Kids Arts & Crafts Ideas by Theme

Your children will love this arts and crafts activity to make a cool Indian Turqouis Bracelet. This jewelry craft for kids is to make a bracelet out of beans. Toddlers, preschoolers, and Kindergarteners love this jewelry bracelet craft.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED

# discarded tubes from toilet paper
# wrapping paper
# pinto beans
# lima beans
# turquoise
# silver colored paint
# glue

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

Kids love making noise and giving us headaches. If your little one loves making noise and you are up to it ... :) then go ahead and do this musical Noise Shaker crafts project with them. For this musical arts and crafts project, your children and you can read the Instructions for making a small noise maker using empty film containers on the About.com page that you go to when clicking on the link.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

# Film Container
# Curling Ribbon
# Pony Bead
# Glue
# Rice (or other options from below)

Hey Kids!!! This is the coolest arts and crafts project ever. Learn how to create homemade paper that is filled with seeds that you can then go ahead and plant in your garden. Wow! This children's crafts activity for Paper Seeded Flower ( Learn to make handmade paper filled with seeds to plant ) is going to be exciting to work on with your Mom and Dad!

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED

* Arnold Grummer’s Cotton Linter Casting Squares
* Arnold Grummer’s Casting Strainer
* Flower seeds
* Food coloring, yellow
* Sponge
* Small piece of plastic canvas, 4x4 square
* Wood dowel, 12-inch



* Acrylic paint, green
* Paintbrush
* Colored Paper for petals
* Green Paper for leaves
* Scissors
* Craft glue

Kids!! Learn how to make your very own Rain Stick (A musical instrument that sounds like real rain). You can bring the sound of nature inside with this cool Rain Stick Crafts activity. Join a dozen kids and make a musical rainstick with these great instructions from Canadian Living.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

• Sturdy cardboard tube, 46 to 120 cm (18-1/8 to 47-1/4 in) long, such as mailing or drafting tube (available at stationery stores) or tube from fabric bolt (ask at fabric stores)
• 22-gauge hobby wire (approx half a roll for short stick, 1 roll for long stick), cut in 30 cm (11-7/8-in) lengths
• Dry rice, beans and lentils (approx 125 mL/1/2 cup for short stick, 375 mL/1-1/2 cups for long stick)
• Clear packing tape, 48 mm x 66 m (approx 1 roll for 20 sticks)
• Construction paper
• Gift wrap
• Permanent nontoxic coloured markers
• Coloured feathers
• Stickers
• Sequins
• White craft glue and brushes for glue
• Scissors and ruler

SunFlower Craft - Instructions to make a sunflower using a paper plate and real sunflower seeds.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:
# Paper Plate
# Glue
# Sunflower Seeds
# Yellow Paint

Hey Kids, learn how to make this neat Sand Candle Holders Craft Activity. This makes a great present for Mom, Dad, Grandma, or Grandpa on Mother's Day, Father's Day, or as a birthday gift. Follow the Instructions to make simple candle holders out of jars and sand.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

# Jars
# Sand
# Food Coloring
# Ribbon
# Glue

Kids love to pretend play and what would be more fun than playing pretend pirate with a Treasure box as a prop. This children's arts and crafts project idea is for your kids to create a Sand Treasure Box. With this craft for kids, they can make a sand treasure box out of an empty shoe box, sand, and glue.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:
# Empty shoe box, Cardboard egg Container
# Paint
# Craft Glue
# Clean Sand
# Food Colouring (optional)

Learn how to make your very own Busy Bee Puppet with this kids crafts idea. Here are this children's arts and crafts project's Instructions to make a puppet that looks like a bee sitting on a flower.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED

# Paper Plate
# Black Glove (stretchy kind works well!)
# Glue
# Wiggle Eyes
# Felt
# 1 Inch Pom-Pom
# Pipecleaner

Hey Kids! Learn how to make your very own Bunny Rabbit Puppet with this cool arts and crafts project for children. This kids craft to make a Bunny Hand Puppet, needs the following arts and crafts materials...A great crafts activity idea for Easter - an Easter Bunny puppet.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

Canvas Garden Glove
1/4" dowel stick 6" to 8" long
Craft glue
Assorted buttons, fabric, ribbon of your choice to decorate
Small amount of fiber fill
Orange & green felt
Jute
Fine point black permanent marker
Paint, crayons or fabric markers to decorate

Hey Kids - Learn how to make a Caterpillar Puppets with the following arts and crafts activity for children. You will love playing with your Caterpillar Puppets after you make it with your Mom or Dad. This crafts project for kids can be created with instructions on About.com for making a fun caterpillar using a sock!

