How to Decorate a Bike for a 4th of July Parade

Memorial Day and 4th of July meant one certain thing for us as children: decorating our bikes and riding them in the local parade, or at least just riding them around the neighborhood. This guide will give you a parade-worthy bicycle It's easy and inexpensive. You can easily decorate any bicycle in a patriotic theme with this simply step-by-step guide. How to Decorate a Bike for a 4th of July Parade 

Free Printable Eric Carle Activities from The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Eric Carle is a beloved childrens' illustrator and author of dozens of books about insects and animals. Here are free printable cut and paste crafts, games, activities, lessons, puzzles and coloring pages from Eric Carle's best known book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. In the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a little caterpillar eats his way through different foods each day of the week. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is used in preschool and kindergarten classrooms teach and explore caterpillars and butterflies, sequencing and days of the week.  Free Printable Eric Carle Activities from The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Free Printable Stencils and Patterns for Crafts and Painting

Stenciling is a heritage craft that had it's zenith in Victorian times with the arts and crafts, prairie and revival architecture periods. There are dozens of craft projects that employ stenciling, especially holiday crafts. Here are free printable stencils and patterns for stenciling. Use these stencils for wall border painting, fabric and canvas painting, sewing, quilting, applique, drawing and design.

Trace these stencils onto Mylar plastic or recycle old plastic containers and trace the stencil patterns onto flat surfaces. You can also make sturdy, reusable stencils by tracing patterns on recycled cardboard boxes (flattened cereal boxes work very well). Tape the edges to strengthen them and make the stencils last longer. For links to printables, click here Free Printable Stencils and Patterns for Crafts and Painting 

Free Printable Origami, Kirigami, Pop-up Scissors Craft Patterns, Stencils, Templates

Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding and kirigami is the art of cutting paper to create stand up, pop up or three dimensional figures. Here are free printable origami and kirigami patterns and template for you to cut, fold and create. Family Fun Magazine has free printable origami with patterns and folding lines printed on the paper. There are is a free printable origami frog, fish, turtle, pond scene and origami boat. This link takes you to the free printable frog, with appropriately colored markings to make a bright green origami frog. List along the right side of this Family Fun webpage are links for the other four cut and fold origami projects on the site. For more ideas, click this link: Free Printable Origami, Kirigami and Pop-up Scissors Craft Patterns, Stencils and Templates 

Free Printable Easter Crafts Activities--Color-Your-Own Cards, Games, Puzzles, 3D Crafts

Easter is the highest season in the Christian church and the second largest national holiday in most countries. Easter has taken on a secular side. If you celebrate Easter with eggs, bunnies and Easter baskets here free printable Easter crafts and activities. Here are websites with free printable Easter crafts, greeting cards, Easter party games, Easter cut and fold crafts, Easter baskets, Easter bunny coloring pages, puzzles, mazes, plus a whole lot more. You can print crafts with Easter baskets, Easter eggs, bunnies, baby animals and all the cute Spring and Easter decorations. Read more at Free Printable Easter Crafts and Activities: Color Your Own Cards, Games, Puzzles, 3D Crafts 

Rediscover the Barney bag for green, cheap kids' craft fun

Barney the bouncy purple dinosaur celebrates his 20th anniversary this year. In 1992, PBS adopted the character into the series Barney & Friends. Over the years, the children's show and its outgoing host have gotten mixed reviews; people either love or despise it. I was early in my mom career with a 3-year-old, 2-year-old and infant when the show aired. My children didn't watch much television and when they did, Barney wasn't their first choice. We did pick up one idea that has become a family tradition: the Barney Bag. Looking for green, inexpensive, easy, creative crafts for anywhere-anytime fun? Why not revisit the Barney Bag? Here's a Q-and-A to get started. Read more at Rediscover the Barney bag for green, cheap kids' craft fun - Yahoo! Shine

Lenten Church, Religious Education or Family Devotional Craft

One of the symbols of the Church is the image of a family gathered at table for a meal. We partake of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity or Our Lord as He instructed us. The whole family can relate to the elements of a family meal. From the food to the dishes, vessels and even the tablecloth. We use different table linens to reflect the different seasons in our life. In the summer, we might have a light cloth with images of sun and water and fun. In spring, our table will reflect plants, growing, flowers, etc. At Christmas, the red and green decorates our table. When the table is set, we know that good things will come and we will be nourished.

So many years ago, I decided to make a Lenten tablecloth to focus our thoughts upon the Passion of Christ. It was a family activity that we all could share in and have a part. You can make on just as easily with your family, classroom or religious education class. Read more at Lenten Church, Religious Education or Family Devotional Craft

Free Printable Valentines, Coloring Pages, Cards, Craft Activities

Let's get crafty-cal, crafty-cal! (I know right? Just don't sing the real version!) At Green Crafts we're crafty with a twist: a reduce-renew-reuse-recycle twist. Other than paying for printer ink, these crafts are free. All of them can be printed on any kind of recycled paper you like.

At each holiday I have a few bookmarked websites that I check for free printable crafts, greeting cards, coloring pages and activities. Here are my top favorite free printable valentines crafts websites for Valentine's Day activities. The Toymaker for whimsical, Victorian-inspired Valentine's Day crafts, you can't beat Marilyn's collection at The Toymaker. I've linked you to the Holidays - Valentine's Day page, but be sure to check out all the free printable toys, games, crafts, cut and paste, coloring and novelties at The Toymaker. For Valentine's Day, there are free printable valentine cards, treat boxes, a cute elephant valentine holder, valentine ornaments, treat boxes, a Celtic Valentine's Day treat box, a pixie box, door hangers, party decorations and more. Perfect for preschoolers, homeschoolers, classroom crafts and nursing home craft projects. Let's not forget our senior friends; they love crafts. Read more at Free Printable Valentines, Coloring Pages, Cards, Craft Activities

Free Printable Eric Carle Activities from The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Free Printable Eric Carle Activities from The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eric Carle is a beloved childrens' illustrator and author of dozens of books about insects and animals. Here are free printable cut and paste crafts, games, activities, lessons, puzzles and coloring pages from Eric Carle's best known book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. In the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a little caterpillar eats his way through different foods each day of the week. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is used in preschool and kindergarten classrooms teach and explore caterpillars and butterflies, sequencing and days of the week. Read more...

Free Printable Kung Fu Panda, Asia Crafts for Chinese New Year

Free Printable Kung Fu Panda, Asia Crafts for Chinese New Year Teaching a unit on Asia, African-American, North American, Latino or Celtic culture? Need some great free printable craft projects from these ethnic groups? Hewlett-Packard has many free crafts projects. These free printable craft activities make great projects for homeschoolers and teachers. Use these free printables for your next social studies, world history, literature or geography unit. Parents and families: need a project for your child to complete for a school project? Check these out. Free printable projects like these make excellent activities for special needs students also. Read on...