Plastic Egg Insects

Plastic eggs and pipe cleaners are turned into bugs with free kids crafts.  Free kids crafts share the details.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.freekidscrafts.com/recycled-plastic-egg-bugs/

The experimental home makes bumble bees as part of a wreath.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.theexperimentalhome.com/bee-spring-wreath/

Fairy Portals

Little ones will be delighted to know that fairies are living in the trunk of a nearby.  Corner by corner shares the details for how to make a door to welcome visiting fairies.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://cornerbycorner.co.uk/2014/04/02/tutorial-make-a-fairy-door/ 

Tikkido makes a hobbit door.  She has a very clever idea of including a message behind the door for little hands to find and little eyes to read.  

Get the instructions here:
http://tikkido.com/node/829

Emma owl uses glitter and stickers and paint.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.emmaowl.com/fairy-house-and-garden-imaginative-play/

Wood Block Stacking Dolls

Wood blocks turn into a great device for making stacking dolls with cheryl style's brilliant free printable.  She includes a diverse array of boys and girls for kids to mix and match. 

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.cherylstyle.com/showcase/diy-wooden-block-dolls/

Plastic Egg Nesting Dolls

Colorful plastic eggs are the perfect shape for making Russian nesting dolls. Chica circle even shows step by step how to draw the girls face and bodies. 

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://club.chicacircle.com/plastic-egg-russian-nesting-dolls-craft-idea/

Mancala Game of Oware

An egg carton makes the perfect vessel for a homemade mancala game oware.  Marie pastiche shares not just the craft but detailed instructions for how to play the game.  She suggests using beans for the pieces.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://mariespastiche.blogspot.ca/2014/03/west-african-game-how-to-make-and-play.html

Three Dimensional Paper Whale

A blue piece of paper turns in a nifty whale toy with krotak's easy to follow step-by-step tutorial.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://krokotak.com/2013/03/blue-whale-paper-toy/

Lacing Card Monsters

Monsters make an appearance in the lacing card world with a free printable from so here's my life.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the template here:
http://www.soheresmylife.com/2014/04/printable-monster-lacing-cards.html

Plastic Egg Fish Wind Chimes

Plastic eggs turn into a fish shaped wind chime with morenas corner.  To make the tail she covers a cut up plastic bottle with matching color clay.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.morenascorner.com/2014/04/kids-craft-make-wind-chime-out-of.html

Flower Crowns

A great use for dandelions and great fun for kids is to make crowns with pink stripey socks.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.pinkstripeysocks.com/2014/04/diy-dandelion-crown.html

Momtastic uses lots of different types of flowers as well as colorful ribbons and leaves.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.momtastic.com/diy/168071-diy-summer-flower-crown/

Paper Plate Butterfly

A colored paper plate, pompoms and a pipe cleaner make a cute butterfly craft for kids.  How stuff works shares the details.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/crafts/animal-crafts/butterfly-crafts9.htm

 About family crafts uses a toilet paper roll for her butterfly body.

Get the instructions here:
http://aboutfamilycrafts.com/paper-plate-toilet-paper-roll-butterfly/

Cool Ocean Sensory Box

The imagination tree has a fantastic sensory bin for summer featuring frozen colored blue rice, blue water beads and plastic fish.

Good for ages 1 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://theimaginationtree.com/2013/07/ocean-sensory-tray-with-frozen-rice.html

Learning 4 kids uses ice in her version so it really is cool.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.learning4kids.net/2012/10/14/sensory-play-for-toddlers-kids-ice-world/

Water beads and fish tank gravel make the basis for this bin from brooks childcare.  She then adds squishy ocean themed bath toys including a stingray, turtle, octopus, starfish and blowfish and some plastic coral. 

This site is no longer available.