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

# Cotton Sock
# Yarn
# Buttons
# Pom-poms
# Pipe Cleaners
# Ribbon
# Glue
# Markers

Hey Children, learn how to make fun puppets from cereal boxes. This crafts activity for kids to create a puppet can be created with items that most families have around the house. Find the crafts instructions for creating a Cereal Box Puppet Craft by following the link details to Make a cereal box puppet craft.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED
# empty individual size cereal box
# scissors
# construction paper
# crayons
# glue

Hey Kids, learn how to make your very own cow hand puppet with items that you have lying around your house. This children's arts and crafts project idea to make a handmade Cow Puppet isn't hard to make and there are Instructions for making a cow puppet using a paper lunch bag on the About.com site.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

# Paper Lunch Bag (preferably white)
# Black Paint
# Circle-Shaped Sponge
# Construction Paper
# Glue

Hey kids, learn how to make a spider hand puppet by using materials found around your house. This Crawling Spider Puppet can be made by children like you with these arts and crafts Instructions to make a cool spider puppet using an old glove.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

# 1 Black Stretchy Glove
# 2 Large Black Pom-poms
# 2 Wiggle Eyes
# Glue

Hey kids, learn how to make your very own papier mache puppets that look just like your twin. A great arts and crafts project for children and kids who love playing around. These are called DoubleHeaders - The fun of making these papier-mâché puppets is twofold -- kids can decorate them to look like their very own twin and then cast their doubles as stars in a show.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

Balloon
Newspaper
Scissors
Papier-mâché
Straight pin
2-foot-long wooden dowel
Masking tape
Acrylic paints and brushes
Construction paper
Glue

Hey Kids, learn how to make your own handmade Elephant Puppet with this children's crafts activity. This is an arts and crafts project for kids to make their own elephant hand puppet. Learn how to make this Elephant Puppet out of a paper plates and popsicle sticks.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

# Paper Plate
# Gray Paint
# Gary Construction Paper
# Popsicle Stick
# Glue

Hey Kids - you will love making these cute sock caterpillar hand puppets. This is a craft for kids to make this Easy to Make Sock Caterpillar Puppet. These puppets are so cheap and easy to make. You can add all kinds of features to make an endless array of puppets. Save your old socks and socks with no mates or look for used socks and accessories in second hand stores. Best part is that there is NO SEWING involved.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:
sock
hot melt glue gun
pink or red felt
cardboard
chalk
scissors
paper
googly eyes

Hey Kids, Do you need a theater for your finger puppets? Well, you can make your own finger puppet theater with this arts and crafts activity that is easy enough for children to make themselves. For this child's Finger Puppet Theater - You can make a tiny theater that is useful for putting on shows with finger puppets, popsicle stick puppets, or puppets on a straw. You hold the theater with one hand and use the other hand to move your puppets.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:
# A large, empty cereal box
# Poster paint (one color) Paint brush
# Old newspapers (to protect the table)
# Colored construction paper (or scraps of fabric) for the curtains
# Glue
# Scissors
# A pencil

Hey kids, you can make your own Hand Puppet from a Garden Glove and it is easy enough that you can make this arts and crafts project all by yourself. This craft for kids is a Garden Glove Puppet... you Make this puppet using a glove and other materials listed below:

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

# 1 Garden Glove
# Pom Poms
# Felt
# Hot Glue Gun
# Odds and Ends for Embellishments

Hey kids, do you want to make a spooky ghost hand puppet craft for Halloween? This arts and crafts activity for kids is to create a spooky Ghost Glove Puppet. This craft for kids to create a A spooky Halloween ghost glove puppet calls for the following materials:

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

A 12 inch square of white fabric or an old handkerchief
3 elastic bands
Black pencil or pen

Hey Kids, do you want to make a Spooky spider puppet that actually jumps? It is a very cool project that most kids, especially boys would love. This would be a good craft to make around Hallow You can make this jumping spider puppet with straws and a few other materials listed below:

