Whether you’re looking for fun activities to do with your kids or want to create something special for them, these crafts will inspire you.
These projects are easy enough for kids of all ages to handle on their own, but they’re also creative enough that the whole family can have fun with them together!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Crafting promotes creativity, imagination, self-confidence, and positive mental health and wellness in children. |
| There are many simple crafting projects that use household materials and basic crafting supplies. |
| Crafts can help children develop fine motor skills, coordination, decision-making skills, and confidence. |
| Crafting is an excellent way for children to express their creativity, and it can be a fun activity for the whole family. |
| There are various resources available online with crafting ideas and tutorials suitable for kids of all ages. |
1. Marshmallow Snowmen
Marshmallow snowmen are a great way to use up extra marshmallows and popsicle sticks. All you need is some paint, glue, googly eyes and a little imagination!
Paint your snowmen’s faces on the front of the marshmallows.
Glue two sticks together at an angle and dip one end into glue. Stick them into the sides of the marshmallow for arms.
Get your kids excited about crafting with our extensive list of 25 fun ideas. “Crafting fosters creativity, imagination, and builds self-confidence in children, promoting positive mental health and wellness,” says Dr. Amy Morin, a psychotherapist and neuropsychologist.
2. Snow Globe
Have you ever been so happy that you wanted to capture your joy on a tiny scale? If you have kids and are looking for an easy craft project, this snow globe is perfect! The best part? You can put anything in there.
I’ve seen people fill their snow globes with water and floating stars or other glittery objects, but my favorite is a few drops of perfume.
When we were little, my mother would bring home her favorite scents from work. One year it was gardenia-scented lotion; another year it was the vanilla candle she’d lit at the office when someone’s birthday had come around again (the candle was long gone by the time we got our hands on this magical bottle).
I loved those aromas almost as much as I loved getting gifts. The point is: whatever scent takes your fancy will make a great addition to your DIY snow globe toy.
Materials needed:
- A glass jar (like an empty peanut butter jar)
- Water
- A little food coloring if desired
3. Star-Shaped Ornaments
Paper plate ornaments are great for kids, but sometimes you want something a little more festive. This project is all about making the star shape extra-special by adding glitter and paint to the mix.
You can use a star cookie cutter for this craft, or get creative and make your own out of paper. Once you have a bunch of star shapes cut out, glue them onto some string lights.
If you’re feeling extra crafty (or bored), try punching holes in each ornament so that they’ll fit on a standard light string instead of being strung together like traditional Christmas ornaments would be!
Keep your kids entertained all summer with these creative craft ideas. In the words of Pablo Picasso, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
4. Pine Cone Bird Feeder
With a few simple supplies, you and your kids can create a pine cone bird feeder and enjoy watching the birds that visit it.
- What You’ll Need:
- Pine cones (You can also use dried apples or other fruits.)
- String or twine for hanging
- A small bag of birdseed (or other food for birds)
5. String Art
This craft is one of my all-time favorites. It’s easy to set up, and you can use any color yarn you have on hand. String art makes the perfect addition to your home decor, especially if you have kids who love creating things!
To get started with string art, pick out a piece of paper or fabric that you would like to use as your canvas you can trace it onto cardboard if it will be hung outdoors (and make sure there are no sharp corners).
Then, cut out two cardboard circles that are slightly larger than the paper/fabric template (go ahead and use scissors for this part).
Once everything is cut out and ready to go, attach one circle onto the back of the paper/fabric piece using glue dots or double sided tape—this will keep it from slipping off while you’re working with it. Next comes stringing! Use some yarn scraps in different colors and sizes so that each row has its own unique look (it looks cool when different lengths hang down into another row).
You don’t need many strands per row because they’ll overlap slightly once they’re sewn together later on.
6. Popsicle Stick People
Popsicle stick people are a great way to introduce your kids to the basics of crafting. They’re cute, easy and versatile.
You can make them as a family and use them as ornaments on your Christmas tree, or you can even add some glitter glue to make them sparkly!
To create popsicle stick people:
- Cut a popsicle stick in half using a pair of scissors (or leave it whole if you want it taller).
- Glue the two halves together with a hot glue gun.
- Decorate with paint, markers or stickers (and don’t forget to give each one a name!).
Help your kids tap into their creative side with these 10 easy and fun crafts to make at home. As Martha Stewart once said, “I think everyone has a creative potential and from the moment you can express this creative potential, you can start changing the world.”
7. Cupcake Liner Snowflakes
What you’ll need:
- Cupcake liners of any color
- Tape
- Glue
- Paint (optional)
Ribbon or string, to hang your snowflakes with later on. You can get really creative with this and make it out of yarn, clothesline, etc. We used twine in the picture below because that’s what we had on hand at the time! It also adds a bit more texture than ribbon would have.
Optional: beads or other decorations to hang your snowflake from! These were made by hot gluing them onto the backside of one side then flipping it over when they were dry so that they would be hidden inside when hung up.
8. Rock painting
Use a paintbrush and paint to give your rocks a new look.
You can use rocks collected from outside, or you can find some that have already been painted.
