simple Analogy

December Kid's Craft Along: Marshmallow Wreath

Mistletoe, hot cocoa, snow, Christmas tree, presents, marshmallow wreath.  What?  You don't have a marshmallow wreath?  You're Christmas won't be complete without one!  It's just a few supplies and minutes away!

Supplies:  toothpicks, white foam wreath, large and small marshmallows, ribbon/strip of fabric

Approximate cost:  $5 for small wreath  $7 for a large wreath

Directions:  from Food Network Magazine

Insert about 150 toothpicks halfway into a 12-inch flat foam wreath [less for a smaller wreath], then skewer a marshmallow onto each toothpick. Refrigerate overnight to set. (Birds may fancy this one, so consider hanging it inside.)

Suggestions:

• Break toothpicks in half for use with smaller marshmallows.
• Help younger children by pre-inserting the toothpicks, then let them skewer the marshmallows.
• Use the large marshmallows first, then fill in gaps with smaller ones.
• If you don't have ribbon to hang your wreath with, use a long strip of your favorite fabric.
• Instead of using it as a wreath, lay one (or several) on a table with a large candle in the middle for a fun festive decoration.
• Click here for other great food wreath ideas.
• Use any leftover marshmallows for making s'mores.

Post your pictures to the Kid's Craft Along Flickr group.  Have fun and have a very Merry Christmas! 

November's Craft Along: Caramel Apples

All those in season apples are just crying for a good dousing in caramel and crunchy coatings!  This month we'll be creating (and eating) our own caramel apples.  Who says craft projects can't be edible!? 

Approximate Cost:  $10 for five delicious caramel apples

Supplies:  5 small apples, 1 bag (14 oz.) Kraft caramels, craft sticks - ours were included in the caramel bag, caramels, coatings - see below for ideas, wax paper

We will use Kraft's Caramel-Dipped Apples recipe (microwave version) from the back of the bag:

1.  Remove stems from apples.  Wash apples in hot water to remove the waxy film.  Dry completely.

2.  Insert craft sticks into stem ends of apples.  Cover large cookie sheet with greased wax paper.

3.  Melt caramels with 1 Tbsp. water in a medium microwaveable bowl on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring after every minute, until smooth.

4.  Dip apples in caramel.  Scrape bottoms, then dip apples in coatings.  Place on baking sheet.  Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Coating Ideas:

coconut, crushed oreo cookies, mini chocolate chips, M&M's, chopped candy bar, melted chocolate, chopped nuts, red hot candies, sprinkles, mini marshmallows, crushed chocolate covered pretzels, crumbled chocolate chip cookies... really anything that sounds good to you.  One of my boys asked if he could put licorice on his.  Yuck, but whatever!

Suggestions:

• Cover your work area.
• Work quickly while the caramel is hot.
• You can also spoon the caramel over the apple and smooth it out instead of dipping and rolling.
• Be sure to wash the leftover caramel out of the bowl ASAP.  It's like glue when it sits too long!
• Have the kids make them for their teachers for Christmas gifts.  It's just around the corner, y'all!
• Your caramel apple is a work of art after all, so add an extra touch by signing the stick.
• If you're going to coat your apple in a layer of chocolate as well, let the caramel set up in the fridge for 15 minutes, then dip it in melted chocolate.  (We used 4 squares of Baker's Chocolate and followed the directions for melting it in the microwave.)  You can then add coatings and stick it back in the fridge.
• When coating, either use the dip and roll method or sprinkle the coatings on while turning the apple.  Be sure to do this over a bowl to catch any strays.
• Children with wiggly teeth... what better way to loose a tooth!  Beats the old string and doorknob way.  For those who would rather not loose a tooth, cut the apple into slices. 
• Enjoy the time spent with your kids!

Post pictures of your caramel creations on our Kid's Craft Along Flickr group.

