Making a Patriotic Friendship Bracelet

An 8-year-old in my care is making red, white, and blue friendship bracelets for all of her friends for Labor Day. Rainbow Loom and the Mega Rainbow Loom kits allows kids to make all kinds of friendship bracelet creations. The Original rubber band set from Rainbow Loom is the perfect craft to keep kids busy […]

Recycled Box Car for Dolls

When the weather is bad outside let the kids be creative. On a rainy day this week I grabbed a cardboard box out of the recycling bin for the child in my care to decorate. I helped her make a car for her dolls — allowing her to decorate the car all by herself. You […]

Cardboard Box Harp

Banjos, guitars, violins, cellos and harps are just a few of the types of Chordophones that all make sound by vibrating strings. Resonators can be made with tin cans, wooden boxes, and cardboard boxes. This is how to make a lap harp out of a cardboard box and rubber bands with children. You can purchase […]

“A Pet for Pete” by James Dean and Paper Plate Craft

Pete the Cat can’t wait to get a new pet! He gets a goldfish he names Goldie. Pete paints a cool painting of Goldie and now everyone wants a piece of it! But Pete doesn’t have enough time to make one for everyone. Will Pete find a way to have fun painting Goldie and have […]

Fun With Markers

Here’s a quick boredom buster to do with the children in your care. Make a multi marker drawing tool with a cardboard roll and markers that are the same size. I may make a small profit when visitors purchase items using the affiliate links within this blog post and on my storefront. You Will Need: […]

Changing Color Chameleon

Chameleons are amazing reptiles that possess a wide variety of interesting features including their ability to change color due to their emotions and as camouflage. Children will love making and playing with this simple craft to make their chameleons change color with paper plates. Be sure to read these children books about chameleons while making […]

Rainbow Bird

I found a great blog Mini Mad Things with this template to make a rainbow bird. I used cardboard from my Nanny Family’s recycling bin to make this bird. I painted the cardboard with acrylic paint for the young child before before she decorated her bird. Older children can paint and decorate their cardboard bird […]

Ojo de Dios Yarn Craft

Ojo de Dios (oh-ho-day-DEE-ohs) is one of my favorite crafts I learned at summer camp when I was a child. Now my 8-year-old Nanny Kid can’t stop making these beautiful crafts simply made with yarn and sticks. Ojo de Dios originally come from the Huichol people of Central Northwest Mexico, were created as protective and […]

Fireworks Paper Plate Hat

Independence Day celebrations on the Fourth of July in America are celebrated with firework displays. So I made this simple fireworks hat for a girl in my care to wear to the fireworks display this Fourth of July. Click here to see how to make an American flag hat for the Fourth if July. I […]

Handheld Butterfly Sun Catchers

This recycled craft is a simple and clever way to teach children about primary and secondary colors while recycling empty paper tubes. I allowed the children to decorate the craft sticks and choose what colored wings they wanted on their butterflies. But I used a glue gun to make all the wings without the kids […]