Craft Ideas by Craft Caravan – January 2009

July 7, 2016 admin

Let it Snow…

The great outdoors may be covered in a blanket of snow, but it’s not likely that the kids will follow suit and curl up under a blanket at home. They’re busy as ever, so pull out the craft supplies and start creating!
If you’re looking for snowy day activities, or if you’re still in Christmas clean-up mode, here are a couple craft ideas to fit the bill:

Cotton Ball Snowman:

Supplies: Construction paper, cotton balls, glue, pencil, googly eyes, red yarn, wide ribbon, buttons, black paper

Directions: Draw snowman shape on construction paper. Make snowman hat out of black paper, and glue to top of snowman head. Spread glue into each snowman circle, and cover circles with cotton balls. Dab glue onto googly eyes and add to snowman. Make snowman smile from red yarn, and glue on other accessories: ribbon scarf, buttons on belly. Let dry.

Wrapping Paper Name Plate:

Supplies: leftover Christmas wrap or other scraps of paper, cardboard, construction paper or other coloured paper, pencil, glue

Directions: cut cardboard into large rectangle – approximately 15 cm tall, and wide enough to fit child’s name in block letters. Cover cardboard with construction paper or other coloured paper, making nameplate. Write child’s name in block letters across nameplate. Rip wrapping paper or other paper into small pieces. Spread glue around the inside of first block letter. “Scrunch” ripped papers onto block letter by placing onto the glue and then pushing paper towards itself. Fill entire letter with scrunched paper. Repeat with all letters of the child’s name. Let dry and hang on bedroom door or other display area.

Fun Facts About Arts and Crafts – Snowy Scenes

Many pieces from the Canadian ‘Group of Seven’ artists depict snowy Canadian scenes. The group of Seven held their first art exhibition in 1920. Before this, many artists believed the Canadian landscape was either not paintable, or not worthy of being painted.

Kitchen with Kids – Microwave Rice Pudding

Soft and fluffy like a snow bank, but warm and creamy for a cozy winter treat! The kids can help with stirring and measuring. Serve this pudding warm or cold.

1 cup water
•    ½ cup raw rice
•    dash salt
•    3 tbsp butter
•    2/3 c sugar
•    3 c milk
•    2 large eggs
•    1 tsp vanilla
•    cinnamon to taste

In microwave safe bowl, mix rice with salt and water, and cook on high until tender. Stir in butter, milk, and sugar. Cover and microwave on high for 8-10 minutes, or until mixture boils. Beat the eggs and whisk a couple of tablespoons of the hot mixture into eggs (to prevent eggs from curdling). Add a little more of the mixture to eggs while whisking, and then add eggs back into pudding bowl. Microwave uncovered for 1-2 minutes, or until pudding bubbles on the sides. Add vanilla and cinnamon, if desired. Cool before serving.

Simple Science- Melting Snow

There’s plenty of it outside, so use some snow for this simple science experiment. Collect two bowls of snow. Make sure that there’s roughly the same amount of snow in each bowl. Leave one bowl standing, and stir the snow around in the second bowl. Which bowl of snow melts first? Tip: instead of bowls, collect snow in jars. Shake one jar while leaving the other standing. Which jar of snow melts first?

Five Minute Fun – Paper Snowflakes

Scissors and paper are all you need to create beautiful snowflakes for your window! Simply fold a piece of paper over several times, and then cut random shapes into the paper. Open paper to reveal a unique wintry snowflake! Tape your snowflakes to the window panes, or hang them using pieces of dental floss or thread.

Made with Love for Valentine’s Day

Help your child create one-of-a kind unique Valentine’s Day Cards with our exclusive Valentine Card making kits . Choose a class pack of 24 mini cards for your child to give to classmates, or standard size cards (packages of 8) to send to close friends and relatives. A crafty way to make Valentine’s Day just a little more special! Check our card selection here.

