7 Grocery Getups | Crafts Kids

Going to the supermarket takes on a whole new meaning when the goal is to look for ingredients for costumes. Who knew you could use ordinary household supplies to create Halloween haute couture? Add some craft supplies, and construct the costumes in most cases with just staples, packing tape, and glue. They're easy to make, and you and your child can work on them together. But the first thing you'll need to do is go grocery shopping. Take your trick-or-treater on a trip down the aisles, and let your imaginations run free.

Hula Dancers
These girls were transformed into hula dancers in one afternoon. What's their secret? Their leis are made of vibrantly colored gift bows; their swinging skirts, fashioned from rope-style mop heads. The dancer on the left is even a ukulele player; her instrument is made out of recycled cardboard cereal boxes, a paper-towel tube, and rubber bands.

Tools and Materials
2 rope-style mop heads
1 pack gift bows
1 pair flip-flops
2 cereal boxes (1 small, 1 mini)
1 roll paper towels
1 box brass paper fasteners

Skirt How-To
1. Cut two rope-style mop heads down their center seams to create four panels; line up side by side.

2. Cut a piece of 2-inch-wide cloth ribbon the length of the panels, plus 12 inches on each side for tying.

3. Using a hot-glue gun, apply glue to the edges of the panels; fold ribbon in half over edges.

Lei, Headpiece, and Bracelets How-To
1. Cut ribbon to desired lengths for lei, headpiece, and bracelets. For lei, make about six evenly spaced crimps in ribbon, securing each with transparent tape so it will lie flat around neck.

2. Affix self-adhesive gift bows in assorted sizes and colors to each ribbon; loop ribbons and secure ends with double-sided tape.

3. Decorate flip-flops by affixing one large gift bow to the top of each strap.

Ukulele How-To
1. You'll need a small cereal box and a mini cereal box. Flatten boxes, cut along one side of each, and reassemble inside out using tape.

2. Use a foam cup to trace a circle on the center of the small box; cut out with scissors or a utility knife. Attach 3 brass fasteners about 1 1/2 inches below hole.

3. Cut 2 inches off one end of a paper-towel tube. Use the tube to trace one circle on the top of the small cereal box and another on the bottom of the mini cereal box; cut out.

4. Attach three brass fasteners to the front of the mini cereal box. To connect boxes to tube, apply hot glue to inside edges of holes, and insert one end of tube in each. For strings, attach three long rubber bands to fasteners at both ends.

Bunny Ears

Turn your little one into an Easter bunny with a pair of pink felt ears.

Tools and Materials
Child-size headband
8-by-16-inch piece of pink felt
6-by-6-inch piece of white felt scissors
pinking or scalloped shears (optional)
hot-glue gun
hot-glue sticks

To Cover the Headband
1. Measure the width and length of the top of the headband, add 1/2 inch to all sides, and cut a strip of pink felt to cover.

2. Glue the felt strip onto the top of the headband, wrapping the extra material around the headband's edges.

3. Measure the underside of the headband, and cut a strip of pink felt to fit.

4. Glue the strip to the underside, creating a backing that covers the edges of the top felt.

To Make the Ears
1. Print out our bunny-ears template, and cut out both shapes.

2. Trace the outer-ear shape onto pink felt twice, and cut along scalloped edge (or cut out with pinking or scalloped shears).

3. Trace the inner-ear shape onto white felt twice, and cut out with regular scissors.

4. Glue each pair of ears together with hot glue, and let dry.

5. Crease each ear vertically down the middle, and press.

6. Fold up the bottom flaps on either side of the notch, and attach to headband with hot glue, pulling notches closed so ears are slightly bent. Hold until glue sets.

Printable Valentines

Here is a free printable Valentine if you need something quick and easy. I am going to have my little girl make these for her class———-I am sure the next ones will have a generous helping of glitter for embellishment!

Download Butterfly Valentine ,print on colored card-stock, cut out, make slits for sucker, add some decorations (cut out shapes of paper, stickers, glitter, etc.), insert sucker and then add some wiggly eyes to the top of the sucker. Add a piece of tape to the back to keep the sucker securely in place.

