Inexpensive Fun: Crafts for Kids
by Iza del Carmen, MomAuthority.com
Crafts are fun, educational, and a great way to spend quality time with your kids. Another reason many moms rank crafting at the top of their list of things to do with their little ones is because it is inexpensive. There are tons of crafts we can do with our children that require little to no money at all. Here are four super easy craft ideas that will leave your kids and you having fun without breaking the bank.
Craft Projects on the Cheap
Nature Collage - Take a trip outside and gather up all kinds of items – the more you can find the better. Once you’ve got a good amount of them, you can bring them in and create a collage on a piece of cardboard from a box you have lying around. Glue each piece to the cardboard and label them with a marker. For some items it might be easier (and cleaner) to place them in plastic sandwich bags and staple to the cardboard. Here are a few items to get you started on your trek to the great outdoors:
• Leaves of all shapes and sizes
• Flowers
• Rocks
• Pinecones
• Feathers
• Dirt/Soil
Family Portrait – Take a piece of printer paper and cut it to make it the size of a 5 X 7 picture. With markers, crayons, or colored pencils draw each member of your family on the paper. Once the picture is complete, take construction paper and make a frame for your portrait. Let the kids decorate it by drawing, or cutting and gluing different colored construction paper, around the frame. You can write the family name at the top or bottom along with the date. Proudly display your family portrait for everyone to see just as you would if you went to a studio and had it taken professionally.
Paper Plate & Toilet Paper Roll Flowers – Grab a paper plate and let your little one decorate it to look like their favorite flower. Wrap a toilet paper roll with green construction paper or color with a green marker and let it dry. Tape the toilet paper roll to the paper plate to enjoy your flower. Make a bunch of them and create your very own flower garden.
No Sew Scarves – This is a great gift idea for Christmas or a winter birthday. The kids will love it and the recipient will too. Purchase a few yards of fleece material in the color of your choice. Cut the material by cutting strips as wide as you’d like the scarves to be. 27 inches is a good width if you’re not sure. Once you have the scarves cut out of the fleece, then cut fringes on both ends in 1/2 inch sections. Next, take the fringes and tie each one in a knot at the base of the fringe. You can then decorate the ends if you’d like, but it’s not necessary. Viola! You’ve now got a nice warm scarf. Don’t forget to make one for yourself and the kids while you’re at it.
There are literally thousands of crafts you can do with your kids that use materials you already have lying around the house. With a little imagination, you can probably come up with more of your own. No matter which craft you choose, have fun, let the creative juices flow and enjoy the time you get to spend with your kids.

Inexpensive Fun: Crafts for Kids (c) 2009 MomAuthority.com
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