Craft Ideas by Craft Caravan – November 2008

July 7, 2016 admin

Falling Back…

Turn back time tonight, as today is the day most people change their clocks to ‘fall back’ for daylight savings time. The shorter days, together with cooler weather are sure signs that winter is just around the corner. Use the themes of time and winter for a couple of fun crafts with the kids:

It’s About Time for a Clock

Supplies: Cardboard, old magazines and newspapers, aluminum foil, 2 buttons, string, scissors, glue, crayons, hole punch

Directions: Make clock face- cut circle from cardboard and cover with aluminum foil. Find newspaper or magazine clippings of the numbers 1 through 12. Glue each number to the clock face.

Cut a big hand and a small hand from cardboard. Colour the hands with crayon, or cover with magazine clippings. Punch a hole at the end of each hand, where they will be connected to the centre of the clock. Make a hole in the centre of the clock using scissors (a job for the caregiver!)

Assemble clock: feed string through hole of first button, then through clock face, then clock hands, then second button. Loop back around through second hole of top button, then through hands and face, then through final button-hole, tying string together on underside of clock

Handprint Mitten Mobile

Supplies: construction paper, glue, scissors, hole punch, string or ribbon, pencil, decorating supplies such as pompoms, glitter glue, sparkles, stickers, etc

Directions: trace your child’s hand on construction paper with fingers together and thumb out. Instead of individual fingers, trace around all fingers like a mitten. Make 4 or 5 tracings. Cut out tracings, decorate, and punch a hole at the top or ‘wrist’ part of each mitten. Cut various lengths of string for hanging mittens on mobile. Tie one end of each string through each of the mittens, and tie the other end around the pencil. Loop another string around the pencil, in centre, for hanging.

Kitchen With Kids – Grilled Banana Nutella Sandwich

An easy, yummy, warm sandwich treat for cool days!

1 Banana
Nutella spread
2 pieces of bread
butter or margarine

Spread one piece of bread with Nutella. The kids can cover the Nutella with banana slices. Close sandwich and lightly butter outside. Place in sandwich grill for about 5 minutes. Let cool until warm, and serve.

Getting Crafty for Christmas

If you’re sending out Christmas cards this year, check our website for Christmas and Season’s Greetings Card making kits . You can also subscribe to the Kids Craft Club – a great gift idea for pint sized friends and relatives!

Come Get Crafty with Us!

Craft Caravan is sponsoring the ‘Creative Corner’ at Vancouver’s Baby & Family Fair this weekend. Drop by for some colouring and crafts when you visit Canada place tomorrow!

Five Minute Fun – Hibernation Hideout (Cave)

A simple way to pass a few minutes, throw a blanket over a chair or table for an instant cave or tent. Though not quite a ‘craft’, we just had to remind everyone about this age old game, as our kids get endless amounts of joy out of hiding in their makeshift cave!

Craft Ideas by Craft Caravan – October 2008

July 7, 2016 admin

Fall Festivities!

Halloween and Thanksgiving are two great occasions for the kids to get crafty. For a real challenge, consider creating home made Halloween costumes using old boxes and scraps of fabric. If you want to keep it simple, here are a few craft ideas to try with the kids:

Gourd Turkey Centerpiece:

Supplies: round gourd, leaves or feathers, flat craft spoon, red marker or construction paper, googly eyes, glue, scissors

Directions: Add googly eyes to round part of craft spoon, creating turkey head. Make wattle by drawing tear-drop shape on red construction paper, or colouring paper teardrop with red marker. Add wattle to head at the middle of the craft spoon. Glue head to one side of gourd. On opposite side of gourd, start layering feathers or leaves, to make turkey feathers. Continue adding feathers or leaves to gourd, covering back side up to center of gourd.

Tip: If you don’t have any flat craft spoons, you can make a head shape by drawing a figure 8 on brown construction paper, with the top of the ‘8’ slightly more round than the bottom.

Sparkly Spider Web:

Supplies: white, black, or grey yarn, silver sparkles (optional) waxed paper, flour, water, yogurt container or paper plate, scissors.