Blow Paint Creatures

Small puddles of paint take on a new form when kids expand them by blowing at them through a straw.  After the paint dries they can add eyes, a mouth or whatever other accessories and embellishments they wish.  Raising sparks shares all of the details.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://raisingsparks.com/craft-activities/blow-painting/

Duct Tape Flowers

Duct tape transforms into beautiful, timeless flowers with craft foxes ten-step tutorial.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.craftfoxes.com/how_tos/duck-tape-calla-lily

American Indian Stick Game

This is a really easy game with a creative and cultural component.  Cindy derosier shares the instructions and how kids can make the game their own by finding nice smooth pebbles and decorating the sticks.  Two easy components from nature to create a fun game.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.cindyderosier.com/2014/06/native-american-stick-game.html

Memorable Stepping Stones

Make handmade stepping stones even more special by adding objects the kids are currently interested in.  Hello wonderful adds small plastic trinkets such as dinosaurs to her version to give kids a time capsule for the garden.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/DIY-STEPPING-STONES

Map Necklace Pendant

A state map is transformed into state pendants with cheryl style.  She even includes a great and free template for perfect state cut outs.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.cherylstyle.com/showcase/how-to-make-a-map-necklace-diy-craft/

Felt Button Coasters

Buttons and glue turn a square piece of felt into a great and colorful coaster with buttons galore.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://buttonsgaloreandmore.net/felt-button-coaster-fun-aleenes-adhesives/

Flower Paints

Flowers, leaves and grass make natural finger paints for kids from the toddler set on up.  Give kids a white canvas (paper) and colorful leafy objects.  Then have them rub them on the white paper and see how the colors appear.  This is also a good activity for fine motor skills. Mini monets and mommies shares all of the details and more after photos. 

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://minimonetsandmommies.blogspot.com/2014/05/kids-nature-art-activity-painting-with.html

Plastic Bottle Watering Can

An empty plastic bottle becomes a watering can simply by poking holes in the lid.  A journey to dream share all of the details.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://ajourneytoadream.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/helpful-yet-simple-diy-for-spring.html

Fishing Sensory Box and Game

Water beads make a great sensory experience.  Simply place these cool beads into water and watch them expand.  Kids will love to feel the difference.  Just make sure to use only with kids who know not to eat them.

Once the novelty of the beads themselves wear out you can create a fun game adding colorful plastic fish hugged by a metal paper clip and float them in the beads.  Then give kids fishing poles made from popsicle sticks, a string and a tied on magnet such as a borrowed letter O from an alphabet set and let the kids go fishing.

Frozen Toy Chest

A super fun way to wrap one or a twenty one new toys -- freeze them in a huge chunk of ice.  Kids will have as much fun getting the toys as playing with them once they get them free.  Counting coconuts shares all of the details.

Good for ages 1 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://countingcoconuts.blogspot.com/2010/07/frozen-fun.html

Hot Air Balloons

A helium filled balloon turns into a hot air balloon with the addition of ribbon and a cute basket.  Kids can place a note in it for when it lands.  Bkids shares all of the details.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://bkids.typepad.com/bookhoucraftprojects/2011/05/project-84-hot-air-balloon.html

Plastic Bottle Water Fall

Plastic bottles are arranged against a fence to make a cascading waterfall with tinkerlab.

Good for ages 12 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://tinkerlab.com/diy-water-wall

Playing by the book uses hoses, canisters, jugs and trays in her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.playingbythebook.net/2010/08/05/waterfall-water-wall/

Rub a dub dub there's a soap boat in the tub

A bar of soap, and a tooth pick held paper sail make these fun boats for summertime fun.  I heart nap time then holds soap boat races filling a rain gutter with water.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:

http://www.iheartnaptime.net/soap-boat/

Plastic Bottle Flowers

Turn a plastic beverage bottle into a flower with crafts by amanda.  To color the petals she glues on fabric.  A plastic straw makes the stem into a plastic cup stand.  She also adds pebbles to act as the dirt.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftsbyamanda.com/2011/07/water-bottle-flowers.html

Crafty morning places her version on colorful paper, drawing on a stem

Get the instructions here:
http://www.craftymorning.com/water-bottle-flower-craft-kids/

Star Jars

Glow sticks are broken and their contents splattered into clear jars to make glittery star jars to light up a summer evening.  Found at we heart it.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://weheartit.com/entry/72909096

Apple pins calls her version fairy jars.

