IF YOU HAVE kids you know how hard it can be to keep them occupied – especially if the weather’s not good and you can’t just send them out to play.

And you probably don’t want to park them in front of the television for the whole weekend – so what’s a body to do?

Well, we’ve rounded up seven great ideas for crafts that you can make with your kids and chances are you have a lot of the necessary items already lurking around the house – from egg cartons to toilet rolls.

So round up those bits and pieces you usually chuck out and get ready for a weekend of fun.

1. Toilet roll tube owls

This how-to uses cupcake cases for the wings and frills. They have coloured ones in this video but if standard white ones are all you have you (we mean,  the kids) can go nuts painting them whatever colour strikes your fancy.

These little guys would be perfect Halloween decorations too.

2. Egg carton spiders

These guys are really easy to make – and just in time for Halloween as well.

You’ll need some egg cartons, black paint and black pipe cleaners as well as the ubiquitous goggly eyes.

This should keep the little ones occupied for some time – messy, but occupied.

3. A plastic grand piano

This is really impressive but quite involved so might be one for the older kids – although there’s plenty of painting the little ones can do while the grown ups take care of the cutting and slicing.

It uses the end of plastic bottles as well as plastic lidded containers and is likely to keep you occupied for hours. 

4. Jeans bags

These jeans bags are definitely a little more difficult, but what a great way to make use of jeans that are no longer wearable.

They can be made without a sewing machine and while it might be too hard for really little fingers to manage, an older child would be very chuffed with these.

And, as a bonus, you can probably persuade them to clean up their rooms by using these as a new storage method for bits and bobs.

5. Egg carton kittens

These kittens are really easy to make and need just a little black paint, some goggly eyes and some red paper (and of course, glue).

You could cut out the egg cartons in advance and let the kids at it, or do it together with them.

A kindle of kittens could be yours in no time.

6. Ladybird families from plastic bottles

Now this one definitely needs adult supervision but once all the cutting and melting is out of the way (and there’s not very much) the kids will have a great time assembling these giant ladybirds and painting them in all sorts of fun colours.

There are a few more items than usually required for this like plastic bottles, paint, plastic forks, goggly eyes and styrofoam eyes but your own ladybird family is just waiting to be made.

7. Make a teeny tiny gift box

This is really easy and can be used for all sorts of things – from tiny presents to friends, to storage boxes for their really little treasures.

Round up some empty matchboxes, scraps of pretty paper, some decorations and glue – and your little ones will be kept busy for ages.