Directions: In yogurt container or on paper plate, mix approximately 1 part flour with 2 parts water to create paper mache paste. Add sparkles to paste and mix. Cut yarn into 20cm lengths. Dip yarn into paste so that all parts are covered in paste. Pull yarn through thumb and index finger to remove excess paste. Place yarn on piece of waxed paper. Continue adding yarn to waxed paper in a criss-cross spider web pattern. Let dry. Carefully peel your spider web from waxed paper and hang in a window or at your front door for halloween.

Alternate: instead of mixing sparkles into paste, create spider web and then sprinkle with sparkles while still wet.

Dressing Up – The Halloween Tradition

Halloween started out as an Irish tradition, and is now celebrated in a large portion of the western world, including Canada, United States, and New Zealand. Dressing up in masks and costumes is a tradition that started way back when Halloween celebrations first began, as a means to ward off evil spirits.

Kids in the Kitchen – Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Save the seeds from your pumpkin carving this year, to make a yummy snack with the kids. They can help by cleaning and washing the seeds, and sprinkling them with seasoning salt.

Pumpkin seeds from jack o’lantern waste
Seasoning salt
Vegetable oil

Separate pumpkin seeds from other pumpkin scraps. Place in colander and wash. Spread on paper towel to dry. Spread onto baking sheet and add a few drops of vegetable oil, mixing thoroughly. Spread seeds out on baking sheet, and sprinkle with a pinch of seasoning salt. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 – 20 minutes or until crisp, turning seeds once.

Kids Craft Club – Just in time for Christmas!

For those who like to plan ahead, now is the time to buy gift Craft Club subscriptions for Christmas. It’s the perfect stocking stuffer or gift for pint sized friends and relatives. Simply note ‘Christmas gift’ in the comments section of your order form, and you will be sent a gift card to place under the tree or in their stocking. First craft delivery for Christmas subscribers will be the January Kids Craft Club project. Subscribe today!

Christmas Card Making Kits

We’ve already had several inquiries about our Christmas Card Making kits , and they are now available on our website. To get an early start on making cards with the kids, order yours today .

Five Minute Fun – Handprint Turkey

Trace your child’s hand on a piece of brown paper, having the thumb spread as far away from fingers as possible. Cut out the tracing. The thumb will be the head of the turkey, while the fingers will be the feathers. Add eye and waddle to head, and add feathers or other decorations to feathers/fingers

Craft Ideas by Craft Caravan – September 2008

July 7, 2016 admin

Findings In the Fall!

September is a great time of year to go outside and collect a few crafty items for fall and winter projects. Take the kids on a walk to collect leaves, pinecones, and any other interesting objects of nature that can be dried or stored for future use. Get a jump on the fall craft projects with these ideas:

Fall Leaf Butterfly Picture:

Supplies: Fall leaves – 2 small long & thin leaves, 1 big long & thin leaf, 4 big round or oval leaves, 1 small round leaf, construction paper, glue, googly eyes, glitter glue, or tiny leaves for decorating.

Directions: Dry the leaves by layering between newsprint and placing a heavy object on top. Let dry for about a week, or until they’re dry but not brittle. To assemble butterfly: use 1 long thin leaf as the body, 1 small round leaf for face, 2 long thin leaves as antennae, 4 big round/oval leaves as top and bottom portions of wings. Add googly eyes or dots of glitter glue to face, and decorate wings with glitter glue or smaller leaves.

Tip: Don’t stop at butterflies. Depending on the leaves in your area, you may be able to find shapes to create elephants (large round ear shaped leaves), bunnies (thin long leaves), or any other creature that sparks your child’s interest. Layering maple leaves in a fan shape, behind a long thin leaf, would make an excellent peacock!

