This might be my favorite project to date! fanfaron.etsy.com
Pop-Up Birthday Card
Learn how to make a pop-up birthday card with a cake and balloons. Make one yourself and give it to mom, dad, a sibling, a grandparent or a good friend! The template is free on the downloads sections of the website.
Paper Campsite
Find out how to make a tent, canoe, trees and fire, all out of paper! Sign up for my email updates to get a free template!
Castle Part 2: Keep & Pennants
If you’ve made a castle and are ready make it even more awesome, check out this video!
If you would like to purchase the template, it’s available from Fanfaron on Etsy.
3D Paper Castle
Kings, queens, knights, servants, battles, balls… put together this paper castle and then play with it for hours!
You can purchase the template for the castle from Fanfaron on Etsy.
Welcome!
Thanks for visiting Fanfaron by Laura. This is a site for children & their families to celebrate creativity and imagination. Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll find here.
Craft Projects
Videos & ideas for fun craft projects to do with your kids.
Submit Your Story
After completing a craft project, write a story to go with it! Here’s where you can submit your story and a photo of your project for publication on this website.
Children’s Writing
Find your story and stories by other children across the country!
Adventures of Ivy
A collection of fun fictional stories written by Laura.
Paper People
Find out how to make paper people or animals. You can play with them in your paper house or other paper building project.
3D Paper House
Making a 3D paper house is a fun, easy activity to do with elementary-aged kids! Find out how to do it by watching this instructional video.
Make the house freehand or purchase the template from Fanfaron on Etsy.
Ivy & the Pigeon
Monday
On Monday morning, Ivy the cat busily explored the balcony of Miss Waite’s second floor apartment. Ivy was batting a dead leaf between her furry paws when she heard a soft cooing sound nearby. She quickly hopped up on the balcony railing. Sitting in a nest on the roof next door was a plump brown pigeon. Yum, thought Ivy. That bird would sure make a tasty breakfast.
Ivy tensed her muscles and leaped across the wide space between the balcony and the roof. Just before her claws should have grabbed the red tile roof, Ivy felt herself falling. She twisted and turned as she dropped through the air. She meowed loudly, hoping Miss Waite would save her.
Crunch! Ivy landed in the branches of a large bush. As she brushed the dirt off her fur and the pink flower out of her ear, Ivy heard a cry. “Ivy! Are you all right?” In a matter of seconds, Miss Waite plucked Ivy out of the bush and carried her safely upstairs back into the apartment. As the door closed, Ivy thought she heard a noise that sounded suspiciously like a pigeon laughing.
Tuesday
On Tuesday morning, Miss Waite told Ivy to behave herself and let her go back out to the balcony. Ivy jumped onto the railing and there, staring at her from the roof next door was the plump brown pigeon. I’m going to get you today thought Ivy.
Placing one paw against the wall, Ivy dug her sharp claws into the tan paint. Maybe she could climb the wall and walk across the roof. Ivy pushed the claws of her other front foot into the paint and began climbing. Unfortunately, she didn’t get far because she couldn’t find any more footholds. Ivy slid down to the balcony. “I’ll get you tomorrow,” she told the pigeon. A noise that sounded suspiciously like pigeon chuckles came from the roof next door.
Children’s Writing & Projects
A story by Ram, age 6, in Maryland, USA:
One day there was a fairy who loves her house but in the kitchen she doesn’t have any food so the fairy needs to hunt for some food in the wild and she found some vegetables but when she got home she made salad with the vegetables.
Ram’s Fairy House
A story by Fianna, age 11, in California, USA:
Kraken and Fairy
The fairy was on a walk. Then a kraken saw the fairy and ran to go eat the fairy. Then fairy looked and screamed. Luckly she got in the house before the kraken ate her.
Fianna’s Fairy House & Kraken
More photos of craft projects created around the world!
The very first paper house. Created with the help of Bri (6) & Alliah (4) in Washington, USA.
Volcano by Reuben, age 7, United Kingdom
Train by Parker (age 7) in CA, USA
Castle by Ethan (age 7) in London, UK
Castle created by Camden (age 9) in TN, USA
Ice Cream Shop created by Omar (age 17) in Oman City, Salalah
Paper House made by Emily (age 4) and her mom in Virginia, USA.
Paper House and people by Kaitlyn (age 11) in Virginia, USA.
Paper House by Luke (age 8) in Virginia, USA.
Paper Castle by 5 year old girl in North Carolina, USA.