Egg Matryoshka Dolls | Kids Crafts

Supplies:

• 3 wooden eggs of varying sizes (available at craft stores)
• painter’s tape
• exact-o knife
• acrylic paint
• small paint brushes
• paint pen (s)
• spray polyurethane (I used clear satin for a little shine)
• fabric scraps
• scissors
• spray adhesive (multi-purpose craft adhesive)

Note: Before you begin, you might want to lightly sand the eggs. I did not sand mine and wish I had. The bumpy surface makes painting a little more difficult and the porous areas allow paint to seep under the painter’s tape when you are painting the upper portion.

Step 1: Cut a circle from the painter’s tape. I rolled out some tape onto my cutting mat, traced a circle and used an exact-o knife to cut it out. I then applied it to the egg where I wanted the face. Make sure that the tape is pressed down firmly all around the edges. Measure where you want the paint to stop and mark that with a pencil. Paint this area and allow to dry for about five minutes. Then remove the painter’s tape circle and touch up any areas where paint may have bled through.

Step 2: Paint the face. I used a small brush and undiluted acrylic paints.

Step 3: Use paint pens and/or paint to embellish the top portion. Spray with a coat of polyurethane and allow to dry.

Step 4: Wrap fabric around the eggs to measure how much you will need for each bottom portion. Mark and cut. Then cut slits about 1″ long at 1″ intervals in the bottom of the fabric. Spray back of fabric with spray adhesive and apply to the egg carefully and quickly. On the bottom press down every other tab, then come back around and press down the rest. This will allow for a pleated look at the base (see image below). You may have to spray a bit more adhesive as you are working.

Step 5: Make scarves. Again wrap fabric around the egg and add a couple of inches extra. Cut a long, narrow triangle of fabric. You could finish the top, but I just folded mine under and used the selvedge ends. I used pinking shears for the edges.

Goldfish | Kids Crafts

Things are going swimmingly for this giggly goldfish. His quilted costume, which ends in a generous tail and is worn with an orange snap-bottom T-shirt and leggings, is perfect for a child who is mesmerized by ponds and fish tanks. The enclosed bottom makes it only suitable for babies who aren't yet walking.

Tools and Materials

60-inch-long piece of Craft paper
1 1/2 yards of orange wool felt
1 yard of 1/4-inch-thick polyurethane foam or one bag of wool-blanket batting
4 sets of Velcro fastener dots, 1/2 yard of pink wool felt
Scraps of black and white felt
White craft glue.

Goldfish How-To










1. To make patterns, draw a grid of 2-inch squares on craft paper; copy templates by hand onto it. Using fish pattern, cut one piece of orange felt and foam with front scoop neckline and one piece orange felt and foam with back neckline. Use orange part of pattern to cut one front and one back from orange felt for lining. For the front, layer foam, then whole felt, then half felt; stitch around top from notch A to notch B, with 1/4-inch seam allowance. Turn right side out so foam is between felt pieces. Quilt front from top to bottom, making rows of 4 1/2-inch scallops 2 1/2 inches apart. Repeat with remaining pieces for back. Place front and back together, right sides facing. Sew around tail from notch A to notch B, with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Turn right side out. Sew Velcro fastener dots at shoulders and underarms, as shown on template.

2. Use hat pattern to cut two pieces of felt, one orange and one pink, and one piece of foam. Layer pieces: foam, pink felt, and orange felt. Sew top, bottom, and one side closed with 1/4-inch seam allowance. Turn right side out. Quilt as above. Fold in half, pink side out; sew along short edge. Turn orange side out. Cut eye from black and white felt scraps. Glue on as shown.

Spring Chicken | Kids Crafts

Why did this baby chicken cross the road? To get to the Halloween party, of course. Her costume is made from two tickly feather boas, ordinary kitchen gloves, yellow tights, and a pilot's cap that's crowned with a felt comb. Under the plumage, two leotards are stuffed with batting for extra plumpness. Appropriate for children ages 3 and older.