Sparkly Pinecones:

Supplies: Pinecones, 2 paper plates, white glue, sparkles, string

Directions: Thin white glue by mixing with equal part water. Place glue in first paper plate, and sparkles in second paper plate. Roll clean, dry pinecones in glue plate, then roll in sparkle plate. Set aside to dry. Tie string around the top to create pinecone ornament for fall decorations, or place in bowl for a sparkly display!

Note: if you prefer, use a re-sealable bag for sparkles. Roll pinecone in glue, then place in sparkle bag. Seal bag and shake, shake, shake!

Inspired by Nature – Claude Monet

In a time when the most sought-after paintings were based on realism and academic style, Claude Monet chose to depict scenes from nature, in an impressionist manner. He was inspired by his environment – poppies, haystacks, and of course, water lilies.

Kids in the Kitchen – Swedish Chocolate Cookies

This is a no-bake recipe that is perfect for little helping hands!

3 ¼ cups oats
1 ¼ cups sugar
6 tbsp cocoa
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup butter or margarine
Flaked coconut

Mix dry ingredients (except coconut) together. Add butter and vanilla and mix until even consistency. (you could even use your hands for this!) With your hands, roll dough into 3 cm balls. Roll balls in flaked coconut. Chill for 1 hour before serving.

Five Minute Fun – Magnet Fishing Rod

Turn a stick into a fishing rod by adding a length of string at one end. To give your fishing rod some weight and to turn it into a game, place a magnet at the end of the string: Using two pieces of self-adhesive magnet, sandwich the free end of the string between adhesive sides of magnets, sticking them together and adhering to string. Find some household items that are magnetic, and some that aren’t, and put them into a ‘pond’ for your child to go fishing!

Craft Ideas by Craft Caravan – August 2008

July 7, 2016 admin

Go Play Outside!

The great outdoors is the perfect place to work on some wonderfully messy craft projects. Clean up is made easy with a simple wash of the hose, so gather up the craft supplies and go play outside! Try these crafts to get your outdoor artist’s studio started:

Home Made Sidewalk Chalk:

Supplies: Plaster of Paris, powdered tempura paint, stir stick, mixing container, water, waxed paper, paper coin rollers (quarter rollers). Optional: painters tape or masking tape.

Directions: Optionally tape over one end of the coin roller so that it has a ‘bottom’. Place on a cookie sheet covered with waxed paper, covered side down. Mix 1 cup of Plaster of Paris together with 2 tbsp paint. Add roughly 1 cup of water, stirring while you add, for smooth consistency. Carefully pour mixture into coin rollers. Let the chalk sticks set – approximately 2 hours. Peel back the coin roller paper to use.

Note: We were able to use our chalk after only 15 minutes of waiting. Keep the coin roller paper on for strength, peeling back as the chalk gets used.

Abstract Canvas Splash Art:

Supplies: art canvas, canvas board, or paper, liquid tempura paints, paint brushes or toothbrushes

Directions: pour paint into plates, bowls or other containers. Lay canvas or paper on the ground. Dip paint brush into colour of your choice, and let it drip onto canvas. Try swinging the paintbrush to make a bit splat! Dip toothbrush into paint and run finger over bristles, splattering paint onto the canvas. Repeat with different colours of paint, creating an abstract masterpiece.

Note: You can position items such as leaves, paper shapes, or other objects on the canvas before painting, and remove after splashing, to create shapes on the canvas.

Fun Facts – the Great Jackson Pollock

Splash art is not only for kids! Jackson Pollock painted for many years, and became an influential American artist because of his spontaneous paint dripping technique, leading the abstract expressionist movement. Paint brushes, sticks, and basting syringes were among the tools he used to drip his paints!

Fortunately Unfortunately

Summer time often means road trips, which can be a challenge with little ones in tow! Add word games to your car time repertoire to make the time pass by. You can play “I Spy” or counting games (we recently counted all the trailers passing us), or try a game of ‘Unfortunately Fortunately’. Start the game with ‘Unfortunately (fill in the blank)’, and let your child finish with ‘Fortunately (fill in the blank)’. For smaller kids, you can replace the ‘Unfortunatley fortunately with ‘Uh Oh’ and ‘That’s OK’. Example:

‘Unfortunately, we’re almost out of gas’
‘Fortunately, we’re going to a gas station!’

