#391: Light Switch Cover

Hmmm... does you room need a little decorating? An easy way to brighten up your room is to dress up your light switch cover (the rectangle plate around your light switch).



To make the cover shown, cut out a piece of crafting foam that is the same size as your cover. Then, cut out the rectangular hole for the switch. One easy way to get the right size and shape is to have an adult remove the cover from the wall and trace the shape and switch hole onto the foam.

Cut out the foam and decorate it with other foam shapes.

Stick your new cover on your old cover using tape (or if you are allowed, use glue).

Variations: You can also make a cover using cardstock (thin cardboard) instead of foam. Glue buttons, sparkles, sequins, ribbon, pictures, or draw or paint on your cover. (Or try it all!) Use your imagination and you can't go wrong!


Make this a family activity: Everyone can make one for each room of the house.

This activity promotes creativity.

#352: Tie Dye

To tie-dye you will need these materials: clothing for dying; dye; water; buckets; rubber bands, strips of cloth or thick string; rubber gloves; and an adult.



Tie dye instructions:
Find an item of clothing (something white is best) that is okay to dye a different colour. If your item is brand new, wash and dry your item.

Tie strips of cloth/rubber bands/thick string around the item you are dying. Where you tie the strips the dye can't colour and it will remain the original colour. Make sure the ties are very tight so dye doesn’t seep underneath them.

Have an adult mix your dye according to the package directions. If you mix the dye in a large bucket you can dip your item into the dye. Make sure you wear old clothes, rubber gloves (so you don’t dye your hands) and cover your work area with plastic or newspaper.

After dipping the item in the dye a few times, rinse it really well in cold water and then again in warm water. Afterwards, you can take your ties off and admire your new tie-dyed item. (Lay it flat to dry.)


Make this a family activity: Tie dye something for everyone.

This activity promotes an awareness of textiles, the dying process and a bit of chemistry too.

#325: Cookies in a Jar

Pull out your favourite cookie recipe, a large sealer jar (you can also use a spaghetti sauce jar), some ribbon and you have a lovely gift.



1. First, make sure your recipe's dry ingredients will fit in the jar you have chosen. To do that, use your math skills. Add (on paper) up all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, chocolate chips, etc.--NOT eggs, butter, etc.). What does it add up to? Swap it for water. So, if you have 3 cups of dry ingredients, pour 3 cups of water into your jar. If it fits, your dry ingredients will fit.

2. Layer the ingredients into the jar like in the picture above.

3. Put on the lid as well as some ribbon--to pretty it up.

4. Add a tag with baking instructions. Do they need to add an egg, vanilla and butter? Write that on the tag. All they will need to do is add the wet ingredients to your jar's mix and they will be ready to bake cookies!

Hint: If you don't have large sealer jars, you might be able to find some at a second hand store. Make sure you wash them before adding your ingredients.


Make this a family activity: Get help from your parents to make up these gift jars.

This activity promotes math skills.

#316: Butterfly

Make a very easy, beautiful butterfly.



You will need: a white paper coffee filter, washable markers, a black pipe cleaner, scissors, spray bottle that can mist water, and two pieces of paper towel.

1. Cut your pipe cleaner in half (you need a piece about 4-5 inches long). Set it aside.

2. Colour the filter with the markers. You don't need to cover the whole filter with colour.

3. Hold the coloured filter over the paper towel (to catch any drips that might happen) and mist the filter with water (using the spray bottle). Make sure you get the whole filter wet (but not soaked). The marker's colour should be a bit runny.

4. Make one twist in the middle of the filter to make two wings. (See above photo.) Wrap your pipe cleaner around the middle of your filter (the twist), leaving the two ends sticking up to make antennas.

5. Lay the butterfly flat on a dry piece of paper towel. In about an hour, it should be dry.

Variations: Glue a magnet to the back of the butterfly to make it a magnet.


Make this a family activity: Get everyone to make a butterfly. Hang them on a piece of fishing line and you have a butterfly family decoration.

