Welcome back to the monthly Get Crafty feature. Design to inspire people to “Get Crafty”. Hope you find something lovely to make!
This month I bring you “Summer” – anything to do with summer – from trips to the beach to hanging out with friends to sunflowers and butterflies! Hope you find something lovely to make!
If you like what you see, do go and visit all the relevant sites – the crafty peeps would really appreciate it and they have so many other things for you to see!! Go on… you know you want to!
If you feel inspired, do embed the Get Crafty logo on your site – go to the Get Crafty tab and scroll to the bottom of the page for the code!
Get Crafty with Children
What is summer without a pinwheel. What is CHILDHOOD without pinwheels. If you can’t quite remember how to make them, visit Mari-Ann at Counting Coconuts for her beautiful Pinwheel tutorial. Lovely! This, btw, is a great way of recycle toddler art: if you have been painting with your toddler, you can use their wonderful creations for this too! They will love it!
I love things made from nature’s finds. And driftwood is particularlybeautiful. Mary at Lavender and Linen made this beautiful driftwood boat. Take you kids to the beach. Go search. And Get Crafty!!!
This is actually a traditional Galician craft and it is lovely to learn more about another culture. So go and take a look Meninheira over at Dalle un colino and have a go! (Use Google Translate to help you along a little…)
Valerie over at Frugal Family Fun always comes up trumps with crafts for and with kids. Here she has a quick, fun and very easy window decor craft using paints and coffee filters. What lovely birds and how they light up as that wonderful summer sun shines through! Valerie is the author of Frugal Family Fun Blog, where she posts daily about her obsession with inexpensive crafts, family activities, and all around good times on a budget!
Even the title of this blog is awesome “Making Memories, One Thing After Another” – with a title like that you know you are onto a good thing. Now this a very simple idea, but I can just hear the squeals of laughter and joy. Hop over to see how the made their Water Bombs! I think we will be doing this one at Opapa’s house!
As an advocate to Get Crafty, I am ashamed to admit that all my painting focus has been on Red Ted (2.5yrs), not on Pip Squeak (8mths). This post served as a lovely reminder to let Pip Squeak have a go too. We have. And we now have two awesome keep sake paintings in our hall way! Thank you! Summer is the best time of year to do this, as you can strip your little ones down and let them have fun! Like the idea of doing a background colour first! Hop over to For What It’s Worth and check it out!
“Impress Your Kids” impressed me when I saw these super easy puzzles. After filling your bellies with lollipops this summer, make sure you save all the lollipop sticks. Then on a rainy day, rush indoors, grab some holiday snaps and make these super easy puzzles. Give them as stocking fillers at Christmas. Easy. Fun. Effective. Job done!
Lots of flowers around during the Summer months. However, as school term drew to an end and the Summer Holidays a, Jen at The Madhouse made these lovely flowers with her boys. These could serve well as a thank you to teachers or as a simple “I love you” to a loved one. Love the fact that the petals are heart shaped and that Jen’s boy was able to make these by himself!
Our very own little Cork Boats. We went to visit Opapa for some splashing in the paddling pool and came away having been Crafty! Hurray. Super easy to make and provides you with an excellent excuse to drink some wine…
After a perfect summer holiday, what do you do? Come home and feel the back to school blues? Not anymore! Make these wonderfully simple Memory Jars! Put all your little special somethings in it and come back to them on a rainy day. They look so pretty and are a great way to “do something” with all those little collectibles. Fabulous. I saw these by Melissa at the Inspired Room and indeed was inspired!!
The lovely Christine over at her blog has a host of Summer Time activities to keep the little ones occupied, happy and away from the TV! In this post she shows us their fabulously crafty vegetable animals. My favourite is Marvin (featured) and Parsnip the Unicorn. Go and take a look and then have a go with your kids too. You can always kid yourself that they’ll eat more veg after or stop playing with their food… mmmh. Or check out Christine’s other fabulous summer time ideas!
Some of you may remember how much I loved the V&A project that I mentioned on Nature Get Crafty (scroll down to the bottom for it). Well, Jude at Artful Adventures did just that (unrelated to my post, I hastened to add – she is a wonderfully creative person!). So take a look at her fabulous article on Land Art involving kids. And when you are at the beach this summer, DO HAVE A GO! We are going with Red Ted in 2-3 weeks time and I can’t wait to get Arty!
