Saturday, July 31, 2010
Bookbinding : How to Make Your Own Journal
Bookbinding (the craft of making a physical book, binding the pages together by hand) is one of those crafts that will slowly die out, but it is a very fulfilling and enjoyable craft that produces a truly useful piece of art. Learn how to make your own leather-bound journal from start to finish. This is a well-illustrated step-by-step article.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Sock Puppets on the Road
Traveling with children, especially small children, can be difficult. You know they're going to get cranky and you're really not looking forward to it. Make and take some sock puppets on the road to help keep your child happy on the trip.
Almost everyone has lost a sock while doing the laundry. Some people have lost more socks than they'd care to admit. What do you do with all the unmatched socks? Create sock puppets, of course!
Before you plan a road trip with your children, let them create sock puppets out of some of the sock monster's leftovers. With some simple craft items, your child can make a number of sock puppets that they can play with at any time. They're particularly great for taking with when you're going on a trip.
What do you need to make sock puppets? In their simplest form, children can play with sock puppets made merely from an unmatched sock. They can be embellished to include eyes, hair, and even clothing. It all depends upon how creative and resourceful your children are. Here are some common craft items you can use to make your sock puppet:
Adult-sized socks
Buttons or wiggly eyes
Felt scraps or yarn
Pipe cleaners (also known as chenille stems)
Fabric paint
Craft glue
Needle and thread
If your child has a favorite story, you may want to help them create different puppets for each of the characters in the story. They can act out the story with their sock puppets on the road or make up stories of their own with the same characters. In fact, if you're going to be on the road for very long, your children can plan a whole story to share with the family that you're planning on seeing.
To give the sock puppet a little bit of weight and to help give them shape, push crumpled up tissue paper or cotton balls into the toe where the fingers are. You can then create nostrils for a dragon or horse by sewing and shaping the cotton balls to keep them in place.
Bring along stories on CD and let your children act out the stories while you're driving. Not only will this give them something to do, it's something that everyone except the driver can participate in. Practise the movements so they can put on a sock puppet show, with your help, when you arrive at your destination.
It has been proven that the act of creating things is good for your child's creativity and imagination. By taking their sock puppets on the road with them the next time you're traveling, you're encouraging them to use their imagination. Not only will they enjoy playing with their sock puppets, they'll be too busy to ask you if you're “there yet” - which will help you enjoy the trip, as well.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
How to Teach Your Children the Meaning of Charity
Parents all over the world want their children to have character. Honesty, integrity, thankfulness, and charity are important qualities to see them attain. You may not have problems teaching the other character traits, but you may wonder how to teach your children the meaning of charity.
The old saying is that it’s better to give than to receive. You want your child to be able to empathize with others who need help and to willingly give of their time and substance.
The following are some ideas you may want to use to teach your child the meaning of charity:
* Show the importance of charity by being charitable yourself. If you have clothing you no longer wear that is still in usable condition, take them to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or a women’s shelter. Tell your children that the items are to help others who are less fortunate. Whenever and whatever you do to help others, let your children know that it is an act of charity.
* Let them pick out some canned goods or other non-perishable food items that you can take to a local shelter or food bank. Explain to them how charity has good effects on the people that will receive the food. Maybe the recipients just lost their home to fire and have no food. By your giving these food items to the food bank, this family will have food to eat this week.
* Use your child’s interests to find charitable activities they can do. If your child loves animals, they may be able to help at a veterinarian’s office or a local animal shelter. They can also donate pet foods to the shelters and humane societies in your area. Those involved in sports may be able to walk or run in charitable events to help earn money for a particular cause. They may even decide to help with Special Olympics events.
* Point out that many sports personalities, actors, actresses, and other well-known people give to charities or start charitable organizations to help others. If they’re not sure, go together to the internet and look up Bill Gates, Tiger Woods, Paul Newman, Chuck Norris, or anyone else they may be a fan of.