‘Uh Oh, I spilled on my sweater!’
‘That’s OK, we can wipe it up.’

Kids in the Kitchen – Frozen Banana Pops

These treats are a great summer time snack, and a snap to make with the kids!

4 bananas, cut in half cross wise
Yogurt (Flavour of your choice), or chocolate chips
Popsicle sticks, waxed paper, cookie sheet

Insert popsicle stick into flat end of banana. Dip each banana into yogurt. Place on cookie sheet covered with waxed paper. Freeze for approximately 3 hours. For chocolate banana pops – freeze plain bananas on sticks. Melt chocolate chips and drizzle onto frozen bananas. Chocolate will harden immediately. To store, wrap each banana pop in foil.

Five Minute Fun – Bubble Art

Turn your bubble blowing session into some great outdoor art! Simply add different colours of food colouring to bubble solution in dishes or jars, mixing or shaking well. In between blowing bubbles into the air, your kids can blow coloured bubbles down onto a piece of paper, creating their very own bubble art masterpiece!

Kids Craft Ideas July 2008

June 30, 2016 admin

Oh Canada!

Whether at the cabin, the cottage, the camp, or even just the backyard, Canadians from coast to coast are celebrating Canada Day today! Red and white clothing, face paints, and washable tattoos all make great fun for kids on Canada Day. Looking for more great ways to celebrate Canada? Try these Canada inspired crafts to make the celebration last the whole month long:

Nunavut Provincial Flag Craft:

Nunavut is Canada’s youngest region, becoming it’s own territory in April, 1999. Make this simple Inukshuk flag to celebrate Canada’s youngest territory!

Supplies: white paper, construction paper (red, yellow, blue), scissors, glue

Directions: Cut a yellow piece of construction paper that is exactly half the length of your white paper. Glue into place, covering left half of the white paper. Make inukshuk: cut red construction paper to the same height as white/yellow flag. Then cut red paper into 3 small horizonal blocks, 1 longer horizontal block, and 1 small vertical block. Round the edges of each block to create the appearance of rocks (see Nunavut flag photo). Glue blocks to middle of flag to create inukshuk. Cut blue star and place on white portion of flag

Note: Extend this craft project by going outside and building an Inukshuk using stones, or by replicating the flag of your province! You can view provincial flags at The Flag Shop

Canadian Moose Craft:

Supplies: craft paper, cardboard (such as from cereal box), or other ‘background’ paper, ice cream lid or paper plate, brown paint, googly eyes, black pompom, twigs from trees with a few branches to look like antlers

Directions: pour brown paint into ice cream lid or paper plate. Stamp foot into paint, then stamp onto background paper or cardboard with heal of foot closest to bottom of paper, to create moose head. Decorate your moose head: Place googly eyes at ball of footprint, and place nose at heal of footprint. Make antlers by gluing twigs to top of footprint (at the toes).

Note: Mom and Dad can join in on the fun to create a moose family! Their extra big footprints will make large moose heads, while the kids can be the smaller moose

Fun Facts About The Canada Flag

The Maple Leaf Flag is a work of art that has achieved international recognition. The flag itself is young; it was adopted as the official flag of Canada in February, 1965. Use these guidelines to recreate the flag with construction paper or fabric: The length of the flag should be twice the height, and the white portion of the flag is exactly double the length of each red portion. The central maple leaf has 3 major points that each break into 3 smaller points. The number of points on the flag has no symbolic significance – this is simply the best configuration to look good while blowing in the wind!

Sing it Loud!

‘O Canada’ became Canada’s national anthem on July 1, 1980. The official lyrics are known to most adults, but can sometimes be tricky for kids. Try singing this song with your little ones – their word changes often produce very uniquely entertaining renditions of the song!

