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September 20, 2009

Make a Witches Cape

Filed under: Kids Painting and Crafts — Tags: , , , , , — @ 7:22 am

What’s a witches hat without a cape to go with it, complete the outfit and your trick or treater is ready for action come Halloween or for their next scary party.

What You Will Need:-

  • About 2m of black fabric. A lycra or satin will work nicely.
  • Black cotton
  • tracing paper to fit fabric
  • tape measure
  • string and fabric pencil

Measure the length, of the witch to be, from the neck to just below the knee. Now cut your piece of string to slightly longer than that length and tie it to the fabric pencil. Put a pin through the other end of the string and position it in a corner of the tracing paper. Now pull the string out to its full length and with the pencil draw a semi circle from one side of the paper to the other. You will also need to draw in the neck line. Repeat the above method using a smaller piece of sting that matches the length of the child’s neck.

Fold the fabric in half and pin the pattern onto it with the straight edge of the pattern on the fold. Cut around the edges, do not cut the folded side. Hem all exposed edges using a 6mm hem or an overlocker. Using left over fabric measure two lengths 40cm by 5cm for the ties. Fold the pieces in half length ways with right sides together. Pin and sew one short end and the length then turn right side out. Attach one tie to either side of the neck and sew into place.

The cape is now finished and ready to go together with the hat on a witches adventure.

Have Fun and keep :)

September 19, 2009

Make a Witches Hat

Filed under: Kids Painting and Crafts — Tags: , , , , — @ 4:12 am

Halloween isn’t to far away get in early and make a couple of these great witches hats.

What You Need : –

  • 1 Sheet of white cardboard
  • 50 cm of black felt
  • 60 cm of black/silver feather boa (from the discount stores)
  • 1/2 ball of black feathered yarn
  • 3 silver cardboard stars
  • 40c cm of black hat elastic
  • craft glue
  • spray adhesive
  • stapler
  • sticky tape and scissors

Cut the cardboard into a shape resembling a triangle. The shape will measure 50 cm from top to bottom the width at the peak is 3 cm, and the base, which is curved, measures 58 cm straight across.

Spray the surface of the hat with spray adhesive and lay the felt on top. Once dry trim the felt to fit the shape, fold your hat shape into a cone and fix the edges with glue. Secure at the bottom with staples.

The feathered yarn is going to make some hair. Cut 20 cm lengths of the yarn and stick to a strip of cardboard with sticky tape, measure it to go half way round the base of the hat, then fix to the hat with tape or glue with the yarn hanging down. A few staples can be placed across the band to help keep in place.

Glue the stars to the hat with glue, staple hat elastic to either side then glue the feather boa around the base and allow to dry before wearing.

September 2, 2009

Making Cards and Presents

Filed under: Kids Painting and Crafts — Tags: , , , , , , , — @ 4:48 am

If you give them the opportunity and a few supplies children will love making cards for their family and friends. They will get in and enjoy gluing and adding glitter or stickers, pictures or scrapbooking decorations. Build a little kit and keep everything together in a box ready to pull out for the next upcoming birthday or celebration.

Contents for you card making kit:-

Scissors, felt pens, glitter or/and gel pens, ccraft glue, stickers, glitter in a variety of colours, sheets of coloured cardboard ( I also keep any suitable card that might be in the packaging of purchases eg. sheets, shirts etc.), sheets of decorative or coloured paper, doilies, sequins, old cards, scraps, ribbons, paint, alphabet templates.

These items can also be packaged together in a presentation box and given as a gift. Presentation gifts packaged in boxes or baskets can solve the dilemma of what present to give when your never sure what to give.

A fairy basket for a little girls birthday makes a delightful present. Spray a basket pink or silver. Decorate the handle with flowers or/and ribbons and pack the basket with little girl gifts. A dainty necklace, ring or bracelet wrapped sweets in pink organza or satin and tied with a ribbon, flowered headbands all make perfect additions.

A pirate basket for a little boy can contain pirate goodies including a treasure map, gold chocolate coins, a pirate head scarf and eye patch. Many other present packs can be made themed to colours, letters, books and art.

You’ll never be stuck again.

Happy Parties :)

August 9, 2009

Junk Can Be Fun

Filed under: Kids Painting and Crafts — Tags: , , , , , — @ 6:14 am

Instead of throwing away used cartons and boxes or similar items they are great for building and creating anything kids can come up with.

What You Need:- Strong glue or tape for big items, scissors, paint, crayons, felt pens, scrap paper, ribbons, straws, feathers etc;

What To Do:- If you have a spare shelf, cupboard or box you can start collecting bottle tops, buttons, cartons, cards, corks, wool, straws, lids, paper plates, cardboard cylinders and go ahead add anything else you can think of.

