Crafts

Cardboard Tube Penguin Craft

December 30, 2020 By Terri Thompson

There’s no better way to inspire my kids to do a craft project than to offer up something cute.

And, penguins are definitely as cute as it gets.

Have you ever met a person that didn’t think penguins were cute? I haven’t. They’re irresistible.

So, grab a few supplies and let’s get starting crafting. We’ll turn them into a cardboard tube penguin so cute you’ll want to make a whole colony.

Grab some recycled materials to make this cardboard tube penguin craft. They're so cute and so easy to make that you'll want a whole colony of penguins.

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Supplies Needed for your Penguin Craft

Empty toilet paper roll tube (or paper towel tube cut into smaller pieces)
Pencil
Black craft paint
White craft paint
Glitter paint
Googly eyes
Scrap of yellow paper

How to make your cardboard tube penguin craft

Begin by drawing a large oval on one side of your cardboard tube.

Paint the inside of your oval white.

Next, paint the rest of your tube with the black paint.

Let it dry a bit before moving on to the next step.

Now, it’s time to add a little sparkle. We used some fun glitter paint to paint over our white oval. You could also use glitter glue to add sparkle.

After all your paint is dry – and it can take awhile, so go read a penguin book or two while you wait – it’s time to add your face.

Gather a couple of googly eyes and cut a small triangle out of your scrap of yellow paper. Glue both on the top half of your white oval to create your face.

Once the glue is dry, your penguin is done.

Create a Cardboard Tube Penguin or two or three or more to create your own colony of these cute birds.

They’re so cute, they’re irresistible!

My must-have kid’s craft resources:

Crafting with your kids is so much easier when you keep a few supplies on hand. I keep a supply of recycled materials, such as cardboard tubes, cardboard boxes, newspapers, paper scraps, etc. as well as supplies such as paint, construction paper, and glue that we use often. Here are some supplies you may want to keep on hand to make many of the crafts that we share here.

Cardboard Hockey Stick Craft

December 15, 2020 By Terri Thompson

It’s hockey season!

Do you have a kid that loves hockey? Here’s a great craft that they’ll love.

Make this fun Cardboard Hockey Stick to celebrate this fun sport and to make a fun decoration for any hockey fan.

Your young hockey fans will love to make this simple Cardboard Hockey Stick craft. It's fun to make and use to decorate your room.

Are you ready to make your hockey craft?

Let’s grab some supplies and get started!

Supplies Needed:

Cardboard from a shipping box
Pencil or marker
Scissors
Craft paint (in whatever color you want for your hockey stick)
Washi tape

How to make your hockey stick craft

First, you’ll want to draw a simple hockey stick shape on your cardboard.

Hint: If you’re unsure of how to get started, just Google “hockey stick” and take a look at the photos. It’s a simple shape, but make sure to use a pencil so you can erase if needed.

Once you have your hockey stick outline, cut out the shape.

If you’re working with young kids, an adult should do this step. Cardboard boxes can be hard to cut through and need sharper scissors.

And, if you want to do this craft with a group of kids, I would recommend prepping the cardboard ahead of time and then the kids can paint and decorate their hockey sticks.

Once you have your hockey stick cut out, paint the entire surface in the color of your choice.

We chose black, but you can do any color. You can even choose your favorite team’s colors!

Let your paint dry before moving on to the next step. Once it’s dry, pick out a few fun rolls of washi tape.

Use the washi tape to make stripes on your hockey stick. Put them around the bottom or the top. Or, put your stripes anywhere you’d like.

Don’t have washi tape? Use can draw designs on masking tape and use it instead. Or, you can just decorate your hockey stick craft with stickers!

And, we’re done! Wasn’t this such a fun and simple craft?

Your hockey fans will want to make a few of these. Maybe for their favorite team or perhaps one for the team they play on.

Check out my favorite craft resources.

This fun hockey stick craft only uses a few supplies. Grab some cardboard from your recycle bin to use with these supplies:

Rain and Raindrop Crafts for Kids

February 10, 2020 By Terri Thompson

Instead of dreading the next rainy day, why not celebrate the rain?

These fun rain crafts for kids are all fun ways to make a stormy day less gloomy.

Are you ready? It’s time to get creative and celebrate the rain.

These fun rain and raindrop crafts for kids of all ages are perfect for a rainy day, a weather unit, or any day in between.

Fun Rain Crafts for Kids

All of these fun crafts are easy to do. You’ll find some classic art techniques and some unique twists.

These ideas are perfect for kids of all ages. Your youngest kids can get creative with a Raindrop Mobile or a Toddler Rain Cloud Craft. Let your older kids create some Silhouette Rainy Day Art or Monoprint Rainstorm Art. You can even use the rain to help you create!

If you’re looking for toddler crafts, check out these Weather Crafts for Toddlers that are all fun and age-appropriate.

Come on, let’s get creative and find a fun project (or two) to do with our kids!

Rain Crafts for Kids

These rain and raindrop crafts for kids are perfect for a rainy day, a weather unit, or any day in between. You'll find crafts for all ages of kids from toddlers to preschoolers to elementary.

Raindrop Mobile Kids Craft

Use a fun drip-painting technique to make this rustic raindrop moblie.

Sun and Rain Sensory Bottles

Create glittery sensory bottles inspired by both the sun and rain with this craft.

Preschool Paper Plate Umbrella Craft

This simple paper plate umbrella craft is great for toddlers and preschoolers.

Rain Cloud Suncatcher Craft

Photo Credit: preschoolinspirations.com

Make a simple puffy cloud and rain suncatcher with this fun craft.

Rain Painting Craft for Developing Prewriting Skill

Photo Credit: theeducatorsspinonit.com

Use watercolor resist to make this fun rain art project.

Bubble Wrap Rain Craft

Photo Credit: www.123homeschool4me.com

Try printmaking with bubble wrap for this simple rain and umbrella craft.

Rainy Day Window Art

Photo Credit: playteachrepeat.com

Create a rainy window with this fun rainy day art project.

3D Umbrella Rainy Day Card for Kids to Make

Photo Credit: www.craftymorning.com

This cute 3D umbrella card would be a fun homemade gift for family and friends.

Raindrop Suncatchers

Photo Credit: www.pre-kpages.com

Decorate your windows with these beautiful raindrop suncatchers.

Clouds and Rain Weather Windsock Craft

Photo Credit: www.adabofgluewilldo.com

This adorable windsock craft would be so much fun for preschoolers!

Rain Cloud Craft

Photo Credit: www.giftofcuriosity.com

Use drip painting to make this fun and simple rain craft.

Thunderstorm Art Project

Photo Credit: buggyandbuddy.com

Create your own interpretation of a thunder storm with this awesome weather art project.

Painting Rain with Printable Art Prompt

Photo Credit: www.adventure-in-a-box.com

Use printable silhouettes to make this fun rainy day artwork.

Rain Cloud Paper Craft with a Paper Plate Sun

Photo Credit: www.easypeasyandfun.com

This simple rain cloud craft is perfect to make on your next rainy day.

Rain Cloud Toddler Craft

Photo Credit: myboredtoddler.com

Your toddler can get in on the fun with this simple rain cloud craft.

3D Rain Clouds Craft

Photo Credit: iheartcraftythings.com

Use the free printable to help you make this cute 3D rain clouds craft.

Wind & Rain Process Art

Photo Credit: playtolearnpreschool.us

Use a rainy day to inspire some beautiful artwork with this wind & rain process art activity.

Weather Mobile Craft for Kids

Photo Credit: buggyandbuddy.com

Include the rain, storm clouds, rainbows, and other images of weather on this pretty mobile.

Rainbow Rainy Day Art STEAM Project for Kids

Photo Credit: rhythmsofplay.com

Use the rain to create beautiful artwork with this fun STEAM project.

Kids art :: Painting With The Rain

Photo Credit: nurturestore.co.uk

You could also try this simple rainy day art project and use the rain to help you create.

Butterfly Rain Art

Photo Credit: www.muminthemadhouse.com

Use the rain to help you blend your colors with this pretty butterfly art project.

Watercolour Pencils Rain Art

Photo Credit: www.adventure-in-a-box.com

Use watercolor pencils to create your artwork, then let the rain help you blend them together with this fun art project.

April Showers Rain Drop Craft

Photo Credit: simplytodaylife.com

Decorate your windows with these simple rain drop suncatchers.

Paper Plate Rain Craft

Photo Credit: www.craftsonsea.co.uk

Use a free template to make this cute paper plate rain cloud craft.

Combine Your Craft With a Book About Rain

It’s always fun to combine a craft with a great book to go along with the topic. So, if you’re planning a rain craft, try one of these books about rain to go along with it.

