Crafts from the Closet

Dad's worn-out tie makes a great snake.

• Old necktie
• Craft dowel
• Floral wire
• Filling
• Fabric glue
• Felt
• Scissors

Make it: Use a craft dowel to stuff the tie with filling. Add extra stuffing to the larger end of the tie for the head. To make the snake coil, insert a length of wide-gauge floral wire. Glue both ends shut. Cut out two eyes and a tongue from felt. Glue the eyes onto the top of the head and the tongue onto the tie's underside.

Create an extra-cool kid's notebook for school by attaching a pocket from an old pair of jeans.

• Pair of jeans
• Scissors
• Fabric
• Fabric glue
• Notebook

Make it: Snip off the back pocket. Cut out your child's initial from a piece of fabric and glue to the front of the pocket. Then glue three edges of the pocket to the notebook, leaving only the top open. Fill with supplies like pencils, erasers, and stickers.

Bring mateless winter gloves to life with buttons, yarn, and other junk-drawer finds.

• Gloves
• Buttons
• Cork
• Yarn
• Hair elastics
• Fabric glue
• Polyester stuffing

Make it: Stuff glove, except for the thumb. Fold the thumb back and glue to the glove. To make faces, glue on buttons, mini corks, yarn -- get creative with your supplies! Close the glove by tying a hair elastic to the bottom.

Copyright 2007. Reprinted with permission from the August 2007 issue of Parents magazine.