Home - 30 Minute Crafts

Mini Scouting First Aid Kit

July 18, 2016 by Carolina 6 Comments

When I was a Girl Scout, we made mini first aid kits in film containers. With digital photography taking over, film containers are hard to come by, but mini mint tins make for perfect mini first aid kits that you can slip in a backpack, or even your pocket!

This Scout Craft is part of Craft Lightning Week. All week long, my crafty co-hosts Angie from The Country Chic Cottage and Laura from Me and My Inklings, along with our crafty friends here on the internet, are sharing scout-related crafts! Check out their fun ideas at the bottom of this post.

Supplies:
Mini Altoids Tin
Mod Podge
Paintbrush
Photocopies of scouting design
Bandaids
Alcohol Wipes
Mini Neosporin

This craft project is a requirement in both the Brownie and Wolf Cub Scout handbooks, so you’ll be making a cute craft, a useful item, and checking off a requirement all at once!

Make a copy of your scouting design. I used the brownie on the front of the brownie handbook shrunk down to 75%, and the scout logo in the handbook, increased to 125%. Trace the lid of the tin, then cut out.

Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge on top of the tin.

Place the paper on top. Smooth down.

Allow to dry, then put the supplies inside. You can fit two or three bandages, neosporin, and an alcohol wipe folded in half.

Check out these other great Scout Craft ideas!

Kara from Happy Go Lucky made these scout thank-you notes.

These tie-dye silk scarves that Laura at Housewife Hellraiser made make great thank-you gifts for volunteers.

How fun is this “cookie pusher” trenchcoat that Christie from Ritzy Parties thought up! You could switch this up for a popcorn-coat if your Cub Scout Pack participates in Popcorn sales.

And Laura from Me and My Inklings made these great sit-a-cans, a fun twist on the Girl Scout “Sit Upon”!

Check back tomorrow for more great scouting craft ideas!

Filed Under: craft lightning, easy, fast and cheap, kids Tagged With: bandage, emergency, mod podge

Dream Jar: The BFG Craft

July 1, 2016 by Carolina Leave a Comment

The BFG comes out in theaters this weekend. I had a chance to catch a pre-screening earlier this week, and can’t wait to see it again! I took my 7-year-old. I’m a Roald Dahl fan, and while I’ve read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and others… including plenty of his short stories… I haven’t read The BFG (yet)! My son had read it with his class and was excited to see the movie.

Both of us loved The BFG movie. The story was awesome, and the imagery was stunning. When deciding what kind of The BFG Craft to make, I of course chose the Dream Jars. In the movie, The Big Friendly Giant has shelves and shelves filled with these amazing glowing, moving, fascinating wisps of imagination. I wanted to make my own… and so I did! Here is the Dream Jar I created! It actually moves, just like the dreams in the jars the Big Friendly Giant has.

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To make your own Dream Jar, you’ll need:

Firefly Jar (I got mine for about $19.00… look around for a good price)
Glow Powder
Elmer’s Glue
Polyfil (I used Royal Silk, but any Polyfil should work fine)
Glitter Dust
Paper plate
Small stick for stirring

Take the lid off the jar. The instructions say not to because the mechanism that controls the firefly is very sensitive, and can be damaged. But to make the dream jar, we do need to remove the firefly from the jar… just handle it carefully!

Carefully tie a knot in the wire. Don’t tighten it, you want the large loop.

Carefully wind the wire into loops, twisting through the loop made with the knot. The goal is to shorten the wire a lot – we want it to stand up about 3″ from the base.

Carefully remove the wing that isn’t attached to the end of the wire. You do this by lifting up the end of the tape that holds it in place. Or, you can use a craft knife to cut through the tape.

Put about 2 tablespoons of glue on the paper plate. Add about 2 teaspoons of the glow powder. Mix with the small stick, or the end of a pencil.

Grab a large pinch of Polyfil, and soak in the glow-glue mixture.

Thread through the large loop in the wire, and fold in half to secure.

Shaping the dream:

Add more pinches of Polyfil, not covered in glow-glue. While the glue is still wet, pull, shape, twist… do whatever you need to get your dream to look the way you want. Make sure the glow-glue doesn’t cover the little firefly light. Also, make sure it isn’t too heavy – you want the mechanism to still be able to swing it around.

Spray Glitter Dust. It has a spray-adhesive which will help secure the Polyfil, and it has some extra sparkle!

Before the Glitter Dust dries, you can sprinkle on some extra glow powder.

When done, my finished dream looked like this:

Allow the dream to dry, finally put in the jar. You can use the firefly jar it came with, or a new wide-mouth canning jar if you don’t want your jar to say “firefly” on the side. If you like, can cut the white rubber ring around the mechanism if you want it to be easier to take in and out.

