Easy Xylophone Craft

It is summer, my kids would live in the pool or perched on a swing, with possible breaks for snacks, lemonade and some screen time if given the opportunity. While I am a firm believer in the importance of play, I am a firm believer in learning year round and brushing up on the things that kids already know too.

One afternoon we were talking about instruments and toying with a few drums, triangles, and maracas when I mentioned a xylophone. My son couldn't picture what I was explaining so I decided to make a quick craft with the kids to see if it would refresh his memory without grabbing the ipad to give him a visualization.

This craft took about 4 minutes for my speedy little boy. It would have taken half of that time had I not nudged him to color the sticks completely.

You will need
6 craft sticks
markers
glue



As you can see I placed 2 of the craft sticks at vertical slants almost mimicking a V

I had Roo color 4 of the sticks in whatever colors he liked


Next we placed the sticks horizontally on the vertical sticks, like rungs on a ladder, securing with 2 beads of white glue per stick

By the time we had placed 3 of the 4 sticks on the frame, Roo remembered what a xylophone was. This was easy to make and the kids had fun banging on the craft stick xylophone. I enjoyed that part too because it was quieter than the real deal.

This was also a great way to discuss colors, shapes, ladders and how one might use a ladder as well as how rungs are like steps in a trickier way. I loved that so much conversation happened around one simple project, involving 6 craft sticks!





Don't miss this fun paper sandwich craft for kids!

DIY Barbie Serving Tray

My daughter is really into all things Barbie. So I made her this cute little rustic serving tray for her Dreamhouse play sessions. It took me less than 5 minutes and is pretty cute and you can personalize it if you wish!

We have all but given up on Barbie accessories. My kids lose them, the dog chews them and it seems like a big waste of money. I won't buy any more, but I will DIY some!

 I made this Rustic Barbie Serving Tray happen in moments with 3 supplies. It is pretty cute and it cost me $0 to make.

Supplies

6 small craft sticks 

Scissors

Glue Gun

Directions

Glue 3 craft sticks together

Trim the rounded edges off of 3 craft sticks then glue 2 of them to the longest sides of the base.

Cut the remaining craft stick in half

Glue this to the other ends

 Now you have a rustic serving tray for Barbie and her friends. Can you believe how easy that was?

We are already planning to make a version of this with taller sides to flip over as a coffee table for Barbie. You can paint the serving tray, or cover it with washi tape for a unique look if your daughter isn't into Farmhouse style decor yet.

Find all of my craft stick projects here

Handprint Fish Puppets

Monster Handprint Puppets

Easy Gnome Christmas Ornaments

These easy Gnome Christmas ornaments are perfect for crafting with the kids this holiday season.

We love to make easy crafts with the items we already have on hand. Some of my best ideas and favorite projects have stemmed from the junk drawer and items destined for the trash. These Christmas gnome ornaments are a great example of what you can make with simple stuff you probably already have.

These are awesome because with a different pattern of paper, or bigger googly eyes, your gnome looks totally different. If you don't have the supplies in the junk drawer or your craft supplies, you can get all of these things from Dollar Tree or even better- improvise!

Supplies per 1 gnome:

2 googly craft eyes
3 craft sticks
cotton balls
Red Pom Pom
Glue
Brown Bag
Scrap Book Paper
Confetti
Sharpie
Ribbon

Directions:

With the 3 craft sticks glue them together to form a triangle.

Cut a triangle from the brown bag to fit in the craft stick frame.

Add a generous amount of glue to the craft sticks and place the bag on top of it.

Cut a smaller triangle from scrap book paper to form the hat of your gnome.

Add eyes, a pom pom nose and draw on a mouth with a sharpie.

Add a chunk of confetti or some type of adornment to the hat.
Add a row of cotton balls for the beard.

Flip the gnome over and glue a ribbon to the back.

Hang your cute and easy gnome Christmas ornaments from your tree or share them with friends and family!

You can make dozens of these and make them all unique by simply changing the paper of the hats and the size of the pom pom of the nose.

This is such a fun craft to make with the kids! We loved making and naming our gnome ornaments!

Find all of our DIY Christmas Ornaments here.

