Unpopable Gak Bubbles

Glue and liquid starch mix together to make really neat bubble material.  Two daloo suggests blowing into a glob with a straw and making what she calls an unbreakable bubble.  She so colors it a glittery blue to make it bubble color.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.two-daloo.com/play-recipe-diy-gak-bubbles/

Wire Wrap Bracelet

Bend jewelery wire into a nifty bracelet with instructables.  She has a great technique for moving from one section to the next.

Good for ages 13 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Swirly-Wire-Bracelet/

Panda hall braids the wire.

Get the instructions here:
http://lc.pandahall.com/articles/2176-vintage-bangle-designs-on-how-to-make-a-woven-copper-bracelet-with-wire.html

Castle Puzzle in a Box

An empty matchbox makes the perfect container for a miniature castle puzzle.  Kids get to cut the pieces and then put them together to make either the sample castle or a creation of their own.  Dada de l'enfant terrible shares a free printable to make the castle.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://dadaenfantterrible.blogspot.fr/2014/05/chateau-de-poche-kapesni-hrad.html

Melted Crayon Painting

Melted crayon painting takes on a new life with babble dabble do's idea to melt the crayons first in muffin tins and then use the melted wax as paint.  Kids will love the thicker texture when it dries.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://babbledabbledo.com/easy-art-kids-crayon-painting/

Floral Milk Vase

Bring back the past with flamingo toes diy floral milk vase using fabric or paper flowers. 

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.flamingotoes.com/2014/05/diy-vintage-style-floral-milk-vases/

Monogrammed Letters

Pretty scrapbooking paper dresses up monogram letters to add a fun touch to a child's room.  Crafts unleashed shares all of the details.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.craftsunleashed.com/decor-home/anthro-initial-wall-art/

Cindy derosier uses jewel stickers.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.cindyderosier.com/2015/07/jeweled-monograms.html

Balls of Fun Felted Magnets

Felt wool into these fun magnets with evermine.  She says it's particularly fun stabbing the felt with a needle.

Good for ages 11 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.evermine.com/blog/diy-wool-felted-magnets/

3D Paper Dinosaur Toy

Make a three dimensional roaringly interactive paper dinosaur toy with instructables.  She shares a printable template for kids to cut and fold and put together to make this nifty moving dino.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Poseable-Paper-T-Rex/

Rolled Paper Picture Frame

Colorful rolls of paper dress up an ordinary picture frame with this tutorial from instructables.  She warns this took a long long time.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Upcycled-Rolled-Paper-Frame/

Lego Plastic Bag Parachute

A plastic zipper bag, yarn and a lego turn into a nifty parachute toy with 733 blog.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://733blog.com/2014/05/plastic-bag-parachute.html

Wire Metal Dragonfly Necklace

A template is the secret for how to make this really cool copper wire dragonfly from instructables.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Dragonfly-Pendant/

Nature Scented Texture Paint

Flowers, fruit rind and herbs are added to paint to give it a different texture and scent with the nature store.  Making finger paint even more fun for the toddler set. 

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://nurturestore.co.uk/how-to-make-scented-paint-summer

Beaded Jewelry Charms

Making a charm bracelet isn't as hard as it seems as happy hour projects breaks down step by step how to make these simple pretty bead charms.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://happyhourprojects.com/jewelry-charms/

Panda hall makes a wooden bead version.

Get the instructions here:
http://lc.pandahall.com/articles/2473-how-to-make-a-charm-chain-bracelet-for-kids-with-colorful-wooden-beads.html

Painted Gourd Birdhouse

Gourds and their great shapes and sizes make great homes for little birds.  Lowe's paints them to add even more color for these homes. 

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.lowes.com/creative-ideas/lawn-and-garden/katies-krops-diy-birdhouse-gourds/article

Paper Kitten Bookmark

This adorable kitten bookmark comes in 4 different colors thanks to wild olive and her sweet free downloadable.  All kids need to do is cut, fold, glue and add magnetic tape. 

