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Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Crab Craft

May 6, 2019 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Summer is almost here! And that means only one thing: It’s time to head back to the beach.

The beach is basically my second home. If I could spend the rest of my life on the sand, I’d be happy.

I even love beach creatures, like crabs. They’re very closely related to spiders, so they’re kind of like sandy arachnids, but I’m willing to overlook that.

As part of our series of coffee filter crafts for kids, I thought it would be fun to make a super easy coffee filter crab craft!

This is a perfect summer craft for little hands! You’ll only need a few supplies and a few minutes to make it.

If you like this easy summer craft, don’t miss our roundup of 40 simple summer crafts for kids! They’re wonderful for filling up those long summer afternoons!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Crab Craft

To make this easy coffee filter crab craft, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

The good thing about making this easy crab craft is that you really only need about 10 or 15 minutes. So it’s perfect for little ones, who tend to have rather short attention spans.

Plus, you probably already have the supplies in your home!

Start by outlining the crab’s eyes with black crayon. Then color the rest of the coffee filter bright orange. I actually used a red orange crayon here, but either red or orange would work as well.

Then add a simple smile and use a glue stick to glue the filter onto a piece of construction paper. Glue sticks work best with coffee filters, because they don’t leak through the filter.

Use the red orange crayon to add four legs on each side of the crab. Draw the top legs so that they are reaching upward.

Finally, use scissors to cut out circles from orange construction paper. Just cut out a small triangle to make the crab claws and glue them onto the end of the top legs.

Remember: If the kids are cutting out the circles, be sure they’re using child-safe scissors. They do the job just as well and you won’t have to worry about little hands getting hurt.

And we’re done!

Our little crab looks so happy lying in the sand!

Did you love this coffee filter crab craft? Check out these other easy crafts for kids!

See more easy ways to make things with kids on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime

April 25, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

My kids love, absolutely love playing with slime. Judging by the most popular YouTube videos for kids, they’re not alone.

Making slime is one of the most popular activities for kids these days. There are so many great slime recipes to try. But, since we’re slowly coming into summer (yay!), I thought it would be fun to share a super easy DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime!

This is such a fun activity to try during the warmer months!

Read on to get the full project directions and printable instructions! And, there’s a super cute printable below for turning this Mermaid Slime into adorable party favors.

Want to have more fun with slime? Don’t miss our roundup of 50 unique slime recipes for kids to make!

DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime for Kids

To make this DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime, you’ll need the following:

Clear glue
Food coloring
Colored glitter
Baking soda
Contact lens solution

Start by pouring the clear glue into a bowl.

Then add a few drops of food coloring. (Choose a color that matches the mermaid theme.)

Add a good amount of matching colored glitter and stir it well.

Then add baking soda and contact lens solution (that’s what turns the mixture into slime).

And you’re done! It really only takes a few minutes from beginning to end.

Make as many mermaid-themed colors as you like!

DIY Mermaid Glitter Slime Party Favors

If you’re throwing a mermaid-themed kids’ party, you can even turn this Glitter Slime into cute goodie bag prizes!

Just pour the slime into empty baby food jars and tie ribbon around the neck of each jar.

Grab these adorable mermaid toppers to glue onto the jar lids.

And you’re done!

Since this slime lasts a very long time when it’s stored in an airtight container, it’s a wonderful party favor for kids to take home.

Get these adorable mermaid slime printable topper labels by clicking the image below!

DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime Instructions

Now….for the printable Glitter Mermaid Slime instructions!

The full ingredients and instructions are below. And you can even print them for your convenience!

DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime

This fun glitter mermaid slime is perfect for ocean-themed sensory play!

Ingredients

6 oz clear glue
3 to 4 drops food coloring
1 to 2 tbsp colored glitter
1/2 tbsp baking soda
1 tsp contact lens solution

Instructions

Pour the clear glue into a mixing bowl.
Add a few drops of food coloring to the bowl. Start with one or two drops and add more as desired.
Add the glitter and mix well.
Add the baking soda and contact lens solution. Stir to combine. When the slime starts to pull away from the bowl, you'll know it's done.
Store in an airtight container.

Did you love making this DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime with your kids? Share how yours turned out in the comments!

Take a look at these other fun activities to share with your kids this summer!

And see more ways to have some sensory fun with the kids on my Sensory Play Pinterest board!

Charlotte’s Web Craft for Kids: Fun Floating Spider Craft

March 14, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Charlotte’s Web is one of the books that I automatically associate with childhood. I listened to it read aloud in elementary school (third grade, I think) and I read it myself so many times I lost count.

When our six-year-old and I started reading it as part of our BookShark Level 1 curriculum, she discovered that she loved it just as much as I did. Some things never change.

So I thought it would be fun to make a quick and easy Charlotte’s Web craft that she could enjoy and that’s how we came up with this floating spider craft!

This only took us a few minutes to make and it gave us a chance to get outside and play. It’s perfect for early grades.

See how to make your own below! And, for more fun with book-themed crafts, check out our Farm Paper Bag Puppets based on Big Red Barn!

Disclosure: I am a BookShark brand ambassador and am receiving free curriculum as part of my role.

Charlotte’s Web Craft for Kids: Fun Floating Spider Craft

We’ve been working our way through BookShark Level 1 with our first grader this year and we’ve gotten to read so many wonderful children’s books the past few months.

I have to admit, though, that when I opened the box and saw Charlotte’s Web in there, I did a little leap for joy.

