April 1, your child may like to make the most of the only day of the year that you can be naughty and get away with it by playing tricks right up to bedtime. Here are some favourites for your children’s eyes only!

- Start at breakfast by removing the inside bag of a cereal box and swapping it with another one. Just as someone is expecting Shreddies in their bowl, they will pour out Cheerios instead.

- Offer to make a cup of coffee for someone, but only use cold water when you do.

- Before lunch, stick some Sellotape to the top and bottom of the fridge door so that it won’t open.

- Reset all the alarm clocks in the house to go off at 1.30pm. (Remember to reset them before school on Monday!)

- If dad wants to watch some sport on the TV that afternoon, be sure to remove the batteries from the remote control. Write “Happy April Fool’s Day” on a piece of paper, fold it up carefully and stuff it into the battery compartment instead.

- In France, pranksters stick paper fishes on to unsuspecting people’s backs. See if you can do the same, but with messages on. Things like “I never wash” or “Tell me I’m gorgeous”.

- Before bed, put a hairbrush, apple or something else a bit lumpy under someone’s sheet so that they will get another top surprise before the day comes to an end. Have fun!

Christmas

Shatterproof Christmas Baubles Age suitability: 4+ You will need: polystyrene balls, scraps of material, PVA glue, ribbon, thread and a pin

Buy polystyrene balls from any craft shop and decorate with fabric scraps: glue a small cloth circle on to each end, then working towards the middle, stick on overlapping strips of different materials. Finish off with a piece of ribbon around the middle and attach a loop of thread with a pin at the top. If you don’t have any material, use shiny coloured paper instead.

Celebrity Santa Age suitability: 4+ You will need: photos of celebrities, cotton-wool, cardboard, glitter, glue, scissors

It’s never too early for Celebrity Santa! Let your child search the internet for images of their favourite TV characters or sportsmen, then print them out. Cut around the figures and stick them on the front of a piece of folded card. Now give them a Santa makeover. Glue on cotton-wool beards and red hats; a touch of glitter on David Beckham’s shirt or some antlers on Bart Simpson’s skateboard will add to the disguise. Hand them out to school friends at the end of term.

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How to Make Locker Hooked Ornaments – Part 2

POT HOLDER weaving LOOM & loops colored FABRIC kid NEW $13.00 Your kids will have fun just like you did when they make their own pot holders with this classic weaving loom. The set includes instructions, 150 loops, metal loom and hook. The loom measures 7 1/8 x 7 1/8 square….

Leather Hole Punch Tool, Heavy Duty $1.58 9 1/4 in. Professional Leather Punch Plier with Revolving Head and Replaceable Punch Sizes 2.0mm, 2.5mm, 3.0mm, 3.5mm, 4.0mm, 5.0mm…

Wallmonkeys Peel and Stick Wall Decals – Pulley System – Removable Graphic WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l…

Delta Sobo Craft and Fabric Glue $4.73 This glue is a general-purpose glue for school, craft, and household use. Sobo withstands multiple freeze-thaw cycles and dries fast and clear.

Waverly Loops N Twirls Tangerine $9.98 This Waverly Home Décor medium weight fabric is as versatile as it is gorgeous! Screen printed on cotton this fabric is perfect for window treatments (swags valances, curtains, and draperies), bed skirts, duvet covers, pillows, slipcovers, upholstery, tote bags, cornices, headboards and other home décor accents! Colors include ivory on a corally tangerine background.

Waverly Loops N Twirls Honeydew $9.98 This Waverly Home Décor medium weight fabric is as versatile as it is gorgeous! Screen printed on cotton this fabric is perfect for window treatments (swags valances, curtains, and draperies), bed skirts, duvet covers, pillows, slipcovers, upholstery, tote bags, cornices, headboards and other home décor accents! Colors include ivory on a honeydew melon green.

Waverly Loops N Twirls Panther $9.98 This Waverly Home Décor medium weight fabric is as versatile as it is gorgeous! Screen printed on cotton this fabric is perfect for window treatments (swags valances, curtains, and draperies), bed skirts, duvet covers, pillows, slipcovers, upholstery, tote bags, cornices, headboards and other home décor accents! Colors include ivory on a black background.

here are some ideas i’ve come up with – most are pretty generic – you can vary & build on them as required. i’ve also tried to keep in mind the varied learning experiences & interests of the said ages.

