When the power went out at dusk one evening, and we had to use candles we saw our shadows on the wall and got the idea to trace them. The flickering of the candles made it very hard to trace the shadowline so we reverted to flashlights to keep a steady glow.
You can do silhouettes on white paper and cut them out carefully, then glue them onto black or any dark color paper to make them stand out. We didn't get to that part yet!
I remember loving this project in my first grade class. The teacher hung all of our silhouettes on the wall above the lockers in the corridor and we got a fresh look at our classmates, from a different perspective.
11 December 2007
09 December 2007
Scrap Wreath
Girl has taken it upon herself to make the family door wreath every year. This year I stepped in to see her carefully braiding strips of old green fabrics together.
She made one long braid, by wrapping the end of one with new fabric strips. When it seemed quite long enough, she then rolled the braid into a circle, and I helped her add some stitches to the back to keep the round shape.
Lastly, we ripped up some old red canvas to make the bow (in two parts: the bow and the sash that hangs down).
It took less than 30 minutes to complete this little holiday craft!
She made one long braid, by wrapping the end of one with new fabric strips. When it seemed quite long enough, she then rolled the braid into a circle, and I helped her add some stitches to the back to keep the round shape.
Lastly, we ripped up some old red canvas to make the bow (in two parts: the bow and the sash that hangs down).
It took less than 30 minutes to complete this little holiday craft!
30 November 2007
ART WITH FOUND OBJECTS
This morning Boy and I took an early morning walk and he picked up three slabs of broken concrete/brick/granite. He talked about painting on them and I could see he had a little plan brewing in his head.
Girl got one of the slabs and painted a fish on it.
He took the other two and propped them to form a shape. He started painting his...
Volcano sculpture. He'd seen the volcano the moment he picked up the concrete pieces but it took me awhile to figure out what he was up to.
We will place the sculpture in our garden!
Have fun finding found objects when you are outside and modeling them into your own new world -- back at home.
Pieces of wood, stones, litter...
This morning Boy and I took an early morning walk and he picked up three slabs of broken concrete/brick/granite. He talked about painting on them and I could see he had a little plan brewing in his head.
Girl got one of the slabs and painted a fish on it.
He took the other two and propped them to form a shape. He started painting his...
Volcano sculpture. He'd seen the volcano the moment he picked up the concrete pieces but it took me awhile to figure out what he was up to.
We will place the sculpture in our garden!
Have fun finding found objects when you are outside and modeling them into your own new world -- back at home.
Pieces of wood, stones, litter...
12 November 2007
MAKE YOUR OWN YOGURT
Many people are under the impression that you need a special machine to make your own yogurt, when all you really need is a sunny day (and you don't even need that if you have a stove and a big pot...).
Children can join in the fun and you can help the planet by avoiding the plastic packaging that yogurt usually comes in.
Here is the method:
1. Boil about one liter of milk in a heavy bottom pot to a full boil, stirring gently til it comes to a full boil.
Now take it off the heat and let it cool down almost completely, so that it is about the same as what you would give a baby. If the milk is too hot, the yogurt starter will die. For firmer yogurt, you can add two tablespoons of powdered milk at this stage (as you are boiling it up).
2. Now put about two tablespoons of yogurt in dish.
Add a small amount of the cooled milk and mix it thoroughly with a wooden spoon, now add the remaining milk and gently stir so all the starter is mixed into the milk evenly.
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3. Now cover the dish and let it sit in the sunshine for about three-four hours. In the winter, I add water to a bit pot, heat it up, and then put the dish in this and cover. After about two hours, heat the water up again to keep it warm for incubation (like a double boiler).
4. After the incubation is finished, put the dish of yogurt in the fridge for about two hours, until it is firmly set.
5. You will have a big pot of yogurt to accompany yogurt, freshly made applesauce or to use in salads and cooking!
Many people are under the impression that you need a special machine to make your own yogurt, when all you really need is a sunny day (and you don't even need that if you have a stove and a big pot...).
