Origami Fox Finger Puppets (And 9 Fun Fox books!)

Are foxes the unofficial animals for fall? I'm not sure, but I feel like I see foxes and owls EVERYWHERE. I'm jumping on the trend (late, as usual) with today's fox-themed finger puppets. It's an easy and cute origami project that the kids can play with once they're done crafting. (And keep reading to the end to get a list of our favorite fox-themed books too!)

How to Fold Origami Fox Finger Puppets

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Carving Ivory Soap Boats

Did you know you can carve boats from soap?  

Last week during an impromptu playdate, we tried our hand at carving Ivory Soap Boats. This was such an affordable, easy and fun activity that kept two 3rd graders engaged for about 1/2 an hour!

How to Carve Ivory Soap Boats with Kids

Fall Forest Paper Chains

So... apparently, I have a paper chain obsession. I know, I know. I just posted these sweet Halloween paper chains earlier...but I had to share this adorable bear and fox version too. They're SOOOO cute and such a perfect fall craft to do with the kiddos.

So if you're looking for an adorable and easy fall craft, THIS IS IT.

Let's make some...

Fall Forrest Paper Chains!

Easy Halloween Witch and Pumpkin Paper Chains

It's fall and you know what that means.... copious amounts of adorable Halloween crafts!! Halloween is MY FAVORITE holiday of the year! :) I love the costumes! The candy! The pumpkin carving! The magic! It's THE BEST.

To get fully into the Halloween spirit, I'm starting off with these super cute and easy to make witch and pumpkin paper chains! They're perfect to make at home with the kids, or with a larger group of kids too! Each child can decorate their very own pumpkin and witch to create a lovely paper chain.

Kid-friendly Halloween Paper Chains

Today's craft was inspired by this adorable Halloween paper chain that I saw on Easy Peasy Fun. It had a black cat, monster, and pumpkin all in one paper chain. Super cute and I fell in love. Definitely check Andreja's site out because she has A ZILLION cute + easy crafts for kids!

How to do Easy DIY Hair Wraps with Kids

Looking for a fun way to keep the summer vibes going? Have you ever tried hair wrapping? It's a colorful and temporary way to add some pizazz to your hair. Hair wraps are basically like friendship bracelets... for your hair. The wrapping process is so easy and fun that older kids can even do it too. So grab your stash of embroidery floss and let's DIY some hair wraps! Directions below.

How to do DIY Hair Wraps with kids

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Halloween Changing Paper Cup Faces

It's September! Which means it's time for the start of school, fall crafts... and Halloween crafts! Today's paper cup craft is such a fun one because you can change the faces of a witch, pumpkin, and ghost.... all with the turn of a cup!

(Not-so) Spooky Paper Emotions Cups

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10 Easy Chapter Books about Friendship

Have you ever read the Frog and Toad series?  Our family loves reading about the sweet relationship and adventures shared between those two friends. Inspired by our love for Frog an Toad, I've created this new booklist showcasing other easy reads that also share stories about the silly and sweet relationship between friends. Hopefully, you'll find some new favorite books here as well!

Books for Kids who Love Frog and Toad

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Easy DIY Clay Heart Mobile Craft

I love decorating my house with handmade items. Awhile back both my boys were really, really into Sculpey Clay (aff link).  In case you've never used this type of clay before, it's AMAZING! Once the clay is softened, you can basically manipulate it like playdough and then bake it in the oven to set it.  That's it! Super, super easy.

We've shared a ton of Sculpey Clay crafts on the blog over the years and today's heart mobile is one of my favorites! Kids can easily mix colors up to make cool, marble-like effects and then help out with cutting out hearts and stringing the whole mobile up too!

Let's Make an Easy DIY Clay Heart Mobile

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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

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DIY Embroidery Floss Bunny Storage Organizers

Do you craft with embroidery floss? Ever wonder how to store all those skeins of thread that you purchase? Don't want to spend money on purchasing bobbins? Well, I've got the perfect recycled craft for you!  We love using embroidery floss for sewing and bracelet making. To keep our thread nice and neat I wrap them around these adorable cardboard bunnies.  They're my cutesy DIY solution to embroidery thread storage!

Super Adorable DIY Bunny Embroidery Floss Organizers

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4 Kits to create your own DIY Summer STEM + Robotics Camp

Love the idea of sending kids to summer STEM and Robotics camps... but not the prices? I get you! We love doing easy science and STEM activities at home. This past summer, we considered sending my eldest to some robotics camps, but then realized that they just weren't in our budget. So, instead, we set up our own STEM and Robotics camps... at home by purchasing a couple of STEM/ Robotics kits and building them together. Here's a quick review of the 4 kits that we tried out!

