New Autumn Crafts ebook

I have just published my new ebook 'Fall and Halloween Crafts for Children'. I love the Autumn, the colors are stunning and so vibrant. It’s a remarkable time of year, especially when you are a child, watching as the bright green leaves from the Summer gradually change to red, golden, brown and orange and then gently fall to the ground. There are so many things to look forward to and to learn from in the Autumn, from the changing seasons being so evident, animals going into hibernation, Halloween, Bon Fire Night and Thanksgiving. In this book you will find 16 fun crafts to explore this vibrant season.

Get this book at    Amazon UK         Amazon USA

Childrens Crafts ebook

It's been a busy few months as I have written and published my very own ebook – "Crafts For Children of all Ages".

I have been running Crafty Creatures for 5 years and it's lovely seeing the impact of how being creative can have on a child of any age, how proud they can feel. It's this feeling I hope children get from making the crafts in the book. 25 fun crafts ranging from painting, printing and mixed media collage for both preschool and school aged children and come with step by step instructions, colour photos and a set of downloadable templates.

Get this book at:

Amazon UK                      Amazon USA

Olympic Games Crafts

Over the next few weeks Crafty Creatures is going to be working with adults from community groups, childrens centres and schools in Gateshead to deliver some winning Olympic game themed crafts. On the morning of Saturday 16th June, the Olympic Torch will be coming through Gateshead and passing the Angel of the North. Crafty Creatures will be at Chowdene Childrens Centre to make some crafts which you can take with you as you line the route of the torch relay.

Party at the farm

 

Grace lives on a small farm and decided to keep the farm theme going with some farm themed crafts for her 5th birthday party. Lots of great crafts were made, from standing scarecrows to a cow hand puppet. There was also a muddy pig to be made, with our very own crafty mud. Always a hit, and the pigs certainly get very muddy, so much so there wasn't much pig left to capture for a photo!

SALTWELL PARK MEETS THE OLYMPICS 2012

Crafts at this years Saltwell Park Spring Show took on an Olympic theme.  Hundreds of children, of all ages, worked with us to make a fab Olympic torch, with a little or a lot of glitter to really give it their own personal touch.  An Athletics Stadium and a Swimming Stadium made up the other crafts.  It was great to see families spending time together, having fun while making some winning pictures!

PARTY TIME!

Toy Story, is still a popular party theme choice.  Children still love Buzz Lightyear! Here are some of the crafts made at Sean's 7th birthday party and some SpongeBob SquarePants crafts made at Anya's 6th birthday party.

SALTWELL PARK SPRING SHOW 2012

Crafty Creatures is extremely happy to be providing the crafts at the show this year. I can't believe it's the 3rd year in a row we've been asked to provide the crafts. Really looking forward to it as you meet so many lovely families over the weekend.

The theme this year is the 2012 Olympic Games. So don't feel left out if you haven't got tickets for the Olympic Games. Come along to show and make an Olympic stadium collage and add your favourite sporting events to it. If you've missed out on carrying the Olympic torch, then why not make your own while you are here too! Come along on Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th April. All the crafts are free!

It's Hero Time...

...Or at least it was at Mason's 6th birthday party. Lots and lots were made here from Ben 10 handpuppets, Gwen stick puppets, the crator where his powers started to the famous Omnitrix. The girls loved makeing the crator collage and the boys made some great Omnitrix watches.

IT'S ALL HEARTS & FOWERS

It certainly was at Amelia's 7th birthday party. We've not had this party theme before so I was lovely to see all of the amazing things that were made. Especially the elephants crafts. Elephants are Amelia's favourite animal, so why not make an elephant made from hearts? Here is a selection of the crafts that were made

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Space Hop

2012 has already seem the cosmic return of Space themed crafts for Harry's 8th Bitrthday Party. Here are some of the space posters which were made there.

Happy 2012

A very happy 2012 to you all! Yes a new year is upon us, just how quickly did last year go? In 2012 the Olympics is coming to Britain, so watch out for some Olympic themed crafts then.

Lots of exciting events and projects already lined up for Crafty Creatures and the scary, yet somewhat exciting thing is that they will be here before I know it, yikes!!!

Here are some photos from some projects at the end of last year, Josh's Haloween party and some photos from a variety of Sure Start projects in Durham and Gateshead.

LET'S PARTY...

Here are some pictures from some recent parties. At Rosies underwater adventure, dolphins and extremely colourful seahorses were swimming about. One crafts at Alicia's party was to make a horse broach and magnet. This prooved to be very popular. Lots and lots of these were made, not only for the children themselves, but also so they could give them to parents as presents. What a nice thought!

Young & Fun

In the next month Crafty Creatures is going to be working with young parents and their children in Children's Centres in Gateshead. This is part of their Young & Fun programme and I am really excited about working with parents to see how easy art can be done at home, using materials from our environment.

Parties Galore...

Over the next few months Crafty Creatures has lots of parties coming up. A variety of themes and combinations have been choosen, from seahorses and horses, to space and Cars.

Has this given you some ideas for you child's party? If so please contact me Nicola on 07966 297426 or email: nicola@crafty-creatuires.com to see how your child could have their own unique individual craft party.

Spennymoor Horticultural Show

At the weekend Crafty Creatures was asked to provide the crafts for families at the Horticultural Show, in Jubilee park, Spennymoor. Despite the rain, families came and made some fab garden inspired crafts, from a flying butterfly to a flowering garden. Take a look at some things that were made.

Young artists at Ushaw Moor Childrens Centre

We have also been working with children at the centre to explore crafts. Some of the children were fourteen months old, but it was great to see how even at a young age they can explore different textures and then create their own work. With encouragement a child can realise they have created something and feel a sense of achievement that comes with this. I think a favourite was in the desert's week when fake snow was used to create a snowy scene for animals that live in the cold, and in contrast when red powder paint and sand was used to create a picture for animals that live in hot deserts. Very messy but great fun!

A Summer of Art at Sacriston

Each week over the summer I've been working with children at Sacriston Community Centre to explore the world around us, and crafts were used to do this. A variety of themes have been looked at, some of my favourite themes or crafts have been;
the Rainforest, where a really colourful chamelion was made
famous artists, here the work of Newcastle born marine painter John Wilson Carmichael, Matisse, Picasso and of course the childrens own work on canvas were all explored
Clay fossils were created during the dinosaurs week, some of these were very sculptural in their design
When we were looking at architecture, we were off to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, magical Venice to explore the canals, the heady skyscrapers in New York and of course what a great street on our doorstep - Grey Street in Newcastle, with Grey's Monument towering over us at the top.
It has been lovely over the weeks to see the children's creativity really develop when exploring the different themes each week.

Roll up for the greatest crafts!

Yes, over the summer we were at the Circus with Libraries across North Tyneside. A big top, clown hats, clown faces and a lion puppet were all made by too many children to count! Lots of fun with sparkles, wool and for the authentic big top feel - sawdust was had by all. Thank you for a lovely summer of crafts.

PEOPLE WHO HELP US

People Who Help us is this terms learning theme for nursery children at at Windy Nook Primary School. Crafty Creatures went along to work with the children and parents to create some great crafts. From very stylish looking police men and women to some fun looking x ray pictures. Great fun was had by all!