Melted Crayon Painting

Buzz feed lists a lot of ways to use crayons and a hair dryer for a really neat effect but the one that's most different is using up all of those little crayon pieces to create something new.  Kids will have as much fun smashing up the crayons and designing them on the page as they will melting them. 

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/donnad/creative-ways-to-create-melted-crayon-art

Growing a jeweled rose uses crayon shavings as well, but instead of a hair dryer, she leaves her canvas out in the sun and answers the question what happens when crayons are left out in the sun?

Get the instructions here:
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/08/paint-and-play-crayon-art.html

How to Build a Worm Habitat

Spell outloud has a fascinating project for how to watch and observer worms using a 2 liter plastic bottle, worms and dirt. It seems kind of gross but it's really almost meditative watching them wiggle their way through.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.spelloutloud.com/2012/04/observing-worms-with-preschoolers/

Water Balloon Painting

Mirth market fills water balloons with paint, attaches to a board and shoots darts at them for a really neat effect.  You could also throw the balloons at the board for more of a firework look.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://mirthmarket.blogspot.com/2012/06/water-balloon-dart-painting.html?m=1

Growing a jeweled rose has the hid throw the balloons for a less controlled effect.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/05/paint-play.html 

Let's lasso the moon fills the balloons with water, rolls them in paint and then rolls them onto the paper.

Get the instructions here:
 http://letslassothemoon.com/2014/06/26/water-balloon-painting-outdoor-summer-art-activity/

Hello wonderful uses darts as well, but places her balloons in the center.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/balloon-dart-painting-with-kids

How to Create a Ziploc Bag Greenhouse

Things my husband has a fun project to turn any window into a greenhouse using plastic bags, seeds, soil and tape. Kids will love to see how and whether the different seeds grow.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://treasuresmyhh.blogspot.com/2012/05/thms-greenhouse.html

Hummingbirded turns the greenhouse project into a super neat activity.  She has the kids wear a sock on the outside of their shoe and walk around a nature trail.  She sticks the sock in a clear plastic ziploc bag, sprays it with water, tapes it in the window and everyone gets to watch their sock grow.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.hummingbirded.com/science.html

Leaf Stepping Stones

Ted wiebe turns rhubarb leaves into stepping stones by spreading concrete on their backs. 

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://tedwiebe.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/rhubarb-leaf-stepping-stones/

Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder

Disney's family fun shares a cute way take a plastic bottle and some wooden spoons and turn it into a bird feeder.  You could also decorate the bottle with paint, stickers and tape.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/backyard-bird-feeder-672532/

Ramblings from utopia has a more rustic looking version complete with a jagged opening.  She drills her version right into the tree.   

Get the instructions here:
http://www.ramblingsfromutopia.com/2012/04/diy-earth-day-project-soda-bottle-bird.html

Milk Carton Bird House

Wooz creates a milk carton bird house using simply a coat of paint to cover the carton and markers to decorate the house. She cuts a round hole and adds a twig post for the birds to perch from.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.wooz.dk/?p=5006

Craft project ideas paints their milk carton and adds colorful button shingles to make a roof.  She then cuts a hole and adds a pipe cleaner and  pompom bird.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.craftprojectideas.com/index.php/how-to/material-of-the-month/craft-buttons-april-2014/1682-button-birdhouse