Step Up to Memories - A Kids Craft Project

If you've been looking for a creative art project to do with the kids, look no further! I recently did a fun project with my daughter and thought I'd share the how-to for other parents who are looking for ways to keep their kids busy and creative all while making something useful for around the home!

What You'll Need

A wooden step ladder

Spray paint (your choice of color)

Sponges (either cut into shapes of your choice or pre-purchased in shapes)

Letter Stencils (of your child's name)

Craft Paint (your choice of colors)

Newspaper (the older the better)

Smock or old clothing for you and your child

Now you're ready to start creating. A little preparation is needed before bringing your child into the project. Take the step ladder outside and put it on the newspaper and spray paint it, covering the entire step ladder thoroughly. Let it dry overnight and you'll be ready to bring your child into the project the next day!

Bring the painted ladder to your work area (outside is recommended). Work with your child to sponge paint the shapes onto the ladder in the colors of your choice. Let it dry thoroughly.

Next, help your child stencil their name(s) onto the ladder. I'd recommend doing it on the side, and not the top, as the top will take a bit of wear if you plan to let your child use it. If it is to be a decoration for the porch of your child's room, putting the name on top will be ok if you choose to do so. Let it dry.

Your child now has a ladder, personally designed by them, to use. Put it in the corner of their room and through their favorite stuffed animal or trophies or photographs on top. You can also use the ladder as décor in your garden or on your porch. More practically, you can let your child use it for help in reaching the bathroom sink or other out of the way place they need to get to on a frequent basis.

While you can buy a step stool in the store, making one with your child not only gives you an activity to do together to get in some quality time, but it also will serve as a reminder for many years of the time you spent together and may even end up as a hand me down to your grandchildren.

And remember, above all, have fun!

Chuck Greene is the owner and operator of a little ladder website called Ladder Fanatic. It is a testament to his unique (some may call it crazy) love of ladders ? especially the Little Giant Ladder brand ladders. http://www.ladderfanatic.com

Kids Craft Project - Beaded Wreath Holiday Ornaments

When our daughter was a little girl, we spent a weekend afternoon crafting up some really cute holiday wreath ornaments using beads and lace. You can find the craft supplies listed for this project at your neighborhood craft supply store in the general supplies area of the store.

This is a great project to do with older children who are age 5 and over with some adult supervision. Over the years, I have even done this project with local school groups, scouting troops, after-school programs and youth groups.

Materials Needed For Each Completed Ornament:

6" piece of pipe cleaner (I used clear ones and they are also called chenille stems)

16" to 18" piece of red flat edge lace that is 1" in width

1 package of green plastic tri-beads

1 package of clear plastic tri-beads

1 flocked teddy bear measuring approximately 1 1/4" tall

4" piece of gold metallic cord or gold metallic string

all-purpose quick-drying liquid craft glue

sharp scissors

24" or longer ruler

Note: When you purchase the flat edge lace (non-gathered lace) look for a pattern that has a hole that runs along the edge so that you can thread your pipe cleaner through it. The best type of lace to use also has a scalloped edge that runs along the outer edge.

Step 1: Cut off a 6" piece of pipe cleaner and a 16" to 18" piece of lace and set aside. If doing this as a group project, this step can be done ahead of time by a responsible adult.

Step 2: Slightly pinch one end of clear pipe cleaner and then thread on a green plastic tri-bead. Start threading on your lace followed up by a clear plastic tri-bead. You will want to continue this pattern for the length of your pipe cleaner. (green bead, lace, clear bead).

Step 3: Once you have the pipe cleaner filled up with beads and lace, shape it into a circle and twist the two pipe cleaner ends together. It should look like a round wreath.

Step 4: Glue the flocked teddy bear onto the wreath as shown in the picture. (he should look like he is sitting inside it). Finally, take a 4" piece of gold metallic cord and thread through the lace at the top and form a knotted loop so that it can be hung on your holiday tree.

Tip: If you can not find flocked miniature teddy bears, you can glue artificial flowers into the center or around the sides of the wreath to fancy it up.

Shelly Hill is a mother and grandmother living in Pennsylvania who enjoys crafting, beading, crocheting and scrapbooking. You can visit Shelly's online craft blog called Passionate About Crafting at http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot.com for free craft project ideas and tips. You can find a photo of the completed project on her blog at http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot.com/2009/11/kids-craft-project-beaded-wreath.html

Kids Craft Project - Recycling Soup Can Lids Into Snowman Ornaments

Last weekend while my nephews were visiting me...we had to come up with an easy holiday ornament project that used a throw-away item for one of their school projects. After much thinking, we decided to recycle aka re-purpose metal soup and tuna can lids to make some hand painted snowman ornaments.

We used a can opener that unseals the tin can lids, so the edges of our lids are smooth and won't cut or hurt anyone.

Ages: 8 and up with adult supervision

Supplies Needed Per Ornament:

1 clean soup can lid

1 clean tuna can lid

acrylic paints - white, orange, navy blue and black

paint brush

foam paint brush

quick drying all-purpose craft glue

scrap of fabric or ribbon (for hanging loop)

Scissors

water dish and paper towels (for cleaning your paint brush)

(optional) clear acrylic paint sealer

Since painting is involved, lay several sheets of newspaper down onto your work surface or lay down an old plastic table cloth.

