| While many parents are daunted by the | | | | and inks. If you are not the adventurous |
| idea of tackling craft projects alone | | | | sort, you might look for craft |
| with their kids, with little effort, | | | | directions that include patterns or |
| even the least creative parent will find | | | | pictures you can cut out for |
| crafting to be an easy, relaxing | | | | reference.Style and Blow Dry |
| activity. With a few materials from | | | | Allowing an item to dry naturally is a |
| around the home and some basic supplies, | | | | perfect time for taking a break from |
| you too will be producing quick and easy | | | | crafting, but if you are under time |
| crafts with your kids. By keeping these | | | | constraints, such as at a birthday party |
| few simple tips in mind, you can | | | | or scout meeting, use blow dryers to |
| literally create countless crafts with | | | | speed up the drying of paint or glue. |
| your children without having to break a | | | | Craft projects will dry in a fraction of |
| sweat or make a mess.Keep it Simple | | | | the time with applied air and heat, and |
| Toy and craft stores sell fancy, | | | | usually drying to the touch will suffice |
| expensive crafting materials and kits. | | | | for moving on to the next step of a |
| While these can be fun and shouldn't be | | | | project.Keep it Clean |
| overlooked, they aren't necessary for | | | | By far one of the most frustrating |
| creative, fun projects. Construction | | | | aspects that keeps parents from crafting |
| paper, glue, scissors, scrap fabric, | | | | is the potential mess. Mess can be |
| non-toxic paints, crayons, and markers | | | | minimized by always remembering to |
| are sufficient for thousands of | | | | protect your crafting surfaces |
| potential crafts, especially when | | | | generously with newspaper. When you are |
| combined with discarded household items | | | | done crafting, just pick up, and toss. |
| or backyard treasures.Recycle and Reuse | | | | Using water-based paints, inks, and |
| Save empty milk jugs, paper towel | | | | glues will make washing a snap, and |
| rolls, bottle caps, old wrapping paper | | | | manufacturers produce plenty of easily |
| and greeting cards, and other various | | | | washable markers, paints, and other |
| boxes and containers for crafts. A | | | | materials commercially. And if you are |
| plastic storage bin or large cardboard | | | | following the advice of being selective, |
| box can make a perfect storage | | | | you can always reject projects that |
| receptacle for these items, which can be | | | | include mess if clean-up is not in the |
| saved for a rainy day craft. Not only | | | | cards. Origami, pipe-cleaner sculpting, |
| are these items ideal craft materials, | | | | and watercolors are a few examples of |
| but crafting with these items will teach | | | | low or no-mess crafts.Have Fun |
| your kids about the importance of | | | | Remember, crafting with your kids is |
| recycling and reuse in a very tangible | | | | about exploring creativity and having |
| context. Include in your stash old | | | | fun. You expect produce the perfect, |
| newspapers to use for protecting your | | | | flawless product. Professional |
| craft table and other surfaces.File It | | | | photographs of crafts usually are taken |
| You don't need to buy expensive books | | | | in ideal lighting and made exclusively |
| or subscribe to magazines to get a | | | | by adults, with the discarding of |
| constant flow of ideas for crafting. Web | | | | several less-than-perfect attempts. |
| sites, newspapers, library books, | | | | Don't feel that your product has to look |
| pre-school newsletters and more can | | | | like a picture in a magazine - to your |
| provide you with hundreds of great | | | | child, it's a special work of art.There |
| crafting ideas. Clip, print, or copy to | | | | is little that is more rewarding than |
| create a file of ideas for a rainy day. | | | | crafting with your children. You are |
| You can pre-screen for quick and easy | | | | creating not only an opportunity for |
| craft ideas, and also use these articles | | | | your child to express his creativity, |
| as a guideline for items to store and | | | | but you giving him special time with you |
| save.Be Selective | | | | [i]you.[/u] You are creating not only |
| If you are looking for something quick | | | | fun and whimsical items, but precious |
| and easy, reject craft ideas that are a | | | | memories for your family that you will |
| twelve-step program or have a materials | | | | cherish for the rest of your |
| list longer than your weekly grocery | | | | lives.Jennifer Johnson is a mother of |
| receipt. Don't go out of your way to | | | | two and a contributing editor of - a |
| tackle a craft for which you do not | | | | site where parents can find plenty of |
| already have the necessary materials, | | | | free craft ideas, activities, printable |
| and only use non-toxic, washable paints | | | | coloring pages and more. |