How to Make a Cool Bracelet for Kids Using Popsicle Stick

Alright my creative peeps!  Today I am sharing a project that I created using supplies from ScribbleShop.com as part of their Scribble Challenge.  I was sent a box of supplies and had to create a project using as many of the items as possible, and I am excited to say that I used every.single.item!  So what did I make? I threw it back to a fun craft of my youth: Popsicle Stick Bracelets! ever free coloring

The box was an assortment of items with and really no theme:
- Marble Accents
- Dress It Up Big Glitter Dots
- Pigment Ink Pad
- Prang Colored Pencils
- Jumbo Craft Sticks
- Matte Mod Podge
- Fleur de Lis Stencil
- Raffia
- Rub-On Quotes
- Ferrero Rocher Truffles

Additional supplies that I used to finish this project:
- Regular size craft sticks
- Hot Glue Gun
- Paint Brush

In middle school I remember making these awesome bracelets out of tongue depressors.  We all thought that they were da bomb, baby!  We painted and tricked them out and wore them around with pride.   Today I’m going to show you how to make your own, as well as a sweet little box to hold them in.

Warning: This does take some prep time!  Mama can get everything ready before inviting the kiddies in to help decorate, though older children may enjoy the whole process. animal coloring pages for kids

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAKE POPSICLE STICK BRACELETS:
- Jumbo Craft Sticks
- Embellisments to decorate – paper, Mod Podge, paint, glitter, rhinestones, etc.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1: Bring a pot of water to a boil.

Step 2: Add in the jumbo popsicle sticks.  Chances are you will break at least one during this process, so put in a few more than you need. Let soak for 15 minutes.

Step 3: While sticks are boiling locate a small glass, jar or other object that is about the size of a wrist.  Also grab some elastic bands if desired.

Step 4: Remove sticks one at a time and slowly bend them and work them into the inside the glass. You can also wrap them around the cup and secure with an elastic band, though I prefer working them into the glass).  Make sure to work carefully so you don’t break them.  Set these aside to dry for 24 hours.

While those are drying, grab some regular sized craft sticks and a hot glue gun so we can get building a little box to keep the bracelets in!

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAKE POSICLE STICK BOX:
- Regular sized Craft Sticks
- Hot Glue
- Embellishments – paint, rhinestones, etc

INSTRUCTIONS:
Step 1: Create the base by lining up 11 craft sticks side by side.

Step 2: Using hot glue, adhere a stick along the top edge of the 11 sticks.  Do the same for the bottom.

Step 3: Add a bead of glue on the left hand ends of the stick and place a stick on top, alternating sides and direction (see photos – it’s like your making a bridge between each stick).

Step 4: Once you have your box high enough to fit your bracelet, you are going to create your top.  Again line up 11 sticks and this time, glue a stick on the top and the bottom, at least one stick width in from the edge.

Step 5: Decorate the top as desired.  I used the Fleur de Lis stencil and glued on a marble accent to act as a handle.  Place the lid on and ta-da!  Your simple gift box is complete!

BACK TO THE BRACELETS:

Now that you the popsicle stick bracelets are completely dry , remove them from the glass. Gather any supplies you want to use to decorate them.  I used Mod Podge, paint, glitter dots, rub-on-sayings and hot glue.  I also printed off some designs I created on the computer and some scrapbook paper.

Step 5: Use a jumbo craft stick and a pencil to trace the shape onto some scrapbook paper and then cut it out.

Step 6: Slather Mod Podge onto your bracelet. Lay the design you just cut out onto the bracelet and press it down flat, making sure to work out any air bubbles.  Set aside to dry.

Or if you prefer, you can paint your bracelet with craft paint (I enlisted a helper) and set aside to dry.

Step 7:  Using 150 fine grit sand paper, sand the edges of the bracelet and paper to get rid of any overhang and to create smooth edges.

Step 8: Add embellishments as desired.

