Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
When it comes to toddlers, the more interesting the food, the better. Make corn interesting for toddlers with help from a certified nutritionist in this free video clip.
If you've got a stick and a few other tools like a bamboo skewer, you can make your own dog circus puppet right at home. Make a dog circus puppet with a stick with help from a longtime and dedicated puppeteer in this free video clip.
You can make a face puppet with the right tools and just a short bit of your time. Learn how to make a face puppet from scratch with help from a longtime and dedicated puppeteer in this free video clip.
Making a puppet that talks is going to require you to really work that creative muscle. Make a puppet that talks with help from a longtime and dedicated puppeteer in this free video clip.
Making a goat shadow puppet requires only the right tools and a little bit of know-how. Make a goat shadow puppet with help from a longtime and dedicated puppeteer in this free video clip.
Awnings are a common sight above doors and windows. The awning shades and protects the area underneath from elements such as rain and snow. Instead of purchasing a premade metal awning, save yourself money and build your own. Constructing the awning out of aluminum is both inexpensive and durable. Over time, the aluminum awning will require some cleaning and maintenance such as spraying with a water hose to remove dirt or applying a fresh coat of spray paint.
A dollhouse is filled with miniature representations of regular objects, for example, chairs, tables and other things found in a home. You can make miniature representations of any object for the dollhouse with the use of a plastic mold. The supplies you will need can be acquired from a hobby shop. Items commonly found around the house will be necessary as well.
Interacting with a puppet can be effective for a wide range of reasons, from education to entertainment. Creating a puppet with your own hands can heighten how you experience and enjoy it. Protean by design, a puppet can assume any identity or concept, including an explorer theme. Research into the history of explorers helps you to mine ideas for your puppet's design and appearance. Attention to detail can make your explorer-themed puppet feel true to life.
Elementary schools often implement a goofy or silly sock day for fundraisers, spirit days or class competitions. While it's easy for your child to just wear a pair of mismatched socks, make the occasion a fun afternoon craft project. Turn a pair of plain socks into goofy socks using basic supplies. Choose to dye them, embellish them or personalize them to make them goofy. Or, do all three to create socks that will really stand out on silly sock day.
Whether you prefer yours to be directly from the cob, candied or boiled, corn and its kernels can make for a striking image background, seasonal avatar or graphic. Use Adobe Photoshop to create your own corn picture. Photoshop gives you the tools to customize your cob kernel by kernel, which means you get to choose size and placement, as well as color. Create a corn image in Photoshop that you’ll really want to sink your teeth into.
A Nettie doll is a simple doll made from strips of rags and string. Authentic Nettie dolls use a wide variety of different patterned strips, rather than strips from just one fabric, but you can use whatever you have on hand. Even children can make these dolls once the materials are prepared, since they don't require any sewing and they don't require much in the way of supplies. Next time you need a rainy-day craft project for older kids you might want to give making Nettie dolls a try.
Armadillos, whose name means "little armored one" in Spanish, are mammals native to North and South America. About 20 different species are found in the wild, including the common nine-banded armadillo in the southern United States. These curious creatures are easily identified by the distinctive armored plates on their backs. Closely related to anteaters, armadillos spend much of their time foraging and burrowing for food, a diet which consists of beetles, ants and other insects. Armadillos distinctive look can translate into wonderful characters for a puppet show. Fabric armadillo puppets are available from various retailers, but you can also make…
Vintage and antique toys and dolls of the past can be one of today's hottest collectible items. Imagine if you had known 60 years ago that the dolls you were playing with might be worth thousands of dollars when you became an adult. Avid collectors now trade dolls in good condition from the 1950s for large sums of money. It's important to know how to identify them if you want to start a collection.
Yorkshire terrier -- or Yorkie -- puppies are small dogs that weigh up to 7 pounds. A Yorkie puppy's coat is long and silky with tan, black and gray fur; generally, the black and gray colors cover the back of the puppy like a blanket, while the tan is on the head, feet and tail. Young girls can make their own Yorkie puppy crafts with their old knee-high socks, beads and pictures.
Large puppet heads make an impact in a theatrical production or a carnival parade. Making a big puppet head -- large enough for the puppeteer to wear -- is almost as simple making a hand puppet head. Keep the materials you use as light as you can, to make the head as comfortable as possible to wear. Papier mache is a suitably lightweight technique that originated in doll making. Old newspaper is ideal for making papier mache, because it is resilient and durable.
Fondant is a special form of icing used by cake decorators and hobbyists to create unique effects. Ordinary icing is versatile, but creating elaborate designs with piping bags and multiple tips requires an advanced set of decorating skills. Fondant is the cake decorating equivalent of modeling clay, and it can be molded or kneaded into anything your imagination can conceive. Many companies sell molds that can be used to create complex figures including babies' faces, but lifelike details such as lips are best done freehand.
Puppeteers use puppets with articulated eyes for greater animation and expression. Articulated -- or moveable -- eyes for a hand puppet are made using basic mechanical skills, and the eyes are operated through manipulation of a trigger inside the puppet head. More sophisticated, free-standing puppets are operated by radio control or cable animatronic mechanisms. You can make articulated eyes for your puppet yourself, using a design that will allow the eyes to either roll from side to side or top to bottom, as a blink.
The word “yakitori” in Japanese means grilled poultry. The dish called yakitori refers to skewers of small pieces of marinated chicken grilled over charcoal. It is popular in Japan to drink beer with yakitori meals. Genuine yakitori grills can be hard to find. Even if you find one, it may be out of your price range. If you want to try grilling yakitori yourself without investing in an authentic yakitori grill, you can make your own.
Give your hand puppet major personality with a big, talking mouth. Hand-puppet mouths are typically made with felt and when put together well, they will thrill and entertain kids for hours. You might be familiar with making simple hand puppets out of socks, but are not sure how to create the big-mouth look of popular TV puppets. You can easily create this mouth on your puppet using basic items you likely have around your home.
Children of all ages enjoy nurturing stuffed animals and baby dolls. What better way to take care of a favorite doll than to give her a personalized crib. While you can purchase small wooden cribs, making a doll crib out of cardboard is an enjoyable and rewarding task. Not only is the end result unique, but a one-of-a-kind piece can be tailored to match a room's decor or a doll's unique size, for example. Beginning with a cardboard box and finishing with adornments of your choice, a baby doll crib can be made for the special child in your life.
An impromptu puppet show is a way to pass the time on a weekend afternoon. Kids can be reduced to giggles by watching hand puppets, especially when the puppets are supposed to be people. Fortunately for those without sewing skills, you can make simple hand puppets that work well. Make people puppets for kids out of paper bags and enjoy the show.
Even the dirtiest socks should come out soft from the washing machine and dryer. Hard, crusty socks occur when either the soil isn't completely removed during laundering or when hard water causes a buildup in the fabric's fibers. Hard socks aren't pleasant to wear, especially if they retained dirt and odor after washing. Getting the socks clean and preventing any hard water residue ensures your socks will stay soft and comfortable after a thorough washing.
Frogs are a common theme in children’s books and toys, so they make a pleasant puppet choice. You can simplify the shape of the frog to make it turn into a puppet easily. Felt is a soft fabric that is pleasant to touch and wear for many people as well, so you can wear the puppet for extended periods in comfort. Children will gain pleasure from feeling the soft puppet as well while you use it to interact with them.
An armature is a structure over which clay, plaster or papier mache is molded to create a three-dimensional sculpture. The heavier the sculpture medium, the stronger the armature must be to sustain the weight of the final project. For large projects, the armature may be a made of wood with chicken wire stapled to it for shape. Armatures for small projects are typically made of wire twisted together; the more strands of wire, the stronger the armature.
A sock monkey is a small doll made from old socks. Although socks for this project need to be hole-free, this is a great use for socks that have lost their mates. A sock monkey makes a fun toy for a small child and you can make one with a few household materials. Sock monkeys look best if you make them from socks where the heels and toes are a different color from the body of the sock.
Even novice sewers can create a beautiful dress for a little girl that has an iridescent bodice and a billowing tulle skirt. In this design, the bodice is made with a stretchy fabric and an elastic thread is used for the top of the skirt — this way the dress is easy for the child to get on and will last through a couple of growth spurts. When the dress is finished, you can customize it with a ribbon waistband, tiny ribbon bows along the tulle skirt or gemstone-embellished shoulder straps.
