Vintage Paper Dolls

Paper dolls are a great free way to play.  Casita de papel shares several vintage dolls and outfits including hats.

Get the templates here:
http://casitadepapel.wordpress.com/2010/05/10/vintage-paper-dolls/

Sugar sticks parties has vintage baby paper dolls.

Get the templates here:
http://blog.sugarsticksparties.com/?p=1307

Cancion de la vida profunda includes boy dolls in their collection including on named Skippy.

Get the templates here:
http://canciondelavidaprofunda.blogspot.com/2011/02/paper-doll-vintage.html

 

Take a break with me shares older women dolls that are in the public domain on their flickr account.

Get the templates here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/takeabreakwithme/3267505294/in/set-72157615319803320/

Miss fumes shares a couple of more retro dolls on her site.

Get the templates here:
http://missfunes.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/vintage-paper-dolls-diy-easy-project-home-decor-in-minutes-paperdoll-for-framing-quick-cheap-and-unique/

Plastic Cup Wind Chimes

A paper or plastic cup makes a cute wind chime enhanced with beads hanging from threads and colorful drawings.  She knows shows you how.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/984757/spring-crafts-for-kids

Origami House

Make these adorable three dimensional paper folded houses good for playing with little figures from Leyla Torres.

Post It Note Holder

Card stock, pretty scrap booking paper and ribbon turn ordinary post it notes into really pretty stationary with this tutorial from emily giovanni.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://emilygiovanni.com/?p=67

Lady Bug Jar

Kids can repurpose a glass jar with some paint, googly eye and pipe cleaner to collect ladybugs as they fly by.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.creativegreenliving.com/2013/04/how-to-make-recycled-ladybug-bug-jar.html

DIY Tooth Fairy Box

Kids will love having a special box to hold their teeth while waiting for a visit from the tooth fairy.  Spoonful creates this one out of an empty matchbox and felt.

Get the instructions here:
http://spoonful.com/crafts/tooth-fairy-box

Wild olive has a felt version too but makes a pouch instead of a box.

Get the instructions here:
http://wildolive.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/project-tooth-fairy-pouch.html

At one point oriental trading sold a paper box kit.  They no longer have it but the image shows how to make a similar one out of a cardboard box and paper cut outs.

Fairy coloring pages shares a free cut and fold version.

Get the template here:
http://fairycoloringpages.blogspot.com/2010/10/tooth-fairy-paper-craft-tooth-box.html

March hare cards also shares a free printable box cut and fold tooth fairy box.

Get the template here:
http://marchharecards.blogspot.com/2012/06/exploding-box-for-tooth-fairy.html

Life songs of a busy mom use an empty Altoids box and paints it with glitter paint adding stickers and a cute poem.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.lifesongsofabusymom.com/2013/03/altoids-tooth-fairy-box.html

Busy moms helper uses an Altoids tin as well but glues on scrapbooking paper instead of painting the box.  She adds the message on the outside.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.busymomshelper.com/2014/02/tooth-fairy-box.html

Arty kat uses a matchbox as well and a stamp seal.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.artykat.com/artykat/?page_id=403

Bug Pots

Clay pots are painted and turned into a ladybug, bumble bee and butterfly with jewelry wire and paper and these details from heck fridays.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructns here:
http://heckfridays.blogspot.com/2011/03/makin-crafts-spring-bugs.html

Toilet Paper Roll Napkin Rings

The ultimate upcycled kids craft - a toilet paper tube turns into a napkin ring with one savvy mom, and pretty ribbon and glue.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.onesavvymom.net/2013/04/3-fun-upcycled-recycled-cardboard-paper.html

Tissue Paper Bowls

Balloons, glue and colorful tissue paper turn into a pretty and functional bowl kids can make and enjoy.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://mericherry.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/tissue-paper-balloon-bowls/

Schaeresteipapier uses dried flower petals for her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://schaeresteipapier.blogspot.ch/2014/05/schale-aus-papier-mit-blumen.html 

Art projects for kids uses larger pieces of tissue paper.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/2014/06/tissue-paper-bowls.html

Star Wars Stick Puppets

Felt and a green popsicle stick and googly eyes turn into a Yoda stick puppet with starwars.com.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://starwars.com/play/online-activities/crafts/yodastickpuppet/index.html

Serving pink lemonade takes an easier approach and uses paper cut outs of all of the Star Wars characters gluing them on to the popsicle sticks.  She also makes a card game. 

Get the instructions here:
http://www.serving-pink-lemonade.com/2011/12/homemade-gift-matching-game-stick.html

The images come from a free Star Wars download from home school creations:
http://homeschoolcreations.com/StarWarspreschoolpack.html

Vicky barone uses foam cut outs to make storm trooper and Darth Vader puppets.

Get the instructions here:
http://vickybarone.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/diy-star-wars-characters-popsicle-stick-ornaments/

Clothespin Fairies

Clothespins are painted and given colorful yarn hair and a happy face with greg and lori.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://gregandlori.com/wordpress/2011/05/the-rainbow-fairy-game/

 Hostess with the mostess has a more involved version using flower petals for the fairy's dress.

