Spring Break is finally here and if you don’t have any significant vacations planned over the break and are looking for some crafty things to do with the kids, we’ve got a few ideas for you!

DIY KiteDIY for the Family: If you’re bummed about the second cancelation yesterday for the Zilker Park Kite Festival and still want to get you’r kite flying on, we’ve got an easy and fun way to partake in the kite festivities. Last year April showed us how to make a kite and since it’s been a year, we think it’s time to bring it back. Here are the instructions per April from her 2013 DIY Kite blog.

DIY Kite

What You Need:

  • Large Sheet of Paper
  • Twine or Kite String
  • Strong Tape and/or Craft Glue
  • Two 5/16″ Dowel Rods (one 24″ and one 36″ in length)
  • Ribbon (for the tail)
  • Paints, Markers, Crayons (to decorate the kite)

What You Do:

  • Parents only: Using a small saw or serrated knife, cut notches into each end of both dowels for the twine to slide through.
  • Tie the dowels together with the twine, with the shorter dowel above the halfway point of the longer dowel (see photo).
  • Pull the twine around each dowel end, making sure to slip it into each of the notches. This will create the outline of your kite.
  • Cut your paper a little larger than the kite outline.
  • Decorate the kite using the paints, markers or crayons. I used watercolor because I thought it would be nice against the sun.
  • Fold the edges of the kite over the twine outline and secure with tape or glue, making sure not to pull it too tight (the paper should be a little loose to allow the air to catch in the middle).
  • Reinforce the top and bottom corners of the kite with tape. Poke two holes in each end for the string to go through.
  • Tie a length of string from top to bottom, and then attach your flying string about a third of the way from the top.
  • Use the ribbon to create a tail and attach it to the end of your kite with tape or glue. Make the tail fairly long to add weight. This is what helps the kite fly. My tail was about 7 feet of thick ribbon. (I don’t recommend glitter ribbon unless you like having glitter carpets, glitter furniture, glitter babies, etc…)
  • Go fly your kite!

***I obviously tried my best to recreate April’s DIY kite. She assured me it was super easy. Well, this is how our phalanges ended up. Clearly we need a knife safety course***

DIY Kite

DIY for the Girls in Your Life: I came across some super cute DIY coasters made from Mardi Gras beads and thought it was a great idea and a way to get your little girl’s creativity flowing… upside, you also get some super cute coasters out of the equation too! I used my niece Saylor’s assistance with this craft.

DIY Coasters from Mardi Gras Beads

What You Need:

  • Circlular Cork Board- Purchased from Home Depot for $1.19
  • Mardi Gras Beads- Free if you partook in any Mardi Gras festivities…if not you can get beads pretty inexpensive from Michael’s or Hobby Lobby.
  • Craft Glue

What You Do:

  • Cut one section of your Mardi Gras beads so that you have a single strand.
    Start wrapping and gluing from the outside of the cork working your way to the inside. Tada!

DIY for the Boys in Your Life: As a mom to two boys I know how difficult it is to get them to sit down and do anything! My sister came across a cute idea to make art out of wire. Not only does this work on your child’s fine motor skills, but it also gives them an outlet to be creative in a manly way! Don’t get me wrong though, the little gals in your life can do this too… really it’s for any age or gender! Speaking of no age restrictions… my husband created the Longhorn and state of Texas WITHOUT me begging.

DIY Wire Art

What You Need/What You Do:

  • Wire: Make sure you get a thicker more durable wire
  • Needle Nose Pliers: Surely you’ve got some of these in the tool box somewhere
  • What You Do:
  • You literally let your tyke sit down and start bending and twisting until their creative heart desires.
  • They get to use the plyers, which will make your kiddo feel super cool playing in daddy’s tools
  • Older kids can get fancy and make an airplane or castle
  • Younger kids can make more simple shapes like circles and squares

What are you planning on doing with the little’s over Spring Break?

 

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