Twisted Friendship Bracelet

When I was younger I lived with friendship bracelets on. I would wear them on my wrists and ankles. They would bunch up under my tights when I dressed up (mom loved that). I would wear them in the shower, the lake, the pool, you name it they didn’t come off.

I remember riding in road trips with several colors of embroidery floss secured to a pillow with a safety pin.

Some friendship bracelets are pretty difficult with lots of repeat steps and basic knots. If you are looking for a more complicated pattern, check out this candy strip bracelet.

This twisted friendship bracelet has always been my favorite bracelet to make with younger kids. They are simple to master, quick to make, and easy to put on and take off. It’s an easy way to teach young kids how to make bracelets, without overwhelming them with difficult steps.

The best part? They are super quick to make. You don’t have to make them this quick, but with practice, this twisted bracelet can be made in under 2 minutes! You can even add beads to make it more of a charm bracelet.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, we may receive an affiliate commission.

No time to make this beginner bracelet? Pin it for later!

If you’re currently in the middle of planning craft time, save this pin and come back to it when you’re ready to create. That way you’ll be able to grab all the fun crafts when you’re ready!

Why we love yarn crafts

Yarn is a versitile and inexpensive craft supply. You can find it at any craft supply chain or even the Dollar Tree!

Plus, creating with yarn promotes:

• fine motor skills
• hand-eye coordination
• following instructions
• teaches colors
• practice counting
• and more!

Because of all this skill-building. It’s great for younger children and crafting during school time. Plus a lot of the craft projects can be used afterward for playing, decorating, or sharing.

We have used yarn in this tutorial, but this friendship bracelet can also be made with embroidery thread too!

Tips for making this easy bracelet

• Picking out the colors of string or yarn is going to take longer than actually creating the bracelet, so let your kids enjoy that process.
• Using yarn is easier for younger kids to handle. If older kids are creating these twisted bracelets, they could easily use embroidery thread.
• Play around with the length of string used. For younger kids, 18″ seems to be a good length.
• Make sure you are using wood or plastic beads. NOT GLASS!
• Stringing the beads through 3 strands of yarn can be a little hard for small fingers. Getting the yarn a little damp, or making a quick tape needle will help ease this process.

Yield: 1 Bracelet

How to make an easy twisted bracelet

Print

A super easy friendship bracelet for preschoolers. Don't miss the video tutorial to see all these steps in action.

Active Time 2 minutes

Total Time 2 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

• Yarn or embroidery thread
• Beads (optional)

Tools

• Scissors

Instructions

1. Start by picking out some yarn and beads (optional). Cut 3 strands of yarn to the desired length. (approximately 18" for preschoolers).
2. Tie all three strands together at one end and tape it down to a flat surface.
3. Now take your group of strings and Twist!
4. Twist some more...
5. You want to keep twisting until your colors look like horizontal stripes.
6. If you want to add beads this is the time to do it. String them along the second half of the string.
7. With one finger placed in the middle of your twisted yarn, fold the string in half.
8. Release the finger holding down the middle.
9. Lightly pinch the top and run your fingers down to straighten it out if it’s lumpy.
10. Tie together at the top and trim off the extra string.
11. To create the bracelet, put one finger in the folded end.
12. Then pull the knot through.
13. It will tighten on its own and stay together.

How to use this friendship bracelet pattern

Bracelets are great for all kinds of occasions!

• Summer Camps
• Add cross beads for a fun Sunday School Craft
• Create them in your preschool or kindergarten classroom as gifts for kids to pass out.
• Make them at a birthday party as an inexpensive and interactive party gift. (our favorite kind!)
• They make fantastic hand-made gifts from kids. Perfect for Christmas, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and more!

More bracelet crafts you will love!

• Trolls Hug Time Bracelet – This button flower craft is perfect for imaginative play.
• Paper Tube Bracelets – This toddler craft is perfect for skinny wrists.
• Paper Bracelets – A free coloring page style printable.

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Memory Games

Busy bags are my go-to item to pull out at restaurants, doctor offices, you name it!

We have a few different things in our bag based on if we can move around or need to sit still. Having something new from time to time also helps.

That’s why we created these fun travel memory games. For our Swedish readers who are looking for games to play that adults can enjoy while their kids play these memory games, we recommend reading casino utan svensk licens (CUSL) for all the slots, blackjack, and similar online playable games for iGaming fans.