If you are feeling especially creative, you can even use rocks that have been painted in the past (but not by you). Maybe they once belonged to your mom? Maybe they were made by someone in kindergarten? Or maybe they just came from the beach!
Discover a world of crafting possibilities with our ultimate guide to crafts for kids. “Creativity is contagious, pass it on,” said Albert Einstein.
9. Sun Catchers
Cut out shapes from colored paper, then glue them to a window. Hang it in the sun and watch the reflections move around! You can make a sun catcher with any shape you want—the most basic is sometimes called “the pumpkin,” but you can use cookie cutters for more intricate designs.
And if you don’t have any cookie cutters handy, head to your kitchen and grab some plastic spoons. They’ll do just fine!
If making something decorated with household goods isn’t quite your style, go for something more natural:
- Make a leaf collage.
Gather up leaves that have fallen on your lawn or street this autumn season, then arrange them on top of an old piece of cardboard or thin piece of wood.
Use tape or glue stick to keep everything in place while drying overnight; once everything is dry (and preferably framed by a friend who has access to framing supplies), they’re ready for display inside or outside depending on how nice it looks outside where you live right now (we’re not going there).
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Wax paper | 2 sheets |
| Crayons | Assorted colors |
| Grater | 1 |
| Iron | 1 |
| Hole punch | 1 |
| Ribbon | 1 piece |
This craft makes beautiful sun catchers using melted crayons sandwiched between sheets of wax paper. The set includes two sheets of wax paper, assorted colors of crayons, one grater, one iron, a hole punch, and a piece of ribbon.
This project requires grating crayons, layering between sheets of wax paper, ironing until melted, cutting into desired shape, punching a hole in the top, and attaching ribbon for hanging. These colorful sun catchers are a bright and cheerful addition to any window or room.
10. Wood Slices With Painted Animals
In this project, you can use a variety of painting tools to apply paint to the wood slices.
Paintbrush – This is probably your most common tool, but it’s also one of the easiest to use. Just dab some paint on each slice and then gently brush over it with a soft-bristled brush.
Sponge brush – If you need more coverage than just a few dots, try using an old sponge that’s been cut into smaller pieces. You can dip it in either water or paint (depending on how thickly you want to lay down your color), then tap off the excess before applying it onto your surface.
Foam roller – This option works great if you have larger areas that need painted—just roll out some thinned acrylics over them with some pretty designs!
Stencil – Use an imprinted stencil to add even more personality into your craft project! Simply press firmly onto each piece of wood until all lines are visible without overlapping too much or leaving any gaps between them.
11. Handprint Christmas Tree
Materials:
- Construction paper in red, green, gold and white
- Paintbrush
- Scissors or craft knife (optional)
Directions: 1. Have your child use the paintbrush to add details like dots, lines and snowflakes to their handprint tree. Be sure not to add too much detail because you’ll be cutting it out later!
2. Once dry, cut out the shape of the handprint tree by carefully measuring the size and cutting along those lines with scissors or a craft knife.
3. Fold over the top layer of construction paper so that each side is flat against itself at least half an inch above where they meet—this will create two walls with space between them that can hold small items inside including candy canes or gift bows!
Create something special for your loved ones with our collection of handmade gift ideas for Valentine’s Day. In the words of Victor Hugo, “The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves—say rather, loved in spite of ourselves.”
12. Paper Bag Puppets
Paper bag puppets are a simple, yet fun craft for kids. You can make these with your children or get them to do it themselves.
Simply draw on the paper bags and cut out some eye holes if you want them to be able to see what they’re doing.
You can also cut holes so that air can come through when they breathe, which will keep their faces from getting too hot while wearing their puppet heads!
If you really want to go all out with this project, consider using old clothes that no longer fit your child anymore as material for their new puppet disguise—it will bring a whole new meaning to recycling!
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Paper bags | 2 |
| Construction paper | Assorted colors |
| Googly eyes | 4 |
| Popsicle sticks | 2 |
| Markers | Assorted colors |
| Glue stick | 1 |
| Scissors | 1 pair |
This craft involves decorating paper bags with construction paper, googly eyes, and markers to create fun and unique puppets. The set includes two paper bags, assorted construction paper, four googly eyes, two popsicle sticks, and assorted markers. This craft requires a pair of scissors and a glue stick. Paper bag puppets are a great way to encourage imaginative play and storytelling in kids, and they can be made with supplies you probably already have at home.
13. Wind Chimes (Made From Old Silverware)
Materials:
- Old silverware
- Paint and paintbrush (optional)
- Glue or tape (to attach the wind chimes to the wall or ceiling)
Instructions:
Clean and dry your silverware before you begin. If you’d like, give it a coat of spray paint in your desired color to make it look more festive. If you’re not concerned about color, don’t worry about this step!
Decide how many pieces of silverware will be hanging from each other, then begin connecting them with glue or tape until they have formed a chain. It’s okay if some pieces overlap—they’ll look even better when painted!
Once all of your chains are made (this may take some time), hang them however suits your space best—either by attaching them directly to the wall or ceiling using screws or nails, adding S-hooks at regular intervals along their length so they can hang on strings, etc.
