Tape Art Kids Craft

Artzy creations shares a modern art inspired kids craft using tape and paint.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://artzycreations.blogspot.com/2012/02/modern-tape-art-tutorial.html

Maria teorien's version is more colorful and precise.

Get the instructions here:
http://mariateorien.blogspot.dk/2012/06/tape-painting.html

Make a Flower Kids Craft

Kiboomu shows how you can turn an empty toilet paper roll, popsicle stick and construction paper into a flower. She covers the toilet paper roll with felt, but you could use paint as well.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.kiboomu.com/2011/06/19/toilet-paper-roll-flowers-summer-craft/

Paper Snake Craft

Mess for less has shows how to take construction paper and yarn and make a paper snake to play with. She even has the kids use the colors to form a pattern.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.messforless.net/2012/02/paper-pattern-snakes.html

Kidspot uses folded paper and a string to create a paper snake pet.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.kidspot.com.au/kids-activities-and-games/Craft%20activities+1/Paper-snake+11020.htm

Mr. printables shares a free paper snake puppet.

Download the template here:
http://www.mrprintables.com/finger-puppets-snakes.html

 

Curly birds undoes a toilet paper roll to make her snakes and decorates with felt and tissue paper.

Get the instructions here:

http://curlybirds.blogspot.com/2010/07/zoo-exhibition.html

Cloud Wind Sock

Dltk kids has a very easy way to make a cloud wind puppet using streamers and white office paper.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/earth/mcloudwpuppet.htm

Make your own kazoo

That's what said has a nifty way to turn an empty toilet paper roll into a kazoo. All you need is some waxed paper and a rubber band. You'll probably want some stickers or paint or crayons too to decorate the brown cardboard.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://thatswhatwesaid.net/2012/02/kids-craft-diy-kazoos/

 

Duck duck octopus has pretty much the same kazoo but with a different styling using a bow instead of a rubber band.  

Get the instructions here:

http://www.duckduckoctopus.com/2012/01/28/easy-kazoo/

Leaf Print Paperweights

My plum pudding shows how to turn leaf prints into paper weights using clay and various leaf patterns.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://myplumpudding.blogspot.com/2008/03/nature-sculpture.html

Button Tree Branch

Meet the dubiens has a new button craft using buttons, glue and a real tree branch.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.meetthedubiens.com/2011/09/fall-button-branch.html

Woven Fabric Bracelet

Vanessa Christenson has a homemade bracelet tutorial showing how to weave a bracelet out of strips of jersey knit cloth.

Good for ages 11 and up.

Ge the instructions here:
http://www.vanessachristenson.com/2011/03/v-and-co-how-to-jersey-knit-bracelet.html

Paper Jellyfish Kids Craft

A bunch of great jellyfish projects for all ages using lots of common everyday objects. 

First palette shares a jelly fish project using a paper bowl, crepe paper and paint.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Animals/paperbowljellyfish/paperbowljellyfish.html

 

Disney's family fun suggests using glittery scrap booking paper and shiny curling ribbon.

Get the instructions here:

http://family.go.com/crafts/craft-852442-jazzy-jellyfish-decorations-t/

Crafty crafted uses streamer ribbon, paper and green paint.

Get the instructions here:

http://www.crafty-crafted.com/animal-crafts/jelly-fish-craft/

Craft bits uses a dried out and flattened sponge and fluffy yarn.  

Get the instructions here:

http://www.craftbits.com/project/jellyfish-craft

 

Looleedo has an adorable hanging jelly fish that uses a clear plastic bowl and strips of bubble wrap.

