Super Baby Album

Posts Tagged ‘Crafts’

The merits of arts and crafts such as drawing and coloring  for kids are regularly argued by child development experts, educators and parents alike… especially so for the real impact they have on child development. However, it is difficult to argue with the top three reasons why we should all encourage the children in our care to  take part in arts and crafts.

Creativity – Ask anyone what the first personality characteristic arts and crafts develop in a young child and most will answer ‘creativity’. And they are certainly correct.  Everyone has natural talents and skills and it is possible to improve and boost them… even if you only have a little natural talent. Creativity enables your child to try out and benefit from new
ideas, options and alternatives in a future career. Kids learn to do things in new ways and literally profiting from thinking “out of the box”.

Perseverance – Perseverance is perhaps the single most important quality for any successful individual – be they a a business person, sportsman or other professional.In fact, most well-known accomplishments in life have been attributed to perseverance alone. Arts and crafts improve everyone’s level of perseverance.  For instance, children learn to keep trying until they complete the task, be it a sculpture or a coloring in sheet. If something goes wrong… they are encouraged to persist by trying new ways and means and the pay-off is a wonderful piece of art that they have created.

Concentration – Similar to having perseverance, developing concentration is another quality well-worth having as an individual. Drawing, coloring, sculpting, painting and even doodling will definitely teach your child to focus on one  specific task at hand… ignoring other distractions. In short they overall concentration will definitely improve.

Even from a young age children can draw and color – so give them blank pieces of paper or coloring in sheets so that they can scribble away  to their hearts content whilst also improving their fine motor skills.

For example little girls  enjoy coloring images of princesses and fairies and at sites like Fairy Coloring Pages you’ll find the best fairy printables

  Little boys on the other hand tend to prefer images of cars, trucks and machinery – however, favorite characters such as those from Disney movies  are also hits with little boys.

Give your child many opportunities to experience being creative, concentrating and perservering through the fun medium of arts and crafts. Provide them with materials and resources and the occasional canvas so that they can  be creative and feel pride in what they create. 

Encourage creativity in your children by providing them with the time, resurces and the space for making art.Set aside some interruption-free quality time for drawing, in a mess-proof zone – so that their creativity can run wild. Make sure you cover all surfaces so that any splashes of paint or scribbles of crayon are ‘caught’ – because  nothing squishes creativity more so than a parent saying “Don’t make a mess” every 2 minutes.

Choose the right drawing materials too as this is very  important. Many craft materials can be improvised, but when drawing tools and paper are required, opt for a small selection of good quality age-appropriate products, rather than loads of inferior products. Be sure to check safety information and follow instructions. Young children should always be surpervised during ‘art time’ because many necessary materials – such as crayons – pose a choking hazard.

Surroundings: As with writing or working at a computer, good posture and a comfortable position are important for drawing. With young children, a child-size table and chair is actually preferable to an easel. If the chair is a little high, provide a phone book as a footrest. A coffee table and an inexpensive plastic chair work well. A small kitchen storage trolley is a perfect solution for containing supplies, or if space does not allow, a portable fishing tackle or tool box is a good option too. Untidy toddlers may need a drop-cloth and supervision to avoid ink-stained walls, as even ‘washable’ pens often don’t deliver on that promise!

Art Materials: Avoid cheap markers, too-hard pencils and thin paints – these types of materials are discouraging to the child and therefore  a waste of money. Provide many sheets of blank paper to inspire their crativity and occasionally invest in a large canvas so that your child can paint something ‘grand’ and chances are you’ll want to hang it on your wall!Also provide coloring books or coloring pages – of which you’ll find plenty online. Granted – coloring pages are not so great for creativity, however they do provide children with the chance to practice their fine motor skills and sometimes it’s very relaxing and just what they need to simply color in without the ‘pressure’ of thinking about WHAT to draw. 

Little boys typically enjoy coloring pictures of cars and trucks while little girls usually enjoy coloring images of fairies and princesses  - at sites like Princess Coloring Pages  you’ll find the best coloring book pages

When it comes to drawing and coloring, at each age/stage of your child’s life provide….

Toddlers

• Child-safe markers and wipe-off boards
• Chalk boards and safe chalk
• Plain paper and coloring pages

Juniors

• Sketchbook
• Student colored pencils
• Washable Markers
• Oil pastels
• Plain paper and coloring pages

Middle School

• Sketchbook  or scrapbook
• Graphite Pencils
• Watercolor sketch paper
• Watercolor pencils
• Marker pens, marker paper
• Plain paper and coloring pages

High School

• Sketchbook  or scrapbook
• Quality drawing papers and boards
• Graphite Pencils
• Artists’ quality colored pencils
• Illustration markers, marker paper
• Pastel paper and hard pastels if liked
• Plain paper and canvases to work on

All ages

• Safe sharpeners, erasers, dusters, stencils and rulers
• A  folder for storing large pieces
• Storage boxes for smaller pieces
• Consider photographing or scanning pieces for a permanent record.

