What a ripper of an idea! Link to tutorial, via Bloesem Kids.

’scrubby buddies’ for the “under 5″ crowd – Turn a tattered old towel into a new bathtime buddy – with the help of a coloring book. Tute here.

Are kids back at school yet – in in Australia kids are on holidays for another 3 weeks and while there is lots going on, between bike riding, friends, trampoline and the pool – there is the occasional voice saying – what is there to do? so thanks to se7en who sent me a link to their favourite crafty sites for kids – here is a list of fun activities and crafty things for kids to do these holidays [for more crafty kids activities check out the crafty crow]

1. Have a sketchbook sitting out in the family room – available for when anyone feels ready to do a little drawing, coloring, doodling, scribbling. Fun drawing idea – blind contour drawing.

2. board games – make your own or print and play this one

3. make a pop-up doll house or a cardboard doll house.

4. Interview your kids or have them interview each other.

5. rock craft – I love this gold leaf idea - and pinecone crafts. Start a collection.

6. decorate some cookies

7. make some felted soap

8. Shadow puppets

Amber at Kids craft weekly is running the card Swap at Kids Craft Weekly – sign-ups close on November 18 – All the details are in the latest Christmas Card newsletter.

Amber has also just published a Christmas Craft PDF (on sale for $5). If you would like to win one of 5 then leave a comment about your favourite christmas/holiday season family craft activity.

Amber has put together a fabulous little booklet – available as a PDF download which you can then print out. Great idea! and some fantastic ideas for a kids crafty Christmas inside.

The five chapters: Advent, cards, decorations, gift tags and games. Some of my favourite projects include the mini advent envelopes decorated with fun stamps. Instructions for making origami cups (my kids love these). The scouring pad tree decorations are innovative and simple. None of the projects are out of the range of kids making – I love that the projects are not too sophisticated or fussy – perfect for kids to do themselves or with minimal supervision.

[thanks so much for your great ideas - winners have been contacted - thank you so much for your entries]

this months kids craft weekly newsletter has some fantastic ways for kids to get into printing.

pepper paints shows us how to make a wonderful kid friendly hut from rolled up newspaper. part of the unplugged project [via folding trees]

jc handmade has a cute tutorial on making a felt board for kids. [via the crafty crow]