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After we built our jump for hot wheels cars out of a diaper box, my husband had the idea to use the same basic design to make a homemade skee ball game! Aidan (turning 10 this month) thought that was a great idea. Over the July 4th weekend, they worked together to turn a computer box into this awesome skee ball game! We used marbles for the balls.
To make one you will need:

A large cardboard box

Extra corrugated cardboard, depending on the size of your box

Cereal boxes

Scissors

A utility knife

Duct tape

Marbles - for the balls

The guys started by cutting the ramp shape out of the computer box. They used cereal box cardboard for the ramp.

The computer box didn't create a long enough ramp space by itself, so they made some cardboard supports and extended the ramp.

Aidan came up for the design for the backboard/goal/whatever you want to call it! At first, we were planning to use paper towel rolls to make it like real skee ball, and Jordan started by cutting holes in the cardboard with a utility knife. However, the paper towel rolls ended up being too difficult to aim for, and we wanted this game to be fun for the whole family - even our 4 year old. So we ended up just going with holes in the goal area.

The finished product! The marbles "jump" off the top of the ramp, just like real skee ball!

The goal area is not attached to the ramp - it is just sitting there overlapping with the computer box. We decided to leave it as two pieces because it is easier to store that way.

Jordan added a piece of cardboard between the edge of the jump and the side of the computer box to make a place for "misses" to land. We thought it would be too complicated to make the marbles roll back to the start, but this works really well! He also covered the goal area with red duct tape, and we added points to the goals. We also taped a piece of cardboard to the back of the game to keep stray marbles contained.

We put a plastic container under the game to catch the marbles.

We have all enjoyed playing with our homemade skee ball game! It's interesting enough for big kids but easy enough for preschoolers.

Check out our skee ball game in action!

More homemade games for kids:

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After we built our jump for hot wheels cars out of a diaper box, my husband had the idea to use the same basic design to make a homemade skee ball game! Aidan (turning 10 this month) thought that was a great idea.

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Fun Pattern Pirate Eye Patches make the perfect party favor, event prize or are a great pirate party decoration addition! These Pirate Eye Patches are about 2 1/2" inches long, made of polyester and come in many different designs and colors so the kiddos...

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Fun Pattern Pirate Eye Patches make the perfect party favor, event prize or are a great pirate party decoration addition! These Pirate Eye Patches are about 2 1/2" inches long, made of polyester and come in many different designs and colors so the kiddos...

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If you are searching for a do it yourself or DIY Carnival Game, the Fish Cup Carnival Game may be a perfect choice! This easy set up diy carnival game requires simple products that can mostly be found locally and all ages of kids and even adults love to play this challenging game!

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15 Fun Upcycling Ideas For Kids

I'm so excited to team up with one of my favorite brands, Tom's of Maine® to help celebrate Earth Month!

To celebrate an entire month dedicated to the amazing planet we call home - Tom's of Maine® is extending a fun challenge to all! The #LessWasteChallenge has been created to challenge everyone to reduce their waste by 1lb every week!

Imagine if we all took on this challenge and found ways to reduce our waste by 1b every week If you think about it, a 1lb really is not a whole lot. But if we all did it, it would make an amazing impact on helping our beloved earth.

So how does one reduce 1 lb of waste?

Get Creative!

I am not sure about you, but my kids LOVE art projects and creating! So I thought I would scour the internet and find some fun and creative ways to upcycle our trash and turn it into fun art projects! Tackling the Tom's of Maine challenge #LessWasteChallenge AND entertaining our kiddos! That's two birds, one stone my dear friends!

As parents, it is so important to instill a sense of love and respect for this wonderful planet we call home. That is a big reason why I love this #LessWasteChallenge created by Tom's of Maine. It is a create way to get the whole family involved and talking about how we can all help out to reduce waste within the walls of our own homes.

There are so many clever ways to use our trash and create fun art and memories with our kids. These fun projects will get your kids creative juices flowing and hopefully, they'll be inspired to come up with projects of their own.
From Refab Diaries

Upcycled Fairy Houses: How cute are these little fairy houses?!? Using old shampoo, body wash, and milk jugs you could create a whole little village!

