Bracelets from Plastic Bottles

I am always on the hunt for kids crafts. Especially now since I am gearing up for summer craft camp at our house. This tutorial posted on Madtown Macs for bracelets made from soda bottles is a great craft to add to our list of to do crafts. It is unique, different enough from packaged craft kits, yet simple enough. Take a look yourself and see if it might work for you. [link]

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Glass Etching Craft

Glass etching is a simple craft as long as you follow a few cautionary rules while using the etching cream. The results make for beautiful personalized gifts that are very professional looking. Children can do this craft as well with some adult supervision as well as the adult finishing the project with the etching cream since it is hazardous. [more]

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Hairclips and Magnets: Summer Flower Crafting

Summer crafting with a group of girls once a week produces some interesting projects. We used a scrap booking kit of flowers and buttons this week. Stacking them together to create beautiful arrangements. This project was created with girls ranging in age from four years old to ten years old. A hot glue gun was used in the process with a lot of parental supervision.  more

Product was purchased through Crop Chocolate

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Paper Doll Freebies

image by The Angel Company

I have always loved paper dolls and still do, so much fun to cut, color and dress and now to print. If you or your little one loves them too visit the Angel Company to download this cute paper doll template for free.

 

Thanks to Heather from Craft Gossip

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Design and Print Perler Bead Patterns!

With the Fuse Bead Pattern Designer software, you and your family can design patterns for Perler Beads projects! Start with one of the 40 pegboard shapes or convert an image (clipart, picture, pattern, etc.) to a Perler Beads design.

All family members can enjoy this software together. It's easy enough for toddlers but adults will appreciate the ability to create advanced designs using connected pegboards.

here...

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Dover Publishing - FREE

Dover Publishing offers free samples of their publications. These are a small look inside the featured publications. PDF files are full size and printable.
This week's highlights include:

•	Free Samples from Thornton Burgess Story Books
•	Coloring Pages and Activities About Peter Rabbit
•	Plus Puzzles, Origami, and More

 
Sign up for their weekly email here.

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Hershey's Easter Crafts

Who knew Hershey's was crafty? They have adorable craft plans utilizing their products (of course). Here is a link to the list of ideas - it's never to early to start crafting! more...

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Sunday School Stress Ball Craft

This craft results in something similar to a stress ball. It could be made as a gift for Dad on Father's Day. We used this craft in a Sunday school class for preschoolers as an illustration/craft for the Old Testament story about God sending the promised son, Isaac. more...

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Secret Prize Soap

This soap craft is adapted from an old recipe that used Ivory soap flakes. The flakes are no longer being produced but this rendition worked well as an alternative. more...

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Easy Kids Craft

This easy craft makes for great gift giving. We used it for Valentine's Day for Preschool teachers but it could easily be adapted to any holiday or gift giving need. I am thinking Christmas trees or Easter eggs would lend themselves nicely to this project. Child made gifts make for specialized one of a kind gift giving sure to be treasured. The overall cost is inexpensive if you make multiple pieces for teachers, coaches, and grandparents. more...

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About Paper Dolls

Paper dolls, a past time of many little girls (and some older one's too!) have taken on collector's status. Whether they are cut out, punched out or self made, many hours of enjoyment have been gained through make believe playtime. Paper dolls have regained popularity as well as the manufacturers transforming them into virtual paper dolls where a girl using her computer can drag and drop clothing onto doll images or print out paper dolls in popular celebrity likenesses. more...

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How to Fold Paper Airplanes

As children, it's a right of passage to learn to fold a paper airplane. Some learn to fold many great patterns while others don't. I know how to fold one paper airplane, but I am a girl. I am not trying to be sexist, in my opinion and experience; boys learn to fold more paper airplanes than girls do. My daughters like to fly paper plans and often ask me to fold them. This led me to look for additional patterns online. I was happy to find a variety of websites with folding directions to more planes then I could ever care to learn to fold. But if you are looking for patterns, here are some of the best sites out there. more...

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Christmas crafts for children

A few ideas for Christmas crafts for children. Some include associated bible verses. Good for Sunday school crafts. more...