If you’ve read the book, you probably remember that Charlotte’s egg sac finally hatches and all of her babies venture out into the world. When Wilbur (the pig) sees them shoot out silk and sail off on the wind, he starts to panic.

Three of them end up staying near him and…(I’m going to stop before I retell the entire book.)

Anyway, the idea of spiders sailing off on the wind is what helped us come up with this simple craft.

To make this easy Charlotte’s Web craft, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

What we’re basically making is a spider wearing a parachute. Easy peasy!

To make this, use a hole puncher to punch a hole in each side of the coffee filter. You want the holes to be directly across from each other.

I made one hole on the left and the other directly across on the right. Then I turned the filter around and did the same thing again to have four holes in all.

Then cut about a three foot length of string and cut that into four equal pieces. Thread one piece of string through each hole in the filter.

Connect opposing sides by typing the left and right side strings together with a simple knot. Leave about an inch or two loose at the end. Turn the filter around and do the same thing again. You should end up with four strings tied into two.

Then you just tie each of the tied strings around the spider and you’re done!

Make sure that the length of string is even on all sides. If the spider isn’t hanging directly beneath the filter’s middle, it won’t float.

Also – you want the weight of the spider to be evenly distributed. We tied one set of strings together around the front and the other together around the back.

All that’s left to do is take it outside…

…and watch it float!

You don’t have to throw it or anything. If you hold the filter open and up, the spider should float gently to the ground.

Super neat!

I think Charlotte would be proud.

If you’re looking for a literature-rich homeschool curriculum, I cannot recommend BookShark enough. We have had so much fun reading classic stories, and learning about the vocabulary, history, and science behind them this year.

Take a look at the different BookShark levels to find which one is best suited for your child! And don’t forget to request your free catalog!

If you loved this Charlotte’s Web craft, check out these other simple crafts you can make with your family!

And for more ways to add crafting to your homeschool day, follow my Simple Crafts for Kids board on Pinterest!

Easy Pinecone Snowman Craft for Kids

November 8, 2018 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Winter is not my favorite season. Snow is beautiful, but I cannot abide cold weather. I simply cannot.

Which makes winter the best season of all for crafting! And that’s why I love this super cute and easy pinecone snowman craft for kids! This is an awesome art activity for a cold winter day, since you don’t have to leave the safety of your heated home to make it.

Just be sure to gather up the pinecones in advance if you want to avoid stepping out your front door on a particularly blustery day.

With the right decorations, you could even use this snowman craft to make an entire winter scene! Plus, they’d make adorable table decorations if you’re having company soon.

Read on to see how to make these with your own kids! And for more winter crafting, don’t miss our simple coffee filter snowman craft that even little ones can make!

Easy Pinecone Snowman Craft for Kids

A note before you get started on this pinecone snowman craft for kids, a hot glue gun is necessary for some of the steps.

Be sure you don’t leave the kids alone with this tool and perform those steps yourself before letting the kids go on with the project.

Notes for adult caution are included in the steps below.

To make this simple pinecone snowman craft for kids, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

3 pine cones
9 cotton balls
6 small pom-poms (assorted colors)
9 mini black pom-poms
6 small googly eyes
Brown and orange chenille stems
White felt
Child-safe scissors
Low-temperature hot glue gun (for use by adults only)

To make the snowmen’s head, cut three 1-inch circles out of the white felt. The kids can do this part if you use child-safe scissors. Cut the brown chenille stem into six 2-inch pieces and six ½-inch pieces.

Fold the ½-inch pieces around the ends of the 2-inch pieces to create arms. Then cut the orange chenille stem into three ½-inch pieces for the carrot nose.

NOTE: This step should be completed by an adult.

Use the hot glue gun to attach two googly eyes, the carrot nose, and three mini black pom-poms on each white felt circle. Set these aside.

Pull the cotton balls apart. Push the cotton pieces into the pinecones to cover them with “snow”.

NOTE: This step should be performed by an adult. Use the hot glue gun to glue one of the snowmen heads to the top front of each pinecone.

Then attach two colored pom-poms vertically down the front of the pinecone to make “buttons”. Glue one arm to each side of the pinecone.

And you’re done!

You and the kids can make an adorable family of snowmen and snowwomen!

This snowman craft for kids is such a cute way to spend some winter crafting time with your little ones!

Don’t miss these other fun winter crafts and learning ideas for kids!

Get even more ideas for winter fun on my Winter Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Over 25 Fall Nature Crafts for Kids to Make This Autumn

September 10, 2018 by Selena Robinson 7 Comments

I just love making crafts during the fall. There’s something about the cooler air, warmer clothing, and changing colors that makes even me (a non-crafty person) feel like creating. And it has the same affect on my kids!

This year, though, I wanted to share more of the actual fall season with the kids, which means not just making things about it but creating things with the natural world around us. And that’s why I wanted to find some beautiful fall nature crafts for kids to make!

We’ve already made a few of these, but I’m looking forward to trying as many as we can this autumn!

These would be a wonderful addition to a fall leaves unit study or to go along with some of your favorite fall books for kids. While you’re here, don’t miss our list of fun leaf activities for kids to share even more fall learning fun!