That’s it! Your bracelet and box are finished! Wouldn’t these make a fun gift idea? Check how cute it looks all packaged into a sweet little gift presentation.

Colorful Kids Craft: Four Season Trees Made of Paper Roll

May can be a weird month here in Minneapolis. We had snow last week but now everything is green and the trees are blooming. I hope spring is finally here to stay. To celebrate the changing of seasons, we created a four season paper roll tree craft. This is a good craft for little kids who love to practice their scissors cutting skills. I know my boys love using their scissors and their glue. Octopus coloring pages

Supplies:
- cardstock (green, white and orange)
- construction paper (pink, green, orange, red, yellow and white)
- scissors
- glue
- 4 paper rolls
- snowflake punch

SPRING PAPER ROLL TREE

Step 1: Use a small bowl to draw a circle on the green cardstock and cut it out.

Step 2: Cut strips of green and pink paper and glue them into circles.

Step 3: Use the scissors to make one small cut at the top of the paper roll. The cut should be about 1/2 in long. Make a second one on the other side of the roll. Slide the cardstock circle through the two slots. You don’t need to use glue to secure it.

Step 4: Glue the paper leaves on both sides of the green cardstock. Make sure you use the same number of leaves on each side so that the tree looks balanced.

Step 5: Cut tiny strips of green and pink paper and glue them at the bottom of the tree to make it look like spring grass with flowers. Ever free coloring

SUMMER PAPER ROLL TREE

Step 1: Use a small bowl to draw a circle on the green cardstock and cut it out.

Step 2: Cut strips of green  paper and glue them into circles.

Step 3: Use the scissors to make one small cut at the top of the paper roll. The cut should be about 1/2 in long. Make a second one on the other side of the roll. Slide the cardstock circle through the two slots. You don’t need to use glue to secure it.

Step 4: Glue the paper leaves on both sides of the green cardstock. Make sure you use the same number of leaves on each side so that the tree looks balanced.

Step 5: Cut tiny strips of green paper and glue them at the bottom of the tree to make it look like grass.

AUTUMN PAPER ROLL TREE

Step 1: Use a small bowl to draw a circle on the orange cardstock and cut it out.

Step 2: Cut strips of orange, yellow and red paper and glue them into circles.

Step 3: Use the scissors to make one small cut at the top of the paper roll. The cut should be about 1/2 in long. Make a second one on the other side of the roll. Slide the cardstock circle through the two slots. You don’t need to use glue to secure it.

Step 4: Glue the paper leaves on both sides of the orange cardstock. Make sure you use the same number of leaves on each side so that the tree looks balanced.

Step 5: Cut tiny strips of green and yellow paper and glue them at the bottom of the tree to make it look like grass.

WINTER PAPER ROLL TREE

Step 1: Use a small bowl to draw a circle on the white cardstock and cut it out.

Step 2: Cut strips of white paper and glue them into circles.

Step 3: Use the scissors to make one small cut at the top of the paper roll. The cut should be about 1/2 in long. Make a second one on the other side of the roll. Slide the cardstock circle through the two slots. You don’t need to use glue to secure it.

Step 4: Glue the paper circles on both sides of the green cardstock. Make sure you use the same number of circles on each side so that the tree looks balanced.

Step 5: Use the snowflake punch to make several snowflakes. Glue them at the bottom of the paper roll.

Lovely Tulip Craft Made of Straws and Paper

Last fall I planted over 100 tulip bulbs in my front yard and I waited anxiously all winter long for them to emerge from the ground. Guess what? They are all in bloom and they are even more gorgeous than I imagined! Now that it’s spring and all of the beautiful bulbs are in full bloom it’s a perfect time to celebrate spring time with a pretty tulip craft. This paper straw tulip craft is bright and beautiful just like a real tulip and it’s crazy simple to throw together for an afternoon craft. Day of the Dead coloring pages

Supplies:
- tulip flower pattern
- green paper straws
- construction paper
- hole punch
- scissors
- glue stick

Instructions:

1. Print off the tulip flower pattern. Cut it out and use it to trace your tulip flower onto colored construction paper. Cut out the tulip flower.

