www.craftsforkids.com

Hands on Crafts For Kids is the resource for kids craft projects and instructions for kids 6-12 and parents, teachers and other group leaders. It includes school and curriculum based projects,  multi cultural projects, and every day, holiday and seasonal ideas.

It is  the online home of the public television program Hands On Crafts for Kids.

Always cover your work surface with a mat or some type of protective covering like wax paper or plastic.

Age Range: 7 to 12

Grade Range: 2 to 6

Skill Level: Moderate

Appropriate for These Special Events:
Every Day, Rainy Days and Costumes

Supports Subject Area(s) of:
Language Arts – e.g. step by step instructions
Mathematics - measuring
Visual Arts

Time Needed for Project:
1 hour

Customizable Space Vest

Intergalactic heroes of the universe unite! This solar power space vest is great for imaginative play! It can be quickly changed as you cruise though the galaxy in search of adventure! Customizable badges can be easily added and removed depending on if you are representing our planet earth or the distant home world of a foreign alien species! As you conquer various space tasks and save the planet from total annihilation, award yourself with heroic badges and medals!

Main Materials:

Westcott Brand® Kids NonStick 5” Blunt Tip Scissors with Microban® Protection (for ages 4 and up)
OR
Westcott Brand® Kids NonStick 5” Pointed Tip Scissors with Microban® Protection (for ages 6 and up)
Pencil
Westcott Brand® Pencil Sharpener
Westcott Brand® Eraser
Westcott Brand® Ruler
Westcott Brand® Soft Touch School Compass with Microban® Protection
Printed Duck® Brand Duct Tape
Color Duck® Brand Duct Tape
Printed Duck® Brand Duct Tape Sheets
Color Duck® Brand Duct Tape Sheets
VELCRO® Brand Sticky Back™ Hook and Loop Fasteners

Click here to download a pattern for this project.

Basic Materials:

Plain Cardstock
Brown Paper Bag
Cardboard Box (one that fits inside the bag)

Instructions:

1. To go with the space age theme, I covered the bag with strips of chrome colored duct tape but you could also cover your bag with sheets or strips of another color/pattern.
2. Begin by covering the flattened (folded) bags bottom, front and back surfaces with duct tape.  
3. Next cover the bags sides with duct tape. Handy Hint: Insert a cardboard box into the bag to hold it sturdy while you work.
4. Using a compass, draw circles for the neck and armholes.
5. Cut vertically from the neck hole all the way down the center of the vest. Now you have a blank vest to embellish with interchangeable heroic regalia!
6. Create symbolic badges for your vest that represent your intergalactic accomplishments! These badges can be made of cut cardstock shapes sandwiched between layers of duct tape. For these patches I went with a military and an otherworldly theme for a variety of space age experiences!
7. Attach the badges to the vest with the hook and loop fasteners.
8. To create the vest’s closures, take a long strip of tape and fold it onto itself leaving a length of the sticky surface exposed. Attach the sticky length of the strap to one side of the vest about a third of the way down and repeat the process with a second evenly spaced strap for extra secure closure.
9. Trim the two straps into even lengths and fold the ends of the straps inward.
10.  Secure the folded straps in place with a piece of adhesive loop fastener.
11.  Attach the corresponding hook fastener to the other side of your vest in alignment with the loop fastener.
12.  Suit up in your customized space vest and prepare to enter the unknown!

Interchangeable Space Alien Belt

Calling all intergalactic space explorers! Do the aliens come in peace or are they planning an attack? The alien face on this cosmic belt can be quickly changed on the fly to suit their current mood whether they are feeling silly, sly, serious or scary! Comes fully equipped with a space age storage pouch for all the extra parts!

Main Materials:

Westcott Brand® Kids NonStick 5” Blunt Tip Scissors with Microban® Protection (for ages 4 and up)
OR
Westcott Brand® Kids NonStick 5” Pointed Tip Scissors with Microban® Protection (for ages 6 and up)
Pencil
Westcott Brand® Pencil Sharpener
Westcott Brand® Eraser
Westcott Brand® Ruler
Westcott Brand® Soft Touch School Compass with Microban® Protection (optional)

Click here to download a pattern for this project.

Materials List:

Printed Duck® Brand Duct Tape
Color Duck® Brand Duct Tape
Printed Duck® Brand Duct Tape Sheets
Color Duck® Brand Duct Tape Sheets
VELCRO® Brand Clear Hook and Loop Fastener Tape
3/8” VELCRO® Brand Clear Hook and Loop Fastener Coins
5/8” VELCRO® Brand Clear Hook and Loop Fastener Coins
VELCRO® Brand Sticky Back™ Hook and Loop Fasteners
Plain Cardstock
½” Flexible Polyurethane Upholstery Foam

Instructions:

1. To create the belt strap, join two long pieces of duct tape sticky sides together.
2. Wrap the belt around your waist and trim it to size leaving a 2” overlap for the hook and loop closure.
3. Set the belt piece aside.
4. To create the alien head “buckle” cut a piece of flexible foam into the shape of a tapered alien head.
5. Cut a piece of duct tape sheet in the same alien head shape, leaving the paper backing on.
6. Place the foam alien head shape onto the sticky side of a piece of duct tape sheet.
7. Lay the duct tape sheet cut into the shape of the alien head on top of the foam.
8. Trim the excess of the bottom layer of duct tape sheet leaving a border of about ¾” of stickiness exposed.
9. Cut tabs in the excess duct tape sheet and wrap the tabs around and secure them to the other side.
10.  Once you have the head shaped buckle completed, connect the backside of the head to the belt strap with a piece of matching duct tape.
11.  Attach the pieces of VELCRO® Brand Sticky Back™ hook and loop fasteners to the belt on the corresponding sides to create the belt’s closure. Now it is time to begin creating the alien’s accessories.
12.  Attach pieces of clear hook and loop fasteners to your alien’s face where you want the eyes and mouth to be. Handy Hint: Be sure to use hook fasteners on the alien’s face and corresponding loop fasteners on the accessories.
13.  Create the accessories and facial features by drawing and cutting shapes out of cardstock and sandwiching the pieces between layers of duct tape.
14.  Create detailed accessories and facial features by layering shapes of duct tape on top of each other.
15.  Attach fasteners to the back of the accessories and facial features for easy cosmic customization.
16.  To create the pouch to hold all the extra accessories and features when not in use, cut a rectangular piece of duct tape sheet. Cut another piece of duct tape sheet that is ½” larger than the previous sheet on all four sides.
17.  Peel the paper backing off of the larger sheet and place the smaller sheet on the sticky surface in the center leaving the paper backing of the smaller sheet on.
18.  Notch out all four corners and fold down the two excess pieces on the two short sides.
19.  Lay corresponding strips of hook and loop fasteners lengthwise along the two short ends.
20.  Fold the rectangle in half. The hook and loop fasteners on the short ends will join and the seams of the pouch are created by the joining of the sticky excess of the long sides.