Tools and Materials

2 white long-sleeved leotards
One bag of loose wool batting
2 heavyweight white feather boas
Safety pins
Two 8-by-10-inch pieces of red wool felt
White pilot's cap
Hot-glue gun
Yellow rubber gloves
Sneakers with a heel tab

Chicken How-To

1. For the bodysuit, place one leotard inside the other; stuff batting between them, and sew together at necklines and leg holes. With your child wearing the bodysuit, drape boas across and around the body; safety-pin in place. Remove costume from child, and handstitch in place every 4 inches.

2. For the hat, use the comb template to cut two pieces of felt. Stitch combs together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance, leaving the bottom open. Turn right side out; stuff peaks with batting. Stretch hat over a ball or other round object; attach comb using the hot-glue gun on a low setting.

3. For the feet, stuff fingers of gloves with batting. Slip sneaker into glove, palm side down. Pull glove taut so fingers arch up (to prevent tripping); cut slit in center of glove from tongue of shoe to heel tab. Pull end of slit beneath heel. Snip extra cuff, leaving 2 inches; cut a notch at each corner. Fold sides in; secure with hot glue. Fold bottom up and top down; glue.

Boo Balloons | Kids Crafts

Isn't it funny how ghosts rear their heads at this time of year? They seem almost charming at first, but when darkness falls, those innocent expressions are a bit more menacing.

To make a floating ghost, snap one or two green eight-hour light sticks so they glow, and insert them into a white balloon; inflate balloon, and tie closed. Use a black marker to draw the ghost's ghastly visage. Repeat to make his friends. Then hang ghosts with transparent tape, and lower the lights.

Pocket Scarf | Kids Crafts

A muffler with sewn-up compartments offers all kinds of possibilities. Objects can be stockpiled, cleverly hidden, or simply toted along, like the dog on the left, for a very warm ride.

This is an easy project that older kids can do with adult supervision; all that's needed is pins, yarn, and a needle. Work with a scarf that's long and wide enough to accommodate the size pockets that kids would like.

Pocket-Scarf How-To
Kids should decide whether they want two pockets or three, and if they want them to be equal widths or not. Fold one end of the scarf up to the desired depth.

Pin the sides, and then pin the middle to correspond to the desired widths; you can use a ruler to make sure the pins are in a straight row, or follow the rib of the scarf itself.

Make a running stitch with a darning needle and yarn through both layers, using the pins as a guide. Reinforce top of seam with a cross stitch or a double stitch and tie off, hiding the ends inside.

Fun Stick Puppets | Kids Craft

Supplies and Tools
* Bucket of sticky-back craft foam shapes
* Colored craft sticks
* Tacky glue
* Scissors

Directions
1. Carefully cut away paper on back of foam shapes only where craft stick will be placed. Note: Adult supervision may be needed to cut paper from back of sticker.

2. Glue craft stick to foam shape.

3. If desired, two sticks can be glued together for a longer puppet handle.

Skill Level: No experience necessary

Approximate Crafting Time: 30 minutes

Pretty Pencil Pinwheel | Kids Crafts

This cute little buggy mobile is a time consuming project, but the results are well worth the time invested! You can shorten the time of this craft by making it a group project. Let each child make one bug to hang on the mobile and it’ll come together in no time.

What you'll need:

* Colored card stock or construction paper
* Thumbtack or stick pin
* Pencil with new eraser
* White craft glue
* Scissors
* Sequins
* Pattern

How to make it:

1. Print the pattern onto plain copy or printer paper.
2. Cut the square pattern out, cutting on the solid lines.
3. Lay pattern on top of colored paper and trace the square. Cut out the square from the colored paper.
4. Keep the pattern square on top of the colored square. Either hold it in place with your fingers or tape it down lightly on two of the sides.
5. Cut through the pattern and the colored paper along the dotted lines but do not cut in to the center circle.
6. Use a thumbtack or stick pin to poke out the holes in every other corner as indicated on the pattern. Set the pattern piece aside.
7. Take one corner (one with a hole) and fold it toward the center of the square. Fold the next corner that has a hole and fold it toward the center on top of the first holed corner. Repeat with the other two corners with holes until all four are folded into the center. Glue the folds to each other and to the center. Hold together until dry.
8. Push the thumbtack through the center of the pinwheel and into the eraser of the pencil. Make sure the pinwheel isn’t touching the eraser or it won’t spin.
9. Glue some sequins to the flaps of the pinwheel and let dry.