Over 25 Fall Nature Crafts to Make with Kids

1. Fall Leaf Snow Globe – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Bark Owl Craft – Fireflies + Mudpies

3. Fall Leaves Fish Nature Craft – Rhythms of Play

4. Fall Leaf Mobile – Buggy and Buddy

5. Fun Nature Tree Craft for Kids – Rain or Shine Mamma

6. DIY Acorn Marble Necklace Nature Craft – Rhythms of Play

7. Acorn Bells – Fireflies + Mudpies

8. Adorable Acorn Mice – Kids’ Craftroom

9. DIY Fall Wreath – Mommy’s Bundle

10. Fall Collage for Toddlers – Happy Hooligans

11. Autumn Stuffed Pine Cone Craft – Kids’ Craft Room

12. Pine Cone Pumpkin Craft – Fireflies + Mudpies

13. Oak Apple Nature Craft – Rhythms of Play

14. Easy Fall Leaf Garland – Look! We’re Learning!

15. Leaf Lanterns – Red Ted Art

16. Autumn Leaf Suncatchers – Fireflies + Mudpies

17. Paper Plate Hedgehog Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun

18. Autumn Mobile – Red Ted Art

19. Four Seasons Nature Trees – A Little Pinch of Perfect

20. Acorn Wreath for Kids – Craftulate

21. All Natural Leaf Threading – Kids’ Craft Room

22. Decorate Pinecones – Buggy and Buddy

23. Glitter Acorn Necklaces – Arty Crafty Kids

24. Fall Leaf Pinecone Turkey Craft – Mom Explores the Smokies

25. Fall Leaf Crowns – Mama Papa Bubba

26. Pinecone Owls – Fireflies + Mudpies

27. Autumn Leaf Bowls – Red Ted Art

Which of these fall nature crafts do you plan to make first? Tell us about how it went in the comments!

Looking for more ways to celebrate autumn with the kids? Don’t miss these ideas!

And see more fun things to do this fall on my Fall Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

20 Easy and Fun Shark Crafts for Kids

July 5, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Kids are just totally fascinated with sharks. (I can’t lie. Many of us adults are too.)

They’re incredible sea creatures and they’re near the top of the food chain, so they’re basically the bosses of the ocean. Unless an orca whale comes along, that is.

Every year, Shark Week is a big event for lots of kids and that’s why I wanted to share some fun and easy shark crafts for kids that will be a great way to spend the week learning about all things shark!

Take a look at the 20 different shark activities for kids listed below to find some science fun to share this summer!

And for more about sharks, don’t miss our cool shark food chain file folder game for kids to play!

20 Easy and Fun Shark Crafts for Kids

1. This Juice Box Shark Craft from Natural Beach Living is perfect for a shark-themed afternoon.

2. Here is a fun Shark Sensory Bottle from Sarah Halstead.

3. Have some Shark Science Fun with this buoyancy activity from Little Bins for Little Hands.

4. These fun DIY Shark Cups from Mom Endeavors are perfect for an afternoon snack attack.

5. Here is a really cool DIY Shark Slime from A Night Owl Blog.

6. This Toilet Paper Shark Craft from Glue Sticks & Gum Drops is a quick and easy idea.

7. Your kids will love playing with these DIY Felt Shark Finger Puppets from Repeat Crafter Me.

8. These Shark Fin Bookmarks from Simplistically Living are perfect for Summer reading!

9. This Shark Fin Soap is a fun kid-friendly DIY from Totally The Bomb.

10. Your shark tooth lovers will love this Paper Plate Shark Jaw Craft from Dollar Store Crafts.

11. This Pool Noodle Shark Craft from JDaniel4’s Mom will look awesome floating in your pool!

12. These DIY Shark Suckers from Natural Beach Living will make a fun addition to your sharky fun.

13. Get learning with this S is for Shark Craft from Artsy Craftsy Mom.

14. Next, whip up these fun Shark Masks from B-Inspired Mama.

15. Here’s an inexpensive Newspaper Shark Craft from I Heart Crafty Things.

16. You’ll have lots of fun with this Paper Plate Shark Puppet Craft from Kids Craft Room.

17. This Shark Cootie Catcher Craft from Easy Peasy and Fun comes with a free template to make your own origami!

18. These DIY Shark Mittens from A Night Owl Blog are so cute & creative.

19. Make a cool DIY LEGO Shark with the instructions from Frugal Fun 4 Boys!

20. Finally, your little ones will enjoy making and eating this Shark Sushi from Momma Lew.

Check out these other fun learning activities for summer!

See more fun summer educational ideas on my Summer Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

21 Easy Nature Crafts for Kids

June 28, 2018 by Selena Robinson 4 Comments

With the weather warming up, it’s the perfect time of year to head outside with the kids!

Now that we’re sharing more simple crafts with our little ones, we’ve found that natural materials make the perfect art medium.

There are so many ways to use nature to create art.

After all, nature is already a kind of art in itself.

If you’d like to try some natural arts and crafts with your kids over the summer, take a look at these 21 nature crafts for kids!

There are so many cute ideas here for taking flowers, pinecones, rocks, and more and repurposing them for adorable craft projects and games.

These are perfect for lazy summer afternoons or early fall evening play!

Thinking of getting outside for a hike? Try these tips for exploring a nature trail with kids!

21 Easy Nature Crafts for Kids

1. Leaf Painting – Look! We’re Learning!

2. How to Make a DIY Pool Noodle Hobby Horse – Molly Moo Crafts

3. Ladybugs Vs. Tadpoles Outdoor Tic Tac Toe Game – Atta Girl Says

4. Painted Rock Art – Typically Simple

5. Rock Garden Caterpillar – Nellie Bellie

6. Nature Craft: Making a Journey Stick – Growing Family

7. Outdoor Spray Painting – The Country Chic Cottage

8. Birdseed Ornaments – One Little Project At A Time

9. Kids Craft: Ice Chalk – We Know Stuff

10. Bug Village – Crafts by Amanda

11. Nature Paintbrushes – Messy Little Monster

12. Nature Craft: Making Leaf Prints – Growing Family

13. Pet Rock Necklace – Crafts by Amanda

14. DIY Bird Feeder Craft – Mommy’s Bundle

15. Happy Camper Garden Planter – ABCs and Garden Peas

16. Toddler Outdoor Canvas Painting Project – Arts and Crackers

17. Butterfly Handprint Garden Pot – Happily Ever Mom

18. Easy Paper May Basket – ABCs and Garden Peas

19. Soda Bottle Fairy Garden House – My Pinterventures

20. Pinecone Owls – Crafts by Amanda

21. Flower Suncatcher – Messy Little Monster

Want to try more nature crafts and activities? Don’t miss these posts!