October's Craft Along: Painted Pumpkins

What would fall be without a pumpkin craft?  Given my lack of carving skills, I am afraid to hack away at a pumpkin, let alone let my kids do it.  So how can even the smallest of children decorate a pumpkin?  Simple - PAINT one!

Landon's (age 13)

Supply list:  pumpkin, acrylic paint, paint brushes

Approximate cost:  $4 - $9 depending on the size pumpkin you buy.  We bought small "painting pumpkins" at the grocery store for $3 each.  They are called painting pumpkins because they do not have the deep vertical grooves that the larger varieties have, thus making them easier to paint.

Directions:  Wash your pumpkin with a damp cloth and dry it thoroughly.  Dip the paintbrush in the paint and paint away.  How much easier can it be!

Take a look through these galleries for extra ideas:  Quick and Easy Painted Pumpkins, No Carve Pumpkin Decorating.

Noah's (age 10)

 My suggestions:

• Since you'll be painting with acrylic paints, which will not wash out, wear a paint shirt to protect your clothes.
• Protect the surface of your work area.
• Let the kids do their own design.  As much as you'd like them to paint a perfect looking pumpkin with a flawless design, they'll have much more fun creating their own masterpiece!
• If you have an older child who wants to paint a more defined picture on their pumpkin, have them draw the design on the pumpkin with a washable marker first.  If they make a mistake it can be wiped clean with a damp paper towel, and they can draw the design again.  When the drawing is what they envisioned, they can come back and paint over their drawing with acrylics.
• Try doing this craft project outside to enjoy the cooler weather.
• Be sure to let your pumpkin completely dry before moving it!
• Paint several pumpkins and use them to decorate your front porch, dining room table, or stairs!

Have fun and post your pictures to the Kid's Craft Along group! 

September's Craft Along: Sidewalk Chalk

My favorite part of Mary Poppins is the sidewalk scene where Bert does chalk drawings and persuades Mary Poppins to take the children (and himself) for an outing in them.  Wouldn't it be a "jolly 'oliday" to be able to jump into your very own chalk drawings?   Maybe we can't work that magic, but we can make our very own chalk and create our own scenes on the sidewalk or driveway!

Supply list and directions can be found at Mad Maggie Designs. 

Approximate cost:  $5 - $10 depending on how many colors you make

My suggestions:

• Cover your chalk making station with a plastic table cloth or trash bags for easier clean up.
• Make sure to wear play clothes for this one.  Also if your kids like to go bare foot, keep a hose and towel handy to wash/dry their feet after the drawing session before heading back inside.
• I've heard that if you dip your chalk into a solution of sugar water it will make the colors brighter.
• One batch will make three pieces of chalk.  I filled my tubes about 3/4 full.
• Add more paint for richer colors.
• For those of you who have children that have issues with getting their hands messy, try this chalk paint version from Skip to My Lou. 
• Check out these fun ideas for your drawing session.
• This is the perfect time of year to do sidewalk chalk!  Enjoy the fresh air!

Since sidewalk chalk is not permanent, take lots of pictures of your sidewalk chalk drawings and post them to the Kid's Craft Along Flickr group!

August Craft Along - Footprints in the Sand (AKA Plaster Casting)

You can do this one at the beach or at home.  I did mine at home.

Supplies:  Large flat bottomed container, sand, plaster of paris, small bowl/cup, spoon, water bottle or hose with a mist attachment, little feet

Approximate cost:  $7 

  

Start with a flat bottomed container with about 6 inches of sand spread evenly over the bottom.  Spray water over sand with a spray bottle or mist with the hose.  You want enough water so that when the child steps down the sand will hold the footprint. 

 

Help your child step into the sand pushing their foot down making sure the print is not too shallow.  The deeper the print, the sturdier the cast will be.  Gently lift the foot out of the sand.   If the sand doesn't hold the footprint, it is too dry.  Smooth out the sand, spray more water, and try again.

