I realize the word craft is not a four letter word, but for some of us … uncrafty people… Craft is a four letter word! But Mama’s around the world I encourage you to make the craft anyway!
So what? We hot glue our fingers together every craft.
So what? We don’t have all the right supplies.
So what? We’re not going to be Pinterest famous.
When we focus on the end result we truly miss the journey of fun with our kids. Crafts are something all kids love. They might not all love to draw or they might not all love modeling clay or finger paints. The good Lord is quite aware I deplore glitter!! But we all have this creative vibe in us that wants to make something. From paint-by-number and color kits to abstract sidewalk chalk drawings that turn into a teenage run small neighborhood business! (very proud of my oldest)
Even cooks get crafty in the kitchen. Have you ever seen an elegant plate at a restaurant? These fancy sauces get written in some type of chef calligraphy on the plate. Hey, they were crafty. Musicians turn songs into their own by adding something different here and there and they were crafty. Writers, even ones who cannot pronounce words correctly, get crafty with their word choices.
Maybe this is just a pep-talk for myself because I hate the noun ‘craft’. Craft literally means, an activity involving skill in making things by hand.
I was a Girl Scout for 10 years. My mother kept numerous Christmas crafts we made as ornaments and decorations. They are hideous. I wonder if she keeps them just so she and my dad can laugh at how pathetic they turned out. But thankfully I don’t ever get to see them they’re not in my home get I remember making them with my friends after school at a Girl Scout meeting. That’s were some fun times and I honestly don’t care about the snowman wreath or the dog ornament. And I’m willing to bet my mom kept them not because she wanted to turn to stone every time she saw them, but rather she remembers being my troop leader and making them with us.
Crafting memories more than objects.
I believe this fast-paced social media consumption world that quality one-on-one time is fading. The craft itself will never sell. God has made it embarrassingly obvious I will never own my own Etsy store or enter a craft fair as a seller. I’m OK with that. But I’m not going to allow that to stop me from making memories with my boys.
You’re uncrafty you say? Maybe you’re making it more about you than about them. I sure did for a very long time because of Instagram. It had to be perfect, right? Wrong! I decided I’m gonna make the darn craft anyway!
All this freedom to create! You never know – you just might wake up on Mother’s Day to be presented with 10 hand-made picture frames and photos of you & your youngest. He cut, painted, and hot glued all by himself. (very proud of my youngest)
Supplies to Keep Handy
I have learned over the years that anything can make for craft supply. Yet I still like to keep a few things around and close by so we can dive into a plastic storage bin and make a masterpiece.
Glue! Hot glue, Elmer’s glue, glue sticks. You need glue.
Construction paper.
Tissue Paper – keep some scraps from that one birthday bag you stuffed.
Paint – washable, your hardwood floors will thank you.
Glitter Glue – I refuse to buy actual glitter.
A bag of random buttons.
Colorful pipe-cleaners.
1 skein of yarn.
Things to Keep!
You don’t have to always buy your supplies. A few things we keep no matter what!
Popsicle Sticks. I have an insane craving for the Lime bars.
Paper towel / toilet paper tubes.
Cardboard boxes. Amazon. Tissue boxes and Oatmeal containers also come in handy for paintbrush storage tubs.
Milk cartons – plastic & paper. (plastic make great bird feeders)
If your kids are super crafty be sure to pass along that info to grandparents, aunts and uncles. One year my youngest received a $50 Michael’s gift card at Christmas. We were STOCKED with supplies for 1/2 the year. We also picked up derby cars and other craft sets.
Give it Away!
The best art work is the stuff you don’t have to worry about storing! The stuff you can giveaway to friends, family, and even strangers. Rock Art is such a fun thing to make, leave, and find! Our downtown area back in Orlando was full of rock art treasures. Every week we took a stroll down the shops just to look for rocks and leave our own. It was a huge joy to find rock art out here in Colorado!
Make the Craft!
Not going anywhere for awhile? Me either. Make the Craft! Crafting takes time and what better thing to do now that we’re all home watching paint dry. Literally!!! Create some artsy treasures. I’ve decided to play with watercolors during the “down time”. Normally I just wouldn’t have the time running here and there doing this and that. Now I’ve got the time to wet a brush. And it’s been fun.