Put it in a sunny spot to allow the glow powder to absorb some light… then bring it to a dark area, and turn it on. Watch your dream move on its own! Super cool, right? The dream jar is even cooler in person… I promise!

Watch the dream jar in action!

Filed Under: 15 minute crafts, easy, kids Tagged With: 15 minutes, craft, diy, glow, movie, quick, Simple

DIY Stained Clipboard

June 28, 2016 by Carolina 2 Comments

Summer car trips with kids are a lot easier now than they were when I was a kid. In part because cars are equipped with better air conditioning. But mostly because all of the technology and devices that they can use on the trip! As long as you bring charging cords and headphones, you’re set between potty stops. For our recent road trip, I wanted to give my kids some non-technology options to keep them busy on the road. So I made a simple DIY Stained clipboard. These clipboards are great for drawing, because you can clip your paper portrait or landscape style (because the clip is actually removable). You can also print their favorite printables – games, coloring pages, learning sheets (which might be more your favorite than theirs) to have ready on the road.

Supplies for DIY Clipboard:

Wooden board (found pre-cut to size at the craft store)
Plaid Wood Stain in your child’s favorite color
Plaid Wood Stain Finish
Stain Paintbrushes
Garbage Bag or other plastic to protect your work surface
Clip (I used one from Heidi Swapp found at the craft store)

Make sure to protect your work surface (as you always should with dye), and start painting the dye on to one side of the board. I added a second coat to get a really vibrant red.

Set it aside to dry.

Then turn over and stain the other side. Make sure to get the edges, too.

Then seal them with the sealer that comes with the dye line. One side, let dry, then the other. This project is done in stages, but each stage only takes a few minutes. Once it is dry, you just need to add the clip! You’ve got a custom, DIY Stained Clipboard.

There are tons of different colors of dye, and I love the way the dye shows the grain of the wood. I used red for both these clipboards because the kids have the same favorite color – red.

I clipped plain white paper on here for drawing, but you can print out your favorite printables (there are so many available on the web!), for the kids to use. If you’re using your clipboards for road trips like I did, look for fun car games, like i-spy games, car bingo, license plate games, or other games that get the kids active or thinking in the car!

Filed Under: 30 minute crafts, easy, fast and cheap, kids, paint, paper, simple Tagged With: dye, Plaid

Hank the Octopus: Finding Dory Craft

June 21, 2016 by Carolina 1 Comment

If you’ve seen the new Finding Dory movie that came out this weekend, then you know how good Hank the Octopus is at hiding. Part of that is because he can change colors, which this Hank won’t be able to do… but this Hank is small enough to hide in the most obscure places in the house. Also, if you’ve seen the movie you know that he’s not an Octopus… he is actually a Septopus!

I’ve been having fun making Finding Dory crafts – I made this Finding Dory Search Jar, and now I’m whipping up this cute Hank the Octopus craft that I can hide around the house to entertain the kids! They can even take turns hiding Hank … anything to keep them busy during the summer months, right? You can make your own Hank the Septopus craft, and hide him around your house if you like!

Supplies for Hank the Septopus Finding Dory Craft:

Three Orange 1″ Pom Poms
Two Orange Pipe Cleaners
Small googly eyes
Hot Glue
Scissors

Cut two Pipecleaners in half. Cut one in half again, and put one of those segments away, you won’t need it (because Hank is a septopus and not an octopus).

Twist the three full halves together. Twist in the end of the seventh leg into the middle.

Add a dab of hot glue, and add one of the pom poms. If one of your pom poms is smushed, use that one here.

Glue a second pom pom on top.

Add two small dots of glue, and secure the eyes.

Glue the third pom pom to the back.

Hank is going to look very flat – give him some dimension by curling his legs around a pencil.

Now to find some fun places to hide Hank! Let’s see how long it takes for the kids to find him…

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Filed Under: 15 minute crafts, easy, fast and cheap, kids, quick, simple Tagged With: Disney, googly eyes, pipecleaner, search

Finding Dory Search Jar: Finding Dory Craft

June 19, 2016 by Carolina 2 Comments

I got the chance to see Disney-Pixar’s new Finding Dory movie that came out this weekend. As a fan of Finding Nemo, I loved seeing another ocean movie, and seeing all my old favorite characters – as well as some new ones! I enjoyed the movie, and know my kiddos will too. So, I thought it would be fun to whip up a Finding Dory craft – this fun Finding Dory Search Jar!

This post contains affiliate links which help support this site at no cost to you.

Finding Dory Craft Supplies:

Blue tinted Mason Jar (clear jar will work as well)
Vase Filler
Printable Shrink Film
Ribbon
Scissors

Print the images onto the printable shrink film. I used the Finding Dory Memory Game. Make sure to read the instructions first, you might need to reduce the amount of ink used when printing.