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.hwtm.com/2013/06/diy-tutorial-wooden-fairy-dolls/

Drip Painting Pot

A clay pot turns into a rainbow with drip paint and these instructions from in lieu of preschool.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.inlieuofpreschool.com/rainbow-pour-painting-flower-pots/

Wire Heart Bead Pendant

Jewelry wire and colorful beads turn into a pretty heart pendant with instructables.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Beaded-heart-pendant/

Sock Puppets

These sock puppets are super easy to make.  All you need is a sock, cotton balls, buttons and glue.  Thanks meri cherry for this great craft for pre-school kids.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://mericherry.wordpress.com/2014/01/31/little-lovie-sock-puppets/

We made that makes dogs with a felt ears and tongue, a pompom nose, and googly eyes.

Get the instructions here:
http://we-made-that.com/sock-puppets/

Spoonful makes a horse, elephant, rabbit and dragon.

The website is no longer available.

Printable Pirate's Treasure Chest

Print and fold this free printable pirate chest from spoonful.  Includes gold doubloons as well.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the template here:
http://spoonful.com/printables/jake-and-never-land-pirates-treasure-chest

Paper Doll Playhouse

Dowload the free template for The Mittens TV show from Nick Jr.  Includes 4 paper dolls and a playhouse.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the template here:
http://www.nickjr.com/crafts/mittens-puppet-theater.jhtml

Bead Caterpillars

Colorful beads and string turn into cute caterpillars with pasandolo pipa.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.pasandolopipa.blogspot.com.es/2013/10/gusanitos-de-madera.html

Cardboard Box Banks

A cereal box, construction paper and markers turn into a bank with kix cereal.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.kixcereal.com/diy-cereal-box-piggy-banks/ 

Easy preschool crafts uses a milk carton for her bank and adds a straw maze to make it interactive, letting the coins fall through before entering the box.

Get the instructions here:
http://easypreschoolcraft.blogspot.com/2014/02/recycled-milk-carton-rolling-coin-bank.html

Marshmallow Catapult

Marshmallows hold skewers together to make this spoon based catapult with its always autumn.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/2013/5/31/easy-marshmallow-catapults-summer-fun-for-kids.html

Lauren over at tutus tea parties uses clothespins, a popsicle stick and bottle caps.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.tutusteaparties.com/2012/02/marshmallow-catapults.html

Printable Town

Kids can create a whole play town with these colorful free storefront printables from vivint.  Printables include everything from a doughnut shop to a police station and police cars. 

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the template here:
http://neighborhood.vivint.com/author/mrichards/

Eimaipaidi shares several home, shop and service printables including a bedroom, kitchen, living room and bathroom to make a play house as well as a cafe, bakery, fruit stand and florist to visit.

Get the template here:
http://www.eimaipaidi.gr/2013/03/blog-post_5.html

Yarn Place Mats

Cut up pieces of colorful yarn and sticky contact paper make a fun activity for kids of all ages.  Little ones can have fun playing with the textures and older kids can create pictures.  Laughing kids learn shares all of the details and more.

Good for ages 1 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://laughingkidslearn.com/2013/08/fun-activity-for-kids-using-wool.html/

Rocketship Pulley

Blast off with this rocket pulley from pink stripey socks, who uses cardboard cutouts, string and straws to operate the launch and countdown. 

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.pinkstripeysocks.com/2013/09/cardboard-spaceship-climbing-toy.html

Alien Golf Game

Aliens invade the world of golf with this adorable diy golf set from crafts for kids.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftsforkids.com/projects/1400/1413/crafts_for_kids_1413-3.pdf

Clothespin Windchimes

Clothes pins make an easy wind chime.  Simply add paint and tie up with string.  B-inspired mama has all of the details.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://b-inspiredmama.com/2013/10/wind-chime-kids-craft/

Paper Plate Bird Feeder

Paper plates transform into functional bird feeders with peanut butter and bird seed from snuggle bug university.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.snugglebuguniversity.com/2013/04/sunflower-bird-feeder.html

Fabric Bead Bracelets

Fabric and beads come together to make a really unique bracelet.  Crafts for kids calls these sports team bracelets and suggests using team and school colors.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftsforkids.com/projects/1400/1413/crafts_for_kids_1413-1.pdf

Henry happened makes fabric beads with colorful fabric and glue and then threads them on wire to make a fun bracelet.  

Get the instructions here:
http://www.henryhappened.com/kid-craft-fabric-bead-bracelet-tutorial.html 

Buzzmills makes a necklace with her fabric beads.

Get the instructions here:
http://buzzmills.typepad.com/blog/2013/05/fabric-bead-necklaces.html

Stone Wind Chimes

An interesting ways to repurpose rocks -- to tie them up in ribbon and hang for a wind chime craft.  Family crafts from about has all of the details.  You could also paint the rocks for a more colorful version. 

Good for ages 8 and up

Get the instructions here:
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/stoneandrock/ss/Rock_Wind_Chime_Craft.htm

Toilet Paper Roll Vases

Toilet paper tubes turn into vases with this tutorial from filth wizardry.  They glue a circle of cardboard to the bottom to make it a vase and fill it with cardboard cut out flowers with pipe cleaner stems.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.filthwizardry.com/2009/03/cardboard-flowers.html

Plaid kids craft inserts a mini clay pot in the bottom of the roll and paints with crackle paint.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.plaidkidscrafts.com/2011/07/01/QuickEasyPaperVases.aspx

Alanna george has a version for the preschool set.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.alannageorge.com/2011/04/19/how-to-pipe-cleaner-flowers/