Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Do-it-at-home crafts keep kids cool, busy

melted crayons

The mercury is rising, which means it’s frequently too hot for children to go outside to play.

But that doesn’t mean they have to turn into blobs in front of the television or run rampant through the house.

During the scorching heat of summer, keep kids busy with fun craft projects.



Recycled piggy bank

Use recycled bottles to make a pig, cow, dog, caterpillar or other animal bank. It’s fun and can help teach the value of saving money.

What you need

⦿ Empty container with lid (water bottle, peanut butter jar, etc.)

⦿ Paint

⦿ Glue gun

⦿ Four water bottle caps

⦿ Googly eyes

⦿ Pipe cleaner

⦿ Craft foam

⦿ Permanent markers

Directions

1. Clean the container and remove labels.

2. Paint the outside of the container, the lid and the four bottle caps. Let dry.

3. Adults: Cut a thin rectangular slit on one side of the bottle so coins can be inserted.

4. Draw a nose and mouth on the lid of the container using a permanent marker. Use the glue gun to affix the googly eyes.

5. Cut triangles or circles from the craft foam to make ears. Use hot glue to attach.

6. Make a tail from the pipe cleaner, and attach it to the bottom of the container using the glue gun.

7. Glue the four water bottle caps to the underside of the container for feet.

8. Let dry, and start saving.



Pool noodle pony

Create a homemade version of a classic stick horse for less than $5.

What you need

⦿ Pool noodle

⦿ Duct tape, twine or rope

⦿ Googly eyes

⦿ Fabric scraps

⦿ Felt

⦿ Glue gun

Directions

1. Bend the top third of the noodle down and secure using a loop of duct tape, twine or rope. Wrap the rope around both parts of the noodle a second time, leaving several inches of the ends hanging. The fastener will double as the pony’s reins.

2. Cut rounded triangles from the felt, squeeze the bottom edges together and glue them to the top sides of the noodle to resemble ears.

3. Cut several strips of fabric and affix them around and below the ears to make hair for a mane. Glue the strips several inches down the back of the pool noodle.

4. Add googly eyes to the face, and start riding.



Glow-in-the-dark jellyfish

Teach your child about underwater life with a simple craft you can hang from the ceiling or a window. Create multiple jellyfish to decorate your child’s room.

What you need

⦿ Heavyweight paper bowls

⦿ Glow-in-the-dark acrylic paint

⦿ Yarn

⦿ Paint brushes

⦿ Zipper sandwich bag

⦿ Skewer or sharp pencil

Directions

1. Paint a bowl, inside and out, using glow-in-the-dark paint. For a brighter glow, let it dry and repeat once or twice.

2. Cut a dozen 36-inch-long pieces of yarn for tentacles. Place them in a sandwich bag with several squirts of paint, seal the bag, and squish the contents until the yarn is coated in paint. Hang the yarn to dry.

3. In the center of the bowl, poke two holes half an inch apart using the skewer or pencil.

4. Cut a piece of yarn 40 inches long and thread it through the holes so the loose ends poke from the top of the bowl and a loop is formed inside the bowl.

5. Inside of the bowl, thread the painted tentacle yarn through the loop, centering the pieces. Flip the bowl, pull the loose ends of the yarn taut, and tie a double knot. Inside of the bowl, gather the yarn tentacles together and tie them in a single knot.

6. Unravel some of the pieces of yarn to create wiggly tentacles.

7. Charge your jellyfish in bright light for at least 30 minutes, hang it, and watch it glow.



Melted crayon art

Part science, part art, this is a perfect project for a scorching sunny day.

What you need

⦿ Canvas

⦿ Crayons (broken ones work well)

⦿ Small bowl

Directions

1. Peel the wrappers off the crayons. Break the crayons into small pieces.

2. Scatter the crayons across the canvas, and place the canvas in the full sun on a hot surface.

3. Wait about 35 minutes or until the crayons have melted.

4. Place the canvas on top of a small bowl. Spin the canvas to spread the melted crayon wax. Be careful: The wax will be hot and could go flying.

5. Once the wax cools but still is pliable, let children spread it with their fingers or using paintbrushes. Have them use long straws to blow the melted wax around.

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