The Magic Bean

Freebie Friday - Craft Tutorials to Bring Out Your Inner Child

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Every Friday I share a collection of links to free craft tutorials that I find on the internet, focussing on a different theme every week.  If you are looking for something specific, use the Search box on the top left.

All these tutorials will really appeal to anyone who has an immature playful side.  Most of these are perfect for playing outdoors.  So I don't care if you are an adult with kids or without - these DIY tutorials have got fun written all over them.

Click the link to visit the blog Oh Amanada where you can learn how to make a PVC gun that shoots mini marshmallows.  Awesome!

Try some target practice by making this bow and arrow set from pipe and foam with a tutorial on the blog Shannon Makes Stuff.

 
Unfortunately, the link for how to make these lifesize Lincoln Logs from pool noodles is no longer available, but I think you get the picture.  Apologies for the bad pun. 

Valerie who blogs at Inner Child Fun shared a tutorial to make an entire mini golf course in your living room using old bath mats - you just use the pieces in new and interesting configurations for each hole. 

If your idea of a fun game is slighly more sedate, this lawn ball game made from pipes with a tutorial on This Old House might be for you.

Desiree who has her own blog called The 36th Avenue, guest blogged at Design Dazzle and shared a tutorial on how to make your deck into a giant board game - and incorporated fun stuff like wearing silly hats and having water balloon fights.  Count me in!

Lowes Creative Ideas shared a method of making these giant dice and combining it with darts.

Game on!

Freebie Friday - Dolls That Kids Can Make

I have a secret.  I like kids crafts.  I even buy kids crafts books.  And I don't have kids.  Mostly, I just like to pretend I'm one and play.  But I also think that some of these kids crafts are downright ingenious and I find them inspiring.  So whether you have a kid or two who needs entertaining on a rainy day or you just want to play yourself, check out these creative and cool dolls that are kid friendly.

Make a popsicle stick ballerina with a tutorial over at the blog 4 Crazy Kings.

Make a doll that would double well as a place marker at the table.  It's made from flower pots with this tutorial on Craftbits.

 
If flowers float your boat, you might like this tutorial to make Flower Friends dolls from artificial flowers at Disney Family Fun.

Craftbits shared a flower fairy doll tutorial that makes use of some easily accessible craft materials.

 
Peggy Flynn shared how she made a flower powered doll with a cloth doll face on HGTV.  Older or more adventurous kids could tackle this one.  Unfortunately the instructions do not include a face pattern, but you could use the head from Mary Tressler's free child doll pattern here.

 
Disney Family Fun also featured a tutorial to make easy felt dolls, so that kids can make Felty Friends galore.

Hands On Crafts for Kids shared a cool way to use a doll face mould to create a simple doll. 

If you know any budding ballerinas have them pirouette over to the craft table to make this ballerina peg doll with a tutorial from Kelly at Be A Fun Mum.

 
While you still have those clothes pins out, why not make a mermaid doll with Disney Family.com.

 
For world wide wise clothes pin dolls , check out this tutorial on Disney Family Fun.

Ellen of the Long Thread shared a tutorial on painting eggs to look like Matryoshka dolls. 

 
Never mind the kids, I want to make one of these quirky dolls.  They are made from bottles covered in yarn with spoon heads.  Learn how to make these bottle dolls with Disney Family Fun. 

 
Emma Jeffrey shared a tutorial to make a humble sock into a puppet.  Have the kids make one of these and then be prepared to applaud as a puppet show will likely follow. 

We Bloom Here has a rod puppet tutorial to keep the kids busy.

For another doll craft that will result in play afterwards, use this tutorial from We Bloom Here to make a Jumping Pixie game.

 
Get the kids psyched up for the new school year by having them make these pencil buddies with Disney Family Fun.

I hope some of those tutorials inspired you to get creative with the kids or without.

Freebie Friday - Fabric Busy Books for Toddlers Tutorials

I love those fabric books for toddlers, with laces to tie and snaps to pop.  Some people call them Busy Books, others call them Quiet Books.  I call them cool.  I think they make great gifts and are a wonderful way to use up some fabric in your stash.  Here are some links to some great tutorials and patterns for these little fabric delights.

Martha Stewart's website has some basic instructions and templates for making a toddler busy book.

 

This little fabric book from Stitch Craft uses scraps of fabric to teach colours.

Homegrown Happy uses quilt piecing to create a colour inspired cloth book for baby.

This fabric book from Obsessively Stitching via Craft Gossip focuses on the alphabet.

Moda Bakeshop gives us another lesson in our ABC's with this free fabric book and snail softie tutorial.

Expect Moore gives you a tutorial to make a busy book that can develop along with your little one.  This book is full of pockets that you can stuff with activities that interest your child at whatever stage of development they are at.

Expect Moore also give us this tutorial on making a no-sew fabric busy book.

Get re-using with this denim busy book from Burda Style.

If you've always fancied not just sewing a book, but writing one for kids then try this great new site for children's stories called Sparkling Stories.  Created by a friend of mine, this site is an online marketplace for children's stories where you can both buy and sell a children's tale or two.  Sparkling Stories could be the place where the next great children's author could be discovered.  Is it you?  Upload your story and open up a whole new world for you and the children who hear your story.