Paper Lanterns

Paper lanterns are a fun and easy craft that takes its origins in the oriental culture. Paper lanterns are commonly seen in the celebrations for the New Year, but are fun for any party or any other time. This simple paper craft can be used with toddlers using construction paper, or older children may enjoy the challenge of using a more delicate paper that the light can shine through.

You may want to make some of these in preparation for the Chinese New Year that occurs on Sunday February 14, 2010. We may be celebrating Valentine's Day, but this date will also begin the lunar year 4708. This will be the year of the Tiger. you may want to add this craft to a unit study of the Chinese New Year, and have fun celebrating for two reasons this year!

Supplies Needed:

• Construction paper - any color you choose
• Scissors
• Crayons
• Markers
• Tape or Glue

Directions to Make Paper Lantern:

1. Take a piece of construction paper and fold it in the middle along the long way, crease it this way.
2. Take the scissors and cut down 3 inch slits about an 1 apart each in the folded paper along the crease.
3. Carefully open back up the paper.
4. Take the unfolded paper and wrap it around itself so the slits in the paper are vertical, (straight up and down) Glue or tape the ends together. Tape from the inside, or if using glue hold together until dry.
5. Take another piece of paper cut a 1-2 inch strip along the long way of the paper.
6. Tape or glue one end to each side of the paper lantern, this will be the handle.
7. Enjoy!

Additional Tips

• You may want to let your child color the paper and draw on it before turning it in.to a lantern. After cutting the slits into the paper it has a tendency to rip quite easily.

Pine Cone Angels

Pine cones dot the landscape wherever you find conifer trees. It is easy to pick pines cones up from under their branches when you go for a nature walk. Pine cones are easily one of nature's most versatile craft supplies.

If you live in an area that does not have conifer or evergreen trees, you can purchase pine cones at a craft store for next to nothing. Here's a fun and beautiful project to turn a pine cone into an angel.

This project can be adjusted to fit a variety of ages, so even the toddlers can have fun participating. Perhaps your family can create a family of pine cone angels to become natural play toys, or a lovely display to grace your table.


Supplies Needed

• Medium-sized pine cone
• Acorn
• White spray paint or acrylic paint and medium paintbrush
• Black and red acrylic paint and small paintbrush
• Silver or gold glitter
• Glue
• White card stock
• Pencil
• Doll hair or yarn
• Silver chenille stem
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Newspaper (to cover your work area

Directions to Make a Pine Cone Angel

1. If you are using a pine cone that you found outdoors, you may want to bake it in order to kill any bugs inside and dry up the sap in them. To do this, place your cone on a foil-lined cookie sheet and bake at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes to an hour.
2. Once the pine cone has cooled, paint it with the spray paint or acrylic paint and paintbrush. Sprinkle lightly with glitter while still wet. Let dry completely.
3. While waiting for the pine cone to dry, paint a face on the acorn. Turn it upside down and use black for the eyes and nose, and red for the mouth and cheeks. Let dry.
4. Glue the acorn head onto the pine cone body, with the pointed side of the pine cone up.
5. Draw a wing shape on the piece of card stock, and cut it out. Trace the shape onto the scrap of card stock, and cut it out as well. Turn one wing over so that they are facing in opposite directions.
6. Using the glue, trace along the inside of each wing. You might also want to make some markings inside the wings. When you're done, sprinkle the wings with glitter, tap off the excess, and let dry completely.
7. Glue the wings onto the angel's back. Let dry.
8. Place some doll hair or yarn in a hair color on the angel's head. Glue into place. Then form the chenille stem into a circle that will fit on top of the head for a halo. Glue into place and let dry.
9. Cut a piece of ribbon about 6 inches long. Form it into a loop and glue the ends to the back of the angel to make a hanger. Let dry completely before hanging up.

Tips

• If you don't like working with loose glitter, try using a tube of glitter glue. Dot some onto the painted pine cone here and there, and draw the details on the wings with it.
• If you prefer, you could use a piece of wide lace to make the wings. Gather the lace in the middle, secure with a piece of chenille stem, and glue to the back of the angel.
• For a more natural looking angel, skip the paint and/or the glitter.
• Try coming up with other characters to make your pine cones into.. perhaps you can create a family of them, or even start a village of pine cone people.
• A simpler pine cone person could skip the acorn.

Easy Ice Sculptures

Ice sculptures are not the first thing we usually think of when we think of easy crafts, but what is it that actually makes them so hard to do? Usually, when we see ice sculptures, it is at a wedding or other formal affair. The beauty of sculpted ice is fascinating to adults and children alike. If you were to find simple instructions for creating an ice sculpture, it might make a fabulous craft to try at home with your children. You could easily turn it into a full fledged family affair, and get everyone involved. With the low cost of the supplies, and how common the items are, this could make a great project to try out any day.

You don't have to give your children sharp objects to create a beautiful ice sculpture. Molded pieces can be assembled to make a creation, or molded pieces can be scraped with flat objects like rulers to create the perfect shapes. Best of all, creating an ice sculpture provides a valuable learning experience for kids of all ages.

