- Here are a few of my FAVORITE craft ideas from the family fun magazine that I get and play dough and finger paint recipes I have collected.
- Just for all you moms out there getting Cabin fever like we are at the moment.
- Bottle Cap Magnets.
- Materials
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- Paper
- Clear packing tape
- Quarter
- Tacky glue
- Bottle cap
- Sequins, rhinestones, beads, googly eyes, and other small decorations
- Clear sealant
- Hot glue
- 1/2-inch-wide magnet
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- Instructions
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- Start by choosing a piece of paper for the collage base. Cover both sides of the paper with clear packing tape (the liquid sealant you'll use later might discolor it otherwise). Using a quarter as a template, cut a circle from the covered paper and use tacky glue to affix it to the inside of a bottle cap.
- Now, add sequins, rhinestones, beads, googly eyes — anything that's fairly flat and small — with glue. Let the glue dry, then brush on a generous coat of clear sealant. (In our tests, DecoArt Triple Thick gave us the glossy finish we wanted.)
- When the sealant is dry, use hot glue to attach a strong 1/2-inch-wide magnet to the back of the cap.
- Start by choosing a piece of paper for the collage base. Cover both sides of the paper with clear packing tape (the liquid sealant you'll use later might discolor it otherwise). Using a quarter as a template, cut a circle from the covered paper and use tacky glue to affix it to the inside of a bottle cap.
Three Things to do with Buttons
Mark a page
Bookworms of all stripes will love these bright place markers. They make sweet stocking stuffers -- and they're fun and easy for kids to create. Simply cut lengths of ribbon (ours are 12 to 14 inches long, to fit a standard-size hardcover book), then attach buttons to the ends using tacky glue or a glue gun. Shown here are just a few of the decorating options: sandwiching the ribbon's ends between two buttons; stacking smaller atop larger buttons; and grouping several small buttons in a pattern. Tiddle a wink Our Button Skee-Ball game is an update of tiddlywinks.
To make the target, use 2-inch-wide poster board rings 28, 21, 17, and 8 inches long, secured at the seams with double-sided tape. Attach printed point values 
(or simply write them on)and assemble the rings as shown, securing them with more double-sided tape. Cut out a felt launchpad. Players take turns using a large button to flip 10 small buttons toward the target. The player with the highest total score wins. Jazz up a window A button mosaic becomes a cheery sun catcher when it's sandwiched between layers of clear Con-Tact paper. To make one, cut out a square of Con-Tact paper, remove its backing, and lay it sticky-side up. (If you like, slide a drawing beneath the square as a guide.)
Place buttons on the square to create a shape, leaving at least a 1-inch border on all sides. When you're done, cover the mosaic with a second Con-Tact paper square. Smooth the edges with a cotton swab and cut out the mosaic, leaving a -inch border on all sides. Stick your creation to a window with glue dots or tape. - Ribbon Bracelets.
- Materials
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- Ribbon
- Scissors
- Self-adhesive Velcro (buy precut circles or squares or long strips to cut yourself)
- Tacky glue (optional)
- White office label
- Pen or marker
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- Instructions
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- For each bracelet, measure and cut a length of ribbon long enough to go around a child's wrist plus enough extra to fold under the ends.
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Fold down one end of the ribbon and adhere one half of a Velcro piece as shown, then flip over the ribbon, fold down the end, and attach the other half of the Velcro. Add a drop of glue under each piece of Velcro if needed (depends on the ribbon and Velcro used).
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Cut the label to fit (if necessary), write a message on it, then stick it to the inside of the bracelet.
- For each bracelet, measure and cut a length of ribbon long enough to go around a child's wrist plus enough extra to fold under the ends.
- LOVE BEADS
- Materials
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- Fimo or Sculpey clay (available at art supply stores)
- Aspic or tiny cookie cutters
- Toothpick
- Thin cording or string
- Safety pin
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- Instructions
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- To make symmetrical hearts, use the side of a pen to roll flat a lump of clay to about 1/8-inch thick.
- Cut out pieces with a heart-shaped aspic cutter. For free-form hearts, use your fingers to form or coil individual bits of clay. You can even swirl together multiple colors.
- Use the toothpick to make a hole in a corner of each bead and then bake hearts according to package directions.
- To make symmetrical hearts, use the side of a pen to roll flat a lump of clay to about 1/8-inch thick.
- Variations:
- Shape and bake tiny heart beads
to string into a necklace or coat pin or key chain.
- VALENTINE DAY RINGS
- Materials
-
- Scissors
- Craft foam or card stock
- Faux fur fabric (optional)
- White glue
- Small hole punch
- Pipe cleaner
- Faux jewels, buttons, craft foam shapes, etcetera
- Marker or pen (optional)
- Instructions
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Cut a heart shape from craft foam or card stock. If you use fabric, first glue a small piece of the fabric to foam or card stock, allow the glue to dry, then cut out the heart shape.
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Unless you're working with foam (see Cupid's Tip, above), use a small hole punch to make 2 holes, centered, in the heart. Cut a 4-inch length of pipe cleaner. Bend it in half and push the ends through the holes from front to back as shown.
- Place the ring on your child's finger to measure the size. Twist the pipe cleaner ends together until the ring fits comfortably. Remove the ring and trim and tuck any
excess pipe cleaner.
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Glue on faux jewels, buttons, craft foam shapes, or other items for decoration. Allow the glue to dry. Use a marker or pen to write a few words on the back of the ring, if you like.
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Kool-Aid Finger Paint
3 cups boiling water
2 cups flour
2 packages unsweetened Kool-Aid
1/2 cup salt
3 tablespoons oil
- Mix the Kool-Aid, flour and salt into a glass bowl. Add oil.
- Slowly add the boiling water, stirring while you pour.
- Once cool you can use as finger paint.
Jello Finger paint Recipe
Jello Powder
Boiling Water
Directions:
- Slowly add boiling water to the Jello powder (constantly stirring) until you have a thick consistency. Add ice to thicken and cool down the Jello quickly. Use when cool.
- This is an edible finger paint recipe.
Homemade Finger paint Recipe
1 cup Flour
1 cup Water
1 cup Sunlight dish soap
2 TBS Food Coloring
Directions:
- Mix all items until there are no lumps and paint is smooth. Keep sealed in an airtight container and refrigerate.
- You can divide the batch up into smaller amounts and use a different color of food coloring for each batch.
Glitter Play dough
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/2 cup salt
1 TBS vegetable oil
2 tsp cream of tartar
food coloring
glitter
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients together except for the glitter. Heat over medium heat until dough forms a ball, stir constantly. Remove from heat and add glitter. Knead well until lumps are gone and dough is smooth. Store in an airtight container, but do not refrigerate.
Koolaid Play dough
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup salt
3 TBS oil
1 package of Koolaid (use the color of your choice)
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients together and cook over medium heat for a few minutes until dough forms the consistency you want. Remove from heat and cool. Keep in airtight container, refrigerate until used.
