Giant Paper Flowers

Brown wrapping paper is cut into flowers and given to kids to paint and decorate for a fun springtime craft.  Make it a wonderful life shares the details.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://makeitawonderfullife.blogspot.com/2013/05/painted-packing-paper-flowers.html

Mum bo jumbo folds and cuts the paper to make her flower.

Get the instructions here:
http://mum-bo-jumbo.com/brown-paper-crafts-flowers/

Beaded Flower Bracelet

Crystal beads are wrapped into a circle using jewelry wire and then interspersed with other tiny beaded circles to make this delicate flower bracelet.  Panda hall also adds some heart beads for variety.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://lc.pandahall.com/articles/2266-how-to-make-a-colorful-glass-bead-flower-bracelet-at-home-for-the-coming-spring.html

Another version using tiny beads to make the petals.

Another version using crystal beads.

Contact Paper Flower Decals

Colorful contact paper is cut into flowers and stuck on a wall for an instant transformation.  Babble dabble do says the contact paper won't hurt the wall and the decals will come right off.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the template here:
http://babbledabbledo.com/diy-flower-wall-decals/

Felt Flower Wreath

A foam circle is wrapped in yarn to make the soft base of this spring inspired wreath.  Next, becoming Martha creates felt flowers by circling strips of felt into a spiral.  She then attaches the flowers and has a pretty wreath.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://becomingmartha.com/aqua-striped-spring-wreath-with-felt-flowers/

Cupcake Liner Lily Pads

Paper doilies are painted green and then cut into a lily pad shape by removing a triangle sized piece of the doily with crafty morning.  Next, a cupcake liner or coffee filter is painted yellow in the middle and then cut into a flower shape by cutting triangle petals to make a pretty water lily to rest on the pad. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.craftymorning.com/make-lily-pad-craft-using-cupcake-liner-doily/

Flower Bubble Paintings

Bubble paintings are turned into flowers by adding watercolored painted leaves.  A piece of rainbow starts with bubble painting using dish soap and paint. Next the kids blow the paint onto the paper using a straw that has been dipped into the solution.  After you have the leaves you'll have some pretty hydrangeas. 

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.apieceofrainbow.com/bubble-paint-flower-hydrangeas/

Aluminum Foil Butterflies

Aluminum foil is folded into a butterfly shape and then colored with markers to make it sparkle.  Artzy creations then adds a strand of beads so she can hang it up and have it fly around the house.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://artzycreations.com/tin-foil-butterflies-with-sharpie/

Flower Wands

A ribbon is cut into a petal pattern and twisted and knotted to make a flower shape with 30 minute crafts.  Next she wraps a wooden dowel with a different color ribbon and glues the two together to make a pretty flower fairy wand.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://30minutecrafts.com/2015/02/super-simple-fairy-wand.html

Contact Paper Flowers

Contact paper is cut into a flower shape for a fun springtime craft with dolen diaries.  She then lets the kids stick on pieces of tissue paper and sparkly foil cut outs to decorate its center.  Next the kids add a green pipe cleaner stem for a pretty flower craft.  Finally, another layer of contact player is placed on the back to seal it up.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.dolendiaries.com/2014/03/spring-flowers-kids-craft.html

Flower Headbands

Colorful burlap is cut and sewn into a flower shape and glued onto an elastic band for a cute hair accessory.  Becoming martha shares the details.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://becomingmartha.com/ruffled-burlap-flower-headband/

Owl Jars

Jar lids are painted to look like owls with crafts by amanda.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftsbyamanda.com/owl-craft-using-recycled-jar-lids/

Felt Salad

Large pieces of foam are cut into vegetable shapes to a make a fun pretend salad including lettuce and tomatoes.  Inner child fun also makes onion rings out of purple paper and croutons by cutting up a yellow sponge.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://innerchildfun.com/2011/11/diy-holiday-play-salad.html

Marshmallow Shooters

PVC piping and connectors are put together to make these nifty marshmallow shooters from happiness is homemade.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.happinessishomemade.net/2011/05/26/marshmallow-shooters/

Button Castanets

Large buttons are brought together with elastic thread to make fun and easy castanets.  Making friends also glues foam onto one end to secure them futher.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.makingfriends.com/music/castanets.htm

Plastic Bottle Fish

A green plastic bottle turns into a really simple fish project with the addition of foam fins, tail and of course googly eyes.  Free kids crafts shares the details.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.freekidscrafts.com/recycled-water-bottle-fish/

Meaningful mama squishes her bottle into a fish shape and then paints it with colorful scales adding googly eyes.