Tips:

* You can use plain white paper and have children color with crayons or markers to decorate before cutting out the pinwheel pattern.
* Decorate with lightweight items such as sequins and stickers or glitter glue. Items like buttons and craft jewels are too heavy.
* If the pinwheel isn’t turning properly, try using a longer stick pin rather than a thumbtack to allow more room between the pinwheel and the eraser.

Egg Carton Buggy Mobile | Kids Crafts

What you'll need:

• 18 place cardboard egg carton
• Scraps of colorful patterned papers (wallpaper samples, old greeting cards) or construction paper
• Acrylic paints: red, orange, brown, light blue, green, purple, yellow, white and pink
• Scissors
• 2 black skinny chenille stems
• 9 flat-backed heavy pebbles, marbles, or other object
• White yarn
• 2 heavy twigs or craft dowels
• 9 medium black pom poms
• 18 small wiggle eyes
• White craft glue
• Acrylic sealer spray
• Paintbrush
• Hot glue gun
  

How to make it:

1. Remove the lid of the cardboard egg carton and save for another project. Place bottom of egg carton upside down and paint two sections with each color noted above (i.e. 2 red, 2 orange, 2 brown, etc). Repeat for a second coat and let dry. Spray all painted cups with acrylic sealer spray. See image.
2. Cut the egg carton sections apart. Trim around the sections so that all you have left are colored cups. See image.
3. If using patterned paper, most likely the backside of the paper is blank. If this is the case, fold the patterned paper in half, pattern on the outside. Put a layer of glue in between and stick together. This will create a piece of patterned paper that is patterned on both sides. If using construction paper this step is not necessary.
4. Cut leaf-shaped wings from the paper.
5. Separate the colored egg cups so that you have two groups of nine cups, one of each color.
6. Turn one group of colored cups over, set the other group aside.
7. Squeeze some white glue into each of the cups that are turned upward. Place a flat-backed marble into each cup and allow time for the glue to dry. This will give each bug enough weight that they will hang nicely on your mobile and will cut down on the lines tangling together. It will also help the bugs to “look” downward so that they are seen from the ground.
8. Cut 9 pieces of yarn about 18” long each.
9. Onto each of the egg cup halves with the marble in them, glue a black pom pom to the closed (bottom) end. Now pair up your colored egg cups.
10. To assemble each bug body you will need a pair of the same colored egg cups, a set of paper wings, an 18” piece of yarn and your hot glue gun. Pipe a layer of hot glue onto the outer open edge of the egg cup with the marble in it, place the wings onto the glue, the yarn in the middle of the open cup at the top, and then the other egg cup goes on last. Repeat these steps for each bug.
11. Now that the bodies are assembled you can glue the wiggle eyes onto the black pom poms.
12. Cut the black chenille stems into 2” pieces. Bend the ends or twist them around a thin handled paintbrush. Put a dot of hot glue on the straight end and push into the top of the pom pom. Repeat for the other antenna. See image.
13. Cut another piece of yarn about 12” in length. Crisscross the two dowels and wrap with yarn to secure, add a dot of glue to reinforce. Be sure there is enough yarn left over to tie a loop at the top to hang your mobile from.
14. Tie each bug onto the dowels, two on each ‘arm” and one in the middle. Stagger the lengths and tie in place. When you have them where you want them, trim the excess. See image.
    

Tips:

• You can decorate your bugs even more by painting on stripes or adding dots.
• If you use construction paper, kids can decorate the paper wings with stickers, markers, glitter, etc.
• Try recycling old speaker wires for the antennas instead of chenille stems.

Dad's Own Toolbox | Kids Crafts

Give Dad's tools a special place with a new toolbox make by the kiddos. Start with an unfinished toolbox or wooden bin found at craft stores. Let your little ones paint the toolbox Dad's favorite colors. Add an extra-special touch with wooden tools and letters they can glue on all by themselves.

