Kids Craft Ideas

Suz · 07-18-2009, 04:35 PM

The whole reason I got into crafts was to spend time with my kids. We love doing everything from art to sewing projects.
So far I'm buying pre-packaged crafts at the craft store which is great but I'd love to take it to the next level and make some crafts from scratch.

Does anyone have any good Kids Craft Ideas? Even if the end product isn't that great I'd love to hear about the projects that the kids had the most fun doing.

Thanks!

**gma2rjc** · 07-29-2009, 12:20 AM

I picked up a book on making paper airplanes several years ago. I thought some of the older boys might enjoy making them.

They loved it! I gave them the book and a bunch of paper and they went to town.

It was so cool to watch them and to listen to them discussing the directions with each other.

The best part was seeing the older kids help the little ones with their planes and teaching them how to throw them.

It's a good thing that they were only made out of paper because a lot of the planes 'accidentally' crashed into my back and my head. lol

DangerMouse · 08-03-2009, 03:52 PM

i've always enjoyed oragami as well, i can make the flying bird, a frog, a flower and a box from memory. a few others if i tried hard to remember... Nathan, if you see this, the pics i posted are the right size now, tnkx.
i'll try to photofiltre up some instructions for one or more of the above oragami 'sculptures' when i get 2 minutes free.....

DM

squiggles60 · 08-10-2009, 04:24 PM

Baker's Clay
INGREDIENTS
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup salt
1 1/2 cups water

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Mix the flour, salt and water. Knead dough until smooth. Roll out dough and cut into desired shapes. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour. Once cool paint with colors, if desired.

Note:
Making Christmas ornaments is a favorite creative endeavor. However, anyone who makes these, or other food-based ornaments should know that sometimes bugs (or even other attic-dwelling critters!) can ruin your beautiful artwork. To avoid the problem, always store flour-based ornaments in airtight boxes. My favorite storage for these are metal cookie/gift boxes, which also make the cutest type of package if you are giving these ornaments as gifts!

squiggles60 · 08-10-2009, 04:38 PM

This is a great recipe for the kids just roll it out and use cookie cutters let the air dry for day's and they smell woderful on the christmas tree.

Cinnamon Apple Clay

1 cup applesauce
1 cup flour
1 cup cinnamon
1/2 cup white school glue
Food coloring

Mix together in a bowl and add food coloring. Refrigerate for a few hours until the clay is firm. Roll out to about 1/4 inch thick cut with cookies cutters poke a hole at the top ( remember these are going to air dry and shrink alot so your hole has to be a bit over sized depending on what your going to use to string them) We roll them out on waxed paper then set them aside to dry.

DangerMouse · 08-10-2009, 05:09 PM

that sounds cool squiggles!

do you need to flour your hands before handling? (is it sticky?)

DM

DangerMouse · 08-10-2009, 05:15 PM

and how should we dry them so they don't crack? wax paper?
or paper to hurry them along? lol

DM

**gma2rjc** · 08-10-2009, 05:16 PM

I can't wait to try both recipes. Especially the cinnamon apple.

Thanks squiggles!

squiggles60 · 08-11-2009, 01:39 PM

just sprinkle a little dusting of flour on the table dump the clay out and sprinkle a dusting of flour on top be careful that it isnt to hot and then just start kneeding it making sure any flour you have sprinkled on it is mixed in real well.

squiggles60 · 08-11-2009, 01:41 PM

and i never add food coloring to the apple cinnamon recipe its a nice rusty brown color not sure what the food coloring would look like