Children can join in the fun and you can help the planet by avoiding the plastic packaging that yogurt usually comes in.
Here is the method:
1. Boil about one liter of milk in a heavy bottom pot to a full boil, stirring gently til it comes to a full boil.
Now take it off the heat and let it cool down almost completely, so that it is about the same as what you would give a baby. If the milk is too hot, the yogurt starter will die. For firmer yogurt, you can add two tablespoons of powdered milk at this stage (as you are boiling it up).2. Now put about two tablespoons of yogurt in dish.
Add a small amount of the cooled milk and mix it thoroughly with a wooden spoon, now add the remaining milk and gently stir so all the starter is mixed into the milk evenly.>3. Now cover the dish and let it sit in the sunshine for about three-four hours. In the winter, I add water to a bit pot, heat it up, and then put the dish in this and cover. After about two hours, heat the water up again to keep it warm for incubation (like a double boiler).
4. After the incubation is finished, put the dish of yogurt in the fridge for about two hours, until it is firmly set.
5. You will have a big pot of yogurt to accompany yogurt, freshly made applesauce or to use in salads and cooking!
11 November 2007
FAMILY COMMUNIQUE
When I taught English for a family in Japan, they kept a white board by their toilet to jot little morning messages and games -- I picked up a lot of colloquial language skills trying to figure out what they'd put up there. So when I found this whiteboard I knew exactly where I wanted to put it.
I'm not sure if this counts as a craft but it is a great idea for prodding little ones who are learning to read, expressing little "good mornings," or fun little drawing games, etc.
I know it sounds a bit strange, but I'm 100% positive that if you put a white board, a marker and an eraser by your place of morning rituals, you are sure to create some interesting family communications!
I'm not sure if this counts as a craft but it is a great idea for prodding little ones who are learning to read, expressing little "good mornings," or fun little drawing games, etc.
I know it sounds a bit strange, but I'm 100% positive that if you put a white board, a marker and an eraser by your place of morning rituals, you are sure to create some interesting family communications!
06 November 2007
peace people pancakes
This is another 'fun with kids in the kitchen' post and comes straight to you from Sunday breakfasts of yore in a big green house in Buffalo, NY.
My father taught me how to put little motifs into the pancakes by first putting down an image, letting that bake on the griddle for a while so it becomes darker, and then pouring more batter over the top. Flip! Eat!
It's a bit tedious for the chef, but kids do love getting a pancake with a face in it or their own initial (you have to do some of these backwards, remember!) or a peace sign, a heart, a pumpkin, a shamrock or whatever seems to be the mood that morning (sleepy frowns?)
You can also make shapes like turtles and fish!
My father taught me how to put little motifs into the pancakes by first putting down an image, letting that bake on the griddle for a while so it becomes darker, and then pouring more batter over the top. Flip! Eat!
It's a bit tedious for the chef, but kids do love getting a pancake with a face in it or their own initial (you have to do some of these backwards, remember!) or a peace sign, a heart, a pumpkin, a shamrock or whatever seems to be the mood that morning (sleepy frowns?)
You can also make shapes like turtles and fish!
23 October 2007
Toothpick Butterfly
This idea comes directly from my daughter who loves to fiddle around with found objects. It would be lovely to make a butterfly garden all around the house in Spring with these.
Fold paper and cut various butterfly wings (just one half so that when you open it you have a perfect butterfly); color the wings; now cut a few slits into the middle fold and slide in the toothpick.
Try making other creatures too.
Fold paper and cut various butterfly wings (just one half so that when you open it you have a perfect butterfly); color the wings; now cut a few slits into the middle fold and slide in the toothpick.
Try making other creatures too.
19 October 2007
The Schumaker Family
I have found that kids seem to be fascinated by making their own shoes. This was the first attempt but with each new pair the shoes became more durable and wearable...
Once again, the pizza box is a great base, also supply kids with pipe cleaners, old fabrics, large pieces of paper (wrapping feet make interesting shoes), string....
See what happens when you plant the word "shoe" at your next crafty session.
