Beanbag Pancake Dolls
Isn't this little pancake gorgeous? Make Pancake Day a little different this year with this original craft for making your own Beanbag Pancake Dolls - the kids will come up with some wonderful creations!
Toy Crafts
Some of the hundreds of crafts we have at Activity Village can be used as toys for the children to play with - such as beanbags, softies and many more!
Bleeding Tissue Paper Beach Ball
Have you tried "painting" with tissue paper? It's fun to do and the results can be unexpected and textural! This beach ball works well because the variation in colour enhances its 3D effect.
Chinese Drum Craft
A popular old-fashioned noise-making toy, the Chinese drum (rattle) is twisted in the hand so that the beads bounce of it and make a noise. With practise you can get a good rhythm going! Here's one the kids can make themselves..
Christmas Pudding Beanbag
This Christmas Pudding Beanbag is fun for kids to make and play with during the festive season! We've got lots of ideas for beanbag games here.
Cow Finger Puppet
Our cute little cow finger puppet is a perfect craft for kids who are just learning to sew. It also makes a really nice gift for an older sibling to give to a younger sibling. And of course, once you've made the craft, you can play with it!
Cow Soft Toy Craft
Children who are learning to sew will love having a go at this gorgeous cow softie, made from felt pieces and wiggle eyes! Who could resist this lovely moo cow?
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Dala Horse Craft
Dala horses (or Dalecarlian horses) are carved and painted wooden horses originating in the Swedish province of Dalarna. Originally made as toys for children, they are now a recognised symbol of Sweden. Have a go at making your own with this lovely Dala horse craft!
Day of the Dead Felt Skull Craft
This Day of the Dead felt skull craft is a lovely excuse for children of all ages to practice their sewing skills - and to dig out all those embellishments that have been looking for a project! You could insert a wooden spoon
Fabric Bird Craft
Kids learning to sew will enjoy this fabric bird craft. The finished bird is pretty as a picture and makes a lovely gift...perhaps for mother, grandmother or a favourite teacher.
Felt Butterfly Craft
This felt butterfly craft makes a cute little easy sewing project for kids, needing only basic supplies. Instructions below.
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Felt Chick
This little felt chick is a great craft for beginner sewers (or more experience sewers, come to that!) Wouldn't it be lovely making an appearance at Easter time?
Felt Dolphin Bookmark
This adorable felt dolphin bookmark will make reading a joy for anyone who uses it. Children could make one as a gift for grandparents, parents, aunties, teachers...
Felt Kiwi Softie Craft
Kids can sew this cute felt kiwi out of simple sewing basket supplies. It's a fun craft idea for studies of New Zealand or perhaps for Waitangi Day.
Felt Matryoshka Dolls
This felt Matryoshka doll activity can be adapted for a range of ages, and the resulting dolls are sure to be treasured! We've used simple sewing skills to complete our dolls but you can substitute fabric glue for at least some of the sewing if you wish.
Felt Monster Dangle Craft
Monsters can be any size, shape or colour, so your imagination is your only limit!
Felt Owl Bookmark
Reading will be so much more fun when you are marking your place with this gorgeous little owl bookmark! It makes a super beginner sewing project and also an excellent gift for children to make for friends, parents and grandparents. Instructions and template below.
Felt Penguin Softie
Here's an idea for a felt penguin softie for kids to make. Hang it from the Christmas tree, make one for friends, or enjoy it all year round...
Felt Pig Bookmark
This lovely little felt pig bookmark is perfect for a present or for kids to tuck inside their own reading book. We've provided printable templates and instructions to make it perfect for a group activity. Simple sewing needed!
Felt Rabbit Craft
Have a go at our felt rabbit craft - it's fun to make and fun to cuddle! Practise easy stitches including running stitch and blanket stitch to make this rabbit toy. Of course it is perfect for Easter as well as Chinese New Year of the Rabbit.
Felt Robin Softie
This felt robin softie craft for kids produces the cutest little Christmas tree decoration - one we are sure will be treasured forever!
Felt Scottie Dog Softie
This softie sewing project is a lovely one for a beginner. You can vary the size of your Scotties. Blow up our template and cut out a really large one to make a cushion, use a tiny Scottie to hang on a keychain, or something in between!
Felt Star Softie Craft
Cut, decorate, stitch and stuff this cute felt star softie - then display it proudly on the tree, or hang from a door-knob for some Christmas cheer!
