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Crafts and art projects for kids
Welcome to www.tlsbooks.com. The following craft ideas and projects for kids were originally publishing in our newsletter. Most of the featured crafts are simple and inexpensive so they are great for the classroom or home.
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Don't miss page two of our Craft Ideas for Kids.
Personalized Pictures
Personalize and print a fun personalized picture.
Valentine's Day Card
Print this page
Materials:
Printed page above
scissors
crayons or markers
your imagination, you will write a short sentiment on the inside of the card!
Ceramic Tile Craft
We have received some input about this craft. A few people have stated that marker will come off of the tiles. Although ours have faded some over many years I can still see most of the original artwork. Perhaps the tile finish makes a difference or the amount of water the tile is exposed to? A reader suggested using craft paint that you bake on for the tiles.
This super simple craft can be made with children of any age. Very useful as a "hot pad", plant stand or candle holder. Best of all it will be a reminder of the fun time you had making it with your child for years to come. We have two of these holding a much used coffee maker, going on about 16 years now!
Materials:
6" x 6" ceramic tile.
4 marbles
white glue (elmer's)
optional materials include:
permanent markers in a variety of colors.
Step 1. Cover work area with newspaper.
Step 2. Have your child write their name and date on the back of their tile.
Step 3. Let your child decorate tile with markers if desired.
Step 4. Turn tile over and glue one marble on each corner. (may require some pressure to adhere) Let sit until dry.
That's it! A simple, useful household item that you made together!
Bookmarks
Bookmarks make great gifts for friends, Christmas, Mother's Day and Father's Day.
Materials:
poster board or card stock of any color.
markers, stickers, colored pencils, paints, or crayons.
white glue (elmer's).
clear contact paper or ability to laminate the finished product.
optional materials include:
a small, school size photo of your child, a favorite poem or saying or perhaps a list of favorite books.
Step 1. Cut poster board or card stock to the desired size for bookmark.
Step 2. Have your child write a special message on one side of each bookmark.
Step 3. Let your child decorate the other side in any manner they wish.
Step 4. cover each bookmark on both sides with contact paper (or you may laminate them).
That's it! A fun, useful bookmark to give as a gift or use yourself!
Paper Lantern
Everyone remembers this fun craft. Now share this fun activity with your own children!
Materials:
construction paper.
scissors.
white glue or tape.
optional materials include:
tiny stickers, markers, crayons to decorate the strips of the lantern.
Step 1. Fold the piece of construction paper in half.
Step 2. Along the folded side, cut evenly spaced slashes up to about 1 1/2 inches of the open side.
Step 3. (optional) Decorate with stickers, crayons, etc.
Step 4. Open the paper up and then roll it into a tube lengthwise so the slashes run up and down.
Step 5. Glue or tape the edges of the paper together.
Step 6. Press the lantern together while holding it at top and bottom to help define its shape.
Step 7. If desired, cut another strip of paper (approx. 8" x 1") and attach it to the top of your lantern with glue or tape to make a handle.
That's it! Quick, fun, easy and kid's love them.
Simple Paper Craft Project
This project takes some preparation time on your part but is super for a quick, imaginative art project. We always have a supply of shapes available for this fun project.
Materials:
Shape templates - you can use your own or feel free to use our shapes
Construction paper in a variety of colors.
White glue or glue stick
Extra sheets of paper or cardboard to use for gluing pictures to.
optional materials include:
stickers, crayons, markers, bits of ribbon, cotton balls, cork pieces, just about anything you can think of.
Step 1. Cut multiple shapes in a variety of colors using construction paper.
Step 2. Have your child arrange the shapes onto a new piece of paper making a picture with the different shapes.
Step 3. When they are satisfied with their arrangement, let them glue the shapes in place.
A few of the pictures we have made include a flower garden, train, giraffe and a house.
Fun Book Report
Children of all ages will welcome this fun way to present their next book report.
Materials:
sturdy cardboard cut into approx. 12" x 1" strips
poster board or comparable cardboard pieces
construction paper
scissors
hole punch
crayons, markers, pencils or paints
string, yarn, thread or fishing wire, cut into 8" - 10" pieces
stapler - heavy duty is best
optional materials include:
glue, tape, old magazines for cutting pictures out of.
Step 1. Layer 3-4 long cardboard strips together (fan them out into a "star shape") and staple them together in the center to make your mobile frame.
Step 2. Cut out 6 - 8 pieces of poster board and draw various scenes from the book you have read.
Step 3. Punch a hole in the top of each of your "scenes" cardboard pieces and tie a piece of string through it and attach it to one of the "star arms" of your mobile frame.
Step 4. Tie a longer string around the center of the frame (where you stapled it) and hang your book report for everyone to read!
Make Lunch a Special Time For Your Child.
Warning: This craft is for parents!
Gather lunch sacks, markers, scissors, glue, stickers, heavy weight paper and your imagination to make these fun lunch totes for your child.
Step 1. Decorate lunch sacks with some of your child's favorite things, cartoon characters, book characters, favorite sport or write their name in "fancy" letters.
Step 2. Trim heavy weight paper into approximately 2" x 3" pieces and use stickers (or draw the pictures yourself!) to decorate a "love note", "miss you" note or "you're the greatest" note and place them into the lunch sack as a surprise for your child.
You might also consider sneaking in a postcard, baseball card, new pencil, hair ornament or other small gift to let your child know you're thinking about them!
Blackout Picture
Making a blackout picture will take some time but the results are lovely!
Required materials:
Crayons
Paper (heavy weight is best)
A coin
Step 1: Let your child color an entire piece of paper using a variety of colors. No designs or pictures, just solid coloring.
Step 2: Take a black crayon and completely color over the first drawing.
Step 3: Use your coin to scrape off a picture or design by scraping off the black layer of crayon.
Note - The resulting crayon pieces can be messy. You may want to cover your work area with newspaper.
Continue to page two of our Craft Ideas for Kids.
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