There is an endless amount of things to make and children will come up with their own ideas but here are a couple of fun ones.

Drums

What You Need:- Boxes, tins or plastic containers, sticks or wooden spoons, scissors or hole punch, string or ribbon.

What To Do:- Choose a container to be your drum, make two holes, opposite each other, near the top of the drum. Cut string or ribbon, long enough to go around the neck and thread through the holes and secure.

Tooters

What You Need:- Cardboard cylinders various lengths, paper, glue, elastic bands.

What To Do:- Glue around outside of one end of cylinder, glue paper to the cylinder end, secure with elastic band and put small hole in paper. Different lengths will make different sounds when children blow through.

Have Fun :)

August 8, 2009

Kids Can Draw

Filed under: Kids Painting and Crafts — Tags: , , , , , — @ 5:31 am

As soon as a child can hold a pencil they take delight from making marks on paper. Drawing should be encouraged as another avenue for developing creativity and imagination, Soon the marks, lines and symbols will start to form pictures.

Drawing pads, paper, whiteboards and blackboards are all perfect for young drawers. Felt-tipped pens are great for bright colours, colour pencils, chalk and crayons add a variety of textures and effect.

Felt-tipped Pens.

What You Need:- Pens, paper newspaper.

What to Do:- Place newspaper underneath paper to prevent colours bleeding through.

Chalk Drawing

What You Need:- Different coloured chalk, different coloured paper, cardboard, soapy water, sponge, towel.

What to Do:- Keep soapy water and sponge handy so hands can be kept clean during drawing.

Crayon Drawing and Rubbing

What You Need:- coloured non-toxic crayons, paper, leaves, cardboard. Non-toxic, thick kindergarten-type crayons are best for younger drawers.

What to Do:- For rubbing – Arrange leaves on cardboard or a suitable flat surface. Tape paper in place over leaves. Rub side of crayon lightly all over the paper. When finished ther will be a pattern left from the leaves.

Other Drawing Activities:-

  • Draw a small drawing onto balloons then blow up and watch the drawing grow.
  • Draw patterns on notepaper to make greeting cards.
  • Chalk can be used to draw on wet paper.
  • Other objects can be used for rubbing eg coins, keys, combs or doilies.

Let them go for it.

Have Fun :)

August 7, 2009

Printing Fun

Filed under: Kids Painting and Crafts — @ 5:06 am

Printing can be done with so many items around the home, it’s another inexpensive way for the kids to be creative and have fun too. For the little ones start with items that are easy to hold such as wood, cotton reels, bottle tops, kitchen utensils, sponge.

Let children experiment and make simple prints. As they grow in confidence and skill they will be able to make patterns and designs.

What You Need:- Shallow dish or tray, paints, paper or cardboard, sponge or cloth, printing items.

What To do:- Place a thin sponge or folded paper towel into the dish. Place the paint under the sponge or on the towelling and allow a few minutes to soak through. Use mixed powdered paint or vegetable dyes.

Fruit and Vegetable printing

What You Need:- a variety of fruit and/or veggies – potato, carrot, onion, cauliflower, pepper, orange, lemon, apple. Paint pad, tray and paint, paper, paper towel, knife.

What To Do:- Cut  firm fruit or vegetables to create flat surfaces. Place cut side down on paper towel. Press flat side of item down onto paint pad, check that it is well covered with paint.

Extra:- Cut shapes into potato.

Go for it, and Have Fun :)

August 6, 2009

Making Paper Beads and Threading

Filed under: Kids Painting and Crafts — Tags: , , , , — @ 6:19 am

Children love to thread objects onto string or cord to make necklaces or other projects. Paper beads are great fun to make using old magazines, wrapping paper or coloured paper. For younger children beads with large holes and stiff cord are easier to handle. Make sure the end of the cord is tied so beads won’t fall off. Macaroni beads are an old favorite, macaroni can be dyed using food colouring. After dying spread them out carefully for drying.

What You Need:- Old magazines, darning needle, wool or string, scissors, glue.

Paper Beads

What to Do:- Cut colour pages or magazine lengthways to make long triangles about 5 cm wide at the base and 30 cm tall. Cut cord for threading and thread into the needle.

Making the Beads:- Start from the wide end of the triangle and roll paper all the way to the end. You can roll around the needle or a thin knitting needle will work just as well if its easier to handle. Put glue on the pointed end of the paper triangle and press down to make a bead. Continue until you have enough beads for your necklace or other project. Thread beads onto cord  until you have sufficient for your necklace then tie the ends.

