Homemade gifts and crafts using recycled valentines, wrapping paper

Did your little Miss take her neatly-labeled valentines to school and arrive home with reciprocal Valentine cards from friends? So now, what to do with these prized missives? Clean freaks will toss when she isn't looking. Sentimental (ahem, packrat) parents will urge saving. Artsy (messy) moms won't know what happens to valentines because they will filter into general room litter. None of these is very satisfying considering cost, work and love put into valentines. Here are five cheap, homemade crafts using recycled and repurposed children's valentines. Perfect to use as gift crafts for Easter, Teacher Appreciation Month, Mother's Day, Father's Day or Grandparent birthday gift.   Mothers Day gifts, homemade crafts using recycled valentines

Arts and crafts party for kids: Recycled crafts, DIY children's craft projects

Kids love playing in snow. But below-zero winter wind chills force parents to keep kids in the house. Schools cancel recess if it's too cold. Excess time spent cooped up, makes for restless, irritable children. Looking for cheap, indoor activities for bored, winterbound kids? How about an arts and crafts party for kids? Here are cheap recycled crafts and children's craft projects to occupy sick, snowbound or bored kids.   Arts and crafts party for kids: Recycled crafts, DIY children's craft projects

Inexpensive Father's Day Photo Frame Crafts from Recycled Materials

Need a cheap (as in cost, not quality) gift for Father's Day? How about a free one? Even better, right? So make photo frame crafts from recycled materials. Personalize with special pictures of you and dad. Here are simple photo frame crafts made by decoration plain picture frames. Collect plain wood, plastic or metal frames. Watch clearance sales, garage sales, rummage sales, even junk piles for photo frames to refurbish. Now read on Easy, Inexpensive, Green Mother's Day / Father's Day Photo Frame Crafts

. 

Recycled Plastic Bag Basket or Rug Craft for Earth Day

April is Earth Month and what better way to celebrate by repurposing trash? It makes me sad to see plastic grocery bags littering woods and trees.  Here's a craft

I remember from when I was a kid using recycled plastic bread bags and grocery bags. Weave a rug, basket, coaster or mat. Here's how. I know should probably submit this green craft as a video tutorial or slide show, but seriously, it's so easy and self-explanatory that you'll easily get the idea.  Green, Recycled Bread Bag and Plastic Bag Basket or Rug Craft

Cheap, Homemade Easter Basket Fillers with Free Printable Crafts

Looking to make an Easter basket? You could get the ho-hum candy or you could be creative and fill the basket with nifty, useful toys and gifts. Here are cheap Easter basket filler suggestions. I've included free printable crafts, coloring pages, puzzles, toys and books. As the original minimalist mama. I do natural, sustainable, frugal, recycled. I keep holiday giving affordable and sensible. I've used these candy-alternative Easter basket ideas with our four kids. Inexpensive Candy Alternative Easter Basket Ideas for Little Girls

Cheap, Homemade, Safe Easter Egg Dyeing, Recycled Easter Decorations

Waited till the last minute to buy Easter egg dyeing kits for the kids? Now they're sold out and you have to pull a rabbit out of a hat (pun intended) and make your own Easter decorations. Take it from this mom--been there, done that. But I'm nothing if not resourceful, so never fear, last-minute Lisa to the rescue! Here are homemade Easter egg decorations using recycled and on-hand materials. And best of all--they're cheaper and safer than store-bought egg coloring kits! Cheap, Homemade, Safe Easter Egg Dyeing, Recycled Decorations

Hands-On, Open-Ended Creative Kids' Art Activities

Kids need art like plants need sun. In fact, art imitates childhood, when it grows organically and isn't manufactured. I had a sad childhood experience with formula art. A teacher publicly criticized my piece for not fitting the mold.
Admittedly, I didn't follow directions. She specifically said start drawing in the middle of the page. And I drew a boat along the bottom. I completely forgot, being caught up in the joy of creating. And it killed my confidence. Here's how not to let that happen with kids. Art Imitates Childhood: Hands-On, Creative Kids' Art Activities

Cheap, Recycled Gift Craft for Kids--Decoupage Vases

I empathize with moms of little ones--too cold to play outside for long. How about a cheap, chilly day craft for housebound kids? Most everything you need comes from your recycle bin. It's an easy retro crafting technique called decoupage or Mod Page.  Cheap, Recycled Gift Craft for Children

Easy, No Sew Recycled Homemade Bunk Bed Play Fort

I am always impressed by the creativity of others. My Bubblews friend wrote about an adorable pair of PJ pants she whipped up from a common household object. That prompted me to share a quickie thing I made. I can sew, but use no-sew workarounds if possible. This homemade bed play fort, made in under a minute, costs only a few bucks. You know, like those fabric play forts that come on bunk beds and cost a fortune?   One Minute Recycled Homemade Bunk Bed Play Fort 

Recycled Craft for Kids

Here's a favorite craft that I used decades ago, made with recycled materials.  Pet baby tornado. With a name like that, can you see why it so intrigues kids? Give each child a glass jar with lid or have them bring from home. Have them wash at school and teach life skills of dishwashing. When clean, fill jar almost to top with water (leave a little room) and add a drop of dish soap.  Pet Tornado Craft for Kids

Recycle Bin Crafts for Bored Kids: Homemade Hats

Got stuck-at-home-itis? can’t Got rainy-day, can't go out to play bored kids? Maybe someone is sick, or the whole family has head lice (been there done that)? Maybe the car is down or little ones are lonely with siblings at school? If so, you need teacher mama's boredom first aid kit. I’m your go-to gal for cheap, easy, parent friendly fun. '
Cause you know I'm short on artistic skill!