I find it’s always helpful to have a good book to read while you’re waiting for paint to dry!

Do You Want to Do More Activities With Your Family?

Join our fun Facebook community, Creative Family Fun for Busy Families, for daily activities that are great for kids and families. We’ll chat, share, and have fun. It’s a safe and private place to share ideas for family and kids activities.

I’d love for you to join me! Just click the link below, request to join, and answer the questions (they’re easy, I promise). Come join the fun! Join the Creative Family Fun for Busy Families community here.

Recycled Valentine Crafts for Kids

January 9, 2020 By Terri Thompson

We love to use recycled materials when we make crafts.

It just seems much less wasteful to use a few things before they get thrown out.

Here are some awesome recycled Valentine crafts that all use an item or two from the recycle bin. Grab those old newspapers, cardboard boxes, and scraps of paper. It’s time to start crafting!

Recycled Valentine Crafts for Kids

I love using recycled materials for crafts. It’s less wasteful because you’re using materials instead of throwing them away. And, it saves money and a trip to the store for extra craft supplies.

These simple Valentines crafts are all pretty and fun. You’re kids will love them!

So, rummage in the recycle bin and grab some supplies.

What Recycled Materials Should You Keep?

Keep anything cardboard, such as old packing boxes, cereal boxes, and even cardboard tubes.

Also, newspaper, magazines, and paper scraps are good for craft projects.

Finally, keep some things that can’t be recycled, but can be reused such as old cd’s and bubble wrap.

All of these things are great for craft projects.

Recycled Valentine Crafts

Check your recycle bin for supplies to make these cute and fun Recycled Valentine crafts for kids.

Silly Heart Puppet Valentine Craft

These fun puppets use recycled cardboard and are great for toddlers and preschoolers.

Heart-Stamped Valentines

Use recycled materials to stamp your hearts on these fun and pretty notecards.

Heart Collage Valentines Cards

Raid the recycle bin to find all sorts of supplies to make these pretty heart collages.

Monochromatic Collage Valentine's Day Art

Recycled materials provide the base for this pretty monochromatic art project.

Easy Valentine’s Day Collage Hearts Art Activity

Photo Credit: artscrackers.com

Cut up your magazines before you recycle them to make these fun collage hearts.

Recycled CD Valentines Day Craft for Preschoolers

Photo Credit: www.craftsonsea.co.uk

Do you have a bunch of old cd's that you don't know what to do with? How about turning them into this pretty Valentine's craft.

How to Make a Valentine Box Robot

Photo Credit: b-inspiredmama.com

Turn an old tissue box into a super-cute Valentine robot.

Milk Carton Valentines Houses for Kids to Make

Photo Credit: happyhooligans.ca

Take old milk cartons and turn them into a fun little Valentine's village.

Heart Valentine Holder

Photo Credit: buggyandbuddy.com

Cut up an old grocery bag to make a simple Valentine holder.

Rag Heart Ornaments with Pipe Cleaners and Fabric Strips

Photo Credit: happyhooligans.ca

Use up your fabric scraps to make these pretty rag heart ornaments.

Newspaper Heart Garland

Photo Credit: www.kitchencounterchronicle.com

Cut up your newspaper before it hits the recycle bin to make this pretty heart garland.

Bubble Wrap Printed Hearts

Photo Credit: rainydaymum.co.uk

Before you toss your bubble wrap, use it for this fun printmaking project.

DIY Yarn Wrapped Letters for Valentine's

Photo Credit: rainydaymum.co.uk

Cut up an old cardboard box to make these pretty yarn wrapped letters.

Recycled Cardboard Heart Decorations

Photo Credit: www.artycraftykids.com

Or, you can use the cardboard box to make these pretty heart decorations.

Simple Kid Made Owl Valentines

Photo Credit: www.kitchencounterchronicle.com

Don't throw out those empty cardboard tubes! Instead, use them to make these cute owl Valentines.

Which of these recycled Valentine crafts are you going to try with your kids?

Will it be the newspaper garland, the Silly Heart Puppets, or something else?

Check your recycle bin for supplies to make these cute and fun Recycled Valentine crafts for kids. You'll want to make them all!

My Must-Have Valentine Craft Supplies

While the recycle bin has tons of fun stuff to craft with, you’ll want to few extra things to help you create some awesome Valentine’s crafts. Here are some supplies I like to keep on hand: