Crafts Archives

Fun Paper Pirate Ship Craft for Kids

June 8, 2021 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Ahoy mateys!

Do you have kids or students who are fans of all things pirate? Then this fun paper pirate ship craft for kids is for you!

Pirates have been an object of fascination for centuries. When I was young, I was interested to learn about the adventures of Long John Silver, Blackbeard (Edward Teague), and more.

If you’re covering a pirate unit, this is a perfect pirate craft to add for art time!

Read on to get the printable template and make this pirate ship for kids yourself.

And, for more fun with a pirate theme, keep reading to check out our printable pirate counting to ten puzzles!

This fun paper pirate ship craft is a perfect activity for a pirate unit!

What Supplies Do You Need to Make a Paper Pirate Ship Craft?

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

Colored craft paper
Brown cardstock
Craft glue
Pencil
Scissors
Washable markers (optional)
Printable pirate ship craft template (Get it >> HERE <<)

Start by printing out the pirate ship template. Cut out the individual ship pieces and trace the ship’s parts onto the cardstock.

Cut out all of the cardstock ship parts. Take note of the yellow lines on the ship template pieces. You’ll use those to trace fold lines on the ship sides in a few minutes.

The sails, flag, and mast are made with craft paper, which is thinner than cardstock. Trace those pieces onto colored craft paper and cut them out.

How to Make a Paper Pirate Ship Craft

Now that all the pirate ship craft supplies are ready, we can get to work.

If you haven’t traced the yellow fold line onto the ship sides, do that now.

Fold creases along the yellow lines. Use scissors to cut vertical slits along the bottom edge of the ship’s sides – up to the folded crease.

Then spread glue along the folded part of one of the ship’s sides.

Attach the ship’s base by pressing one side onto the folded glue edge of the ship’s side.

Repeat this step on the other side.

Fold a crease along the fold line, cut vertical slits up to the fold line, and add glue. Press the other side of the base firmly onto the glue to stick it in place.

Now, bring the front edges of the ship together.

Spread glue between the two sides at the front edge and press them together to secure the front.

Attach the back piece by folding along the crease line and gluing the folded edges onto the back ends of the ship’s sides.

It’s time to get ready to raise the flag!

Cut out the mast base template and trace it onto cardstock. Trace the fold lines onto the cardstock and fold creases along the lines.

Make a small hole in the center of the mast base.

Spread glue along the folded ends and press the ends down in the center of the pirate ship’s base. Keep the center raised.

Trace the anchor onto a contrasting piece of colored cardstock and cut it out. Glue it onto the front end of one of the ship’s sides.

Trace the window circles onto colored craft paper and glue them onto the back end of the ship’s sides. You may want to trace around them with marker.

If you like, add a contrasting border along the bottom with colored craft paper.

Time to work on the flag and the sails!

Trace the sails, flag, and mast template pieces onto colored craft paper. Cut them out.

Punch holes in the center of the top and bottom edges of the sails. Use glue to attach the skull and crossbones pieces onto the flag.

Roll the mast piece tightly into a vertical tube. Use glue to secure the edges tightly, forming the mast. Attach the pirate flag to the top with glue.

Finally, thread the mast through the sails so that the sails “billow” outward.

Stick the end of the mast through the mast base in the ship’s bottom and you’re done!

A fearsome pirate ship craft that’s ready to take on the high seas!

Keep reading to get the printable craft instructions below!

Pirate Counting to Ten Puzzles

Add even more to your pirate unit with these printable pirate counting to ten puzzles!

These are so cute for early learners who are practicing counting using objects and numbers!

Plus, they’re self-checking, which makes it easy for even little ones to know if they’ve matched up the correct pairs.

To get your set of these pirate counting puzzles free, just click the image or the link below to have them sent to your email inbox!>

You’ll also get our weekly newsletter – coming this weekend!

>>> Pirate Counting to Ten Puzzles <<<

Scroll down to get the printable pirate ship instructions!

Try some of these other easy craft ideas for kids!

This simple paper bee craft is a fun way to make an easy spring or summer craft with kids!

Make this fun and easy 3D paper dolphin craft for a fun art project to share with kids! Great for a summer art activity!

Make this easy toilet paper roll lion craft with the kids for a fun art activity!

Pick up the printable paper pirate ship craft instructions below!

Paper Pirate Ship Craft for Kids

Use the printable template and a few supplies to make this fun paper pirate ship craft with kids!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Active Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

Colored craft paper
Colored cardstock
Markers (optional)
Pencil
Scissors
Craft glue
Printable paper ship template (link in post)

Instructions

Download and print the printable paper pirate craft template.
Cut out the individual pirate ship pieces.
Trace the ship's parts onto colored cardstock and cut them out.
Trace the yellow fold lines onto the ship's cut pieces and fold along those lines.
Cut vertical slits along the lines up to the top of the creases.
Spread glue along the crease line of one of the ship's sides. Attach the ship's base by pressing one of the edges against the side crease.
Do the same on the other side, gluing the opposite edge of the base to the other ship's side. Be sure to fold along the crease and add glue to the folded edge.
Glue the front of both of the ship's sides together, forming the bow.
Attach the backside of the ship by tracing the fold lines onto the back template and folding along the lines. Glue the back piece onto the back ends of the ship's sides.
Cut out the mast base template and trace it onto cardstock. Punch a hole in the center and fold along the fold lines on each end.
Glue the mast base onto the center of the ship's base, leaving the center elevated.
Trace the anchor template onto cardstock and cut it out. Glue it on the front of the ship's side.
Trace the window cut out circles onto craft paper and add it to the rear of the ship. You may want to trace around the circles with marker.
Trace the border onto a different color of cardstock and glue it around the bottom of the ship, if desired.
Trace the flag, mast, and sail pieces onto colored craft paper and cut them out.
Use glue to attach the skull and crossbones to the flag.
Roll the mast paper tightly, forming a vertical tube. Secure the ends with craft glue.
Attach the flag to the top of the mast using glue.
Punch holes onto the top and bottom edges of the sails. Thread the mast through the holes in the sails, causing them to billow in the center.
Insert the bottom end of the mast into the hole in the mast base to stand the flag up.

Easy Paper Bee Craft for Kids

April 13, 2021 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Spring is here and summer’s not far behind.

Down here in the South, we have about three weeks a year that actually feel like spring. Then it shifts directly into summer heat.

Which means that we start to see bees and butterflies pretty early in the year – around April.

Once we learned that bumblebees don’t sting, my kids started to feel a lot more comfortable about them. They’re like little furry friends.

So this fun and easy paper bee craft for kids is a cute way to celebrate our flying friends this spring!

Read on to see the full instructions and to get the free printable template. There’s a printable instruction card below as well.

