Gathered Baby Quilt

This is not a full blown quilt tutorial, there isn’t room for that. I will mainly focus on a cute little technique I found that makes unique quilts and touch on the construction. If you know how to make a quilt already, this is for you. If you are brave enough to muddle through then it’s for you as well. The materials will depend on the size of quilt you are making. I made a baby quilt using 12 squares. The squares are 10×10 when finished. You can make this larger, just adjust what you need. Each yard of fabric … Continue reading →

Mosaic Tile with Kids

Tile mosaic was our latest craft experiment. The kids really enjoyed making light switches for their room. To start, we lightly sanded plastic light switch covers so that the grout and tile and glass pieces would stick better to the plastic. Next we picked out tile pieces to fit onto the covers. We glued them down with regular white glue. The idea is to get lots of pieces of tile on the cover, but leaving about ¼ of inch of space for the grout later on. That concept was a hard one for my younger children to understand. They wanted … Continue reading →

Window Stars

Have you seen window stars made from translucent colored papers? I’ve wanted to try them for years now. The stars look old-fashioned and like modern art at the same time. I love how they glow in the sunlight. I had visions of covering our windows with them. I even thought they’d look pretty on the tree. So I ordered a book and some transparency paper, also known as kite-paper. It comes in about eight different colors. You can also use tissue paper which comes in many different colors. Some tissue paper even has glitter embedded in the paper. Be aware … Continue reading →

Make a Faux Leather Box or Container

Here are some ideas that older kids might find cool. Start with a plain box such as a cookie tin or cardboard pencil box. Rip small strips of masking tape and attach them all over the container, overlapping each piece, until the entire box or tin is covered. You can do the inside too if desired. You can also use this process on glass bowls, jars, bottles, or vases When you have covered the tin or other container to your satisfaction, rub on brown stain or shoe polish with a clean rag. Rub it in real good and wipe away … Continue reading →

More Crafts to Decorate Your Child’s Room

Kids have their own taste and their own ideas. What better way to express their creativity than to use it to help decorate their bedrooms or playrooms? Ask your child about projects he or she would like to do, or try some of these: Artwork Your child can draw or paint pictures in colors that coordinate with his or her room décor. Then, simply have your child paint a plain wood frame to match. Another alternative is to make one or more of the picture frame projects in this section and use those to frame artwork or favorite photos. Make … Continue reading →

Teen Crafts: Bulletin Boards

If your teenager collects pictures of friends or celebrities or has other odds and end lying around or taped to his or her walls, try these bulletin board ideas. These ideas will give your teen the perfect place to organize and display photos and memorabilia, and he or she will have fun putting them together. *These ideas will also work for smaller children’s rooms or play rooms, but younger kids will need some adult assistance. Furry Bulletin Board You will need a large picture frame (with the glass removed), a thin piece of craft wood or cork, and some cool … Continue reading →

Father’s Day Paperweights

Do you want to make cool stuff for Dad on his special day? Try these ideas! Dad Rocks Paperweight Take your child outside and help him or her find a great looking rock. It should be large enough to use as a paperweight. Clean the rock and let it dry. Paint it Dad’s favorite color or a color that will go well with the décor in his office. Paint the words “Dad, you rock!” in a contrasting color. You can paint the letter directly onto the rock, or you can make a base from cardstock to glue the rock to … Continue reading →

Crafts for Teens

While teenagers tend to have a lot going on in their lives, they also get bored easily when they don’t have specific plans. These craft projects will help keep teens busy and will allow them to make cool stuff for their rooms. Curling Iron or Hair Straightener Holder Purchase two rectangular shaped potholders. Remove the little loop on the corner of each one, being careful not to split the seam. Place the potholders so the printed sides are facing each other. Start at the top corner and sew down the side, across the bottom, and up the other side. Cut … Continue reading →

Kids-Design Your Own T-Shirts and Novelties!

Your kids will have great fun designing their own t-shirts, mugs, bumper stickers and novelty items. The coolest part is you can have these items printed on demand at Cafe Press.* You can make your own shirts and things just for fun, but this is also a good way for older kids to earn money for church, sports, or school fundraisers or to boost school spirit. Have your child draw, paint, take photographs, or use any medium or combination of mediums he or she likes to create a logo, slogan, or artistic design. If the design is made without the … Continue reading →

Hammered Tin Craft Project

If you like the look of hammered tin, you’ll like this project. It’s tin as in “tin foil,” but it produces a similar effect. Your children will enjoy this project, even the older kids, because it produces results far more attractive than typical cut and glue projects and it makes great gifts. *Children require adult supervision during this activity Items Needed: Picture Frame Aluminum foil or foil wrapping paper Cardboard, cork, or protected work surface Leather punch or medium size nail Light duty hammer Colored paper or fabric First, you’ll need to choose a picture frame. A black frame with … Continue reading →