Crafty Stuff

Chefs Hats

2005-03-15T14:49:00.000+10:00

An easy pattern that works well.

Basics For An Art & Craft Box

2005-02-22T14:47:00.000+10:00

There are quite a few things that you can put in a box to use for art and craft, but some of the things I have found that we use the most are

scissors
glue
coloured paper/card
colouring pencils/crayons
paint - the basics red, yellow, blue, black and white (you can make any colour with this selection)
cheap paintbrushes from the dollar store

As you continue with your craft activities, you will gather more things.

You can even pick up something to add to the box when you do your groceries.

Some simple and less messy ideas for craft include

playdoh (plastacine/modelling clay can be used but tends to be more sticky and staining)
colouring book and washable crayons (these are good crayons for young kids who tend to run off with crayons while your back is turned, and draw on the walls)

Cheap & Easy Scrapbooking

2005-02-18T16:51:00.000+10:00

Scrapbooking is a way of keeping memoirs in an attractive form. You need not purchase expensive supplies from the local scrabooking shop but can make your own.

Minimum Items Required

clip folder
plastic sleeves
coloured paper
white paper
photos
stickers
glue
scissors
black pen

Method

Choose the person/thing you are going to make the page about, then choose a peice of coloured paper and arrange the photos on it.
Next, choose a contrasting colour which can be added to the back ground to help make it more interesting.
You can make stripes, flowers, clouds or just boxes to stick on the background. It really is up to the imagination.
Ensure that you leave enough space to do a small write up for the page, explaining who/what it is about.
Stick everything down and allow to dry. You may want to rest a heavy book on the top so that it doesn't curl from the drying glue.
Decorate with stickers.
Place in the plastic sleeve and clip into the clip folder.

If you are going to send it away as a gift then you will, at a later date, be able to send more pages in plastic sleeves to be added to it.
You can also capture your child's art this way instead of stuffing peices of paper away in some box.

"Imagination is a good thing, especially when you use it."

Mini Menus

2004-12-17T11:05:00.000+10:00

These are fun for older kids to make, especially if the are competant on a computer or with scissors.

Basic Materials List

scissors
coloured card cut to postcard size
glue
computer with printer (or you can get them to write their own)

Optional Extra Materials

glitter
stickers
gold, silver or coloured card cut into shapes
leaves
feathers
handmade stickers (the type you could use for scrapbooking or that special occassion)
dry pasta
anything else you think might look good

Method

Make up and print out the menu details on the computer, or hand write the items to be on the menu. The reason we use the menu written out/printed on plain paper is because it stands out better on the coloured card.
Cut menu to size and glue onto card.
Decorate how you want.

Note : For our Christmas Breakfast Menus we chose to cut out small gold Christmas trees and glue them at the top. It was simple and effective.

Bubble Pictures

2004-12-11T15:28:00.000+10:00

This is best done outside as it can get messy, especially with young children.

Items Required

plastic cup
powder paint / poster paint
paper
straws
dishwashing detergent (liquid soap)
water

Method

In the cup, mix a spoonful of paint, spoonful of detergent and quarter cup of water.
Blow bubbles in the mixture with the aid of the straw until they almost overflow the cup.
Place paper onto the bubbles.
Allow to dry.

You can do this with a few different colours to build up the picture.

(note : You may want to add more or less of each ingredient depending on the strength of the detergent you use)

Crafty Don't

2004-12-06T10:21:00.000+10:00

Don't put spray adhesive on polystyrene balls. It causes them to constrict and distort.

Simple Cards

2004-11-29T11:55:00.000+10:00

Materials
1 piece of soft card
coloured card (at least two different coloured pieces)
metallic card
hole punch
glue
scissors
pen

Method

Cut soft card to the size of the card required.
Fold card and set aside
Cut shapes from coloured card (We cut pink hearts and blue squares)
Using the hole punch, punch some circles from the metallic card (Note : If you have craft punches then you will be able to create a variety of different shapes easier then cutting them out)
Glue shapes onto the front of the card (We glued the pink hearts onto the blue card and then put gold dots on the blue card and background)
Allow glue to dry then write on the card.

How you arrange the shapes on the card is up to the individual but if you are uncertain on a pattern then try placing them before you glue them. This way you will be able to move them according to how you like.

As all crafts listed here, how you do one craft is only limited to your imagination. I only place a basic outline to guide you.

Have fun!

Pre-Drawn Canvases

2004-11-28T15:24:00.000+10:00

When you start looking out for those paint by number paintings, or ones which have a figure already drawn on the canvas, therefore making it easier for your child to paint a picture, it starts getting expensive.
I was looking around last week for some horse type ones and they all seemed to start around the $16 mark.
This week I made my own.
I bought a pack of 10 canvas sheets and then used the pictures on this site to draw my picture.
Jadeen had an elephant, Erin a pig and Miranda a donkey head. They all enjoyed their few minutes of art.
When drawing the picture onto the canvas do not use a soft lead, as it will lead to smudging too much. Make sure the kids use a good water based paint (easier to remove from their clothes afterwards) and let them go at it.
I keep in store the basic colours and mix from there (red, yellow, blue, white and black)

New!

2004-11-24T21:02:00.000+10:00

Hey there and welcome to my new blog.
I have decided to seperate things just so they can be a little more organsied.
Welcome and I hope you enjoy your time here.