CAR CRAFTS FOR KIDS: Ideas to make toy cars and automobiles with easy arts and crafts decorations, instructions, patterns, and activities for children, preschoolers, and teens

Cars are so much fun to make...especially the ones that can move on their own. The trick to making your own toy cars is figuring out the way that wheels turn and move. If you don't know the mechanics of how wheels move, than you won't be able to make your own cars. Don't worry, you don't have to be an engineer to know how vehicle's wheels move and turn.

Skip to the Car Crafts

TRICK TO MAKING WHEELS AND AXLES ON TOY CARS

There are two ways to make wheels turn. One way is the make the wheels spin and the other way is to make the axle spin. Neither way is the right way or the wrong way...both work just fine.

To make a car / vehicle with a spinning axle : Slip the axle (such as a toothpick) through a larger tube / cylinder (such as a straw). Now make wheels out of something (such as bottle caps, buttons, cork, etc). and stick these to the end of the axle (toothpick, chopstick, pencil, etc). These wheels must be tightly secured to the axle...so the axle turns inside the tube, but the wheels don't.

To make a car / vehicle with spinning wheels : Okay, so if you want the wheels to spin, then you will need to place the axle (toothpick, etc) inside a bigger hole in the middle of each wheel (or a tube / cylinder (straw) that is placed in the middle of each wheel). An example of this would be to cut a hole in a bottle cap...one large enough to stick a small straw inside of it. Then place the toothpick in between both wheels...now the wheels will turn on the toothpick (axle) instead of the axle turning with the wheels as one piece.

ITEMS to MAKE TOY CARS WITH

For the body of the car : Some items that would be great for the body of the car are clothespins, boxes, empty soda bottles, milk cartons, empty match boxes, plastic hair rollers, film cannisters, disposable cups, lettuce containers, spice containers.

For the axles: toothpicks, chopsticks, skewers, old markers, pencils, tinker toy sticks, lego rods, plastic drinking straws, dowels, branches that are straight, etc.

For the wheels: Some items that would be good for the wheels are candy gum balls, carrot slices, plastic caps, life savers candy, buttons, some beads, thread spools, vcr spools (take apart a vcr tape that isn't used any more), metal washers, CDs or DVDs, cardboard tubes (cut into smaller pieces).

Now just use your creativity...engineer a cool, working toy car. Look below for the available crafts ideas.

Car Crafts are Below

Recent Arts and Crafts Projects for Kids

Home > Arts and Crafts Projects for Kids > Vehicles / Transportation Crafts > Car Crafts Arts and Crafts Projects Ideas for your Kids

Below you will find Car Crafts Arts and Crafts Projects Ideas for your Kids. Find out how to make your own arts and crafts Cars & Automobiles with fun projects with the following decorations, instructions, patterns, and activities for children

You Might Also Be Interested in Car Antenna Balls ... Toy Cars & Vehicles ...

Make a Milk Carton Trailer - Do you want a mobile home trailer for your toy cars? Here is how...just get out a milk carton and some string first.

A Marvelous Motor-Car for Kids to Make - - Use your imagination: You can use juice boxes or milk container to make all sorts of vehicles.

Art-rageous Cars & Automobiles Craft for Children - - During Houston's annual Art Car Parade, a caravan of crazy-looking vehicles decked out in wacky ways tour the streets of the city. Kids can create a wacky version of the event with this craft.

A Transportation Activity : Safety for Toddlers & Preschoolers - - Use this easy transportation activity to help teach traffic safety to young kids.

Box Car Making Instructions - - Take turns in driving the car or keep it aside for play time.

Box Car Derby - Easy to Make Directions for Kids - - This freeway is so easy to construct, the road will be open to toy traffic in no time.

Box Cars Ideas - - With a few materials and a little imagination, you can make box cars like a race car, a sports car, or even a minivan.

