Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Kid’s Crafts Contributor Stephanie, from the Blog Geek with Glasses.

Kids are just like us, they have that one piece of clothing that they love, the only problem is they grow so fast, it doesn’t fit them anymore. I have several boxes of clothes to be saved for my daughter in hopes that one day she has a little girl, then she can share her faves with her tiny one. Let’s face it, for the most part, in 20 years are they still going to love Elmo? Probably not, there will be something or someone more popular. Most of these clothes will be out dated. Let’s make cute memory pieces now for our kids, so they can continue to love their favorite shirts.

The one shirt used today is a too small tee that my daughter picked out at one of our first shopping sprees.  A favorite of hers and a great memory of mine. The second shirt is one that has holes in the shoulders and a terrible stain on the back, plus yucky arm pits.  

This project uses the favorite print from the t-shirt to make adorable wall hangings.

Supplies:

Embroidery Hoop (large enough to fit your image)
White cardstock
Glue
Pen
Scissors

Optional:

Ribbon

To start, I traced the inside of the inside hoop onto the cardstock. I cut the circle out and put it aside for later.

Next, I laid the shirt out flat on the table. I slid the inside hoop into the bottom of the shirt and centered the image I wanted to frame, then I place the outside hoop down around the inside hoop, on the top of the tee, framing the image. For the case of the Pirate Ship, I used 2 hoops. The larger one I placed first, then to frame the Black Flag, I used a smaller hoop. I made the fabric taut by pulling the edges of the tee while the hoops were set but not tightened. Once both hoops were set, I tightened the screws.

I cut around the hoops leaving an edge that can be wrapped around the frame, a little more than a half inch, were I could. The section where the two hoops almost touched I cut down the center giving each hoop an equal amount.

Once the material is cut, place glue around the inside of the hoop on the back and fold the material around, press the cardstock into the back to cover up the ragged edge of the glued material. Let the glue dry.

If the hoop is to be hung, use the ribbon to make a bow or hanger. Or it can be hung just by the screw.

Additional Ideas:

The one t-shirt, I cross stitched my daughters name and then glittered it.

Before glueing the edges and the cardstock back on, the date coule be embroidered on.

This is a perfect way to let the great prints of baby and toddler clothes live on with new life.

By Crafts for Learning Contributor, Danielle from the blog Crayonbox Learning.

Young learners enjoy practicing writing their numbers and letters. This earth friendly activity provides a fun activity that allows children to practice their skills, at the same time conserves paper! The cards are conveniently together with a binding ring.

Materials Needed:

• Colored Cardstock
• Lamination Film (heat laminator works best)
• Scissors
• Number Tracing Card Template
• Binder Rings
• Dry Erase Markers

Directions:

1. Print out a set of cards (4 pages) onto colored cardstock.  For my example, I used recycled white cardstock.  Using colored cardstock saves on ink, and time coloring. (optional)
2. Cut out the individual cards. (This will provide a better seal when laminating.)
3. Laminate pieces with a heat laminator.
4. Punch a hole in each card where indicated and insert the binding ring.
5. Ready. Set. Trace!

Two Number Tracing Card Template have been provided for today’s activity.  The first is blank, that you can use to add in any  text, or shape that you’d like to use.  It is in PDF format so you should be able to put it into any graphic program and add the font or shape that you choose.  The second template is a complete set of number tracing numbers Zero through 10.

The number trace ring books are an excellent item to include in summer packets, or take home bags to provide an extra activity to reinforce skills at home.  The number trace ring books  can be used for long road trips, or for time fillers when students are finished with their work early.

By General Crafts Contributor Melissa, from the blog MeloMomma.

We eat, breath, and sleep army type stuff in this house. So, when I seen a rather large box in the garage I knew just what to do with it. However, if you don’t have a large box tucked away in your garage, your neighborhood Lowes or Home Depot sells them.

What you will need:

• 1 large box and one 1 medium box. Must be large enough to fit in unless this tank is for decoration purposes.
• Tape (I loved the camo duct tape)
• 1 brown bag paper roll
• Scissors
• School glue
• Construction paper
• Markers
• Craft knife (or a steak knife works if you are in a bind like me )

Directions:

Tape the medium box to the large box. Cut off the top. Cut a hole in the large box so that you can fit into it.

Cut a small hole into the medium box and insert the paper roll. Secure it with tape both on the inside and the outside.

Cover with construction paper using school glue to attach. Cut 6 round circles and glue them on the bottom to make wheels. Cut out two rectangles and write US ARMY on them. Glue them on. Make a star for the front and back.

GO PLAY!

By Crafts for Learning Contributor, Danielle from the blog Crayonbox Learning.

Recycled crafts can be fun to create as well as educational.  This project is one that the kids can help you with!  There aren’t any set rules as to what types of seed packets you use.  In my example, I have used a packet of vegetable seeds, and 2 flower packets.

Materials needed:

• Cardstock
• Lamination
• Large Popsicle Sticks
• Recycled Seed Packets
• Old seed catalogs, ads or photo/clipart images
• Scissors
• Permanent Ink Marker
• Glue – E600

Directions:

1. Gather together recycled seed packets.  Select 5-10 different seed packets that feature a picture on the front.

2. Look through seed catalogs, websites, or ads for pictures of the flowers/content of the seed packets. In my example, you’ll see that I selected a picture of Acorn Squash, Dianthys, and Zinnias. Even though the pictures weren’t exactly the same pictures as my seed packets, they were close enough. 

