Kids Holiday Crafts - Making Pinecone Pots Kids Holiday Crafts

Kids Holiday Crafts are such fun and they love making something that can

contribute to the holiday spirit, fun and decorations. This is one of our easy Kids Holiday Crafts that that the kids will love.

This is what you will need for your kids holiday craft:

• Pinecones
• Wood stars
• 1¹/₂ Inch terra cotta pots
• Paper napkins
• Acrylic paint in the desired colors
• Thick white crafts glue
• Paint brushes

How to do this crafts:

1. Paint your pots in the desired color
2. Let them dry completely
3. Choose another color to decorate the pots, you can decorate them with stripes, or dots or any pattern you like. Use as many colors as you please.
4. Remember to rinse the brushes well before you change colors.
5. Dots can be made very easily by dipping the back of the brush in the paint and pressing it to the pot.
6. Now the paint has to dry once again.
7. Meanwhile you can paint your pine cones white.
8. Let them dry.
9. Apply a second coating of white paint.
10. Let them dry
11. Now you can paint your stars to match your pots
12. Let your stars dry well.
13. Now you have to fill your pots with crumpled paper napkins so the pine cone will fit nicely.
14. Wet the paper with lots of crafts glue
15. Neatly set the pinecone in the pots onto the wet napkins to glue it in position
16. Glue a star onto each pinecone
17. Let all the glue dry very well before you use your pots in your decorations.

Fall Kids Craft - Acorn People

This is a fun autumn craft for children, kindergarten and up. The younger the child, the more

help will be needed. Those without the fine motor skills to

draw the little faces, may enjoy directing your drawing and gluing the acorns

and leaves. 

This acorn craft makes a great companion activity to a story or poem about the mighty oak and its humble beginnings. It also is a fun activity to a lesson about the oak tree and the uses of acorns in nature (such as how squirrels gather and store them) and by American Indians and other peoples. Check with your local children's librarian for book suggestions.

Supplies

• Acorns with their caps (loose caps can be glued). The various shapes will determine the shapes of the acorn people's faces.
• Fine tip markers.
• Glue.
• Wooden clothespins: With springs or the old fashioned, wooden, duckbill type, which are slightly bigger.
• Autumn leaves: These should be small and a bit shorter than the sticks or clothespins because they will be the acorn people's dresses.
• Optional: Tiny twigs (for adding hands and feet if you choose).

Directions

Before adding the bodies, we'll first make the acorn people's faces. Here's how:

1. Check the caps on the acorns to make sure they won't easily fall off.
2. Glue any loose caps so that the acorn people can keep their hats.
3. Using fine tip markers, draw eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth.
4. Using a fine tip marker, add any other features you want, such as a moustache, glasses, etc.*
5. After adding a face to the acorn, glue the acorn to the clothespin near the top, so that none of the clothespin rises above the acorn.

*When drawing the faces, you can make the expressions as cute or silly as you like. Give each of the acorn people his or her own personality.

Variation: Children may enjoy creating the facial features with natural items such as seeds from plants gathered on a nature hike.

If you want to give your acorn people arms that stick out from the leaf dresses, use the twigs and glue to create hands with fingers and arms. Then glue onto the

craft stick or clothespin before adding the leaf.

Next, glue the leaf to the front of the acorn person's stick or clothespin body.

Pants and shirt variation:

Using the old fashioned clothespin, attach the acorn so the clothespin facing in the direction that allows the two "legs" to appear side by side. Cut out a shirt and pair of pants from a leaf. Glue them onto the clothespin.

When the acorn people are completed, the clothespin legs will help them to stand up, but it's a good idea to prop them up against something so that they will not fall over. Also, if you want these to last longer than the leaves will, coat the leaves first with a leaf preservative (many crafts stores off and online carry these).

Another fu project for kids is: Pressing Flowers. Have a look at: How To Press Flowers

Easter Eggshell Crafts for Children

After spending so much time and care coloring all those pretty Easter eggs, it seems a

shame to throw away all those shells. Here are three Easter egg shell crafts that will enable the children to keep those pretty colors in the home year round, two from cooked and colored Easter eggs and from eggs especially colored for the craft.

The first two, the eggshell vase and picture, can be easily done by children pre-school age and up, while the last one, the eggshell tulips is easiest for slightly older children because it requires finer motor skills. 

Eggshell Vase

Supplies

• Crushed Eggshells (varying colors) that have been rinsed and dried.

• Vase or bottle (glass milk bottle, juice bottle, etc.).

• Glue that dries clear, such as Elmer's non-toxic school glue.

• Large bristled art brush (inexpensive type since this is just for glue).

