Showing posts with label toy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toy. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Build a Climbing Santa Paper Craft

Christmas is right around the corner. It's been raining CONSTANTLY here and we've been keeping busy with games, movies, and a lot of crafts. Today, I'm sharing a really fun Christmas craft. This climbing paper Santa toy is the perfect DIY STEM building craft to keep hands and minds busy. Preschool, elementary, and even middle school-aged children will enjoy designing their own Santa and then watching him climb up the chimney. Best part about this activity - I'll bet you have all the materials available for an crafty afternoon of fun.

How to Build an Easy Climbing Paper Santa with Kids

how to make a DIY climbing Santa Paper STEM craft with preschool elementary middle-school aged kids for easy STEM-filled Christmas afternoon fun


Thursday, March 19, 2020

How to Make Clapper Trapper Toys

Hi friends! How are you doing? I have a small cold, my husband is working from home, and the boys are *thankfully* still happy to be home. If you're like me and looking for easy and affordable ways to encourage creativity and fun, then you're going to love today's post.

We're making cardboard clapper trappers! These nifty homemade toys transform potential energy into kinetic energy and by making loud snapping sounds when released.

How to Make Clapper Trapper Toys



This post contains Amazon affiliate links. This means I make a tiny bit of grocery money from each purchase made at no cost to you. Thank you for your support! For my full disclosure policy, click here.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

50+ Super Cute and Easy Origami and Kirigami Projects for Kids

Looking for origami projects that are unique, cute, and easy-to-fold? Or, do you feel the need to grab a pair of scissors and cut some beautiful kirigami designs?  If you're on the hunt for kid-friendly paper folding projects for spring, summer, fall, and winter, then I've got the ultimate post for you. Here's a growing list of over 50 super cute origami and kirigami ideas for kids!

50+ Easy and Kid-Friendly Origami and Kirigami Projects


50+ cute and Easy Origami and Kirigami Projects for Kids for all seasons!

This post contains affiliate links. This means I make a tiny bit of grocery money from each purchase made.  Thank you for your support!  For my full disclosure policy, click here.


Thursday, August 8, 2019

Balancing + Rocking Origami Tutorial

Did you enjoy playing with those balancing bird toys (aff link) as a kid? Well, if you did, today's origami project will be highly satisfying. We're balancing a piece of paper on our hands... using the power of origami! Fold and then place your creation on your finger. It will balance, rock back and forth, and even turn... without falling!

How to Fold Balancing, Rocking, and Turning Origami!


easy instructions showing how to fold balancing origami for kids

This post contains affiliate links.  This means I make a small bit of money for any purchases made through the links at no additional cost to you.  Thank you for your support.  For my full disclosure policy, click here.



Thursday, February 28, 2019

DIY Homemade Spirograph

Ever play with a spirograph toy?  We LOVE them and the other day I got to wondering.... could we make a DIY version using materials around our home?  Well, the answer is... YES!  Today I'm sharing this artsy- science craftIt got a big two-thumbs up from my eldest. He really loved trying it out with me.

Let's Make a DIY Homemade Spirograph Toy!


diy homemade spirograph toy- such a fun STEAM project for kids

This post contains affiliate links.  This means I make a small portion off of any purchases made through the links at no additional cost to you.  Thank you for the grocery money!  For my full disclosure policy, click here.


Thursday, July 26, 2018

Super Easy and Cute Turtle Glove Puppet

Who loves turtles?  Here's an easy way to turn an old glove into a cute turtle puppet!  My youngest son loves puppets of all sorts, so I whipped this turtle puppet up during naptime.  Here's how I made it!

Super Easy and Cute Turtle Puppet 


How to make a glove turtle puppet craft with kids!


Note:  This post contains affiliate links.  This means I make a small bit of change when you purchase items through the links.  Thank you for your support and the grocery money! For my full disclosure policy, click here.

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Play-dough and Cardboard Mazes

Hello friends!  I'm currently on the lookout for easy (and not too messy) ways to keep the kids entertained.  Today I'm sharing a fun preschool STEAM activity that kept both my boys entertained.  We've made outdoor rock mazesedible candy mazes, and Lego mazes.  Today we're keeping the theme going with these super easy play-dough mazes!

Let's Make Play-Dough Mazes!


How to Make Play Dough and Cardboard Mazes- Such a great STEAM activity for kids of all ages (preschool + elementary!)


