Cardboard Craft Ideas For Kids

Make great use of your spare cardboard and keep the kids entertained these holidays with our list of amazing easy cardboard crafts for kids. Check out our list below, and don’t forget to share it with your friends! 

1. Toilet Roll Animals

There are so many toilet roll crafts out there, we just love these cute animals! You can use paint, paper and googly-eyes to add details to this once you get the shape right. 

2. Shoebox Foosball

If you’re after easy crafts for kids, this shoebox foosball table is perfect and will keep the kids entertained for hours! Simply paint the tips of the pegs and clip them to some wooden skewers. Make sure to cut off or cover any sharp edges for younger children.

3. Cereal Box Aquarium 

This adorable cereal box diorama is super fun to make and looks wonderful. Glue the box lid shut and cut a window out in the front, then let the little ones decorate as much as they want!

4. Wrapping Paper Roll Swords

Re-use your leftover wrapping paper rolls to make these super simple toy swords. If your kids love to paint or draw they can have lots of fun decorating these swords before playtime!

5. Egg Carton Critters

Egg carton crafts are a favourite in our household! Re-use your old egg cartons with some pipe cleaners, paint and googly eyes to create these cute crawling critters. This one is perfect for anyone whose little ones are obsessed with bugs at the moment!

6. DIY Cubby House

This DIY cubby house is perfect if you have any large boxes left over from the holiday period or from recent purchases. You may have to build the house, but your little one will love decorating and playing in it.

7. Cardboard Marble Maze

This marble maze for kids will keep your little ones entertained for hours as they try and guide their marble through the obstacles. You can use two stacked box lids for the base and add popsicle sticks with glue for the maze walls. Don’t forget to add marble sized holes to make it even trickier! 

8. Shoe Box Dollhouse

Is your little one looking for fun things to do at home? They will love creating a bedroom for their favourite doll or action figure. You can use a shoe box for the walls, thick wool for the carpet and sponges for the bedding and furniture. If you’ve got enough shoe boxes you could create a whole house! 

9. Cardboard Marble Run

Have a ball making your own DIY marble run. It’s a great recycled craft idea to make use out of any spare box lids you might have laying around, and you can customise the obstacles to be as simple or as complicated as you like.

10. Milk Carton Houses

We couldn’t put together a list of crafts for kids without these adorable milk carton houses! They’re super easy to make, and if you have quite a few of them you could even make a town! Simply make sure the carton is clean and dry before you glue it shut, add paint and use markers for the details.

Were these cardboard crafts for kids a hit? Don’t forget to check out our list of 100+ Crafts For Kids At Home for hours of art and craft ideas for kids!

Kids Educational Resources

If you’re looking for educational activities for your kids, make sure you check out our amazing range of educational products! Personalised with your little one’s name and printed to order, they’re sure to be a hit. 

The post 10 Easy Cardboard Crafts for Kids appeared first on Bright Star Kids.

10 Styles To DIY Kids Clothes: Upcycling Clothes Ideas

Upcycling clothes is an awesome way to refashion your kids’ old clothes into new styles! Kids grow up so fast and before you know it, you’ve got a ton of clothes they’ve outgrown.

Here’s one super simple idea from Susan of BrightStar Kids: 

“What do you do when your kid grows too tall for their tracksuit pants? Cut them into shorts. No hemming required, super simple for anyone to do.” 

We’ve got more cute and cool upcycling clothes ideas that will make use of their old clothes and even yours into something they can wear too. Awesome, right? Not only do you get to save up on money, but you’ve also saved up on wardrobe space! 

1. Harem Shake

Turn a tank top into harem pants is just one of the styles you can make when you upcycle old clothes. 

2. Tiers Of Joy

Don’t worry if they’re starting to outgrow the length of their shirts! Here’s one of those ways to upcycle their clothes. You can make use of their old ones or even grab some of your old shirts and turn them into a shirt dress!

3. No Sweat!

Got an old sweater that some of your older kids may have outgrown? You can make these toddler pants out of them as one of those cute upcycled clothes for the little ones.

4. Flip It

Does your little one love skirts? Making a reversible skirt is super practical and easy! It’s one of those DIY upcycled clothing ideas that are definitely super handy.

5. Sleeping Beauty

If you’ve got a lot of extra shirts at home that you no longer wear, turn them into cute nightgowns. A perfect example of how to upcycle clothes that’s super easy to make! 

6. Daddy’s Girl

Does Daddy have a lot of old office shirts that he no longer needs? Making them into super cute dresses is a great DIY project on how to upcycle old clothes.

7. Two in One

Got any more extra Dad long sleeve shirts? Your kids can share them if you turn them into 2 separate pants! With this practical tip, it’s always good to upcycle your clothes and make them more useful by creating something new and purposeful. 

