Clothespin Containers

Clothespins become an adorable pencil or nicknack holder with mujer 2.0.  She paints the clothespins bright pastel colors for a sunny effect.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://mujer2.com/portalapices-manualidades-para-el-dia-de-la-madre

Weather Lacing Cards

Sunny was the weather with these cute weather lacing cards.  Kids can practice their fine motor skills on a sun, cloud or rainbow.  Wild olive shares these free printables.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://wildolive.blogspot.com/2014/04/printable-weather-lacing-cards.html

Beaded Wire Rings

Jewelry wire and colorful clear beads make nifty rings with ikatbag.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.ikatbag.com/2013/10/the-first-clue-flowers-rings.html

Panda hall makes a layered version.

Get the instructions here:
http://lc.pandahall.com/articles/1628-free-project-on-making-a-multi-strand-ring-with-colorful-seed-beads.html

Paper Cup Flower People

Pretty paper cups turn into pretty three dimensional flowers with sweet tidings. 

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://sweettidings.blogspot.com/2008/04/kids-craft-happy-daisy-paper-flowers.html

Flower Pencils

Turn an ordinary box of pencils into a garden with a pipe cleaners and silk flowers and a thrifty mom.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://athriftymom.com/diy-flower-pencil-money-saving-craft-for-kids/

Paper flowers are attached to pencils to make a cute gift with happy clippings.  Unfortunately the site is no longer available.

The foley fam makes a flower pencil bouquet as a teacher's gift, filling the vase with colorfully wrapped salt water taffy.

Get the instructions here:
http://thefoleyfam.com/2011/08/bouquet-of-pencils-teacher-appreciation.html

Flower People

Silk flowers, pipe cleaners and a wood bead turn into flower people withideas and inspirations from bfc hawaii. 

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://ideasandinspirationsfrombfchawaii.blogspot.com/2012/05/flower-fairies-keiki-craft.html

Vegetable Boquet

Celery, cucumber, carrots and tomatoes come together in a glass vase to make a vegetable bouquet with living locurto.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.livinglocurto.com/2011/04/veggie-flower-bouquet-treat/

Button Flowers

Buttons turn into flowers with crafty placement, glue andcraft klatch with mona.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftklatchwithmona.blogspot.com/2013/06/button-flowers-craft-tutorial.html

Wire Crown

This copper wire crown is a great accessory for pretend play whether it's Max from Where The Wild Things Are or a princess tea party.  Ambrosia girl shows how to create this minimalist crown for boys and girls alike.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.ambrosiagirl.com/blog/wire-birthday-crown-diy/

Make and tell makes hearts into her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://makeandtell.com/make-party-wire-heart-crown/ 

The magic onions uses pompoms and a head band for her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.themagiconions.com/2014/07/diy-tutorial-wire-felt-crown.html

Secret Clothes Pin Messages

Create a secret message and store it in a clothespin with creative in chicago.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.creativeinchicago.com/2014/05/secret-message-peg-tutorial.html

Rainy Day Painting

Rain painting gives a whole new meaning to water colors.  Fun things to do with ur kids suggests simply placing dots of paint onto paper and leave outside in the rain to watch how the rain washes the colors onto the paper.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://funthingstodowithurkidz.blogspot.com/2013/10/rain-storm-pictures.html

Leaf Painting

As the leaves are now fresh on the trees take a walk with the kids to find some unique and different shapes and sizes.  Bla bla kids then paints the leaves.  She uses Magnolias because they're hearty.  One experiment for kids is to see which leaves hold up to the paint and which disintegrate and dry up over time.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.blablakids.blogspot.com/2012/10/leaf-it-to-kristen.html

The art room plant uses polka dots in their leaf paintings.

Get the instructions here:
http://theartroomplant.blogspot.com/2011/10/painting-leaves-on-autumn-days.html 

 Quince and quire paints her leaves with a metallic marker adding swirls along the veins. 

Get the instructions here:
http://quinceandquire.typepad.com/quince_and_quire/2009/09/inspired-by-geninne.html 

Bicocacolors paints on pictures.

Get the instructions here:
http://bicocacolors.blogspot.com.es/2012/11/bicocacolors-shop.html 

Creative in chicago uses green leaves.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.creativeinchicago.com/2015/09/decorated-leaves.html

Monster Bread Tags

Dress up bread tags with stickers and paint to make them monsters eating the bread bags.  from crafts by amanda.

Good for ages 11 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftsbyamanda.com/2010/09/recycled-bread-tag-monsters.html

Terra Cotta Garden Markers

Terra cotta plant holders are glued to craft sticks and painted to represent different vegetables in the garden from the crafty classroom.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://thecraftyclassroom.com/CraftGardenPotMarkers.html

Buggy Bird Feeders

Tin cans turn into bird feeders with the craft team at lowes.  They add a face and cut out a mouth in the top, paint the sides to look like an insect bee or ladybug and add screen material to give it wings.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.lowes.com/creative-ideas/lawn-and-garden/build-a-fun-bug-shaped-birdfeeder/project

Egg Carton Flower Wreath

Egg cartons are cut into flower shapes, painted and turned into a wreath with homemade serenity.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://homemadeserenity.blogspot.com/2011/04/make-it-egg-carton-wreath.html

Jen loves kev uses an embroidery hoop and places her flowers around the edge. 

Get the instructions here:
http://jenloveskev.com/2014/03/09/egg-carton-floral-wreaths-kids/

Plant People

Glass baby jar food containers are repurposed to make plant people with mom vs the boys.  Simple add dirt and grass seeds to make the hair.  On the outside of the jar add googly eyes, and painted smiles.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://momvstheboys.com/2010/05/hairy-spring-gardening-craft-kids/

About family crafts uses margarine tubs for her version.

Get the instructions here:
 http://aboutfamilycrafts.com/how-to-make-hairy-friends/

Painted Insect Stones

Smooth pebbles become bees, ladybugs and other colorful insects by simply applying paint.  Lu bird baby shares all of the details.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.lubirdbaby.com/2010/03/painted-rocks.html

Plastic Bottle Owls

A clear plastic bottle turns into a super cute owl with pysselbolaget.  She uses wrapping paper to dress up the owl and give it its wings, eyes, beak and tummy.

Good for ages 11 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://pysselbolaget.se/2012/09/14/atervunna-ugglorrecycled-owls/

I heart crafty things uses the bottom of two 2 liter bottles and glues them together in the middle.  She next gives it paper eyes, a beak, wings, and frayed feathers.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.iheartcraftythings.com/2015/01/soda-bottle-owl-craft.html

Plastic Bottle Beads

Turn a plastic bottle into neat beads with we'd rather be camping for fun upcycled jewelry.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.wedratherbecamping.com/2012/09/camping-craft-upcycled-handmade-beads.html

Wire Flowers

Jewelry wire and beads turn into a pretty decorative flower with craft bits.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftbits.com/project/learn-to-make-a-wire-poinsettia/

Glitter Pasta

Any kind of pasta becomes pretty with glitter and glue and this unique tutorial from jumpstart.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.jumpstart.com/common/spaghetti-glitter-craft

Torn Paper Tree

Torn paper and finger prints meet to make this unique looking tree from jenni bowlin studio inspiration.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://jennibowlinstudioinspiration.blogspot.com/2011/07/paper-and-ink-kids-crafts_05.html

Rocket Lollipops

Blast off with these rocket lollipop covers using simply construction paper and an alien print out from the frugal crafter.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://thefrugalcrafter.wordpress.com/2009/02/03/a-week-of-ufos-and-freebies/

Yarn Painting

Thread and paint combine to make this great toddler friendly painting activity.  Supply the little ones with different color paint and string.  Then have the kids dip the yarn into the paint and use the thread to paint a picture.  Kids will love the sensory play with the soft yarn and getting to touch the paint in a different way.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.themotherhuddle.com/string-painting-kids-craft/

Gift of curiosity has a similar activity.  However she makes mini Rorschach tests with her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.giftofcuriosity.com/painting-with-strings/

Plastic Lid Apples

A clear plastic lid quickly becomes a nifty apple kids craft with the help of tissue paper and real apple seeds and 4 crazy kings.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://4crazykings.blogspot.com/2010/08/recycled-kids-craft-apples.html

Stained Glass Windows

Geometric cut outs and cellophane turn an ordinary window into a stained glass window with super mommy.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.supermommy.com.sg/stained-glass-easy-kids-craft/

Getting Tired of Legos?

Or are your Legos just getting tired?  Kids activity blog turns a matchbox into a bed for mini Lego figures.  The provide a template of colorful Lego bricks.  Simply print and glue to the match box.  They also add a little blanket made from a small piece of felt.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/52031/lego-matchbox-beds

Free Printable Shape Magnets

Find fun and colorful triangles, squares and rectangles to download and print from picklebums.  After downloading, kids need to cut out the shapes and glue to magnet sheets.  These are great for two dimensional building.

Good for ages 3 and up. 

Get the template here:
http://picklebums.com/2014/04/22/magnet-madness/

Good Reader Certificates

Celebrate your child's reading with this cute certificate from certificate street.

Download the free printable here:
http://www.certificatestreet.com/education_4/good-reader-award-certificate_261.html

Trophy central shares a fill in the blank reading award.

Download the free printable here:
http://www.trophycentral.com/reading.html

Pipe Cleaner Dolls

Pipe cleaners and a pretty cocktail napkin turn into beautiful dancing dolls any little girl would love to make and play with.  From the zing zing tree.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://zingzingtree.com/2014/05/06/pipe-cleaner-dancing-princesses/

Plastic Bottle Wind Chimes

A painted plastic bottle and colorful plastic beads make a vibrant wind chime to enjoy.  From happy hooligans.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://happyhooligans.ca/diy-wind-chimes-recycled-craft/

One artsy mama covers her bottle with various colors of tissue paper and ties bottle caps onto string to make sound.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.oneartsymama.com/2015/06/tea-bottle-wind-chime.html

It's Lego Time

A clock kit and a Lego base plate make a really fun gift for any Lego fan.  Our nerd home shares all of the details on how to make your own customizable version.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://ournerdhome.com/diy-lego-clock/

Key Wind Chimes

Colorfully painted keys and a long tree branch make a truly unique idea for wind chimes.  Inner child fun shares this tutorial.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://giving.innerchildfun.com/2013/04/recycled-crafts-for-kids-diy-key-wind-chime.html

Octopus Sock Doll

Turn a colorful sock into an octopus with the help of kix cereal and colorful shoe laces. 

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.kixcereal.com/kix-cereal-kids-craft-sock-octopus-socktopus/

Paper and Tissue Wind Sock

This is an easy craft to make and fun to see the windy spring weather.  The crafting chicks have kids color a piece of paper and tape it in a circle, adding colorful crepe paper streamers to the bottom.  They also add a paper handle to hand it from a tree.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://thecraftingchicks.com/2014/04/paper-windsock-kid-craft.html

True aim education makes one completely out of tissue paper:

Get the instructions here:
http://www.trueaimeducation.com/homemade-windsock-kites-for-kids/

Wine Cork Photo Frame

Wine corks get cut, colored and glued to make this fun and unique picture frame from two shades of pink.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://twoshadesofpink.blogspot.com/2014/04/all-you-magazine-confetti-cork-frame-diy.html