Home - 30 Minute Crafts

Flower Magnet

October 16, 2015 by Carolina Leave a Comment

My dear friend Laura Kelly sent me a few of her fun kits to play with, including this simple flower magnet kit!

She includes everything you need to make this simple flower magnet – making it the perfect gift for a crafter. Just grab your scissors and get crafting!

You can make three magnets with the supplies in the kit… and still have lots left over. You can use the supplies to customize your craft.

I love the button detail! Laura really thinks of everything when she puts these fun kits together!

You can head over to Shop Laura Kelly to check out all her fun crafty kits and supplies!

Filed Under: 15 minute crafts, fast and cheap, kids, paper, quick Tagged With: flower, magnet

Foiled Wedding Table Numbers

October 15, 2015 by Carolina Leave a Comment

There are so many fun things that you can make for your wedding – and with the amazing new foils out on the market, you can create some really cool looking DIY wedding table numbers – and they are super simple!

This post contains affiliate links – these links support this site without charge to you!

To make your own foiled table numbers you’ll need:
Cardstock (make sure it is smooth, not textured)
Thermoweb Decofoil (your choice of color – one tube will do 10 table numbers)
Laser Printer
Fiskars Paper Cutter
Laminator

Print out your table numbers on the cardstock. These are 1/4 page. If you’d like, here is the PDF or the Photoshop Elements File.

Cut the table numbers out (by cutting into quarters). Layer a piece of foil on top, then place between the layers of a piece of plain paper to use as a carrier sheet.

Run through laminator. Allow to cool, then peel away foil.

Display your table numbers however you like!

Filed Under: 15 minute crafts, easy, paper, printable Tagged With: 15 minutes, easy, Wedding

Simple Flower Costume

October 12, 2015 by Carolina 1 Comment

This flower costume is easy to make, and fun to wear! You can make it for yourself, a friend, a child… make one as big or as small as you like, it is fun and easy to put together! I’ll be showing you the step-by-step on how to make the flower hat, but the rest is even easier!

To make the flower hat you’ll need:
Stiff interfacing – I used Fairfield Stiffen.
1.5 yards of your chosen fabric
Marking Pen (water soluble is best)
Sewing Machine
Scissors
Hat that fits your head

If you want to make the full flower costume, you’ll want:
Green shirt and pants (or white shirt and pants, dyed with green dye according to package instructions)
Yellow pipe cleaners
Yellow paint
Bobby Pins
1.5″ Styrofoam Balls

Start by drawing a flower shape on your Stiff Interfacing. Cut out.

To determine the size of the center hole, you can cut a smaller hole, try on the flower, then trim as needed ant try again … repeating until you’re satisfied. But if you’d like an easier method, trace a hat you know fits you, then cut slightly smaller than the traced line.

Place two layers of fabric right sides together, and pin in place so the layers don’t shift. Place the flower on top, trace the center hole. Stitch on the line, then trim inside the hole, and clip around the curve.

Through the center hole, flip one fabric, so the two are now right sides out. Pull the top layer of fabric through the center hole in the interfacing flower, so that it is sandwiched between the two layers. Pin in place.

Stitch along the edge of the interfacing with your sewing machine.

Stitch all the way around.

When you are done, trim away the excess fabric, about 1/8″ away from the stitching line. Your flower hat is done!

If you’d like to make the stamen for your hair, fold a yellow pipe cleaner in half. String on a bobby pin, so that it sits on the crease. Twist the pipe cleaner a few times so the bobby pin stays in place. Insert each end of the pipe cleaner into a styrofoam ball, and paint yellow. Allow to dry.

Enjoy your fun floral costume!

Filed Under: 30 minute crafts, fabric, halloween, quick Tagged With: costume, flower

Bunny Puppet

October 7, 2015 by Carolina 1 Comment

We are reading lots and lots this year, and I love making crafts that go with the books that we’re reading, like this fun and simple bunny puppet! With just a little bit of sewing, it is so easy to make… and you already have the pattern, because we’ll be using your hand!

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Supplies for Bunny Puppet:
Paper
Marker
Fabric
Sewing Machine
Pins
Scissors
Iron
Tulip Fabric Paint
Bunny book – we used “When the lights go out at the Library”

Start by tracing your hand on the paper.

