Low on funds and have a bored child? Try some of these 30+ crafts for kids at home. No need to buy anything special for these fun ideas!
One thing that the pandemic taught parents is that you need to have ways to keep your kids busy at home.
Crafts are always a great idea, but sometimes you aren’t able to take a quick trip to a craft store to get the materials you want — like when you are on lockdown or you don’t have the money to spend on special craft supplies.
This is why it is important to have common kid craft supplies on hand, and a list of crafts that don’t need any special items to complete.
With this in mind, I’ve made a list of fun craft ideas for kids to make at home with supplies commonly found in your house. To make it on this list, the craft needed to meet this criteria:
- Use only common kid craft supplies like paper, paint, stickers, pipe cleaners, pom poms, googly eyes, etc. and of course, Mod Podge!
- Or, use recycling items such as cardboard, newspaper, cans, toilet paper tubes, etc.
- Or, use things normally found in a home like paper plates, duct tape, wrapping paper, food coloring, etc.
- It was definitely a bonus if the craft item could be played with after it is made. Keep kids busy longer!
Go ahead and scroll down to see what fun your kids can have with a craft that can be completed at home on the spur of the moment! Let me know in the comments.
1
diycandy.com
Food Coloring Art for Kids on the Cheap
Make food coloring art and have fun using inexpensive materials you probably already have on hand. It’s easy for kids of all ages and the results are stunning!You can do it with markers and baby wipes too.
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2
Paper Beads You Can Make in Minutes!
Learn how to make paper beads with scraps of paper and Mod Podge! This is SO easy – even for kids – and you can use for bracelets and necklaces. Paper jewelry making is really fun!
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3
diycandy.com
Polymer Clay Pens Kids Will Love to Make!
Kids will love playing with clay in this polymer clay pens project! They’ll learn to marble, and the pens make great gifts for friends and family.
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4
Mod Podge Paper Mache Bowls (So Easy!)
Learn how to make Mod Podge paper mache bowls the easy way! You can paint them these DIY bowls any colors you like to match your decor. So simple!
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5
diycandy.com
DIY Spin Art Machine with a Salad Spinner
Make your own spin painter by using a household item! This DIY spin art machine is so fun for kids to do – it’s budget friendly and easy to set up.
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6
diycandy.com
Make Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars for Summer Fun!
Learn how to make toilet paper roll binoculars for kids! These are perfect for summer fun, and use materials you already have at home. Plus there are free printable papers if you need them.
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7
Steve Carrell
DIY Sidewalk Paint
This three-ingredient sidewalk chalk paint is a blast for kids! Learn how to make it – you probably have everything on hand. This sidewalk paint is such a fun summer activity!
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8
How to Make Stickers
Learn how to make stickers at home with origami paper and Mod Podge! It's really easy to do and fun for kids or adults.
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9
babbledabbledo.com
Polymer Clay Tutorial: 6 Ways to Make Clay Bracelets
Learn how to make polymer clay bracelets with these six easy methods! I love the results. This is perfect for children of all ages.
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10
Easy Painted Rocks That Are Fun to Make!
Get TEN ideas for beautiful painted rocks PLUS instructions on how to paint them! Rock painting is a fun activity for adults or kids, and makes great gifts or home decor.
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11
www.creativejewishmom.com
Stitching on Styrofoam
If you buy a lot of produce you might have some of these styrofoam trays. Turns out they're perfect for stitching! You can make a series of pictures.
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12
Steve Carrell
DIY Corner Bookmarks In a Few Easy Steps!
Learn how to make DIY corner bookmarks using cardstock and Duck Tape! Both kids and adults will love making these; they’re so easy.
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13
www.pinkstripeysocks.com
Make a Woven CD Dream Catcher
What do you do with an old CD? Turn it into a weaving surface! This dream catcher project will keep kids occupied for hours, and the results are pretty stunning. Great for hanging in a kids' room once they are done.
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14
thecraftpatchblog.com
Rubber Band Rocket Racers
Learn how to make these fun rubber band rockets that your kids can launch through the sky over and over again.
