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.