Dazzling Sparkle Kids' Crafts

Your little ones will love turning old CDs into a hanging aquarium of sparkling fish that will catch the light in every part of the house.

Make It: Glue one googly eye each to the iridescent side of two CDs. Add small drops of tacky glue and help your kids attach sequins to the rest of both CDs. Cut out fins and lips from cardstock and adhere to the noniridescent side of one CD. Next, determine the length of twine you'll need to hang the fish, double it, and tie the ends together. Glue the twine to the top of one of the CD's noniridescent sides. Then adhere the two CDs together -- don't forget to line up the eyes!

These beautiful hair clips can be large or small, depending on the flowers you select. Whatever size you choose, they're perfect accessories for a day spent frolicking in the summer sun.

Make It: Select a contour hair clip smaller than your desired flowers and open it. Cut a 3-1/2-inch piece of 3/8-inch-wide grosgrain ribbon and add a light line of permanent fabric adhesive to one side. Wrap the ribbon around the clip's open top half only, ensuring that the clip can still close.

Next, choose colorful silk or fabric flowers with multiple layers of petals. Remove the stems and stack flowers of varying sizes with the largest at the bottom. Insert a brad into the center and through the ribbon. Bend the brad's prongs to tightly secure the petals. For extra glamour, glue a sparkly rhinestone to the top of the brad.

Create an unforgettable frame for your fun family photos by adorning a picture holder with shimmering glass pebbles.

Make It: Help your child paint the front and back of a sturdy wooden picture frame with his favorite color of metallic acrylic paint. Use a cold-heat glue gun to squeeze glue onto the frame while your child sticks on the colorful glass pebbles. Once the frame is completely covered, insert a favorite family photo and proudly display your precious memories.

Add some bling to your windowsill by bedazzling flowerpots with a little paint and some brilliant rhinestones.

Make It: Let your kids pick out their favorite colors for their flowerpot; paint with one color at a time and let each one dry before moving to the next. After all the paint has dried, spray each pot with waterproof sealer. Attach glue dots to the rhinestones and challenge your kids to create a pattern as they place them on the pot. Your windowsill will be looking fabulous in no time.

Playing dress-up just got more glamorous. These simple beaded bracelets take minutes to make and are sure to inspire hours of fun.

Make It: Cut a 2-foot-long piece of 1-inch-wide ribbon.* Tie a double knot about 6 inches from one end and begin adding beads. This is a perfect time to teach your child how to create patterns with the beads she chooses. Measure around her wrist as you string so you make the bracelet the correct size. When you're done, tie a double knot against the final bead to keep it from slipping off. The bracelet can now be tied with a bow around her wrist.

*An alternate version of this process involves tying a knot between each bead. If you want to construct it this way, start out with a yard of ribbon instead.

You'll definitely need your sunglasses at the beach when your kids bring along this beach pail covered in sequins and rhinestones.

Make It: Use double-sided tape or hot glue to adhere colorful sequin trim at various intervals around the pail. Complete the look by sticking glue dots on the back of rhinestone flowers and letting your kids create their own dazzling designs.

It's easy being green when you're all decked out in glittering rhinestones -- or at least your kids will think so after glamming up this cute plastic foam frog.

Make It: With a serrated knife, trim off a thin layer of a 4-inch plastic foam ball, giving it a stable bottom. (All cutting should be done by an adult.) Paint a belly with a light green acrylic paint and the rest of the ball with a dark green.

Cut two 2-inch foam balls in half (two halves are for the eyes; two are for the feet). To make each eye, cut off one edge of a ball half so it can sit on top of the head, as shown. Make two eyes in this way. Paint the flat part of the eye that faces forward light green and the rest dark green. Set aside to dry. Cut off one edge from the feet pieces at an angle to fit the body. Paint dark green and set aside to dry.

Use glue to assemble the parts as shown. Embellish with rhinestones, googly eyes, a wire mouth, and any other embellishments you want to enhance your new amphibian friend.

Transform a clear plastic, paint-style can into a whimsical bug world with a few rhinestones and imaginative marker illustrations.

Make It: To create the illustrations, let your child draw on the can or provide him with images to trace (the easiest way to trace is to cut the illustration to fit inside the see-through can). Finish by attaching decorative rhinestones with glue dots, and your child will be ready to go on a bug safari.

Copyright & copy 2010 Meredith Corporation.