Three Helpful Tips for New Scissor Users

For adults, scissors are just simple tools used to cut things. But to a small child, they represent infinite possibilities. Cutting is one skill that most children are willing to practise with little or no encouragement!

Parents are often apprehensive about letting little ones use scissors. They worry about the safety of the child, as well as the safety of their books, magazines and draperies. And who hasn’t heard (or experienced) a horror story about a toddler giving himself or the dog a unique new haircut? But learning to use scissors is important, and it doesn’t have to be scary.

Here are three tips that will help you make the most of your child’s cutting experiments.

1. Choose the right kind of scissors. The ones that are made completely of plastic might seem safer, but they just don’t work very well. They tend to frustrate young minds, leading them to give up quickly. Blunt-tipped scissors with metal blades are much easier to work with, and they are quite safe.

Keep in mind that small hands need small scissors. Large handles are harder for them to hold on to, and big blades are more difficult for them to control. Scissors made just for kids are essential until they get the hang of things.

2. Find appropriate materials for kids to cut. Newspapers and magazines might seem like a good choice, but they are rather thin for new scissor users. Construction paper and old greeting cards or note cards are much easier for children to cut.

You don’t have to stop with paper, though. There are plenty of other things kids can cut. Thin cardboard boxes are great for scissor practice. Even play dough will work. If you sew, try giving your child some thick fabric scraps to cut.

3. Don’t expect too much too fast. When kids first start out with scissors, it’s important to let them do their own thing for a while. It will get messy, and it’s unlikely that they will cut in straight lines. But giving kids time to learn how to properly hold scissors and see how they work before moving on to the finer points is crucial.

Once your child is cutting fairly well, you can move on to bigger and better things. Let him try his hand at cutting thinner types of paper, and draw some straight lines for him to cut. When he has mastered that, he can start cutting simple shapes.

Learning to use scissors is a big step for a child. It helps develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and cutting in itself is something we all need to know how to do. By providing the right tools and materials and close supervision, we can help our kids learn this important skill and have fun doing it.

How to Make a Thanksgiving or Christmas Napkin and Utensil Holder

During the holidays Crafts Using Pine Cones are very popular as they make very good table decorations. It is not all you can do though and here is a pretty craft that can be used as a holiday centerpiece. It is easy to make and the kids can help you. So, whether you prefer Crafts Using Pine Cones or these pretty utensil holder, the kids will have a ball helping you with them.

How to Make a Thanksgiving or Christmas Napkin and Utensil Holder

An occasion such as the Thanksgiving and Christmas deserves some special table décor. This napkin and utensil holder has Christmas Motif that everyone is sure to love, and provides an attractive and convenient way to store your knives, forks, spoons and napkins.

Supplies

• 4 short cardboard tubes (about the size of bathroom tissue rolls, or slightly longer; but make sure they’re not so long that it will be difficult to remove plastic utensils from them)
• Construction paper in red, green and gold
• Gold chenille stems
• 5 ½ inch square of corrugated cardboard
• 4 plastic milk jug lids
• Craft glue or glue stick
• Gold Glitter
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Cut four strips of green construction paper wide enough to cover 2/3 of a cardboard tube and long enough to wrap around it. Cut four strips of red construction paper wide enough to cover 1/3 of a cardboard tube and wrap around it.

2. Use a thin layer of craft glue or a glue stick to cover each tube with a strip of green construction paper, starting at the bottom. Then glue a strip of red construction paper starting at the top.

3. Draw a star on gold construction paper and cut out. Use the star to trace and cut as many starts as you would like to use

4. Glue the stars onto the rolls, spacing them equally.

5. Glue the glitter onto the rolls, as you wish, you can also use different colors of glitter if you wish

6. Using the hot glue gun, glue a plastic milk jug lid into the bottom with the flat end to the outside.

8. Arrange the tubes on the cardboard two by two, with the ends containing the lids on the cardboard base. Leave an inch or so in between the rows for napkins. Glue the tubes down. Let dry.

9. Using the hot glue gun, glue a piece of gold chenille stem around the top of each tube. Glue gold chenille stems around the edges of the base.

10. Place utensils in each tube, and stand napkins up in the middle for a beautiful and useful Thanksgiving or Christmas centerpiece.

