Total Time 30 minutes or less Ages all-ages Mother's Day is just around the corner, and nothing says true love from kids like a handmade gift. These pipe cleaner flowers are mess-free, quick, and easy to make. by Holly Homer What you'll need Green Pipe Cleaners Pipe Cleaners in Various Colors How to make it 1. Take a regular pipe cleaner in a fun spring color and bend it into a circle. 2. Twist the ends together so the circle is closed. 3. Twist the middles together in a figure 8. 4. Stick one end of the figure 8 inside the other, so you make an X shape like this. (It will sort of resem ..read more

Total Time 1 hour Ages 5 to 8 Manny brought a little green into his neighbor's home when he built her a flower box. Now Preschoolers can learn about being green with this eco-friendly craft. by Miranda Becker What you'll need 1-gallon paper milk carton Duct tape Scissors Ruler Red marker Red construction paper Mod Podge Paint brush, or sponge Red masking tape or duct tape Red, self-adhesive craft foam Yellow, self-adhesive craft foam Unsharpened pencil Hole punch Black puffy paint Stones or rocks Soil Seeds or plants How to make it 1. To start, wash a milk carton with soapy water and let dr ..read more

Total Time weekend projects Ages 5 to 8 For Huey, Dewey, and Louie, Halloween is three times the fun. With matching ghost costumes, these famous triplet ducklings are truly identical. Even their uncle Donald and great-uncle Scrooge McDuck can't tell them apart. Made from stiffened cotton, these web footed apparitions make a real stand-up decoration.   Download Huey, Dewey & Louie Ghosts Template by Cindy Littlefield What you'll need Aluminum foil 3 large drinking glasses or empty jars Three 12-inch squares of lightweight white cotton cloth Tape measure Fabric stiffener (sold at ..read more

Total Time 30 minutes or less Ages 5 to 8 Pooh and his pals from the Hundred Acre Wood find fun wherever they go. Craft your very own Pooh, Piglet, and Tigger puppets from colorful paper bags and cardstock. Put on a puppet show and create your own adventures for this silly old bear. Download Pooh & Friends Paper Bag Puppets Template by Miranda Becker What you'll need Print the templates and cut out the pieces. 3 paper bags (red, orange, pink) Cardstock (golden yellow, dark pink, light pink, black, orange, cream) Scissors Glue stick Black marker How to make it 1. Print the templates and ..read more

One of my earliest memories was watching Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope in the theater with my dad and siblings. I about jumped through the roof when the lurking, hooded Jawas with yellow eyes aglow emerged out from behind the rocks and blasted R2-D2 with some kind of space taser. It's amazing to know six-plus movies and a few television shows later my children are versed in all things Star Wars and can probably re-enact that particular scene in its entirety without any rehearsals. So I set out to make some light-up glowing Jawa eyes to impress the young padawans. The picture above captures ..read more

Ages 5 to 8 Team up a teenage girl with magical hair and a charming bandit. Add mystery and adventure, such as a great, and long overdue, escape from a tower for starters. And you've got the makings of a sensational story. Make that, sun-sational. This shiny pendant-style necklace is a replica of the distinctive sun emblem that's key to untangling the puzzle of Rapunzel's past. Download Golden Sun Medallion Template by Cindy Littlefield What you'll need Template for Golden Sun Medallion Scissors Ruler Scrapbook paper (2 or more shades or prints of gold) Yellow or gold faux gems and/or glitte ..read more

Blow across the top of a bottle, and you get a single tone. Fill a bunch of bottles with different amounts of water, and you've got yourself an instrument! We've calculated how much water you need in eight bottles to create a musical scale. What you'll need (8) 20-ounce bottles water blue food coloring (optional) (8) small pieces of paper labeled 1-8 How to make it 1. Set up your instrument by filling eight 20-ounce bottles with water according to the scale below. If you like, add blue food coloring so that you can see the water better. 2. How to Fill the Bottles: 1. 7 ounces (Do) 2. 9 1/2 ..read more

Get a jump on April Fool's with this yummy (looking) treat. A simple technique creates the whipped cream; brown dye gives the cocoa its luscious color. Remember, never leave candles burning unattended or near unsupervised children. by Nicole Blum | Photograph by Joe Polillio What you'll need 2 3/4 cups soy wax flakes pouring container or heatproof measuring cup with spout one third of a 3/4-ounce cube of brown wax dye 6-ounce glass mug made for hot beverages 9-inch-tall prewaxed wire wick with clip How to make it 1. To make the cocoa: Melt 1 3/4 cups of the soy wax flakes in a pouring conta ..read more

Total Time 1 hour Ages all-ages This handy holder is just the thing for anyone expecting a visit from the Tooth Fairy. What you'll need White, blue, and purple felt Scissors Fabric glue Fiberfill How to make it Cut 2 matching tooth shapes from white felt, 2 wings from blue felt, and a small pocket patch from purple felt. Lay one of the tooth pieces flat and glue the wing shapes to the outside edges. Outline the edge of the tooth with fabric glue, leaving the top glue-free for stuffing. Press the second tooth shape on top and allow the glue to dry completely. Stuff the pillow with fiberfill ..read more

Total Time 30 minutes or less Ages school-age In the last 2 months, we have made friends with the tooth fairy. She first visited us this summer in England, and she has come two more times in the last few weeks. It is another joy of having identical twins – their baby teeth start falling out right around the same time! I made my girls each a tooth fairy pouch and here is a simple tutorial to make a glittery letter from the tooth fairy. I suggest making a whole batch so you’ll be ready to write little letters to sleeping children… by Helen Bird What you'll need Glitter – of course! Card stock ..read more