Wow I love all these ideas :D can't wait til Moo is a bit older so we can get into it. He loves drawing with his crayons at the moment.
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Wow I love all these ideas :D can't wait til Moo is a bit older so we can get into it. He loves drawing with his crayons at the moment.
You'd be surprised at what he would already enjoy hun.:
DD2 was only 1 in Jan and she loves the painting and helping put stickers on well everything :p
I also find i am trying different things with them and figuring out which things they like.
i built the art station yesterday and couldnt wait to tell everyone the bargain i got!!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT
LOL!!! DD was playing on it already.
but i think mummy loves it more.
Will try to upload the pics today in our BBCRAFT folder
I saw on Huggies site there are a stack of age related activities to do. We're going to do the pen holder and the tie for DH, the box train, edible artwork and egg carton finger puppets. And I just painted a nappy box and going to decorate it to make DD's "Crafty Box". Play School's site has colouring-in sheets that you can print out too.
Great thread :)
Ohhhhhh you might need to bring a list when we have our craft day my love.:
DD1 likes watching Mr Maker on ABC2 so i might check out things there aswell, will check out the huggies website too... YAY
I think i like craft more than the girls sometimes.
I can bring a list, and some supplies.....but will take me a little while to collect three nappy boxes for the train! But in saying that, it'll be a few weeks yet before I can get to you for our craft day, but it's something I'm looking forward to :)
ETA - Just checked out the photos. AWESOME craft station!!!!!!!! Oh I so want one.....but can someone give me a bigger house first :ROFL:
We, ahem *I* finished our craft box! Uploaded the photos :)
very very nice craft box!!!!!!!!!!
Hi, I hope you don't mind me jumping into this discussion.
DD also loves craft. She is almost 4 and starting to come up with her own ideas. The other morning, she got up before anyone else and when I walked into the kitchen table, I saw that she had drawn, coloured and cut out a bird's head, tail and two wings, sticky taped it all together and taped a pencil to the back to hold her "puppet". I was blown away! She has no interest in TV anymore, just wants to colour, cut and tape all day (when she's not running around and climbing).
I'm really enjoying it, too. There are sooo many things you can do. Even just a white paper plate could be the starting point to a million different projects.
Anyway, I have a question for the seasoned kiddy crafters out there: What's the best glue to use? I have some Clag PVA kids glue. But I don't like it at all. It takes forever to dry, is very messy and not very strong. I also have a glue stick, which I like for paper, but it's useless when we're trying to stick flat beads or googley eyes on. For this I like to use either a UHU brand super glue
or a hot glue gun. But they are both not very kid friendly. The Superglue sticks DDs fingers together (slight exaggeration) and the glue gun is very hot and dangerous.
What do you use to stick things like feathers or pompoms onto card etc.?
Sorry for the hijack, I hope you don't mind...
Have made a few crafty things the last couple of weeks, am uploading pics now, will put on a BB album and link here then explain :)
CRAFT ALBUM
We made a fish tank, bird & frog out of plastic plates (paper would be easier but we didn't have any)
Basically we painted the plates and let them dry then we glue on
Fish tank: fish shapes we cut out of colored paper and used glitter for scales and pipe cleaners as coral :) we also glued on some blue streamers as the 'sea'.
Bird - cut out hand prints then glued massive bright feathers to each of the fingers, then glues to the back to look like wings, used the triangle piece from an egg carton, painted it and used as a beak :)
Frog - milk bottles with black texta for eyes, a pipe cleaner for the mouth and red streamer for the tongue :P
Today's adventures were collecting branches, leaves and sticks from different trees etc around the house, adding those pics now :)
Photos are beautiful ZF. I LOVE the ones with the leaves.
Aww thanks hun, when you come for a visit or when i come to you i can raid the trees for more :p
Was great fun.
sorry sunshine_sieben i didn't notice your post - i just bought an all purpose craft glue from the cheap shop the other day, goes on white but dries clear, is a bit better for the google eyes and awkward stuff but we use glue stick for paper :)
Zf, I love your avvie! Will check the photos out tonite
Aww thanks hun.. RB did an awesome job of it.
Some really great ideas in this thread, the craft table would be fantastic if i had anywhere to put it
ETA: i just went on the Play School part of the ABC website and they have some fantastic ideas in their 'Make and Do' section
We did something fun yesterday because we're stuck in the house with hand foot and mouth disease.
DD got a couple of cheap plain jumpers for her birthday. I wanted to jazz them up a bit so I trawled the internet for ideas. We ended up doing something with crayons. I added the pictures to that BBCRAFT photobucket album.
Here's how we did it:
- I pre-washed the jumpers (without fabric softener) dried it and put it on an ironing board.
- I placed a few layers of newspaper in between the front and back of the jumper
(to stop the colour from seeping through)
- I shaved some cheap crayons (don't use washable ones). One colour per bowl.
