Ruffled Flip Flops

Angela yosten shares a fun and functional craft for the summer, embellishing flip flops with strips of fabric.  She also shows how to make a hair bow too and sells these on her etsy site. 

Good for ages 7 and up. 

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.angelayosten.com/2010/07/my-first-pattern.html

Embellished Plastic Boxes

Say yes to hoboken turns ordinary plastic boxes, spray paints the lid and glues on top a pretty handle pull. 

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://sayyestohoboken.com/2013/05/diy-mothers-day-gift-decorated-acrylic-boxes.html

Nail Polish Painted Marble Bowl

Paper n stitch blog uses nail polish and oven bake clay to create cute marbleized bowls.  All of those nail polish colors make really great combinations and it's a great way to use that nail polish you ended up not liking all that much.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://papernstitchblog.com/2013/04/23/make-this-mini-marbled-decorative-bowls-for-mothers-day/

Hello wonderful uses already made plastic bowls.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/diy-kid-made-marble-painted-bowls

Tissue Paper Colored Scarf

Rachel rabbit uses cutout shapes of colorful tissue to make a very pretty scarf. 

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instruction here:
http://rachaelrabbit.blogspot.com/2013/05/easy-silk-scarf-dying-with-tissue-paper.html

Car Track T-Shirt

The blue basket turns a t-shirt into an activity by tracking a car track onto a white t-shirt using fabric markers.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://thebluebasket.blogspot.jp/2011/09/tutorial-car-shirt.html

Beaded Glass Jar

Beccas craftroom blog glues glass marbles onto jars to make pretty colorful containers.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://beccascraftroom.blogspot.jp/2012/08/momdaughter-craft-day.html

Upcycled CD Coasters

Crafts by amanda re-purposes old CDs by decorating with pretty scrapbooking paper to make fun and colorful drink coasters. 

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftsbyamanda.com/2012/10/recycle-craft-cd-coasters.html

Tin Can Planter

We made that paints an empty tin can, adds soil and a strawberry plant to make a great hanging fruit planter.  This is especially great if you have critters eating the strawberries in the ground.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://wemadethat.blogspot.com/2013/04/diy-strawberry-planter.html

The local honey uses scrapbooking paper and glue to accessorize her tin cans.  She also uses cans of different sizes like a tuna can.

Get the instructions here:
http://thelocalhoney.com/2010/06/05/tin-can-planters-modge-podge-fun/

 

 Project hope art makes robots using magnets for a fun interactive version she dubs Mr. Potato Head planters.

Get the instructions here:

http://projecthopeart.org/robot-tin-can-planters/

Nantucket bucket wraps her version in multicolored yarn.  

Get the instructions here:

http://www.nantucket-bucket.com/bucket-of-fun-2/

Leaf Stamp Stationary

Delighted momma pounds leaves onto white paper with a hammer and then lifts the leaves to reveal beautiful leaf silhouettes and pretty stationary.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.delightedmomma.com/2012/08/how-to-leaf-stamp-and-make-your-own.html 

Pom Pom Pens

Sew sara uses fabric scraps to cover pens and add pom pom toppers for a fun and functional gift.

Good for ages 12 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://sewsara.blogspot.com/search?q=fabric+pen

Doodle craft makes what she calls truffula trees in honor of Dr. Suess and The Lorax.

Get the instructions here:
http://doodlecraft.blogspot.com/2012/11/truffula-tree-pens.html

Jedi craft girl uses fabric as well.

Get the instructions here:

http://jedicraftgirl.blogspot.com/2012/05/3rd-grade-mothers-day-craft.html

Pom Pom Scarf

Land of nod shows how to make an Anthropologie inspired pom pom scarf using yarn and cord.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.landofnod.com/honest-to-nod/2013/01/diy-anthropologie-pom-scarf.html

Bottle Cap Magnets

Disney's family fun has a functional craft using bottle caps, colorful pictures and sequins to make magnets.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/crafts-by-material/recyclable-projects/keep-it-under-your-cap-858439/

The country chic makes cute little bugs.  She uses paint and googly eyes and flips the magnets the other way so the top of the bottle cap is the outside.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.thecountrychiccottage.net/2013/05/bug-magnet-kids-craft-with-bottle-caps.html 

Fiskars uses colorful and shiny beads to make their version.  

http://www2.fiskars.com/Kids-Activities-School/Projects/Kids-Crafts/Summer-Camp/Bottle-Cap-Magnets

Mother's Day Plant Marker

Oh hello friend shows how to turn a spoon into a plant market using a drawing to tattoo onto the utensil.  Any drawing can be use but she uses a Mom one to make a unique Mother's day gift.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.ohhellofriendblog.com/2011/04/diy-friday_29.html

Shoe Tying Board

Salsa pie has great idea for how to make a shoe tying practice board using a cardboard box and string.  Kids will share in the creation by tracing their shoes and coloring the practice versions. 

Good for age 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://salsapie.blogspot.com/2012/06/diy-shoe-tie-practice-board-team-style.html

Montessori for learning suggests using a jump rope and tying it around the kids legs so they can see how to tie a shoe in jumbo size.

Get the instructions here:
http://montessoriforlearning.blogspot.com/2010/06/tying-shoelaces.html 

Fabric Magnet Board

Lively lou designs sells fabric magnet boards on Etsy however as pointed out on pinterest you could make these yourself.  Just get a cookie sheet from the dollar store and cover with fabric.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://pinterest.com/pin/224968943856107245/

DIY Night Lights

Think crafts has a functional kid's craft idea turning a cardboard box into a night light or lantern using a small box, cellophane, paint and a small led light.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://thinkcrafts.com/blog/2012/03/14/nightlight-lanterns/

Snow Coated Votive Holders

Polish the stars has a beautiful way to coat a votive holder with epsom salt and make it look like snow.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.polishthestars.com/2010/12/snowball-candles.html

Tissue Paper Vases

Tissue paper makes an ordinary glass bottle a beautiful vase and functional gift even younger kids can make. 

 

Woman's day has a great tutorial on how to make a vase out of tissue paper and glass bottles and jars.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.womansday.com/home/craft-ideas/diy-decor-cheery-spring-vases

Let's explore shows a more kid centric and colorful version.

Get the instructions here:
http://lets-explore.net/blog/2009/09/tissue-paper-vases/ 

Kidboomu kid songs adds a ribbon and foam flower to their version.

Get the instructions here:
http://kiboomukidssongs.com/mothers-day-tissue-paper-collage-vase-craft/ 

Meaningful mama cuts her tissue paper into circles creating a polka dot vase.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.meaningfulmama.com/2013/06/polka-dot-vase-craft.html 

Free kids crafts calls her version a decoupage vase.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.freekidscrafts.com/decoupage-vase-for-valentines-day/

Creative jewish mom cuts out pieces of tissue paper.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.creativejewishmom.com/2011/07/recycled-jars-decoupaged-with-printed-tissue-paper.html

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/

DIY Magazine Coil Coasters

Saved by love creations has a do it yourself coaster project using colorful magazine pages.  All you need are glossy magazines and glue.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://savedbylovecreations.com/2011/09/coiled-magazine-page-round-coasters.html