* When very small children receive a new toy, you can ask them to give away an old toy to another child who doesn't have it. The toy needs to be in good condition rather than one that’s been torn up. You can keep a box in a specific location in your home to put items to be given to charity once the box is filled up. Not only will your child learn about charity, but you’ll also help clear some of the clutter from your home.
* Offer to go to a neighbor’s house to help them work in their garden. Take your children with you so they can help, as well. Your children can help rake leaves, mow the lawn, or shovel snow, depending upon the season.
* Baked goods are appreciated by those overseas in the military. Maybe once a month or every two months you and your children could bake several dozen cookies to send to our soldiers in foreign lands.
Every parent wants their child to think of others instead of being selfish. The above are some things you can do when trying to think of how to teach your children the meaning of charity. Begin working with them while they’re young and they’ll most likely be charitable for the rest of their lives.
The old saying is that it’s better to give than to receive. You want your child to be able to empathize with others who need help and to willingly give of their time and substance.
The following are some ideas you may want to use to teach your child the meaning of charity:
* Show the importance of charity by being charitable yourself. If you have clothing you no longer wear that is still in usable condition, take them to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or a women’s shelter. Tell your children that the items are to help others who are less fortunate. Whenever and whatever you do to help others, let your children know that it is an act of charity.
* Let them pick out some canned goods or other non-perishable food items that you can take to a local shelter or food bank. Explain to them how charity has good effects on the people that will receive the food. Maybe the recipients just lost their home to fire and have no food. By your giving these food items to the food bank, this family will have food to eat this week.
* Use your child’s interests to find charitable activities they can do. If your child loves animals, they may be able to help at a veterinarian’s office or a local animal shelter. They can also donate pet foods to the shelters and humane societies in your area. Those involved in sports may be able to walk or run in charitable events to help earn money for a particular cause. They may even decide to help with Special Olympics events.
* Point out that many sports personalities, actors, actresses, and other well-known people give to charities or start charitable organizations to help others. If they’re not sure, go together to the internet and look up Bill Gates, Tiger Woods, Paul Newman, Chuck Norris, or anyone else they may be a fan of.
* When very small children receive a new toy, you can ask them to give away an old toy to another child who doesn't have it. The toy needs to be in good condition rather than one that’s been torn up. You can keep a box in a specific location in your home to put items to be given to charity once the box is filled up. Not only will your child learn about charity, but you’ll also help clear some of the clutter from your home.
* Offer to go to a neighbor’s house to help them work in their garden. Take your children with you so they can help, as well. Your children can help rake leaves, mow the lawn, or shovel snow, depending upon the season.
* Baked goods are appreciated by those overseas in the military. Maybe once a month or every two months you and your children could bake several dozen cookies to send to our soldiers in foreign lands.
Every parent wants their child to think of others instead of being selfish. The above are some things you can do when trying to think of how to teach your children the meaning of charity. Begin working with them while they’re young and they’ll most likely be charitable for the rest of their lives.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Pet Rock, Mum's Best Friend
Children often beg their parents for a puppy or a kitten. Or, they may ask for something smaller like a hamster or goldfish. Why not offer to get them a pet rock?
People began keeping pet rocks in 1975. An advertising executive named Gary Dahl came up with the idea and it spread like wildfire for about six months. Imported from Mexico, the ordinary rocks were treated as if they were real pets and even came with an owner’s manual. When they were first marketed, they were $3.95. Now they’re being sold for hundreds of dollars on online auction sites.
If your children are asking for a pet, a pet rock might be the answer. You can tell them they can have a pet rock to see how well they handle the responsibility before you allow them to get a goldfish, hamster, or larger pet.
There are a number of things about pet rocks that make them Mom’s best friend. Consider these benefits when offering to “get” your child a pet rock:
* You don’t have to buy them. Yes, people were silly enough to fall for a marketing ploy, as ingenious as it was, but you really don’t need to buy a pet rock. You or your child can find one right outside your front door. Of course, you may want to find one that’s unusual so it won’t get lost if it falls on the ground. In all actuality, you can find a new pet rock anywhere.