And, for more easy crafting, check out our Paper Ladybug Craft for kids too!

What Supplies Do I Need to Make an Easy Paper Bee Craft for Kids?

This is a perfect quick spring or summer craft activity for little ones. You only need a few supplies that you almost certainly have in your home already.

Even better, you can make adjustments for anything you don’t have on hand.

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

Colored craft paper
Glue stick or clear tape
Child-safe scissors
Wiggly eyes
Washable markers or colored pencils
Printable bee craft paper template (GET IT HERE)

After you print the paper bee craft template, just trace the shapes on colored paper, cut them out, and go from there.

If you’re making this with a group of kids, you can prep the activity by cutting out the template shapes ahead of time.

That way, kids can get right to crafting!

If you don’t have wiggly eyes on hand, skip those and just let the kids draw eyes on their bees. Still works!

How to Make an Easy Paper Bee Craft for Kids

Now that you have the printable template and your shapes are cut out, it’s time to make our paper bee!

Start by gluing the black strips to the yellow cone shape. Roll the yellow paper to form the cone and glue the ends together.

Now, fold the white “wings” in half vertically so that they’ll bend forward a bit.

Glue the two short black strips to the back of the yellow circle and add wiggly eyes to the front of the circle.

Draw circles on the cheeks and a smile!

Glue or tape the wings to the back of the bee’s cone body. You’ll want to place them about halfway up.

Now, just glue the back of the face to the top front of the cone.

That’s it! Your bee is ready to stand up.

Isn’t he sweet?

Scroll down to get the printable bee craft instructions!

Try some of these other easy paper crafts for kids!

Try this simple paper elephant craft for a fun kids crafting activity!

Make this easy sea animal suncatcher craft for a simple summer art project this year!

Yield: 1 paper bee

Easy Paper Bee Craft for Kids

This simple paper bee craft is a perfect spring or summer art activity for kids!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

Yellow paper
Black paper
White paper
Glue or tape
Wiggly eyes
Printable paper bee craft template (link included above)

Tools

Markers or colored pencils
Child-safe scissors

Instructions

Print the paper bee craft template.
Use scissors to cut out the template shapes.
Place the cone shape on yellow colored paper. Use a marker or colored pencil to trace the outline. Then cut it out.
Place the circle shape on yellow colored paper. Use a marker or colored pencil to trace the outline. Then cut it out.
Place the rectangular strip shapes on black colored paper. Use a marker or colored pencil to trace the outlines. Then cut them out. (You will need four of the longest rectangular strips.)
Place the wing shape on white paper. Use a marker or colored pencil to trace the outlines. Then cut it out. Fold the wing shape in half vertically.
Lay the yellow cone shaped paper out on a surface. Lay the longest black strips across it horizontally. Space them out evenly and glue them down.
Use scissors to trim any black paper that hangs off the edge of the yellow cone.
Roll the yellow paper to form the cone shape for the bee's body. Use tape or glue to secure it together.
Place glue along the center fold of the wings. Attach them to the back of the yellow and black striped cone.
Lay the yellow circle shape down and glue the two smaller black strips close to the edge to form the bee's antennae.
Flip the circle over and add two wiggly eyes.
Use a marker or colored pencil to draw circles on the cheeks and a smile.
Flip the circle over again and add glue on the back.
Press the circle onto the top front of the yellow and black body.
Your bee is done!

Notes

This craft is designed with traditional bee colors (black and yellow). Feel free to change the colors as you wish.

Kids can add more details to their bees, such as eyelashes, a winking eye, eyebrows, makeup, and more!

Make several copies of these bees to form a bee colony!

Easy Paper Elephant Craft for Kids

July 6, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Of the attractions in our city, our favorite is the zoo. Hands down.

Whenever we go, I usually head for the African Savannah exhibit so I can get a look at the elephants.

The last time we went, we actually got to see an elephant jogging directly towards us. I caught it on camera.

It was awesome.

For kids who love elephants, making this fun and easy paper elephant craft is a cute way to spend some crafting time!

Simple Paper Elephant Craft to Make with Kids

This is a really simple art project that only requires a couple of basic supplies, so it’s great for a quick art lesson.

Read on to get the full project instructions.

And, be sure to try our 3D Paper Dolphin Craft too!

Easy Paper Elephant Craft for Kids

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

Printer (with ink)
Printer paper
Child-safe scissors
Construction paper
Colored pencils
Glue stick
A copy of our free printable elephant craft template (link located farther down)

Supplies to Make an Elephant Craft for Kids

How to Make an Easy Paper Elephant Craft

To get started, print the template and use a pencil to trace the outline of each shape onto construction paper.

Use white for the eyes and hooves. Use gray for the head, body, legs, and trunk.

Light pink works well for the ears and a bright pink is good for the elephant’s cheeks.

Start by gluing the hooves onto the bottom of the legs.

Then attach two of the legs to the bottom of the body.

Give your elephant four legs by attaching the remaining two legs slightly to the left and behind of the front legs.

Use the glue stick to attach the trunk to the bottom of the head and the light pink ears on the left and right side.

Glue the eyes in the center of the elephant’s face. Then place the two “cheeks” on either side of the trunk.

Use a glue stick to attach the head to the body.

And you’re done!

Your elephant is all set to explore the jungle!

Simple Paper Elephant Craft for Kids to Make

Scroll down to get the printable template for this Paper Elephant Craft!

Try some of these other fun craft ideas for kids!

To get the printable Elephant Paper Craft template, click the image or the link below to download it to your computer!

>>> Elephant Paper Craft Template <<<

Easy Sea Animal Suncatcher Craft for Kids

July 2, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Have you ever been to the beach and picked up a sand dollar?

I remember finding one in the sand when I was about eleven. I brought it home with the intention of turning it into something, but never did.

Since then, I’ve found out that picking up sand dollars is not really the best thing to do. It’s best for them and the environment to leave them put.

But if you still want to have a memento of a beach trip or just a cool way to memorialize ocean life, this sea animal suncatcher craft is a cute project for kids!

Fun Sea Animal Suncatcher Craft for Kids

This is a really fun summer art project for little ones.

It’s also great for teaching color families, sea life, number recognition, and fine motor skills – all at once!

Keep reading to get the full project instructions – and the free craft template. And, for more fun with ocean animals, take a look at our easy Coffee Filter Crab Craft!

Easy Sea Animal Suncatcher Craft for Kids

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

Printer (with ink)
Printer Paper
Child-safe scissors
Glue stick
Colored pencils or crayons
A copy of our free Sea Animal Suncatcher Template (located further down the page)

Start by printing out the blank color code page, the color key, and the animal templates you plan to use.

