Cardboard Box Shadow Puppet Theater

Inner child fun turns a simple card board box into a shadow puppet theater using white tissue paper and tape.  She even shares her simple method for creating the puppets -- foam cut outs and popsicle sticks.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://innerchildfun.com/2012/07/how-to-build-a-simple-shadow-puppet-theater-2.html

Jamie lanley uses a cardboard cereal box.

Get the instructions here:
http://jimmielanley.hubpages.com/hub/shadow-puppet-theater

Minieco uses a cereal box too.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.minieco.co.uk/cereal-box-shadow-theater/

DIY Colorful Dreamcatcher

The magic onions shares a colorful dream catcher using a shower curtain hoop, embroidery thread, feathers and beads.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructins here:
http://www.themagiconions.com/2012/11/make-a-dreamcatcher.html

Land of nod adds fun yarn tassels to their version.

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.landofnod.com/honest-to-nod/2014/06/diy-dream-catchers.html

Salt and Ice Science Experiment

Putti prapanca has a fun science experiment showing the effect of salt on ice. She uses 2 chunks of ice, food coloring for fun and regular salt. You could also try different kinds of salt to see if any work differently as well.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.puttiprapancha.com/2012/02/ice-and-salt-art.html

Anna reyner has a fun science project for a hot summer day.  Kids take frozen chunks of ice and sprinkle on large chunks of salt which melts the ice creating what she calls ice tunnels.  She then suggests adding food coloring to the holes and watching the color flow through the ice as the tunnels are formed.

Get the instructions here:
http://annareyner.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/ice-tunnels-bring-on-the-summer-fun/

Creative jewish mom makes a really large chuck on ice.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.creativejewishmom.com/2011/08/science-experiment-for-kids-ice-and-kosher-salt-sculptures.html

Origami Stars

Pysselbolaget has a very detailed tutorial for how to create origami stars.  The instructions are in Swedish but she includes step-by-step photos for explanations.

Good for ages 12 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://pysselbolaget.se/2012/11/23/julstjarnor-i-origamiorigami-paper-stars/ 

Hello wonderful uses white paper and paints the stars once they're folded.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/painted-origami-star-ornaments

Straw Mobile

Aunt peaches turns regular drinking straws into a cool mobile.  All you need are the straws and some wire.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.auntpeaches.com/2012/08/decahedron-himmeli-mobile.html

Oh so pretty uses colorful straws for her version making one big mobile.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.ohsoprettythediaries.com/2013/10/the-diy-geometric-straw-mobile.html 

PBS strings together colorful straws and beads.  They add paper shapes of circles, triangles and squares to the end of each straw to make them look like arrows.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/simple-mobile/

Flower Imprint Paper Weight

Home design pins shares a pretty way to turn a simple clay block into a pretty flower magnet.  Simply place the flower or leaf onto the clay, roll with a rolling pin to make the imprint, bake to harden and paint.  They suggest adding a magnet but they also make pretty paper weights.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://homedesignspins.com/2012/12/21/pick-a-flower-or-plant-and-lay-on-top-of-a-small-piece-of-clay-and-use-a-rolling-pin-to-make-an-imprint-in-the-clay-let-it-harden-paint-add-a-magnet-to-the-back/

Origami Pokemon

The meta picture shares a tutorial for how to fold an origami Pikachu perfect for Pokemon lovers.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://themetapicture.com/origami-pikachu/