Kid's Crafts Questions - June 2008

[Crafty Amanda]

If you have any questions for me, please feel free to ask them here. A new thread will be created each month.

Please click reply and ask away!

[trainlady]

Hi Amanda,
I think this is a great new feature to Family Corner! Thanks for starting it!

I have a big craft box the nieces play with when they come to visit. It has everthing from color books to clay to pipe cleaners, etc.
The younger 4 girls still enjoy it but the older two, 10 and 13 are outgrowing it.
Any ideas for "stuff" I could put in the craft box that the older two might like?

thanks, train

[Crafty Amanda]

Originally Posted by trainlady

The younger 4 girls still enjoy it but the older two, 10 and 13 are outgrowing it.
Any ideas for "stuff" I could put in the craft box that the older two might like?

Great question Donna It's true that older kids definitely outgrow chenille stems and felt. Here are some suggestions for items to keep on hand for older kids:

- beads of all types, pony beads are a favorite
- hemp for making bracelets and necklaces
- colored pencils instead of crayons
- white paper and regular pencils
- modeling clay
- Silly Putty
- lanyard cording and plastic canvas
- stickers of all types
- card stock, great for making bookmarks!
- clear self adhesive laminate paper

These are just a few things that older kids will appreciate. My daughter loves to make keychains and bracelets while my son really likes drawing a coloring, but crayons are too 'babyish" and he likes the colored pencils.

I hope this helps!

[Crafty Amanda]

Almost forgot - salt dough is a favorite in this house, even with the older kids. They can make whatever they want and then paint the dried creations. Perfect for magnets, paper weights and more. Here's our salt dough craft section, you can get the recipe from any of the crafts!

[trainlady]

Thanks so much!
I am going to take this list with me when I restock the craft box!

hugs, train

[Crafty Amanda]

You're welcome, I'm glad it was helpful!

[BubbleMum]

Hi Amanda!

I live in cyprus with my 3 + 4 year old boys, but their grandparents are in Ireland. What I want to ask is : have you any ideas for things we could make and post to them? or can you point me in the right direction to find things!

We sent the usual Christmas cards that we made and the like but I'd like some unusual ideas to really brighten their grandparents' day!

[Crafty Amanda]

Originally Posted by BubbleMum

Hi Amanda!

I live in cyprus with my 3 + 4 year old boys, but their grandparents are in Ireland. What I want to ask is : have you any ideas for things we could make and post to them? or can you point me in the right direction to find things!

We sent the usual Christmas cards that we made and the like but I'd like some unusual ideas to really brighten their grandparents' day!

How fun! I'm guessing you would probably like to see crafts that are easy to mail and don't require too much packaging. Keepsake handprint crafts are probably the best as they can be done on construction paper with paint and lay flat, allowing them to be shipped in a large envelope. The crafts I have chosen below should fall within the age group of your little ones!

Here are a few ideas:

Handprint Lamb (for Easter) - substitute the cotton balls for white paint thumbprints

Thumbody Loves You - This craft uses a can, but you could make a flat construction paper flower pot or can and glue the sticks under that

Family Hand Print Turkey - Obviously it's a little late for Thanksgiving, but you could adapt this to a different type of bird and use different colors, maybe primaries?

Best Foot Forward Easter Bunny - Again, you could substitute the cotton ball in this craft with a circle cut from white construction paper.

Snowman Sweatshirt - Again, if you want to keep the shipping costs down, do this on construction paper instead.

Heart Flowers - Perfect with Valentine's Day around the corner!

This Mosaic Heart has always been one of my favorites!

Here are some cute St. Pat's crafts too, flat and easy for shipping!

Felt Leprechaun Hats

Foam Shamrocks

Here's a craft I did for Kaboose that would fit well too.

Handprint Wall Hanging

Hope some of these will provide some inspiration

[BubbleMum]

Thanks Amanda for all those ideas!

I'm having great fun looking through this site - so much to do so it is great for a sahm like me!!