I love the colorful artwork recently posted on the JanKnit blog (and in the CRAFT Flickr pool). What's especially cool is that it's all created by kids, who dyed the wool with Kool-Aid, then used a cardboard loom to weave it up. Check out the original post for more photos and details.

Cindy at Skip to my Lou made this tutorial for sewing a reusable oilcloth lunch sack. She's included a pattern, detailed instructions, and excellent photographs.

Amber points us towards this easy tutorial for making a recycled cardboard playhouse for kids. These would be so simple to customize with paints and other fun decorations.

Tiny Birds Organics shares this free knitting pattern for a "soaker"--which, if you're not familiar with the term, is a breathable pair of bloomer-type shorts used to cover cloth diapers. Knit Soaker Pattern

Megan from Plum Pudding shows you how to create Nature Cans from fabric scraps and recycled oatmeal containers, which your kids can take on walks to collect leaves, rocks, and other fun stuff

I'm also excited to announce that HP will be at the Maker Faire (May 3 - 4)! At the HP booth, you'll be able to get hands on and make some fun printable craft projects like the 3-D origami finger puppets, crafty cards, photo matchbooks, and more! Kids can also get a free photo taken with Po from the movie "Kung Fu Panda". Visit the HP booth when you are at the fair and get ready to get your craft on!

Related:
Craftzine Projects on the HP wiki

Rachel writes in with a link to this great tutorial on My Poppet, showing how to make fuzzy blocks with a hidden rattle inside. Felted Block Rattles

Related:
• Candy Corn Rattle
• Easy Homemade Recycled Rattle Tutorial

Lil Birdie Stitches shows you how to create this fun and playful patchwork ball--what a great way to use up fabric scraps. (via) Patchwork Ball How-To

Related:
DIY Weaving Loom

Collin @ MAKE writes:

Run-of-the-mill tattoo designs are easy to fake and therefore easy to doubt. But forging a believably atrocious design with some inkjet tattoo paper could definitely turn some heads.

I loved temporary tattoos as a kid, but I can't imagine how much more I would have loved them if I could design my own! Print your own temporary tattoos on this printer paper.

Melissa Goodsell put up a tutorial for this easy and safe puff paint for children using flour, food coloring, and a microwave.

Make and Takes stitched up a pair of these fun "I Spy" mini-quilts for her kids. Each quilt features 30 quilt squares, two in each fabric pattern for playtime fun. I love the idea of a snuggly, portable quilt that's also a game. I Spy Mini-Quilts

Related:
Jek-in-the-Box's Pop Memory Game

My mom made these reversible capes for her grandson (my nephew). The pictured one is Batman/Green Lantern, and the other is Superman/Spiderman. She's the first to admit that Spiderman doesn't wear a cape, but my 3 year-old nephew doesn't care! My dad designed the logo templates. See where I get it from? They're a crafty team, and they got the idea from our blog.

Related:

Reversible Superhero Cape Tutorial

Megan at My Plum Pudding has a great idea for a craft project to do with your kids that could actually lead to them eating the healthy food they should: help them make custom labels for fun seasonings and extras for their food like wheat germ, sesame seeds, and other goodies that make vegetables and yogurt more fun. I like the "Shark Bites," although I would probably name mine something more along the lines of "Zombie extract."

First off, she found an Urkel doll on eBay and made a whole new outfit for him so he'd look like the show's infectiously fun host, DJ Lance Rock!

Of course, she couldn't leave Lance to be lonely all on his own--so here's the entire cast of characters done up in cozy flannels.

Last but not least, she created this adorable flannel quilt featuring the cast of characters and colorful primary-colored quilt blocks. OK, the votes are in...Artsy Fartsy~ is the best Grandma EVER! Link.

Related:
Yo Gabba Gabba Amigurumi - Link.

Phil @ MAKE points us to a great tutorial on PopSci.com about how to make your own super fun slime out of water, glue, and borax. You can learn a little science in the process, too - [via] Link.

If you haven't checked out the Mahar Drygoods blog lately, you really ought to pay them a visit. They've been running fabulous profile pieces on the various artists who create the offbeat kiddy crafts sold on the incomparable Mahar Drygoods website. Profiles include Cathy of California, Kim Baxter of Kissycake, Elizabeth Soule and many more. Click through for the full archive. Link.

OK, so I know Natalie just posted a kid's apron project yesterday, but this was too cute not to share. Hillary of Wee Wonderfuls recently stitched up this sweet apron using fabric from a thrifted dress and her own "Fairy Stitchette" embroidery patterns. Read her blog to get more info and a link to a PDF tutorial. Link.