Get the instructions here:
http://meaningfulmama.com/2014/08/water-bottle-fish-craft.html

Felt Purse

Quadrilateral pieces of felt are turned into purses with Martha Stewart.  She glues the pieces of felt together and decorates them with pretty scrapbooking stickers and fabric trim.  Next she adds a fancy feather boa, ribbon or chain handle for a purse any little girl would love.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/265614/no-sew-fancy-kids-pocketbook?center=0&gallery=274497&slide=265614

Cardboard Box Bird Feeder

A cardboard box is decorated with wrapping paper and then stuffed with popcorn to make an easy upcycled bird feeder.  Maros kindergarten cuts a door in the box so the birds can stand and eat the popcorn and hangs it from the tree with yarn. 

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://maros-kindergarten.blogspot.com/2012/01/blog-post_31.html

Jello Playdough

In this recipe Jello doesn't just give playdough its color but also a great scent.  Playdough recipe shares the ingredients.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.playdoughrecipe.org/playdough-recipes/jello-playdough-recipe/

Bead Bookmarks

Very simple and pretty, beads are strung onto a matching color ribbon and tied into a bow at the end to make a beautiful bookmark.  To make the part that goes into the book use flat long beads such as shown below.

Flower Glass Decorated Vase

Glass vase beads are used outside of the vase to make an ordinary vase a bit more interesting. 

Paper Plate Purse

You will need:
- Paper plates
- Staples
- Ribbon
- Decorations (markers, stickers, sequins...)

1. Put two plates together and cut in half.
2. Then cut two of the pieces in half again.  You should have two halves and four quarter pieces.
3. Hold the two halves together so the front pieces are facing inwards.
4. Do the same for the quarter pieces and slip inside or outside the bag so it has a scalloped top and staple the corners together.
5. Attach a strap of beads or ribbon for the handle into the corners and staple to secure.
6. Staple the rest of the plate together.
7. Decorate the bag.

This tutorial first appeared on jellyfish jelly which unfortunately is no longer available.

Lip Gloss Necklaces

You know those machines stores seem to always have in their tiny vestibules filled with trinkets kids can buy for 25 cents and all of the trinkets come in a little plastic bubble?  Well not so idle hands has found a really unique way to upcycle those containers.  She makes lip gloss out of Vaseline and Kool-Aid and then stuffs it into the containers.  To make them even more special she decorates the containers with stickers and ties them to a beaded chain for her girls to wear.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://notsoidlehands.com/2009/08/freecycle-friday-luscious-lips-for-the-kids-too.html

Wood Spoon Puppets

Wood spoons are dressed up with fabric and yarn and of course googly eyes to make people puppets with free kids crafts.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.freekidscrafts.com/wooden-spoon-puppets/

Crafting connections makes spoon faces and even creates a cardboard theater.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.craftingconnections.net/the-blog/diy-puppet-theater/

Emma owl adds a fabric dress with a ribbon on the top.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.emmaowl.com/make-mom-wooden-spoon-puppets/

Paper Plate Turtles

Busy bee kids craft shows how to make a super cute preschool turtle craft making a mosaic using a paper plate, construction paper and pretty polished stones.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Turtle-Mosaic.html 

Because i said so and other mommyisms uses cut squares of green tissue paper and glues them onto a plate to make the tortoise shell.  She then adds construction paper legs, head and tale and googly eyes to give it a face.

Get the instructions here:

http://becauseisaidsoandothermommyisms.blogspot.com/2011/03/yertle-turtle-craft.html

 

 

 

Partially perfection uses half of a plate and decorates it with squares of scrapbooking paper.