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the template here:

http://wildolive.blogspot.com/2014/05/printable-kitty-magnetic-bookmarks.html

Piping Jewelry Tree

Copper piping creates a simple and modern jewelry stand with the home depot's project for older kids.

Good for ages 15 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://ext.homedepot.com/community/blog/copper-pipe-jewelry-display-diy/

Glass Bottle Beaded Hummingbird Feeder

A glass bottle makes the base for this gorgeous hummingbird feeder from diy network and Michelle Reynolds.  She also adds colorful beads to dress it up.  Kids will love the hummingbirds that continue its beauty as they flutter and feed.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.diynetwork.com/maderemade/how-to/tequila-bottle-hummingbird-feeder/

Cardboard Circle Animal Magnets

Cutout cardboard circles are colored and given a cute face and ears with meri cherry.  She then adds magnets to the back so kids can have fun with pretend play.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.mericherry.com/2014/06/13/cardboard-cutout-animal-magnets-diy-magnet-board/

This Sidewalk Chalk Rocks

Transform ordinary chalk into huge chunky chalk rocks with babble dabble do.  Plus now kids won't mind when the chalk inevitably breaks.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://babbledabbledo.com/art-kids-chalk-rocks/

Musical Sticks

Kids will have fun turning ordinary sticks into colorful musical instruments with untrendy life's yarn wrapped jingle bell sticks.  It's a fun craft that starts outdoors in the collection process, and continue on with their concerts.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.untrendylife.com/2014/03/yarn-wrapped-sticks-with-bells.html

Water Siphon Science Experiment

Kids can create their own water coaster with babble dabble do's water siphon experiment.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://babbledabbledo.com/science-experiments-for-kids-siphon-water-coaster/

Wooden Stick Gnome

Turn a wood stick into a gnome to keep a terrarium or any garden plant company.  B kids cuts the top of the stick into a point and paints it red to give him a hat.  She tn paints a long white beard and adds on a face.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://bkids.typepad.com/bookhoucraftprojects/2014/05/project-158-diy-jam-jar-gnome-terrarium.html

Chica circle uses a wooden spoon.

Get the instructions here:
http://club.chicacircle.com/easiest-garden-gnome-craft-idea-for-kids/

Cardboard Box Foos Ball Table

Transform a cardboard box into a foos ball table with u create crafts.  Painted wooden dowels and clothespins turn into handles and players.  Use a golf ball or ping pong ball to play.

Good for ages 11 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.u-createcrafts.com/2014/06/diy-mini-foosball-tableperfect-for-kids.html

Instructables makes a version with paper towel tubes.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Makedo-Cardboard-Foosball-Table/

Popsicle Stick Benches

Supplies needed:

- Popsicle Sticks
- Glue
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Pencil

Cut 2 popsicle sticks to 5 centimeters each keeping one end rounded.  These will make the back part of the bench.

Cut 4 sticks 4 centimeters.  These will make the back part and seat for the bench.

Cut 2 sticks at 2.5 centimeters.  Keeping one side rounded.   This will make the seat for the bench.

Glue the 4 centimeter sticks to the 2.5 centimeter sticks.

Attach two cut offs of the sticks to strengthen the bench.

Next attach the 5 centimeter sticks.

Attach the seat.

Cut 4 more 2 centimeter sticks to use as the bench legs.  Use some cut offs to strengthen here as well.

Place on top of green crumpled tissue paper to make a nice grass floor.  Pink and green pipe cleaner flowers add a nice touch as well. 

This post originally appeared on arty lil which unfortunately is no longer live. 

Cardboard Box Stables

Make a stable for any farm animal with a cardboard box and lilla a design.  She lines the box with fake grass, cuts out some windows, paints it red and adds some plastic animals for lots of pretend fun.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://lilla-a-design.blogspot.com.au/2010/01/skolads-hus.html

Wood Disc Key Chains

Small wooden discs are decorated with markers or paint with scrumdillydo.  Then drill a hole in each and make them a key chain or even a necklace.  This is a great project for preschoolers too. 