Design a plush owl puppet using craft felt for a handmade toy that will be loved for years by a child. Use the image of an actual owl for reference, such as the bright white snowy owl, or copy a beloved storybook owl like Hedwig from "Harry Potter" as you make your puppet. Add the owl puppet to a cast of characters for a theatrical performance with your children. You can also bring the puppet out as an animal narrator when reading stories to children as a way of maintaining short attention spans.
Felt is a great fabric for making finger puppets. Soft and easy to work with, it is also strong and able to deal with wear and tear. Make felt puppets for your children to play with, for puppet shows or for using while reading story books. Felt puppets are especially good for younger children for whom more complex puppets with parts may pose a choking hazard. The crafts are simple to construct, so older crafters can make their own cowgirl felt puppets.
Recycle your old three-ring binders and create a diorama for Barbie and her friends. Whether you are looking for a permanent backdrop for your Barbie doll display, or a convenient, portable play background for your child's favorite dolls, a three-ring binder is a sturdy, versatile option. Using the right techniques and a little creativity, you can design the world in which you think your Barbie would want to live. Decorated binder dioramas effectively set the scene for play or display.
"LittleBigPlanet" is a game for the Playstation 3 gaming console. "LittleBigPlanet" won game of the year in 2009 and allows users to create different worlds within the game. If you would like to make text instructions for the game, you can do so with word processing software as you complete the challenges inside the game. You do not have to be a game reviewer to create these instructions. You can do it yourself with little hassle.
There are many ways to recycle old tube socks, but making a can koozie may be one of the simplest and most useful. In just a few steps, you can save a worn-out piece of clothing and keep your drink cool. Choose the colors of your favorite sports team to make practical decorations for a Super Bowl or playoffs party. Colorful striped or patterned socks make fun and unusual kids' party favors.
Making your own doll wardrobes saves money and allows you to custom fit and design your doll's clothes for your specific preferences. Instead of throwing out old, worn or stained clothing, use the leftover scraps to sew new outfits for your doll collection. Use other odds and ends from around the house to add as embellishments, such as extra buttons or pieces of ribbon, yarn or lace. The relative simplicity of assembling doll clothing can also be a good introduction to the world of sewing for younger children; you may even decide to make yourself a matching outfit.
A creative Styrofoam doll is a simple construct that can provide hours of entertainment to someone with imagination. Even if you don’t play with the dolls, they can sit on your shelves as personalized and attractive decorations. Build several dolls so you can occasionally mix and match their parts, changing up your decorations to create a fresh look on your shelves whenever you desire. Treat the dolls carefully, however, since they aren’t the most durable creations.
You can make a doll, complete with a face, by using yarn. Use craft scraps such as buttons, fabric and the yarn from previous projects to make new creations. Include elementary school age or older children in your home, in your Scout groups or at school for an interesting craft.
A cloth glove creates a comfortable turtle hand puppet. Adding a handmade shell and hand-drawn details creates a natural or cartoon-style turtle. A turtle hand puppet serves as an educational tool and a toy and helps kids become engaged in a lesson. Puppets help with communication skills and can gain kids' attention both in the classroom and at home. Making a hand puppet with a cloth glove makes it a convenient project that requires only time for the glue to dry. Start with a green glove for the turtle to create a no-sew hand puppet.
A standing puppet is supported by a series of strings that are manipulated by the puppet master. To be able to both support and maneuver the puppet correctly, arrange the strings on a crisscrossed set of Popsicle sticks. The procedure is straightforward and does not require any tools other than those found in the home. The puppet’s strings can be removed at any time, should you wish to remove for easier transport.
There are a surprising number of reasons why you might need to make a dress for an egg. Elaborate Easter decorations may evolve past abstract designs or simple patterns. High school students participating in the classic child responsibility lesson may want to dress their temporary "child." New Year's confetti eggs may beckon for a fancy dress to match the festive mood. Regardless of your reason for needing an egg dress, you can achieve it by applying a glitter frock or fashioning one out of paper.
A werewolf, also referred to as a lycanthrope, is a mythical creature that can transform from a human to a wolf when there is a full moon. Often used in fables or myths, a werewolf is a popular creature during the Halloween season. The mystical creature has also been featured in movies such as "Teen Wolf" and the "Twilight" series. Have kids create a werewolf puppet and put on a spooky show to get ready for the Halloween season.
