| ISSUE 50 • 3 MAY 2008 | |
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Editorial – Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots I have an alarming tendency to buy books based on the title or cover illustration. It's really silly, I know, but in some cases it really pays off. Such was the case with Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots  by Sharon
Lovejoy – a book that I bought
purely on a whim but which has turned out to be one of my all-time
favourites.This book is a treasury trove of gardening ideas for grownups and kids alike – the projects are designed to 'cultivate wonder' and to 'connect children to nature through gardening.' They certainly succeed in this. One of my favourite projects is 'the pizza garden' – a round garden divided into eight wedge-shaped beds. In each of the wedge beds you grow something delicious that can be put on top of a pizza such as cherry tomatoes, onions, zucchinis, basil etc. Isn't that great! I think that would work really well for a school or daycare centre. Another of my favourites is the section on growing a cubby house from giant sunflowers! The book contains maps and plans and everything you need to know before you begin. You can also learn how to grow a flowery maze, make a moon garden, a natural medicine garden and more! You and your family will get a lot from Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots
regardless of your level of gardening experience. Beginners like me will find it
enlightening and more experienced gardeners will find it inspiring. My
only gripe is that the resource list and some of the practical
information is written for the United States which is a shame for us
antipodeans.Book giveaway! Along with The Creative Family , Roots,
Shoots, Buckets and Boots has
been added to my list of favourite crafting books which can be found on the front page of the Kids Craft Weekly website. For the chance to win the book of your choice from my favourites list upload a photograph to the brand new Kids Craft Weekly photo pool on Flickr. The pool allows you to join the Kids Craft Weekly group and to post photos of your Kids Craft Weekly endeavours. I will be selecting the winning photo on May 17 and announcing the winner in the next newsletter. Happy crafting and I'll see you next time!  Amber Carvan editor@kidscraftweekly.com |
In Australia, cupcake and muffin cases are known as patty pans. These easy patty pan flowers make a perfect project for very young crafters. You will need • patty pans (cupcake or muffin cases) • cotton wool balls • pipecleaners • scissors • glue • sticky tape • polystyrene (or a potato) Directions 1. Using child-friendly scissors, chop into the edges of the patty pan.  2. Tape a pipe cleaner to the back.  3. Glue a cotton ball to the centre.  4. And there you have it! If you want you can stab the pipecleaner stems into a piece of polystyrene to make a flower bed. If you don't have any, a potato will work just as effectively! 
Ella was home from school this week due to illness and she helped me to come up with this new patty pan flower craft! These colourful buds are taking pride of place on our mantelpiece. You will need • colourful patty pans (cupcake or muffin cases) • stapler • pipeleaners • beads Directions 1. Take three different coloured patty pans and flatten them out.  2. Place them one on top of the other – they don't have to be completely even. In fact, if they're a bit higgledy piggledy that's good.  3. Fold them in half, then roll into and cone and staple.  4. Thread a pipecleaner through the middle and add beads to make the stamen.  5. And ta-da! 
These blossoms are easy to make – younger kids with good fine motor skills should be able to manage quite easily. Expect some seriously gluey fingers though! You will need • pink and white crepe/tissue paper • scissors • twigs • kids pvc glue Directions 1. Prepare a puddle of white glue and cut crepe or tissue paper into small pieces.  2. Scrunch a piece of paper into a small tight ball. Dip it in glue and stick it to your twig. Keep going until your stick is in full bloom.  3. Allow to dry and there you have it!  Variation: Use yellow crepe paper to make wattle!
These lovely flowers remind me of poppies. Use bold and contrasting colours to make them really spectacular. You will need • different colours of tissue paper • scissors • pipecleaners • beads Directions 1. Cut out some tissue paper circles. We used contrasting shades of pink and three different sized circles to trace around.  2. Place three circles on top of each other.  3. Pierce through the centre with a pipecleaner. Thread on a bead and then fold the pipecleaner back around and wind it around itself to protect your little ones from any sharp ends.  4. Then scrunch! 
Revealing the loopy flower at the end of this craft will seem like magic for a four year old! You will need • coloured paper • hand hole punch • split pins (brads) • cardboard • scissors Directions 1. Cut some coloured paper into strips.  2. Stack then all together in one neat pile, bend them over (without folding) and punch a hole through the end.  3. Punch a hole in the centre of a cardboard wrist band and attach the two pieces together with a split pin.  4. Carefully splay out the strips of coloured paper to make a flower.  5. Tape or staple the wrist band to make a flower bracelet, modelled here for you by my ragamuffin son. 
Heres a great gift idea for someone special! Use a paper cup to make a flower pot for your favourite flower. You will need • a small paper cup • card • scissors • glue • paint • split peas, lentils, dried beans or decorative rocks Directions 1. Cut two long rectangles from card and fold each of the rectangles in four, lengthwise.  2. Stick the rectangles of card to the sides of the cup to make handles.  3. Paint and decorate your pot as you wish. Then stand your chosen flower or flowers in the middle and fill the cup with spilt peas, dried lentils, decorative rocks or anything else that is going to keep your flowers upright.  |
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