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15
happyhooligans.ca
3-Ingredient Homemade Puffy Paint
Make homemade puffy paint with three kitchen ingredients! It puffs right up in the microwave.
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16
How to Make a Dollhouse Out of Cardboard
Don’t spend big bucks on a dollhouse – this cardboard dollhouse craft is really easy! Use Mod Podge to create this with your children.
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17
Stephanie Dulgarian
Wacky Sacks Stress Balls
Wacky sacks are DIY stress balls that are easy to make and provide HOURS of fun! They are mess-free and quite addicting.
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18
Paper Plate Dragon
This dragon paper plate craft is fun for kids and adults alike! It's easy to make with simple supplies.
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19
DIY Checkers
Learn how to make a checkers game using Duck Tape! This is easy and perfect for travel.
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20
Angela Paris
String Art on Canvas
If you like string art projects, you’ll love this creative twist for making a string art on canvas wall hanging. This is one of those easy things to paint that's great for adults and kids!
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21
www.u-createcrafts.com
DIY Mini Foosball Table
If you don't have a foosball table, but you want one, you can make one with an old shoebox! Kids of all ages will have fun with this idea.
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22
www.firefliesandmudpies.com
How to Make a Bug Hotel
Learn how to make an easy DIY bug hotel with a wooden CD crate, logs, and other natural materials around the yard such as pine cones, sticks, moss, and leaves!
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23
Steve Carrell
Easy Weaving for Kids on a Cardboard Loom
Teach kids weaving with a simple wall hanging project! Easy, fun, and perfect for beginners. Get creative and start weaving today!
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24
Colorful Birdhouse
This DIY birdhouse is a perfect family project that's not only simple and fun but also a great way to introduce children to the joys of crafting and nature.
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25
Leslie Manlapig
Make Wine Cork Stamps The Easy Way
Instead of purchasing stamps at the store, save a couple of bucks and make your own from wine corks. It’s VERY easy.
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26
Steve Carrell
Coffee Filter Snowflakes
Learn how to make the cutest coffee filter snowflakes for Christmas and winter! These are so easy, budget friendly, and FUN to make for kids of all ages.
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27
www.thepinningmama.com
DIY Crayon Candles
Making homemade candles with crayons? I love the idea! You can make a double boiler with a tin can. Note: don't use dollar store crayons. They won't work in this project!
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28
nateandrachael.com
Easy, No-Sew Mail and Play Mailbox
Make an easy, no-sew mail and play mailbox set with recycled materials and some felt! This is a cute idea, and perfect for toddlers.
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29
Cindy Hopper
Upcycled Kid Art Garland
This project is two-part fun! Kids will make the art, and then turn them into colorful garlands. It's such a fun idea that results in unique decor.
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30
babbledabbledo.com
Pasta Suncatcher Craft
Learn how to dye pasta, which is fun on its own . . . then after that, turn the colorful pasta into suncatchers! This is such a cool idea.
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31
alphamom.com
Sandpaper Printed T-Shirt
This is a super simple sandpaper printing technique that will keep your kids busy and make one cute shirt! The best part about this fun idea is that the supplies were bought at the dollar store, even the T-shirt.
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32
prettylifegirls.com
DIY Stained Glass Suncatcher
This tutorial for a DIY stained glass suncatcher is a must-see – they will brighten up your space anywhere the sun shines!
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33
www.firefliesandmudpies.com
Pink Glitter Jars
Learn how to make four DIY pink glitter jars with simple supplies. They are perfect for practicing mindfulness with kids!
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34
modpodgerocksblog.com
Clothespin Magnets with Glitter
Learn how to make DIY clothespin magnets the easy way! This is a great craft for kids or adults, and no crafting experience is needed.
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35
diycandy.com
Easy Play Doh Slime Recipe (no Borax!)
Making playdoh slime is SO fun! You can make this easy slime recipe with Play-Doh. It will keep the littles busy for hours. You’re going to love this activity!