Have fun with this craft or go and have a look at the Crafts Using Pine Cones, making pine cone turkeys for Thanksgiving!

Craft Ideas For Beginners - How to Make a Beachwood Photo Holder

 Here is one of our easy Craft Ideas For Beginners. We all have these holiday photos, why not make the maximum use of them. Place them in your home and bring a little bit of the summer heat into a cold winter day with this, one of our craft ideas for beginners.

A trip to the beach is sure to create some lasting memories. The feel of the sand between your toes, the smell of the ocean and the warm beach sunshine are things that must be experienced to be appreciated. But once your vacation is over, photos can bring those sensations back quickly.

Many beachgoers file their pictures away in a shoebox or photo album somewhere and forget about them. Some place them in cheap frames or pin them up on a bulletin board to enjoy every day. But don’t your treasured beach photos deserve better than that?

This beachwood photo holder will do them justice while serving as a nice decorative touch for any room and that is why it is one of the very good craft ideas for beginners. You can also have a look at beginner scrapbooking as and alternative for all those vacation photos. Do not let them rot in a box somewhere! Use them in this beachwood photo holder or make a lovely dis play in your scrapbook.

To get started, you’ll need a large piece of driftwood found on the beach. It should be fairly flat and have plenty of character.

The other supplies you’ll need include:

• Tacky glue
• Wooden clothespins
• Scrub brush
• Shells, starfish and other beach findings
• Drill
• Piece of strong twine, around a foot long

Instructions

1. Clean your driftwood with the scrub brush. Try to remove all debris while maintaining the original look of the wood.

2. Glue clothespins to the driftwood a few inches apart. Be sure to leave enough room for your photos. Gluing the clothespins at various angles adds a casual and whimsical touch.

3. Arrange embellishments such as seashells, starfish and beach glass as you like on the driftwood. Glue and let dry.

4. With a pencil, lightly mark the horizontal center of the photo holder about a half inch from the top. Then measure and mark 4 inches to the right of the center and 4 inches to the left of the center.

5. Drill holes in the last two spots you marked. Tie one end of the twine through each hole to make a hanger.

Tips

* If you used a heavy piece of wood, you may need something stronger than twine to hold it up. Try straightening out a wire coat hanger, bending it in the middle and hooking it through the holes.

* If you want to preserve the rustic look of the driftwood, it’s best to leave it unpainted. But if you want to make it match your décor, add a coat of paint in a muted color.

* Artistic types could paint a beach scene on the photo holder before adding clothespins and other embellishments. Use your photos for inspiration.

* If you prefer a collage, omit the clothespins. Cut your photos into various shapes and stick them to the driftwood with Mod Podge. Let dry, then cover with another coat of Mod Podge before adding three-dimensional embellishments.

I hope you enjoy this very good example of craft ideas for beginners. For more craft ideas for beginners go to: Beginner Scrapbooking.

Speedball Deluxe Block Printing Kit

Whether you are a professional artist, an amateur artist just getting started or an enthusiast who has been enjoying printing for a while, this Speedball Deluxe Block Printing Kit gives you everything you need to make beautiful and long-lasting prints.

The kit comes with a:

• 4"×5" lino block
• 4"×6" Speedy Stamp
• A lino handle
• #1, #2, #3, #5, and #6 cutters
• 2.5 oz (74 ml) tube of black, water-based block printing ink
• 1.25 oz (37 ml) tubes of water-based block printing ink in colors red, blue, and yellow
• 1.25 oz (37 ml) tube of water-based block printing extender to create transparent color
• 4" soft pop-in brayer
• Dual-purpose bench hook/inking plate
  

Speedball Deluxe Block Printing Kit

Get More Crafts Kits Go To: Silk Painting Kits Jacquard Silk Hoop Painting Fun Bag

Super Duper Art and Craft Activity Book

The Super Duper Art and Craft Activity Book is full of exciting craft activities made from materials found in and around the house. Don’t let boredom get to your children, instead get them involved in these 75 messy and not so messy activities.