This activity promotes colour mixing knowledge.

#306: Make Your Own Magnet

There are many different ways to make your own magnets.

If you are good with computers and have a printer, you can buy a magnet sheet at a stationary store and print directly onto it using your home printer. This is nice if you like to make drawings on the computer or if you have digital pictures you would like to print onto magnets.

If you want to get a bit more crafty, re-cover old, flat magnets (or buy some). Glue pictures, drawings, funny sayings, feathers, and well, just about anything onto the magnet.



Hint: If you put too many things on the magnet it might get too heavy to stick your fridge.

To make the magnet shown above, you will need paint, a paint brush, white glue, cardstock (thicker paper), scissors, a clothespin, two googly eyes, a black pipe cleaner, a marker, and a magnet.

Cover your hands with paint (you may need help). Make a painty hand print on the cardstock, then make another hand print across from it like in the picture above. Paint the clothespin as well. Allow them to dry. Once dry, cut around the handprints, but do not cut them apart. Glue the clothespin onto the cardstock between the handprints. Point the clothespin down so the clasping part is down. Glue a magnet to the back. Make sure it is big and strong enough to hold your butterfly to the fridge. Glue on the eyes and pipe cleaner antenna. Draw a mouth on your butterfly and it is done!


Make this a family activity: Get the family together to make magnets as gifts or for your own fridge.

This activity promotes creativity.

#302: Make a Centerpiece

Happy Thanksgiving to the Americans out there.

A centerpiece is something you place in the middle of a table for decoration. There are hundreds of different ideas and types of centerpieces. What do you think would look nice? Something made of flowers? Pine cones? Wood? Paper? Be creative. If you need ideas or designs, try craft books at your local library.


To make this turkey centerpiece, you will need a half Styrofoam ball, white glue, yarn, feathers, scissors, red and orange pipe cleaners, and googly eyes.

Cut the yarn into strips--they must be long enough to fit over the round part of the ball and reach the flat part on opposite ends. You will need about 40 strips. Lay the strips of yarn in a pile. Take one strand and tie it around the middle of the pile of yarn, holding the strands together. Cover the Styrofoam with glue (but not the flat bottom). Lay the yarn over the glue, spreading the strands out to cover the Styrofoam. Stick the feathers in the Styrofoam, these will be tail feathers. Glue the googly eyes on. The orange pipe cleaner will be a beak for your turkey. Cut the pipe cleaner to be about an inch long. Fold it in half and stick the two ends into the Styrofoam to make a small beak. Then, cut a small piece off the red to be the turkey's funny bit of skin that hangs down under its beak. Stick in into the Styrofoam under the beak and you are done.

Very nice!


Make this a family activity: Get everyone to make a turkey to sit in front of their plate at Thanksgiving.

This activity promotes creativity.

#263: Beading

Make jewelry, key chains, bags and much more by weaving or stringing beads together.



Make this a family activity: Do this craft with your family.

This activity promotes fine motor skills, pattern awareness (which promotes math skills).

#260: Make or Decorate a Picture Frame

You can make or decorate your own picture frame.




If you are decorating one, find a frame (garage sales, dollar stores and second hand stores are good places to look for inexpensive frames) that you can paint, colour or decorate with markers or cover with cloth.

Some ideas: Use paint or markers to color your frame. Glue items like pictures, bits of fabric, sea shells, pine cones, string, ribbon or other interesting things to the picture frame.

To make your own frame, you can glue Popsicle sticks together and use some of the decorating ideas from above.

This is a great gift idea.


Make this a family activity: Have the family work together to build and decorate a frame as a gift for someone.

This activity promotes creativity.

#190: Memory Box

A memory box is a decorated box for storing special items. Usually they are made to remember a person or a special event. For example, if you went on a vacation, or a friend was moving away, you might make a memory box.




You will need: a small box with a lid (like a shoebox), mementos, glue or tape, ribbon, photos, glitter, stickers and other things you would like to use to decorate your box.