Tepees & Houses | Kids Crafts

Tepees

What you'll need: Dessert-size paper plates, scissors, brown chenille stems, tape, small brush, sea sponge, craft paint, craft glue
How to make them: Cut paper plate in half. Roll ends to create a cone shape; tape to secure. Using a sea sponge, paint on a background with light-colored paint; let dry. Then, use a paintbrush to paint on designs; let dry. Cut chenille stems into three 3-1/2-inch pieces and glue to the inside of the top of the tepee.

Houses
What you'll need: Empty pint-size milk or creamer cartons, craft glue, spray-on paint primer, craft paint, pencil, brushes
How to make them: Glue container closed. Spray on paint primer; let dry. Paint top third of the container a darker color to resemble a roof. Paint the rest of the house a contrasting color; let dry. Use a pencil to sketch out windows and a door, then paint them on.

Chick & Bunny Treat Holders | Kids Crafts

This one’s for the kiddies… a fun little craft project + “friendly” holders for all those Easter Bunny treats!

(Full instructions for both versions after the jump…)

PAPER BUNNY CUP Treat Holders

You’ll Need:
white paper cup
white cardstock
pink felt or pink cardstock
2 wiggle eyes
small pink pom-pom
medium white pom-pom (for tail)
white chenille stems
scissors, glue, glue dots or a stapler

Directions
• From the white cardstock, cut 2 large white ovals for the bunny ears. Trim one side of the oval off so it’s squared off at the bottom.

• Cut 2 smaller oval shapes from the pink felt (or paper) for the inner part of the ear. Glue the pink ovals in the center of the white ear shapes and set aside to dry.

• Cut white chenille craft stems into short pieces for the whiskers. Use craft glue or glue dots to attach the whiskers to the cup, then glue the pink pom pom on top for the nose.

• Attach the ears to the back rim of the cup with a stapler or glue dots.

• Glue the white pom pom to the back of the cup to create a cotton tail.

• Fill with a colorful Easter grass and candy treats!

*****

PAPER CHICK CUP Treat Holders

You’ll Need:
yellow paper cup
orange cardstock
orange chenille craft stems
2 wiggle eyes
yellow craft feathers
scissors, glue/glue dots, stapler or tape

Directions
• From the orange cardstock, cut a small triangle for the beak and glue it to the front of the cup.

• Glue the wiggle eyes above the beak.

• Cut six 3/4-inch pieces of orange chenille stem for the chick feet. Twist three pieces together at one end for each foot. Attach the feet to the front of the cup with glue dots or tacky craft glue.

• Staple or tape a few feathers to the back edge of the cup, making sure they peek out over the top.

• Fill with a colorful Easter grass and candy treats!

How to Stencil Creepy-Crawly Nesting Boxes | Kids Crafts

Skill level: Beginner
Time: 3 hours
Stencil Design: Download the Creepy-Crawly Nesting Boxes as a PDF.

What You'll Need

• 3 wood nesting boxes
• Fine-grade sandpaper
• Tack cloth
• All-purpose sealer
• 2-inch foam brush
• 2-inch flat brushes, 4
• DecoArt Americana acrylic paint: Primary Yellow, Tangelo Orange
• Plaid Apple Barrel Colors acrylic paint: Kiwi Green, Royal Violet
• 3/4-inch stencil brushes, 3
• Stencil spray adhesive
• Satin-finish spray varnish
  

Instructions

Step One: Sand and tack all boxes. Apply a thick, even coat of all-purpose sealer with a foam brush. Let dry. Basecoat the boxes in the following colors, using a different flat brush for each color.

Small box: outside Primary Yellow, inside Tangelo Orange. Medium box: outside Tangelo Orange, inside Kiwi Green.

Large box: outside Kiwi Green, inside Primary Yellow. Let dry; repeat.

Step Two: Position the decorative border stencil at the top edge of the box. Using a different 3/4-inch brush for each color, stencil the large box's border Royal Violet, the medium box's border Primary Yellow, and the small box's border Kiwi Green. Repeat around all sides.

