Dogs
By Tamara L. Waters
Meow! Cats inspire more than just cartoons and humor, they can inspire crafts too. If you are a cat fan or know someone who is, try out a few homemade projects to decorate your home or give as gifts. If you have kids, they will also enjoy these kitty cat crafts on a rainy day or to bust some boredom.
Printable Cat Crafts for Kids
For young children, printable paper crafts are fun and easy to do. Whether you are looking for templates to create toilet paper tube kitties, cross stitch patterns or other simple cat crafts, this website has lots of them. This is my favorite go-to site for simple crafts for the kids.
Kitty Treat Jar
Save a plastic peanut butter jar with lid to create a cute kitty treat container. Wash the jar out thoroughly. Use felt to cut out cat eyes, nose, mouth and ears. Glue them onto the jar to create a cat face. Be sure you don't glue anything in such a way as to obstruct the lid. Store your kitty treats in the jar.
Assorted Cat Crafts
I found a great website that offers a variety of cute crafts: daniellesplace.com has cat-inspired crafts that are fun to make and appeal to all ages. From a decorated tuna can food bowl to placemats for feeding your kitty on, to simple paper plate crafts and more, you can find it here. There are step-by-step instructions and links, and it is definitely a craft site worth checking out. About.com also has a listing of assorted cat crafts and links to websites featuring cat crafts.
Cat Face Luminary
For this craft you will need craft paint, slick puff paints, clear spray paint (to seal the paints), a glass jar and a candle (a battery operated tea light will be safest).
Start by making sure the jar is clean and dry. Use the puff paints to create a cat's face on one side of the jar. Leave parts of the face open (the mouth, the eyes) to allow the candle to shine through. Paint and decorate the rest of the jar so it looks like a cat. Use a fine-tipped paint brush and black paint to create whiskers. After all of the paint has dried, take the jar outside and spray the outside with clear spray paint to seal it. Allow the jar to dry thoroughly, add a candle and you've got a unique decoration!
Sock Mouse Toy
This craft is more for your kitty than for you, but you will benefit from the fun of watching your kitty play. Cut the toe end off of a sock – any color will do. Put a jingle bell and a bit of crinkly cellophane (or use a piece of a grocery bag – you know, the noisy kind) in the sock piece. If you have catnip, add some of it. Sew up the sock piece then sew a length of yarn for a tail onto one end. Tie another jingle bell onto the end of the tail. For a variation, use a pipe cleaner instead of yarn (you might have to attach it by pushing it through the sock material then twisting it back onto itself). My cats seem to adore pipe cleaners. Don't forget the jingle bell on the “tail.”
Books
There are lots of books that offer instructions for fun cat crafts. I checked Amazon.com and found "Cat Crafts (Kids Can Do It)" by Linda Hembry, "Cat Crafts: More than 50 Purrrfect Projects" by Dawn Cusick, and "Sassy Cats: Purr-fect Craft Projects" by Sheila Haynes Rauen. Browse through your local bookstore or library to see what is available, and enjoy your crafting fun!
Photos: paper plate cat crafts, daniellesplace.com
Read more articles by Tamara L. Waters
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Dogs
Cute Cat Crafts to Make
By Tamara L. WatersMeow! Cats inspire more than just cartoons and humor, they can inspire crafts too. If you are a cat fan or know someone who is, try out a few homemade projects to decorate your home or give as gifts. If you have kids, they will also enjoy these kitty cat crafts on a rainy day or to bust some boredom.
Printable Cat Crafts for Kids
For young children, printable paper crafts are fun and easy to do. Whether you are looking for templates to create toilet paper tube kitties, cross stitch patterns or other simple cat crafts, this website has lots of them. This is my favorite go-to site for simple crafts for the kids.
Kitty Treat Jar
Save a plastic peanut butter jar with lid to create a cute kitty treat container. Wash the jar out thoroughly. Use felt to cut out cat eyes, nose, mouth and ears. Glue them onto the jar to create a cat face. Be sure you don't glue anything in such a way as to obstruct the lid. Store your kitty treats in the jar.
Assorted Cat CraftsI found a great website that offers a variety of cute crafts: daniellesplace.com has cat-inspired crafts that are fun to make and appeal to all ages. From a decorated tuna can food bowl to placemats for feeding your kitty on, to simple paper plate crafts and more, you can find it here. There are step-by-step instructions and links, and it is definitely a craft site worth checking out. About.com also has a listing of assorted cat crafts and links to websites featuring cat crafts.
Cat Face Luminary
For this craft you will need craft paint, slick puff paints, clear spray paint (to seal the paints), a glass jar and a candle (a battery operated tea light will be safest).
Start by making sure the jar is clean and dry. Use the puff paints to create a cat's face on one side of the jar. Leave parts of the face open (the mouth, the eyes) to allow the candle to shine through. Paint and decorate the rest of the jar so it looks like a cat. Use a fine-tipped paint brush and black paint to create whiskers. After all of the paint has dried, take the jar outside and spray the outside with clear spray paint to seal it. Allow the jar to dry thoroughly, add a candle and you've got a unique decoration!
Sock Mouse Toy
This craft is more for your kitty than for you, but you will benefit from the fun of watching your kitty play. Cut the toe end off of a sock – any color will do. Put a jingle bell and a bit of crinkly cellophane (or use a piece of a grocery bag – you know, the noisy kind) in the sock piece. If you have catnip, add some of it. Sew up the sock piece then sew a length of yarn for a tail onto one end. Tie another jingle bell onto the end of the tail. For a variation, use a pipe cleaner instead of yarn (you might have to attach it by pushing it through the sock material then twisting it back onto itself). My cats seem to adore pipe cleaners. Don't forget the jingle bell on the “tail.”
Books
There are lots of books that offer instructions for fun cat crafts. I checked Amazon.com and found "Cat Crafts (Kids Can Do It)" by Linda Hembry, "Cat Crafts: More than 50 Purrrfect Projects" by Dawn Cusick, and "Sassy Cats: Purr-fect Craft Projects" by Sheila Haynes Rauen. Browse through your local bookstore or library to see what is available, and enjoy your crafting fun!
Photos: paper plate cat crafts, daniellesplace.com
Read more articles by Tamara L. Waters
- How To Use A Paper Plate To Teach Recall To A Dog
Training a new dog can be difficult, especially if you aren't completely sure of what you're doing. However, if you focus on being consistent and patient, you'll find your dog quickly learning commands and following them with minimal prompting....
- Patriotic Dog Crafts For July 4th
By Tamara McRill What could be more natural than pairing dogs with a day dedicated to independence, patriotism and love of our country? After all, our furry friends are the epitome of freedom, loyalty and love. At least that’s how my mind works, and...
- Dog Inspired Valentine's Day Crafts
By Tamara McRill I'm a dog person who likes to make special things for every holiday. So of course I had to make some Valentine's Day crafts inspired by my canine loves! The three doggie Valentine’s Day crafts featured here offer a little something...
- Great Christmas Gifts For Your Favorite Feline Fan
By Tamara L. Waters Christmas, Christmas time is here, time for joy and time for cheer. . . chipmunks may sing about what they want for Christmas, but what do cat lovers want? Is there a song for that? Probably not, so instead, here are a few ideas...
- Homemade Christmas Gifts For Pets
By Tamara L. Waters Ho ho ho, it's almost Christmas! When you are decking your halls and getting your presents ready for the family, don't forget your four-legged family members. If your budget is tight or you just prefer to create cool gifts...