Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars

 

How stuff works turns two toilet paper rolls into binoculars by painting them black, taping with yellow tape, gluing together with wooden beads and tying on a string. 

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/paper-binoculars.htm

Mom to two posh lil divas has a similar tutorial, except she painting the toilet paper rolls a more vibrant color and wraps them in pretty paper.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.momto2poshlildivas.com/2012/06/summer-fun-tp-roll-binoculars-nature.html

Our big earth has a version as well using rubber bands to secure the binoculars.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.ourbigearth.com/2009/04/21/earth-day-crafts-binoculars-mini-journals/ 

Tutu tea parties makes a bare bones version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.tutusteaparties.com/2011/12/diy-childrens-binoculars-using-tp-rolls.html

Pink stripey socks makes them look like sharks by painting them blue and giving them fins, teeth and eyes.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.pinkstripeysocks.com/2015/02/toilet-roll-shark-binoculars-kids-craft.html

Crafts by amanda makes hers camouflage.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftsbyamanda.com/cardboard-tube-binoculars/

Paper Dolls for Boys Printable

Lolwall shares a free printable for boys letting them dress up a Super Mario Brother, Luke Skywalker or Marty McFly from Back to the Future.

Get the template here:
http://www.lolwall.co/lol/250008

Yellow mum shares a paper boy lacing doll featuring a superhero, cowboy, pirate and knight. 

Get the template here:
http://yellowmums.blogspot.com/2011/02/freebie-friday-lace-up-boy.html

 Made by joel shares a cowboy and horse.

Get the template here:

http://madebyjoel.com/2010/02/little-paper-cowboy.html

Tin Foil Sculptures

The imagination tree turns tin foil into long figured sculptures. 

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2013/01/giacometti-inspired-figure-sculptures.html

Kids River Boat Craft

Minico shares a tutorial for how to make a boat using twigs, embroidery floss and origami paper. 

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.minieco.co.uk/handmade-boats/

Colorful Scented Glue Paintings

Momma's fun world adds kool aid to glue to give it color and a much better scent.  She then lets the kids use the glue as paint and squish the bottles to make fun line paintings.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://mommasfunworld.blogspot.com/2012/08/make-your-own-colored-glue-with-kool-aid.html

Photo Coloring Page Converter

Dumpr.net has a great tool that will convert any photo into a coloring page.  Simply upload the photo and the tool will convert it.  You can also use photos that are already online. 

Get the tool here:
http://www.dumpr.net/sketch.php

More Free Paper Doll Printables

Wee wonderfuls shares a free paper doll template of their dolls including several outfits.

Get the template here:
http://www.weewonderfuls.com/paperdolls.html

Plastic Egg Snake

We made that has a cute way to repurpose any leftover plastic Easter eggs gluing them together to make a chain.  She decorates them with a tongue and eyes.  Stickers can be used for eyes as well.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://wemadethat.blogspot.com/2012/04/recycled-egg-snake.html

Alice in Wonderland Finger Puppets

Wild olive is offering a free template featuring Alice in wonderland, the white rabbit, the cheshire cat, and the mad hatter. 

Get the template here:
http://wildolive.blogspot.com/2011/05/story-of-alice-puppets-and-next-month.html

Drip Sand Bowls

Leetal rivlin has a great craft that begins with a day at the beach.  Mixing sand and glue have kids drip the sand over a bowl to create a beautiful sand bowl. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.designboom.com/design/sand-bowls-by-leetal-rivlin/

Hair Band Pops

Do it yourself gifts has a cute idea for a girl's gift or party favor.  Starting with a styrofoam ball poke a lollipop stick into the bottom and wrap the hairbands around.  Cover with cellophane and tie with a ribbon to get a hair band lollipop.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.do-it-yourself-gifts.com/unique-birthday-party-favor.html

Pink stripey socks makes a flat version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.pinkstripeysocks.com/2014/01/diy-hair-tie-lollipop.html

Washi Tape Clothes Pins

Papermash shows a really cute idea for how to use their washi tape.  Simply cut and stick onto some clothes pins to get a fun way to clip bags or other items.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.papermash.co.uk/collections/new/products/spotted-striped-single-washi-tapes

Alphabet Animal Crafts

Totally tots shows how to make a cute animal craft for every letter of the alphabet. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://totallytots.homestead.com/NowIKnowMyABCs.html

Printable Doll Lacing Cards

Handmade charlotte shares a free lacing card template of four dolls letting kids sew their hair styles.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.handmadecharlotte.com/diy-printable-sewing-cards-2/

Yellow mums shares a lacing doll with various outfits.

Get the printable here:
http://yellowmums.blogspot.com/2010/07/ff-lace-up-dolls.html

Cardboard Box Shadow Puppet Theater

Inner child fun turns a simple card board box into a shadow puppet theater using white tissue paper and tape.  She even shares her simple method for creating the puppets -- foam cut outs and popsicle sticks.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://innerchildfun.com/2012/07/how-to-build-a-simple-shadow-puppet-theater-2.html

Jamie lanley uses a cardboard cereal box.

Get the instructions here:
http://jimmielanley.hubpages.com/hub/shadow-puppet-theater

Minieco uses a cereal box too.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.minieco.co.uk/cereal-box-shadow-theater/

DIY Colorful Dreamcatcher

The magic onions shares a colorful dream catcher using a shower curtain hoop, embroidery thread, feathers and beads.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructins here:
http://www.themagiconions.com/2012/11/make-a-dreamcatcher.html

Land of nod adds fun yarn tassels to their version.