Felt Toy Bat
This felt toy bat might look cute, but he is still a perfect craft for kids to make at Halloween!
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Felt Toy Cat
Who could resist this little Halloween cat? Make a collection of Halloween felt toys to keep him company!
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Felt Toy Ghost
Kids can have fun sewing their own felt toy ghost for Halloween!
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Felt Toy Monster
Children will have great fun designing and sewing their own original felt monster toy - perfect for Halloween or any time of year!
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Fluffy Monster
This little ball of fluff is actually a monster in disguise! It's a great monster craft idea for children who are learning to sew... the sewing bit doesn't take long and of course you can decorate your monster in all sorts of ways to give him or her real character!
Football Beanbag
Make this football beanbag out of felt. It's fun for kids to make for the World Cup or perhaps as a gift for a friend, sibling or Dad on Father's Day.
Hobby Horse Bookmark
This quick and easy hobby horse bookmarks makes a super craft for a Victorian toy theme, any horse or farm theme, or of course for the Year of the Horse or children born in that year.
Horse Finger Puppet
This lovely horse finger puppet is a good craft for older children as it requires some sewing skills and the parts are reasonably small. The finished puppet is lovely!
Kiwi Finger Puppet
Whip up this cute kiwi finger puppet with your kids for a New Zealand theme or perhaps for Waitangi Day - its quick and easy, especially using our template. No sewing required!
Ladybird Beanbag Craft
Here's a quick craft project to do with the kids. You'll need basic sewing skills to make this cute ladybird beanbag craft. And of course you can play with the beanbag when you've made it!
New Zealand Poi Craft
Poi are balls on strings that Maori women manipulate in a special dance with great skill. You can find out more about them on our New Zealand Poi page and watch a video which will show you all sorts of moves you can practise when you have made your own poi!
Otedama
Otedama is a game played with are fabric beanbags (called ojami) which used to be sewn by grandmothers from silk kimono scraps. They are used for juggling games and skill games similar to jacks and knucklebones.
Pig Finger Puppet Craft
This felt pig finger puppet is such a lovely little craft for beginning "sewists" and it makes a perfect group craft, especially if you print out our template (which includes simple instructions) for each child.
Pom Pom Panda
Who would have thought a collection of black and white pompoms could turn into this adorable panda! Easy for kids of all ages to put together - and I expect the finished panda will be treasured!
Pompom Caterpillar Craft
Find instructions for this quick and easy pompom caterpillar craft for kids below. It's a good craft for practising simple needle and thread skills, and he's quite cute - he might become a firm friend!
Pompom Hedgehog
Kids will enjoy making this cute little pompom hedgehog - its quick and easy to do!
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Pompom Kiwi Craft
Have a go at making this adorable little pompom kiwi - you'll want to keep him with you always! Fun for a New Zealand theme.
Pompom Monsters
Dig into your craft cupboard and drag out all your little bits and pieces and scraps to make these fun pompom monsters! You could stick the monsters onto the end of a pencil if you like, or hang them up with a length of thread.
Pompom Pig
This little pompom pig was a huge hit with our craft testers, but he didn't want to stand upright for his photo! Older children could make their own pompoms in three different sizes.
Pompom Spider Craft
Don't you love this funny spider? Despite his googly eyes, I'm not sure I'd like to meet him in the dark on Halloween! These pompom spiders can be hung around your room or simply left on windowsills, mantelpieces and nooks and crannies to surprise and delight!
Sock Owl Craft
This sock owl manages to be oh so cute and cuddly at the same time - and any child who makes this is sure to be thrilled with the result. Why not encourage the kids to make a whole parliament of owls and give some away to friends and family?
Sock Wolf
This adorable little "bean bag" wolf is made out of - you guessed it - an old grey sock! He's much too cute to throw around like a bean bag, though. Children will need simple sewing skills to make him.
Soft Toy Nessie
The real Loch Ness Monster might be a little more scary than our cute Soft Toy Nessie! This a lovely simple sewing craft for kids to make. Older children might want to make one for younger siblings, or friends!
Tennis Ball Bean Bag
This tennis ball bean bag craft for kids is quick and easy to make, and fun to play with. Makes a good gift, too, perhaps for Father's Day?
Tissue Paper Beach Ball
Scrunching up tissue paper and gluing it to something else is always such fun - and this finished beach ball picture is sure to be a favourite. If you print the colouring page onto card you could cut out the finished ball for display.
