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Camping Crafts for Kids: Have an Indoor Camping Expedition

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Campfire CupcakesI’ve been camping in every corner of this country and have such great memories because of it. My family has always taken the road less traveled, opting to spend a week in the woods rather than at a resort. Sometimes if it’s raining, the wrong season, or campgrounds are too far away, it’s just not practical to go camping, but have no fear! You can still have an amazing camping experience in your own home with camping crafts for kids, edible crafts for kids, and even bug crafts for kids to make the experience authentic.

Turn your living room into a tent, your kitchen into a river, egg cartons into ladybugs, and don’t forget about the essential campfire!  Here are some great camping crafts for kids from AllFreeKidsCrafts to do indoors on your own camping expedition.

If you have an entire weekend to spare, try this awesome Indoor Camping Expedition craft. It has food, crafts, and even a skit to perform so that you can get the whole camping experience.

 

Campfire Craft Projects for Kids Glowing Campfire Craft

The first thing you need is a toasty campfire! No campsite is complete without one, and you will want something to warm your feet while you are stargazing. Try this great Glowing Campfire Craft to create the effect of a real fire that kids will love. If you’re getting hungry, then the sweet treats in the Edible Crafts Campfire is a camping craft for kids that will fill your tummy. It even looks like real red and yellow flames, but I promise that they won’t burn you when you take a big bite.

Other Campfire Crafts for Kids:
Starlight Tin Can Lanterns
Twirling 3D Star
Rockin’ Tic Tac Toe Homemade Game
Dreamy Dreamcatcher
Campfire Hats
Painted Walking Stick

 

Edible Crafts for KidsCutest Cookie Campers

Next you’ll need something to munch on. S’mores are a classic camping treat, but if you’re in the mood for something different, then I have just the snacks for you. Try the Cutest Cookie Campers snack to create a realistic camping scene with a tent, little campers and a campfire all made out of yummy food. Sweet treats always go over well with kids, so make Campfire Cupcakes as a camping craft for kids with a sweet tooth.

 

Bug Crafts for Kids

When you go camping you are staying in nature, and that’s where lots of little critters live. Spiders may seem creepy crawly when you see them on the ground, but once you make them yourself, you will realize that they aren’t so bad. Try making the Creepy Bottle Cap Spiders project and you will see that spiders aren’t so much creepy as they are cute.  Cute Carton Ladybug Crawlers are another great way to introduce kids to the outdoors through camping for kids.Cute Carton Ladybugs

Other Animal Crafts for Kids:
The Very Cuddly Caterpillar
Carefree Coffee Filter Butterflies
Spidey Cents
Investigating Insect Habitats
Egg Carton Caterpillars
Flower Petal Butterflies
Beaded Butterfly Beauty

 

What is your favorite part about camping?

 

Summer Camp Week Wrap-Up: Blasting Off with Space Camp Crafts

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Summer Camp Week

Hey campers! I’m pleased to announce that Elizabeth Cross won Friday’s Summer Camp Week giveaway. Congratulations, Elizabeth! We will contact you shortly about your new “My Favorite Doll” Sewing Kit from Perler.

Did you all enjoy Summer Camp Week? I know I did. We explored crafts for VBS, Nature Camp, Sleep Away Camp, Academic Camp, Sports Camp and Scout Camp all throughout last week, and we gave away some great prizes. Congratulations to all of our winners!

I’m disappointed that we have to wrap up this week of summer camp fun, but I’m looking forward to blasting off into a new adventure! After all, I needed some space… and by that I mean I needed some Space Camp crafts to wrap up the week!

By the way, I’m particularly thrilled that we will soon be launching Crafty Kid Creations, the free e-mail newsletter for AllFreeKidsCrafts.com! We have a veritable galaxy of kids craft ideas, free kids craft eBooks and out-of-this-world giveaways for parents and kids from every planet! Once you subscribe, even the sky won’t be your limit. We’ll announce when the newsletter launches so that you can explore our kids craft universe by subscribing to Crafty Kid Creations.

In the meantime, you’ll have a blast soaring around AllFreeKidsCrafts with these stellar Space Camp Crafts.

Deep Space Star Cruiser

For kids who dream of reaching for the stars, this Deep Space Star Shuttle is the perfect way to get there.

Once you’re flying high, this Intergalactic Space Cruiser is the perfect ride for astronauts and aliens alike.

Rocket Blaster Jet Pack

Hop across the surface of Mars with this Rocket Blaster Jet Pack that is perfect for every little rocketeer.

Amazing Alien Shirts

Let the local aliens know you come in peace with these Amazing Alien Shirts. All of your intergalactic pals with want to make one!

 

Can you come up with any more space themed puns? I tried to think of more, but I was feeling a little spacey.

Summer Camp Week, Day 4: Sports Camp Craft Tutorial + Giveaway

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Summer Camp Week Kids Crafts Banner Summer Camp Week, Day 2: Sleep Away Camp Craft + Giveaway

Hey there, campers! I am so pleased to announce that Ellen M. won yesterday’s Summer Camp Week giveaway and will be receiving a set of six American Girl Historical Craft Kits from EK Success Brand. Congratulations, Ellen! We will contact you by e-mail shortly for details about your prize.

