Arts and crafts are great ways to help children develop interest in creative things and also gain the ability to appreciate the finer details of life. From drawing and painting, craft to any other type of project that involves making use of creativity, together with out-of-the-box thinking can help develop the child's mental stimulation together with making the child a more rounded individual. If you want your children to have a complete personality, then it's crucial to develop their interest in art and craft at an early age and here are five tips to help you in your mission of bringing your children closer to the world of art and crafts.
1. Show your Children that Art can be Fun
Children are more liable to be interested in arts and crafts if you make it look and sound fun. Instead of sending kids off to their room with a colouring book and some art and craft supplies like crayons or sketch pens, you can try to turn it into a game or a fun activity. Always join your kids in their art experiments and turn it into a team activity. This way you can also bond with your children better and give them some memories to cherish once they grow up. Also, another crucial thing is never to force art upon your children or it will take away all the fun and learning from it. So be encouraging without being too pushy.
2. Target their Interests
Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Explore Creative Craft Ideas With Craft Challenges
Craft swaps are an excellent way to share crafts with others. In addition, it also helps the crafter to connect with like minded individuals. These days, craft swaps are commonplace in the scrapbooking world. They can be done in person or through the internet.
YouTube has a vast and growing scrapbook community and crafts swaps occur frequently. Usually, one person hosts the swap. This person is responsible for organizing, collecting addresses, and setting the overall theme for the swap. It tends to work out better this way because there is one person watching the entire operation. This helps to head off trouble later on during the swap. The organizer works to make sure that everyone gets his or her package. In addition, they can pair people together that have similar tastes in scrapbooking. This provides for a smoother craft swap.
YouTube has a vast and growing scrapbook community and crafts swaps occur frequently. Usually, one person hosts the swap. This person is responsible for organizing, collecting addresses, and setting the overall theme for the swap. It tends to work out better this way because there is one person watching the entire operation. This helps to head off trouble later on during the swap. The organizer works to make sure that everyone gets his or her package. In addition, they can pair people together that have similar tastes in scrapbooking. This provides for a smoother craft swap.
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Finding The Perfect Christmas Ornament Crafts
I'm a sentimental gal. When Christmas rolls around I love to pull out the Christmas ornament crafts and reminisce about each one. My boys are still in elementary school, but our tree is full of little crafts we did when they were younger. (... I can't imagine what it will look like years from now?!) I might have to get another tree!
There's something special about Christmas tree ornaments. Maybe it's the fact that they get displayed on our tree for everyone to see. Whatever it is, I love it. I started making ornaments right after the boys were born. Each year the boys and I, together, make a new ornament. Some years the boys get a little wild and 'creative', but for the most part only one ornament gets to make it on the tree.
I have a lot of friends that say they love making crafts but just don't have the time. Non-sense! It's very easy to take a few minutes to sit down and make something simple. Ornaments don't have to be perfect or expensive - just from the heart. Let me show you.
Here are a few Christmas ornament crafts ideas we have done in the recent years.
Candy Cane Frame
Candy canes are always readily available and can be purchased in bulk very inexpensively around Christmas. Get some colorful light gauge cardboard paper, cut in a fun shape and glue the candy canes around the border. Paste your favorite Christmas photo in the middle and you have a great ornament for the tree!
Glittery Pine Cone
Speaking of inexpensive - try picking up some pinecones under the pine tree in your backyard and using them for a craft! Add a touch of glue to the pine cone and sprinkle it with glitter. Glue a ribbon loop to the top and hang these sparkling decorations all over.
There's something special about Christmas tree ornaments. Maybe it's the fact that they get displayed on our tree for everyone to see. Whatever it is, I love it. I started making ornaments right after the boys were born. Each year the boys and I, together, make a new ornament. Some years the boys get a little wild and 'creative', but for the most part only one ornament gets to make it on the tree.
I have a lot of friends that say they love making crafts but just don't have the time. Non-sense! It's very easy to take a few minutes to sit down and make something simple. Ornaments don't have to be perfect or expensive - just from the heart. Let me show you.
Here are a few Christmas ornament crafts ideas we have done in the recent years.
Candy Cane Frame
Candy canes are always readily available and can be purchased in bulk very inexpensively around Christmas. Get some colorful light gauge cardboard paper, cut in a fun shape and glue the candy canes around the border. Paste your favorite Christmas photo in the middle and you have a great ornament for the tree!
Glittery Pine Cone
Speaking of inexpensive - try picking up some pinecones under the pine tree in your backyard and using them for a craft! Add a touch of glue to the pine cone and sprinkle it with glitter. Glue a ribbon loop to the top and hang these sparkling decorations all over.
What Craft Beer Can Teach Us About Marketing a Small Business
I love craft beer. My friends and family would call it an obsession. It's no secret around the office that I want to eventually be an entrepreneur, creating and selling my own beer for a living. And like any good entrepreneur, I've been doing my homework.
It's so much more than just drinking beer though. In fact, that really isn't a part of it. If you just love beer, it's a lot easier to go find a six-pack and drink that than to make some on your own... which is infinitely easier than trying to do that for a living.
It's so much more than just drinking beer though. In fact, that really isn't a part of it. If you just love beer, it's a lot easier to go find a six-pack and drink that than to make some on your own... which is infinitely easier than trying to do that for a living.
Friday, 8 February 2013
Five Basic Craft Skills for Children to Develop
Many kids enjoy working on craft projects because at the end of the process they have something that they can show off to others or even present as a gift. While craft kits provide kids with the supplies they need in a product-oriented format (pre-cut shapes, coordinated colors), this limits kids' creativity. The following skills are transferrable to any number of craft projects. They also share the benefit of using inexpensive materials that can be used for multiple projects.
Skill #1: Tracing Shapes In a craft store you'll find paper, wood, craft foam and other materials in handy pre-cut shapes. So, why bother teaching your children to trace shapes that they'd then have to cut out (particularly since it won't look as neat as a machine-cut shape)?
This process works on developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It also allows kids to create their own designs or saves them from waiting to go to the craft store to purchase supplies (and saves you from hearing the request for a ride to the store a dozen times). Use cardboard or plastic stencils or even cookie cutters as the base of your shapes.
Skill #2: Using Scissors Show your child how to fit the scissors onto their fingers. Give a demonstration of cutting straight strips as well as cutting rounded or angular shapes. Draw shapes or lines onto colored photocopy or construction paper and have kids follow the lines.
Skill #1: Tracing Shapes In a craft store you'll find paper, wood, craft foam and other materials in handy pre-cut shapes. So, why bother teaching your children to trace shapes that they'd then have to cut out (particularly since it won't look as neat as a machine-cut shape)?
This process works on developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It also allows kids to create their own designs or saves them from waiting to go to the craft store to purchase supplies (and saves you from hearing the request for a ride to the store a dozen times). Use cardboard or plastic stencils or even cookie cutters as the base of your shapes.
Skill #2: Using Scissors Show your child how to fit the scissors onto their fingers. Give a demonstration of cutting straight strips as well as cutting rounded or angular shapes. Draw shapes or lines onto colored photocopy or construction paper and have kids follow the lines.
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