Mother's Day Crafts For Toddlers - Easy Bookmark Mother's Day Craft For Toddlers

Finding an easy mother's day craft for toddlers is not always that easy. I know that most people consider making bookmarks rather boring but, we must keep in mind that the toddlers probably haven't made any yet, so for them, making a bookmark for mom is new. This easy bookmark craft is also a fun way to teach the little ones what happens when different colors are mixed.

Remember, this craft for toddlers needs to be done under adult supervision and the little ones will need help with some of the steps.

This is what you will need for this mother's day craft:

• A small piece of white poster paper
• A decorative pair of craft scissors (called zigzag scissors by some)
• 4 Colors of thin watercolors (you can find watercolors powder to make these at any crafts store)
• A medicine dropper
• Thin ribbon in a color of your choice
• A punch to make a hole for the ribbon

Method for this mother's day craft:

1. With your decorative scissors cut a piece of your poster paper to the required size for a bookmark. (Bookmarks do not always have to be the well known size, I have a very pretty one that my granddaughter made that is quite big and it is beautiful. A bigger bookmark also gives you more space to work with.)
2. Now you have to splatter a little bit of clean water on your bookmark. (Not too much because we do not want the bookmark to become too soggy!)
3. Draw one of the colors, of your paint, up into the medicine dropper and drip the paint on different places on the bookmark.
4. Wash the medicine dropper and repeat the procedure with the other the other three colors.
5. You will notice that the colors will flow a little and where they mix the colors will change depending on the colors you used. For the little ones it may be a good idea to use the primary colors.
6. Keep an eye on the kids so that they do not get over exited and use too much water and paint, as the bookmark will then become very soggy and the end result will not be satisfactory.
7. Let your bookmark dry completely.
8. Punch a hole in the bottom of the bookmark and thread the ribbon through the hole.
9. Make a not in the ribbon to keep it in place.

Kids really love doing crafts that can be used in some way. With this mother's day craft for toddlers they make a gift for mom that she will be able to use for many, many years to come. I hope you and your toddler will enjoy this easy mother's day craft for toddlers.

Source : ezinearticles.com

Recycled Craft Ideas - Crafty Ideas to Recycle Tins and Cans

Recycled craft ideas are a great and inexpensive way to make use of items commonly found in your home.

Tins and cans come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and with a variety of contents - but don't throw them out once you've used up the contents!

Here are a few fun ideas for recycled tins and cans:

Pretty Picnic Flower Pots

If you're having a picnic party theme at home, get a few medium sized tins that would suit having a few freshly picked flowers in them. Near the top, make two holes on opposite sides - probably best to ask your dad, husband or brother to help! Thread some pretty ribbon through and tie it at the top, this will be used to hang the tin from the branches of trees or the rafters of your patio. Go into your garden and pick a few pretty fresh flowers and some foliage, and pop them into the tins with some water. If you have the time and creativity, you could also glue some pretty fabric to the tins, or spray paint them in the color/s of your theme.

Pen and Pencil Holders

Everyone will ask you where you got them! Choose the size or sizes that suit you, then decorate the tins on the outside - you could glue fabric around and finish with a trim of pretty cord at the top, or spray paint them the color you choose.

Gift Containers

Here again you can use any size or shape that fits the gift. Simply wrap it with colored cellophane paper and tie together at the top with a pretty ribbon.

Candle Holders

These are lovely for an evening function, to line a path or down a staircase outside. Try find some low tins or cans, tie a pretty ribbon/bow around each one, and use a tealight candle or other low candle inside.

Waste Paper Baskets

Using the same suggestions above, either cover them with some pretty fabric and finish off with a trim of cord or feathers, or simply spray paint to the color you want.

Craft Supply Containers

Label them with the contents they're going to hold. You can even get quite creative - instead of storing them in a cupboard or shelf unit (which would probably be more difficult to get to) keep them on top of a spare desk or dresser, but dress them up first! You can wrap them with pretty leftover pieces of fabric, even rope, or spray paint them to the color/s you prefer.

Source : ezinearticles.com

Craft Show Tips

Helpful craft show tips. Have an added advantage when selling at craft shows. Make good use of these practical ideas.

