20 of the best tips for keeping little hands occupied!

1. Firstly, invest in a mat to protect your surfaces (or use newspaper or oilcloth).
2. Collect empty margarine and ice cream tubs or yoghurt pots, then use them to keep the craft zone tidy.
3. Raid your cupboards for bubble wrap - children can transform these into shaker cards by adding a little glitter or beads and backing with card.
4. Visit the Tate website (http://kids.tate.org.uk/create/) for loads of arty children's projects.
5. Children love making rubbings.  Simply show them how to hold thin paper over a textured object and rub with a crayon (held sideways), then let them loose in the garden.
6. The children (and you) will love making pop-ups (https://www.robertsabuda.com/).
7. Protect clothes and make your own smocks from old grown-ups' shirts. Button them on to mini crafters back-to-front.  Or for super-keen children, Play Wear stock children's size aprons for as little as £4.50. (or make them an apron using an old shirt or skirt)
8. Check with your local art gallery or library for children's craft workshops.  
9. They can draw around their hand and then practice cutting out the shape.  Stock two together for a fab butterfly.
10. Let children stamp onto a card blank for quick colourful results.
11. Still stuck for ideas? Then try http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/ for free colouring pages and fun craft project to kick-start your children's card making.
12. Invest in a few stash basics like safety scissors and a set of easy-to-grip pencils. 
13. Capture their imagination with the amazing range of kids' craft supplies - or use your imagination with thinking of craft uses for everyday objects from around the house, such as an old (empty!) chocolate box.
14. Find easy projects to try at home at http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/.
15. How about making a scrapbook from their holidays activities, especially days out or trips to the beach.  Try the Creativity for Kids 'It's My Life' scrapbooking kit from http://www.crafts4kids.co.uk/.
16. Teens can get in on the action with a craft party or sleepover.  For some cool craft projects see: http://spoonful.com/create
17. For younger children, take a look at http://www.crayola.co.uk/ for lots of colouring in.
18. Look at The Kids Zone at http://www.prittworld.co.uk/en/prittworld.html for craft inspirations.  All projects are specially designed to only need basic materials and three or four simple steps to make.
19. Enter competitions.  There are often top craft prizes, and exciting monthly challenges plus an online children's art gallery at http://art.lookandlearn.com/.