How to Make Flowers from a Coffee Filters

Kaboose has found a great new use coffee filters and show how to turn them into flowers using watercolor paint and green pipe cleaners.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://crafts.kaboose.com/coffee-filter-flowers.html

Urban comfort shares a great way to make coffee filter flower baskets using dixie cups as the base and floral stems for the handle.

Get the instructions here:
http://urbancomfort.typepad.com/urban_nest/2012/04/coffee-filter-flowers-and-carrots.html

Martha Stewart has a wonderful tutorial on how to turn a coffee filter into a beautiful flower. All you need are the filters and food coloring and a cup.

Get the instructions here:

http://www.marthastewart.com/893166/flower-bowl?czone=holiday%2Feaster-center%2Feaster-crafts-and-decor

Refrigerator Rock Magnets

Modern mom shows you how to take outdoor pebbles and turn them into great alphabet magnets for the fridge.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.modernmom.com/article/let-s-craft-rockin-fridge-magnets

Swedish Paper Dolls

Lotta bruhn celebrated the royal wedding of Victoria and David by creating their very own paper dolls.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the temple here:
http://lottabruhn.typepad.com/lotta_bruhn_illustration/2010/06/paper_dolls.html

How to Make a Harmonica

Mess for less has a super simple homemade harmonica using a popsicle stick, rubber bands and construction paper.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.messforless.net/2012/02/making-music-homemade-harmonica.html

Housing a forest has a similar tutorial but uses just the sticks and rubber bands.  She uses colored sticks but markers would be fun too.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.housingaforest.com/popsicle-stick-harmonica/

How to Make Water Color Paint

Martha Stewart shares how you can make your own rainbow of watercolors. She even has a fantastic storage suggestion to use egg cartons.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/265249/how-to-make-watercolor-paint

DIY Colorful Slime

Teach preschool has a very simple recipe for making what she calls rainbow slime using only Elmer's glue, liquid starch and food coloring.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.teachpreschool.org/2012/03/rainbow-slime-in-preschool/

Candy Acid Experiment

Candyexperiments.com shows how to test the acidity of any fruit flavored or sour candy using just warm water and baking soda. They even have videos for lemon heads, nerds, piie sticks and war heads.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.candyexperiments.com/2009/09/acid-test.html

How to Make a Star Wars Pinata

Starwars.com has a tutorial on how to make a Death Star pinata. It looks a lot more difficult to make than it actually is. The trick is to use masking tape to control for the solid lines.

Good for ages 11 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.starwars.com/play/online-activities/cooking/deathstarpinata/

Paper Leaf Print Bouquet

No time for flash cards shows how to make a leaf bouquet by rubbing crayons onto leafs covered with regular copy paper, which in turn transfers their seams onto the paper. They even have an idea for a vase - a paper towel roll.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2010/10/leaf-rubbing-tree.html

Music Shakers

Art is basic provides instructions for how to make a rattle using a paper plate, beans, paper mache, paper, feathers, paint and other materials to decorate.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://vividlayers.blogspot.com/2011/12/paper-mache-rattles-kindergarten.html

Grow Your Own Gummy Bears

Did you know gummy bears grow if you place them in water? A survival guide to middle school knows all about the science behind the water and gummy bear chemical reaction and has activity sheets and videos.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://asurvivalguidetomiddleschool.blogspot.com/2011/10/yummy-gummy-bears.html

Decomposing Apple Science Experiment

Science sparks has a fun way for kids to learn about the decay process. Using apples, vinegar, lemon juice and salt water kids can compare how certain chemicals can affect food and speed up and slow down the process.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.science-sparks.com/2012/03/05/rotting-apples/

Plastic Milk Container Bird Feeder

The National Wildlife Federation has a great way to upcycle a plastic milk jug, glue, leaves, twigs and stones. Not sure how well this would work as a kids craft since their version looks fantastic but it would be fun to try.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.nwf.org/Kids/Ranger-Rick/Activities/Crafts/Birds/Milk-Jug-Bird-Feeder.aspx

Turn Kleenex box into a Ukulele

A cleverer version of myself shows how turn a kleenex box into a ukulele. Unfortunate the blog is closed to the public but you could contact the author Renee Laprise to see if she'll give you access http://www.blogger.com/profile/07549443356264490601

Good for ages 6 and up.

Free Origami Animal Templates

First palette has free printable folding templates to make a complete animal zoo. They even have a template for a zoo habitat where the animals can coexist.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the templates here:
http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Animals/Folding_Instructions/Folding_Instructions.html

Plastic Pull Tab Rings

Mama to 3 blessings has a very cleaver way to turn the plastic pull tabs you find on milk and juice cartons and turn them into rings using glue, glitter, and stickers.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://mamato3blessings.blogspot.com/2011/08/dyi-carton-pull-rings-cute-fun-thrifty.html

Make your own magnetic frame

Artful adventures has a tutorial for how to make a picture frame to stick to the refrigerator using corrugated cardboard and paint. They can be decorated with stickers as well.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.artful-adventures.co.uk/2009/11/18/create-your-own-fridge-frames/

Rainbow Screen Prints

The chocolate muffin tree has a creative idea of how to make rainbow prints using styrofoam blocks and tempura paints. Kids will have fun punching out their picture into the styrofoam.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.thechocolatemuffintree.com/2012/02/styrofoam-rainbow-prints.html

Butterfly Craft Roundup

Activity village shows how kids can make a beaded butterfly using just beads and craft wire.

