Archive for the ‘Crafts’ Category

I’m sure when we were kids one of our favorite things was playdough. It allows so much imagination and hours of creativity and fun. Playdough is still a favorite artistic medium of kids everywhere. Playdough can be used over and over again if kept in its container, or kids can let their creations dry and keep them.

You can find playdough in almost any store that sells toys. But it’s also very cheap and easy to make. You probably have everything you need to make at least one type of playdough in your kitchen cupboard. Some recipes are even edible. Here are three fun and simple ways to make playdough.

1. Authentic Playdough

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1 tbsp. powdered alum
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tbsp. vanilla
• Food coloring

Instructions

1. Mix dry ingredients together thoroughly in saucepan.
2. Add oil and water.
3. Cook at medium heat, stirring constantly. It’s done when it has a consistency similar to that of mashed potatoes.
4. Remove the dough from heat and stir in vanilla and food coloring. Work the color in by kneading the dough.
5. When completely cooled, store in an airtight container. This dough will keep for at least two months.

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If you know children, you know most love to get their hands messy. They also love to pick wild flowers and weeds to share with those they love. Why not let them to be crafty for Mother’s Day by allowing them to create a fingerprint flower vase to give to Mom or Grandma this year?

Toddlers and young children may see Mom, Dad, or their brothers and sisters enjoying crafts. They may wonder why they don’t get to make something as well. This craft is perfect for little hands and will result with a gift any mom or grandma will love.

Since it’s springtime, your toddler or preschooler has probably already brought you a handful of daffodils or dandelions. Did you have a vase to put them in? Your child can make their own fingerprint flower vase that can be used for all of their future bouquets.

You don’t really need a lot of art supplies for this craft, just an empty jar or two and enamel paints in a variety of colors. You may also want to have some newspapers on hand to keep the mess to a minimum. However, if you’re working outside in the sunshine, you may not be concerned about the mess.

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Moms love gifts that come from their children’s hands as well as their hearts. This year your children may want to create a Mother’s Day certificate and poem. It will be something that any mother would cherish, no matter what the age of the children.

If your family is like most, you may have given gifts like flowers, candy, or a nice meal out. Mom isn’t going to complain about any of these gifts, but she may want something that requires a little more thought on your part or the part of the children in her life.

Think of all of the things that Mom has mentioned she would like but has never taken the time or spent the money on herself to get. It could be something as simple as having no laundry to do for a day to something as complex as spending at least two hours where all she has to do is relax. If you listen, you may be surprised at the number of ideas you can come up with to use for ideas for creating Mother’s Day certificates.

Mom may have mentioned on a number of occasions how she wished she had some time for herself. You can create a Mother’s Day certificate for nearly anything. Just think of how excited Mom will be when she sees a certificate for a day at a local spa - her own bathroom. The certificate could offer Mom two free hours to enjoy her home-spa.

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Most moms love flowers, and all love photos of their families. Why not combine those two ideas to give her flowers that will never die and feature cherished photos of her children? These Mother’s Day photo flowers are sure to make Mom’s big day extra special. Even small children can make them with a little help with the cutting.
Supplies

• Construction paper, colored card stock or patterned scrapbook paper
• Glue or glue stick
• Photos
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Clear tape
• Green chenille stems

Instructions

1. Cut photos into circles. To make it easier, try putting a 50 cent piece, spool of thread or other small, round object on top of the face you want to cut out and tracing around it. Then cut around the circle you drew.

2. Draw the outline of a flower on a piece of card stock or construction paper, making sure you’ll have plenty of room for the photo in the middle. Cut out.

3. Trace around your original flower on paper in other colors to make as many flowers as you like. Cut them out and set them aside.

4. Glue a photo onto the center of the first flower. If using liquid glue, take care not to use too much. Wipe any excess off with a paper towel.