Fold the paper in half, and re-draw the outline, using the line on the outside for each line (making it larger). Expand the bottom to give you a larger opening for your hand. Cut out pattern.

Fold fabric to create two layers, then fold in half (creating four layers). Pin pattern in place and cut about 1/2″ away from the pattern.

Cut ears by cutting 4 pieces 2″ wide and 8″ long. Curve one end.

Stitch sets of two using a 1/4″ seam allowance, and leaving the bottom open. Turn right side out through the opening at the bottom. Press flat.

At the bottom of each ear, fold in the sides and pin to the head of one of the layers of the puppet body.

Place the other puppet body layer on top, and pin. Sew all the way around using a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Clip curves and turn right side out. Paint on the face.

Allow to dry, then act out the story with your kiddos!

Filed Under: 30 minute crafts, easy, fabric, fast and cheap, simple Tagged With: book, fast, kids, puppet

Paint Stick Chewbacca

October 6, 2015 by Carolina Leave a Comment

Star Wars crafts are fun for kids of all ages, and Amanda from Crafts by Amanda is the queen of simple to make crafts that have a lot of impact. Like this Paint Stick Chewbacca. How adorable is this!? I love her Paint Stick Chewy! She gives you the step-by-step on how to make one with your kids (or all on your own – you know you want to!) in her Paint Stick Chewbacca Tutorial.

This post contains affiliate links which support this site without costing you a penny!

And if you love Star Wars Crafts, Amanda has a whole book of Star Wars Crafts, called Star Wars Mania!

Filed Under: 30 minute crafts, fast and cheap, feature, kids Tagged With: Disney, Simple, Star Wars

LED Popcorn Box

October 5, 2015 by Carolina 1 Comment

As much as I love crafting… my boys love movies. They get it from their dad who already had a sizeable movie collection when we started dating… and it has only grown from there! Right now, my oldest loves TRON. He’s very into things that are techy… so I thought this LED Popcorn Box would be the perfect combination of craft, tech, and movie magic! It is super simple to make, and would be a great craft project for tweens at a movie night or sleepover.

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

I created this craft as part of the annual Popcorn Box Hop. You can see the Creepy Hand Craft I created for the Popcorn Box hop last year… and be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post to check out all the other fun ideas submitted this year!

I combined the popcorn box with the Starter Kit from Chibitronics. It comes with a fun booklet that teaches you about basic circuits. Lots of fun for kids (and adults)!

To make the LED Popcorn Box, you’ll need:
Popcorn Boxes (from World Market, or buy here)
Scotch Brand Decorative Tape
Starter Kit from Chibitronics
Parchment Paper (or wax paper) – optional

Start by adding the Scotch Expressions Washi Tape. It is decorative, but also functional. The width of the tape helps you align the copper tape in the next step, and the slick surface makes it easy to reposition the LEDs if needed (or pull them off to reuse them elsewhere).

Add as many as you like. You can use the tape to plan out your LED design, or just have fun with it like I did.

Then, cut a slit down one corner of the box, about 1 1/4″ long. Fold the flap over.

Time to add the copper tape! Starting at the folded corner, add one line without breaking the tape, just folding at the corners.

Add a second line of copper tape, also at the folded corner. Your battery will go between these two ends, connecting the circuit. As you go around the box, use the width of the Scotch tape as a guide, keeping the outside edge of the copper tape flush with the outside edge of the Scotch tape, your LEDs will line up perfectly.

Add the battery, clipping in place, and your LED lights.

I wanted the box to be reuseable, so I added a lining of parchment paper (wax paper would be fine too). I rolled it into a cone, folded up the point, and shoved it into the box… then trimmed off the top.

Fill with popcorn, and watch your favorite techy movie! We love TRON, but the new Avengers movie is pretty good too!

An InLinkz Link-up

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: 30 minute crafts, kids Tagged With: craft, kids, light

DIY Upcycled Doilies

September 25, 2015 by Carolina Leave a Comment

When my son started school, I was excited that I’d find some more uninterrupted time in my days. But what I wasn’t expecting was the mountains of school papers I needed to sort through. It is like I’m trading time for papers – on sports, clubs, events. Old school papers and art projects. Notes home. It feels like I’m getting more time in my day… to sift through paper. And once I’ve sifted through it, I have to figure out what to DO with all that paper! So, when the lovely folks at Martha Stewart sent me their new Doily Punch to play with, I knew exactly what needed punching – papers!