- DD sprinkled the shavings onto the jumper in the shape of a rainbow
(you could also make a template from baking or greasproof paper and get your kids
to fill the template with the crayon shavings)
- when they're happy with the design, cover it with some white paper, then baking or
greaseproof paper over the top and iron the design onto the jumper on a medium (wool)
setting. This will melt the shavings into the material
- Wash seperately the first few times. I've only washed it once so far, but it is supposed
to be permanent
- You could also make it with washable crayons and change the design regularly
- You could teach them about mixing colours by using for example blue and yellow
shavings to make green
Fantastic ideas ladies!
Has anyone tried making mobiles? Use a branch and tape/tie/glue on found objects from the garden. Or a sea animals mobile using plastic takeaway container lids, cover with scrunched coloured tissue paper then draw on features and add crepe paper/ribbon strips for tentacles/fins etc (looks good cos it's kind of see through still). Or cut out cardboard shapes and decorate then attach to a coat hanger etc
What about weaving? You can use old hessian bags (remove some threads) or onion bags and weave wool/ribbon/paper etc
Straw painting - blow blobs of paint around the place with straws and use the finished pics for wrapping, stationery, covering boxes etc
And what about salt dough - make whatever you want (like clay but less messy!) then bake and decorate it - great for beads cos you can then make MORE stuff!
Make your own dress ups - masks, decorate plain clothes/hats with tails, fins, fabric crayons (saw them at Big W for only a few $)....
Stained glass windows using cellophane to cover shapes cut from cardboard.
I keep the little bits of ribbon from inside tops (you know, the shoulder hanging up bits!!) and have a HUGE stash of coloured ribbon, all free! Old CD's apparently make great mobiles/fish scales (shiny).
So far DS (13 months) likes drawing for about 30 seconds at a time, ripping paper, pulling stickers OFF stuff and throwing playdough (with the occasional taste-test).... can't wait til he's into crafty stuff! ;)
Mobiles are a great idea as you get to use all your crafty creations to hang onto a mobile!
Actually, your post reminds me of a craft idea my then 20 month old came up with all by himself:
Making cheery, aqua-coloured nappy fillings. It takes a while, but here is how it goes:
Give your toddler some aqua coloured play doh, let them play with it, then eat it. Wait til the next morrning and be prepared for a surprise when you open their nappy :rolleyes:
rofl :ROFL:
How do you make SALT DOUGH?
Today at the library the girls colored in cupcakes then used different colored paper for 'sprinkles' they were quite cute.
I have no idea where i'm going to keep all their activities once they start kinder aswell, going to need a bigger house.
ZF - My craft stuff is wedged into a tiny room under our house along with all my other school stuff but when I can get to it I'll look it up! Otherwise I'm sure you can google it. I've made beads, brooches, wreathes, hanging Christmas decorations etc and if you varnish it, they'll last forever. Love the cupcake idea btw.
googled :) - this is for x-mas deco's :)
# 1 1/2 cups plain flour
# 1/2 cup fine table salt
# 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
# 2/3 cup chilled water
1.
Preheat oven to 120°C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Make a well in the centre. Pour in oil. Gradually add water, stirring mixture with a wooden spoon until combined. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead to make a smooth ball.
2.
Roll dough out between 2 sheets baking paper until 7mm thick. Use Christmas-shaped cutters (see tip) to cut out decorations. Use a chopstick or skewer to make a hole at the top of each decoration. Place decorations on trays. Roll remaining dough together and repeat.
3.
Bake decorations for 2 1/2 hours or until firm and dry. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
4.
Paint front and sides. Allow paint to dry. Paint a second coat. While top coat is wet, sprinkle with glitter. Allow to dry. Paint back of decorations with 2 coats. Thread ribbon through holes. Hang on Christmas tree.
ZV - Sounds great! My recipe is slightly different:
300g flour
300g salt
200mL water
30mL vegetable oil
Mix flour and salt well. Gradually pour in water and mix well. Add oil and mix well. Take out of the bowl and knead on a dusted surface until firm. Wrap well in cling film and put in the fridge for 1/2 hour before using.
Roll out dough, cut out shapes you want (including a hole if you are hanging them or making beads). Bake on a greased tray at 120 degrees for about 6 hours.
When cool, rub with sandpaper to make smooth.
Paint all over, allow to dry. Add some more paint patterns, glitter etc. Allow to dry.
*Leftover dough can be wrapped tightly and stored in the fridge.
Wow 6hrs... is it hard to make beads or do you basically roll little balls and poke a hole in the middle?
What kind of paints are best to use on them, is it acrylic?