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:
# 1 Large Black Pom-Pom
# 4 Black Pipe Cleaners
# 2 Small Wiggle Eyes
# Black Yarn
# Straw
# Glue
# Wax Paper

Hey Kids, You will love crafting this cool bird in a tree puppet crafts idea. This craft for kids is to create a Kookaburra in a Tree Craft. With these Instructions, even children can make a puppet that looks like a kookaburra bird sitting in a tree.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

# Brown Glove (stretchy kind works well!)
# Glue
# Wiggle Eyes
# Felt
# 1 Inch Pom-Pom

Hey Kids, would you like to make a teddy bear-like finger puppet with these crafts instructions from Michael's Art Store? Children can Make a Clay Bear Finger Puppet with these great Instructions to make a finger puppet out of clay. Bring story time telling to life with this fun finger puppet craft for kids.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

* Makin's® Clay, Brown
* Makin's® Clay, White
* Makin's® Clay, Red
* Makin's® Clay, Black
* Makin's® Clay, Yellow
* Makin's® Animal Cutter Set
* Makin's® Clay Extruder
* Makin's® Clay Clay Mixing Ruler
* Black bead for nose
* Wiggle eyes
* Tacky glue
* Toothpick
* Wire

What could be a better crafts project for kids to work on for Halloween than Halloween Finger Puppets? Your children can make a Set of Halloween Puppets such as a Pumpkin Guy, Ghost, Black Cat, and a witch. These are the cutest halloween puppets and aren't creepy at all.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

- Scraps of felt in black, grey, pink or flesh, orange, white and green (alternatively use craft foam in the same colours)
- Scraps of brown wool, straw or brown felt for witch's hair
- Needle and thread (or white glue)
- Embroidery cotton (or coloured markers)
- Sequin or stars to decorate witch's hat and dress.

Learn how to Make a cool dinosaur hand puppet with this easy to make kids crafts activity called a Sock-a-Saurus Puppet. Your children will love playing and Making a dinosaur puppet out of a sock.

Do you love frogs? Here is an easy to make crafts project for kids to make on a Rainy Day. This Children's Arts and crafts activity to create a Paper Plate Frog Puppet is so much fun that you might find your child making more than one...which is good because then the frogs can play together. He may not be a prince, but this paper puppet is certainly charming.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:
Paint
Construction Paper
Paper Plate
Googley Eyes
Glue
Scissors

Learn how to make your very own toy with this Sea Turtle Marionette crafts activity for kids to make from materials around the house - Trash to Treasure. Learn how to make this cool toy turtle marionette with the San Diego Zoo's instructions on their site for this cool children's arts and crafts project.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED:

# 1 clear plastic deli container with a snap-on lid, like the ones that parmesan cheese comes in. This is the turtle's shell.
# 4 plastic spoons to make the flippers. Carefully break off the handles of the spoons, leaving only about one-half inch of the handle and the scoop part. An adult could also snip off the handles with wire cutters, but don't try that yourself.
# 1 plastic container from individual-size pudding cups. This is the turtle's head.
# 4 wine bottle corks for legs
# 4 buttons–2 for eyes, 2 for anchors for your marionette strings.
# 1 piece of sponge for the turtle's tail
# 5 twist ties
# 2 popsicle sticks for your marionette control
# 4 small screw eyes to connect the legs to the shell
# Thick white glue
# Nail
# Hole punch–the kind you hold in your hand
# Heavy thread
# Acrylic paints, if you'd like to paint your turtle

Little Girls love to make this butterly wand for their birthday parties. This is a great craft to do at a children's party. Before the party, glue all the pipe cleaners to popsicle sticks. The children can do everything else themselves during the party. (Go to a printable version.)

Crafts Materials Needed For Each Butterfly Wand

* A popsicle stick
* A pipe cleaner
* A cone-shaped coffee filter
* Colorful markers or crayons
* Glue (a hot glue gun is perfect- an adult does the gluing)

Your kids will love making this cute little DragonFly Craft Stick project. Your children can Make this dragonfly using a popsicle stick and the following materials:

ARTS AND CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED BY YOUR CHILD FOR THIS ACTIVITY

# Popsicle Stick
# Paint or Markers
# Glue
# Sequins
# Thread
# Clear Packing Tape

Your kids can be really creative with craft sticks, buttons, cardboard and beads. Your children can create pictures from these little goodies and your kids can then give it as a gift or you can hang this finished piece of art on your refrigerator.