2. Accordion fold the flower folding it 4 times. Punch a hold in the center of the folded flower with your hole punch. ever free coloring

3. Unfold the tulip flower and fit your green paper straw in and out through the holes of the tulip.

4. Cut out two thin leaves from green construction paper. Add glue to the bottom of each leaf and wrap them around the bottom of the paper straw.

No picture tutorial on this tulip craft but we have something even better!

WATCH THIS STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO OF HOW TO MAKE THIS PAPER STRAW TULIP CRAFT:

Rain Stick Craft for Kids

Rain sticks are those fun instruments that you turn upside down to make it sound like rain. Today I’m showing you how to make kid-friendly rain sticks that actually work. Note: You’ll find more weather-related activities on my Weather Unit Study page. Ever Free Coloring

To make these rain sticks, we gathered the following supplies:
- Paper towel roll
- Aluminum foil
- Rice
- Clear tape
- Wooden spoon
- Broom handle
- Colored paper
- Optional: Funnel

Instructions:

Step 1: We started by tearing a sheet of foil about 10″ long.

Step 2: We twisted the foil into a stick-like shape.

Step 3: And we wrapped it around the handle of a broom to make a spiral.

Step 4: Then we tore a small piece of foil about 7″ long.

Step 5: We twisted this piece of foil into a skinny, wire-like shape.

Step 6: We wrapped this thin piece of foil around the handle of a wooden spoon in order to make a tight spiral. Tinkerbell coloring pages

Step 7: We then inserted the smaller spiral into the larger spiral.
Note: This is the key step that makes the rain stick work.

Step 8: Next, we placed the end of the paper towel roll onto a sheet of paper and traced a circle around it. We did this twice (once for each end).

Step 9: We then drew a bigger circle around the small circles we had just drawn.

Step 10: We cut out the larger circles, and used scissors to make a lot of cuts from the edge of the paper to the inner circle.

Step 11: We then taped the paper to the end of the paper towel roll, wrapping the flaps we had cut up the sides of the tube and securing them with clear tape.

Step 12: Once one end of the tube was secured, we inserted the two foil spirals we had created.

Step 13: Then we added about 1/4 cup of dried rice to the tube.

Step 14: We then secured the other end of the tube with the other circle of paper we had cut.

Step 15: We used lots of tape to make sure everything stayed together.

Step 16: We then wrapped a sheet of colored paper around the outside of the tube to make it bright and colorful.

Step 17: The kids decorated their rain sticks with markers and rubber bands.

And then the rain dance began!

Make Your Own Beach Sand for Kids Craft

Ever free coloring

Materials

• 1 cup sand
• 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp dish soap
• water (as needed)
• Optional* Food coloring

Directions
Step 1: In a bowl, mix fine sand and cornstarch together.
Step 2: Add dish soap and water, and combine thoroughly until well mixed.
Step 3: Add food coloring if you’d like!
Step 4: Let dry for 1-2 hours.
Step 5: Start playing!

Easy Craft for Kids: Bottle Top Animals

Animal Coloring Pages

I had the wonderful opportunity recently to make some cards for a very special birthday party for the children of a children's home. Even though their ages ranged from one year to sixteen years of age, I wanted to do the same for all of them, so decided on some fun bottle top animal cards.  I thought that they would bring a smile to everyone...whether younger or older. I had a list to work from, so could also write a personal note to each child. It was great to be able to do this small act of kindness.

Kids Craft Idea: Painting a Rainbow with a Rolling Pin

rainbow coloring pages

Here’s a unique painting idea ~ get out your little rolling pins from the play kitchen! ;) Take a piece of card stock paper and add a dot of paint for each color of the rainbow. Cover with plastic wrap and let your little one roll their rolling pin from one side to the other! Fabulous idea from Ashley P (A former 2nd grade teacher, now a SAHM!)