Step 1: Paint the one side (the outside) tuna can lid a dark navy blue. We had to apply two coats of paint, letting each coat dry for 20 minutes. Paint both sides of the soup can lid with white acrylic paint. We had to apply two to three coats of paint. Let lids thoroughly dry.

Step 2: While your lids are drying, cut a piece of ribbon or scrap fabric to measure 6" long by 1" wide to use as your hanging loop. Wash your paint brushes and let dry.

Step 3: Squirt some all-purpose craft glue on the wrong side of your white soup can lid and use your foam paint brush to spread it around so its an even coat. Fold your fabric strap or ribbon piece in half and form into a hanging loop. Sandwich the strap between your tuna can lid and your soup can lid and press them firmly into place. Let dry for 10 minutes or until the lids no longer slide around.

Step 4: Let the child paint on black eyes, an orange carrot shaped nose and black mouth dots. (My nephews used the end of their paint brushes just dipped in black paint to do their mouth dots).

Set your ornament aside for a few hours to completely dry. If desired, you can spray it lightly with some clear acrylic paint sealer and then let them dry for 24 hours before using them.

Shelly Hill is a mother and grandmother living in Pennsylvania who enjoys sewing, quilting, crafting and scrapbooking. You can visit Shelly's online craft blog called Passionate About Crafting at http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot.com for free craft project ideas and tips. You can find a photo of the completed project on her blog at http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot.com/2009/12/kids-craft-project-recycling-can-lids.html

Kids Recycling Craft Project With Tin Buckets

Every holiday season we get a lot of yummy goodies tucked inside beautifully ornate tin buckets. After we quickly devoured the contents, we are left with the empty containers. While they do make good keepsake container for all kinds of small items in the house such as coupons, receipts, mail, cleaning supplies and such, there are times I wish I could do more with them. Here's an easy kids craft project involving recycled Christmas tin buckets.

Recycled Luminary Kids Craft Project

Kids Recycling Craft Project Material:

Empty tin cans
Your design (simple design works best here - think of stars, hearts, flowers, trees and such)
A large nail
A hammer
Tape
A votive candle

Instructions for Recycled Tin Buckets Luminary Project:

1. Fill the empty buckets with some water and freeze the water first. This will make it easier to hammer the design into the buckets.

2. Tape your design around the can.

3. Take the large nail and hammer it until it punches a hole through the bucket. Continue to drill holes around the border of your design. You need enough holes so you can see what the pattern is, but try not to punch the holes too closely together.

4. After you have punched holes all around the design, remove the paper & tape from the bucket.

5. Wait for the ice to melt. Run water over it to speed up the process. Dry the tin bucket with a towel. Place a votive candle in the bottom of the tin bucket.

6. Sit back and admire your work.

Edda Shea is the founder of Kid Craft Project: a website for people who enjoy crafting with their kids. It is an online directory that sources the best ideas for kid craft projects. Edda is a lifelong crafts enthusiast and enjoys everything handmade.

Kids Craft Project - Easy Beaded Felt Holiday Tree Ornaments

When my nieces and nephews come to my home to spend an afternoon, they always look forward to crafting with me. I try to pick out easy projects for all of us to do together. We were able to create several of these felt tree ornaments in just a few hours.

What is really great about this particular project is that children ages 7 and up can make them with some adult supervision. All of the supplies that you will need are readily available at your local craft or fabric store. If you are a proficient crafter like myself, you might have all of the supplies already on hand.

Once you complete these beaded ornaments, you can use them to hang on your holiday tree, off a garland, on a wreath or as package toppers. This is also a great project for the kids to do and they can give them out to family members and to their teachers.

Supplies You Will Need:

Green Craft Felt

Various Round Plastic Beads (various colors and size but no larger than 4 mm)

All-Purpose Liquid Craft Glue

Sewing Needle and Dark Green Sewing Thread

Wooden Dowel Sticks (1/8" diameter by 3" long)

Sharp Scissors

Disappearing Ink Marker (for tracing pattern)

Pattern: Simple triangle shape measuring 3 3/4" tall by 2 3/4" wide cut from paper and used as your template.

Step 1: Trace your triangles onto green colored felt and cut out. You will need two green triangles for each ornament that you make.

Step 2: Center your wooden dowel onto one piece of felt, leaving 1 1/2" of the dowel sticking out beyond the felt to resemble a tree trunk. Use a little glue to glue it into place and set aside to dry.

Step 3: Using dark green thread, hand sew various color and sized beads onto the front of one of your triangles.

Step 4: Sandwich the two triangles together (the one with the beads and the one with the wooden dowel). Using a sewing needle and dark green thread, whip stitch around the entire tree's edges, being careful to not pull the stitches too tightly.

Step 5: Use a piece of thread and attach it to the top of the tree for a hanging loop. (I like to double my thread so its a little more sturdier).

Your little beaded felt tree ornaments are now ready to be hung onto your holiday tree.