Step Three: Position stencil D1 on the front of the large box, leaving enough room for three dragonflies. Mark registration points. Stencil Primary Yellow. Repeat on all sides of the box, angling the stencil in different directions for each repeat.

Step Four: Align stencil D2 on the dragonfly wings; stencil Royal Violet. Repeat for all dragonflies.

Step Five: Position stencil F1 on the front of the medium box, positioning so three will fit. Mark registration points; stencil Kiwi. Repeat around the box, angling the stencil in different directions for each repeat.

Step Six: Align stencil F2 on the frog's body; stencil the spots, hands, and feet Primary Yellow. Stencil the eyes Royal Violet. Repeat for all frogs.

Step Seven: Position stencil L1 on the front of the small box, positioning so two will fit. Mark registration points. Stencil Royal Violet. Repeat around the box.

Step Eight: Align stencil L2 on the lizard's body. Stencil Kiwi; repeat if needed for complete coverage. Repeat for all lizards.

Step Nine: To protect your work, mist the boxes with at least three coats of spray varnish, letting dry between each coat.

Bright Ideas

As is the case with many other stencils, a simple color change is enough to make you look at these designs in a whole new light. Right now, they're bold and fun, but picture them done in browns, greens, taupes, and tans.

Eeeeewww...just what your favorite little bug collector would love to see climbing, hopping, and flying all over the walls -- or, even better, on the sheets and pillowcases!

Try it with these stencil variations:

Cotton-Ball Animals | Kids Crafts

Here comes Peter Cottontail -- and it's not just his tail that's cotton. He's made entirely out of cotton balls -- as is this adorable lamb and this chick. The technique is easy.

Cotton-Ball Rabbit
Tools and Materials
100-percent-cotton cotton balls
Unscented extra-hold hair spray
Flat cotton cosmetic pads
Powdered blush
Fabri-tac
Gray seed bead
Button thread
Needle
Pink seed bead
Scissors

Cotton-Ball Rabbit How-To
1. Make the head: Unroll three cotton balls into strips. One at a time, wrap the strips tight around a single cotton ball. Alternate the direction you wrap to make a round, even ball. Smooth and shape ball by pulling cotton fibers around it and pulling off any lumps. Spray with unscented extra-hold hair spray and set aside to dry for about 5 minutes. (The hair spray seals the cotton ball so it doesn't unravel.)

2. Make the ears: Cut 2 ear shapes out of one flat cotton cosmetic pad. Spray with hair spray and let dry. Tint the inside of the ears pink with powdered blush. Pinch bottom of ear to taper it and glue with Fabri-tac craft glue. Glue the ears to the top of the head.

3. Glue on gray seed bead to the head to create the eyes.

4. To make the nose and whiskers, thread a pink seed bead with three strands of 3-inch-long button thread. Trim to desired length. Glue pink bead to face.

5. To craft the rabbit's body, unroll 7 cotton balls into flat strips. Wrap strips around a single cotton ball in the same process as the head, making a larger ball. Spray with hair spray and set aside to dry.

6. Make the feet and tail: Unroll one cotton ball into a strip. Tear off enough cotton to make three smaller balls -- about 1/2 inch in diameter for the feet and about 3/4 inch in diameter for the tail. Spray with hair spray and let dry for a few minutes.

7. Use Fabri-tac to glue the head to the body. Hold in place for a minute while it sets. Next, glue the feet to the front bottom edge of the body and the tail on the back. Use powdered blush to create rosy cheeks on the face.

Cotton-Ball Chick
Tools and Materials
Cotton balls
Extra hold hair spray
Fabri-tac glue
White cloth-wrapped wire
Orange paint pen
Wire
Scissors
Seed beads

Cotton-Ball Chick How-To
1. Make the body: Unroll one cotton ball about 3/4 of the way. Stack 2 whole cotton balls on the unrolled strip of cotton close to the remaining part of cotton ball. Wrap the unrolled strip firmly around the 2 balls to form an almond shaped cotton ball. Pinch together one end to make a tail. Spray with extra hold hair spray to seal ball. Set aside and allow to dry for several minutes.

2. Create the head. Spray one cotton ball with hair spray and allow to dry. Use Fabri-tac glue to glue to end of body opposite tail.

3. Make the feet and beak. Color an 8-inch length of white cloth-wrapped wire orange using a paint pen. For the legs, cut a piece of wire that is 2 3/4 inches long. Bend the wire at right angles 1 inch from each end. For the feet, cut 2 more pieces of wire each 1 1/2 inches long. Twist the feet pieces around the leg piece, 1/2 from each end. Bend the 1/2 inch ends back to create chick feet. Use Fabri-tac to glue to the bottom front of the body. For the beak, cut a 3/4 inch piece of wire and bend in half. Glue to face.

4. To add eyes, glue 2 small seed beads to the face.

Cotton-Ball Lamb
Tools and Materials
Cotton balls
Pipe cleaners
Fabri-tac
Scissors
Sobo glue
Seed beads
Cotton cosmetic pads

Cotton-Ball Lamb How-To
1. Make the body. Unroll 15 cotton balls into strips. Make three layers of 5 cotton strips arranged side by side. Lay a 6-inch pipe cleaner at one end and roll cotton strips around it. Bend pipe cleaner at a right angle 2 1/2 inches from one end for the neck. Bend again one inch from the end to make the head. Fold end of pipe cleaner under the body to hold. Unroll 2 more cotton balls and wrap around body to make proportional to the head.

2. To make the tail, unroll one cotton ball and divide in half lengthwise. Twist cotton until it forms a cord that doubles on itself. Cut to 1 1/2 inches and glue end with Fabri-tac. Glue to back end of lamb body.

3. To craft feet, for each foot, unroll one cotton ball and divide it lengthwise. Roll strip into a flat spiral and glue the end to hold. Pinch into an almond shape. Cut a 3/4-inch piece of pipe cleaner and bend in half. Glue to narrow end of cotton shape. Repeat process for all four feet. Glue to bottom of lamb body.

4. Make the face. Use Sobo glue to pinch the front of the head into a "snout." Glue seed beads on for eyes.

5. For the ears, cut lamb ear shapes out of cotton cosmetic pads. Glue onto head with Fabri-tac.

Rock Crafts | Kids Crafts

A creative way for kids to use the stones they stumble across is to turn them into animals, people, or objects.

With just a few supplies -- paint, glue, and clay -- children can try out their skills as rock artists. Like sculptors, they'll learn to judge proportion and form. Like painters, they will need to consider color and shape, along with such pleasant dilemmas as how to create a tapered wing on a rounded rock.

Materials
Both tempera and acrylic paints work well; tempera looks chalkier but washes off easily, making it the best choice for kids. Acrylic paint has a glossy finish. Before painting, kids should sketch out their plan: It's easier to envision what the finished project will look like if they draw it first with pencil on paper.

Rock Craft How-To
1. Glue rocks together before painting them, attaching small stone features such as eyes, feet, or beaks to body parts before joining larger parts; attach whiskers and tails after painting. Cement glue makes the strongest bond but should be used only by parents working in a well-ventilated area. (Kid-friendly glues are less durable and are best for rock crafts that will sit on shelves.)

Gumdrop Pops | Kids Crafts

Stack gumdrops, dot them with sprinkles and other candies in creative ways, and watch the colorful confections come to life as snowmen, Santas, and other icons of the season. Wrap the candy pops in cellophane bags, and then attach them to gifts or slip them into stockings. Or create a holiday display: Partially fill a large glass jar with sanding sugar, and stand the figurines on flower frogs in the sparkling "snow."

Slide gumdrops onto candy sticks to create body of each pop. (Use leaf-shaped gumdrops for holly pop.)

For Santa
Use top half of 1 small gumdrop for hat. Trim 2 oblong candies for arms. Use candy-coated seeds for buttons and pom-pom. Poke candy where facial features will go with a skewer; use sticky tip to pick up and place nonpareils for eyes and nose.