Forget your scissors and exacto knife, the latest die cutting machine from Provo Craft is amazing! We just love the Cricut Expressions machine. Truly it is a more powerful and much more versatile version of the already smash hit Cricut Create and Personal Cutting Machine. Primarily, it allows for more intricate and vibrant designs in sizes ranging from 0.25” to 23.5”. While it is a bit larger, it has so much more to offer the serious paper crafter. Don’t miss out on the amazing great sales on Cricut machines .

Why are we crazy for our Expression Machine? The functionality of this machine allows you to cut through vinyl, cardstock and vellum, aside from the usual paper. As previously cited it also lets you cut small and complex designs as well as large-scale art projects. This Cricut machine also gives you more creative freedom because it is effective with the use of either a 12” x 12” or 12” x 24” sized paper.

The mix and match feature of the machine lets you use all of your cartridges in one cut but an even better news is that it uses the exact same cartridges, blades and blade housings as the original Cricut machine. This feature makes it very convenient for those who wish to upgrade from the original machine to the Expression but do not want the hassle of buying a new set of cartridges and blades. Indeed, this new machine provides wider options for the needs of consumers. To help you find the best deals for the Cricut Expression machine, here are some buying tips that you may take advantage of.

Don’t bother buying your machine new or at full price, Ebay has tons of auctions with great deals on Cricuts. In case a free cartridge is offered, read the description of the cartridge as well so that you are sure to bid only on those items that include a cartridge that you do not yet own. You might want to focus on the auctions that offer free shipping to save a ton! Some items will have a lower bid price but for which you will have to pay shipping charges. Simply look below the auction price to see if shipping is free or not and if it is not then there should be a space where you can input your zip code. You will then be shown the shipping cost and by adding that cost to the maximum amount that you are willing to bid you will get your total cost. Launch your scrapbooking into the next century by getting the Gypsy for Cricut at an online auction!

Are you or someone you know expecting a baby sometime soon? Why not let your gift stand out from every other gift at the baby shower? Baby gift baskets make excellent presents both before and after a baby’s arrival, and they can be totally unique or as “neutral” as you wish, making them great for all types of pregnancy, whether the parents have decided to learn the gender or not. So, how can you obtain a baby gift basket?

First of all, you could either make the basket or you could purchase it. Whatever you do, you should make sure it is something that is unique. When you purchase one from the local store, then you may end up getting the same one that someone else has gotten. With that said, we believe you should look on the Internet and get one. Chances are, your basket is going to be unique.

When making the new baby gift basket yourself, there are many things you can include in the basket. You could create a “bath-time basket” that includes a rubber play duck, wash cloths, soap, shampoo, diaper rash cream, and even a baby robe! Be sure to find out what the baby’s gender is if the parents have chosen to find out and tell others, but you may want to keep the receipts for items that are gender-specific in case the baby turns out to be the opposite gender. You also don’t have to stick to an actual basket. You can use a little mini toy-box, a re-useable plastic bucket or box (which will be great for storing anonymous baby things in the future!), as well as a Moses basket stuffed with goodies.

The recipient of the baby gift baskets should find them useful and valuable. Some of the best baby gift baskets out there contain nursery room accessories, such as mobiles, music, CD’s full of nursery rhymes, changing mats, and even some of the bigger items such as furniture. You may even come across feeding bottles, bibs, spoons, infant cups, pacifiers, rattles and teethers. Whatever you do, make sure the newborn baby gift basket contains items suitable for the baby.

If you have kids, you most likely have plenty of old crayons around the house that are no longer used. Before throwing them out, consider using them to make candles. This can be a great way to turn them into something new and useful again. Most children will love the idea of making candles and enjoy knowing their old crayons were used to make them. Making candles out of crayons can also be a great gift idea. 

Discuss safety procedures with your children before getting started. Since the crayons will have to be melted at a  high heat, they may not be able to participate in that part of the candle making process. Assure them that there are many other aspects of the candle making that they can be a part of.

To start, gather your supplies. In addition to the crayons, you will need a wax carton. This can be from milk, fabric softener, or orange juice container. You will also need paraffin wax, two full ice cube trays, a double boiler, and white packing string. If you don’t want to use your double boiler, an old coffee can and a saucepan will work just as well. 

Trim the top off of the wax carton, leaving it approximately six inches high.  Cut the string for the wick at least 8 inches long. You will later trim the wick to fit the holder. To ensure a wick that burns easier, take three pieces and braid them together. Use smaller pieces of string to tie the ends together. Any non-flammable container can be used for candle holders. Pretty vases, glasses, and jars work nicely. 