I can turn old cafeteria menus, flyers about soccer camp, and math practice sheets into lovely doilies to use in craft projects. Or I can send them right back to school on some decorative lunch sacks!

This post may contain affiliate links – these links don’t cost you anything, and help support this site!

Making the doilies from any paper around the house is super simple. You just need the Martha Stewart Doily Punch and whatever paper you have handy.

Lift off the top of the punch, and the center knob. Place the paper on top, and put the pin knob in place. It sticks with a magnet – CLICK!

TIP!! Turn the knob all the way around. This ensures you’ve placed the paper properly, but it also makes sure that the magnets on the knob are aligned correctly.

Put the wedge back on top and PRESS.

Lift up the wedge. Turn the knob. Put the wedge back. Press.

Repeat all the way around, and your doily is done! My kids were as amazed with the punch as I was!

Fold over the top of a lunch sack for a fancy treat, or use the next time you need a doily!

Filed Under: 10 minute crafts, easy, fast and cheap, paper, quick, simple, sponsored Tagged With: craft, fast, handmade, quick, Simple

No-Sew Snowman Costume

September 11, 2015 by Carolina 4 Comments

Do you want to build a snowman? Or would you like to be a snowman? Okay, hi!

… sorry! I couldn’t resist! Today I’m sharing with you this fun and easy Snowman costume that I whipped up in about 15 minutes. Super simple to make, and if your kids love snowmen, chances are they’ll love this snowman costume!

I created this no-sew snowman costume as my last craft in our Craft Lightning Halloween week. All week long, my friends Angie from The Country Chic Cottage, Jen from 100 Directions, and many of our other crafty friends from around the internet, have been sharing 15 minute or less Halloween crafts. I’ve shared a different fast Halloween costume each day this week. If you missed any, check out my Simple Mushroom Costume, No-sew Toga, Creeping Vine Costume, and Printable Monster Costume. And be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post for more fun and fast ideas for quick Halloween Crafts.

To make your snowman costume, you’ll need:

HiLoft Polyfil Batting (you can find this at your craft/sewing store)
Black felt
White ribbon
Scissors
Hot Glue
Glasses frame (I used 3D glasses from the last time we went to the movies)
Styrofoam cone
Spoon
Orange paint (this is DecoArt in “Paprika”)
Paintbrush
Hat & Scarf

Start by making the nose. Pop the lenses out of your 3D glasses.

Cut the styrofoam cone to the length you want with a sharp kitchen knife or styrofoam cutting tool. Use a spoon to carve out a section on what will be the bottom – this gives some “nose room” for the carrot.

Hot glue to the glasses frames. Then paint orange and set aside to dry.

For the body of the costume, cut a piece of batting between 1.5 and 2 times the width of the child, and twice as tall as you want the costume (measure from their shoulders to knees or shins, then double this). Fold in half, and cut a neck hole. If you’re not sure how big to cut this hole, look at one of their t-shirts for an estimate. If you’re still nervous, cut it smaller – you can always make it bigger if you need to.

Cut 5 circles from the black felt. They don’t have to be perfect (these represent lumps of coal after all!). I went for about 2″, but the size you want will depend on the size of the child. Use hot glue to secure these down the front of the costume, in a row.

Now put it all together! Put the batting body over the child’s head – like a poncho. Use the ribbon to tie at the waist. Fluff up the top a little if you like. Add the hat, scarf, and carrot-nose glasses. Done!

This costume is super easy to make – and so forgiving! How do I know? I made it for my 3 year old, and the photos above are being modeled by my 7 year old! Because sometimes, 3 year old children don’t want to be bribed with candy. And they stomp their foot and say “I don’t wanna be a noman! I want Mickey Mouse!”

And they look absolutely miserable in every photo.

I have many, many more photos of him being absolutely miserable. So, I’m pretty confident I’ll be sharing a Mickey Mouse costume here in the next few weeks. I just need to find red pants… in the meantime, enjoy all these awesome (and fast) Halloween crafts:

Cute as a fox shows you how to bead your own spiders:

You can find out how to make your own Belladonna bottle on BumbleBree.