How to choose a craft fair

Know what to look for in a craft show and make sure it is the right opportunity for selling your crafts. Consider these criteria when deciding on renting a booth at a show. What are the entry fees? Is there a straight fee for the booth or does the promoter take a percentage of your sales? What other products are for sale at the show and will your product fit in with the general style of the show? What sort of attendance numbers can you expect? How many vendors are there and how many are selling similar products to you? How much marketing and advertising do the promoters do for their craft show?

How to set up your craft fair booth

Craft show tips for setting up a good booth include the following. Delineate your space by using a canopy or display boards. Set up your display tables in either a Y, L or U shape for easy access to your crafts. Customers must be able to easily reach your display and move around freely. They need to be able to pick up the crafts without too much effort. Put your table at the right height. Often the table is too low for comfortable viewing making customers bend over. Avoid tables that are too wide making it difficult for customers to reach across to items at the back. Avoid cluttering your booth with too much product. If you provide too many different options it becomes overwhelming and customers will often choose nothing. Use attractive signage to inform people about your products and draw them into your booth.

Craft show tips for displaying your products

Help customers visualise using your crafts by displaying the product as it would be used. Create an attractive arrangement of candles, use mannequins and display busts to show off clothing and accessories, fill your ceramic vases with flowers. Highlight the benefits of your product in the display. Light the candles so that customers can see how they burn and enjoy the smell they create. Create different levels, a flat row of crafts is uninteresting. Use risers or display items to do this. Use background colors that complement rather than compete with the products.

Come up with different sales strategies

You have a wonderful product but you still need to come up with great ideas to keep your product selling. What about combining items at a special price? For example pair up a handmade candle with your handcrafted soap for a beautiful bath experience! Make use of the many different holidays by offering customers a holiday related deal. Offer special promotions like a lower price for seniors. Tailor sales promotions to the type of people likely to attend the craft show.

Selling at craft fairs requires preparation and imagination! Don't be afraid to try something new and create a great craft fair booth that brings in the customers and makes the sales.

Source : ezinearticles.com

Is Quilling a Paper Craft That Children Can Do?

Yes, children will definitely love quilling as a fun paper craft to do with all kinds of colored paper strips! You can show kids how to roll the paper into different shapes and then give them a chance to create something unique on their own. You may want to give them paper that is a little bit wider so they can handle it more easily. Making coils and scrolls are simple enough for most children to do and then you can give them some guidance as they glue them together into a design or you can allow them to create whatever they desire! If your child is having trouble rolling the coils, then help them out with that and allow them to do the gluing.

Kids especially love to try to make their favorite animals and cartoon characters with quilling. Older children can look at photos or drawings of the items they would like to quill and can get design ideas that way. You could even draw a basic design on paper and have them fill in the design with different quilled shapes similar to a puzzle! Allow your child to have fun twirling the paper and gluing their coils and scrolls down however they like.

Quilling is a great craft for kids since it requires very few supplies and is inexpensive so you can allow them to use as much paper as you'd like! Children will enjoy giving their quilling works of art as gifts or using them to decorate pieces of paper or cards for others.

The Christmas holiday is an especially great time to have your children helped with quilling paper since they are sure to have fun making santas, wreaths, trees, and other holiday decorations. They can even add beads, glitter, sequins, ribbon, or other embellishments like buttons to jazz up their paper quilling creation. Have your child draw a tree on a piece of paper and then use quilling designs to decorate the tree! You can even give this as a gift if you want to frame it or add their design to a holiday gift card.

Source : ezinearticles.com

Nature Craft - How to Make a Leaf Lady

Hi, and welcome to the making of the leaf lady, this guide will show you how to make a leaf lady with just a few leaves, a couple of coloured drawing pencils some firm paper and also tracing paper and a tube of all purpose glue.

It`s just a few steps, actually four steps to complete this craft marvel. The best time to make this craft is in the Autumn when the leaves have fallen off the trees.

Step one: So let`s get to it and trace a picture of a lady in a skirt, draw the lady's head, neck, body all the way down to the hem of the skirt but don`t draw the arms or legs, then place the tracing paper upside down on a firm piece of paper and rub the outline of the lady with a pencil this will print the lady's outline to the firm paper. Then draw the lady's face and neck with your coloured pencils, skin coloured pencil and a black pencil to draw the eyes, nose and mouth.

Step two: Gather your leaves, large ones for the skirt all the same colour but not green more smaller leaves and grasses and rats tails for the hair and bodice and thin leaves for the arms and ears of wheat for the lady to carry.

