Making Oatmeal Container Castles with Kids

Princesses, Princes, Kings, and Queens!  Calling all kids who love castles and fantasy!  Do you have an old oatmeal container lying around?  Well, don't throw it away!  Here's a super easy recycled craft that transforms oatmeal containers into castles!

What should you do with oatmeal containers?  

(Turn them into castles with kids!)

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Super Easy Origami Witch's Claws

Is it too early for Halloween themed crafts?  I don't think so!  These super cool origami witch claws are sure to get you and the kids in the Halloween spirit! 

How to Fold Super Easy Origami Witch Claws

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3D Optical Illusion Halloween Drawings

Have you seen those 3D hand drawings? They're amazing.  Awhile back I became really intrigued with them and made these 3D Optical Illusion Hearts using the same drawing technique.  Now that fall is in the air, I realized that this technique could be applied to Halloween too!  So here's a super easy Halloween activity to try out with your kids after school.  Doodle these 3D optical illusion pumpkins and kitties!

How to Draw 3D Optical Illusion Pumpkins and Cats

Haunted House and Ghost Paper Weaving

I love a good paper craft.  They're easy, quick to set up, and typically don't require too many materials.  Today's paper craft is a weaving one.  We're making a  Halloween-themed craft inspired by haunted houses and adorable ghosts.

Haunted House Paper Weaving

Can you explode a Watermelon?

How many rubber bands does it take to explode a watermelon? That's a question that I issue to you, dear reader.  And it's one that we recently tried tackling in today's fun science activity!   Now, I'm not a mom who enjoys making a mess... but when I saw people exploding watermelons with rubber bands, I just couldn't help myself.  We had to try the challenge too!  So, we celebrated the end of summer with this explosive science activity.   It was super duper fun and so, so easy to set up. 

Here's how you Explode a Watermelon with kids!

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Easy Stuffed Owl Craft for Kids

I'm not sure why, but when I think of fall crafts for kids, I think of owls.  My littlest guy has just entered that sweet age where he seems to enjoy drawing, cutting, and gluing.  It's fun for me because now we can start our own crafting journey together.  Our first craft of the school year was this adorable stuffed owl.  My little guy really loved making it and proudly proclaimed "I love it.  It is so cute" when he finished.

Let's Make Easy Stuffed Owls with Kids

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How to Build an Epic Cardboard City With Kids (And our 15+ Favorite Books to Inspire Building)

Looking for an easy and affordable group craft idea?  I recently hosted a cardboard craft event to celebrate the launch of my new cardboard craft book Epic Cardboard Adventures (aff link).  Kids and parents were invited to help me build a cardboard city.  If you're looking for an easy group crafting activity, I really recommend this one.  It's super easy to set up and both adults and kids had a lovely morning of crafty fun!

How to Build an Epic Cardboard City with Kids

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How To Make Bottle Cap Art

We've been collecting bottle caps for what seems like FOREVER. Why?  Well, to make some DIY Bottle Cap Art!  (We love making recycled crafts.)  This summer we finally finished the collection (woot woot!) and we made two pieces of cool bottle cap art (one for my son's room and one for downstairs.)  Here's how we made it!

DIY Bottle Cap Art

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Kids Paint Watercolor Geodes

Love staring at geodes?  Do agates make your heart pitter patter?  We recently attended a rock and crystal themed birthday party (cool idea, right?) and we had fun "painting" these super simple "watercolor" geodes for our birthday card. 

Wait a moment.  Why am I putting everything in quotations?  Well, keep reading to find out! (Spoiler alert- No watercolors were used!)

Let's "Paint*" Geode cards with Kids

(*No fancy watercolors needed for this fun kid craft!)

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Sparkly Marbled Shell Necklaces

Do your children love collecting shells at the beach?  Or do they simply adore mermaids? Or do they just enjoy adding colorful, glittery flair to every craft they touch?  Well, today's summer craft is for you!  Recently we had a playdate where we made these lovely glittery and marbled shell necklaces!  The kids (whose ages ranged from 2-7) all really had fun, so I had to share the craft here too.

