Ideas for Simple Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts are a fun way to create a keepsake that the entire family can enjoy making together. Some simple crafts can be made just using common household items such as paper towel rolls and boxes. Other craft supplies are available at your local craft of fabric store. Depending on the time of year, you can choose a theme for your project, and then let your imagination come to life.
Animal Craft Diorama
A great way to teach children about animals is to allow them to cut out images in a magazine or find pictures online to be printed. Allow the Children to cut out the animals to make an outline, then trace the edge of the outline onto a piece of cardboard to cut out. Using a glue stick, glue the animal to the cardboard, and hang the animal cutouts inside of a cereal box with the front removed. This creates a dimensional diorama because the animals can be affixed in a three dimensional pattern
Nature Crafts
Depending upon the season, there are so many ways to make crafts that emphasize the beauty of the seasons. During autumn, collect leaves of many shapes, colors and sizes. Place the leaves between two pieces of craft paper. Tear the paper off of the outside of a crayon and use the side edge to make a rubbing sketch of the leaves. This technique leaves the veins and faded outline of the shapes of the leaves onto the craft paper.
Music Crafts
One of the simplest ways to make an instrument is to place a handful of rice, beans, or even sand into a plastic Easter egg, and tape the seam shut. Each material will make a different sound, especially depending upon the amount used. Make one of each so that children can start their own arts and crafts band.
You can make your own didgeridoo, an Australian instrument. Simply use a wrapping paper tube, or even better, use wide paper towel tubes that are securely taped together to reach your desired length, over two feet. Decorate the outside of the paper with aboriginal designs for an authentic look. Wrap the tubes with white craft paper and use a glue stick to secure.
Puppet and Paper Crafts
Puppet and Paper Crafts
One way to make a simple puppet is to use an old sock and affix some old buttons or odds and ends to the sock to make a “creature.” Another simple but more time intensive project is to create Papier-mâché animal heads, then affixing them to a body. Blow up a balloon to the desired size of the head, and then cut newspaper into strips. Make a paste of flour and water, dip the strips of paper into the paste, and glue them to the balloon one strip at a time, all the way around the balloon. Allow to dry, repeat the layers, and after the structure is dry and hardened, you can paint is using a thick tempura paint.