35 Easy PreK Beach Crafts for Kids

June 18, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

I love preschool crafts. There’s just something about getting tiny hands involved in making art that is too adorable for words. Plus, PreK crafts give preschoolers a chance to work on fine motor skills, color recognition, shapes, themes, and more!

And that’s why I thought it would be cool to find some easy PreK beach crafts for kids that would be perfect for summer arts and crafts. After all, you only get a couple of summers to enjoy with your preschoolers before they become…gasp…kindergartners.

There are 35 different preschool beach crafts below, so you’ll have to plenty to choose from this summer. If you make a few, let me know which ones your kids loved the most!

By the way, if you’d like to share even more beachy preschool fun with the kids, be sure to check out our Beach Number Playdough Mats to help little ones practice forming the numbers 0 to 9 with playdough!

35 Easy PreK Beach Crafts for Kids

1. Beach Shoebox Diorama – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Shell Critters Art Projects for Kids – Mosswood Connections

3. 3-D Sandcastle Craft for Kids – Buggy and Buddy

4. Beach Drift Wood and Broken Shell Rattles – Red Ted Art

5. Invitation to Play: A Beach Themed Mud Kitchen – The Gingerbread House

6. DIY Sea Shells Sensory Bottle Calm Down Jar – Rhythms of Play

7. Easy Sea Shell Crafts – Teach Me Mommy

8. Clay Boat and Underwater Craft – Messy Little Monster

9. Beach-In-A-Jar Keepsake – Moms and Crafters

10. Shell Sunflower Craft – Rhythms of Play

11. Beach Holiday Keepsake – Teach Me Mommy

12. Seashell Memory Game for Kids – Growing Up Gabel

13. Summer Beach Themed Sand and Shell Art – Happiness is Homemade

14. Sea Glass Sun Catcher Jar – The Gingerbread House

15. Easy Salt Dough Keepsakes – Red Ted Art

16. Shell Daisy Nature Craft – Rhythms of Play

17. How to Make Adorable Jellyfish Crafts Preschool Activity – Natural Beach Living

18. Shell Frames With Handprint Keepsake Gift – Rhythms of Play

See more simple PreK beach crafts on the next page!

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Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft

May 28, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

I’m not a big fan of insects, especially the ones that try to sneak into your house when the weather gets warm. I mean, if Mr. Centipede is willing to chip in on the mortgage, I might be open to it. Otherwise, that’s a no from me.

But I do love butterflies. It’s wonderful to see them fluttering around during the warmer months.

So for our newest coffee filter crafts for kids project, I thought we’d make a simple coffee filter butterfly craft!

These were so much fun and they only took a few minutes from beginning to end. Seriously.

Want to try more coffee filter crafts with your little ones? Don’t miss our coffee filter ladybug craft and our coffee filter sun craft for summer!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft

To make this easy coffee filter butterfly craft, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

One white basket coffee filter (you’ll need one per butterfly)
Colored craft sticks (one per butterfly)
Crayons
Construction paper
Glue stick
Child-safe scissors
Washable markers

To start, fold the coffee filter in half.

Then use the scissors to cut a triangular piece from each end. You’ll want to cut on an angle to make the “V” shape at the top and bottom.

Be sure to cut through both of the coffee filter halves. Otherwise, you’ll have wings on one side and a circular shape on the other.

When you open up the filter, you should have this.

Use a bright colored crayon to draw four circles on the wings: one at each corner.

Color all around the circles with the crayon. (This is if you want to have white circles on your butterfly’s wings.)

Use a glue stick to spread glue on the back of a craft stick. Stick it firmly in the center of the coffee filter.

Add glue to the back of the coffee filter wings and press them gently onto a piece of construction paper. Once your butterflies are in place, add a set of antennae with a black marker.

Done!

With our second butterfly, we added silver circle stickers on the wing spots. But you can color them a different color or use any stickers you like!

Did your kids love making this coffee filter butterfly craft? Take a look at these other easy craft projects!

And see more fun things to make on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

20 Fun and Easy Sun Crafts for Kids

May 14, 2018 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Can you feel it? That’s summer in the air!

We’ve had an unusually cold and rainy spring here and I’m so psyched to finally see the sun again. Naturally, I had to find a list of easy sun crafts that would be perfect for welcoming summer (finally)!

When you’re working with preschoolers, these sun crafts would be excellent for learning about weather, the seasons, the solar system, and more. And if your kids are a bit older, these are perfect afternoon time fillers for those moments over summer break when they start to feel a little…restless.

Take a look at this list of easy sun crafts to find some simple projects you can share with the kids this year. I know you’ll love them!

Want more summer activities to try with the family? Don’t miss our list of simple summer crafts you can make or our list of wonderful summer books to read together!

