(Disclosure: I'm working with Kwix Stix to bring you this craft idea.) Looking for Christmas crafts for kids? Inspired by the mix and match drawing game, Exquisite Corpse, we made mix and match Christmas themed blocks decorated with Kwik Stix quick drying tempera paints. The end result is a fun toy for kids to play with during the Christmas holiday. Christmas Crafts for Kids: Paint Mix … [Read more...]
Learn How to Make Origami Fashion
Artistic and crafty kids (and adults) can make origami art beyond animals and flowers with the incredible new book, Origami Chic: A Guide to Foldable Fashion by Sok Song. You'll learn how to make tops, bottoms, dresses, shoes, handbags, and more. My 11-year old just can't get enough! JJ, my 11-year old, had never done origami before this book. So she started out as a total beginner. No … [Read more...]
How to Make Cute Clay Creatures
Modeling Clay with 3 Basic Shapes by Bernadette Cuxart shares step-by-step directions and photographs for kids to create cute clay animals. (Or cute eraser creatures as we did.) Using three basic shapes -- a ball, a worm, and a teardrop -- this step by step book will show you how to make tons of (40) cute creatures. Creatures such as a panda, owl, rhino, kitten, puppy, turtle, fish, … [Read more...]
Make a Wish Jar! DIY Origami Stars
Inspired by the Star Darlings positive messages, my daughter and I created our own Wish Jars -- with our wishes written on colorful strips of paper which we made into origami stars. Star Darlings are star-charmed girls who encourage and help others to fulfill their heartfelt wishes. Now with nine books, dolls, music and apparel, along with a mobile app and animated shorts, Star Darlings … [Read more...]
Project: Pet Rock (Craft and Writing Activity)
Help your kids adopt the easiest pet ever -- a ROCK! (I know. Why didn't you think of this before?) Once your child adopts a rock, he can dress it up, name it, and give it a home! Not only that, add literacy learning with this funny and fun writing project / activity. Use Laura Numeroff's 10-Step Guide to Living with Your Monster as a mentor text from which you'll help your child write her own … [Read more...]
Easy Accordion Book for Kids
It's really easy to make an accordion book that kids can use for writing and drawing. All you need for this project is paper, scissors, and stickers. This is a variation of the Dog & Star Hinged Accordion project from the very creative new book Making Books with Kids: 25 Paper Projects to Fold, Sew, Paste, Pop, and Draw by Esther K. Smith with illustrations by Jane Sanders and … [Read more...]
DIY Heart Book
I'm loving Making Books with Kids: 25 Paper Projects to Fold, Sew, Paste, Pop, and Draw by Esther K. Smith with illustrations by Jane Sanders and typo-o-graphics by Dikko Faust which will be published 2/1/16. I adapted one of the book's projects to make a found-object heart book for kids for Valentine's Day or any day. Kids: use this book for poems, drawings, stories, or memories! To make it … [Read more...]
Patterns for Doll Clothes
My kids are big crafters -- and recently, sewers. Is that the genderless term? I'm not sure. But you get the gist. The girls love to sew doll clothes for Barbies and American Girls. I bought a great inexpensive Brother sewing machine for us a few years ago and it's been fabulous. (Under $100!!) I can hem and fix small things and after I taught the kids, now they can use it, too. The … [Read more...]
Journey to the 50s with New American Girl, Maryellen
Journey back in time to 1954 with Maryellen, an American Girl in the BeForever line and learn to make a doll painting, too. First, play with the adorable Maryellen doll and read her three historical fiction chapter books -- we highly recommend them. Then, follow along as I show you how to take a photo of your Maryellen doll and turn it into a painting! A DIY doll painting that will look great for … [Read more...]
Build Your Own 3D Toy with Potatoyz App
I didn't think my kids would get to try 3D printing before me but it happened with POTATOYZ, a brand new interactive app and toy created by the animators of The Lorax and Despicable Me. Children create and customize a toy in the app which can be sent to a 3D printer, made for real, and sent to your child. It's totally cool to see your imagination come to life! And, where else can you make your … [Read more...]
4 Surprising Coloring Book Activities for Kids
You're going to love these four coloring book activities for kids (and you) to do at home. Get in quality time with your child, entertain a sick kid, display your work, and create your own inspiration! 1. Mom and Me Coloring Time My daughters and I love coloring. Sometimes we just want to spend time together. Coloring is one of the best activities because it's easy even if I'm tired. Even … [Read more...]
Easter Activities with The Artful Parent
Jean Van't Hul's second book, The Artful Year: Celebrating the Seasons and Holidays with Crafts and Recipes--Over 175 Family- Friendly Activities, arrived in my mailbox a few weeks ago. It's an amazing resource with art activities, crafts, recipes, and more to help make each season special. We decided to give some of the Easter activities a go. Easter Activities with The Artful Parent We … [Read more...]