Cathy at the Nurture Store, does the most wonderful craft and activities with her girls. She came up trumps again with this very pretty butterflies – tailored to her girl’s crafting abilities and yet still turning out so wonderfully pretty. A summer without butterflies wouldn’t b the same, now would it? Do check her other activities too, lots of great ideas for you and your little ones!
Wonder Mom at The Fantastic Fice Hockman blog has been hosting “stART Nights” for the children in the neighbour during these summer months. I think it is brilliant that she is sharingthe crafty fun amongst the children around her. So this summer, this is one of the things the kid’s made – a “box of cloth peg friends“. Summer is all about meeting new kids on your road, making friends and having fun!!
Get Crafty for Children (or with older children)
A summer picnic seems to always attract ants! But if the ants that came to our picnic were some of these, I wouldn’t mind so much.. Staci at Craftify It, shows us how!
If you are planning a long journey this summer or just want some new games to play at picnics or at home, why not try your hand at this fun hi-ho apple-o game? Kimberley at Bugaboo, Mini, Mr & Me shows us how.
This Wooden Sun really caught my eye, as it was so different and unique. We are shown how to make it over at Wabi-Sabi Wanderings. This would be a great woodwork project for boys and would look lovely in any garden! It would definitely bring some summer sun to the garden in those gloomy winter days.
I told you Valerie comes up trumps, because here she is again,this time with something she made for her girls – a “Farm in a Bag” – or should I say the bag is the farm and you put all your farm things inside! I am telling you, once mine are that little bit older (next summer?) they will surely be getting one of these!
What a lovely and detailed how to. My Mommy Makes It not only shows us how to die rice but also how to make the mermaids and the sand banks and even the palm trees. A lovely sensory toy for your children. I think at the very least I will be making a mermaid, they themselves are ADORABLE!
Michelle came up with super easy, super cute I Spy book to keep children entertained on those long car journeys (when all items in the car have already been spied) or flights. If you think you are “not crafty”, then stop by here and think again. Simple, easy, effective. And be surprised but what words, letters and numbers your children already know… Michelle was!
Get Crafty for Adults (or older Children)
Think of those lovely long summer nights. Think of those pesky bugs. No more. Make your very own pretty and effective bug candles a la Positively Splendid, they are indeed splendid!!!
Summer is all about Sunflowers! This is the time of year tha they grow to their full height. If you missed out growing some this year, why not Get Crafty and make this gorgeous Sunflower Cushion? Or use the tutorial to make a little flower for your dress or hair? Dangerously Domestic Jen shows how.
Ok, so which is it Lollipops or Soap? These deliciously refreshing looking loolies are in fact soap and not at all edible. Sigh. They do however look fabulous and would may be persuade the odd reluctant child to wash their hands more often. I am dead impressed. Pop over to Greanbean’s Crafterole and check it out now!
Get Crafty – Oooooh
Home made Ice Cream (no ice cream makers needed!)
Oooh, how CLEVER is this homemade ice cream? No ice cream machine needed and a “keep them busy” activity included. I am so giving this a go. Go on, check it out how Stacie over at Amazing Mess made it. Another one for our “holidays at home” to do list!
https://redtedart.wordpress.com/2010/06/09/book-cook-duckies-rainbow-by-frances-barry/ Back to our Rainbow Cookies! If summer isn’t behaving and we are faced with clouds and rain, make some of these rainbow cookies to cheer yourself up! Alternatively, if summer IS behaving, make some anyway!
Rainbow cookies
I ADORE these Jelly Watermelon slices that Christine at Little Page Turners made. Summer is not the same without Watermelon treats and to make it crafty and fun you can make these out of Jelly and Limes. This is such a fun treat for any summer party or BBQ! She also made some fabulous looking Watermelon Cookies. Amazing.
Last but by no means least, is Denise at Snaffle Mummy. She made these fabulous Flower Sugar Cubes. Wouldn’t they be lovely at a tea party? She tells me that she has them at the office for her cups of tea. How wonderful to bring a bit of sunshine into the office.
Previous Get Craftys
Posted by Mami Made It on August 1, 2010 at 7:20 am
WOW! So many good and lovely tips and ideas! Amazing!
