Four Favorite Kids Crafts
Natalie Zee Drieu and I are virtual kindred spirits around all things stylish and crafty. In addition to sharing fabulous finds at her blogs Coquette and Coquette Maman, Natalie is the editor-in-chief at the fantastic website Craft, where I have had the honor of sharing some of my crafty tutorials. Natalie and I both have crafty daughters, and since I've been thinking of ways to keep Laurel happy while I'm busy tending to her new sister, for today's four favorites guest post, I asked Natalie to share four favorite crafts to entertain older siblings.
From Natalie:
My 2-year-old daughter Chloe and I enjoy crafting together, whether it's painting or making paper bag animals. Just as crafts are a great way to bond with your kids, it's also a great way to keep them busy when you need them to be -- especially when you're sleep-deprived and tending to a newborn baby. Soon you'll find them asking for crafts to do rather than the typical "I'm bored" complaint.
Here are four of my favorite kids crafts that are perfect for an older sibling (or two) to make:
One of the best remedies for boredom is whipping up a batch of homemade play dough. This one is gluten-free and easy to make. The best part is its capacity to be shaped into an awesome assortment of beads and baubles that can be painted and decorated.
Finger knitting is a great way to keep little hands busy, while creating long cords in a flash! Kids dig it because it's faster and less cumbersome than traditional knitting. Once knitted, the cords can be made into things like googly-eyed snakes, purse handles, and gift ribbons. Instructions on how to make a Twisty Scarf are also included.
Zines (short for "fanzines" or "magazines") are self-published booklets about any subject that grabs you. Zine-making is also a fantastic activity for kids. Not only are zines a fun means of creative expression, making them gives kids a little insight into how published books and magazines are made, and may help them think more critically about what goes into those mainstream publications.
Cereal Box Pencil Case (first image)
This is a great project that can teach kids the art of recycling by turning their favorite old cereal box into a handy pencil case. Get creative here and have kids reuse granola boxes or cookie boxes to make purses, containers, and more!
I'm so excited to hook Laurel up with these crafts! And for additional inspiration, check out Craftzine.com's kids crafts archives for more great projects. And if you're not yet reading Natalie, head on over and check her out at Coquette, Coquette Maman, and Craft. You can also follow Natalie and Craft Magazine on Twitter at @coquette and @craft.