Things to Make and Do, Crafts and Activities for Kids - The Crafty Crow

Ornament Advent Day 12:Quilled Felt Snowman!

This sweet snowman is made by gluing and coiling felt
strips. After you've made a snowman you can have fun
making lots of different ornaments.

Supplies:
white craft felt
small pom poms
2 small black beads or buttons
orange chenille stem
glue
needle & white floss for hanging

Snowman Directions:
(photos are shown using red felt for clarity)

 
→ cut strips of felt ½" wide; I used 3 strips for the
head and 6 strips for the body but that can vary
depending on the thickness of your felt


→ apply a line of glue along the felt strip
and roll to the end of the strip


→ keep adding strips, gluing and rolling until you
complete the head and the body


→ glue the head and body together,
it helps to press between books

→ glue on eyes and pom poms for the snowman

→ snip off a 1/2" piece of orange chenille stem,
bend in half to create the carrot nose and
glue in place

→ thread a needle with the floss and
run through the top of the snowman's head
so you have a loop to hang with

This is the last ornament in the series, I hope
you've enjoyed it :)

Book Recommendations:


The Snowy Day


Stranger in the Woods


The Snowman

Ornament Advent Day 11:Miniature Lanterns!

These little lanterns are about 2" tall and are made 
from a toilet paper tube. You can make two lanterns from
each tube. They are adorable individually and hung as
a group for a garland. You can also forgo the hanger
and pop one over a light on your tree to
see it really glow!*

Supplies:
toilet paper tube
pencil
scissors
acrylic paint
paint brush
glue
wire for hanging (optional)

Directions:


#1 cut the tp tube open vertically

#2 cut the tube in half horizontally

#3 cut 2" off so you are left with... #4

#5 paint the inside yellow if you want the lantern
to look like it's glowing from the inside and use
the color of your choice for the outside; let dry

#6 fold in half horizontally, then make small,
evenly spaced cuts beginning on the fold to
¼" from the open edge

#7 glue the lantern closed; squash down a
bit to shape

For the handle I used #20 floral wire, shaped the
rounded part around the barrel of a marker, then flipped
up each end to hook through the slots of the lantern.

*Use caution, tree lights can get very hot!





Book Recommendations:


Olivia Helps with Christmas


The Animals' Merry Christmas


Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas

Ornament Advent Day 10:Pom Pom Ornaments!

The ornament for today is the loveable pom pom!
Pom poms are really easy to make using nothing but
your fingers - this is how I learned to make then when
I was little. They are perfect to brighten up trees and
packages too so have fun and make a bunch!

Supplies:
yarn
scissors
*stiff cardboard (optional)

Directions:
I'm sending you to my other blog, Bella Dia, to
follow the tutorial I did four years ago to make
pom poms using only your fingers.

Read these tips first:

The pom pom in the tutorial is made wrapping the
yarn around two fingers, for this pom pom ornament,
wrap the yarn 100 times around four fingers.

*If your child has trouble wrapping the yarn around
his/her fingers then substitute some stiff cardboard
or even a mini notebook, then slide the wrapped yarn
from the cardboard to continue.

To make a two-colored pom pom, wrap the yarn
using two strands (one from each color) at a time. Then
instead of wrapping 100 times you would do it 50 times.

The pom pom just needs to be trimmed to create a
round shape. You don't need to cut it really short unless
you want to :)

Make sure that the yarn strand to tie up your yarn
bundle is pulled very tightly and knotted so it
will hold together well.

Ornament Advent Day 9:Jingle Bell Flowers!

I am in love with these little Jingle Bell Flowers! They
are darling for ornaments but they'd make a wonderful
garland as well. Put one on your wrist to add a little
jingle to your step or tie one on a package to make
it extra special. I hope you like them too!