Supplies Needed

• Water
• Ice molds and/or plastic containers
• Food coloring
• Salt
• Dish washing liquid

Directions to Make an Ice Sculpture

1. Wash the ice molds or plastic containers thoroughly with dish washing liquid and warm water. You need to make sure there are no traces of dirt or dust inside of them, because if there are, it will affect the outcome of the sculpture.
2. Fill each mold or container about 90% full of water to allow room for expansion during freezing. Add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly. If the molds or containers you're using are opaque, you might want to mix the food coloring and water in a clear container beforehand so that you can see the results.
3. Place the molds and containers in the freezer, making sure that they sit level. Allow to freeze at least overnight, and for a couple of days if possible.
4. Remove the molds from the freezer and place them on a table. It's a good idea to do this outdoors if possible, because it will get messy!
5. Have your child or children build sculptures with the various shapes of ice. Each child can build his own sculpture, or they can work together to create one big one.
6. When the sculpture is the way they like it, sprinkle a bit of salt on the parts of the ice that touch other pieces. This will melt the ice a bit, helping the pieces stick together.

Tips

• For best results, use distilled water instead of tap water. Distilled water makes clearer ice, especially if you let it sit in the ice mold for a few hours to overnight before freezing.
• If you'd like to add a little extra shimmer to your ice sculpture, try adding a bit of glitter to the water before freezing.
• If temperatures are below freezing outside, and won't get above freezing for several days, you could leave the molds outdoors to freeze. This will eliminate the need for extra freezer space and make it possible to make as many pieces as you have molds. If you choose to do so, it's best to place the molds in a for sheltered area and leave them for at least a few days to ensure proper freezing.
• For a colorful idea, try mixing food coloring into the water before freezing the mold(s).

Fun Ice Skating Picture

Among winter sports activities, ice skating is one of the most common. People love to ice skate at their local skating rink, or frozen pond. Ice skating is a wonderful physical activity, and a great way to get out and enjoy the winter months. Watching graceful figure skaters on television or at a live presentation or competition is a favorite activity for many people of all ages. Ice skaters have that certain grace that is truly a beautiful sight to behold. That's why ice skating is so frequently photographed and videotaped.

The beauty of ice skating can also serve as the inspiration for some fun craft projects. This ice skating picture is easy enough for even a small child to create with just a bit of help. Your finished project will be beautiful enough to keep on display all winter. Here's how to make it.

Supplies Needed

• Piece of light blue card stock or construction paper
• Piece of white card stock or construction paper
• Piece of yellow card stock or construction paper
• Aluminum foil
• Cotton balls
• Fine-tipped black marker
• Small twigs
• Pictures of figure skaters
• Glue
• Scissors

Directions to Make an Ice Skating Picture

1. Cut the white card stock in half lengthwise, but instead of cutting in a straight line, make some subtle curves. Glue the cut out piece onto the bottom half of the blue card stock to make a snowy ground.
2. Use the scrap of white card stock to cut out some cloud shapes, and glue them onto the blue sky. Cut a circle out of the yellow paper to make a sun, and glue it onto the sky as well.
3. Cut an oval shape out of the aluminum foil. Glue it onto the white card stock with the shiny side up to make a reflective pond.
4. Find some small pictures of figure skaters, either in a magazine or book or online. If you can't find any that are small enough, you could use a computer graphics program to resize them and print them out, or even draw some on white paper or card stock. Cut out the figure skater pictures and glue them onto the aluminum foil pond.
5. Glue three cotton balls onto the “snow” in a vertical line to make a snowman. Draw a face and some buttons on with the marker, and glue two small twigs into place to make arms.
6. Hang up your work of art for all to see!

Tips

• For best results, use heavy duty aluminum foil. Regular aluminum foil tears more easily, and might rip as you're gluing it onto the paper.
• To make sure your pond is smooth and bubble-free, use a craft stick to smooth it down after gluing it into place.
• If you want to make it look like it's snowing in your picture, you could splatter paint it once you've done all the cutting and pasting. Simply splatter white paint onto the picture with a toothbrush, and let dry.

Frozen Sun Catcher

When I ran across the idea for this frozen sun catcher, I was hooked by the idea. Take advantage of the natural winter conditions to try this out for me. Living in Arizona, I am not going to get the opportunity to try it out myself. I would love to see the results if you try it out. Let me know if I can post your pics of it here with the instructions!

When you think of winter, most of us think of cold and snow. I think of beautiful scenes of the sun glistening of off the freshly fallen white snow. This sun catcher is bound to suit the bill and take advantage of the freezing temperatures and the winter sunlight. It is bound to add beauty to your porch or lawn, or anywhere you grace with it's presence.

This sun catcher uses the crystal clearness of frozen water to encase your treasures and display them in the sunlight.

