Holiday Craft Projects

When boredom looms and the weather's hot, get everyone involved in summer crafts for kids. Kids are always excited to be free from the school routine when they are let out for summer break, but it isn't long until they start wondering what to do. Summer crafts for kids will keep them occupied and maybe even teach them a thing or two.

A vase for summer bouquets, fresh or dried, is another craft that naturally fits into the summer crafts for kids category. A simple vase can be made from a tin can. Soup cans work particularly well because they are smooth on the outside and rather narrow. Be sure to file off any sharp spurs on the inside opening. Start the work of art by cutting a piece of construction paper or other colored paper to fit around the sides of the can. This will be glued to the outside of the can, but first it needs to be decorated.

The vase cover can be decorated in many ways. The child can draw a summer scene on the paper and then decorate it with glued on glitter or small stickers of summer things. Another idea is for the child to write their name in large letters, and glue beans, seeds, or glitter to the letters. Let all glue dry before attaching the paper to the outside of the can. Add water and fresh flowers or leave dry for dry flowers.

You can also use the can for a trinket container or a place to put pens, pencils, and markers. To make them real summer crafts for kids, glue grass seed heads and found seed pods to the paper in a decorative way.

Jar vases make good summer crafts for kids, too. Canning jars make particularly cute vases, but any cast off mayonnaise, pickle, or other jar, even plastic ones, can work, too. To make a jar into a vase it first needs to be sparkling clean. Kids love getting wet in the summer, so let them roll up their sleeves (or put on a bathing suit!) and have fun splashing at the sink while "washing dishes." When the jar is clean and dry, tie an attractive ribbon around the opening. If desired, decorate the outside of the jar with glued on beads and buttons.

Summer crafts for kids will provide some cute decorations around the home and keep the kids from being bored. This summer, crafts for kids should be at the top of every parent's To Do list!

Kids have a way of using their imaginations to turn everyday objects into something extraordinary. A large cardboard box can be a house, car or spaceship, a rock can be their dog or a walkie-talkie, and a hairbrush can be a microphone used in their on-stage singing debut. With an empty glass jar and some craft supplies, they can use all of that imagination to create some wonderful crafts. Here are ten ideas you can use to help them along.

1. Beach in a jar - This is a fun project for kids who have been to the beach recently and gathered seashells. Simply put some sand in the bottom of the jar, and add lots of shells and some driftwood. A larger shell can be glued to the lid for a finishing touch.

2. Lantern or candleholder - This is a good project for a glass jar of any size. The kids can use glass liner and paint to create a stained glass look, or they can add semi-transparent material such as tissue paper to the outside of the jar with Mod Podge. For a lantern, a handle can be made with string or wire.

3. Christmas lights in a jar - This can actually be used for a variety of occasions, or year round with the right kinds of potpourri. Simply place a layer of lights on the bottom (clear works best if it's not for Christmas), put some potpourri on top, and repeat until you've used all of the lights, leaving the cord on the outside. Cover the top with a doily, secure with a rubber band, and tie some pretty ribbon around it.

4. Flower vase - Glass jars make charming vases. All that's needed to spruce them up is some glass paint, and maybe some stick-on jewels. Dried flowers or pieces of fabric could also be added with Mod Podge. If the opening seems too large, and adult can cut a large hole in the lid and let the child cover it with ribbon.

5. Cake in a jar - Find a good cake recipe, and measure out the dry, non-perishable ingredients. Then add one ingredient to the jar at a time, and do not mix. This creates a nice layered look and gives the recipient most of the ingredients to make a delicious homemade cake. Write the recipe on a tag and attach it with ribbon.

6. Jar lamp - You can find jar lamp kits online that include the electrical parts. All your child has to do is put some paper shred in the bottom, add any items that he wants to the jar, and add a lampshade. You can find a decorative shade at a local discount store, or your child can use markers or fabric paint to decorate a plain one.

7. Bank - Jars make great banks. Simply cut a slot in the lid to put change in, and let your child decorate the outside as he chooses.

8. Jack-o-lantern jar - This is a great Halloween project. Cut shapes for the eyes, nose and mouth out of masking tape, and place them on the jar. Paint with orange paint, and remove tape when dry. Add a candle or small light to make it glow.

9. Candy jar - This can be decorated any way your child likes. Fill it with candy and give it as a gift, or keep it on the coffee table for guests to enjoy.

10. Planter - Put pebbles in the bottom of a small canning jar, then fill with potting soil. Plant herb or flower seeds, and put in the windowsill.

Fun Craft of the Month Clubs

Crafting together is a great way to bond with our kids. It gets them thinking creatively, and it provides for real quality time together. The biggest drawback is that it can get very, very messy!

Certain crafts are just messy by nature, and when you add small hands to the mix, they become even messier. But you don't have to choose between letting your kids be creative and keeping your sanity. With a little preparation, you can prevent most messes before they happen. And for those you couldn't avoid, you can often clean them up before they do any permanent damage if you act quickly. Here's how:

* It's best to have a craft table to use for projects, but that's not always practical. If you're working at the kitchen table, remove the tablecloth and cover it thoroughly with newspaper. If your child is using watercolors or other thin mediums that could soak through, use a double layer.
* Avoid carpeted areas at all costs. Some carpets release stains easily, but others hold on to them for dear life. Replacing carpet isn't cheap, so it's better to be safe than sorry. If you have nowhere to craft that isn't carpeted, put newspapers or old rugs on the floor around the crafting area, including underneath the table and chairs.
* Make sure everyone wears a smock or apron, or at least some old clothing. Crafting in frilly dresses and suits is a disaster waiting to happen!
* Get washable markers, paints and crayons for your kids to use. They wash right out of fabrics and are easy to wipe off of surfaces.
* Forget about loose glitter. Buy glitter glue instead. It's easier to use, and you won't be cleaning tiny bits of glitter out of the carpet for weeks to come. (Yes, loose glitter will make its way there even if you're crafting far away from carpeted areas.)
* Give kids a wet washcloth to clean their hands on as needed. This will make it much easier to get their hands nice and clean when they're done.
* Keep cleaning supplies close at hand. Having paper towels, surface cleaners, and clothing stain removers nearby will make it less likely that any messes that do occur will leave their mark permanently.
* Beading and other crafts that require small pieces won't cause stains, but the pieces can end up everywhere. Give your child a small plastic food storage container to keep supplies in to help keep them from getting away.

Craft time is much more pleasant for everyone if you don't have to worry so much about messes. By using less messy materials and protecting clothing and surfaces just in case, you can make cleanup a breeze and save yourself a lot of unnecessary grief.