How to Make a Button Bracelet

One inch world has a simple tutorial for making a wire and button bracelet. She uses electrical wire for the nice coating. The nifty part is the last button also works as a closure for the bracelet.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://oneinchworld.com/blog/index.php/2012/01/wire-and-button-bracelet/

Rad rag designs also has a button bracelet made of twine and buttons.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.radragdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-to-make-bracelet-from-buttons-twine.html

Hope studios adds beads to her button bracelets by simply threading them on the string.

Get the instructions here:

http://hopestudios.blogspot.com/2009/07/tutorial-tuesday-button-bracelets.html

Cosmo cricket uses wooden buttons on her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://cosmocricket.typepad.com/cosmo_cricket/2012/09/super-easy-diy-wooden-button-bracelets.html 

Soduel uses felt with her buttons to make a kindergarten craft.

Get the instructions here:

http://soduel.blogspot.jp/2011/04/mothers-day-bracelet-tutorial.html

Happy hour projects braids her button onto two colors of yarn.

Get the instructions here:
http://happyhourprojects.com/button-bracelets/

Cosas molonas uses adds beads.

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.cosasmolonas.com/diy-pulsera-infantil-con-boton-y-pyssla/

Fish Origami Envelopes

Zakka life has really cute and functional fish folded envelope.  A cute way to send a message in a lunch box or to tuck a napkin in. 

Good for ages 8 and up.  

Get the instructions here:
http://zakkalife.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/origami-fish-envelopes.html

Frozen Bubbles

Science made fun shares how to make frozen bubbles using regular bubble solution.  Make sure the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.  Then blow bubbles and catch them on the wand.  The bubble will crystallize. 

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://sciencemadefun.net/blog/?p=348

Twitchetts adds food coloring to the bubble solution to make colored bubbles.

Get the instructions here:
http://twitchetts.blogspot.com/2015/02/frozen-colored-bubbles.html

Construction Paper Landscape Portraits

Make and takes shares a very cute use for construction paper and glue showing how kids can make landscape portraits. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.makeandtakes.com/creating-torn-paper-landscapes/torn-paper-landscape5

Paper Plate Lacing Cards

Joyful mamas place has an inventive way to create lacing cards for kids.  It involves a little set up though of cutting notches out of a paper plate and threading the plate with yard for the kids to sew through, but makes a great fine motor activity.  She suggests using a wooden needle but you could also just add some nailpolish to the yarn's end to make it more like a shoe string. 

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://joyfulmamasplace.blogspot.com/2011/07/first-steps-in-sewing-paper-plate.html

DIY Marbled Glass

Honestly wtf shares a cute way to make marbled glass vases using nail polish. 

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://honestlywtf.com/diy/diy-marbled-glassware/

Beaded Wrap Bracelet

Make it and fake it has a cute tutorial that looks a lot harder than it is.  Basically you weave the beads around the cord for a really neat bracelet.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.makeitandfakeit.com/2012/04/diy-wrap-bracelet.html

DIY Night Lights

Think crafts has a functional kid's craft idea turning a cardboard box into a night light or lantern using a small box, cellophane, paint and a small led light.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://thinkcrafts.com/blog/2012/03/14/nightlight-lanterns/

Button Magnets

Big box detox shares a very simple and cute magnet tutorial.  All you need are some cute buttons, magnet backings and glue.  Kids will have fun shopping for and picking out the fun and colorful buttons and then playing with them once they're made. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.bigboxdetox.com/tutorial-tuesday-easy-button-magnets

Mail a Hug

Toddler toddler has one of the cutest and loving craft ideas I've ever seen -- sending a hug in the mail.  All you need is some toilet paper and flesh colored construction paper and glue to send your very own hug.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.toddlertoddler.com/send-a-hug-in-the-mail.htm

Tons of fun preschool activities shows an alternative hug using a handprint and curing ribbon.

Get the instructions here:
http://tonsoffunpreschoolactivities.blogspot.com/2011/02/long-distance-hug.html

Turn a doily into a beautiful envelope

We love laugh kiss shares a beautiful tutorial on how to make an envelope from a doily.  Any little girl will love making these to share with and send to family and friends. 