Once again, the pizza box is a great base, also supply kids with pipe cleaners, old fabrics, large pieces of paper (wrapping feet make interesting shoes), string....
See what happens when you plant the word "shoe" at your next crafty session.
29 September 2007
More papier mache
Covering bottles and plastic containers with papier mache is a very fun activity. We made our glue with white flour and water, mixed it up smooth with our hands in a largish pan; and then went crazy with strips of newspaper!
The key to good papier mache crafts is layering up the newspaper strips well. Children want to stop when they cannot see the bottle, cup or balloon anymore – but you need to just keep coaxing them on with the ole, "just one more layer!"
Mash up the newspaper in your hand to add on noses and other appendages, then cover it carefully with small strips so it says firmly on the piece.
After the paint, everyone seemed very happy with their pieces!
The key to good papier mache crafts is layering up the newspaper strips well. Children want to stop when they cannot see the bottle, cup or balloon anymore – but you need to just keep coaxing them on with the ole, "just one more layer!"
Mash up the newspaper in your hand to add on noses and other appendages, then cover it carefully with small strips so it says firmly on the piece.
After the paint, everyone seemed very happy with their pieces!
25 September 2007
Bean bag friends
We found the stash of felt that we bought while in the US and on a very, very rainy day started making these froggies. We named them Grin and Barrett, since that's what we had to do when everything was cancelled due to flooding here. And yes, there are beans inside. Everyone has some of these around the house, I suppose.
Snakes and mice were other ideas we came up with to make...but didn't get that far!
Felt is such a wonderful medium for children as you don't have to be neat about hemming and such. Good to keep around the house.
Snakes and mice were other ideas we came up with to make...but didn't get that far!
Felt is such a wonderful medium for children as you don't have to be neat about hemming and such. Good to keep around the house.
22 August 2007
I save all greeting cards so that we have fodder for different art projects such as decorating book covers made of old shopping bags, making new greeting cards, collages, or...bookmarks.
We like to give books as gifts to friends and this adds a very special, handmade touch. You can use old artwork pages also and do rubber stamp designs (see elephant stamp made from erasers on old water color page)
You can keep a file or envelope marked "bookmarks," and keep small patterns for the different bookmark sizes inside. Just pull the file out when it's time to recycle greeting cards, get the children to trace onto the card they like, cut it neatly and punch a hole. Now add some pretty yarns or strings at the top. Have fun!
We like to give books as gifts to friends and this adds a very special, handmade touch. You can use old artwork pages also and do rubber stamp designs (see elephant stamp made from erasers on old water color page)
You can keep a file or envelope marked "bookmarks," and keep small patterns for the different bookmark sizes inside. Just pull the file out when it's time to recycle greeting cards, get the children to trace onto the card they like, cut it neatly and punch a hole. Now add some pretty yarns or strings at the top. Have fun!
14 August 2007
Paper boats and hats
Take a tip from Curious George! Kids love to fold paper boats and if it happens to be a day when puddles have formed outside, it is one of the most fun and inexpensive craft ideas I can think of!
The folding instructions are found in Curious George Rides a Bike by H.A. Rey!
The same fold can also be made into party hats!
The folding instructions are found in Curious George Rides a Bike by H.A. Rey!
The same fold can also be made into party hats!
10 June 2007
Mail art
Children make a lot of artwork and you cannot always keep it all, but it can easily be turned into notepaper and envelopes and become the base for a million and one snail mail projects for pen-pals and relatives.
16 April 2007
If you are helping a little one to do stitching, this is a nice way to put the sample pieces to use.
Add a backing with some lively scrap fabric by stitiching inside out and then reverse and stitch up the opening. Now stitch a final border around the little art piece.
Perfect gifts for teachers, grandparents, aunties, fathers, mothers...
Add a backing with some lively scrap fabric by stitiching inside out and then reverse and stitch up the opening. Now stitch a final border around the little art piece.
Perfect gifts for teachers, grandparents, aunties, fathers, mothers...