If you follow along with our page you know how much we love rock painting. So it’s no surprise that we are using one of our favorite mediums to create this fun game.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, we may receive an affiliate commission.

Supplies for your rock game:

Get all the supplies you need from our Amazon shop!

• Mini Rocks.
• Mini Canvas Bag.
• Paint Pens. I used 3M colored Posca for the shapes.
• Liner Paint Pen. I used a 1M Posca.
• Brush on Sealer.
• Brush.

How to make a travel game from painted rocks

You can make these memory games in minutes. It is definitely something that the little ones can help you create!

If you do not have paint pens you can create this game with regular acrylic paints and a brush. However, if you have it in your budget to get these awesome paint pens I highly recommend it. It really helps little ones create and the clean up is a breeze!

First, decide how many rocks you want in your memory game. I chose 12 because I wanted to do a picture for each color of the rainbow.

Try to find stones that are similar in shape and size so they aren’t recognizable when flipped over.

Then start adding your designs! Do 2 of each.

Depending on your child’s age you can make them really simple. Just 2 yellow circles, 2 blue circles, etc. Or, if older or you are creating them for your older kids you can paint on pictures. Suns, swirls, etc.

Once the paint dries you can add an outline to help them pop and give them a more finished look. This is totally optional, but can really pull your designs together.

The last touch is a brush-on sealer. This will help protect the paint from getting dinged up in the bag.

Then you’re done! Lay them out and start playing!

I hope you enjoy this fun craft/activity with your little ones!

If you enjoyed this kids’ activity, please share!

The post How to make fun memory games. The perfect boredom buster. appeared first on Twitchetts.

Printable Valentine’s Day Cards to Color

A lot more classrooms are requesting non-candy Valentine’s for our kiddos to pass out and we couldn’t be happier.

We have been doing them for years for many reasons. There are so many kids that have to be careful with allergies, every time you turn around your kids are coming home with a new stash of candy, and sometimes something to play with is just more fun!

It’s fun to create these homemade Valentines that stand out amongst the store-bought princesses and cartoon characters. We have Valentines to give with fun beads and glow bracelets and this year we are pairing them with crayons.

These are sure to be a favorite in your child’s classroom! (I know my daughter’s class is still talking about the puzzle Valentines we passed out last year!)

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, we may receive an affiliate commission.  

Your little one can take these to school and pass them out to all of their little friends! We hope you enjoy these Printable Valentine’s Day Cards to Color as much as we do!

Pin these to your favorite Pinterest board!

The post Printable Valentine’s Day Cards to Color ~ Homemade Valentine’s Gifts from Kids appeared first on Twitchetts.

Homemade Valentine’s Day Gifts from Kids

Kids love creating gifts that they can give.  Valentine’s day gives them a fantastic opportunity create gifts for their friends and for their family.  This collection of homemade Valentine’s Day gifts can help to inspire your little one to create a gift they can be proud to give.  Last year our kids passed out Valentine’s Day Puzzles, and they were such a success that they are itching to create something fun to give to their classmates.  So I went in search of some fun and creative ideas that my kids will love to make and be proud to give to their friends.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, we may receive an affiliate commission.

Creative gifts that kids can make

Valentine’s Day Puzzles // Twitchetts

String Heart Yarn Cards // Hello, Wonderful

Heart Bouquet Cards // Red Ted Art

You’ve Caught My Heart Craft // Kids Craft Room

Heart Pencil Toppers // The Best Ideas for Kids

Danish Heart Craft // Mama In The Now

You Make My Heart Flutter // Teaching Mama

Fingerprint Heart Tree // Arty Crafty Kids

Doily Flower Valentines // I Heart Crafty Things

Printable Valentines to Color // Twitchetts

Related Crafts: 20+ Heart Art Projects!

3D Heart Cards // Twitchetts

Eye Heart You // Mommy’s Bundle

Crayon Mustache Valentines // Fireflies and Mud Pies

I Heart You // Parents

Thumbody Loves You // Simply Kierste

ASL I Love You Card // Busy Mommy Media

Heart Butterfly Pencil Valentine // Buggy and Buddy

Recycled Heart Bookmarks // Red Ted Art

Woven Paper Plate Bee Valentine // Kids Craft Room

Unicorn Valentine Cards // hello, Wonderful

Printable Ninja Valentines // Twitchetts

From puzzles to paper crafts there are tons of fun ideas to choose from!  Which Homemade Valentine’s Day gift will your kiddo choose to create?