Tin Can Planters: {See the above collage} - These are so cute and clever! You could really use anything to make these - but I love the idea of finding a fun way to use Tin Cans - Idea from The Darice® Craft Blog

Bubble Refill Station: {See the above collage}This is complete GENIUS! No more mess and it's easy for kids to use! - Idea from Gwenny Penny

Egg Carton Sea Turtles: How Cute are these little guys! My kids would love making these! Idea From Emma Owl

Kleenex Box Monsters: {See the above collage}These are sooo cute! There are million different ways you could make these and be creative with this idea. Idea From Giggles Galore

Marshmallow Shooters: {See the above collage} - I mean, what kid wouldn't love to make these? These cute marshmallow shooters would provide hours of entertainment. Idea from Coffee Cups and Crayons

Walkie Talkies: Do you remember making these when you were a kid! They are such a fun and cute upcycling idea! Idea From Woods of Bell Trees

Upcycled Drums! {See the above collage} - I think it is every kid's dream to have a set of drums! Why not make these! Idea From Kids Activity Blog

Toilet Roll Shakers: {See the above collage} - Create a family band and add these cute shakers! Idea From Totally Home Improvement

Are you as inspired as I am?!? Tackling the #LessWasteChallenge from Tom's of Maine® will be a cinch with these creative and fun upcycling ideas! You might be wondering, what exactly is Tom's of Maine® doing to tackle their own challenge???

Did you know??

As you can see Tom's of Maine® is DEDICATED to using only the best ingredients and being a responsible steward of this awesome planet we call home as well.

Their products can be found at one of my favorite places on this planet Target! They offer a full line of personal hygiene items, i.e. soaps, toothpaste, shower gel, deodorant, shampoo, and mouthwash and lots more! One of my personal favorite products is their lavender soap! It smells so good and is super relaxing!

So let's do this!! We can ALL find ways to take on Tom's of Maine® #LessWasteChallenge and reduce our family's waste by 1lb!! Together we can help make our future brighter! I want to see how you get creative and take on this challenge tag me @andiethues and @toms_of_maine on Instagram and @andiethues and @TomsofMaine on Twitter, using #LessWasteChallenge!

We are so excited to see what you come up with!!! And bonus points if you reuse your Tom's of Maine packaging!! 😉

All Tom's of Maine® packaging is recyclable through TerraCycle

10% of Tom's of Maine® profits go to support human and environmental goodness

Tom's of Maine® Strives to reduce waste through recycled content, recycling, and biodegradability

Make sure and take advantage of Target's Cartwheel offer for an additional 10% off!! As always you can Visit Toms of Maine's website for more information.

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I'm so excited to team up with one of my favorite brands, Tom's of Maine® to help celebrate Earth Month! To celebrate an entire month dedicated to the amazing planet we call home - Tom's of Maine® is extending a fun challenge to all!

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Disclaimer- All recipes and/or projects on this website have been tested for our own individual use and/or consumption and are being provided to our readers as an idea for them to try. Use of our recipes for food, scrubs, oils, bars and other like items are at your own risk. We do not assume responsibility for any negative effects such as allergic reaction, rash, skin irritation or other occurrences. It is the reader's responsibility to read product labels and use at their own discretion. We are not medical professionals and do not provide medical advice. Thank you. .................................................................................................................................................................................................. This post may contain affiliate or paid links. Content selection and opinions are in no way influenced by compensation. See our full disclosure at the bottom of this page for more information. ..................................................................................................................................................................................................

What greater way to teach your kids how to recycle than by making Upcycled Kids Crafts! Making these fun upcycled kids crafts will not only have them excited about recycling, but will get their creative minds working!

One of the best crafts to make is upcycled kids crafts, they are practically free, help the planet and take some serious creative thinking! Most of the materials used in the crafts below can be found around the house. Great for a rainy day, boredom buster or just for fun.

Let's begin!

Fantastic Upcyled Kids Crafts

Minions Coin Bank by Aprons and Stilletos - Such a great way to upcycle those juice containers , is he not the cutest thing ever??

Upcycled Comic Book Can by Organized 31 - such a fun and creative way to use comic book pages and upcycle!

Water Bottle Piggy Bank by SheKnows- save money and the landfills by reusing water bottles in amazing projects like this! Teaching kids two valuable lessons in one.

Candy Wrapper Pencil Cube by Crafts n Coffee- why go out and buy a pencil organizer when you can make one?

Mini Drums Inspired by Drum Dream Girl by Sunny Day Family - you won't believe how easy and adorable these little drums are. I bet you have all the supplies needed right at home already!