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36
diycandy.com
Kinetic Sand Recipe You Can Make at Home
Learn how to make kinetic sand at home with our easy recipe! Perfect for fun, sensory play with kids. Only 4 ingredients needed.
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37
www.handmadecharlotte.com
DIY Cork Sailboat In A Jar
Make a DIY cork sailboat in jar! Your kids will love this clever twist on the ship in a bottle.
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38
EASY Egg Carton Art on Canvas (for Kids)
If you need an easy kids’ craft idea with great results, this egg carton art is fun and sure to please. This recycled canvas art can be customized for any holiday or decor!
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39
babbledabbledo.com
How to Make a Kite Out of Recycled Mailers
Learn how to make a kite out of Tyvek or a plastic bag! These are perfect for running around the yard with on a windy day.
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40
livelaughrowe.com
Feather Topped Pencils
Have you ever looked at your pencils and thought, these need something? Feathers! These are such a fun craft for girls.
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41
barleyandbirch.com
Egg Carton Whale That Floats
This sweet little recycled whale craft is a fantastic STEAM-learning opportunity and a fun way for kids to participate in creating a bit of science in action!
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42
www.simplisticallyliving.com
Plastic Bottle Flowers
If you’ve got empty plastic bottles lying around, you will want to make these plastic bottle flowers! Kids can make an entire bouquet using what's the recycle bin.
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43
Kim Demmon
Soapy Dough Play Dough Recipe
This homemade play dough is the perfect kids craft to keep little hands busy and creative.
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44
club.chicacircle.com
Easiest Garden Gnome Craft
Once you start making your own set of garden gnome sticks, it’s so easy to make a whole community of them. Do you know what you can use for beards? Silicone caulk in white.
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45
Amanda Formaro
Fairy House Night Lights
Turn empty plastic water bottles into adorable little fairy house night lights! Fun for a child's room or a nursery, or even the garden.
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46
innerchildfun.com
DIY Key Wind Chime
Do you have a drawer of extra keys from years past? Don't throw them away! Get the paint out and then hang them from a branch to make a wind chime.
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47
www.doodlecraftblog.com
DIY Rocket Jet Packs
These soda bottles turn into rocket jet packs for the back with a little bit of paint and some felt! Then all you need is some imagination.
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48
Mod Podge Fabric Bowl in a Few Steps!
Learn how to make Mod Podge fabric bowls the easy way! This is such a cool and easy craft idea, perfect for both kids and adults.
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49
club.chicacircle.com
Easy Homemade Dream Catchers
You are never too old or too young to DREAM BIG! Kids can make dreamcatchers using craft stash items, and you can usually get doilies at the dollar store.
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50
activity-mom.com
Make a Rainbow Scope
See a rainbows everywhere with this simple, diy rainbow scope! The base of this unique scope is a creamer bottle.
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51
theimaginationtree.com
Pom Pom Drop and Shoot
Make a fabulously fun DIY toddler toy for developing fine motor skills, coordination, concentration, counting, and plenty of playful activity together!
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52
Kids Art Coasters Make Great Gifts
Learn how to make kids artwork gifts with wood slices! These kids art coasters are REALLY easy to make and are so cute.
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53
happyhooligans.ca
Stained Glass Art with Sharpies and Photo Paper
Kids of all ages will love creating glossy stained glass artwork with Sharpie markers and photo paper.
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54
ourbestbites.com
Muffin Tin Crayons
If you’ve got mystery crayons at your house too, then this one's for you. Learn how to make new crayons in shapes from the pieces parts you already have on hand.
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55
Decoupage for Kids: Easy Craft Box
Want to try decoupage for kids? Start with a box to store knick knacks and toys! This easy kids craft is fun for children and parents alike.
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Do you like these at-home crafts for kids? I’d love it if you could share this post with other parents using the buttons below. Then check out these other lists of crafts for children:
Boredom Busters • Bottle Caps • Camping • Crafts for Boys • Crosses • Dragons • Easter • Halloween • Handprints • Mod Podge • Paper Towel Rolls • Poinsettias • Popsicle Sticks • Rainbows • Recycled • Summer • Superhero