Use the color key to see how to fill in your suncatcher coded template.

All of the colors are on the bright side of the spectrum, but you can really use any five colors you choose.

A completed color coded page is also included, if you want to double check how the finished page should look.

Now, let the kids use child-safe scissors to cut out the animal template.

Glue the animal silhouette to the center of the finished color coded page.

Lovely Sea Animal Suncatcher Craft for Kids

All that’s left to do now is hang it in a window!

You can make a cardboard frame for the outside edges, if you like. Or just add masking tape to the back to place it in a sunny spot!

Scroll down to get your Sea Animal Suncatcher Craft Template!

Love this project? Try some other summer-themed crafts!

To get your copy of the template for this Sea Animal Suncatcher, click the image or the link below to download it directly to your computer!

Easy Sea Animal Suncatcher Craft for Kids

>>> Sea Animal Suncatcher Template <<<

40 Simple Summer Crafts for Kids

June 8, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

One of the things I love best about summer is that it’s such a relaxed time.

While we still continue schooling, we do so without making lesson plans or trying to meet objectives.

Unfortunately, that also leaves a lot of free time for the kids.

And it only takes a couple of days into June before they’re shouting “Mom, I’m bored!”

That makes summer a great time of year to do some crafting. And these simple summer crafts for kids are perfect!

Each of these crafts requires six or fewer supplies, so they’re awesome for quick art activities, afternoon family fun, or easy projects for the…ahem….not so crafty among us. (Myself included.)

Take a look to find some easy summer crafts you’ll love to share with the kids!

And, for more summer fun, don’t miss our list of 50 summer books to share during read-aloud time!

40 Simple Summer Crafts for Kids:

1. Toilet Roll Butterfly Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Seaside Shell Windchime – Red Ted Art

3. Easy Pebble Art – Blue Bear Wood

4. Pool Noodle Shark – J Daniel 4’s Mom

5. DIY Bubble Snake Blower – Messy Little Monster

6. Paper Roll Flowers – The Best Ideas for Kids

7. Glowing Campfire Craft – Buggy and Buddy

8. Painted Seashell Craft – Moms and Crafters

9. Coffee Filter Crab Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

10. Tin Can Lanterns – Rainy Day Mum

11. Threaded Watermelon Craft – Homebound But Hopeful

12. Flower Petal Suncatcher – Messy Little Monster

13. Salt Dough Shell Pendants – Red Ted Art

14. Starfish and Sand Paper Plate Craft – J Daniel 4’s Mom

15. Egg Carton Bee – Buggy and Buddy

16. Decorated Sunglasses – Moms and Crafters

17. Coffee Filter Jellyfish Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

18. Grass Seed Art – Blue Bear Wood

19. DIY Friendship Bracelets – Red Ted Art

20. Painted Watermelon Craft – Homeschool Preschool

See more simple summer crafts for kids on page 2!

Pages: 1 2

25 Super Easy Preschool Crafts You Can Make in 10 Minutes

May 28, 2020 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

I love to make crafts with my kids, especially when they’re very young.

What I don’t like is having to buy a whole lot of supplies (and expensive ones, at that!) for a project that I’ll only do once.

So, when I make a craft with my preschooler, I always prefer to do one that I can get done in 10 minutes or less.

After all, Pre-K kids have pretty short attention spans.

If you’re looking for some simple crafting fun for young kids, try this list of super easy preschool crafts you can make in just 10 minutes!

This list is full of easy PreK crafts for each season.

Some work well for spring, others for summer or fall, some are perfect for winter – and some are great any time of the year!

Read on the see the full list. And for more simple preschool ideas, check out my list of 10 preschool learning activities you can do in 10 minutes!

25 Super Easy Preschool Crafts

1. Toilet Roll Butterfly Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Torn Paper Fall Tree Craft – Hands On As We Grow

3. Easy Snowflake Craft – Mama Smiles

4. No-Sew Sock Snowman Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun

5. Easy Wax Boats – Housing a Forest

6. Train Tape Resist Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

7. Easy Craft Stick Snakes – Crafty Morning

8. Coffee Filter Apple Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

9. Easy Shapes Salt Truck Craft – Sugar Aunts

10. Pringles Can Binoculars – Happy Hooligans

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

12. Easy Paper Plate Watermelon Craft – ABC Creative Learning

13. Simple Fork Print Sunflower Craft – Crafty Morning

14. Simple Farm Craft with Stickers – I Heart Crafty Things

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

16. Shape School Bus Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

17. Simple Cardboard Tube Construction Set – Inner Child Fun

18. Simple Craft Stick Photo Frame – Living Montessori Now

19. Woven Craft Stick Butterflies – The Craft Train

20. Sea Shell Salt Dough Craft – Teach Mama

21. Farm Shoebox Diorama – Look! We’re Learning!

22. Simple Airplane Craft – Learning 4 Kids

23. Paper Plate Cars – Glued to My Crafts

24. Clothespin Snowman Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun

25. Easy Shape Car Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

Did you like this post? Try these other early learning ideas!

This post is part of the Crafts for Kids Unit Study roundup! Stop by to read other great kids’ crafts posts from my fellow educators!

How to Create a Kids Crafting Kit {Free Printable Shopping List} from Crafty Mama in ME

9 Great Craft Book for Kids from Faith and Good Works

Unicorn Crafts for Kids from Schooling a Monkey

Most Popular Kids Crafts of the Year from The Moments at Home

Letter F Craft: Flamingo Fun! from Mrs. Karle’s Sight and Sound Reading

3D Paper Dolphin Craft for Kids

May 14, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Atlanta is home to the Georgia Aquarium – one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world.

We’ve gotten to take our children there a few times and they were always thrilled to see such incredible marine animals up close.

One of the attractions there is a live dolphin show, which we got to attend. And that was when I learned that dolphins are incredible creatures.

They can be trained to do amazing stunts, they communicate with one another, and they are extremely intelligent.

Plus, they’re beautiful to look at.

I thought a dolphin-themed art activity would be a nice summer project for the kids, so here’s a 3D paper dolphin craft you can make with little ones!

This is such a cool art project, because it stands up on its own. So kids can keep it after they’re done.

(Between you and me, our refrigerator door simply cannot hold any more works of art.)

Get the full dolphin craft instructions below!

And, for another ocean art project, try our Coffee Filter Jellyfish Craft!

What Supplies Do You Need to Make a 3D Paper Dolphin Craft?

What I like the most about this dolphin craft is that you don’t need anything fancy to make it.

You probably already have the supplies from working on other crafts. No last-minute shopping trip needed!

To make this 3D paper dolphin craft, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Start by downloading the Paper Dolphin Craft template. You’ll need this to print the shapes for making the dolphin.

