Crafting sessions with children are always fun! Check out these three easy, engaging and fun arts and crafts ideas suitable for kids (and also kids at heart!) and for all occasions. The great news is that these arts and crafts ideas use anything that you can find – household items, recycled materials and things you can find from nature. Not only they are fun, but they will also tap your kids’ imagination and creativity. Some of these crafts even serve a practical purpose!
DIY Nebular Jar
A nebula is an interstellar cloud of gas and dust in outer space, which can be seen at night by the naked eye. If your kid is a fan of astronomy and anything about outer space, they will surely love this “intergalactic” craft project!
What you need:
1) A piece of newspaper to keep your works pace clean
2) A clear jar with a lid
3) Paint (preferable tempera paint)
4) Cotton Balls
5) Glitter
6) Water
How to make it:
1) Fill up about one-third of the jar with water.
2) Add a few drops of paint.
3) Mix paint and water together until the paint is thoroughly dissolved.
4) Put some cotton balls into the combined paint and water, and push them down until they are filled with the mixture.
5) Add glitter.
6) Repeat the procedures No. 1 to No. 5 until the jar is full.
Desk Organizer from Recycled Materials
This craft does not only engender your kids’ creativity and imagination, it also helps promote resourcefulness and care for the environment.
What you need:
1) Newspaper (to keep the work space clean)
2) Three empty toilet paper rolls
3) Paint
4) Paintbrush
5) Glue stick
7) Glue gun
(Reminder: please supervise your children while they are using the glue gun, as it can burn their skin)
How to make it:
1) Coat the three empty paper rolls with paint (the colors are up to you!) and set them aside to dry.
2) Load the glue stick into the glue gun and plug it into a nearby electrical outlet, and wait until the glue stick heats up and starts to melt.
2) Use a hot glue gun to stick all the three painted toilet rolls together, forming a pyramid.
3) Make sure that the edges are even so that it stands well. Your desk organizer is done and ready to use!
Rainbow DIY Soap
This is one of the crafts that is not only fun to make, but also has an actual practical use. Your kids’ bubble baths will be more enjoyable with these colorful homemade soaps!
What you need:
1) Glycerin as a soap base
2) Essential oils
3) Dyes (make sure they’re safe for kids)
4) A butter knife or any dull knife
5) Small bowls
6) Rectangular cake pan or loaf pan
7) Wax paper
How to make it:
Cut the glycerin into smaller bits. Melt the glycerin in a double heater. Pour a small amount of the melted glycerin into small bowl and put a few drops of color, then stir so that the color is distributed nicely. Line the pan with wax paper, pour your colored soap mixture into it and wait until it hardens. Make eight to ten layers of colors to make a beautiful rainbow soap!
Sponge Bath Toy
Bubble baths for kids will be more fun with this googly little friend! It’s easy to make, too.
What you need:
1) Bath sponge
2) Scissors
3) Glue stick
4) Glue gun
5) Bendable straw or a pipe cleaner (preferably red)
6) Googly eyes (preferably big ones)
(Reminder: please supervise your children while they are using the glue gun, as it can burn their skin)
How to make it:
1) Using scissors, cut one edge of the bath sponge into a curved and round shape.
2) Using scissors again, cut slits in the bottom to create “tentacles.”
3) Load the glue stick into the glue gun and plug it into a nearby electrical outlet, and wait until the glue stick heats up and starts to melt.
4) Glue on the googly eyes on the sponge.
5) For the lips, cut a small strip of the bendable straw or pipe cleaner and glue it to the sponge.
6) Voila! It’s ready to play!
Looking for more fun arts and crafts ideas? How about picture frames? There are many wonderful DIY picture frame tutorials and this is one of them: DIY Picture Frame Ideas. They’re not only ideal to place you snapshots, but also any piece of arts and crafts (whether portraits, landscapes, your kids’ art or calligraphy art which is quite popular nowadays).