Mickey Mouse Jingle Bell Ornaments

Ribbon Tree Ornaments

DIY Photo Puzzle

My kids and I are really into crafting right now. On cold, rainy and yucky days like we have been having a lot of in Ohio, there is nothing better than digging into my craft cabinet and pulling out a few projects to entertain us when the weather is keeping us inside.

On one particular day, we ended up with a stack of duplicate photos and I knew that these should be put to good use instead of sitting in a photo box or ending up in the trash. After a few moments of careful consideration, I realized that a few craft sticks and some glue would take these double photos from miscellaneous junk into a treasure for the kids.

We came up with these DIY Photo Puzzles. We had so much fun gluing them together that we made a few to share with Grandparents and Daddy, as well as a stack for the kids to tinker with.

To make a DIY photo puzzle all you need is:

A photo
craft sticks
your favorite adhesive {we used glue sticks}
A utility knife

This project is so easy to make! All you need to do is:

Lay the picture side of the photo down and add glue to the back liberally.

Line up craft sticks across the back on the glued side of the picture.

Press firmly to allow the glue to bond to the craft sticks.

Flip the photo over

This step should be completed by an adult as utility knives are crazy sharp.

Carefully cut the photo between the sticks, continuing until the photo is cut into strips backed with a craft stick.

Allow the glue to dry.

Mix up the pieces and assemble the photo puzzle.

These are so much fun to give to people and they are a great challenge for my preschooler. My toddler finds them too difficult as of now, so we are going to make a few easier ones from cards we received over the 2015 holidays for her.

If you are looking for a last minute DIY gift idea or just a fun surprise for the kids, this one takes about 5 minutes tops to complete and is sure to bring a smile or two! Best of all, you likely have materials on hand to complete this project making it very frugal!

Story Time and a Jam Sandwich Craft

My kids are too stinking cute. I love their creativity and eagerness to dig into any project and give it their own unique touches. Several times a week Roo will ask to make a craft, similarly several times a week Harper will raid our craft closet and take off with anything she can reach... We now know they like to craft; if you add a good story into the mix it quickly turns from like to love.

A few weeks ago we checked out The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord. I thought this would be a fun book to check out, it also seemed like a good way to explain wasps to Harper and give Roo a reminder to avoid them!

I also hoped that a story about a giant jam sandwich and a cute craft would inspire my son to try something new. Something he has been adamant about not trying, jelly and jam!

                                                                  

In the story, 4000 wasps descend upon a town. They are quite a bother but the townspeople roll up their sleeves and get to work making one giant wasp trap jam sandwich!

The kids found the book entertaining. Roo was not sold on the idea of jam at all. He said "That's not good. That's sick." He was pretty determined that he wouldn't like jelly, nor jam. 

Up next we made Jam Sandwiches. My kids go CRAZY for paper food crafts. Like drop everything,  We are making a sandwich!? From paper?! Will there be glue sticks involved?

Getting ready, supplies needed

I cut 2 slices of bread shapes in off white paper

I cut 2 slightly larger slices of bread shapes in brown paper

I offered my kids red finger paint and paint brushes

Of course, glue sticks were needed.

Baby Wipes... You will want these!

Instructions

I gave each kid a brown slice of bread and a glue stick

They smeared glue around the brown paper and topped it with the off white paper

That was pretty satisfying to the kids. They really like to glue things!

They were thrilled to see the finger paint and paint brushes!

I told them to paint the jam on their toast. They agreed this was pretty great. Glue and paint after a story? It couldn't get much better!

This was a great activity for the kids. They always want to help me cook, so to create their own food craft was a hit. 

After the story and the craft, I made a peanut butter and jelly for Harper, Roo came in and watched me spreading the glob of jelly around. With a very serious face he told me "That is sick. Bleck. No jelly for me please. I will have honey."

I love that kid. He is definitely a guy who knows what he wants. 

You also might enjoy this Paper Cookie Craft idea for preschoolers.

Must Make Star Wars Crafts

 Calling all Jedi Masters, Rebel heroes, and aspiring smugglers! Unleash your inner creative Force and embark on a crafting adventure to a galaxy far, far away.