- firstly, kids love collecting stuff, picking things up, etc. So if/when you take them out, collect flowers, fall leaves, twigs, pebbles, pinecones, acorns, shells, – whatever they fancy. then use this collection to make crafts.
- dry the flowers & leaves between newspaper sheets [for a few days], weighted down under a mattress or something.
they can then glue these to paper, cards, candles, book covers, etc.
- pierce cloves in apple or orange to make pommanders which, when dry, can be placed in cupboards.
- make finger, palm, foot prints on large sheets of paper. convert these into animals, etc. by adding a few details with crayons. or cut them out & use them as petals for a flower or some other pattern, such as peacock from hand print…
- leaf-printing — select a few nicely shaped leaves from your collection. coat them with some thick water color & use as stamp-prints.
if you use acrylic paint, then you can do this on fabric & use the fabric for the little baby’s linen.
- similarly, slice different types of vegetables [okra, cucumber, onion - horizontal or vertical, celery, capsicum, ....], dip the cut surface in paint & use to print. again, if you want to do it on fabric, use fabric colors.
- modelling with play-doh, clay, etc.
- make letters from the clay & write their names with them. adhere them to a piece of wood or plastic – they will have made their name-plates to hang on their door.
- look for some empty plastic bottles – diff shapes & sizes. you can also keep the moulds that come in biscuit packets, etc. make little boats, ships, rafts out of these by sticking a wooden skewer mast with paper/fabric sails. sail them in water tubs.
- convert pingpong balls into animals, or other tree decorations by adorning with sequins, etc.
- make pompoms from wool or other yarn. [you can either buy a pom pom maker or just cut a sturdy cardboard in circle with another smaller circle cut out within]. use these balls to make tree decorations, snowmen, bunnies, etc.
- cut paper strips [tapering towards one end] & roll into beads. you can use glossy magazine paper, crepe paper, kite paper, origami paper, etc. Roll over a skewer stick to get the hollow bead. Use these to make fake jewelry or to string along for hanging tree ornaments, etc.
- make paper buntings – fold paper & cut into triangles on one side, or cut rectangular strips & link each strip like a chain. again, you can use light-weight paper..
- spray painting – use brush or comb
- sponge painting
- string painting – dip yarn/strings in different water color solutions. place haphazardly on card paper, with one end sticking out. place another card over it. hold them tightly. then, just pull the strings out. when you lift the card, you’ll have Two greeting cards with random patterns!
- make tree ornaments or little bugs, beetles, etc. with walnut shells.
- from some netting, cut out squares or rounds. place pot-pourri flowers & herbs & sprinkle some essence. cluster, tie satin ribbon & use for cupboards, etc.
- make origami arts. or draw & color some favorite things on thick paper & cut out. glue beads, bells, sequins, shells. string these on a mobile for the crib.
- help make cookies – let them cut the dough in various shapes. after baking, let them decorate with frosting, etc. as per their fancy.

many of the above crafts can be used to decorate the baby’s room, to make mobiles for the crib, to decorate their own room, to gift for Xmas, …
for a lot of the crafts, just rummage through the kids’ toys & see how differently you can use them…
basically, just have fun )) !!!
you can easily mix & match, combine various of the above ideas to create many many more & wonderful things.
hope these inspire you & your cousins.
all the very best & have fun

Seasonal Crafts for Kids : Halloween Crafts for Kids to Make at Home

Wilton 2304-1050 101-Piece Cookie Cutter Set $11.16 Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Valentine’s Day…cookie cutters for every season, and more! With a complete set of letters and numbers, designs for cowboys, stars, cars and animals, you’ll be ready for any occasion. Durable plastic cutters come in a convenient storage container. Hand wash. (2-1/2 to 6-1/4)…

Wilton Pops Sweets on a Stick Book, Softcover $6.50 Add color, fun and sweetness to everyday and every occasion with Wilton POPS. Sweets on a Stick publication, soft cover; 112 pages….

Wilton Cupcake Stands Individually decorated cupcakes are the perfect way to add a personal touch to celebrations. Now, with Cupcakes ‘N More, you have the perfect way to serve them! The look is fresh and fun, featuring silver-finished wire spirals to securely hold each cupcake. The twisting, towering design is perfect for any setting-showers, kids’ birthdays, weddings, holidays and more. 15 in. high x 18 wide. Easy to…

The Martha Stewart Holiday Collection – Martha’s Halloween Ideas $9.99 Martha Stewart’s Halloween Ideas On DVD. Choose from 23 inspiring segments: Unique pumpkin-carving projects. Cute, simple costumes made from scratch, 6 frightfully fun decorations, Delicious Halloween treat recipes, 3 clever ideas for trick-or-treat bags, Tips for makeup that’s sure to scare. Case Pack 6…

