White Chocolate Pretzel Snowflakes

A southern fairytale has a great video and instructions on how to make pretzel snowflakes.  All you need is mini pretzel sticks, white chocolate, and sprinkles and other candy decorating adornments.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://asouthernfairytale.com/2011/09/11/pretzel-snowflakes/

Tin Foil Snowflakes

Frugal family fun blog has an easy snowflake craft. All you need is tin foil, glue and paper.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2011/01/shiny-snowflake-mosaics.html

Q-Tip Snowflakes

Disney's family fun has a very cute idea of how to make snowflakes using Q-Tips, glitter and glue.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://familyfun.go.com/magazine/familyfun-magazine-archive/familyfun-december-january-2012/snow-swabs-1030054/


Busy bee craft ideas has a q-tip snowflake craft as well using just glue and blue construction paper.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Q-Tip-Snowflakes.html

Snowflake Observations

The chocolate muffin tree has a great idea of letting children catch snowflakes onto black construction paper for observations of how snowflakes are formed and how each one is different. 

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.thechocolatemuffintree.com/2012/01/exploring-snowflakes.html

Pinwheel Macaroni Snowflakes

Katie Evans shows how you can make snowflakes with pinwheel macaroni, glitter and glue. With all of the pasta shapes, the snowflake possibilities are endless.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2008/12/budget-gifts-ideas-winner.html

Nature Ice Sculptures

Artful adventures has a beautiful idea for how to make what they call icy artwork using leaves and berries and other growing objects they encase them in ice to make nature ice sculptures.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.artful-adventures.co.uk/2011/01/05/icy-artwork/

How to Make a Bowl Out of a Magazine

Did you know you can turn magazines into a bowl? All you need is colorful magazines, tape, glue and some varnish.

Follow these steps:

1. Rip all of the pages out of 2-3 colorful magazines.
2. Fold one page in half to give you a guideline and then unfold it then fold the two edges into the middle.
3. Fold the edges into the middle again and once more.
4. Using a glue stick put a little bit on the paper. Fold it in half, glue side in.
5. Roll the strip up into a spiral and tape the end to itself.
6. Repeat steps 2 to 4 and tape the start of this strip to the same place the first one finished.
Roll it around its self and tape the end.
7. Keep repeating the previous step until it's the size you want. Then take the spiral and pull the top up and move it around until you have your desired bowl shape.

8. Varnish the bowl so it stays strong and shiny.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Confetti Gift Box

Shiho Masuda shows how to mke a confetti gift box using shredded magazines, some glue and a box. She uses an egg carton for Easter and filled with jelly beans,  but you can easily adapt this project with any other box.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Party: Bug Jar Party Favor

One really cute idea for a Very Hungry Caterpillar party favor is to create your own bug jars.  Ideas for contents include Easter grass, plastic bugs, and toy magnifying glasses.   

Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Party: Play Dough Party Favor

Kayla danelle has a cute idea for a hungry caterpillar party favor. She places 3 squished balls of green playdoh into a jar to make the caterpillar body and then adds a construction paper eyes, face and antenna to the lid.

Get the instructions here:

http://kayladanelle.blogspot.com/2012/02/very-hungry-caterpillar-first-birthday_06.html

Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Party: More Arts and Crafts Activity

It's amazing what you can make with half of an egg carton. A little more messy than the fingerprint version but probably more fun since it doesn't have to stay as clean. All you need are egg cartons cut in half lengthwise, green and red paint, pipe cleaners and some markers to draw the face.



ABC and 123 learning has another craft idea involves using strips of pre-cut paper to make the caterpillar head and bodies.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.abcand123learning.com/2011/03/eric-carle-activities-and-lessons.html

Make and takes has a cute way to create a caterpillar using just beads and a pipe cleaner.

Get the instructions here:

http://www.makeandtakes.com/meet-our-bead-caterpillar-pets

Hungrey Caterpillar Bracelet

Lines across takes a string and wooden beads to make hungry caterpillar bracelets for little hands to string together.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.linesacross.com/2012/09/diy-caterpillar-bracelet.html

Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Party: Arts and Crafts Activity

Just 2 colors of finger paints and your little guests can make their own caterpillars.  To make things simple use stickers and a black marker to add the face and feet.