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/beaded_butterfly_craft.htm

All kids networks has a great example of ink blotting using a butterfly cutout. Kids will love to paint the one side and see how the wings become symmetrical. Their post includes a butterfly template printout so all you need to do is cut out the paper.

http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/bugs/folding-paper-butterfly.asp

Piggy giggles has a really simple paper napkin butterfly project. All the kids need to do is color the napkin with markers, spray with water and tie up with a pipe cleaner.

http://www.piggygiggles.com/crafts-for-kids/decor-crafts/paper-napkin-butterfly-craft-easy-activity-young-kids.html

Busy bee kids crafts has a similar project to the paper napkin using a plastic zip lock bag. Kids fill the bags up with crumpled pieces of construction paper, tissue paper would work well too and tie them up with a pipe cleaner.


http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Butterfly-Baggie.html


No time for flash cards creates a butterfly sun catcher which uses construction paper, contact paper, ribbons and crayons.

http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2012/02/toddler-butterfly-craft.html

Make your own beanbags

Disney's family fun has a nifty way for making bean bag balls using 2 balloons and lentils. They're too cute.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/beanbag-balls-670529/

Lifesaver Flower Lollipops

Busy bee kids crafts has a cute idea for how to make flower lollipops out of lifesavers, using one lifesaver in the middle and six surrounding lifesavers and a lollipop stick. Bake the candy to have it fuse together into a flower.

Good for kids ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Flower-Lollipop.html

Gas Filling Balloon Science Experiment

All for the boys has a nifty science experiment featuring an empty water bottle, white vinegar, baking soda and a balloon.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.allfortheboys.com/home/2011/8/4/science-fun.html

DIY Glowing Lantern

Preschool rock has a terrific idea for how to make a lantern out of popsicle sticks, wax paper and craft stickers.

How To Make It

Step One:
Tear off a piece of wax paper about 2 feet long and lay it out on a flat surface. Starting at one end, glue four craft sticks in the shape of a square.

Step Two:
Repeat that box shape three more times, end to end. Let it all dry.

Step Three:
Trim excess wax paper leaving an inch along the end for gluing. Fold the box into shape and glue closed. Next, place it over an electric candle and watch it glow.

Variation

You can decorate the wax paper with crayons or glue on embellishments if you want.
Good for ages 4 and up.

Free Printable Lacing Cards

Minico has a template to print out several different colorful lacing cards including a flower, sun and lion. They recommend printing on colored paper for the best effect.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.minieco.co.uk/printable-sewing-cards/

How to Make an Origami Cube

Between the lines has a video tutorial for how to make an origami paper cube. Kids can put surprises inside the boxes for fun.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Grow a Crystalized Egg

Gratz industries has a unique science experiment involving a hallowed out egg, sugar, table salt, powder sugar, and baking soda. Kids can see how the different crystals grow on the eggs.

Good for ages 7 and up

Get the instructions here:
http://gratzindustries.blogspot.com/2010/04/growing-crystals-in-eggs-baking-soda-is.html

How to Make a Friendship Necklace

How to make jewelry shows how to make a friendship necklace using colorful embroidery thread and cotton twine.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com/friendship-necklace.html

Colored Paper Mobiles

Bump smitten has a fun mobile craft using colored paper and string. She sews the string together but tying the pieces together is a good alternative to do this project with kids.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.bumpsmitten.com/2010/11/diy-shower-colorful-mobiles.html

Super mom moments has a rainbow themed version with a pot of gold at the end.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.supermommoments.com/2011/03/leprechaun-rainbow-mobile/

How to Make a Button Ring

Amy is the party has a cute way to take vintage buttons and make the into crafty rings. She uses ring bases, glue and buttons.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.amyistheparty.com/2008/08/handmade-for-holidays-easy-button-ring.html

 

Apparently showcases the same project using adhesive tape instead of glue.  

Get the instructions here:

http://www.apparently.org/blogger/2011/03/button-button.html

Origami Star Lantern

Passengers on a little space ship has a paper folding craft tutorial making a star lantern. The star could be used as a bowl too to hold trinkets or other items.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://passengersonalittlespaceship.blogspot.com/2011/04/paper-star-lantern-tutorial.html

Dultang has a more complex version that requires cutting out shapes to let the light through the paper.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.duitang.com/people/mblog/10442978/detail/

Yarn Bangle Bracelet

Meijos joy has a unique idea for turning an aquarium pvc tube, colorful yarn and some oil into a bracelet. To connect the ends together you need to heat one end.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://meijosjoy.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-much-will-you-pay-for-this-bangle.html

August Free Kids Craft Events

August 19

At Michael's kids age 3 and up can make a lap desk from 1-3 pm.

August 25

Lowe's has a build a shrek onion carriage at 10 am.

August 26

At Michael's kids age 3 and up can make a clay pot from 1-3 pm.

Lowe's has a build a shrek onion carriage at 2 pm.