20 Fun and Easy Sun Crafts for Kids

1. Coffee Filter Sun Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

2. DIY Garden Sundial – KC Edventures

3. Clothespin Sun Craft – Crafts On Sea

4. Jolly Sunshine Wand – Kids Craft Room

5. Layers of the Sun Paper Bowl – Red Ted Art

6. Upcycled Sun Crayons – Mama Smiles

7. Cardboard Sun Craft – The Preschool Toolkit

8. Tie-Dye Sun Suncatcher – Creative Family Fun

9. Paper Plate Sun Craft – Buggy and Buddy

10. Summer Suncatcher – Rainy Day Mum

11. Painted Sun Craft – Adventures in Mommydom

12. Paper Mache Sun – Red Ted Art

13. Handprint Sun Wall Art – The Best Ideas for Kids

14. Handprint Sun Craft – The Preschool Toolbox

15. Doily Sun Craft – Crafts On Sea

16. Sun Paper Plate Puppet – The Inspiration Edit

17. Sunshine Paper Plate Craft – The Soccer Mom Blog

18. Yarn Wrapped Sun Craft – I Heart Crafty Things

19. Pony Bead Suncatcher – School Time Snippets

20. CD Summer Sun Craft – The Kindergarten Connection

Did you like these easy sun crafts? Don’t miss these other simple crafts for the kids!

See even more craft ideas on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

Easy Toilet Roll Butterfly Craft for Kids

April 5, 2018 by Selena Robinson 5 Comments

I have to be honest: I haven’t been much of a crafter over the years. But, as the kids have grown up and shown an interest in making simple crafts, I’ve gotten into it with them. And I have to say: It’s been pretty fun!

Springtime, in particular, is a great season for making crafts. There are cute animals coming out all over the place and we can use our crafting projects to learn more about them.

So this spring we decided to make a cute and easy toilet roll butterfly craft!

See how to make this easy spring butterfly craft with your little ones below! And, for more adorable spring crafting fun, don’t miss our list of 30 spring animal crafts you can make with the kids!

Toilet Roll Butterfly Craft

To make this spring toilet roll butterfly craft, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are provided in this post. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

This craft literally came together in about 45 minutes from start to finish, so it was perfect for keeping the kids happy while we made dinner.

Cut a single sheet of construction paper in half horizontally. Then wrap the half sheet of construction paper around the toilet roll and secure with clear tape.

Next, fold the coffee filter in half and use a glue stick to seal it closed. Color the entire filter half.

Cut four small petal shapes out of a contrasting color of construction paper.

Glue two petal shapes on either side of the filter, then use a crayon to color a dot in the center of each petal. These are your butterfly’s “wings”.

Use the glue stick to attach the wings to the toilet roll.

Cut off a small piece of a colored pipe cleaner and fold it into a “V” shape. Tape it to the back of the toilet roll. These are your butterfly’s “antennae”.

Finally, use a marker to add eyes and a smile. You’re done!

You can make these in all kinds of colors!

If you enjoy this toilet roll butterfly craft, check out some of other spring activities!

Plus, get more ideas on my Spring Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Ladybug Craft

March 27, 2018 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Even though I’m not the biggest fan of bugs, I adore little ladybugs. They’re so dainty and delicate that I almost don’t even consider them bugs. They’re more like debutantes that just happen to have wings and more than two legs.

Since we’ve been busy making coffee filter crafts for kids over the past few weeks (and because I’m still no closer to using up my 350 coffee filters), I thought we’d make a fun and simple coffee filter ladybug craft! This is a fabulous crafting project for young kids or big groups of children, especially if you need something that doesn’t require a lot of supplies.

This would be a fun addition to a bug unit or a spring unit study. And if you want more fun bug learning ideas, check out this list of kids’ activities about insects! And be sure to try our Ladybug Fraction activity while you’re at it!

Coffee Filter Craft for Kids: Coffee Filter Ladybug Craft

To make this coffee filter ladybug craft, you’ll need the following craft supplies: (Affiliate links are provided here for your convenience. For more, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Before you get started, remember to flatten out the coffee filter. A simple way to do it is to lay it on a table and rest a book on top for an hour or so.

Draw a small semi-circle at the edge of one side of the filter. Then use a black crayon to draw a line down the center of the rest of the coffee filter.

Color both halves of the filter red.

Now color the semi-circle black. Use a glue stick to glue the coffee filter onto a piece of construction paper.

Cut four rough circles out of a piece of black construction paper.

Use the glue stick to glue two black circles on either side of the ladybug.

Add six legs to your ladybug and a few blades of grass and you’re done!

This was such a simple craft that you can easily make it with the kids in a few minutes. Perfect for reinforcing scissor skills, coloring, and pasting!

Be sure to check out more easy crafting ideas for the kids!

Get more fun (and easy) craft ideas on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

And score lots of exclusive printables for early learners when you subscribe to our email newsletter!

30 Adorable Spring Animal Crafts and Activities

March 20, 2018 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

Can’t get enough spring craft ideas? Me neither! We’re finally getting longer periods of sunlight, the last of our cold weather snaps have (thankfully!) left, and it’s time to officially welcome spring!

We see so many different kinds of animals in our area and springtime is a great time to try some adorable spring animal crafts and activities with the kids! There are 30 below for you and the kids to choose from for some simple spring crafting fun!

If you try any of these, let me know which ones you and your kids loved. And, for more spring learning, check out this list of 50 spring books for kids to enjoy!