 

Once you get a good print, mix the plaster of paris and water together in a bowl with a spoon until the consistency of pancake batter.  Pour evenly into the print to make the cast.  Allow to sit about 30 minutes or until hard.

  

Take plaster cast out of the sand and gently wash off loose sand.  Allow to completely dry.

My suggestions: 

• If you have multiple children and their feet are small, you can make two casts in the same container. 
• I did this with 8 two-year-olds during Vacation Bible School.  I found it easier with these little ones to pick them up and guide one foot into the sand.
• If you are mixing your plaster outside, you have to work quickly because it dries faster.
• The cast will harden faster if you set it out in the sun.
• If you want to make this something that can hang on the wall, you can add a hanger (paper clip opened up, or shaped wire) about 5 minutes after you pour the cast.
• If your plaster spread out over the sides of the print, you can gently break off the extra from the foot.

Leave a comment if you'll be joining us and make sure to post your pictures to the Kid's Craft Along Flickr Group!  Enjoy the time you spend with your kids! 

July Craft Along - Fingerprint Art

No one's fingerprints are exactly alike - each are unique!  So is our project for this month - fingerprint art. 

Ruth - age 12

Supplies:  Ink pad, paper, pens/markers, an Ed Emberley book (local Barnes and Noble bookstores usually carry them as well as many other bookstores)

Approximate cost: $3 for stamp pad, $10 for the book - I promise this book will get used!  Keep it on hand for rainy day projects, activities for nieces/nephews, play dates, use it yourself to illustrate notes to your kids, make gift tags, decorate wrapping paper or a gift bag.  Endless possibilities!

Abbie - age 6

A little bit about the Ed Emberley books:  he's got several different ones (Complete Funprint Drawing Book, Fingerprint Drawing Book, Great Thumbprint Drawing Book) each filled with simple step-by-step how to's.  A five-year-old should be able to follow the directions on their own.  Younger children may need help.  After the first few, turn them loose to make their own creations. 

Esther - age 7

If you can't put your hands on the book, there are online sites that you can go to for directions.  Here are a few:   DLTK's Growing Together, Cool Mom Ideas.  Also you can look at the pictures in this post and this one to get some ideas.  You can click on any picture to see it larger.

Post your pictures on our Kid's Craft Along Flickr Group!  Be prepared to get sucked into this one with your kids.  It's really fun!  Thank you to my nieces Ruth, Esther, and Abbie for helping me with the artwork!

June Craft Along - Water Resist Painting

What kid doesn't love watercolors?  Most of you already know my kids and I have developed a fetish for them, so lets try a watercolor painting project for June.  Supply list and directions are here.

Image from BloesemKids used with permission

Approximate cost:  $2 - $10 depending on the type of supplies you buy.  Dollar store watercolors will work, but spending a few extra dollars for a vibrant set will perk up the picture.  Regular paper will also work, but a few more dollars for real watercolor paper will make a difference.  See suggestions below.

My suggestions:

• If you can at all afford to buy watercolor paper (~ $5), go for it.  I've done paintings on both regular paper and watercolor paper and the latter is so nice to work with.  The colors will spread and blend much better.  Plus the paper won't develop waves in it.

• Any watercolor paint set is fine, but the more vivid the colors look when they're in the case, the better they will look in the painting.  We use a cheap vibrant watercolor set from Ikea (~ $4). Local craft stores will have a selection as well.

• Try using different sized paintbrushes for a different effect.  Colors applied with wide and thin brushes will add interest.

• If there is too much water collecting in a certain spot, blot gently with a dry paper towel.

• Let the finished painting dry flat or you will have "drips" down your painting. 

As always leave a comment if you will be joining us for this one and remember to post your pictures on our Kid's Craft Along group!

May Kid's Craft Along - Carve Your Own Stamp

Carving your own stamp?  Isn't that a little dangerous?  Not with this easy method.  Your kids can be as creative as they want!  And you can use the outcome for making homemade cards to use for Mother's Day, birthday's, thank you's, or just because.

