Summertime Craft Ideas

Spring and summer come and everyone starts opening their doors and windows, bringing in the fresh air. Tree leaves are full and flower blooms abound; birds are singing, building nests and taking care of their chicks. I am drawn outdoors by the lure of warmer days and the call of the dirt and new sprouts. Not to mention, as a mom, the kids are clamoring for more room to play. It’s a perfect time to pull out some fun out door family crafts.

Here are a few, easy to personalize, summertime craft ideas for summer fun or to celebrate May Day, Mother’s Day or a holiday weekend. All craft supplies are easily attainable from craft supply stores or online suppliers. While making these crafts is a fun family activity, some are available in pre-assembled kits, or already made. Use your favorite search engine for more information on various ideas – keyword suggestions are offered below craft each idea.

1. Terra cotta clay pot bird bath. Invert terra cotta clay pots, from larger on bottom and smallest on top. Add a clay saucer (the part the pot sits in to catch the drained water). A waterproof saucer is necessary. Set the clay saucer on top of the inverted stack of pots. Paint or mosaic the pots if you feel especially creative. For more bird fun, add a mister. Birds love to play in the water. Note: Make two similar stands and use one for a bird feeder.

Keywords: clay pot bird bath; clay pot bird feeder; terra cotta bird bath.

2. Plant and grow an herb garden. Include herbs such as basil, thyme, sage, chives and any other favorites. You’ll have fresh herbs to add to your recipes all summer long. Herbs are easy to grow, making this an easy garden for kids to help. Take it one step further and create a “kitchen garden”, including lettuce spinach, tomato, cucumber or other salad favorites.

Keywords: growing herbs; kitchen garden; easy herb gardening; gardening plans; container gardening.

3. Build a toad abode (toad house). Use a terra cotta pot and a rock. Invert a clay pot and prop edge on a rock. If you have a chipped pot, that would work great too and wouldn’t require propping. Paint and decorate to your liking.

Keywords: clay toad abode; toad house; frog house.

4. A handmade stepping stone. Personalize with stones, marbles, or other memorable items. Make the project a tradition. Mark the stone with the year and include items to remember the year; a key (house or car), a toy, etc. A footprint each year could signify the walk of life and would be fun for young children to mark their growth from summer to summer.

Keywords: stepping stone craft; handmade stepping stones; stepping stone kits.

5. Personalized necklaces. Letter beads (for names or initials), a few spacer beads, a charm or two added to a simple chain makes a lovely, personal necklace for any mom or grandmother. For fun, make matching necklaces one for mom, grandmother, and daughters.

Keywords: personalized mother’s necklace.

6. Bookmarks make a great craft for rainy days. Get creative – use paper, dried flowers, ribbons, needlepoint thread. Use beads and charms attached to chain or yarn to create a “book thong”.

Keywords: handmade bookmarks; handmade book thong.

7. A decorated throw pillow. A pre-made throw pillow with light colored fabric, decorated with fabric paint. Fabric glue will easily adhere buttons and other small mementos. Start from scratch and decorate your fabric before making a pillow – tie-dye, iron-on colored pictures made with fabric crayons or reverse dying using a darker fabric and bleach provide many creative ways to decorate any pillow or piece of fabric. Another variation would be decorating pillow cases.

Keywords: handmade throw pillow; throw pillow craft; decorative pillow craft; fabric crayons; iron-on transfers.

8. A tie-dye party is fun for family or a gathering of extended family and friends. Supplies are readily available online coming in easy kits.

Keywords: tie dye supplies; reverse dying.

When doing a search, try searching images also. Often time pictures of an already made item will spark some creative thoughts.

Judi Cox is a wife and mother of 4 children. Her hobbies include, but are ever growing, making handmade soap, gardening, crafts, web design, reading...

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judi_Cox

The Perception of 'Craft'

Last Sunday I found myself relaxing in the living room as I surfed the internet while my husband flipped channels on our seldom-watched television. After what seemed an eternity of switching from fishing shows to hunting shows, he finally settled on Antiques Roadshow on PBS . The objects took us on a journey through the past, introducing us to a wide array of pottery, woodworking, sculpture, glass blowing and other crafts. The announcer then informed us that the item they would be examining next would be the highest appraisal of any item shown on Antiques Roadshow. I'm sure you can imagine my surprise when, as they returned from a commercial break, I was greeted with the site of an elderly gentleman standing next to what appeared to be a rather innocuous blanket.

As I listened to the history of the yellow threads that were woven into the heirloom, I knew that he did indeed have a treasure on his hands; a Ute-style blanket made by a Navajo Indian with such skill that the tightly woven threads were actually water proof, rumored to have been a gift to a family member from Kit Carson . The amazing example of craftsmanship gave me pause, bringing my mind to a discussion that I have encountered in various forms across the crafting community.

