Love these Valentine’s’ Day craft ideas from @lilsugar http://t.co/Gn9IwM9x Perfect for the little ones! – by m80parents (M80 Parents)
In our basement is a place for our kids to learn and create. It’s not a fancy space, but it’s practical, spacious and kid friendly. A kids’ art and craft desk, a computer just for children, a piano keyboard, a bucket of instruments, an easel, and two kids’ tables with kid sized chairs fill the space. The floor underneath our “Learn and Create Space” is linoleum that holds up well against spills and abuse. Messes can be made here and explorations are welcome. It a good place for noisy play too. Our “Learn and Create Space” welcomes children to come, play and discover.
We call this basement space the “Art Area,” but a lot more than art is made here. The art easel is used to play school, our kid’s computer teaches keyboarding, the art desk sets the stage for creative exploration, a band plays using the available instruments, and the kid’s table and chairs are perfect for crafting and other projects. Once I filled the space my kids moved right in and began to play. Today, it’s a “hot spot” in our home. Everyone small loves to do what they do best in our “Art Area.”
When I was a kid I lived at the kitchen table. I liked the space the kitchen table gave me. I could go back and forth between activities there. At one end of the table would sit some test questions that needed review. At the other end a watercolor painting might be drying. More towards the middle of the table an afternoon snack would, perhaps, sit half consumed. I was a kid, so my stuff had a way of spreading like spilled milk. By the end of the day the table was often buried in all my projects. I’m lucky my parents tolerated my tendency to spread out. The freedom to fill the kitchen, with all the activities for the day, allowed me a greater opportunity to learn and create.
I am thankful that my parents allowed me to take over the kitchen table. Today I like to offer my own children the same freedoms. This is pretty easy since there are so many new ways to set up a space that’s just right for busy kids. My favorite new space maker is a kid’s table and chairs. Children don’t have to prop themselves at the kitchen table, or sit on their knees anymore. These tables are just the right size for comfortable sitting. The kid’s tables are just the right height for a child, and chairs that are “just right” are easy to find. Today you can find matching table and chair sets, or you can mix and match if you prefer. You can also bring home a child sized kidney shaped table just like the ones in a preschool classroom. These tables are just the right height for children and they have loads of space for multiple projects. Chairs that match are readily available. You’d be amazed at the options that are out there.
When I set up a space for our kids to learn and create I was deliberate. I considered everything I had learned about kids, because I wanted to give my own kids a really good place to grow. I traveled back to my undergraduate years, when I studied art and education, and I thought about what I had learned about environments that fostered creativity. I visited my graduate school days when I read text books filled with suggestions for helping kids learn to read and develop their basic academic skills. I reflected on the many classrooms that I taught within. I remembered the spaces I created for students and I remembered the students that filled the spaces. I drew on my own experiences as a teacher and a creative person. I pulled all of this knowledge together to make the perfect space for my own children to learn and create. There’s never been a day that I’ve regretted the energy and resources I tapped into to make our “Art Area.” My kids love their “Create and Learn Space” and they use it every day. It’s just perfect for them.
As I sit at my computer I can look at all the evidence. It’s the evidence that my kids are learning and creating. Their art desk is covered in paper airplanes, buttons glued to construction paper, pipe cleaners loaded with beads, and feathers poked into a three inch diameter Styrofoam ball. The art easel is dressed with a newsprint pad that is opened to a drawing of stick figure people playing roller hockey. There’s also a table, about two feet high, that’s stacked with unfinished crafts that will soon get attention. A little chair sits and waits for someone to fill it. It won’t take long before someone does fill it, because my kids can’t wait to use their space to learn and create. They know it’s just perfect for them, because they’re the ones that use it and they’re the ones that love it.
Take some time to make a “Learn and Create Space” for your children. You’re children will love it and they’ll use it. It’s an investment you won’t regret, and it will bring a lifetime of returns.
Alisa E. Clark, an educator for over 10 years with a Master’s Degree in Reading Education, reviews and consults with companies and schools districts about the latest tools and programs to enhance student learning. Her web site is at http://www.kidcubby.com.
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I absolutely LOVE making crafts. I can knit, make stuff out of leather, sew, and pretty much anything else that some to my mind. But I really want a cheap, fun, simple craft that I can make and sell. Knitting gets kinda boring after a while, and leather is sooo expensive! Sewing also gets kinda boring. Anything?? Any ideas??? Thanks!!!
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Craft videos are the very best way to learn any craft skill. Hands down. I’ve tried teaching people by giving them just instructions (when I’m not there) and it only does part of the job. For the best solution you need a moving image and hard text.
