Some of my fondest memories of my childhood were spent at the kitchen table creating new crafts with my siblings.In these days of hi-tech amusement it still is undeniable that all children will still enjoy the days with their loved ones creating things from their own hands and will pass it on to their children also . These dog days of summer are perfect examples of how we should spend our days with our children before they are grown and out the door. What can be more perfect than making your own bubbles, play-dough , sock puppets, kites or even your own Popsicles ? Here are only a few examples of some crafts there are many more at bhg.com/crafts/kids.
Uncooked Play-dough Materials * Bowl * 1 cup cold water * 1 cup salt * 2 teaspoons vegetable oil * Tempera paint or food coloring * 3 cups flour * 2 tablespoons cornstarch Directions 1. In bowl, mix water, salt, oil, and enough tempera paint or food coloring to make a bright color. 2. Gradually add flour and cornstarch until the mixture reaches the consistency of bread dough. 3. Store covered.
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Make & Decorate a Colorful Kite Easy to make and a blast to decorate, these kites are for fun in the sun. What You Need: Crafts knife Two flat sticks: 1/2x3/8x42 inches and 1/2x3/8x38 inches String or twine: at least 60 feet Glue Vellum or paper: 45 x 45 inches Pencil Paint, glitter glue sticks, crayons, and colorful markers Crepe paper and ribbons in various sizes Fast-drying glue Instructions: Ask an adult to use a crafts knife to carve a lengthwise notch 1/4 inch deep into both ends of each stick. Notches should be deep enough to tightly hold the string, as shown. Place the middle of the short stick over the long stick about 9 inches from one end of the long stick. Where the sticks intersect, tie them together with string. Knot; cut excess string. Add glue for extra holding power. Starting at the top, thread string through each notch all the way around; repeat, keeping string taut. Finish at the top and tie a knot but don't cut the string. This is the kite's frame. To make the bridle (where you'll attach the flying string), draw the knotted string back from the top and tie it off where the sticks intersect. Cut the string, leaving a 3-inch tail. Place the frame flat onto the vellum or paper, and lightly draw an outline of the kite frame, adding 3/4 inch all the way around. The extra eventually will be folded over the string and glued. With scissors, cut out the sail, then set the frame aside until the sail is decorated. Use paint, glitter, crayons, and markers to decorate the sail. When the decorating is finished, allow 10 minutes to dry. Place the frame flat against the sail. Pour fast-drying glue onto the edges of the sail, and fold edges over the string. Allow to dry for five minutes. Tie the remainder of your string to the bridle tail to create a flying string. Use crepe paper and/or ribbon to make a kite tail.
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Fun-to-Paint Garden Rocks
Dress up ordinary rocks with simple paint, then arrange them in your garden or on the patio.
What You Need:
Large rocks
Paintbrushes
Acrylic paints
Sponge (optional)
Toothbrush (optional)
Sponge brush
Water-base nontoxic gloss exterior varnish
Instructions:
Make sure rocks are clean. Paint clean rocks in assorted colors. Give the rocks a second or third coat of paint if necessary. For fun, paint a separate rock pink or red to use for a forked tongue.
Decorate rocks with stripes, dots, sponging, or spattering using a paintbrush, sponge, or toothbrush. Or write the letters of your name on individual rocks.
Paint eyes and a grin on the rock that's the snake's head.
Using a sponge brush, apply varnish to the rocks. Arrange the rocks in a line to resemble a snake. ````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Homemade Popsicles To find Popsicle molds, look at discount and mail order stores or garage sales. If you don't have any molds, use small paper or plastic cups. Put a wooden stick or plastic spoon in the center. For mini popsicles, pour orange, apple or grape juice or flavored drink mix into ice cube trays. Partially freeze and then place toothpicks in the center of each cube (or place plastic wrap over the top, secure and insert toothpicks through plastic wrap). For non-traditional popsicles: Freeze applesauce in popsicle molds. Mix fruit or jam into yogurt. Freeze in small, snack sized resealable bags for frozen yogurt on the go. Cut a hole in the end of the bag for easy access/eating. Mix gelatin and freeze. Add gummy fish or worms before freezing for added fun. Freeze syrup from canned fruit. Add food coloring or sprinkles to yogurt or softened ice cream for added pizzazz. Then freeze in popsicle molds. When you have leftover jam or jelly, put 1/4 cup of hot water in the jar and shake well. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze. If jelly or jam doesn't set up well, use for popsicles or add more water, boil and make syrup. Make a batch of pudding. Add coconut, nuts, marshmallows, crushed cookies or sprinkles if desired. Pour into molds. Freeze several hours until firm. Stick a toothpick in the center of blackberries, strawberries, raspberries or sliced bananas. Dip in chocolate if desired. Freeze on a tray. Once frozen, store in freezer bags. For easy snow cones, freeze orange juice (or any other flavored juice) in ice cube trays. Store frozen juice cubes in a plastic bag. Blend 5 cubes in the blender until they have a shaved ice consistency. The shaved ice will keep its consistency if kept frozen in a container. For watermelon popsicles, blend one cup each watermelon chunks (seeds removed), orange juice and water. Blend well. Then pour and freeze into molds. For strawberry popsicles, blend 2 cups strawberries, 1 cup vanilla ice cream or yogurt, 4 cups orange juice and 2 tablespoons sugar. Blend smooth. Pour into molds and freeze. For banana popsicles, dissolve one 3-ounce package strawberry gelatin with one cup boiling water. In a blender, mix gelatin, 1 banana and 1 cup yogurt or ice cream. Blend well and pour into molds. Pudding Pops 1 pkg. pudding (not instant*) 3 cups milk Combine 1 large package of pudding with 3 cups of milk. Mix only enough to blend well. Quickly pour into popsicle molds and freeze. Chocolate and vanilla pudding may be layered for a fun treat. Makes 8-10 popsicles. Regular homemade pudding may be used instead of store-bought pudding mix.
http://www.bhg.com/crafts/kids/rainy-day/kids-crafts-buttons/
http://www.bhg.com/crafts/kids/rainy-day/fun-crafts-to-make-with-your-kids/
http://www.bhg.com/crafts/kids/outdoor-projects/outdoor-summer-kids-crafts/
Check out some of these wonderful activities that you can spend with the youngsters in your life.
