a repurposed denim apron with a heart on it beside a craft kit
Share
Ages:
all

Crafts

Everything You Need for a Portable Craft Kit for Kids

By Jackie Currie

May 21, 2013

Crafting with little ones can be somewhat daunting if you don't have a designated place to keep all of your supplies.

And storing your tools and crafty odds and ends in various containers, jars, drawers and cupboards can make it challenging for kids to simply sit down and get creative when the mood strikes.

A portable craft kit is a great way to corral your child's art and craft supplies, and keep them in one handy container for quick and easy access.

I'm going to show you how I put mine together, along with a repurposed denim apron, which requires only basic sewing skills and an old pair of jeans. You can find the tutorial for the apron here. Wouldn't this set make a great gift for any little crafter?

A portable craft kit is perfect for:

  • crafty play dates
  • sleepovers at Grandma and Grandpa's
  • a child's birthday gift
  • teenage babysitters
  • kids of all ages

Start with a case. I found my craft case at a big-box store, but a toolbox or tackle box would work well, too.

Fill it up!I put this craft kit together as a gift for my niece, and I simply went through my own craft supplies to stock it up. The panel on the very top of the case opens up, and I filled the small compartments there with googly eyes, foam bits, sequined stars and pom poms.

Inside the case, I filled the removable tray with all kinds of goodies: crafts sticks, pipe cleaners, buttons, plastic straws, scissors, yarn and a glue stick.

Underneath the tray, I packaged up a variety of colourful crafting supplies: feathers, artificial flowers, foam shapes and cornstarch building blocks, and I filled a couple of prescription bottles with pony beads, craft gems and jewels.

I also included some larger materials, several sheets of felt, a package of tissue paper, a foam door-hanger and a stack of paint samples (my daycare Hooligans love using scissors to cut along the white lines).

If you're giving your kit as a gift, you can pair it with the adorable repurposed denim apron! We've been using these in my daycare for a couple of years now, and I — and the kids — love them. The aprons are durable, somewhat water resistant, and they wash well. I especially love that I can give our old jeans a second life with these.

Once you're happy with the stash of supplies you've gathered, simply tuck them all into your kit and voilà, your little crafter will have everything they need right at their fingertips! Crafting with your kiddos just got a whole lot easier, didn't it? And what child wouldn't love to receive a gift like this?

If you're looking for more easy and inexpensive ways to get creative with your kids, be sure to visit my blog at Happy Hooligans! You'll find lots of inspiration among the pages there.

Article Author Jackie Currie
Jackie Currie

Read more from Jackie here.

Jackie Currie is a mother, daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind the blog Happy Hooligans. A self-proclaimed glitterphobe, she specializes in easy, affordable arts & crafts and good, old-fashioned play.