10 Fun DIY Projects Dads Can Do with Kids
1) Make a Scarecrow.
Great to use as a decorative touch to your garden. Most of all, it’s extra special because it’s going to be made by you!
Things you’re going to need:
-wooden broom with straw bristles,
-hammer,
-two nails,
-one piece of lumber,
-4 feet long, pencil,
-something to measure with,
-stuffed animal stuffing,
-rope,
-a hat *optional
-5 rubber bands,
-something to clothe your scarecrow with *be sure it’s long sleeved.
-Something to act as the scarecrow’s face. Funny glasses with the nose attached, silly eyes, or even sunglasses would work.
Step 1: The broom is going to be used as the scarecrows head, (Bristles will be the hair, which may need trimming) so place the broom upright with the bristles facing up.
Step 2: Taking your measuring object, measure six inches down from where the head of the broom connects to the wooden handle, and mark the spot with the pencil.
Step 3: Measure the center of the lumber, and mark this spot with a pencil, also.
Step 4: This piece of wood will act as the arms. So, Taking the hammer and nails, attach the piece of wood across the broom handle at each spot measured.
Step 5: Dress the scarecrow in the long sleeved shirt, and button all the buttons.
Step 6: Stuff the arms with stuffing, and the torso of the shirt as much as you’d like.
Step 7: Close the bottom of the shirt, and the sleeves with the rubber bands, so that way no stuffing will fall out.
Step 8: Using the rope, you’re going to give your scarecrow a belt around his waist.
Step 9: Glue the funny eyes, place the sunglasses, or the funny glasses with the nose attached onto the scarecrow.
Step 10: Place the Bottom of the broomstick directly into the ground a few inches, so that it’s stable, and won’t fall over. Place the hat on top of the scarecrow’s head for a nice finish to this project.
2) Dad Can Do.com’s Oragami Paper Shirts.
This project is simple, cute, and easy to do. Best of all, you get to decorate the paper shirt any way you would like when you’re finished! You can make your paper shirt into a tux, or even a Hawaiian shirt. Get creative! can write a little something on them and give them as a card also.
Things you’ll need:
-Printer (optional, if you’d like to print out pre-made shirt designs)
-Paper.
There’s tons of cute printable designs on the site, and you can even design your own! This project couldn’t get any simpler. First, Make a plain shirt from the folding instructions. Then get to decorating! You can use markers, crayons, colored pencils, stickers, buttons, etc. Get creative with this and have fun! *These would make a great greeting card, so jot down a few words when you’re done decorating and give to whom you’d like!
3) Build A Bird House!
what you’ll need:
-Empty & clean 1/2 gallon milk carton.
-Dark paint. (black, brown, or grey.)
-A bunch of THIN twigs to cover the milk carton.
-Low Temperature Glue gun, or tacky glue.
-Scissors
-Ruler
-Pencil
-Fishing Line or Long String.
Step 1: Measure, then mark 3″ from the bottom on each side of the milk carton. Cut the carton in half, by cutting where the marks are. You’ll end up with two pieces, the top and the bottom of the carton.
Step 2: Measure and Cut a two inch circle in the middle of the front of the top piece.
Step 3: Cut the bottom piece down to an inch high.
Step 4: Put glue on all four sides of the outside of this bottom piece, and push it into the top piece, making a new base for the carton.
Step 5: Glue the pour spout closed, and paint the outside of the carton a dark color & let dry.
Step 6: Poke two very close holes through the middle of the top of the ridge. Push string/line through the holes so you can hang the bird house, and tie the string securely, so you’ll be able to hang it.
Step 7: Cut & glue the sticks to cover bottom & all sides of the carton, working around the hole cut in the center of the front. Glue a small stick under the hole for a perch.
Step 8: Cut & glue sticks for a roof. Cut & glue a few sticks to cover the top ridge.
4) Coffee Can Drum.
Kids love playing with musical instruments, and banging on pots and pans. With this project, they can combine both creativity and musical talent with this easy homemade drum.
Things you’ll need:
-Coffee can with plastic lid.
-construction paper
-Glue
-Scissors
-Paint, paintbrushes, and water.
-Markers *optional
-Beads feather, string, etc. anything you’d like to decorate your drum with.
Step 1: You can either paint the coffee can, cover it with foil, or cover it with the construction paper (construction paper will be easier, and you can also paint and draw designs on it) Leave the plastic lid on the coffee can.
Step 2: Allow the paint to dry, and then you can glue lot’s of cute things on to your drum!
Step 3: You can put things such as beans or beads inside your drum for a nice sound, or you can use it just the way it is.
