This week, along with @mielaerkerasmussen (who has many amazing activities!), I had the privilege of guest hosting @kidscrafts101. This initiative, moderated by  http://www.redtedart.com/& @incredibusy, is a great way to connect and share many forms of creativity. The only thing that was difficult about this week was selecting the featured projects- there are just so many wonderful ideas!

From the top, left to right:

1) Check out @makefilmplay for her stop motion videos!

2) The use of straws are ingenious for printing from @creatingcreatives

 3) @handywithscissors made these flowers out of plastic bags!!

4) Floating chalk prints from @artcampla (can’t wait to try this!)

5) Design your own spinning top with @thebluebarn 

6) Adding lemon juice to watercolour (I haven’t seen this before) from @thea_snv.

7) Self portrait prints from @studio4art: I like the bright backgrounds!

8) A giant tree from @lineandformatelier (I would have definitely been into making this when I was a teacher!)

9) And finally, I love the mix of painted paper and modelling clay on @paintedpaperart‘s flowers!

A BIG thank you to everyone for joining in! 

Here are Mie’s favourites:

I n s p i r a t i o n 

So many interesting projects this week at #kidscrafts101 - I’ve had a hard time selecting, but these projects are the ones my children helped my choose and the ones they want to try!

So be inspired to:

• build houses and learn about architecture @centerforarchk12 

• create with tea bags@possibility_mom 

• make crazy planets @oliviamandel_art 

• make and play with a marble run @forariverwild 

• explore with vibrant colours on fabric @luvylife 

• create with corks and paint @salleyedwards 

• make your own beanie out of old T-shirts and decorate them @nokoncept 

• make a little world to play with out of foam, food colour and cars @playfullittlelearners 

Thank you @kidscrafts101 , http://www.redtedart.com/ and @incredibusy for having me as a guest judge this week and Bonnie @make_it_your_own_ it was an honour to do it with you! Sunday wishes to all of you! 

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Want to participate in Kids Crafts 101?  Simply tag your Instagram photos with #kidscrafts101

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Looking for other ideas?

• Photo scavenger hunt:  http://make-it-your-own.com/photo-scavenger-hunt/
• Traced feather bookmarks: http://make-it-your-own.com/traced-feather-bookmark/

• Spray painting over nature to create negative images: http://make-it-your-own.com/spray-painting/

• Make your own Outdoor Explorer Kit: http://make-it-your-own.com/make-your-own-outdoor-explorer-kit/

Materials

• My Color is Rainbow

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692792058 (American)

Plaeful: https://plaeful.co (International)

• Watercolour paints
• Sand paper
• Corn starch
• Measuring spoons
• Crayons
• Small containers
• Paint brushes
• Mixing tool (whisk, fork)
• Water

We always find these items helpful too:

• Smock
• Craft tray

Directions

• Don your smock.  Mix your paint.  We went with 2/3 of liquid watercolour with 1/3 cornstarch.  If you find that the paint turns to goop (which is also fun!), add a bit more liquid watercolour.  The first time I saw this activity (way back working in summers between University) food colouring was also used.  We like the vibrancy of liquid watercolour.  Putting out the three primary colours allows an opportunity for your children and/or students to create the secondary colours of the rainbow!

• You can draw on your sandpaper with crayon to create an image if you like.

• Paint over it and your sandpaper, experimenting with the colours of the rainbow- can your colours enhance your image- for example do they relate to the emotions of the character you might have drawn?  (Our pre-schooler used reds for his character that was “angry” and blue when he became “sad”).

Purpose

• Creating with various types of materials.

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you wear a smock and use a craft tray to protect your clothing and surfaces.

Materials

• Watercolour paper
• Liquid watercolour paint
• Fine mist spray bottles
• Doilies
• Painter’s tape

We always find these items helpful too:

• Smock
• Craft tray

Directions

• Don your smock.  Tape the edges of your page to your work surface (half on, half off to create a border).  You could do this to your tray or onto a plastic table cloth.

• Tape your doily to your page.

• Spray over top of the doily, being sure not to saturate it.

• Carefully remove the doily and the tape border, revealing the heart created by the space that was covered- a negative image!

Purpose

• Understanding what a negative image is and possibilities as to how to create one.

