Chinese New Year Printables

Fifteen free printables from gift of curiosity.  The is designed for dot markers but other markers will work too.

Good for ages 1 and up.

Get the worksheets here:
http://www.giftofcuriosity.com/chinese-new-year-do-a-dot-printables/

Chinese New Year Drums

Good for any Chinese New Year, crafts and art for children turn paper plates into Chinese drums to celebrate. 

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftsandartforchildren.blogspot.com/2012/01/chinese-new-year-party-crafts-for-kids.html

Note, the tutorial does not include a download for the Chinese symbol for good luck or fortune.

The images can be found at the Chinese character store:
http://chinesecalligraphystore.com/free-chinese-symbols/chinese-symbols-for-good-luck.html

Kids activity blog uses a stencil and red pencil for their version.

Get the instructions here:

Year of the Horse Coloring Pages

Celebrate the year of the horse for Chinese New Year with these free coloring pages.

Activity village shares a coloring sheet complete with Chinese characters.

Good for ages 1 and up.

Get the template here:
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/year-of-the-horse-colouring-page

Crayola has one from 2002.  The last time it was the year of the horse.

Get the template here:
http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/chinese-new-year--year-of-the-horse.aspx

Teddy Bear Purses

Felt fabric transforms into the cutests little teddy bear purse with a brown grossgrain ribbon for a handle.  Visit littlies for all of the details on how to cut and glue the felt.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.littlies.co.nz/Craft+for+Kids/Teddy+Party+Bag.html

First palatte makes colorful pink and blue bears for their version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Animals/teddybeartote/teddybeartote.html

Seasonal Paint Swatch Bookmarks

Paint chips make fantastic and very easy bookmarks.  Castellons kitchen shows a cute tree cut out for each season and Halloween too.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://castellonskitchen.blogspot.com/2013/01/paint-chip-bookmarks.html

Jeweled Lego Barettes

Legos make more progress drawing the attention of girls with this cute idea from quiet lion creations turning a lego into a barette by adding colorful gem stickers to the holes and gluing the lego onto a bobby pin.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://quietlioncreations.blogspot.com/2013/09/color-pop-bobby-pins.html

Toilet Paper Roll Pinata

Toilet paper tubes upcycle to cute kitty cat pinatas thanks to the folks at making it blog.  They embelish with the classic pinata fringed tissue paper, but turn up the ends of the tube to create ears and draw a sweet face.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://makingitblog.com/2013/07/14/d-i-y-mini-kitty-pinata/

Beaded Sun Catchers

Beads transform into unique sun catchers with this neat version from artful parent.  The kids string beads onto jewelery wire and bend into a heart shape and then they're melted in the oven over aluminum foil and cooled before decorating the window.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.artfulparent.com/2013/08/melted-bead-suncatchers-beautiful-free-form-hearts.html

Beaded Dream Catcher

Beads add a beautiful element to dream catchers with this tutorial from we can redo it. 

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://wecanredoit.blogspot.com/2013/08/embroidery-hoop-dream-catcher.html

Mood kids adds beads to the ring.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.moodkids.nl/diy/2014/01/24/een-dromenvanger-maken-van-linten-kraaltjes-en-decoratieveren 

Little hipsqueaks uses beads and tassels as well.

Get the instructions here:
http://littlehipsqueaks.com/blogs/blog/14182265-let-s-get-crafty-dream-catchers

Popsicle Stick Abacus

Have fun learning math with this colorful abacus from education.com, which uses beads, popsicle sticks and bamboo skewers. 

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.education.com/activity/article/abacus/

Toilet Paper Roll Doll House

Create a new home for a little doll or small animal figurine using a toilet paper tube and sticks or other found objects from the outdoors.  Eighteen 25 has the full details.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2013/08/woodland-folk-toys.html

Toddler Hand Washing Certificate

Help little kids celebrate their success with washing their hands with this cute certificate from kiddiewash.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Download the free printable here:
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/72930312/Hand-washing-certificate---I-am-able-to-wash-my-hands-before-eating

Mr. printables shares a clean paws award.

Get the free template here:
http://www.mrprintables.com/printable-certificates-for-kids-healthy-eating.html

Toilet Paper Roll Bird Puppets

Toilet paper rolls transform into cute bird marionettes with red ted art's tutorial using sticks, leaves, paint and yarn.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.redtedart.com/2010/07/21/fall-crafts-leaf-marionette-birds/

Star light star bright first star I read tonight

One super cute and fun way to practice sight words is to place them on the ceiling and then use a flashlight to find different words in the dark.  Thanks to first grade wow for this fantastic idea.  It's part of her camping unit.  You could even make up stories with the words you find.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.firstgradewow.blogspot.com/2012/03/camping-unit.html

Paper Bag Octopus

Turn a paper bag into a cute octopus with this super simple idea from all kids network. 

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/animals/ocean/paper-bag-octopus.asp

Star Wars Fighter Balloons

A fun interactive Star Wars craft, dana made it makes tie fighters using black construction paper, balloons, and pipe cleaners.  She then gives the kids light sabers and lets the Jedi magic begin.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.danamadeit.com/2013/08/tutorial-diy-balloon-tie-fighters.html

Tin Can Vase

Tin cans make great upcycled vases.  Make and takes uses cute textured washi tape to make their version.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.makeandtakes.com/earth-day-diy-with-consumercrafts-com-giveaway

Holiday crafts and creations uses felt, buttons and ribbon to dress up their version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.holiday-crafts-and-creations.com/easy-easter-crafts-vase.html

She knows glues on bow tie pasta and spray paints.  

