This easy dream catcher craft was inspired by my daughter’s refusal to sleep haha. At this point, she has definitely established a firm reputation as being a difficult sleeper. We’ve finally gotten her to a point where she uuuuusually will go to sleep with little-to-no trouble, but sometimes she just can’t help herself haha!
For the past few months, Lulu has occasionally decided various toys in her room were scary or “being loud” and keeping her awake. She has a flair for the dramatics, so there have been nights I’ve tripped over a pile of toys in the hallway in front of her door!
Lulu’s fear of monsters at night reminded me of something- dream catchers! Native Americans used to put these little beauties in windows or above beds to “trap” nightmares and only allow good dreams through. Pretty cool, huh?
I don’t personally believe they have the power to do this, but adding things I enjoy to my space always puts me in a good place mentally for bedtime.
This easy dream catcher craft is probably better suited for school aged children (think 5 and up) if you want them to do it more on their own, but Lulu and I tackled this one together and it was a blast.
Here are the supplies you’ll need:
- Embroidery hoop
(or wire hanger*) - Washi tape (can be replaced by extra scrap fabric)
- Colorful string or yarn
- A variety of beads
- Cardboard
- One or two paints
(or wire hanger*)
(can be replaced by extra scrap fabric)
or yarn
*I try to keep crafts as low-cost as possible. So if you don’t have an embroidery hoop and don’t want to go buy one, check your closets for a wire hanger. Just bend it into a circle and voila- you have a hoop! Bonus for having a built-in way to hang it after š
1. Cover hoop with washi tape
Take your washi tape or scrap fabric and wrap it around the entire hoop. I preferred using washi tape so that Lulu could help out some. If you use fabric then you’ll need to also use a hot glue gun to keep it secured to the hoop.
I still ended up mainly doing this part because it was difficult for Lu to wrap the tape tightly. Plus she wanted to stick washi tape all over the walls, as per usual whenever the washi tape is out.
2. Wrap string/yarn around the hoop
Wrap the string or yarn tightly around the hoop, looping it around each time to secure it. We used different colors so I just tied the different strings together as we went.
Lulu was able to wrap the string around and pull it to the next spot she wanted it, and after each loop I just tugged it to keep to taut. It was hard to get a picture of us really doing it since I was assisting, but here she is modeling the basic idea of what you’re doing:
3. Bead Time!
We cut various lengths of string and put a bunch of beads on them. To get spaces between the beads like we have: simply tie off the top of your current section, and then make another knot a few inches away!
Once you finish stringing the beads, tie them along the bottom of the hoop along with any fabric scraps you want to add.
4. Extra Decorations
For a little extra pizzazz, I cut out a moon and star to attach to the strings. Lulu painted them and once they were dry we glued them on.
I used regular glue and let her put them on, but I have a feeling they won’t stay on for very long, so I recommend just adding a little hot or super glue instead.
That’s it! Tie a small string around the top and hang your creation somewhere in your kiddo’s room so they can admire their new craft. It takes a bit of time to finish, but is oh so worth it to let them do it themselves!
Can you believe how easy it is to make your own dream catcher craft? I hope you and your little chiefs enjoy making these dreamies together š
If you’re looking for more art supplies to have on hand for an easier craft time, check out this post for all the essentials! And don’t forget to save this post for later š
It looks great, I wish my mom would have known about Dream Catchers when I was a child. I think I was scared every night when I was in first grade, this might have helped! Sometimes the power of suggestion is all we need to either scare or comfort ourselves.
Oh no! But you’re totally right, especially when it’s something their mind is conjuring up anyway, it can be easy to find ways to comfort them
Iād never thought about how easy it is to make your own dream catcher! The ones I see are usually quite expensive, itās a wonder that everyone doesnāt just make their own. Super easy to make it using your favourite colours, too ?
Right?! This one was more of my daughters inspiration than one I would decorate for myself haha but I helped my friend make a bunch for her wedding and they were beautiful!
omg i love this!! I used to LOVE dream catchers as a kid! Iām totally going to make one with R when sheās a little older for her room!
That will be so fun I bet! They are such cool little decorations I think:)
I love this and have been thinking of making one for my oldest as hes starting to get nightmaresā¦ this will be so nice to make with and for him!
Aw yeah I bet it would be great for him to help make it and then hang it in his room to “keep nightmares away” š
This is soooo cute! Weāre about to move our daughter into a ābig girl bedā so I might have to use this strategy to keep her in there ?
Oh boy good luck!! Definitely gotta get creative sometimes with our little ones when it comes to sleep!
I used to love these as a kid! This is a great tutorial and a really good idea. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it š
What an adorable idea! I love the idea of creating crafts at a low cost! Just shows you can still be creative without having to spend a lot of money! Love it!
-Madi xo | http://www.everydaywithmadirae.com
That’s my favorite way to do it! I love taking stuff we already have and coming up with fun ideas
So cute!! I will have to bring this idea next time I babysit!
I super love the craft you choose to do with your kid, amazing really! We follow you and try to do them weekly, so much fun. Thank you.
That means so much, thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it
i remember dream catchers!! i used to love them when i was little. then i read this stephen king book called dream catchers and no longer associated them with good LOL!
Lol, oh boy!! I haven’t read that book but now I’ll have to take a look ?
Love this and will make it for my neice. She sometimes have scary night.
Well, this is just perfect. Iāll definitely be giving this a try with my 3 year old who just recently transitioned into his ābig boy bedā.
Oh boy!! Sometimes little things like that can be so encouraging to them when they’re starting something new
These are so cute! This would be so fun to do as a craft
I am so in-love with this craft. It so beautiful and so easy to make. I will definitely make one of this ā dream catcher craftā for my daughter.
So glad you like it!
This looks like so much fun! I used to love going to my grandmothers house when I was growing up, because we would always do a fun craft like this one.
Aw what special memories to have! Crafts are a great bonding activity
im sure my daughter will enjoy doing this diy with me, thank ypu for sharing this
what a nice idea, my kids will totally like doing this, thankyu for sharing this
this is a cute idea,Iāll suggest this to my kids and their cousins so they will have something to do, im sure they will have fun, they love things like this
It would be so fun as a group activity!
I canāt wait to try this! I have always had a thing for dream catchers.
Same here, and its crazy how easy they really are to make!
This is perfect for my friend. She has little ones at home and this should be fun.
This should be a fun activity for the little ones to try. Our friendās baby would really enjoy it.
This is so lovely, unique and creative!
My niece loves art and craft. She recently bought a dream catcher. I will share this with her.
This is such an awesome idea. My 5 year old would so love this. Iāve always loved dream catchers!!
Why buy one when you can make it yourself? Adding this to my list of weekend projects. Thank you!
Exactly! So much cheaper and you can make it however you want š
You made this dream catcher look easy and I am loving how pretty it is. Thanks for sharing
Oh thank you so much š we love it as well
Art and craft is always a fun activity and especially for the kids. This is something which kids would love to learn and easy to make.
how easy it is to make your own dream catcher. This is so cute.
Iāve had lifelong insomnia! Maybe I need a dream-catcher. I hope this helps her, and I hope she had fun making it as well. What great solution-thinking!!!
Washi tape and beads will put my toddlers in crafting heaven for sure! This is really cute!