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Pi?atas are all the rage at kids’ birthday parties. There’s just something about getting blindfolded, trying to hit a brightly colored object with a stick, and picking up the candy that falls when someone succeeds that young people (and the young at heart) love. Pi?atas have become must-haves for birthday celebrations, but unfortunately they’re not cheap.

But did you know that pi?atas are really easy and fun to make? You can create a colorful pi?ata with just a few supplies, and you can find some of them around the house. Here’s how to make a simple one.
Supplies

• Newspaper
• 1/4 cup flour
• 6 cups water, divided
• Large balloon
• Large bowl
• Poster paint
• Twine or other strong string
• Candy and/or small toys

Instructions

1. Cut or tear newspaper up into strips 1 1/4 inches wide. Make more than you think you’ll need to cover the pi?ata, because several layers must be applied.
2. Mix up some papier-mache paste. Mix the flour with 1 cup of cold water, and press out all lumps. Then put the other 5 cups of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add a spoonful of boiling water to the flour and water mixture, and mix well. Continue stirring while slowly pouring the mixture into the boiling water. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes and let cool.

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Every birthday party needs a banner. Just go to any party supply shop, and you’ll see all sorts of styles to choose from. But why buy the same banners everyone else is using when you can easily make a unique handmade one?

These birthday banners can showcase your kids’ budding artistic ability, or they can be the picture of elegance. It’s all up to you.

Supplies

• Different types of paper - construction paper and plain white paper work well, or you could use a patterned scrapbooking paper with a coordinating plain paper.
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Glue stick or other type of glue that works well with paper
• Markers
• Glitter glue, stickers, stick-on gems and other decorative items
• Hole punch or notching tool
• A piece of ribbon that is long enough to run through the banner and be used to hang it

Instructions

1. Determine what shape you want to use for each part of your banner. Pennants are often used, but squares look nice too (and they’re very easy to cut). You could also use two or three different shapes.
2. Cut one type of paper into shapes of the desired size. Cut the other paper into the same shape, but make it an inch or so smaller.

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When boredom strikes, kids can get unruly. Our first instinct might be to buy them a new toy, but chances are they will eventually get bored with that too. Besides, toys cost money, and getting into a habit of buying toys to assuage boredom can be costly.

Giving children the opportunity to get creative is more effective and less expensive than shelling out money for new toys. And often, your kids can make crafts using items found around the house. Here are some ideas:

Maracas - It’s a fact of life: every child loves things that make noise. So we might as well let them make their own noisemakers. Maracas are easy to make using toilet paper rolls, dried beans, construction paper and glue. Just glue some construction paper over one end of the toilet paper roll, put some dried beans inside, and glue construction paper to the other end to seal.

Mobiles - A mobile makes a great room decoration. All it takes to make a simple one is a paper plate, some construction paper, some string and some tape. Just cut some shapes out of construction paper, poke a small hole in the top of each one, and tie a length of string through the hole. Then attach the other end of the string to the paper plate in the same manner. Use string to create a hanger, and secure all ends with tape.

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Party favors are an important part of any birthday celebration. They serve as a way to thank your guests for coming, and they give them something to remind them of the wonderful time they’ve had. If you’re on a budget, however, it may seem impossible to compete with those who put together huge goody bags for their guests.

Actually, creating great goody bags doesn’t require a great deal of expense. Making home-made fillers can help cut costs and still put a smile on your guests’ faces. Here are five great home-made goody ideas.

1. Bake some scrumptious home-made cookies or brownies. Everybody loves sweet stuff, after all. And unless you’re having lots and lots of guests, one batch will probably be all you need. Wrap one or two cookies or brownies in plastic wrap and tie with a ribbon, or simply put them in a sandwich bag. These probably won’t be kept as long as other favors, but they will certainly be appreciated!

2. Make your guests some jewelry. Not elaborate pieces with expensive gemstones, but fun beaded bracelets or necklaces. Buy some of those cheap plastic beads with letters, numbers and different colored beads. String them onto a piece of elastic or hemp cord, personalizing with the guest’s name or the party theme and date.

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