Creative Juice

Kids Craft : Fun Valentine's Day Craft

This was our first year making Valentine cards for the boys' classmates. I spotted this idea on Designmom (she spotted it here) and knew I wanted to try it. The cards got lots of wows which is nice for something that is very simple and fun to put together. If you print your photos at home, it is even easier!

I think it's sweet and the photo says it all!

What about you? Have you made of seen cool Valentine projects?

Kid Craft : Links

My sister, Mariana, made it clear that not posting the final result of the kid craft projects is a major FAIL. I have to agree. It's just that I can easily snap shots while the boys are busy working. But once the project is finished we are onto the next activity and I forget.

We haven't done any crafting the past two Wednesday's due to different appointments. Hopefully today we will get one done but that depends on how much vomiting and diarrhea goes on here. Did I mention everyone is sick? Yep.

So let's get to it. Here are the kid craft links I promised to share a few weeks ago. I found some on my own and some were sent my way by friends. (Thanks friends!) If you know of any sources for cool kid projects, don't be shy, leave them in the comments!

1. Learning experiences over at Playful Learning
2. Art Projects for Kids
3. Let's Explore - this project wins at our house!
4. The Crafty Crow
5. Kids Craft Weekly
6. Scrumdilly-do!
7. Made by Joel
8. The Teaching Palette
9. Art for Small Hands
10. The Artful Parent

Happy mercredi libéré!

 

 

Kid Craft : Mosaic

This week I'm sharing with you the mosaic project we did, I cannot remember where I saw this idea (Art for Small Hands?):

(Oops! I forgot to take a photo of the finished project AGAIN!)

Here is what I found:

• I didn't make a sample this time. Instead after I cut several colors of construction paper into squares and handed each of them a glue stick, I showed them a few examples of mosaics (online).
• Engagement. The project lasted about an hour and a half for Andrea, a little less for Maxi. Both Andrea and Maxi were entertained gluing color squares onto their paper.
• Approach. Maxi was all free-style while Andrea made a castle.
• Cost. 5 euros for a large pack of construction paper. We only used a few sheets sheets. 2 euros for glue sticks (we already had on hand.)

Would totally make this project again!

Today we have an American Consulate appointment for Lucien in the morning and dentist appointments for Andrea, Maxi and me in the afternoon - so no kid craft today! Next week I'll share links to cool kid craft ideas.

Have a nice mercredi liberé!

Kid Craft : Aquarium

This week's fishbowl project idea came from Art for Small Hands. Though it kept Andrea busy for more than an hour, it was a complete FAIL with Maxi once he realized I was going to glue tissue paper over my drawing. (I made a sample before they began.)

(I like that Andrea drew a replica of our aquarium!)

(Oops! I forgot to take a photo of the finished project.)

Here is what I found:

• After making a sample, Andrea wanted to copy it to the tee. Perhaps I should have given verbal instructions only? It might have allowed him more creative freedom.
• Engagement. Andrea concentrated more for the drawing part. Gluing the tissue paper was less exciting towards the end.
• Approach. Instead of gluing one square of tissue at a time, he decided to cover the drawing in glue and the stuck the squares onto the drawing.
• Cost. 3 euros for a blue tissue paper (of which we used only a small fraction of the roll) was our only purchase. We had paper, glue and markers on hand.

The best part of this project for me was the clean-up, or the fact that there was virtually none. I would definitely propose it to them again (considering we have tons of tissue paper left :).

Kid Craft : Life-size Self Protrait

Andrea and Maximiliano do not have school on Wednesdays which means they will be home with me. This school year I will to try my best to organize an interesting craft project for our afternoon together - the craziest time of day at our house. My intention is to post a review of each project.

Last week they made life-size portraits:

 

Here is what I found:

• Laying down and being traced was a new sensation for the boys. Andrea is definitely ticklish.
• Engagement. Working on a large surface seems to engage them for a long time. They worked on their portraits for an hour and a half. This is particularly helpful around 4:30pm.
• Approach. They each approached the project differently. Maximiliano filled his outline with color almost immediately. Andrea worked on decorating the outside of his outline for most of the time.
• Cost. Very reasonable for ninety minutes of fun. All I had to buy was a roll of kraft paper for +/- 4 euros.
• Variation. I would definitely propose this project again and use paint (instead of markers) and collage techniques. Originally I was going to have them cut out their outline but I think it would have taken too long and they would have lost interest. Andrea may be ready to do that in a few months.

One of the few things Andrea filled in right away were his glasses (along with a sun ray's reflection):

 

And though Maxi doesn't wear glasses, he quickly drew a pair too because he likes most of his big brother's ideas:

 

Next week I will share the idea sources I have found and been referred to online.Have of any craft projects your kids like? How about links to good project ideas? I'd love to hear about them in the comments.

Bon mercredi libéré.