Build Your Own Igloo

Education.com has an awesome tutorial for how to make your own igloo and it's really simple. You can make a small igloo indoors with ice cube trays or a large igloo for outdoors with milk cartons that you cut in half. One word of warning, make sure your ice is flat. Otherwise it will be a lot more challenging to get the ice to stay put, although probably a lot more fun as well.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.education.com/activity/article/homemade_igloo/?cid=50.20


Play at home mom 3 also has an ice cube igloo using square ice cubes. She then re-purposes them to draw with and use in the bath.

Get the instructions here:
http://playathomemom3.blogspot.com/2012/03/igloo.html

Making merry memories uses sugar cubes to make an igloo.  To give it a snowy texture she sprinkles it with sugar icing. 

Get the instructions here:
http://makingmerrymemories.blogspot.com/2011/03/sugar-cube-igloo.html

Campfire marshmallows uses mini marshmallows to make igloos and larger ones to make snowmen.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.campfiremarshmallows.com/frosted-igloo-with-snowman/

Make Your Own Plastic Bottle Bowling Set

Jill from Meet the Dubiens has a nifty idea for how to create a beautiful bowling set.  All you need are plastic bottles and paint.  Very simple and a great activity when you are done.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.ucreatewithkids.com/2011/02/creative-guest-meet-dubiens.html
 

All things shendrick has a nighttime version for the summer months using the same bottles but filled with water and colorful glow sticks.

Get the instructions here:
http://allthingshendrick.blogspot.com/2012/03/20-spring-break-ideas.html

Growing a jeweled rose has a similar glow in the dark bowling idea.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2014/06/glow-in-dark-bowling.html 

Kix cereal has a version as well.

Get the instructions here:
http://kixcereal.com/glow-in-the-dark-bowling/ 

Lindsay and andrew use water with food coloring.

Get the instructions here:
http://lindsayandandrew.blogspot.com/2011/07/water-bottle-bowling.html

Hanging Clouds - Kids Bedroom Decor

Oh Crafts has a really simple way to turn a bedroom ceiling into a cloud-filled sky.  Your children can help form the cloud shapes they'd like to watch and see.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.ohcrafts.net/kids-clouds-on-the-ceiling.php

Make Your Own Bath Sponges

Martha Stewart has a great idea for pop-up sponges, but unfortunately doesn't provide a template. Luckily there's a ton of stencil sites with templates online. You can also have kids create and cut their own designs using flat sponge material.

ABC stencils here:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=abc+stencils&qpvt=abc+stencils&FORM=IGRE


Crafts by mommy has a fun way to re-purpose colorful kitchen sponges, simply cut the sponge into strips and tie together with dental floss.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftsbymommy.blogspot.com/2011/02/easy-bath-toys.html

Passion for savings has the kids use the sponges for a gun game of Bozo Buckets.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.passionforsavings.com/2013/05/how-to-make-your-own-sponge-ball-toss/

 

Mom endeavors uses different textured sponges.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.momendeavors.com/2011/07/diy-splash-balls-2.html

Cheryl style makes a game for the sponge balls with frisbees by having the kids throw them into the frisbees to earn points.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.cherylstyle.com/showcase/diy-sponge-ball-pool-game/

How to Make a Lava Lamp

Home Chemistry has a great video showing you how to make a lava lamp.  The most difficult item to find is the LED push light, but everything else is very easy to obtain.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://homechemistry.blogspot.com/2011/05/homemade-lava-lamp-new-and-improved.html

My recipe room has an easier version using alka seltzer tabs, food coloring, oil and water and a clear plastic bottle.

Get the instructions here:
http://myreciperoom.blogspot.com/2010/03/home-made-lava-lamp.html

Hello wonderful uses mason jars.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/diy-mason-jar-lava-lamp

Lindsay and andrew uses a recipe with glue.

Get the instructions here:
http://lindsayandandrew.blogspot.com/2011/08/lava-lamps.html

Bird and little bird uses lots of different colors.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.birdandlittlebird.com/blog/2012/05/kitchen-table-science-lava-lamps-.html

Make Your Own Scratch Art Paper

Make It:

Frugal Family Fun Blog shows how to make nifty do it yourself scratch art boards. Kids will have fun designing the hidden colors, hiding their colors and scratching off the paint to make fun designs.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2011/11/diy-scratch-art-pages.html

Buy It:

Alternatively you can buy scratch art paper:

Keeping track of you child's favorites

All for the boys had a fantastic "interview" you can give your kids every year.  This is a great idea for their scrapbooks because you can see how their answers change and don't change every year.  You can also use the template as questions and record their answers in addition to the paper version.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Click the image for the template.

Thirty handmade days has an interview template that covers the past year and the next.

Get the template here:
http://thirtyhandmadedays.com/2011/12/new_year_resolution/