Ocean in a Bottle

What you'll need:

• a plastic water bottle with lid.
• water plants.
• blue food coloring.
• small pebbles or pieces of gravel.
• fish, shells and other small toys.
• diamond dust.

How to make it:

1. Fill 1/3 of a plastic bottle with water.
2. Add a few drops blue food coloring to the water.
3. Then, pour vegetable oil to fill the rest of the bottle.
4. Add toy fish, diamond dust and pebbles.

The oil and water do not mix, but oil on the water creates slow waves when you turn it back and forth.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Dinosaur Eggs

Play create explore has a craft for making dinosaur eggs out of a coffee ground and dough mixture. Once you make the dough you form an egg shape around an object such as a small plastic dinosaur. Kids can crack them open with their hands.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.playcreateexplore.com/2010/09/make-your-own-dinosaur-egg-or-treasure.html

How to Make a Marble Run

Tinkerlab has a nifty marble run idea. All you need are some toilet paper or paper towel rolls and pretty colored tape and you're set.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://tinkerlab.com/2011/05/toilet-paper-roll-marble-run/

A happy wanderer has a similar version using larger balls and longer tubes.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.ahappywanderer.com/2011/08/ball-maze.html
 

My home spun threads does away with the cardboard tube for something more sturdy using a foam  pool noodle.  She even set up a race track so kids can see the marbles race. 

Get the instructions here:
http://myhomespunthreads.blogspot.com/2011/05/day-5-marble-racetrack-with-serving.html

Frugal fun 4 boys makes a marble track using toilet paper rolls and paper plate rims.

Get the instructions here:
http://frugalfun4boys.com/2012/09/05/paper-plate-marble-track/ 

Looledo goes all out making a marble run resembling a mineshaft complete with warning signs.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.looledo.com/index.php/the-old-mine-shaft-marble-slide.html

Lizon uses plastic bottles to make a bottle run decorating with colorful tape.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.lizon.org/2012/03/bottle-run.html

 

El hada de papel uses a plastic bottle and a straw to make her marble fun.  A great way to keep track of the marbles.

Get the instructions here:

http://elhadadepapel.blogspot.jp/2012/03/pista-de-canicas-marble-run-murmelbahn.html 

Tacky living takes a simpler approach using cardboard and craft sticks on their version.

Get the instructions here:

http://www.tackyliving.com/article.php?id=170 

 

Made by joel uses a cardboard cereal box for his version.

Get the instructions here:

http://madebyjoel.com/2010/06/cereal-box-marble-run.html

Make Your Own Scavenger Hunt Kit

My Cakies has a really cute idea for a scavenger hunt kit.  One variation can be to eliminate the camera and instead ask for objects which can be taped to the pages.  Although the camera is great for memories, it's not ideal for a large group or if you don't have a Polaroid. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://mycakies.blogspot.com/2011/06/oh-hunting-we-will-go-papi-day-surprise.html

Make Your Own Finger Puppet Kit

Alanna George has an adorable idea for a finger puppet kit.  The only thing missing is the glue.  Check out dollar stores or thrift stores for inexpensive gloves and paint swatch cards are great for small colored paper. 

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.alannageorge.com/2011/11/28/handmade-holidays-finger-puppet-kit/

Toilet paper roll animals beginning with the letter O

Rebecca Cooper posts on how to make an owl and an octopus out of a cardboard toilet paper roll.  She has very simple ones and very elaborate glittery examples as well. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://rebeccacooper.blogspot.com/2011/10/friday-craft-day-toilet-paper-owls.html

Bubble Wands

Disney's family fun has the easiest way to make a bubble wand.  All you need are some straws and tape.  They also include a recipe for bubble mix. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/tiny-bubbles-668489/

Paper Bracelet

Fave crafts has a unique way to make an easy bracelet using a brown paper bag handle.  The main thing you need is a design pattern to use as a stencil, paint and glue. 

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.favecrafts.com/Green-Crafting/Brown-Bag-Handle-Bracelet/ml/1

Pipe Cleaner Flower Rings

Funky polkadot giraffe has a tutorial showing how to make flower rings by twisting around pipe cleaners. 

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://funkypolkadotgiraffe.blogspot.com/2011/06/tutorial-thursday-red-white-blue.html

Popcorn Painting

Katherine Marie photography has a great way to combine an after school snack and activity.  She sets out edible paint, a dish of popcorn and some paintbrushes for an afternoon of popcorn painting.  You can use food coloring as well and even dilute it with milk or water. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://katherinemariephotography.com/blog/archives/2509

Disappearing Egg Shell Science Experiment

Science sparks has a great science experiment using an egg and vinegar to create a chemical action where the acid from the vinegar disolves the egg shell. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.science-sparks.com/2012/01/16/how-to-get-an-egg-yolk-without-cracking-the-egg/

Crayon Painted Rocks

5 orange potatoes has a unique idea of painting pebbles with crayons.  Basically you need to heat the rocks in the oven until they're warm enough to melt crayons.  Using the melted crayons you can paint the rocks.  Amazingly they warn the wax gets hotter than the rocks.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.5orangepotatoes.com/blog/2011/03/04/hot-rocks-painting-with-wax-on-rocks/

Pencil Catapult

Random scraps demonstrates how to make a catapult using pencils, rubber bands, and an empty tissue box. They recommend using marshmallows for catapulting. Yum.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:

http://random-scraps.blogspot.com/2010/06/marshmallow-catapult.html

Popsicle Stick Catapult

Science sparks demonstrates elasticity and shows how to make a catapult out of popsicle sticks, rubber bands and a plastic bottle cap.  Kids will have fun finding different objects to catapult across the house and seeing how they compare.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.science-sparks.com/2012/01/09/making-a-catapult-looking-at-elasticity/

 

Almost unschoolers has a simpler popsicle stick catapult using a clothes pin and bottle cap and block of wood to anchor it. 