After you’ve downloaded the printable, print it out on white paper. Then use scissors to cut out each piece.

How to Make a 3D Paper Dolphin Craft

Now it’s time to get crafting!

Use a pencil or a pen to trace each of the template shapes onto colored paper.

In this project, we used aqua for the body and inner fin, white for the belly, and green for the outer fin.

But you and the kids can use any color you like.

After you’ve traced each shape, cut it out.

If you’re using white for the belly, you can just keep the template shape you’ve cut instead of tracing it again.

Start by gluing the belly onto the bottom curve of the dolphin’s “body”.

Stack the inner fin piece on top of the outer fin piece and glue it in the center of the dolphin’s side – on top of the belly.

Glue the dolphin’s “eye” onto the head.

Add a shy smile with the ink pen, if you like.

Now it’s time to make the “ocean”.

Trace the ocean template shape onto blue paper and trace a couple of the “waves” onto light blue paper. Cut them all out.

Fold the blue ocean paper in half horizontally. Then glue the waves onto the bottom edge of the “ocean”.

Almost done!

Glue the dolphin onto the folded center line of the “ocean”. Make sure that the folded line squares with the dolphin’s middle.

The top of the dolphin should appear above the folded line.

Fold the ocean in half again to make a triangular stand and you’re done!

See how the dolphin stands up?

Let the kids make an entire pod of different-colored dolphins!

Don’t miss these other easy crafts for kids to make!

Easy Lion Toilet Paper Roll Craft for Kids

May 4, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

When I was a child, I saw a cartoon that was set in the jungle. The animals had an issue and they decided to consult the lion for help.

The lion was seated on a throne and wearing a crown. Which suited him as the “king of the jungle”.

I still think of lions as the overseers of the jungle to this day. But it’s okay to make lions look a little cute too.

And this easy lion toilet paper roll craft is a super cute lion art activity for kids!

Fun and Easy Lion Toilet Paper Roll Craft

This would make a great activity for a jungle unit, especially since it only requires a few ordinary supplies.

It’s also a cool recycled materials craft, because it uses a toilet paper roll. Save a few empty rolls and make an entire lion pride!

Get the full instructions to make this easy lion craft for kids below.

And – be sure to read how to make a paper bag fox craft too!

Easy Lion Toilet Paper Roll Craft for Kids

To make this simple lion toilet paper roll craft, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

If you’re making this with a very young child, you might need to help him or her cut out the pieces of the printable lion craft template.

After you’ve printed the template, cut out the pieces and trace the outlines onto yellow, orange, and beige construction paper.

Cut out each piece of construction paper and you’re ready to get started!

How to Make a Toilet Paper Roll Lion Craft

Glue the “face” onto the center of the “mane”. Then glue each “paw” onto the bottom of each “arm”.

Finally, glue the “tail tuft” onto the end of the “tail”.

Now add eyes, a nose, and a mouth – and freckles, if you’d like.

You can either draw eyes on white paper and cut them out to add to the face. Or just let the child draw the eyes directly on the face.

Simple Toilet Paper Roll Lion Craft for Kids

Time to make the body!

Cut out a piece of yellow construction paper. Use a length that covers the toilet paper roll when wrapped around it.

Glue the construction paper to the toilet paper roll. You might need to secure the edges with tape.

Glue the beige “belly” to the center of the toilet paper roll.

Use glue to attach the lion’s arms to the top left and right corners of the “belly”.

Then glue the lion’s face to the top of the toilet paper roll, centering it over the belly and arms.

Finally, glue the tail to the bottom of the back side of the toilet paper roll.

The end of the tail tuft should be sticking up toward the mane.

All done!

Feel free to have kids draw a jungle backdrop to complete a jungle scene featuring their lion!

If you make this easy lion toilet paper roll craft, I’d love to hear how your kids enjoyed it!

Don’t miss these other fun animal crafts for kids!

Take a trip to the zoo with this cute coffee filter elephant craft for kids!

Easy Shape Car Craft for Kids

April 23, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Learning shapes is such a fun skill for early grades!

We’ve used lots of learning ideas to cover this concept with young learners, including shape sorting mats and shape flashcards.

But a simple, hands-on way to teach shape recognition is to use an easy shape craft – like this shape car craft!

This is such an easy and fun way to work on this concept!

Plus, it combines both math and art for a STEAM project you can do with young students at math centers or for homework.

Get the full instructions (and the free template) below.

And, for more fun with simple shapes, check out our simple School Bus Shape Craft too!

Make up this quick and easy shape car craft with the kids! Great for math and art in one simple activity!

How to Use a Shape Craft to Teach Geometry

How can you use this shape car craft for a simple geometry lesson?

As you are helping kids cut out the shapes on the paper template, stop and help them identify each one.

The template includes a rectangle, four circles, two squares, a triangle, and even a trapezoid.

Super Easy Shape Car Craft for Kids to Make

Prompt the student to use each correct shape name as they work on making the car.

Be sure to identify each shape as you give directions. For example, “Glue the rectangle to the bottom of the trapezoid.”

What Supplies Do I Need to Make a Shape Craft?

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

Printer (with ink)
Printer Paper
Child-safe scissors
Glue stick
Washable markers (optional)
Colored pencils (optional)
A copy of our printable Shape Car Craft template (black/white) (color)

If you’re using the color shape craft template, then you can skip the markers.

The colored pencils are also optional, because they’re only used for adding detail to the finished cars.

How to Make a Shape Car Craft with Kids

To make this shape car craft, start by printing the template.

Help your child cut out all of the shapes.

Depending on the age, you may need to help with the smaller pieces.

Start by gluing the rectangle to the bottom of the trapezoid.

Glue the triangle on the left side of the trapezoid. This will be the car’s front windshield.

Then glue the two squares in a row behind the triangle. They form the side windows of the car.

Glue the two black circles onto the bottom of the rectangle. Add the two grey circles in the center of each black circle.

Now your wheels are done!

Simple Shape Car Craft to Make With Kids

If you like, use markers or colored pencils to add edging on the windows and windshield.

You can also draw red triangles on each end of the rectangle to make headlights and taillights.

Or add a triangle on the front and a rectangle at the back to form the lights too!

All done! Time to take your new cars out for a spin!

Need more simple crafts for kids to make? Try these too!

Simple Train Tape Resist Craft

April 14, 2020 by Selena Robinson 6 Comments

Tape resist crafts are such a fun way to make art with kids!

You only need a few supplies, no one has to have special artistic talent, and they can be awesome projects for several kids to work on together!

Since my kids are super into Thomas the Train right now, I thought they’d enjoy making a simple train tape resist craft and they definitely did!