 

Get the instructions here:

http://www.partiallyperfection.com/paper-plate-turtles/

Flower Mask

A simple plastic mask is decorated with flowers and ribbons to jazz it up.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.bhg.com/crafts/kids/rainy-day/fun-crafts-to-make-with-your-kids/#page=4

Foil Glue Drawings

Glue is squeezed onto aluminum foil to make a nifty pattern and let to dry completely before another piece of foil is placed on top.  Next, a q-tip is used to outline the glue patterns creating an indentation in the foil.   A dull pencil can be used to add additional details.  To make the project even more dramatic use black shoe polish over the entire work with a sponge.  Art club blog shares the details for this really nifty project.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://artclubblog.com/2012/02/01/foil-drawings/ 

Painted Rocks Mosaic

Pebbles are painted solid colors to use for building a mosaic.  After the picture is formed the rocks are glued onto paper.  Education.com shares the details.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.education.com/activity/article/painted-rock-mosaic/?cid=90.002

Egg Carton Butterfly

The top of an egg carton is cut out to a butterfly shape using the indent as it's base and the panels as wings with craftoart.  She then paints and decorates the carton.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.craftoart.com/2011/11/kids-craft-styrofoam-egg-carton.html

Looledo uses the entire egg carton as the body and adds paper wings and pipe cleaner antennae and legs.

The site is no longer available.

Velcro Building Sticks

Velcro is glued onto popsicle sticks and bottle caps of varying sizes to make a unique building tool with 4 herreras.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://4herreras.blogspot.com/2011/09/velcro-craft-sticks-and-bottle-lidsoh.html

Birds' Nest Kits

Help out a bird this spring by providing supplies it might need and want in her nest.  Use a mesh bag to hold various items such as small twigs, hay, yarn, cotton and whatever else you can find and place it in a tree for the birds to access and take what they like.  We made that shares the details.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://we-made-that.com/bird-nest-kit/

String Art

An interesting variant from lacing cards, cindy derosier creates flower cards with scalloped edges and has kids wrap the yarn around the cards in different forms and patterns.  She calls this spirelli.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.cindyderosier.com/2012/03/spirelli.html

Toilet Paper Roll Paper Dolls

Toilet paper rolls are turned into costumes for a new twist on paper dolls from a little learning for two.  She makes smaller size roll face insertions with different emotions to slip inside.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://alittlelearningfortwo.blogspot.com/2011/03/changing-faces-toilet-roll-dolls.html

Life over cs uses wrapping paper and cupcake liners.

Get the instructions here:
http://lifeovercs.com/toilet-paper-roll-friends-getting-crafty-link-up/

Rice Paper Charm Bracelet

Beautiful rice paper is cut into circles, rectangles and squares and glued to make charms with carolyns homework.  Next she cuts holes into them and strings them onto a ribbon to make a pretty charm bracelet.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.carolynshomework.com/2012/03/accessories-paper-and-mod-podge-charm.html

Origami Turtles

Fun patterned green origami paper is folded into a turtle shape with free kids crafts.  She even adds googly eyes to show the face.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.freekidscrafts.com/origami-turtle/

Egg Shell Jewelry Box

Egg shells get smashed into tiny bits and pieces and glued to a box to make a really unique jewelry box with all free crafts. 

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/homemade-gifts/decoupage/eggshell-box/

Shower Liner Coloring Mat

A shower curtain turns into a huge canvas for kids to color and draw on.  Buy them in bulk at the dollar store and let the kids color it in.  Filth wizardry shares the details.

Good for ages 1 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.filthwizardry.com/2009/02/shower-curtain-village-play-mat.html

Stripy Seahorse

Strips of colorful patterned scrapbooking paper are cut out and glued to a paper seahorse to make this vibrant ocean creature with cindy derosier.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.cindyderosier.com/2014/08/the-cursive-project-seahorse.html

Paper Doll Garland

A paper chain of dolls is cut is decorated with everything from face to clothes with tea wagon tales.  Note she does not provide a template.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://teawagontales.blogspot.com/2015/02/tutorial-happy-people-banner.html

Bungee Cord Bracelets

Bungee cords make a simple colorful bracelet.  All you need is scissors and glue.  I spy diy shares the details.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://ispydiy.com/my-diy-bungee-cord-bracelets/

Rolls of Paper Sculptures

Colorful paper is rolled up and glued to a square of cardboard to make a nifty looking sculpture with art actually.  She uses different sized paper to give the sculpture three dimensions.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://art-actually.blogspot.com.es/2012/01/paper-sculptures.html