Supplies:
cardboard egg carton
red, green, lime green, and brown acrylic paint
one jingle bell for each flower
~10" piece of green yarn
scissors
paint brush
dish of water
needle with large eye

Directions:

first you need to cut apart your egg carton
as shown above:
→ cut the lid from the egg cups
→ cut down the middle of the egg cups
→ cut the closing flap off and the flat parts between the
bumps (see above)
→ cut the 10 creased triangles from between the egg cups
→ cut apart the egg cups


→ trim the egg cups so they are even all the way around
→ trim the triangles to look like leaves, use the pattern
above but there is no reason to be very precise
→ cut more leaves using the flat pieces from the closing
 flap; if you need more cut them from the egg
carton cover


→ water down the paint a bit and apply with a soft
brush, it makes it easier to cover the rough surface
→ paint the egg cups red
→ paint the leaves a mixture of brown, green and lime
green (I put all three colors in a dish and let them
gradually mix into each other as I paint for
a nice variety of color)


→ for each flower you need one egg cup, one bell,
and between 3 and 6 leaves - flat and creased
→ for younger kids you can use a plastic needle but
you'll need to poke holes through the leaves
→ poke a hole through the bottom of the egg cup
→ thread your needle with the yarn, do not make a knot


→ string as above: 3 leaves, up through the bottom of
the egg cup and the jingle bell


→ run the thread back through the egg cup and
through the last three leaves


→ tie the ends of the yarn and trim the extra
Now you have a beautiful Jingle Bell Flower!


Try some in white - aren't they pretty?!

Book Recommendations:


The Polar Express


Santa Claus


Jingle Bells

Gingerbread House Accordion Book

Visit Making Books Blog for a video tutorial and
free printable to make this adorable gingerbread
house accordion book!

Christmas Tree Mural

Did you ever see such an exuberant tree? This
was a preschool group effort found at the lovely
blog Irresistable Ideas for Play-Based Learning.

Make a Grass Straw Reindeer

Acorn Pies has a nice photo tutorial showing
how to make this reindeer from dried grass!

Holiday Prep Series: Christmas Cards Kids Can Make!

fabric tree cards
Kitschen Pink


woodland pop-up card with pattern
Chantal Vincent Art


rocking Santa cards
Mermaids Creations


artwork Christmas tree cards
Lilla A


fingerprint snowman tags
Sweet and Lovely Crafts


gingerbread men cards
Mermaids Creations


decorative paste cards
Artful Adventures


fingerprint Christmas tree cards
Brixton Lane
via Be Different Act Normal


drawn ornament cards
Art Projects For Kids


striped tree card
Activity Village

Guest Project: Snail Soup Decoy!

I am happy to share with you this tutorial by guest blogger, Scott, author of the blog, What I Made! He's a super-creative father of two boys and I thought he might be just the person to come up with a great handmade gift for boys. Of course, I'm sure there are a lot of girls that would enjoy this too because girls like their secret hiding spots as much as boys, but if you're looking for a good boy project then this may be it!

'Home alone' Snail Soup Decoy


This Christmas gift project is inspired by the 'Home Alone' movies, and my son, who is obsessed with burglars. I don't know why he is so security conscious, but even the idea that Father Christmas could get into the house via a chimney freaked him out when he was younger!

Anyway, this is for him, and any other kid who wants to keep his or her valuables (pocket money, trading cards, Pokemon etc.) safe from burglars, or nosy siblings. Disguised as a yukky tin of snail soup, this decoy conceals a secret safe, with an impenetrable 'steel' (well, cardboard) door.

It's fairly easy to make, I have provided illustrated instructions and printable downloads for the 'snail soup' and 'secret safe' labels. Good luck.



Snail Soup Decoy secret safe label


Snail Soup Decoy snail soup label

Thank you, Scott! You can find a lot more really cool
ideas at Scott's blog, What I Made, so be sure
to check it out!

Ornament Advent Day 8:Children's Art Ornaments!

Today's ornament is super easy and makes a
wonderful way to preserve your child's artwork!

Supplies:

✴small embroidery hoop (definitely check the
thrift stores for these!)
✴light colored cotton fabric, tightly woven,
enough to cover hoop with an extra
inch all around
✴scissors
✴crayons
✴one piece white copy paper
✴acrylic paint (your choice of colors)
✴paint brush
✴glue
✴iron

Directions:

✴cut your fabric so it covers your hoop with about
an extra inch all around

✴have your child draw a picture within that space
with the crayons (the finer the weave of the
fabric the easier it is to color on)

✴while the artwork is being created you can paint
the embroidery hoop; you only need to paint
the outside ring since the other ring will be
completely covered

✴when the artwork is completed place a piece of
plain white paper over it and press with a hot
iron until wax is melted into the fabric; you
won't be able to tell much but it should feel
smooth and some of the wax may be absorbed
into the paper


✴put the finished artwork into the hoop and tighten


✴trim the extra fabric so it will just wrap
around to the inside, about ¼"


✴run a line of glue along the edge of the inside hoop
and press the fabric towards the center

✴you can write your child's name and date on the
inside hoop; add ribbon to hang



Book Recommendations:


Drawing, Doodling and Coloring
for Christmas


Christmas Doodles

Ornament Advent Day 7:Woven Cookie Stars!

Making these little woven cookie stars are so
much fun and something that all ages can enjoy
at their own level. Of course, I love them as
ornaments but wouldn't they be cute decorating
a package too?! I'm going to make some with
white crochet thread for a more sophisticated
snowflake look. You can even put a bunch
together for a fantastic garland!

A few tips:
Crochet thread is inexpensive and can be found
in the yarn section of a craft store, but, before you
buy any be sure to check your local thrift shop!
I always find crochet thread at the thrift shop
and many times it is completely brand new so
you'll be able to get a nice variety of colors
for very little money.

For the circle I traced around a jar lid.

Cutting corrugated cardboard is hard on your
hands, if you have some heavy duty scissors,
like kitchen shears, I suggest using those.
 
Supplies:
corrugated cardboard
~ 3¼" circle to trace around
crochet thread or similar
scissors
needle to acommodate thread
glue (optional)
bamboo skewer (optional, but very helpful)

Directions:

Trace your circle onto corrugated cardboard and
cut it out.

Make shallow cuts (~¼") around the edge of the circle.
Start with two cuts opposite each other (1) then make
the next two cuts half-way between the first two cuts (2)
and continue until you have 16 cuts. Or, you can
completely ignore this and cut as many or as few
slots as you like too!

 
You can cut the thread or work straight from the
ball. If you cut off a section you'll need about 3 yards
to wrap around the cookie three times.


Start the thread in a slot; a knot isn't necessary,
the end of the floss will be buried securely under
the wrapping.


Start wrapping the thread around the cookie. For
a star, continue wrapping the thread in opposite slots.


  For rounds 2 and 3, start thread in the same
slot but wrap the opposite thread in one slot
closer to the starting slot. Experiment a bit here
and you'll see how easy it is :)


When you're done, cut the thread leaving
about a 6" tail. Thread your needle and slide
the end under the weaving and snip. Feel free to
add a drop of glue if you feel it needs to
be secured.


Take advantage of the corrugated
cardboard when making your hanging
loop. Using about 8" of thread, thread your
needle and run it through one of the channels
and back up again in the channel next to the
first. That sounds easy ;) but you'll probably
need something like a bamboo skewer to push
the needle through the channels.


All finished and ready to hang or
decorate a package!


I had to include this pretty pair... the weaving on
the right has 19 slots and uses a variegated
pink crochet thread.

Book Recommendations:

Winter's Gift


Bear's First Christmas


The Little Fir Tree

Holiday Prep Series:Make Your Own Gift Wrap!

Irresistible Ideas for Play-Based Learning

There's no reason for store-bought gift
wrap when you have artists at home that will
work for the joy of creating :) Reuse as much
paper as you can - newspaper, packaging paper,
 grocery bags, copy paper - and get out the paint,
markers, stamps, stickers, and crayons for
some wrapping paper fun!


Green Submarine


Frugal Family Fun


Filth Wizardry


Grace Hester
(there's also a cute printable garland!)

Several years ago we went paper-free and now
all of our gifts are tucked into reuseable fabric
bags which I love! I'll come back here and add
some links for simple bags to make - this is a
great beginning sewing project too :)