Note:  This post contains affiliate links.  This means I make a small bit of change when you purchase items through the links.  Thank you for your support and the grocery money! For my full disclosure policy, click here.


Saturday, March 31, 2018

My 3 Cardboard Craft Books are finally here!

Ok.  The title says it all. So please buy my 3 awesome cardboard and duct tape craft books.  End of Post.

Just kidding! (Apparently I'm much too wordy for a 1 line post.)

So grab a coffee or tea and let's chat.

Last June I shared that a publishing company contacted me about writing a series of cardboard craft books. (If you missed that post, or you just want to see a photo of our cardboard-filled garage, click here.)

Well, it's been almost a year since that post and tada.... the books are here!

Don't they look good enough to eat? Num num num num num.

3 Cardboard Kids Craft Books- Such a great series of cardboard and duct tape craft books


This post contains affiliate links.  This means I make a teeny tiny bit of money from any purchases made through the Amazon links below.   Thank you for your support! For my full disclosure, click here.


Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Cardboard Ninja Throwing Stars

Ninja Crafts, I have found, can be quite polarizing.  Some parents think they're super fun and great for birthday parties.  Other parents are uncomfortable with kids using weapons like a sword, ninja stars, and such. 

While I don't condone violence, I do realize that making toys that shoot, launch, or fly (like this pom pom shootercar launcher, or this 1 sheet paper kite) are always crowd pleasers.   (Plus, they're a great opportunity to slip in some STEAM learning.)   So today I'm sharing this cute Ninja Throwing Star Craft.  It was super easy to make and kept us relatively sane on a stuck-at-home-going-to-pull-my-hair-out-cleaning-the-pulled-out-puzzles-for-the-eight-time rainy day.

How To Make Cardboard Ninja Throwing Stars

How to Make Cardboard Ninja Stars (that actually fly and throw like real toys!) - Such a fun craft for kids!


This post contains affiliate links.  This means I make a teeny tiny bit of money from any purchases made through the Amazon links below.   Thank you for your support! For my full disclosure, click here.


Sunday, June 18, 2017

10 Super Cute and Fun Clothespin Crafts

What do you think about clothespins?  Are they good craft materials or not?  I wasn't a big fan of them for a long while because I just couldn't think of what to do with them.  But after peeking around online I saw some pretty cute and fun clothespin crafts.  If you're like me and you have a ton of wooden clothespins lying around (from when you needed just needed a couple but they only sold packs of like 100 at the store) then hopefully this list of 10 cute and fun clothespin crafts will offer you some creative and crafty inspiration too!

10 adorable, super cute and fun clothespin crafts for kids




Monday, March 20, 2017

Easy Pom Pom Shooter (Made in less than 10 minutes!)

Lately my son has been obsessed with this DIY pom pom shooter.  Not that I blame him.  It's got a pretty sweet trigger.  Simply press down on the clothes pin.  The rubber band then releases, flinging pom poms into the air.

And you wanna know the best part about today's craft?  You can make one yourself in less than 10 minutes.  Cool right?  Wanna know how?  Keep reading to find out!

Easy Rubber Band Pom Pom Shooter Toy - Super Fun STEAM project to craft with kids.  You probably already own all the materials!

This post contains affiliate links.   Thank you for the grocery money! Feeding 2 growing kids is no small feat.  To read my full disclosure policy, click here.

Monday, January 9, 2017

DIY Wooden Block Dolls

We've had a box of wooden blocks gathering dust in our closet for a couple of weeks now.  Recently I tried breathing life into them with this fun craft.  We made our own Wooden block dolls!  Armed with stickers and Sharpies, we transformed plain jane blocks into cute characters.  Aren't they adorable?  I love how they're full of personality and charm.



DIY Wooden Block Dolls- Kids transform old blocks into cute characters with this fun art activity!
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support.  For my full disclosure policy, click here.

Monday, November 21, 2016

Cardboard Puzzle Collaborative Art Challenge

Looking for a fun collaborative art challenge to do with the kids?  Try making your own surprise puzzle!


how to do a fun cardboard face collaborative art project with the whole family- fun kid-friendly craft
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support!  For my full disclosure policy, click here.

Friday, September 30, 2016

Make Your Own Spotty Dotty Game!