The Martha Stewart Holiday Collection – Martha’s Classic Thanksgiving $1.45 The Martha Stewart Holiday Collection: Martha’s Classic Thanksgiving is entertaining way to find inspiration for a Thanksgiving less ordinary. Taken from past episodes of Stewart’s television programs, Classic Thanksgiving presents five ways to cook a turkey, beginning with “Turkey 101,” traditional meal-baked turkey, a deep-fried turkey (with Creole spices), a boned, broiled, and rolled turkey (v…

Mardi Gras Parade History in Amateur Film Footage DVD (1941) $4.99 This extremely rare amateur footage of 1941′s Mardi Gras shows a very different celebration than that of modern day. The footage includes the Krewe of Nor, a children’s krewe, and the Krewe of Venus, which are parade troupes that no longer exist (though the Krewe of Little Rascals currently performs). The elegantly decorated floats are hand-drawn, and usually have only a few people on board. There…

500 Christmas Ideas $24.95 From Decorating to Wrapping to Fun Crafts Project Ideas for All Things Holiday Celebrate the season in splendor with these fabulous suggestions for decorating, baking, wrapping, and more — all fond in this book. Brimming with beautiful color photographs, Victoria Magazine and 39;s 500 Christmas Ideas provides the inspiration and instruction needed to surround yourself and your family with the beauty of the season. Create a winter wonderland in your front yard or an intimate table setting that sparkles. Bake delicious cookies good enough to leave for Santa himself. Load the Christmas tree with lovely decorations and uniquely wrapped gifts boxes. Display a handmade wreath on the door to welcome your guests. Many projects take only moments, while others need a little more time and attention. Either way, 500 Craft Ideas will bring the best of Christmas to your home. 480 full-color pages. Hardcover with jacket.

Tonic Studios Kids Craft Scissors $2.96 The blunt stainless steel tip blade scissors feature Tonic Studios’ patented Kushgrip for maximum safety and comfort. They include a protective plastic cap for extra safety and blade protection.

Organizing Your Craft Space $14.95 This colorful guide will inspire you to organize your craft space. Explore ideas for planning and utilizing your space to create an efficient and inviting studio. Divided by craft, including stained glass and mosaics, beading, paper arts and more, each section provides insights to identify organizational obstacles and practical solutions. Full color photographs of a variety of workshops from utilitarian to vintage boutique themes give design cues to help you develop a style that and 39;s uniquely your own.

About the time my son turned 5 he became interested in “drawing” realistic pictures, etc. So I would provide some themed paper shapes and get him started on a mural. I’d leave it up and he’d add to it over a 3 days to a week. It still is a popular activity.

They very much like to explore…and they CAN think logically about most things…so I was more willing to provide my son with a whole “palette” of paint colors, paint tools, etc and let him explore on his own. We turned them into mobiles, used them for scissor practice, collages, cards, etc.

This age still loves sensory—shaving cream play…making and playing with playdough…water and rocks, etc.

I know those aren’t “easter” ideas and not necessarily crafts but maybe it will help trigger ideas for your child. Have you asked him what he would be interested in doing? The local library will have craft books he can browse through, computer games he can check out, etc.

Have fun!

Crafts for Kids : Easy 4th of July Crafts for Kids

R & M International Design Your Own Cookie Cutter Gift Set $14.85 Create your own custom cookie cutters with this set of tools and materials. The styling board and bending tools help to form a cutter with appropriately curved or angled edges. Instructions and suggestions included.Set of 6: styling board, 2 bending posts, right-angle bending tool, double-faced tape, and 6′ length of aluminumDimensions: 1″W × 6′LMaterials: Aluminum…

The Martha Stewart Holiday Collection – Martha’s Classic Thanksgiving $1.45 The Martha Stewart Holiday Collection: Martha’s Classic Thanksgiving is a most pleasant and entertaining way to find inspiration for a Thanksgiving less ordinary. Taken from past episodes of Stewart’s television programs, Classic Thanksgiving presents five ways to cook a turkey, beginning with “Turkey 101,” in which Martha prepares a fairly traditional meal while revealing the story of her Thanksg…

BoJeux Bojeux Roll O Puzz (Compact Up To 1000 Pieces) $7.55 The Roll-O-Puzz is the ideal accessory that allows you to carry and store a puzzle before completion. Roll up the carpet and puzzle around the cardboard cylinder, then fasten the handy straps at each end to store or carry it. Roll your puzzle and carry it anywhere. Unroll it to continue your work then store it when you want a break. For puzzles up to 1000 pieces. Puzzle not included….