A Review of 4 STEM and Robotics Kits 

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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!

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Easy Origami Emoji Face Changers

Ever look at an origami project and think... gosh, that's cool but way too difficult to fold? Well, today's origami project bucks that trend. It's unique AND easy to fold.  These origami face changers show emoji faces flipping expressions from fold to fold! (Neat, right?)  The kids are sure to have fun folding, drawing, and changing their faces around!

How to Fold Easy Origami Face Changers

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How To Regrow Lettuce from a Stump

Have you ever tried growing food from scraps? Did you know that you can grow romaine lettuce... from a stump? It's true! I have a black thumb and yet the kids and I were still able to enjoy this super easy science "gardening" activity.

How to Regrow Lettuce from a Stump

Easy DIY Boho Yarn Wall Hangings

Looking for a super easy and fun summer craft for the kids? Today I'm sharing a fabulous yarn craft that's perfect for artsy playdates, ladies craft nights, or family craft time. We're making pretty and simple boho wall hangings on the blog today. All you need is a stick, different color + texture yarns, scissors, and masking tape! So go on a walk with the kids, find some sticks, and let's get crafting!

Pretty DIY Boho Yarn Wall Hangings

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Grow Borax Crystals... on Nature!

Do people still celebrate Christmas in July? We don't, but today's crystal craft adds a bit of a frosty, winter element to our crafts.  (Come to think of it, this would also make a great craft for kids who love Anna, Elsa, or Olaf from the Frozen movie.) We're using Borax to grow crystals on natural items like seed pods, sticks, shells, and leaves. The process is super simple and the results are super sparkly.  You'll only need a couple of items and a bit of patience to do this easy and fun STEM activity.

How to Make Sparkly Cyrstal Leaves, Shells, and Twigs!

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Quick Borax Crystal Pipe Cleaner Sculptures

Ever try your hand at growing crystals... on pipe cleaners? Here's a super easy to grow your own crystals overnight. All you need are Borax, pipe cleaners, and some hot water to create your own sparkly sculptures!

Quick Crystal Sculptures

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How to Make Corn Husk Flowers

A couple of weeks ago I took a fun corn husk flower making class at La Calenda, a cute nearby store that sells beautiful, handmaid items from Mexico. I loved the resulting corn husk flowers so much that I promptly dyed my own at home and held a fun crafternoon with some moms and kiddos. The results from both crafting sessions were so lovely that I'm sharing the how-to's behind making these flowers with you today!

How To Make Corn Husk Flowers

(A Super easy and beautiful craft for kids and adults!)

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Double-Doodle Drawing + The Artful Parent book!

Hi everyone! How is your summer going?  Feel like your days are just go-go-going by? That's how I've been feeling with traveling, weddings, summer camps, swim lessons... etc.  According to my eldest, so far, this summer is "almost as fun as school." (Should I take that as a good thing???) Anyway, amidst all of the hustle and bustle, this lady has been feeling burned out. (And it's only July! Oof.)

Today I just wanted to share this easy art activity that my eldest and I recently did while my youngest "napped." (Notice the quotation marks.  You can probably guess why I put those there...)

It's an activity called Double-Doodle Drawing and it's from the new  The Artful Parent book, written by Jean from The Artful Parent blog.

Double-Doodle Drawing with Kids

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Free Printable Father's Day Gift Certificate Craft

Looking for a different way to celebrate great dads? Trying to find that perfect Father's Day craft?  This is it!  Currently, my boys aren't too keen on crafting... which is why I came up with this super easy, Father's day printable gift certificate!  Simply print the certificate out and have kids fill it in with a cute drawing, reasons why they love dad, AND a special gift/activity that dads can "redeem" later!

Printable Father's Day Gift Certificate

Super cute, right? My youngest absolutely loves Best Buy. 

Puzzle Cards for Father's Day

Looking for a cute card that kids can make dad for Father's Day ?  

Show your super dad just how much you love him with these uber cute "I love you to pieces" cards!  Today I'm over at Red Ted Art sharing how to make these uber cute puzzle cards for Father's Day!

"Thank you for helping me to grow" folding surprise cards

It's the end of the school year and if you're like me, you're scrambling to find cute ways to tell your kids' teachers just how much you appreciated them.  (Any fellow room parents out there?  You know what I'm talking about!)

Well, have you ever tried making your own folding surprise card?  This flower card is one crafty way to thank teachers for helping your kids to grow!

"Thanks for helping me to grow" Folding Surprise Cards

DIY Cute Tiny Felt Succulents

Aren't these tiny felt succulents adorable?  I went to a class a while back learning how to make these.  My sons thought they were so cute and my eldest wanted to make some too.  So today I'm sharing how to make these cute faux felt plants! They're perfect to use for pretend play or as cute decor around the house.