These days our family is always rush, rush, rushing.  Ever feel like that?  Whenever we do get a moment to breathe I plan to make something with my eldest.... but then the baby ends up needing me for something too.  So lately projects have to be quick and fun.  Last weekend we created this simple DIY board game using materials that we already had around the house.  It was really neat putting it together and making up our own game!


Make Your Own Spotty Dotty Game- fun activity where kids make their own board game
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for the grocery money!  For my full disclosure policy, click here.


Tuesday, May 31, 2016

30+ Awesomely Unique and Fun Paper Plate Crafts for Kids!

It's no secret that I LOVE paper plate crafts!   Wanna make my heart sing?  Hand me a bunch of blank paper plates.  Seriously.  No joke. (Ok- Crafter confessional here- I've even snuck interesting paper plates out of parties before to craft with... shhhh... )

If you follow me on Instagram you'll see that I'm this week's #kidscrafts101 judge! Yup!  Every week there's a fun challenge to craft with a different material.  This week's theme is... drum roll please... paper plates! I know all of you and your kids have such creative ideas, so I'd love to see your ideas on IG!  (Just use the #kidscrafts101 so I can see your great ideas!)

And in honor of this week's theme, I thought I'd also share my absolute favorite paper plate crafts!

30+ Super Fun and Unique Paper Plate Crafts for Kids!


30+ Super Fun and Unique Paper plate Crafts for Kids
This post contains affiliate links.  This means I make a teeny tiny bit of money from any purchases made through the Amazon links below.   Thank you for your support! For my full disclosure, click here.


Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Artsy Origami Butterfly Stick Toys

These artsy origami butterfly stick toys are such a fun spring craft to make with the kiddos.  You get to paint and decorate... and then you get to fold... and then you get to play!

Artsy Origami Butterfly Stick Toys

Origami Butterfly Stick Toys- Decorate, fold, and play!
This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you so much for your support!  For my full disclosure policy, click here.


Friday, April 15, 2016

Playful and Easy Mathematics with Building Toys (And our favorite math books!)

Wanna know a secret?  In college I majored in Engineering and minored in math.  Eek.  Surprised?  Well...it's true!   I'm a bit rusty now... but I will always have a soft spot for mathematics. There was something about solving a difficult problem that was so thrilling and satisfying.

Now that my son is older, my husband (who is also a math lover) and I have been trying to help him to love math too.  With a new baby at home, I just haven't had time lately to plan math crafts and activities.  (Mucho props to all you homeschooling mamas out there... don't know how you do it!)   But, I've been giving myself a bit of slack and telling myself that it's ok.  We've still been learning math together... just in a more open-ended and playful way.  


Playful Math Learning with Kids

Playful and Easy Mathematics with Building Toys- Math fun for kids!

This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support!  For my full disclosure, click here.

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Make a Knight Sword and Shield

Do knights, dragons, and castles stir up your child’s imagination?  I love how my preschooler is a big fan of all these things.   It's so neat to see little kids wrapped up in imaginary play.  To further grow his interest, I made this super easy cardboard shield and sword set awhile back.  After 6 months of intense imagining, rescuing, and fighting, they're still intact.  So, I figured I'd share this cute tried-and-true craft with y'all today!

Make a Knight Sword and Shield

Make a cardboard knight sword and shield for kids imaginary play- Great easy costume idea
Note: This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support!  For my full disclosure policy, click here.

Friday, March 4, 2016

Design a Paper Glider (Free printable included!)

Does your child love the idea of flying?  Is he or she infatuated with planes, space shuttles, helicopters, or gliders?   Well, today's post is for you!  We're designing and making gliders!  (And bonus- I've even included a printable for you to do the activity too!)   This is a great STEAM Activity that allows kids to be creative, get artsy, and explore the idea of flight too!

Let's Design a Paper Glider!

This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support! For my full disclosure policy, click here

Monday, February 22, 2016

Foldable, Collapsible Cardboard Superhero Hideout! (And our favorite Superhero books!)

Whizz!  Bang!  Bam! Pow! Got a kid who loves super heroes?  Then today's superhero craft is for you.  Ka-blamo! We're making a collapsible cardboard superhero hideout!

Make a Foldable, Collapsible, Cardboard Superhero House!


DIY Foldable, Collapsible Cardboard Superhero hideout home (and our favorite superhero books)
This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support!  To read my full disclosure policy, click here.