Supplies Needed

• Water
• Any color of food coloring
• Shallow disposable aluminum pan (pie pans work nicely)
• Round orange slices
• Dried flowers
• Pressed pine needles
• Small pine cones
• Cranberries
• or any other tidbits you want to use 
• Sturdy twine
• Scissors

Directions to Make a Frozen Sun Catcher

1. Run enough water into a pitcher or bowl to fill the aluminum pan. Add food coloring until the desired color is achieved.
2. Pour colored water into the pan until it is about a quarter of an inch deep. Keep the rest of the water for later use making the second half of the sun catcher.
3.  Place the pan in the freezer or outside overnight so that it freezes solid.
4. Cut two pieces of twine, each about a foot long. Place the end of one piece about halfway down one side of the ice, and run it along the side up to the top, leaving the remainder outside of the pan. Do the same on the other side with the other piece of twine.
5. Arrange the orange slices, flowers, pine needles, pine cones, cranberries, or other tidbits on the surface of the ice. When you have arranged them to your liking, slowly pour another quarter inch of the colored water into the pan. You can either pour the water over your layout, or arrange your layout in the freshly poured layer of water.
6. Place the pan back in the freezer or outside overnight so that the new layer of water will freeze into ice, locking your design in place.
7. Sit the sun catcher out in your home at room temperature until you can easily remove it from the mold. Or if you prefer, run warm water over the back of the pan until the sun catcher is released.
8. Sit the sun catcher out in your home at room temperature until you can easily remove it from the mold. Or if you prefer, run warm water over the back of the pan until the sun catcher is released.
9. Find a nice spot outside, and tie the pieces of twine together to hang your sun catcher!

Tips

• You can use lemons or lime slices in addition to or instead of the orange slices.
• For best results, use a light color of food coloring. Darker colors could soak into the orange slices and change their color.
• Keep in mind that the sun catcher will eventually melt. Make sure you put your sun catcher somewhere that will not be affected by the dripping water as it melts.
• Consider putting it in a spot is shady for at least part of the day to keep it frozen and looking good longer.
• If it's nice and cold outside, consider doing the entire project on the porch or patio. That way you won't have to move it after adding the decorations and the water, and the items won't shift around as much.
• You may want to try running the twine right down the middle of the pan. It might hang onto your frozen treasure just a little bit longer this way.

Enjoy trying this green nature project by yourself or with your kids. Find more green craft projects in Green Crafts for Children: 35 Step-by-Step Projects Using Natural, Recycled, And Found Materials to try out all year long with your kids.

How to Make a Halloween Handprint Spider

Halloween is the time of year for fun costumes, candy and ghost stories. And what would this fun and spooky time of year be without spooky decorations? Having lots or even a little scary things hanging around the house  really sets the mood for this spooky holiday just as like a decorated tree and mistletoe sets the mood for Christmas.

Spiders may not be supernatural creatures like ghosts, goblins, or witches but they are pretty scary! However these 8 legged creatures are not too scary for the little ones. Plus, spider crafts provide an opportunity to learn about living things. Here is a cute and fun spider decoration craft for preschoolers to make. In fact, it's easy enough for even toddlers to do with a little help from an older person or adult! These spider crafts make a great decoration to put on your front door or window to greet trick or treaters on Halloween!

What You Need

*Card stock or construction paper (any color but black)
*Black tempera or poster paint
*Paintbrush
*Googly eyes
*Glue

Instructions

1. Using the paintbrush, paint your child's palm and all fingers but not the thumb with black paint.

2. Have your child press their hand down on the paper firmly.

3. Paint the child's other hand the same way as instructed above.

4. Have your child press that hand down on the paper, overlapping the first handprint and making sure the fingers are across from the ones in the original print. This will form the spider's body.

5. Have your child use the paintbrush or his or her fingers to paint any areas of the spider's body that are not filled in. Let the paint dry.

6. Glue on googly eyes. Let dry.

However this is not the only way to do it! Here are some tips are suggestions to make it even more fun to do with your child!

Cover the work area with newspapers. This project could get messy!

If you prefer, you could use black construction paper and a different color of paint.

If you want a spider cutout, trace the child's hand (minus the thumb) onto a piece of construction paper. Place the other hand so that it overlaps the first handprint, trace all but the thumb, and cut around the edges. Glue on googly eyes, punch a hole in the top, and hang up with a piece of string.

Your child might like to use paint in a different color to add a mouth and/or nose.

To really make the spider stand out, let the paint dry completely and embellish with glitter glue or metallic paint. Or you could glue on some pom poms or stick on some stickers.

To add to the educational aspect of this project, find a book or website that has lots of pictures of different kinds of spiders to look at with your child. Then encourage him to make a spider that looks like their favorite one. This is fun for you and your child. It even encourages them to learn about nature and express their creativity!

Make An Oil Bottle

Make an oil Bottle.
Something that has really fascinated kids for long time is that oil and water won't mix together! They can shake and shake and shake but it won't mix. Here's how you can do this science experiment with your children by doing this easy kids crafts idea.


What you will need:

• A clean, empty, clear wanter bottle with no label.
• Water
• Vegetable oil
• Masking tape

Here's how to make your own oil bottle with your child:

1. Pour in a quarter cup oil into the bottle
2. Make sure the outside is clean
3. Have your child fill the rest of the bottle with water
4. Close the bottle top tightly, or it will leak.
5. You can (or not) have your child help you put masking tape around the top of the bottle with the cap,, this makes sure it doesn't get opened, wrap around 4-6 times with tape
6. Shake to make sure it does not leak
7. Give to your child and have fun! . 

Note: The oil and water can get old you may want to replace this after a few weeks.

How To Make Paper Crowns

Paper crowns for kings and queens, princes and princesses are always a lot of fun and a great tool to create childhood memories! How much fun can you have with a pillow fort and some paper crowns? Enjoy doing this easy kids crafts idea with your child.

What you will need:

• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue and or Tape
• Crayons and or Markers

Instructions

1. Cut a strip of paper about 2 inches wide along the long side of the construction paper.
2. Measure the strip around your child's head, make sure it's large enough for them to get it on and off without being so loose it falls over their head. Mark the length of the strip with a marker or crayon since you have already got them handy.
3. Go to the left over paper and cut three triangles. Two smaller ones and one larger on to put in the middle of the paper crown.
4. Have your child carefully color and design the strip of paper and triangles. The triangles may have large gem designs in them while the strip of paper may have small jewels or gems.
5. Once colored lay the strip of paper down flat with the inside part that will face your child's head up. Take the triangles and glue them to the paper strip allowing as much as the triangle to be above the paper strip as possible, make sure the triangles design faces towards the table. (so you can't see)
6. Once the glue has dried completely you may move the the next step.
7. Now measure strip to the size you marked and glue or tape that part of the paper crown. If glue keep pressure on the glued ends of the strip until dry.
8. Let you child wear their new crown!

Halloween Cut-Outs: Easy Kids Crafts Idea For Halloween Preparation

As Halloween approaches I'm sure that many thoughts come to mind,  tricker treaters, costumes, parties, candy, and of course decorations. However one thing that is always enjoyed is spending time with your child, how do you do this with all these things you have to get done with the upcoming holiday? The answer is simple include your child in the activities. Here's a way that you can spend time with your child with a Halloween kids crafts idea.

Making Halloween Walk Hanging Cut Outs

The first thing your going to want to do is to gather your supplies, here's what you will need:

• Paper
• Crayons/Markers
• Scissors
• Tape

1. Use the paper to draw out some Halloween shapes with the marker, Pumpkins, bats, cats, broom sticks, etc.
2. Have your child color and design the shapes! Encourage them to use the colors they want but you can remind them that good Halloween colors are orange, black, purple. If you have your child color the shapes while still on the page it makes it easier to keep the surface underneath clean and also you don't have to worry about coloring outside the lines.
3. Use the scissors to cut the shape out of the paper, be careful when doing this, this is a par you will want to do rather then your child!
4. Have your child help you decide where to put up the new Halloween decorations, hang with clear scotch tape. To hang without seeing the tape take a 3 inch piece of tape and curl it to barely meet so it becomes a stick loop that you can stick to the back of the cut out and the wall, or use double sided tape.

Ideas For Kids Crafts For Toddlers

Great ideas for kids crafts don't have to wait until your kids are of school age. Toddlers love to explore new things, and their minds are as active as their bodies as they do this. Planning ides for creative fun for 0-3 year olds might seem daunting. Sometimes it seems an impossible idea to have them sit down and do crafts, but it might just be easier than you think. Crafts that keep them engaged are great for their cognitive development and hand-eye coordination.

Keeping it simple is the key to success when finding ideas for kids crafts with toddlers. They do not have the attention span needed to create things that require a great deal of time or long-winded instructions. Crafts that can be completed in a few simple steps are better at holding their attention, and will have a better chance of geting finished happily.

When choosing toddler crafts, keep in mind that all materials should be reasonably safe for young children. If sharp objects are required, you will need to do the part that requires their use. Very small objects such as seed beads should not be used because they could easily be swallowed without your knowledge. Anything the size of a large button or bigger should not pose a problem as long as you provide close supervision.

Here are some simple ideas for kids crafts to try out with your toddler!

1. Pasta Jewelry - This idea for kids crafts can be as simple as threading different noodles onto a piece of yarn, and tying the ends together to create a necklace. 
2. Paper Plate Fish Craft For Kids - This fun and easy idea for kids crafts will inspire underwater adventures for your toddler.
3. Paper Plate Mask For Kids - Holes in paper plates have never been so much fun!
4. Simple Collage Craft For Kids - A great way to create fun pictures of anything!
5. Play Doh sculptures - You may only end up with squished shapes, but how much fun will your child(ren) have?

What other ideas for kids crafts for toddlers do you have? Please share!

Chenille Stem Butterfly Mobile

Colorful butterflies capture everyone's fancy. They make a welcome craft project anytime of year as they add color and thoughts of flying free to any space. This chenille stem butterfly mobile makes a great project for children, and it gives them a beautiful decoration to hang up in their rooms. As this craft requires cutting the chenille stems, it will require adult participation and supervision.

What You Need

• Black chenille stems
• Bumpy chenille stems in various bright colors
• Pom poms in various colors
• Wire cutters
• Needle-nose pliers
• Scissors
• Glue
• Paper plate
• Paint or markers
• Hole punch
• Fishing line

