Childrens Bug Crafts - Kids Crafts to Drive Them Buggy

There are an estimated 1,017,018 species of insects in our world, so it's no wonder that children have an endless fascination with them. When they're outside playing, insects are everywhere, and while the majority of them don't hurt people, they are extremely interesting to look at. Therefore, childrens bug crafts are very popular with kids, because they love making their own insects.

Children can make an easy dragonfly by painting one old-fashioned (not clip) clothespin and four 3/4" craft sticks pale green. Prior to painting cut each craft stick at a 60 degree angle by cutting off about 1" of the stick. Let the pieces dry, then have the children paint a veined pattern on the sticks with a darker shade of green. They can also add some darker green to the clothespin including two dots on the front for eyes. When everything dries, glue the sticks into the groove in the clothespin to form two pairs of wings.

Clay pots make great childrens bug crafts. Start this ladybug windchime by painting a 4" clay pot bright red, inside and out. While the pots are drying, have the children color 3/4" sticker circles (available at discount stores) with permanent black markers. Each child needs to make two stickers into eyes and color eight more solid black. When the pots are dry, the children will paste their stickers on the pot to form the eyes and spots. Cover the entire surface with Mod Podge to make it weatherproof and keep the stickers from falling off. Fold two black craft stems in half, link them together, and thread them through the hole in the bottom of the pot. Glue the edges of the inside stem to the pot surface. Curl the ends of the stem sticking up slightly to form feelers. Feed a string through the hole around the craft stems with both ends inside the pot. Knot about 6" above the pot for a hanger. String a few pony beads onto the ends of the string and knot the strings securely. These will provide a little noise when wind blows the ladybug pot.

A third insect craft is to make a paper plate bee. Start with a heavy duty paper plate. Draw lines across the back of the plate about 2 1/2" apart. Have the children paint every other stripe bright yellow. When the yellow dries, paint the alternating stripes black. Glue two large craft eyes on the sloped edge of the plate. Punch two holes about an inch apart in the top of the plate a little ways behind the eyes. Thread a black craft stem through the holes and twist them to form antenna. Cut four wings from waxed paper and glue to the top of each bee.

There's nothing kids love doing more than painting, so you know they'll really enjoy doing these childrens bug crafts. You'll love seeing the delight in the eyes of the children over the cute insect crafts they have made all by themselves.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about childrens bug crafts [http://craftswithyourchildren.info/childrens-bug-crafts-kids-crafts-to-drive-them-buggy], please visit Crafts With Your Children [http://craftswithyourchildren.info] for current articles and discussions.

Flying Superman Kids Craft For Kids Of All Ages To Have Fun With

Kids everywhere know who Superman is. He is a favorite among boys. There are girls who like him too. No matter whether the kids like him or not, they will all have fun doing this easy craft. They will be able to have all kinds of fun with their new craft.

Here are the materials that are needed for the flying Superman craft.

Template (You can find this online or draw your own. If you get it online you will have to use two or three pieces of paper because there are two templates that you will need to print out for each kid to do this craft.)

Toilet paper tube

Scissors

Glue

The first step is to print out the templates and then cut them out. You can cut them out or have the kids do it, depending on their age. Now the blue square shape needs to be glued to the top of the toilet paper tube and the red square shape needs to be glued to the bottom of the toilet paper tube. You want to make sure that the whole tube is covered with these two squares because this is the Superman outfit.

Now the Superman belt and the S shape will need to be glued to the appropriate places on the tube. Next the head needs to be wrapped around the tube at the top of the blue part of the tube. The arms need to be glued to the cape with the arms up like he is getting ready to fly. Now glue the cape to the back of the tube, make sure that the red side of the cape is facing the tube. Next, glue the legs onto the front part of the red end of the tube.

The Superman craft is now done and ready for the kids to play with. You can attach a piece of string to the craft if you want to so the kids can hang it up in their room. This way it looks like he is flying.

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Bible story Crafts For Kids-light of the World Kids Craft

Children will enjoy the connection in this vessel between the loving glow of candle light and the light that it symbolizes. This is one of the really popular Bible story crafts for children because it deals with God's light and the children they also remember is that to this light and have seem. Candles are not always easily under the children crafts, but this is an easy to make candle holder. And children will be so proud of making their own lights to shine.

The fresh memory of the sermon on the mount can be added to the candle also: "ye are the light of the world ...Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven. "

The "salt of the Earth" of Scripture lesson can also be linked in with the glitter symbolizes the salt this craft. Scripture: Matthew 5

Supplies for each candle

Small to medium-sized, wide mouthed pot as a baby food jar or salsa White glitter Gift-wrap, tissue paper (assorted colors) white craft glue

Small piece of sponge (about 1/2 to 1 inch square) clothespin

Tea candle Votive candle or (depending on the size of the pot) Ribbon
Prep

Ribbons for each of the children's candles cut. Write the memory verse, or the beginning of the "Ye are the Light of the World," can be read on the Ribbon tied around the neck of the pot after. Reserved, so that children can add after their candles are completed.

