The Artful Parent - Kids Art & Family Creativity

Inspiration for Creative, Connected Family Life

Discover thoughtful stories, practical ideas, and heartfelt reflections on parenting, creativity, and family  — across all generations.

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Paper mache is one of the easiest and most rewarding crafts you can do with your child at home, and once you know the basic method, you can use it to make almost anything.

In this video, we walk through the paste recipe and step-by-step method, then show you five different projects to try: a decorative bowl, a party piñata, a small animal sculpture, a dress-up mask, and a treasure box.

All the materials are cheap and easy to find, and most of them are things you already have around the house. A perfect activity for a rainy afternoon or weekend project.

Timestamp:

0:00 Introduction
0:19 The paper mache paste recipe and method
0:56 Design 1: The Decorative Bowl
1:46 Design 2: The Party Piñata
2:27 Design 3: Paper Mache Animals
3:10 Design 4: The Dress-Up Mask
3:48 Design 5: The Treasure Box
4:42 What to try next

Watch next: Embroidery & Punch Needle for Kids (4 Easy Ways to Start)

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The Craft That Keeps Kids Busy for Days

12 hr ago

Before you flatten that cereal box or drop another bottle in the recycling, take a look at what it could become. This video turns six everyday bits of household rubbish into crafts children actually want to make and keep, from a bird feeder and a jigsaw puzzle to a glowing jar lantern. Everything is free, most of it needs only glue, paint, and scissors, and every craft comes with simple step-by-step instructions on screen.

A note for grown-ups: a couple of these involve cutting plastic or a tin can, so an adult should handle those parts. Suitable for children of all ages with a little help on the trickier steps.

Chapters are below so you can jump straight to any craft.

Chapters 0:00 Why your recycling bin is full of crafts 0:34 Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder 1:13 Cereal Box Puzzle 1:51 Tin Can Pen Pot 2:21 Egg Carton Creatures 2:52 Cardboard Tube Stamps 3:22 Jar Lantern 4:15 Which one to make first

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A beginner's guide to fiber arts for kids, covering four techniques in one go so you can find the one that clicks for your child.

Inside: embroidery on burlap, the trending punch needle, cross-stitch on plastic canvas, and a first hand-sewing project in felt. Each comes with its own supply list and a quick note on the skills it builds, from fine motor control to focus and patience.

It's all set up to be safe and achievable for younger makers, using blunt large-eye needles and loose, open-weave fabrics.

Best for children around six and up with an adult nearby, and take a little more care with the punch needle, which has a sharper point.

Full supply list and step-by-step instructions are in the video, with chapters below so you can skip to any technique.

Timestamp:

0:00 Why stitching is great for kids
0:33 Burlap Embroidery
1:13 Punch Needle
1:50 Cross-Stitch on Plastic Canvas
2:19 Hand-Sewn Felt Shape

#artandcraft #embroidery #punchneedle

Embroidery & Punch Needle for Kids (4 Easy Ways to Start)

2 weeks ago

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