It’s March break, and you know what that means don’t you? Yep, an entire week listening to the kiddos complain they are bored, that they have nothing to do and listening to them turn down idea after idea when you suggest things to do.

Simple Crafts From Simple Supplies

One of the things I find most difficult is trawling through Pinterest, finding new craft ideas and then having to go out and get the things we need. By the time everyone has been bundled up, driven to the store and spent 30 fruitless minutes trying to find that particular bizarre item we absolutely must have to make the craft work – none of us are in the mood to do anything anymore. We get home, unwrap ourselves & our purchases and flake out on the sofa with a book or a tablet and forget about the craft we can no longer be bothered with.

Because of this,  I have started planning crafts around what we have in the house, so we don’t have to go on a trek for supplies. To make it even easier Grand & Toy sent us a selection of the items us busy parents can order online & have delivered straight to the front door. No more shepherding the kids around the store and listen to all the reasons why they simply must have that bracelet craft kits or the dinosaur modelling package!

So here is a selection of the crafts we made, using the Grand & Toy goodies and if you would like to win a similar craft supplies box enter our contest at the end of the post.

Happy crafting March breakers!

 Story Sticks

You will need:

• approximately 30 popsicle sticks
• Markers or  Coloured Pencils
• A jar or box as a holder

Instructions

1. Draw a simple picture on one end of each of the sticks
2. Write the word for the picture on the opposite side
3. Place all of the sticks; picture ends down in the jar
4. Take turns to remove seven sticks from the jar and use them to make up a story

Silhouette Theatre

You will need:

• A sturdy cardboard box
• Parchment or light coloured tissue paper
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Popsicle sticks
• Glue
• A Flashlight

Instructions

1. Cut a hole in the largest side of the box
2. Tape the parchment/tissue paper to the inside of the box, covering the opening completely
3.  Use construction paper to cut out shapes of people, animals, monsters – whatever you like – Use your imagination!!
4. Stick a popsicle stick to the back of each silhouette
5. Light the flashlight inside the bottom of the box.
6. Press your shapes gently against the paper and perform exciting stories for your audience.

Glitter Pencil Pot

You will need:

• A clean jar
• Markers
• Elmers glitter glue

Instructions

1. Wash your jar thoroughly
2. Outline a design on your jar with markers
3. Use your glitter glue to trace over the design
4. Allow the glue to dry before stocking with your supplies!

 A March break wind catcher

You will need:

• 2 coat-hangers
• cotton
• modelling clay

Instructions

1. Roll your modeling clay out flat, approximately 2mm thick.
2. Using pastry cutters, cut out lots of shapes of different sizes. If you don’t have pastry cutter use a cup to press out circles or a butter knife to cut out triangles, squares and any other shapes that take your fancy.
3. Make a small circle at the top of each shape (we used a straw to make the holes) and at the bottom of some of them.
4. Let the shapes dry and tie them in rows
5. Tie the top of the strings of shapes to the coat – hanger and hang on your wall or in the garden.

A crafting journal

• Exercise book
• Markers
• Scissors
• Construction paper
• Glue

1.  Cut out lots of exciting shapes from your construction paper or soak some sheets of paper in coffee to make them look old.
2. Glue the shapes or coffee soaked paper to your exercise book to decorate
3. Fill your journal with all the exciting things you have made
4. List the crafts you want to try at the back of the book