Shelly Hill is a mother and grandmother living in Pennsylvania who enjoys crafting, sewing, crocheting and scrapbooking. You can visit Shelly's online craft blog called Passionate About Crafting at http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot.com for free craft project ideas and tips. You can find a photo of the completed project on her blog at http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot.com/2009/11/easy-beaded-felt-holiday-tree-ornaments.html

Kids Craft Project - Beaded Felt Lollipop Holiday Tree Ornaments

When it comes to making holiday crafts with my children, one of my favorite crafting materials to use is felt. These felt lollipop holiday tree ornaments are easy to make, take only a few basic craft supplies and work up quickly.

Since there is some hand sewing and beading with this project, I recommend ages 7 and up with some adult supervision.

Supplies You Will Need:

Craft Felt (red, white and green)

Multi-Colored Plastic Seed Beads

White Sewing Thread and Sewing Needle

4" long by 1/8" diameter Wooden Dowel Sticks

All-Purpose Liquid Craft Glue

Sharp Scissors

6" Piece Satin 1/4" Wide Ribbon

Pattern: Cut out a 4" diameter circle from paper. We used the bottom of a drinking glass to get our circle. You will use this circle as your template pattern.

Step 1: Trace your pattern onto the white piece of craft felt. You will need two white circles per lollipop. Trace your pattern onto red or green felt and cut out. Now using that colored felt, cut swirls into the felt (see photo for example).

Step 2: Lay your swirl colored felt design on top of one white felt circle. Using a sewing needle and white thread, randomly hand sew on colored seed beads to represent lollipop sprinkles. (make sure you knot your thread on the reverse side of the felt).

Note: As you are hand sewing on the seed beads, you are also attaching the swirl felt piece to the top of the white round circle. If desired, you can decorate both white felt pieces with colored felt swirls and seed beads.

Step 3: Using some craft glue (just a little bit), glue the wooden dowel to the other white felt circle leaving 3" hang past the circle. This will serve as your lollipop stick. Let this dry for a few minutes before proceeding to the next step.

Step 4: Place the two white felt circles together (like a sandwich). Using white thread and a sewing needle, whip stitch around the edges of both white felt circles. (you are attaching the front piece to the back piece).

Step 5: Cut off a 10" piece of white thread and double it. Thread it through the top of your ornament and tie into a knot. Take a piece of satin ribbon and tie a bow around the handle of your lollipop. You can now hang your ornament on a holiday tree.

You will want to let your ornaments try before using them.

Shelly Hill is a mother and grandmother living in Pennsylvania who enjoys sewing, quilting, crafting and scrapbooking. You can visit Shelly's online craft blog called Passionate About Crafting at http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot.com for free craft project ideas and tips. You can find a photo of the completed project on her blog at http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot.com/2009/11/kids-craft-project-beaded-felt-lollipop.html

Kids Craft Project - Seashell and Jute Soup Can Pen and Pencil Holder

A few years ago my little niece needed to come up with a craft project for her scouting troop that re-purposed old soup cans into new crafty items. After some thought...we decided that our project together would be a new pen holder for her scout leaders desk.

This craft project is really easy to make and only takes a few crafting supplies and makes for a great group project for older children to do.

Note: We use a non-cutting style can opener that unseals our can lids so that there are no sharp edges. If you are worried about sharp edges, you can use a plastic or glass jar that is roughly the same size.

Recommended Project Ages: 7 and up with adult supervision.

Supplies Needed

Empty and clean soup can

1 roll of twine or jute cording

All-Purpose liquid clear drying craft glue

Foam paint brush

1 bag various sized colorful sea shells

1 felt circle that fits the circumference of your can

Sharp Scissors

Step 1: Cut off 24" long pieces of jute from your roll. I find it easier to work with small lengths. Using your all-purpose liquid craft glue, squirt some glue around the top of your can's sides, in 1" wide sections. Use your foam brush to spread out the glue so that its an even coat. Carefully wrap the jute around the can tucking your ends in as you go along. As needed, add more glue and cut more jute from the roll. You will continue covering the sides of your can in this manner until done. Set aside to dry for approximately 6 hours.

Step 2: Once your holder is completely dry from the gluing process, its time to glue on the sea shells. Start with the large shells first and then use the small shells and sea pebbles to fill in the design area. We were able to purchase a small bag of dyed shells so that our pen holder would have some color to it.

Step 3: Cut a circle from felt or fabric that will fit the circumference of your can. Glue it to the bottom so that you will protect your wooden desk surface from scratches.

Tips: Its best to lay your can on its side for gluing on the shells. Let them dry for 15 minutes before moving it around. You can do just a design on the front or decorate the entire thing, the choice is yours. If you don't have felt, you can cover the bottom of your can with additional jute cording.

Shelly Hill is a mother and grandmother living in Pennsylvania who enjoys sewing, quilting, crafting and scrapbooking. You can visit Shelly's online craft blog called Passionate About Crafting at http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot.com for free craft project ideas and tips. You can find a photo of the completed project on her blog at http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot.com/2009/11/craft-project-seashell-and-jute-soup.html