Melt about three pounds of paraffin wax in the double boiler or coffee can. To help it melt faster, cut it into small chunks. The melting process with take about fifteen to twenty minutes. While the wax is melting, peel the papers off of the old crayons. You and your children can choose to separate the colors by lights and darks to have a mix that combines well or you can mix them all together and see what the color ends up being. 

For best results, only add the crayons to the wax after it has completely melted. After the crayons and wax have both melted, immediately remove the mixture from the stove and pour into your candle holders. If you would like to make scented candles, try adding a splash of cinnamon or vanilla to your hot wax mixture. 

It is important that the candles be left alone to completely harden. Make sure you have an area where this can be done. It is also important to make sure small children can’t reach them because the wax will stay hot for several hours and can cause serious injuries. 

Making candles out of old crayons is a great way to spend the afternoon creating a fun project with your kids!

Mother’s Day is around the corner, so soon the crafters will come out of the woodwork to design gifts for their moms. This means some of them will need free vintage Mother’s day greeting cards, which will let them give a vintage look to their gifts. Many creative people prefer vintage, because it creates a special feel that seems to go with Mother’s Day.

The same thing applies to creating scrapbooks. Whether the scrapbook is traditional paper or digital, vintage enhances them. For example, these vintage flower border embellishments. They were a staple in Victorian days and could be found in the ubiquitous scrapbooks of the gentler class. You would often see the hand-painted borders surrounding ornate text that read “Mother” as a way of honoring dear old Mom. That tradition lives on as scrapbookers of today seek ways to honor their moms.

Naturally, the embellishments that honor Mom can also be used to create unique hand-crafted Mother’s Day cards. The beautiful flowers are a perfect centerpiece in a Mother’s Day card. They also look terrific as a dimensionalelement. If the border is printed on card stock, the inside and outside edge details can be cut around and laid over the top of a photo of Mom. The photo will appear in the “window”created, and the result will be the paper equivalent of a Victorian picture frame.

Non-crafters can also download a document that will allow them to make a free Mother’s Day gift. Just choose one of these free Mothers Day certificates and print it. The certificates are already designed and include the date and a message, so there isn’t a lot more to do than print one and sign it. Of course, the certificate would also be nice framed. The frame doesn’t even have to be fancy to look good. Mom will love it no matter what.

So this Mother’s Day, make it homemade. It’s a piece of cake, and you might be surprised at the final results. If you go this route your mother will surely be impressed, which will give you extra brownie points. She might even want you to make her another one next year on Mother’s Day.

Graduation is a very good theme for use in a scrapbook. Graduation scrapbooks could be started months or years before the graduation takes place. Recording the school memories as a long-term project would make the most comprehensive book. You could do this on your own, or you could enlist the help of your son or daughter and involve them in the creative process. Your scrapbook could be created as a traditional scrapbook or you could make a digital scrapbook.

Your collection of memories will be something you and your child can enjoy for years to come. Recording the trials and tribulations, as well as the special moments along the way will help make this a treasured memory book.

Scrapbook paper companies have lots of themed papers, including graduation themes. Print out pictures, clip art or illustrations and trim them to make your own scrapbook embellishments. Preserve the photos and documents you are adding to a traditonal scrapbook by using archival safe adhesives.

Addition of your child’s hobbies, clubs, scouting information, special awards, favorite sports, favorite foods or other personal details is a good start. Possible other additional documents to include are awards and report cards or copies of them. Ask your child’s teachers, friends or family for personal notes from them to add. Those hopes and dreams you have never shared with your child could be included as personal, handwritten notes. Scans of many of these items would work well if you are going to make a digital scrapbook.

As a way to organize your graduation scrapbook, use each year as a page title and add the school photos for that year. School events or prom night mementos. Graduation stickers can add the extra themed elements. Dedicate a page for each year, such as: freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. Die cuts can be used to add interest to your pages. Die cuts are colorful paper or chipboard shapes with themes such as music, dance, or sports. These can be bought at art, craft and scrapbook supply stores.)

Save pages for photos of all the graduation events, parties and the ceremony. Save space for graduation announcements or invitations to the event. Under the photos, add captions or other descriptions and notes.

Pick out a nice binder or scrapbook album to keep the graduation scrapbook pages in. Report cards, awards, school photos and/or certificates will need to fit in your album; be sure to buy one big enough. 

After graduation, when the diploma arrives, you might include a copy of it in the album. Planning and saving items for your scrapbook done over a period of time, but these memories are worth the time and trouble. High school, college or even middle school students will treasure their graduation scrapbook, and it would make a great gift. These are the memories of your child’s most important years you’ll want to remember and share.  

The use of knitting looms is hundreds of years old, but in more recent years a revival in the practice has been noticed. In the past, the knitting loom was extensively used to create clothes, carpets, tablecloth, bed spread and sheets, blankets and plenty of accessories . There are several elements that determine the technical features of a knitting loom: the shape, the size and the gauge. It is from the existence of such variables that we can identified the differences between one knitting loom or another: some are oval while others rely on rectangular frames, for instance.

Depending on the purpose of the knitting loom, there are significant size variations between items. This size feature is closely connected with the gauge which represents the distance between the pegs and determines the size of the knit stitches. Then, the yarn also needs to be well chosen for one specific pattern or another. In the majority of cases, the knitting loom serves for the making of fabric in bulk quantities, and under the circumstances the pegs resemble traditional needles very much. The multitude of stitches and patterns comes from the peg yarn wrapping possibility in multiple ways.

It is not difficult to learn how to operate a knitting loom, particularly if you are familiar with traditional knitting. Looms work great for people who cannot knit because of joint health problems such as arthritis, rheumatism or carpal tunnel syndrome. A home knitting loom is not that complicated to operate and assistance is plentiful on Internet sites and in printed guides. Personal development of the skill is just a matter of practice afterwards.

The estimated value of a knitting loom varies under the influence of several factors. Thus, museum-like pieces used a hundred years ago are definitely more expensive, but usually, these are not the models purchased for regular use. Many manufacturers offer quite a number of models to choose from in plenty of variants. When compared to the use of knitting machines, the looms have definitely fewer users, and most of them are hobbyists. Therefore, it is a big achievement that looms are still in use, as they remain preservers of traditions we come to forget.

For more Free information on Loom Knitting be sure to try visiting Knitting Tips…

The concept of knitting yarn is very relative and wide at the same time as it defines any material that can be knitted by hand, loom or knitting machine; here we should mention cotton, wool, ribbon, string and all sorts of artificial fibers. The aspect to keep in mind before selecting the knitting yarn is that this item gives the features of the knitted object. How formal do you want the garments to be? On what weather are you going to wear them? And how often do you need to wash them? This suggests that the right knitting yarn determines the success or failure level in a knitting project, although there are other factors at work too.

The first thing to start with is that, knitting yarn is available in different shapes and sizes, plus the structure of the fibers does count to in the equation. Thus, fibers of animal origin such as wool are great for their warmth and durability. Use such knitting yarn works great for sweaters, shawls, baby blankets, gloves, hats and socks. In summertime cotton and other plant fibers make the knitting yarn suitable to make very breathable fabric.

Nylon and polyester are other knitting yarn types often chosen by knitters; they offer the advantage of being suitable for more fashionable clothes, but will never work for baby clothes. Use only cotton and linen knitting yarn for the clothes that come in direct contact with the delicate baby skin. The quality of the knitting yarn is one other aspect that needs to be considered. You have to make sure that the yarn you purchase belongs to the same dye lot and that there are no variations whatsoever.

The weight or thickness of the knitting yarn is one other important characteristic. Aran yarn represents the most common weight and it proves perfect for simple knitting patterns and hats. Any knitting yarn type thicker than Aran is usually meant for heavy jumpers and works only with thick needles. On the other hand, knitting yarn types thinner than the standard include the double-knit and the four-ply yarns. The former is good for children’s garments and socks whereas the latter allows for the making of fine elegant apparel items.

Circular knitting needles consist of shorter needles connected by means of a nylon cord. The advantage of the invention in comparison with classic knitting needles is that you don’t have to turn the work around for every row. Besides the already mentioned advantage, there is one more worth mentioning. A secondary advantage is the possibility to design garments seam-free if that is what you wish for.

Unlike classical needles that carry the work weight on their entire surface, circular knitting needles transfer it on the nylon cord. Only part of the working stitches will stay on the needles and part on the cord, creating less pressure on the joints and arms, by the reduction of the stress otherwise put on the wrists. Circular knitting needles remain one first choice for people with various joint health issues.

Check the following details before buying circular knitting needles. First of all, make sure that the length of the nylon cord matches your purpose, thus the length of the cord can range between six and forty inches. Baby clothes for instance will not require more than twelve inches in cord. Why is size so important? One thing is for sure, you can get really bothered by the improper size of the cord. And finally, when it comes to the cord length aspect, you should also know that the size of the needles is shorter for smaller cords too.

Last but not least, circular work needles enable one to knit while traveling without the risk of losing stitches. Moreover, the circular flexible cord prevents the bothersome protruding inconvenience of classical knitting needles. Therefore, for occasional or permanent knitters, having one or several pairs of circular knitting needles in the house proves pretty inspired when you want to try something new and don’t have the time to go get supplies.

For further Free information be sure to visit Knitting Tips ….