If you're looking for a fun and easy Easter basket suitable for boys, you'll love this robot basket. Made with Mod Podge, a paint tin and scrapbook papers, this basket is a great craft project to make with the kids.

Mini cereal boxes become fun robot crafts with just a little paint. See the project.

Here's a spiffy way to recycle and reuse stuff you may have around the house AND  create a great Valentine. This little card holder is made out of an empty ice cream container and covered with scrapbook paper. Sparkle Mod Podge gives it an extra special touch! What other household items can you use to make a V-Day card holder?

I like to acknowledge all the hard work that is put in by my son's teachers-especially on special occasions like Valentine's Day - but don't always have the time to do something really elaborate. Here's a great way to give a gift that is both from the heart and simple to make. Pour teacher’s favorite treats in mason or similar jars and use scrapbook paper to embellish. To give the paper a super smooth shine or a little glimmer, seal with Mod Podge. There are so many variations on this idea - you can even plant a small flower or make a mini terrarium in similar jars.

I've never been to Japan, but I love Japanese arts and design. I was delighted to find the Origami Mommy blog, about a crafty  family that lives in Japan.Origami Mommy Shares how to make trucks out of everyday milk cartons. Her truck tutorial that can be found here features real functioning wheels. See the project here:
http://www.origamimommy.org/2009/07/recycled-milk-carton-truck-tutorial-.html#comments

 The Japanese packaging that she uses for these makes them even more special.

We love desk set revamps. They are easy to do and add a new look to a room. This desk set is so cute and trend-right with the popularity of the new Princess and the Frog movie. I also love the cool color combinations of green and purple-not traditional girl colors but definitely very cute and unique.

You can pick up the unfinished surfaces at your local craft store or use surfaces you already have handy. What a great way to get your favorite girl's room organized for the new year.

If you are anything like me, you'll be spending the next few weeks organizing, cleaning and making room in your home for new toys and gifts. The end of the year is a great time to get organized- everone likes to start the begining of the year with a clean slate. And I, like many, love to free up mental and physical space for new creative projects that I have on the horizon.

I like to apply this concept to my children's play area as well. I'm trashing, donating, and otherise clearing out oldies, as well as doing a little winter cleeaning at home. And on Plaid Kids Crafts,  I'll be featuring projects over the next few days that combine creativity and organization. The first is this chalkboard toy box. Whether you have an old chalkboard that needs a fresh coat or paint, or you've found one at your local thrift store, you can give your box new life with FolkArt Chalkboard paint. This toy box is simple and easy to do and provides a new surface for customizing with the children. Happy crafting.

Cute and quick ornaments for the holidays. We used unfinished wood surfaces from the local craft store and only needed a few paint colors. This is a great project to complete while the kids are home.

What could be easier than these super cute, super easy trees. Use them as a classrooom decoration or on your favorite tabletop.
Tissue Paper, yarn and styrofoam forms..what could be easier?

I love penguins, next to fuzzy white polar bears, they are definitely my favorite holiday critters. That's why this penguin frame is so cute. Kids can make these for gifts for teachers, grandparents and friends.

Those tiny little pots that you can find in the craft store for way less than a dollar can become the perfect surface for minature pilgrim hats. These litte hats can be hung like ornaments or used as place settings on a Thanksgiving day table. However you use them, they are super fun and easy to make!

Quickly becoming one of my favorite craft Resources, Craft Jr has featured a very easy, very cute Halloween Decoupage project. Here's a picture and preview, but for step by step instructions, check out the site here.

 

I found these cute robots posted on That Artist Woman blog on my weekly quest for kids crafts projects. The robot bodies are made out of candy boxes-the theater candy type, then adorned with craft paint and a few household craft supplies. Click here for instructions.

These are the all new Activity Stencils from Plaid. They feature the most popular designs for school-themed crafting, like sports, recycling and nature.  A must have for your craft closet! Go to Plaidonline.com to see more

 

      
Turn old clothespins into cute clips with paint, googly eyes and craft pipe cleaners.

Egg crates and paper plates transformed into cute little creatures! Let your kids craft these easy and fun project.

Kids Craft Weekly has a fun craft activity posted this month on mermaids! Click here to see the pics and make the projects!

  

What can you do with a paper plate? We crafted a variety of fun animals with a few paper plates and cups. Check out the goldfish here and visit Plaidonline.com to see the rest.

