Monday 11 November 2013

Decorate the Tree Template - Kids Crafts



Decorate the Tree Template



Decorate the Tree Template
Ages school-age

Kids will have a ball decorating this tree with their favorite Disney characters, ornaments, and any other flair they desire.

How to make it


  1. Print the tree template on regular paper or cardstock and cut out the pieces. Tape the two pieces together. You can either color in your tree or use it as a pattern to trace onto green poster board.

  2. Print the toppers and ornaments on regular paper or sticker paper. Color them in with crayons, color pencils, or markers. Choose your favorite topper and ornaments to stick on your tree.
  3. Add your own crafty flair to the tree using glitter, dry macaroni, or popcorn.

Crafter's Carousel - Kids Crafts


Crafter's Carousel



Crafter's Carousel
This photo originally appeared in FamilyFun Magazine
Total Time 1 to 2 hoursAges all-ages
This versatile rack and carrying tray can be adapted to hold drawing tools (as we show here) or other collections of craft materials (see "Customized Craft Kits" below). Set the tray on a lazy Susan and it lets all the kids at the table have access to the pens, pencils, markers, rulers and glue sticks. Each removable tub is color-coded, encouraging its eventual return.

What you'll need

  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Craft or utility knife
  • Plant pot tray (we used a 14-inch diameter model)
  • Assorted plastic juice cans, glasses and cups
  • Egg carton
  • Cardboard tubes (mailing or paper towel tubes)
  • Con-Tact paper (optional)
  • Colored tape and paints
Variations:

Drawing supplies:
pens and pencils, markers, glitter glue, oil pastels, crayons, erasers, rulers, compass

Beading kit:
beads, thread, string, jewelry fasteners and pin backs, glue, scissors

Hairstyling:
combs, barrettes, hair ties, hair sticks, bobby pins, hair mascara, hair spray

Model building:
glue, paint, craft knives, balsa wood, clamps, pins, decals 

How to make it

  1. Cut the cardboard into a circle that fits just inside the rim of the pot tray. Some trays are formed with a lip just below the rim that can support your circle. If there isn't one on your tray, create a support by forming a ring from a 1-inch-wide strip of corrugated cardboard (with the corrugations running the short way). Set it against the inside wall of the tray.
     


  2. Gather your art materials and match them to the most suitable containers (pencils in a tall cup, erasers in a section of egg carton and so on). Arrange the containers on the cardboard circle, placing smaller containers toward the outside and taller tubes in the center. Once you have a layout you like, trace around the containers.


  3. Cut out the traced shapes with a craft or utility knife (adults only). As you cut, keep to the outside of the traced lines so the containers will slide out easily. Tip: To strengthen our unit, we glued the three center tubes to the cardboard circle. You could also use tape. Also, we placed one of our smaller cups inside a shallow, slightly larger cup. This larger cup stays in the circle, allowing the smaller one to be removed and replaced even more easily.


  4. Cover the tubes, jars and large cardboard circle with Con-Tact paper, if you like, to make the carousel more durable.


  5. Wrap colored tape or paint a band of color around the top of each container. Paint a ring of the same color around the hole so you'll be sure to know which container goes back into which hole.

Animal Jars - Kids Crafts


Animal Jars



Animal Jars
Total Time 2 to 3 hoursAges school-age
Recycle jelly and sauce jars to hold all your little toys, item, and coins. Give your glass a new lease on life by making these adorable animal buddy jars to display in your room! Makes a fun Earth Day craft for kids that is also environmental friendly. Also check out our other animal themed crafts and visit our Earth Day homepage, which features other fun recycled crafts, recipes and fun printables.

What you'll need

  • Clean, empty glass jars
  • Felt, any color you like
  • Pom poms (for noses)
  • Scissors
  • White craft glue
  • Wiggle eyes
  • Gesso (recommended: Liquitex Basics Gesso) or white craft paint
  • Patterns
Helpful Tip:



Get creative and make whatever animals you like. Use jars from jelly, mayonnaise, pickles and other condiments. You can use hot glue for attaching the felt to the lids if you like.

How to make it

  1. Print the patterns.



  2. Remove lid from jar and paint with a layer of Gesso or white paint. Let dry. (See photo.)


  3. Line the top of the lid with glue. Pipe glue around the outside rim as well.



  4. Place lid, glue side down, onto a piece of felt. (See photo.) Wrap felt around lid and rim and hold snugly so glue can begin to grab. Sometimes felt will soak up the first layer of craft glue. If this happens, pipe more glue around the rim and repeat. (See photo.)


  5. Trim the excess felt around the edge of the rim. (See photo.)


  6. Fill the jar with whatever knick knacks, toys, or coins that you like.


  7. Return the felted lid to the jar.


  8. Cut additional animal pieces (ears, cheeks, trunks) from pattern to create animal faces. We used contrasting colors for some of our designs. For example, we used maroon for the red dog's cheeks to stand out against its red face. (See photo.) Glue these pieces on, using our finished photo as a guide on where to place them. (See photo.)



  9. If creating the cat or dog, cut out long thin strips of felt for the whiskers and glue them on top of the cheeks.


  10. Glue the facial parts in place. Use pom poms for noses. (See photo.)


  11. Glue on wiggle eyes. (See photo.)