Most of us learn by seeing. That is grasping what we both read, and what we watch. Pop a craft video or DVD into the PC and you’ve a sure fire recipe for success.
It’s a winner for everyone.
For the person who created the video, because it catches them hopefully at their very best.
Video for them means being able to reach so many more that those in a standard classroom. And it means they can reproduce themselves as often as they like.
Camcorders these days are easy to operate and as long as the project is recorded in close up you will be able to see each and every step of what you need to do.
As a publisher I love videos for their learning power. If I have done my job right in explaining things, and getting the steps, and instructions right then it is a no-brainer. The video wins over written instructions every time.
How many times have you been thwarted by something that did not pan out on the page. Things missed out. Garbled instructions. Dead ends?
Well there is no such hiding place for the crafter demonstrating. Chances are they have made the project hundreds of time and hopefully using everyday language. There is something about writing instructions that turns our normal speech into something that hard to fathom.
Explaining things to a flashing camcorder forces you to be honest and clear. Any stuff ups are there for ever. And trust me, they will come back and remind you.
So for my part, every craft video is re-run, replayed, re-shot, saved and rendered to my level of perfection. I would hate it if one of my craft videos went out with me feeling it did a less than proper job.
I want everyone watching to feel not only that I can do the project (what is the point in that)? As a craft teacher I want you to be feel that YOU can. My expertise is only important in as much as being able to explain and share it with YOU.
http://www.StepByStepCrafts.com Following craft instructions is not as easy as it seems. Getting the right craft project is only half the battle. If the writer is also a Teacher then it is less of a slog! With 20 years craft teaching experience it is no wonder that Geraldine Jozefiak is called The Craft Teacher. Anyone can become a Craft Expert with the right instruction. Find out your area of excellence!
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I’ve hand made a few items, quilts, photo albums etc. I have a really good eye for colour and design. I have also made something (purely by accident) and want to sell it but scared someone will steal the idea. All detailed help please. I’m clever at craft making but have no business knowledge. Thanks in advance.
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If you are looking for a simpler yet fun idea for your kids especially now that summer time is here and they will be off from school for a couple of months, this noodle craft dying technique is one of the easiest and most inexpensive way to make new things. There are lots of uses of art crafts for kids. It is fun and exciting way to teach your kids how to make new things from simple noodles. Kids just love the idea of playing with foods if you may observe your kids; they love to play with their foods than eat them.
This is one of the most appropriate times to play with foods since you will need to colour pastas to make them appropriate to make other items later on. After dying the noodles, you will be able to make necklaces, bracelets, and others such as anklets. It can also be used for other items such as making collage and others. Teaching your kids how to use their time well is so easy if you know what things to use in particular. You can also make this craft making productive by teaching them some lessons in school using the coloured noodles you made. Your kids will not even notice that you are teaching them something using craft making. Here’s what you can do:
Gather all the ingredients you need. Pour ¼ cup of alcohol and about 10 drops of food colouring inside a zip locked bag and mix it well.
Now add some pasta inside the bag and shake it well so the pasta will be coloured evenly. It’s up to you what shape of pasta you will put inside first.
Let the pasta stay inside the bag for an hour so the colour will be more intense. If you want the pasta to look darker in colour, you can let it inside the bag overnight.
When your desired colour has been achieved, you can now take it off the bag and put it inside another zip bag to dry it up.
When the noodles dry up, you can now use it to make some other things out of it. You can think of teaching your kids math such as addition, subtraction and multiplication using coloured noodles. It’s easy to bond now with your kids because they are having fun with the new look of the pasta. It will be best if you will buy different shapes of pasta in the supermarket. Make sure that you will be able to find different shapes of pasta so your kids will enjoy the process even more.
Always remember that pasta dying is a fun and easy way to play and make your kids time productive. But when the pasta has been dyed, it is not edible anymore even if you use a food colouring for it. There is an alcohol added to it to be able to achieve the desired colour so make sure you supervise your kids along the way to prevent accident later on.
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What kid doesn’t like cutting up paper, peeling off stickers, or stamping? Students of any age and ability level love every opportunity to work with art supplies. For this school year, try channeling some of your child’s creative energy into scrapbooking and paper crafts. Scrapbooking is a great way to spend time with your children, share a favorite hobby, and reinforce skills learned in school without them realizing it. Scrap Chic Boutique, (www.scrapchicboutique.com), located in Decatur, Georgia, offers classes and individual assistance on your paper crafting projects.
Typically, we think of scrapbooking as a way to preserve memories and tell stories through the use of photographs. However, with the variety of supplies and tools available in today’s scrapbook market, the possibilities are endless. Below is a list of ideas that will allow your young scholar use imagination and develop their academic skills. These projects may be especially useful for kids with special needs.