Kids in the Kitchen – Strawberry Popsicles

Nothing says ‘summer is here’ as well as the beginning of strawberry season! Try these yummy frozen treats with your kids for a refreshing summer time snack:

1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
2 cups plain yogurt
Popsicle holder, ice cube tray, or paper cups and popsicle sticks

Mix yogurt and strawberries. Alternately, blend yogurt and strawberries for smooth consistency. Spoon into ice cube tray, popsicle holder, or paper cups. Freeze for 20 minutes. Add sticks (if using paper cups or ice cube tray), and freeze until firm.

Five Minute Fun – Summer Time Streamers

Turn a simple stick or rubber bracelet into summer time fun by securing lengths of ribbon or crepe streamers. Kids can wear the bracelets or twirl the stick to add some dazzle to their outdoor running games!

Our Newest Additions – Invitation Kit, Scrapbook Kit

Craft Caravan is excited to introduce our latest Card Kit additions. Our ‘About Me’ scrapbook kit is perfect for kids to work on over the summer, or try the Invitation Kit for your next big bash!

Kids Craft Ideas for June 2008

June 30, 2016 admin

Dress It Up

Kids love to play dress up, and will eagerly role-play at any opportunity. With Father’s Day just around the corner, turn their desire to dress up (or dress others up!) into these fun gifts for dad:

‘Just Like Dad’ Photo Craft:

Do a photo shoot with your child recreating his or her dad’s favourite activities. Print the photo and give it to dad in a hand-made frame!

Supplies: Plain photo frame, or construction paper with sturdy cardboard, dad’s favourite sporting or hobby equipment for creating the ‘scene’, decorating supplies (paints, crayons, glitter glue, old buttons, etc), glue, scissors, camera

Directions: Choose dad’s favourite activity and recreate it with your child – examples: child wearing dad’s business suit or shoes, child swinging dad’s golf clubs, child pretending to barbecue, etc. Take photos of your child posing in their dad’s gear. Decorate a plain wood frame using paints and other supplies, or make a frame out of construction paper with a sturdy cardboard backing. Write the words “a chip off the old block” or “like Father like Son/Daughter” somewhere on the frame. Insert photo and wrap it up for dad!

‘Dad’s Favourites’ Collage:

Supplies: Old magazines or sports pages, photos of dad, construction paper, scissors, glue

Directions: Using old magazines or newspapers, find pictures of things dad does or likes. Try to find some pictures of people in action. Glue your clippings to construction paper to create a collage. Using photos of dad, replace the heads in the pictures with dad’s head, so it looks like he’s in action. Write “Dad’s Favourite Things” or “Super Star Dad” on your collage.

Directions

Knitting At Sea

Although it seems that most handmade sweaters have been knit by Grandma, and not Grandpa, most historians agree that the art of knitting originated with men. Historians suggest that knitting was derived from the need to knit fishing nets, which was done by sailors at sea.

Sentence Starters for Father’s Day:

Find a wallet sized photo of your child, and add a thoughtful sentence on the back, so dad can take a glance when he’s on the go. Choose one of these sentence starters to help your child express their thoughts about dad:

“I love you because….”

“You are the best Dad because…..”

“I love it when we…..”

Five Minute Fun – King for a Day

Every little prince or princess will delight in spending a few minutes to make a crown for dad. Draw a crown shape on construction paper or cardboard (eg. From a cereal box). Cut out the crown and decorate it using crayons, glitter glue, papers, or any available decorating accessories. Cut a long construction paper or cardboard strip and secure to either side of the crown, creating a headband for crowning the king.

Tell Your Friends….

This month, everyone in our Kids Craft Club received ‘Refer a Friend’ cards. So, if you’re in the club and want an extra month of crafts, be sure to pass the card on to a friend! Or, if you want to join our craft club, find a friend who’s already in the club, and help them get a free month when you sign up!

Crafts for Breakfast!?!

