Easy Crafts to do with the Kids at Home
Leonora Bamford and Nanny Anita share a few easy crafts for families to try at home
Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent or currently working from home, you’ll no doubt be looking for a few ways to keep your children entertained over the coming weeks. Crafting is a brilliant method of distraction for kids, and you can conjure up all sorts of creations using the items you already have in your house. Here are a few ideas for easy crafts to do at home…
Drip painting
You’ll need:
- Pipette
- Concentrated liquid watercolour paint
- Paper
- Tray
Method:
- Stand a sheet of paper upright in a tray, to collect any excess paint and avoid mess.
- Using a pipette, add drips of paint to the top of the paper, then let it run down the paper to form lines.
Ice-skating Lego
You’ll need:
- Tray
- Water
- Lego figures
- Ice-cub tray
- Freezer
Method:
- Fill your tray up with water and place it in the freezer overnight.
- Fill up an ice-cube tray with water and add your Lego people to it; make sure that they are standing up. Then put it in the freezer overnight. We’ve used a heart-shaped ice cube tray.
- When it is ready take it out and play.
Glass bead magnets
You’ll need:
- Glass beads
- Glitter
- Glue
- Superglue
- Mini magnets
Method:
- Cover the underside of the glass beads with glue.
- Sprinkle glitter all over the glue and leave them to dry.
- Once dry, add another thick layer of glue and leave them to dry overnight.
- Using superglue, attach mini magnets to each of them.
Cotton bud trees
You’ll need:
- Cotton buds
- Elastic band
- Paper
- Paint
Method:
- Secure your ear buds together with an elastic band.
- Paint the body of the tree onto your paper.
- Use the cotton buds to stamp the leaves onto your tree.
DIY bee hotel
You’ll need:
- Bamboo
- Plastic pot
- Secateurs
- Twine
Method:
- Cut your bamboo down so that it fits in your pot. Cut enough to fill the pot completely.
- Tie some twine around the bamboo to secure it together.
- Place the bamboo bundle back in the pot.
- Set up the completed bee hotel in your garden, in a spot that gets plenty sunlight.
Bird cage
You’ll need:
- Coloured card
- Scissors
- Tape
- Thread
- Tooth pick
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Colouring pencils
Method:
- Turn your piece of card landscape. Measure and cut out one strip that 4cm wide and four strips that are 1cm wide.
- Loop the 4cm strip into a circle and tape the ends together. This creates the cage’s base.
- With your four remaining strips, tape one end to the inside of the base, bend them over and tape the other side to the base as well.
- Cut out a little bird shape and colour it in.
- Tape the bird to a tooth pick.
- Finally using some thread, hang the bird swing from the centre of the bird cage.
Kite sun catcher
You’ll need:
- Sticky-back plastic
- Black card
- Scissors
- String
- Tissue paper
Method:
- Start off by cutting out the shape of your kite.
- Next, cut the sticky-back plastic to fit the kite, then stick the kite on top of it.
- Cover the sticky-back plastic with pieces of tissue paper.
- Finally, attach the string tail.
Bookworm bookmark
You’ll need:
- Paper
- Pens
- Scissors
Method:
- Draw a worm shape onto your paper and cut it out.
- Then it’s time to decorate your worm. Use a mix of colours and patterns to make it stand out.
Paper plate crown
You’ll need:
- Paper plate
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Glue
- Gems
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Cotton wool
- Black pen
Method:
- On the back of the paper plate, draw 4 lines across the flat part, then cut the lines up to where the plate starts to curve.
- You should now have 8 triangles. Paint these gold, and the rim of the plate red.
- Once it’s dried, glue cotton wool to the rim of the paper plate.
- Add the finishing touches by gluing gems on and drawing some black spots onto the cotton wool.
Build your own London Bridge
You’ll need:
- Long paper craft straws
- Tape
- 3 loo rolls
- Scissors
- Celotape
Method:
- Arrange 4 straws in a horizontal line and stick together using celotape, at both ends.
- Evenly space out the 3 loo rolls, and then place the row of straws on the top.
- Feed the straws through the row on either side of all 3 tubes, to give you your 3 uprights. Tape these into position.
- Use different coloured straws to make your ‘V’ shape and celotape where necessary.
READ MORE:
- Konnie Huq on Motherhood and her new Children’s Book
- Family Cooking Hacks to Save Time
- Recipes: Refreshing, Super Healthy Summer Treats
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