Friday Fun is all about simple craft projects for family, classroom and group craft time. Some families are setting aside a time each week for family crafting fun. Why not join in the fun?
Greeting cards for kids: For pop-up cards and more easy to make greeting cards that children can create, see the projects listed in Greeting Cards Kids Can Make.
Also, check out Gifts Kids Can Make for Dad and Gifts Kids Can Make for Mom.
Browse down this page for descriptions and illustrations of the projects in date order, then select a project and have some crafting fun!
Miniature Christmas Tree Ornament - A simple cone of green paper can be made into an ornament in the form of a Christmas tree that everyone will enjoy. With just a few common craft supplies, you and your children can make and decorate these little paper Christmas trees. Make cones from other colors of paper to create bell and Santa hat ornaments.
EASY
Shaped Cards for Christmas - Make simple and fun holiday cards in the shape of a pine tree, Santa, or an angel. These cards are easy enough for younger children and people with special needs to make. While the cards are very simple to make, they are easily enhanced with glitter, cotton balls, sequins, and other creative touches. Let your imagination soar!
VERY EASY
Picture Puzzles - Turn drawings, photographs or any image you love into a picture puzzle. This is a simple craft for groups of children. Why not have each child make a puzzle and then trade the puzzles back and forth so everyone has the chance to work several puzzles.
VERY EASY
Fall and Thanksgiving Refrigerator Magnets - See how easy it is to make seasonal refrigerator magnets for fall and Thanksgiving with Homemade Modeling Dough. Make the dough in less than 15 minutes, and then use your fingers to shape magnets using ideas in the project or design your own creations.
EASY
Miniature Turkeys - In this project, you'll make miniature turkeys modeled from Homemade Modeling Dough, or air-dry clay, to use as playing pieces for the game of Turkey Trot. Or make the turkeys for a diorama, to decorate for Thanksgiving, or just for fun!
EASY
Pine Cone Turkey - Turn a pine cone into a colorful turkey to brighten your Thanksgiving table. This is an easy craft project for children that can be combined with some outdoor fun. Take a walk in the woods to find pine cones; then, with bump chenille stems (or pipe cleaners) and glue magic, turn them into little turkeys.
EASY
Halloween Trick or Treat Bags - It's quick and easy to make trick or treat bags in any size you like to collect treats as you go from door to door. All it takes is a stack of books and a sheet of paper to make the basic bag. You can also create smaller bags for Halloween party goodies or to hand out to the trick-or-treaters who come to your door!
EASY
Colorful Tissue Ghosts - What could be cuter than little ghosts in a bowl? Tissue ghosts are an easy, inexpensive way to decorate for Halloween. In this project, you'll see how to make a colorful version of the traditional tissue ghost by adding fading color accents.
VERY EASY
Creepy-Crawly Spider Bracelet - Make a creepy, crawly spider that can wiggle and twist about with a few movements of the wrist. Traced fingers are the basis for this animated spider toy, and a paper fastener allows it to swivel around. This is a fun and easy Halloween project that is especially good for mixed-age groups of children.
VERY EASY
Silly Faces Mix-and-Match Cards - Just a few simple materials and a little instruction is all it takes to make a set of mix-and-match cards. Cut all the cards into three pieces and mix them up to make silly faces. Giggles are a sure thing!
VERY EASY
Thaumatrope (or Mini-movie) - Kids will have fun making this spinning toy known as a thaumatrope (or mini-movie.) It appears to magically create one picture from two and demonstrates one of the visual concepts behind movies and videos.
EASY
Chinese Paper Lanterns - Chinese paper lanterns make colorful and inexpensive decorations. Best of all, they are so quick and easy you can get the kids involved in making them. Follow the simple instructions in this craft project to make colorful lanterns using a single sheet of paper.
VERY EASY
Spy Glass Color Wheel - Use red, blue and yellow cellophane to make a color wheel that teaches about combining the primary colors. Have your child see how many colors can be made by overlapping the cellophane layers. To see even more colors, the color wheel doubles as a spy glass that your child can look through to make the colors around them change.
EASY
God's Eye - If you are looking for a craft that kids love and is great for groups, look no further. God’s Eyes are made with just a few supplies and even small children get wonderful results.
VERY EASY
Bubble Print Paper - Use paint and bubble blowing liquid to make this kid-safe alternative for marbled paper. With this technique you will make pastel-colored prints of soap bubbles on paper that then can be used for other craft projects.
EASY
Tic-Tac-Toe Travel Game - Tic-tac-toe is a classic, whether played with pen, lipstick, or this handy reusable game board! Take it on car trips, picnics, or to the beach. Wherever you go, X (or O) marks the spot!
VERY EASY
Bath Buddies - In no time flat, you and your kids can make enough soap buddies for weeks of bath time fun! Kids of all ages enjoy the squishy fun of making little soaps in a variety of shapes and colors. Shape them into balls or create cute shapes with soap molds.
VERY EASY
Circly Paper Chain Snake - Link rings of construction paper together to form a long multi-colored snake that makes a terrific decoration hung from the ceiling, draped around the room, or framing a bulletin board. Turn the activity into a contest to see who can make the longest snake, create the funniest (or scariest) snake, or the most creative snake.
VERY EASY
Bread Clay Recipe - This recipe makes a durable and very pliable clay that can be colored vibrantly. This clay is particularly good for making items that will get heavy use, like beads and playing pieces for games. All you do is mix white glue into shredded white bread and add color with a bit of paint.
EASY
Sweet Strawberries - Make strawberries from walnuts in the shell that are painted red. This is a quick and easy project that both kids and adults will have fun doing! The strawberries can be used as decorations on gifts or around the house and make a wonderful gift to brighten anyone's day!
VERY EASY
Doorknob Hangers - In this project, see how easy it is to make doorknob hangers to communicate with your family and friends. Create a hanger with any message and pictures you like. You might put 'Do Not Disturb' on one side and 'Wake In Time for School' on the other side. Use your imagination!
VERY EASY
Weave a Placemat - Turn a sheet of construction paper into a placemat with paper weaving. These simple-to-make colorful placemats will brighten your table. Select a color theme and get weaving!
EASY
Love Bugs - Make cute little bugs to give as gifts. They are molded in plastic spoons using plaster of Paris. This craft is great for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or any gift-giving occasion. Children of all ages, even as young as two, will enjoy making these love bugs as pins or magnets.
VERY EASY
Coin Barrettes - Use a few pennies and a store bought hair barrette back to make these lovely hair holders. For silver barrettes, use dimes or nickels and mix up the coins for another look. The craft is quick and simple! Make a set for yourself or to give as a gift.
VERY EASY
Fourth of July Crackers - Make a Fourth of July cracker that goes POP! See how to make this novelty box that is shaped like a firecracker and makes a pop sound without any fire. Best of all, you can use it over and over again! It makes a great party favor or fun gift box. Use it for any celebration, not just the 4th.
AVERAGE
Simple Father's Day Cards - Don’t yell it, spell it! Handmade cards for Dad that spell out “D-A-D” are an easy Father’s Day craft project with results that Dad will cherish. Kids will have fun making these simple paper cutout cards and giving them as gifts, and Dad will appreciate the love and effort put into them.
VERY EASY
Woolly Octopus - In this craft project, learn the British way of making a yarn octopus. This technique is a disarmingly simple way to make a cute toy with items found in most people's homes, and it will use up those leftover scraps of wool (yarn).
EASY
Stuffed Felt Names - Kids love to see their names spelled out! In this craft project, see how to cut out, sew, and stuff individual felt letters, and then join them together to create a bright and cheerful personalized wall hanging that's perfect for the bedroom door, on the wall, or over the crib.
AVERAGE
Easy Pinwheel - Just in time for a breezy spring day, make this colorful paper pinwheel with nothing more than paper, a pencil and a straight pin. Children of all ages will be delighted with this whirling windmill. Make several as party decorations or favors!
EASY
Stars and Stripes Pennant Banner - Make red, white and blue pennants with stars and stripes, then string them together to create a banner. The banner can be used to decorate inside or outside for Memorial Day, the 4th of July, or anytime you have a patriotic theme party.
EASY
Finger Painting on freezer wrap using homemade finger paints is fun and easy!
Make designs on tissue paper in any colors you like then use it to cover boxes or wrap gifts.