So start with gluing the leaves to the paper and your starting point is at the hem of the skirt, working your way up to the middle where the lady's skirt ends and here bodice begins, placing the leaves inside the skirt and on the line of the tracing.

Step three: For the bodice use small thin leaves to fill out the body just under the neck use your design skills, to mix it up with the leaves and use long thin leaves for the arms so glue these in very carefully.

Step four: Finally glue some rats tail`s for the hair then place some ears of wheat in the arms of the lady to complete this great nature craft.

Source : ezinearticles.com

Craft Ideas - Sources of Craft Project Ideas

Finding a good and ready supply of craft ideas is a continual quest for those who love crafts. The challenge is to match your level of expertise with those on offer.

Most of the time you will want something that raises your dame a notch. Something that takes you out of your comfort zone and stretches you to apply your existing talent to new ideas. But there will be times when easy, fun crafts might be preferable.

Unless you already have a preferred supplier you will need to wade through various sites to see what is on offer.

You may of course like the tangible 'hold it in your hand' monthly magazine to give you the ideas you are after. There is something about a magazine that suggests ownership and having. Sometimes downloading a project may not sing to your creative senses sufficiently.

I like nothing better than sitting down to a cup of tea and going through a monthly magazine. I can anticipate the crafting pleasure to come. Mind you, I do allow myself to set aside that time - and I do not call it an indulgence. It is making the most of my investment in me!

Ideas can come to us from many sources.
- friends who have made projects
- weekly or monthly publications
- online subscriptions
- random as and when bookshop/craft fair/Expo purchases

If you are lucky enough to be expert on one area you may find you do not need to 'spend' money at all. Your spend will be entirely emotional as you absorb ideas, maybe write them down, take a photo, or get an inspiration.

Some people like to start their own Ideas Book. Make it as special, simple or elaborate as you like. You will want to pick it up and let your mind mull on the ideas inside. Pack it with photos, photos, scribblings, crayoning and fabric swatches etc. It will be a great resource to come back to late. All the great and good designers have one in their bags all the time!

The fashion, home and stationery industries are brimming with ideas. Just keep an eye on the news, gossip and must-have sections of the papers. If you are able to, take inspiration from your favorite artists.

In other words, have those antennae out all the time picking up possible ideas.

-share excellent websites
- recommend quality mags
- show a friend how to make something
- sit in on a class or run one yourself
- sign up for an online craft course

Be open and a sponge and you will find your natural 'seek and find' will draw you towards lots of great craft ideas.

Source : ezinearticles.com

Craft Club - Weekly Crafts to Your Inbox

The Craft Club years ago was a pretty stuffy, dull affair. You would sign up for a monthly book or activity kit and wait for it to arrive by snail mail. The process was simple and the surprise was everything.

There was something exciting about the unknown thudding onto your doormat. Many a coffee was sipped whilst thumbing through the monthly Craft Club offer.

These days we want something more immediate. The Internet feeds our need for instant gratification. We can choose, pay and download in a matter of minutes.

With this amount of choice it is important to choose the kind of Craft Club that meets your interests.

- Do you want to receive something through the mail or will you be equally happy holding something you print off from your P.C.?
- What about delivery options?
- Can you manage to keep up with weekly crafts or would a monthly package give you more time to get things done?

When Book Clubs first came along I was one of the first to sign up to a regular monthly post delivery. You need to weigh up how much value you will get out of your Club. The regular 'deal' may sway you, or you may be tempted by other subscription features.

Whatever it is that gets you to sign up, be sure to give it your full attention. Allow yourself time to devote to your crafts, whether that is reading, playing, or serious making.

Enjoy the anticipation, and the doing. Share your experience with others. Many folk enjoy crafting together. You may like to do the same with your package.

The commitment may help you to devote yourself to time out. A weekly or monthly project could speed up your learning time. And you may well find yourself mastering a chosen technique faster than if you did craft 'when you could'.

I tell myself that my time crafting is not a luxury but a necessity. It keeps me up to date and helps me chill out too. If you need to justify your time out, that is fine too. Make sure you give your time to a Craft Club worthy of you. Check out their details and consider if they sound like people you could put your trust in.

If they make the grade, they are likely to have more that a Craft Club to feed your crafting appetite.

Source : ezinearticles.com