There was a time when the term 'craft' referred to a highly skilled trade. Now, it seems to evoke memories of being small and working diligently to glue popsicle sticks together and coat them with glitter to make a picture frame for mom. When did this subtle mental perception change; how did we as a society lose our respect for the word 'craft'?

In order to understand the change in society's opinion, we must look to this history of arts and crafts. The term 'arts and crafts' comprises an entire lot of activities and hobbies that share one common denominator- the items are made by hand, with the quality of the final piece relying on the knowledge, experience and skill the crafter applies to the design. Handmade items can further be catagorized by seperating them into two groups: traditional crafts (that are created in the same way they have been for hundreds of years) and modern crafts, which tend to be variations on traditional crafts.

Traditional crafts were typically produced in very small geographic areas and were often based on necessity. For example, a young child who lived in rural America might have been apprenticed to a glassblower, a master craftsman who would teach the child the art of making glass items that were often used in the homes surrounding his shop. Over the years, the master craftsman would impart knowledge to the apprentice, who would spend years refining his techniques and eventually be ready to set up a shop of his own, earning a living off the skills he had aquired. Activities such as woodworking, glassblowing, metalsmithing, dressmaking and even the manufacture of pottery became known as 'crafts' because they were a profession.

In the last part of the 18th century America experienced an industrial revolution that began to alter the way everyday items were manufactured. The number of factories began to increase, leading the way to the mechanisation of the production process. Over time, this gradually reduced or even eliminated the role of the professional craftsman, relegating the term to the few who continued to practiced their age old art out of either necessity or defiance. Additionaly, items traditionally made by each family (such as soaps, clothing and toys) became the provenance of the assembly line.

The far-reaching fingers of the Industrial Revolution affected every aspect of society. It was a time that took a greater toll on the everyday life of a family than nearly any other; a toll that was immediatly recognized by those who were not making profits from the machines. As noted in Observations on the Loss of Woollen Spinning, (c) 1794 , " But from the establishment of the Spinning Machines in many Counties where I was last Summer, no Hand Work could be had, the consequence of which is the whole maintenance of the family devolves on the father, and instead of six or seven shillings a week, which a wife and four children could add by their wheels, his weekly pay is all they have to depend upon…"

As the years continued to pass, more and more items were purchased instead of being made. As the public turned to the manufacturers for their supplies, the cost of those goods continued to rise. Eventually, women began to leave the home in search of ways to bring additional income into the household. Still the wave of 'progress' continued, and with the changes in society the changes in the family nucleus was affected; the commercialization of our society has gone so far as to have many families rely on fast food restaurants instead of cooking their on meals. In the majority of families,the art of crafts was only continued as a hobby by the very young or the elderly.

It is said that in history, all things must come full circle. This idiom appears to be true of the crafts industry as well. Instead of subscribing to the breakdown of the family and accepting the mass produced society in which they live, a new generation of crafters has emerged and begun a craft revolution.

Mixing the commercial aspects of crafting with a unique personal and social belief system, what was once considered the work of experts in a profession, then relgated to hobbyists or old women is becoming popular once again. Items are now being widely produced and marketed that are not only fine examples of handmade artistry, but also shining beacons of hope that express idividualism, conservation, sustainability and social responsibility.

These 'unofficial' revolutionaries are armed with some unusual weapons ranging from knitting needles to embroidery hoops and are amassing in a community near you. They're found at gatherings such as Stitch 'N Bitch and are seen on the subway reading their slightly mangled copy of Super Crafty: Saving the World From Mass Production. Their battle cry rings in even the most uninitiated soul, "Self-sufficiency is the key to happiness."

Historians and socialists will continue to debate the origin of this wildfire trend towards the more traditional, but the true enlightenment does not lie with the origin. Where this movement will go in the future is of much greater significance . Will the crafters and designers of the new generation be able to restore the word 'craft' to it's previous glory? Will the changes they are bringing about in their own small groups spread to encompass all of the communities spanning the globe? Only time will tell.

Until then, perhaps we should each choose a path to follow; a path that expresses our own individuality. For some the best path is to sit back and enjoy the journey that these crafters are embarking upon. For others, the call will be strong to pick up their scissors and join in. But everyone will know that, while the products are amazing, the true benefits will not only be the satisfaction of knowing you are working towards a noble goal, but also the knowledge that, generations from now, there will be something other than Happy Meal™ toys on Antiques Roadshow.

The term Happy Meal is owned by the McDonald's Corporation

Tamara Dourney is a mother, owner of Natural Magic Soaps (http://www.naturalmagicsoaps.com) and Editor of Craft Revoution (http://www.craftrevolution.com), an online magazine dedicated to restoring the awareness and appreciation of crafts in today's world by promoting them, and the talented people who create them, as high-value, desirable alternatives to the offerings of big-box stores.