Halloween treat boxes are the cutest when they look like headstones! Make Life Lovely shows you how.

Paint chips are so much fun to craft with – like this paint chip party bag from Katie Berry!

Every superhero needs a trick or treat bag – Simply Kelly Designs made this fun Batman Treat Bag.

My Craftily Ever After has the perfect drink for your Halloween party – and some fun Witches Brew Labels to go along with it!

Busy Mom’s helper whipped up this Book of Spells – great for any budding Witch or Warlock!

Filed Under: 15 minute crafts, craft lightning, easy, fast and cheap, halloween, kids, paint, simple Tagged With: costume, Snowman

Monster Shirt Costume

September 10, 2015 by Carolina 3 Comments

Yes, you can print your costume. And it can be easy! This monster shirt is as easy as printing the circle labels and sticking them on your shirt. Done in minutes. Quite possibly seconds! I love how easy this is – and how simple it is for kids to help! A super big thanks to Online Labels for sending me the labels to make this easy shirt costume!

This project was made as part of Craft Lightning Week. All week long, I’ve been sharing fast and easy Halloween crafts along with my friends Angie from The Country Chic Cottage and Jen from 100 Directions, and a bunch of our other crafty friends here online. Be sure to check out my other easy costumes, the Mushroom Costume, Simple No-Sew Toga, and Creeping Vine Costume.

Here are the label printables from the video – the circle labels which are printed on this sheet from Online Labels or the full sheet labels that can be printed on printable iron on transfer sheets. Check out the video to see how it all comes together:

And check out all these other fun and fast Halloween craft ideas:

You can have ReDo Mom show you how to make these Paper Plate Spiders.

Find out how One Artsy Mama made these Halloween Night lights:

Here comes the Sun made these fun Mummy Mason Jars.

Silly Pearl made her mason jars spooky with cheesecloth.

This Pottery Barn kids inspired Halloween sign was made by One Krieger Chick.

I’m loving these specimen jars from Creative Cyncronicity.

Hop over to Sowdering About to see how easy it is to whip up this spider shirt.

Don’t you love these 3-minute Halloween Luminaries from Frog Prince Paperie?

You can make a glow in the dark spiderweb shirt like this one from Jen Goode.

If you like upscale Halloween decor (or sparkles) you’ll love these sequined pumpkins from The Country Chic Cottage.

Come back tomorrow for another day of fast crafting Halloween fun!

Filed Under: 15 minute crafts, craft lightning, easy, halloween, printable, quick, sponsored, video Tagged With: costume, label, monster

Creeping Vine Costume

September 9, 2015 by Carolina 1 Comment

Sometimes, kids don’t want to be their favorite superhero or cartoon character for Halloween. Sometimes, they want something completely unique. Like this Creeping Vine Costume. It might not be as exciting as being a Disney Princess for Halloween, but if your child dresses up like Ivy this year, chances are they’ll be the only one. Which is halfway towards winning the annual Halloween costume contest. And the fact that this costume takes only 15 minutes to pull together is a bonus!

I created this costume as part of Craft Lightning week. This week, along with my friends Angie from The Country Chic Cottage, and Jen from 100 Directions, as well as our crafty friends around the internet, we’re sharing fast and fun Halloween crafts. And I’m sharing 15 minute or less costumes all week long! Make sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post to check out their projects, and be sure to check out my costumes from earlier this week – the mushroom costume and toga costume.

To make this costume you’ll need:
The “trellis” which is created from a wood-cut from American Crafts that I found in the scrapbook aisle
Ivy (the garland-style ivy that’s a little fuller) – BUY TWO
Green Ribbon
Scissors
Green shirt

I tied the ribbon to the top of the wood-cut.

This was hung over my son’s head, while wearing the green shirt. If you look closely, you can see it is an inside-out Christmas shirt.

Using a little more ribbon, I loosely tied one garland to each of his ankles.

Then loosely wove it up into the wood-cut.

DONE!

This costume isn’t very expensive or complicated… but is sure to get a lot of comments on Halloween. And it is easy enough to adjust it for an adult to wear as well.