How To Put It Together

1. Take one black chenille stem and cut it in half. Place to the side for later..
2. Bend one bumpy chenille stem in half, creasing it at the base, creating a V-shape.
3. Bend one end of the V-shaped stem down toward the base, creating a sort of half circle. Bend the tip around the V.
4. Repeat again with the other side of the bumpy chenille stem.
5. Use the needle-nose pliers to tuck away the sharp ends.
6. Push the middle of each half circle in toward the middle, making a hard crease. It should be shaped like a capital B on the right and a backward capital B on the left. These form the butterfly wings.
7. Fold the black chenille stem you cut earlier in half. Twist the bent end about half an inch from the bend.
8. Slide the butterfly wings between the ends of the black chenille stem. Twist the ends above the butterfly to hold in place.
9. Separate the ends of the black chenille stem. Bend them to create antennae for the butterfly.
10. Put coordinating pom poms in the openings of the wings and glue them in place. Let dry.
11. Make as many more butterflies as you would like for your mobile.
12. Decorate the paper plate with paint or markers. You might want to paint a sky scene on it, draw a flower garden or do an abstract pattern in colors that match the butterflies.
13. Punch a hole where you want each butterfly to hang. Then punch four evenly spaced holes around the sides of the paper plate.
14. Cut four pieces of fishing line of the same length. For each piece, thread one of the ends through one of the holes around the edges, and tie. Tie the other ends together to create a hanger for the mobile.
15. Cut fishing line in various lengths to hang your butterflies. Tie one end to the middle of the butterfly, and run the other through a hole in the plate. Secure with clear tape or glue.
16. Hang your mobile from the ceiling and enjoy!

Have fun making a colorful butterfly mobile!

Review for Kids Knitting: Projects for Kids of all Ages

Kids love learning to knit. Knitting improves children’s concentration, trains their fine motor skills, and teaches them patience, all while doing something enjoyable and fun.

The Kids Knitting: Projects for Kids of all Ages
is geared for children aged 4 and up. It is divided into 8 chapters:

• Getting started – various knitting tools
• Knitting with two needles
• Shaping
• The purl stitch, stockinette stitch and ribbing
• Knitting in the round
• New stitch patterns
• Your first sweater
• Shopping for yarn

The book contains beautiful color photographs and attracts readers of all ages. The instructions provided are very child-friendly and give in-depth information to turn any beginner into a successful knitter. The various projects described are arranged in degrees of difficulty.

The book teaches children how to do proper blocking, how to make backpacks, hats, puppets, sweaters and scarves. It also shows them how to make wooden needles, sewing knitting bags and much more.

This book would make a terrific gift for any child with an interest in knitting.

Easy Knitting Ideas for Children

Knitting is often viewed as an activity for elderly ladies. Many young adults express an interest in it as well, knitting fashionable sweaters and funky scarves for themselves and their friends and families. Did you know that knitting is a wonderful activity for kids, too?

Children tend to become bored easily, and knitting is a very effective remedy. During car trips or while waiting for dinner, kids can occupy themselves by knitting. It helps them develop longer attention spans and improves their fine motor skills, and most kids find it enjoyable and relaxing.

There are many simple knitting projects that kids can do. Here are ten ideas:

1) Bookmarks – You can quickly and easily create a yarn bookmark by finger knitting. This is a great first project, as it requires no needles and no fancy stitches. All kids have to do is make a row of stitches.

2) Scarves – Simple scarves are among the easiest knitting projects. Using one color and the basic stitch, this provides excellent practice for young knitters. And the finished product makes a useful accessory for your child, or could be given as a gift to a grandparent or other family member to cherish for years to come.

3) Belts – Knitting a belt is very similar to knitting a scarf. The main difference is that it’s not as wide. Just knit a rectangle long enough to go around the waist and tie, and you’re done.

4) Squares – Knitted squares can be used in a variety of projects. If you need some for something you’re working on, let your child make them. This is a great way to practice making nice, even stitches that aren’t too tight.

5) Bean bags – A basic bean bag is easy to make out of two knitted squares. And if your child is interested in sewing, it provides an opportunity to practise that as well. Just have your child knit two squares of the same size, sew them together on three sides, put some beans in an old stocking and insert it in the bag. Sew the fourth side up, and it’s all done!

6) Coasters – Knitted squares can be used as coasters. Your child can knit up a set to use at home or give as a gift. If she would like to try a different shape, patterns can be found online and in beginners’ knitting books.

7) Dishcloths – Knitted dishcloths are great for getting those stubborn plates clean. And they make wonderful projects for young knitters. The broken rib pattern is a good choice for this project, and it’s an easy new stitch pattern to introduce to kids.

8) Envelope purses – An envelope purse is very easy for kids to make. Just knit a large rectangle, fold it together leaving a flap at the top, and sew the sides together. Add a knitted strap, and you have a stylish new bag.

9) Baby bibs – If there’s a baby in the family, big sisters, brothers or cousins will jump at the chance to make something for him. Knitting a baby bib can be as easy as stitching a large square and a cord, then sewing the cord on.

10) Animals – Knitting stuffed animals is a good way to introduce shapes to kids. They can knit two simple animal shapes, sew them on all sides but one, stuff and finish for a cute new toy.

Easy Sewing Project Ideas for Children

Finding sewing project ideas for children can be quite overwhelming. Most sewing projects are quite detailed, and patterns seem to be written in code! Not all sewing projects have to be so difficult. There are several easy sewing projects that children can try that they will enjoy the results of.

1) Bags – You don’t have to be an expert to make yourself a new purse. Envelope purses are very easy to make. Just cut out a large rectangle, fold up leaving a flap, and sew the sides together. Add a strap and you’re done! Drawstring bags are also a cinch.

2) Potholders – The potholder is a classic beginner’s sewing project. If you can cut squares out of fabric and filling material and sew seams, you can make one in a snap.

3) Heating pad – Heating pads are great for soothing sore muscles, and they’re simple to sew. Just cut a rectangle of fabric, fold the right sides together and sew the sides together. Turn right side out, fill with rice, and sew the fourth side up. Pop in the microwave to heat.