Get the instructions here:
http://applepins.com/how-to-make-fairies-in-a-jar/ 

Growing a jeweled rose uses star glitter to make it look like you've really captured stars.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2015/02/fairy-jars.html

Frog Paper Puppet

A cootie catcher is reconfigured to make a finger puppet frog and pig with sidetracked sarah.  She adds eyes, tongues and noses.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.sidetrackedsarah.com/2012/08/how-to-make-paper-puppets-for-kids/

Plastic Lid Sail Boats

Plastic container lids make the boat for this sailing craft.  Five little chefs then add a popsicle stick post and washi tape sails to make the boats complete.  She then creates a tin foil river for the boats to race down and sail.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.fivelittlechefs.com/2013/04/summer-fun-sailboat.html

The joys of boys uses smaller lids and paper sails connected with coffee story sicks.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.thejoysofboys.com/foil-river/

Milk Jug Garden Tool Container

A gallon milk bottle is cut and painted to be used as a carrier for kids garden tools.  Activiblog kids activites shares all of details.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://activiblogkidsactivities.blogspot.com/2009/05/garden-tool-bucket-craft-activity.html

Butterfly Kite

Tissue paper makes the base for this pretty butterfly kite.  Where is my knickers at shows how to make this and other more traditional kites.

Good for ages 11 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.wheresmyknickers.org/2013/03/crafty-tuesday-kids-kite-with-straws.html

Tin Can Ladybug

A tin can is painted to make a ladybug with scrap reused and recycled art projects.  She adds jewelry wire to make the legs and antenna.  Her face is made from a plastic bottle cap with a cute button nose. 

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/2010/05/tin-cans-in-garden.html

Wreath Bird Bath

A beautiful bird bath is made from a wreath base.  Inside the bath is made from a terracotta draining plate.  Together they are tied up with rope to let the birds come by and bathe.  Find all of the details on sweet southern symphony. 

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://sweetsouthernsymphony.blogspot.com/2011/08/whimsical-home-projects-wreath-bird.html

Handprint Garden Markers

Paper hand cutouts are added to fruit and vegetable cut outs and placed on a Popsicle stick for  personalize garden markers with reading confetti.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.readingconfetti.com/2012/05/handprint-garden-markers-kids-co-op.html

Curling Ribbon Coasters

Chica and jo blend multiple colors of curling ribbon to make unique and colorful coasters.  They add a glue coating to the ribbons once they're all twirled to make them stick and shine and then glue them to a cork coaster to make them more secure and stable.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.chicaandjo.com/2009/04/21/make-coasters-from-curling-ribbon/

Paper Cup Shark

Paper cups are painted blue, while paper fins and teeth are glued on to make a nifty three dimensional shark.  In design art and craft then uses googly eyes, but you could use paper eyes as well.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://indesignartandcraft.com/2012/11/summer-crafts-for-kids/

Plastic Cap Face Magnets

Plastic bottle caps are dressed up with eyes, nose and a mouth from esprit cabane.  She then glues on magnets via cork backings.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://en.espritcabane.com/recycling-crafts/bottlecap-magnets.php

Milk Bottle Flowers

The white plastic from a milk bottle is cut into petals to make a pretty garden flower.  The cap makes the center and a wooden skewer the stem.  Find all of the details at kid things.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://kidthings.net/2014/06/milk-jug-flowers-summer-garden-craft/

Plastic Plate Flowers

Clear plastic plates are painted to make pretty garden flowers.  The stems are made from glued on paint stick stirrers.  Find all of the details at lemon tree dwelling.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.lemontreedwelling.com/2013/07/garden-birthday-party.html

Paper Plate Frog

It's easy to be green with this colored paper plate frog.  Puddle wonderful learning colors a paper plate green, adds in a red mouth paper liner, two paper eyes and to make it interactive a red party blower for a super fun tongue. 

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://puddlewonderfullearning.blogspot.com/2012/11/preschool-activities-letter-of-week-ff.html

No time for flash cards has an all paper version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2011/09/easy-paper-plate-frog-craft.html