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I love coming up with the perfect gift for everyone on my list. I put a lot of care into making sure the gifts are personal and thoughtful no matter the size. But for some reason, I have no patience for wrapping the gifts! Lucky for me, I came across a simple idea to make little gifts extra special, and best of all, I already had all the materials (and I bet you do too)! Yes - old toilet paper rolls can make for a perfect little gift. Give your wrapping paper and boxes a break, grab some recycled tubes and some ribbon and get wrapping.Looking for more ways to help your little one create handmade gifts? <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/animal-bath-bombs-project-kit/2784" target="_self">Animal Bath Bombs</a> from the <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/store" target="_self">KiwiCo Store</a> are the perfect way for your little crafter to dip their toes into bubbly bathtime chemistry!

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Carefully bend in the ends to create half-moon-shaped flaps.

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Open one end of the tube, slip in your gift, and fold it back up again. Decorate it with some festive ribbon or crepe paper to finish your mini gift box. It's the perfect size for small presents or stocking stuffers!

toilet paper tubes

Scissors

ribbon

Gift Boxes from Cardboard Rolls

ornaments

Christmas tree

indoor project

winter

winter crafts

homemade craft

useful craft project

science project

art-science projects

We have favorite crystal ornaments, and these are it! No waiting for weeks for these crystals to form...using borax instead of salt or sugar will give us completed ornaments in one day! Borax (sodium tetraborate) is a naturally-occurring mineral salt commonly used as a laundry booster or cleaner. As with any other cleaning product, it should be kept away from children not under direct supervision of an adult. Do not allow children to ingest Borax. If consumed, contact a poison control center immediately. Wash hands after play, as prolonged skin exposure may cause irritation.Looking for more crafts to decorate for the holidays? Create awesome decorations and have hands-on fun with a <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/rainbow-air-dry-clay-project-kit/5612" target="_self">Rainbow Air Dry Clay</a> set from the <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/store" target="_self">KiwiCo Store!</a>

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There are lots of different recipes for growing borax crystals, but we've done this lots over the years, and you don't need nearly as much as some recipes say!
Three tablespoons of borax per cup of water does it just fine. (For simple measuring, remember that 16 Tbs is equal to 1 cup.)

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For a precise water amount, you could put water in your jars, then pour it into a measuring cup to measure exactly how much you'll need, but I just guessed 12 cups for three jars.  (Actually, I underestimated, and we had to go back and make two more cups, but easily done!)  We heated up the water.  We boiled it, but that isn't strictly necessary, as long as it's very hot--hot enough to dissolve the borax.  

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We stir, stir, stirred.... and then got the snowflakes ready.  (Over the years, we've done icicles, pink hearts...lots of different shapes!)  This time Madeleine had a brilliant idea for a candy cane!

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When they were shaped the way the children wanted -leaving one end very tall to reach well over the top of the glass- they wrapped the top (longer piece) around a pencil.  There are two more steps here: Make sure that your creation is narrow enough to fit through the mouth of your jar (it can be tilted, and "worked" out), and put your shape inside the jar and make sure it is hanging freely, and not resting at the bottom.  Some of the borax will settle to the bottom of the jar, and you don't want your snowflake stuck to the crystals forming there.

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After checking that everything was just right, the kids were ready to stir again and then pour in the solution!

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We made sure the designs were hanging freely (not stuck to the bottom or sides), and filled them up the jars. 

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Next, we moved the jars to a shelf where they could sit for several hours. (Where we kept a close eye on them!)
After a couple of hours, as the water cooled, we could see the crystals forming.  While salt and sugar form cube-shaped crystals, borax forms six-sided structures.  We like to leave them in for a whole day.  You could try for longer!

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The science behind it all:  The hot water holds more borax than cold, because heated molecules move further apart from each other, leaving room for the borax crystals.  As the solution cools, the water molecules move closer together again.  Now there's less room, and the crystals begin to form and build on one another.
Snowflakes in the wintertime are formed in the same way!

borax

water

pipe cleaners

jar / glass jar / mason jar (wide-mouth)

pot (for heating water)

Borax Ornaments

handmade cards

art project

Learn how to make a pull-tab card for a special someone or occasion using sticky foam squares. If you have extra sticky foam squares from old KiwiCo crates, use them for this project!Looking for the perfect gift for young crafters? The <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/craft-carry-supply-station/5699" target="_self">Craft and Carry Supply Station</a> from the <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/store" target="_self">KiwiCo Store</a> contains over 1,000 craft-ready pieces safely tucked away in a snap-together storage box!

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Cut an 8-inch by 6-inch piece of cardstock. Then, fold it in half lengthwise. This will be your card. 

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Cut a hole in the front of your card. This hole can be any shape you choose. We made a small circle. 

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Cut out a slightly larger version of the shape you made in the previous step. We made a large circle.

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Now, cut out the shape you want to “appear” when you pull on the tab. We made a small square. 

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Cut out a strip of paper as wide as your shape from step 5 and about 5-inches long. Then, glue the shape from step 5 to the top of it. This will be your pull tab.

To make your pull tab blend in, make this the same color as the shape from step 4. 

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Put it all together! Open up the card so that the inside is facing up. Then, place the pull tab in the center of the hole on the card. 

Make sure the pull tab is upside down, meaning that the shape is facing away from you. 

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Remove one side of backing on the sticky foam squares and place them along either side of the pull tab. Then, place some sticky foam squares around the outside of the hole.

The pull tab should only move up and down or right to left. 

