You don't need to spend a lot of money on craft equipment for
your kids. Sure, you can if you wish go to the toy store and
buy those overpackaged, overpriced kits. However, a little bit
of thought and you can not only do crafts on the cheap, but you
and your kids can have a lot of fun doing them as well.

Think before you throw out things. Pictures from old magazines
can be cut out and used for projects such as collage. Greetings
cards can also be used in this way, or the cut-outs used to make
new cards. Newspapers can be turned into papier mâché.

Raid your sewing box for old buttons, pieces of wool or scrap
material. Again, these can be used for collage or cards, and
for making bangles, necklaces, or even dolls clothes.

A store cupboard item you can use for crafting with young
children is dried pasta such as penne. Help them thread it onto
string to make a long necklace.

Make your own playdough. Put 1 cup water, 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup
salt, 2 teaspoons cooking oil and 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
in a pan. Add a little food coloring and cook gently for a few
minutes until the mixture forms a ball. Store in a plastic
container.

Lolly or popsicle sticks, washed and dried, can be made into
many interesting objects such as doll's furniture.

Paper plates make great masks. Cut out holes for the eyes and
attach a piece of elastic once the plates are painted or drawn
on. Halve the plates to make carnival eye masks and attach a
popsicle stick as a handle.

A great place to find free craft materials is outdoors. Nature
provides us with a wealth of ideas. In the woods, gather
leaves, twigs or bark. An imaginative child will find plenty to
do with them. While you're there, give your kids paper and
crayons to make tree bark rubbings. See what patterns different
trees make.

Flowers can be picked for pressing. You don't need an expensive
flower press, just gently wrap the blooms in kitchen roll and
place between the pages of an old book. Put it in a warm place
such as an airing cupboard, weighted down if it's a paperback,
and wait a few days until the flowers are completely dry.

The beach is another good place to gather materials. Small
shells can be glued onto plain trinket boxes or picture frames
to make highly individual gifts. Collect large stones and paint
them. Make an interesting texture on paper by spreading glue
over and sprinkling on sand.

Explore charity shops. Buy cheap glassware and crockery to
paint on. Old wallpaper rolls are great for scrap paper and
cutting out. You may even find books on crafts.

I'm sure that you'll come up with even more ideas for
inexpensive craft ideas for your kids. Remember to be safety
conscious with materials. And don't forget, have fun!