If you and your kiddos are finding yourself stuck inside a little extra right now, don't panic! Nana here to the rescue with 40 Awesome Craft Ideas, perfect for entertaining kids indoors! There's something on the list for everyone and plenty of material for hours of fun. Let's get crafting!
Handmade Envelopes: 3 Ways
Each homemade card is so special, but where can I find an envelope to put it in? Here are three ways to make handmade envelopes to use with those wonderful handmade cards, plus a video to make it even easier!
Amazing Homemade Playdough
This Amazing Homemade Playdough Recipe has been in my recipe box for almost 35 years! It is hands down the favorite kids recipe I have ever used.
Simple DIY Snow Globe
A snow globe is a delight to all ages. Make a simple DIY snow globe with the kids and watch their faces light up as they shake it and watch the snow fall.
Potato Stamped Gift Bags
What could be more perfect then hand decorated potato stamped gift bags for a handmade (or purchased) gift? Potato stamps are an old but good way to do some creative stamped designs for your personalized Christmas wrapping.
Easy DIY Animal Masks from Craft Foam
Easy DIY Animal Masks from Craft Foam are fun to make and perfect for imaginative costume play! You and your kiddos can make your favorite animal masks from the Welcome To Nana’s free mask pattern.
Decorated T-Shirts
Decorating t-shirts is a project great for any age kid. This is a super easy way to let each budding artist do their own thing and enjoy the creative process!
Count Your Blessings Gratitude Jar
Want to encourage gratitude in your kids, grands or yourself this Thanksgiving season? Make a “Count Your Blessings” Gratitude Jar! This is a very fast and easy project (with free printable labels) that may make a lifetime of difference.
Painted Rocks
Do you want to try using a rock as a canvas? The fun begins with finding just the right rocks! This activity would work really well after a vacation or hike where rocks come home in kid’s suitcases and pockets.
Silly Sock Snowman
A friend gave me a gift a couple years ago. A fun and silly sock snowman made out of a…you guessed it, a sock! I tucked the idea in my head to try with the kids as it was simple and perfect for a winter day craft.
DIY Amazing Magnetic Chalkboard
I saw a cute DIY Amazing Magnetic Painted Chalkboard in a young mother’s kitchen. I loved the option of being able to write with chalk on the chalkboard painted surface as well as the option of using magnets.
DIY Glass Gem Magnets
Aren’t these DIY Glass Gem Magnets so cute, colorful and cheerful? I’ve admired DIY Glass Gem Magnets for a long time. The DIY Amazing Magnetic Chalkboard project gave the perfect excuse to try and make a few.
Hammered Flower Prints on Fabric
Do you have some spring or summer flowers in the yard? Hammered Flower Prints on Fabric are a great way to preserve some of that spring color and make a great gift or card. People of every age respond to this craft in making it or receiving it!
Paper Whirligigs
How to Make a Paper Whirligig is the perfect fast and easy craft idea to pull out of the hat in a moment’s notice. It is sure to entertain and intrigue any age child (or adult). An added plus is that you probably have all of the needed supplies on hand. What a great deal!
Cute DIY Purse from a Book Cover
This Cute DIY Purse from a Book Cover has been on my list to try for a long time (like years)! What a perfect craft or gift for your little book worms (or a friend or for yourself!!). It is a wonderful way to give a new life to an old book that is falling apart.
Paper Bag Puppet Pals
A paper bag puppet provides two times the fun. First there’s the fun of making it and then there is the fun of using it in your made-up stories with the kids.
Decoupaged Stained Glass Candle Holder
This sweet stained glass candle holder is so simple to make but fun for every age. The kids loved seeing the light twinkle through the jar!
Duct Tape Wallets
I’ve always wanted to try making a duct tape wallet and I think the kids will love these!! I’ve seen so many kids (boys and girls) pull them out of their pockets. I love all the patterned and colored duct tape available now.
Drive-In Movie Theater Cardboard Box Cars
Your kids can make their own car, so they can have a Drive-In Movie Theater Birthday Party! Cutting holes in the bottom would also work for a great Halloween costume.
DIY Quill Pen and Ink
Making my own DIY quill pen and ink was a fun thing I remember trying when I was a kid. What would you and your kids write in your diaries with pen and ink? How about making your own DIY quill pen and ink and giving it a try?
Fun Folded Origami Lucky Stars
Fun Folded Origami Lucky Stars was “the thing” for a while at our house. Our girls folded little strips of origami lucky star paper into these fascinating stars and then gave them to their friends in little jars as gifts.
Easy Fast Fun Paper Plate Crafts
Paper plate crafts use materials you have on hand and are super simple to make. Let’s make a fish, a bird in a nest and a slice of watermelon! These paper plate crafts ideas are great for practice in cutting and gluing for the littles, but the bigger kids enjoy them as well.
Chevron Macrame Friendship Bracelets
I’ve been told that the friendship bracelet came from Central America and was created to be a sign of a good and long friendship. The gifted friendship bracelet would be tied on with a wish and not taken off till it wore off. As it fell off the wish would come true! What a fun thing to make for a friend for Valentine’s Day, a birthday, or any day!
Miniature Fairy Garden Planter
What is it about little miniature things that’s so intriguing? I still stop in front of a display with miniatures and study all the items in their miniature forms. I love miniature train sets, doll houses, and tea sets. When I saw some fairy houses a friend made it inspired the idea for this post.
DIY Musical Instruments for Kids
Here are three homemade musical instruments you and the grands can make yourself; a drum, a tambourine and a fife. Organize your own little parade and have some fun!!
Easy Weaving Loom from Cardboard
Making an easy weaving loom is simple and makes the concept of weaving come to life for the kids. There are several ways to make an easy weaving loom but a cardboard loom takes just minutes to make!
DIY Wooden Picture Frame Loom
Since we made a loom from cardboard with an easy cardboard weaving loom I’ve wanted to make a DIY Wooden Picture Frame Loom. Weaving is so amazing. I’ll never tire of it.
DIY Pop Up Card
Who could use a bit of encouragement? Make a couple pop up cards. It’s so much fun to deliver a hand-made card to someone you love! This DIY pop up card is easy to make and takes very few supplies; colored paper, scissors, markers and glue is all you will need.
Bedding Button Tree Picture
The tree leaf buds are ready to burst out any day now! Celebrate spring with the kids by making a Budding Button Tree Picture. Let me tell you, this was such a popular and simple craft with the kids. Every age can enjoy this one.
Easy DIY Sweater Covered Pumpkin Decoration
An Easy DIY Sweater Covered Pumpkin Decoration is perfect to make with kids. There is no sewing or gluing involved and it takes about 5-10 minutes to complete. This project was done with a thrifted sweater which makes it even more awesome- yea for upcycling!!
Painted Terra Cotta Flower Pots
Painted Terra Cotta Flower Pots work well as a craft for any age- for the kids and even for Nana and her friends. Jazz up those Terra Cotta Flower Pots before planting flowers in them this spring. This easy and fast craft was a hit with the kids.
Making Recycled Paper at Home
Paper making can get to be a habit if you aren’t careful. It is such an intriguing and hands on process. Once you start it is easy to think of many other things to try putting into the paper pulp to get different effects. It is also a wonderful way to recycle old paper.
Gratitude Photo Wreath
Needing a fun way to display a few favorite photos of your family and friends? This Gratitude Photo Wreath is perfect for doing just that. All month you can reflect, with gratitude, on the blessing of having family and friends in your life.
Cheerful Spring Tri-Fold Table Card
How about bringing a bit of sunshine to a cold gray day for someone that can’t easily get out of the house on their own or who is just needing some cheer? Make a Cheerful Spring Tri-Fold Table Card for a friend.
Glowing Paper Bag Luminaries
Ready to have your heart warmed?? You and the kids can make some sweet and easy glowing paper bag luminaries to line your sidewalks. Guests will be charmed as they make their way to the door.
Whimsical Repurposed Wind Chimes
There is an infinite number of possibilities when making a Whimsical Repurposed Wind Chime! The sky is the limit so let your imagination soar! These make fantastic gifts and look so cool on a post in a garden.
Beginning Wood Burning
There was an artist in our town that used a Wood Burning Tool to decorate repurposed items in his home. He did wood burning on wooden boxes, dressers, fronts of drawers and wooden trays for example. My kids were intrigued and inspired years ago when we toured his studio. That’s when I purchased my old wood burning tool and we first had a go at it.
Awesome Origami Shirt Card
Origami rocks! Just saying. This Origami Shirt is a fairly simple folded craft to start with. Why not make several for other friends or relatives? Or, if dad is going on a trip, a series could be made, one for each day of the trip.
Recycled T-Shirt Tote Bags (2 Ways!)
So here are two ways to show your kids how to make a T-shirt tote bag for swim clothes or an overnight to Nana’s house! One way takes no sewing, the other way requires one seam on a sewing machine. Take your pick!
No Show T-Shirt Tote Bags
So here is another no sew way to show the kids how to make a T-shirt tote bag. I forgot all about the possibility of tying off the bag. Aren’t the beads on the bottom so cool? It finishes off the bag and gives it a whole different look.
DIY Flower Crown
A flower crown for a wedding, for Swedish Midsummers or for dress up is so adorably sweet. You can DIY for any occasion and kids will love wearing them! You may want one for yourself, too!
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