Our friends at http://www.anitasarts.com/ sent us this green Father's Day Gift project that uses recycled oatmeal boxes to make containers for dad's desk. This is a great project to do with younger children. Check out the post here for step-by-step instructions and other great craft ideas.

 

There are so many crafting options with Texture paint. Let your kids be the guide in creating fun projects like this. What can you make with texture paint?

This week marks the end of the school year for many students. Between camp, summer vacations and weekends, the summer offers many opportunities for planned and spontaneous crafting. Get your craft chest stocked up with crafting supplies. Here's is our list of essentials:

Hate bugs? Check out the newest addition of
Kids Crafts Weekly for a whole lot of bugs projects you are
sure to love!

Take a little glitter, a holiday napkin, some cork and a coat of Mod Podge to make these cute coasters.  Make great gifts!

Beautiful Coffee Filters from Dishpan Dribble.

  

Give a hoot and make this Owl Barrette Holder. This project was created by our favorite crafty duo, Cathie and Steve. Owl's are a hot decor tream, so this Barette Holder is the perfect craftfor your favorite tween. Make the project and check out more on Cathie and Steve, here.

Skip to My Lou is a place to craft, create and celebrate! From food ideas to crafty projects,this blog features great photography, seasonal projects and all around resources for family fun. Check out the easy Holiday Beverage Markers, above.

Make this cute reindeer for Christmas using new Folk Art Texture paint. All you'll need is a two small flower pots, some embellishments and paint!

Help your children show how thankful they are with this great little turkey with grateful feathers. This projected was posted by Parents.com. The Turkey is made with yarn, scrabook paper and a few other supplies. See this project and other great project ideas here.

Our first fall craft roundup includes fun, simple projects for younger kids. These project are great for classroom settings or at-home crafting. Enjoy!

• Fall Leaves Recipe Holder Craft by Apples4teacher.com
• Craft projects for smaller kids by DLTK
• Fall Door Hanger by Mycraftbook.com

The photo above shows easy-to-make recipe holders from Apples4teacher.com.

Make this scary spider for Halloween using new Folk Art Texture paint. All you'll need is a small flower pot, some embellishments and paint!

Craft Elf has a database of halloween craft projects. Most are great for young kids and use materials you probably already have around the house, like this Pumpkin light madw out of acrylic paint and a Mason Jar. See the Halloween projects.

Making a plate with decoupage is easy. All you need is tissue paper or gift wrap and Mod Podge. You can create very simple or uniquely complex designs with a little practice. Teens love to decoupage so this makes a great family or party project.

Make sure you look for new surfaces from Plaid at your favorite local retailers. We'll be posting some very cute Halloween projects in the next few days.

Are you ready to be inspired? Check out Creative Juice hosts Steve and Cathie's comments here on Plaid's new Chalkboard paint, and don't miss their gallery of ideas featuring this new paint. Plaid's Chalkboard paint is the perfect product for making a chalkboard writing surfac and oh so great for kid-friendly crafts. And you know you how much your kids would love a chalkboard wall in their room...

Who says crafting with kids can't be elegant, too? We love these beautiful plates using your child's silouhette from WonderTime. Take a profile picture of your child, grab your Mod Podge and create these plates in minutes. Get full instructions here.
p.s. These make great gifts!

ROAR!  Bring out that inner Dinosaur with these Dino-Mite Dino-Tees!  Here's an idea:  Throw a Dinosaur-themed birthday party and pass these out as parting gifts-- or, gather the kids around to create their own Dino-Tee to take home with them!

      
Every little girl at some point in her life wants a cute little purse to tote around--to be just like mommy!  This small bag is perfect for her to hold all those important things, like... crayons, toys, candy, bubbles, etc.  She'll feel pretty as a princess!  This project is fun to make and she'll really want to strut her stuff when she's finished creating it!  So get out those old faded blue jeans you know you'll never wear again and get started!

      
Next week is the end of the school year for my first grader. If this year is like past years he'll come home with a folder full of papers, projects and art that he's accumulated. Then, I have the hard job of sorting through, discarding (ugh!) and organizing the keepers. So I am planning on preserving some of the best work and using it for gifts and such. Here's a cute idea for saving kid's art that started as just a plain unfinshed tray.