The bright constellation

Jul 26

Seashell Sailboat

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This mini craft takes only a minute or two to assemble, and it's just right for launching in a kiddie pool or bathtub.

What you'll need

Small triangle cut from a plastic bag, tablecloth, or other item

Thin twig

Modeling clay

Clean shell

How to make it

Trim the plastic triangle to resemble a sail. Cut off the very upper tip (this will prevent the top of the sail from flopping over later), then snip a series of tiny openings along the edge where the mast will go.

Thread the twig through the openings. Press a small lump of clay (if you use too much, your boat might not float) into the shell hull and plant the mast firmly into its center.

Jul 26

Craft Stick Dress-Up Doll

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Kids will be so excited to create their very own craft stick dress-up doll. Your child can create a variety of different tops and bottoms that can be mixed and matched to make outfits. There's lots of room for variations, but we'll start you off with the basics.

What you'll need

1 jumbo craft stick
2 miniature craft sticks OR 1 regular craft stick cut in half
2 small wiggle eyes
36" pink yarn
12" white yarn
5 self-adhesive hook and loop fastener circles (recommended: Velcro-brand hook and loop fastner)
Felt in various colors
Scissors
White craft glue or felt glue
Patterns

Helpful Tip:

1. Felt is sold in sheets inexpensively. Be sure to stock up each time you go to the store! 2. Self-adhesive hook and loop fastener dots are available in the sewing aisle. 3. Decorate a shoe box to hold all your dress up items!

How to make it

Using the patterns, cut out pieces of clothing from different colored felts.
Glue the miniature craft sticks about a third of the way down the jumbo craft stick to create arms.
Glue on the pair of wiggle eyes to the jumbo craft stick.
Make the hair by holding one hand in the shape of the letter "C" and wrapping the pink yarn around the top and bottom of the "C" several times. Tie the center of the yarn together with the same color yarn and then cut both ends.
Use white yarn to make the hair bows at the ends of each pig tail. (See photo.) Glue the hair to the top of the craft stick and let dry.
Stick three of the "hook" side pieces of hook and loop fastener to the front of the jumbo craft stick.
Before attaching the loop sides of the hook and loop fastener to the clothes, lay each piece of clothing on top of the doll to line them up. Make note where the fastener loops should go and stick them to the back of the clothes. Long skirts and pants will need two and shirts, shorts, and skirts will need one.
Glue the felt hair bow to the yarn hair.

Jul 26

Origami butterfly

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Origami, Japan's traditional craft of paper-folding, has been used since the 10th century to sculpt animals and wrap gifts. Animals, birds, fish and insects are favorite origami subjects. After folding the butterfly featured here, you can make it flutter by pressing on its back with the tip of your finger.

What you'll need

6 x 6-inch sheet of origami paper
Glue
1 x 4-inch strips of origami paper or curling ribbon
Scissors
2 googly eyes
Markers

How to make it

This colorful creature is created not by metamorphosis but by folding the origami paper in half to form a triangle.
Fold the triangle in half again.
Unfold the second triangle, then fold each side so that it crosses the center crease at a right angle.
(Continuation of above directions.)
Unfold. Glue on the strips for antennae and curl them using the edge of a scissor. Glue on the googly eyes and decorate with markers.

Jul 26

Pretty Paper Dolls

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The fun thing about paper dolls is they can be decorated in any style. They can be a quick project with crayons that lasts 30 minutes. Or, little fashionistas can spend all afternoon making outfits.

Last week I was at my girls’ school and noticed all the girls huddled around a table. The teacher had cut out a bunch of paper dolls and all the girls were decorating them! I made some more at home for the girls to enjoy.

by Helen Bird

What you'll need

Card
Colored paper
Markers or Crayons
Glue
Pencil
Scissors

How to make it

Fold card to make a fan.
Draw a simple doll shape on the card.
Cut out the dolls and unfold.
Decorate the paper dolls. For a longer line of people, glue several sets together.

Jul 26

Monster Balloons

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What you'll need

Helium-filled balloons
Tissue Paper (black and white)
Card stock
Glue Stick

How to make it

To make the eyes, cut large white circles and smaller black circles out of tissue paper. Using the glue stick, attach the black circle to the white circle. Stick the eyes to the balloon.
To make the mouth, cut black mouths and white triangle teeth out of tissue paper. Using the glue stick, attach the mouth and teeth to the balloon.
To make the antennas, cut a strip with a circle on the top out of card stock. Using the glue stick, attach the antennas to the top of the balloon.
To make the curly antennas, cut a thin strip of card stock. Wrap the card strip around a pencil. Carefully slide the twirled strip off the pencil. Using the glue stick, attach the antennas to the top of the balloon.