How to make an easy luggage tag, fun kid's craft

Whenever you go anywhere and fly everyone seems to have the same color luggage.  You can make a personalized easy luggage tag that sets your luggage apart from the crowd. The tag is big enough to be noticed but is also very lightweight.

This is a perfect project for kids, girls scout groups, vacation Bible school and so much more.  You make this luggage tag from foam door hangers that are very inexpensive.  It's a great way to use up all those extra little foam shapes that the kids may have not used up yet too! 

So let’s get started!

Materials:

2 foam door hangers in contrasting colors

Disappearing marker

Hole punch or nail, scissors

Tacky craft glue

Sharpie marker 

16” of flexible plastic string (used for beading)

Small foam shapes to fit in the center hole

Easy luggage tag

1)   Choose two contrasting colors of foam door hangers.  Measure 3 inches from the bottom of one door hanger marking with a disappearing marker and cut off. Do the same with the other door hanger except you will measure from the top  (the end with the hole) and cut off. 

2)   Place them together and you will have a recessed area on one end.  You will not be putting any glue in the recessed area. 

3)   Using a large hole punch or simply poke a hole with a nail in the center of the non-door hole area.

4)   Line up both side together so that the hole you punched is in the center of the door hole.  (This is the top of your tag)

  

5)   Spread some tacky glue onto the side with the door hole. Press together and let dry.  Trim the corners at an angle.

6)   Glue foam shapes in the recessed door hole areas if desired or just leave as is.   Attach a piece of flexible plastic string through the punched hole and attach to luggage.  Use the Sharpie marker to label with name and address.

Christmas personalized memory book ornament

Every Christmas is different in it’s own unique way.  So why shouldn’t your ornaments be as special as each family member?  These little books have pages where you can write a date, a thought, a memorable gift or blessing and hang it on the tree.  Then every year you can add to it. The mini books have ten little pages but you can add more if you’d like.  Personalize them by embellishing them with each family member’s initial and a bit of flair.  They are sure to be a fun tradition for years to come.  This is a great kid's Craft too!!

You will need:

·      Lightweight cardboard or poster board

·      Felt in desired color (Felt even comes in sparkle)

·      All purpose computer paper

·      Ruler

·      Scissors

·      Stapler and staples

·      Tacky craft glue

·      Gold or silver cord

·      Felt or fun foam letters

·      Felt or fun foam small Christmas motifs (Snowflakes etc.)

1.     Gather your materials

2.     Cut a piece of lightweight cardboard or poster board 2 ½” x 4 ½”.  Cut five pieces of all-purpose computer paper 2 ¼” x 4”.

3.     Fold the cardboard in half width wise.  Stack the paper on top of the cardboard.  Center so that the border is even all around.  Fold the paper and cardboard in half again.  Use the fold line to place two staples right down the center.

4.     Turn the book to the back.  Cut a piece of gold or silver wire 8 ½” long, fold in half and glue to the back cover leaving a loop at the top for hanging.

5.     Cut a piece of felt 2 ¾” x 4 ¾”.  Spread some tacky glue on the entire back cover and attach the felt making sure it is even all around.  Let dry. 

6.     Use tacky glue to attach a letter to personalize and add some extra motifs if desired.

7.     Write the date on the first page and add to the book as desired.

Fun foam flowerpot person

This project is a great kid's camp craft with some adult help when using the hot glue.  Just add a hanging flower or plant and you've given your flowerpot person some hair and he will never have a bad hair day! It’s quick, it’s easy and its super fun. Add a quick and easy Bowdabra bow to finish.  If you use a bigger pot you can make a bigger bow and glue it to the bottom for a bow tie.

Flower pot person pattern pieces

You will need:

Fun foam red, peach or pink, black and white

1-inch diameter wiggle eyes

Pattern pieces traced on cardboard

Plastic flowerpot in desired size

Ruler

Scissors (pointed)

Pencil

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Bamboo barbeque skewer or butter knife

Bowdabra mini bowmaker with ruler

Bowdabra bow wire

Small rhinestone

1.     Download full sized pattern.  Trace onto some thin cardboard to use as a guide. Trace and cut out two eyes from white fun foam, a mouth from red foam and a nose from peach or pink fun foam. (See photo)  Cut out the center area of the mouth with pointed scissors.  Fold the nose foam piece in half lengthwise  pressing with your fingers to make a small peak down the center.  Fold the nostrils inward on each side. (This is where you will glue the nose onto the pot and the fold line down the center will make it somewhat dimensional.

2.     Cut a 1 ½” x 1 ½” piece of black fun foam.  Make little cut lines across. (Eyelashes)

3.     Using the hot glue gun attach one nostril side to the center of the pot.  Push the opposite side towards the first one to make it dimensional and add another bit of hot glue to attach to the pot.

4.     Arch the cut eyelash pieces and make a guide line with a pencil on each side of the nose. Attach with some hot glue. (Be careful when working with hot glue. Sometimes it is helpful to use a barbecue skewer or butter knife to hold the piece down till the glue sets)

5.     Add some more hot glue on the bottom and under the eyelashes and attach the whites of the eyes. 

6.     Finish the face by adding some wiggle eyes in the center of the whites of the eyes and attaching the mouth under the nose.

7.     Make the bow.  Cut a 12-inch piece of Bowdabra bow wire.  Fold in half and insert in the mini Bowdabra bow maker with ruler.  You will have a loop on one end and two-pieces of wire on the other.

8.     Using a piece of ½” or 1” wide gingham ribbon, insert in the Bowmaker to the two inch line. 

9.     Make a loop to the one-inch line on the other side.

10.  Make a matching loop on the opposite side and end with a tail at the two-inch line.

11.  Use the Bowdabra wand to scrunch down the bow.  Insert the two wire ends through the loop end and pull tight.  Make a knot in the back.

12.  Fold the ribbon in half and cut with scissors to make two points on the tail ends.  Use the hot glue gun to attach rhinestone in the center and attach to the top of the pot.  Add a plant such as a spider plant or other falling leaf plant to the pot for the hair.