Rattlesnake Knot. Box Buildings. This photo originally appeared in FamilyFun Magazine Total Time weekend projects Ages school-age Kids can create all kinds of cool structures -- from houses to high-rises, metal shops to museums -- with household boxes and a few found objects. What you'll need Small cardboard boxes, such as cereal and pasta boxes Newspaper Masking tape Decoupage mix (or make your own with equal parts white glue and water) Tempera or acrylic paint Toothpicks, Popsicle sticks, dowels, film canisters, or other inexpensive household items Helpful Tip: Anything goes here! How to make it Stuff the boxes with newspaper until they're sturdy, then assemble them in the desired shape. Crafts: Wind Chime Musical Instruments. This photo originally appeared in FamilyFun Magazine Total Time 1 hour Ages school-age As intriguing to look at as it is to listen to, this wind chime is a breeze to make.
You'll need a metal colander and 6 or so old kitchen utensils -- the perfect excuse for a family outing to a tag sale or thrift store. What you'll need Length of monofilament Spatula Slotted spoons Whisk Vegetable peeler Drink strainer Apple slicer How to make it To assemble the chime, thread a 30-inch length of monofilament through each item so that you have a double line (as you would if you were threading a needle).
Crafts: Homemade Drum Musical Instruments. Cardboard Petal Picture Frame. 3 Things to Do With Jars. These striped lanterns cast striking patterns and add a crafty touch to patio dinners. Start with a pint-size canning jar, a safe choice because it's made from tempered glass. Apply glue with a glue stick to the undersides of three 11- by 1/2-inch strips of cotton fabric, then adhere them to the jar. Wind 24-gauge wire three times around the neck of the jar, then twist together the wire ends and trim. Cut three 12-inch wire lengths, loop one end of each around the neck wire, and twist to secure them. Put flat glass marbles and a tea light inside the jar.
Thanks to magnets hidden under the lid, this goldfish shimmies, quivers, and floats in its jam-jar bowl just like the real thing. To make your own gravity-defying finned friend, cut a fish shape from paper and insert it into a paper clip. Hold the jar upside down: the top of the fish should hang about an inch from the opening. Invert the jar again so that the clip is caught in the magnetic field, then turn the jar upright. Christmas Decorations: Candy Stick Vase.
This photo originally appeared in FamilyFun Magazine Total Time 1 hour Ages all-ages This simple craft makes a colorful centerpiece for your holiday table or an easy gift your child can create for someone special on her list. What you'll need Aluminum can Candy Double-sided foam mounting tape Ribbon Plastic cup How to make it To make one, first snugly wrap 3 or 4 rings of double-sided foam mounting tape around a clean, dry, and labelless aluminum can (ours was 15 ounces). Homemade School Supplies: Changeable Carryall Tins. Recycled Craft: Cereal Box Sandals. This photo originally appeared in FamilyFun Magazine Total Time 1 hour Ages school-age Froot Loops flip-flops, Cheerios slippers, Kix sandals. Really now, who can resist this footwear of champions? Have your child cut or rip open an empty cereal box, stand on it, and draw around each shoe. What you'll need Empty cereal box Scissors Pencil Duct (or packing) tape How to make it Cut out the shoe shapes plus as many straps as your child wants.
Recyclable Crafts: Carton Wallet. This photo originally appeared in FamilyFun Magazine Total Time 1 hour Ages school-age Recycle a milk or orange juice carton into a clever carrying case for change, trading cards, and more. The carton's cap keeps the wallet closed. Download Carton Wallet Template What you'll need Half gallon milk or juice carton with plastic cap, rinsed Scissors Paper towels Tape Wallet Template Ballpoint pen Ruler Craft knife (optional) Butter knife How to make it Cut open the carton so it lies flat, as shown; put aside the cap for now.
Glossy Paper Flowers. Bottle-cap Tambourines. Recycled Tote. This photo originally appeared in FamilyFun Magazine Total Time 1 hour Ages all-ages Fuse a stack of plastic shopping bags into a durable, water-resistant carryall, great for toting sleepover gear, wet bathing suits, or sandy beach treasures. What you'll need 9-10 plastic shopping bags (use only those labeled No. 2 HDPE) Scissors Parchment paper Iron Ironing board Colored duct tape How to make it Cut the handles and bottoms from 8 shopping bags. A Flock of Baby Socks. This photo originally appeared in FamilyFun Magazine Total Time 2 to 3 hours Ages toddler The only things sweeter than itty-bitty baby feet may be those itty-bitty baby socks -- always outgrown or missing their match long before they're worn out.
Give them new life as an easy-to-make mobile that you can hang over a crib, a changing table, or even a new big-kid bed. Ages: newborn and up What you'll need 5 baby socks Fiberfill stuffing Thread Small beads and a needle Tacky glue 5 small felt triangles Scissors 3 yards of narrow ribbon Embroidery needle 6-inch embroidery hoop How to make it To make each bird, stuff a sock just up to the ankle with fiberfill. Magazine Bead Bracelet. Message Center. Mini Grill Flowerpot. We bought our mini charcoal grill several years ago, and while my thirst for great BBQ never waned, we've only used the little guy a handful of times. Sitting idle on the front porch, it was literally collecting dust (this is Los Angeles - there IS dust in the air).
Pondering whether or not to get rid of the grill, I realized that it was the ideal flowerpot. There's plenty of room for soil, the dampers on the bottom allow water to drain, and it's already getting plenty of sun. This is a simple project, and it adds color and folksy charm to your garden or front step. My guess is that kids will get a kick out of it, too - as long as they don't think you're having daisies for dinner. Thoroughly clean your grill.
I found that moist cleaning wipes were able to get rid of most of the grease and gristle. Spoon People Crafts for Kids. This photo originally appeared in FamilyFun Magazine Here's the scoop on these simple spoon people: with their colorful plastic bodies and springy construction paper limbs, they're perfect props for a tabletop puppet show or other imaginative production. What you'll need Colored construction paper Glue Tape or glue gun Plastic spoons How to make it We used strips of colored construction paper: two 1/2- by 11-inch ones for each leg, and two 1/4- by 11-inch ones for each arm. Antarctic Auditions: Penguin Craft. 20 DIY Easter Decor Ideas. Recycled Craft: Can-Do Robots. This photo originally appeared in FamilyFun Magazine Total Time 2 to 3 hours Ages school-age These friendly robots are more than just good-looking; magnets hold their features in place, making the 'bots the metallic equivalent of a Mr. Potato Head. What you'll need Tin can Electrical tape (optional) Hardware, and various recyclables such as bottle caps, keys, etc.
How to make it Open a tin can with a safety can opener so there are no sharp edges. Free "Peeps" Easter Printable.