Get instructions here:
http://lyndsxo-glamourmoms.blogspot.com/2011/03/very-hungry-caterpillar-fingerprint.html

Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Party: Easy Cupcake Cake

Assembled cupcakes to form a caterpillar makes for a really easy, simple and creative birthday cake. 

Get the instructions here:

http://cococakecupcakes.blogspot.com/2009/03/hungry-caterpillar-cupcake-party-train.html

Very Hungry Caterpillar Party Food Table

Hostess blog has a very simple food table layout featuring the fruit from the beginning pages of the book.  You could even group the fruit to match the number the caterpillar ate.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.hostessblog.com/2011/06/the-very-hungry-caterpillar-birthday-party/

Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Party: Snack Ideas

Another really simple, easy to assemble snack.  You could even have the kids design their own caterpillars before they eat them.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.cutefoodforkids.com/2011/10/22-very-hungry-caterpillar-inspired.html

Princess and the frog shares her caterpillar kabobs using grapes and icing and chocolate chips to make the eyes.  Use a purple grape for the first one and it will look more like the hungry caterpillar.

Get the instructions here:
http://princessandthefrogblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/grape-caterpillar-kebobs.html

Hungry Caterpillar Party Decorations

KadOsh shows a cute way to decorate the walls for a hungry caterpillar party using balloons and construction paper making the caterpillars crawl around the room.

Get the instructions here:
http://kad0sh.livejournal.com/485990.html

Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Party: Name Tags

A cute way to have everyone know who everyone else is is to have name tags.  You an use pins or double-sided sticky tape to attach them or even string.    

Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Party: Invitation Idea

The biggest issue with these invitations is the glass jar which does not make for fun mailing.  Instead of a jar try just a crystalline envelope.  The effect will be just as cute and much more cost effective and less of a hassle.

Get instructions here:
http://www.potterybarnkids.com/design-studio/invitations/caterpillar_party.html

Explosive Valentines

No time for flash cards has an interactive valentine love bomb, using confetti, contact paper, and a paper bag. There are a lot of steps but it makes for a fun project.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2012/02/love-bomb-craft.html

Valentine's Day Picture Frame

Skinny scoop combines a puzzle with a picture frame for valentine's day using cut out puzzle pieces, popsicle sticks, and glue.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.skinnyscoop.com/listitem/40998/9937/valentines-day-picture-holder-all-kids-network

Coffee Filter Flying Doves

Frugal family fun has a neat way to have doves fly around your house for valentine's day using just coffee filters and string. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2010/11/dove-garland.html

Coffee Filter Tye Dye Hearts

Mom to two posh lil divas also has a coffee filter valentine's day craft. Basically you cut the coffee filter into a heart shape, fold as you might a snowflake, and use dot markers to make a pretty pattern.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://momto2poshlildivas.blogspot.com/2012/01/valentine-craft-tie-dye-hearts.html

Button Heart Valentine Ornament

Perfect valentines shows how to make a valentine ornament using pretty buttons, ribbon and craft wire.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.perfectvalentines.co.uk/button-heart-hanging-how-to-make.shtml

Button Paper Valentine

Pink and green mama has a cute valentine's day project using paper, glue and buttons. They suggest using the glue in a special pattern to control the final look.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/2011/01/valentine-heart-craft.html

Valentine Sun Catchers

Holly's art corner has a kids craft project to make sun catchers for valentine's day. Using beads, glue and heart shaped cookie cutters.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://hollysartcorner.blogspot.com/2012/02/craft-project-pony-bead-sun-catchers.html

 Make do friends shared a sun catcher for Valentine's Day.  Kids cut an outline of a heart, stick on the contact paper, add pretty colored tissue paper heart and tops with another set of contact paper and another paper heart outline.

The site is no longer live.  

Valentine Heart Wreath

Mom tried it shows how to make a heart wreath out of toilet paper rolls, a pipe cleaner, and paint.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.momtriedit.net/2011/02/recycled-heart-craft.html

Paper Hungry Caterpillar Invitation

Homemaking honey has a paper based hungry caterpillar invitation using paper circles to form the caterpilllar.

Get the instructions here:
http://homemakinghoney.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-year-and-new-birthdays.html

Fingerprint Valentine Tree

Scumdilly do has instructions for how to make a valentine's day tree using just paint and paper.  The secret to the heart design is to use a cut-out of a heart over another piece of paper so that a heart shape forms for the top of the tree.