Directions

1. Place eggshells in a paper or plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin.
2. Using the brush, cover the outside of the vase with glue.
3. Apply the crushed eggshells to the surface.
4. Allow to dry.
5. Brush a coat of glue over the eggshells, allow to dry, and then brush on one more coat.

Fill with spring flowers – or the eggshell tulips described below!

Egg Shell Painting

Supplies

• Poster board or other stiff paper.

• Crushed eggshells (varying colors) that have been rinsed and dried.

• Clear drying glue (such as Elmer's non toxic school glue.)

• Large bristled art brush (inexpensive type since this is just for glue).

Directions

1. Place eggshells by color in separate bags and crush with a rolling pin.
2. Draw a picture on the poster board or paper.
3. Decide which colors you want to use where. This will be similar to painting with numbers.
4. One section at a time, paint with glue and then apply the eggshell pieces. If they are finely crushed, you can sprinkle them on.
5. After your picture has dried, hold upside down to see if any eggshells fall off, and apply more to any empty spots.

Now you have a nice, cheery picture to remind everyone of Easter, even when it's cold and gloomy out!

Egg Shell Tulips

Supplies

• Eggshell halves obtained from cracking open raw eggs to use in cooking. These should be gently washed and allowed to dry. You may want to collect them ahead of time whenever you use eggs.

• Green pipe cleaners.

• White glue or hot glue gun (for faster setting and to be used by an older child or adult only).

• Tempera paint or Easter egg dye.

Directions

1. Paint or dye the eggshell halves to resemble tulips.
2. Allow to dry.
3. Optional: Using fine tip markers or a fine tipped paint brush add details.*
4. Fold the end of a green pipe cleaner into a spiral shape.
5. Glue the spiral to the base of the tulip. Leave to dry (white glue will take a few hours to set).
6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 for each tulip.

*Looking at real tulips or close-up pictures of tulips will provide inspiration for the details.

Easy Kids Crafts - Toilet Roll Binoculars

This is one of our Easy Kids Crafts that are for the really little kids. It is easy and requires very little

supplies.

What you need for this easy kids crafts:

• 2 Empty toilet rolls
• Glue
• String
• Paint
• Paint brush
• Instrument to make a hole with

How to do this easy kids craft:

1. Paint both the toilet rolls black
2. Let them dry completely
3. Pate them together to form your binoculars
4. Make holes at the top and outside of the toilet rolls
   
5. Attach the string to go around the child's neck

That's it, and I promise you, this is one of our Easy Kids Crafts that my little granddaughter of five enjoyed very much when they made them at school. Use the opportunity to explain how real binoculars work and have a pretend play where they go bird watching with their "binoculars"

Go to Amazon now and have a look at: Enchanted Fairy Garden Kit

Valentine's Day Decoupage Craft for Kids

This decoupage craft is easy for children of all ages. Its collage style lends itself well to imagination, and the box can be filled with a Valentine's gift such as candies, heart shaped cookies, a plush toy animal, candles or "I love you" notes. You might even want to decorate the box to match what you tuck inside or vice versa.

Supplies

• Scissors: Small, sharp school scissors or for young children, round tip safety scissors.

• White glue that dries clear or Modge Podge Decoupage finish (gloss or matt.

• Cardboard box: This could be a recycled gift box, but it should be sturdy. Cardboard hat boxes (round), heart shaped boxes and other sturdy boxes can be found at inexpensive prices at many online crafts stores, as well as offline at large chain stores, such as Michaels.

• Pictures: These can be cut out from magazines, Valentine's cards, gift wrap and from computer print outs. You could use your Paint program to create lettering or designs (like big red hearts). Printed photographs could also be used. Depending on the type of design, you may also want other materials such as doilies.

• Large art brush (for spreading glue).

Before we get started with the directions here are some various designs that could be used for the box. These may help you to think of some of ideas of your own, or you may want to use one of these as is. When you make your box you will be working with pictures, words and/or designs you have cut out. You will be gluing these on like a collage, so keep this in mind while considering your theme.

Puppy Love: This would be a cute Valentine's Day theme for someone who loves dogs or puppies, and who can resist an adorable puppy? You could create a collage of puppy pictures, or you could cover the box with say all pink paper and then add two adorable puppies to the center. Then cut out letters to spell "Puppy Love." Remember, you can cut out letters from magazines, cards or pages printed off the computer.

Victorian Hearts & Lace: In the Victorian style, lots of tiny designs are used, such as romantic flowers, hearts and cupids. For lace, you could use scarps of real lace, lace ribbon or pieces cut from doilies. To get an idea of the Victorian styles, search online for "Victorian Valentines Day Cards" or even "Victorian Decorating." This is a very romantic style.

Flower Power: Get in the groove with this 1960's design. Decorate your box with bright colors like lime green and pink and pictures of mod flowers (like the ones that decorate the Scooby Do gangs van), big hearts and words like "Love" in 60s style lettering. You can find lots of images and ideas online.