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED FOR THIS ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY FOR KIDS

# White glue or paste
# Containers for the glue (styrofoam meat trays are great ... so are egg cartons or old yogurt containers).
# Craft sticks (popsicle sticks).
# Cardboard (about 12" by 12" per child).
# Buttons.
# Beads.
# A covered work area.

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

Ghastly Ghosts - These home made ghosts, ranging from tiny to large, are great additions to your haunted house. Put some excitement into your scary haunted house. Great for halloween and makes fun activity to do.

MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:

Use balloons, white garbage bags (rectangle or square shaped), duct tape, and fishing line or thread.

Hey kids, do you want to learn how to Make a Pinata with an easy-to-make arts and crafts project idea just for children just like you. This hot-air balloon pinata is great for first time makers and kids like you will love this easy and fun pinata tutorial -- and it makes for a nice big target for little pinateros.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:

14-inch balloon, inflated
10-inch bowl
One batch papier-mâché paste
1 two-page spread each of regular newspaper and the comic pages
32-oz. plastic yogurt container, cut in half horizontally
String
Hole punch
Glue stick
5 sheets of tissue paper in bright colors, cut
into 3 1/2-inch squares
4 lbs. of individually wrapped candies

Time needed: Afternoon or Evening
1. For stability while working, place the balloon in a 10-inch bowl. Fold the spread of newspaper in half and then in half again. Tear (don't cut) 1 1/2-inch-wide strips so they have a slightly rough edge (tearing along a straight edge works well). The rough edges help make a smooth overall surface. Drag a strip of newspaper through the papier-mâché paste, wipe off any excess with your fingers, and place it at an angle on the balloon. Place the second strip so that it slightly overlaps the first. Continue until the balloon has been covered with one layer of paper strips--except for a 2-inch square at the top, through which the candy will go. Give the papier-mâché up to 24 hours to dry. Cover your leftover paste with plastic wrap so it doesn't dry out (if it does, add warm water).

2. For the piñata's hanger, wrap the midpoint of a length of string (doubled up, if necessary) around the bottom of the balloon, pulling the ends up to the top; tape it to the balloon in a few places. Knot together the ends of the string 6 inches above the top. Tape the top half of the yogurt container to the bottom of the balloon. This will become the neck of the hot air balloon.

3. Cover the balloon (including the string), the neck and the bottom half of the yogurt container (which will become the hot air balloon basket) with a layer of strips of comics, placing them at a different angle from the first layer. (Using different colored strips lets you distinguish one layer from the next, ensuring a uniform overall thickness.) Allow the second layer to dry.

4. Cover the balloon, neck and basket with strips of plain newsprint going in a third direction. Smooth over any rough edges as you work. Allow the balloon to dry thoroughly.

5. Punch four holes into the neck of the hot air balloon and four into the basket. Attach string to the neck about 3 1/2 inches from the base of the balloon to later suspend the basket.

6. Dot the corners of a tissue square with a glue stick and place it just to the side of the 2-inch square on the top of the balloon. Follow with other squares in the same color, working your way diagonally down around the balloon. When you get to the bottom, start at the top again in another color, fitting the squares into a houndstooth pattern. If you want to add streamers, cut 2- by 30-inch lengths of tissue paper and glue them onto matching colored squares about halfway down.

7. Cover the basket with squares of tissue in different colors. Attach the basket to the balloon. Puncture the uncovered part of the balloon at the top of the piñata and remove all of the balloon fragments. Make sure the inside of the piñata is completely dry before you fill it, so the candy won't stick to the sides. Fill it about halfway with the candy. Cover the opening with some tissue squares, and your piñata is ready to hang.

Pinatas -Pinatas are a lot of fun to make and can be prepared quite a while ahead of the party. They make great arts and crafts for children of all ages. Kids love the activities that accompany pinatas and parents can spends quality time making crafts and buildiing memories. - Here are the pinata projects they have listed... Big Bird Piñata or Decoration - This beehive can be used as a piñata or just a decoration. If you want to use it as a decoration you don’t have to do the paper mache. Just tape the tissue paper to a white balloon.

This rather large paper mache bird makes a great friend or a rather nifty pinata. A great craft for older kids.

