Most parents agree that doing crafts at home is a great way to inspire kids and encourage creativity. This doesn’t need to cost you an arm and a leg. These are just a handful of crafts you and your kids can do for just a few dollars. You might even have everything you need already around the house!
- Family Hands
Press some air dry clay into a large rectangle. Then have everyone in your family press their handprint into the clay. You can use a Popsicle stick or toothpick to engrave names or the year. When the clay is done, paint each of the hands a different color. Use a plate stand to display your creation.
- Picture Frame Suncatcher
Grab some acrylic paints and a picture frame that can keep the glass in even without the back. Take the glass out of the frame and let your kids paint the glass however they like. The more creative, the better! Let the paint dry, replace the glass and hang the picture frame in a window with a little string.
- Paper Bag Trees
Cut strips about halfway down the top of a brown paper bag. Open the bag and then give it a few twists around the middle. The strips will end up looking like tree branches, and the bottom will look like the trunk. From there, cut out pieces of tissue paper or fabric and glue them on the branches. You can choose different shades of green, or you can go more toward yellow, orange and gold for a more autumn-oriented theme.
- Feet Butterflies
Put a rainbow of washable paint on your kid’s feet. Have them place their right foot carefully on a large sheet of paper or piece of posterboard. Leaving a little space to the right of this, have them do the same thing with their left foot so you have a “mirror” imprint. This will look like the wings of a butterfly. Your kids can color in the space in the middle to create a body and head.
- Coffee Can Stilts
This one’s an oldie but a goodie. Punch a hole in either side of a metal coffee can just above the bottom. Thread a long piece of strong twine into the can through one hole and pass it through the other. Bring the ends of the twine together and tie them together in a strong knot. Do the same for another can. Now all your kid has to do is stand on the cans and pull up on the twine as he steps. It might take a bit to get coordinated, and you might want to practice on a soft, flat, grassy area, but your child will have great fun once he gets the hang of a good rhythm!
- Glitter Banks
This one is a great craft for any kid that needs his first bank or saving jar. Simply coat the sides of a canning jar with glue and let your kid roll it in his favorite color glitter. You also can decorate the jar with construction or tissue paper, buttons, cotton balls, googly eyes, and yarn.
- Tie-Dye Tapestry
Twist up an old white bed sheet and secure it as you like with rubber bands. Let your kid dip the sheet into fabric dye. Unwrap the sheet, let it dry, and hang it on a dowel on the wall in his room.