For Tree
Use 1 flattened gumdrop for base of tree. Use 1 small gumdrop for trunk. Cut sides from 1 gumdrop; press sides around top of stick, for treetop. Flatten 1 gumdrop; using an aspic cutter, cut out star. Insert sprinkles for lights.


















For Snowman
Trim top of head; top with 1 candy wafer and half of 1 small gumdrop for hat. Using a skewer (see "For Santa"), place nonpareils for eyes, mouth, and buttons. Insert sprinkle for nose.

















For Holly
Use halves of small gumdrops for berries.

















For Mushroom
Use 1 small gumdrop for stem. Use sequin sprinkles for dots.

Petal Masks and Cap

Poppy Mask
For this mask, you will need inexpensive fabric roses, available at crafts stores; disassemble them, then trim the petals to the desired size. Cut two fabric ovals (we used velvet) slightly bigger than each eyehole. Brush craft glue onto the outside of the mask around each hole, and press the fabric into place on each eyehole.

Turn the mask face down, and use a utility knife to make a horizontal slit all the way across each eye. Cut notches in the top and bottom eye flaps so that you can fold the flaps through the eyeholes; glue them to the back of the mask. Brush glue onto the petals, and apply them to the mask so they overlap, using red on one half and hot pink on the other.

Glue colored beads around each eye to resemble a poppy's stamens. Replace the mask's elastic with long ribbon ties: Slip the ribbons through the holes left from the elastic, securing each ribbon with a knot.

Pink Petal Mask and Cap
We used vintage paper flower petals for this mask and cap, but new ones can be found at many home-furnishings stores. For the mask, disassemble a paper flower, and begin gluing the petals to the mask; extend the outer petals about an inch beyond the mask; fold the stem-ends of the inner petals through the eyeholes to the back of the mask.

With a hot-glue gun, attach the mask to a thin branch. To make the petal cap, glue rows of petals to a skullcap (available at bridal-supply stores), starting at the rim and working your way up to the crown, overlapping both the individual petals and the rows. Finish the top of the cap by twisting stems of wired paper leaves together in a curlicue.

Heart and Lollipop Flowers | kids craft

Heart-and-Lollipop Flowers
With just a little TLC, colorful hearts flourish as the petals of a new flower variety --one with a lollipop center and stem.

1. Use card stock to make a half-heart template about 3 inches high and 1 1/4 inches wide. Fold a 12-by-3 1/2-inch piece of construction paper in half vertically, and trace four half-hearts along the fold.

2. Cut out hearts; unfold.

3. Stack hearts; punch a hole 1/4 inch up from bottom. Position petals to form a flower, making sure holes line up. Secure by applying glue around holes; let dry. Write name on a petal. Insert lollipop.

Baby Wooden Blocks

Make these adorable baby blocks for your child, and they'll be the coolest kid on the block.

Tools and Materials
3 1/4-inch square wood block
Sandpaper
Scissors
Acrylic paint
Mod Podge
Paintbrush
Decorative paper
Emery board
Letters, numbers, and embellishments
Sponge

Baby Wooden Blocks How To
1. Sand the wooden block with sandpaper to prepare it for painting.

2. Paint the block with the color you've selected. Allow to dry.

3. Cut 6 pieces of decorative paper to 3 1/4 inch.

4. Glue the paper to each side of the block using all-purpose Mod Podge. Allow the glue to dry.

5. Sand edges and corners of paper with an emery board.

6. Paste the letters, numbers, and embellishments to the block using the same technique.

7. Sponge the edges of the paper with paint to give it texture and an antique look.

8. Paint another coat of Mod Podge all over the block to seal. Allow to dry.

Resources
You can purchase the decorative paper and letters, numbers, and embellishments at Basic Grey Paper. Special thanks to Basic Grey Paper for giving everyone in our studio audience a package of their designer paper. For all other tools and materials, please visit hiccupinc.com or crafts stores.

Special Thanks
Special thanks to crafter Ashley Steele for showing us this beautiful craft.

Hello children.

welcome to my Crafts for kids blog. Here you will learn about featured crafts for up coming holidays and seasons, AND learn some fun and useful tips for doing Crafts for kids.