This is a more detailed arts and craft project. It is not a good "first time paper mache" project. If this is your first time using paper mache, try one of our other arts and crafts paper mache projects before attempting this one.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:

2 balloons
toilet paper rolls, gift wrap rolls and/or paper towel rolls
tape
newspaper ripped into strips
flour
glue
scissors
construction paper and/or tissue paper
OPTIONAL: feathers


Instructions:

Make the Feet

take a toilet paper roll, flatten it and fold it in half

tape it so it doesn't unfold

do this with 8 rolls.

Tape together the rolls to form bird feet shapes (three toes with one back toe)

the back toe helps to stabilize the bird so it doesn't fall over

Make 2 feet

Tape half a gift wrap roll or a paper towel roll onto each foot (I didn't have either, so just taped a few tp rolls together)

When taping tp rolls to the feet (and to the body later on), cut slits about 1 inch long and 1/2 inch apart all around the roll. Flatten the slits and use them to tape the rolls to the feet/body.

Tape everything VERY well.

Assemble the Frame
Stuff the roll full of newspaper. If you don't stuff it well, the project will get too mushy when you're paper maching it, and will start to collapse.

Blow up one balloon all the way. Tape the legs to it. This is the body.

Tape a paper towel roll to the top of the body. This is the neck.

Stuff the neck full of newspaper, again to keep it from getting mushy.

Blow up another balloon about 1/2 way. Tape it to the neck.

You can break for a day at this point if you like.

Read the tips to paper mache for how to make paste and tricks on maching.

Paper Mache:
Cover the entire bird with 2 to 4 layers of paper mache. You MUST do this in one sitting -- if you half mache a balloon it will pop when the mache starts to dry. If the project starts getting too mushy, just charge on -- lie it on its side if you have to. At this point you'll be very happy with yourself if you remembered to stuff the paper towel rolls full of newspaper -- it really helps keep everything supported!

Once the project dries, you can adjust the legs or neck by rewetting them with a damp cloth (or a second round of mache). This is sometimes necessary if you had to lie it on its side.

Let the project dry completely (12 to 24 hours depending on your humidity level)

If making a pinata, cut an opening in the top of the bird. Fill with candy. Tape shut. (Use a damp cloth to soften the mache if you have trouble cutting the opening).

Once dry, cover the entire bird with 2 to 4 more layers of paper mache. I like to use scrap white paper for this layer since it's easier to decorate.

Decorate the bird:
I'm going to tell you what we did, but the sky's the limit here! You can use feathers, paint, fake fur, tissue paper, felt, etc, etc. Older children, especially, will enjoy a pile of craft supplies and their imagination at this point.

We cut 4" x 8" strips of yellow construction paper and fringed them. We taped these (starting at the feet) all the way up both legs.

We cut "petal shaped" pieces of pink construction paper and glued them in a feather like way all over the body, neck and head.

We added purple feathers at the top of the head.

We added large google eyes.

We added a rolled cone of yellow construction paper as a beak.

Spider Pinata - This super spider pinata would make a great craft. for a Spiderman themed birthday or for a Halloween party. Easy to make craft project is perfect for younger kids.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:

balloon
paper mache paste
strips of newspaper
strips of white paper (3 sheets or so of old computer paper works well)
tinfoil
string
masking tape
candy or small toys
black and white tempra/poster paint (or black tissue paper or black napkins)
black construction paper

Instructions:
prepare your paper mache paste (read my "How to Paper Mache" section if you don't know how this is done.

Blow up the balloon

Cover with 2 to 4 layers of newspaper paper mache and let it dry. About 24 hours to dry unless you leave it somewhere sunny and warm
don't cover the tied part (this will be the hole for the pencils.

Ilona adds: I love this photo, it's an outstanding example of the modern household! Multiple-use of things (the fan is a good drying-object, René wanted to turn it on!) and recycling goods (balloons, newspaper). But I'm glad we didn't have visitors last week!

Reach through the hole with a sharp pin and pop the balloon. If you can, pull out the balloon bits
fill the balloon with candy and small toys. You can wrap any open candies in saran wrap or cellophane to keep them from getting dirty when they drop to the floor.


Crumple a piece of tinfoil to he desired size of the head



Paper mache the tinfoil piece


use masking tape and paper mache to attach the head piece to the body (closing up the opening.