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Sugar Scrub

Great for exfoliating in this harsh winter weather. Sugar scrub is great for gift giving and a very simple recipe good for children to make a professional looking gift. more...

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Childen's Art Thank You Notes

A great idea for grandma or teacher. Make printed thank you notes out of art work. more...

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Companies Promote Free Kids Programs

Looking for free activities for your children? There are a few options available that are companies are sponsoring. Lowes offers Build and Grow Clinics, Home Depot offer Kids Workshops, and Michael's offers The Knack which is a kids craft and activities program. Check out the links below:

Lowes

Home Depot


Michael's

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Kid's Sticker Club

Perfect year round gift to kids you love

Promote creativity and fun with stickers

Monthly calendar... days to celebrate

Personalize a message to your child (You're Special, Love Mom & Dad)
Click the banner below to get your free trial set

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Kid's Crafts

How to Craft a Felt Scarf
Fleece or felt scarves make great gifts and these scarves are quickly made in one afternoon. This is a great project for young teens to craft and wear or give to their friends as gifts. Consider making them in school colors to show team spirit. How about for a scouting project? They could also be made and donated to homeless shelters, making this craft a great outreach project. More...

 

How to Cut a Paper Snowflake
Traditional wintertime crafts include the cutting of paper snowflakes. Both young and young at heart enjoy watching the transformation take place, from plain paper into an exciting reveal of shape and wonderment. Not a winter with children around should pass that doesn't include this project. Can you remember being so amazed the first time you watched someone cut a paper snowflake? Passing along the tradition might be something you desire, but you can't quite remember how to fold the paper. More...

 

How to Cut a Chain of Paper Dolls
Cutting paper dolls is a favorite activity for children throughout the ages. Using basic materials, you can obtain a variety of differences quickly and easily. You can add another level of variety and creativity by altering the kind of paper and adding additional decorations to the paper dolls. Fill hours of time and imagination with this craft. You may remember cutting a chain of paper dolls from your childhood but may not remember the exact procedure. More...

 

How to Craft a Pine Needle Bowl
A pine needle bowl can be used as a fall decoration for a coffee table or centerpiece. Made from natural, found objects, this bowl can give any setting a natural, rustic look. This is an appropriate project to make with children--begin by taking a nature hike to collect the needles. Consider collecting some pine cones and nuts to add to the bowl or to be placed inside the bowl upon completion. There are no right or wrong ways to build this craft, and the end results are very professional looking, building the children's confidence, as well as making a thoughtful homemade gift.  More...

 

How to Make Valentine Candy Flowers
Making chocolate valentine candy flowers is easy and cost effective given the high prices of specialty chocolates. With limited tools you can have professional results. This craft is easy to do with young children, too! More... 

 

How to Make a Paper Pinwheel Craft
A paper pinwheel amazes young children in how you can take very simple items and turn them into something entirely different. You can use this craft to educate them on wind, movement and cause and effect actions. They'll enjoy these colorful personalized wind toys.  More...

 

How to Color Noodles
Children love to make crafts. Bright colors entice their minds and excite their creativity. Being able to explore, and make a bit of a mess, can develop their sense of independence. Making crafts is a learning experience. Working with glue and colored noodles is an inexpensive way to allow small children to express themselves and create a one of a kind masterpiece.  More...

 

How to Craft a Foam Magnetic Bookmark
Make a great craft for the reader in your life! This magnetic bookmark works well because it doesn't slip out of a book since the magnets hold the pages between the bookmark. Pages will not be lost ever again. Place the bookmark along the outside edge of the page, instead of the top, and it can mark the exact line where reading was stopped. More...

 

How to Craft Sheets of Plastic From Paint
Creating "plastic" from paint is a simple technique with a very unusual outcome. The sheet of dry paint can be used in many decorative applications. It is vibrant in color, flexible and stretches. You can cut it, punch it and stretch it around objects. The "plastic" is shiny and not at all like if you had just painted a surface. More...

 

How to Make a Fimo Pin
This craft project results in lovely items just right for gift giving. Working with an oven baked clay like Fimo is simple enough to use for a craft with children and professional enough to make items for a craft show. More...

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