Free Children's Book Downloads

wegivebooks.org offers more than 500,000 free children's books online. You can browse by age range, author or topic. Ages range from 0 to teens. They also have a section for new releases, popular and classic books.

Folk Art Pens

Paper crafts for children has the most adorable idea for making colorful, folk art inspired pens using paper mache. Their painting is pretty sophisticated. But either way it makes a nice functional craft.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.papercraftsforchildren.com/2010/07/25/papier-mache-pens/

QTIp Fire Works

Busy bee kids crafts has an easy craft idea for the Fourth of July making fireworks out of the tops of qtips.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Q-Tip-Fireworks.html

Rocketship Confetti

Celebrate the Fourth of July by making these fun confetti filled rockets out of an empty paper roll.

Alphamom has a great craft for the 4th of July making rocket ship confetti poppers using a toilet paper roll, scrapbooking paper, ribbon, confetti and twine. Making the confetti itself will keep the kids busy for quite a while.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://alphamom.com/family-fun/holidays/make-your-own-fourth-of-july-confetti-popper-rockets/

Disney's family fun has a similar confetti launcher.

Get the instructions here:
http://familyfun.go.com/4th-of-july/4th-of-july-crafts/confetti-launcher-890192/

Moda bake shop shares how to make a confetti cracker and is an easier craft for younger kids.  She uses candy instead of confetti for a favor, but kids will still get the confetti effect and have fun throwing it themselves.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.modabakeshop.com/2011/06/firecracker-favors.html 

Martha Stewart puts candy in her version making rocket ship favors.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/353633/rocket-favor-packaging

The 36th avenue fills them with candy as well.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.the36thavenue.com/2013/06/4th-of-july-firecracker-treat-pops.html 

Sugar and cloth uses lighter colors and glittery gold paper to make rocket party surprise poppers.

Get the instructions here:
http://sugarandcloth.com/2013/07/diy-surprise-party-poppers/

International Paper Dolls

Education.com has free paper doll printables from several countries including this one from France. Each template includes information about the country so kids can learn about the local life.

Get the templates here:
http://www.education.com/slideshow/exploring-cultures-paper-dolls-world/paper-dolls-world-europe-VI/

Free July Kids Craft Events

Tuesday July 3

Michael's is having a passport to imagination event featuring a craft inspired by the United States from 1:00 to 4:00.

http://www.michaels.com/Store-Events/store-events,default,pg.html

Thursday July 5

Michael's is having a passport to imagination event featuring a craft inspired by the Kenya from 1:00 to 4:00.

Saturday July 7

The Disney store is hosting a Spiderman cartoon drawing workshop at 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30 for kids age 3 and up. 

http://www.disneystore.com/in-store-special-events/mn/1001271/

The Home Depot is having a build a truck event from 9:00 to 12:00.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=HT_WS_KidsWorkshops

Michael's is having a passport to imagination event featuring a craft inspired by the North Pole from 1:00 to 4:00. 

Saturday July 14

Lowe's has a kit for kids to create a spinning kung fu panda at 10:00 a.m.  Kids need to be registered to partake in the event.

https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/pages/default.aspx

Sunday July 15

Lowes is hosting the event again at 2:00 p.m.

Saturday July 28

Lowes has a kit for kids to create a staking kung fu panda game at 10:00.

https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/pages/default.aspx

Sunday July 29

Lowes is hosting the event again at 2:00 p.m.

Letter Treasure Hunt

Crayon freckles has an entertaining way for kids to practice their ABCs and sounds via a sound scavenger hunt. Kids have to find a object around the house that matches each letter.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://crayonfreckles.blogspot.com/2012/02/letter-sounds-scavenger-hunt.html