Candy Cars Arts & Crafts Project - - Candy cars make a super place setting and double as a fun party favor! Its a great fun activity for kids to do during a car

Car Books to Make for Automobile Lovers - - Cut out car pictures from magazines, and make a car book with your toddler.

Cardboard Tube PT Cruiser Craft - - Always use your imagination and be creative when building this project or any others. It's your creation, so be inventive when looking for building supplies — you just may be surprised! When building your project, experiment with new and different ways of putting it together. The most important thing is to have fun!

Car Figurine - - Rev up this ceramic car with bright, basic color.

Car Mobile or Models Making Craft Ideas - - This is a simple mobile made up of printed race cars, sports cars and a finish line flag.  We usually create our mobiles by using two straws or sticks taped or tied in a criss-cross or by using one paper towel or gift wrap roll with all the pieces tied to it (this isn't as 3D a mobile, but is good for recycling). 

Car Shapes Crafts Project for Toddlers & Preschoolers - - Every time they see one from our window they go nuts. This week is transportation week and I was having a hard time finding a simple car craft and it hit me. Slug bugs are very simple. Just cut a large semicircle from construction paper. Then cut two smaller semicircles of the same color to form the wheel wells. Glue the two small semicircles to the large one, one on each end. Then cut two black circles for the tires and glue them to the wheel wells. I also added some shiny foil in the middle of the wheel for hubcaps.

Car Track Paintings for Youngsters to Make - - Combine art and play by using toy cars as painting tools.

Cool Cars Paper Craft - - Follow the lines and make this professional car out of paper!

Convertible - - Kids will love making these small paper convertible cars.

Craft Time with Cars - - Last minute project that I decided to do with whatever craft stuff I had laying around the house.

Crazy Cool Car Craft! - - Learn to make this adorable toilet paper roll car.

Design Your Own Race Car - - With Crayola Model Magic®, you can customize your own sets of wheels! Whether you make an imaginary or real race car, this project will get your creativity revving.

Dirt Race Track - - This Dirt Race Track is so much fun to make and play with, and it's made with sand from your very own yard! Preschoolers will need some help making this, but they'll love to play with it, especially outside!

Easy-Grip Toy Car Arts Activity - - Use a plastic handle to make an easy-grip toy car.

Ford Convertible Cabriolet - - Convertible Cabriolet. As the name implies, it is a convertible model of a roofless car when the top is folded down and a coupe when the top is put up. It accommodates the driver and 2 passengers in the front seat and 3 in the rear seat (storage type: rumble seat).

Go Car Go! Activity for Kids - - The mini-books are quite simple with images that should appeal to young children and simple, repetitive words that children in Preschool thru Grade 2 should be able to read themselves.

Go, Tube Racer, Go! - - How can you turn a toilet paper tube into a hot rod? Take this idea for a spin.

Happy Travels Car Sachet - - Stuffed with a sweet scent, this little luxury makes a great gift for a teacher who may be hitting the road this summer. Pin on a gift card to a local car wash, and recipients will be good to go.

Hot Rod Backpack Straps - - Some little guys we know don't like leaving their cars at home. Now they don't have to. Thanks to the miracle of Velcro, favorite vehicles can hitch a ride on kids' backpack straps, where they are both cool-looking and available for action.

How to Build a Balloon-Powered Race Car - - You can make a balloon-powered race car just using some basic items found at home and from a craft store. The car will get an initial push from the release of air from a blown-up balloon. How far it travels depends upon the slant of the surface it is racing on, how smooth the surface is and how well-made your race car is.

How to Build a Model Car Out of Cardboard - - Utilize cardboard boxes of any size to stimulate the imagination of a child. Large boxes can become a castle, rocket or pirate ship. Medium boxes can be a train or car large enough to sit inside. Small boxes can make a robot, guitar or model car. A cardboard model car can be made to resemble a real car through the use of paint and design. Utilize items from around the home to make the model car.

