My daughter is only 3, but how she loves wearing mommy's jewelry! We have a lot of fun crafting together and although she's a little too young to do much more than string a bunch of large-hole beads onto yarn, the day will come when she's up for something more involved.

Of course there are some general tips to keep in mind when beading with youngsters. Make sure your materials are kid-safe--that beads are large enough that toddlers won't swallow them, that you use lead-free beads and wire, and that they're all-around age-appropriate. And, as with many of their other activities, be sure to supervise.

Spring Break is upon us, and if you're looking for some fun things to do with your kiddos, why not try out one of these free jewelry projects that are tailor-made for the younger crowd.

Martha Stewart offers an easy clay recipe, using a mixture of white bread, glue and a few drops of lemon juice, then colored with acrylic or tempera paint. Shape the clay into beads, or use mini cutters to create shapes, then air dry! Easy peasy! Complete instructions can be found here.

Also from Martha Stewart, learn how to create a fun charm bracelet out of paper-and-metal key-tag charms, adorned with colorful dot stickers, both from the office supply store! Check out the full instructions here.

A few felt balls (here, from Handbehg Felts) and a needle and thread are all it takes to form a colorful necklace, with a little help from Mom or Dad. Or, let them string a handful of felt rings (from Ornamentea) onto their favorite ribbon for an instant accessory.

And older kids will enjoy making their own personalized stretchy bracelet with letter beads and seed beads. Instructions can be downloaded from the Interweave store here.

At the end of the day, your kids can stash their handmade treasures in their very own purse crafted from foam sheets and yarn, featured on the Skip To My Lou blog. For complete instructions, click here.

No matter what project you choose, the important thing is that you spend time together and just have fun! 

Creatively yours,

Debbie Blair

Managing Editor