Archive for February, 2010
Painting A Piggy Bank Is A Great Craft For Kids
Here’s a fun way for your kids or grandkids to learn about money and saving while crafting. Give them a ceramic pig to paint using acrylic paints. Urge them to save their allowances in the bank and keep track of the money they’ve saved. Think of how proud they will be to see the bank they’ve painted themselves and watch their excitement as they watch their savings grow.
Not so long ago I gave similar adorable piggy banks to each of my three grandchildren to paint. They had so much fun, didn’t make the mess I anticipated, and were extremely proud of their banks. Even the youngest one did a great job figuring out a design and applying it to the bank.
Do you love the sound of wind chimes? - the tinkling music they make as the breezes blow. Why not let your kids make one? This would be a great kids craft. With your guidance and a few supplies, they will enjoy the time spent with you and appreciate the end result, too. Kids just love to see the result of making something with their own hands. And the cost will be minimal.
The one I have in mind is made of bamboo and comes in a kit. My son and daughter-in-law just recently bought me a very cute bamboo wind chime. When I first saw it, after thinking how cute it was, I thought to myself that it would probably not make a very pleasant sound. How surprised I was when I hung it on my porch and heard the subdued musical notes that came from it.
If you’ve been painting for any time at all, you know who Priscilla Hauser is. Her face is a familiar one to acrylic painting artists. Known as the “First Lady of Decorative Painting,” Priscilla has taught her painting style extensively around the country, as well as around the world.
She has written quite a great number of books. One book of hers that is really innovative is “Priscilla Paints With Daubers.” Who would ever think that just by using various size of paint daubers you could create gorgeous pictures and designs? This is a book I would recommend for anyone looking for a simple way to get started in painting.
If you’re stuck inside on a rainy day and don’t want to waste away the afternoon watching TV, poking around the internet, or playing video games, there is a wide assortment of fun and productive activities you can do. For example, learn a new craft or hobby. There are so many craft ideas out there, and even if you never really pursue it, at least you can say you learned how to knit once. Or if you’re looking for a little bit more imagination stimulation, sit down and construct your own board game.
You can take all the things you like about other board games and incorporate these aspects into your own. Finally, you could make all the rules. And if you want to incorporate some craft making into the activity, simply make your own game pieces. They can be constructed out of anything from discarded paper towel rolls to clay to plaster of Paris. Whatever tools and skills you have at your disposal, you can bring all your creativity and imagination to the game.
Although I haven’t crocheted anything recently, crocheting is still a very popular hobby. There are so many cute and decorative items you can make to use or give away as gifts. And it generally takes so little of your time. Crocheting is something you can do while riding or waiting. It’s a great way to pass time that would otherwise be wasted.
I crocheted this cute little poodle shown here a number of years ago. Isn’t he a darling cover-up for your extra roll of toilet tissue?
If you are wanting to make some extra money, you can even sell your homemade items.
Is that a stupid question or what?
On a recent post I suggested that you crochet while watching TV, BUT sometimes the show we are watching is just too good to miss even a second.
Tonight I watched the prelude to my favorite television show - “Survivor.” I just won’t miss the show if I can help it at all, even though I can watch the replay on the computer. Tonight’s show was ‘Surviving Survivor’ and it looks like this year’s shows will be just as exciting as all the others. If you like it too, don’t forget the first of the series on February 11. If you’ve never seen it before, you don’t know what you are missing!
And if you are one of those people who can do two things at once, get out the yarn and crochet hook and make something great. (How about the cute hat pictured here?)
This is another reminder from me to you that St. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Now there are many gifts you can choose from to give your favorite person, but think how nice it would be to give a candy bouquet that you made yourself. Nearly everyone loves candy, and what better way is there to give it than in a bouquet.
You can come up with your own ideas, or click the highlighted words above for free instructions for a couple neat ones. And for your diabetic friends (if you have any), there are a number of special special candies to choose from that are safe for them to eat.
With the cold weather we’ve been having this winter, even here in Florida, what better way to keep your head and ears warm than with a stylish hat that you’ve crocheted yourself. You can be warm and in vogue, too.
The great thing about this is that these are easy to make and can be made very quickly and inexpensively. Choose yarn that matches your outfit or make several hats with different color combinations to match several pieces of clothing. Not a big investment, yet practical.
My grandmother used to crochet a lot, and she had lots of crocheted doilies in her home. My mother also crocheted and decorated with doilies. When I started to crochet, I did the same thing. We had doilies on the backs and arms of our chairs. We made doilies with ruffles and made them stiff with starch so that the ruffles would ‘stand up’ and stay in place. These were used to sit our table lamps on, and the lacy ruffles would flare around the lamp bases.
I don’t see so many people doing this nowadays, but maybe I don’t get around that much. However, these doilies added a nice touch to the atmosphere of a room and were a dainty addition to our decor, especially those made with flowers and other designs in colors to match our decor.
I haven’t crocheted much lately, but at one time I used to crochet a lot. I’ve made tablecloths, doilies, booties, afghans, caps, scarves, vests (when crocheted ones were popular), doll clothes, toilet paper holders, bookmarks – you name it . You probably know what I mean. If you’re a crocheter, you’ve done it too.
I kept my thread or yarn and needles nearby most of the time. It’s amazing how much you can get done while watching TV. I crocheted while riding in the car or while waiting in the car or in an office.
Crocheting is something you can do almost anywhere on short notice, and you can easily carry your supplies with you. If you haven’t tried it and need something worthwhile to fill your idle time, try crocheting.