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 the sewing cards 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/

Mr. printables shares many with basic shapes such as circles, diamonds and squares.

Get the template here:
http://www.mrprintables.com/easy-sewing-patterns.html 

Whatever deedee wants shares a car lacing card.

Get the template here:
http://www.whateverdeedeewants.com/2014/01/diy-kids-sewing-card.html

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

Yellow giraffe uses elastic for her version.

Get the instructions here:

http://www.yellowgiraffe.in/blog/diy-button-rings-with-your-kid

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

It happens in a blink wraps the yarn on the outside and adds on little flower and star buttons.

Get the instructions here:
http://ithappensinablink.com/2012/12/creating-friendship-bangles-kid-craft-with-craftprojectideas-com.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. 

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.


Craft supplies:

• Paint
• Toilet paper rolls
• Popsicle sticks
• Glue
• Felt

Craft instructions:

Have the children paint 4 toilet paper rolls, 4 different colors (inside and out).

Also, have the children paint the Popsicle sticks.

Let dry.

Once dry, cut each toilet paper roll in 4 parts.

Have the children take 4 different color flower petals and glue them together.

Then, have the children insert a Popsicle stick and paste it to the bottom flower petals.

Lastly, have the children cut out 2 round circle from felt and glue them to the front and back of the flower.

Kiboomu no longer hosts this project.  

Paper Snake Craft

Paper snake kids craft ideas from finger puppets to coiled tubes.

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

Paper crafts for children has a similar craft but folds it into a paper snake puppet.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.papercraftsforchildren.com/2013/08/10/simple-folded-paper-puppet/

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 we said had a nifty way to turn an empty toilet paper roll into a kazoo. All you need is some waxed paper and a rubber band. Cut out a circle from wax paper, about 4″ in diameter and cover the top of the tube, securing it with a rubber band. You'll probably want some stickers or paint or crayons too to decorate the brown cardboard.  The site is no longer available.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Duck duck octopus had pretty much the same kazoo but with a different styling using a bow instead of a rubber band. The site is no longer available.

Craft club uses popsicle sticks for her version.

Get the instructions here:

http://craftclub.com/craft/craft-stick-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

Art by wiley creates a more winter themed version using pearled buttons and a drawn on branch.  She also creates several full button trees.

Get the instructions here:

http://artbywiley.blogspot.com/2012/03/button-tree-story.html

 

 

 

Craft by Amanda uses lots of colors.

 

Get the instructions here:

http://craftsbyamanda.com/vibrant-button-tree-on-canvas-a-giveaway/

 

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