14. Diy Pink Flamingo Pool Toy (With A Pool Noodle)
Cut the pool noodle down to the length of your child’s arm, or about three feet for a full-sized flamingo.
Paint it pink using a paintbrush and some acrylic paint (you can use any color you like).
Cut out six wings from black cardstock paper using scissors (you should be able to find this in any craft store). If you don’t have any spare paper lying around, use what you have on hand—even newspaper will work! Just make sure that your child won’t eat it afterward (or anytime soon).
Use hot glue gun to attach two wings together at one end and then twist them around so they look like they’re folded back on themselves when viewed from above. Repeat until all six pairs are complete; let dry completely before attaching them together with string!
15. Paper Plate Fish Mobile With Yarn And Beads
If you’re looking for an easy, kid-friendly craft, then this is the one for you. Simply cut a bunch of paper plates into circles and tie them together with yarn.
You can also hang beads along the yarn to give your fish mobile extra flair. If you’d like to make several fish mobiles (or just one larger one), use different colors of paper plates and different colors of yarn you’ll definitely want to add some color contrast!
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Paper plates | 2 |
| Yarn | 1 ball |
| Beads | Assorted |
| Acrylic paint | Various colors |
| Scissors | 1 pair |
| Glue gun | 1 |
| Hole punch | 1 |
This DIY fish mobile uses paper plates painted and cut to form fish shapes, then decorated with yarn and beads. The set includes two paper plates, various colors of acrylic paint, one ball of yarn, and assorted beads. This craft requires a pair of scissors, hole punch, and a glue gun. Once assembled, this colorful and unique mobile is perfect for adding some aquatic flair to any room in the house.
16. Feathered Turkey Mask Made With Paper Plates And Feathers
Materials:
- Paper plate
- Feathers
- Marker
- Scissors
How to make it:
Cut out a paper plate and draw a smiley face on the front of it with a marker. Be sure that you make the eyes big so they can fit the feathers over them! You could also decorate this by using stickers or paint if you wanted to add something more personal, but I liked the simplicity of black marker for mine.
Cut out four smaller circles for cheeks where there are no feathers in your design (one on each side). These will be sewn onto the back of your mask with thread or yarn so they don’t come off easily when worn (which would defeat their purpose).
If no one else is around to help cut out these shapes for you, do not despair! They are easily done by hand with sharp scissors–just make sure yours aren’t dull as dullness itself like mine were recently…and yeah…we all had fun bleeding that day when I cut myself quite badly trying to hack away at my paper plate!
17. Tea Party Set For Dolls (Made From Egg Carton)
You can make a tea party set for your dolls out of an egg carton.
- Use the egg carton to make a table cover and napkin rings.
- Cut out paper towel rolls in the shape of cupcakes wrappers and use them as place cards on the plates, or use one for each doll at the party to hold her cookie or cupcake.
- Use a straw for each doll’s cupcake topper, and use toothpicks for forks and spoons.
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Egg carton cups | 4 |
| Pipe cleaners | 4 |
| Pom poms | 4 |
| Decorative paper | 1 sheet |
| Washi tape | 1 roll |
| Plastic gems | 4 |
| Ribbon | 1 piece |
This DIY tea set for dolls is made from egg carton cups and decorated with pipe cleaners, pom poms, gems, and ribbon. The set includes four cups, each embellished with a unique decorative paper and washi tape design. This simple craft is perfect for a tea party or imaginative playtime.
Conclusion
Your kids will love making these crafts with you, and they’ll be the envy of all their friends! You might even find that you enjoy them as much as they do.
With any luck, this weekend will give you some quality time together with your kids while also having fun and creating some cute decorations for your home.
Further Reading
Check out these additional resources for more crafting inspiration:
30 Easy Kids’ Crafts and Activities – Good Housekeeping’s list of simple and fun DIY activities for kids with step-by-step instructions and materials needed.
Easy Crafts For Kids – A collection of easy-to-follow craft ideas for kids that use cheap and colorful materials that you probably already have on hand.
Quick & Easy Kids Crafts Anyone Can Make – Happiness is Homemade’s roundup of creative and fun crafts that are perfect for kids of all ages. Most of these crafts can be made with household items and basic crafting supplies.
FAQs
What are some easy crafts for kids?
There are many easy crafts for kids to make such as paper plates masks, paper flowers, friendship bracelets, and homemade playdough.
What age range are these crafts appropriate for?
These crafts are designed to be simple and fun for children of all ages, although some may require adult assistance depending on age.
What’s the benefit of doing crafts with kids?
Crafts can help children develop fine motor skills, coordination, decision-making skills, self-esteem, creativity, and confidence.
What materials are needed for kids’ crafts?
Depending on the project, common materials for kids’ crafts can include construction paper, scissors, glue, paint, markers, yarn, beads, and tape.
Where can I find more kid-friendly craft ideas?
In addition to the resources listed above, Pinterest and YouTube are great places to find a vast array of crafting ideas for kids.
Hellen James is the creator of Unified Crafts and has been crafting since she was a kid accompanied by her mom to the craft store, where she was free to choose whatever ignited her imagination.