Cut out the images you want to use. Of course I added Dory, but also Malon and Nemo, Squirt, and others! The kids will love finding all their favorite movie characters in the jar. I also cut out the logo and punched a hole in the top to use as a tag.

Using the instructions on the package, heat up the shrink film to make it shrink.

Fill the jar 3/4 full with vase filler.

Add in the creatures from Finding Dory.

Add the lid and tie on the tag, and you’re all done! Such a simple Finding Dory craft to make with the kids – they can help with the cutting, and putting all the pieces in the jar. And they’ll love watching the pieces shrink in the oven!

The best thing about this Finding Dory craft is that the kids can play with it afterwards… keeping the fun going! Let them know to keep the jar closed (or glue it closed for younger kids), and have them shake, shake, shake to discover their favorite animals… and of course find Dory!

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Filed Under: 15 minute crafts, easy, fast and cheap, kids, simple Tagged With: Disney, dory, game, search

Animal Chocolate Holders

June 14, 2016 by Carolina Leave a Comment

These adorable Animal Chocolate holders are easy to make with the free cut files I’ve shared below, and they are super versatile! Use them as gifts for a friend. As party favors. Write names on them and use them as placecards for a fun dinner party. Make lots and use them as centerpieces. Make two of each animal for a fun Noah’s Ark themed baby shower. Pick your friend’s favorite animal and fill up a tote. Use the frog as “Chocolate Frogs” for a Harry Potter themed party. I could go on and on… there are so many ways these animal chocolate holders can be used for parties, gift giving, and more!

Butterfly Chocolate Holder Cut File

Flamingo Chocolate Holder Cut File

Frog Chocolate Holder Cut File

Horse Chocolate Holder Cut File

Kangaroo Chocolate Holder Cut File

Penguin Chocolate Holder Cut File

For each animal chocolate holder you need 12×12″ scrabook paper, a round chocolate (I used Lindt’s chocolates), and hot glue. Each Silhouette cut file has one or more of the animals on it, already sized and ready to go. Just cut, and glue together while holding your chocolate in place!

This frog is adorable – great for a princess party (anyone want to kiss the chocolate frog?), or make them with brown construction paper as “chocolate frogs” for a Harry Potter themed party!

The Flamingo Chocolate Holder is perfect for pool parties! You could make a “Palm Beach” tablescape with some astroturf and these “lawn flamingos” scattered down the center. You really can’t go wrong with a pink flamingo!

These butterfly chocolate holders might be my favorite! Use them as place cards for a fancy tea. You can cut them out in different colors, or cut them out from white cardstock and decorate with your favorite markers, crayons, or colored pencils.

One side of this little penguin actually has a beak that you can fold out! He is super cute, and great for any winter-themed party. Dress him up with a scrap of felt as a scarf for some extra dimension (and cuteness!)… you can even glue on some googly eyes to make him a little more crafty!

This horse chocolate holder can be whatever you want – call him a “Mustang” to use him at a school function with a Mustang mascot. Use him for a cowboy themed event – or for any horse lover!

I had so much fun creating these different chocolate holders – I hope you enjoy crafting with them!

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Filed Under: 15 minute crafts, easy, edible, fast and cheap, paper, silhouette Tagged With: butterfly, Chocolate, cutable

Lego Lanyard Pockets

June 7, 2016 by Carolina Leave a Comment

My boys love smashing pennies in penny smashing machines at museums and theme parks. And I love it too. It is a fun activity for them, and it costs very little! The souvenirs don’t take up a lot of space in the house, and they can have fun sorting through their variety of pennies. So, when we went to Legoland earlier this year, I knew they’d want to run around the park collecting smashed pennies. The evening before, I whipped them up these Lego Lanyard Pockets to hold their quarters and pennies to use the smashing machines, and to keep their smashed pennies safe. They loved their Lego Lanyard Pockets, and still love carrying them around!

The pouch can be stitched up in about 30 minutes. If you want to make the lanyard as well, you’ll need to add another 15 minutes or so to your stitching time.

I made ours without any fasteners at the top – they might be even more functional with a snap or velcro along the top.

To make the pouch and Lego lanyard you’ll need:
Yellow Fabric (1/2 yard will make both the pouch and the lanyard)
Ruler and rotary cutter
Sewing machine
Iron & ironing board
Black fabric Paint
Pencil
Fusible Fleece

Start by cutting your fabric. You’ll need:
2 outer pieces – 4.5″ x 4″ (and 2 4.5″x4″ of fusible fleece)
1 bottom piece – 1.5″ x 3″
2 lining pieces – 5″ x 3″
1 loop – 2″x 2″
lanyard – 2.5″ x WOF (Width of Fabric)

All seams are 1/4″ unless otherwise noted.