Personalized Pencil and Art Supply Cup by Our Family World - Kids will be back to school soon, help them celebrate by making this cute, useful craft!

Recreating The Summer Games at Home by Making Time For Mommy - Your kids will feel like an Olympic winner with these cute torches and medals made from recycled materials!

K Cup Tissue Paper Flower by Reuse Grow Enjoy- K cups are a great upcycle material, there are tons of them ready to use. Try this adorable paper flower!

Singing Straws by Krokotak- teaching kids music and upcycling... the best. These easy singing straws sound beautiful!

Paper Plate Turtle by How To This And That- use one half for the turtle and another half for our paper plate flamingo!

Newspaper T Shirt by Jinxy Kids - Wear it or use it to protect kids clothing from paint and other activities when crafting!

DIY Dominoes by Organized 31 - A genius idea for upcycling game blocks! Don't sell that unused game for $1 in the yard sale, make these instead.

Recycled Candy Wrapper Picture Frame by Crafts n Coffee- this would make such a great gift!

Recycled CD Clock by Aprons and Stilletos- I know you have old CDs laying around! This is such a great idea.

Tin Can Stilts by Jugglin Act Mama- These easy tin can stilts will provide lots of fun for the kiddos!

15 Minute No Sew Tote Bag by Happy Deal Happy Day- this is genius. Total cost, under $4! Try buying a bag like this for that price.

DIY Milk Jug Birdfeeder by Six Dollar Family- a great project that uses materials you probably already have laying around!

Pretend Potions by Organized 31- let the kids play magician for a day with these recycled items turned potions.

Kid's Kitchen from a Nightstand by Coffee With Us 3 - we have all seen those old, used pieces of furniture at the flea markets or yard sales. Give them new life like this!

Recycle Plastic Shopping Bags Snowman Picture by Crafts n Coffee- stop stuffing plastic bags into another bag and storing them, make this adorable snowman!

Clay Tile Mosaic by First Palette

Recycled Pouch Beads by The Inspired Home- Kids love beading and it is great for their hand eye coordination!

Animal Jars by House To Home UK - this would be a fantastic way to organize craft supplies, beads and more. Love the idea!

20 Upcycle Tips & Tricks by How To This And That

Chick Fil A Upcycle by Atlanta's Frugal Mom- put those plastic containers to good use!

Over 34 Recycled Kids Crafts by Hands On As We Grow

25 Upcycled Projects for Kids by Fun A Day

18 Awesome Practically Free Upcycled Craft Projects by Wisebread

We hope you enjoyed these upcycled kids crafts!
Comment below and let us know your favorite.
Want more great upcycle ideas? Check out these upcycled outdoor decorations

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Disclaimer- All recipes and/or projects on this website have been tested for our own individual use and/or consumption and are being provided to our readers as an idea for them to try. Use of our recipes for food, scrubs, oils, bars and other like items are at your own risk.

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I love to find cool things to make with unique materials, especially those I have handy. If you're looking to destash, you most one of the first things you probably do is get rid of CDs and DVDs. Here are some of my favorite things to do with CDs and DVDs after you've backed them up and stored them digitally. Disclosure: this post contains commissioned links.
This article was originally published here on Moms & Crafters in June 2015 and was updated to make it fresh for you!
I chose these projects out of the MANY I found for the way they really take advantage of the characteristics of a CD. Some make great use of the iridescent surface, others of the hole in the middle, and others of the plastic body.... Whatever it is, you're sure to find something that you'll want to try here!

If you don't have CDs lying around, you can still pick up a pack before it's too late... Look for colorful ones if you can grab those!

14 Things to make with old CDs:

These bloggers had the best ideas for repurposing CDs in fun and useful ways. Click through to each project to read the full tutorial!

First, check out this cool craft video featuring (and sponsored by) Wikki Stix! This is a fun activity my son and I did together. We then repeated it at a play date (his friend made a beautiful replica of my rainbow) and they spent hours at it!! !

Wikki Stix CD Decorating
Got old CDs and DVDs lying around? Decorate them with Wikki Stix (sponsored)!!It was such a fun play date activity for M and his friends and is a cool travel activity for all ages! Which is your favorite? Mine is the rainbow.Wikki Stix are available on Amazon.

