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