Popsicle Stick Picture Frames

Colored popsicle sticks are decorated with gem stickers.  Visit teaching tiny tots for all of the details.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.teaching-tiny-tots.com/toddler-activities-rhinestone-frame.html

Cardboard Box Pizza and Oven

A cardboard box becomes a pizza oven with made by joel.  He also shows how to make a pizza as well.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://madebyjoel.com/2014/01/diy-shoebox-pizza-oven-toy.html

Polar Sensory Bin

Large chunks of ice and arctic animal make for a fun winter themed sensory bin from gifts of curiousity

Good for ages 1 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.giftofcuriosity.com/polar-animals-arctic-ice-sensory-play/

Paper Flower Bookmarks

Scrapbooking paper, a green pipe cleaner and ribbon turn into a pretty flower bookmark with spoonful reminiscent of the one Belle uses in Beauty and the Beast. 

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://spoonful.com/crafts/belles-valentine-bookmarks

Fox Envelopes

Envelopes turn into cute foxes with some markers and color paper with minted.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.minted.com/julep/2014/01/22/diy-animal-envelopes/

You've heard of a sock monkey - this is a sock whale

Turn a white sock into a whale with a small piece of red yarn for its smile, a small piece of blue yarn for its spout, and a small piece of white yarn for its tale.   

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/animals/ocean/whale-craft.asp

Fruity Bird Feeder

Grapes, blueberries, popcorn, craisins and cheerios make a beautiful birdfeeder from the cbc.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.cbc.ca/parents/2014/01/nature-craft-for-kids-diy-fruit-grain-bird-feeders.html

Matchbox Necklace

Turn a matchbox into a locket using pretty scrapbooking paper and ribbon and fill with trinkets with spoonful.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://spoonful.com/crafts/matchbox-locket

Lily cakes adds a photo inside hers.

Get the instructions here:
http://lillycakes.blogspot.com/2010/04/mothers-day-matchbox-locket.html

Puffy Paint Jewelry

Puffy paint dries on wax paper and turns into a bracelet with some yarn.  Doodle crafts shows you how.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.doodlecraft.blogspot.com/2013/04/puffy-paint-bracelets-wristbands-and.html

Plastic Container Rings

Plastic milk containers turn into multidimensional rings with pink stripey socks.  She uses milk jugs but other plastic containers would work well too.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.pinkstripeysocks.com/2014/01/make-milk-jug-rings.html

Washi Tape Pencils

 

Washi tape is the perfect accessory to liven up boring school supplies and give kids a fun way to personalize their pens, pencils and other items.

An easy way to decorate a pencil for any occasion or just for fun from morning creativity.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.morningcreativity.com/washi-tape-pencils/

The pink doormat makes these pencils as well.

Get the instructions here:
http://thepinkdoormat.blogspot.com/2013/06/decorate-your-pencils-with-washi-tape.html 

Unsophisticook tapes just the top half of the pencils.  She also makes a nifty glue bottle.

Get the instructions here:
http://unsophisticook.com/personalized-school-supplies/ 

Sew woodsy uses the same technique.

Get the instructions here:
http://sewwoodsy.com/2012/04/washi-tape-pencils.html

Star night star bright first glow in the dark star I see tonight

Glow in the dark star stickers have been around forever, but now you can make your own.  Kix has the secret using a cardboard box and glow in the dark paint.  Now you're not resigned to just a few large stars that come in each package and a ceiling full of far away distance stars.  You can make them as large as you want. 

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.kixcereal.com/kix-cereal-diy-glow-in-the-dark-stars/

Paper Plate Fish Bowl

Two paper plates become a fish bowl complete with kix cereal water bubbles.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.kixcereal.com/kix-cereal-paper-plate-aquarium/

PIpe Cleaner Abacus

Help kids practice their math skills with this craft made abacus from kids activities blog.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/48873/create-learn-abacus

Braided Paper Bracelets

Crepe paper adds great texture to a braided bracelet with babble dabble do.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://babbledabbledo.com/design-for-kids-crepe-paper-bracelets/

Picklebums folds her version into a braid.  She has the kids paint and scribble on the paper beforehand to make a pretty pattern.

Get the instructions here:
http://picklebums.com/2014/04/29/make-folded-paper-bracelets/

Paper Bag Bird Puppets

Green paper comes alive with this paper bird puppet from dltk kids.  The site includes a template for all of the feathers.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/mbagbird.htm

Origami Leaves

Folded paper transforms into leaves with this tutorial from instructables.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Origamy-Leaf-Tutorial/

Tea Sensory Play

A safe and colorful way to have kids paint and squish, fantastic fun and learning suggests letting little ones play with tea and water.  She gives them a water sprayer and lets them experience all of the colors and scents of the tea inside the bags.  When done they'll have some art since the paper will collect all of the strained tea.

