KidsArchive: Kids

November 3, 2009

Another Alex Rider Giveaway!

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As a special preview for MAKE's upcoming Alex Rider Dream Gadget Contest, we're giving away two copies of Eagle Strike by Anthony Horowitz, part of the Alex Rider series! Just leave a comment in this post and tell us why you or your kid(s) needs one of these books. That's all you need to do to enter! Please make sure you include your email address in the comment form field (it won't be published). All eligible comments will be closed by Noon PST on Sunday, November 8th. The winners will be announced next week on the site. Good luck! For a sneak peak at Eagle Strike, check out a sample chapter at MAKE.

Posted by Becky Stern | Nov 3, 2009 04:14 PM
Announcements, Kids | Permalink | Comments (5) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

Amazing Wild Things Costumes

This project came in as en entry for MAKE's microcontroller-themed Halloween contest, and is sadly ineligible for lack of use of a microcontroller, but they're the most impressive Where the Wild Things Are costumes I've ever seen. Kadijah Moss Guidry writes in:

Well we loved the characters so much and my twin daughters really wanted to be them. I went to work on it with cardboard, old fur coats, fur remnants , an old leopard costume from years ago, animal house slippers and my imagination. I have no experience or education in design or sewing but it came out great. It took about 1 week to do the first costume headpiece and about 3-4 days for the second headpiece. My daughters were very pleased and so was I. Everywhere we went we were stopped and crowds of people wanted to take pictures. No one could believe that these were made at home. Some people were so amazed they started to get emotional. It was kind of weird but I was flattered. My daughters were so proud of their costumes.

Posted by Becky Stern | Nov 3, 2009 07:29 AM
Halloween, Kids | Permalink | Comments (4) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

November 2, 2009

Howtoons Halloween Costume Contest

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Howtoons is having a Halloween costume contest! The winning homemade costume will be immortalized in a Howtoon explaining how to make it for future generations. So dig up those photos of your fantastic costume and send them in by November 4th! (And, since it's always cool to dress in costume, check out their special Homemade Hero and Jet Pack costume Toons.)

Posted by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith | Nov 2, 2009 08:30 PM
Halloween, Kids | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

Maker Shed Sale Happening Now

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This ultra super cute sock monkey kit is on sale now at the Maker Shed. Blue, or peach? How could anyone decide?

Posted by Brookelynn | Nov 2, 2009 05:00 PM
Kids, Sewing | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

Recycled Paper Tree

Learn how to make this recycled paper tree using old magazines, packaging, and old phone book pages by Jodi from the creative JAR. This tutorial was created by Jodi for elementary students on Lockeland Spring. See these recycled paper trees being made by kids all over the world. Below is Ms. Hahnel's class in Australia.

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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu | Nov 2, 2009 02:00 PM
Kids, Paper Crafts, Recycle | Permalink | Comments (4) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

How-To: Felt Photo Frame


CRAFT: Super Crafty Kidz


How-To: Felt Photo Frame
by Diane Gilleland

Show off your favorite photo in this crafty felt frame. (We used dreamy Edward Cullen from Twilight here, but you can use a photo of anyone you like.) There's a handy clip on top, so you can attach it to your bag and carry it with you.

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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu | Nov 2, 2009 12:00 PM
CRAFT Projects, Kids, Super Crafty Kidz | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

How-To: Beaded Tiara

Corinne at Threadbanger shows us how to make a beaded tiara with simple supplies. This would make a great craft project for a kid's birthday party, and I'm very tempted to break out the beads and make my own. Like Corrine says, everyone deserves to let out their inner princess.

Posted by Becky Stern | Nov 2, 2009 09:00 AM
Kids | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

October 30, 2009

How-To: Magic Water Bottle

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Here's a fun and simple project to try this weekend! Kristin from bookhoucraftprojects shares how to make magic water bottles with just a handful of supplies you likely already have on hand. It's these simple projects that tend to keep my kids occupied for hours. How about yours?

Posted by Rachel Hobson | Oct 30, 2009 02:00 PM
Kids | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

How-To: Grover Hand Puppet

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Sesame Street is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and Marie from Make and Takes created this cute Grover hand puppet in honor of her favorite character from the show. I think a little Super Grover cape to add when he's feeling heroic would be fun, too!

Posted by Rachel Hobson | Oct 30, 2009 06:00 AM
Kids | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

October 29, 2009

How-To: Owl Costume

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Even though we're just a few days away from Halloween, there is still time to whip up this fantastic owl costume. Ellen from The Long Thread shows you how over on Alpha Mom, and includes templates for the mask and feathers. I love it!

Posted by Rachel Hobson | Oct 29, 2009 08:00 AM
Halloween, Kids | Permalink | Comments (3) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

October 28, 2009

Mervin the Molar Knitting Pattern

For your little ones, knit up Mervin the Molar - The Tooth Fairy's Friend a pattern by Kat's Scratch Pad that comes with a tiny pocket to place a fallen tooth.

Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu | Oct 28, 2009 11:00 AM
Amigurumi and Toys, Kids, Knitting | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

October 26, 2009

How-To: Yoshi and Mario Toddler Costumes

Instructables user craineum made these really incredible Yoshi and Mario costumes for his toddlers. You may remember him from last year's Mega Man costume. Those are lucky kids! I remember one year being Tweety Bird, and my mom made a similarly large mascot-style piece of headgear. Who needs peripheral vision when you've got candy?

