Create some peace and calm in your home with these wonderful Boredom Buster Crafts
As you know we absolutely LOVE crafting with the kids and of course this post is all about crafts! I particularly love crafts that you can do with “items from around the house” – perfect for some on the spot crafty fun and to help as your boredom busters. I also love any crafts that, not only use these simple every day materials, but that you can then also play with one made! So.. let’s take a look what we have for you today! This article was originally written as “summer boredom buster” ideas – but actually, you can make these all year round! Especially when stuck indoors on a rainy day!
The basis of the crafts is that you use “basic” household items + some basic craft materials. So that most of these things can be created without too much preparation, but just a good rummage around your house!
Stimulate imaginative play with Toilet Roll Crafts
First up.. let take a look at some Toilet Roll Crafts for kids… I of course picked one my favourite household items – the humble toilet paper roll (aka loo roll). It is obviously a free craft material, but it is also surprisingly versatile. Add a splash of paint, some fabric or feathers and you can instantly transform them! I have an extensive range of TP Roll Crafts to browse – and I feel they are all wonderful toys to play with – basically they are a set of homemade puppets and dolls, for story telling and imaginative play. Here are 3 examples and favourites to whet your toilet roll craft appetite for summer!
Dancing Giraffes – I picked the dancing to roll giraffes as an example of one of MANY TP Roll Marionettes you can make! Marionettes are of course PERFECT for any puppet show and we simply love our Giraffes. They are one of my earliest projects here on Red Ted Art which has brought us years of pleasure!
Zoo Animals – I could have picked any of this “type” of toilet roll craft – we have soooo many animals made in a similar way. The options are endless. So though this is just one “set”, be inspired to create your creatures and characters and then have some wonderful imaginative play!
Crowns – I picked the crowns, to show you, that you can also use TP Rolls for some “dress up”. The crowns are simple and cute, but you can also make some TP Roll Superhero cuffs or TP roll bracelets and watches. Lots of fun!
Creative play with Cardboard Crafts
Next in our summer boredom buster crafty selection, we take a look at some Cardboard Box Crafts. We all know that “just a box” can actually provide quite a lot of fun as is (I mean, a box is never just a box, right? It is a spaceship, a boat, or a car too..).. but you can also turn a cardboard box into lots of fun crafts. Here are some ideas to get you going…
Cardboad Pirate Ship – any Red Ted Art long term reader, will recognise this pirate ship. Oh this was such a happy memory. We made it and kept it FOR YEARS! It was at this point, that my kids, thought we could make ANYTHING from the toy shop.. and make it we did! A lovely couple of days of (easy) crafting and years and years of play! Woohoo!
Cardboard Animals – as with the Toilet Paper Roll animals shared above, this is a great project to have a go at – be inspired by and then CREATE YOUR OWN designs and ideas. The principle of these 3d Animals is super easy and there are so many more creatures you can created and play with!
Cardboard Dolls House – I include this dolls house for a number of reasons… the first, “most important” reason, is that once you have made this dolls house, there is tons of opportunity to add to it and keep the creative opportunities flowing. ie keep you busy ALL school holiday long. But I also include this doll’s house, as it is a “very old” project of mine. It isn’t perfect AT ALL. But that is the beauty of it.. we simply had fun with this. It wasn’t meant to be perfect. If I were to make it again, I would probably combine lots of smaller boxes – as that is an easier assembly. But other than that, I wouldn’t change a thing!
Some super fun Paper Crafts that you can play with
Next up, my ode to paper. I love paper crafts so much, that I had to write a Paper Projects book! Ha. I mean.. most people do have SOME paper at home.. and it is surprising how many fun crafts you can make with JUST paper. Only have white paper? Fear not, grab your water colors and coloing pens and there are still plenty of playful paper crafts you can make! Here a taster for you!
Shark Ball & Cup Game – an origami cup (which by the way is also super easy to make), is surprisingly handy as a ” ball & cup game” – with a few extra tweaks, you can decorate it into quirky ways, such as this shark, basketball hoop or Frankenstein game!
Make your own Board Games – make your own board games! I mean, this is self explanatory.. once you have a board game.. you can play for ages. Here we had a go at a simple Checkers Board Game. But of course this could be your very own Go Game or Chesse Game too. Also, once you have made this, maybe the kids will want to make other board games themselves, such as snakes and ladders or Ludo. It is all about stimulating that creativity!
Super cute Paper Teacups (and some game ideas) – finally, in this sample of fun playful paper crafts to make, we have our popular Paper Teacups with a free teacup template. They are of course great for tea party play.. but I share some more game ideas for you too!
More Paper Toys
Fancy some MORE paper toys to compliment the above.. then try out this collection of paper toys. So fun!
More Boredom Buster Creative Ideas
Of course we have many more crafty themes for you to explore – crafts that are easy to set up and to enjoy all year round. I especially encourage you to explore our Corner Bookmarks and our Greeting Card Designs. The bookmarks are great for encouraging some holiday reading (they also make great gifts) and the greeting cards can be made and “stored” to be used throughout the year when you have a need for a card on short notice:
