You’ll want to bookmark this post to have it handy
By popular request, here are some suggested craft supplies (and related projects) that our family loves to have on-hand! Many of these can be found at Target, your local grocery store, or just laying around your house. I’ve included links to Amazon, for easy purchase online.
In the Art Cabinet
Colored Tissue Paper — Our FAVE craft supply! Indoor Leaf Pile, Outdoor Streamers, Tissue Paper Flowers, Garden Welcome Banner, Colorful Coaster Sets, and many many more!
Clear Contact Paper — Stained “Glass” Sculpture, Autumn Tree Suncatcher, Reusable To Do List, Kid Travel Kit
Color Coding Labels — Birds on a Wire, Pretty Peacock Pictures, DIY Summer Party Invites, Smiley Sandwich Picks
Colored Masking Tape — Modern Wall Art, Easy Spring Mural
Play Dough / Model Magic — Pretend Hot Dog Stand, Spring Tree Sculpture
Washable Paint — Watermelon Wrapping Paper, Spin Art, No-Mess Marbled Painting
Watercolors — Groovy Peace Signs, Stunning Winter Tree Silhouette
Markers / Crayons / Colored Pencils —
Yarn / String — Tiny Pumpkin Patch Play Set, Easy Robin’s Nest Picture
Felt — Fairy House Tutorial, Travel Play Kitchen Set, Donut Shop, Simple Farm Take-Along Toy
Fabric Scraps — Color Match Game for Tots, Owl Family Play Set
Glue / Tape / Mod Podge / Glue Sticks —
Scissors / Hole Punch —
Recyclables (They’re FREE!)
Cardboard Rolls — Owl Family Play Set, Falling Leaves Wrapping Paper, Bird Watching Kit
Egg Cartons — Elevator Fun!
Cereal Boxes —Mini Books, Garden Stones, Peter and the Wolf Play Set
Foam Trays — Easy Block Printing
Nets from Produce Bags — Bird Nester
Newspaper — Spooky Bones
Jars and Cans — Lanterns, Pencil Holder
Bubble Wrap — Fun with Bubble Wrap
Magazines — Beads Made from Magazines
Paper Bags — Sunflower Prints, Apple Printed Book Covers
Milk Cartons / Plastic Salad Containers — Bird Feeders, Lightweight Blocks for Toddlers
From the Pantry
Dry Pasta / Rice — Pasta Necklaces
Dry Oatmeal — Beach Picture
Dry Beans — Bean Faces
Salt — Salty Snowman, Homemade Bath Salts
Food Coloring — Make Your Own Sidewalk Chalk Paint
Potatoes — Pumpkin Printed Halloween Trick-or-Treat Bags, Holiday Light Treat Bags
Natural Materials (FREE Art Supplies!)
Sticks — Weave a Trivet
Leaves / Bark — Leaf Necklaces, Autumn Garland, Fall Coasters
Flowers / Pine Cones — Dandelion Bouquet
Stones — Story Stones and Sidewalk Scenes
Recommended Reading:
- Absolutely Essential Craft Supplies for Kids
- 10 Tips to Stretch Your Art Supplies
- Cleaning Up After Messy Art
- 7 Modern Art Projects for Kids
Great list!
yay what a great list of basics! I need to restock on paint soon 🙂
What a fabulous list Valerie! I am printing this one off for my bulletin board. I’m planning on getting a lot of art/craft supplies for Christmas and this will be a good guide.
Great timing! Just this morning I was thinking about what to put in our craft cupboard. Thanks for all the suggestions AND links to some great fun activities 🙂
Wow, that is a great list. Thank you.
Thanks for this! And, you inspired us once again:
http://livintheyehlife.blogspot.com/2010/10/owls.html
That’s a fabulous list. Thanks. I didn’t even know masking tape came in different colors. 🙂 And I saw some links to posts I have missed.
Great list Valerie!
Great list! Thanks a lot, bookmarked 🙂
Thanks for this wonderful list Valerie! I need help with organization!!! I’d love to know how you and others organize craft materials. Do you allow your little ones access to the supplies or do you have them put away and only you take out supplies as needed? I have four boys, ages 6, 4 1/2, 3 and 1. It is helpful if I have supplies within reach for them, but as you can imagine sometimes I think it is not such a good idea. 🙂 Help!! 🙂
WOW! Thanks!
Your list is so great 🙂 I’ll bookmark it!
This is an awesome post – I am definitely bookmarking it. Thanks for pulling all the resources and the crafts in one place!
What a great list and a brilliant way to link up your crafts to their supplies.