It taught them a lot about making art, working together, and creating freely.

I hope that you’ll enjoy this craft too!

And if you do, be sure to try some of our simple coffee filter crafts for kids or this list of super easy crafts you can do in just 10 minutes!

Simple Train Tape Resist Craft

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

To get started, I drew a very, very simple outline of a train in pencil on a piece of posterboard.

And by simple, I mean literally put together with shapes.

I used a ruler to draw a triangle for the funnel, rectangles for the body and windows, another triangle for the buffer, and circles for the wheels.

Then Jay laid masking tape on the outline to protect it from the artistic endeavors to come.

We left the wheels uncovered, because it is nearly impossible to shape masking tape into a circle.

Time to break out the oil pastels…And let the kids loose!

They were a little reluctant to color freely at first. They kept coloring the way you do in coloring books.

We kept reminding them that this was a free art exercise where they could color where they wanted and how they wanted.

They even got to color over each other’s work.

Halfway through, Roo looked at me and said “I like arting.” *Fist pump*

Here’s the finished poster with the tape still attached.

We peeled off the tape and ta-da!

A modern art-inspired wall art piece for the boys’ room that they made themselves!

Isn’t it colorful?

We didn’t intend to draw it, but the black smudge in the second window kind of looks like a bear that hitched a ride.

Try some of these other easy crafts for kids!

Easy Coffee Filter Ferris Wheel Craft for Kids

March 24, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

I grew up in a small town. A very small town. The population was somewhere around 500 people.

Naturally, there weren’t a ton of things to do for fun.

So the annual county fair was a big deal for the kids in the area. We went every year.

Whenever we’d get close, I’d start watching for the lights on the midway and the top of the Ferris wheel going around and around.

You could usually see it a mile away.

So I still have a soft spot in my heart for Ferris wheels. And that’s why this easy coffee filter Ferris Wheel craft was so fun to make!

Fun and Easy Coffee Filter Ferris Wheel Craft

This is an excellent crafting project for early elementary kids. It’s great for strengthening fine motor skills, but it’s easy enough to finish in about 10 minutes.

Perfect if you’re looking for a fun indoor art activity for kids!

Read on to see the full directions. And, for more crafting fun, don’t miss my list of preschool crafts you can do in just 10 minutes!

Share a simple craft for kids with this easy and fun Ferris Wheel Coffee Filter Craft!

Easy Coffee Filter Ferris Wheel Craft for Kids

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

Making a Coffee Filter Ferris Wheel Craft

To begin, find a brightly colored piece of construction paper and turn it vertically.

You need enough space to add the Ferris Wheel and the support stand at the bottom.

Use a glue stick to attach the coffee filter on the top center of the construction paper.

How to Make a Coffee Filter Ferris Wheel Craft

Draw a colored circle in the center of the coffee filter. I added a yellow cut-out star, but you don’t have to.

Use a black crayon or a black marker to add spokes coming out of the circle in the center. There should be eight in all.

Now use child-safe scissors to cut the “seats” out of construction paper.

The shape I used is flat on the top and rounded on the bottom, but you could use rectangles, squares, circles – really any shape is fine.

Before you glue the construction paper “seats” onto the wheel, lay them out and make sure that you can fit them all onto the coffee filter.

You want the seats to hang just a little below the white filter – just like they do on a Ferris Wheel!

When you’re sure you can get all eight onto the circle, glue them down.

Coffee Filter Ferris Wheel Craft for Kids

Note: You might have to extend the black “spokes” out to connect all the way to the seats.

Now all that’s left is to add the stand!

Easy Coffee Filter Ferris Wheel Craft for Kids

Use a colored marker or a bright crayon to outline the stand legs. Then color them in!

Add a few gold stars and we’re all done!

How to Make an Easy Coffee Filter Ferris Wheel Craft

This is such a fun craft to add to a spring or fall unit!

Or you can share it with students in small art groups or with your own kids at home.

If you make this, I’d love to see how it worked out. Feel free to share pictures of your projects in the comments!

Don’t miss these other simple crafts for kids!

Gather a few household supplies and make this easy coffee filter Ferris wheel craft! So fun for indoor crafting!

Fluffy Snowman Slime Recipe for Kids

December 5, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Nothing says “winter” like snow.

Unless you live in the Deep South.

Then nothing says “winter” like temperatures below 50 degrees.

It almost never gets cold enough for snow down here, but our kids always want it to snow each year. So we’re making it snow inside with this fluffy snowman slime recipe!

This is such a great winter sensory activity, whether you get snow in your area or not.

Plus, it doesn’t make a mess, so if you’re a messy play avoider (like…ahem…myself), this one won’t take you hours to clean up afterward.

Read on to get the full DIY snow slime recipe instructions below!

And, for more fun with sensory activities, take a look at our glittery mermaid slime too!

DIY Fluffy Snowman Slime Recipe for Kids

What I love about slime is that kids get to help make it and then play with it. So it’s really a two-in-one activity.

And if you need some quiet time, they’ll play with slime happily for hours on end. (At least my kids will.) It’s perfect for quiet time.

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

white school glue
lemon, orange, and grapefruit scented oil (optional)
artificial snow
foam shaving cream (avoid the menthol kind if you want the citrus scent to come through)
contact lens solution
baking soda
small foam beads
white glitter

In a large bowl, mix together the white glue, citrus oils, and glitter.

Then add the shaving cream, contact lens solution, and baking soda.

Finally, pour in the foam beads and artificial snow. Use a wooden spoon to mix everything together well.

You might need to add a little more contact lens solution until you get the consistency you want. The snowman slime should pull away from the sides of the bowl as you mix it.

Remove the slime mixture from the bowl and knead it with your hands until smooth.

You’ll know it’s ready when you can mold it into a ball that keeps its shape.

Dump the snowman slime on the table and let kids play with it using winter-themed toys: snowmen, snowflakes, even arctic animals would make a great addition!

If you’re planning on throwing a winter kids’ party, you can make this snow slime into party favors!

Just put some in empty baby food jars, add a colorful ribbon around the center, and you’re done!

Scroll down to get your printable Snowman Slime recipe!

Try out some of these other winter ideas for kids!

Be sure to follow my Winter Activities for Kids Pinterest board too!

Printable Snowman Slime Recipe

This handy printable snowman slime recipe makes it simple to mix up this winter slime at home!

DIY Fluffy Snowman Slime Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup white school glue
10 drops each lemon, orange, and grapefruit scented oil (optional)
1/4 cup artificial snow
3 cups foam shaving cream (avoid the menthol kind if you want the citrus scent to come through)
1-2 tbsp contact lens solution
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup small foam beads
1/4 cup white glitter

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix together the glue and citrus oils (if using).
Add the white glitter and shaving cream.
Add the contact lens solution and baking soda.
Add the foam beads and artificial snow.
Mix together with a wooden spoon until mixture pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
Remove the mixture from the bowl and knead with your hands until smooth.