The Sunny Day Fun projects include a summer birdhouse, twig doll, rock zoo, nature’s leaf, doodle table, sand dough, sand castings, mysterious masks and more. The other chapters of the book include Rainy Day Fun projects, Recycle It and Party and Gift Activities.

Friendship bracelets, personal pillowcases, funny photo box, scented soaps, mummy’s tomb, spoon puppets, rag dolls, wind chimes, paper quilt placemats, floating boats, mini snowstorm, pom-pom pipecleaner creations, squiggle art and more – the projects are exciting and easy to follow with the step-by-step instructions and illustrations. The materials needed can easily be found in and around the house so kids will discover how to re-use recycled household items like egg cartons and natural materials, including bark, rocks and sand..

This Super Duper Art and Craft Activity Book is designed for kids of all ages and will show them how to have fun making things on their own or together with friends.

Discovering Great Artists: Hands-on Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters

Discovering Great Artists: Hands-on Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters

If you and your children love art and want to learn more about artists from past centuries, this is a must-have book for you.

This detailed book informs you about many well-known and not so well-known artists. It is divided into four chapters. The first chapter is entitled “Renaissance & Post-Renaissance” and covers the artists of that era as well as their painting techniques and the materials they used. Each page introduces a different artist with a short biography, a sketch of the artist and ideas on how to recreate his painting style and technique.

Chapter 2 is about the Impressionists & Post-Impressionists, and Chapter 3 about the Expressionists & Surrealists. In Chapter 4 you will learn about Modern & Folk Art.

From Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Picasso, and Degas to Dali, Lichtenstein and O’Keefe – there is lots to learn about these famous artists and their individual painting styles. This book is not only for children but also for their parents – an exploration of art not to be missed!

Good News! You can get even more easy Beginners Crafts When you visit: Fimo Clay Ideas !

Discovering Great Artists: Hands-on Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters

Holiday Crafts - How to Make Festive Indian Corn Napkin Rings

 Holiday Crafts - How to Make Festive Indian Corn Napkin Rings

Holiday Crafts making something for the dinner table is always popular. These Festive Indian Corn Napkin Rings will really make your table look festive!

Autumn is a beautiful and colorful time of year. Fall flowers, the changing leaves, and seasonal crops all contribute to the vibrant colors of nature. These items provide the inspiration for a variety of crafts.

One of the most interesting of fall crops is Indian corn. Unlike most corn, its kernels come in lots of different colors. This makes it a welcome addition to cornucopias and other fall centerpieces. But you don't have to have the real thing to incorporate its unique look into your Thanksgiving table decorations. These napkin rings bear a striking resemblance to Indian corn, and they are easy and inexpensive to make.

What You Need

• Construction paper (ideally orange, brown or another fall color, but any color will work)
• Pencil with an eraser
• Scissors
• Tissue paper in yellow, orange and burgundy
• White craft glue
  

Instructions

1. Place a piece of construction paper lengthwise. Draw a line about 1 ½ inches from the top to make a strip. Cut out.

2. Cut the strip in half.

3. Cut a piece of each color of tissue paper into 1-inch squares.

4. Spread a thin layer of the white craft glue over a 1-inch section of the construction paper strip.

5. Twist a square of the yellow tissue paper around the eraser end of the pencil. Push the twisted paper down onto the top corner of the glued section, and carefully remove the pencil.

6. Repeat step 5 with another piece of yellow construction paper placed next to the first one, and then with a piece of orange or burgundy tissue paper. Continue using two or three yellow pieces followed by an orange or burgundy piece until the glued area is completely covered.

7. Cover another 1-inch section of the construction paper strip with a thin layer of craft glue, and continue adding pieces of twisted tissue paper. Repeat until all but ½ inch of the strip is covered.

8. Bend the strip into a circular shape, with the tissue paper on the outside. Glue the ends together. Let dry completely before using.

Tips

* Each strip of construction paper makes two napkin rings. You should be able to make enough for all of your guests with a piece or two of construction paper.

* For best results, store the napkin rings empty and lying on their side until ready to use. This will keep the tissue paper from getting flattened.

* Be sure to roll napkins tightly so that they will fit easily into the napkin rings. If the glue does not hold, and you don't have time to glue them and let them dry again, try stapling the ends together.

