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!

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.

IT'S THE SUMMERTIME...

Well the summer is almost here! Along with working with Libraries across North Tyneside over the summer, you can also find Crafty Creature workshops at Sacriston Community Centre, Durham every Wednesday morning and at Ushaw Moor Children's Sure Start Centre every Thursday afternoon. At each venue there will be different themed crafts each week, so please contact the venue to find out more information. Hope to see you there!

ART IN THE PARK

I can't believe the Saltwell Park Spring Show has already been and gone. It was an extremely busy weekend, with lots of Japanese inspired crafts. It just keeps amazing me to see what great works of art are made. The children were absolutely brilliant, just could not believe the concentration and creativity. I certainly felt inspired seeing how different each picture was. Had a brilliant time, thank you all so much!

HAPPY NEW YEAR...

A happy new year to one and all. Sounds scary saying a new year as I can't quite believe another year has gone by so quickly. I haven't made any resolutions, apart from one, which is to update the blog on a more regular basis! Last Autumn we worked with a local charity called Out of Sight. It's based in North Tyneside and is set up by parents whose children have a visual impairment. The spirit of the parents and children was remarkable and so inspiring. The crafts incorporated lots of different textures and materials, along with some messier painting activities, so the children could participate and use all of their senses.

Already for 2011 we have lots of exciting projects lined up, one is the Saltwell Park show in April. It was such a busy weekend there last year with lots of events available for the whole family. The theme of the crafts isn't confirmed yet, but I will keep you posted once they are.

Once again a big thank you to all the businesses and people I worked with last year and am looking forward to seeing you in 2011.

SPACE HOP @ LIBRARIES...

Crafty Creatures has gone out of this Universe to provide space themed crafts with libraries across the region. Crafty Creatures has been in Libraries across Durham, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside. Crafts were designed to link in with this years libraries Reading Challenge - Space Hop.

Some fab Space Invader Aliens have been made, with lashings of glitter glue to create a slimmed effect! Rockets, an Alien Space Ship and a Planets collage are also the crafts which children have loved making. Yet again it's been great to see a child's creativity flourish with an array of materials. Definitely seeing some budding artists across the summer.

EVENTS & BIRTHDAY PARTIES...

Looking for something different for your child's party then look no further. Crafty Creatures provides stress free crafts for Events and Parties. Crafts are designed around a theme of your choice and the children get to take whatever they have made home, giving them a lasting memento of the party!

Crafty Creatures was recently at Amy's 6th birthday party. Amy decided she wanted a "rainbow" craft and said she loved Unicorns. A mixture of themes you may think but Crafty Creatures was happy to oblige, along with the slime for the end of the party. Have a look at the pictures - a great time was had by all!!

Christ Church Community Fun Day

Christ Church in Felling held a community festival and Crafty Creatures provided food related crafts to reinforce information about Gateshead's Soul Soup Project. Soul Soup is part of a wider Generations Together project, which aims to bring together over 1,700 local residents, young and old. The community-based work will enable local groups around the borough to set up a ‘Soul Soup Café’; a meeting place for people of all ages to come together to discuss what is important to them in their community.

Children and their families made a picnic collage and their own bowl of soup craft - along with a recipe to make their own summer vegetable soup.

Water Crafts at Windy Nook School

Nursery and Reception children were learning about water in the last school term and we came along to provide a craft day for the children and their parents. The crafts were designed to reinforce what the children had learnt and were also lots of fun. Some of the crafts were a collage of Venice, a sail boat (made using shapes), a beach picture with lots of paint and lighthouse picture - the children loved adding textures for the stones!

SUMMER'S HERE...

What a busy time it's been over the last few months, Crafty Creatures was asked to provide crafts for Lobley Hill Community Festival in June. A lovely day was had by all and children left with bags fulls of crafts they had made.

It's a Jungle Out There...

In February Crafty Creatures was asked to do a Jungle workshop at Gateshead Old Town Hall. It's always lovely to see the all the different and individual crafts which are made from the same materials.

Gateshead Carers

In early December Crafty Creatures was luck yo take part in Gateshead Crossroads Carers Christmas Community Event. Christmas crafts to cover a wide age range were available for all to make, from spiraling snowmen to angel tree decorations. People from the local community in Highfield attended, along with schools in the area and of course carers. I was particularly excited for Crafty Creatures to take part in this event as in the past I have worked with people who have mental ill health and am aware of the work carers of all ages play in helping to keep people well, so it was lovely to be able to give something back to them.

Here is are few photos taken on the day.

CHTISTMAS IS COMING

Quite scary, I know but there's apparently 36 days left until Christmas. Yikes! Coming up for Crafty Creatures are some Christmas events and parties. I've started to get the crafts prepared and have already got glitter all over the house and it's only November!

Along with the festive crafts we still have birthday parties, with some fairy and dolphin crafts to be made with Ciara and Niamh and on an adventure at Oliver's Diego party.

If you would like information about our Craft Parties or Events please give me Nicola a call on 07966 297426 or email me at nicola@crafty-creatures.com

LET'S PARTY...

I know it's been a while since I last posted anything so I thought I would show some pictures from parties I've been doing. Here's some photos from Eve's 3rd birthday back in October. The theme was Pirates and Dinosaurs. A strange combination I know but party crafts can be designed around whatever theme you want.

Halloween seems to be getting bigger every year with lots of costumes to choose from in the shops. It certainly was a busy time for us with lots of spooky crafts been made at Halloween parties, below are some photos of what was made.

BROWNIES & GUIDES CENTENARY

Last Saturday (5th September) literally thousands of Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and their leaders were celebrating 100 years of the movement. Celebrations in our region were been held at Segdefield Racecourse where a whopping 1650 children attended. Crafty Creatures was lucky to be asked to provide some of the entertainment for the day. We estimate we saw at least half of the children who attended the day. So it was a rather busy day!
Children of all ages made a variety of crafts. From a Brown Owl, Caterpillar on a leaf, Magnets of Brownie & Guide Sixer Animals and to a lovely, very tactile hedgehog. Please take a look below to see just a few of the crafts that were made on the day.

GATESHEAD TO BRAZIL

Bill Quay Farm in Gateshead went global over the summer and Crafty Creatures took children and their families on a journey to the Brazilian Rainforest. Toucans, jaguars, red eyed tree frogs and a paint-spattered rainforest picture and rainmakers were all made by over 100 children we saw over 3 days. Children took most of their art home, however some colourful collages and rainforest animals were left so a mural can be made for the farm to remind children of the fun and great art that was made.