1. At any grade and ability level, students must learn vocabulary words whether they are matching pictures, spelling words, or learning definitions. Unique vocabulary cards can be a breeze to make, especially with die cutting tools in shapes of circles, tags, stars, and more. Each set of words can be on a different color of cardstock or in a different shape; then, use a D-Ring and hole punch to clip them together.
2. Kids need notebooks for every subject. Why not start the year by decorating the front of the notebooks using colorful patterned papers and stickers? It’s not a guarantee, but your child is less likely to lose something that they have invested time in making- and if they do misplace it, a decorated notebook is much easier to find in the lost and found stack!
3.Do you dread helping your child with their poster board project? Ask the teacher if the project can be modified. Rather than completing a project on poster board which may be too big of a space, they might complete several pages in an 12 by 12 album to display their knowledge of the topic. Ask your local scrapbook store about ways to make unique stickers- this way you can take any topic and make stickers from clip art or die cuts.
4. Celebrate success all throughout the year. Use an album with at least 10 pages- one for each month of the school year. Together, you and your child can decide what important lesson, event, or accomplishment to highlight on the page. Take pictures of completed projects, good test scores, friendships made, positive notes from the teachers, or school events. Important Tip: Leave a space for your kids to journal; it will be interesting to watch how their handwriting changes from August to May!
The ideas presented can be modified for specific needs or learning outcomes. For specific questions, you can e-mail info@scrapchicboutique.com or see the calendar of events at www.scrapchicboutique.com. Learning is about remembering- use scrapbooking to engage your child in “The Art of Remembering”- the results will last a lifetime.
Kelly Standridge, EdS, is a mother, teacher, and co-owner of Scrap Chic Boutique (www.scrapchicboutique.com). She has an EdS in Teacher Leadership, and has been teaching over ten years in the metro Atlanta area.
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It’s important to find just the right gift for the people you love when their big days come around. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, a graduation or a housewarming, you want a present that’s going to say exactly what you want to say, exactly when you want to say it. But finding that perfect gift isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially when you’re looking for the perfect Christian gifts in a very non-Christian society.
Fortunately, your choices for Christian gifts have long since gone beyond the traditional cross necklace or wall plaque! Here’s a sneak peek at the hottest Christian gift ideas on the market today.
Jewelry
The classics never die! There’s nothing like a trendy piece of contemporary or classical Christian jewelry to help you tell the world where you stand, and thanks to today’s designers there are hundreds of options out there! You can choose today’s traditional gold or silver cross necklace complete with a crown of thorns or a gilted rose, or you can go for something a little more sassy-for example, a gemstone rosary crafted from trendy hematite or an olive wood cross. Whatever their style there’s a piece of trendy gold, silver, gemstone, wooden, leather or beaded faith jewelry waiting just for them.
**A word to the wise: Hematite is incredibly fragile, and while it makes a trendy complement for just about any outfit its fragility makes it a poor gift for children.**
Christian T Shirts
Really, is there anything more fun than walking down the street and having people stop to read your t shirt? Today’s Christian t shirts are giving them something to read about! From powerful messages of love and faith to fun little quips (“I Pray,” created out of the eBay logo, made a splash on the market not too long ago), Christian t shirts make a great gift for the person who loves to hang out in comfort and style while standing in the silence as a testament to God’s power.
Holy Land Gifts
Pastor Sherman Davis once stated that the people of Israel were the only ones to have ever had a country, an entire country, promised to them by God. As god’s chosen people they’re going to have the opportunity to reclaim their homeland, and what could be cooler than sharing a piece of that homeland with someone you love? People travel from all over the world to see Israel, and now pieces of Israel are traveling all over the world to create fantastic Holy Land gifts.
Share holy water, anointing oils, incense and olive wood carvings with your friends and family in the Christian and Jewish communities. Remember that Dead Sea soap you saw on sale at the mall? There actually is a line of Dead Sea beauty products created straight from the Holy Land, and they make a great gift for any age.
Christian Sneakers
You’ve heard of shoes making a statement, but what about making a statement with your shoes? Courtesy of some savvy designers who realized that sneakers could do a whole lot more than just keep your feet warm there are trendy Christian shoes cheerfully emblazoned with the word of God just waiting for the chance to be let loose. And they’re comfortable too! If you’ve got a friend who would love the opportunity to literally walk in the word of God this is exactly the gift you’ve been looking for.
With today’s hottest fashions and coolest accessories shopping for trendy Christian gifts isn’t so hard after all.
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