40+ Projects that combine STEM with Art!

Seems like everyone's talking about the importance of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) these days. And hey, I get it.  We live in a highly technological world that's rapidly advancing in all sorts of new ways.   We want our kids to be be creative and adaptive problem solvers.

But maybe you're like me and you deeply love arts and crafts.  They're your jam.  And maybe you're unsure how to dive into all this STEAM goodness.  Hey, I get that too.  Hopefully today's post will help.  In this post I sharing over 40 ideas for arts and craft projects that also happen to incorporate STEM ideas.  Yup.  Here are some of my favorite artsy crafty posts...which also happen to have a little STEAM-y oomph to them!

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Easy Origami Yoda Tutorial

So... I folded this origami pikachu with my son.  And after folding it together, it suddenly dawned on me.  If I just tweaked the ears to my original directions, I could make a Yoda instead.  (What?  Love it when those "aha!" moments hit.)  If  you're a Star Wars lover (or raising some little Star Wars lovers), definitely check today's post out.  Tada!  I'm sharing my easy instructions for folding an origami Yoda!

How to Fold Origami Yoda (The Super Easy Way)

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Easy Origami Pikachu Tutorial

We've gotten hooked onto Pokemon Go.  I kept holding off on the app, but once my husband showed my son.... he fell in love with the little critters, especially Pikachu.  Pikachu was always my favorite too, so it was neat to share that with him.  We recently made this super easy origami pikachu together.  (Oh yes! Another paper folding craft!)  It was such a fun kids craft that I'm sharing the step-by-step folding directions over here!  

How to Fold an Origami Pikachu

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(And yes.  These instructions are so easy that even an almost 5 year old can make it!)

Sparkly Sand Castle Art

Hello everyone!   How has your summer been so far?  Visited the beach yet?  Well... today's craft is a beach-inspired one. Today we're sharing a fun sand castle summer craft.  All you need is some sand and some glue and tada!  You've got an easy breezy summer art project perfect for kids for all ages!

Let's Make Some Sparkly Sand Art

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Cheap, Easy, and Creative Super Hero Party Ideas

A couple of weeks ago my son graduated from preschool.  I didn't think I would get emotional... but I did.  I felt kinda sad-happy realizing that he wasn't a baby anymore.  Oh boy, I'm starting to feel a bit emotional right now.  Yeesh... must.. toughen.. up.... Ahem.  Anyway, back to introducing today's post...

Our preschool celebrated with a super hero themed graduation party.  All the moms and dads came together to plan a really fun day for the kids. I was so impressed by everyone's creativity.  I just had to share the super hero-themed activities and crafts here because I know a ton of you probably have super hero loving kids at home too.

So put on your super hero capes and get ready for some...

Cheap, Easy, and Creative Super Hero Party Ideas!

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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!

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Button Collages

Ever get in a funk with your art ideas?  Lack of sleep, a teething baby, and a sporadically sore back have made it such an effort to pull out the art and craft supplies. So instead of more structured art projects, we've been going the more open-ended  process art activity route.  (Basically I just throw a couple of art supplies on the table and then see what we end up with.)  Recently I pulled out a bunch of old thrifted buttons and gave the challenge to "create art with buttons."  Here's what we came up with!

Invitation to Create with Buttons

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Uber Cute Origami Mermaid

Looking for the cutest origami summer craft ever?  I recently signed my son up for swimming lessons and realized... oof! Summer is right around the corner!  That means that it's time for... summer crafts!  Woo hoo!  And what better way to inspire some summer crafting.. then this uber cute origami mermaid?    Yup.  Put this craft on your summer-to-do list!  It's a must for all mermaid-loving kiddos!

How to Fold an Origami Mermaid!

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Hand Print Franz Marc Expressionist Art with Kids

Hi friends!  Today's art activity is a super easy one that involves looking at colors, emotions, animals, and making hand prints.  It's such a great activity to do with kids of all ages!  Today we're inspired by German Expressionist Franz Marc's Blue Horse Paintings.

Hand Print Expressionist Art with Kids!

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How to Fold Origami Ice Cream Cones

Ice cream and origami.  Two of my current favorite things in life.  Today I'm sharing a super cute and easy origami and paper craft- origami ice cream cones!  These little guys are super sweet and easy to make.

So let's get making!

How to fold Origami Ice Cream Cones

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Shiny Art Necklaces

These shiny aluminum art necklaces contain everything that I love about kids craft all rolled into a single craft.  They allow kids to freely create art without worrying about making things "right" or "perfect."  They're super easy to make. (My preschooler didn't need help at all!) And they use everyday materials.  (Fancy-shmancy materials aren't needed!)  Annnd... the resulting craft looks pretty smashing, wouldn't you say?

Shiny Aluminum Art Necklaces

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Are you ready to make yourself some shiny aluminum necklaces? (Hmm.. now that I'm thinking of it, they kind of look like cloisonne beads, don't you think?)  Let's create!

Modern Art with Kids- Lichtenstein Dot Art

Lately I've wanted to expose my preschooler to different types of art.   But with a new baby at home, our creative and crafty times have been hard to come by.  So I was really excited when my older son and I had the chance to make some art the other morning.  We looked at Lichtenstein's Stepping Out, talked about what we saw in the artwork, and then made some of our own inspired modern pop art!

Modern Art With Kids- Lichtenstein Dot Art

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Easter Egg Printing

I've been wanting to to try printmaking with my preschooler for awhile now.  After seeing this great  Easter Egg Printing post from The Artful Parent, I thought I'd give styrofoam printing a try.  Styrofoam printing is cheap and doesn't (really) need any special materials.   Sounds great, right?   Today's Easter craft is making these neat Easter Egg Prints with your kiddos.

Egg-cellent Easter Egg Printing!

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Pi Day Inspired String Art Activity

Ah, good old Pi Day.  That special holiday only celebrated by geeky math and pizza lovers.  It's definitely my kind of holiday!  Today I'm adding to our list of easy, low-prep Pi Day Activities with this neat one that combines art and math.  Tada!  We're making some Pi Day inspired String Art!

Pi Day String Art Actvitiy

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Chinese New Year Paper Bag Lion Masks (And a book list!)

One of the nicest things about having kids is seeing things through their eyes.  I remember loving Chinese New Year as a child.  The lion dance, the dragons, the red envelopes, the yummy food, the time spent with family... those are all the traditions and memories that I'd like to pass onto my sons as well.  Recently we've been knee deep in Chinese New Year Crafts and today's is my son's favorite so far.  We turned paper bags into our very own lion masks to wear and dance around in!

Paper Bag Lion Masks for Chinese New Year!       

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Watercolor Painted Paper Fans

I've recently been looking into making more Chinese New Year crafts together as a way to celebrate the upcoming holiday.   With my current infatuation with  watercolor crafts, we recently made these watercolor painted paper fans together.

Watercolor Painted Paper Fans

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Origami Conversation Heart Corner Bookmarks

Origami Crafts + Valentine's Day Crafts are some of my favorite to make!  I love transforming a sheet of paper into something else... and today's super easy craft combines both of these loves.  Tada!  We're making...

Origami Conversation Heart Bookmarks!

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Tissue Paper Luminary Drawings (and book list!)

How did you celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day?  This is the first year that I’ve talked to my preschooler about this holiday.  We read a bunch of picture books celebrating diversity and service (links below) and talked about what it means to dream and treat all people kindly, no matter what they look like.  Being a craft lover, we also sat down and made these Tissue Paper Luuminary Drawings.  I love the discussion that we had while making them and I love how they beautiful they turned out too!

Martin Luther King Tissue Paper Luminary Drawings 

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Colorful "Stamp and Paint" Heart Art

Ever try out a project, expecting one thing and then getting something completely different?  That’s what happened with a recent art adventure.  I loved this stained glass art with toilet paper rolls and never had a chance to try it out.  It seemed so easy.  Stamp, wait, then paint!  Boom.  Easy and colorful kid art!  Well, my preschooler and I've started making Valentine's Day Crafts and made a Valentine’s day version….with unexpected results! 

Colorful “Stamp and Paint” Heart Art

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Free Christmas Stained Glass Coloring Sheet Printable

As Christmas approaches, I find myself doing more and more Christmas Crafts.   Are you feeling the same way?  Lately I've been trying to come up with easy, affordable, and creative ways to craft and make art with the kiddos.  This beautiful stained glass craft fits the bill and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for kids of all ages.  You can design your own stained glass, or use my free printable coloring sheet!

Christmas Stained Glass Craft 

(With Free Printable Coloring Sheet)!