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

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

Free Printable Stencils, Patterns for Crafts, Painting

Stenciling is a heritage craft that had it's zenith in Victorian times with the arts and crafts, prairie and revival architecture periods. There are dozens of craft projects that employ stenciling, especially holiday crafts. Here are free printable stencils and patterns for stenciling. Use these stencils for wall border painting, fabric and canvas painting, sewing, quilting, applique, drawing and design.

Trace these stencils onto Mylar plastic or recycle old plastic containers and trace the stencil patterns onto flat surfaces. You can also make sturdy, reusable stencils by tracing patterns on recycled cardboard boxes (flattened cereal boxes work very well). Tape the edges to strengthen them and make the stencils last longer.

For links to printables, visit free printable Martha Stewart craft patterns to make many amazing crafts. This craft guru literally has crafts, recipes and printables for every holiday, theme and occasion. Whatever holiday is coming next is featured on the homepage. There's a timeline of holidays along the banner menu, so you can scroll through and find printable craft patterns and templates for past or upcoming holidays. What do I mean when I say "every" holiday? Okay, hold on, here are some.

New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Epiphany (Three Kings Day, Twelfth Night), Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Chinese New Year, President's Day, Valentine's Day, Purim, St. Patrick's Day, Passover, Easter, Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, Shavuot, Memorial Day, Father's Day, Sweetest Day, Summer Solstice, 4th of July, Labor Day, Sukkot, Grandparents' Day, Rosh Hashanah, Columbus Day, Halloween, Day of the Dead, Diwali, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa--to name a few!

Plus there are seasonal printable crafts for winter, summer, spring fall, Plus there are all occasion crafts: baptism, new baby, anniversary, wedding, bridal shower, bat and bar mitzvahs, birthday, graduation, retirement and more! What kind of free printable crafts can you get from Martha Stewart? There are greeting cards, invitations, party planners, decorations, party games, banners, cut and paste, children's activities, gift crafts and more. Did I mention there are scads of printable holiday recipes, too?

Martha Stewart has all the free printable craft stencils, patterns and templates you need to make lots of cute stuff. I'm quite taken with the adorable vintage Father's Day cards and patriotic Memorial Day paper lanterns. Oh, and parents (grandparents, daycare providers) if you have to occupy youngsters, why not have them make the party crafts? You provide the craft supplies and they will reward you with hours of blissful productivity. Teachers, why not use these free printable crafts in class?

For more free printable craft projects and holiday decor, visit my blogs Green Crafts, Free Printable Holiday and Free Printable Lesson Plans.

Free Printable Origami, Kirigami, Pop up Scissors Craft Patterns, Stencils, Templates

Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding and kirigami is the art of cutting paper to create stand up, pop up or three dimensional figures. Here are free printable origami and kirigami patterns and template for you to cut, fold and create. Family Fun Magazine has free printable origami with patterns and folding lines printed on the paper. There are is a free printable origami frog, fish, turtle, pond scene and origami boat. For details click Free Printable Origami, Kirigami and Pop-up Scissors Craft Patterns, Stencils and Templates 

Free Printable Kirigami, Origami, Mosaics, 3D Pop-up Cards

One of my favorite children's illustrators is Robert Sabuda, creator of the beautiful mosaic art in his book Saint Valentine. This book makes a nice Valentine's Day lesson. Robert Sabuda has also designed beautiful free printable pop up designs and cut and paste kirigami for greeting cards and scrapbooks. These free printable crafts are available on his website. Click here

Free Printable Summer Camp, Nature, Beach Craft Activities

Free Printable Summer Crafts, Beach Crafts, Nature Craft Activities
Family Fun magazine is the best family magazine since the Saturday Evening Post. Family Fun focuses on inexpensive, diy crafts, games, recipes and activities for the whole family. Here are free printable summer fun crafts and scrapbook activities. Read More

Homemade Photo Frames for Gifts

Cheap Homemade Mothers Day, Fathers Day Photo Frame Crafts
Mother's Day, the second Sunday in May and Father's Day, the third Sunday in June are excellent occasions to make crafts as gifts. For Mother's Day and Father's Day, we like to decorate photo frames and insert pictures of the family. Read More

Free Printable Origami and Kirigami Scissor Craft Patterns and Templates

Free Printable Origami, Kirigami and Pop-up Scissors Craft Patterns, Stencils and Templates Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding and Kirigami is the Japanese art of paper cutting to create 3D pop-up bas-relief decorations and greeting cards. Check out these free printable origami and kirigami patterns, templates and craft projects. Scissor and paper folding crafts for all age levels. Read More for free printable kirigami and click this link for free printable origami