Finger Paint Valentines

Modern parent messy kids has an amazing idea for an interactive kids valentine using colored shaving cream to create self contained finger paint valentines. The instructions are very involved and not really a craft for young kids to help with but are great for them to dispense and sure to be a huge hit.

Good for ages 11 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.modernparentsmessykids.com/2011/01/tutorial-shaving-cream-valentine.html

Valentine Heart Ornaments

The long thread shows you how to make heart ornaments using salt dough, a very simple recipe of salt, water and flour.  They then paint them and dust with glitter.

Good for ages 5 and up. 

Get the instructions here:
http://thelongthread.com/?p=5678

Valentine's Day Snowglobes

Dandee combines the traditional winter snow globe with a valentine's day twist using pipe cleaners, styrofoam balls, glitter, glycerine, and baby food jars.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.dandee-designs.com/2012/01/snow-globe-valentines.html

Valentine Ice Ornaments

Poppytalk has the most beautiful ice ornaments using flower petals and leaves encased in frozen ice hearts. You'll need a heart mold to make these as well as petals and leaves and yarn if you want to hang them outdoors.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://poppytalk.blogspot.com/2012/01/valentines-diy-no-4-hearts-of-ice-by.html

Valentine Heart Magnets

Parents.com has a tutorial for making heart magnets using heart shaped wood cutout and stick on magnets.  The images they show are more involved however kids can have fun just painting the hearts. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.parents.com/holiday/valentines-day/crafts/easy-kid-crafts/?page=7

Pebble Valentines

Vintage office type turns smooth pebbles into valentines using simply scrapbooking paper and glue. The results are really stunning for a very simple and creative valentine.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://vintageofficetype.blogspot.com/2010/10/love-rocks.html

Artful parent stencils glitter glue onto rocks and glues them onto paper for a unique kids valentine card. 

Get the instructions here:
http://www.artfulparent.com/2013/01/glitter-rock-valentines-a-fun-valentine-craft-project-for-kids.html

Paper Heart Necklaces

Craftzine has a really simple valentine's day paper heart necklace project using scrapbooking paper and yarn. One cute idea is to stick a secret message or some candy into the pocket.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2011/01/how-to_heart_paper_pockets_for.html

Clay Heart Valentines

Disney's family fun has a cute idea for valentines using molds of make your own clay hearts.  The instructions are more involved than their usual craft ideas though.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/play-clay-hearts-666616/

Clay Heart Necklaces

Mommy blessings has a really pretty tutorial on how to make heart necklaces out of clay using a heart mold, jewelery pins, ribbon, and of course clay.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.mommyblessings.com/2010/02/valentine-clay-heart-necklace-tutorial.html

Amazing mae uses a salt dough recipe to make her version of these necklaces using curling ribbon for the chain.

Get the instructions here:
http://amazingmae.blogspot.com/2012/02/salt-dough-necklaces.html

Origami Heart Necklaces

Make It:


Zakka life has another version of the paper heart necklace using origami hearts and yarn. They even have a template for the cards to affix the necklace to.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2012/01/valentine-cards-with-heart-necklaces.html

Buy It:

Heart Shaped Melon Kabobs

Six sisters has a cute lunchbox idea for valentine's day. Using a heart shaped cookie cuter and popsicle sticks they've created melon kabobs.

Lollipop Flower Valentines

Martha Stewart turns paper hearts into flowers with a lollipop stem for a sweet valentine's day.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/306836/kids-valentines/@center/276967/valentines-day#/181233

Candy Dot Valentines

Martha Stewart has a cute way of combining candy and valentines using the paper dot candy and construction paper.  All you need to do is cut everything into heart shapes and glue them together.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/306836/kids-valentines/@center/276967/valentines-day#/269839

Candy Guitar Valentines

Zakka life has a guitar valentine template that wraps around a heart shaped lollipop.  It's a nice simple valentine that the kids will enjoy.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the template here:
http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2010/01/rockin-valentines-day-cards.html

Mystery Valentines

Better homes and gardens has a secret valentine recipe using a white crayon and heart cut outs.  Kids can use watercolors to reveal the message.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.bhg.com/holidays/valentines-day/crafts/valentines-day-crafts-for-kids/#page=8

Small friendly has a similar secret valentine card but provides instructions, the paint brush and even the paint within the valentine.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.smallfriendly.com/small-friendly/2013/02/secret-message-valentine-mini-edition.html