It’s another pandemic winter and we’re stuck at home again for what has seemed like an eternity. If you’re like me, by now you’ve made all the cookies, played all the board games, read all the books and watched all the movies, done all the things.
Finding last minute activities to distract the kids is something we’ve all generally had enough of. If the thought of trying to stick things together with glue and tape is making you scream, I totally get it! However, if you’re thirsty for more (to quote Kevin McCallister), here are five low cost craft supplies and versatile items that will keep little minds and hands engaged for the rest of the winter and beyond.
Most of these items can be found at Dollar Tree, or in your recycling bin. I like to keep a big box of “clean recycling” (that’s nothing with sticky food remnants or sharp edges) for when the kids suddenly get the urge to create a bed for a stuffed animal or tell me they need a tissue box for a school project.
Once you have these items in your possession, you can google or use Pinterest (see my bonus tip on using Pinterest at the end of this post!) to search for craft projects. You will be surprised by the variety of seasonal and themed craft options for a variety of ages and abilities that exist for even just one of them.
Five Low Cost Craft Supplies
1. Paper Plates
Plain white paper plates are your new best friend. From rainbows to rocking boats, snails to snowmen, paper plates can be crafted into all kinds of animals and objects. Older kids can use them to draw a self-portrait or make a dream catcher to hang in their room. A seasonally inspired wreath? Start with a paper plate! If your child is really enjoying a book with a certain animal in it, they’re going to love it when you show them how to make it out of a paper plate. If not a paper plate, then certainly this next item…
2. Cardboard Rolls
Ah, the versatile cardboard toilet or paper towel roll! During the pandemic we have made cardboard rolls into everything- penguins, parrots, mummies, owls, polar bears, and love bugs to name a few. If you’re feeling really ambitious or for older kids, you can even try building a structure with them. The real bang for your cardboard roll buck is that the kids often want to play with them afterwards too. Move over plastic toys, cardboard penguin is here to stay (don’t worry you can always accidentally lose some when they start taking over your home.) All out of googly eyes and pompoms? No problem! Eyes and noses can always be drawn on, and feathers can be cut out of paper (see next item!).
3. Paper
It sounds obvious, but paper in its many forms really is your foundational crafting supply. It’s right up there with the cardboard box, but it takes up less space and is way more adaptable. Plain white, doodle roll, tissue paper, colored sugar paper, magazines, brown mailing paper and newspaper- whatever you have lying around your home can be used for collages, paper planes, mood boards and origami. To up your crafting game even further, buy a pack of brown paper bags for endless puppet possibilities.
4. Coffee Filter Papers
These bad boys are one of my faves- I never knew something so simple could be used for so many beautiful craft projects (think sun catchers, flowers, snowflakes or even an entire solar system!). They are also an item that often involves stages so you can make the activity last longer. Give your kids a filter paper to color and then a spray bottle of water to squirt so they can watch as the colors spread over the paper. Once it’s dry you can transform into your chosen craft.
5. Pipe cleaners
There are loads of tutorials online showing you how to twist pipe cleaners into rings, pencil toppers, crowns and hanging decorations. Sometimes the twisting can be tricky for little fingers, but the addition of some beads to thread on for decoration can give smaller kids something to do. Pair them with your coffee filters and you’ve got a whole new range of options.
BONUS TIP: I’ve found that Pinterest fails can be avoided by asking myself three questions before embarking on a project:
1) Does it use the most basic craft supplies? I’ll stretch to a hot glue gun, but I’m not getting out cans of spray paint. You gotta know your limits.
2) Is it immediately obvious just from looking at the picture how this craft project is made? If I have to read instructions while also supervising three kids of varying ages with paints, forget it.
3) Can my kids actually be involved in doing this? They don’t have to be able to do it all, but the best crafts are ones that involve a healthy helping of time when the kids will be engaged doing something by themselves, am I right?!
These low cost craft supplies are easy to get, and great to have on hand! Happy crafting, and I wish you many moments of cardboard roll and paper plate induced peace.