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://welovelaughkiss.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/she-says-do-it-myself-dim-lace-paper-envelope/

How to make a mini notebook

Design love fest has a nifty way to make your own notebooks.  Kids will have fun picking out the different papers to include in their notebooks and showing them off at school.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.designlovefest.com/2012/04/make-it-10-2/

 Dykast's version has a mini bookmark built in.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.dykast.us/2010/04/15/baby-shower-favor-bag-contents/ 

Molly moo crafts makes one with cereal boxes, washi tape and stickers.

Get the instructions here:
http://mollymoocrafts.com/diy-cereal-box-notebooks/ 

Everything etsy uses wrapping paper and sticks it to the cover with washi tape binding.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.everythingetsy.com/2014/08/colorful-diy-notebooks/

Chocolate Covered Banana Kids Craft

Bakers royale has the most delicious after school or party or really any time activity - making chocolate covered bananas.  She suggests placing a slice of banana on the end of a straw, dipping it in chocolate and having lots of toppings to roll the bananas in such as sprinkles, nuts and coconut.  The nice thing is you get to decide the toppings making this as healthy of a snack as you want.  You could even replace the chocolate with yogurt.  It should still hold the toppings and make it even healthier.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.bakersroyale.com/fruit/banana-pops/

DIY Star Wars Mobile

Rookie moms shares a fantastic R2D2 template for making a Star Wars mobile.  She uses felt cut outs but you could use the actual images printed onto cardboard as well. 

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the template and instructions here:
http://www.rookiemoms.com/how-to-foam-baby-mobile-r2d2/

How to Make Yarn Dolls

Spud and chloe shares the cutest tutorial on how to make old fashioned yarn dolls.  She suggest making a whole set using different colored yarn so they can play together.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.spudandchloe.com/blog/2009/10/old-fashioned-yarn-dolls/

Doodle craft makes voodoo dolls with her yarn technique.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.doodlecraft.blogspot.com/2012/11/make-your-own-string-voodoo-dolls.html

We made that makes a larger version.

Get the instructions here:
http://we-made-that.com/yarn-dolls/

Homemade at my place adds button eyes.

Get the instructions here:
http://homemadeatmyplace.blogspot.com/2012/06/make-it-yarn-dolls.html

Paris Printables

Made by joel has fun paper printouts that allow your paper dolls to visit Paris.  Complete with an Eiffel Tower and even mini people.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the template here:
http://madebyjoel.com/2012/01/travel-size-paper-city-paris.html

Shrinky Dink Jewelry

Rust sunshine has a very clever way to create your own shrinky dinks and even make them into jewelery.  All you need are some markers and a plastic container.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://rustsunshine.blogspot.com/2012/04/shrinky-bracelet.html

Craft and creativity has a shrinky dink jewelery tutorial as well.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftandcreativity.com/blog/2012/10/26/shrinkplasticjewelry/

Let's explore shares a more kid centric version showing a bracelet with lots of shrinky dinks.

Get the instructions here:

http://lets-explore.net/blog/2008/05/were-hooked-on-shrinky-dinks/ 

Lark crafts offers a full ebook of shrinky dink jewelery projects.

Get the ebook here:

http://www.larkcrafts.com/jewelry-beading/cathe-holden/ 

Dollar store crafts shows how to make a shrinky dink pendant of your state.  They show Oregon as an example.

Get the instructions here:

http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2013/09/tutorial-painted-shrinky-necklace-oregon-style/ 

Silly pearl makes multicolored shrinky beads.

Get the instructions here:

http://www.sillypearl.com/2012/06/craft-tutorial-shrink-plastic-curly.html

 

 

C is for craft creates pendants.

 

Get the instructions here:

http://c-is-for-craft.blogspot.com/2011/08/diy-shrinky-dink-from-plastic-container.html

 

 

Hello wonderful makes horse pendants.

