Keiki Gifts, Crafts & Activities

I could not have asked for a more wonderful idea…Lego + Muji!  It sounds like this gadget-building-paper combination will definately satisfy my creative side as well as the child in me.  I am certain that it will be a hit with my kids too.  Using a paper punch type tool, holes are made into paper and mounted on to the lego pieces turning it into a dimensional creation.  You will be able to make toys, cards, ornaments and more!

I don’t think you are able to buy this paper Lego products in the U.S. just yet but you can find it here online. 

Technorati Tags: craft, Japan, kawaii, Lego, Muji, toy

Here are mini photo albums that I embellished using

• Creativity for Kids Photos and Friends Party Pack
• Decorative paper
• Buttons and Beads
• Ribbons
• Double side stick tape

The party pack is a party favor kit that kids (or adults) can decorate and it includes the following mini photo albums and key chains, stickers and thank you postcards.

The kids decorated the photo albums in the “traditional” way using the foam stickers provided in the party pack but I wanted to cover my entire plastic album.

To decorate the photo album I used the same steps as I would to cover a composition book. Here is a tutorial I found that can guide you: How to Decorate a Composition Book.

Technorati Tags: craft, kids craft, party favor, photo album, Tutorial

I found a quick and easy way to make raffia flowers with this Provo Craft flower loom. In 13 steps you can create your way to pretty flowers that can be used as colorful accessories and decoration. 13 steps sounds like a lot but you are basically doing the same step over and over like winding and wrapping.

This loom set is meant to make raffia flowers but following the same directions I also made flowers out of ribbon. The set comes with a plastic loom with removable pegs, a hook and yarn needle.

With a little guidance and by marking my loom pegs with numbers, my keiki was also able to make flowers.

Product information here:Knifty Knitter Flower Loom

Technorati Tags: craft, craft supplies, flower loom, flowers, knit, provo craft, raffia, ribbon

Once upon a time, there lived a friendly T-Rex. Nobody knew about him because he lived in the woods. He only ate berries. One day he went exploring. He went out of the woods to Dino City. When he got here he saw another T-Rex and a baby T-Rex. He said, “Stop!”, because the big T-Rex was about to eat the baby T-Rex.

“Why should I?”, said the big T-Rex.

“I don’t know”, thought the friendly T-Rex but he instead he said, “I challenge you to a friendly contest!”

They challenged and the friendly T-Rex won. The baby T-Rex and the friendly T-Rex became BFF.

The End.

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All over our home are these mini booklets made from paper folded in half and stapled. I found this story in one of the books. My kids make mini books all the time and although it drives me crazy to see it all over the house, it is fun to see how the books are used.

Technorati Tags: craft, kid's story

My mornings usually start off with a cup of coffee that is later followed by a bowl of cereal. As I age, so does my taste in cereal. Yeah, I still eat the good for you stuff like the bran cereals, “spoonful of fruit” cereals and low sugar (tasteless) cereals but my current favorite is Captain Crunch Peanut Butter cereal.

I had to do something with all the empty Captain Crunch cereal boxes so I decided to make them into gift tags.

• First I made a gift card template in the shape and size I wanted. You can get a free template here.
• Then I opened the box flat, traced the template over the part of the box I wanted to use as a tag and cut it out.
• I punched a hole at the top of the tag.
• Decorated the tag edge with glitter glue.
• Added colorful ribbons through the punched hole.

This would make a fun gift tag to add to any keiki gift.

Technorati Tags: craft, gift tag, recycled cereal box

Awwww…isn’t she cute? I found instructions to make this adorable GardenFairy Pin on the Ben Franklin Craft Web site.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="257" caption="Garden Fairy Pin"][/caption]

Sounds easy and relatively inexpensive to make using the following supplies:

• Poly Rosebud — color choice
• 12 mm Wooden Bead
• 8” of 5/8” Sheer Organza Ribbon
• 14” of yarn for hair
• Black Acrylic Paint
• Thin Paintbrush handle
• Small bead or pearl for wand
• ½” pin back
  
• wire cutters
  
• low temp glue gun and glue sticks

Full printable instructions are found here.  I think this would make a fun keiki gift, friendship gift or teacher’s gift.

Tags: KeikiGift Idea, Craft, Children’s Gift Idea, Handmade

Technorati Tags: Children's Gift Idea, craft, Handmade, Keiki Gift Idea

Just before leaving for our Waikiki weekend, I threw a Boo Boo Buddy (BBB) into my little handbag. My daughter also packed a BBB for herself. Boo Boo Buddies are handy for both imaginary and real ouchies and owies.

My BBB usually includes bandages, gauze pads, alcohol wipes, hand wipes, stickers and sometimes cotton swabs - all individually wrapped.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="188" caption="Boo Boo Buddies"][/caption]

When my husband was checking out in the lobby, I saw my daughter with her travel bag open and clothes falling out. She was frantically digging in her bag for something apparently buried under her dirty laundry. I assumed that she was looking for her stuffed animals that she had brought along and I was ready for a plea to go back to the room. When she popped her head out of the bag, I asked her what it was that she was looking for. She said, “Mom, your toe is bleeding. I’m looking for my Boo Boo Buddy so I can put a band-aid on your toe!”

Make your own Boo Boo Buddy for yourself, for your children, or for an entire group of kids. If you don’t have time, you can always inquire about placing an order.

Get printable instructions on http://keikigifts.qassia.com/.

Technorati Tags: children craft, craft, craft ideas, craft projects, crafts to make, creative crafts, kids arts & crafts, making crafts

Busy-ness has kept me away from the computer but I’m glad to be back with a fun patriotic July 4th craft idea.

This project comes from my favorite online craft shop, Joann. com.  Joann’s offers a free shipping club as well and email coupons that are often 40% - 50% off regular prices. 

Here is a simple pinwheel project that you can make for your family barbecue.  The fun part of this project is that the pinwheel actually spins with the wind!  The instructions call for fabric squares and iron-on adhesive but I’m sure you can make this out of cardstock also.  Crafting time is 30 minutes and has a “no experience necessary” review and a 5 star rating.  I haven’t tried Joann’s version yet but here is my origami mini pinwheels made for cupcake toppings or party favor decorations.  It’s made of origami paper and has a button center sewn onto a mini wooden stick (so unfortunately, it does not spin).   As you can see, the pinwheel is slightly bigger than a quarter.  Use the Joann instructions to make pinwheels in the size that you want.

How are you planning to celebrate Independence Day?  I’d love to hear from you!

Technorati Tags: children, craft, craft idea, DIY instructions, Independence Day, July 4

Earlier I wrote a post about making Paper Bag Mini Books.  You can read it here.  I wanted to share with you our version of the mini book.  It was an idea originally presented to my kids by a friend and we’ve made picture books, scrapbooks and story books out of that design. 

Instead of using paper bags, we used 12″ x 12″ scrapbook paper, folded it in half (12″ x 6″) then folded it in half again so you end up with 6″ x 6″ pages.  The fold becomes the binding.  You punch 2 holes on the fold and thread pretty ribbon or string through the holes to keep the pages together.  No sewing!  Decorate your pages with scrap pieces of paper, more holes with pretty ribbons & beads, etc.   This project is very simple to make and I enjoy making these books along with my children.

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New Friendship Chips Posted on Etsy

Pokemon Friendship Chips.  6 pc. set. $2.30

 Ducky Friendship Chips. 4 pc. set. $1.52

Fashion Finds Friendship Chips.  4 pc. set. $1.52

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Technorati Tags: Birthday Gifts, craft, ducks, Etsy, fashion, Friendship Chips, Kids, mini books, pokemon

Sweet, juicy, succulent summer strawberries served up yummy and fresh, picked straight from the vine.  Uhhh…well almost.  These are origami strawberries — not made for eating but for decoration, party favors, and fun.  I will tend to my garden and create more of these strawberries.

Technorati Tags: Birthday Gifts, craft, decoration, Etsy, origami, party favors, strawberries