Posted by Moms & Crafters on Wednesday, May 30, 2018

1. Make some pretty doodle discs - it's an open-ended craft for a huge variety of ages and skill levels.

See it in action in the video below:

2. I love these dreamcatchers by Pink Stripey Socks! What a productive and fun way to entertain children!

3. Growing up, I always loved wind chimes. But I never made them myself. This beautiful wind chimes craft by Happy Hooligans is something I would have loved to make back then (I may even try it today. I have yet to outgrow such crafts!)

4. Learn a little science with this CD hovercraft by Hello Wonderful! It gives kids such a good feeling to see something they made actually work.

5. I saw so many animals made from CDs but chose this snail from Toddler Approved to feature, because of the glow the CD gives the snail's shell. Click on the photo for instructions, and then scour Pinterest for more CD animal ideas!

6. Lalymom cleverly put together these "ring around the rosie" spinning tops using CDs! See how here.

7. CDs and DVDs are also great for mosaic projects. One of my favorites of all time is this birdbath by Me and My DIY. The original website seems to no longer be active, but you can find something similar here.

8. Turn them into beautiful iridescent guitar picks using a pick punch (affiliate link)! Yup, it works on CDs too, not just credit cards. Isn't that clever?

9. A lamp made out of CDs? Yes, please! Check out the how-to for this magnificent CD lamp by Photo Creations!

10. Want a cheap, easy, and FUN toy for your toddler? Check out how Best Toys 4 Toddlers makes amazing use of old CDs - I am running to grab mine out now to try it with M so that I can finish up this post...

11. Crafts by Amanda made use of the durable plastic on DVDs by turning them into beautiful stenciled coasters. Read the tutorial to see how she made them stand up to spills too. This is pretty cool and one of my top things to do with CDs

12. I absolutely adore the way Our Peaceful Planet used CDs to make curtain pull-backs! This is simply genius and has a beautiful, polished look.

13. I saw many CD clock tutorials when I was searching because of the form of the CD. This one by Morena's Corner stood out so I decided to share it here. Making clocks is one of my favorite things to do with CDs so this is spot on!

14. Of course, a Moms & Crafters roundup can't be complete without a jewelry craft! And this magnificent necklace by Plan B. Anna Evers takes the cake...

Isn't it just amazing how many great uses there are out there for something we all have in over-abundance? Some of these things to do with CDs and DVDs are really functional too!

What are your favorite things to do with CDs?

Liked it? Share it! I've made it easy to share! Hover over the first image in this post and click the red button to pin. Or click on any of the buttons on the left of this page to share it however you'd like...

Get the book! By purchasing Moms & Crafters publications, you are supporting my blog and enabling me to keep on providing you with free craft ideas like this one. Coloring for Coffee Lovers is my most popular coloring book, but you can find all of my printed and digital coloring books here.
Loved these things to do with CDs and DVDs?! Find many many more things to make with stuff you have lying around here:

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It's amazing what you can do with old CDs!

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Do you have old CDs and DVDs lying around? I thought so. Here are the best carefully selected things to do with CDs and DVDs - you'll love it! You'll love these crafts, DIY projects, and more on every skill level, age range, and budget!

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Don't throw out your old magazines! Surprisingly there are tons of crafts you can make with the colorful & glossy pages of magazines. So if you've got a few in your home, turn them into something beautiful! I've gathered together some of my favorite projects made out of magazines to get you started. Have fun crafting!

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Creative Crafts to Make with Old Magazines

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Don't throw out your old magazines! Surprisingly there are tons of crafts you can make with the colorful & glossy pages of magazines. So if you've got a few in your home, turn them into something beautiful! I've gathered together some of my favorite projects made out of magazines to get you started.

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I've got a daughter who is a pencil/crayon/marker/pen hoarder.

Seriously. ( can't imagine where she gets that from :)

I thought that if I made her a fun case for her pencils, maybe she'll use them. We shall see.

These cute pencil cases were made using a 12-pack Fanta soda box.

And this one was from a 20-can Diet Coke box.

Each of my kids have requested one now,

so I guess we'd better find some more soda boxes!

These would also make cute back to school teacher gifts!

If you don't want to use soda boxes,

you could also upcycle some cereal boxes, like THESE.

**a little tip** the pencils that I bought were too long for my cases.

This could be solved simply by lengthening the box as you assemble it,

or just sharpen your pencils before putting in your case.