Low-cut socks can keep your feet warm on a chilly night and protect you from blisters during a run. But with a bit of creativity, they can also keep your kids occupied during playtime. Whether you're savvy with a sewing machine or not, you can easily transform an ordinary low-cut sock into a cute or crazy sock creature.
Fashion a hand-held felt puppet after the king of the jungle to add to your menagerie of wild animal performers. The soft felt material used for the puppet is gentle on delicate skin, and the design features no sharp edges, making it an ideal puppet for children. Bring the lion puppet to life in a home performance of the children’s classic book, “The Wizard of Oz.” Or use the puppet for a spur-of-the-moment assistant during mealtime when your child is unwilling to eat his vegetables.
Making miniatures can be a rewarding hobby, and if you enjoy dollhouses or know a child who plays with dolls, you may enjoy making doll-sized furniture. Some types of furniture can be quite complicated, but a basic sofa is essentially formed from rectangles and can be made without much trouble. You can use the same basic steps to make a quick and simple sofa or to make a detailed and realistic sofa, depending upon your needs.
Marker stains on a child's favorite baby doll can quickly turn into a crisis. While some markers, including water color markers, are washable, they may be a challenge to remove from the surface of the baby doll using only water. To protect the doll and to minimize additional damage from cleaning the stain, try gentler methods first. To fully remove the stain, it may be necessary to try several different techniques and repeat the process more than once.
Whether a doll's clothes are making a mess, or you want a new accessory for a doll house, you can make a doll's coat rack relatively easily. A miniature coat rack can organize a doll's clothes to keep them in a central location. Unlike a life-sized coat rack, you do not need to be a carpenter or have power tools to make one. With items found around your house, you can make a realistic coat rack for a doll.
A diorama illustrates a three-dimensional scene. They're typically made inside a box placed on its side. The inner walls of the shoebox depict the background and objects and dolls can be placed inside the box. Dolls are frequently used to depict people. Use real dolls, action figures or paper dolls. Paper dolls are secured to the box with a tab on the doll's feet. The tab is folded at a 45-degree angle relative to the rest of the doll and it's secured to the floor of the diorama with glue or tape.
Amelia Earhart was a female pioneer in the field of aviation. In 1932 she became the first woman to make a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Before her tragic disappearance in 1937, she accomplished many other significant feats in human flight. Since her time, she has served as an icon for aspiring young women all over the world. An Amelia Earhart hand puppet can be an educational tool for presenting her story to very young children.
Use up that unused skein of yarn to make a doll that requires no sewing. Fill the head using a Styrofoam ball to provide the doll with support and structure. Customize the yarn doll using multiple colors of yarn for a rainbow-inspired doll, or create the doll to match the person you are giving it to, such as with a particular color of eyes. Make this doll as a gift by coordinating the colors of the yarn to the holiday, such as pink for Valentine's Day or green for St. Patrick's Day.
Paper-mache is a simple yet versatile crafting material that you can use to create any number of interesting dolls. With paper-mache, you can create traditional dolls, puppets, and nesting dolls. Your crafting options are limited only by your imagination and the time you can commit to the project. Every doll project is a little bit different from the next, but the basic process for crafting paper-mache dolls remains similar across a number of individual designs. Once you are familiar with the basics, you can stretch your creativity and try something truly challenging.
A Waldorf doll is a handmade doll made in the tradition of the Waldorf style. Popularized because of its use in Waldorf education, the Waldorf style of doll uses natural materials such as wool and cotton and includes simple facial features. Sew a Waldorf doll for yourself or a child you love and use traditional wool yarn or easy-care acrylic to make the wig, adding the finishing touches to her personality.
You've finally created a realistic dollhouse, but something is missing. Your dollhouse sits vacant and undecorated without furniture. Fill that dollhouse with your own wooden dollhouse miniatures. It may even give you some ideas for decorating your own home. These wooden miniatures can be simple or elaborate, rustic or refined - all the design decisions are up to you. Start your project by choosing a scale and look for your miniatures and you're on your way to a fully-furnished dollhouse.
The only thing cuter than a sock monkey is a kid wearing a sock monkey hat. The original sock monkeys were made out of knit socks, but their pattern can easily be adapted for crochet. While any child would be thrilled to receive such a distinctive wardrobe addition, this hat will fit children who wear size 2T to 4T. But you can experiment with larger crochet hooks or heavier yarn if the child you have in mind is older.