Also, use masking tape to attach a string loop to the spider where you want to hang it (you can attach the string from the bottom to make him look like he's hanging from his spider webbing)


Cover with 2 to 4 layers of white computer paper or tissue paper (it's much easier to paint over than newspaper!) and let dry

Autumn / Fall Crafts - Laminated Place Mat or Window Pictures -

An arts and craft project that serves as a great gift for the table. Bringing a little bit of the outside in, this craft project allows kids to explore the world of nature and science.

This craft is easiest if you have access to a laminator, but can also be done, with patience, with a supply of contact paper (clear sticky-back plastic). It is a super way for kids to choose, compare and arrange contrasting leaves and preserve them for a while.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:

First you will need a frame. Find a piece of card or paper in autumn colours and cut it so that it is just slightly smaller than your laminating pocket, or the same width as your contact paper. Mark and then cut out a rectangle from the inside so that you are left with a frame.

Instructions for laminator:

Open your laminating pocket and place the frame correctly inside. Choose a selection of autumn leaves and arrange carefully within the frame. If you are making a window picture you must leave some gaps between the leaves for the sun to shine through - but if you leave too much clear space you will have bubbles in the finished product. When you are satisfied with the result, close the pocket and run it through the laminating machine. Trim the edges if necessary.


Instructions for contact paper:

Contact paper is notoriously difficult to handle, so take a deep breath before you start! Decide on the finished size of your place mat / picture and cut two pieces of contact paper to size. Peel the backing off the first piece and carefully lay your frame on top of it to steady it. Now arrange your leaves.

When you are happy with the arrangement, peel the backing off the second piece of contact paper and lay it over the frame and leaves so that they are sealed between the two. Smooth down to fix.

Colorful Button Flowers - Make a beautiful button flower craft that can grow in any season. This arts and crafts idea for kids will help spring bloom no matter the weather.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:

Construction paper in a variety
of colours
Buttons
Long pipe cleaners
Scissors
Glue

Directions:
Help the children cut our medium size flowers from the construction paper. It might help if you trace or draw the flowers on the paper first. Glue a button in the middle of the flower. When the glue is dry, help the children to poke the pipe cleaner through one of the holes in the button and through the paper drawing it out the back of the flower. Poke the other end of the pipe cleaner through the second hole of the button and finish pulling the pipe cleaner all the way through to secure the button to the flower. Twist the pipe cleaner at the back of the flower and bend to make the stem of the flower.

Just Ducky - Heres an easy to make craft for kids that's everything it's quacked up to be. Cute and fuzzy, this chick might be a duckling or, with another color scheme, a baby penguin or goose or swan.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:

CRAFT MATERIALS:
4 white pipe cleaners
1 orange pipe cleaner
Googly eyes or markers
Pencil
Fingernail clippers
Glue

Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Connect two white pipe cleaners end to end.

2. Bundle the double pipe cleaner around a pencil to make the body. Bundle another white pipe cleaner to make a head.

3. Bend the orange pipe cleaner in half. Thread the folded end into the head and out through the bundle.

4. Thread the body onto the orange pipe cleaner.

5. Bend the ends of the orange pipe cleaner into V-shaped feet. For wings, clip and bend two 3-inch sections of white pipe cleaner.

6. Insert the wings into the body with a dab of glue (if you want) for extra strength. Glue on googly eyes or draw them with a marker.

Curtain Ring Photo Frames - Make a Curtain Ring Photo Frame from Favorite Photo with this fun to make kid's craft idea. Ideal for girl scouts and boy scouts. Craft a few for your walls today.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:

Favorite Photo;
Wooden/Painted Shower Curtain rings;
Glue;
Photo Frame Hook Hanger (With screw-in tip).


1. Cut Photo to fit back of curtain ring.

2. Glue photo to back of curtain ring.

3. Screw small frame hanger into the top of the curtain ring.

4. Hang many photos together in a small nook.

Decorative Clothespin Photo Holder -

Paint a wooden daisy clip to hold photos. Use it as a centerpiece or give as a gift. A fun to make arts and craft project for kids of all ages.

CRAFTS MATERIALS YOUR KIDS NEED TO MAKE THIS CHILDRENS' ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITY:

Wooden Holders
Paint and Paint Brush
Fine Point Black Pen
Photos


Paint wooden daisy clip. Let dry. Use a fine point pen to add details. Add photos from the past year to display as a centerpiece.