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you wear a smock and use a craft tray to protect your clothing and surfaces.

 jingle bell trees and wanted to try a Valentine version since we liked them so much!  Joanna has tonnes of great projects- you won’t be disappointed in checking her out!

Materials

• Wire coat hanger
• Wire cutter
• Beads (with larger holes)
• Glue gun/glue

Directions

• Have an adult cut your hanger for you with wire cutters, wearing safety googles.

• Lace your beads on.  This is an opportunity to create patterns if you like or if you want you could paint your own beads.

• To connect your two parts together or on the end of the hook to hold the beads on, simply squirt some glue into the bead’s hole and each side of the wire, inserting them into the bead’s hole, holding it for a moment until the glue sets.  You may need a little adult help with this, to hold it steady.

• Hang up your heart hanger and share some love!

• Developing one’s fine motor skills.
• Exploring patterning.
• Recognizing symbols associated with certain celebrations.

Safety Notes

• Wire cutters should be used with care and by an adult.
• Beads can be a choking hazard therefore be sure to keep them out of the reach of children ages 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things into their mouths.

Materials

• Template valentine backpack
• Printer
• Scissors or paper cutter
• Pencil/eraser
• Clear tape
• Beads
• Alphabet beads (optional)
• Stitch holders*
• Split key rings

*We like these which are like giant pins used by knitters as you can wrap the names around, however, you could use kilt pins as well.)

Mini Version

• Safety pins
• Small beads
• Tassels

Directions

• Carefully open your pin and lace on your bead choices.  Be sure to leave enough space at the end of the pin portion so that you will be able to close it back up again.

• Here’s the mini version if you want to go with those!

• Have an adult help you attach a split key ring to the end of you pin so you can loop it onto your zipper pull.

• Print out the template and cut out each of the cards.  You could use a paper cutter alternatively as we find this a bit easier.  Write the receipt’s name and yours and then add your pin, using a tiny piece of clear tape.  (We rolled ours up like a hot dog and stuck under the beads.)

• Enjoy giving something personal to your classmates, friends and/or neighbours!

Purpose

• Beading activities create opportunities for exploring patterning and praticing one’s fine motor skills.

Safety Notes

• Use scissors or a paper cutter with care and direct adult supervision.
• Beads, pins etc. can be a choking hazard, therefore, be sure to keep them out of the reach of children ages 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things into their mouths.

Check out the full tutorial at one of our favourite sites:

http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/DIY-VALENTINE-STAMPS-AND-FAVORS-KIDS-CAN-MAKE

These activities can also apply to books that are falling apart and are no longer fixable.

Check out the full tutorials at:

http://letslassothemoon.com/2017/01/11/creative-ideas-for-book-jackets/

Materials

• Styrofoam balls (ours were a generous donation!)
• Dowels
• Coffee filters and/or cupcake liners
• Different types of paint (watercolour pucks, liquid watercolour, acrylics etc.)
• Paintbrushes
• Stick pins with a beaded top
• Beads
• Glue gun
• Rocks
• BBQ skewers

We always find these items helpful too:

• Smock
• Craft tray
• Rocks (or another material with weight)

Directions

• Don your smock.  Paint your filters, liners and/or doilies with your paints.  We used liquid watercolours (some with a sprinkle of salt for a starburst effect), puck watercolour and acrylics.)  Allow to dry overnight.

• We then placed our dried filters back into their respective piles and weighted them down with rocks so that they would take their shape back.  We left them overnight.  Based on the humidity in your area, this might take several days.

• We then attached the filters and cupcake liners to our flower centre using stick pins laced with beads.  We found that a few in each centre helped them to stay anchored.  We typically place two filters on opposite sides (yes, we know- it is a sphere, so there are no sides.. but you get the gist!) and continued to do so until it began to take a flower shape.  The fuller you want the bloom to be, the more filters to add.

• Once done, we added our BBQ skewer for the stem.  If you like, you could paint it, or add some coffee filter leaves as well.

• Wrap up your flowers and give them to a friend or loved one- a bouquet that is long lasting!

Purpose

• Developing one’s fine motor skills by working with and manipulating various tools.

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you wear a smock and use a craft tray to protect your clothing and surfaces.
• Use pins with care and adult supervision.
• Beads can be a choking hazard, therefore be sure to keep them out of the reach of children ages 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things into their mouths.