Directions

1. Cut out your pictures and letters. You may want to lay them out in front of you to experiment with design ideas, or you may want to create as you go along.

2. One at a time, use the brush to smooth the glue or Mod Podge onto the back of the picture and adhere to the box. Depending on how you want this to look you may want to have some pictures upside down and at different angles, instead of all right side up. When you press each picture to the box, smooth it out so there aren't air bubbles and so that it lies nice and flat. You can have everything overlapping so that none of the box shows, or you can leave spaces. It all depends on the design you want.

3. Continue gluing your pictures and lettering to the box until all the sides, the top of the lid and the sides of the lid are covered. You don't need to do the inside or bottom.

4. Using the brush, dab on the glue or Modge Podge. (If you brush it on with long strokes, the brush strokes will show when it dries.) After this application dries, apply one or two more.

Now, you have a lovely Valentine's box!

Creating with Fimo Acrylic Clay

Fimo is a polymer non-toxic clay that is found in mostly craft stores that is safe and easy to work. It is a clay that is available in many bright colors; making it a great craft material for kids and adults alike.  Creating with Fimo Acrylic Clay is a book filled with collection of 25 projects using Fimo, for ages 11 up.

There are at least three different projects described in each chapter, for a total of more than twenty-five. The illustrations and instructions are clear, and the lists of tools and clay amounts needed is precise.

In this book you will find Lots of creating with Fimo clay ideas:

• Step-by-step instructions describing how to create necklaces, earrings, pins, and more.
• Techniques used include stenciling and marbling.
• General information on the use of Fimo acrylic clay, including colors, tips on working with the clay, baking it, amounts needed, and tools and accessories needed for the projects.
• Five chapters that give instructions in a different technique — cookie cutting, stencil cutting, marbling, petal discing, and hand-building with Fimo clay.
  

  

Elephants, clowns, watermelons, roses – it’s easy and fun to create them all with this clay.

Step-by-step instructions show kids how easy it is to make earrings, necklaces, pins, barrettes and more from brightly colored acrylic clay.

The easy to read layout and simple to follow illustrations make this book enjoyable for most age levels, however please note that a kitchen knife is needed for most projects so use caution when necessary.

Clay crafts are a great way for family fun, quiet play, and more.

Creating with Fimo Acrylic Clay (Kids Can Do It)

Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter

Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter is ideal for someone that wants to try a hand on a variety of crafts. Your kid can be exposed to a wide variety of crafts. The young crafter can learn the essentials of crocheting, embroidering, and sewing in one awesome kit. With Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter you will be able to keep your kid budy with beginner crafts for quite a while. Add this to the mosaic crafts for beginners and some beginners scrapbooking and any homeschooler can be doing crafts for quite a while.

The  Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter set won the Family Fun magazine Best Toys of the Year Award and Parents’ Choice Approved Award, so you know it is a good set to get for your kid.

The  Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter includes materials and instructions to make a stuffed dog, coin purse, felt brooch, embroidered bandana, wall hanging, sewing pouch, hair ribbon, bracelets and a scarf. Wow! That will keep for quite a while.

The activities in  Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter encourage a child’s imagination and learning development. It is a great kit for one child or a small group alike.

The Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter is a great introduction to several basic tasks appropriate for young girls. With this kit a little girl will learn all the basic techniques for all the “sewing and yarn” crafts that girls very often love. So with this Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter a little girl will have many hours of happy crafting. (Do not leave the boys out, they may enjoy it as well!)

Have a look at some of the reviews you can find on the Amazon site:

First of all, the craft projects are separately packaged with very clear directions, so it’s easy for my 7 year-old daughter to chose which one she wants to do. The materials are colorful and durable. The rounded chest itself is also impressive. It’s a keeper. I’ve purchased several Alex craft products and I recommend them as a company. This product is one of our favorites

I bought this for my very art and crafty daughter (9) and its pretty neat. Lots of needles though so for sure one has got to be careful – but she likes it a lot

our 10 year old granddaughter loves this product and is carrying it everywhere. It is a well made box, with so many items on the inside that it keeps her fascinated!

So, Go Now And Have A Look At Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter

A Fun Build a Birdhouse Kit For This Summer

Building a birdhouse for our feathered friends is a lovely idea and I am sure your kids will enjoy constructing it. Not only is it fun to make, but it also attracts different types of birds into your backyard. Birds require shelter to keep them safe from predators but also from adverse weather conditions. They can also serve as nesting places to raise their young. Imagine your kids’ faces when they notice that a bird family has made the birdhouse their new home.

