Celebrate the Earth
Join the world this month by celebrating Earth Day, a worldwide environmental event that happens every year on April 22nd. Celebrate Earth Day by creating clever re-use ideas for common recycling objects. Of course, craft time is one of the best times to reach into the recycling bin – get started with these re-use crafts
CD Case Picture Frame:
Supplies: Old CD Case, favourite photo, construction paper, decorating supplies such as Popsicle sticks, buttons, ribbons, glue
Directions: Remove all paper inserts from CD case. Cut the photo to fit into the inside the CD case (where the insert was). If the photo is smaller than the insert space, glue photo to construction paper, fitting into insert. Now decorate your photo frame – add a border of glue around the front edge of the CD case, and then place Popsicle sticks, buttons, or other decorating materials, creating a frame. Let dry. To display simply open the CD case and stand it on a shelf.
Cereal Box Art Storage BIn:
To help your little one organize their ongoing stream of finished craft projects!!
Supplies: cereal box (jumbo size), tape, scissors, decorating supplies such as favourite photos, magazine clippings, ribbons, buttons, stickers, coloured paper, or old fabric pieces, glue, sponge
Directions: Secure box flaps by closing and taping shut. Lay box on its largest surface. With an adult, make a ‘door’ on the front face of the box; cut across the box approximately 1 cm from top, and again 1 cm from bottom, then cut vertically along box fold line to join horizontal cuts. Carefully open the door to create door hinge at opposite vertical fold. Decorate – apply glue with a sponge, adding various decorations all over the box. Loop a piece of ribbon and glue to the door edge, creating a handle. Let dry, and then use to store artwork.
Tip: Add finished art or craft pieces to the box until it is full, and then go through the box with your child to choose their favourites
Pounded Into Paper
The word ‘paper’ is derived from the word ‘papyrus’. Ancient Egyptians used to pound papyrus stems into thin sheets, creating a paper like substance. The paper that we know today got it’s beginnings in 105AD in China, when imperial court official Ts’ai Lun broke mulberry bark into fibers and pounded it together with hemp and other materials
Make Paper at Home:
Make paper with the kids using old paper scraps – dig into the recycling bin for supplies and type ‘how to make paper’ into your web browser search engine for a plethora of directions!
Word Play – Reduce, ReUse, Recycle
Help the kids become earth friendly at an early age. Kids love to sort, and every household cleaning session presents great opportunities. Set up bins for compost, recycling, re-use (e.g. for crafts), give-away, and garbage. Get the kids involved in deciding which waste goes into which bin. Great for building early math skills, and great for the environment!
Five Minute Fun – Milk Jug Coin Bank
Turn a 4L milk jug into a coin bank by cutting a coin slot across from the handle, and decorating jug with stickers, markers, or glue-on decorations (pompoms, fabric scraps, felt pieces, ribbons, etc). Give your kids a few coins to get them started on saving!
How We’re Thinking Green
Being friendly to the environment is a top priority at Craft Caravan – we want to do our part to ensure that our kids inherit a beautiful planet. here are a few of the ways we’re thinking green:
- We send craft projects in reusable, resealable mailers (they make great gift bags for books, collect a few to store files, bills, or craft supplies, or add a little green shine to any craft project!)
- We include as much recycled content as possible in our projects (e.g. – our card kits are made with recycled-content cardstock)
- We print double sided whenever possible, on 100% recycled paper
- We purchase from environmentally conscientious suppliers
- We re-use scraps from craft projects for other craft projects
Kids Craft Club – One Month at a Time
Interested in the Kids Craft Club? Now you can use our new monthly payment plan. Purchase your first craft for $10.99, then pay just $9.99 per month after that. The kids can keep receiving crafts every month without the hassle of subscription renewals!