I really enjoyed the Academic Camp crafts from AllFreeKidsCrafts yesterday, but now I’m ready to get outside and play since the Olympics are coming soon! Kids’ sports camps are a great way for kids to burn off excess energy and stay fit over the summer. Whether kids prefer soccer, horseback riding, basketball, gymnastics, or lacrosse, all kids can find games they enjoy. Sports camps offer the ideal physical education experience for kids who want to play and improve their performance.

To enter today’s giveaway, answer the following question in the comments below:

Do you think sports are an important part of a kid’s development and education, or are they more of a distraction?

To celebrate Sports Camp, we’re giving away another copy of Hand in Hand: Crafting with Kids, a craft book full of fun craft ideas to keep kids active and creative over the summer. Keep reading to learn more about the book and enter the giveaway!

Sporty Can Cozies Tutorial from Perler

Game on! You’ll find every type of sports crafts for kids at AllFreeKidsCrafts.com. I’m particularly thrilled about creating these amazing Olympic Medals my little Olympians over the next few weeks as the Summer Olympics approach! Kids can make Sports Equipment Ornaments for any game and any season.

Kids can make these Sporty Can Cozies out of Perler beads to keep their sports drinks and water bottles cool while they’re out playing hard on the field. Use these designs to make one in your team colors and show your support. Kids can also make these as gifts for sports fan family members and friends on holidays and special occasions.

Can Cozies

Materials:

  • Large Basic Shapes Pegboards
  • 1000 Perler Beads-Butterscotch, Dark Blue, Black, and White
  • Bead Tweezer Plus
  • Ironing Paper (6 sheets)

Instructions:

# Beads Needed for the Checkerboard Cozy:

  • Black – 745
  • White – 576

# Beads Needed for the Striped Cozy:

  • Butterscotch – 745
  • Dark Blue – 576
  1. Download the Can Cozies Project Pattern. Use the large circle peg board for your projects. If you’re using a clear peg board, slide the actual-size pattern underneath it. Place all the beads for the design.
  2. Ask an adult to fuse your designs. Place your peg board on a flat, heat-safe surface. Set a household iron to the medium setting. Place ironing paper over the peg board. In a circular motion, begin to iron the project. When ironed properly, the beads will still have an open center. Let the design cool.
  3. Remove the paper and bead design from the peg board. Flip the design over to expose the non-fused side. Repeat step two.
  4. Let cool completely. Note: Beads need heat for about 10-20 seconds per side to fuse evenly. Depending on the size of the project, additional heating time may be required. Since you are working on a 3-D project, DO NOT OVER-IRON the beads as it will make the centers of the beads close and can make assembly more challenging.
  5. Once the design is cool, peel off the ironing paper. Lift your design from the peg board; flip the design over and repeat step #2. Your peg boards and ironing paper are reusable.
  6. Assembly: Using the solid circle as the base, align and glue the first ring to the base. Repeat for the remaining rings.
  7. To create the checkerboard pattern, align the black and white colors for the first 4 rows, then rotate them for the next 4 rows so that black aligns with white. Repeat every 4 rows.

Summer Camp Week Giveaway

We are giving away a prize a day every day this week here on FaveCraftsBlog.com for Summer Camp Week. It is Hand in Hand: Crafting with Kidsso easy to enter. Just go to our daily Summer Camp Week post and comment to enter! You have 5 chances to win and a new special prize each day.

Today’s prize is Hand in Hand: Crafting with Kids by Jenny Doh, a phenomenal kids craft book featuring great crafts for kids and adults to make together.  You’ll find endless inspiration for nature crafts and more in Hand in Hand: Crafting with Kids. This book is a fantastic resource for the parents and teachers of crafty kids. Click here to read the book review on AllFreeKidsCrafts.

This beautiful craft book is full of tutorials from famous craft designers and bloggers whose open-ended kids craft projects allow for innovation and constructive, creative learning. You can win Hand in Hand: Crafting with Kids by Jenny Doh by commenting on this blog post!

Comment on this blog post and enter the to win a free copy of Hand in Hand: Crafting with Kids, then check in tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. CST to find out if you’re the winner!

Giveaway Rules:

  • Contest open to US and Canada residents 18+
  • One comment/entry per person.
  • Contest closes Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 11:59p CST.
  • Please comment on this blog post to enter.
  • Winners will be posted on FaveCraftsBlog.com and notified by email at 10:00a CST on Friday, July 20, 2012.

Summer Camp Week Video + Butterfly Mobile Tutorial

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Summer Camp Week Kids Crafts Banner Summer Camp Week, Day 1: Nature Camp Crafts + Giveaway

Click here to see today’s Giveaway and enter!

Hi there, campers! Welcome back to Summer Camp Week from AllFreeKidsCrafts! I hope you’re enjoying all of the exciting craft projects and giveaways we’ve posted so far. Be sure to enter today’s giveaway by visiting this blog post and commenting. Today’s theme is Academic Camps, so put on your thinking caps and click here to comment and enter the giveaway! You can also check out AllFreeKidsCrafts, subscribe to our newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all of the action!

