Crafts and art projects for kids from www.tlsbooks.com
Fun personalized pictures to print and frame.
Make your own Valentine's Day Card
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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
I 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!
Make your own bookmarks.
Make your own 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!
Make a paper lantern.
We all remember this one. Now share this fun craft 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, fun 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.
Make a 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 >
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.
Make your own matching game
Children love matching games and this activity can be edited to meet just about any need.
Materials:
white or solid color unlined index cards
a variety of stickers (rubber stamps with designs will also work)
markers
To make a number match game:
With a marker, write the numbers 1 - 10, one numeral each on one side of ten individual index cards.
On another ten index cards, place stickers to represent the quantities 1- 10. (Example: for number one, use one large butterfly, for number 8 use 8 small ladybugs)
Mix the cards together and place them face down on the table. In turn, each player turns over two cards. If they correspond to each other, (Example: player turned over the number 1 card and the card with one sticker) that player gets to keep both cards. A players turn continues until they do not get a match. When all cards have been removed, the player with the most matches wins.
Adaptations include using words on one set of cards with corresponding pictures on another.
Examples include names of fruits, tools, animals, automobiles or landmarks. Write the word on one card and glue a picture representing that word on another card.
For addition practice, write a problem on one card with an answer on the other card. You must correctly match the problem with the answer to win a round.
Make your own doorknob hangers
This is a simple, fast and very easy craft for kids. You can choose from a dinosaur hanger or a blank hanger and make your own. Doorknob hangers may be decorated with crayons, markers and stickers!
Mystery Letters
Children love to send and receive mail. With this simple idea, your child can send a mystery letter
to friends and family.
Materials:
piece of paper
four or more envelopes
markers, crayons and pencil
appropriate postage for each envelope
To make a mystery letter:
Write a letter to your friend and decorate it with one of your lovely drawings.
Cut your letter into four separate pieces.
Put one piece into each of the four envelopes.
Seal and address each envelope.
Affix appropriate postage and mail each letter a few days apart.
When your friend has received all four envelopes, they will be able to read your complete message!
For older children, they may want to write at an angle or in a circle on the paper
to make reading the letter more fun.
Simple Paper Necklace
This is a good hands on activity for children. When they string their "beads" they will be improving their eye hand coordination.
Materials:
any type of paper (construction paper or old pieces of wrapping paper work well also)
a round pencil (a chop stick will also work)
white glue
scissors
yarn or string
glitter
paint (blo-pens are fun with this)
markers (should you decide to write letters or draw pictures on your "beads".
To Make a necklace or bracelet:
Step 1. Cut thin rectangular strips of paper.
Step 2. Place a very small amount of glue on one edge of the paper.
Step 3. Wrap the paper around the pencil or chopstick with the un-glued side overlapping the glued piece
Step 4. When the glue is dry, slip the "beads" off of the pencil or chopstick
Step 5. Now decorate with glue and glitter or paint the "beads". If you opted to write on your beads, it is generally easier to write on them before removing from the pencil.
Step 6. When your decorated beads are dry, lace them with the yarn or string and wear your new creation proudly!
Nature Rubbings
We have all done this simple art project at one time or another. Share the memory with your child and enjoy the wonderful fall leaves!
Materials:
piece of paper
assortment of leaves, pine needles, twigs
crayons (if you have old broken crayons, peel off the wrappers and they will work great)
To make your nature rubbing:
Arrange the leaves, pine needles and twigs that you have collected on the table.
Place another piece of paper over your arrangement
Use the side of your crayons to rub over the entire paper.
As you rub, you will see the outlines of your items appear like magic!
As a bonus, have your child add a caption to each rubbing telling the type of leaf, needle, etc.
Make your own Mini Square Book
Not exactly your typical craft but fun and educational for preschoolers.
This is my first time at actually documenting the assembly of a book and I would appreciate your feedback if you have any problems with the instructions.
To make a mini-square book for your preschooler click here
Make your own Heart Felt Note
Make an envelope puppet
Materials required:
two envelopes
scotch tape
crayons, markers or colored pencils
scissors
puff balls, yarn and glue are optional
Steps for assembling your puppet.
Glue the two envelopes closed.
Cut a strip off of one end of each envelope.
Set one envelope on top of the other with the open ends together.
Carefully tape the bottom edge of the top envelope to the top edge of the bottom envelope.
Draw a silly, scary or funny face on the top envelope. You could also use the puff balls for eyes, yarn for a mouth or any number of loose household items to make your puppet face.
Place your thumb in the opening of the bottom envelope and your fingers in the opening of the top envelope to make your puppet come alive!
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