Catherine Woram - What Shall We Do Today?: 60 creative crafting projects for kids

what shall we do today? with projects by Catherine Woram LONDON NEWYORK Designer Iona Hoyle Commissioning editor Annabel Morgan Picture research Emily Westlake Production Hazel Kirkman Art director Leslie Harrington Publishing director Alison Starling Stylist Catherine Woram First published in the United States in 2009 by Ryland Peters and Small, Inc 519 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, NY 10012 www.rylandpeters.com 10 9 8 Text, design and photographs Ryland Peters & Small 2009, except the recipes on , which are both copyright Linda Collister 2009 All the projects in this book are by Catherine Woram, except the recipes on , which are both by Linda Collister. The projects in this book have been published previously by Ryland Peters & Small in Baking with Kids, Christmas Crafting with Kids, Cooking with Kids, Crafting with Kids and Gardening with Kids. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any formor by any means, electronic,mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, apart fromthe templates on for personal use only. eISBN: 978-1-84975-404-0 ISBN: 978-1-84597-887-7 Printed and bound in China For digital editions visit rylandpeters.com/apps.php contents . . If you have kids, youll know that they love pottering around with paint, scissors, and glue. If you have kids, youll know that they love pottering around with paint, scissors, and glue.

As well as providing an outlet for their creativity, crafting has educational benefits too. Modeling, cutting, and painting will help develop hand-eye coordination, while learning to follow simple instructions is an important skill. And craft activities keep kids occupied and happy without having to resort to the TV or computer screen. What Shall We Do Today? is packed with projects especially designed to appeal to children aged between 3 and 10 years. The book is arranged by season, and each section is full of ideas for crafting activities. There are suggestions for handmade gifts, things to grow, and pretty decorations to makeabsorbing projects that will keep kids entertained on long summer days and rainy afternoons alike.

Theres something for everyone modeling, papier mch, tie-dye, and much, much more. And each project is accompanied by step-by-step photographs that simplify the technique and make the project foolproof. If your kids are keen crafters, its a good idea to put together a craft cupboard. Stock it with basic crafting materialsglue, adhesive tape, paper and card, pencils and paintand add scraps of gift wrap or fabric, bits of ribbon, paper doilies, glitter pens, and so on. Then, when your kids want to get crafting, theyll have everything they need ready at hand. This three-dimensional Valentines Day card features hearts cut from decorative handmade paper.

Tissue paper and paper doilies would also make pretty hearts for the card. Use pinking shears and decorative scissors (available from craft stores) to cut the paper, and finish with a ribbon bow. 1 DRAW HEARTS For the card, you need three heart shapes in decreasing sizes. Fold three pieces of decorative paper in half and press the crease flat. Draw half a heart shape in three different sizes onto each folded piece of decorative paper. Alternatively, you could trace the heart templates on onto paper and cut them out.

Place the templates on your chosen paper and draw round them before cutting them out. 2 CUT OUT HEARTS Use the decorative cutting scissors or pinking shears to cut all the way around the edges of the heart motif, and then open it out flat. Cut out two smaller heart shapes in the same way. If you wish, you can cut out more hearts in graduating sizes to make an even more decorative card. 3 LAYER HEARTS Apply a line of glue down the center of the back of the largest heart, stick to the middle of the card and press flat. Apply glue to the center back of the smaller heart and glue to the first heart shape on the card.

Apply the smallest heart in the same way. Allow the glue to dry. WHAT YOU WILL NEED selection of decorative paper (scraps of wrapping paper are ideal) blank greeting cards (or pieces of card stock folded in half) pinking shears or other decorative cutting scissors glue ribbon for bows pencil plain paper for template (if using) 4 FINISHING Using sheer organza or velvet ribbon, cut a bow and trim the ends diagonally to prevent the ribbon fraying. Apply a small dot of glue to the central knot of the bow and stick to the heart. Leave to dry. This dainty decorated bowl is perfect for a Mothers Day gift. This dainty decorated bowl is perfect for a Mothers Day gift.