Meaningful Keepsake Crafts

You and your child can document what they can do. Glue in other samples under titles like "I Can Color," "I Can Cut," "I Know Shapes," "I Can Count," and so on.

Materials

* Scrapbook
* Samples of your child’s artwork
* Glue

Thanksgiving is a good time to remind our children or grandchildren to be thankful for the many good things in their lives ... family, friends, opportunities to learn and grow. A natural way to call these thoughts to mind is to begin with a question: What are you thankful for?

Materials

* Old magazines and family photos
* Child's blunt-tip safety scissors
* Glue
* Construction paper
* Clear contact paper
* Index cards
* Small box or empty coffee can
* Brown poster board and leaf-colored (green, red, yellow, orange, and brown) construction paper

It is hard for kids to wait until Santa comes, so make this Christmas Countdown Chain to help them understand the passage of time. And make it even more fun by writing in special things to do with their families each day.

Materials

* Multicolored or red, green, and white construction paper
* Child's blunt-tip safety scissors
* Non-toxic glue or tape

Make your own memory box to store special items, a collection, or photos.

What You'll Need

Tissue paper
Magazine cut-outs
String
Glue
Box with a lid
Photos
Memorable items

A Slam Book Craft for Kids When They are Bored. Great for Preteen & Girl Slumber Parties. Here's a idea that's making a nicer comeback. Design your own slam book to find out what your friends a really like. There's nothing mean about this slam book. Just lots of fun!

You need:

* SLAM BOOK Pattern
*
* Slam Book Inside Pages Two Sheets of Black Craft Foam
* Scraps of Yellow, Orange,
and Hot Pink
* Craft Foam R
* etro Foamie Stickers
* Feather Boa
* Tacky Glue Scissors
* Stapler
* Plain Paper

A Kids Craft 911 angel decoration is just right for your key ring, your backpack or use it as a zipper pull. A craft for children with a lot of meaning.

You Need:

* Lanyard Hook
* 18" of White Satin Cord
* Angel Bead
* Heart Shaped Pony Bead
* Red, White and Blue Pony Beads
* 911 Number Beads
* Scissors

A scrapbooking craft for kids who are in to that. This is a "Best Friends" Scrapbook Page Add a "Best Friend" page to your scrapbook or frame the page as a gift for your best friend.

You need:

* Photo of You and
Your Best Friend
* Scrapbook Paper
(We chose green grass for background and two different shades of pokadot orange)
* Two Paper Doll "Friends" to Match the Photo
* Glue Stick
* Scissors
* 3/16" Paper Punch
* Markers, Gel Pens or Paint Markers

In Remembrance of September 11th, have your kids create this 911 Angel Pin craft that is easy enough for your children to make. Here's a simple project your whole group can make and wear in remembrance of Sept. 11.

You Need:

* Coiless Safety Pins - 1½" Gold
* 18" of Red Satin Cord
* Angel Bead
* Heart Shaped Pony Bead
* Red and Blue Pony Beads
* 911 Number Beads
* Gold Metallic Pony Beads
* Scissors
* White Glue

A craft for kids that is to remember September 11th. This is a 911 Remembrance Pin Decorative Craft for Kids or a loved one or friend. These pins are a wonderful way to show the world we have not forgotten the victims of 911 and their families.

Materials You Need:

* 1½" Coiless Safety Pin
* Number Beads
* Letter Beads
* 36" Red Satin Cord
* Blue Pony Beads

Make your own Valentine's Day Pop Up Card .. This is the perfect Craft for Kids for making the dozens of cards for the Valentine's Day party at their school. Kids as young as seven can make this pop-up card using the patterns provided.

You need:

* Card Pattern
* Heart Pattern
* Pink and Red Card Stock
* Valentine's Day Wrapping Paper
* 15mm Wiggle Eyes
* Glue Stick
* Scissors
* Black Marker
* Kreate-a-lope Envelope Maker (optional)

Your children can make their own Pride Pins with this great decorative pin craft for proud kids. Show your pride! in your troop... your country... or your parent that has gone off to fight the war.

Materials You Need:

* Safety Pins
* Pony Beads
Use red, white and blue for the USA pin.
Use yellow for a parent that has gone to war.
Use blue and yellow for cub scouts.
Use green for girl scouts.
Use brown for brownies.
* Letter Beads or Number Beads
* 18" Satin Cord

Kokopelli Necklace
The Hopi tribe of the Southwest is know for its finely carved "overlaid" silver jewelry. This flute playing Kokopelli is made out of shrink art to resemble this technique. The Kokopelli has been a sacred figure to Native Americans of the Southwestern United States for thousands of years.