Would make great personalised presents for people if you have a steady hand and can paint well :)
Oh Oh we made PET ROCKS the other day, the girls glued eyes on, drew on a nose and mouth and used some colored string for hair and 2 little beads as 'hairclips' then as DP has never had one we found a MASSIVE rock and made him a 'bombers rock' :rofl:
I LOVE pet rocks. When I was little I wanted a mouse and cos Mum said no, I made myself a pet rock mouse, house, food etc (The hint didn't work btw ;()
Acrylic paint for the salt dough. I vaguely remember making beads and don't think it was that hard... I think I used a toothpick for the hole??? I agree, they'd make great presents!
:bump: we made people from
Toilet rolls the other day ;)
Lots of painting, tracing with baking paper.
DD1 loves cutting at the moment.
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- Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!
ZF - I have a whole set of toilet paper animals I used for craft at school, got them online - maybe you could google??
B and I tried a torn paper (out of necessity, still too young for scissors here!) collage using his favourite pics from the junk mail catalogues a couple of weeks ago. We stuck them on an old box. OK, Mummy sticky taped them on, B pulled them off! ;) We both had fun though.
Thanks Hun, we've done the animals, I googled :) love google for ideas.
Might do some paper mâché again soon, DD is rightinto cutting now, driving me nuts!
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- Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!
Ok so i am going to try some pom poms, am also going to make our own home made playdough - found a recipe on pinterest so might even make some as x-mas gifts this year if it works out well :)
So give me some new awesome crafty ideas for the kids.
Now the sun is omcing out i'm going to be getting the kids out on the deck with a drop sheet for some fresh air, fun & craft time :)
one of the *funnest* (yep, its a word!) things I do with my daughter is get a Canvas, some syringes (the bigger the better, can get from the chemist! just be prepared to be looked at like yr a junkie! hehe) and paint!
Put the Canvas up against a Wall or Fence, probably best to put a drop sheet, or old cardboard behind the Canvas as this gets MESSY!
Fill up the syringes with paint (this is messy but also fun)
Then let the kids squirt the syringes full of paint onto the canvas! Makes for awesome artwork! My house is FULL of these from my daughter! Her auntie even *commissioned* a piece for her spare room!
loads of fun! and LOTS of mess
Nikky - that sounds awesome! I was only thinking about painting on canvas yesterday.
ZV - Pom poms are cool. The last play dough I made was very gritty from the salt. It was a no-cook recipe. Next time I was going to think about add-ins like glitter.
Have just finished making the base for home made paint - flour and water, so easy! ;) I am just waiting for it to cool so I can add the food colouring. A few of my yummy mummy friends are getting together for our first play group tomorrow and I'm organising painting for us all. We have brushes, sponges, paint and fingers so it'll be an interesting afternoon watching half a dozen 18 month olds getting into painting, most for the first time!
Another idea I was thinking of trying that you might be interested in, ZV, is weaving with old onion/fruit bags. I thought we could use grasses, leaves, sticks, bark, wool, feathers, straws, fabric etc and make some kind of woven 'thingie'.
Oh, and one of the other mummies mentioned fly swat painting. Not exactly sure what it involves, but logic would say it's very messy and lots of fun! Toothbrush splatter painting is cool too - old toothbrushes dipped in paint and splattered on paper. Makes lovely wrapping paper. You can also turn the dried splatters (or big blobs of paint dropped onto paper) into funny creatures by drawing around them with a felt pen then adding faces, arms and legs etc. You get two art projects for the price of one that way! ;)
Made playdough today, was awesome!
Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!
ZF - did you end up making the salt dough? I made it a looooooong time ago (when I was 9!) and was planning to make some Christmas deco's with DD this year... but there are soooo many variations on line! Although most call for 1 to 2 cups of salt and none with oil....
MG
MG - I'm having the same trouble deciding which play dough recipe to follow! So many choices...
ZF - How did yours turn out? Please post the recipe if you like it!
Does anyone watch Mr Maker? Lots of good ideas on there!
Through Learning Ladders i've bought 1 of the Mr Maker books, can't wait to get it and try some of the stuff with DD.
Made another 1 today, green with gold glitter ;)
So so so so easy, 1 cup flower, 1/4 cup salt, 2tsp cream of tar tar, 1 tbs vegetable oil (i used olive oil), 1 cup water - food coloring & glitter if you want to add it :)
Throw all ingredients into a saucepan, let the kids mix it once combined pop on the stove on medium heat and continue to stir until it forms 1 big ball, take it out and place on baking paper allow to cool then knead until soft.
Store in an airtight container :)
I am going to make red, white & green with glitter through them and find some cheap cutters, twist them together and into tubs to give as x-mas pressies :)
Haven't tried the salt dough yet but i want too :)
Thanks ZV - it's on the to-do list for tomorrow! ;) The pressie idea sounds wonderful too!
JCE - Ooooh, Mr Maker books?! Fun! :p
The play dough recipe i use is pretty good also, no cook
2 cups plain flour
1 cup salt
1 tablespoon cooking oil
3/4 cup to 1 cup of water
2 drops of food colouring
Method
combine plain flour and salt
add water food colouring and oil
mix until ingredients are combined
knead well