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.landofnod.com/honest-to-nod/2014/06/diy-dream-catchers.html

Salt and Ice Science Experiment

Putti prapanca has a fun science experiment showing the effect of salt on ice. She uses 2 chunks of ice, food coloring for fun and regular salt. You could also try different kinds of salt to see if any work differently as well.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.puttiprapancha.com/2012/02/ice-and-salt-art.html

Anna reyner has a fun science project for a hot summer day.  Kids take frozen chunks of ice and sprinkle on large chunks of salt which melts the ice creating what she calls ice tunnels.  She then suggests adding food coloring to the holes and watching the color flow through the ice as the tunnels are formed.

Get the instructions here:
http://annareyner.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/ice-tunnels-bring-on-the-summer-fun/

Creative jewish mom makes a really large chuck on ice.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.creativejewishmom.com/2011/08/science-experiment-for-kids-ice-and-kosher-salt-sculptures.html

Origami Stars

Pysselbolaget has a very detailed tutorial for how to create origami stars.  The instructions are in Swedish but she includes step-by-step photos for explanations.

Good for ages 12 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://pysselbolaget.se/2012/11/23/julstjarnor-i-origamiorigami-paper-stars/ 

Hello wonderful uses white paper and paints the stars once they're folded.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/painted-origami-star-ornaments

Straw Mobile

Aunt peaches turns regular drinking straws into a cool mobile.  All you need are the straws and some wire.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.auntpeaches.com/2012/08/decahedron-himmeli-mobile.html

Oh so pretty uses colorful straws for her version making one big mobile.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.ohsoprettythediaries.com/2013/10/the-diy-geometric-straw-mobile.html 

PBS strings together colorful straws and beads.  They add paper shapes of circles, triangles and squares to the end of each straw to make them look like arrows.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/simple-mobile/

Flower Imprint Paper Weight

Home design pins shares a pretty way to turn a simple clay block into a pretty flower magnet.  Simply place the flower or leaf onto the clay, roll with a rolling pin to make the imprint, bake to harden and paint.  They suggest adding a magnet but they also make pretty paper weights.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://homedesignspins.com/2012/12/21/pick-a-flower-or-plant-and-lay-on-top-of-a-small-piece-of-clay-and-use-a-rolling-pin-to-make-an-imprint-in-the-clay-let-it-harden-paint-add-a-magnet-to-the-back/

Origami Pokemon

The meta picture shares a tutorial for how to fold an origami Pikachu perfect for Pokemon lovers.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://themetapicture.com/origami-pikachu/

Origami Butterflies

Go origami has a beautiful origami tutorial for how to fold a delicate butterfly. 

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://goorigami.com/single-sheet-origami/origami-butterfly/3006

Emma owl uses paint splattered textured paper.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.emmaowl.com/origami-butterflies/

Paper Marche Moon Nightlite

Reading confetti posted a review of a craft kit that could be done very easily without the kit.  Simply paper marche a balloon and when it's dry pop out the balloon and insert an electronic tea light. 

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.readingconfetti.com/2012/12/diy-moon-nightlight-great-holiday-gift.html

Marshmallow Popper

Real simple gets creative with a paper cup and a balloon to create a marshmallow popper.  Simply cut the bottom of the cup out, cover with the bottom of a popped balloon and there you have it.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/family/kids-parenting/toys-you-can-make-00000000039117/page4.html

We made that uses clear plastic cups so kids can see the marshmallows.

Get the instructions here:
http://we-made-that.com/marshmallow-shooters/

Toilet Paper Tube Cars

Kifli es levendula shows how to take a toilet paper tube, paint it and glue on some wheels and cute embellishments to make a toy car. Although the site is not in English it has lots of detailed photos. 

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://kiflieslevendula.blogspot.com/2011/07/kisautok.html

Mama jenn has a simpler model using bottle caps for wheels and straws to attach them to the tube.

Get the instructions here:
http://mamajenn.com/blog/2009/11/rollin-race-cars-tp-tube-style.html

Nerdy baby adds sails to their version and uses foam wheels with their toilet paper roll cars.

Get the instructions here:
http://nerdybaby.blogspot.com/2012/01/sail-cars-preschool-preview.html

Just be happy life adds cute little star stickers to their wheels.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.justbehappylife.com/2012/07/toilet-paper-tube-cars.html

Milenok makes a colorful version with large wheels.

Get the instructions here:
http://milenok.blogspot.com/2013/02/23.html 

Tpcraft uses plastic bottle caps and straws.

Get the instructions here:
http://tpcraft.blogspot.ca/2011/02/toilet-paper-roll-race-car.html

Animal Finger Puppets

Magic belles shares a template for two cute finger puppets of a squirrel and bunny.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://magicbelles.tumblr.com/post/35559816033/make-a-bellevue-pet-finger-puppet-download-the

Make a rocketship from a toilet paper roll

No time for flash cards shares how to turn a toilet paper roll into a rocketship using aluminum foil and tissue paper.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2008/05/1-2-3-blast-off.html

One artsy mama adds a Mickey Mouse and stuffs a fun dice game with instructions inside making it a fun party favor.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.oneartsymama.com/2015/01/disney-rocket-party-favors.html

Currency Critters

Spoonful has a really cute way of getting kids to count coins making bugs out of them.  All you ed to do is draw some legs and feet.  See how long your critters can get.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://spoonful.com/family-fun/coin-critters