The Build A Birdhouse Kit comes with all the parts necessary to create a home for birds – wood, nails, glue, an instruction booklet as well as paint and a brush. Your kids will take pride in their finished product and enjoy watching birds using it as their new home. The size of the birdhouse is 4” x 6” x 5”.

I think that the Build a Birdhouse Kit is great value for money, and on top of it all, it is great fun to build and will give your kids lots of enjoyment observing birds in your backyard. It would certainly make a great gift for any youngster interested in wildlife.

Bonsai 101 - Bonsai Tool 10-Piece Set

Bonsai 101

While most people associate bonsai with Japan, it probably originated in China. The word "bonsai" is a combination of the Chinese word for pot, "bon," and "sai," which means to plant. During the 8th century A.D., Chinese culture greatly influenced Japan, and this is probably when the Japanese adopted the art. Bonsai are meant to evoke natural beauty on a small scale, and to mimic the characteristics of a mature tree in miniature.

Growing a Bonsai Tree - How to Get Started

Bonsai is a blend of horticulture and art. It can be enjoyed by anyone, whether as a hobby or more time-consuming lifestyle. Before you begin, you will need some equipment. Here are some basics to get started.

1. Bonsai pots of various sizes and styles

2. Flexible mesh screen

3. Copper wire

4. Pruning shears

5. Pruning scissors (for trimming small branches, leaves and shoots)

6. Soil mix of two parts potting soil and one part pea-sized gravel

7. Chopsticks or unsharpened pencil

Now you will need to obtain your bonsai tree, or the raw material to make one. Here are some ideas.

1. Buy a ready-made bonsai from a local nursery or the internet and maintain its design.

2. Collect a small tree from the wild. This is the traditional Japanese method of obtaining bonsai, but it can be tricky in our modern times. Make sure you are authorized by the property's owners. Look for a tree that has an interesting shape and can be easily collected. Trees growing on rocks, with their shallow root systems and twisted shapes, are ideal.

3. Garden center stock makes excellent beginner's specimens. Juniper, cotoneaster, azalea, Japanese holly, and boxwood make good choices.

4. Landscaping cast-offs are another way to obtain bonsai material that is often already mature. When property owners tear out old shrubs such as azalea, boxwood, juniper, and forsythia, try to rescue one to make into a bonsai tree.

Cut to Shape

Once you have obtained your bonsai stock, it's time to trim it to shape. Do not put it in the bonsai pot just yet; turn it and study its shape, looking for the tree-like qualities. Trim away branches from the base to form a bare trunk, and aim for a dense, finely branching crown. Use wire coiled around the trunk or branches to make the shape look like a tree that has grown for decades in the wind or hanging from a rock.

Pot It Up

Once you have the shape you want, gently wiggle the plant free from the pot and shake off as much dirt as you can from the root ball. Using your pruning shears, trim back the roots by about two-thirds. The root system should now be shallow enough to fit into your bonsai pot.

Prepare the pot by covering the pot's holes with small squares cut from the wire mesh. Pour a small amount of potting mix on the bottom of the pot, set your newly-trimmed bonsai on top, then fill in with potting mix. Use the chopstick or pencil to work the soil down among the roots. Water thoroughly.

Maintaining Your Bonsai

Your bonsai is always a work in progress. Keep it trimmed to maintain and refine its shape. Every other year, in the very early spring, remove your bonsai from its pot and re-trim the roots. Remember, bonsai are not houseplants. Keep your bonsai outside.

Bonsai Tool 10-Piece Set

I just love looking at Bonsai trees. They are beautiful, delicate and yet so strong looking. Bonsai is a Japanese art form where trees or even shrubs are put in shallow containers and trained and pruned to look like normal size trees. It takes a lot of patience, love, information and certain tools to help you grow a Bonsai tree.

This very popular Bonsai Tool 10-Piece Set is a great tool set. I like the fact that it is designed for beginners but also for people with more advanced knowledge. The tools have been hand inspected and are made of high quality carbon steel. They are very sturdy and if you keep them lightly oiled, they should last for years to come. Just to name a few of the tools: cutting scissors of various sizes, trimming scissors, wire cutter, rake with spatula and leaf cutter.

Overall, the toolkit comes at a very reasonable price and it should make taking care of your precious Bonsai trees a lot easier.

Beeswax Candles And What You Should Know About Them

Throughout history beeswax has been used for many purposes . The most popular probably has been in candle making so it can be considered one of the most notable uses of beeswax. Beeswax candles have been around for centuries, and they are still frequently used. Here are some facts about beeswax candles that you might not be aware of.

1. History of Beeswax Candles

Beeswax was not the first material used to make candles. That distinction goes to boiled animal fat, also known as tallow, which was used to make candles prior to the Middle Ages. These candles served their purpose, but they had some definite drawbacks. They gave off lots of smoke, their flame was inconsistent, and their odor was unpleasant.