How to Make Sparkly and Marbled Shell Necklaces

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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 

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How to Fold Origami Monster Paper Claws

Ever think about making paper claws? Do you have a kid who loves Wolverine, cats, or monsters?  Then today's origami craft is for you!  We're taking a short departure from my typical uber-cute and colorful origami projects for some more ferocious ones.  RAWR! As a mom of two boys, our home is constantly the sight of roughhousing.   Both had a blast pretend fighting* with these easy-to-fold claws.  So grab two sheets of paper and let's get folding!

 (*And let's be honest, real fighting too... ack!  Summertime shenanigans currently abound over here...)

How To Fold Origami Paper Claws in 10 Steps

(Super, super easy and only requires 2 sheets of notebook paper!)

Faux Henna Tattoos for Kids

Have you ever heard about Henna tattoos? These are beautiful temporary tattoos that people around the world apply during certain celebrations or rites of passage.  (You can read more about  Henna tattoos here.)  Years ago, I attended a Mehendi Ceremony and completely fell in love with all the beautiful designs that the artist applied to our hands. That was the first (and sadly the last time) I ever got Henna done.  Today's post is an attempt to recreate the beautiful details of the Henna tattoo... in a very kid-friendly way!

Kid-Friendly Faux Henna Tattoos

(Kids can draw them + they're completely washable too!)

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Super Easy Recycled, Homemade Sun catchers

If you're looking for a super easy kids craft that you can make from recycled materials... this is it! We've tried making several fun suncatcher crafts with the kids.  But today's suncatcher craft is by far the easiest one ever.  You can literally make dozens in minutes.  Intrigued?  Read on!

How to Make Super Easy, Homemade Recycled Suncatchers

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Quirky Origami Sumo Wrestlers

Awhile back I made these super cute Sumo Wrestler bowling pins from plastic bottles.  Maybe this makes me a crafting dork, but I still look back fondly at that craft.  They were just so quirky and fun!  Today I am once again inspired by Sumo Wrestlers.  But instead of making them out of plastic.... we're folding them out of ... origami paper!

Yes!  Let's get folding!

How to Fold Origami Sumo Wrestlers

How to Fold an Origami Captain Underpants

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Have you read the Captain Underpants Series?  We LOVE it! 

Well, if you're like us and you love origami crafts AND this great book series, this origami craft is for you!  Just simply follow my instructions for folding an origami robot and instead of decorating it like a robot, decorate it to look like Captain Underpants!

Let's Fold an Origami Captain Underpants!

How to Make Origami Robots

We love origami crafts!  There's something about seeing a piece of paper transform step-by-step into something really magical.  Recently we made these origami robots and I thought they were so cute that I had to share them here!  If your kid likes transformers or robots, this is the perfect paper craft for you.

How to Fold an Origami Robot

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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 mazes, edible 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!

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How to Make Best Friend Clay Necklaces

Did you own a best friend necklace as a kid?  One of my friends recently bought a pair for her daughter and best friend.  (They were groovy mood ones.  Girls' jewelry has definitely gotten cuter since I was a kid.)  I was so inspired by the cute necklaces that my son and I made our own clay friendship necklaces.  Aren't they fun?

(And even though these were made for friends, this would be a great gift to make for Mother's Day or Valentine's Day too!)

Easy and Fun BFF Clay Heart Necklaces

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Recycled Tin Garden Marker Craft

Everything is blooming and we're still loving garden crafts!  Today I'm sharing a fun recycled craft that turns disposable baking pans into cute tin garden markers!  This is a great kid-friendly craft project!

How to Make Recycled Tin Garden Markers with Kids

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How to Make Origami Snails

Here's a super quick and easy origami craft that's perfect for spring or summer!  Lately, we've been bitten by the gardening bug.  My youngest and I keep sticking things into the dirt to see if they'll grow.  My oldest is not as keen on gardening as we are, but he loves folding origami.  So today I'm sharing how to fold these really easy and fun origami snails. 

