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.

The site is no longer available.

Naturally educational uses a bowl and curling ribbon.

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

Craft project ideas uses a coffee filter, pipe cleaners and ribbons for their version.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftprojectideas.com/index.php/how-to/material-of-the-month/coffee-filters-july-2014/1968-recycled-jellyfish 

Kix uses a plastic cup and googly eyes for their version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.kixcereal.com/kix-cereal-plastic-medicine-cup-jellyfish/ 

Carolyn's homework uses crepe paper and a coffee filter for a soft, textured look.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.carolynshomework.com/2012/09/little-crafts-crepe-paper-jellyfish.html 

Crafts by amanda uses a styrofoam ball and pipe cleaners.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftsbyamanda.com/2012/08/rainbow-jellyfish-craft.html 

She also has an egg carton version.

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

Everything etsy uses colorful felt for the petals on her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.everythingetsy.com/2010/05/button-flower-bouquet-tutorial/

Panda hall adds ribbons.

Get the instructions here:
http://lc.pandahall.com/articles/2375-how-to-diy-colorful-flower-button-bouquet-quickly.html

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

Make It:



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

Buy It:

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/

How sweet it is makes larger blocks.

Get the instructions here:
http://howsweeteritis.blogspot.com/2011/07/rainbow-ice-tutorial.html

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/

Growing a jeweled rose uses florescent paint and paints at night.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/06/paint-and-play-pendulum-painting.html

Ice Cube Paint

Ideas to keep cool and creative this summer by painting with frozen colored ice.  Ideas include fun shapes, glitter and more.

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

Growing a jeweled rose uses shaving cream to make her frozen paint and adds sparkly blue glitter to make it even more special.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2014/05/frozen-paint-recipe.html 

Buzzmills combines them all in one big bin so kids can see the colors combine and change.

Get the instructions here:
http://buzzmills.typepad.com/blog/2013/08/ice-cube-painting.html 

 123 home school 4 me makes fun shapes of hearts, flowers and stars.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.123homeschool4me.com/2013/05/100-days-of-play-frozen-paint-sensory.html

Two daloo lets her ice just melt on the paper, placing the ice cubes far apart and letting the colors collide as they meet and melt.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.two-daloo.com/big-process-art-rainbow-ice-paint/

Share and remember paints fabric with colored ice and lets it melt into a tye die cloth.

Get the instructions here:
http://shareandremember.blogspot.com/2011/06/ice-cube-painting-rainbows.html 

Hello wonderful freezes tempura paint into popsicle molds.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/make-freezer-paint-popsicles

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

Little hip squeaks hangs them as ornaments.

Get the instructions here:
http://littlehipsqueaks.com/blogs/blog/14855733-weaving-with-toddlers

Make your own rainstick

Make It:

Kids will love making these relaxing and fun sounding musical instruments.  



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

Happy hooligans uses aluminum foil and foam stickers to make her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://happyhooligans.ca/2013/06/05/rain-sticks/

In lieu of preschool has a super simpler version for younger kids using an empty plastic bottle, tooth picks and skewers and any kind of tiny uncooked grain such as quinoa.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.inlieuofpreschool.com/diy-sensory-bottles-rain-stick/

Kix uses a paper towel roll, aluminum foil and popcorn seeds for their version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.kixcereal.com/kix-cereal-recycled-craft-make-a-rainstick/

Pretty little things makes a pastel one.

Get the instructions here:
http://prettylittlethings.typepad.com/lori_marie/2010/11/rain-maker.html

Buy It:

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

Babble dabble do does her painting on paper.

Get the instructions here:
http://babbledabbledo.com/science-art-for-kids-marbled-milk-paper/ 

We made that has a tutorial as well.

Get the instructions here:
http://we-made-that.com/milk-soap-experiment/

Say yes uses almond milk.

Get the instructions here:
http://sayyes.com/2014/09/after-school-kids-crafts-how-to-make-milk-art.html

Bird and little bird examines surface tension.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.birdandlittlebird.com/blog/2012/02/kitchen-table-science-food-coloring-surface-tension.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

Gardenista uses clay powder and compost.  

Get the instructions here:

http://www.gardenista.com/posts/diy-wildflower-seed-bombs

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

M&J ties her ribbons into bows.

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.mjtrim.com/2014/05/20/paper-clip-bookmarks/

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.