Showing posts with label cardboard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cardboard. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

DIY Easy, Breezy Cardboard Rainbow Mobile (Template included)

Rainbows have been on my mind a lot lately. Maybe it has to do with landmark Supreme court ruling?  Or maybe it's just because I've been kinda sick and they make me feel happy.  Hrmm... probably a bit of both reasons, I suspect.  Here on the blog, I've shared a full spectrum of rainbow crafts.  They're colorful, fun, and always put a smile on people's faces.  Today I'm sharing this easy, breezy cardboard rainbow mobile that I whipped up a couple of nights ago.

I really love how it moves in the air.

Cardboard Rainbow Mobile    

How to make an easy, breezy, cardboard rainbow mobile- Super pretty and fun art project to make with kids of all ages!

This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Make a Pirate Toilet Roll Craft With Your Mateys!

Toilet roll crafts, ah we've done so many toilet roll crafts over the years.  They're simple, fun, and there are oh so many options!  For last month's MollyMoo Contribution, I made these adorable cardboard roll mermaid and hula girls.  This month I'm mixing it up... with a cute Pirate and Parrot Toilet Roll Pair.  Arrrgh!  So head on over to MollyMoo's, me hearties, and you'll find the full tutorial there!

Toilet Roll Pirate and Parrot

Easy Toilet Roll Pirate and Parrot craft!

Let's keep in Contact!

You can always find  fun ideas on my Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts!  (Or subscribe to my email mailing list by filling out the pink bar at the top of your screen.)

Happy making, friends!

Monday, June 1, 2015

3 Totoro Crafts

Have you seen the movie Totoro?  We recently checked it out from the library and have already watched it a dozen times!  Totoro is a large, furry forest spirit who helps two sisters adjust to their new home.  My  preschool son loves it because there are no bad guys, the sisters have a really sweet relationship, and Totoro is extremely cute.  So today I'm  sharing 3 Totoro crafts in honor of this great Miyazaki anime!


3 Easy Totoro Kids Crafts  

3 Easy Totoro Crafts to make with kids- paper plate purse, lacing card, and toilet paper roll Totoros
This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support!

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Pizza Box Car Garage

The next time you get some take-out pizza, ask them for an extra clean pizza box.  Why?  So you and the kids can make a pizza box car garage, of course!

Recycled Pizza Box Car Garage

Recycled pizza box car garage- Super fun toy to make with or for car-loving kids!


Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Toilet Roll Mermaid and Hula Girl

We've done dozens of toilet paper roll crafts over here, but this one seriously takes the cake for cutest yet.  Tada!

Toilet Roll Mermaid and her best gal pal, Hula Girl

toilet roll mermaid and hula girl craft- super fun summer crafts for kids

You can check out the full tutorial for these two super cute toilet roll crafts over at MollyMoo Crafts!


Let's Keep In Contact!


You can always find  fun ideas on my Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts!  (Or subscribe to my email mailing list by filling out the pink bar at the top of your screen.)

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Egg Carton Flower Pins

I love seeing kids' homemade gifts.  Don't you?  There's something beautiful about receiving a gift made by tiny hands.  Today several kid-craft loving bloggers and I took on an egg carton craft challenge.  We came up with different ways to craft with  egg cartons.  Since Mother's day is coming up next month, I thought it would be great to make some egg carton flower pins!  Like our styrofoam mosaic tile picture frames, this craft turns "junk" into lovely gifted treasures.

Egg Carton Flower Pins


egg carton flower pins for mother's day

This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support!

Thursday, April 2, 2015

How to make a Conveyor Belt

Does your child like machines?  Then you'll love today's quick craft.  It's a super simple milk carton conveyor belt!

Make a Conveyor Belt

how to make a diy conveyor belt with kids!
This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support!

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Bunny Toilet Roll Napkin Rings

Does your family have fancy Easter dinners?  That was never really the tradition in my family.  Once I got married, we started attending hubby's aunt's Easter meals.  Boy, oh boy- they were really, really special.  We dined with fancy cloth napkins, silverware, and china.  And we gorged ourselves on yummy ham, savory side dishes, and a large sampling of desserts.  (Wow.  I can't believe I'm actually drooling just thinking about that meal.)

Try as I may, I don't think I'll ever achieve that kind of amazing Martha Stewart-esque domestic achievement.  Cooking for large groups of people freaks me out.  But if we were to ever host a large Easter meal, it'd probably involve paper plates, plastic cutlery, paper napkins, and maybe these bunny toilet roll napkin rings.   (You know, to fancy the meal up just a tad bit.)

Bunny Toilet Roll Napkin Rings

Turn toilet rolls into napkin bunny rings- fun Easter craft!


Friday, March 6, 2015

10 Ocean Crafts and Activities

This week's Creative Preschool Collaborator's theme is Oceans and Fish!  I was excited to tackle the theme because Chuck LOVES going to the beach and playing in the ocean.   So keep reading for some ocean themed storybook ideas, 10 preschool ocean crafts/activities, AND 4 other kid blogger's creative Ocean themed activities!

