Articles, Ideas, and Projects:

• Junk to Gems:
     • Baby Food Jars
     • Clothespins
     • Egg Cartons

• Cooking with Emeril!
  Try out these yummy recipes from Chef Emeril's new book, There's a Chef in My Soup! Recipes for the Kid in Everyone

• How To Make a Pinata
  This time-honored Mexican tradition has become a beloved part of today's kids' parties. This project includes paper mache recipes and easy step-by-step instructions for making and using your pinata. Kids will enjoy creating their own homemade party pinata to show and share with friends.

• Easy St. Patrick Day Crafts for Kids of All Ages
  Celebrate March by making a "Kiss me, Blarney Stone Critter," an "Easy Shamrock Necklace Craft" and a "St Patrick's Day Puzzle" with your little ones. You'll all have fun!

• Valentine Men
  Kids will love the pop-up action of these cute paper Valentine men!

• Incredible Edibles - Art Projects for Kids
  If your children are at the age of preferring to eat their art supplies while you are trying to teach them to expand their creative skills, you'll enjoy these perfect projects -- edible crafts! Enjoy these fun projects with your children by letting your imagination be your guide.

• 14 Great Homemade Presents to Make With Your Kids by Laura Markham, Ph.D.
  No need to spend a fortune on gifts, your kids will love making them for grandparents, cousins and teachers, and the recipients will treasure them. Remember that your goal is to have fun with your child and give a token of affection, not to exhaust yourself. Hopefully this list will get your creativity fired up.

• 10 Slam-Dunk Crafts For Little Kids -- And Bigger Kids Too!
  Crafting with young children really isn't about creating something in particular. For young children it's more important that they have the opportunity to play and experiment with art. Here are ten favorite crafts for little kids based on all that AND the 'fun factor.'

• Step Up to Memories - Little Step Ladder Craft
  While you can buy a step stool in the store, making one with your child not only gives you an activity to do together, but it also will serve as a reminder of the time you spent together creating this fun project.

• Rainy Day Crafts for Kids
  Cooped up kids can get bored easily. Try these craft ideas made with items you most likely have around the house right now!

• Homemade Bird Feeders
  There is nothing more enjoyable than eating breakfast and watching birds flutter and dance outside the kitchen window on a snowy morning. Here are a couple of suggestions for your kids to let them make their own special bird feeders.

• Bug Village
  Here's a great craft for almost NO money! All you need are a few sticks, some acorn tops, rocks, and imagination! These darling little critters have a home of their own in this cute craft.

• Great Holiday Crafts for Kids
  Here are two simple and fun Christmas projects to do with excited little ones -- Holiday Lake Cake and North Pole Christmas Tree Ornament. Enjoy!

• Brain-Boosting Crafts for Kids
  It's back to school time, and young children may be jealous of older siblings attending school. If your youngster is left behind with an abundance of energy, curiosity and creativity, consider adding these educational crafts to your day's activities.

• Easy Tie-Dye for Kids
  With the arrival of warmer weather, have fun creating truly unique t-shirts with your kids by tie-dying. It's simple, fun and inexpensive.

• Crafts for Kids - Valentine's Day Craft Fun
  If you're planning to host a Valentine's Day party for kids, Penny Warner, author of The Kids' Pick-a-Party Book has some Valentine crafts the kids can create to make the holiday even more special.

• Christmas Crafts for Preschoolers
  If you're the parent of a three- to six-year-old, you're probably already hearing, "How many days left until Christmas?" Help shorten the wait for your preschooler with these Christmas crafts.

• Keep Kids Busy with Hanukkah Crafts
  Include your toddler or ten-year-old in this year's Hanukkah festivities by helping them make these holiday crafts.

• Kwanzaa Crafts for Children
  Kwanzaa is a time to celebrate life, heritage and values. Here are three great craft ideas to help you celebrate this seven-day holiday and teach your little ones about Kwanzaa.

• A Recipe for Thankfulness
  Thanksgiving, the day of feasting and gratitude, is one of our nation's favorite holidays. This year, teach your kids the value of gathering together and giving thanks with these simple and easy Thanksgiving crafts.

• Autumn Crafts for the Nature-Lover
  With trees shedding their summer attire, fall is a wonderful time for kids to learn about nature by creating autumn arts and crafts. Here are two fall crafts that you and your child can create using fallen leaves, twigs, pinecones and other products of nature.

• Chirping Cricket
  Here's a fun and easy craft for your little ones with pipe cleaners and a plastic comb. Have fun and learn about insects!

• Summertime Crafts for Kids
  Here are some easy summer activities and crafts for kids that you will all love!

• Celebrate Fourth of July with Crafts
  Help teach your children the meaning of independence day with these fun and easy crafts.

• Popsicle Stick Puppets
  Children enjoy making and playing with puppets.

• Felt Butterflies
  These adorable butterflies are quick and easy to make. Perfect to bring a little sunshine and color into your home. They also are a great alternative to a bow on a present!

• Friendship Garden
  Your child can display pictures of his or her friends with this adorable pot.

• Crystal Wax Candles
  This is a quick and easy project that kids will love!

• Pine Cone Turkeys
  From simple materials and with a little help cutting, your child can create their very own turkey pet this Thanksgiving!

• Crowns
  This quick project provides hours of entertainment for your little prince or princess. Even a child who is reluctant to color and cut will enjoy making his or her very own crown!

• Alphabet Collage
  Make these fun collages to teach your preschooler his letters or reinforce phonics with an older child.

• Kid's Activities Basket
  Do you know a mom-to-be who is planning to breastfeed her baby, but has an older child that will need her time and attention, too? Ask your child to help you put together this activities basket for her older son or daughter. It will help keep her other little one busy and happy when she's got her hands full. It makes a great big brother or sister gift!

• Painted Tea Box
  Your child will love making something just for mom, and what better way for mom to relax after a new baby than to make a cup of mother's milk tea with the bags stored in this cute box.

• Nautical Pencil Holders
  These rope covered pencil holders will look great in Dad's office or home office.

• Pencil Pals
  Kids young and old will enjoy making and writing or coloring with these cute pets.

• Confetti Butterflies
  This project provides great small-motor practice for little hands!

• Jellybean Ducks ~ This cute duck is actually a little jar of jellybeans! Celebrate spring with this fun, simple project.

• St. Valentine's Day Magnetic Picture Hearts
  These quick and easy heart-shaped magnets are wonderful for your child to give to his or her Valentine.

• Paste and Glue Recipes
  Creating homemade paste and glue is simple and fun! Have your child help you with these recipes, and then enjoy the sticky texture together - make collages, cut out and glue pictures from magazines, or make a glue picture.

• Holiday Potpourri
  Your child can make some fragrant potpourri!

• Spooky Garland
  Kid's will love making this very easy Halloween project! A special thanks to StorkNet member Mitchellfam who described how to make spooky spiders!

• Decorative Wooden Spoon
  These spoons are a nice gift for your child to give this Grandparent's Day!

• Child Size Nursing Pillow
  In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, HOTH moderator Miche has created a special project for us. These easy to make pillows are wonderful for a toddler or preschooler who is about to have a new sibling or for toddlers who want to nurse or cuddle their own babies the way mommy has cared for them.

• Bubble Prints
  Bubble prints are pretty, fun and easy to make. This is a great project to do outdoors on a warm day. It can get messy, so you may want to dress in swimsuits and have the hose handy for clean-up!

• Homemade Sidewalk Chalk
  Make your own homemade chalk with this simple recipe. It's perfect for summer fun with your little ones.

• Kitchen Accessories: Recipe Holder and Refrigerator Memo Holder
  These simple yet beautiful projects using simple clothespins and silk flowers are a bright and practical addition to any kitchen. They make great Mother's Day gifts too! Check out our Junk to Gems: Clothespins for additional ideas for old clothespins!

• Magnetic Easter Frames
  Parents can cut out the shapes ahead of time and children can glue together to decorate these adorable frames. They are perfect for displaying your favorite picture on the refrigerator. Contributed by HOTH moderator Michelle Grassia.

• Playdough Recipes
  Three fun and easy recipes contributed by HOTH moderator Caryl Mousseaux.

• Alphabet/Number Mat
  Create this fun mat for your little ones to play on, learn with, and love!

• Fun Preschool Activity -- Blind Painting
  This activity will teach your child to be more empathetic when she encounters sightless people. She will also appreciate her ability to be able to learn how to do many things with her eyes.

• Little Prints Rudolph Ornament
  This reindeer ornament is cute hanging on a tree, a wall, or in a window. It's also a sweet memento showing the size of your child's hands and feet.

• Handprint Turkey
  This cheerful turkey, a gift from your child, will help make someone's Thanksgiving Day extra-special!

• Tub Fun Alphabet Project
  Make these quick, easy, and inexpensive letters to entertain the young child in the bath tub. Older children who can trace and use scissors can help with this project with some supervision.

• Precious Prints
  Create a special keepsake of your child with these easy to make dough handprint/footprint molds.

• Mosaic Button Pots
  These pots are a twist on your traditional broken tile mosaic design. Instead of using broken pottery that can be dangerous for little fingers we used buttons. You'll love them!

• Butterflies
  Have you been seeing a lot of butterflies on these beautiful summer days? Make some butterflies with your children to celebrate the season!

• Tub Paints and Bread Painting
  Now that the warmer weather is here, kids are playing outside more often (and probably getting dirtier!). You may need something fun to help coax them into the bathtub. Follow it up with lunch! Kids can help you make sandwiches with this easy project.

• Laundry Scoop Wheelbarrows
  Your little ones can practice their gardening skills with this simple and fun project!

• April Showers
  Create a Toddler Watering Can, Rain Stick and a Rain Painting! Caryl and little Charon will show you how.

• Construction Paper Baskets
  Perfect and easy for Easter goodies

• Sticky Collage, Easter Egg Sun Catchers, and Wrapping Paper Matching Game

• Valentine Carrier

• Mosaic Valentine Heart

• Homemade Snow Paint and Making Snowflakes

• Coloring Snow - Fun Winter Learning
  Amanda Formaro shows you how to create your own winter wonderland with colorful buckets of snow.

• A Waste Not Picture Frame
  Have an old puzzle that is missing some pieces? How about some photographs that need framing? If you said yes, then you and the kids have a fun project ahead of you!

• Bubble Frame
  Here's a fun and creative way to frame one of those classic bubble bath shots! Grab some old puzzle pieces, paint and some craft gems and you are on your way.

• Christmas Wreath Ornaments

• A Child's Thanksgiving Tree
  Just mentioning the word "Thanksgiving" often conjures up memories for many. Traditions are relived and new ones are born on this joyous family holiday. Why not start a new one with your children with this fun and simple activity.

• Egg Carton Kitty Cat
  For ages 5 and older, younger children with assistance ~ an adorable Halloween craft

• Marble Painting
  Marble painting is a popular method of painting for preschool aged children and up.

• Art Safety and Your Child by Gladys Jimenez