Crafts to do at home...
that do not break the bank!

Wrap cardboard in foil, add glue-on shapes or raised lines, and colour with Sharpies or acrylic paint. The foil makes everything pop – even scribbles!

 

You’ll need:

 

• Foil

• Cardboard

• Glue

• Markers or paint

A classic for a reason. Turn plates into tigers, turtles or unicorns. Add ears, eyes and colour — and a little imagination goes a long way.

 

You’ll need:

 

• Paper plates

• Crayons, paint, stickers

• Scrap card or paper

A simple dough made from flour, salt and water turns into handprints, pendants, or anything your child dreams up. Bake low ‘n’ slow and paint once dry.

 

You’ll need:

 

• 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water

• Oven

• Paint

A low-cost activity that’s easy to do at home. Lay down a basic dust sheet (available from places like B&Q), set out some paper or a canvas, and use brushes or old toothbrushes to flick paint. Ideal for outdoors. 

 

You’ll need:

 

• Paper or canvas

• Poster or acrylic paint

• Brushes or old toothbrushes or just your fingers!

• A dust sheet or old bed sheet for the floor

Turn cardboard tubes into explorer gear. Add string and decorations, and head off on a backyard jungle safari (or just spy on your neighbour’s cat).

 

You’ll need:

 

• 2 toilet rolls

• Tape or glue

• String, stickers, crayons

Recycle your old baked bean tins into drums! Stretch a balloon over the top, decorate, and get tapping. Great for rhythm, noise, and a little musical mayhem.

 

You’ll need:

 

• Tin can (check for sharp bits)

• Balloon

• Paint or paper for decorating (check the recycling bin!)

Perfect for gifts or bedroom displays. Grab a multipack of mini canvases and let the creativity flow. (Amazon or the works). Rainbows, dinosaurs, flowers – whatever their little hearts desire.

 

You’ll need:

 

• Mini canvases

• Paints

• Brushes

Paint onto bubble wrap, press it onto paper, and you’ve got scales, textures, or space scenes! Bonus: it’s fun to pop when you’re finished. (Bonus for finding other items, like leaves to see what textures they create with paint too!)

 

You’ll need:

 

• Bubble wrap

• Paint

• Paper

Old egg boxes become ladybirds, bumblebees and bonkers beetles! Paint each cup, add legs, wings or antennae, and bring your mini beasts to life.

 

You’ll need:

 

• Egg box

• Paint or pens

• Pipe cleaners, googly eyes, glue

Go on a mini nature walk and collect magical materials – sticks, feathers, petals, leaves. Wrap with string or ribbon and create your own enchanted wand. Fairy magic or wizardry? You decide.

 

You’ll need:

 

• A stick

• Ribbon, string or wool

• Natural bits from the garden or park