Pattern Scavenger Hunt

Having fun at home has a good way to have kids do a scavenger hunt indoors looking for different pattern and textures throughout the house.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.havingfunathome.com/2011/05/texture-scavenger-hunt.html

CD Fish

Easy preschool craft has really easy rainbow fish idea using a cd and construction paper and glue.  You could use stickers or paper for the eye as well.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://easypreschoolcraft.blogspot.com/2011/11/easy-rainbow-fish-cd-craft.html

Parents uses sparkly sequins to their version along with foam fins and a tail.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.parents.com/fun/arts-crafts/kid/dazzling-sparkle-kids-crafts/?sssdmh=dm17.542009&esrc=nwprnts100days11_4_day3_091811&email=2109453167

Painted Stick Snakes

Bella dwella has a really cute idea painting sticks to look like snakes.  Kids will have fun trying to find the right shaped sticks.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://belladwella.blogspot.com/2011/06/stick-art.html

Paper Fish Aquarium

OT plan has a cute craft making an aquarium using construction paper, a clear plastic bag and oatmeal.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.otplan.com/plans/your-very-own-fish-tank.aspx

Planet pals uses a plastic container to make it look more like a fish bowl.  She even makes the classic aquarium castle using a plastic cup and bottle cap.

Get the instructions here:
http://planetpals.com/craft_recycle_plastic_aquarium.html

Clay Pot Wind Chimes

Let's explore takes clay pots and adds paint, strings them with rope and embellishes with beads to make flower pot windchimes.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://lets-explore.net/blog/2009/09/flowerpot-wind-chime/

Lovin our chaos uses lots of beads and bells in her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://lovinourchaos.com/kids-diy-easy-wind-chime/

HGTV gardens adds flowers to the top.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.hgtvgardens.com/family-gardening/how-to-make-terra-cotta-pot-wind-chimes

Pom Pom Bookmarks

Design mom has a great idea of how to turn yarn into a functional book mark.  Great for new readers or for kids to give as a gift.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.designmom.com/2012/10/the-perfect-gift-yarn-ball-bookmark/

Everything etsy makes cute, full and fluffy pom pom book marks attached to a colorful paperclip.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.everythingetsy.com/2013/06/paper-clips-and-pompom-bookmarks-by-raising-up-rubies/

Learn create love turns popsicle sticks and pom poms into cute bookmark creatures.  She uses predesigned craft sticks but kids could color them or even use washi tape for enhancements.  The mouths are made with paper.

Get the instructions here:
http://learncreatelove.com/?p=7867

Handprint Chicken

Crafty crafted turns a handprint into a chicken using paint, glue and cut felt pieces.  The eye can also be cut felt.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.crafty-crafted.com/animal-crafts/handprint-hen/

Hello Kitty Paper Dolls

Cute coloring pictures has a hello kitty paper doll printable including 4 different color outfits and matching bows.

Get the template here:
http://cutecoloringpictures.blogspot.com/search/label/paper%20doll

Paper Plate Animal Masks

Preschool play book shares a simple way for kids to create a mask using a paper plate and a popsicle stick and other items such as yarn or cotton balls and paper for decoration.  She shows a lion and a lamb versions. 

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.preschoolplaybook.com/2009/03/lion-and-lamb-mask.html

Woven Paper Plates

Teacher vision shares how to make use yarn to make a pretty woven paper plate.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/botr/botr_031_33-33.pdf

Constellation Lacing Cards

Mrs. home ec shares constellation free constellation lacing cards printables to talk about the night sky with younger kids.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://mrshomeec.blogspot.com/2010/09/preschool-lesson-space.html

Kids activities blog shares a version as well including Orion, The Big and Little Dippers, Andromeda, Canis Major, and Cassopeia.

Get the templates here:
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/53553/star-sewing-cards-kids 

Let's go fly a kite up to the highest night uses black styrofoam trays to make the night sky.

Get the templates here:
http://letsgoflyakiteuptothehighestheight.blogspot.com/2012/09/crafting-with-my-kids-constellations.html

A Season of Handprints

Mrs. peterson, a kindergarten teacher, has a great hand print craft making trees for each season.  The photo is no longer on her site but you can visit her site here. 

Good for ages 3 and up. 

Letter B Bee Craft

No time for flashcards has a cute way to create a bumblebee out of the letter B with tape, paper, glue, markers and a pipe cleaner.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2008/05/letter-of-the-week-bb.html

Cardboard Tube Rocketships

Martha Stewart has a fun idea for turning a paper towel tube into a spaceship.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/271783/cardboard-tube-space-ship

Zitman fam covers hers in duct tape and adds red and orange fabric straps for the jet fueled blast off.

Get the instructions here:
http://zitzmanfam.blogspot.com/2013/01/fun-with-kids-fridays-duct-tape-rockets.html

Hello wonderful adds glitter and tissue paper.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/easy-diy-cardboard-rocketship

Paper Bag Houses Craft

Snippety gibbet has a cute way to transform a paper bag into a house with construction paper and glue.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://snippetygibbet.blogspot.com.es/2011/02/first-grade-architecture.html

 

Charlotte's fancy has a similar craft using scrapbooking paper and felt.  

