Make your own banjo

Le top usa has a musical project to make a diy banjo using a paper plate, rubber bands, and a paint stick.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://letopusa.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/paper-plate-banjo-craft-for-fun/

Martha Stewart also has a banjo tutorial involving a shoe box, rubber bands, some wood pencils and a paper towel roll for the base.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/265694/making-music

Secret Code Messages

Classic play has a unique idea for writing a secret message. Using a paper tube and long strips of paper wrap the paper around the tube and write the message. Unroll the paper and deliver. The recipient will need to re-wrap the paper around the roll to reveal the message.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.classic-play.com/spies-like-us-secret-codes-pt-2/

Color Scavenger Hunt

Creative studio has a really great idea for a scavenger hunt - a colorful one. They even have a solution for how to store all of the items - using an empty egg carton. Using cut outs of different paint cards place a different color in each compartment. Then have the kids try to find something of every color. It will be interesting to see what they come back with and talk about what they were and were not able to find.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://createstudio.blogspot.com/2011/03/color-treasure-hunt.html

Paper Boxes

Don't eat the paste has a couple of free templates for celestial paper boxes including a sun and a moon option. One nice thing about the template is that it's black and white so then kids can color them in.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.donteatthepaste.com/2012/02/celestial-boxes-in-black-and-white.html

Make your own pinwheel

Oh happy day has a free pinwheel template. All you need is colorful paper, straws and a pin to hold it all together.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://ohhappyday.com/2012/01/pinwheel-party-favor-diy-free-printable/

Creative capital b makes a colorful one and adds a button and straw.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.creativecapitalb.com/2014/02/simple-circle-pinwheels-for-spring.html

 

 

 

Smart school house uses post it notes.

 

Get the instructions here:

http://www.smartschoolhouse.com/crafts-and-diy/post-it-pinwheels/2

Bagel Bird Feeder Mobile

Wee life has a unique bird seed mobile using bagels and birdseed, peanut butter to keep the seeds in place, a tin pie pan and some ribbon. More interesting than seeing the birds peck at it may be seeing how the bagels hold up and how and if the birds eat the bagel or if some squirrel gets there first.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://living.weelife.com/2009/12/bird-feeder-wreaths-mobile.html

Yarn Butterfly Project

Colorful yarn turns into cute butterflies with these kids butterfly crafts.

Gummy lump has a really easy butterfly project for young kids using popsicle sticks, yarn, pipe cleaners and buttons.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.gummylump.com/2011/04/yarn-butterflies-spring-craft-kids.html

Carosello blog makes yarn butterfly magnets adding pom poms and clothes pins to form the butterfly's body.  

Get the instructions here:
http://www.caroselloblog.com/2011/07/magic-makings-diy-yarn-butterflies.html

Think crafts adds button eyes for their version.

Get the instructions here:
http://thinkcrafts.com/blog/2013/04/11/yarn-butterflies/

Juxtapost has a simple version that doesn't require popsicle sticks.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.juxtapost.com/site/permlink/1ebe7000-28ce-11e2-b5ff-75539b266b1c/post/yarn_butterflies/

Homemade at my place uses a fork to make her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.homemadeatmyplace.blogspot.com/2013/03/make-it-sweet-tiny-yarn-butterflies.html