20 Fun Clothespin Puppets for Kids to Make

November 21, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Have you ever put on a puppet show with the kids?

We’ve done it a few times and they always had a blast with their puppet characters.

We’d usually have rehearsed lines in advance, but someone always wanted to improvise and take the story in a different direction.

Which is part of the fun!

When we’ve made puppets, we usually make them out of paper bags. But there are so many ways to make puppets at home, including these super cute clothespin puppets for kids!

There are so many different characters you can make out of clothespins, including animals, snowmen, and more. These would make wonderful prompts for creative writing and story retelling!

Read on to get some clothespin crafts inspiration! And for more fun with puppets, check out our Farm Paper Bag Puppets for kids to make too!

20 Fun Clothespin Puppets for Kids to Make

1. Cat Clothespin Puppet – Easy Peasy and Fun

2. Squirrel Clothespin Puppets – As the Bunny Hops

3. Giraffe Clothespin Puppet – Delia Creates

4. Dragon Clothespin Puppet – Adventure in a Box

5. Unicorn Clothespin Doll – Kids Craft Room

6. Shark Clothespin Puppets – Easy Peasy and Fun

7. Clothespin Dinosaurs – Crafts by Amanda

8. Llama Clothespin Puppets – Inspiration Made Simple

9. Clothespin Wrap Dolls – This Heart of Mine

10. Clothespin Mermaid Doll – Benzie Design

Check out more clothespin puppets and dolls kids can make below!

11. DIY Flower Fairy Clothespin Dolls – Crafts Unleashed

12. Super Hero Clothespin Dolls – All Free Kids Crafts

13. Chinese Dragon Clothespin Puppets – Easy Peasy and Fun

14. Unicorn Clothespin Puppets – Moms and Crafters

15. Pelican Clothespin Puppet – As the Bunny Hops

16. Clothespin Fish – Crafts by Amanda

17. Snowman Puppets – Moms and Crafters

18. Clothespin Monster Puppets – Our Whimsical Days

19. Clothespin Girls – Ginger Cake

20. Alligator Clothespin Puppet – Kids Activities Blog

Did you like these clothespin puppets for kids? Try some of these other easy crafts the kids can make!

Follow my Simple Crafts for Kids board on Pinterest for more easy kids’ crafts!

DIY Origami Fox Bookmark Craft for Kids

November 5, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

When I was little, one of my very favorite movies was Disney’s Robin Hood. You know, the one with the foxes.

Actually, I think fox Robin Hood might have been one of my very first crushes. (Please tell me I’m not alone in this.)

Ever since then, I’ve had a soft spot for foxes.

So I thought this adorable DIY origami fox bookmark craft would be a fun paper craft to share with you and your kids!

Just in case you also have a soft spot for foxes, especially British ones.

These would be adorable DIY gifts for kids who are book lovers! Just make up a few and hand them out with a copy of their favorite book.

You could even write a little note on the back!

These easy origami corner bookmarks would also make great reading rewards for students!

Read on to get the full project instructions. And, if you want to make more fox crafts, don’t miss our Simple Paper Bag Fox Craft!

DIY Origami Fox Bookmark Craft

Personally, I’ve been known to use just about anything as a bookmark: a popsicle stick, a paper clip, a piece of yarn. My current one is a used school field trip badge folded in half.

In fact, the library checkout receipt is my usual go-to.

But it is nice to use an actual bookmark, instead of just something you can find lying around. Especially if you’re giving a gift to a friend.

To make this DIY origami fox bookmark craft, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Lay the origami paper flat diagonally.

Fold the paper in half, bringing the top corner to the bottom corner.

Fold the top triangle up to meet the center fold line. Leave the bottom layer in tact.

Fold the left and right sides of the paper down to make a diamond. This time, you’ll fold both the top and bottom layers.

Fold the bottom triangle inward to tuck it inside the “pocket”. Do the same with the top triangle.

You’ll have a folded triangular pocket shape when you’re finished.

Use scissors to trim the top of the bookmark pocket into a rounded shape.

Use a pencil to trace the fox head template pieces from the printable fox bookmark template onto colored paper.

Cut out ear (inner and outer colors) and fox head pieces.

Glue the beige paper pieces to the fox head and ear pieces.

Glue the fox ears to the left and right sides of the top of the bookmark.

Use a black marker to add the eyes and nose and you’re done!

We used orange origami paper for our fox origami corner bookmark, but you can use any color you like!

Gather up several colors and see how many you can make with the kids in half an hour!

Then have fun sharing them with friends or as random acts of kindness in your neighborhood!

And, of course, don’t forget to use yours as an actual bookmark. No more library checkout receipts needed!

Take a look at these other fun crafts for kids to make!

Get more ideas for fun things to make with little ones on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

Easy Scrapbook Paper Pumpkin Craft

October 29, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Have you ever gone on a craft supply shopping spree? And then realized that you have way too much of something?

I have.

When we first moved into our present house, I learned about a simple way to add color to your bedroom walls – scrapbook paper!

Naturally, I bought tons of it.

Which left me with packs and packs of scrapbook paper to do…something with.

Enter this easy scrapbook paper pumpkin craft!

If you’re looking for a simple way to add easy fall decor to your home or classroom, these scrapbook paper pumpkins are perfect!

And they’re simple enough that kids can help you make them!

Get the full project instructions below!

And for more pumpkin-themed activities, take a look at our Pumpkin Size Sorting Game and our Pumpkin Pie Fraction Clip Cards!

Easy Scrapbook Paper Pumpkin Craft

What I love about this simple paper pumpkin craft is that you probably already have everything you need to make it.

But if you’re not a craft supply hoarder (like…ahem…someone I know), here’s a list of what you’ll need to make a paper pumpkin craft.

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

2-3 sheets of autumn-themed scrapbook paper or patterned cardstock in complimentary colors/patterns
Brass paper fasteners
Hole punch
Scissors or a paper cutter
Ruler or yardstick
Pen or pencil
Leaf template (I made this free download) or you can buy these leaf tags on Amazon
Ribbon in complimentary colors/patterns
Beads, buttons, or other decorative accessories

Using a ruler or yardstick and pen or pencil, measure and mark 1-inch increments across a piece of scrapbook paper, about two inches from the edge.

Repeat about 3/4 of the way above the first set of marks. Connect the lines and cut.

If you have a paper cutter, you can use this instead.

Approximately 1/4” from the end of the strip, punch a hole in each end of the strip.