In the Middle Ages, candle makers started experimenting with beeswax. They were pleased to find that beeswax candles created very little smoke, and their scent was light and pleasing. However, beeswax was hard to come by at the time due to the fact that there were no beekeepers in those days. So beeswax candles were used primarily by nobility.

The Catholic Church later began to use beeswax candles. It was eventually written into canon law that the candles burned in any cathedral must contain at least 60 percent beeswax. This law is still in effect today. Fortunately, beeswax is much easier to obtain now.

2. Benefits of Beeswax Candles

The benefits of beeswax candles over those made of tallow are pretty obvious. But even today, with all of the improvements that have been made in the candle making process and new materials being used, beeswax still has numerous advantages. These include:

• The smoke produced by beeswax candles is not harmful to the environment or our health. This cannot be said for most candles, which are made of paraffin.
• Burning beeswax candles can actually be beneficial for allergy sufferers. It can help alleviate asthma and sensitivities to cigarette smoke, carbon dioxide and other pollutants. This is because they emit negative ions when burned, which help to clean the air.
• The scent of beeswax candles has a natural calming effect. Those who suffer from insomnia often sleep better when they burn beeswax candles before going to bed at night.
• Beeswax candles are more expensive than paraffin candles, but they also last much longer. A beeswax candle will burn about five times as long as a paraffin candle of the same size, so it is much more cost-effective.

Beeswax candles have been in existence for centuries, and they are still favorites of many candle lovers. They might be a little bit pricier than most candles, but considering the many benefits they offer, their numerous fans agree that they're worth every penny paid.

Of, course not everyone is interested in candle making, so, maybe you want to look in a different direction for your artistic inclinations. To start you on another craft you may want to have a look at

Beginner Quilt Instructions. Quilting is completely different from candle making. You may prefer working on something that will become a family heirloom and for that quilting is just the thing.

Surebonder Ultra Glue Gun

If you are a “crafty” family, then a glue gun is an essential tool to have. Hand held glue guns are not very expensive and can be used for creating lots of fantastic craft projects. Glue guns are great for sticking wood, metal, ceramics, heavy card, paper, plastics and cloth.

There are three different types of Surebonder Ultra Glue Guns available, depending on your needs:

The Ultra Gun, Low Temperature (230°F) for projects that won’t need high gluing temperatures.

Ultra Gun, High Temperature (380°F).

Ultra Gun, Dual Temperature with high and low settings.

Each of the glue guns runs on 60W power and benefits from a glue stand.

Overall, the Surebonder Ultra Glue Guns are good value for money and will certainly help you with your craft activities. A word of caution: glue guns get very hot, so please work carefully to prevent injuries and burns, especially around children.

Teen Craft Leather Tooling

There are many different crafts suitable for kids, but they love making things they can actually use. So working with leather is a good idea so is Macrame Beaded Jewelry.

Teens are a curious lot. They want their independence and yet they’re often afraid to step out on their own. One way to continue connecting with your teen is through a shared craft. One craft teens may enjoy is leather tooling. You may find you enjoy it, too.

Leather tooling is the process of taking pieces of leather and cutting, pressing or burning it to create an image or design which can be added to clothing or other useful items. Think about ornate leather saddles, purses or belts. Those things were created by leather tooling.

It is important to have the correct type of leather when tooling it. It generally should be top-grain, vegetable-tanned and light-colored. Your teen will also need specific tools with which to work.

Those tools include:

• Awl and spare point
• Retractable craft or X-acto knife with spare blades
• Retractable knife with blade which breaks off
• Rotary punch
• Needles
• Bees wax
• Waxed linen thread
• Pliers
• Scissors

There are other tools you can purchase when doing leather tooling, but you may want to wait until you see if your teen wants to continue the craft before spending too much money. Other tools include edge slickers, bevellers, punches, thong cutters, t-square, compass and yardstick.

There is an easy way to determine if the leather you and your teen have accessible to you is suitable for tooling. You can wet a corner and make a couple of lines to see how well the leather reacts and holds the lines. It is also a good idea to put tape on the back of the leather while it is being worked on to avoid stretching it.

Find designs by looking through pattern books or a simple picture possibly taken from a coloring book. An easy design such as a simple flower or leaf will give your teen an opportunity to try different tooling skills. The design will have to be transferred to the leather using tracing or wax paper.

Dampen the leather after the image is transferred. Your teen will then begin creating depressions into the leather. When they are satisfied with their work, they can allow the leather to dry and then paint or dye it to complete it. The result will be a raised surface work of art they can be proud of.

Your teen should be able to find more information about the particular skills needed for leather tooling at a craft store. They will have the tools needed as well as books and other supplies to get your teen started on a new craft they can continue into adulthood. The internet is another source of information for learning leather tooling.

Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe (Spiral-Bound)

The spiral-bound book “Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe” was written by Wendy Mulin who is the owner and founder of Built by Wendy, a NYC-based women’s and men’s clothing label and accessories. She has also written various Sew U instruction books.

In her book Wendy shows the reader how to sew fashionable clothing. The guide includes 3 basic patterns: pants, button down shirt and skirt in the sizes 0 – 12 and XS – L. These three patterns have been taken directly from her studio and can be used in lots of different and exciting ways to create various looks. You will be given easy step-by-step instructions and lots of ideas on how to make your old clothes look ultra-modern and unique.

The book reviews basic sewing skills, and introduces the reader to fabric cutting, more advanced sewing techniques and light pattern making. The author also gives general advice on how to work with a tailor and how to get your fashion ideas across.

If you have your own unique fashion style, and want to create your own personal look, and save money while you’re at it, then this book is for you.

Sewing Machine Fun Book

I can remember as a little girl how much I enjoyed it when my mother taught me to sew. I spent hours behind the machine creating all kinds of items. In the long run, as a teenager, I found joy in making all my own clothes. So, maybe your little girl will also love to learn how to sew.

Teach your children the fun of sewing with the Sewing Machine Fun Book. It was written by Lynda Milligan & Nancy Smith, who own the Great American Quilt Factory. In their book they offer children from the age of 7+ a wonderful introduction to sewing.

There are 13 fun sewing projects contained within the book, with colorful step-by-step instructions. The kids will progressively gain more and more knowledge of sewing as they work their way through the book. Basic sewing machine skills from stitching, pivots, threading the machine, patterns for the different projects and how to take care of your machine as well as safety around the sewing machine will be covered.

Obviously, younger children will need some adult guidance and supervision.

The Sewing Machine Fun Book is a great way to teach children the basics of sewing, a useful skill that will stay with them for a lifetime. All you need is a sewing machine and your children will be on their way to discover how much fun sewing and making things can be. No more boring rainy days!

Another alternative to keep the kids busy, if they like handwork crafts is Kids Knitting Projects, where kids can learn to knit in a fun way. With this Sewing machine Fun Book and Kids Knitting Projects your little one will have hours of creative fun.

Review Of The Play-Doh Super Craft Caddy

I have spent many happy hours with my kids and my granddaughter playing with Play Doh. They loved kids spending hours and hours kneading and making Play Doh sculptures. Play Doh is the ideal craft for little ones as it is safe and easy as well as cheap!

The Play-Doh Super Craft Caddy is a fantastic piece of equipment. Not only does it come with multiple tools to knead, cut and roll such as cutters and scissors, it also has some fun “girly” jewelry bead molds for making necklaces and bracelets.

Your kids will also love the cake stand and frosting presser for the bakers amongst your children. Or maybe your kids are more interested in “sand art” or “stained glass” activities. There is something for everybody.

This is a great organizer caddy as well. It has designated places to hold the Play-Doh tools so they won’t get lost in the house. It also has spaces for the included eight cans of Play-Doh, which come in different colors. I like that the caddy also comes with a colorful 3x3ft mat to keep all the bits and pieces of Play-Doh on the mat and not spread around your kitchen floor.

In my opinion, this product comes with lots of great features. It keeps your Play-Doh tools and Play-Doh organized and ready to be used the next time around for more hours of fun and enjoyment.

I think this product is well suited for kids from 3 years onwards and you might find yourself kneading, beading and baking with them as well. It would make a great rainy day toy.

After you have used all the Play Doh, and you are looking for more ideas, having a look at Salt Dough Just 3 Ingredients More Than 100 Projects, as it tells you how to make your own Play Doh and it gives you some very good ideas for projects as the kids progresses.

Easy Soap Making For Kids

Little kids do not have to be limited to salt dough crafts. With a little help they can get into the fun of soap making. It is true that making soap with lye is dangerous and not suitable for little kids at all. However, as soap making is fun, there are other safe ways for kids to make soap.

Here's a recipe for glycerin soap that is appropriate for preschoolers and older:

What You Need

• Glycerin soap (either bars or blocks)
• Soap dye
• Soap mold
• Microwave safe container
• Spoon
• Knife

Instructions

1. Cut a bar of glycerin soap into three pieces. If using blocks, cut two or three pre-measured pieces. (Only an adult should do this step.)
2. Place the glycerin soap in the microwave safe container, and microwave for about 20 seconds or according to directions that came with soap blocks. Stir, and continue microwaving 10 seconds at a time until the soap is fully melted.
3. Add soap dye. For pastel colors, use only a few drops. For darker colors, keep adding dye until the desired color is achieved.
4. Pour the soap into the mold and set aside. Allow to harden for an hour.
5. Once soap has hardened and cooled completely, pop it out of the mold. If it is stuck, place it in the freezer for a few minutes and try again.