Get the instructions here:

http://charlottesfancy.com/2009/11/16/crafty-monday-sweet-lunch-bag-houses/ 

Inspired by family mag makes an entire village.

Get the instructions here:

http://inspiredbyfamilymag.com/2012/12/05/diy-christmas-village-craft-from-paper-bags/ 

Salsa pie makes a monochromatic version.

Get the instructions here:

http://salsapie.blogspot.com/2014/06/make-paper-bag-neighborhood.html

Plastic Spoon Puppet Theater

Creative jewish mom shares a fun indoor activity that starts with crafts and ends with a show.  Using spoons, markers, tape and felt she creates spoon puppets.  She then makes a theater out of cardboard and markers for the spoons to put on a show.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.creativejewishmom.com/2012/01/spoon-puppet-theater-kids-craft.html

Origami Foxes

Bloomize hosts the directions for making a cute family of foxes out of folding paper.  She draws on some cute faces.  These are also great for imaginative play, you could even take them outdoors.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:

http://www.bloomize.com/in-a-company-of-cute-foxes/

Rope Friendship Bracelets

Scrumdily do has a unique and easy way to create more boy inspired friendship bracelets.  Simply twist and tie knots within a string of cord and there you have a really easy way to make bracelets.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://scrumdillydo.blogspot.com/2013/06/fathers-day-diy-friendship-bracelets.html

Free people uses a turquoise rope with a single knot.

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.freepeople.com/2012/09/guest-post-diy-climbing-knot-bracelet/

Intricate Animal Coloring Pages

Louise elliott shares the most beautiful animal coloring pages available to download for free.  Each animal represents a country and contains symbols representative of the native traditions.  She includes what she's deemed the 12 animals of the world, from a kangaroo for Australia to a dragon for China.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the template here:
http://www.louiseelliottdesign.net/Download.html

Easy peasy and fun shares elephant coloring pages.

Get the templates here:
http://www.easypeasyandfun.com/elephant-coloring-pages-for-adults/

Origami Play Houses

Tuts plus shares simple folding instructions for making play houses for kids to color and play with. 

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://hub.tutsplus.com/tutorials/make-an-adorable-origami-doll-house--craft-9221

Printable Bird Puppets

Mr. printables shares a template for several bird finger puppets from an owl to a flamingo. 

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the template here:
http://www.mrprintables.com/finger-puppets-birds.html

Explosive Sidewalk Chalk

Growing a jeweled rose takes her sidewalk chalk even further combining the ingredients with vinegar and baking soda and placing into a zipped bag to create eruptive art. 

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/05/play-recipe-sidewalk-chalk.html

Plastic Spoon Butterflies

Danielle's place turns a plastic spoon into a beautiful butterfly using construction paper and jeweled stickers and pipe cleaners.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/bugs.html

Frozen Chalk Cubes

Growing a jeweled rose makes her own chalk / ice combo using corn starch, baking soda, water and food coloring.  It melts really pretty and kids will really enjoy it on hot summer days.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/05/play-recipe-ice-chalk.html

 

Learn play imagine freezes liquid water colors and then melts two to explore color theory.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.learnplayimagine.com/2013/07/fun-in-sun-watercolor-ice-art.html

Reading confetti uses molds to make star shapes.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.readingconfetti.com/2013/05/ice-chalk.html

Typically simple draws fishing scenes.

Get the instructions here:
http://typicallysimple.com/summer-kids-craft-ice-chalk/

Ruffled Flip Flops

Angela yosten shares a fun and functional craft for the summer, embellishing flip flops with strips of fabric.  She also shows how to make a hair bow too and sells these on her etsy site. 

Good for ages 7 and up. 

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.angelayosten.com/2010/07/my-first-pattern.html

DIY Band-Aids

Twigg studios makes regular plastic band aids more colorful and pretty by gluing on flower fabric to the tops.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.twiggstudios.com/2012/04/diy-fabric-plasters.html

The gunny sack uses washi tape for her bandaids.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.thegunnysack.com/2012/05/washi-tape-bandages-tutorial-pinspired.html

The pink couch uses textured fabric for her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://thepinkcouch.blogspot.com/2010/11/cute-easy-fabric-bandaids.html

Bug Night Lights

Crafts for all seasons has a great way for kids to decorate and light up your yard at night making outdoor firefly light using a clear plastic bottle, pipe cleaners, construction paper and a glow stick.  Place them on strings and watch them fly around.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.crafts-for-all-seasons.com/pop-bottle-craft.html

Ivillage uses led lights, plastic eggs and pipe cleaners to make their little light bugs.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.ivillage.com/easter-crafts-easter-egg-fireflies/6-b-336801 

Crafts unleashed uses tea lights to light up her firefly.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.craftsunleashed.com/kids-stuff/firefly-kids-craft/

Face Paper Fans

Mr. printables has the cutest paper fan templates.  Each fan has a face and personality.  All you need is a colored printer and clothes pin to make them.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the template here:
http://www.mrprintables.com/summer-crafts-paper-fan.html