Crafting Secrets » Craft Ideas

Arts and Crafts Idea: Foam Sheet Glasses Case

Suz — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:47:14 +0000

Image by shastared via Flickr

Are you a camp director, teacher, or home school mom looking for a new arts and crafts idea for your kids? Or maybe you are a recreation director at a senior center or nursing home and could use a new project. Either way, this arts and crafts idea will be interesting and fun for all. This glass case can be used, given as a gift, or converted into a necklace purse.

To make the glasses case, you will need the following simple materials: a square of craft foam, plastic or large blunt needles, lanyard lace or thick yarn. Cut two rectangles from the foam, each 3-1/2 inches (9 cm.) by 6 inches (15 cm.). With a hole punch, make holes on three sides of each rectangle, leaving one short side unpunched. Make the holes 1/2 inch apart and allow at least 1/4 inch between the hole and the edge of the craft foam. The holes need to line up so that the two pieces can be laced together. If you are preparing the craft for small children, you should make the holes yourself. Otherwise, the crafters can do this step if you have enough pairs of hole punches.

At this point the crafters can cut decorative shapes from other colors of craft foam, or you can buy sets of ready-cut foam shapes. If you are doing the craft at a special event, like vacation Bible school, choose shapes that echo the theme of the event. For instance, if the Bible school or camp has a cowboy theme, find shapes that fit well, such as boots, cowboy hats, and stars. Let the kids choose the shapes they like and glue on as desired. You might also like to provide beads or sequins to glue on as well, especially if the crafters are a little older.

The next step in this arts and crafts idea is to thread the plastic needle with the yarn or lanyard lace. Yarn might be a little easier to handle, but lanyard lace is shiny and attractive. In a pinch, some teachers of small children use a bobby pin as a needle. It is certainly a safe alternative. Simply loop the yarn through the opening and use the open end of the bobby pin as if it were the point of the needle. The children can now begin to lace the front and back of the glasses case together.

To turn this arts and crafts idea into a necklace purse, simply attach a piece of lanyard lace to each corner making a long handle. Kids will enjoy using this case as a place to store secret notes and small objects. If they’d rather, they can give the glasses case to a parent, grandparent, or friend who wears glasses. Either way, this arts and crafts idea will be interesting for all.

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Kids Crafts Ideas on a Budget

Suz — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 01:59:33 +0000

: Image by mimitalks, married w/children via Flickr

We all love crafts!

They are a great way for kids to learn fine motor skills, and express themselves creatively, but being crafty can put a strain on your pocketbook at times.

Going to the store to buy supplies for each and every craft project, just isn’t practical. Which is why, it’s important to learn how to come up with kids craft ideas on a budget. Consider using items and supplies that you already have on hand, for fun and simple impromptu projects.
There are so many items that often get overlooked when it comes to crafting. Think back to your own childhood. The days of toilet paper roll projects and egg cartons, should come rolling back. Remember how fun it was to create something beautiful out of something so plain? Help your kids relieve that same joy and pride with these simple tips and craft projects.
Recycle and Re-Use
Teaching your kids about recycling is a really good life lesson, so why not integrate craft time and science by re-using common household items? Paper bags, egg cartons and other goodies get a second life when they are forever treasured in the form of a craft project. Encourage your kids to come up with other household items that can be used for craft projects, you may be surprised at the things that they come up with!
Here are just a few of the materials that you can recycle, discover, or re-use for your own craft projects:

-Egg Cartons

-Grocery Bags (paper or plastic)

-Cardboard inserts from packaging and boxes

-CD’s

-Old denim or fabric swatches

-T-shirts that no longer fit

-Used birthday cards or bags

-Wrapping paper

-Toilet paper and paper towel rolls

-Plastic soda bottles

-Cans (use caution with sharp edges)

-Things found in nature: A rock, leaves, sticks, etc.
Gravel Art
Here is a great little project that uses items that you should have lying around! Enjoy!
Materials Needed:

-Large Cardboard Box

-Small pieces of gravel (You will need quite a bit)

