How to Make Gypsy Crafts for Kids

Use colorful supplies to make assorted gypsy attire.

Gypsy clothing, decorating and accessories are colorful and creative, making them ideal for kids craft projects. Let kids use an assortment of colorful supplies to assemble crafts to sell at bazaars, give as gifts or add to dress-up costumes. Use the craft projects as an activity at a gypsy party by providing the supplies and let kids create a variety of craft accessories. These gypsy crafts are not difficult to make and require little time to assemble.

Things You'll Need

• Beads
• Yarn
• Elastic cording
• Index cards
• Paper plates
• Hole punch
• Pipe cleaners
• Bells
• Paints
• Brushes
• White glue
• Glitter
• Round fishbowl
• Ribbon
• Scarves
• Sequins

Instructions

1. String a variety of sizes of colorful beads to make gypsy jewelry. Use yarn to string necklaces that fit over the head in a variety of lengths. Use elastic cording to make simple stretchy bracelets. Mix large and small plastic beads in different shapes, thread on the yarn and cording, and tie the ends securely. Wear several of each for a gypsy look.

2. Add a little gypsy music to your crafting by letting kids make a tambourine. Place two paper plates together with tops facing and punch holes around the outside edges. Thread pipe cleaners through the holes and hang a jingle bell on each. Twist to close. Paint the tambourine with acrylic paint, watercolors or poster paint to create a colorful design with stars and moons. Add glitter, beads or other sparkly embellishments to the tambourine.

3. Let kids play gypsy fortuneteller with a handmade deck of tarot cards. Draw simple shapes such as stars and moons on one side of the cards, then paint and decorate with glitter. On the other side, print simple fortunes or use symbols to represent fortunes. Use dollar signs to predict getting money, hearts for love and airplanes or boats for travel. Let kids create their own predictions and write or draw them on the cards.

4. Have kids make a crystal ball to tell the future. Use a small round fishbowl as the ball and decorate the rim with ribbon and glitter. Write predictions on cut-up index cards and sit the upside-down fishbowl on top of them for a fun craft and game.

5. Recycle old scarves to make gypsy attire. Use fabric paints, sequins and glitter to add colorful designs to the scarves. Tie several together at the corners to make a wraparound skirt, waist sash or shawl or use individual scarves as head wraps. Thread large-holed beads onto the ends for additional decoration.

Tips & Warnings

• As an alternative to clothing, use the scarves to decorate a room for a gypsy-themed party, spreading them over tables and windows.

References

• Elementary School Fundraising Ideas
• First Palette: Paper Plate Tambourine