The post Homemade Valentine’s Day gifts that your kids will LOVE to create! appeared first on Twitchetts.

Painted Heart Bookmarks

We have been pour painting fanatics lately in our home… and while sometimes we catch our paint onto a canvas, that isn’t always possible.

We decided we needed a creative painting idea to solve the problem of using the extra paint. Whether you are starting from scratch or cleaning up some unused paint you will be amazed at how beautiful and unique these press paint bookmarks are.

It’s a fun way to paint that even the youngest artists can enjoy!

Plus it’s a really fun Valentine’s Day art project.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, we may receive an affiliate commission.  

Supplies for wooden heart art:

• Wooden Heart Bookmarks.
• Acrylic Paint.
• White Glue.
• Water.
• Craft Sticks.
• Parchment Paper.
• Toothpicks.

How to create these fun non-candy Valentine’s Day gifts

Check out these simple step by step instructions for creating our painted heart bookmarks.  Then watch it all in action in the video below.

In our pictures, we are cleaning up after a fun pour painted love sign project. But, as I mentioned above you can easily start from scratch with this project like we did with our press painted snowflakes that you can see here!

We use the same DIY thickening agent in our paints to help stretch the paint a bit farther and to help keep the colors blending together too much. Make your thickening agent with 2 parts glue to 1 part water, then mix the glue mixture with your paint in a 1 to 1 ratio.

Using a craft stick drizzle, drip, or smear some paint down on a piece of parchment paper.

Use all the different colors and try to spread them close together.

Related Project: Press Painted Flowers

If you are working with a very young child you might want to trace a box a bit larger than your bookmark to give them a place to aim. Then take your heart bookmarks and press them into the paint!

Use a toothpick to help pick it back up.

You can press the bookmark as many times as you want until you love the finished look.

Place them on a fresh piece of parchment paper to dry. Do not let them dry in the paint. They will stick! Once dry you can add a card with some ribbon or tape. These painted heart bookmarks make a great non-candy Valentines to pass out to friends & family!

Pin this creative painting idea to your favorite Pinterest board

The post How to make painted heart bookmarks for a fun Valentine’s Day gift appeared first on Twitchetts.

Craft Stick Valentine’s Day puzzles

Is your child’s classroom requesting a non-candy Valentines to be sent to school this year? If you have little ones at home this might be the perfect idea to send.

These homemade Valentines are fun little craft stick puzzles that your kiddos can help create! Add them to your Valentine’s Day crafts for kids to-do list!

We usually send Valentines without candy each year, we have done beaded necklace Valentines, and glow bracelet ninja Valentines, but this is the first year it was actually requested!

I was happy when I figured out a fun homemade Valentine that V could actually help me create. She will be proud to pass them out to all of her little friends at school.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we may receive an affiliate commission.

What you need for your Homemade Valentines:

• Craft Sticks. (We buy these in bulk!)
• Permanent Markers.
• Washable Markers.
• Tape.
• Snack Size Baggies.

How to make your Craft Stick Puzzle Valentines:

Start by taping your sticks together. I used 8 sticks each.

Then flip over and draw a fun Valentine’s Day design using your permanent markers.

Hand it over to your little one to fill in your hearts and swirls. Or even the whole thing…

Washable markers will be a bit lighter letting your design show through.

Once they are all colored, take the tape off, and place the pieces in a snack bag. Seal and write on the front. “Love you to pieces!” and your To: and From:

These will be so fun for them to pass out. Make sure to make one or two extra to keep at home for your little one to play with!

The post How to make easy craft stick Valentine’s Day puzzles for the classroom appeared first on Twitchetts.

Ninja Valentines

My son doesn’t want anything “mushy” to give out to his friends… These Ninja Valentines are not only cute and clever, but they are also non-candy Valentines which I prefer to have my kids pass out!

There are so many reasons I try to come up with a non-candy Valentines each year for J to pass out. They get too much candy for everything these days, but there are also a lot of kids with allergies that can’t enjoy the candy.

We do the Switch Witch and Teal Pumpkin Project for Halloween and this is our way of being conscious for Valentine’s Day.

Also, these Valentines were really “cool” to pass out last year. I mean what kid doesn’t love ninjas?

Most of the Valentines can be given to friends without saying anything “gushy” and all kids love glow bracelets!

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we may receive an affiliate commission.

Where to get your Printable Valentines:

The post Ninja Valentines – Printable Valentines for Boys and Girls! appeared first on Twitchetts.