Books and Giggles
Kids crafts
School starts again here in less than a month. This little school bus craft is a fun way to get started thinking about going back to school. My girls love that the result is a toy rather than just something to hang on the wall. We made several versions of this, but ended up realizing that…
We’ve been meaning to do a borax crystal project for a while now. I bought the borax, and it’s been staring at me from the pantry shelf ever since. Finally, we needed a fun rainy day activity, and decided to go for it! Borax Crystal Letters I was thinking we’d make geodes like I’d seen several…
Last summer we had a water bottle problem. We were planning a kids’ party down at the beach. Summer in Texas, as you can imagine, is incredibly hot. So we wanted to provide a cooler full of waters to keep everyone hydrated. We wondered though – how would so many children keep track of their…
This process art Father’s Day Card from a toddler is fun for kids and a sweet gift for a sentimental dad. To get the layers of colors without everything mixing, we made this in stages. My 6-year-old twins were the guinea pigs for this project. They had fun pretending to be toddlers. UPDATE: They would…
I wanted to make a fun kids craft for the patriotic holidays coming up here in the U.S. These shiny painted stars fit the bill for Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Fourth of July. The method we used here is similar to the one we used to make our shiny rocket craft. We glue together…
Today I’m sharing a fun ladybug craft with you. It’s a cute ladybug magnet, and perfect to do as a mother-daughter craft. The other day, Isabella came home from school all excited to tell me what she’d learned about ladybugs. “Mommy, did you know that ladybugs eat other bugs?” I feigned ignorance, “They do? Wow!”…
Today we’re joining the Book + Craft Ideas Week to share another fun book extension activity. The picture book Strictly No Elephants is a charming story about friendship, fitting in, and embracing differences. (Disclosure: Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising…
Inside: An Earth Day craft for kids that uses plastic from your recycling bin! Earth Day is around the corner. I’m joining with a group of talented bloggers to share upcycling activities for kids. This week’s theme is Plastic. Earth Day Craft for Kids We’ve been crazy for strawberries and blueberries here lately. I put blueberries…
This spring flower craft is excellent fine motor work for preschoolers. The materials are simple and cheap, and it’s perfect for a rainy spring day. You can also use it as a book extension craft, or even a mother’s day card. I set out the materials for this simple flower craft, and my girls were curious….
Here’s a way to celebrate spring with a butterfly craft for preschoolers. It uses a simple technique that kids love – painting on coffee filters with watercolors! I’ll share a few tricks for setting this craft up and making it extra fun. If you’re a teacher, you’ll like that this butterfly craft uses inexpensive materials…
Whether you’re thinking of spring gardening, healthy food, or the Easter Bunny, carrots are a fun craft theme for kids. Plus, working with small stamps is good fine motor skill practice for preschoolers. You can easily cut up a small red potato in the shape of a carrot. Use the rounded edge of the potato…
Here’s an easy and inexpensive Easter wreath for you. Won’t it look adorable a bedroom door, or in a daycare or classroom? I made this one very quickly, and so can you. Your kids may like to watch it come together, and they can help with some parts of it. Plus, you can buy almost…
Nothing brightens up a dreary winter window like a suncatcher. Heart-shaped Valentine suncatchers are even more cheerful, especially when kids help to make them. I’ve rounded up 18 gorgeous examples, made with a variety of methods. There’s something for every age child and every taste. When I created my own Valentine suncatcher, I did a…
Today I’m sharing a Valentine box inspired by favorite children’s book character Pete the Cat. Making it was easier than it looks, and I’ve put together a free printable template for the hardest part. In case you don’t know, Valentine boxes are a fun tradition in U.S. schools. Every child decorates a box for…
Alphabet stamps are a fun way to practice all sorts of literacy skills, from ABCs to phonics, sight words, and writing. You can make stamping even more fun by letting the kids make their own stamp pads. It’s easier than you think. All you need is a sturdy paper towel and some paint. Oh,…
We’ve been busy creating kids’ Valentine crafts! This heart-shaped suncatcher was fun and easy to make. You can brighten up a winter window with it, or make several suncatchers and hang them from a mobile. The method to make this is inspired by the crayon shaving snowflakes we made last week. Just like last…
Today I’m sharing an easy dog craft based on one of our favorite storybook dogs. It’s a simple activity great for preschoolers, but also fun when adapted for toddlers or kindergartners. I counted 8 different Muddypaws books on Amazon. Each is written by a different author, but all are sweetly illustrated by Simon Mendez. (Books and Giggles…
This winter themed snowflake craft is also a fun science activity. Plus, it’s an opportunity to work on fine motor skills. Preschoolers will enjoy seeing the colors melt together, and older kids will appreciate learning about symmetry as well. Yes, we made these snowflakes using just crayon shavings and waxed paper. Older children love learning to cut snowflakes. If…
Today I’m sharing simple Popsicle stick ornaments for kids to make this Christmas, and a story to go with them. You can make the ornaments without the story, or read the story without the ornaments – but they’re fun to do together. The story is Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney (affiliate). It’s about a Mama llama…
My crew had so much fun making their own shiny kids’ Christmas cards recently. They loved decorating and personalizing each holiday card. We now have handmade cards for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and a best friend. It was a great rainy day activity. I love that making kids’ Christmas cards isn’t just a craft…
We do a lot of picture book-inspired crafts here, but this Christmas one is special. On one hand, it’s a fun holiday craft for kids. On the other hand, it’s a lesson in art and observation. (Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to…
Sometime you need a simple, quick holiday craft for kids. This candy cane ornament is just that. It’s a step up from the traditional twisted candy cane pipe cleaner craft, but not much harder to do. These decorations could also be used as a topper on a wrapped gift. If your child enjoys this little…
I’m excited to share another children’s story and craft combo with you. This gingerbread house craft is made with popsicle sticks and decorated with easy-to-find embellishments. Yes, you can leave it up the entire holiday season. You can even save it to put up year after year. And, to make this gingerbread house craft more meaningful, I’ve found…
This cookie cutter ornament is pretty and durable – so you can pull them out again years from now and remember when little hands made them. To make it extra engaging now, I’m also suggesting a picture book to go with the craft. This morning I went shopping near the mall and ran into a whole lot of Christmas….