crafts Archives

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!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Simple Coffee Filter Jellyfish Craft

June 10, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

A few years ago, we got to visit the Georgia Aquarium. It was incredible.

The kids gathered around each display to look at amazing sea creatures, from Beluga whales to otters.

Some of the animals that caught my eye, though, were the jellyfish. I had never seen them up close before and I’d only ever heard horror stories from childhood classmates who were stung by them at the beach.

I had no clue that jellyfish were so gorgeous. They are truly beautiful.

And now that summer is here (yay!), I wanted to make a new coffee filter craft for kids. So why not try a coffee filter jellyfish craft?

This is a super easy and fun summer craft to share with little ones during the warm weather. It’d also make a perfect addition to an ocean or beach unit study!

Read on to get the full project instructions. And, for more fun with summer crafting, try our Coffee Filter Crab Craft as well!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Simple Coffee Filter Jellyfish Craft

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

To get started, use the scissors to cut the coffee filter horizontally. You’ll want to cut about one-third of it off of the bottom.

Use a black crayon to draw the eyes and smiley mouth on the jellyfish.

Now, color the entire coffee filter with a bright color. You can use any color you like here, because jellyfish come in a huge variety of colors.

We went with red purple for a nice contrast to the blue of the construction paper.

After you finish coloring the coffee filter, use a glue stick to glue it near the center of the paper. Make sure the paper is laid vertically. You’ll need room at the bottom for the jellyfish tentacles.

Making an Easy Coffee Filter Jellyfish Craft

Use the scissors to cut a few pieces of ribbon from the spool. We only cut five, but you can cut as many as you like.

Carefully lift the bottom of the coffee filter and lay each piece of ribbon underneath. Space them out so that they’re fairly evenly distributed.

Stick them to the paper with the glue stick and then press the coffee filter back on top to keep them in place.

If you want the tentacles to look a little curly, run each piece of ribbon against the open pair of scissors. You’ll see each ribbon start to curl afterwards. (Only an adult should perform this part to avoid cutting little fingers, even with child-safe scissors.)

Draw a few ocean waves at the top and the bottom and you’re done!

Did you enjoy making this easy coffee filter jellyfish craft? Try some of these other summer crafts for kids!

And follow my Summer Activities for Kids board on Pinterest for even more fun summer ideas!

Easy Paper Roll Rocket Craft for Kids

May 27, 2019 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Summer is my favorite time of year. By far.

But it’s also the time when the kids and I are most relaxed with our learning. Even though we have school year-round, we tend to take it easy during the summer months. It gives us more time for the beach (a requirement each year).

So it’s always fun to try some easy summer crafts during our learning downtime. And that’s why I love this easy paper roll rocket craft!

It’s a simple project that you can make with the kids in just a few minutes. And, if you’re studying space over the summer, it’d be a perfect fit for a solar system unit study!

Read on to see how to make this easy kids’ craft yourself!

Want more fun craft projects to try? Don’t miss our easy toilet roll butterfly craft!

Easy Paper Roll Rocket Craft for Kids

I love how simple this project is! It’s perfect for crafting with the kids during summer break.

Plus, it’s fun to take outside and pretend to fly. Just hand one to your little one and watch them zoom around pretending to take off into space!

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

To start, cut the paper towel roll into two pieces. One piece should be slightly longer than the other.

We’re making two paper roll rocket crafts out of one paper towel roll.

Paint each piece of the paper towel roll. We used a yellow paint, but any color will do.

Let the paint dry completely.

Trace the lid of a mason jar or cup twice onto a colored piece of cardstock. You will be making one cone-shaped top for each rocket.

Use scissors to cut out each circle. Afterward, cut one slit to the center on each circle.

Remember: if you want the kids to help with this part, use child-safe scissors that are safe for little fingers.

Form each circle into a cone shape by pulling the two ends together. Use the hot glue gun to seal each cone closed.

NOTE: Use caution with working with hot glue around small children.

Now cut four triangles about three to four inches wide from the colored cardstock. You’ll use two of these for each rocket.

Working from the top of each triangle, cut a slit from the point down, stopping just before the bottom of each triangle.

Carefully cut four slits onto the bottom of each painted tube. Make sure that each cut is directly across from the cut on the opposite side.

Slide one triangle up through two bottom slits. The triangle should be placed in two slits that are diagonal.

Then slide the second triangle through the other two slits. This triangle will crisscross the other, forming an X at the bottom of the rocket.

Now cut six quarter-sized circles from the colored cardstock.

Use the hot glue gun to glue three circles onto each paper towel roll.

And we’re done! Look how bright and colorful these rocket crafts are!

Such a fun and easy project for the kids!

Looking for more simple crafts? Check out these easy projects!

Want more fun craft ideas? Follow our Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

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!

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!

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 art fun.

After all, you only get a couple of summers to enjoy with your preschoolers before they become…gasp…kindergartners.

35 Fun PreK Beach Crafts for Preschoolers

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!

Read on to see the full list and to score a printable preschool summer activity calendar featuring beach activities to try!

If you’d like to share even more preschool fun at the shore with the kids, be sure to check out our Beach Number Playdough Mats!

Try some of these easy and fun prek beach crafts with early learners this summer!

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. Sea Animal Suncatcher Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

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

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

20. A Mermaid City in the Sand – The Craft Train

21. How to Dye Seashells – Rainy Day Mum

22. Seashell and Beach Glass Nature Collage – Adventure In a Box

23. Stone Fish Craft – Messy Little Monster

24. Sea Glass Ornaments – Red Ted Art

25. Framed Sand Handprint Craft – Fun Handprint Art

26. Seaside Shell Windchime Craft – Red Ted Art

27. Paper Sandcastle Craft – I Heart Crafty Things

28. Shark Craft – Natural Beach Living

29. Make Sand Dough Sculptures and Ornaments – Pink Stripey Socks

30. Jiggly Slime Jellyfish – Natural Beach Living

31. Snail Shell Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun

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

33. Rocky Shore Small World with Ocean Playdough – Buggy and Buddy

34. Paper Plate Seashell Craft – Artsy Craftsy Mom

35. Crab Fridge Magnets – Red Ted Art

Summer Preschool Theme Activity Calendar

Wondering what else you can do with preschoolers this summer?

This printable preschool summer theme calendar is here to help!

In this resource, you’ll find twelve different early learning themes to try with preschoolers this summer.

Plus, there are five activity suggestions for each theme: one for each day of the week!

Printable Preschool Summer Activity Calendar

The digital version includes links to how you can try several of the activities yourself.

To get your copy of this printable PreK Themed Calendar for Summer, click the image or the link below to have it sent directly to your inbox!

You’ll also get our weekly newsletter this weekend!

>>> Preschool Summer Themed Calendar <<<

Looking for more fun summer activities? Don’t miss these ideas!

These shark themed counting to ten puzzles are wonderful for use at early math centers!

This fun confetti ocean slime recipe is perfect for summer sensory play!

This printable ice cream lesson plan for preschool is a perfect way to plan an ice cream theme!

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!