* You don’t have to feed them. Pet rocks are just that – rocks. They’re inanimate objects that just sit there. They don’t eat, so you don’t have to feed them. You also don’t have to worry about buying food for them, which could help with budgeting concerns.
* Since they don’t eat, you don’t have to worry about taking them outside to use the restroom. There’s no mess to clean up after, which will make your life as a Mom just a little bit easier.
* You won’t have to wonder if your child’s pet rock will bite anyone. That’s often a concern with having a pet dog or small pets like hamsters. With kittens or cats you may be concerned about their scratching and biting.
When looking for a pet rock, try to find one that’s smooth. You also want one that’s not so small that you lose it or so big that your child can’t carry it. Something that’s pretty like polished rose quartz may be a good bet for little girls. Boys will probably like something that’s a little rougher.
Unlike a living pet, your child can decorate their pet rock to their liking. Decide which side of the rock is its face and then allow your child to draw a face on it. Your child can determine the type of face it has, whether serious, silly, or smiley. They can also glue on wiggly eyes that you can find in any craft store.
Face it, Moms, at one point your child will ask for a pet. Giving them a pet rock may at least buy you some time until you can decide as a family whether owning a live pet is in your family’s future. Consider a pet rock - Mom’s best friend because they are easy to care for, cost nothing, and are easily replaced.
People began keeping pet rocks in 1975. An advertising executive named Gary Dahl came up with the idea and it spread like wildfire for about six months. Imported from Mexico, the ordinary rocks were treated as if they were real pets and even came with an owner’s manual. When they were first marketed, they were $3.95. Now they’re being sold for hundreds of dollars on online auction sites.
If your children are asking for a pet, a pet rock might be the answer. You can tell them they can have a pet rock to see how well they handle the responsibility before you allow them to get a goldfish, hamster, or larger pet.
There are a number of things about pet rocks that make them Mom’s best friend. Consider these benefits when offering to “get” your child a pet rock:
* You don’t have to buy them. Yes, people were silly enough to fall for a marketing ploy, as ingenious as it was, but you really don’t need to buy a pet rock. You or your child can find one right outside your front door. Of course, you may want to find one that’s unusual so it won’t get lost if it falls on the ground. In all actuality, you can find a new pet rock anywhere.
* You don’t have to feed them. Pet rocks are just that – rocks. They’re inanimate objects that just sit there. They don’t eat, so you don’t have to feed them. You also don’t have to worry about buying food for them, which could help with budgeting concerns.
* Since they don’t eat, you don’t have to worry about taking them outside to use the restroom. There’s no mess to clean up after, which will make your life as a Mom just a little bit easier.
* You won’t have to wonder if your child’s pet rock will bite anyone. That’s often a concern with having a pet dog or small pets like hamsters. With kittens or cats you may be concerned about their scratching and biting.
When looking for a pet rock, try to find one that’s smooth. You also want one that’s not so small that you lose it or so big that your child can’t carry it. Something that’s pretty like polished rose quartz may be a good bet for little girls. Boys will probably like something that’s a little rougher.
Unlike a living pet, your child can decorate their pet rock to their liking. Decide which side of the rock is its face and then allow your child to draw a face on it. Your child can determine the type of face it has, whether serious, silly, or smiley. They can also glue on wiggly eyes that you can find in any craft store.
Face it, Moms, at one point your child will ask for a pet. Giving them a pet rock may at least buy you some time until you can decide as a family whether owning a live pet is in your family’s future. Consider a pet rock - Mom’s best friend because they are easy to care for, cost nothing, and are easily replaced.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Great Authors Teens Love
Many parents have problems getting their teenagers to read and do their homework. However, there are many great authors teens love to read. If you're looking for a gift, you may want to consider purchasing a book from one of these authors.