8. Wave Got It

Don’t think that it’s only shirts and pants that you can refashion! Your old swimsuits and swim shorts can be handed down to your little ones too by just doing a bit of sewing. Tada! Isn’t it easy to upcycle your clothes?

9. Quirky Skirt

Wondering what to do with that extra fabric from all your upcycled childrens clothes? Cut them into strips and make this super cute tutu skirt! 

10. Cutting Edge

When your kids have gotten taller and their denim pants just got shorter, this is a cute and clever way to Upcycle Kids Clothes. Cut them into shorts and sew on cute printed fabric on the hem to make them super stylish!

Want More DIY Upcycling Clothes Projects?

If you and your kids love dressing up and making DIY Kids clothes, we’ve got some Cute And Easy Halloween Costumes you can make. Have them wear the stylish clothes you made for Amazing Kids Photobooth Ideas too!

Looking For Labels For Your Kids Clothes and Shoes?

You’re going to love our range of cute clothing labels you can use to personalise their clothing! We’ve even got super cute shoe labels too! Say goodbye to mix-ups! The best part? These are made for you in Australia and shipped super fast! You’re going to love them! 

The post Upcycling Clothes: 10 DIY Upcycle Clothing Ideas appeared first on Bright Star Kids.

Halloween is such a fun time of year, though organising a costume can be a little time-consuming and often really costly! Here’s our handy list of easy kid’s halloween costumes that you can make at home that wont break the bank while still looking amazing.

1) Carl From Disney’s UP

Bright ‘Up’ everyone’s Halloween this year with this adorable old man Carl costume! All you need are some helium balloons, fake glasses and a little bow-tie to get the old man look just right. 

The hardest part of this costume would be the little PVC walking frame, though a little cane with a tennis ball on the end would do the trick. 

Bonus if you happen to have a golden retriever as a pet!

2) Baby Nonna

This adorable elderly baby costume is sure to melt everyone’s hearts this Halloween.

Again, the hardest part would be the teensy walking frame, though the costume still looks amazing without it. You can attach large cotton balls to a scarf to get the old woman hair look. Make sure those glasses don’t actually have any lenses in them though!

3) 80’s Aerobic Instructor

Dress your kid in the most fluorescent clothing and headband you can find to make this adorable 80’s Aerobic Instructor costume. Bonus if you have a working boom box so you can pump out 80’s jams as you walk!

4) Clark Kent / Superman

While they may not have super strength, babies sure do make adorable tiny super heroes.

You’ll need to find a shirt with superman’s logo on it in order to make this Clark Kent costume. Optionally, you could print out the logo at home if the budget’s tight. Make sure to knock out the lenses in those fake glasses or have clear ones if your child doesn’t already wear them!

5) Mini Hipster

People are sure to get a good giggle out of this Mini Hipster costume while you trick-or-treat. You’ll need a false tattoo sleeve (or temporary tattoos), fake glasses and a snazzy little vintage outfit to make this one work. Oh, and don’t forget to draw on a terrible moustache!

6) Little Football Star

Go the whole nine yards this halloween with a super cute Little Football Star costume! All you need is a little sports jersey, some face-paint and a football to transform your baby into a tiny sports sensation.

7) Jr. Scuba Diver

As far as simple costumes go, this Jr. Scuba Diver idea is really easy to make and looks amazing!

The base of this outfit is just black long-sleeve clothing with a black beanie paired alongside their snorkelling goggles and flippers. Add two painted soda bottles for the air tanks and you’ve got a cute junior scuba diver costume!

8) Little Lumberjack

This little lumberjack costume only needs a false beard, a fake axe, a flannelette shirt and suspenders to transform your child into a little woodchopping master. This costume would also pair well with a little red riding hood costume if you want to have fairytale themed sibling costumes!

9) Crazy Cat Lady 

This crazy cat lady outfit for little girls makes for an absolutely hilarious halloween costume! It does involve a little sewing to attach the stuffed animals to the dressing gown, though you could try using velcro if you’re not fond of sewing. Use hair rollers and slippers to give this costume the perfect look and add an eccentric pair of false glasses if you happen to own any!

10) Ace Ventura – Pet Detective 

Everyone’s favourite goofy pet detective makes an adorable costume for little boys! To make this costume work you’ll need a tutu, a white single, a loud button up shirt and a LOT of hair jell! Your little one might not get the reference, but your neighbours are sure to get a chuckle out of this one.

We hope you’ve enjoyed checking out these adorable easy halloween costumes for kids.

Let us know if you try any out, we’d love to see pictures!

The post Cute & Easy Halloween Costumes for Kids appeared first on Bright Star Kids.

Can’t leave the house? Kids need some entertaining? We’ve got a MEGAAA list of crafts for kids at home. You’ll find over 100 links to some of the easiest, most fun craft ideas for kids & you’ll want to share it. It’s a game-changer!