Craft Supplies On A Budget

When times get tough our hobbies are generally first to suffer the cutbacks. The list below has just a few ideas to help you save money on craft supplies and you may also find yourself a new creative burst by trying them. Crafts don’t always have to be so expensive and it is fun to improvise.
 

Paper and card
 

Newspaper offcuts: A great place to get plain paper, particularly for kids crafts and drawing is a newspaper office. Our local newspaper has always had huge rolls of plain white paper available for around $10 - $15, that is a roll that is over a metre wide and 30cm in diameter. I believe it was over 100 metres of paper, well my daughter has had the same roll for over 5 years. It isn’t great quality but it has tons of uses like as a drop sheet for other projects, making patterns for sewing.
Scrapbooking paper and card: If you are finding the scrapbook stores too expensive try looking in newsagents, office supply stores and department stores for paper and card. They may not have the same range and quality but you may find something to help your supply of better paper last longer.
 

Op shops and flea markets
 

Fabric and wool: Second hand clothes found in opportunity shops and flea markets can often be a great source of fabric when you don’t need large amounts. Even when clothes are fairly old there are generally parts that are not faded or worn.
Used knitwear is great for small amounts of wool for wool crafts.
Leather: Look out for old handbags, belts and leather jackets for leather scraps and fittings.
Beading: Op-shops often have old jewelry, which can be reused for findings, beads and pendants.
Buttons, zips and buckles: All types of sewing notions can be found in opshops, the biggest consideration is will be able to be removed easily.
Bears and dolls: Bits and pieces for dolls and bears could be found in opshop toys.
 

Mosaic
Second hand stores and garage sales are often a great source of plates that can be broken for use in mosaics.
 

Nature
Mother Nature has an endless bounty of craft supplies for free. Plus you get fresh air and exercise while you are beach combing, walking or fossicking. Shells, sand, driftwood, seedpods, pebbles, leaves and grasses are but a few things that can be used in many crafts.
 

Wood
Sometimes small timber stores or hardware shops have a bin of offcuts that could fit many uses. Salvage yards and secondhand stores can be another source of wood and old furniture that may be able to be recycled too.
 

Making your own
Some of the things we use in crafts can be made instead of purchased. For example decent paper glue can be made with cornflour, beads can be made with salt dough and there are ways to make stencils and stamps yourself too.

Narelle Davison comes from a craft background but changed careers to marketing and web development. She has created the Australian arts and craft site, Aussie Crafts, to provide information and promotion for craftspeople through interviews, articles, forum and directory. If you are an Australian craftsperson and would like to be interviewed (and get free publicity and links) please visit http://www.aussiecrafts.com.au/interviews.html This article can be republished if the byline links are kept intact.

Craft Project

The internet is a wonderful resource for finding ideas for craft projects. Whether you're looking for holiday craft projects, kids craft projects or just craft projects that will give you something to do on a rainy day- the internet has ideas to get you started.

Craft projects take many shapes and varieties. You can make your own soap, create candles of different shapes, sizes and textures, create your own jewelry, make a quilt or sock puppet, design a memory album or make greeting cards to send to friends and family.

Some craft projects can be completed in a matter of minutes, and are just a fun activity to do with the kids or on your own. Other craft projects can take a day or two, a few weeks- or even longer! It all depends on the amount of work the project requires, whether paint or glue needs to dry in between stages, and how long you're able to work on your craft projects in one sitting.

Quick Craft Projects

If you have an hour or so, you can do many different quick craft projects! If crafting gives you a release from the stress of daily life, try to fit in an hour or so a day of crafting. Here are some ideas of craft projects you can do in about an hour:

• create a scrapbook page
• greeting cards
• candles
• soap
• hair scrunchies
• paper dolls & clothing

Longer Craft Projects

If you like to work on craft projects over a long time period, you would enjoy creating more detailed crafts. When the inspiration strikes you, you can sit down to your craft projects and create- and when it's time to stop, you can just put it away until the next time you can work on it! Here are some ideas of craft projects that you can work on long term:

• quilting
• crocheting
• complete memory albums
• wood crafts
• jewelry
• stenciling
• clay objects

Craft projects make wonderful gift items, since they are handmade and come from the heart. People love to receive craft projects as it lets them know you care about them enough to spend time on creating the item for them. You can prepare for the gift giving holidays all year by crafting and saving your craft projects to give away as gifts to family and friends.

If you run out of ideas for craft projects to work on, you can look through a magazine or surf the web. There is always something you can craft.

Warren and Karen have been involved in the internet for a number of years and run several websites. They are most interested in providing opportunities for people to connect with information relating to business, health and creativity. Check out their Craft Project blog for more information.