Help! I need ideas for a craft for a large crowd!

[penelopelane]

Okay, so I'm in a time bind for ideas, here's my dilemma...

I'm own a photography business and have the opportunity to get a free vendor booth at an event where 5000+ folks attend; the catch: I have to provide a FREE craft/game/activity for kids.

This event is in March. However, I have started a local campaign to get empty cereal boxes (and scrapbooking paper/magazine scraps) for the kids to make recycled tote bags for another event with similar free vendor booths in April. This has been a huge endeavor with local businesses/teachers/friends helping collect boxes for me.

Seeing as the FIRST upcoming event is much sooner, I'm afraid I can't use the existing cereal boxes because I want to make sure come April I have plenty. I really need the time to collect the number I need.

So, my question is... can anyone think of ideas for recycled kids crafts/games/activities that will be relatively cheap on my pocketbook? I have to keep safety in mind for the lil'uns. It's an amazing advertising opportunity and in this town, those don't come cheap or often, so I'd really really love to participate, but I've scoured the internet without finding any inspiration.

The ONE idea I did have is to pre-cut and dry salt dough shapes for kids to decorate with craft paint and either attach a string or magnet, but its not recycled...it might be a last-minute idea if I can't think of anything else.

I'd send you a custom recycled cereal box tote bag if you can help! My business is the only eco-friendly photography company around, and I really want to stay true to this pact I made, so recycled would be perfect to send our message to the locals!

Thanks ahead of time!

[seleniebeanie]

At first I didn't know what kind of a craft this was, but I saw a tutorial at family fun crafts site. So why not hot glue the open end closed and cut it in half across the middle? This way, you'll have double the number of bags and kids don't put much in them anyway - maybe some candy or whatnot. Just an idea.

[whitterp]

you could have the kids make coke tab bracelets with tabs and colored ribbon or even strips of fabric

just thread ribbon through the tabs and tie around the wrist. its recycled and you can probably get coke tabs a lot easier than boxes, people go through sodas faster than cereal and a lot of people save them anyway to donate to ronald mcdonald house, so you might even find some large stashes of them among friends.

if the event your booth is at will be having refreshments you can always ask them to save them for you as well so you dont run out mid event.

Not the most fun or creative but its quick and easy :-)

http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.61975553.jpg theres a picture, that is NOT my etsy page, just an image I found after an internet search

[craftzeeLucy]

Can you maybe collect some old newspapers from neighbours etc., then buy some balloons and play with papier-mache...
you make a "glue" with some water, salt and flour, then kids tear newspapers in stripes, dip them in glue and put them on one side or bottom of the baloon so they shape a ball... when it dries, another group of kids can paint them

You could also collect some stones and show them how to paint some funny objects on them... fish or ladybug or spiders etc. - not sure how eco this is

another idea - make a little paper woven baskets out of newspaper - perfect for Easter eggs maybe...

anyway, hope I inspired you at least 

[jodilee]

What about getting as many  glossy magazines and newspapers and making paper bead.

They can then be made into colourful cheap jewellery.

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Paper-Beads

OR

Rolled newspaper bowls.........

http://www.papergoods.com/rollednews_craft.shtml

There are newspapers and mags everywhere and colour etc doesn't matter and you only need some glue sticks scissors and maybe some thread/string to make bracelets and necklaces.

Good luck.