Octopus Climbing Cup Toy Craft

Here's a simple and fun craft idea that'll not only spark kids imaginations, but also keep them entertained for hours.

Matetials:

Paper cup
Red paper
Glue
Scissors
Marker
String of shoelace

Directions:

1) Cut and glue red paper around a paper cup.
2) Cut two small holes in the bottom of the cup.
3) Draw a puckered octopus face on the side of the cup.
4) Cut slits around the rim of the cup and curl up the sides to make the octopuse's arms.
5) Lace a string or shoelace through the holes in the cup.
6) Hang up the string and pull up and down to make the octopus climb.


Options:

Get creative! Make monkeys, rabits, birds or other animals.
Make several climbers, hang them up side by side and have a face with your friends.

Easy Japanese Paper Lantern Craft

If your studying about Japanese culture, this Japanese Paper Lantern craft is a great activity to do with your kids and is much easier than it looks.

Materials:

• cardboard
• ruler
• a box cutter or sharp knife
• scissors
• a pencil for marking
• two sets of disposable wooden chopsticks(4 sticks) or small dowel rods
• crayons
• long Japanese Shoji paper, wax paper, or other long strip of white paper
• a tea light or candle

Directions:

Base and top

1. Cut two 6 inch/15 cm squares from cardboard.
2. On one square, measure and cut out a smaller square about 1 /2 inches/4 cm in from the edge for the top hole. The hole should be about 3 1/4 inches or 8 1/2cm.

Paper

1. Cut a long strip of white paper about 6 inches/15 cm wide and 20 inches/50 cm long
2. Roughly mark the paper into 4 1/2 inch/12 cm panels. There will be 4 panels to the lantern. remember to leave a little extra on the ends.
3. Use crayons to draw a design on each panel. Choose whatever theme you wish.

Assembly

1. On the cardboard base and top, mark 4 holes, 1 inch/3cm from each corner. 
2. Use a sharp pencil to start the holes.
3. Break apart the chopsticks. There will be a skinny end and slightly fatter end. 
4. Push the thin end of each chopstick through the base piece al the way till just before the bottom.
5. Push the top piece with the large hole on the top to make the frame. 
6. Wrap the decorated paper around the chopstick frame and glue the ends together.
7. Alternatively, you could wrap and glue the paper first, remove the paper loop, decorate and put it back on. 
8. Put a small candle inside and light your lantern.

You can use the Recycled cooking oil candle idea, too. 

Recycled Cooking Oil Candle Craft

Looking for a way to recycle all that cooking oil after dinner? Here's a simple and resourceful idea to make small candles from waste cooking oil. This is a good activity to do with the Easy Japanese Paper Lantern Craft.

WARNING: Fire Hazard!
This activity must be done under close adult supervision. Don't use candles inside. Do not leave candles burning unattended!

Materials:

• used cooking oil
• old cloth or rag
• container to catch filtered oil
• oil coagulant (optional)
• a paper clip
• thick cotton string or wick
• aluminum muffin tin or used tea light tin

Directions:

1. Use an old cloth or rag to filter impurities from used cooking oil. 
2. Open a paper clip so it sits with end sticking up as shown above.
3. Cut a length of wick or thick cotton cord and insert the open paper clip rod up inside the cord to make your wick stand. 
4. Place the wick stand in an aluminum muffin tin or used tea light tin.
5. Use an oil coagulant if desired. I often find used cooking oil will coagulate by itself.
6. Pour some oil into the tin. 
7. Light your oil candle.

Warning: The oil candle makes black smoke and smells like whatever you were cooking.

Easy Toilet Paper Roll Kaleidoscope Craft

Here's a really simple recycled toilet roll kaleidoscope craft for kids. Actually it's not a proper kaleidoscope, nothing turns or needs a mirror. This is a perfect for Kindergarten or Elementary students. Te one pictured above was taped to the window, but you can just hold it up to the light.

Materials:

• toilet roll tube
• colorful cellophane
• non-sticky, reflective/holographic tape
• colorful paper
• decorative tape or paper
• scotch tape
• wax paper
• scissors
• glue

Directions:

1. Cut a toilet roll tube into 1/4 sized rolls.
2. Roll and glue holographic/reflective tape into very small loops or tear drop shapes. 
3. Lay the 1/4 toilet roll on the table and fill with the reflective loops.
4. Place small, irregular pieces of various colored cellophane over the top of the roll and tape everything in place with clear, scotch tape. Now, one end of the toilet roll is completely closed and looks like a small stained glass window and there are little reflective loops inside. 
5. Turn over the toilet roll.
6. Trace the toilet roll opening on wax paper and cut out with a little extra around the traced circle. 
7. Place the wax paper over the open end of the roll and tape the sides down securely. 
8. Now decorate the outside of the toilet roll with colorful adhesive tape, stickers, or paper .
9. Hold the the kaleidoscope roll up to a light or window and look through the wax paper end. Roll with your fingers and see the swirls of various colors.

Father's Day Pop Up Card Craft

Here's a great Father's Day pop up card idea from a Japanese site. This example is in Japanese, but ou can make it with an English message. Visit the site below for the full step by step tutorial with pictures. It's easier to make than you think.