Repeat until all strips have holes in both ends.

Place the cut pieces of paper in the order of pattern/color you want. Line up the holes and place a brass paper fastener in one end.

Place a brass paper fastener in the other end. Fan out the pieces to fashion it after a pumpkin.

Print out the template and cut out the leaves. Trace the leaf outlines onto a piece of scrapbook paper and cut them out.

Tape or glue the paper leaves to the top of the pumpkin. Add ribbons, buttons or any other decorations you’d like.

Ta-da! We’re all done!

Make your scrapbook paper pumpkins in several colors and place them everywhere: on the mantle, on a coffee table, or even hang them over a window!

In a classroom, you might want to tape a few around the whiteboard or on the corner of your desk.

Let the kids make one and place them on their desks too!

Don’t miss these other fall themed crafts!

See more ways to make the most of autumn on my Fall Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Easy Paper Bag Fox Craft for Kids

October 3, 2019 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

I love to make paper bag animal crafts with the kids.

You only need a few supplies (that you probably already have) and they’re a snap to make! Perfect for the not-so-crafty among us.

Ahem…like myself.

So, with fall approaching, I thought it would be fun to share an easy paper bag fox craft for kids that literally anyone can make. It’s that easy.

Plus, there are other paper bag woodland animal crafts to make too, including a paper bag bear craft and a paper bag deer craft!

Read on to see how to make these adorable animal crafts and pick up the free printable templates too!

And for more ways to craft with paper bags, take a look at our cute paper bag farm puppets for kids!

Easy Paper Bag Fox Craft

To make the easy paper bag fox craft, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Choose the colored paper you want to use to make the fox.

Print the paper bag fox craft template and then cut out the template pieces.

Use the pencil to trace the template shapes onto the colored paper pieces. Cut the traced pieces out.

Glue the inner ear patterns (2 small triangular pieces) on the ear parts of the fox’s head pattern and glue the heart shaped piece on the bottom side of the head.

Glue the small pattern of the tail on the tip of the big tail pattern.

Glue the colored paper you want to use around the outside of the paper bag. Be sure to cover all four sides.

The color of the bag should match the body of the fox.

Glue the circular belly piece of the fox in the bottom center of the paper bag.

Attach the head pattern of the fox on the top side of the bag, keeping half of the head outside the bag’s top end.

Attach the tail on either side of the bag, in between the side folds of the bag.

You may want to add clear tap at the bottom to keep the bag secure.

Use a black marker to draw the eyes and nose of the fox.

And you’re done!

How to Make Paper Bag Woodland Animal Crafts

To make the other paper bag woodland animal crafts, you’ll need the following:

Printable paper bag bear craft template
Printable paper bag deer craft template
The same supplies as used for the paper bag fox craft

Follow the same instructions as for the paper bag fox craft, attaching the belly, head, and ears.

When making the paper bag deer craft, be sure to attach the antlers and add the spots to the center of the forehead.

You could even make an entire family of these paper bag woodland animals!

If you cut out the template pieces in advance, this would be a super fun craft for a kids’ party!

Don’t miss these other easy kids’ craft ideas!

Share even more crafting fun with the ideas on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

Easy Fall Leaf Garland Craft for Kids

September 19, 2019 by Selena Robinson 4 Comments

Since fall finally made its appearance down here in the South, we decided to round up some of the fall leaves in our yard and make a garland.

I’ll admit: I’m not really one for home decor. I didn’t learn much about it as a child and I’ve been a tad stubborn about doing it as an adult.

But, after sharing this easy fall leaf garland craft with the kids, I’m committed to adding a bit more “home” to our house.

This is a really simple fall craft that kids will have fun making. It’s easy, it only requires a few supplies, and it adds a sweet reminder of fall to the home.

For more fun fall kids’ activities, don’t miss our list of 50 fall books kids will treasure!

Easy Fall Leaf Garland Craft for Kids

To make this DIY fall leaf garland craft, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Assorted fall leaves (choose the most colorful you can find)
Tempera paint (optional)
Paintbrushes (optional)
Clear tape
Bright yellow yarn
Hole puncher

Rather than making leaves out of construction paper or some other medium, we just thought we’d hang actual leaves.

We let them dry out for a couple of weeks so they’d be easy to punch holes in.

Choose your leaves about two weeks before you intend to make your garland. Sit them on a counter or in a plastic bag so that they’ll have plenty of time to stiffen before you make the craft.

I helped the kids place the hole punch, but they pushed the lever (which they loved).

To keep the holes from spreading and cracking the leaves, we punched them as close to the center as possible and towards the stem end.

Since these leaves were just brown, we wanted to add a bit more color.

Tempera paint to the rescue!

We didn’t choose any particular art designs in advance. It was more of a “paint and see what happens” open-ended art activity.

All that was left to do was string the leaves on our yarn!

When we made a fall leaf garland a few years ago, we found lots of different colored leaves.

Those were gorgeous as is, so we just hole punched them all and let the kids get started stringing the leaves on a long piece of yarn.

Everyone had a designated pile to work with and they took turns adding their leaves to the garland.

This was such a nice afternoon activity. Threading the leaves was good fine motor practice for the kids.

We all had fun choosing leaves together. And it was nice to see something we made together hanging in the home all autumn long.

Want more fall activities? Check out these posts!

Plus, get more awesome fall inspiration on my Fall Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Over 75 Adorable Apple Crafts for Kids

August 15, 2019 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Nothing says “fall” like apples. We don’t really start to see apples on trees around here until late August, but I wanted to start planning some of our fall crafts as early as possible this year.

And that’s why I’ve rounded up over 75 adorable and easy apple crafts for kids to make!

Apples are associated with fall, but they’re also associated with back to school time, so these are perfect for fall crafting or even late summer crafting (if you’re really psyched about apple season).

Fall is easily my favorite season of the year. And we try to make it as educational as we can each school year.

If you want to add even more fall learning fun with your kids, don’t miss our Apple Alike! Same or Different Worksheets or our Apple Life Cycle Sequencing Activity!