15 April 2007
Newspaper weaving
This year's Easter baskets were woven with old newspapers - a perfect way to combine Earth Day, with another April celebration!
Start weaving with four strips of newspaper (the smaller the strip, the more intricate the weave); stapling these as you move up worked the best.
Nice for small hands to try out!
Start weaving with four strips of newspaper (the smaller the strip, the more intricate the weave); stapling these as you move up worked the best.
Nice for small hands to try out!
13 April 2007
Earth day shopping bag
Earth Day comes around again on April 22nd.
One of the easiest things we can do is to say no to plastic bags whenever possible by folding up a cloth bag and keeping in our purse, knapsack, car or bicycle basket so it is always handy when needed. It is amazing how much plastic you can refuse with this.
A good canvas is a great bag for this purpose. Find bags at recycle shops or make them yourself. Have kids paint them with fabric paints and make the "Say-no-to-plastics" pledge this year!
One of the easiest things we can do is to say no to plastic bags whenever possible by folding up a cloth bag and keeping in our purse, knapsack, car or bicycle basket so it is always handy when needed. It is amazing how much plastic you can refuse with this.
A good canvas is a great bag for this purpose. Find bags at recycle shops or make them yourself. Have kids paint them with fabric paints and make the "Say-no-to-plastics" pledge this year!
16 March 2007
Cereal box Easter basket
Though my children always design their own basket each year, the base is always an old cereal box or milk carton. This is a good craft for any time of year as kids love to carry their collections around – to school to show classmates, to a friends house, to their granparents place...
Just cut away panels from the front and back of the box leaving the height of your basket; then taper the sides to form a handle; and staple together at the top.
It is good to do your decorating before stapling it together.
Just cut away panels from the front and back of the box leaving the height of your basket; then taper the sides to form a handle; and staple together at the top.
It is good to do your decorating before stapling it together.
14 March 2007
Baby pillow
Is there a new baby in your tribe? This is a sweet pillow for a sweet, little newborn head...or maybe just a decoration!
Have your child draw their own picture onto fabric and then teach them chain stitch, satin stitch, and running stitch to fill it in as they like.
The main portion of this was done by an 8 year old, who also had the idea to fill it and make it into a pillow. We were thinking of framing it for over the baby's crib too. Another good idea.
Have your child draw their own picture onto fabric and then teach them chain stitch, satin stitch, and running stitch to fill it in as they like.
The main portion of this was done by an 8 year old, who also had the idea to fill it and make it into a pillow. We were thinking of framing it for over the baby's crib too. Another good idea.
05 March 2007
01 March 2007
You are Eight!
This is another pizza box craft!
If your child is invited to a birthday party, cut out the number for the age the birthday-boy or birthday-girl will be and have your child decorate it with paint, stickers, sequins, etc.
It makes a unique gift that really doesn't cost much.
It's especially good for 1 and 2 year olds...to remind them how old they are and learn their numbers.
Also good for anyone over 50 ... to remind them how old THEY are!
If your child is invited to a birthday party, cut out the number for the age the birthday-boy or birthday-girl will be and have your child decorate it with paint, stickers, sequins, etc.
It makes a unique gift that really doesn't cost much.
It's especially good for 1 and 2 year olds...to remind them how old they are and learn their numbers.
Also good for anyone over 50 ... to remind them how old THEY are!
24 February 2007
Brickend
These look so fun when they are done. All you need is an old brick and some acrylic paints (we use the fabric paints easily available here). They add a lot of color to our library and let us use above the bookshelves as bookracks too!
10 February 2007
Embroidery Samplers
Child needs: hands - needle -thread
Guardian needs: a little patience
Tiny hands love stitiching! But a guardian needs to stay near to help with mistakes, threading needles, and safekeeping of supplies like scissors and needles.
Help the child make a little drawing on fabric, tell them to keep it simple. Now let them choose their colors. Teach the running stitch or chain stitch to begin with. And lastly, make it shiny with sequins or beads.
