Pool Noodle Flowers

No time for flash cards takes wavy pool noodles and chops them up to make foam flowers.  She then adds green pipe cleaners and paper leaves. 

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2010/05/mothers-day-craft.html

Tissue Paper Hyacinths

Aunt peaches turns colorful tissue paper and green straws into hyacinths for a pretty everlasting bouquet.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.auntpeaches.com/2012/03/friday-flower-paper-hyacinth.html 

Pressed Flower Coasters

Martha Stewart turns clear glass tiles into coasters by slipping in a few flattened flowers in the middle.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/271326/pressed-pansy-coasters?center=307033&gallery=275133&slide=271326

Homemade simple has a very similar tutorial.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.homemadesimple.com/en-US/Crafts/pages/pressed-flower-possibilities.aspx

Kendra has some more unique ideas for coasters making fuller flower patterns. 

Get the instructions here:
http://home.kendra.com/victorianrituals/Victor/flowercrafts.htm

Painted Bobby Pins

Henry happened takes ordinary bobby pins and paints them fun colors.  She the adds embelishments such as glitter, thread and sparkly stones.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.henryhappened.com/diy-bobby-pins-neon-glitter-sparkle.html

Everyday dishes adds jewel stickers.

Get the instructions here:
http://everydaydishes.com/creative-crafts/decorated-bobby-pins/

Cut Paper Leaf Mosaic

Suzy sitcom takes colorful magazine pages and places a cut out leaf print on top for a very distinct and artful effect against the black paper.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://suzyssitcom.com/2012/06/feature-friday-cut-paper-art.html

Cardboard Play Castle

Mer mag shares a great template for making a cardboard play castle using interlocking pieces so it stands up on its own.  She suggests using duct tape to decorate the castle.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://mermag.blogspot.com/2012/05/interlocking-cardboard-castle-diy.html

Little lady bird uses popsicle sticks and ribbed cardboard for her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.littleladybird.com.au/2012/10/how-to-make-castle-out-of-nappy-box.html

Twitchetts makes a pretty pink one.

Get the instructions here:
http://twitchetts.com/2015/07/cardboard-play-castle-tutorial.html/

Thumb Wrestling Ring

Instructables takes thumb wrestling to a whole new level with this makeshift thumb wrestling ring, using cardboard, wooden skewers, string and paint.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Thumb-Wrestling-Ring/

How to make a purse out of a plastic glove

Handmade charolotte has the cutest, yet wackiest idea.  She turns a plastic dish glove into an adorable elephant purse.  It does seem though that if the project goes wrong it would really go wrong and require a lot of explaining of what it is supposed to be.

Good for ages 12 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.handmadecharlotte.com/diy-dish-glove-elephant-bag/

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 

Paper Alphabet Toys

Digit prop shares 26 different printable templates to make an alphabet character for every letter.  Characters range from people to animals to even fruit representations.

Good for age 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://digitprop.com/alphabet/

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

How to Make a Ring out of Duct Tape

Craft snob turns duct tape into a simple braided ring by literally braiding three pieces of duct tape together.  You could also make a matching bracelet.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftsnob.com/2011/04/duct-tape-ring/

 

Cut out and keep makes a cute bow ring in three easy steps.   

Get the instructions here:

http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/how-to-make-a-duct-tape-ring

 

 

Living locurto uses fabric to make a flower on top.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.livinglocurto.com/2011/08/diy-rings-cardboard-craft/

Upcycled Rain Gauge

My lds projects turns a plastic bottle into a rain gauge using small pebbles.  She even includes observation templates. 

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://myldsprojects.blogspot.com/2011/05/bear-cub-scout-elective-2c-rain-gauge.html

Origami Kaleidoscope

Minieco turns multi-textured Japanese folding paper into a kaleidoscope type toy. 

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.minieco.co.uk/kaleidocycle-aka-folding-paper-toy/

Egg Carton Roses

Manuals anigo shows how to turn an egg carton into a rose using each section as a new petal.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://manualscanigo.blogspot.com/2009/04/les-roses-de-sant-jordi.html

Super Hero Ice Rescue Game

Green jello has a fun idea as part of her Batman birthday party.  She freezes superhero figures in large blocks of ice and gives each kid a water gun to set them free.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://greenjello.typepad.com/green_jello/2009/07/batman-birthday-party.html

Cardboard Play Houses

A beautiful mess turns large cardboard boxes into playhouses for the kids.  The big difference is the wrapping paper and paint she uses to decorate the homes.  She even adds shingles for the roofs.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2013/01/diy-playhouses.html

Kids activity blog uses pieces of cardboard and ties them together.

Get the instructions here:
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/64384/cardboard-playhouse

Tiny rotten peanuts makes mini cardboard houses painted in the primary colors.

Get the instructions here:
http://tinyrottenpeanuts.com/mini-houses-recycled-cardboard-art-project-for-kids/