40+ Crafty Things To Make For Children
Here’s a packed list of free tutorials and patterns geared for the kids, many would make a great homemade gifts. Then I have listed several DIY projects that kiddos will love along with a few tips and ideas. You’ll find a separate list of softies patterns and tutorials here.
petitepurls.com
Peek-A-Boo Toy Sack: The design is fairly simple, make a drawstring bag with a twist: a clear plastic window to see all the toys.
tonicoward.blogspot.com
tipnut.com
Roll-up Kitchen Playmat: Sewing tutorial. A pretty, portable play kitchen playmat out of fabric.
balancingeverything.com
balancingeverything.com
Planket Tutorial: (also known as a quillow) Great for sleepovers and traveling, it’s a pillow & blanket in one. (also see travel pillow).
thecraftersfilebox.com
girlinair.blogspot.com
Retro Doll Pajama Bag: Free vintage pattern (found at bottom of page).
tipnut.com
marthastewart.com
Embellished Hooded Towel: Great for bath time and swim time!
thecottagehome.blogspot.com
craftynest.com
Personalized Birdie Pillow: Sweet pillow any princess will love.
modabakeshop.com
inspiremecrafts.com
Bathtub Crayons: Made with bars of ivory soap, food coloring gel and a bit of water.
crazydomestic.com
craftastical.com
Laminated Kids Wallet: Sewing tutorial.
polkadotchair.com
seekatesew.blogspot.com
Boy’s Messenger Bag: Learn how to jazz up a military ammo bag.
ambrosiagirl.com
marthastewart.com
Pencil Roll Tutorial: Nice little rollup pouch for pencils and pencil crayons.
mypoppet.blogspot.com
icandyhandmade.blogspot.com
Lap Desk: A piece of scrap wood is painted then covered with fabric and stuffing on the bottom so it’s nice ‘n soft.
sonotdonnareed.blogspot.com
littlepinkmonster.com
Piggy Bank Freebie: A fabric piggy wallet that zips closed, fun idea for kiddos to hold their little treasures.
noseynest.blogspot.com
thelastpiece.typepad.com
Stick Horse: Fun! These are made with a big sock, buttons, stuffing, wool yarn (for the manes), an old broomstick and other basic items.
lightbluegrey.blogspot.com
modernparentsmessykids.com
Chick-sicle: A fun, rice filled cooling pad for children, pattern via pdf download. Also see these simple hot/cold packs you can make.
justanotherhangup.blogspot.com
onecharmingparty.com
Bike Bucket: Here’s how to make a bright and cheery basket to tote around treasures.
noodle-head.com
chezbeeperbebe.blogspot.com
Lego Sack: Nifty fabric bag with a drawstring closure, this spreads apart to double as a floor mat (keeping those little pieces tidy in one spot).
tonicoward.blogspot.ca
clumsycrafter.com
Crayon Rolls
Here’s a great project for beginner sewers since crayon rolls are so easy to make (simple sewing is all the skill you need). The idea is similar for each of the projects below but they feature their own design twist (fabric and finishing choices, etc.). A couple of these projects have been featured on Tipnut before but included here to make one handy project sheet (I included projects for both wax and pencils). I’ll be adding to this list as I find more goodies, enjoy!
thepleatedpoppy.com
Double Row: Made with quilted fabric, two pieces of coordinating fabric, ribbon and binding.
etownhooks.blogspot.com
themodernhive.com
10-Minute: Made with mid to heavy weight fabric and edges are finished in a zig-zag stitch or serged. Ties up with attached twill tape.
mypoppet.blogspot.com
yougogirl.typepad.com
Fold-up Pouch: Made with two pieces of fabric, coordinating felt and ties up with ribbon. Tutorial available via free pdf download.
nested.typepad.com
allthingsheartandhome.com
Roll-Up: Holds 14 crayons with each pocket a different fabric scrap (in a rainbow of colors), lined with batting and has fabric ties.
janome.com
smallfriendly.com
Another tutorial is found here: chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com.
DIY Projects
First Published: September 22, 2007
Is it time to remind your kids how super cool awesome you are? Here are a few great projects you can build with your kiddos, a little bit of something for almost every age range.
- Pirate Cubby: Download scans of this project featured in a Better Homes and Garden magazine (from 2007), includes a supplies list and diagram.
- How To: Building A Custom A-Frame Children’s Swing Set: A sturdy A-frame design will provide years of enjoyment as the children grow.
- Dueling Lightsabers: Whip up an impromptu set of lightsabers and have your little Jedi’s learning the way of the Force in minutes. They made up this set of dueling sabers with some garbage and literally about 2 minutes of work.
- Basketball Court: What neigborhood doesn’t need a basketball court? They all need one! Well once you buy your pole and backboard and you put it up, how do you go about marking the court? Here are the dimensions to mark the court by.
- Build a Puppet Playhouse.
- How To Make A Tire Swing: Items Needed: A tire. A strong rope. A tree. What you get: lotsa fun!
- Make An Outdoor Skating Rink: Featured project on Tipnut that shows you how to build every future NHL’ers dream: their own skating rink.
- A-Frame Tent: Includes a diagram for assembling, items needed are whitewood moulding, poplar dowel, fabric, thread and elastic.
Kids Crafts & Cookie Sheets
First Published: April 5, 2007
Give kids their own Craft Cookie Sheet to work over top of when snipping bits of paper, gluing pieces of ‘stuff’ together, dusting pom poms with glitter and all the other fun, wild & crazy things kids love to do when crafting.
By giving them each a cookie sheet to use as their crafting space, cleanup is a BREEZE. Simply pick up the sheet and flip the bits into the garbage or recycle bin.
When the glue comes out, just let it dry then scrape it off when you have a chance. Or leave the dried glue on–no problem. No more mess from one end of the table to the other.
Store the sheets for future use in the craft supplies cupboard, don’t use for baking.
Flannel Board
First Published: December 22, 2006
Materials Needed:
- Thick piece of cardboard in the size you want (or a piece of wood sheet, foam board, pizza box works as well)
- Flannel to cover board as well as fold over at least 2″ on back along all sides
- Felt pieces in a variety of colors
Directions:
- Wash and dry the flannel first before using.
- Cover cardboard with flannel and staple, duct tape, hot glue or tack the flannel overlap evenly and tightly on the back.
- Cut felt pieces into shapes, letters and words in the size you want.
- Felt pieces will stick easily to the flannel board for your child to play with.
Felt piece ideas:
- Story characters
- Alphabet
- Numbers
- Words
- Doll shapes
- Animal shapes
Homemade Goop
First Published: March 14, 2007
Fun to play with, but messy!
1/2 cup white household glue
1/2 cup water
nontoxic poster paint
1/2 cup water
3/4 tsp borax
- Combine first three ingredients and mix well. In a separate bowl, mix the water and borax. Slowly stir the borax solution into the glue mixture for instant goop!
Caution: keep the kids at a table covered with newspapers and don’t let this get on the floor or furniture–a few garbage bags on the floors are a good thing, just in case ;).
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