Here are our Top 10 Faves:

1. 8 Anzac Day Craft and Food Ideas – Honour our service men and women, past and present, with these activities. 
2. Mother’s Day Activity Sheet – Show Mum or Grandma how much you love her by filling out this free printable.
3. 10 Easy Cardboard Crafts for Kids – Art that you can recycle.
4. 18 Shoebox Craft Ideas – Art you can recycle.
5. 11 Weaving Projects For Kids – Improve their fine-motor skills.
6. 17 Paper Plate Craft Ideas – Craft with the stuff you have at home.
7. 17 School Holiday Boredom Busters – Never hear the words “I’m bored” ever again.
8. 22 Egg-cellent Egg Carton Crafts – Cut, Paint, colour, stick… plenty of skills to learn here.
9. 15 Kid-Friendly Origami Crafts – Improve their comprehension & fine-motor skills here.
10. 14 Pokemon Craft & Fun Activities – Craft ideas for kids who are in training to become the next Pokemon Master.

Don’t stop now! Scroll down for our list of 100+ crafts for kids

Crafts For Kids Mega List 

Check out the craft ideas for kids list below & prepare to unleash your kids’ inner artist!

Crafts For Kids – Toddler +

1. Sensory shaker bottle  – Super easy & they’ll play with it for hours.

2. Stained glass window – Let that light shine through.

3. Toddler Dot to Dot – Heaps of free dot-to-dot printables.

4. Toddler Collage – A great activity for toddlers to express themselves through art.

5. Do some sticker art projects – What little one doesn’t love stickers!

6. Free Play Art – Sensory rich art activities.

7. Colour Mixing in a Bag – Hands on approach to learning about colours.

8. DIY shapes book – Great for developing fine motor skills.

9. Make Salt Dough – Fun for the little ones, and a great gift for the grandparents.

10. Finger Paint – Messy, but so much fun! 

11. Handprint Art – Combine learning & fun by making alphabet art.

12. Make a Sensory Bag – Sensory play with food from your cupboards. 

13. Scribble in the Bathtub – Open ended play at bath time. 

14. Make a batch of play doh – So easy, and can be played with again and again. 

15. Do a chalk photo shoot – Cute mementos for family and friends. 

16. Celery Stamp – Perfect for making cards or wrapping paper. 

17. Tandem drawing – Spend some quality time creating together. 

18. Sticky Paper Collage – If your toddler enjoyed making the stained glass window, they’ll love this! 

19. Paint Leaves – Collect leaves from your garden or neighbourhood. 

Crafts For Kids – Kindy + 

20. Shaving Cream Paint – Two ingredients outdoor painting fun.

21. Bark Painting – Collect some bark on your walk to use it as a canvas. 

22. Leaf Threading – A lovely way to engage with nature. 

23. Pasta Jewellery – Wearable art that helps develop fine motor skills. 

24. 3D Paper Rainbows – Colourful 3D art.

25. Family Portrait Painting – Beautiful keepsake to frame.

26. Paper Chains – Decorations for any occasion!

27. Magic Milk Experiment – Science and art in one. 

28. Pressing Flowers – Head out in the sun and pick some flowers. 

29. Stick Gnome Painting – Perfect for planter pots. 

30. Michelangelo drawing under the table – Create your own Sistine Chapel inspired artwork. 

31. Frozen Dinosaur Eggs – Channel your inner archaeologist. 

32. Paper Cut-out Family – 

33. Paper Plate Whale – See if you can make a whole pod.

34. Can you draw or paint with your feet? – paint + feet = a whole lot of fun. 

35. Hand Tracing – Try different hand poses to create different animals. 

36. Tape Resist Paintings – Abstract art, cityscapes, trees – limited only by your imagination. 

37. Window Painting – Perfect for rainy days. 

38. Button Stampers – Makes for unique gift wrap or cards. 

39. Plant Markers for Gardens – For the washi tape fans. 

40. Autumn Wreath – Theme your craft to the season. 

41. DIY Veggie stamps – An exception to the ‘don’t play with your food’ rule. 

42. Glitter Glue Snowflakes – Fans of Frozen will love this! 

43. Salad Spinner Art – Add glitter paint for something extra special. 

44. Marble Painting – Fun and easy, the kids will want to do this one over and over again. 

45. Container Painting – Burn some energy while creating a masterpiece. 

46. String Art – Art & geometry in one. 

47. DIY Heart Stamp – Super cute for Valentine’s Day. 

48. Recyclable Art – Budget-friendly crafts. 

49. Magnet Painting – The perfect blend of art and science. 

50. Fake Snow – Make a beautiful wintery scene, or paint your own Olaf.  

51. Paper Airplanes – Whose will fly the furthest?

52. Suncatchers – Paint your room with colourful light.

53. Sponge Stamps – Painting without too much mess.

54. Cereal Box Aquarium – Pretend field trip anyone?

55. Recycled Crayons – Never throw away your crayons again.

56. Button Art – All the buttons for your cute little buttons.

57. Tissue Box Monsters – Monsters you can recycle later.

58. Toilet Paper Roll Crafts – Super cute & mega easy.

59. Chalk Ice – Get outside & chalk the place up.

60. Scrape Painting – A totally different way to look at painting.

61. Dot Markers Art – Bingo markers have never looked so fun.

62. 3D Art – Sculpted art for kids.