3. Cut out or print the pictures of the flowers/veggies to match the seed packets.

4. Trim the pictures to fit on the end of a large popsicle stick. Laminate for durability.  (Optional)

5. Count out as many popsicle sticks as you have pictures.  With a permanent ink pen, write the name of the flower/vegetable on one end of the popsicle stick. 

6. Glue the picture at the end of the popsicle stick opposite the writing, and let dry completely.

7. Once the tags are completely dry,  the game is ready to be played.

Variation:    Another variation to this game is to have the children sort vegetables from flowers by sorting into recycled aluminum cans marked with seed packets.

All of the supplies used to create this activity can be purchased from CreateForLess.com.

By General Crafts Contributor Melissa, from the blog MeloMomma.

For this craft you may need to head out to the recycle bin! What I loved most about this is that my son had the opportunity to really put on his creative thinking cap! I sat several boxes, cans, toilet paper rolls, etc… into the center of the table. From there we began constructing out Recycled Robot guy and we had some great laughs in the process!

 What you will need:

• Recycled Containers (Goldfish, cans, coffee containers, etc…)
• 2 toilet paper rolls (cans work as well)
• 2 towel rolls
• Googly eyes
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Tape
• Scissors

Directions:

1. Assemble your robot as pictured or as desired.
2. Use tape to adhere the toilet paper and towel rolls (legs and arms).
3. Cut out several strips of constriction paper and crinkle it accordion style.
4. Glue it on the top.
5. Glue on the googley eyes.
6. Cut out a nose and mouth. Glue it on.
7. Decorate any way you wish!

By Crafts for Learning Contributor, Danielle from the blog Crayonbox Learning.

The Spring Clothespin game is a fun, and flexible game that can be adapted to the age group you’re working with, skills, and themes. The template that I have included in this tuturial features a tulip, but any character or theme can be substituted.

Materials Needed:

Spring Clothespin Game Template (click to download)
Cardstock
Scissors
Lamination (heat laminator or clear contact paper)

 
Colored Clothespins:

Small – Medium wood clothespins
RIT Liquid Dye

On the first example, I put words on the flower pots. The object of the game is to find the rhyming word in the bubble that matches.  The correct answer is clipped with a colorful wood clothespin.

In the second example featurings simple math problems written on the tulip, with the answer being in the bubble that is clipped by the small wooden clothespin. I put pre-cut cards in a cute cello bag, including a little bit of recycled (pink) shredded paper, 3 colored wood clothespins.  The bag was topped  with a simple cardstock header and ribbon. Perfect for party favors,  holiday gift giving, teacher gifts, or a surprise for your children.  The options are endless for this game!

 Directions:

1. Print off a copy of the Spring Clothespin Game Template provided.
2. Color, and cut out prior to laminating. (The lamination will have a better seal of the game cards are cut out and then laminated).
3. After the cards are laminated, the cards are ready for play.

Coloring Wood Clothespins:

1. Select the number of wood clothespins that you’d like to color.  I used the smaller  wood clothespins for this project tutorial, but it’s recommended to use the larger clothespins when working with young children.

2. Select the color dye that you want to use. RIT dye comes in a dry or liquid coloring in an array of colors. For this tutorial I used the liquid dye and I think it worked better.

3. Put warm water in a plastic or glass container, add the RIT dye to achieve the desired color that you want. The longer that you keep the wood clothespins in the water, the darker the color they will be.  For large batches of pins, use 2 cups of warm water and  ¼ cup liquid dye.  I dyed a small batch and so I did not use as much water or dye. For my example, I used Petal Pink RIT dye and it took a few hours for the color to soak in to the desired color.  Depending on how dark the dye is, you may not have to leave the pins in very long before they have reached full color.

4. After the pins have been dyed, pull them out and lay them on paper towels or something absorbant (not fabric because the dye will stain it). I let my clothespins dry over night to make sure that they were fully dry before I used them.

All of the materials listed in this tutorial can be found at CreateForLess.com. 

By General Crafts Contributor Mina, from the blog Mina’s Journal.

Bring a little of the outdoors, indoors with these Li’l Log Cabins. An easy project for a rainy day. The models come in two colors. These Li’l Log Cabins make a starting point for imaginative play. What’s your favorite craft project for rainy days?

You Will Need

• The Li’l Log Cabin Download
• Scissors
• Glue

Download Brown Li’l Log Cabin

Making the Li’l Log Cabins

• Cut along all outer lines
• Fold where indicated on the download
• Fold along the glue tab lines
• Glue the cabin together first
• Glue the roof to the cabin

 Download Yellow Li’l Log Cabin

Put the cabin on a cardboard base and add paper trees to make a papercraft scene. Cut the windows out if you like before gluing the main house piece together. Cut the door along the top and bottom and one side then fold along the other edge, so the door is a flap.

Make a street, neighborhood or town. Add small written signs to glue to the front of the cabins to denote stores like ‘Drapery’, ‘Sewing Shop’, etc.