Get the instructions here:

http://almostunschoolers.blogspot.com/2010/07/clothespin-torsion-catapult-for-kids.html

Do it and how has a scaled down catapult using the same supplies, just less of them.

Get the instructions here:

http://doitandhow.com/2011/10/01/craft-stick-catapult/

Floating Ketchup Experiement

Science Bob shows how to make a package of ketchup float in a plastic bottle demonstrating the science of buoyancy and density.  All you need is an empty bottle, a package of ketchup, some water and salt. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/magic_ketchup.php

Clover Pinwheel

The land of nod shows how to make shamrock pinwheels for St. Patrick's Day. All you need are green pipe cleaners and green construction paper.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:

http://blog.landofnod.com/honest-to-nod/2012/03/shamrock-pinwheel-.html

Clover Ring

Post grad crafts show how you can make a cute shamrock ring using green felt, a needle and thread, and craft rings. 

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://postgradcrafts.blogspot.com/2012/03/shamrock-ring.html

St. Patrick's Day Beaded Bracelet

Craft project ideas has a great take on the friendship bracelet adding green beads to green thread to make a cute bracelet for St. Patrick's Day.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:

http://www.craftprojectideas.com/index.php/how-to/seasonal-projects/st-patricks-day/429-st-patricks-day-braided-bracelet



St. Patrick's Day Clover Necklace

Plaid online has a way to turn St. Patrick's Day scrapbook paper into a necklace using clear color gems to make a shamrock stone.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://plaidonline.com/st-patty-s-necklace/3617/project.htm 

Shamrock Paper Necklace

Rebecca cooper has a paper four leaf clover necklace using scrapbooking paper clovers and green straw separators. 

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://rebeccacooper.blogspot.com/2012/03/friday-craft-day-clover-leaf-lei.html

Leprechaun Traps

Leprechaun traps are very popular this year. Here are several versions to help you get their pots of gold.

Modern parents messy kids takes a kleenex box, chalk and chalk paint to make several different types of traps.

Frost me blog shares a simple green box trap however the original source quoted no longer has the tutorial.

Education.com has a popsicle rainbow trap. Inside they put Lucky Charms as bait and in the morning they recommend switching them for chocolate gold coins to show that leprauchans really do exist.

Shamrock Snowflakes

One charming party turns a paper snowflake into a shamrock for St. Patrick's Day with green crepe paper.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://onecharmingparty.com/2012/02/22/celtic-clover-banner/

St. Patrick's Day Bracelets

Momtastic has St. Patrick's Day spin on popsicle stick bracelets. She uses stickers, yarn and scrap book paper to embellish them.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.momtastic.com/parenting/activities/171855-kid-craft-bracelets-for-st-paddys-day

Clover Pins

Martha Stewart shows you how to make shamrock boutonnieres using cotton, starch, floral wire and green ribbon. You could easily adapt them to using scrapbooking paper as well.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/266263/shamrock-boutonnieres

Tissue Paper Four Leaf Clover

Nashville parent has a simple St. Patrick's Day craft for kids using green tissue paper and glue.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.nashvilleparent.com/2011/03/st-patricks-day-craft-clover/

Clover Lacing Cards

Family education has a cute idea for younger kids for St. Patrick's day showing a cute shamrock lacing card craft.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://blogs.familyeducation.com/parenting/moms/allison-mcdonald/easy-shamrock-lacing-card

 Chalk in my pockets shares a clover and a rainbow as well.

Get the template here:
http://www.chalkinmypocket.com/2011/03/st-patricks-day-lacing-cards-shamrock.html

Crystal Clovers

Housing a forest has a tutorial on how make a shamrock out of borax, pipe cleaners, and food coloring.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.housingaforest.com/shamrock-crystals/

Pots of Clovers

Chica and jo have a clover craft for St. Patrick's day using candy kettles from halloween to represent the pot of gold. Kids can either plant the dirt and add the seeds to each pot or simply transfer the already grown clovers to the pots.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.chicaandjo.com/2011/03/03/st-patricks-day-clover-place-cards/

Toilet paper roll four leaf clovers

No time for flash cards shows how you can cut up toilet paper rolls to make a 4 leaf clover by simply adding green paint, some folding and green pipe cleaners.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2011/03/paper-roll-shamrock-craft.html

Child made tutorials shares this craft as well.

Get the instructions here:
http://childmadetutorials.blogspot.com/2011/02/paper-roll-shamrocks.html

Grow a Clover Forest

Housing a forest has a fun way to turn a sponge into a sprout forest. Cutting out a shamrock shape from a green sponge, and soaking with seeds she shows how you can make a special plant for St. Patrick's Day.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.housingaforest.com/shamrock-sprouts/

Free March Craft Events

Saturday March 3

Home Depot

Kids can make a race car from 9 am to 12 pm. Kids will also receive a workshop apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get more information here:
http://www.homeimproverclub.com/kidsworkshops.aspx?month=mar&site=microsite-_-homeimproverclub-_-kids/mar

Saturday March 10

Lowes

Kids can make a basket ball game at 10 am. Kids will also receive a workshop apron, commemorative patch, safety goggles and certificate of achievement. Note: you must register online prior to the event.

Get more information here:
https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/Home.aspx


Disney Store

Kids create their own festive party hat to help celebrate Disney Store's 25th anniversary from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm. Good for ages 3 and up.

Get more information here:
http://www.disneystore.com/in-store-special-events/mn/1001271/

Michael's
Kids can learn to make a yarn doll from 3:00 pm to 5 p.m.

Get more information here:
http://www.michaels.com/Store-Events/store-events,default,pg.html