One author that has been a favorite with teenagers and adults alike for decades is Clive Staples Lewis, known as Jack to his friends and family. He is the celebrated author of The Chronicles of Narnia series. He also wrote scholarly works while he was a Fellow of Magdalene College, Oxford, and later Magdalene College, Cambridge. Lewis also wrote the science fiction work Space Trilogy. However, it is for his fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia that he is most well known.
A contemporary of C.S. Lewis was J.R.R. Tolkien. Just as is the case with many authors, Tolkien’s story The Hobbit was written for his own children. The story, however, has also become popular with adult readers as well as teenagers. Following on the success of The Hobbit, Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings. After his death, Tolkien’s son released The Simarillion to the joy of his father’s faithful readers.
Elwyn Brooks “E.B.” White is another author teens love to read. He was an American writer who began his career writing for The New Yorker magazine in 1925. It wasn’t until the late 1930s that White started writing children’s fiction for his niece, Janice Hart White. White’s novels include Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web, and The Trumpet of the Swan. He is also known for editing and updating the William Strunk, Jr. handbook of grammar and style, The Elements of Style.
Judy Blume may be best known for her book, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. However, she has also written other books well loved by teens such as the stories about Fudge, Blubber and Just as Long as We’re Together. Blume is known as a champion for authors whose literary works have been censored. Despite the writing she has done for adults, it seems Blume also enjoys writing for young readers; she in the process of creating another series of books for them.
Roald Dahl, like Tolkien and Lewis, was a British writer despite the fact he was not born in Great Britain. Of all the works Dahl created, his most popular books are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and Matilda, all of which have been made into movies that children all over the world have enjoyed.
If you’re struggling to get your teenager to read for pleasure, you may want to check out some of the books by the above authors. These are great authors many teens love, and it’s quite possible your teen will love them, too.
One author that has been a favorite with teenagers and adults alike for decades is Clive Staples Lewis, known as Jack to his friends and family. He is the celebrated author of The Chronicles of Narnia series. He also wrote scholarly works while he was a Fellow of Magdalene College, Oxford, and later Magdalene College, Cambridge. Lewis also wrote the science fiction work Space Trilogy. However, it is for his fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia that he is most well known.
A contemporary of C.S. Lewis was J.R.R. Tolkien. Just as is the case with many authors, Tolkien’s story The Hobbit was written for his own children. The story, however, has also become popular with adult readers as well as teenagers. Following on the success of The Hobbit, Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings. After his death, Tolkien’s son released The Simarillion to the joy of his father’s faithful readers.
Elwyn Brooks “E.B.” White is another author teens love to read. He was an American writer who began his career writing for The New Yorker magazine in 1925. It wasn’t until the late 1930s that White started writing children’s fiction for his niece, Janice Hart White. White’s novels include Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web, and The Trumpet of the Swan. He is also known for editing and updating the William Strunk, Jr. handbook of grammar and style, The Elements of Style.
Judy Blume may be best known for her book, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. However, she has also written other books well loved by teens such as the stories about Fudge, Blubber and Just as Long as We’re Together. Blume is known as a champion for authors whose literary works have been censored. Despite the writing she has done for adults, it seems Blume also enjoys writing for young readers; she in the process of creating another series of books for them.
Roald Dahl, like Tolkien and Lewis, was a British writer despite the fact he was not born in Great Britain. Of all the works Dahl created, his most popular books are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and Matilda, all of which have been made into movies that children all over the world have enjoyed.
If you’re struggling to get your teenager to read for pleasure, you may want to check out some of the books by the above authors. These are great authors many teens love, and it’s quite possible your teen will love them, too.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Digital Cameras for All Ages
It's a rare thing to see people lugging around film cameras these days due to the popularity and quality of digital cameras. Much like traditional film cameras, you can find digital cameras of every size. There are literally digital cameras for all ages.
Very young children can become camera owners and can benefit from the simplicity of Fisher Price’s Kid-Tough digital camera. It’s easy to use and durable – it has to be if it’s made for toddlers. Of course, the picture quality isn’t as good as cameras for older users, but does it really need to be? The Fisher Price digital camera provides 0.3 mega pixel images and is recommended for children aged three and over.
