Crafts For Kidlets

Each Saturday I will be highlighting some beautiful Crafty links but with a twist of color. This month I’ll focus on Orange, Brown, Yellow, and Red as these are the colors we think of for Autumn and Thanksgiving.

1. Orange Spice Potporri from Kaboose.com

Make this easy recipe for a sweet smelling gift or use it in your own home. You can use a ziploc as suggested or purchase small muslin pouches from your local craft store.

2. Oranda Orange from DLTK-Teach.com

This is a simple printable craft to teach your little one about the color Orange. Free printable template in either color or Black and White.

3. Orange Cloves Christmas Balls by Craftbits.com

This is a classic craft to do with kids. Just get some cloves, an orange and a toothpick. Add a bit of ribbon to hang.

4. Printable Greeting Cards by How About Orange

Simple craft to have around for those unexpected play dates. Just print off some of these cards on card stock or regular printer paper and have the kiddos sent a note to their relatives.

5. Pumpkin Crafts from First School

A great site for craft ideas especially for Preschoolers.  Projects include a windsock, a teddy pumpkin, a jack-o-lantern, and a scarecrow.

Do you have a favorite ORANGE craft?

BitterSweet on Flickr

BitterSweet’s Blog has a really simple Amigurumi Turkey pattern. This would be fun to make for Table Center Pieces. You will need to know how to crochet in the round, make a single crochet stitch, and the Double crochet stitch.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and if you are a Mom (or Dad) with little ones you will need some entertaining ideas while waiting for the Feast to cook.

Here is a simple craft idea that uses what you already have around the house. What is really nice about collage is anyone can do it.

Supplies:

• Leaves (cutouts or go for a walk and collect  your own)
• Pretty paper
• Cardboard
• Stickers
• Ribbon
• Magazine Cutouts
• Rubber Stamps with Ink
• Glitter
• Deco Tape (decorative tape usually found in Kawaii Stationery Stores)
• Letters or Words cut out from magazines or old books
• Anything You would like to add to your collage
• Glue
• Scissors
• Double Stick Tape

What to do?

You will need the Cardboard as your base. Now just start out making your background. Glue large papers down first adding layers on top of each other as you go.

Tips and Suggestions:

• You want to add the stickers, glitter, and other embellishments last.
• Precut the Magazine pictures and words/letters prior to activity
• Use safety scissors when dealing with younger children
• You can use paints, crayons, markers or colored pencils
• Choose a Thanksgiving poem and center your collage around that.

Have a Wonderfully Blessed Thanksgiving.

As my online name implies ‘Momwithahook’ I am a Mom with a Hook who loves to crochet. So today I will be showing you how to teach your children to crochet. I will be teaching this series over 5 posts.

Each post will include a video. After you go through all 5 lessons you will be able to create a set of dishcloths for a Christmas Gift.

If your child is really young I recommend teaching them how to Finger Knit. It is simple and there are no needles or hooks required.

Supplies:

Yarn – the bulkier the better for little hands

Crochet Hook – Again, the bigger the better. Try a J hook or larger.

Learning the Foundation Chain Stitch:

The foundation chain is where all your projects will start. Kids can keep going with this for quite some time. Make a really long chain and then finger knit this into a thicker material and you will have the makings of a Jump Rope.

Things you can Make with a Crochet Chain:

• necklace
• shoe laces
• ring
• jump rope
• snail
• rope
• super skinny scarf

How long of a chain did you make?

Looking for the next lesson?

• Teach Your Child to Crochet Lesson #1
• Teach Your Child to Crochet Lesson #2
• Teach Your Child to Crochet Lesson #3
• Teach Your Child to Crochet Lesson #4
• Teach Your Child to Crochet Lesson #5

I love finding easy crafts to do with my son. He is being home schooled this year and is a very hands-on learner. One of his more difficult subjects this year is Writing. I created these little characters to lessen the stress he feels around this subject.

Supplies:

• Pre-painted wood cutouts (I found these at the dollar store but Michaels Craft Store has them as well)
• Glue
• Popsicle Sticks

All you need to do is glue the Popsicle sticks to the back of your wooden cutouts. (Pretty simple huh?) Let them dry completely before using.

How am I using these for Writing?

I create little stories. Instead of Me asking him to write something, I get Mr. Monk Key to suggest a topic. i.e. Hi, J. I need help in writing my grocery list. Could you take your pencil and paper and jot down my list for me?

Silly I know but for some reason it works for him. He won’t be writing a thesis anytime soon but one day we will work up to that.

Stick Puppets for Story Time or Finger Plays

You can also use these cute cutouts for finger plays. The turtle could be used for the Tortoise and the Hare, the Lady Bug could be used for counting spots, and what about having your little one create a play or story using these as characters?

The possibilities are endless and since the craft takes very little time you can make a set for each story or play.

What stories do you include in your home story time?