All About (Japan)

Easy Father's Day Fan Craft

Here's an easy Father's Day craft idea from a Japanese site. Use hand prints or crayons and markers to decorate a plastic hand fan. Visit the site below for more.

Masako Mama

Father's Day Paper Plate Face Craft

Here's an awesome idea from a Japanese website. Decorate a paper plate to ,look like Dad's portrait with a tie. Decorate the rim with crayons or colored paper. Visit the site below for more.

Rakuten

Mother's Day Japanese Paper Flowers Craft

Here's a cute and easy way to make origami flowers craft or Mother's Day , straight from Japan. Fold a length of colorful paper in half and cute slits along the fold, then wrap around a pencil to make the flowers. Follow the link below for the complete step by step photo tutorial.

All About

28 Fun and Easy Japanese Crafts for Kids

Living in Japan, I see a lot of interesting and original kids crafts. The Japanese are world renown for their resourcefulness and creativity. Here's a special round-up of fun and easy kids crafts from the culture that brought us origami. The Japanese especially love making simple toys from everyday materials and many of these ideas are routinely taught in elementary school. You'll have fun making these cross-cultural crafts, all from Japanese sources.

1. Easy Toilet Paper Japanese Beetle Craft

Preschool Crafts for Kids*

2.  3D Flower Picture Craft

VerdeeBlu

4. Recycled Picture Frame Craft

ZippyKids Today

5. Recycled Milk Carton Truck Craft

Origami Mommy

6. Peach Boy Craft

Preschool Crafts for Kids*

7. Recycled Toilet Paper Roll Slippers Craft

Preschool Crafts for Kids*

8. Jumping Frog Clapper Toy Craft

Preschool Crafts for Kids*

9. Plastic Bottle Air Cannon Toy Craft

Pet Bottle Air Cannon

10. Balloon Car Toy Craft

Fusen Car

11. Plastic Bottle Fish Lantern Craft

Wagama My Life

12. Plastic Bottle Pinwheel Craft

Gardening 123

13. Origami Paper Pinwheel Craft Toy

Amy's Favorites

14. Glue Cling Sticker Craft

Preschool Crafts for Kids*

15. Secret Door House Craft

Preschool Crafts for Kids*

16. Pop Pop "Ponyo" Boat Craft

Pop Pop Pages

17. Peanut People Drum Puppet Craft

Banchan

18. Summer Paper Clay Fish Craft

Preschool Crafts for Kids*

19. Japanese Lantern Ghost Craft

Mejiro Garden

20. Paper Fairy Angel Craft

Maki's Happy Craft

20. Summer Ziploc Fish Craft

Kansai Kids

21. Koi Nobori Carp Streamers Windsock Craft

The Crafty Classroom

22. Koi Nobori Carp Streamers Craft

Kids Nifty

23. Acorn Rocket Craft

Preschool Crafts for Kids*

24. Chopsticks Rubber Band Gun Craft

25. Japanese Chopsticks Catapult Toy Craft

26. Origami Food Craft Ideas

Preschool Crafts for Kids*

27. Refrigerator Tissue Box Craft

Preschool Crafts for Kids*

28. Japanese Acorn Maze Craft

Preschool Crafts for Kids*

Search this site for even more fun Japanese and toy crafts.

4 Easy Craft Toys You Can Make From Disposable Chopsticks

The Japanese are known for their resourcefulness and artistic creativity. This extends to kids crafts as well. Disposable chopsticks and rubber bands are common household items that can be recycled to make simple kids playthings that will keep them entertained for hours. Here's a list of 4 easy-to-make craft toys from rubber bands and disposable chopsticks. Have fun Gambate!

Chopsticks Rubber Band Gun Craft

Japanese Chopsticks Catapult Toy Craft

Japanese Chopsticks Launcher Toy Craft

Japanese Chopsticks Boat Toy Craft

Search this site for even more great Japanese craft ideas.

Mother's Day 3D Flower Picture Craft

I saw this good craft idea on a Japanese site. Use a large gift box lid as a base. Glue on paper loops to make a cute, 3D spring flower scene for Mother's Day. So Cute and unique.

VerdeeBlu

Mother's Day Recycled Picture Frame Craft

Here's a cool, recycled picture frame craft for Mother's Day, Earth Day or anytime. Use corrugated cardbord and cut a rectangular frame and a slightly larger backing. Glue in place on 3 sides and decorate the frame with crayons, flowers, and even pine cones.

Zippykids Today (Japanese only)

Earth Day Recycled Milk Carton Truck Craft

Recycle a milk carton into a cute truck toy craft for Earth Day or anytime. Make it into a dump truck for hauling crayons or blocks. Take the same concept to make cars and trains. The possibilities are endless. Follow the link to this great site, Origami Mommy for the step by step tutorial with pictures.

Origami Mommy

Washi Paper Easter Eggs Craft

Here's a beautiful picture that shows the possibilities of using washi paper and some varnish to decorate blown eggs for Easter. These are so professional looking. Great idea, great craft. These come from Tartlime on Flicker.

Flicker

Washi Tape Easter Egg Craft

Washi tape is a kind of Japanese paper. This craft idea is so simple and beautiful. Wrap eggs with this colorful washi paper to make easy colorful Easter eggs. Follow the link below for more details and pictures.

The Paper Place