For every craft you can imagine, your recycle bin is your best bud. Today's craft from trash: homemade hats. And ahem, with Halloween fast-approaching, why not start thinking costumes? This design was developed by our oldest daughter at 20 months old. We kept her blocks and toys sorted in those old 5 pound peanut butter pails.  Recycle Bin Crafts for Bored Kids: Homemade Hats - News - Bubblews

Preschool Game Craft--Pirate Treasure Box

I read a blog post recently about digging through old jewelry. That post got me thinking about a nifty game-craft I did with my kids when they were younger. It was especially popular with my sons. We made pirate treasure boxes. Here's how.
You will need:
old, recycled boxes (wood, metal, cardboard) You might use old jewelry boxes as I did.
aluminum foil (to cover box if it isn't already)
fabric scraps and decoration do-dads: feathers, yarn, sequins, ribbon, faux gems, glitter (kids can use this to decorate box) Read on for complete directions. Preschool Game Craft--Pirate Treasure Box

Outdoor Summer Life Science Activities, Biology Nature Crafts

Life science, or biology, is an essential school subject. But kids often hate science because it's taught from boring textbooks in meaningless paper-and-pencil activities. Rediscover the inherent fascination of life science this summer with hands-on experiments and crafts. Teach green, using recycled supplies.  Outdoor Summer Life Science Activities, Biology Nature Crafts

Free Printable File Folder Games

 File folder games are one of the most popular types of educational games. File folder games are made using manila tag-board file folders. The game board is printed on the inside of the file folder. In necessary, a spinner is designed on the folder to replace dice. Any cards or game pieces are kept in a zippered plastic bag or pocket attached to the inside of the folder. The file folder stores upright in any filing cabinet or drawer. File folder games can be created to teach any subject or content area in school. File folder games are perfect for homeschool families, day care, tutoring and preschool centers also. File folder games work especially well with special needs students. Teachers print and make this summer for fall lesson plans! Free Printable File Folder Games

Activities for Bored, Winterbound Kids: Crafts-travaganza Party

Winter is finally getting serious in our area. Kids are loving the big snow drifts! But below-zero wind chills force some parents to keep kids in the house. Schools cancel recess if it's too cold. Excess times indoors makes for restless, irritable children. Looking for cheap, indoor activities for bored, winterbound kids? How about a crafts-travaganza party?  Winter Party--Arts and Crafts Day

Cheap, Kids' Cabin Fever Reliever: Homemade Castle

Snow is great for winter play, but near-zero wind chills aren't. During the holidays, there's usually enough to keep homebound kids occupied. But around February, creativity wears thin and winter blues set in. Here's a cheap, cabin fever reliever for kids and parents--homemade castle.  Cheap, Kids' Cabin Fever Reliever: Homemade Castle

5 Repurposed Uses for Valentines--Art Projects, Crafts, Gifts

Little Miss took her neatly-labeled valentines to school and arrived home with reciprocal Valentine cards from friends. So now, what to do with these prized missives? Clean freaks will surrepititiously toss them when she isn't looking. Sentimental (ahem, packrat) parents will encouraging saving. Artsy (aka messy) moms won't know what happens to them as valentines will filter into the child's general room litter. None of these is very satisfying considering cost and work put into valentines. Here are five cheap, homemade recycled ways to repurpose kids valentines.  5 Repurposed Uses for Valentines--Art Projects, Crafts, Gifts

Preschool Arts and Crafts Party, Cheap, Recycled

Winter is finally getting serious in our area. Kids are loving the big snow drifts! But below-zero wind chills force some parents to keep kids in the house. Schools cancel recess if it's too cold. Excess times indoors makes for restless, irritable children. Looking for cheap, indoor activities for bored, winterbound kids? How about a crafts-travaganza party?  Activities for Bored, Winterbound Kids: Arts and Crafts Party

Recycled Craft Supplies

Reduce, reuse, recycle is a good environmental policy. Your recycling bin is also an excellent source for craft materials. If you recycle items, you have a ready supply of craft materials on hand for literally hundreds of projects. Here is a list of recycled items to save and how to organize them. Having lived in small spaces all my life, I've listed ways to organize craft areas in small places. You may think that you don't have room for all this stuff, but it can be condensed into a fairly compact area that can fit in most closets for home-schoolers or classrooms for teachers.  Crafts Organizer System

Cheap Homemade Holiday Crafts, Home Decor on a Shoestring

I'm the original frugalista. In home decor, I'm all about recycled, cheap and (my favorite) free. At Christmas, I save big with homemade, re-purposed decorations. Here's my guide to decorating for the holidays on a shoestring. I use minimalist techniques combined with natural elements and recycled, homemade crafts.  Read more