Good for ages 1 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/exploring-the-sensespainting-with-tea-bags.html

Pompom Owls

Pompoms, felt and googly eyes make cute little owls to play pretend with.  Inspiration laboratories uses a kit to create the owls but they could be made without the kit as well.  Once created she re-enacts scenes from her favorite owl children's book.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://inspirationlaboratories.com/owl-craft-and-play-scenes-virtual-book-club-for-kids/

Paper Roll Lincoln Logs

Toilet paper and paper towel tubes make great building toys with some cutting and painting.  Kix cereal shows how to create this upcycled kids craft.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.kixcereal.com/kix-cereal-diy-cardboard-building-logs/

Of course you'll need an arrow holder

A paper tube and some great fabric and ribbon create a nifty quill with creative capital b.  A fantastic pretend play toy.

Good for ages 11 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.creativecapitalb.com/2013/10/simple-upcycled-no-sew-kids-quiver.html

Sophie world makes arrows and quills for her hunger games party.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.sophie-world.com/blog/hunger-games-party-action

Fizzy Surprise Rocks

Baking soda hides hidden objects which kids can uncover with water as they fizz and release whatever treasures you've hidden inside, thanks to growing a jeweled rose.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/01/magic-treasure-rocks.html

Water Proof Finger Puppets

Rubber gloves lend their fingers to fun play with kidspot.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.kidspot.com.au/omofunzone/Create-Finger-puppets+138+568+sponsor-activity.htm

Scribbit's version moves away from people making monster looking creatures.

Get the instructions here:
http://scribbit.blogspot.com/2007/07/rubber-glove-finger-puppets.html

Kids craft weekly uses circle stickers and draws a face to make easily changing puppets and emotions.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.kidscraftweekly.com/puppets_issue.html

Wrapping Paper Coloring Pages

Download these free black and white wrapping paper printables from pickle bums for kids to color in for the next time you need to wrap a present. 

Good for ages 1 and up.

Get the template here:
http://picklebums.com/2013/12/10/colour-your-own-wrapping-paper/

Jingle Bracelets

Colorful beads and jingle bells make cute bracelets or anklets with twodaloo. 

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.two-daloo.com/2013/12/11/jingle-bell-ankle-bracelets-with-dyed-wooden-beads/

Make A Paper Wallet

ASCAS from instructables shows how to make a wallet out of paper and it's waterproof no less.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Waterproof-Paper-Wallet/

Tiffany threadgould uses an empty cardboard cracker box.

Get the instructions here:
http://tiffanythreadgould.com/pages/diy/wallet.php

Squishy Paint Bags

Ziploc bags and paint turn into a perfect toddler craft and sensory play.

A day in the life of the kuesters uses two primary colors and lets the kids mix them together to learn about color creations.

Good for ages 1 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://adayinthelifeofthekuesters.blogspot.com/2012/10/toddler-activity-sensory-paint-bags.html

Learning at his feet uses several bags of just one color for sensory play.

Get the instructions here:
http://learningathisfeet.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-toddler-diaries-paint-bags.html

Cuties by zootys combines all of the colors into one bag and lets the kids discover the classic yucky brown.

Get the instructions here:
http://cutiesbyzootys.com.au/monday-make-it-squishy-paint-bag/

Sweet happy life put the bags in the window so the kids can see the sun shine through.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.sweethappylife.com/2012/activities/toddler-games-activities/toddler-indoor-activities/sunny-window-paint-play/

Curly Paper Birds

Colorful strips of scrapbooking paper turn into a cute bird with ing things step by step tutorial.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://ing-things.blogspot.ca/2012/12/lets-make-someting-nice-234-or-so.html

Egg Carton Doll Furniture

Egg cartons transform into adorable doll furniture with my cup overflows.  She makes everything from bath tubs to lamps to dining tables with chairs and so much more. 

Good for ages 12 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://mycupoverflows-johnson.blogspot.com/2011/09/kit-kittredge-american-girl.html

Hand Painted Clay Bowls

A really pretty idea from camille styles.  She shows you how to make the bowl itself and how to fine paint it with shiny gold paint using a cookie cutter to etch the clay.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://camillestyles.com/life-2/transformed-imprinted-clay-bowls/

Happy hour projects uses a stamp for her bowls.

Get the instructions here:
http://happyhourprojects.com/polymer-clay-bowl/ 

This heart of mine blog makes many bowls of increasing size and nests them into one another.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.thisheartofmineblog.com/2015/01/16/nested-clay-bowls/

Studio diy makes hers with a sense of humor.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.studiodiy.com/2015/05/11/diy-trinket-dishes/

A moms take cuts hers into a flower shape using air dry clay.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.amomstake.com/2014/10/diy-flower-clay-jewelry-holder/

Beaded Zip Tie Bookmarks

Zip ties make the perfect bookmark with this clever tutorial from michlinla.  She takes zip ties, beads and string to make a hanging tassel.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.michlinla.com/2013/11/ornamental-bead-sticks-part-six-tassel.html

Polka Dot Tub Time

Bath tubs make the best sensory bins.  Play create explore uses foam circles and food coloring to create this fun experience.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.playcreateexplore.org/2013/01/polka-dot-bath.html

Beaded Hand Print Sun Catchers

Salt dough hand prints turn into colorful suncatchers with melted beads at home grown friends.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.homegrownfriends.com/1/post/2013/11/handprint-suncatchers.html