Showing posts with label toys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toys. Show all posts

Friday, June 12, 2015

Let's Make Easy and Colorful Magnetic Sculptures!

Magnets are such fun things to explore!  For me, there's nothing cooler than feeling that invisible magnetic force pull or push two items together.  Today we're exploring magnetism and the connection between art and science with this really easy Magnetic Sculpture Activity!  

Kids STEAM Activity:   Making Magnetic Sculptures!




Kids STEAM activity- make magnetic sculptures from everyday items and toys!
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Wednesday, June 3, 2015

No-Sew Cloth Super Hero dolls!

Lately, my preschooler has really gotten into super heroes.   I find this pretty funny because we never watch any super hero shows on tv... yet somehow he knows characters like Batman, Wolvarine, Super Man, and Spiderman!  (Weird, right?)  So today I wanted to share this really easy, no-sew cloth super hero doll tutorial.  This quick and simple craft doesn't need any special items and you can make your very own dolls within minutes!

And if your kid loves super heroes too.... be sure to check out my other Super Hero Crafts!

No-sew Cloth Super Hero Dolls!

Easy DIY Kids Toy- Make some super hero cloth dolls... out of t-shirts! No sewing required!
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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!


Thursday, April 16, 2015

Build a Funicular Train

Did you know there were such things as funicular trains?  I learned about them from a train book that my son and I read together.  Apparently these trains are used to move people up and down steep cliffs. Two cars are attached via a cable and one car moves up the mountain as another moves down.  Now of course, you know me.... I just had to try making a funicular train for our lego minifigures.... especially after we enjoyed playing with our cardboard conveyor belt so much!

Let's Build a Funicular Train!


how to build a funicular train with kids- great transportation craft and activity for train lovers!


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!
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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
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Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Rock Tic-Tac-Toe Game

Ah, oil pastels.  After seeing that they could be used to decorate pumpkins, I thought they would be perfect for creating a cute and colorful rock tic-tac-toe game.

Rock Tic-Tac-Toe Game

rock tic-tac-toe game


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
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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!


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!



Monday, February 9, 2015

DIY Bat Signal!

Does your child love superheros?  We've officially entered the superhero phase!  Yay!  Chuck was Super Man for Halloween.  Now he constantly requests to wear his favorite Batman shirt... with a clip on tie (go figure) and requests superhero books from the library.  I really wanted to encourage his imagination with a fun superhero craft, but wasn't sure what I could easily (and cheaply) make.

Awhile back I made him a no-sew Superhero cape that he still wears around the house.  But after remembering that I had a bunch of red contact paper lying around, I realized that I could also make him a DIY Bat Signal too!

DIY Bat Signal!  Ka pow!


DIY Bat Signal for kids using their flashlight
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Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Straw Rockets

My preschooler still absolutely LOVES rockets and space shuttles.  Over the years, we've made a lot of  awesome transportation crafts, but I was excited to post  these straw rockets today because they were easy to make (and FREE)!

Easy Straw Rockets

Straw Rockets- Easy Kids space activity!
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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!
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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!)  



Thursday, January 8, 2015

18 Transportation Crafts that "Go!"

Do you have a plane, train, helicopter, truck, boat, car, or spaceship loving kid?  While looking through the archives, I realized that we've done quite a few transportation-related crafts here.  18 to be specific!  (Whoa.  Kinda cray-cray and kinda cool...)  So I thought it would be fun to take a walk down memory lane and share this compilation of all 18 crafts that "go" here!

18 Awesome Transportation Related Crafts!


18 AWESOME Transportation crafts- planes, trains, buses, bikes, space shuttles, kites, trucks


Ok.  I gotta admit something to you.  I was originally going to call this post, "Crafts for Boys" (that's why it's in the permalink) but then totally decided against that name.  Girls can like cars, trains, planes, boats, trucks, and bikes too! Right?  Right.  Ack!  Sometimes it's so easy to fall into gender stereotyping.  (Do you ever feel the same way?)   So anyway, that's why I changed the name to Transportation crafts.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Rubber Glove Finger Puppets

Ever find yourself wanting to do a quick craft with the kids that's different, easy to set up, and encourages creativity?

I think about that question all the time when I think up ideas for kids' crafts.  I know that parents and teachers want to keep their kids entertained, but they also want them to use their minds too.   And that's why I love these rubber glove finger puppets.  You just need 3 materials and bam!  Now you have instant mini canvases for creativity and endless opportunities for storytelling and fun.

Rubber Glove Finger Puppets


rubber glove finger puppets


To make these gloves, check out my tutorial for rubber glove fingers today on MollyMoo!

Happy making friends!


Let's keep in Contact!

Like this idea?  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.)

  

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Fluttering Butterfly Craft!

Hello friends!  Today I wanted to share this really neat fluttering butterfly craft that I recently did with Chuck.  We cut out, painted, and folded butterflies that flutter when you move them!  (We also made some lovely butterfly notebooks too!)  The whole process entertained Chuck for quite awhile, so I thought other kids might like it too!



                                             Fluttering Butterfly Craft


kids craft- make butterflies that actually flutter!

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I know it's winter, and most people are doing winter crafts with their kids, but honestly, I just haven't had the heart to do so.  Our weather is right now in the 60s which is totally bizarre to me.  I'm used to cold, wet, or snowy winters.... not cool, sunny ones.  It's very weird ... but I'm thankful for the sun and warmth!

This butterfly craft was inspired by our local butterfly grove.  Nearby our home is a plot of land where monarch butterflies migrate to during the winter.   How neat is that?  Last week we hiked up to the butterfly grove and saw thousands of butterflies, clumped together in tree branches.  It was a pretty amazing sight.  (And I WISH I could have taken photos of them, but they were just too high up to get a decent shot.)  One of the other children at the park found a dead butterfly on the ground and showed everyone.  Chuck really wanted to find one of his own, but we never did.  So I came up with this craft so that he could have his very own fluttering butterfly.

Looking for kids' butterfly books?

This would definitely be a great craft to go along with any of these great butterfly books!

Friday, December 26, 2014

Make a set of Shark Teeth!

Lately Chuck's wanted to make cardboard toys that move and do things!  That's fine with me, because I really enjoyed making moveable snakesrocket launcherspaper slingshots, and climbing cardboard circus men with him.  Currently he's OBSESSED with sharks.  So I came up with this quick and easy egg carton shark craft.

  Make a set of Sharp Shark* Teeth!

(*or alligator... or crocodile... or dinosaur... etc.. etc..)
make shark, dinosaur, alligator, or crocodile teeth from an egg carton
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Thursday, December 18, 2014

DIY Toy Car Ornaments

We have a TON of toy cars, trains, and trucks over here.  (Chuck's kinda got a thing for transportation toys.)  And lots of them have open windows.  I was staring at them the other day and realized... wouldn't they make fun (and cheap) ornaments?

DIY Car Ornaments


Easy DIY toy Car Ornaments- Turn toy cars into ornaments



Thursday, November 6, 2014

Moveable Cardboard Snake Craft

Let the snake crafts continue!  Yesterday I shared this easy twisty snake sculpture.  Today I wanted to show how we made this cardboard toilet roll snake... that actually moves!

Moveable Toilet Roll Snake!

Moveable Cardboard Toilet Roll Snake Craft
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(By the way, according to Chuck this snake is very poisonous.  I can vouch for that.  It's bitten me and I've "died" quite a few times!)