 

Get the instructions here:

http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/MAKE-COLORFUL-HORSE-NECKLACES

Tin Can Wind Chimes

Learn 2 grow suggests making wind chimes out of tin cans.  All you need is some paint, tin cans and string.  Kids can have fun painting the cans and hearing them as the wind blows.  Remember to tape the bottom of the cans for any sharp edges.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.learn2grow.com/projects/forchildren/outdoors/EasyKidsGardenProjects.aspx

Hands on as we grow has the same project.

http://handsonaswegrow.com/2011/06/outdoor-music-diy-windchimes/ 

Playdoh Shape Mats

Play at home mom 3 shares wonderful templates of animals, letters and numbers that kids can use as a guide to mold playdoh.  This is a great way to learn letters and numbers and work on fine motor skills.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the template here:
http://playathomemom3.blogspot.com/2012/03/diy-play-doh-mats.html

Free Print and Fold Paper Robot

Loulou and tummie has an assortment of colorful paper robots that you can print and fold and have fun. 

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the templates here:
http://loulouandtummie.com/?page_id=254

How to Make a Straw Pan Flute

Classic play has a really easy way to create a musical instrument using plastic straws and tape to create a diy pan flute.  The trick is cutting the straws to the sounds you want.  She recommends cutting each straw an inch apart.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.classic-play.com/straw-pan-flute/

Deceptively educational has a tutorial as well.

http://deceptivelyeducational.blogspot.com/2012/04/making-magic-drinking-straw-flute.html

Copper Wire Vases

Design sponge has a fantastic idea for how to make vases using copper coil, a test tube vial and glue.  Kids will have fun bending and twisting the wire to create a unique shape.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.designsponge.com/2012/04/diy-project-sculptural-copper-coil-vases.html

Beaded Napkin Rings

Crafts by amanda has a cute idea for napkin ring.  Her tutorial is a bit involved and includes making the beads out of clay and painting them and using wire and a hot glue gun to secure the ends, but this could be easily adapted to a kid's craft with ready made beads and some cord with a pretty knot to tie the ends.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftsbyamanda.com/2012/04/pretty-spring-napkin-rings.html

Upcycled Birdfeeder

Kaboose shares a very easy way to create an eco-conscience bird feeder out of a milk carton.  They just use a cut up carton, but kids could easily decorate it with paint to make it more of a craft project.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://crafts.kaboose.com/milk-jug-bird-feeders.html

Paper Doll Coloring Pages

Berudankrayonkami has cute paper dolls and outfits that also double as a coloring activity.  They have a great amount of detail so are great for older kids as well.

http://berusdankrayonkami.blogspot.com/2010/05/paper-doll.html

Weelife combines paper dolls and coloring pages by sharing a boy and girl paper doll with clothing that you can color in.

http://living.weelife.com/2008/10/paper-dolls-printables.html

On coloring shares dolls from all over the world, each with their own unique outfits.

http://www.oncoloring.com/dress-up-games-coloring-pages_2.html

Kids printable coloring pages has some historical dolls and even nicer to see healthy figures.  

http://kidsprintablescoloringpages.com/img-baby-paper-dolls-65-6391.htm

 Families online magazine share several Victorian dolls both in color and as coloring pages.

http://www.familiesonlinemagazine.com/kid_fun/paper-dolls.html#.UgMMDm3NmIk

Antique Book Jewelry Box

Sincerely kinsley has a very clever idea for how to make a secret jewelry box out of an old book. This could easily be made more kid friendly using a more colorful book and cute and fun objects for the cover, or could be a great gift for the kids to give.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://sincerelykinsey.blogspot.de/2012/03/jewelry-box-diy.html

Dreamcatcher Necklace

Rtr on campus shows you how to make a dream catcher necklace using a small metal ring, a ribbon, a bead, white thread, and a paper clip.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.rtroncampus.com/2012/01/20/diy-dreamcatcher-jewelry/

Panda hall adds charms to the bottom.

Get the instructions here:
http://lc.pandahall.com/articles/2250-wire-wrapped-jewelry-design-on-how-to-make-a-dreamcather-necklace-with-turquoise-step-by-step.html

Yarn Worm Book Marks

Impress your kids has a very cute yarn worm craft idea for how to make bookworm bookmarks using yarn and a popsicle stick. Unless you're a knitter you might want to try using a multicolored yarn to save money.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://impressyourkids.org/craft-sticks-yarn-book-worms/