Fold the bottom piece in half, and stitch down both sides, locking stitches by going back-and-forth at the fold. Clip the corners on the folded edge.

Make the tab. Fold in half, and stitch with 1/4″ seam. Turn right side out, and press. Top-stitch 1/8″ from both sides.

On one outer piece, using a ruler, mark 1/4″ in from all corners. Then mark 1/4″ and 3/4″ in from each corner. Draw curves along all corners.

Put the two outer pieces right sides together. Sandwich the bottom piece along the bottom, centering it, with all the raw edges lined up. Put the metal loop through the tab, fold in half, and tuck along one side, near the top. Stitch around all sides, following the curves at the corners, leaving the top open.

Trim off the extra fabric at the corners and clip the curves.

Fuse the fusible fleece to both sides, trimming away the excess at the corners.

Put the two lining pieces right sides together, stitch along three sides.

Turn the lining right side out, then tuck inside the outer piece, lining up the top. Pin in place.Then stitch all the way around the top.

Pick out about 2″ of seam along one side – the side that doesn’t have the loop stitched in. Turn the pouch right-side-out through this hole.

Now it looks like this… tuck the lining into the pouch, leaving 1/2″ sticking up from the top. Tuck the seam allowance from the hole back in the side, and pin.

Edgestitch around three sides of the pouch, leaving the top open. This edgestitching will also close the hole you used for turning.

Paint on the face. Put aside to dry.

Your pouch is done… now you can make the lanyard. Fold your strip in half along the long side, and stitch down one long side with 1/4″ seam allowance.

Turn right side out, press, then stitch 1/4″ in from each side to secure.

Fold the strap in half, lining up the two short ends. Stick one end about 1/2″ out further than the other. Thread on the clasp.

Fold the 1/2″ over, and then over again to hide the raw edge and secure the clasp in place.

Stitch down to secure the clasp.

Your Lego Lanyard Pocket is complete!

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Filed Under: 30 minute crafts, easy, fabric, kids Tagged With: bag, lanyard, lego, sewing

Faux Enamel Rose Charm

June 2, 2016 by Carolina Leave a Comment

Sometimes you can take a simple object, and with a little craftiness, give it some real flair. This metal pendant was fine, but with a couple supplies I already had in my crafting stash, I made it look very upscale – and you can make a faux enamel rose charm as well with these simple instructions!

To make this pendant you’ll need:

Metal Pendant
Scrapbook Paper
Pencil
Scissors
Mod Podge Dimensional Magic

Trace the pendant on the scrapbook paper.

Cut out.

Outline the pendant with the Mod Podge Dimensional Magic, and put a few dots in the center. Place the pendant on top, and allow to dry.

Fill the holes with more dimensional magic. Allow to dry.

Your pendant is complete.

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Filed Under: 30 minute crafts, jewelry, paper, simple Tagged With: mod podge, necklace, rose

Circle and Sparkle Earrings

May 31, 2016 by Carolina Leave a Comment

Have you ever found an item at the craft store and bought it just to challenge yourself? That’s how I ended up with the circles in these circle and sparkle earrings. They were in the clearance section, and I just knew I could turn them into something fun to wear (and to make)! They’re simple to put together, let me show you how to make your own circle and sparkle earrings…

You’ll need:
Large circle beads
Small Swarovski Crystal beads
Head Pins
Jewelry Pliers
Earring wires

Thread the head pin through the bottom of one circle, then add on the crystals.

Extend the head pin through the top, then bend over the top of the head pin using jewelry pliers.

Attach the earring wire, then make your second earring – super fast, these earrings are fun to wear, too!

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Filed Under: 10 minute crafts, fast and cheap, jewelry, quick, quick handmade holiday gifts Tagged With: beads, earrings

Stamped Blinged Charm

May 26, 2016 by Carolina Leave a Comment

I love metal stamping, and adding a little extra flair to my metal-stamped items. Since we’re halfway through the year, I thought I’d keep my momentum going my making this stamped blinged charm with my word of the year stamped right on it.

You’ll need:
Impress Art Heart Pendant
Jewelry Glue & cotton swabs
Rhinestones
Impress Art Metal Stamps
Impress Art Stamp Holder
Sharpie Marker
Polishing Cloth
Necklace or leather strap
Hammer and Stamping Block

Use the stay-straight tape to mark the pendant, then stamp your word. I used the stamp holder for the first time on this project, and I LOVE it! I’ll never NOT use the stamp holder again! My impressions are the most even and solid they have ever been, and I didn’t worry about smashing my fingers at all!