63. Make Stepping Stones – Hop skip & jump with these.

64. Cardboard Box Town – Build your own town & recycle it later.

65. Marble Run – Where the marble goes, nobody knows.

66. Popsicle Stick Catapult – It’s physics & it’s fun.

67. Air Dry Clay Projects  – No-bake clay? Yes, please!

68. Make Greeting Cards – Make them ahead of time & store them for later.

69. Paint Pet Rocks – Pets you can collect.

70. Make a Bird Feeder – Watch your little visitors as they come to eat.

71. Paper Bag Puppets – No-fuss puppets that you can recycle.

72. Watercolour Painting – A favourite because it’s washable.

73. Mason Jar Crafts – Super cute crafts in glass.

74. Aluminium Foil Crafts – From your pantry to the art gallery.

75. Paper Weaving – Build their dexterity with these.

76. Make Wind Chimes – Experiment with sounds & the wind.

Crafts For Kids – Primary +

77. Origami Animals – These are so so cute!

78. God’s Eye Wool Weaving – Perfect for Christmas decorations too!

79. DIY Bubble Blower – You know they’re going to love this.

80. Decorate Paper Crowns – Because we’re all royalty.

81. Paper Snowflakes –  Winter has never looked so beautiful.

82. Pom Poms – Raid Nan’s wool stash for these.

83. Toy Clothing – No-sew Barbie clothes. Yes please!

84. Rainbow Paper– Nail polish, paper & water… That’s it!

85. Infinite Paper Flipper – It’s flippin’ excellent.

86. Melting Crayon Craft– Turn those crayons into a masterpiece.

87. Clone Trooper Paper Dolls – For all of the little storm troopers out there.

88. Cityscape Sponge Art– Paint a whole city in just a few taps of the sponge.

89. Rainbow Prism – Making rainbows at home with just a few items.

90. Mini Beaded Bookmarks – Perfect for their hand-eye coordination.

91. Single Colour Art – Only one paint colour at home? No problem!

92. Shaving Cream Marbled Paper – Now this is easy!

93. Seashell Crafts – Use those seashells you collected on holidays.

94. Homemade Bookmarks – Encourage their reading with a handmade bookmark.

95. Homemade Wrapping Paper – Wrap your gifts in art. 

96. Fabric Pen T-shirts – Get your kids designing their own tees.

97. Spirolaterals Math Art – It’s maths, but it looks so good!

98. Scratch Art – Perfect for kids who like some sensory play.

99. Paper Boats – Whose will float the longest?

100. About Me Scrapbook – It’s all about them & their memories. 

101. Thankful Jar – A reminder of the things they’re grateful for.

102. Cardboard Castle – Fit for little kings & queens.

103. Puffy Sidewalk Paint – Get some sun while you make your art.

104. Kids Embroidery – This idea is so cute & super easy!

105. Mosaic Art – This tile art is super eye-catching.

106. Decorate Shoes – For the fashion designers of the world.

107. Knitting for Kids –  Heaps of knitting activities for all levels.

108. Make Temporary Tattoos –  Temporary tattoos at home? Cool!

109. Superhero Mask Craft  – Unleash your inner super hero here.

110. Tooth Fairy Case – Impress your tooth fairy each visit. 

111. Jar Lanterns – Lights out! These are gorgeous.

112. Natural Dye Experiment – It’s chemistry without chemicals.

113. Learn to Draw – Step by step help drawing all of your favourite things.

114. Draw a Self Portrait – The perfect activity to show them how beautiful they are.

115. Inspirational Quote Poster – Give them the opportunity to say something inspiring. 

116. Sharpie Tie Dye – This is so much fun & it’s easy.

117. Bottle Rocket – Reach for the stars!

118. Make Friendship Bracelets – Best friends forever.

119. DIY Bath Bombs – They’ll bathe for hours in these.

120. Design your own Headbands – Fashion parade anyone?

121. Butcher Paper Body Tracing – Life-size models of themselves. This is fun!

Kids Educational Resources

Don’t forget to check out our incredible educational range that will be printed especially for you and delivered straight to your door. We’re the one-stop shop for personalised school labels, & waterproof name stickers.

The post 100+ Activities & Crafts For Kids at Home appeared first on Bright Star Kids.