How to Make a Cardboard Box Derby Car - - Let your budding Indy 500 champ create his own race car from a cardboard box. A perfect rainy-day craft, this easy-to-make car will keep your little driver occupied for hours. He can let his imagination run wild, personalizing his car, racing around an imaginary track, and screeching around perilous curves. All you need is an hour, a few tubs of paint, and a checkered flag to wave your champ across the finish line.

How to Make a Car From a Cardboard Box - - Children will have fun making a car from a cardboard box. Smaller boxes can be used to create cars that are worn around the waist and used for a race or a game of "red light, green light." Larger boxes can be used to create cars that are stationery and can double as toy storage.

How to Make a Car From a Shoebox - - This craft is perfect for both boys and girls. Boys can make a shoebox race car and push it around the room. Girls can make a shoebox car for their Barbies. Either way this craft benefits children two ways. First, children get to explore their creativity with art. They are designing their own car and no two cars need to look alike. Second, they are using their imaginations when they play with the cars. Parents can read the instructions to the children and then allow them to work independently on the project.

How to Make a Car Out of a Bottle - - Even though it does not sound possible, bottles of all kinds and shapes make excellent bodies for a variety of fun cars that you can build. Bottle cars can be created for many reasons including just for fun, for artistic endeavors, for competitions, and even for bottle car races. These cars can be made and used to enhance the curriculum in art, science, and math-especially if you race them and want to crunch some numbers or teach graphing. With creativity, patience, art and craft supplies, and a room full of creative adults or children, you can transform almost any bottle into a car.

How to Make a Car Out of Paper - - This is a great craft to do with your kids, and you probably already have all the materials you will need around the house. Although younger children may need your help putting the car together, it seems that they never tire of participating in the preparations. Let them amaze you over and over again with their creativity.If you've never made a 3-dimensional paper car before, you should probably begin with a very simple design using straight lines for everything except for the tires of the car.

How to Make a Car Toy With a Cardboard Tube - - There are many crafts that can be made from objects lying around the house. One of these items is a car made from a cardboard toilet paper tube. The tube can be transformed into the body of a race car, providing children with hours of fun. Children can make this project alongside adults, to prolong the fun even further. This project should take about two to three hours to complete.

How to Make a Craft Toy Car - - There are a million different ways to make a craft toy car. You can carve it from wood, blow it from glass, mold it from clay or weld it from metal. However, these methods can take years of training to master. If you want to make a craft toy car that doesn't require special classes, you still have many options. To create a toy car that really rolls, you're going to need a cardboard toilet paper tube, some plastic bottle caps and a variety of craft paint.

How to Make a Fast Rubber Band Car - - Rubber band cars are an easy craft project. They can be made quickly, and are simple to use. Test out different rubber band widths and diameters to get different speeds and distances. Make several cars to race against each other to see which is faster. You can also experiment by racing the cars on different surfaces to see how each surface affects the running of the car.

How To Make A Miniature Wood Craft Car - - The image at left shows what parts you'll need to make the miniature toy craft car shown in the inset.

How to Make a Model Car From Junk - - Model cars don't always have to be flashy, shiny and made of molded plastic or metal. You can create model cars from junk or recycled materials. This can give your model car some unique properties and give the car an endearing handcrafted charm. This technique is done in third world countries where metal, cardboard and wood are not as widely available. Because of this, toys and models are created from scrap so that nothing is wasted in the process.

How to Make a Model Car Out of a Cereal Box - - Cereal boxes of all sizes can be used to build a variety of vehicles, from boats and planes to cars and trucks. The cardboard is strong enough for children to play with, yet can be cut and shaped. Use several small cereal boxes to create a model truck. Create a car model with moving wheels for additional fun. A convertible lets action figures or other toys be used when playing with the car.