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I've got a daughter who is a pencil/crayon/marker/pen hoarder. Seriously. ( can't imagine where she gets that from :) I thought that if I made her a fun case for her pencils, maybe she'll use them. We shall see. These cute pencil cases were made using a 12-pack Fanta soda box.

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These wrist parakeets are super simple to make, require very few art supplies, and...are amazingly adorable, yes? They're also tough. Thanks to their sturdy pipe cleaner tethers, these parakeets really stay attached, even on the most active ornithologist. This project can also be modified to be an owl!

You'll need:

If you want to get a little fancier, you'll need:

We'll make the parakeet's body first, and then proceed to perching it on your wrist. Here's what a completed bird body looks like:

Wrap construction paper around the entire toilet paper tube. Then wrap a smaller strip of construction paper around the top - this will become your bird's head. Yet another piece of construction paper becomes your bird's colorful chest (it looks best if you round the top of the chest).

Draw eyes and eyebrows on the dot stickers, then stick them on the bird's head. Tape (or glue) a small triangle of construction paper to the head for a beak. You can also use a triangle of self-adhesive foam for the beak (it gives the beak some really nice texture). Tape (or hot glue) 2 small feathers on the side for wing, and 1 small feather on top for the crest. The body is done!

To make the tail, gather 3 duck quills together, fan them out slightly, and wrap scotch tape around the points of the quills (if you don't want to purchase duck quills for the tail, just use more small feathers). Tape the tail to the back of the bird.

If you want to get a little fancier, you can wrap scotch tape around the points of the quills, then cover the scotch tape with color masking tape and hot glue it to the bird's body.

The final step is to tether the bird to your wrist! Punch holes in both sides of the toilet paper tube. Don't punch the holes in the center of the tube. Punch them slightly more toward the front of the bird. The reason is this - with the tail in place, the bird actually sits slightly askew on your wrist. It needs to be tethered slightly towards the front in order to sit correctly on your wrist. When in doubt, just plunk the tube on your wrist and you'll see where the holes need to go.

Thread a pipe cleaner through the holes, sit the bird on your wrist, and twist the pipe cleaner under your wrist to secure the bird in place! Finito!

I mentioned this in the intro, but this project can also be modified to be an owl. You can go with the version below, or you can see our slightly-more-simplified version here.

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These wrist parakeets are super simple to make, require very few art supplies, and...are amazingly adorable, yes? They're also tough. Thanks to their sturdy pipe cleaner tethers, these parakeets really stay attached, even on the most active ornithologist. This project can also be modified to be an owl!

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This egg carton turtle is both easy and fun to make - and seriously... an egg box does not get much cuter than this!!

The egg boxes come from our "magic box," which is still our most used craft supply box...

Empty Egg boxes

Green Cardboard - I used two shades... bright green and a slightly darker green

Pom Poms - I used green ones
Googly Eyes
How did we make our Egg Carton Turtles?

First I cut the egg boxes into individual 'shells'

Then I added 3 shades of green paint to a pallet and we got painting...

I Used 3 shades as we were trying to create a somewhat mottled effect on the shells...

I cut out the underside - an older child can do this themselves.

Here is a template for you to download! CLICK HERE...

I made sure that there are 2 sizes - as egg box sizes do vary!

A turtle has 2 legs and 2 arms - just like a tortoise - only a turtles arms and legs are shaped like paddles to help them swim!

They also have a little pointy tail at the back.

This picture below is of a Loggerhead Sea Turtle (photo credit David Mark) - it shows you the paddle like arms and legs...

Then we stuck a shell onto each body and added a pom pom head with small googly eyes!

Very simple to do - and so cute!

We left a day between the egg box painting and the assembly - to let the paint dry!

And here they are: our Egg Carton Turtles!

This is such a good idea to do when learning about the sea or reptiles!

It is also a FANTASTIC way to start talking about nature conservation - and about protecting the beaches - and no drive areas where the turtles lay their eggs.

Watching turtles hatch and head for the sea is really special - and something you should really try and see in your life! This is such a cute video...

These guys are super cute!

Egg boxes are never going to look the same again!!

Let us know how you get on with this!

We would love to see your turtles! Feel free to pop them onto our Facebook Wall!

Here is a link to 30+ Egg Carton Crafts for Children!

And here are some FANTASTIC ideas from our Blogger Friends, we love these!...