Kids Craft,holiday,how to Make Hair Bows Instructions Assembly Kit,ages 7-9 & Up.great Gift Ideas. $19.99 Easy make Bows are for children 7 and older! This is a Custom made bow making kit. You will be able to create 4 Boutique style hair bows! Mix and match to create your own color combination. Easy Make Bow kit includes: 52 ribbon parts! 4 Easy Make bow maker clips! 8 Ribbon Spikes 8 Ribbon Sprouts 16 Curly Korkers Easy instructions for kids! Warning: choking hazard, small parts not For childre…

BoJeux Bojeux Play Art (Porcelaine Vase Painting) $24.95 This is one-of-a-kind art that’s both fun and functional! Kids can paint and oven-bake their creations for a glossy, permanent, food-safe finished product. The Porcelain Vase Set includes 3 different vases (each 5″ tall), 12 paint colors, a paint brush and detailed color instructions….

Martha Stewart’s Handmade Holiday Crafts: 225 Inspired Projects for Year-Round Celebrations $7.88 Join Martha Stewart for a celebration of handcrafted holidays all year-round!  New Year’s – Valentine’s Day – Easter – Mother’s Day – Father’s Day – Fourth of July – Halloween – Thanksgiving – Hanukkah – Christmas  Let Martha inspire your creativity with the most beautiful crafts. The 225 handmade projects include …

20-minute Crafts Beading $12.95 Beading and 39;s not only hot with adults–children love it too. In connection with the PBS Hands on Crafts for Kids television show comes a collection of simple and attractive beading projects for youngsters 10 and up. Young beaders can choose from 60 practical and decorative items, including pretty jewelry (bracelets, chokers), eye-catching room décor (pillows, a lampshade), and personal accessories (flip-flops, a sophisticated looking jewelry box). Easy-to-follow diagrams explain how to string the beads, attach clasps, and tie knots. Kids will enjoy hours of creative pleasure–and they and 39;ll feel proud to show off their handiwork.

A Laurel Burch Christmas Book Color The Season w/25 Quilts & Crafts $27.98 Celebrate a magical holiday with Laurel Burch quilts and crafts! Get ready for an enchanting Christmas as you fill your home with beautiful quilts and crafts from the studio of famed artist Laurel Burch. Try these fun, imaginative projects, ranging from very easy to more challenging, and discover the joy and magic of sharing a Laurel Burch Christmas! The book includes 25 projects include quilts, stockings, ornaments, tree skirts, and more in distinctive Laurel Burch style. You can mix ‘n match designs for one-of-a-kind gifts and decorations. The versatile seasonal projects feature both Christmas and winter themes. This book is ideal for beginners – choose hand appliqué or fast, easy fusible appliqué, plus find fun, no-sew craft projects. You’ll also find tips and techniques for creative embellishments including embroidery, painting, stamping, and beading. Buy 2, one for yourself and one as a gift for a dear friend.

Bollywood Crafts $14.95 20 Projects Inspired by Popular Indian Cinema Sparkling and fun, Bollywood musicals have gone beyond India and 39;s borders to take the world by storm. And these vibrant projects — inspired by 10 of the most popular classics — have all the color, glitz, and glamor associated with the films themselves. From beautifully embellished mirrors to a shisha adorned vase, from brooches and trinket boxes to bindi greeting cards and gemstone-covered sandals, every item makes an alluring statement. Plus, they and 39;re all easy to make, thanks to the thorough guidance on materials, equipment, and technique. There are two projects for each movie, along with synopses for the featured films, beautiful screen stills, song lyrics, trivia, and a list of recommended Bollywood delights to watch.

Make It In Minutes Wedding Crafts $12.95 Todays bride is always looking for innovative ways to put her personal stamp on every part of the wedding, to create a day filled with fun and unusual touches. Shell find plenty of great ideas, inspiration, and projects in this bright and glorious collection, as festive as the event it celebrates. Its all here, from save the date notices to flowers and favors. Fashion beautiful birds nest place cards, embellished with tinsel, candied almonds, and guests photos. Decorate tables with bead-encrusted pens, hand-designed toasting glasses, and a paper flowers centerpiece. These 40 fabulous items are not only easy and quick to craft (important for the busy bride) but also beautiful.

Martha Stewart Crafts Designer Paper Pad 12 X 12 Kids $14.98 When you’re looking for just the right paper why not choose one of Martha Stewart’s Paper Pads. Their great paper will yield superior projects which will in turn garner you glowing complements. 12″x 12″ Kids- Pad contains 24 double sided sheets. Includes 21 glittered designs. Theme includes numbers, Polka dots, buttons, Ric Rac and stripes. Acid & lignin free.

Martha Stewart Crafts Craft Punch Large Chrysanthemum $16.98 Use this fun punch from Martha Stewart to produce crisp shapes for cards, scrapbook pages, and other paper crafts. Stands upright for easy access and storage. Design measures about 1 3/4″ X 1 3/4″.