How to Make a Paper Car - - Making a paper car is a fun craft for children and adults. As with all 3-D paper modeling projects, it can be done with inexpensive materials and allows you to use your creativity. Many car models can be downloaded off the Internet, printed out and put together. It is also easy enough to design one yourself. If you’ve done a 3-D paper model before, a simple model is not difficult to make. If you’re starting out, then start as simple as possible.

How to make a paper model car - Here is a craft you can do with your kids. The child can have the fun coloring the picture and the adult can do the more difficult task in putting it together. It’s a fun project that you can work on together!

How to Make Cereal Box Cars - - Help your child make a cereal box car to keep him busy all day. With a little guidance and a few supplies, your little engineer will be creating the cars of the future. This project is great because it uses supplies that you likely have on hand, making it darn near free.

How to Make Paper Mache Model Cars - - Paper mache is a craft that involves using paper, sometimes reinforced with other materials, as a construction medium. Paper mache is most often glued together using a very wet adhesive like watered-down paste or even paper glue. Paper mache can be used to build a number of different artistic designs, including everything from carnival masks to model cars.

How to make a recycled potato container car - - Learn to make a car from a potato container.

How to Make a Toy Car - - Toy cars can be made from most anything. Make a toy car out of simple materials to keep kids busy on a rainy day. This craft is made from materials that most people already have in their home. Paint the car to add finishing touches, or keep it plain, depending on how much time you have to kill.

How to Make a Toy Car Craft - - Making a toy car craft is an educational way to spend a long, dark winter evening or a rainy day indoors. You can make your own car and decorate it with colored markers, stickers or crayons. The whole family can get involved in the activity, allowing each person to make a car that he or she can race. Making a toy car out of products that you have in your home is a smart way to recycle and a wonderful way to have a friendly competition.

Lightning McQueen Car Air Freshener - - Here's a craft Cars fans will get plenty of mileage out of — a homemade air freshener that resembles the famous race car that put Radiator Springs back on the map. Younger kids may need a little help cutting out the smaller pieces, but they'll have fun gluing the shapes together and drawing on the finishing details.

Make a balloon-powered car - - These are fun little things - I remember getting one as a cereal box prize when I was a kid. You blow up a balloon attached to a car, set it down and let it race across the floor. And even using a store-bought one, you have an illustration of the principles of rocket engines and Newton's Third Law of Motion (the equal-and-opposite force law).

Mercedes Benz 500K - - Print and follow the instructions to make this Mercedes Benz model.

Origami Car - - Draw the window and door as you wish and your origami car is ready to go!

Paper Clip Holder for Dad - - Make dad a paperclip holder for his desk with a little wooden car on top. This idea is by Miguelof Junior Troop leader in Mastic Long Island.

Passenger car - - Follow these instructions to make a simple passenger car.

Patrol car - - Make this police car from paper!

Peanut Race Cars and a Raceway - - Gentleman start your engines ... Create some rip-roaring peanut race cars and a raceway!

Perfect For A Race Car - - What would be more fun at a boy’s birthday party than for each of the kids to built a race car. This easy craft is perfect for a Kid Race Car Party, or even for a rainy afternoon. Have fun and don’t forget to race the cars when you’re done.

Plastic Canvas Race Car - - Here's the perfect answer to a "boring" summer day: engage your son or daughter in a little stitching with this fun plastic canvas race car. Even if they don't want to do the stitching after you've cut out the plastic canvas shapes, it'll be a breeze for you to stitch up and they will spend hours of fun playing with the car. Let's pretend we're on a cross-country race in the backyard.

Police Car - - Visit the ATV garage and learn how to make this fun toy police car.

Police Cars - - Screaming sirens and flashing lights- pretty cool police cars that are easy-to-make.

PT Racer - - Always use your imagination and be creative when building these kids crafts or any others. It's your creation, so be inventive when looking for building supplies — you just may be surprised! When building your project, experiment with new and different ways of putting it together. The most important thing is to have fun!

