As a parent, winter is a hard time, especially when you have younger children who aren’t in regular school yet. You can’t go outside as often as you (or your kids) might like, and you might not be sure of what to do all day.
It can be tempting to park the kiddos in front of the TV or banish them to their bedroom to play. But why not make it an opportunity to not only spend time together but also get some fun, simple and affordable crafts done?
For inspiration, here are five funny craft ideas that will keep you and your kids busy through the winter season – or just on a rainy day!
1. Toy Chair
Looking at this chair, I can’t decide whether it would be comfortable. I guess it would depend on what toys you chose to use and how soft they all were – not to mention the stability of the chair based on where you put each one on the frame. I would keep the smaller and firmer toys on the base to stabilize the shape and then the larger and softer ones on top to make it more comfortable to sit. Either way, it is a really cute idea, and you don’t have to use all of the same kind of toy to do it. I actually think it might look better with a good mix and some more color. Or, you could just attach the toys to the cushions of an actual chair, which might work even better.
2. Marshmallow Babies
These are adorable and a ton of fun for small kids. You can make faces on marshmallows using icing, thin paint brushes and food coloring. What makes these great is that they can then be used to eat in hot cocoa or just as a way of providing a fun, sweet snack for a birthday party. Whatever the case, you will have a blast coming up with silly faces to paint on them.
3. Egg Faces
Another fun way to make faces with your kids, this is a great one for Easter. Instead of the traditional painted eggs, why not make some egg buddies to hide around the garden? The protective surface means you can use almost any kind of paint or marker for the job, and you can make it a contest to see who comes up with the funniest idea. Why just dye eggs when you can make them into little people?
4. Vegetable Faces
This isn’t the most productive of items, but they’re cute and can be cooked afterward. This blogger took an eggplant and a few items around the house and crafted a centerpiece shaped like an amusing face. If you aren’t a fan of eggplant (or just don’t want to spend that much money if you don’t grow your own), then there are plenty of other veggies it will work on. Think potatoes, squash or pumpkins if they are in season. Whatever you use, there is no way you won’t be smiling when you see these fellas in your home.
5. Painted Peanuts
Peanuts still in the shell are cheap, which is why this is such an awesome idea for decorations on a budget. This blog post shows how to make Christmas-themed painted peanuts on yarn. However, you could do it for any holiday or purpose. Peanuts stay good for ages, as long as they are kept dry, so you don’t have to worry about them rotting, either. But I would suggest getting unsalted peanuts, as salted might affect the paint you use and can also start to smell after a time.
Conclusion
These are five adorable, funny ideas that are age appropriate and easy to do with items you probably have laying around. Just imagine how simple it would be to pass a cold afternoon inside with one of these projects out on your kitchen table.
What are some of your crafty ideas? Let us know in the comments.
Anna is the self-improvement blogger writing on a wide variety of topics. You can follow me on Twitter as @manifestcon
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