4) Pre-printed pillow tops – Those adorable handmade pillows can be easily made with pre-printed pillow tops. Just buy a kit and follow the directions for a unique throw pillow.

5) Stuffed animals – You don’t have to be an expert to sew a stuffed animal. You can whip one up out of any kind of fabric. Snakes are easy to make out of strips of scrap material. Just fold the right side of the strip together lengthwise, sew the edges together, turn right side out and stuff with batting. Sew the ends closed and draw a face on for a quick and easy toy.

6) Shawls – A shawl is an fun accessory for special occasions, yet it’s a cinch to make. All you need is a couple of yards of fabric and some thread, and there’s very little cutting involved.

Sewing Safety Tips for Young Children,

If you enjoy sewing, it is likely that your child is curious about sewing also. While we don’t want to discourage from learning this creative activity,Tte image of kids with sharp scissors and needles in hand makes almost all parents cringe. Fine motor skillls as well as math skills can be taught with sewing, it is a skill that everyone will find useful at some point in their life.

With proper safety precautions, sewing can be taught to even toddlers! While it doesn’t make much sense to let a three-year old loose with a sewing machine, even young kids can get started with the right tools and close supervision. Here are five safety tips to remember when dealing with budding tailors and seamstresses.

1.) Use age-appropriate supplies. Sewing scissors are too sharp and too large for young hands, and regular sewing needles present a laundry list of dangers. Let your child work with safety scissors and a plastic needle. If you give him a loosely knit, porous fabric, they will work just fine.

2.) Watch your child closely, especially during the first few attempts. For the youngest children, swallowing small parts such as needles and spools of thread is a concern. And even safety scissors could cut little hands. Until your child gets the hang of things, careful supervision is of the utmost importance.

3.) Maintain strict control over the sewing machine. Children younger than eight years old probably don’t have the motor skills and good judgment to attempt machine sewing. At eight years of age, it’s up to the parent to decide whether the child is ready. If you feel that she is, provide plenty of guidance and stay right with her while she makes those first stitches.

4.) Make sure the sewing machine is secured and inoperable when you’re not around. Put the needle and pressure foot down when done sewing, cover the machine and turn it off. You may even want to unplug it as an added precaution. Kids who are curious about sewing might try to use the machine when you’re not around, and if it’s not properly secured, they could be seriously injured.

5.) Keep scissors, needles and pins put up and out of kids’ reach when not in use. These things create a temptation for young, unsupervised kids as well. It’s also wise to keep a magnetic pin cushion in case of spillage.

Encouraging your child’s interest in sewing may help him develop a lifelong interest in this activity. This may serve him well later in life. He may even decide to sew clothes for himself or his family, or perhaps become a fashion designer in the future!

Physical Benefits of Arts and Crafts

Kids love art because it gives them opportunities for self-expression and a sense of accomplishment. Parents love it when their kids create art because it keeps them quietly and productively occupied. Little thought is usually given to the physical benefits of art, but they are significant.

It’s easy to see how art promotes hand-eye coordination. The simple act of putting crayon or pencil to paper and scribbling requires the hands and eyes to work together. Once that’s mastered, the child can take it a step further to begin to form lines and shapes.

Another important benefit of art involves the development of muscles in the hands and fingers. If you think about it, this makes as much sense as the relationship between art and hand-eye coordination. Going back to the drawing example, a child must learn to properly hold a crayon in order to successfully use it. Doing so requires him to use specific muscles in the hand that may have previously been rarely utilized. These are the same muscles that he will use later in life to perform everyday tasks such as writing.

Drawing isn’t the only type of art that develops muscles in the hands and fingers. Virtually every type of visual art offers such benefits in one way or another. Finger painting, for instance, requires controlled movement of the fingers. Painting with a paintbrush requires kids to grip in a different manner than that used when drawing or writing. And modeling clay or play dough involves squeezing, mashing and rolling.

Using scissors is another activity that is great for building muscles in the hands. The motions required to open and close the scissors work the hand in ways that few other activities do. Children can also build important muscles by beading. Using chenille stems and large beads makes it easy enough for small hands without compromising the benefits of the activity.

Even music can help develop hand and finger muscles. The most obvious example is playing the piano. The motions used to strike the keys directly correlate with those used in typing, which is an important skill later in life. Wind instruments also require certain hand motions. Even gripping drumsticks offers unique benefits.

Art in any form provides more benefits for young children than most of us realize. It’s good in a number of ways for cognitive and emotional development. And those simple tasks that we take for granted can help children build a good foundation for skills that they will use in coming years. From a simple pen and paper drawing to an intricate clay figurine, any art project can provide opportunities for kids to use hand and finger muscles in ways that they may not have used them before.

Toxic Chemicals in Common Art Supplies

Art is a wonderful thing for children. It helps them develop creativity, cognitive skills and motor skills. It is also great for self-esteem. While these benefits are undeniable, art also poses some risks to children. That’s because many art supplies contain toxic chemicals.

It’s fairly well known that kids should not be exposed to certain types of paint. The chemical fumes are quite obvious, and the containers are clearly labeled with warnings about breathing those fumes and ingesting the product. But many parents are unaware that not every product that contains toxic ingredients is clearly identified. There are certain labeling standards that must be adhered to by law, but the label doesn’t always tell the whole story.