Over 75 Fun and Easy Apple Crafts for Kids

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

2. Paper Plate Apple Craft – Midlife Healthy Living

3. Sew an Apple Fall Craft – Mommy Evolution

4. Tissue Paper Plate Apple Craft – Jinxy Kids

5. Apple Craft with Pool Noodles – Gluesticks and Gum Drops

6. Marble Painting Apple Craft – The Crafting Chicks

7. Bubble Wrap Painting Apple Craft – Typically Simple

8. Back to School Button Craft – Laura’s Crafty Life

9. Pony Bead Apple Craft for Kids – It Happens in a Blink

10. Paper Apple Weaving Craft – Arty Crafty Kids

11. Apple Tree Kids Craft – A Night Owl Blog

12. Tissue Paper Apple Craft – Messes to Memories

13. Easy Paper Apple Craft – Sweet Silly Sara

14. Apple Footprint Craft – Raising Little Superheroes

15. Yarn Apple Garland Craft – Red Ted Art

16. Felt Apple Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun

17. Yarn Apple Craft for Kids – About a Mom

18. Apple Tree Circle Punch Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun

19. Paper Cup Apple Shaker – Crafts on Sea

20. Apple Birdseed Bird Feeders – Natural Beach Living

21. Pom Pom Apple Tree Craft – Crafts on Sea

22. Apple Suncatchers – Crafty Mama in Me

23. Paper Plate Apple Craft – It Happens in a Blink

24. Tissue Paper Apple Tree Craft – Fantastic Fun and Learning

25. Puffy Paint Caramel Apple Craft – I Heart Arts and Crafts

Pages: 1 2 3

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Apple Craft

August 7, 2019 by Selena Robinson 4 Comments

It’s still warm where we are. (It’s the South. It’ll be warm through November.)

But I simply cannot wait for fall. I love fall. It’s easily my very favoritest time of year. And one of the best parts of fall is ripe, juicy apples!

So for our latest coffee filter craft project, I’m sharing a coffee filter apple craft that’s easy enough for preschoolers.

They may need a little help cutting the filter into an apple shape, but after that, they’ll be good to go on their own!

So this is a perfect craft idea for preschool, kindergarten, or even older kids who might want to add their own touches.

And it’s an excellent art activity for an apple thematic unit or following a read-aloud selection that features apples!

If this craft is a hit with your kids, try some of our other easy crafts, including a Coffee Filter Flower Craft or our Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft!

Want more apple learning fun? Check out these Apple Alike! Same or Different Worksheets!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Apple Craft

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

Flatten out the coffee filter as best you can.

Color the entire filter bright red.

Flip the coffee filter over and sketch a rough apple shape on the back with pencil.

Use scissors to cut out the apple shape. Then flip the filter back over and glue it in the center of the construction paper.

Draw a stem and leaf at the top using colored pencils.

Add some fun polka dots and you’re done!

If you cut the filters into apple shapes ahead of time, this would be a fantastic craft for playdates or kids’ parties!

Just hand them the filters, construction paper, art supplies, and glue and see what the kids come up with!

Ways to Make A Coffee Filter Apple Craft

You don’t have to stick with a typical red apple when you’re making a coffee filter apple craft. Try these fun variations too!

Make a Golden Delicious apple with a friendly worm by using a bright yellow crayon to color the coffee filter and sticking a construction paper “worm” in the top.

Make a Granny Smith green apple by using a light green crayon.

Or make a Red Delicious apple that has a nice-sized “bite” out of it!

Just make the coffee filter apple craft like usual and then use scissors to cut out a single big chomp!

Like this easy apple craft? Try these other simple crafts!

See more easy crafts for children on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

Easy Shape School Bus Craft for Kids

July 23, 2019 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

I know it’s still technically summer, but school in our area starts next week, so we’re fully in the back to school spirit around here.

And that means school shopping, open house events, and weeknight meal planning – all of which I’ve been frantically doing for the last couple of days.

Our kids are pretty excited about school this year (so far), but if you have little ones who are…less than enthusiastic about going back to school, a fun way to get them in the mood is to make a cute back to school craft.

Which is where this easy shape school bus craft for kids might come in handy!

This is such a simple way to start getting kids to think about school and learning for the new school year!

Read on to see how to make this for yourself. And for more fun with kids’ crafts, take a look at our easy Ladybug Paper Craft!

Easy Shape School Bus Craft for Kids

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

A copy of our printable school bus craft template
Printer (with ink)
Printer Paper
Scissors
Glue stick
Ballpoint pen

To start, print out the school bus craft template. Since the template already has colored shapes, you can just print and get started without having kids color it in.

Use scissors to cut out all of the shapes on the template. (If your child is cutting the shapes out, be sure to use child-safe scissors.)

To make the school bus, begin adding the blue squares and rectangles to the yellow rectangle.

Glue them down. Place the blue rectangular piece second in line to serve as the “door” of the bus.

Next, glue the gray small circles onto the center of the larger black circles. These are the bus’s “tires”. Glue those on the bottom edge of the yellow rectangle.

Add the half circle and triangle shapes to each end of the bus as the vehicle’s lights. Glue those in place.

Finally, use an ink pen to trace the outline of each window and door and you’re done!

The blue bus would make a great craft for a transportation unit, because you could talk about public buses and how they serve the community.

And, since all of the bus template pieces are basic shapes, this would be a wonderful craft for a shapes lesson too!

Don’t miss these other easy kids’ crafts!

Be sure to follow my Simple Crafts for Kids board on Pinterest!

Easy Paper Ladybug Craft for Kids

June 24, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Do your kids like ladybugs? Mine have a love/hate relationship with them.

Years ago, our oldest daughter was playing in the backyard when a ladybug flew onto her shirt. Her blood-curdling scream was loud enough to be heard in the next county. I’m almost sure of it.

I tried to calm her down and show her how cute the ladybug was, but no dice. It took a while before she started appreciating how pretty ladybugs are.

My boys did okay with them. They weren’t too interested.

Our youngest daughter, though, loves them. She wants to pick them up every time she sees one.

Which is why I knew she’d love this easy paper ladybug craft! Finally, a ladybug that won’t run away when she tries to hold it.

This easy ladybug craft is a perfect summer art project for little ones!

Read on to get the full instructions and the template for your kids. Be sure to check our our easy Coffee Filter Ladybug Craft and our Ladybug Math Activity Set too!

Easy Paper Ladybug Craft for Kids

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

Printer (with ink)
Printer Paper
Child-safe scissors
Glue stick
Wiggly eyes
A copy of our printable paper ladybug craft template

Start by printing the ladybug paper craft template. There are two versions: One with color and one without.

Use scissors to cut out each piece carefully.

Place the red partial circle on top of the large black circle so that a triangle of black shows. Glue the red piece on top.

Glue the black dots around the edge of the red paper. These are the ladybug’s “spots”.

Place the smaller black circle under the red and black circles. (These should be glued together.)

Be sure that a little over half of the smaller black circle is visible from the top. This will be the ladybug’s head. Secure with glue.

Place the six “legs” evenly around the red circle. There should be three on each side. Secure with glue.

Place two wiggly eyes on the smaller black circle.

And we’re done!

Make an entire family of insects with this simple paper ladybug craft!

Want to try other easy animal crafts? Take a look at these kid-friendly projects!

And get more ideas for crafting with kids on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!