Pry the iPads and video games out of your children’s hands and hand them glue, tape and felt instead. It’s time to spur imagination this summer. Creative mom Andrea Duclos’ launched www.ohdeardrea.com as a platform for all things bright, playful and kid-friendly to engage their minds and avoid boredom. Duclos offers three do-it-yourself projects—a pom pom box, felt jellyfish and flower crown—that will keep children’s hands busy and their minds bursting with creativity. This is called good, old-fashioned fun.
Pom Pom Box- ages 2+
Materials: a small wooden box, an obscene amount of pom poms, pencil, wood glue
Directions: With your pencil, draw a design on and around box. Section by section, spread glue on top of box and…[CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE.]
Felt Jellyfish- ages 5+
Materials: felt, embroidery thread for stitching , several cut pieces of embroidery threads in different colors and lengths, scissors, embroidery needle, stuffing
Directions: Cut felt to shape your jellyfish. Tie a knot at one end of threaded needle and pull through the corner of one side. Match the other piece of felt to the back, hiding the knot in between. Stitch up and around jellyfish, once at bottom of other end; do not pull thread all the way through. Take two pieces of embroidery thread (whatever length and colors you prefer) and tie a knot in loop. Pull the needle and thread bringing…[CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE.]
Flower Crown- ages 7+
Materials: fresh flowers, pruning sheers/scissors, thin brown or green (florist) wire, florist tape
Directions: Use your wire to tie off bunches of flower stems together; four bunches or so should fit a child’s head. With the wire, start tying bunches together, end to end; if any bunches feel flimsy, add extra wire to secure pieces together. Tie enough to get to fit…[CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE.]