You can make tiny pillows (with a pocket for the tooth fairy...), greeting cards, or patchworks to sew onto T-shirts or make into doll blankets. You can also have kids sew right onto their jeans or t-shirts.
Guardian needs: a little patience
Tiny hands love stitiching! But a guardian needs to stay near to help with mistakes, threading needles, and safekeeping of supplies like scissors and needles.
Help the child make a little drawing on fabric, tell them to keep it simple. Now let them choose their colors. Teach the running stitch or chain stitch to begin with. And lastly, make it shiny with sequins or beads.
You can make tiny pillows (with a pocket for the tooth fairy...), greeting cards, or patchworks to sew onto T-shirts or make into doll blankets. You can also have kids sew right onto their jeans or t-shirts.
02 February 2007
Crack pot garden
If you glue together a cracked mug, it may not hold your morning coffee any more but it can make a perfect addition to your crack pot garden. The same goes for little cups and mugs that have lost their handles or have been chipped along the rim. Be sure to put lots of pebbles at the bottom for drainage and choose succulents and cacti that can live in this environment.
01 February 2007
If you find a big stain on the front of a nice t-shirt, or would rather not be advertising some company name splashed across the front...cover it up with a hand-made patch!
This one was made with a fabric-painted patch that was then embroidered into, with some sequins added for the final touch.
You can also just use a nicely patterned piece of fabric.
This one was made with a fabric-painted patch that was then embroidered into, with some sequins added for the final touch.
You can also just use a nicely patterned piece of fabric.
14 January 2007
A collage is a lot like a new year just begun...you have a blank sheet of paper in front of you and have no idea how the layers of color, pictures and textures are going to have their influence in creating the final piece of artwork. As the kids worked on their collages, they thought about what they want to do, how they want to feel, who they want to meet, and what they'd like to learn in the coming year!
Give out a blank sheet of paper.
Now, put the oil pastels in the middle of the table and tell the kids to think about all the different feelings and emotions inside of them. They should try to cover the entire sheet of paper with color and patterning.
THe next layer is also about color: place a bunch of magazines in the middle and have the children look for bits of color, not words or pictures. They can add deeper color to what they have already put on their page, by matching or contrasting. They should think about their relationships with friends, teachers, family members, etc. while doing this.
The last layer is about EXPERIENCE: now the children can cut out little pictures and words that appeal to them and glue them onto their collage. Ask them about what they want to do this year? What they want to learn at school? Where do they want to go?
Note: playing music in the background can help keep them focused while doing the project. Turn it down when you want to explain the next step.
Give out a blank sheet of paper.
Now, put the oil pastels in the middle of the table and tell the kids to think about all the different feelings and emotions inside of them. They should try to cover the entire sheet of paper with color and patterning.
THe next layer is also about color: place a bunch of magazines in the middle and have the children look for bits of color, not words or pictures. They can add deeper color to what they have already put on their page, by matching or contrasting. They should think about their relationships with friends, teachers, family members, etc. while doing this.
The last layer is about EXPERIENCE: now the children can cut out little pictures and words that appeal to them and glue them onto their collage. Ask them about what they want to do this year? What they want to learn at school? Where do they want to go?
Note: playing music in the background can help keep them focused while doing the project. Turn it down when you want to explain the next step.
12 January 2007
Bird in the Nest
I may be taking liberties here but parents and kids do always like to get crafty in the kitchen too!
The time has come at last here on kodomocraft... to introduce some fun foods for kids to help make and enjoy eating.
This little dish is what has always been known in my family as a "bird in the nest." You can figure out why.
How to make your bird in the nest:
1) Cut a whole in a piece of bread.
2) Butter both sides of the bread and the "hole" if you wish.
3) Toast one side of the bread on the fry pan and then flip it over when brown. Flip your "hole" too.
4) Now put a little butter in the whole so it melts on the pan, and crack an egg inside.
5) Turn down the heat and cover for a while until the egg gets cooked the way you like it.
6) Flip once to brown the other side once more.
Time to eat!
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