-String or Yarn

-Pencil

-Simple Coloring Book or personal drawing

-White glue in squeeze bottle

-Scissors

-Crayons (optional)
Instructions

1. Wash and rinse the gravel in a kitchen strainer. Spread out on towels to dry.

2. On your cardboard, use the pencil to make an outline of a simple drawing.

3. With the glue, trace over the outline.

4. Press string or yard onto the glue lines, cutting where necessary to form corners and angles.

5. Glue gravel onto the picture filling the spaces. You can use all one color, or use different colors for different areas.
6. If you wish to have a background, use crayons to draw and color one in.
Use Your Imagination
Once you get the hang of coming up with kids craft ideas, you will never go back to the store bought kits. There is so much more creativity and freedom that goes along with recycling and re-using common household items.

Sarah Jones loves teaching. When she isn’t homeschooling her own children, she is busy sharing her love of education with others.
Find a wide assortment of Lesson Plans, crafts for kids, and homeschooling tips at her site, http://www.KnowMore.com.

Easy Arts & Crafts Kid’s Projects: How to make a cute bracelet with hair beads and a drinking straw

Suz — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:05:16 +0000

For more kids crafts visit:

http://www.simplekidscrafts.com/

Manualidades para niños en Español:

http://www.manualidadesconninos.com/

Muslim Kids Videos and Crafts:

http://www.manualidadesconninos.com/

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About Simple Kids Crafts: Simple Kids Crafts is a blog dedicated to reviving the old art of handicrafts. and art that has been lost to fabricated toys. We provide easy fun crafts, with step by step instructions, coloring pages, home school resources, educational resources, kids arts and crafts projects for teachers and all for free!

The focus of the site is mainly on preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school crafts.

Make wonderful, easy, simple crafts with things found around the house featuring: paper crafts, animal crafts,decoration, painting,beading, gift making, gardening, felt crafts, puppets, play date tips, scrapbooking, yarn and needle crafts, photography, home decor, reading, poetry,jewelry making projects and science projects.

Permissions: You have permission to embed this video and put it in your site, however you do not have permission to alter, download, reproduce or past this video as your own. A link back to http://www.simplekidscrafts.com/ is required,

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Duration : 0:6:1

Easy Arts & Crafts Kid’s Projects: How to make a king’s / prince crown for your little guy

Suz — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:43:28 +0000

For more kids crafts visit:

http://www.simplekidscrafts.com/

Manualidades para niños en Español:

http://www.manualidadesconninos.com/

Muslim Kids Videos and Crafts:

http://www.manualidadesconninos.com/

Background Music, Free Royalty Free Music from:

http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/pir/free_music_loops.shtml

Thanks for visiting my Channel and don’t forget to subscribe.

The focus of the site is mainly on preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school crafts.

Duration : 0:2:31

Easy Arts & Crafts Kid’s Projects: How to make a recycled pompom decorative box

Suz — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:43:27 +0000

For more kids crafts visit:

http://www.simplekidscrafts.com/

Manualidades para niños en Español:

http://www.manualidadesconninos.com/

Muslim Kids Videos and Crafts:

http://www.manualidadesconninos.com/

Background Music, Free Royalty Free Music from:

http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/pir/free_music_loops.shtml

Thanks for visiting my Channel and don’t forget to subscribe.

The focus of the site is mainly on preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school crafts.

Duration : 0:2:1

Easy Arts & Crafts Kid’s Projects: How to make a play-doh flower

Suz — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:48:13 +0000

For more kids crafts visit:

http://www.simplekidscrafts.com/

Manualidades para niños en Español:

http://www.manualidadesconninos.com/

Muslim Kids Videos and Crafts:

http://www.manualidadesconninos.com/

Background Music, Free Royalty Free Music from:

http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/pir/free_music_loops.shtml

Thanks for visiting my Channel and don’t forget to subscribe.

The focus of the site is mainly on preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school crafts.

Duration : 0:5:0