Every art supply sold in the United States must conform to ASTM D 4236 standards. This means that they must display warnings if they present an acute or chronic health hazard. Manufacturers are not, however, required to list each product’s ingredients on the label.

Some art supply manufacturers have their products tested by the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI), which is a non-profit organization that conducts evaluation and testing. ACMI may approve the product or require the manufacturer to place a caution label on it. Products with caution labels are not recommended for use by children.

While these measures are helpful, some harmful products can still slip through the cracks. For example, in 2000, three brands of crayons bearing the ACMI seal of approval were reportedly found to contain asbestos. While asbestos was not used as an ingredient, it may contaminate talc, which was an ingredient. ACMI testing did not find asbestos, but the manufacturers voluntarily stopped using talc in their products.

Another concern involves ACMI’s standards for approval. They do not require that products contain no toxins whatsoever, but that toxins not be present in quantities that pose a hazard. That means that approved products may contain small amounts of solvents, heavy metals, phthalates and other substances that are known to be dangerous.

How to Choose Safe Products

Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee that a product we buy off the shelves contains absolutely no toxic chemicals. But we can make choices that are less likely to harm our children’s health. Here are some things to keep in mind.

• Avoid oil-based paints. They often contain solvents that can cause serious health problems. Watercolors are the safest choice for children, but even they can contain dangerous pigments. Make sure they bear the ACMI approved seal.

• Keep kids away from anything with a strong smell. This is usually an indicator that a solvent is present. In addition to paint, such solvents may be found in markers. Choose markers that are water-based if possible. Alcohol-based markers contain some toxins, but they are less toxic than solvent-based ones.

• Steer clear of rubber cement and similar adhesives. They contain neurotoxins. White glue and library paste are much safer choices.

• Do not allow children to work with dry clay. Clay contains silica, which can be harmful if inhaled. Wet clay is much safer. Children should be kept away from kilns, because some of the dust is released when clay is dried in them.

If you are concerned about toxic chemicals in store-bought art supplies, you can make your own. Finger paint and playdough are easy to make at home. Using all-natural ingredients can eliminate concerns about hazardous chemicals. Recipes may be found on this blog or in many other places online.

It’s unfortunate that many art supplies can be detrimental to our children’s health. But if we make informed choices, we can greatly reduce the risk and concentrate on the good things about art for kids.

The Importance of Art and Self-Expression in Toddlers

The toddler years are full of discovery for a child. Not only is she learning about the world around her, she’s also learning about herself. One of the most discussed aspects of toddlerhood is how children learn to use words to convey their thoughts and feelings. But children also learn to express themselves in other ways during the early years.

One of the most intriguing ways that youngsters express themselves is through art. If you hand a young child a crayon and a piece of paper, she will almost certainly start scribbling away contentedly. While this may not look like art to an adult, it’s fascinating to young minds.

Toddlers are not consciously aware of color co-ordination and spatial relationships. But art can give them a sense of these things. And this is only the beginning. Some of the many benefits of art for toddlers include:

• Art boosts a child’s confidence. Even monochromatic scribbles on a piece of paper give kids a sense of accomplishment, because they've created something that wasn’t there before. And as they progress toward using multiple colors and forming recognizable shapes, they gain even more confidence.
• Artistic activities are soothing. Being a toddler can be frustrating, and participating in a quiet activity provides a chance to calm down. Art takes a child’s mind off of the source of frustration and channels it into something enjoyable and productive.
• Art lengthens a child’s attention span. The simple act of putting crayon to paper or squeezing a ball of clay requires a child to pay attention to what she’s doing. And while toddlers tend to spend most of their waking hours on the run, art can keep them sitting still for several minutes at a time. As their skills develop, so will their attention spans.
• Art builds motor skills. Holding a crayon, finger painting, squeezing and flattening clay or play dough, and gluing shapes onto paper all require kids to use their hand muscles in different ways. Such activities also promote hand-eye coordination.
• Creative activities promote abstract thinking. When a child takes an idea and puts it on paper or models it in play dough, she is creating a physical representation of something that exists in her mind. Learning to use this type of thinking early will help your child learn more efficiently throughout life.

Self-expression is a critical part of every child’s development. Speech can help toddlers convey what they’re thinking and feeling, but it can hardly keep up with their constantly evolving brains. Art provides another much-needed outlet for budding young minds, and at the same time it teaches important skills. It’s also lots of fun for them. With all of these benefits, it’s easy to see why encouraging toddlers to be artistic is so important.

Easy Craft Ideas for Toddlers

Young children are always on the go. Children have an insatiable need to explore their world, and learn about everything in it. Although children need plenty of time to run around and actively play, a creative project can keep them interested in some quiet time. Crafting can provide a perfect creative project for toddlers and children of all ages.


These easy craft ideas are great for toddlers or young children for several reasons. Simple crafts can help children to develop or improve their hand-eye coordination. Longer attention spans can be developed as you increase the complexity of the craft projects. Simple crafts will also help children learn to follow step by step instructions. Try out these simple children's craft ideas with your toddler!