Posted by Red Ted Art on August 1, 2010 at 8:31 am
Well I hope it inspires you to be even more crafty than you already are!! And do take part next month 🙂 x
Posted by Jane on August 1, 2010 at 9:07 am
Thanks for the email news letter – really great and wonderfully written. Love the entries , had a quick look and landed on the spanish shells – my google translater worked well! Will be back to look more later- night out last night head needs to rest
Posted by Red Ted Art on August 1, 2010 at 9:31 am
Ouch. Yes, rest that head and then come back for more!!! Glad the news letter was ok too! x
Posted by Luschka @ Diary of a First Child on August 1, 2010 at 10:25 am
Love the new newsletter and thanks for so many great links! I have some great ideas for Kyra’s first birthday from some of these!! Thanks!
Posted by Red Ted Art on August 1, 2010 at 5:21 pm
And that was only the newsletter to Get Crafty contributors.. setting up a general 3 monthly update too!! x
Posted by Mari-Ann on August 1, 2010 at 1:40 pm
So many beautifully creative ideas here! Thank you for gathering such a collection. And thank you for your kind words about my pinwheel tutorial, too. 🙂
Warmly,
Mari-Ann
Counting Coconuts
Posted by Red Ted Art on August 1, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Thank YOU for your ever fabulous contributions!! x
Posted by Clara @ amieggs on August 2, 2010 at 8:09 pm
thank you for stopping by my blog!
you have a bunch of good ideas around here! love it =)
Posted by Red Ted Art on August 3, 2010 at 6:16 am
Glad you like mine too 😉 do let me know about a guest blog!!
Posted by Lesley on August 4, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Thank you for finding and featuring my Mermaid Sensory Box. I especially appreciate visits from bloggers outside of blogspot. I love you blog and look forward to visiting often for inspiration.
mymommymakesit
Posted by Red Ted Art on August 4, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Oh it was such a lovely sensory box I just “had to have it”… As I said the the discription, at the VERY LEAST, I will be making some of your gorgeous mermaids!!!! Thank you. And look forward to reading more of your blog too!!
Posted by Andrea on August 5, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Great list…sounds like you have been busy this summer!
My favorite has to be the Memory Jars. Not only do they look gorgeous in your old blue mason jars, they would work for any age child…and they keep their treasured possessions (a.k.a. clutter!) all in one spot!
Posted by Red Ted Art on August 5, 2010 at 4:54 pm
I totally agree. A fabulous way to store nick nacks and make them look pretty!
Posted by Betsy on August 6, 2010 at 5:22 am
What a list. I spent time in Galicia but did not encounter the painted shells. Thanks for the links.
Posted by Amy on August 6, 2010 at 2:13 pm
I am going to have to come back on Sunday and look at all of these wonderful crafts. I really love new ideas. Thanks for taking the time to link up again and share. I do hope you come back on next Friday. Do you have a followers page?
Posted by Red Ted Art on August 6, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Hi Amy!
Hope you didn’t mind all my multiple posts! We have been busy here at Red Ted Art!!!! I haven’t sorted Google Followers yet, sorry, not sure if it works on wordpress? Usually get people to subscribe to he blog and then you get an email into your inbox when I have done a latest post!
Thanks for stopping by and your kind words 🙂
Maggy
Posted by barbara jean on August 6, 2010 at 4:06 pm
great crafts! love the driftwood boat, and the paper flower.
thanks for all
blessings
barbara jean
Posted by Wabi-Sabi Wanderings on August 8, 2010 at 9:35 pm
What a wonderful crafty resource! Thank you for taking the time to pull this all together. I look forward to exploring the crafty goodness. And many thanks for your kind words.
Blessings…
Posted by Red Ted Art on August 9, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Thank you for creating such beautiful crafts!!
Posted by J. Hill on August 10, 2010 at 12:31 am
Thanks for linking up to the Mad Skills party this week!
Posted by Audra on August 16, 2010 at 3:46 am
Wow, so many great projects!
Posted by Cass@FrugalFamily on August 26, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Great list as ever, I have a kind of yellow post, more golden than yellow to be honest lol
http://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/2010/07/a-trophy-post.html
Posted by Red Ted Art on August 26, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Fabulous! Gold is good too!!! Yay! We like trophies… thanks for joining in!
Posted by Natasha on August 31, 2010 at 2:14 am
This is a fabulous list-thanks so much for letting me know about it. I can’t wait to see what you showcase for Christmas, my favourite time of the year!
Best wishes,
Natasha.