Origami Paper and Craft Stick Coasters

 These coasters made from origami paper and craft sticks are great gifts. 

They are easy and inexpensive to make with impressive results. Make a matching set or mix and match patterns and colors. You can use other types of paper, such as scrapbook paper, as well. 

You will need: 

Craft sticks

Tape

Origami paper

Scissors

Mod Podge

Paintbrush

Exacto Knife

Craft Glue

Acrylic Coating/Sealant

Instructions: 

Pipe Cleaner Pig

 Craft a pipe cleaner pig

Little pink pigs are among the cutest pipe cleaner animals. If you are making these with young kids, they will need a little help at first, but will get the hang of it quickly. 

You will need: 

7 pink pipe cleaners

Pencil

Thick marker

Paint brush with thin handle

Fingernail clippers or wire cutters

Googly eyes

Thick craft glue

Instructions:

Tile Tacks

 Use mini tiles and decoupage to make tacks or magnets

I can't stop making these for my bulletin board and white board. They are easy, inexpensive, and fun. Find mini tiles at the home improvement stores in sheets, or use some from a leftover project. Use images from tissue paper, wrapping paper, napkins or thin paper. 

You will need: 

Small tiles

Images from tissue, wrapping paper, 

napkins, or thin paper

Pencil

Scissors

Mod Podge

Paintbrush

Flat tacks or strong magnets

Strong glue

Instructions: 

Simple Stripe Friendship Bracelet

 The Simple Stripe Friendship Bracelet is the perfect beginner bracelet. 

Friendship bracelets are a classic craft. I wrote a book of instructions over twenty years ago, when it was already a classic craft, and it's still popular today. This is the basic beginner stripe bracelet, so if you don't have a lot of experience, start with this one. 

You will need: 

3 colors of embroidery floss

Ruler

Scissors

Clipboard or safety pin

Instructions:

Origami Paper Butterflies

 Craft butterflies from origami paper and pipe cleaners

You can use origami paper for these butterflies, or use other paper cut into squares. I like to hang these in the window with fishing line or glue a magnet on the back to decorate my white board. 

You will need: 

1 piece of origami paper

1 black or brown pipe cleaner

Scissors

Fingernail clippers or wire cutters

Instructions: 

Pipe Cleaner Frog

 Craft a frog (or two) from pipe cleaners

Pipe cleaner frogs have a lot of personality. They look like they can hop away! This project requires a bit of parental help if you are making them with younger kids. 

You will need:

8 green pipe cleaners

1 red pipe cleaner

pencil

thick marker

fingernail clippers or wire cutters

googly eyes

thick craft glue

Instructions:

Pom Pom Yarn Birds

Craft these cute pom pom birds out of yarn

Could these be any cuter? Two-color yarn pom poms are surprisingly easy to make. I like to use cotton yarn for the backs and acrylic yarn for the bellies for the contrast, but you can use whatever yarn you have around. 

You will need: 

Two colors of yarn

Fork

Scissors

Orange felt

Orange pipe cleaner

Googly eyes

Thick craft glue

Instructions: 

 

Decoupage Air-Dry Clay Trinket Bowls

Craft trinket bowls from air-dry clay and decoupage

These little bowls make great gifts, and you don't have to be artistic. Several steps have drying time, so give yourself a few days from start to finish. 

You will need: 

Tissue paper or napkin with images

Air-dry clay

Ladle

Scissors or decorative scissors

Mod Podge

Acrylic paint

Paint brush

Instructions: 

 

Polymer Clay Skunk

 Craft a skunk out of polymer clay

This polymer clay skunk is one of my favorite polymer clay animals. It's relatively simple and the process is fun. This is one of the most popular projects from my book, The Incredible Clay Book. 

You will need: 

Black and white polymer clay

Toothpick

Baking dish (non-metal)

Instructions: 

Tissue Paper Poppies

Craft beautiful tissue paper poppy flowers

It's poppy season here in Northern California. All of the wildflowers are spectacular, but especially the neon orange poppies that grow in waves close to the lakes and in the fields. Since the real ones only last a few weeks, I made these longer-lasting tissue version.

You will need:

Orange and yellow tissue paper

Green pipe cleaners

Pen

Paper or notecard

Scissors

Instructions:

Pipe Cleaner Snakes

 

Craft pipe cleaner snakes with your kids

Most pipe cleaner projects are hard for little kids without finer motor skills, but this is one project they can easily handle with a just a little help. Use lots of colors to make the snakes more fun, and don't worry if they don't look perfect - it's the process that matters most to kids. 

You will need:

One red pipe cleaner

Six pipe cleaners for the body

Pen or pencil

Fingernail clippers

Thick craft glue

Googly eyes

Instructions: