Craft Idea for a Group: Make a Mural - Even A Halloween Mural

Make a mural, in any theme you want. For Halloween you can use a Halloween theme as part of your Halloween decorations.

Most craft ideas are geared to individuals, whether kids or adults. Sometimes you'd like to have a craft idea that works for a group of kids working together. Making a mural together is an idea that works for a group. By working together, you are creating something to decorate a shared area.

Individual crafts can be displayed, but one unique item is often more effective than a group of items that are almost identical. In addition, sometimes kids' crafts like it or not, just become clutter when they are taken home, and it isn't long before Mom throws it out. This craft idea of making a group mural can be displayed for several weeks and will not become clutter in anyone's home.

The basic materials for a kids' group mural is freezer paper. Freezer paper is about 18 inches wide, and it is very tough. One side is plastic coated. That is the side that is designed to be placed against the food. You will have better luck drawing on and gluing things onto the other side.

Class or group murals can feature a number of different design elements:

• You can mix up some finger paint and let the children make hand prints (or even foot prints!) on the paper.
• You can let them scour old cast-off magazines and color catalogs for pictures they like and let them cut the pictures out and glue them on.
• They can add scribbles, designs, signatures, slogans, or pictures using markers, crayons, or gel pens.
• They can attach stickers to the mural as well. This craft idea is very flexible!

For making the mural, choose a topic that relates to the group in some way. If the group are girl scouts, for instance, and have been learning to camp, the mural can feature pictures of items related to camping. If you've been learning about dinosaurs, you can use them as a theme.

Here is an idea that is very suitable for a Halloween theme:

If you want a really messy project that makes a cute mural for fall, mix up finger paint in fall colors. The children can each make a tree by first laying their forearm in brown paint. Then they lay their arm on the paper to make the trunk of the tree. They should spread out their fingers so their arm print has five short branches at the top.

To make the leaves, the children make fingerprints all around the top of the tree using paints in other fall colors. If you add a few drops of dishwashing detergent to finger paint when mixing it up, it will be easier to clean off the children's arms. Do make sure they have old clothes or smocks for this craft idea.

Little preschoolers will like making a mural with an animal theme. You should probably find and cut out animal magazine pictures to start with, and then let the children choose the ones they like for gluing down.

Glue sticks are neat to use with small children. They will paste some of the pictures upside down. Expect it and do not scold them. It is the process that is important in this craft idea. The children can also use animal cookie cutters dipped in finger paint to stamp animals on the mural, too. You may need to tape the paper to the table so it doesn't slide around while the children work.

As Halloween Id approaching you can of course use a Halloween theme for these murals.

Fun Kids Crafts - Colorful Pom-Poms for Your Cheerleader Party

Even though this craft is for a party, there is no reason why you cannot invent a party in order to have the kids make them!

Birthday parties with a cheerleader theme are lots of fun. They encourage the honoree and guests to run, jump and play, creating their own cheers and acrobatics. Cheerleading outfits are not necessary, as any comfortable clothing will do just fine. But there is one thing that every aspiring cheerleader needs: pom-poms.

You can find inexpensive plastic pom-poms at most discount stores. But did you know that you can make them at home for next to nothing? With a few simple supplies, you can quickly whip up enough pom-poms for a cheerleading party. And best of all, you can use any colors you like.

Supplies

* Tissue paper in two or more colors
* Scissors
* Dowels or popsicle sticks
* Vinyl tape


Instructions

1. Place four sheets of tissue paper on top of one another. Fold them in half widthwise.

2. Starting at the open end, cut inch-wide strips through all layers. Stop about an inch from the fold so that the strips stay together at the folded end.

3. Starting at either folded corner, roll the edge of the tissue paper around the end of a dowel or popsicle stick. Roll all the way to the other folded corner. Tape the tissue paper securely to the dowel or popsicle stick with vinyl tape.

4. Place four more sheets of tissue paper on top of one another, and fold in half widthwise.

5. Repeat steps two and three, rolling this tissue paper around the first.

6. Repeat the process to make a nice, fluffy pom-pom.


For best results, alternate two or more colors. You could use the birthday girl's favorite colors, or school colors. You could even use up to eight different colors to make rainbow pom-poms.

If you want fuller pom-poms, just keep adding layers of tissue paper. You can use as many as you like, as long as you can still tape them to the handle.

Miniature pom-poms also make great party favors, and they are very quick and easy to make. Simply arrange pieces of basket stuffing in the desired colors together, and make a handle by tightly wrapping a small amount of vinyl tape around them. Trim the stuffing even with one end of the tape, and trim to about an inch long on the other side. If the handle is too long, trim to the desired length. Attach safety pins to make pom-pom pins, or leave as-is for decorative use. These also make great doll accessories.

These projects make great party favors. They also work well as crafts for party attendees. Provide lots of different colors of tissue paper and/or basket stuffing so that each child can make her own unique set of pom-poms.

Do go and have a look at the Fun Kids Crafts Ebook

Make Your Own Birthday Banner

Make Your Own Birthday Banner

Every birthday party needs a banner. Just go to any party supply shop, and you'll see all sorts of styles to choose from. But why buy the same banners everyone else is using when you can easily make a unique handmade one?

These birthday banners can showcase your kids' budding artistic ability, or they can be the picture of elegance. It's all up to you.

Supplies

* Different types of paper - construction paper and plain white paper work well, or you could use a patterned scrapbooking paper with a coordinating plain paper.
* Ruler
* Pencil
* Glue stick or other type of glue that works well with paper
* Markers
* Glitter glue, stickers, stick-on gems and other decorative items
* Hole punch or notching tool
* A piece of ribbon that is long enough to run through the banner and be used to hang it

Instructions

* Determine what shape you want to use for each part of your banner. Pennants are often used, but squares look nice too (and they're very easy to cut). You could also use two or three different shapes.
* Cut one type of paper into shapes of the desired size. Cut the other paper into the same shape, but make it an inch or so smaller.
* Draw one letter from the words "Happy Birthday" on each of the smaller squares, or have kids do it. Make sure each letter is large enough and dark enough to see from a distance.
* Glue each letter onto the middle of a corresponding shape. Decorate with glitter glue, stickers, stick-on gems or anything else you like.
* Use the hole punch or notching tool to make holes in the top of each shape, about an inch or so from each end.
* Put the letters in order. Thread the ribbon through each hole. When all of the letters are on the ribbon, center them. Tie knots or use glue to keep the letters on each end in place.
* Hang the banner by tying the ends of the ribbon to something, or by using thumbtacks.

Tips

* Use card stock or construction paper for the larger shapes. They will hold up much better than regular paper.
* For an elegant look, try using a solid piece of card stock for the larger shapes and a coordinating patterned piece of scrapbook paper for the smaller ones.
* If you're not good at making large letters, use a stencil or large foam alphabet stamps.
* If you want to be able to reuse your creation, fold it up so that the letters are stacked on top of one another and store it in a box in a safe place.

101 Kid Summer Activities

Kid Tested Activities to keep them Happy, Engaged, and Entertained

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Go to 101 Kid Summer Activities now, you will not be sorry!