Craft Caravan has been invited to join Breakfast Television’s ‘Live Eye’ Segment on Wednesday, June 4th. If you’re in the Vancouver area, tune in (Citytv, Ch13) between 7 am and 10 am to get some crafty tips about making birthday parties a little more green. You’ll also hear tips from other great local businesses. It’s all part of celebrating the ‘Green Baby Shower’, which will be hosted by Belly & Beyond (4118 Main St) on June 8th, from 10am – 12pm.

Kids Craft Ideas for May 2008

June 29, 2016 admin

Gotta Hand It To You

Many mommies get a little sentimental around Mother’s Day, reminiscing about when they first entered into motherhood. Start tracking how big the kids have grown year after year, by making handprint tracings. They’re fun to look back on, and they also make great craft projects – check out our suggestions below. And just in case Mother Nature is planning another blast of cold weather, these handprint activities will make it feel like spring inside, regardless of what’s happening outside!

Mr. Sun Handprint Craft:

Supplies: Yellow and orange construction paper, marker, pencil, or crayon, glue, large circle template (a lunch plate would work well for this)

Directions: Using lunch plate or other circle template, trace circle onto yellow construction paper. Make sun rays: on orange construction paper, trace child’s hands (fingers spread), and cut out tracings. You will need at least 4 handprint cutouts. Repeat, using yellow construction paper. Glue handprint sun rays around yellow circle, alternating yellow and orange rays. Use marker or crayon to add a face to your handprint sunshine.

Simple Shapes Handprint Bird:

Help your child identify shapes and practice cutting as you make this little bird!

Supplies: Construction paper for bird (blue, red, brown, or yellow) and beak/feet (orange or yellow), googly eye, toothpicks, large circle template, small circle template, feathers, paper for background.

Directions: Use a circle template (such as lunch plate) to make bird body, and use a smaller template (such as drinking glass) to make head. Cut triangle for beak, and two small triangles for feet. Make the wing: trace child’s hand (fingers closed), so that the tips of the fingers become the tips of the wing. Assemble bird, gluing onto background paper. Use toothpicks for legs, adding triangle feet. Add googly eyes and decorate with feathers

Tip: paper from an old brown paper bag would work great for the bird’s body

All Sewn Up

The art of hand sewing dates back over 20 000 years. The first sewing needles were made of animal bones or horns, while threads were made of animal sinew. Iron needles were invented in the 14^th century, and the 15^th century brought the first eyed needles.

Thoughts for Mother’s Day

“I’d like to be the ideal mother, but I’m too busy raising my kids.”– Unknown

The mother of three notoriously unruly youngsters was asked whether or not she’d have children if she had it to do over again. “Yes,” she replied. “But not the same ones.”– David Finkelstein

A teacher gave her class of second graders a lesson on the magnet and what it does. The next day in a written test, she included this question: “My full name has six letters. The first one is M. I pick up things. What am I?” When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to find that almost 50 percent of the students answered the question with the word Mother– Unknown

Five Minute Fun – Silk Flower Pencil Topper

Drawing is more fun with a super fancy pencil! Choose a silk flower that has a stem, and then attach it to a pencil or pen by wrapping tape (masking, scotch, even floral tape) around both pencil and stem. Tip: don’t wrap all the way down the pencil, as you will want to sharpen it eventually!

We’re Growing….

Our Kids Craft Club is growing quickly! Check our website to see what members have to say, or take a look at our new press page .

Kids Craft Ideas for April 2008

June 29, 2016June 29, 2016 admin

Celebrate the Earth

Join the world this month by celebrating Earth Day, a worldwide environmental event that happens every year on April 22^nd. 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!

Kids Craft Ideas for March 2008

June 29, 2016 admin

Looking For Treasure

Treasure hunters greet this month with vigour, as new discoveries are waiting around every corner! Whether it’s the first crocus poking it’s head out of the ground, or the first patch of grass peaking from beneath the snow, each little gem is telling us Spring is on the way. And with leprechauns hiding pots of gold, and bunnies hiding eggs, it seems like we’re bound to discover at least one surprise! Try these treasure inspired crafts with your little treasures:

Pot of Gold Guessing Game – which end of the rainbow is hiding the pot of gold?

