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DJ is a big fan of the Cebeebies TV show Mr Maker and often after watching is inspired to try some of the fun crafts from the show. This weekend DJ asked (read “demanded”) that we try to make the “Springy Worm and Bird”. Luckily this project requires materials we already had in the house, so I grabbed my camera and we started making!

You will need:
– Coloured paper: We used yellow, orange, pink and white.
– Felt tip pens
– Glue stick
– Scissors

Step 1: Cut out 2 strips of pink paper both the same width and length.
Step 2: Using your glue stick add a dab of glue on the end of one of your strips.

Step 3: Stick the end of your other strip to it so you make a big “L” shape

Step 4: Then fold the first strip over the second one (so if you grab the strip pointing to the right, fold it over so it points to the left)

Step 5: Then take the other strip and fold it over again (so taking the strip that points up and folding it over so it points down)

Step 6: Follwing the pattern now take the next strip and fold it over, then the other, then the other, and keep going. You don’t need to be too exact with this for it to work.
(If you need some help with this, this great youtube video will help you out. It’s really simple when you know how – my son loves it! – but it’s hard to explain with words and still pictures.)

Step 7: When you run out of paper stick the last fold down on top and trim off any excess paper.

And you have your spring!

Step 8: Put your spring aside and grab a piece of paper for your birds body (we used yellow paper). Have your child draw a big egg shape and two simple wings. Then you cut it out.

Step 9: Next you need to make some eyes. Have your child draw two large circles with small circles inside them then colour in the pupils. And cut those out too.

Step 10: Using a glue stick stick the eyes onto the birds face

Step 11: Cut out a triangle of orange paper for the birds beak and stick it onto the birds face

Step 12: Draw a small smily face on a piece of pink paper and cut it out. Stick the pink face to one end of the pink spring to make a worm.

Step 13: Using the glue stick, stick the bottom of the worm to the birds beak

Your Springy Worm and Bird are complete! You can use the spring technique to make lots of fun projects. DJ is fascinated by the process of making them. In fact after we made this one we made another 6 more worms and birds!

For more projects check out my old Kids Crafts posts, and for the latest project please check back again next Wednesday. If you have any suggestions for kids crafts projects you would like to see, leave a comment and let me know!

If you enjoyed this Kids Crafts post you can sign up to my newsletter for updates on new Kids Crafts projects, as well as info about my new artwork, sneaky peeks into my artists studio and lots more.

My little lad is crazy about space and flying rockets to the moon. So together we made our own rocket from bits and pieces around the house. This little rocket is a fun and easy kids crafts project to make with your toddler, or for an older child to make on their own.

You will need:
– A toilet roll tube, or cut a kitchen roll tube in half.
– Cardboard (I used a left over cereal box)
– Coloured pens
– Sticky tape
– Scissors
– Red and Yellow wool, or you could use ribbon if you don’t have any wool
– Stapler (optional)
– Something to draw a circle with
(I’m using a large sticky tape roll, but a mug or pot will work too)
– Stickers if you have some.

Step 1: To make the cone for the top of your rocket take a piece of card and draw a circle on it. If your toddler wants to help with this, use something circular to draw around – we used a large sticky tape roll, but a mug or small round bowl will work too. Then Cut out the circle.

Step 2: Using the scissors cut a quarter of the circle out.

Step 3: In the corner of a piece of card draw a rocket wing and flap like this shape and cut it out.

Step 4: Use this as a template to make 3 more wings. Lay the first wing down on the card and draw around it so you have 2 the same. For the other 2 pieces turn the card over so you get a mirror image.

Step 5: Have your child colour in the cut out circle, wing pieces and tube with felt tip pen. DJ asked me to add a circle for the rocket’s window.

Step 6: Curl the cut out circle piece together to make a cone. Use a staple gun to secure it or stick it with sticky tape. If you are concerned about safety put a piece of sticky tape over the edges of the staple.

Step 7: Using scissors cut the tip of the cone to make a small hole. You will feed the wool through this hole later.

Step 8: Fold up the flaps on the wing pieces.

Step 9: Using a glue stick, stick two mirror pieces together to make one rocket wing. Then do the same for the 2^nd wing.

Step 10: Stick the wings to the side of your tube. I used some sticky tape to make this extra secure.

Step 11: To make the “fire” coming out of the rocket take several long strings of wool and hold them together. Tie a single separate piece of wool around the middle of your bunch, You’ll feed this through the hole in the cone later.

Step 12: Feed the single separate piece of wool through the rocket tube first and then through the hole in the tip of the rocket

Step 13: Stick the cone to the top of your tube. I used sticky tape for this but you could also use a hot glue gun (well out of the way of your child).

Step 14: Decorate with stickers if you have any (DJ wanted to play with it right away so we didn’t get around to the stickers!)

Step 15: Your rocket is ready to play with! DJ loved “whooshing” it around our living room! You can also use the string in the top to hang it up.

For more kids crafts projects please check back again next Wednesday. If you have any suggestions for kids crafts projects you would like to see please leave a comment!

If you enjoyed this Kids Crafts post you can sign up to my newsletter for updates on new Kids Crafts projects, as well as info about my new artwork, sneaky peeks into my artists studio and lots more.