For children that are a little less shaky, Disney offers the Pix-Click. It comes in five Disney themes that any little boy or girl will love. It is easy to use, durable, and has similar picture quality to the Fisher Price’s camera. You may have to help your children to hold this (or any other digital camera) steady in order to avoid blurry photos.
If you’d love to buy a digital camera for your child, but don’t really want to spend $50 or more for one, you may want to check out the Polaroid Ion. For $20 this adult model may be a perfect choice for your child or a first-time digital camera owner. The camera is easy to use and durable. While it is made for adults, it can handle the rough treatment a child may give it.
Adults who have used cameras before will want a digital camera that does more and has higher resolution than the cameras for younger people. Be prepared for sticker shock, however, when looking for the best digital cameras. The best cameras are often quite expensive, but you generally get what you pay for.
Olympus has been a well-known brand of quality, professional cameras for years. They produce a variety of digital cameras - from cameras for photographers that are just beginning and need a point-and-shoot, up to the high-quality DSLR cameras that professional photographers use. Expect to pay a premium price for these digital cameras.
Sony is known more for making other electronics; however, they have been producing digital cameras for quite some time. One of the benefits of all Sony digital cameras is that they have Sony’s exclusive Real Imaging Processor technology which allows you to capture memories because the camera shoots at a higher rate.
Kodak and Nikon are also names that you’ve heard of if you’re a photographer. They each have several options to consider when you’re looking for a digital camera. You may want to take the time to go to an electronics store and compare them for yourself before making a decision.
Digital cameras make photography something that everyone, from toddlers to senior adults, can use to create works of art. There are digital cameras for all ages so take your time finding the camera that is right for you or as a gift for someone you love.
Very young children can become camera owners and can benefit from the simplicity of Fisher Price’s Kid-Tough digital camera. It’s easy to use and durable – it has to be if it’s made for toddlers. Of course, the picture quality isn’t as good as cameras for older users, but does it really need to be? The Fisher Price digital camera provides 0.3 mega pixel images and is recommended for children aged three and over.
For children that are a little less shaky, Disney offers the Pix-Click. It comes in five Disney themes that any little boy or girl will love. It is easy to use, durable, and has similar picture quality to the Fisher Price’s camera. You may have to help your children to hold this (or any other digital camera) steady in order to avoid blurry photos.
If you’d love to buy a digital camera for your child, but don’t really want to spend $50 or more for one, you may want to check out the Polaroid Ion. For $20 this adult model may be a perfect choice for your child or a first-time digital camera owner. The camera is easy to use and durable. While it is made for adults, it can handle the rough treatment a child may give it.
Adults who have used cameras before will want a digital camera that does more and has higher resolution than the cameras for younger people. Be prepared for sticker shock, however, when looking for the best digital cameras. The best cameras are often quite expensive, but you generally get what you pay for.
Olympus has been a well-known brand of quality, professional cameras for years. They produce a variety of digital cameras - from cameras for photographers that are just beginning and need a point-and-shoot, up to the high-quality DSLR cameras that professional photographers use. Expect to pay a premium price for these digital cameras.
Sony is known more for making other electronics; however, they have been producing digital cameras for quite some time. One of the benefits of all Sony digital cameras is that they have Sony’s exclusive Real Imaging Processor technology which allows you to capture memories because the camera shoots at a higher rate.
Kodak and Nikon are also names that you’ve heard of if you’re a photographer. They each have several options to consider when you’re looking for a digital camera. You may want to take the time to go to an electronics store and compare them for yourself before making a decision.
Digital cameras make photography something that everyone, from toddlers to senior adults, can use to create works of art. There are digital cameras for all ages so take your time finding the camera that is right for you or as a gift for someone you love.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Image Transfer Methods for Art and Crafts
Here is a great article with everything you need to transfer images for arts and crafts projects, including image transfer to fabric and polymer clay. Older kids and teens can have a ball with this creative technique.
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