10 Ocean Crafts and Activties

10 Ocean themed Activities for Preschool kids and a list of ocean-themed storybook ideas
This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support!

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Cardboard Airport Runway

Ever since I saw Paging Fun Mom's pizza box airport, I knew I had to make one for Chuck.   I mean, my goodness, what a neat way to use Christmas lights!  So here's my version of a Cardboard Airport Runway.

Cardboard Airport Runway

Make your own cardboard runway for airplanes
This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support!


I love this craft because it's made from an old box and some Christmas lights.  Plus, we made it together as a family. Chuck and his dad drilled the holes together and I painted the box with him.  (And I think it looks just as nice as any of these airplane runway toys.  Don't you?)

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Shark Binoculars

We are in LOVE with shark crafts over here.   Love, love, love them.

So when I was sent a bunch of free craft materials from Horizon Group awhile back, I knew what we had to use them to make.... Shark toilet roll binoculars!

Toilet Roll Shark Binoculars 


Here's a fun take on toilet roll binoculars- turn them into sharks and add some lovely decorative beads!

Aren't they adorable?  They are my favorite shark-themed craft so far!


Wednesday, February 25, 2015

St. Patrick's Day Pot of Gold Craft

Looking for a fun St. Patrick's Day Craft?  How about making a rainbow and pot of gold with your little ones?

St. Patrick's Day Pot of Gold Craft

st patrick's day craft- Make a Pot of Gold and Rainbow!

You can check out how I made this cute  St. Patrick's Day Pot of Gold Craft on MollyMoo!


Looking for other St. Patrick's Day crafts?

Then check out these links below!




Let's keep in Contact!

Like kids crafts and activities?  Then you'll definitely want to check out this awesome craft ebook!
   
And, you can always find  fun ideas on my Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts!  (Or subscribe to my email mailing list by filling out the pink bar at the top of your screen.)

Happy making, friends!

Monday, February 23, 2015

Build Your Own Collapsible Cardboard Tent

What happens with camping meets crafting?  I'd like to imagine something like this....

Collapsible Cardboard Tent  

DIY Collapsible Cardboard Tent Craft


Can you tell that I'm not a camper at all?  I've gone 3 times in my life.  It rained on us 2 times and our tent got soaked!  Blech.  Now I'm a bit leery of sleeping outside.  But, I still really love the idea of a tent for kids.  They can be secret forts, comfy book nooks, or special magical hideaways.  

To see how I made this lovely tent from recycled materials, check out my tutorial for a collapsible cardboard tent on Handmade Charlotte!

As a side note- Aren't giant cardboard boxes great? We still have a ton left from our move.  So far I've transformed them into  


Let's keep in Contact!

Like kids crafts and activities?  Then you'll definitely want to check out this awesome craft ebook!
   
And, you can always find  fun ideas on my Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts!  (Or subscribe to my email mailing list by filling out the pink bar at the top of your screen.)

Happy imagining, friends!



Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Piranha Plant Valentine Card box

Note: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Recently Plaid Crafts sent samples of craft paint and Mod Podge to a couple of craft bloggers.  They challenged us to create funky, fun, and unique Valentine Card Boxes.  Paint?  Mod Podge?  Fun Card Boxes?  Oh yeah.  You can bet that I was all over this challenge to celebrate Valentine's Day with Plaid Crafts!

Ok.  So it's been a zillion years awhile since I've been in school.  I really wanted to make a box inspired by my own childhood, so I went old school and made a Piranha Plant Valentine Card Box.  (I think my younger self would have totally dug it.)

Piranha Plant Valentine Card Box

DIY Piranha Plant Valentine Card Box


Special promotion code from Plaid:
Before I forget, Plaid Craft is offering a special coupon promo code.  If you use the discount code LOVE2015, you'll receive $10 off orders over $35, plus free shipping*.  You can save on tons of Plaid brands like Apple Barrel, Mod Podge, Martha Stewart Crafts, and more.  The code is valid through 3/31/2015 and can only be used once.  Just visit their site for more details!  *Free shipping is not available in areas where ground shipping is not offered. 

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Super Easy Cardboard Biplanes

The plane obsession continues over here!  Just when you think we're done with transportation crafts... oh no... we've got another one up our sleeve.

Awhile back Chuck and I made this toilet roll biplane.  But sadly, that plane broke.  Chuck still loves biplanes, so I came up with this super easy practically unbreakable cardboard biplane craft for him to make and then fly.

Super Easy Cardboard Biplane Craft

Super easy cardboard and popsicle stick biplanes
This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support!