30 Adorable Spring Animal Crafts and Activities

1. Farm Paper Bag Puppets – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Fuzzy Pom-Pom Chick Craft – There’s Just One Mommy

3. Pom-Pom Sheep Craft – A Crafty Arab

4. Hatching Chicks Craft – Buggy and Buddy

5. Butterfly Nature Craft – Mother Natured

6. Pom-Pom Frog Life Cycle Craft – Adventure In A Box

7. Shear the Sheep Cutting Craft – School Time Snippets

8. Handprint Sheep Craft – There’s Just One Mommy

9. Rocking Paper Plate Sheep – Red Ted Art

10. Birds In A Nest Craft – Crystal and Co.

11. Clothespin Butterfly Magnet Craft – The Inspiration Edit

12. Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft – Messy Little Monster

13. Doily Rabbit Craft – Crafts On Sea

14. Paper Plate Spring Chick Craft – School Time Snippets

15. Stamped Paper Sheep Craft – Buggy and Buddy

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75 Easy Spring Crafts for Kids

March 12, 2018 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

I simply cannot wait for spring. Everything wakes up from the winter sleep: the trees start to bloom, the birds come back from their migration South, and even the bugs start crawling around again.

It’s a wonderful time of year to share some crafting fun and these easy spring crafts for kids are packed with fun projects you can do with your little ones! All of these crafts require six supplies or less, so you’ll have no trouble making them – even if you’re running short on time!

Take a look at this list to find something you and your children can craft together. And, if you want more spring fun, add to your spring learning with this list of 50 spring books to read with kids!

75 Easy Spring Crafts for Kids

1. Coffee Filter Flower Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Spring Flowers Craft – Teach Me Mommy

3. Torn Paper Flowers – 3 Dinosaurs

4. Easy Mosaic Flower Craft – Crafts On Sea

5. DIY Flower Letters – Everyday Savvy

6. Painted Garden Rocks – Little Sprouts Learning

7. Shape Bird Craft – Fantastic Fun and Learning

8. Spring Paper Flowers – Kitchen Counter Chronicles

9. Bottle Top Spring Flowers – Blue Bear Wood

10. Brood of Chicks Feelings Craft – Mosswood Connections

11. Toilet Paper Roll Flowers Craft – The Best Ideas for Kids

12. Clothespin Bee Craft – Non-Toy Gifts

13. Clothespin Butterfly Craft – Crystal and Co.

14. Neon Egg Carton Flowers – Moms and Crafters

15. Rocking Paper Plate Sheep – Red Ted Art

16. Pasta Flowers Craft – Capri + 3

17. Handprint Bunny Craft – Really Are You Serious

18. Hairy Spring Gardening Craft – Mom Vs. The Boys

19. Magazine Butterfly Craft – There’s Just One Mommy

20. Ladybug Teacher Thank You Card – The Soccer Mom Blog

21. Painted Flower Pots – KC Edventures

22. Rainbow Footprint Butterfly Craft – Messy Little Monster

23. Paper Plate Spring Chick – School Time Snippets

24. Watercolor Dragonflies Craft – Nemscok Farms

25. Tissue Paper Flower Bracelet – Buggy and Buddy

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20 Simple Rainy Day Activities for Kids

March 6, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

There’s nothing our kids love more than being able to run around and play outside. My kids just love spending the afternoon out in the yard, exploring nature, playing basketball, or even drawing on the sidewalk. However, there’s always one thing that can ruin a day of outdoor play, and that’s rain. It never fails that with the first raindrop we start hearing the complaints of “I’m bored.”

But, there are plenty of fun and entertaining ways to spend a day indoors for kids, and you can even do these activities with them! Here are 20 fun rainy day activities to do with your kids that are both simple and educational!

Need even more ways to have fun indoors? Check out this list of 50 ways to beat cabin fever with your kids!

20 Simple Rainy Day Activities for Kids

1. Raincloud Adding to Make Ten Activity – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Make a Ball Maze – Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls

3. Draw with Your Feet – Art Bar

4. LEGO Sensory Soup – And Next Comes L

5. Coin Sorting Activity – Rhythms of Play

6. Paper Plate Targets – All for the Boys

7. Escape the Volcano Shape Game – Toddler Approved

8. Indoor Scavenger Hunt – The Mother Chic

9. DIY Angry Birds Game – Make Great

10. Indoor Classic Golf – For Your Family

11. Coffee Filter Flower Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

12. Make an Activity Cube – My Mini Adventurer

13. Indoor Hopscotch – Happy Hooligans

14. Sticky Spider Web Game – Hands On as We Grow

15. Puzzle Hunt – No Time for Flashcards

16. Make a Rain Cloud In a Jar – Homeschool Preschool

17. Write Bio Poetry – Proud to be Primary

18. Rainwater Harvesting Experiment – Teach Beside Me

19. Rainbow Rainy Day Art Project – Rhythms of Play

20. Taste-Safe Window Gel Clings – Science Kiddo

Share these other fun learning activities with your little ones!

Get more fun indoor activity ideas on my Indoor Play Pinterest board!

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Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Flower Craft

March 5, 2018 by Selena Robinson 7 Comments

Springtime is one of the bestest times of the year. The air is warming, the flowers are blooming, and the kids and I get back to crafting!

Spring is a great time to get into crafting with your kids. There are so many fun and easy craft ideas for spring that you can make with almost no extra supplies at all!

We’ve been making lots of coffee filter crafts for kids lately and, with spring coming, I thought it was a good time to share this super simple coffee filter flower craft!

Like our coffee filter basketball craft, this is one that you only need a handful of supplies to make. And I can almost guarantee that you have them in your pantry already. 😉

Read on to get the full supply list and instructions.