Whether you're a seasoned crafter or a young Padawan just starting out, there's a Star Wars craft project out there waiting for you. From classic characters and iconic ships to legendary lightsabers and galactic scenes, the possibilities are endless!

Gather your supplies, channel your inner creativity, and get ready to create your own death star, fun puppets and even out of this world soaps. I know you will find a few crafts to make. The force is strong with these fun ideas!

Be sure to click thru the links to get the full tutorials.

Paper Bag Grogu Puppets by Simple Everyday Mom

Got a brown paper bag and some colorful paper? Then why not craft these cute puppets with the kids this afternoon?

Upcycled Death Star by Sweet Silly Sara

An old soccer ball becomes a fantastic Death Star! This is such a fun way to make a DIY toy that can also hold all of the action figures!

Baby Yoda Bookmark by Red Ted Art

Let this little cutie keep your place for you with this corner bookmark. The tutorial is so easy to follow you can make a dozen of these in no time.

Star Wars Soaps for Kids by STEAM Powered Family

Give kids an introduction to soap making with these adorable soaps! They will certainly make bath time lots of fun!

Pool Noodle Lightsabers by Life Anchored

These soft DIY pool noodle lightsabers are perfect for battles without boo boos!

R2D2 Pencil Holders by Crafts by Amanda

Grab some felt and create a pencil holder that Star Wars fans will appreciate and use!

Mandalorian Snowflakes by Kids Activities Blog

This is such a fun idea for paper snowflakes for Star Wars fans! The template makes it so easy to create these little works of art!

Craft Stick Grogu by Simple Everyday Mom

Put the popsicle sticks to use with this cute idea that will have kids crafting up a great time.

Mandalorian Snack Bags by Grace Giggles and Naptime

Paper bags and colorful paper are all you need to make  snack time super special! Make these for movie night and everyone will love them!

Egg Carton Yoda by Fun Learning Life

Give a discarded egg carton a new use with this fun craft! It is creative and encourages dramatic play for the win.

Paper Plate Porgs by Clementine County

Porgs are adorable right?! This paper plate craft will have your kids making porgs of their own to admire and share.

Paper Plate BB8 by Mom Brite

Grab a paper plate and get busy making this really awesome BB8. This is detailed and perfect for droid fans, but easy enough anyone can make it.

Death Star Globes by Julie Measures

If you have an old globe why not create some decor that will mesmerize Star Wars fans? This step by step tutorial makes it really easy to recreate.

These Star Wars crafts are perfect for:

• A fun family activity: Bond with your loved ones over a shared love of Star Wars and creativity.
• A Star Wars-themed birthday party: Keep your young Jedi entertained with engaging crafts and activities.
• A rainy day activity: Let your imagination take flight even when the weather isn't cooperating.
• A unique way to show your Star Wars fandom: Display your creations with pride and let the world know you're a true fan of the saga.

So, gather your supplies, put on your favorite Star Wars soundtrack, and get ready to unleash your creativity! Remember, the Force is strong with crafters of all ages, and there's no limit to what you can create in your own galaxy far, far away.

May the craft be with you!

You might also like these easy Yoda puppets.

Fine Motor Counting Activity

This activity is perfect for small hands. It combines counting and fine motor work for a fun, hands on approach to learning. This introduction to math is perfect for preschoolers. Best of all, you can get everything you need to set this up at Dollar Tree.

Little hands love pinching, so this activity is perfect for making math fun while engaging fine motor skills! My kids both loved this early introduction to counting when they were smaller, and I often pull this activity out when we have little guests in our house who need something to do. This is the ultimate boredom buster and will always have a place in my busy bag collection.

All you need to make this is some tiny clothespins from dollar trees craft section and a few craft sticks. Mark the numbers you are using on the craft sticks and hand the kids some clothespins. Encourage your child to count the clothespins and put them on the craft stick. 

This is one of those activities you will want to supervise, to keep the pins from mouths, noses and ears. 

If you enjoyed this easy activity for kids, you will want to check out some of my other preschool projects.

Play Doh Stamping 

Itsy Bitsy Spider Craft