You need:

* Pattern
* 1 Piece of Shrinkles
* Silver and Black Crayons or Colored Pencils
* 1 Yard Black Suede Cord
* Silver Metallic Pony Beads
* Black Marker
* Scissors

This is a decorative pin craft for kids to remember the tragedy of September 11th. This craft is called Shrink Art 911 Pins.

Materials You need:

* Pattern (artwork has been lightened since shrinking darkens and intensifies the colors)
* 1 Sheet of Inkjet Shrink Art
* 1/8" Hand Hole Punch
* Nylon Monofilament
* Alphabet Beads
* Jewelry Craft Pin
* Low Temp Glue Gun
* 4mm Round Gold Beads
* Scissors
* Adult and Exacto Knife

This is a craft for kids - children can make this Photo Business Card Holder craft for Mother's Day, Father's Day, parent's birthdays, or Grandparent's Day. Made from an empty cassette case! Lots of possibilities! This one is made with rocks but you can choose anything to match your photo. Makes a great gift for Mom or Dad.

Materials You Need:

* Photo
* Empty Cassette Holder
* Glue Stick
* Card Stock
* Scissors
* Low Temp Glue Gun

Children can document what is going on in their life with this great craft for kids called a Time Line Scrap Book. This is a fun way to document your year month by month.

Materials You need:

* Scrap Book Supplies including acid-free paper, pens and glue
* Camera
* Time Line Dates Print Out
* Calendar Events Rubber Stamps (Optional)

Children will love making this craft for kids. Kids can make their own Floppy Disk Photo Cube 6 Photograph Frame. It is perfect to give to a Mom for Mother's Day, Dad for Father's Day, Grandma for Grandmother's Day, Grandpa for Grandfather's Day, or other loved ones for a birthday...they can then place this frame on their desk or mantel.

Materials You Need:

* 6 Old 3½" Floppy Disks
* Blank Index Stock
* 6 Photos You Can Cut
* Low Temp Glue Gun
* Double Stick Tape

Kids will love celebrating Thanksgiving by creating these Clip-On Turkeys. This crafts for kids is a fun and relatively easy Thanksgiving crafts project for children to make ... Clip-on turkeys. You can clip them to curtains, or whatever!

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

# Construction paper
# Pencil
# Scissors
# Yellow pipe cleaners
# Glue
# Wiggle eyes
# Clothes pin

Children can make this Thankful Thanksgiving Tree Craft for Kids.- Children can make a beautiful tree of handprint leaves that displays what the children are thankful for. This tree makes a great Thankgsiving decoration or a nice bulletin board.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

# Construction paper (orange, red, yellow, brown, and other earth tones)
# Crayons or markers
# Scissors
# Glue or a glue stick

Let your kids participate in making their own Christmas Tree ornament for the Christmas tree with this very cool arts and crafts project for kids, the Christmas Tree Balloon Ornament. - Find out how to make a Christmas tree ornament using a balloon and other materials.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

# Balloon (smaller,round ones)
# Liquid Starch
# Newspapers (cut in little pieces)
# Seeds of all kinds (I used corn)
# Glue
# Paint (I used gold)
# Matches
# Lace

What a cool idea for a children's arts and crafts project. Learn how to make a jewelry holder for bracelets, necklaces, and rings. This craft for kids is a Hand shaped Jewelry Holder. This is a great keepsake craft as well since you will be tracing your hand to create this jewelry holder. It makes a great gift for Mom or Grandma for Mother's Day, Grandparents Day, Valentine's Day, or a Birthday. The easy Instructions for making an hand-shaped jewelry and ring holder are on the About.com page, follow it to find out more.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

# Heavy Cardboard
# Paint or Markers
# Glue
# Tape
# Piece of Fabric
# Rice, Dreid Beans, or Sand
# Ribbon

Hey kids, learn how to make a really cool Sea Shell Paper Weight Crafts activity. This Sea Shell Paper Weight would make a perfect gift for Dad or Mom to put on their desk at work, so it would make a great gift for Mom on Mother's Day or Dad on Father's Day. Make this paper weight with Small sea shells, white glue, sand, paint, and a Wilson Tennis ball container.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:
Small sea shells
white glue
sand
paint
Wilson Tennis ball container

This children's arts and crafts idea is perfect for a child to make for Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, or other special loved one on Mothers Day, Valentines Day, Easter, a birthday or other special occasion such as a Get Better Gift. This easy and tasty craft for kids is to make a Candy Plant - Create candy flowers in a terra cotta clay pot.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED FOR THIS CRAFT FOR KIDS:

# 3 inch Clay Pot
# Green Floral Foam
# Paint
# Wrapped Candy
# Popsicle-Type Sticks
# Glue

Your children can learn how to make a handmade Angel Christmas Ornament for your Christmas Tree. This craft for kids is to help kids to celebrate Christmas by making their very own Craft Stick Angel Ornament for Christmas - Make a cute little angel from craft sticks, buttons, and more. This also makes a great gift for family members on Christmas or a great keepsake.

