Craft Activities
Here are some craft activities. Get creative and have some fun!
Cereal Box Characters
Are you tired of looking at the same old cereal boxes every morning? How about creating a new looking cereal box that will surprise your whole family at breakfast? Click here to find out how
You can give your creation a special name and add a little story about your character too!
Papier-mâché
Papier-mâché in French means "chewed paper"! You can create all sorts of shapes by sculpting wet paper and glue. Your creation becomes solid when it dries. Papier-mâché is used in making theatre props and sets, toys, puppets, masks, and much more.
Rip, tear and shred paper scraps. Then get your hands wet! Papier-mâché can be really fun. See if you can make a papier-mâché puppet or mask and then create your own puppet show. Just follow the papier-mâché instructions
Have a look here for some design ideas from Papier-mâché crafts
Origami
Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding and is thought by some to be the most beautiful of the paper handcrafts.
Have you heard of the true story of Sadako and the thousand paper cranes?
There is a Japanese legend that says that if you fold a thousand paper cranes your wish will be granted. This is a Sadako’s story about the power of one person to create change.
If you would like to read the book, ask your local library to help you find a copy:
Sadako and the thousand paper cranes by Eleanor Coerr
Click here to see how to fold a paper crane
Have a look at these websites for some easy to follow origami folding:
You can make millions of different origami creations. Visit these websites for a gallery of origami insects:
Origami gallery and
Here are some books you may like to read that are set in Japan. Your library will have others too!
Hannah’s winter by Kierin Meehan (Novel)
In the monkey forest by Kierin Meehan (Novel)
The white crane by Junko Morimoto (Picture book)
Two bullies by Junko and Isao Morimoto (Picture book)
Other activities you can do at home are: collage, modelling with clay and constructing mobiles.
Check out your local libraries’ books on craft. Here are a few helpful titles:
Australian kids’ craft activities by Linda Swainger
EcoArt: earth-friendly art & craft experiences by Laurie Carlson (Illus Loretta Braren)
Having fun with cardboard, cards & things by Melissa Davies
Kids craft and play ideas by Jennifer Mackenzie
And for Christmas themes try:
Christmas craft galore by Rosemarie Stevenson
Craft ideas for Christmas by Phyllis Caruso