Have Fun :)

August 5, 2009

Playing with Dough and Clay

Filed under: Kids Painting and Crafts — Tags: , , , , , — @ 4:02 am

Easy to make play dough and clay will give hours of creative fun for younger or older children.

Making Dough

Cooked

  • 2 cups plain flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 4 tablespoons of cream of tartar
  • 2 cups water
  • colouring

In a saucepan, mix dry ingredients. Gradually add oil and water, stirring them in together. Cook on top of the stove for 2-5 minutes, stirring constantly. The dough is cooked when mixture leaves side of pan and forms a mass. Cooked dough will keep in a sealed container, in the refrigerator, for up to three months.

Not Cooked

  • 2 cups plain flour
  • 1 cup cooking salt
  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil
  • 1 cup water (approx)
  • colouring
  • bowl
  • mixing spoon

Mix dry ingredients in bowl with spoon, add oil. Add colouring to water in a jug. Add water to bowl, a little at a time, stirring at first, then mixing with hands and kneading. Dough can be kept in a floured container or plastic bag. Put in a refrigerator if you want to keep for more than a week.

Dough can be used and reused to make lots of fun stuff or just for squishing and rolling.

Making Clay

  • 4 cups of plain flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • bowl
  • kitchen utensils eg. rolling pin, fork, paper clips, cookie cutters
  • Paint brushes
  • clear gloss enamel

Mix salt and flour in bowl. Add water, mixing with fingers. If clay is to stiff add a little more water. When mixed take clay out of bowl and knead for 4-5 minutes.

Use cookie cutters or roll and shape into what ever figures you like. Place on baking trays. Insert paper clips into the back if you want hooks for hanging later. Bake in a moderate oven for at least one hour. When ready allow to cool then paint and decorate as desired. Use clear gloss enamel to finish off.

Have Fun :)

August 3, 2009

Kids Love Making Puppets

Filed under: Kids Painting and Crafts — Tags: , , , , , — @ 3:26 am

Paper Plate Puppet

What You Need:- Paper plates, felt-tipped pens, collage  bits and pieces, glue, scissors, tape, sticks.

What To Do:- Decorate plates with pens and glued on bits and pieces to make puppets head. Tape a stick to the plate for a handle and your ready to play.

Paper Bag Puppet

What You Need:- Paper bags, felt tipped pens or crayons, bits and pieces for decoration, glue, stapler, scissors, cardboard cylinder or stick, tape or elastic band.

What To Do:- Draw a face on the paper bag, fill bag with scrunched up paper, attach bag to stick or cylinder with elastic band or tape. You can also put the bag on childs hand. A sock will work as well as a paper bag, just sew decorations on.

Rubber Glove Puppet

What You Need:- Felt tipped pens, rubber glove, scissors, wool and glue.

What To Do:- Cut finger tips off rubber glove and draw faces on them with coloured pens. Glue wool for hair on the finger tips of the glove and your ready to play.

Finger People

What You Need:- Felt tipped pens, fabric and paper scraps, scissors, elastic bands.

What To Do:- Draw a face on one finger. Wrap piece of fabric or paper around finger for clothes and fix in place with rubber band. Tear or cut out a circle of paper for a hat. Tear a small hole in the centre. Push finger into the hole to make a hat. Your ready to play.

Have Fun :)

August 2, 2009

Kids Making Puppets

Filed under: Kids Painting and Crafts — Tags: , , , , , — @ 6:13 am

As much as kids enjoy playing with puppets they can also have a whole lot of fun making them. Puppets can be a wonderful form for expressing ideas and imagination through their creation and subsequent play. Puppets can be as simple or creative as the child desires and as skill and materials allow.

What You Need:-

Scrap Materials – Old socks, gloves, tubes, boxes, sticks, pine cones, paper bags, paper plates, balloons, wool, cotton wool, paper and cardboard, ice block sticks, felt, paste, tape or staples, scissors, crayons, felt pens or paint.

Finger Puppets

What You Need:- Paper, felt or material, cotton wool, ribbons, material, lace and glue, scissors, felt tipped pens.

What to Do:- Cut a shape of paper, felt or fabric about 9 cm x 6 cm. Glue down or sew around the edges leaving bottom end open for finger. Glue or paint on a face add clothes and hair.

Walking Puppets

What You Need:- Cardboard, felt-tipped pens, scissors, glue, fabric, wool, cotton wool.

What to Do:-Draw a figure and paste onto cardboard or draw on cardboard directly. Cut around figure and then cut out a hole for each leg large enough t0  poke fingers through. Draw face and add decorations for hair and clothes. Put fingers through the holes and the puppet is able to be walked around and play with the other puppets.

Have Lots of Fun :)

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