Ten years old can be a delicate age for girls; on the one hand, they may be maturing, and leaning toward their teen years socially. On the other, they are still girls, and may have impulses that are more childlike, even as their bodies grow rapidly. Because girls mature more rapidly than boys, it can be an emotional time, full of both excitement and uncertainty. Here are the 4 DIY crafts for 10-year-old girls that you can try.
At this age, social development and acceptance within a peer group is incredibly important, so girls may want to engage in DIY activities that they can share with friends or that will appeal to their social circles at school. They may want to participate in craft projects that include their favorite music, movies, or influencers, to reflect their cultural interests.
Crafting is a great way for girls to manage the unique physical, emotional, and social stresses of this special age, and here are some great craft projects for 10 year old girls:
1. DIY Bath Bombs
Ingredients
- 1 cup baking soda
- ½ cup citric acid
- ½ cup Epsom salts
- Water
- Optional: food coloring, essential oils
You Will Need
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring spoons
- Wooden spoon
- Optional: gloves
Bath bomb mold (bath bomb molds come in the classic round shape but can be made even more fun with a variety of shapes. This bath bomb mold set from Kyerivs includes three sizes of spheres and four different fun shapes, and comes with gift bags, and shrink wrap bags with a mini heat sealer, so that your bath bombs can last longer and make great gifts for everyone on your list.
How to Make DIY Bath Bombs
- Gather all your materials
- In a large bowl, mix the baking soda and Epsom salts. Use the back of a wooden spoon to break up any lumps or clumps, creating a smooth, fine mixture.
- Optional: add essential oil. Avoid minty or pine-scented oils, as they may be harsh on delicate skin. Add up to 2 tsp essential oil, a few drops at a time, stirring in between to keep the mixture smooth. You may find it easier to use your hands to mix the essential oils in, and you may want to use gloves.
- Optional: add color. If you are making multiple colors, separate this mixture into multiple bowls, with a bowl for each color. Add food coloring a few drops at a time. It’s easier to do this by hand, and you will probably want to use gloves to keep the coloring from staining your hands. The more food coloring you use, the deeper the color will be, but avoid using too much coloring to avoid staining skin when the bath bombs are used.
- Add water. A ½ teaspoon at a time, add water and mix it with your hands. Keep adding water a bit at a time until your bombs have the texture of damp sand and will hold together when squeezed.
- Add citric acid. If you have divided your mixture into different colors, you will need to divide your citric acid evenly as well. Add the right proportion of citric acid and mix thoroughly until completely combined.
- Fill your mold. Pack the mixture firmly into your molds, slightly over-filling the mold halves. Press the mixture into the mold as tightly as you can.
- Smooth the bath bomb. Gently remove the mixture from the mold and use the back of a spoon to smooth the shape and remove the visible seam from the mold.
- Allow to dry and enjoy!
2. DIY Kool-Aid Lip Gloss
Kool-Aid will lightly stain the lips for a while, and is safe and nontoxic, while coconut oil protects and softens lips.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of coconut oil
- 1 packet Kool-Aid
- 1 tsp sugar
- Water
You Will Need
- Mixing bowls
- Mixing spoons
- Lip gloss containers; you can use classic lip gloss containers like these from Wowlife, which are a great option if you are making different colors/flavors, since you can see the color through the container. But there are a variety of fun, refillable, lip gloss containers available, like these feminine shapes from Teensery or these versatile little pots from Beauticom.
How to Make DIY Kool-Aid Lip Gloss
- Soften the coconut oil. Depending on the temperature, your coconut oil may be hard and solid. If necessary, put it in a bowl and microwave for 5 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until it is the texture of softened butter.
- Make a Kool-Aid paste. In a small bowl, mix Kool-Aid with a small amount of water to form a very thick, smooth paste. Add just enough water that the Kool-Aid dissolves and isn’t gritty.
- Optional: use different flavors/colors of Kool-Aid to make different flavors of lip gloss. In that instance, use just ¼ of a packet per lip gloss color and flavor.
- Add the sugar to the Kool-Aid paste. Stir the sugar into the paste until it dissolves. You may need to add a tiny bit more water to help the sugar dissolve and make a smooth solution.
- Portion the softened coconut oil into smaller mixing bowls.
- Add the Kool-Aid and sugar paste to the coconut oil. The more paste you add, the deeper the color will become. Keep in mind that the color on the lips will be lighter than it is in the bowl, so you may want to add more Kool-Aid than you think.
- Pour the mixture into lip gloss containers and enjoy!
3. Wish Bracelets
Wish bracelets are easier to make than friendship bracelets and make a fantastic gift for girls to share with each other. Legend says that once all the beads are worn off the bracelet, your wish will come true!
Materials
- Hemp cord (you can use any kind of beading cord you like, but remember that the bracelet will be worn until it falls off, so you want a material that wears naturally)
- Seed beads (choose any beads you like, and you may personalize your wish bracelet by adding fun charms like these
- Scissors
- A board you can clip or tape the bracelet to while you make it
To Make a DIY Wish Bracelet
- Cut the hemp cord to length in three pieces. Remember that the cord will become shorter as you braid it, so cut it about four inches longer than needed.
- Tie the three strands of hemp together into a knot on one end. Leave about two inches of cord above the knot so you can tie it on the wrist when you are done.
- Clip or tape the knot to a board or some other stable surface.
- Braid the hemp down. Braid the three strands of hemp until you have about 2.5 inches of braid. You may want more braid for a longer bracelet.
- Add beads. Add a bead to the rightmost thread, then braid. Add a new bead to the new rightmost thread, and braid again. Repeat. Some people feel that 7 beads is the luckiest number, but you can add as many beads as you like. You may also add a charm to the middle of your beads.
- Finish the braid. Once you are done adding beads, create another 2-2.5 inches of un-beaded braid. Tie another knot, leaving a tail for tying in place.
- Tie the around your wrist (or around a friend’s wrist) and make a wish!
4. DIY Name Garland
While this craft can be used to spell out a name, it can also be personalized with any text you desire. This project is a great way to incorporate painting, beading, papercraft, fabric crafts, or any other craft your girl is interested in.
Materials
- Scrap cardboard
- Scissors
- Glue
- Hole punch
- Hanging string or cord
- Paints, paper, washi tape, fabric, etc. for decorating
- Optional: tassels, sequins, pom-poms, beads, paper dots or stars, etc.
To Make a DIY Name Garland
- Cut out letters from the cardboard. For more impact, make the letters large. You may also want to print off letters in fancy fonts, then trace and cut them out.
- Decorate the letters. You may want to paint them, glue decorative paper or fabric to them, use washi tape or stickers… the options are endless.
- Use a hole punch to punch two holes in the top of each letter. Place the holes on the opposite edges of each shape, the same distance from the top, so they hang straight.
- Thread the letters onto string or cord. Leave ample string at the end for hanging the garland. Thread each letter with the two holes, so that the string lays flat across the back. You may want to secure each letter in place on the garland with small knots that prevent the letters from slipping, with a bead at each hole, or with a dab of glue. You may also want to add other fun shapes, tassels, or decorations to the string as you add letters.
- Tie a loop in both ends of the garland, to make hanging easier.
- Enjoy!
Conclusion
DIY craft projects are a great way for girls to explore their creativity, express their personality, and bond with friends and family as they make fun décor items, personalize their belongings, or give unique, hand-made gifts.