Holiday Crafts really get everyone in the mood for the Holidays. Enjoy these Corn Rings!

Thanksgiving Arts And Crafts To Make - Make a Thankful Tree with Handprint Leaves

On Thanksgiving, we get the family together for a big, delicious dinner. We remember old times, and catch up on what's currently going on in everyone's lives. And, if we stick with tradition, we take time to reflect on the things we're thankful for.

Unfortunately, the idea of giving thanks is often forgotten during the holiday festivities. But there are ways we can encourage our children (and other children in the family) to think about the good things in their lives. This, one of our easy Thanksgiving Arts And Crafts To Make, the “thankful tree” craft works nicely, and it's also fun to make. Here's how to do it.

What You Need

• Brown kraft paper
• Construction paper in orange, red, yellow and brown
• Pencil
• Crayons, markers or pen
• Scissors
• Cork bulletin board
• Thumbtacks or stapler with staples

Instructions

1. Using the pencil, draw a tree trunk with branches on the brown kraft paper. Make it large enough to fill up most of the bulletin board. Cut out and tack or staple to the bulletin board.

2. Have a child trace his or her hand onto a piece of the construction paper and cut it out.

3. Have the child use a marker, crayon or pen to write his or her name on the handprint, as well as something he or she is thankful for. When finished, tack or staple the “leaf” onto the tree trunk.

4. Ask each child to make a leaf, or more than one if so desired. Arrange the leaves on the tree so that it is evenly covered.

Tips

• If you don't have a bulletin board, you could attach your thankful tree to a door or wall. If doing so, use thumbtacks for best results.
• Adults can participate as well, but their handprints may be too large if you're using a small bulletin board. To remedy this, you could simply cut smaller leaf shapes and have them ready for your guests to write on when they arrive.
• If you don't have enough handprints to cover your tree, have children make leaf rubbings by placing a leaf under a plain white piece of paper and rubbing the side of the crayon over it. Cut them out and add them to the tree to fill in the empty spaces.
• Want a more authentic-looking tree? Place a small tree branch into a flowerpot and fill with sand, marbles or rocks so that it stands up straight. Use a hole punch to make holes in the handprint leaves and tie them to the branch with string or twine, letting them hang down a bit. You could even add a string of white miniature holiday lights if you like. This makes a lovely centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table!

This craft, one of our Thanksgiving Arts And Crafts To Make, will bring delight to everyone taking part. 

Pottery Tool Kit

The tools in the Pottery Tool Kit are essential for potters, whether beginner or more advanced. The tools allow you to shape and mold clay, to add detail and texture to clay and any other soft surface, including plasticene, playdough or even papier mache.

The eight basic tools of the Pottery Tool Kit include:

• Loop tool
• Ribbon tool
• Potter’s rib
• Needle tool
• Wood modeling tool
• Sponge scraper
• Wire clay cutter

The loop tool is essential to trim and refine the shape of your clay sculpture. The ribbon tool has a sharp edge that allows the clay to be cut, shaped and sliced. The needle tool is used to make holes and designs. The differently shaped ends of the basic tools make exciting designs and marks on your pieces of clay art and allow you to create beautiful pieces of pottery.

Have a look at The Pottery Toolkit

Activity Kit Deluxe Pottery Wheel Workshop

There are plenty of benefits to children working with clay. It enhances children’s development and learning, and it improves their dexterity as it uses and strengthens the various muscles in their fingers and hands. It also stimulates their imagination and increases their focus.

The Activity Kit Deluxe Pottery Wheel Workshop allows young children to experiment safely with a pottery wheel. The pottery wheel runs on 4 “D” batteries or an AC adapter, which need to be bought separately. The pottery wheel motor has adjustable speed which is controlled with a foot pedal. The included 2 lbs of clay does not need any baking and air dries.

The activity workshop also comes with a paintbrush, a sponge, 2 sculpting tools, a non-toxic paint and glaze kit, jewel-like decorations, cutting string and an instruction booklet.

See the pride on your children’s faces after they have created permanent pieces of art, like cups, bowls or vases. Your child’s self-esteem will soar, and, even more importantly, they’ll have lots of fun and enjoyment.so, give the Activity Kit Deluxe pottery Wheel Workshop a look!