Leap Into Art

Crafts

Older posts from when this site was mostly a blog about crafts and projects. Kept around because some of them are still useful, and because nothing on the internet should disappear just because it got old.

Candy Cane Playdough

A homemade peppermint playdough recipe with red and white batches layered in mason jars and finished with printable tags for an easy kids' gift.

Cute More Than Creepy Halloween Suckers

Turn round suckers into cute spider, bat, and ghost treats using chenille stems, construction paper, and a napkin, plus printable tags for party favors.

Eat Green for St. Patrick's Day

Ideas for an all-green St. Patrick's Day meal — shamrock pancakes, green eggs and ham, color-changing milk, dyed bread — plus leprechaun tricks and traps.

Eggshell Mosaics

Make a mosaic by gluing pieces of dyed eggshell onto dark cardstock, using color and shading to fill in a simple sketched picture.

Gingerbread Houses

The family builds and decorates Christmas gingerbread houses with candy, frosting trees, and creative roofs, with photos of each one.

Halloween Votives

Decoupage tissue paper onto glass jars or votive holders with Mod Podge to make glowing pumpkin luminaries for Halloween decor.

Happy Birthday Picasso!

Explore Picasso and Cubism with a kids project: draw a still life or portraits, cut them up, and rearrange the pieces into your own Cubist collage paintings.

Homemade Hot Chocolate and Marshmallows

Make homemade hot chocolate mix and fluffy marshmallows from scratch for a decadent edible gift to share with friends.

Initial Door Hanger

Make decorative door hangers featuring a friend's initials or a cute phrase, a homemade Christmas gift with the tutorial over at Today's Mama.

Jams and Jellies in Handpainted Jars

Make homemade jam or jelly, such as apricot jalapeno, then hand-paint the jars with your kids for an easy edible Christmas gift.

Make Felt Christmas Stockings

Sew quick, easy felt Christmas stockings in any size, then stuff them with candy as simple handmade gifts for kids to give to friends.

Make Your Own Felt Stockings

Cut and glue felt Christmas stockings from a quarter yard of felt, then decorate with scalloped trim, rolled felt roses, and yarn trees.

Mosaic Ornaments & Votives

Make mosaic ornaments and votives by layering tissue paper onto glass candle holders or jars for glowing, gift-worthy holiday decorations.

Oktoberfest Fun

Make a folded felt or construction-paper Edelweiss hat with a feather and flower to wear for an Oktoberfest party at home.

Playdough

A homemade play dough recipe using pantry staples like flour, salt, and cream of tartar, with optional food coloring and extract for scent and color.

Popsicle Stick Dolls

Make popsicle stick dolls by wrapping yarn for heads, hair, and clothes, then adding bead eyes, pompoms, and flowers to give each figure personality.

Quick 4th of July Wreath

Wrap a styrofoam wreath form with white and navy cotton strips, then add twisted red fabric flowers for a fast, no-sew 4th of July wreath.

Ruffle Cupcakes-2 Ways

Pipe buttercream ruffles onto cakes and cupcakes, with a from-scratch buttercream recipe and tips on how frosting consistency changes the look.

Thanksgiving Centerpieces

Ideas for inexpensive Thanksgiving table centerpieces, plus a paper turkey place-holder tutorial kids can help make.