Get the instructions here:

http://www.looledo.com/index.php/jellyfish.html

Naturally educational uses a bowl and curling ribbon.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.naturallyeducational.com/2011/06/jellyfish-craft/

Eco-Friendly Cardboard Bird Feeder

The moffat girls has an easy tutorial for making a bird feeder out of a cardboard toilet paper roll, using just peanut butter and bird seed. The best part is the feeder is open ended so you can just slip it onto a tree branch.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://moffattgirls.blogspot.com/2011/02/toiletpaper-roll-bird-feeders.html

Wire Nest Necklace

Sarah Ortega has a really sweet diy necklace tutorial using egg shaped beads, jewelery wire and a store bought chain.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.sarahortega.com/2011/05/diy-bird-nest-necklace.html

Secret Origami Star Messages

Creative kismet adds a unique twist to an origami star craft by inserting a happy message within each one.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.creativekismet.com/2011/01/06/little-guiding-stars/

Button Bouquet

Better homes and gardens has a sweet button flower bouquet using simply floral or jewelery wire and buttons.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.bhg.com/crafts/kids/rainy-day/kids-crafts-buttons/#page=1

Ice Sculptures

A little learning for two has an ice sculpture activity. Add water and the object you want frozen into a balloon. Freeze and then in a few hours just cut the balloon away you'll have what they call ice eggs.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://alittlelearningfortwo.blogspot.com/2011/09/ice-eggs.html

Cat and Dog Paper Dolls

Making friends has cute animal paper dolls amongst many others. All of the dolls appear to have the exact same outline so clothing options for one doll should be universal.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the template here:
http://www.makingfriends.com/friends/f_animcolsor.htm

Made by joel has a fancy cat paper doll collection. Including cat jewelry and backdrops and scene changes for them to play on.

http://madebyjoel.com/2011/09/introducing-the-dressy-cats.html

Colored Bath Cubes

Mommysavers has a great idea for how to make a child's bath time fun. Simply add a drop of food coloring to regular water in an ice cube tray. Freeze. And then use in the bath.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://mommysavers.wordpress.com/2010/09/12/frugal-bathtime-fun-for-baby/

Paint from a Pendulum

One inch world has a fun twist on painting. By hanging paints upside down from a tree, kids can swing the paint and watch it make colorful designs on the paper.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://oneinchworld.com/blog/index.php/2011/08/pendulum-painting/

Ice Cube Paint

Factory direct craft has a cool spin on painting using food coloring, water and mini clothes pins to make easy for holding.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://factorydirectcraft.com/factorydirectcraft_blog/ice-painting/


Hands on as we grow has a similar idea but freezing real paint which will be a lot more messy.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.handsonaswegrow.com/2011/07/art-frozen-painting.html

How to Weave a CD

Make it a wonderful life has a tutorial on how to make a pretty weaving using a CD as the base.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://makeitawonderfullife.blogspot.com/2011/11/cd-weaving-tutorial.html

Make your own rainstick

The imagination tree has a diy rain stick tutorial using a paper tube, nails, legumes and wrapping paper. The nails must be what makes the rain sound because they seem awfully dangerous. Some other non-sharp metal might work as well such as snaps or something.

Good for ages 11 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2011/03/diy-baby-size-rain-sticks.html

Brown paper packages also has a rainstick tutorial using cute tissue paper, gift wrap tubes, and beans. 

Get the instructions here:
http://www.brownpaper--packages.com/2012/05/oh-what-do-you-do-in-summertime_25.html

Milk Soap Painting Experiment

Modern parents messy kids has a neat science experiment involving milk, food coloring, dish soap and a toothpick. Have the kids add food coloring to the plate of milk in separate sections like a painter's palette. Next have kids add a small amount of food coloring onto the end of a toothpick and then dip it into the food coloring. The soap reacts with the milk and the colors begin to swirl.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.modernparentsmessykids.com/2011/08/we-tried-it-milk-colors.html

Seed Bombs

Fun time happy garden explosion has a great idea of how to make what they call a guerrilla garden. It does require some unique ingredients though including worm casting, which can probably be bought at any gardening store. Basically you take all of the ingredients and mix them together to make the "bombs." Your kids will love playing with the consistency. Once made you literally throw them into an empty plot of land and watch them grow. A fun way to spruce up the neighborhood and show your children cause and effect.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://funtimehappygardenexplosion.blogspot.com/2007/08/guerilla-gardening-seed-bombs.html

Paperclip Ribbon Bookmarks

Altered to perfection has the cutest and simplest idea for how to make an easy, colorful bookmark. All you need are pretty, color coated paperclips and matching ribbons.

Good for ages 5 and up so they can tie the knots.

Get the instructions here: She also sells these on her Etsy shop.
http://alteredtoperfection.blogspot.com/2009/01/jumbo-clip-bookmarks.html

Free Children's Audio Books

booksshouldbefree.com offers more than 4,000 free audio books in mp3, itunes and ipod format. You can search by title, author or keyword or browse by genre including fiction, fantasy and mystery. They even have books in multiple languages and offer a top 100 list.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/online-storytime-books-toys/379003588 currently has videos of 17 kids story books including titles such as Pinkalicous and Where the Wild Things Are. 

Kindergarden Reading List

The Woodbridge library of New Jersey has put together a list of 100 books you should read to your kindergartener. The list is organized into different categories including topics such as silly, animals, flying and friends and family

Get the booklist here:
http://www.woodbridge.lib.nj.us/100books.htm

Free Children's Book Downloads

wegivebooks.org offers more than 500,000 free children's books online. You can browse by age range, author or topic. Ages range from 0 to teens. They also have a section for new releases, popular and classic books.

Folk Art Pens

Paper crafts for children has the most adorable idea for making colorful, folk art inspired pens using paper mache. Their painting is pretty sophisticated. But either way it makes a nice functional craft.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.papercraftsforchildren.com/2010/07/25/papier-mache-pens/

QTIp Fire Works

Busy bee kids crafts has an easy craft idea for the Fourth of July making fireworks out of the tops of qtips. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

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

Rocketship Confetti

Alphamom has a great craft for the 4th of July making rocket ship confetti poppers using a toilet paper roll, scrapbooking paper, ribbon, confetti and twine. Making the confetti itself will keep the kids busy for quite a while.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://alphamom.com/family-fun/holidays/make-your-own-fourth-of-july-confetti-popper-rockets/

Disney's family fun has a similar confetti launcher.

Get the instructions here:
http://familyfun.go.com/4th-of-july/4th-of-july-crafts/confetti-launcher-890192/

Moda bake shop shares how to make a confetti cracker and is an easier craft for younger kids.  She uses candy instead of confetti for a favor, but kids will still get the confetti effect and have fun throwing it themselves.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.modabakeshop.com/2011/06/firecracker-favors.html 

International Paper Dolls

Education.com has free paper doll printables from several countries including this one from France. Each template includes information about the country so kids can learn about the local life.

Get the templates here:
http://www.education.com/slideshow/exploring-cultures-paper-dolls-world/paper-dolls-world-europe-VI/

Free July Kids Craft Events

Tuesday July 3

Michael's is having a passport to imagination event featuring a craft inspired by the United States from 1:00 to 4:00.

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

Thursday July 5

Michael's is having a passport to imagination event featuring a craft inspired by the Kenya from 1:00 to 4:00.

Saturday July 7

The Disney store is hosting a Spiderman cartoon drawing workshop at 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30 for kids age 3 and up. 

http://www.disneystore.com/in-store-special-events/mn/1001271/

The Home Depot is having a build a truck event from 9:00 to 12:00.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=HT_WS_KidsWorkshops

Michael's is having a passport to imagination event featuring a craft inspired by the North Pole from 1:00 to 4:00. 

Saturday July 14

Lowe's has a kit for kids to create a spinning kung fu panda at 10:00 a.m.  Kids need to be registered to partake in the event.

https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/pages/default.aspx

Sunday July 15

Lowes is hosting the event again at 2:00 p.m.

Saturday July 28

Lowes has a kit for kids to create a staking kung fu panda game at 10:00.

https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/pages/default.aspx

Sunday July 29

Lowes is hosting the event again at 2:00 p.m.