If you’re looking for more simple crafting fun, check out this list of super easy preschool crafts you can make in 10 minutes!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Flower Craft

To make this, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For more, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Start by flattening out two white coffee filters. Use a bright color to color the center of each filter completely.

Use a glue stick to glue the filter centers onto separate pieces of construction paper.

Then use a green crayon to draw a flower stem and leaves.

You can make these flowers using almost any colors you like!

Make a pair to give to a friend this spring!

You could also overlap the two “flowers” and glue them to one piece of construction paper. Just be sure to draw the stems closer – as if they’re being held together.

You can even add some “grass” to the picture and you’re done!

If you want to add a bit more color, let the kids color the outside circle with a bright flowery color, leaving the center untouched.

You can either use a different color on the center or just leave it white.

Wasn’t that simple? This coffee filter flower craft really and truly takes five minutes. I’ve timed it. 🙂

Get more simple crafts and learning ideas for spring below!

See even more spring fun for the family on my Spring Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Rainbow Craft

February 12, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

When you’re looking for a simple craft material, you cannot go wrong with coffee filters. I really didn’t think much about using them for art projects with the kids until I ended up buying way too many at once. But it turns out that you can use coffee filters as the basis for lots of crafts!

Since springtime is (finally!) on the way, I wanted to start making some fun spring crafts with our kids and that’s how we ended up making another one of our coffee filter crafts for kids – a simple coffee filter rainbow craft! This is such a fun project that only takes a few minutes to make!

If you want to read about these incredible atmospheric phenomena, don’t miss our list of beautiful rainbow books to share with kids!

And be sure to see our list of 50 spring crafts for even more spring crafting projects kids can make!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Rainbow Craft

To make this coffee filter rainbow craft, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. See our Disclosure Policy for details.)

To start, you’ll need to cut the bottom fourth off of the filter. You want to make the bottom level.

Like so. It’s always good to cut a little less than you think you need and then adjust as needed. If you want the kids to do this on their own, you can fold the part that you want them to cut down so that they can use child-safe scissors to follow the cutting line.

Then use the scissors to cut out a half-circle from the center. It’s tempting to just cut the entire middle circle out, but that might not leave the kids with enough space to add all the colors of the rainbow. So try to cut a smaller half-circle than you see.

Then use the glue stick to glue the cut coffee filter onto the upper center of a piece of blue construction paper.

This project is a great time to talk about the colors of the rainbow. In this craft, we decided to keep our colors in the order they actually appear in the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

A simple way to help kids remember this is to use the acronym below:

R – red

O – orange

Y – yellow

G – green

B – blue

I – indigo

V – violet

Let the kids start coloring a squiggle line with each crayon color to make their rainbow colors. They can make circles, they can color solid lines, or they can use any other drawing shape they like!

Once the colors are done, it’s time to add some clouds!

Use the glue stick to spread glue onto the bottom of each side of the rainbow arc. Place three cotton balls at one end of the arc and press lightly.

Do the same on the other side. You might want to hold up the picture to make sure the cotton balls are glued on completely.

Then just draw a few other clouds in the background.

And you’re done!

It’s neat to make this craft in traditional rainbow colors, but you can always let the kids come up with their own color schemes! A pink background with a rainbow made of neutral colors actually sounds pretty neat too. See how creative the kids can be!

Don’t miss these other fun rainbow learning ideas!

$Work on math skills with this fun rainbow number word matching activity for kids!$

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See more fun spring crafts and lessons on my Spring Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

25 Chocolate Craft Ideas and Activities for Kids

January 23, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Is there anything on earth better than chocolate? *thinks for a minute*

Yeah, I’d have to say no.

So when it comes to making learning fun, I love the idea of adding chocolate to the mix!

I thought these fun chocolate craft ideas and activities for kids would be a neat way to give winter learning a little “sweetness”, so I’ve rounded up 25 different resources below that kids (and their parents) will love! There are chocolate crafts, chocolate sensory play ideas, chocolate-themed printables, and even chocolate science experiments below to explore!

Want even more chocolate learning fun? Don’t miss our list of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory craft ideas that go wonderfully with the book or the movie!

25 Chocolate Craft Ideas and Activities for Kids

1. Pick up some free Chocolate Notebooking Pages for the kids!

2. Combine snacks with science experiments in this fun Hot Chocolate Science activity!

3. This adorable Cookie Jar Number Matching printable is so cute for chocolate chip cookie lovers!

4. The kids will love exploring the touch and smell of this No-Cook Chocolate Playdough!

5. Even toddlers can make art with this easy Edible Chocolate Paint!

6. This Pom-Pom Hot Cocoa Mug Craft is just too adorable!

7. Kids will get a kick out of eating these Snowy Chocolate Pinecone Snacks. They actually look like pinecones!

8. Let the little ones make their own cocoa with this DIY Hot Chocolate Bar!

9. This simple Puffy Paint Chocolate Chip Cookie Craft is a fun art project to try!

10. We’ve made oobleck before, but I’ve got to give this Chocolate Oobleck a try!

11. Get some early math practice with this Hot Chocolate Ten Frame Addition printable!

12. Introduce the kids to engineering with these easy Hot Chocolate Marshmallow Sculptures!

13. Grab these Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Notebooking Printables to complete as you read the book!

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Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Penguin Craft

January 8, 2018 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

We live in Georgia. So if we want to experience real winter weather, we usually have to travel pretty far north. Naturally, there was no way we would ever see penguins in their natural habitat.

But we did get to visit the Georgia Aquarium a few years back and when we stopped at the penguin exhibit, we got to see them running around, diving into the water, shooting through the water like rockets, and more. It turns out that penguins are pretty entertaining.