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://scrumdillydo.blogspot.com/2013/06/fathers-day-diy-wooden-key-chaingift-tag.html

Painted Rock Paper Weights

A great project for even toddlers, take a common rock and give the kids some paint to make fun paper weights.  Happy hooligans shares all of the details.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://happyhooligans.ca/painted-rock-paper-weight-craft/

Water Color and Crayon Notebooks

Water color paints and crayons harmonize in these notebook covers made by pink stripey socks.  Makes a good gift the preschool set can give.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.pinkstripeysocks.com/2014/05/watercolor-and-crayon-resist-notebooks.html

Corn Husk Dolls

Make an old fashioned corn husk girl and boy doll with wee folk art.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://weefolkart.com/content/corn-husk-dolls

Colorful Medals

Medals aren't just gold anymore.  Paint clay bright colors and stamp in a star to make your own medals.  Meri cherry adds pretty ribbons and a bead so the kids can wear them.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:

http://www.mericherry.com/2014/06/05/handmade-awards-medals-friends-family/

Stick Vases

Symmetrical wood sticks are glued to a vase with thistle wood farms.

Good for ages 12 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.thistlewoodfarms.com/wood-stick-vase

Confetti Tape

Dress up tape for fun gift packaging by adding colorful tissue paper confetti.  Two shades of pink shares all of the details.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://twoshadesofpink.blogspot.com/2014/04/diy-confetti-tape.html

Crystalized Watercolor Paintings

Epsom salt turns watercolor painting to a new level crystallizing the paint.  Fun at home with kids shares all of the details.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:

http://www.funathomewithkids.com/2014/01/homemade-paint-recipe-crystallizing.html

Car Sensory Box

Got lots of toy cars lying around?  Add them to a sensory box filled with sand, toilet paper and paper towel tubes for tunnels, and even hardware pieces to give kids a new way to play with them.

Ocean in a Jar

Learn about the layers of the ocean and liquid density at the same time with this ocean zone project from i can teach my child.  She uses lots of blue food coloring for the different layers.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2014/05/make-ocean-zones-jar/

Cereal Bracelet

A pipe cleaner and any cereal with a hole in the middle make an easy toddler bracelet.  Great for fine motor skills and snacking.  From lessons learnt journal.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://lessonslearntjournal.com/diy-bracelets-mothers-day-gifts/

Coffee Stirrer Keychain

Coffee stirrers, glue and sharpies make a really neat multicolor key fob and great gift.  Design mom shares the details.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.designmom.com/2013/01/the-perfect-gift-wooden-key-chain/

Phone Book Pencil Holder

Next time a phone book is delivered to your door instead of recycling it have the kids upcycle it to a pencil holder. 

Good for ages 11 and up.

Found on ella hoy:
http://www.ellahoy.es/ocio/fotos/dia-del-padre-2012-fotos-de-manualidades_2411_10.html

Popsicle Stick Fish

Popsicle sticks are painted and glittered and placed into a pattern, with a googly eye to make it a fish.  Our crafts n things shares all of the details.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://ourcraftsnthings.com/2013/07/bee-crafty-popsicle-stick-fish/

Puzzle Piece Picture Frame

A unique idea for enahancing a photo frame is to glue on puzzle pieces around the frame edge.  A great gift for any puzzle lover.  From do it yourself gifts.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.do-it-yourself-gifts.com/fathers-day-craft.html

Clay Letter Containers

Using alphabet cookie cutters to shape the clay, willow day makes clay alphabet containers.  She leaves hers white but they could be painted as well. These make a super cute gift.

Good for ages 11 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.willowday.com/2012/06/diy-alphabet-containers.html

Fuzzy Monster Cell Phone Charger Cover

Kids can give their cell phone a fuzzy friend to spend the night with while it's recharging for another day. Alpha mom makes these for father's day but they're great for any day.  They're so cute.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://alphamom.com/family-fun/holidays/diy-fathers-day-gift-monsterize-his-phone-charger/