Tips

• Use caution when removing soap from the microwave, and stir carefully to eliminate air bubbles. Soap that is heated too long or unevenly can erupt out of the container, causing burns.
• If you prefer, you can melt the soap in a double boiler over low to medium heat.
• If you would like a scented soap, you can add a couple of drops of fragrance oil. Just make sure it's safe for use on the skin, and remember that a little bit goes a long way.
• Want a layered bar of soap? Add color to half of the melted soap, pour it into the mold, and let sit for about 5 minutes or until a “skin” forms on top. Then slowly pour the rest of the liquid soap (mixed with another color of soap dye if you like) on top.
• You can make a swirled soap by waiting until you have poured the soap into the mold, adding drops of dye, and swirling with a toothpick.
• To make a simple yet elegant soap on a rope, pour half of the liquid soap into the mold, let sit for 5 to 10 minutes, and place a strand of beads on top. Then pour the rest of the soap on top of the beads and let cool completely. This makes a wonderful gift!

With Mother's Day coming up, this is an ideal craft to get the kids involved in. Imagine mom's excitement when she receives this Mother's day craft gift on Mother's day. So, get the kids involved in easy soap making for kids.

Camping Craft Ideas for Kids

Most kids find camping a lot of fun, but sometimes they still get bored from time to time. So, these camping crafts will give you, as a parent, some options when that happens. Of course, the same crafts can be used ad home as well. Remember to take lots of photos and then you can use them for scrapbooking. Go to Beginner Scrapbooking Crafts to see about that. This will make it branch out into a whole new life of crafts.

Here are your Camping Crafts Ideas For Kids:

Nature wreath:

If your child is like most, they’ll pick up found treasures while hiking or along the ground near the campsite. Let them keep their treasures; they can create a nature wreath from them. You can plan ahead by bringing a piece of heavy cardboard with you for this craft and cut it in the shape of a wreath.

After your child has found enough pine cones, leaves, rocks or other items to fill their wreath, let them begin gluing the items on the base with thick craft glue. They can place the large items on the wreath first and then put smaller items on. Try to help them fill the empty areas. When the glue has dried completely, they could spray paint it or use a clear paint with glitter.

Film canister first aid kit

It’s a pretty safe bet that while you’re camping someone will get a cut or scrape. This craft will come in handy. Have the supplies ready and your child can make a first aid kit they can carry with them.

The items they’ll need include:

• Ribbon or yarn
• Empty film canister (one for each child)
• Antiseptic wipe
• Small band-aids
• Safety pin
• Piece of wrapped hard candy
• Change for a phone call
• List of important phone numbers

How to do your crafts:

1. Help your child poke a hole in the lid of the film canister and one in the canister itself. 
2. Run the ribbon through both pieces of the film canister and tie a knot in it. 
3. This will enable your child to wear their first aid kit around their neck for easy reach. 
4. Put the first aid items into the canister. 
5. Your child can paint a red cross on the canister if they like.

If you go camping very often, put together a box with craft supplies that goes with you each time. Keep the box stocked with items you know they’ll use such as paper, scissors, glue, glitter, paints and paint brushes, and yarn or ribbon. Your child may also think of other ideas for craft supplies that you could provide. By keeping these materials readily available they will have them each time you go camping as a family.

Children can be funny sometimes. They can be eager to be outdoors but then complain because they’re bored. Using these camping craft ideas for kids can start your creative juices moving, which may allow you to think up other camping crafts for your children to enjoy the next time you go camping.

So, make sure you are prepared when you next go camping and let the kids have a ball with these camping crafts ideas for kids. It may even give you a few moments of peace!

A Hobby Kit Can Help You To Learn A New Craft

For someone tired of the same old craft, getting a hobby kit may be a good idea. There is a variety of Hobby Kits available, such as the Latch Hook Kits, such as a Huggables 15 Inch Latch Hook Kit-Monkey. You will find that there are many hobbies and crafts that have hobby kits for you to start with.

A hobby kit makes learning a new hobby easy and you do not have to buy all the materials and equipment that are very expensive if you are not going to use them again. So, a kit allows you to try out the craft and see if you like it before you go to the cost of buying all the stuff before you find out if you really enjoy the craft.

So, this is obviously also the cast with Latch Hook Kits, such as the Huggables 15 Inch Latch Hook Kit-Monkey. This kit supplies you with all you need to make the monkey, except for the stuffing that is easy to come by.

Even for kids trying hobby or craft kits is a good idea. Kids do not know what they are going to enjoy doing. With a kit, such as the Alex Toys Super Knot A Quilt kit, you kid can try out various crafts before you have to go to a lot of expense.

