Fun Craft Ideas for Kids

Sometimes there are days in a child's life when they just simply don't have any idea what to do with themselves despite the fact that they may have more than ample toys to occupy them. For these types of days or even on a rainy day, the following craft ideas can be pulled out and put into action.

These craft ideas can be fun for you as well as your children. In fact, it would be best if they have the help of an adult for some projects. The best part about these types of activities is that afterwards, some of them can be given as gifts to grandparents, aunts or uncles.

You may not have some of the things on hand that are necessary to make these crafts so you would need to pick them up at your local craft store or simply purchase them online. The good news is that most, if not all, can be purchased from a dollar store, so the cost needn't be an issue.

Some of these projects are easier to complete than others, but they are all fun and promise to entertain.

The first one, and probably the easiest, is the Animal Treat. The ingredients required to make this treat are as follows:

• a few large pine cones
• peanut butter
• bird seed
• string or twine

1. Take a pine cone and cover it with a fair amount of peanut butter
2. Roll it in the bird seed
3. Hang it outside using the string or twine

This is a very special treat that the birds as well as the squirrels will absolutely adore!

The next fun craft idea is a pencil holder. This can actually be made one of two ways, your choice entirely. The first is probably the quickest, but the second would be good if you want it to take a bit longer.

The first way:

The following items are required:

• an empty tin can
• construction paper
• crayons, markers, paint or stickers

1. Peel the label from an empty, clean tin can
2. Cut construction paper large enough to fit around the can top to bottom
3. Decorate the construction paper any way you would like
4. Glue or tape the construction paper to the can

The second way:

The following items will be needed in order to complete the project:

• Popsicle sticks
• construction paper
• glue or tape
• scissors
• markers or paint
• ruler
• a piece of cardboard

1. Gather 24 Popsicle sticks and decorate them using either markers or paint
2. Glue or tape 6 Popsicle sticks together, then glue or tape another 6 together, and another and then the last set of 6 so that you have 4 sets of 6. See the picture below.
3. Cut a piece of construction paper about 3 inches x 12 inches. Glue or tape it to the backs of the Popsicle sticks. This will offer some assistance in making them stand.
4. Cut out a 3 inch x 3 inch piece of cardboard and secure it to the bottom of your pencil holder
5. Cut out a 3 inch x 3 inch piece of construction paper and glue or tape it to the bottom of your pencil holder in order to hide the cardboard. (This step is optional)

This is a fun craft that makes a great gift for everyone, especially grandma or grandpa. In order to make it, you will need the following items:

• a puzzle with fairly small pieces
• a piece of thick poster board
• spray paint in whatever color you choose
• thin magnets (I have the kind that comes in a roll - you simply cut it to whatever size you desire)
• newspaper
• utility knife
• glue

1. Using a utility knife, cut 2 pieces of the poster board measuring 7 inches x 5 inches. Then cut a hole, rectangular in shape, in the center of one of them measuring 4 1/2 inches x 3 inches.
2. Working with the same poster board you just cut the hole into, glue the puzzle pieces around the edges in a random order. See the picture below.
3. Spray paint the poster board and the puzzle pieces in whatever color you prefer.
4. Choose a picture to insert into your frame and then tape it onto the back side of the poster board that has the hole in it.
5. Glue or tape the other piece of poster board onto the back of the frame to secure it in place.
6. Apply the thin magnets to the back of your picture frame and hang it on your refrigerator or give it away as a gift.