Curiously Fun
After you've powered through a pack of curiously strong mints, save the tin for some pocket-size fun. With the addition of a few downloadable game boards, modeling clay, and rare-earth magnets, your Altoid packaging will be transformed into a 4-in-1 travel game for portable play.
Merry Matching
Encourage your little ones to explore color matching and sorting possibilities with a delightful tactile homemade game. Paint simple wooden buckets in primary and secondary colors, then paint wooden spoons in corresponding tints and shades. Seal the deal with a coat of beeswax or olive oil, which will keep the game preserved (and nontoxic).
Cheerios Chase
There's a reason why schoolteachers ask families to save empty cereal boxes—they're the perfect base for any number of clever craft projects. Here, a cereal box gets reinvented as a vertical racetrack, ready to challenge our favorite marbles to a friendly competition. Made by Joel has the tutorial.
Bowl Them Over
Turn your bathroom discards into a fun game for all. Gather your toilet paper tubes, along with some some paint, markers, black card stock, and glue. Once you've brought your snowmen to life (like these from Creative Me, Inspired You), grab a bouncy ball and get ready to roll.
Puppet Play
This shoebox turned theater from Handmade Charlotte deserves a standing ovation. While an adult should take care of the handiwork, which involves an X-Acto knife, smaller children can help with the puppets—and, of course, run the show. Miniature LED lights add a final, magical touch.
Go with the Dough
Play-Doh is a real classic, and now you can create your own custom-colored version at home with just a few pantry staples. Even if your players are at the "I-need-to-put-this-in-my-mouth" stage, you can rest easy knowing that this recipe is entirely edible, if a bit salty.
Inner City
Create a miniature city within your own four walls, using just foam core, washi tape, unfinished wood blocks, and a little paint! Follow instructions from Playful Learning for this handmade play mat, and from there, imagination is all that's required.
For More...
For more family-friendly projects, consider:
Kid-Friendly DIY: 10 Projects Sure to Inspire Summer Fun
Kits for Kids: 10 Gifts for Young Makers
Ditch the Fridge: 7 New Ways to Display Children's Artwork
Don't Miss!
If you have the money to hire a handyman for every household woe, go ahead. But if you want to hang on to your cash and exercise some self-sufficiency, check out these clever products that solve a million and one little problems around the house. Go now!