We’ve gotten to make a few animals as part of our coffee filter crafts for kids series. Now that winter is here, we had to add a coffee filter penguin craft to the mix! Read on to see how you can make one with your kids too!

When you finish making this, add more of our winter-themed coffee filter craft projects! You can make a coffee filter moose craft or a jolly coffee filter snowman too!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Penguin Craft

To make this coffee filter penguin craft, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links provided for convenience. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Start by gluing the coffee filter in the center of the construction paper. After that, use a black crayon to draw two indented lines toward the top of the filter. (You’re outlining the white part of the penguin’s face.)

Color the spaces on either side of those lines black.

Like so.

Our penguin is pretty sleepy, so we drew it with eyes closed.

What long eyelashes you have, penguin! (Actually, it kind of looks like a ninja at the moment.)

Then we used the safety scissors to cut a triangle out of orange construction paper. Then we glued it in the center to form the beak.

Finally, we added a few falling snow flurries in the background.

At this point, you could really be finished. But we wanted to make our penguin into a lady bird.

So we gave her two blush circles on her cheeks out of pink construction paper. Isn’t she lovely?

Love this craft? Try these other simple projects for kids!

See even more cute crafts on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

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21 Fun Winter Activities for Kids

January 1, 2018 by Selena Robinson 4 Comments

Brrrrr!!! Winter is definitely here! It got down to the teens here today, which is exceptionally rare here in Georgia. So I thought it would be fun to feature some great winter activities for kids!

Winter is not my favorite season, not by far. There’s something about cold weather that just makes me want to curl up into a ball and refuse to leave my bed. But the kids love it and I want them to have a fun winter, even if I’d rather be hiding under the covers. 🙂

And that’s why I’m sharing the fun winter activities below! There are cute wintry crafts for little ones, winter-themed early literacy activities, and winter games that are perfect for throwing a snow day party with the kids!

If you enjoy these, take a look at our list of 50 cozy winter books to share with the kids! Or get a look at even more art projects in our list of 50 winter crafts!

21 Fun Winter Activities for Kids

1. Use these Winter Sight Words Flashcards to practice early reading skills!

2. This Printable Winter Bingo Game is such a cute winter game for kids!

3. Let the kids get some sensory play with this Winter Sensory Bin!

4. Have some Winter Playdough Fun with the little ones!

5. Read some of these beautiful Books about the Winter Solstice!

6. This snowy Winter Slime is a great play activity for little hands!

7. Your little superhero fans will love making paper snowflakes with these Batman Snowflake Templates!

8. These Salt-Painted Snowflakes are beautiful!

9. Make these simple Winter Candle Luminaries for some soft winter light!

10. Kids will love trying this Snow Crystal Science Experiment!

11. Get to know animals that live in the Arctic Circle with these Arctic Animal Flashcards!

12. Introduce the kids to abstract art with this Abstract Winter Art activity!

13. This easy Simple Snowman Sensory Bin is so simple to set up!

14. Kids will love making this Sticky Yarn Snowflake Craft!

15. The Yeti might be a legend, but this Cardboard Tube Yeti Craft is so adorable!

16. Preschoolers will love making mixed media art with this Winter Bubble Wrap Tree Craft!

17. Make some feathered friends with these Craft Stick Macaroni Penguins!

18. Let the kids use these Preschool Snowman Printables for early learning!

19. These Watercolor and Oil Pastel Resist Snowflakes are so pretty! Let the kids hang them in the window!

20. Get some fine motor skill practice with these Yarn-Wrapped Snowflakes!

21. Practice simple counting with these printable Snowflake Counting Flashcards!

Like these fun kids’ activities? Take a look at these other learning ideas and crafts!

See even more fun ways to spend winter with the family on my Winter Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

And receive exclusive learning ideas and printables in your inbox when you sign up for our email newsletter!

Easy DIY Flubber for Kids

December 18, 2017 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

My kids, like most children, love to play with playdough. So we’ve done a LOT of playdough activities for kids over the years. But for a new sensory experience, we decided to make something different: DIY flubber!

And it turned out really, really well. In fact, it worked out so perfectly that I…uh…played with it too. I regret nothing. 🙂

Read on to see how we made flubber using just a few household ingredients! And if you like this simple activity, check out our list of super easy preschool crafts you can make in just 10 minutes!

Easy DIY Flubber for Kids!

We decided to try out a very popular recipe for making flubber. If you’re not familiar with flubber, it also goes by the names “slime” and “gak”. It’s pretty much a stiff kind of “Magic Muck“, which we made a while back. But it’s very solid, so it’s easy to clean up after. Win!

The project was originally shared from Live Craft Eat and it turned out to be a great recipe for DIY flubber! It took about five minutes.

You’ll just need a few ingredients: (Affiliate links provided for convenience. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

The kids were fascinated at the various textures of the flubber. It felt slippery initially, but then it turned rubbery the more we used it.

We could even make handprints with it!

We also found that when we stretched the flubber out and then let it sit on the table for a while, it returned to a single flat puddle on its own.

It even breaks cleanly when you pull it, but it slowly returns to a flat blob in time.

But if you pick it up, it will run through your fingers! Super, super cool.

If you prefer to make DIY flubber without Borax, I found this great Borax-free flubber recipe from Little Bins for Little Hands. Works just as well! 😉

Have you tried learning how to make DIY flubber? Did the recipe work out? Let us know your experiences in the comments!

Try these other great crafts for kids!

And see even more sensory ideas on my Sensory Play Pinterest board!

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