More:

Mega Man costume looks powerful!

Posted by Becky Stern | Oct 26, 2009 07:00 AM
Halloween, Kids | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

October 24, 2009

How-To: Day of The Dead Necklace For Kids

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Brenda from Alpha Mom shares how to make this salt dough skull bead and paper mache marigold Day of the Dead Necklace for kids. The best part: the kids can help!

Posted by Rachel Hobson | Oct 24, 2009 03:00 PM
Kids | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

October 22, 2009

Printable Chore Chart For Kids

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As a parent, I struggle daily to get my kids to help out around the house. I've tried a lot of methods, and have seen a lot of fancy chore charts. My favorite thing about this one from Lisa of ModEco Kids is the simple statement at the top of the chart: This is how I contribute to my family. It's such a great way to turn the typical parental "nagging" into the true show of how we can all work together. Nice!

Posted by Rachel Hobson | Oct 22, 2009 08:00 AM
Kids, Organization | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

October 21, 2009

Easy Mermaid Tail Costume

mermaidtailsfinal.jpg When I was a little girl, I spent hours dreaming I was a mermaid. Every time I got near a pool or pond, I practiced swimming like one, and Splash was by far my favorite movie.
amelie's party.jpg So imagine how lucky I thought my niece was when my sister-in-law sewed up a dozen mermaid tails for her birthday party this year! Now, Selena is as close to Superwoman as anyone I know (she's a design professor at the University of New South Wales, runs Griffin Kiteboarding with her husband, and has two amazing--and amazingly active--kids), so I wasn't surprised. I was surprised when she showed me how easy it was to make up a pattern and sew the tail (although making a dozen is a different story). It's easy to customize if your little boy doesn't want to be a merman, or your little girl prefers dinosaurs, and would make the perfect last-minute Halloween costume. It uses fabric remnants, and even I was able to sew one up in about an hour. Here's how.

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Posted by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith | Oct 21, 2009 11:00 AM
Kids, Patterns, Sewing | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

October 20, 2009

Cupcake Recipes for Kids

Perfect for your kid's first birthday party, these cupcake recipes for kids at weelicious use agave necter instead of refined sugar. Choose the carrot/pineapple cupcake with cream cheese icing or go for the dark chocolate cupcake. Both look delicious!

Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu | Oct 20, 2009 10:00 AM
Food, Kids | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

How-To: Gnome Costume

Check out Stavro's tutorial for using things in your kid's wardrobe to make this really sweet gnome costume.

Posted by Becky Stern | Oct 20, 2009 07:00 AM
Halloween, Kids | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

October 19, 2009

Buddy Costume from Dinosaur Train

On the PBS Parents site, make your own Buddy costume, your kids' favorite little T-Rex from the TV show, Dinosaur Train. There's also a simple no sew version too!

Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu | Oct 19, 2009 11:00 AM
Halloween, Kids | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

October 16, 2009

Flashback: Home-Ghouled Kids

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With Halloween a mere 2 weeks away, folks intending to make homemade costumes for the bambinos should get started if they haven't already. This week's flashback comes from the pages of Make: Halloween Special Edition, a collaboration between the editors of CRAFT and MAKE, our sister publication. This volume features all things Halloween, from costumes to makeup to party foods and haunted house projects. Though it was originally released in August of 2007, you can still pick up a copy at the Maker Shed. In this excerpt, Doree Tschudy walks you through the basics of creating character costumes for your little one.

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Home-Ghouled Kids
Quick, cool character costumes for kids.
By Doree Tschudy

I want to be [insert name of character here] for Halloween!" This simple demand will send you either into a creative frenzy or into hiding until November 1st. Don't panic, it's easier than it seems.

We're talking quick and dirty here, costumes to last a day or two. (Making an elaborate character for FanimeCon? Sorry, it won't be covered here.) Remember your audience: kids love a homemade costume, and if they have a hand in making it, mistakes magically disappear.

Let's say your son wants to be Boba Fett this year. Sure, you could spend $40 on a licensed costume, but where's the fun in that? You might find a sewing pattern, but what if you can't sew? I'm here to help. Fire up the hot glue gun, put on a pot of coffee, and let's go!



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Posted by Goli Mohammadi | Oct 16, 2009 05:00 PM
Halloween, Kids | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

Intern's Corner: How to make sand art with kids

CRAFT: Intern's Corner
Every other week, CRAFT's awesome interns tell about the projects they're building in the Craft: Labs, the trouble they've gotten into, and what they'll make next.

By Ed Troxell, photo intern

Looking for some entertainment that kids will love? Try sand art.

I not only work as a photo intern at MAKE and CRAFT, but I also run my own magazine. Well, on top of that I work in the afternoons at an after-school day care center.

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Every Wednesday -- it's our long day because the kids get out of school early -- we try to come up with a craft project they'll actually want to do. If you've ever worked with kids, you know that when it comes time to do arts and crafts not everyone jumps at the opportunity to get started. However, this simple project turned out to be one of our best yet: it keeps kids entertained while allowing them to be creative.

How-to:



Read full story

Posted by Keith Hammond | Oct 16, 2009 10:23 AM
Arts, CRAFT Projects, Intern's Corner, Kids, School | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email Entry | Suggest a Site

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