Get the instructions here:
http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/839215/grandparents-day-crafts-and-activities-for-kids/page:2

Watercolor Bookmarks

Watercolors are a nice way to introduce little ones to paining with a brush. Kristen tool has a cute idea for making a water color bookmark and glues a photo onto the top.  You could also glue a photo of the child to the top to make a really cute gift.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://kristentool.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/make-your-own-watercolor-photo-bookmarks/

Grow creative makes leaf patterns on her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://growcreative.blogspot.com/2013/03/bright-flowers-bookmarks.html

Momtastic shares a very toddler friendly version having the kids paint on a larger paper and cutting the sheet into bookmark sized strips.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.momtastic.com/diy/172817-diy-watercolor-bookmarks

It started out as a popsicle and turned into a bird feeder

Popsicle sticks get upcycled as a bird feeder thanks to rhythm of the home.  She also adds some rope to hang it in a nearby tree. 

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://rhythmofthehome.com/2013/05/popsicle-stick-birdfeeder/

This Rock Garden will bowl you over

Kids can make a beautiful Zen garden with a pretty shallow bowl, sand and tiny pebbles.  Free people has all of the details including how to make an adorable rake out of coffee stirrers. 

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.freepeople.com/2013/08/diy-zen-garden/

Bunny Beads Bookmarks

Multiple sized white beads transform into adorable bunny bookmarks thanks to small for big.  She draws on cute faces and adds colorful strings to give each its own personality.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://smallforbig.com/2013/03/diy-bead-bunny-bookmark-easter-wood-yarn-kids.html

DIY Trumpets

A funnel and long tube transform with the help of some duct tape into a play trumpet courtesy of concordia news.

Good ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.concordianews.org/kids/2009/judgeg/craft.htm

Bible story's version starts with a toilet paper tube, enhanced with two paper cutouts and some cute buttons.

Get the instructions here:
http://biblestoryhour.blogspot.jp/2009/05/unit-1-lesson-10-gideon.html

Painted Pebble Dominoes

Make your own dominoes with rocks and black and white paint.  Repeat crafter me shows you how.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/02/rock-dominoes.html

Colored Pencils

Nail polish takes on a new life decorating those boring yellow #2 pencils.  Eighteen 25 paints them straight across but you could get even more creative with lines or polka dots or flowers or squiggles...

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2013/08/painted-pencils.html

Hello natural carves in inspirational words.

Get the instructions here:
http://hellonatural.co/painted-back-school-pencils/

Super Easy Charm Bracelets

Charm bracelets that kids can make.  Requires just thread and a pretty charm and the ability to tie a knot.  From marie lyvp.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://marielyvp.blogspot.com/2013/08/diy-thread-charm-bracelets.html

Paper Bag Whale Craft

 

Paper bags are so versatile and make an easy idea for a simple craft.  Brooks child care shares this simple paper bag whale, decorated with blue paint, and a cute spout. 

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.brookschildcare.com/2012/04/stuffed-paper-bag-whale-craft/

All kids network has a similar craft but cuts a mouth out for the whale, adds a pipe cleaner spout and uses crayons instead of paint.

Get the instructions here:

http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/animals/ocean/paper-bag-whale.asp

Toilet Paper Roll Dragon

TP craft does it again this time turning the roll into a fire breathing dragon.  All you need is some green paint, pom poms, red tissue paper, two black beans and of course googly eyes.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://tpcraft.blogspot.com/2011/05/toilet-paper-roll-fire-breathing-dragon.html

Printable Bracelet Roundup

Hermes changed the world of paper jewelery when they shared their iconic Collier de Chien bracelet.  They no longer host it on their site but cut out and keep has saved a copy.

Get the template here:
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/hermes-collier-de-chien-paper-bracelet

Continuing the trend of designer paper bracelets Portuguese designer Gonçalo Campos created this disposable version dubbed the Oly in both a plain and striped version.

Get the template here:
http://www.simpledog.net/printable-paper-bracelet/

Leaving the world of high fashion and getting a lot younger mom recommended has three adorable Dora the Explorer paper bracelets all little girls will love.

Get the template here:
http://momrecommended.com/printable-downloads/dora-printables-craft-projects/

Rubber boots and elf shoes shares a simple geometric paper bracelet for boys and girls.  The free printable has two, one for them to color and one to make for a friend.

Get the template here:
http://rubberbootsandelfshoes.blogspot.com/2012/08/back-to-school-book-and-poem.html

Paper quill ideas makes an origami version folding the paper into zigzags.

Get the instructions here:
http://paperquillingideas.com/category/paper-origami-bracelets/

Pom Pom Shooters

Mini marshmallows and colorful pom poms make great fun thanks to come together kids and their creative shooter using just a plastic cup and a broken balloon.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.cometogetherkids.com/2011/09/mini-marshmallow-shooters-or-pom-pom.html

Frogs and snails and puppy dog tail uses a pool noodle to make her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.frogsandsnailsandpuppydogtail.com/2013/08/diy-pool-noodle-pom-pom-shooter.html

Lindsay and andrew use a paper cup and make their own pompoms too out of yarn.

Get the instructions here:
http://lindsayandandrew.blogspot.com/2011/08/pom-poms-and-balloon-cup-shooters.html

Yarn Friendship Bracelets

A really cute use for some left over multicolored yarn is this yarn friendship bracelet from skip to my lou.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/06/11/friendship-bracelets-from-scrumdilly-do/

Lets do something crafty takes several strands of yarn and ties them together at short intervals. 

Get the instructions here:
http://letsdosomethingcrafty.com/yarn-jewellery/

Twitchetts twists three colors of yarn into what she calls a two minute bracelet.

Get the instructions here:

http://twitchetts.com/2015/05/2-minute-twisted-bracele.html/