Supply List:

Drawing paper
Newsprint & construction paper to make rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
Black & yellow construction paper for pot of gold
Green construction paper to make bushes
Glue, scissors.

Directions:

Make a rainbow template using newsprint: Draw a semi-circle. Following the arc of the semi-circle, and working from the outside in, cut the template into 6 arcing pieces.
Make rainbow:Trace templates onto construction paper, using the biggest arc piece for red, then orange, yellow, green, blue purple. Glue the rainbow pieces onto drawing paper in order.
Make pot of gold: Cut pot from black paper. Cut gold from yellow paper, and glue to top of pot.
Make bushes: Cut two fluffy bushes (big enough to cover pot of gold) from green paper. Glue only the top of each bush to the ends of the rainbow, creating a ‘lift the flap’ style picture.
Let dry and then hide the pot of gold under one of the bushes to play ‘where’s the pot of gold’ guessing game.
Note: If preferred, omit cutting rainbow from construction paper, and simply draw rainbow onto paper using crayons.

Treasure Hunt Box – For Gold or Easter Eggs!

Supply List:

500 ml plastic container (from yogurt etc) or box (e.g. kid’s shoe box)
Coloured paper and old magazines,
Glue
paintbrush, sponge, or cotton balls
waxed paper or plastic lid

Directions:

Organize the papers that will cover your box – cut papers into strips, squares, or other shapes, clip magazine pictures illustrating ‘spring’ images (flowers, animals, etc)
Pour generous amount of glue onto waxed paper or plastic lid.
Dip sponge, paintbrush, or cotton ball into glue and dab onto container, and also onto paper clipping. Cover glued area of container with glued clipping. Repeat, covering entire outside surface of container with papers. Let dry.
Dilute glue with water (3 parts glue to 1 part water) and cover entire surface area with glue. Let dry. Repeat, if desired, to create smooth finish.
Once dry, fill your box or container with treasure and take turns hiding and finding!

The Art of the Egg

We love colouring eggs at Easter time, but our eggs quickly get eaten on Easter morning. Many eastern European ethnic groups (Ukrainians, Poles, Romanians,and Bulgarians, to name a few) create intricate designs on eggs that can be displayed for years to come. Goose, duck, or hen eggs are blown out and then designs are written on to the shells using hot wax with a stylus or pin-head. The egg is dyed yellow and then more wax is applied between dyes of orange, red, purple, and black. This method of egg decorating is called the Pysanka, and dates back to ancient times. Interestingly, the world’s largest Pysanka resides in Vegreville, Alberta.

Poetry or Prose?

You may not remember all of the poetry you studied back in your school days, but it might be worth brushing up on the Limerick in time for St. Patty’s day. You just never know when a leprechaun might start spouting poetic clues to his pot of gold! Limericks are perfect for older preschoolers and early elementary kids who love to rhyme – try writing a limerick together. We’ve highlighted the ‘rules’ of writing limericks below:

The Limerick:
5 line poem
1^st, 2^nd, 5^th lines rhyme
3^rd and 4^th lines rhyme
1^st, 3^rd, 5^th lines have the same length and rhythm, or meter
2^nd and 4^th lines have the same length and rhythm, or meter

An example we’re all familiar with, first printed in Tommy Thumb’s Pretty Song Book, by Mary Cooper, in 1744:

Hickory Dickory Dock
The mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck one
The mouse ran down
Hickory Dickory Dock

Five Minute Fun – Easter Bunny Ears

White paper and some pink crayons are all you need to help the kids fashion their very own set of bunny ears. Make an ear pattern on an old piece of newspaper, then let them trace the pattern, cut out the ears, and colour pink centers. Finish the ears by taping or gluing to a headband or wide band of paper measured to slip onto their head.

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!