Sunday, February 1, 2015

Chinese New Year Dragon Puppet

Chinese New Year is coming soon!  We've been so engrossed in Valentine's day crafts lately, that I almost forgot about the holiday.  But today we're rectifying that mistake.  Last year we made these 2 really easy dragon puppets.  (Definitely check them out because they were super cute and super easy.  Plus, I included free printable templates!)

This year we're keeping with the dragon theme and making this Chinese New Year Dragon Puppet from recycled cardboard!  It's an upgraded version of last year's craft because you can actually move this dragon around!

Recycled Chinese New Year Dragon Puppet



recycled craft- Chinese New Year dragon
This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support!


Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Shark Valentine Card Box

Sometimes I wish I could be a kid again just to experience the magic of different holidays.  Do you ever feel that way?  As a child New Years seemed cooler, Christmas seemed more magical, and Valentine's Day was way more romantic.  Now that Chuck's getting older, I see him getting excited about holidays too.... and I LOVE it.

Here's a fun Valentine Card Box that I recently designed with Chuck in mind.  (He loooooves sharks.) Isn't it hilarious that the shark "eats" the Valentines?

Shark Valentine Card Box

Valentine Card- Shark Box!

You can find out how I made this Shark Valentine Card Box at MollyMooo Crafts!

And if you're looking for 3 other cute Valentines day crafts, check out the links below!



Let's keep in Contact!

You can always find other fun ideas on my Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts!  (Or subscribe to my email mailing list by filling out the pink bar at the top of your screen.)


Happy making friends!

Saturday, January 17, 2015

What's up? Happy Handmade- A Joint Craft eBook Adventure!

Hi everyone!  I don't usually post on Saturday but I'm posting today because I'm feeling super excited and super nervous about next week.  (Isn't it funny how those two feelings often seem to go together?)  

Around this time last year, I shared my now-not-so-secret dream of being a professional crafter.  Re-reading that post, I wish I could go back in time to hug my old-self, and tell her that I'm proud of her for taking a step in a new direction.

Throughout 2014, I took several steps towards making that dream a reality.  I pushed my super shy self to join a couple of really supportive kid blogger groups (like Kid Blogger NetworkRockin Art Moms , and the Creative Preschool Collaborators.) I dipped my toes into the super scary (and still, completely confusing) world of blog advertising and sponsorship.  And, I also got the opportunity to do some freelance craft work for wonderful sites like Handmade CharlotteMollyMoo Crafts, and DIY Candy.

You're probably wondering now- Leslie, was it worth it?  Are you raking in the big bucks?  Well, yes.  I'm glad that I took those initial steps.  And no, I'm definitely not making big bucks.  But, I do make some grocery money and I really appreciate the opportunities that come my way.

And that's what I wanted to share with you today- one of these opportunities.  (Sorry for the rambly intro, but I felt so nostalgic after re-reading my posts from 2014 that I had to say something first...)

I recently had the opportunity to join with 17 other kid-craft-loving moms to put together Happy Handmade- a beautiful, unique and fun ebook showcasing 115 pages of crafts to make with and for kids!  

Happy Handmade Kids Craft ebook!
   

I'll be sharing more about the ebook and how you can purchase it on the blog this Tuesday, January 20th.  But I just wanted to just write something about it today because there are just so many lovely and unique ideas inside.  And my heart feels like it's bursting open because I'm so proud of all the work that went into it.    


Ok.  That's all friends.  Thank you for stopping by and thank you for all of your support.


And before you go, here's a sneak peak at some of the crafts inside...
*Insert happy sigh here*

happy handmade joint craft ebook inside sneak peak



  Hope you have a wonderful rest of the weekend, friends!
   

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

DIY Toy Launcher!

With the nights still being quite long, we often find ourselves stuck inside twiddling our thumbs... and going kinda bonkers.  :)  So one day we took matters into our own hands, and our family worked together to tinker and turn a long, narrow box into a DIY Toy Launcher!

DIY Cardboard Toy Launcher


DIY toy launcher!  fun STEM activity to build and play with kids!
This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support!


It's really amazing how many moving types of toys you can make from with rubber bands!  The stretchiness of the rubber bands provides ample opportunities for fun STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) activities and crafts.  (For example, we've made this DIY Rocket Launcher, this DIY Paper Slingshot, and this Cardboard car... that uses potential and kinetic energy to MOVE using rubber bands!)  



Friday, January 9, 2015

The Snowy Day Shadow box

Howdy, friends!  Today the Creative Preschool Collaborators and I are sharing 5 fun Winter-themed preschool activities and crafts!  So be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post for other great ideas!

The Snowy Day Shadow Box  

The Snowy Day Shadow Box- fun kid's winter's craft
This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support.

Ezra Jack Keats' book, The Snowy Day, has always been a favorite of mine.   His illustrations are simple, charming, colorful, and graphic.  He really captures the magic of a winter snowfall.  Plus, I love that he supports multiculturalism and made his main character a young black boy.  So when I found out that this week's theme was Winter, I was excited to read this book with Chuck and combine it with a craft.