Craft Stick Puppets

Puppets are fascinating to toddlers. Creating their own puppets is easy, and it's lots of fun. All you really need are some craft or popsicle sticks, construction paper, safety scissors, markers and glue.


Help your toddler cut animal shapes out of construction paper. He can draw faces and other details with washable markers. Glue the stick to the back of the shape, let dry, and he's ready to put on a puppet show. If you want to make more elaborate puppets, try cutting shapes out of foam. Glue on a pom pom for the nose, and add some googly eyes.

These new craft stick puppets can be taken along for when you need to have your toddler quiet and entertained. They will enjoy playing with their new toys that they made, and be happily quiet for a time.

Paint with Pudding

Kids love to fingerpaint, but it's so messy. And there's also the concern about them eating the paint. Even if the paints are nontoxic, it can make cautious parents uneasy. The solution? Let them paint with pudding!


You don't need different flavors to make different colors. Just use one serving of plain vanilla pudding, divide it up into small portions, and add food coloring to create various shades. Give your child a paper plate to use as a canvas for his masterpiece. When he's done, he can eat it with no worries.

Design a T-Shirt

If your toddler sees you sewing or painting clothes with fabric paint, she may want to try her hand at designing clothes. But needles are small and sharp, and fabric paint is messy. What to do? Break out the markers!


Kids can have a blast decorating a plain white t-shirt with colorful markers. If you use washable ones, they can create a design, wear it, and start over after you wash the shirt. If a permanent design is desired, however, you'll have to let him use non-washable markers. You can avoid a mess by covering the work area with newspaper and putting a smock on your toddler.

Placemats

Making placemats out of contact paper is very easy. Have your toddler cut shapes out of construction paper and glue them onto a whole piece of construction paper with a glue stick. He can add detail with markers or embellish with stickers. When he's done, place the artwork on a piece of contact paper, sticky side up. Place another sheet of contact paper on top, sticky side down.


Even if your toddler only has the patience to make one placemat at a time, don't despair. This is an easy project to be packed up, and brought back out when they are ready. Eventually enough will be made to fill the entire table. Then you can start on presents for family or friends! 



Crafting can help your toddler learn important skills while keeping him quietly occupied. Whether it's a rainy day or they are just feeling creative, seize the opportunity to let him channel his imagination into something you can both admire.

Beginning Scrapbooking for Children

Scrapbooking may be something that you are already into. What a fabulous way to spend time with your child(ren)... while helping them learn the art of scrapbooking. If you are just exploring the idea of scrapbooking, what better way to do that than exploring it with your children!

Scrapbooking has been around for ages, but it has recently experienced a surge in popularity. People from all walks of life have discovered the joys of creating albums to showcase their treasured photos and keepsakes. But with all the elaborate scrapbooking techniques and myriad embellishments available, getting started can be intimidating.

The truth is, anyone that can use scissors and glue can scrapbook. And you don't have to spend ridiculous amounts of money to create attractive pages. With some basic supplies and a little imagination, you can create lovely scrapbooks that will be adored for years to come.

What You Need

You can get started scrapbooking on a small budget. Here are the things you'll need.

• An album - Scrapbooking albums come in all shapes and sizes. The most popular are 8 1/2" x 11" and 12" x 12". They can be found at most craft supply stores if you don't have a scrapbooking supply store nearby.
• Paper - Scrapbooking paper can be found in a variety of solid colors and patterns. This will be the basis for each page. You may also use scrapbooking paper for journaling and to create your own photo mats and embellishments.
• Cutting tools - You can easily get by with just a good pair of scissors. But an Exacto knife might make photo cropping easier. And if you're no good at cutting straight lines, you might want to invest in a paper cutter.
• Adhesives - There are all sorts of adhesives one could use for scrapbooking. Glue sticks and double-sided tape are quite popular. Some scrapbookers also use rubber cement or glue dots for certain applications. But when you're getting started, just use what you're most comfortable with.
• Photos - Beginning scrapbookers often start out with old photos that they've accumulated over the years. This makes for a nice, nostalgic album. Of course you can also take new pictures for your scrapbook. A digital camera and photo printer are two modern conveniences that make scrapbooking easier, but they are not necessities. Photos taken by a film camera work just as well.

When purchasing scrapbooking supplies, it's important to make sure they are acid-free. This will keep them from harming your priceless photos.

Basic Techniques

You don't have to know a lot about scrapbooking techniques to create an attractive album. Just a few simple techniques will suffice.

One of the first things many scrapbookers learn is how to mat photos. This can be accomplished by simply cutting a square or rectangle that is about a half inch longer and wider than the photo you want to mat. Then glue the photo to the center. To make a photo really stand out, double mat it by cutting out a shape a half inch longer and wider than the first mat, and center the matted photo on it.

Journaling gives scrapbook pages a nice personal touch. Simply write a note about the photos on a page, telling what was happening or sharing your thoughts on the subject. Use paper that coordinates with the background, and be sure to write with an acid-free pen.

Adding borders to your pages gives them a finished look. You can make them out of strips of coordinating scrapbook paper. You don't have to border all four sides. A strip along the top, side or bottom will do. For easy embellishing, use some stickers.

There's no need to throw in the towel if you don't have the time, money or know-how to create elaborate scrapbooks. Just start off simple, and learn new techniques as you go. The most important thing to remember is to enjoy this time with your child(ren)!