ARTS AND CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS WILL NEED:

# Craft stick or tongue depressor
# corrugated cardboard
# white felt
# cream or light yellow felt
# beige or light yellow yarn
# gold cord
# small rope or raffia
# 2 small round buttons, any color
# small scrap of material, trimmed with pinking shears
# black fine tip marker

Your kids can make homemade Creative Picture Frames as a gift for loved ones. This children's arts and crafts picture frame idea is perfect for a child to make for Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, or other special loved one on Mothers Day, Valentines Day, a birthday or other special occasion such as a Get Better Gift. Your Children can also make this craft for a keepsake by placing their own photograph into the frame. This frame crafts project idea is a way to create a 3-d picture frame for their artwork.

ARTS AND CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

# 9" x 12" white paper
# popsicle sticks
# glue
# crayons
# scissors

Are you going to celebrate Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, or a special occasion such as a birthday or is someone sick and needs a get well soon gift? This is an easy to make arts and crafts activity for kids to make a Photo Flower Craft Project for Kids to Make for Mom or Grandma on Mothers Day or other occasion. This childrens' crafts project of a Photo Flower Craft has the needed instructions for making flowers with a photo in the center.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS WILL NEED FOR THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY

# Small Clay Pot
# Construction Paper
# Popsicle Stick
# Photo
# Pipe Cleaner
# Floral Foam
# Spanish Moss

This arts and crafts activity for kids is to create a picture frame out of puzzle pieces and it is called the 'Waste Not Picture Frame' crafts project. Do your children have an old puzzle that is missing some pieces? How about some photographs that need framing? If you said yes, then you and the kids have a fun project ahead of you! These easy and personalized frames make wonderful gifts for relatives.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS WILL NEED FOR THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:

photograph for framing
piece of cardboard a little larger than your photo
4 ice cream sticks
15 puzzle pieces (will need more or less depending on puzzle piece size)
tempera paint in colors of your choice
various buttons and doodads for decoration
Craft glue
hot glue
scissors
newspaper

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS WILL NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:
Star Wreath -
Supplies:

Red, white and blue construction paper
A paper plate
Scissors
Glue
Optional - glitter

Cut a large hole in the paper plate.
Cut out a lot of stars from red, white and blue construction paper. For a star template, click here.
Glue the stars to the paper plate.

Optional: Decorate the stars with the names of the children or soldiers. Also, glitter is a nice decorative touch.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS WILL NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:
Swimming Pool Plate -

Materials Needed: 9" paper plate; blue tissue paper; fun foam; 1" Styrofoam ball; scissors; Elmer's Washable School Glue; Elmer's 3D Washable Paint Pens
Time Needed: 30 minutes
Cut blue tissue paper to the size of the paper plate and adhere it to the plate with Elmer's Washable School Glue. This will be the pool water.
Cut a small rectangle out of the fun foam and glue it to one edge of the plate lining up one end of the rectangle with the edge of the plate. The rest of the rectangle should lie facing the center of the plate. This will be the diving board.
Use Elmer's 3D Washable Paint Pens to draw segments or lines on the Styrofoam ball to resemble a beach ball. When it has dried, glue it to the tissue paper and the plate.
Cut an inner tube shape from the fun foam and decorate it with the Elmer's 3D Washable Paint Pens. Glue it to the plate using Elmer's Washable School Glue.
Cut out another rectangular shape for a raft and decorate it with Paint Pens. Glue it to the plate as well using Elmer's School Glue.
To make waves in the "water", use blue Elmer's 3D Washable Paint Pens.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS WILL NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:
Valentine Heart Wreath -
Supplies:

Red and pink construction paper
A paper plate
Scissors
Glue
Optional - glitter

Cut a large hole in the paper plate.
Cut out a lot of hearts from red and pink paper.
Glue the hearts to the paper plate.

Optional: Decorate the hearts with the names of the children. Also, glitter is a nice touch.