So, have a look at hobby kits as an easy way to get to know a craft.

Fun Sixties Tie and Dye T-Shirt Craft For Teens

If you are as old as I am you will remember all the tie and dye of that era. Even though it is true that tie-dye clothing, and other tie-and dye items, made their first appearance in the 1960s, tie and dye is still a popular choice for crafts. Teenagers and younger kids as well as some adults can wear tie-dye clothing and experience the fun of wearing something you made yourself.

Here’s how you can tie and dye your own t-shirt.

Rather than using commercial dyes, you can use simple food colorings which you probably have in your kitchen cabinets. Food coloring won’t give as deep a color as commercial dyes, but it’s safe for everyone to use.

You’ll need the following items to tie and dye your own t-shirt:

• Light-colored t-shirt (wool, silk, and nylon work well; cotton may not work as well for food coloring but does work with clothing dye and soda ash)
• 2 Buckets or bowls of clear water
• Rubber bands of various sizes
• Plastic bags
• 2 or 3 colors of food coloring or clothing dye
• Condiment bottles, one for each color
• Vinegar
• Salt

How to do your tie and dye craft:

1. Begin by soaking the t-shirt in an equal amount of water and white vinegar for about 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Take the t-shirt out and wring as much water out as possible so it’s still damp but not dripping.
3. Spread the damp t-shirt out on a table and grab the center.
4. Hold the center and twist the shirt and put rubber bands around the shirt or tie knots in it.
5. This is what gives the shirt its unique look.
6. Mix the food coloring or dye in the bowl with water.
7. You can also place the mixture in the condiment bottles.
8. When using bowls, dip the shirt into the dye; if you’re using the condiment bottles, squirt the mixture onto the shirts.
9. Since you’re using at least two colors, you can dip separate parts of the shirt into the dyes to create color explosions on the fabric.
10. If the two colors overlap they will create new colors.
11. Once the shirt is dyed to your satisfaction, wrap it in a plastic bag and place the bag someplace warm.
12. Leave it there for a minimum of 8 hours, up to 24 hours.
13. However, don’t let it get too hot - depending upon the fabric, it may begin to shrink.
14. After the rest time is over, remove the rubber bands from the shirt or untie it.
15. Fill a bucket or sink with clean cool water and one cup of salt.
16. Stir the water until the salt has dissolved as much as possible.
17. Rinse the t-shirt in this water.
18. This will help set the colors.
19. Keep rinsing until no more color shows in the water.
20. Then wash and dry the t-shirt with other colored clothing.

There is your fun tie-dye-T-Shirt for the summer. Now you know how to tie and dye your own t-shirt you can have the latest fashion item and have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve made it yourself. Of course, once your friends see your t-shirt, they may ask you to help them make one, too.

Once you have tasted the experience of working with fabrics such as this tie and dye crafts, you may want to move on to something a little more elaborate. For this silk painting is very good.

With silk painting you can make a beautiful scarf for yourself or a friend. So, do not stop with tie and dye, move on to silk painting. The easiest way to start is to get one of the many silk painting kits that are available and try it out first.

So, enjoy your tie and dye and then look into silk painting

Melissa & Doug Friendship Stamp Set

The Melissa & Doug Friendship Stamp Set would make a very attractive and fun gift for a special child in your life. The set includes nine wooden stamps with different images, ranging from hearts, flowers, balloons, teddy bears and butterflies that can be used to create lovely pieces of art.

In addition to the stamps, there are five colored pencils and two pads of washable ink in pink and blue. I love the look of the wooden box the set comes in. It has a see-through lid and has different compartments to keep the stamp supplies easily organized. I am sure that your child will treasure this box and its contents and will create lots of beautiful artwork.

Overall, I think this would make a fantastic and well-appreciated gift, for any child. It is recommended for children age 4 and up.

Let's have a look at what others, actually using the  Melissa & Doug Friendship Stamp Set  has to say about it:

This is what Benjamin M. Hoyt has to say:

I bought this for my niece for Christmas and it was an immediate hit. I like the simple but useful packaging and the terrific price. My niece wasn't supposed to open the packaging on gifts until she got back home (to avoid messes at Grandma's house), but we found her hiding behind the tree coloring with her new stamp set! She's very happy with it, and the box it came with means she hasn't lost all of the pieces.

And this is what Granny B thinks of the product:

Bought this for my homeschooled granddaughters who are 4 and 6, and they love to do crafts as well. They are having fun with it and learning too!

Here is what K. Cornette has to say:

This was purchased as a gift for a 7-year old and I thought it was an adorable set, sturdy and will certainly last for years to come!

For more ideas for crafts for kids you can also have a look at Mosaic Ideas For Beginners. For a kit that will keep your little girl busy for long have a look at Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter.