I am always looking for ways to entertain the kids and allow them to use their imagination and creativity while also keeping the cost to a minimum. Here are some easy craft ideas we like using items most people have around the house. This is also a good exercise in reusing!
A Memory Box
Have the kids create and fill their own memory box. All they need is a box with a lid, old magazines or catalogues, tissue paper, or wrapping paper, and glue. Have them tear out pictures or strips from the magazines, tissue paper, and wrapping paper and glue them onto the box and box lid. Once it’s dry, they can fill it with their treasures such as photos, souvenirs, report cards, cards, and letters.
A Centrepiece
Fill an empty, clean 2 Litre plastic bottle (such as a soda bottle) with water about 3/4 of the way full. Have the kids add strips of foil, ribbon, sparkles, pieces of drinking straws, pipe cleaner, and beads. For extra colour, you can add food colouring if you wish. Glue the lid on and you have a very unique centrepiece for the table for that night’s dinner.
A Textured Collage
Have the kids create a collage of different textures using glue, yarn, dry pasta, dried beans, styrofoam, sandpaper, tin foil, pipe cleaners, cotton balls, corks, feathers, ribbon, glittered greeting cards, and anything else you can find around.
A Mobile
This craft dates back a long way, but it is still a classic that each child should make at least once in their lifetime! Using ribbon or string, hang things on a coat hanger to make a mobile. Your child can cut shapes out of coloured paper and hole punch them or hang toys or cookie cutters. The only limit to this is the limits of the imagination!
Marble Maze
In a box lid that has raised edges, such as a shoe box lid, have the kids haphazardly glue popsicle sticks on their sides. When the glue dries, this box can now be used as a marble maze for them to play with. This is a great craft for boys, who may not like some of the more sparkly crafts!
Here are some other craft ideas you might like: