Origami Ball and Cup Game

Pre k and k sharing reinvents the classic ball and cup game with origami folding paper, twine and tin foil. 

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://prekandksharing.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/introduction-to-paper-folding-crafts.html

Tissue Paper Lanterns

Craft project ideas share shares how to make a paper lantern using tissue paper, paint, glue, popsicle sticks and electronic flickering candles.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
 http://www.craftprojectideas.com/index.php/how-to/material-of-the-month/watercolor-paint-april-2012/1015-paper-lanterns

Meet the dubiens uses lots of tissue paper and layers square pieces upon one another to make a collage.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.meetthedubiens.com/2012/07/summer-lanterns-made-by-kids.html

Ribbon Wrapped Bracelets

Yellow black bird has a beautiful way to enhance bangle bracelets using ribbon to make a cute chevron pattern.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://yellowblackbird.blogspot.com/2011/06/chevron-bangle.html 

DIY Car Race Track

Shoplet has a really fun inside idea for kids - making a masking tape race track.  Kids will have so much fun running masking tape throughout the house. And then thy have a place to drive all of the cars.  Fun too will be cleaning it up and making big balls of sticky tape.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.shoplet.com/office-supplies/best-of-office-weekend-roundup-68/attachment/masking-tape-race-track/

Le jardin de juliette uses washi tape to take the car track to a whole new level of cuteness complete with parking spaces and a bridge.

Get the instructions here:
http://lejardindejuliette.blogspot.be/2012/09/washi-tape-car-track.html

Brilliant beginnings preschool utah has a lots of fun racetrack model where kids need to circumvent the zigzags.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.brilliantbeginningspreschoolutah.com/2011/05/z-is-for-zig-zag-track.html 

Make do and friend uses flags and white marker on hers.  (Site no longer available).

The mother huddle adds a whole bunch of tape to make mini lakes.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.themotherhuddle.com/masking-tape-race-track/

Blogging in the moments adds a whole town.

Get the instructions here:
http://bloggingthemoments.blogspot.com/2011/08/masking-tape-town.html

Heart Wire Ring

Maize Hutton shares a cute way to make a heart shaped ring out of colored jewelry wire.  Definitely a project for older girls since it might be hard to get the perfect heart shape though and difficult to sand down the cut edge so it doesn't scratch the skin. 

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://maizehutton.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-to-make-wire-heart-finger-ring.html

Panda hall makes a silver and gold version.

Get the instructions here:
http://lc.pandahall.com/articles/157-jewelry-making-for-beginners-a-pair-of-valentine-s-day-ring-for-couples.html

Tissue Paper Petal Cards

Etsy has a very cute way to make a a card out of tissue paper petals.  The nice thing is the tissue paper won't wilt or brown.  All you need is tissue paper, glue and a blank card.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here
http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2012/how-tuesday-petal-card/

Lego Maze Ideas

Lego quest kids has great idea for a lego project that doesn't require one of those tedious kits and lets kids design something themselves.  Lego mazes.  Sounds just as fun playing with them as putting them together.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get some ideas here:
http://legoquestkids.blogspot.com/2011/03/maze-or-labyrinth-photos.html

Kids Science - How Fast Will it Flow?

Science sparks has another great science experiment.  This time hypothesizing and testing how fast different liquids will flow compared with each other.  You'll need a stop watch and tape measure to record the kids observations.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.science-sparks.com/2012/04/23/viscosity-races-investigating-the-flow-of-liquids

Pacifier Certificate

Sesame street has a free Elmo you gave up the pacifier certificates for toddlers who finally graduated from its use. 

Get the template here:
http://www.sesamestreet.org/cms_services/services?action=download&fileName=Pacifier%20Certificate%20PDF&uid=a3a0be80-9029-4ab1-8c8e-8aaeda65f0da

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