5 Ways to Use Magazines in Kids Crafts

Magazines offer an endless supply of images, colors and words that can be used in kids' crafts and projects.

Before tossing magazines in the recycling bin, take the time to browse through each page to see if there are any useful images on those glossy pages. Also cut out any bold and big words and letters.

There are two ways to save images and words from magazines. For younger children parents may want to pre-cut magazines for kids and keep the cut outs in box for future use.

Older kids and teens can join in the cutting out process when they page through the magazine looking for images for their current project. Save a stack of magazines for their next school or at-home project and let them browse the magazines to find relevant photos, cartoons, words and letters.

5 Ways to Use Magazines in Kids Crafts

Ways to Use Magazines in Kids Crafts: 1. ABC Book

ABC Book - For the youngest of kids, help them make an ABC book. Take any ordinary piece of paper and sit with them looking through the magazine or the images you already cut out, looking for the letter '"a" or images that start with the letter "a." Once you have collected a number of letters and images, help the child to glue to magazine images and letters onto the page. Leave room for any letter practicing or drawings of their own.

Over time, make a page for every letter of the alphabet. Store each completed page in a binder or folder. The child will have an ongoing craft and learning project that they return to again and again.
Home Made Book - Kids of any age can use words and pictures found in magazines to create their own story books.

Ways to Use Magazines in Kids Crafts: 2. Decoupage

Glossy magazine images can be used to make decoupage designs on many surfaces. Kids and teens can decorate school bineders, storage boxes, or even furniture with decoupaged magazine images.

Ways to Use Magazines in Kids Crafts: 3. Self-Portrait Collage

Older kids can make self-portrait collages by browsing through magazines and cutting out words that they think are self-descriptive. They can also cut out different letters found on the cover and in headlines to make their name, or other words that sum up their likes and dislikes, and their personalities.

They can also cut out relevant pictures, brand names, clothing, and other items to make self-portrait collages.

Way to Use Magazines in Kids Crafts: 4. Story Book

Kids can create their own story books with a couple of simple prompts from magazines. Have the child select one image or word. Glue it to a piece of paper. The child can then tell a story on additional pages using more images, words or letters from the magazines. They can also write out the story and draw their own accompanying images.

Way to Use Magazines in Kids Crafts: 5. World Poster

Kids can create their own world poster with magazine cut outs. The "world" can be the world of animals, planets, nature, cars, dinosaurs, or any other world they can imagine.