Race Car and Driver Costume - - Find out how to make this simple yet creative Halloween costume. Follow these directions and you can dress up as a race car and driver.

Racecar Bugs Everyday Preschool Craft - - With a little creativity and some Crayola® Model Magic you can transform your preschoolers toy racecars into Racing Bugs! No baking required, it just air dries. And best of all, you can color it with Crayola® Markers! No need for messy paint. Use your imagination and create all sorts of Racing Creatures. Mold several ahead of time and let preschoolers paint them as a party craft.

Race Car Switch Plate - - You don't have to drive to the race tracks for this cool craft!

Race Car Cutouts - - Vroom! Vroom! Create the coolest race car imaginable with Crayola Color Explosion™ White paper and markers. Every color is a surprise!

Racer Steve Preschool Racecar - - What kind of racecar do you think Racer Steve drives? Your preschool can make Racer Steve’s Racecar from a quart size milk carton and a few other items, mostly found around the house.

Raceways - - A great place for race cars!

Racing Car - - This little racing car really rolls and it goes fast! If you make a few cars (they’re easy to make), they can have races. They work best on a small hill.

Rev Your Engines - - Zoom into the fast lane with a project that takes kids places. Decorating this car AUTO-matically gets their creative wheels turning.

Rhino Rescue - - Stop hunting and poaching! Rhinoceroses are an endangered species in Africa. Imagine you are on a nature reserve in Botswana working to conserve these precious animals.

Rip-roaring Race Cars - - Gentlemen and Ladies, start your engines… Create a car that will take you streaking to the finish line and a checkered flag! You can't lose with this craft.

Roaring Racers - - Drivers, start your engines! This gleaming Roaring Racer is a winner, on and off the track.

Sculpted Dune Buggy - A well-sculpted sand castle is a joy to behold, but here's a beach craft your kids will really get into. This two-seater dune buggy has all the options: sand dollar headlights, a Frisbee steering wheel, a driftwood windshield, and a pebble license plate.

Slug Bug Car Beaded Safety Pin - - Use this free pattern to make beaded safety pin jewelry.

Soap Box Dragsters - - Powered by a blast of air, these little racers can really move, making a clean getaway as soon as you set them down! Kids can assemble a bunch, then host their own mini derby.

Spectacular Sports Cars - - Get ready to drive away in one of these great sports cars!

Speed Eraser - - Have your kids turn a handful of office supplies into a busy fleet of cars and trucks.

Street Scenes - - The road to independent thinking begins with activities like Street Scenes.

Stretch and Wreck Cars Craft - - The Stretch and Wreck Cars Craft encourages kids to create their ideal automobile. Invent a car with a pool in the back seat, or design a futuristic car. Let your imagination go full speed.

Toy Car Print - - Try your hand at printmaking. Create fun pictures by using toy cars and trucks!

Travel Visors - - Keep the sun out of your eyes while you are on the road with a personalized travel visor. No glue needed!

Vehicle Puppets - - Create different kinds of vehicle stick puppets and move them along a picture.

Wheel Fun - - Race through your card making like Solomon Hauser, a 5-year-old automobile enthusiast from Perry, New York, who made these tracks with paint-dipped toy cars. The "coupe" de grace on his card? A sweet chocolate car, available at party and candy stores and through online retailers such as CandyWarehouse (candywarehouse.com).

Wheels from Waste - - Help your child celebrate Earth Day by constructing a race car out of recycled materials.

Zooming Pens - - Fasten colored pens or crayons to toy cars and let your child zoom away with colorful lines and designs.

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN THE FOLLOWING TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES CRAFTS & ACTIVITIES

Airplanes
Automobiles / Cars
Boats / Ships
Buildings / Towns / Cities
Busses
Choo Choo Trains
Space Ships & Shuttles
Toy Boats and Ships
Toy Cars & Vehicles
Travel and Vacation Memory Keeping Activities
Trucks
More Vehicles Crafts & Activities Above