Instructions

Cracks or small pieces of the tissue paper cut.

Since the glue will be used with a type of decoupage thin by mixing technique, the first time in a plastic cup (such as a yogurt container) with a little water.

The piece of sponge with a clothespin of illustrations.

Using the "sponge brush", relate to the outside of the pot with the diluted glue.

Before the glue dries, do slips of colored tissue paper. Hold the tissue paper layering thin so that the light seems good.

While the tissue paper with the glue is still wet, roll the pot in a plate of glitter.
Salt can be used instead, but in the areas of high humidity it can ultimately dissolve.

Add the candle, light and enjoy. Or send the children to the light of the candles at home with their families.

More exciting Bible story Crafts For Kids Bible Crafts For Kids get on

For more visit the site fun and easy crafts Bible Magriet http://www.kidscrafts.topknacks.com/documents/noahsarkbiblecraft.html "Fun Kids Crafts" on for another fun craft with candles and have a look at Magriet of decorative candles for mother's day http://www.our-crazy-world.com/documents/easycraftsforkids.html Magriet on its site recommends

Switching Sides: Simple Roasted Carrots For Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my holiday. All mine. I plan the menu, but I don’t forget to add in a few family favorites mixed with a few new recipes I’ve bookmarked to try. What usually happens though, is that I end up with way too many sides that take too much time to prepare.  Inevitably we eat about an hour later (okay, two) than I tell everyone.   Not this year.

This year I’m taking Thanksgiving back. I’m all about simplicity this year. I want good-quality ingredients prepared simply with as little stress as possible. I’m trading in those time-consuming sides (with too many steps and endless ingredients) for the basics done well.

A few Thanksgivings ago, I made Braised Carrots with Shallots, Thyme and Sage from Gourmet Magazine. They were incredible.  INCREDIBLE.

Because I usually run out of burners on the stove, I’m trading the 20 minutes on the stove for 20 minutes in the oven. I’m nixing the braising liquid and the high calorie butter (though, as I said–incredible), and yes, even the shallots. I will be keeping the basic flavor elements that will help the sweetness of the baby rainbow carrots shine through.

Fresh herbs are an important part of Thanksgiving.  I planted sage in my garden a few years ago just so I could have it for Thanksgiving.  True story.  And basically so I could eat those braised carrots all spring, summer, and winter long.

If you can’t find fresh herbs, don’t fret.  Dried is fine.  Just use about half as much because dried herbs (if they aren’t too old and stale) will be stronger than an equal amount of fresh.  I love sage by itself, but I’ve added rosemary and thyme here because…well, because why not?  It’s Thanksgiving after all.

Last time-saving tip–don’t peel your carrots. It won’t hurt you to eat the peel.  And it saves a lot of time.  These carrots are pretty small anyway, so I also didn’t want to lose too much by peeling them.  I scrub them with a brush or the rough side of a new dish sponge to remove any dirt.  I halved or quartered the thicker carrots so they all cooked evenly.  (For size reference, the carrots pictured ranged from the thickness of a pencil to about 1? in diameter.)

Use the leftovers cold or room temperature in a salad or dipped in something yummy.

Roasted Baby Carrots with Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
double or triple for a crowd, this amount will serve 4

1 1/2 lbs. baby carrots (rainbow if you can find them), washed well
1 small sprig fresh rosemary, minced
1-2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed from the stems
5-6 sage leaves, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste

Toss carrots with the olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and herbs.  Roast at 425 degrees F for about 20 minutes in a baking dish or on a baking sheet lined with parchment.  (I like mine tender-crisp.  Roast longer if you prefer them more tender.)

Tagged as: menu plan, side dish, thanksgiving, thanksgiving food

Lindsey Johnson is a stay-at-home mom who enjoys cooking, baking, photography, gardening, and writing. You can find more recipes at her blog, Cafe Johnsonia. Read other posts by Lindsey

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Holiday Craft Along – Handmade Felt Envelopes

A few weeks back I participated in a fun round up of handmade craft projects for the holidays. The lovely hosts Kelly of According to Kelly, Cindy of Skip to My Lou, and Rachel of A Southern Fairytale put together 30 days of baking, crafting, and sewing. I contributed this fun handmade felt envelope. It’s the perfect size for gifting money, gift cards, or even candy for the kids!

Here are a few others to showcase, they were all such great ideas!

Tagged as: christmas present, diy, gifts, handmade, Holidays

Marie LeBaron is the founder and managing editor of Make and Takes. Always having a love of crafts, she enjoys getting messy with glue and glitter. There’s always some sort of project going on, her kitchen counter is often cluttered with crafts. When she’s not crafting and creating with her kids, she loves to run, read, and blog! Read other posts by Marie

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Favorite Pastimes - Crafts For Kids and Adults

The current severe economic downturn is affecting people on every level. Rising fuel costs have impacted everything from the price of groceries to the cost of getting to work everyday. Joblessness is up and the discretionary income is down. But some of the most telling signs of the times are the changes in the way people spend their leisure time. We've all read media reports about the trend away from vacations and toward "staycations," where people stay at home instead of traveling. Along the same lines, there's a significant trend toward finding recreational activities that can substitute for more costly alternatives. What are the emerging trends? Crafts for kids, quilting, and gardening.

It makes sense when you think about it. After all, kids' activities like gymnastics lessons and karate lessons can take a chunk out of the family budget - both in terms of fees and in terms of the cost of gas to shuttle kids around to their extracurricular activities. For adults, the cost of lattes, nights out at the movies, and going out to dinner really add up. Plus, when times are tough, families tend to stick closer together and look for ways to spend quality time with one another. On every level, crafts fit the bill.

As a result, parents and grandparents are on the lookout for kids' craft projects that will engage children and keep those little hands busy. Thankfully, there are many inexpensive books that are filled with ideas. For example, you can find books that outline crafts using play dough, how to make flower figures, and even Christmas crafts. In fact, you can even find books that provide ideas for making Christmas gifts that fit in a jar. From crafts for preschool-age children to pastimes for older kids, these idea books provide a wealth of options for engaging children's imaginations.

As for adults, two trends are emerging. Just as knitting and sewing enjoyed a resurgence during the past decade, the latest "old world" pastime to hit the big time is quilting. Although it looked as though the art of quilting was on the endangered list, hobbyists are bringing it back to life and enjoying the detail and craft involved in making a quilt. As a result, there is a wealth of helpful new books on quilting projects, including how-to books, quilting patterns, and quilting designs.

The other emerging trend for adults is gardening. Since people are spending so much more time at home, they're finding that gardening is a great way to inexpensively spruce up the yard - and get an unparalleled sense of satisfaction.

The recent resurgence of interest in crafts is not only a matter of economics. It's also a reflection of people's new environmental sensibilities. The concepts of reduce, reuse, and recycle are the cornerstone of crafting. Tidbits laying around the house can be put to use in crafts for kids, pieces of fabric can be put together to make gorgeous quilting designs, and some types of waste can be composted and used as fertilizer in gardening. Save money and save the planet? It's a winning combination!

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.

Good Times For Everyone With Family Fun Crafts

Are you looking for something inexpensive and fun to brighten up a rainy day? Crafts can be the answer! Craft projects can be great fun for the whole family as well as an excellent way to bond with your kids. Craft projects help encourage kids to use their imagination and creativity.

There are many things you can do as a fun family craft project. The ages of your kids and what types of materials you have on hand can help you choose. Even if you don't have many supplies laying around, if you have kids you probably have paper, crayons and some other odds and ends at minimum. Even these basic supplies can be the foundation for a fun afternoon of craft projects.

Some craft projects can be downright messy. It's always a good idea to lay some newspaper over the table before starting anything that might require an extensive cleanup. Smocks are great to have to protect clothing, but if you don't have any handy one of Dad's old tee shirts will do just fine.

What to Make?

There are so many great kids crafts to do that it might be hard to decide what to make! The internet is a wealth of information on kids crafts. You can even find sites that list step by step instructions for kids craft projects, many with pictures to follow. When you find projects that you like, you can print them out for easy reference.

Some crafts are simple, yet kids really have a ball with them. My kids favorite crafts all involve colored piple cleaners. They are simple, but the kids really enjoy twisting them together and making pipe cleaner sculptures and cat toys out of them. We also keep a nice supply of "googly eyes" that you can find at any craft store, those make nice eyes for the pipe cleaner people.

Painting crafts are a staple and good fun for everyone. You can paint almost anything made out of wood or ceramic and with just a few simple supplies, you can create fun and functional works of art. Painted picture frames, ornaments and keepsake boxes are easy for older kids to do and with a little help can be made as gifts.

Fabric paint is another painting craft thats fun for the whole family. Get some fabric paint and plain white tee shirts. Have everyone make a hand print on the teeshirts with the fabric paint and decorate however you'd like. These family hand print tee-shirts are wearable art that you will cherish forever.

With just a little bit of imagination and some basic craft supplies, craft time with the family can be a bonding experience that's fun for everyone.

Looking for more family craft ideas? Visit the Family Fun Crafts [http://www.dotparent.com/index.php/Family-Fun/Family-Fun-Crafts.html] page or check out my free kids crafts blog!