TP Roll Flower Craft - how clever is this idea!!

from Teach Me Mommy

Bubble Wrap Gold Fish - as if we needed another reason to LOVE bubble wrap!

from Crafty Kids at Home

Yoghurt Pot Fish Bowl - great idea to include in an under the sea craft!

from Play and Learn Everyday

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This egg carton turtle is both easy and fun to make - and seriously... an egg box does not get much cuter than this!! The egg boxes come from our "magic box," which is still our most used craft supply box... Empty Egg boxes Green Cardboard - I used two shades...

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Good morning! We have been on spring break all week! Eek! So fun! I love doing fun things with my kiddos. Annnnd I really love when we have more time to be together & try out new things like these easy Can Stilts. These were a hit with my kiddos, & I know your kiddos would love to make their own pair, too. So keep reading to see how easy these are to put together. So let's get started! :)

DecoArt Multi-surface Paint
large tin can (washed & dried)
foam paint brushes
rope
scissors
metal bottle opener

First, paint your cans a fun color. I love this multi-surface paint from DecoArt. You can literally paint anything with it, & it has great coverage. You can find out all about this amazing paint { HERE}. You can buy it at just about any craft store, too.

Next, we used a round foam brush to stencil polka dots all over the cans.

Let it all dry. Then punch two holes on either side of the cans with a bottle opener.

Then thread the rope through the holes & tie with a square knot.

TIP: I used my kiddo to measure how long to cut my ropes.

Now it's time for some fun! Stilt races would be a super fun game to play!
DIY Travel Bag Coffee Filter Butterflies Tie Dye Balloon Flip Flops 15 Fun Ideas for Your Kids
Here are some more of my favorite kid crafts. Check them out!

Let me know what fun things your kiddos are up to this spring!
I know my kiddos would love to try new things. :)

Thank you so much stopping by my blog!
If this is your first time visiting I'd love to keep in touch.

Don't miss a post! Subscribe by email or bloglovin'.

This post was created for Ginger Snap Crafts by Ginger Bowie.

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Good morning! We have been on spring break all week! Eek! So fun! I love doing fun things with my kiddos. Annnnd I really love when we have more time to be together & try out new things like these easy Can Stilts.

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These lovely planters are made from upcycled plastic bottles and containers of all kinds and this could make a perfect DIY project for this spring season with your kids. For your inspiration, you should first have a look at all those plastic containers around the house, each one could be recycled in a different character. To make them, use spray paint made for plastics, acrylic paints, hot glue, a craft knife, pom poms, and all the other decorative craft you could find. The selection of the plants to grow in these planters will also be part of the creative process. Don't forget to cut drain holes and add a layer of small rocks or pebbles in the bottom of the container to aid in drainage. That's a neat recycled art project!

More information and inspiration at ehow.

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Lovely Planters for Kids from Upcycled Plastic Bottles * 1001 Gardens

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These lovely planters are made from upcycled plastic bottles and containers of all kinds and this could make a perfect DIY project for this spring season with your kids. For your inspiration, you should first have a look at all those plastic containers around the house, each one could be recycled in a different character.

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Summer Crafting Fun With The Kids

Summer is fast approaching, and we are giddy with anticipation in our house. I can't wait to spend some extended hours outside with my daughter, after the endless cold, wind and rainy this spring, and with that in mind am making lists of fun diy garden games and Summer Crafts to keep us both entertained.

Summer wouldn't be summer without colorful pinwheels spinning in the breeze so to get us Summer Fit we've started making Giant Color Popping Paper Pinwheels, ready to plant in the flower beds as soon as Sammy Sunshine decides to visit and stay awhile! and yes Sammy we want you to stay for a long while!

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The essence of these color popping pinwheels is the strong color contrast. Onto colorful craft paper we glued some contrasting wrapping paper but you have a few options when making yours
- Invite your kids to paint, stamp, draw on the craft paper to add a gorgeous individual art patterns to each pinwheel
- Layer rows of washi tape or duct tape on the craft paper to add your contrast side
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begin by downloading the pinwheel cutting template here

Reduce or enlarge the template for a variety of pinwheel sizes, palm size or giant.... you decide.

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First glue your contrast paper onto your craft paper, and with a scissors or craft knife use the cutting template to cut out your pinwheel square.

Cut diagonal lines in from each corner as shown (don't worry the guidelines for the length of line are on the template)

Next punch every second corner, as shown, and another hole in the centre of the pinwheel.

And then start folding in the corners.

