Kids Crafts | Matching Memory Game Craft

Tools and Materials

• 24 wooden tiles
• Coarse-grit sandpaper
• Decorative paper
• Paper trimmer or ruler and craft knife
• Decoupage glue
• Paintbrush
• Bone folder
• Craft punch

Matching Memory Game How-To
1. Smooth any rough edges on wooden tiles with coarse-grit sandpaper.

2. Cut twenty-four 1 7/8-inch square pieces of decorative paper.

3. On one side of each wooden tile, apply a thin coat of decoupage glue with a paintbrush. Place the paper on the glue and use a bone folder to smooth out any bubbles or curls. Set aside and let dry for about 10 minutes.

4. With a craft punch, punch shapes from different colored papers. You will need to punch two shapes from each color to create the pairs needed for the game. (Note: The cupcake and ice cream cone punches used on "The Martha Stewart Show" have two parts, so colors of tops and bottoms can be mixed up as long as each pair is identical.)

5. With a paintbrush, lightly coat the other side of a tile with decoupage glue. Use the tip of a paintbrush to pick up a punched shape and place it on the tile. Lightly brush the shape down with paintbrush. Once secured in place, paint over the whole side with more of the gel. Set aside to dry. Repeat to create 12 pairs of matching tiles.

6. If desired, an additional 2 to 3 coats of decoupage glue can be applied over the whole piece for protection.

Playing the Game (1-4 Players)
Lay all pieces with paper squares facing up. Take turns turning two tiles over at a time. If the colors on the two tiles match, the player removes and keeps them. If the two tiles don't match, the player turns the tiles back over. This continues until all pieces are cleared. In a multiple-player game, the player with the most tiles wins.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Matching Memory Game Craft - Martha Stewart Crafts

Cool Photo Crafts

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Celebrate with photos of your baby -- everywhere! Print a headshot onto circular labels to add character to cups, napkins, and goody bags.

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.

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.