Kids of all ages enjoy using their imaginations to create personal masterpieces. Put idle hands to work this summer, creating fun and unique crafts, ideal for children of all ages and skill levels. The Beach in a Jar and Wire Hangar Windsock projects can be done at home or in a classroom setting.
Beach in a Jar
Bring a smidge of summer days at the beach or lake indoors by crafting a whimsical Beach in a Jar. This craft is simple to construct, making it suitable for all ages, and results in a unique knick knack to display on a shelf or give as a gift.
Supplies needed:
- Baby food jar, emptied and cleaned
- A handful of sand, collected direct from the beach or purchased at a local craft supply store
- 4-5 small craft shells, available where craft supplies are sold
- 1 cocktail umbrella
- 2 goldfish crackers
Directions:
- Fill up the empty baby food jar approximately two-thirds full of sand.
- Place small shells inside, arranging to desired liking.
- Add goldfish crackers, digging them into the sand a bit to stabilize.
- Open the umbrella and stick it in the sand.
- Seal jar by screwing on the lid.
Wire Hanger Windsock
Nothing says summer like a sparkly and colorful windsock blowing in the warm breeze. Create a fanciful outdoor showpiece equipped with its own built-in hook, making it easy to display. A Wire Hangar Windsock is easy for kids to construct with minimal supervision.
Supplies needed:
- A wire hangar
- A few 16-18 mm-wide rolls of ribbon in a variety of summer colors like blues, greens and yellows
- Tacky glue
- Acrylic Gemstones, available at craft supply stores
- Scissors
Directions:
- Cut the ribbon into 12-24 inch strips, depending on desired length. (Approximately eight strips of ribbon, depending on the width, are needed.)
- Arrange the ribbons in desired fashion over the bottom portion of the hangar. Once each ribbon is in the desired place, apply tacky glue to the top 2-inches of the ribbon and wrap around the bottom of the hangar.
- Continue gluing the strips of ribbon as described in Step 2 until the bottom of the hangar is completely covered. The ribbons should dangle freely from the hangar once affixed properly.
- Decorate the ribbon strips by gluing acrylic gemstones to each strip. Make sure to keep the craft laying flat on the workspace, allowing the glue to dry completely before displaying.
- Use the hangar's hook to easily hang the windsock outside on a fence or other desired object.
Commemorate summer days by crafting whimsical, seasonal crafts that kids of all ages will enjoy.
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