Easy Origami Snail Tutorial

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STEAM Kids Kitchen- 70+ Activities and Recipes for Creative Kids

It's here! It's here!

If you have curious and creative kids who love to tinker and question and make... then you'll love our new STEAM Kids in the Kitchen book!

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Gorgeous "Painted" Oil Pastel Crystal Sun catchers

Have you ever tried "painting" with oil pastels?  Every so often I feel all artsy-smartsy and pull out my big 'ol box of oil pastels and do an easy oil pastel craft with my kids.  This past week I felt the urge and we made these crystal suncatchers by "painting" with oil pastels.  The results were pretty gorgeous and the process was fun too!

"Painted" Oil Pastel Crystal Sun Catchers

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Magical Mother's Day Unicorn Handprint Card

Happy Mother's Day, friends!  If you're looking for a super quick handprint card that your toddler or preschooler can make, then check out this magical unicorn card!

Happy Mother's Day Unicorn Handprint Card!

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Easy Sharpie Tile Art

Did you know that you can use Sharpie markers to decorate tiles?

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How to Make Mermaid Paper Chains

Looking for a super cute mermaid craft to make with the kids?  Summer is right around the corner and I've been thinking about new, fun takes on classic kids crafts.  One of the most beloved art and craft ideas is a paper doll chain.  We've made several neat paper chain cutouts over the years.  Today I'm giving paper chains a magical underwater spin.  Tada!  If you like cutting out paper dolls, you'll love these super cute mermaid paper chains!

Let's Make Mermaid Paper Chains!

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Paper Cup Flower Heads

Well, the title pretty much says it all!  These paper cup flower heads would make such a great Spring Craft or Mother's Day Craft.  All you need to make them are plain paper cups, a bunch of lovely flowers, and some markers!

Paper Cup Flower Heads

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Giant, Pretty, Painted Origami Butterflies

Are there butterflies fluttering around your neighborhood?  We are currently enjoying Spring and all the colorful flowers and insects outside.  Today's post shares a quick spring craft for all you butterfly and origami enthusiasts.   We're making these lovely painted origami butterflies!

Giant Origami Painted Butterflies

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Painting with Dandelions

One of our favorite Spring crafts is painting with dandelions.   Dandelions are such a funny flower because every kid loves them, but every home-owning adult seems to despise them.  We don't really have a front yard, so I personally adore them.  My youngest and I recently spent one morning picking the yellow flowers and blowing the seeds around (sorry, neighbors!)  Awhile back, I shared how we turn dandelions into dandelion chains and crowns.  Today, I'm sharing another fun craft to do with the yellow flowers- paint with them!

Positive and Negative Space Suns and Moons

It's sunny! It's sunny!  After a week of rainy and grey skies, we are LOVING the warm, sunny weather.  I've seeing so many cool positive and negative space art projects online that I wanted to try making some with my son too.  And then it hit me- why not cut out positive and negative sun and moon faces?   Well, here are the results from our paper experimentations.  (Aren't the faces fun?)

Positive and Negative Space Suns and Moons

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Pretty Zentangle Flower Art

Spring has finally sprung in our neck of the woods.  Flowers are blooming and everything looks bright and beautiful. Wheeee!  Inspired by the gorgeous weather and an amazing wave art project that I saw on IG, today I'm sharing a pretty, flower-themed kids art project.  These zentangle flowers were very relaxing to doodle and the bright colors make the final results stunning! 

Pretty Zentangle Flower Art

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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.

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Free Printable Paper Battleship Game

Do you like the game Battleship? We've tried playing with my son....but find that it just seems to take foooooorrrrrreeeeevvvveeeer.  So last week I made a short printable version (because we love making DIY games!)   Hopefully you and the kids will enjoy playing this shorter, printable paper battleship game too!

Printable Paper Battleship Game

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Cute and Easy Paper Bunny Puppets

Easter's coming up in a couple of days and I realized that I never shared any Easter Crafts this year.  So here's a quick craft that you can whip up with the kiddos this holiday.  These adorable bunny puppets are easy to make, fun to decorate, and even more fun to play with!

Let's Make Some Paper Bunny Puppets!

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 shooter, car 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

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Smiley Sun Popsicle Stick Weaving

Sometimes it feels like we go in craft cycles.  Before, my son and I were really, really into origami projects. Now I'm starting to dream about doing more weaving projects.  There's something really beautiful and relaxing about the process of weaving.  There's a lovely pattern of movement and you always seems to get beautiful results. 

So, in celebration of the sunny and warm weather, I recently made this really cute smiley sun popsicle stick weaving.   If you enjoy weaving God's Eyes, you'll really enjoy this craft too!

Smiley Sun Popsicle Stick Weaving Craft

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Super Cute Origami Unicorns

Over the years I've shared a TON of rainbow-inspired kids crafts.  But lately it seems like unicorns are all the rage.  (My littlest guy adores them and a couple of friends have already held magical unicorn-rainbow-themed birthday parties. ) 

So I'm jumping upon the back of the beautiful unicorn bandwagon!  (Neigh! Neigh!)  Here's my take on an easy unicorn craft.... here's a simply adorable origami unicorn that you can make with all your unicorn-loving kids too!

Let's Make Some Easy + Uber-Cute Origami Unicorns! 

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Origami Friendship Math Quilt Craft

Brr, it's cold outside!  Lately I've been enamored with quilt designs and origami crafts.  Their bold colors and gorgeous geometric patterns really make me swoon!  Today's post combines my love for both crafts.  These origami paper quilts are really quite beautiful to look at.  Folding them can be a bit of challenge, because there are so many units to fold.  But, make them with some friends and you're sure to have some indoor fun during these cold winter nights.

Origami Friendship Quilts

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Awesome Chinese New Year Dragon Kite Puppet

Happy belated Chinese New Year!  This past week I visited my son's classroom and did some Chinese New Year themed crafts with his friends.  I'd love to claim today's craft as my own because it's so awesome.  But, I can't take any credit.  My son actually made it in his class.  (The teacher found the idea in  The MailBox and graciously allowed me to share it here.)  Isn't it super neat?

Awesome New Year's Dragon Kite Puppets!

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Mystery Grid Art Challenge

Howdy! Today I'm sharing a STEAM activity that combines art and math.   Put on your creative hats and grab your favorite color pencils.  We're trying our hand at the Mystery Grid Art Challenge!

Think you can conquer the Mystery Grid Challenge?

(Well, read on and find out!)

Let's Build Beautiful 3D Card Structures!

What happens when you have access to the internet, shortened daylight hours, a craft-and-math loving kid, and a deck of old playing cards?  Well,  if you're me... you rally everyone together to do a STEAM activity!  Yeah!

Tired of bouncing off the walls one night, our family tried our hands at making these nifty 3D Card Sculptures.  They came out pretty cool and I thought I'd share them today with you!

Let's Make Beautiful 3D Card Sculptures

Giant Chinese New Year Dragon Collaborative Art

This past weekend we celebrated Lunar New Year with several friends.  There were tons of yummy snacks and (of course) several Chinese New Year crafts and activities!   One of my favorites was this giant, collaborative Dragon painting, so I thought I'd share it here today.

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.

Heart Tangram Challenge

Here's a fun Valentine's Day Activity that also includes a bit of math too- Heart Tangrams!

Tree Painting with Toddlers and Preschoolers

Well, the title of the post pretty much says it all!  Last week we held an impromptu art playdate with some friends.   I wanted to do an activity that was different, open-ended,  and easy-to-set-up.  This tree painting activity did the trick!

Let's Paint the Trees together!

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.