Decorate both the inside and outside of the box. You can glue your mementos (special items like pictures, ticket stubs and postcards) onto the box or simply place them inside.


Make this a family activity: Ask for special items from your family members to add to your memory box or make it a family related memory box.

This activity promotes memory and creativity skills.

#187: Pencil Container

Decorating a jar or can to make a pencil holder is a great gift idea.

You will need: empty jar or can about 8 x 10 cm (3-4 inches) tall with a wide opening at the top, tissue paper, pencil, white glue, and a shallow container for glue (like a jar lid).




Cut tissue paper into small squares (3 x 3 cm or 1 by 1 inch). Wrap one square of tissue paper over the eraser end of a pencil. Lightly dip it in glue so the middle of the tissue paper is covered with glue. Stick the gluey part of the tissue paper onto the jar or can. The center should stick to the jar while the rest of the square pokes out, away from the jar. Continue until the jar is covered, placing your squares close together.

Variation: Completely cover one side of the tissue paper square with glue and lay it flat on the jar. It will be smooth and fast. (Shown above.)


Make this a family activity by making this craft as a gift for someone in your family.

This activity promotes fine motor skills, patience and creativity.

#114: Homemade Cards

Happy Mother's Day!

Make your mom a homemade card.




Homemade cards always feel more special than a card made in a store (although there is nothing wrong with those!).

You can make a homemade card with plain paper, construction paper, coloured paper or use special card making supplies. Simply fold your paper in a card shape, draw, paint, stamp or glue.

Create and enjoy!


This activity promotes creativity and self-expression through art.

#106: Make a Photo Album

Have you been taking your own pictures like in activity #85? Or maybe you have photos laying around or on the computer? Make a photo album!




You can print your pictures and put them in a photo album from the store, or make your own album. You can even make a photo album online or on your computer!

Have fun!

Make this a family activity: Include your parents and siblings. Share stories about the pictures.


This activity promotes organizational skills.

#73: Make a Grass Head

Materials needed:
An old knee-high stocking (or the leg cut off an old pair of nylons)
15 mL (1 tablespoon) grass seed
750 mL (3 cups) sawdust or peat moss
Bowl
Saucer or plate
Water
Markers, white glue, goggly eyes (or buttons)

Place grass seed in the toe of the stocking. Fill the foot of the stocking with sawdust or peat moss. Add just enough to make a nice round ‘head’. Make sure you don’t mix the grass seed into the stocking too much. Tie a knot in the stocking right above the level of sawdust/peat moss. You may have to squeeze the material down to make a tight round ball.

Soak your grass head in a bowl of water until it gets wet (you'll know as it will get heavier). Once it is a bit wet, place the head on a saucer so it doesn’t drip everywhere. Once the head is dried out (about a day) you can give your grass head a face with markers. If you have wiggly eyes you can glue them on. You can also glue yarn or pipe cleaners on the face to make ears, mouth, nose, etc.

HINTS: Keep your grass head on a plate or saucer and in the sun, but don’t let him get too dry. To keep him damp, dip the top of his head (the toe of the stocking where the seeds are) in water every day. In about a week, hair (grass) should start sprouting. (Be patient!) Once it starts growing you can give him funky haircuts! Don’t forget to keep watering him!


This activity promotes creativity (and delayed gratification).

#35: Decorate a Mug

There are many ways to decorate a mug (coffee cup).


If you have a digital photo you would like to have printed on a cup, you can see if your local photo lab (look online too) as well as your local printing shop does this. If you want to get fancier, you can also add text to the cup or even use computer software to make a 'label' to be printed onto the cup. Make sure you check your local print shop or photo lab before putting work into your cup as they may want you to make it a special size.

If you prefer to paint your own cup, see if there is a studio/store nearby that has special unglazed (doesn't have a shiny finish) cups and paints for you to use. You can paint the cup in their studio/store and afterwards, they will glaze it. (A clear finish that makes your cup dishwasher safe and protects the paint.)

Have fun!


This activity promotes creativity.