Click on this link for the materials needed and the instructions.

Approximate cost:  Free - $3  This craft recycles styrofoam trays from meat packaging or take home boxes.  If you have paint, paintbrushes, and paper on hand you have a virtually free craft! If not, $2 - $3 should get the supplies you need.

I used black acrylic paint because my Mother's Day cards are going to be very modern - black with a pop of color.  My first image was made using a thin layer of paint.  It leaves some of the background paper color showing through.  Kinda adds to the modernness, don't ya think? 

The second one was made using more paint.

My suggestions:

• If you don't have a chopstick, which I don't, you can use the blunt end of a skewer or an unsharpened pencil to make your design.
• Make sure to cover your work area and wear a paint shirt.
• You can play around with different types of paper.  I used one with a slight texture. 
• A foam brush will help spread the paint a little more evenly than a traditional paintbrush, but they work too!  Cause who has a brayer?!
• Another method of doing the actual stamping - tape the stamp onto your table cover, spread the paint on it, lay your paper over the top, and press gently.
• Carefully remove the stamp from the paper so as not to smudge the image.
• If at first your image doesn't turn out very well, try try again! 
• You can use photo corners to attach it to the card, but glue or double side tape work just as well!

Leave a comment if you'd like to join us or if you have any questions.  Also, remember to post your pictures to our group!

My Eggs

These are the eggs I made while my boys were doing theirs for the craft along.  Since I must obey my own rules for the craft along, I am posting mine here.

The boys did theirs today as well, but Flickr is having issues and I can't upload them.  There are several other children who have started posting their eggs!  Again, Flickr issues are causing them not to be seen by the public.  Hopefully soon!

For us, this craft was pretty harmless.  A little sticky, one dropped egg that amazingly didn't crack, glue on the chair where it fell, but all in all it was an easy clean up.  I'd love to hear feedback from those of you participating!

Getting Started

***If you've just heard about the Kid's Craft Along, you'll find a link to the project in the side bar on the right!***

OK, you want to craft with your kids, but haven't done it before and feel nervous about trying.  Welcome to the club!  Even after all my experience with children's crafts, there are still a few projects that make me nervous.  Painting being one.  I do it any way because they enjoy it, but afterward I always breath a sigh of relief.  Who knows?  Maybe it will encourage one of them to become the next Van Gogh.

Here are a few helpful hints to keep in mind when crafting with kids.

1.  Lower your expectations!  If there is anything that I have learned along the way it is that the children's projects will not turn out exactly like the book's/example's.  First of all, most of the examples have been made by adults with years of experience under their belt.  Second, our children are just that - children!  They are still learning to use their fine motor skills and the techniques they are being asked to perform take practice!  So don't expect perfection.

2.  Be prepared for messes.  Let's just be candid.  When working with children, messes will happen whether it's spilled milk at dinner or spilled sequins while crafting.  My mom always had this motto when we were growing up, "It's washable!"  Meaning pretty much any thing can be cleaned up without too much hardship.  There are a few things I like to keep handy when crafting with children just for this purpose:

• a box of wipes - handy for easy cleaning of hands and surfaces

• old T-shirts - for the kids to wear while crafting to protect their good clothes (make sure you wear one as well!)
• trash can - keep near your crafting area
• newspaper, vinyl tablecloth, large trash bags - use to protect your work surface 

3.  Be adventurous!  Childhood is one big adventure and learning to be creative is one part of it.  Let them explore, let them try out their creative ideas, let them be inventive, but also be there to lend a helping hand when needed.

4.  Be encouraging.  Children are frustrated easily.  To help combat frustration, give clear directions and then encourage them every step of the way!

5.  Enjoy your time together!  They grow up so fast.  Every moment we can spend with our kids is a blessing.  Make memories, laugh, and have fun.  They will remember it for the rest of their lives and so will you.