Question: My kids love to use the craft foam to make things, and as it is getting closer to summer, I want to find more ideas to help keep them busy. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Lacey, ND

Answer: Lacey, there are many of these projects that you can purchase online or at your local craft store, but here are the instructions for one that's lots of fun for all ages.

One that I have come across that will keep the kids engaged for a while or can be split into two different activity times, is the foam glasses case. It's interesting and fun for all. This glass case can be used, given as a gift, or converted into a necklace purse.

To make the glasses case, you will need the following simple materials: a square of craft foam, plastic or large blunt needles, lanyard lace or thick yarn. Cut two rectangles from the foam, each 3-1/2 inches (9 cm.) by 6 inches (15 cm.). With a hole punch, make holes on three sides of each rectangle, leaving one short side unpunched. Make the holes 1/2 inch apart and allow at least 1/4 inch between the hole and the edge of the craft foam. The holes need to line up so that the two pieces can be laced together. If you are preparing the craft for small children, you should make the holes yourself. Otherwise, the crafters can do this step if you have enough pairs of hole punches.

At this point the crafters can cut decorative shapes from other colors of craft foam, or you can buy sets of ready-cut foam shapes. If you are doing the craft at a special event, like vacation Bible school, choose shapes that echo the theme of the event. For instance, if the Bible school or camp has a cowboy theme, find shapes that fit well, such as boots, cowboy hats, and stars. Let the kids choose the shapes they like and glue on as desired. You might also like to provide beads or sequins to glue on as well, especially if the crafters are a little older.

The next step in this arts and crafts idea is to thread the plastic needle with the yarn or lanyard lace. Yarn might be a little easier to handle, but lanyard lace is shiny and attractive. In a pinch, some teachers of small children use a bobby pin as a needle. It is certainly a safe alternative. Simply loop the yarn through the opening and use the open end of the bobby pin as if it were the point of the needle. The children can now begin to lace the front and back of the glasses case together.

To turn this arts and crafts idea into a necklace purse, simply attach a piece of lanyard lace to each corner making a long handle. Kids will enjoy using this case as a place to store secret notes and small objects. If they'd rather, they can give the glasses case to a parent, grandparent, or friend who wears glasses. Either way, this arts and crafts idea will be interesting for all.

My favorite place for crafts is JoAnn.com or your local JoAnns store.

Question: I am looking for crafts that I can do with my children, do you have any websites that you might suggest? MaryAnn R., Hurricane, UT 

Answer:  I have found some great resources for you and your children to do together.  Kids crafts are an ideal way to turn your child’s energy to something creative, as their minds have to be constantly occupied. Kids crafts in which they make pretty wall decorations, paper animals, decorative boxes, give them a sense of self-worth, success and confidence. Crafts for kids are fun anytime of the year whether you happen to be looking for special holiday crafts, seasonal crafts, paper crafts or any kids crafts to do on a relaxing Sunday afternoon. Do not use workbooks instead give clay, sand, and water to children to handle while teaching through kids crafts. Thus, Kids crafts are beautiful ways to not only encourage your child’s creativity and intelligence but also decorate their surroundings. Find Halloween inspired kids crafts, Halloween and spider preschool activities and learning games. Halloween preschool and kindergarten kids crafts and activities. Celebrate the holidays with special recipes, kids crafts, frugal crafts, homemade gifts and more.

Here are some great resources for Fall Kids Crafts:

http://familyfun.go.com/parties/holiday/minisite/halloween-main/

http://www.holidayfamilyfun.com/fall.htm

http://www.create-kids-crafts.com/autumn-crafts.html

http://www.funtomake.com/

http://www.essortment.com/in/Crafts.Kids/index.htm

http://www.theideabox.com/halloween.html

http://www.kidssoup.com/

http://craftynoodle.com/halloween_kids_crafts

Question:  I am a stay at home mom of four children.  I am always looking for ways to entertain my children, but I would like to be able to make something that we can all play with after.  Being summer, I have used up almost all of my good ideas….I thought that I had enough to last the whole summer.  I have gone to several sites like DLTK and Family Fun, but was wondering if you had any other great ideas!  Stephanie H., Dallas, TX

Answer: I have been wondering the same thing, until I saw about about 2 minutes of a PBS show (while I was putting dinner in the crockpot), on our local PBS channel.  I have written many articles on kids crafts, and have done a great deal of research, but having seen the 2 or 3 minutes of the PBS show, I decided I needed to know more.  I found the show and their website Donna's Day.  I fell in love with how simple her ideas were and yet, how wonderful they were.  In the episode I saw, she made a lettuce leaf and meat balls.  Of course these were pretend, but, they sure looked real!  And, the great thing about this is that they could be used over and over again which helps to find new ways to use the same crafts or projects. Here is what the episode was about:

Wild and Wacky Fun
Segment 1 - Fake Food
Segment 3 - Cedar Plank Salmon
Segment 4 - Newspaper Sculpture

There are many more to choose from and I think they are a great way to add more creative time/pretend play for young children and still be able to use the project or craft for later play times or crafts.

Another resource that I think alot of us moms overlook is Highlights magazine.  I think its a great idea to have your subscription, but, they do have a great deal of information online.  I suggest taking a look there also, especially if your children are between the ages of 3 and 12 years old.