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I put a drop of glue under each corner to hold the corners together while we worked on the handle - Miss7 didn't have the patience to stay holding!!
Make sure the holes are all lined up.

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now it's time to make the stick and spinning mechanism....

For small palm size pinwheels it's super easy - just bend a pin and stick it in to the top of a pencil eraser!! so cool!

For the giant ones I used a wooden rod, eraser, pin and button.

And it's as easy as this - chop a cube off the eraser, dig out a little hole in the eraser and push in the stick.

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Thread the pin through the pinwheel holes, I used a button in front for two reasons, one because it was a cute one, and two the button would prevent the pin head making it's way back through the holes.

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When the pin feeds back through the holes it simply continues through the eraser cube and depending on how long the pin is you might need to bend it back through the eraser to protect little hands from any pointy bits!

Happy crafting for summer
Michelle xx

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Quick 'n Easy Giant Paper Pinwheels {Free Template}

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Summer is fast approaching, and we are giddy with anticipation in our house. I can't wait to spend some extended hours outside with my daughter, after the endless cold, wind and rainy this spring, and with that in mind am making lists of fun diy garden games and Summer Crafts to keep us both entertained.

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If you were a child of the 80s or 90s, you probably remember putting beads on safety pins and attaching them to your Jansport backpack for a little extra flair. Today, we're taking the beaded safety pin to a seriously stylish level. All you need are safety pins, beads, and elastic string!
Materials
- safety pins of various sizes

- beads

- elastic string

- chain

First up, the Safety Pin Ring.

For this one, we used those itty bitty gold safety pins often found in sewing kits.

Place beads on half of the pins you're using. When you string, place each beaded pin on the elastic, then follow with a non-beaded pin in the opposite position (upside down) from the beaded pin.

Continue and then secure by tying the elastic at each end.

Hard to believe that safety pins can look so chic!

Next, the Cuff.

You can use just about any size safety pin for this. We used a standard 1 1/2 inch size.

The process for this is the same as the ring, but you'll probably want to lay things out and organize by color. For every beaded pin, string on a non-beaded pin until you're done.

Secure by tying the elastic at the ends, and you're done!

Looks pretty darn good with a pair of polka dot pants, don't you think? ;)

Finally, the Necklace!

For this one, you'll use a variety of sizes to create a chic design. We limited our color palette to blue and silver to keep things a little more simple.

Bead your pins and string onto the elastic with non-beaded pins in between, like with the other projects. Attach chain on each side, add clasps, and that's it.

This little how-to is a great way to create custom colored jewelry for an upcoming party or event, and you can easily find all the supplies at your local craft store, on Amazon, or even at the pharmacy!

Have you tried your hand at using safety pins in unconventional ways? Any other summer camp throwbacks that we can easily turn chic? Talk to us in the comments below or come find us on Twitter.

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How to Create Beaded Baubles with Safety Pins

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If you were a child of the 80s or 90s, you probably remember putting beads on safety pins and attaching them to your Jansport backpack for a little extra flair. Today, we're taking the beaded safety pin to a seriously stylish level. All you need are safety pins, beads, and elastic string!

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Making a folded paper bracelet is a fun way to keep the kids busy and to use up old paintings. Plus, they look so pretty!

We love our watercolour paint sets. I mean, we really love them.

I don't think a week ever goes by when someone doesn't get out the watercolours for a little painting. One of the big kids got them out on the weekend, and before long all four kids were busy filling the paper with colour.

With so much painting, there is always a pile of finished artwork in my study and recently I remembered a fun way to use it. Cleaning out some paperwork I came across an ancient photocopied sheet of instructions for making folded paper bracelets. I remember making these as a teenager, and I knew my kids would love to transform their paintings into wearable art so we got out the pile of paintings got to work!

How to Make a Folded Paper Bracelet

To make a folded paper bracelet you need 16-22 strips of paper. The strips of paper need to be 12cms x 3cms, bigger or smaller is fine, as long as the size ratio is 1:4.

We worked on our maths skills, counting by threes to rule up the paper and then I cut the strips with a paper cutter to making lots of strips quickly and easily.

For each bracelet you'll need between 16 and 22 strips, depending on how big a bracelet you want to make. We used 18 strips to make one big enough to fit over my ten year old's hand.
Now that you have your paper strips, follow the instructions below to fold them and construct the bracelet.
Begin by folding your strips into the basic shape, my six year old was good at this process.

Now you need to learn the basic construction technique. This is a little tricky but with help and supervision my girls (aged ten) were able to master the process after some learning time.

Once you've got the hang of it, keep adding strips. I suggest making the loop part of each strip a little on the large size when working with kids, it will look a little less neat and symmetrical when finished but it makes it much easier for kids to insert the next strip.

Keep adding strips...

Eventually you will have a long enough chain to make a bracelet. Remember it needs to fit over your hand when it is done, so don't make it too small!

Our folded paper bracelets turned out even better than I remembered! The colours of the kid's paintings looked fabulous all folded together.

They would make an unusual and one of a kind gift don't you think!? Perfect for Mother's Day or an activity at a tween party?

We are working on folding a really big one to make a crown!

What do you do with your kid's artwork?

We used our favourite watercolour paints and water soluble crayons to make these paintings. My kids love watercolour paints because there are lots of colour options, and I love them because they are quick and easy to set up and not super messy. One of our all time favourite sets is the fluro tempera blocks, the colours are so awesome!

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Making a folded paper bracelet is a fun way to keep the kids busy and to use up old paintings. Plus, they look so pretty! We love our watercolour paint sets. I mean, we really love them. I don't think a week ever goes by when someone doesn't get out the watercolours for a little painting.

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May Day is right around the corner and every year, we make DIY May Day baskets for our friends, family and neighbors. This year (like last year), we are making our May Day baskets out of soup cans. This is a great upcycling project for the kids. Not only are you using something from your recycling bin, but you can use up all the craft scraps you have lying around.
(Affiliate links are used in this post. Find my full disclosure HERE .)
Supplies Used To Make DIY May Day Baskets:

Empty Soup Cans

Fabric And Paper Flowers

Canvas Fabric

Some other supplies you could use are: yarn, stickers, bows, construction paper, markers.

To start, I drilled two holes in the tops of each soup can to string twine through to make the handles for the DIY May Day Baskets.

Then, we measured and cut the scrapbook paper to fit the cans.

We used hot glue to secure the paper on the can.

From there, we all got creative and just started added different supplies to the baskets.

Some had burlap......

.... others had ribbon and buttons.

I loved the ones that we added raffia to.

Projects like these are so much fun for the kids and me. I get to use up excess craft supplies, the kids get to create til their hearts' content and we are saving the environment by using items from our recycling bin. The best part is that we get to make someone's day at the end of it when we drop them off at their doorstep.

Once all of the DIY May Day Baskets were created, we filled them with trinkets and treats.

May Day is a great day to spread cheer and it doesn't have to be hard or cost a lot of money to do it.

Search around your recycling bin and craft supplies to see what you can come up with.

PIN THIS POST!

If you liked this DIY May Day Baskets post, make sure to check out these other simple crafts:
Wood Vintage Toolbox Turned Craft Storage

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May Day is right around the corner and every year, we make DIY May Day baskets for our friends, family and neighbors. This year (like last year), we are making our May Day baskets out of soup cans. This is a great upcycling project for the kids.

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Ideas for upcycling before you are recycling. 34 recycled kids crafts & activities!

I don't think its possible to be a hands on mom without saving anything and everything imaginable. Ever since I started doing crafts and activities with Henry, we've been hoarding recyclables. Henry actually has his own 'recycling center' now.

So, what is worth saving? What can be upcycled and put to good use for the kids?

I've come up with a list of 34 items to reuse that tend to be in your recycling bin. Try setting them aside before taking them out to be recycled.

MORE ACTIVITIES YOU MIGHT LIKE

What can this recyclable become? What can it be upcycled into?

A collection of 34 Recycled Kids Crafts and Activities to reuse what you already have, instead of buying something new.

Believe me though, its not just limited to these! I'm collecting more and more ways to upcycle your recyclables on Pinterest. Its never ending.

And there's so much to do with an assortment of recyclables.

Don't forget my Pinterest Board with more ways to upcycle your recyclables!

What's your favorite ideas for recycled kids crafts or activities?

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34 Recycled Kids Crafts & Activities - hands on : as we grow

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Ideas for upcycling before you are recycling. 34 recycled kids crafts & activities! I don't think its possible to be a hands on mom without saving anything and everything imaginable. Ever since I started doing crafts and activities with Henry, we've been hoarding recyclables. Henry actually has his own 'recycling center' now.

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