| ISSUE 99 • 26 SEPTEMBER 2011 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
|
| 1.
Editorial Hello and welcome to another issue of Kids Craft Weekly! Thanks so much to everyone who got in touch after the last issue to say hello and to welcome me back! I was particularly pleased to hear that so many of you enjoyed the Craft-Along pack that I made available to subscribers in the last issue. I love to receive your emails, and though I don't often have the time to respond personally, I can assure you that I read through every single one of them and get a huge amount of pleasure from your kind words. In this issue we take a look at the popular theme of shapes. These craft ideas are designed to be both fun and educational, regardless of how old your children are. Young crafters will get a kick out of learning and recognising basic shapes like circles and squares. Older kids can be challenged to adapt these ideas for more complex shapes like parallelograms or dodecagons! I hope you all enjoy these ideas. As always, happy crafting and I'll see you next time!  Amber Carvan editor@kidscraftweekly.com |
Kids as young as two will enjoy making these fun prints, slightly older ones will enjoy being challeged to name the shapes. Kids aged five and over can have a go at mixing up the shapes to make different objects like a house, car or tower. You will need • a toilet paper roll • a matchbox • a toblerone chocolate bar • a toothpaste box • a paper cup • acrylic paint • paper Directions 1. Make a cup of tea and eat your toblerone chocolate bar while the kids are asleep. Save the triangular prism cardboard packaging for making shape prints the following day! 2. Collect together some more different shaped cardboard boxes and cut any extraneous flaps of cardboard off them so that they will make a nice clean outline.  3. Pour large globs of paint onto a tray or some cardboard and stand up each of your cardboard stamps in a different glob of paint.  4. Use as stamps on colourful paper.  Here are Arky's efforts. You'll notice they're really very restrained - except when it came to the Toblerone. He's much like his mother in that respect :) 
This is a entertaining and novel way to make prints with young kids. The end result can be variable but the little ones love the process and it's a great way to whip up vast quantities of wrapping paper. You will need • a think dishwashing sponge • a cardboard roll, the best kind come from cling wrap or aluminium foil • rubber bands • acrylic paint • large sheets of paper • scissors Directions 1. Cut simple shapes from a sponge.  2. Attach them onto a strong cardboard roll using rubber bands. Make sure you leave at least an inch on either side of the roll so that you have somewhere to put your hands while rolling.  3. Roll the roller into a puddle of paint, then roll across a large piece of paper. Watch out for the paper sticking to the roller. If necessary, tape the paper down to the table. 
These glitter shapes are one of the most popular crafts we've ever done! We haven't had a go at them since we made Christmas cards last year so I figured it was a good time for a quick recap. Ella squealed with delight when she saw the glue and the glitter! You will need • white glue • plastic containers • cookie cutters • fine glitter • black paper or cardboard Directions 1. Pour glue into a small container or tray until the glue is about three millimetres deep. before you start pouring, make sure that your container is large enough to accommodate the cookie cutters.  2. Dip a cookie cutter in glue and then use it to make a glue print on the paper. For best results, leave the cutter in place on the paper for about three seconds to allow for the glue to drip down around the outline of the shape.  3. Sprinkle different colours of glitter on top of the glue prints, making sure to cover all of the glue marks.  4. Finally, shake the glitter off into a tray and allow the shimmery shapes to dry. 
This simple game is heaps of fun. It's also a great way to help kids learn shapes and colours and to exercise their memory and concentration. With minimal supplies required, this activity is a good one to keep up your sleeve for a rainy day. You will need • paper cups • glue • stickers, foam shapes, bits and bobs (or coloured markers) Directions 1. Collect ten identical paper cups, then use stickers or bits and bobs to make several different sets of two shapes on the bottom of the cups. For example, two circles, two triangles, two squares, two hearts and two stars.  2. To play the game, each person selects two cups and turn them upside down to reveal the shape inside. If the shapes don't match the cups are put back down to their original position and the next player selects two cups to lift up.  3. When cups are matched, they are removed from the line or grid. Each player must aim to collect as many matching cups as possible. 
Create a home made shape sorter Select objects from around the home that have a distinctive shape. Place them on the top of a cardboard box and use a marker to trace around the object. Carefully cut out the shape and voila! Your very own shape sorter! Make some outdoor chalk tracings Feel like a chage of scenery? Collect together some household objects in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Then head outdoors and have fun tracing the outlines onto a paved areas or footpath using coloured chalk. Put together your own shape chart Use your fabulous Kids Craft Weekly shape prints to put together a shape chart. One panel for circles, one for squares and so on. Perfect for the bedroom wall! |
 For
a regular dose of inspiring craft ideas and fun activities subscribe to
my free email newsletter. Please note that my privacy
policy ensures that your email address will not be given to
anyone, ever.
|