5) Make your Own Piggy Bank.
This craft is so adorable and cute, your kids will love it and want to start saving up money in it!
You’ll need:
-1 6 oz. plastic bottle (A Juicy Juice bottle works best)
-1 sheet of pink and 1 sheet of purple craft foam
-1 pink pipe cleaner
-Low temp. Glue gun, or tacky glue.
-Scissors
-Knife
-Toilet paper roll, or paper towel roll.
-White paint, or marker
-1 sheet of fine grain sand paper
Step 1: With the pink foam, cut out ears (cut out two oval shapes 1 1/2 inch each), nose (just big enough to cover the lid of the bottle), and feet (enough to cover the sides and bottoms of the toilet paper roll feet).
Step 2: Cut out eyes from purple craft foam.
Step 3: Lay the bottle down on it’s side, and Glue the eyes just above the lid. Make a small dot on each eye with a pen or marker, to show which way the pig is looking.
Step 4: Fold one of the ears in half and glue the bottom ear together. Repeat with other ear. Glue them at the top of the bottle above the eyes. *you might need to use the sandpaper on the bottle Incas it hesitates to glue.
Step 4: Glue the nose to the top of the lid.
Step 5: Cut the toilet paper roll into 4 same size pieces, theses will be used as the feet. Glue the pink foam around them and on the bottom of them, then glue all four feet to the bottom of the bottle (on the opposite side of the ears) space them about 1/2 inch apart and 1 1/4 inches apart side to side.
Step 6: Twist a pink pipe cleaner into a spiral and glue to the back of the bottle to use as a tail.
Step 7: ADULT- Use a utility knife to cut a vertical slit out of the top to make an opening big enough for your money to be dropped in.
6) Cardboard Box Stove
This project is a really easy & cute idea to make, and your kids will love it. I thought it was the cutest little idea ever, and it couldn’t get any more simple.
You’ll Need:
-A reasonably big card board box.
-Four old Cd’s.
-Drink caps
-white (or any other color) paint..Just enough to cover the entire box.
-tacky glue or glue gun.
-Knife or scissors (to cut out the oven door)
-Tape
Step 1: Tape the cardboard box closed, and Paint the entire box the color of your choice, and let it dry.
Step 2: Cut out an oven door, and fold it. Do not cut the entire piece of cardboard out. Keep it connected to the box. (See picture)
Step 3: Flip the Cd’s over to the side which the cover is not showing. Glue them to the top of the box, to use them as the “Stove burners”.
Step 4: Glue the rims of the drink caps to use as oven buttons, and place on the top, beside the Cd’s. And glue a few above the oven door, and Let dry!
7) Make Something Out Of Clay.
Making things out of clay is always fun and easy, too. There are so many uses for clay! All you need is clay, maybe some paint, and your imagination! *Note- bake your clay art project before painting. There are so many cute, fun crafts you can do with clay. You could make, pots, clay animals, flowers, etc. Here’s a link to a website you might like if you’re looking for ideas that have to do with clay. http://familycrafts.about.com/od/claypotcrafts/Clay_Pot_Crafts.htm
8) Make your own Clay.
See a clay project you’d like to do with your kids, but don’t feel like going out to buy clay? No worries! Here’s a simple clay recipe that’s just like the kind you can buy in any store, except it’s special because it’s made by you!
Things you’ll need for this recipe:
-2 cups flour
-1 cup salt
-1 cup water
-1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
-mixing bowl
Step 1: Combine salt & flour in mixing bowl
Step 2: Add water and oil to the mix together and knead it slowly until you get a smooth mixture. It’s that simple!
Note: Leftover clay may be stored wrapped in waxed paper and refrigerated.
9) Make your own chalkboard.
This project is fun and useful! Your kids can use this chalkboard to write down reminders, color on, solve math problems on, etc. Best of all, they can erase it and use it over and over again! It’s a fun project, that will keep your kids busy from time to time.
What you’ll Need:
-Chalkboard Paint (You can also make your own.)
-A thin smooth, board.
-Chalk.
It’s pretty simple. All you need to do is spray or paint the board with the chalkboard paint, and let it dry before you start drawing!
10) Picture magnets
Magnets are fun to hang on the refrigerator, but can be very pricey to get one’s made with your picture on them. Like “Save the date” magnets. You can now make your own, and add your own little touch to them!
You’ll need:
-Magnet sheets (you can find them at places such as office supply)
-Pictures
-foam or Scrapbook supplies.
-Probably some glue.
-Creativity.
-Scissors
Make your own creative designs, and frame your pictures with them. These would also make a great gift to give. Have fun! :]