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Leave the pull tab in place. Remove the other backing on the sticky foam squares. Then, stick the large circle down onto the sticky foam to cover up the hole on the front of the card. 

If any of your sticky foam squares are sticking out, just stick the backing back on them! 

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Close the card and flip it over! You’ve just made a pull-tab card! Now try pulling on the tab hanging out at the bottom! 

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What else you can make using this technique?

cardstock

Ruler

pencil

Sticky Foam

Glue

Pull Tab Card

easy craft

This is a darling handmade ornament that your child will love making and would make a perfect gift for Grandma and Grandpa!Want to explore more hands-on crafts without the hassle of gathering materials? Roll and stamp your way to early math exploration through kid-friendly kitchen play with a <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/pasta-making-and-shapes-project-kit/4576" target="_self">Fun Dough Pasta Maker</a> from the <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/store" target="_self">KiwiCo Store</a>!

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First mix your flour, salt, and water together. Then knead really well until smooth. If it is too wet or sticky add more flour. 

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Then divide the dough into 2-4 pieces, depending on how many plaques you want to make. Just make sure they are big enough to accommodate the child's foot. Squish them into round plaques about 1/2 inch thick.

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.Now have your child make a foot or hand imprint. If it is not perfect, you can reshape the dough and try again! 

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Then using a pencil I made a hole on the top so that ribbon can go through to hang it as an ornament. Place the plaques on parchment paper and bake in the oven for 3 hours on low heat around 200 degrees F. You may need to adjust the time based on the thickness of your plaque. 

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Once cooled. Use acrylic paint color of your choice and have your child paint them. You can also add glitter if you want. 

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Just loop ribbon through the hole if you want to hang it on the tree!

salt (1 cup)

flour (1 cup)

warm water (1/2 cup)

parchment paper

paint

Footprint Ornaments

snow

tree

I love the idea of real DIY snow globes, but the potential for the water causing a serious mess has always kept me from trying it. These waterless mason jar snow globes are a low-mess solution, and are quick and easy to make. I created these as little gifts for friends, but a grouping of these in different sizes would make a beautiful display in a window or on a mantel.Want to explore more hands-on crafts without the hassle of gathering materials? Learn about chemistry and design out-of-this-world bath bombs with <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/planet-bath-bombs/3702" target="_self">Planet Bath Bombs</a> from the <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/store" target="_self">KiwiCo Store</a>!

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Gather your materials. Just make sure your trees are small enough to fit into the jars!

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Unscrew the lid from the mason jar and set it upside down on the table. Hot glue the bottle-brush tree to the center of the lid.

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Pour a little bit of the artificial snow into the mason jar. You don’t need a lot, just enough to cover the tree nicely. When the glue is totally dry, screw the lid back onto the jar.

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Add a ribbon for embellishment if you’d like.

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Turn the jar upside down, and you’ve got a snow globe! Create several in different sizes for a Christmas display that will last for years.

hot glue gun

bottle-brush tree

mason jar with lid

artificial snow

ribbon or twine (optional)

Snow Globes

Mother’s Day gifts

Father's Day gifts

birthday party crafts

arts & crafts

Add some pizazz to your greeting cards with clay confetti! In just a few simple steps, you can take your cards to the next level.

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Need clay confetti? Order some from<a href="https://www.kiwico.com/us/store/cp/supplies" target="_blank"> the KiwiCo store</a>&nbsp;today!

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Cut out an 8”x4” rectangle of card stock. Fold in half, then unfold flat.

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Draw your design on the right half of the card.

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Cut out the windows in the front of your card with a craft knife. Save any “islands,” like the middle of an O or Q.

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Cut out a transparency that is large enough to cover your window, but small enough to tape onto half of the card. Repeat so you have 2 matching transparencies.

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Tape one transparency onto the back of the front of the card.

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Put the confetti over the transparency, add a second sheet of transparency on top, and tape to seal.

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(Optional) Put a solid piece of paper on the inside of the card to hide the tape.

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Clay Confetti Set

Cardstock or Construction Paper

Clear Acetate Sheets

Craft Knife

Clear Tape

Pens or Pencils

Glue Stick

Confetti Cards

<h2>All That Glitters</h2>It's time to bask in the welcoming sparkle the holidays bring with a craft project that really shines--on your tree! Dust off the glitter stash! Golden memories are coming up next.It's OrnamentalBelow are some pivotal ingredient instructives you can use to make your Christmas tree show the best in glam!<ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: left;">Make sure you recruit your top-notch creative crafter.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Have plenty of plastic or glass ornament globes on hand.</li><li style="text-align: left;">Get some small paper cups and cleaning solution (rubbing alcohol works well)&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align: left;">Stock up and retrieve some floor finish or floor wax.</li></ul>Select a non-toxic extra fine type of glitter.<h2 style="text-align: left;">Next Stop Glitter Town!</h2><img src="https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt5d966d0d1776691c/blt50ae975377c40a4d/62a90a05682a22504d4e5b50/Copy_of_01_GlitterOrnaments.jpg" height="auto"/>Now you can make winter days a whole lot brighter with some glittery applications! A shower of glitter can make any winter day shine warm and bright with holiday cheer. Here's a simple step-by-step glitter ornament guide to help you and your loved ones have a merry little Christmas this year:

Glitter GatheringGrab your favorite crafting partner, some cleaning solution (vinegar or rubbing alcohol), transparent (clear) ornaments, a bottle of floor finish/cleaner and your favorite color of glitter. Once you've gathered all these materials it's time to create the best DIY glitter ornaments to light up the season!

35 creative handmade christmas gifts cards projects for kids

Screen-free fun!