If you’re looking for today’s giveaway, you can click here to see the post and enter the contest! If you don’t know about the Summer Camp Week Giveaways yet, check out this awesome video:

This afternoon, I have a fantastic camp craft idea that’s great for decorating the cabin or a crafty kids’ room. This project from EK Success Brand’s American Girl Crafts line is a great idea if you’re looking for crafts for preteens and kids who love nature! You can even substitute the butterflies with creepy crawlies for a more rough-and-tumble look if you prefer. Also, if you like this project, check out AllFreeKidsCrafts for more great butterfly projects like these Hanging Glass Butterfly Feeders!

How to Make a Butterfly Mobile

by American Girl Crafts and EK Success Brand

Butterfly Mobile

Materials:

  • Paper  Posies Pad
  • Super Paper Pad
  • Brilliant Butterflies Shiny Stickers
  • Berry Stretchable String
  • Painted Beads
  • Craft Scissors
  • Craft Glue

Directions:

Before you start:

  1. Glue can be messy, so cover your work space with newspaper or scrap paper.
  2. From the Paper Posies Pad, punch out a wide range of small and large butterflies.
  3. Cut 10 to 15 pieces of Stretchable String, each 14 inches long.

Option A:

  1. Punch out a large butterfly from the Paper Posies Pad. Find 2 smaller butterflies from the Brilliant Butterflies Shiny Stickers, which will go on either side of the large butterfly.
  2. Glue the end of a piece of the string between the large butterfly and one of the small butterflies. Press butterflies together.
  3. Stick the other small butterfly onto the opposite side of the large butterfly.

Option B:

  1. Cut out the circle template included with these instructions, and trace onto patterned paper. Cut out two circles.
  2. Glue the end of one piece of string between the 2 circles. Place 2 smaller butterflies from the Brilliant Butterflies Shiny Stickers onto either side.

Option C:

  1. Punch out 2 butterflies that are the same shape from the Paper Posies Pad.
  2. Glue the butterflies back-to-back around the string.

Adding more decoration:

  1. Tie a double knot 2 to 3 inches above a hanging butterfly. String a Painted Bead so that it slides down and rests above the knot.
  2. Glue 2 more butterflies back-to-back, above or below the bead. Remember, making each string of butterflies different is what makes your mobile fun!
  3. Hang about 10 to 15 butterflies on strings. When these are completed, tie the top ends of the strings to the embroidery hoop, spacing them evenly apart. Tie the strings so that the butterflies hang at different lengths.
  4. Have an adult help you figure out how high to hang your mobile. Cut 3 more pieces of Stretchable String, about 15 inches long, depending on where you want your mobile to hang. Tie the ends of these strings around the embroidery hoop.
  5. To hide the strings, glue small butterflies from the Paper Posies Pad around the edge of the embroidery hoop. If you like, stick an adhesive foam square on the back of a few to make them pop. Gently bend their wings up to make them look as though they are flying.
  6. Tie the 3 plain, hanging strings together in a knot above the embroidery hoop. String a couple of Painted Beads above the knot.

There you have it! A lovely butterfly mobile to decorate your bedroom, classroom, garden and more!

Click here to see today’s Giveaway and enter!

Summer Camp Week: Crafts and Giveaways from AllFreeKidsCrafts

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Summer Camp Week: Camp Crafts and Giveaways from AllFreeKidsCrafts

Click here to see today’s Giveaway and enter!

Attention campers! This coming week at AllFreeKidsCrafts, we’ll be making some great summer camp crafts for kids and hosting a special giveaway! We will give away a different kids craft prize every single day, from Monday, July 16th, to Friday, July 20th! Enter every day for your chance to win fantastic camp craft prizes from AmericanGirl, Perler and more!

That’s right! At AllFreeKidsCrafts, we are so excited about Summer Camp Week that we’re hosting a week-long camp craft extravaganza to celebrate! Every day this week, we will be featuring some great summer camp craft tutorials for kids of all ages, and each post will include a kids’ craft giveaway! Our prizes this week are great crafts for preteens and kids to make at summer camp.

Summer Camp Week

We are giving away a prize a day every day this week here on FaveCraftsBlog.com for Summer Camp Week from AllFreeKidsCrafts. It is so easy to enter. Monday through Friday, just go to our daily Summer Camp Week post and comment to enter! You have 5 chances to win and a new special prize each day.

Even if your kids aren’t old enough to go away to summer camp yet, preschool- and kindergarten-age children will love the prizes in this fantastic, week-long giveaway!

Our motto for crafting is “Explore, Imagine, Create,” so we’ll feature crafts that all kids will love, no matter their interests. You’ll find crafts for sleepaway camp, scout camp, sports camp and more every day of the week, with a giveaway to match!

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to win great kids craft prizes for summer camp! Keep up with all of our festivities this coming week by clicking the links below!

Click here to see today’s Giveaway and enter!

Crochet

Jewelry

Knitting

Paper

Sewing

Thrifty