Issue #11   
 
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Twelve simple, no fuss craft ideas

with Amber Carvan

Perfect for a rainy day these simple craft ideas don't require lengthy preparation or special supplies.  Chances are you will have the materials on hand to launch straight in and when it's all over you won't have a whole lot of mess to clean up.  Yay!

1. Paper chains

Cut some paper into strips.  The strips don't have to be straight, but if you are little get a parent to help you with this.  Take a strip of paper and join one end to the other forming a circle, then fasten with tape or staples.  Take another strip of paper, thread it through your first loop and fasten as above.  Keep on adding to the chain.

2. Foil coins

Cut a series of different sized circles from hard cardboard, then cut some foil squares – large enough to completely cover your largest circles.  Wrap each of the circles up in foil.  Get an old orange bag or purse to keep the coins in.  These are great to use as money in pretend games of shop.  You can also play games lining the circles up from smallest to largest.

3. Confetti

This activity is so simple but so much fun to make.  Get a hole punch and some coloured paper from which you can punch out circles.  Keep the confetti in your 'useful box' – you can use it to decorate future craft projects.  You can now also get buy the humble hole punch in many shapes - heart, star, etc - for shaped confetti.

4. Paper lanterns

Fold a rectangular piece of paper in half lengthways.  Then make numerous cuts at even intervals from the fold towards - to within about two centimetres from the opposite side.  When you've made cuts along the entire long side of the paper, unfold and sticky tape the two short ends of the paper together.  You can make handles using ribbon or another strip of paper.  We recently had a great miniature lantern making session using coloured post-it notes.  Just make sure you get the variety that are sticky at the short end and you won't have to use sticky tape at all!

5. Edible necklace

If you keep 'hole-y' cereal in your pantry (nutrigrain, cheerios, fruit loops etc) you can thread the pieces of cereal onto a piece of string or wool using a blunt wool needle (ask mum for one).  If you don't have a needle on hand you can wrap stickytape around the end of a piece of string to make it stiff enough to manage.  When you are finished making the necklace you can eat it!


 

6. Leaf art

Step outside and collect some interesting looking leaves and bark.  Then paste them onto a large piece of paper to make a nature scene.  If you're feeling brave you can also stick dry dirt and sand to your nature picture.

7. Coin rubbings

Ask one of your parents to empty their coin purse on to the kitchen table.  Now do a coin rubbing by putting a coin under a piece of paper and rubbing over the top with a crayon.  You can also rub over leaves, cardboard shapes and more. 

8. Cutting and sticking

Get into the habit of cutting suitable pictures from magazines or newspapers and keeping them in a clipping box.  The ritual lends itself to two great no fuss craft ideas – cutting sessions and sticking sessions!

9. Paper chain people

Concertina fold a long piece of paper and draw a picture of a person (or animal, or whatever takes your fancy) with their arms and legs outstretched.  The hands and feet should be located on the folds of paper.  Cut around the outline making sure to leave the paper joined at the hands and feet.  You will get plenty of joy from watching the chain of people appear and can spend some time drawing faces and clothes and colouring-in.

10. Animal shapes

Ask a grown up to cut out animal shapes from colourful paper so you can draw faces on them or colour in their legs.  It's a great way to learn about different animals.

11. Drawing faces

Draw a series of circles on a piece of paper and then draw in the facial features.  Older kids can draw different, sophisticated expressions.  If there is more than one kid in your house, get together and make a big drawing together.  Keep the finished products - they make terrific artwork for birthday cards.

12. Paperclip necklace

Your parents may remember these.  It is so much fun joining paperclips together... and challenging.

You will find many more ideas by the brilliant Amber Carvan at www.kidscraftweekly.com.
 
   
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