Super Sweet Felt Succulents

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No-Sew Felt Drawstring Pouches

Looking for an easy, summer camp craft?  Or, do you have a child who loves collecting little toys or coins?  Or, are you looking for a sweet way to hold teeth for the Tooth Fairy?   Or, are you looking for a crafty way to teach about math and circles?

Well, today's super easy felt craft is the perfect craft for you.  We're making super easy, no-sew felt drawstring bags!

No-Sew Kid Made Pouches!

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How to Host a Bob Ross Party (With Adults or Kids!)

Looking for a creative and unique art activity to try with kids and adults?  Well, have you ever thought about doing a Bob Ross themed party?  Here's everything you need to know to paint Bob Ross with artists of all ages!  And bonus: expensive, fancy-shmancy materials definitely AREN'T required!

Everything You Need to Know to Throw a Bob Ross Party

(with adults and kids!)

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DIY Cute Clay Succulent Face Pots (A Sweet Mother's Day craft for kids!)

Mother's Day is coming up!  If you're looking for a super cute craft for kids to make for their moms, check out this list of easy Mother's Day Crafts.  Today we're adding to the list with this sweet and easy-to-make DIY succulent face pot!

DIY Cute Succulent Face Pot 

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3D Optical illusion Peeps for Easter

Today I'm sharing a super quick Easter activity that's perfect for kids.  Love Peeps?  Love doodling?  Ever try doodling a 3D optical illusion Peep?

3D Optical Illusion Peeps

Is it just me? Or does this peep look like it's popping out?

Creeper Minecraft Gift Wrapping Idea

Love Minecraft? 

We've attended a couple of Minecraft themed parties in the past year and here's a fun way I've wrapped gifts for kids.

Tada!

DIY Creeper Minecraft Gift Wrapping

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Chomp! Chomp! Tissue Box Eaters

Looking for a super simple craft to help preschoolers learn their letters or numbers?  This past week I battled a cold... and used (what felt like) hundreds of tissues.  Before I tossed out my empty tissue box, I transformed it into a fun letter eater to help youngest learn his alphabet!

Tissue Box Letter Eaters

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Kids Spring Fairy House Craft

Looking for a super easy Spring craft that gets the kids creating outside?  Or, are you looking for an easy STEAM inspired activity that kids of all ages will love?  Try this Nature Fairy House Craft Challenge!

What kind of fairy house would YOU design?

Can you draw a face just using one line?

I'm not sure about your family, but sometimes nighttimes with little kids can be pretty trying.  Everyone is grumpy. Everyone is tired. Emotions tend to run high. Patience is worn thin.

Well, we've had a couple of tough nights these past weeks.  Recently I've found that simple drawing activities can put the kids (and me) in better moods.  Here's one easy art activity that we recently tried and enjoyed.  Can you draw a face using just one line?

One Line Face Drawing Challenge

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 craft.  It 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!

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Pop-Up Paper Plate Rainbows

It's been raining a lot! And while we need the rain, I do miss sunny days and blue skies.  Last week was filled with grey skies, so we cheered ourselves up with these pop-up paper plate rainbows.  Rainbow crafts are some of our favorites and this easy one was a lifesaver!

Let's Paint Paper Plate Rainbows with Kids!

Dancing Paper Slinkie Dragons (Free Printable included!)

Happy Chinese New Year!  How will you be celebrating the new year?  Tomorrow I'm going to celebrate in my son's class by giving out red envelopes, reading a fun storybook about the animals of the Zodiac The Great Race, and making these super cool Dancing Paper Slinkie Dragons!

Do these dragons look familiar to you?  Well, I used the same face, legs, and tail from my paper chain dragons and the results came out pretty cool!

How to Make Dancing Paper Slinkie Dragons

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Cute Mandarin Pig Craft (For Chinese New Year!)

Hosting a Chinese New Year event and looking for a super cute Chinese New Year Craft that also doubles as decor?  This is it!  Halos Mandarins recently reached out and challenged me to make a craft using their fruit.  Well, these adorable mandarin pigs definitely fit the bill.  These sweet pigs are a yummy and cute way to celebrate the Year of the Pig.

(Many thanks to Halos for sending me craft supplies and boxes of yummy mandarins!)

Super Sweet Mandarin Pigs for Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year Pig Watercolor Paintings

Did you know that this Chinese New Year is the year of the pig?  A couple of nights ago my boys and I began making our annual Chinese New Year Crafts together.  One of my good friends is an art teacher and she painted some lovely pigs with her students.  I loved her idea so much that I wanted to try the activity out with my two boys too.  (Thanks, Alicia for the awesome idea!!!!)

Tada!  We all had fun trying our hand at painting some watercolor pigs for Chinese New Year!

Painting Watercolor Pigs for Chinese New Year!

(Can you guess which one my preschooler painted?  He fully enjoyed himself and got immensely messy!)

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Easy Paper Heart Pigs

Hello friends!  Today's sweet pig craft is a perfect Chinese New Years Craft AND Valentine's Day Craft too.

Easy Paper Heart Pigs

Chinese New Year Paper Chain Dragons (Printable included!)

Looking for an easy Chinese New Year Craft that you can make with kids of all ages?  Try making these paper chain dragons.  Can't draw?  Don't worry!  Download the free printable below and you'll be making tons of dancing paper dragons in no time!

How to Make Chinese New Year Paper Chain Dragons

Family Watercolor Heart Banners (and our 6 Favorite Valentine's Crafts)

This super sweet watercolor heart banner is a great Valentine's Craft celebrating the entire family.  During a recent playdate, I had the preschoolers make their own heart banners for their family.  The children enjoyed painting, gluing, and identifying all the members in their family.  Here's how we made this craft.

Family Watercolor Heart Banner

How to Make a Clay Mermaid Tail Necklace

Who loves a good mermaid craft? (We do, we do!)

Recently the makers of Sculpey Clay sent us some colorful goodies to try out.  The kids and I had a ton of fun one rainy afternoon crafting with friends.   I'm currently infatuated with all things magical, so I helped my youngest make his very own mermaid necklace.  

(Does anyone else think of Zoolander here?  Mermaid? Oh wait.  Merman. Merman!)

Let's Make Clay Mermaid Tail Necklaces!

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Painting on an Icy Snowman

Looking for a fun, winter-themed kid activity? Try painting an ice snowman.  This is a perfect activity for kids who are stuck inside and looking for something creative to do!

How To Make an Ice Snowman (and Paint It Too!)

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"Dreaming of you" 3D Heart Art Project for Valentine's Day

It's January... which means it's time to start sharing Valentine's Day Craft Ideas! Last year I posted an easy way to draw 3D optical illusion hearts.  They were such a hit.  So this year I'm sharing this cute "Dreaming of You" 3D heart drawing.  Like the previous art project, it uses curved and straight lines to create the illusion of a three-dimensional drawing.  But this time I added some fun Sharpie details and a sweet sleepy heart face (because let's be real- who doesn't love a kawaii face?)

Here's how to draw these sleepy three-dimensional heart drawings with your kids.

Step-by-Step instructions for drawing adorable 3D optical illusion hearts

A great Sharpie and Colored Pencil art project for kids!

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Free Printable 2019 New Years Crown

Looking for a quick New Years craft for 2019?  Here's a super easy printable crown that the kids can color and wear!

How To Cut Christmas Nativity Snowflakes

Today I'm sharing the final snowflake craft of the year!  I'm taking a short break over Christmas and thought I'd leave you with one final snowflake design.  These nativity snowflakes are really simple and pretty.  They're a great way to celebrate the season.

How To Cut Nativity Snowflakes

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Jolly Reindeer Snowflakes

We're still on the snowflake craft kick!  Today I'm sharing these super sweet Rudolph inspired reindeer snowflakes!

How To Cut Holly Jolly Reindeer Snowflakes

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Super Sweet Pusheen the Cat Snowflakes

Have you heard of Pusheen the Cat?  I recently found out about this super cute feline sensation and fell in love with her squishy, huggable body.  So, today we're adding to our ever-expanding list of snowflake crafts with this uber adorable Pusheen snowflake craft!

How To Cut Adorable Pusheen Snowflakes

(Oh! The cuteness!)

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Uber Cute Narwhal Paper Snowflakes

The obsession with all things cute and snowflake-related continue!  Today our paper snowflakes are taking an under-the-sea vibe with these funny narwhal inspired snowflakes!

How To Cut Uber Cute Narwhal Snowflakes

(2 designs included!)

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Fa La La Llama Paper Snowflakes

Are you ready to make the cutest llama winter craft ever?

Ahhhh!  I introduce to you this llama snowflake design!  Ok, ok.  I've gone kinda bonkers with paper snowflake crafts.  But I can't help it... I  just looooove them so much.   And we don't get snow here in southern California.... so I have to make do with these paper flakes.

 Today's paper snowflake design is sooo cute and quite possibly my favorite-ist design of all time.  (Don't tell my other designs.)   (And can we talk about my word choice here?  Favorite-ist?  Well, it's not a real word, but it gets at the heart of things. I just really love cute paper crafts.)

Fa La La Llama Paper Snowflakes

(aka the cutest llama craft you'll see today)

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