Winter Wonders Handicraft Camp: Season of Wonder & Giving

Well, we officially have one great Winter Wonders Handicraft Camp completed and a success.  At least I am dubbing it so, seeing as the kids that attended left proudly with gifts to bestow and big smiles on their faces!  I'll post some pictures on Instagram tomorrow, so stop by to see the fun we had learning and crafting.

WINTER WONDERS Handicraft Camp for Kids 2012

Here's how it works:

Your child will be given hands-on tutorials to complete 6 Handicraft Gifts (they can keep or give them away), they will also complete 1 Art Activity, enjoy 1 Nature Activity and 1 Cooking Activity! Plus, FREE Gift Wrapping! (We wrap the gifts . . . not your kids!)

You leave them in our capable hands from 10 am - 4 pm during our full day Saturday Day Camp.  PERFECT to go get some shopping done, or go to the spa, or both!

WINTER WONDERS CAMP DATES:

• DECEMBER 15TH *2 Spots Left* Let It Snow! (Follow Link to Read More on This Camp)
• DECEMBER 22ND *3 Spots Left* Season of Wonder & Giving!

HERE ARE THE WINTER WONDERS YOUR KIDS WILL BRING HOME FROM OUR LAST CAMP OF THE SEASON:

Season of Wonder & Giving, December 22nd

6 Handicraft Gifts (with FREE Wrapping)

• We Three Kings Banner Gift
• Handcrafted Soap Snowman Gift
• Felt Hanky Holder Gift
• Simple Wooden Nativity Gift
• Cinnamon Stick Christmas Star Gift
• Felt Book Marks

1 Art Activity

• Jesus and Mary Watercolor Portrait

1 Nature Activity

• Orange Peel & Pine Cone Nature Mobiles 

1 Cooking Activity

• Mini Cookie Houses

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! for ages 5 and up! $40.00 for each Saturday Camp (Lunch not included), add $5.00 Gluten Free Pizza Option

ALL SUPPLIES ARE PROVIDED AS PART OF THIS WORKSHOP!

TO REGISTER You must email Joyful Socks (Heather Mac) with the name, age, grade and school of your child.  You will receive an emailed invoice within 24 hours to confirm your registration.  

FEE IS DUE AT TIME OF REGISTRATION! - Cash, Check & Pay Pal accepted

Hoping your winter is full of wonders and joy!

The Joyful Socks Mom 

CRAFT ALLOWING WITH US! Follow our Winter Wonders Pinterest Board

HERE ARE SOME MORE JOYFUL RESOURCES FOR YOU!

• Visit my new Etsy Shop: HERITAGE FOLK ART to get unique handmade gifts!  Custom orders are welcome. 
• Tired of all this holiday baking?  Check out the Heritage Folk Art & Baking price listtoday!
• HARMONY FINE ARTS: The best study for art and music appreciation!  Hard working moms with little time left will love this curriculum plan.

Statement of Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. The blog owner receives a small portion of sales generated from these links, which helps to support this blog. The blog writer does not receive compensation for thoughts or opinions expressed on this blog. Thank you for your kind consideration. 

WINTER WONDERS Handicraft Camp for Kids

I am excited to announce our very first Handicraft Camp!

• Do your kids love to work with their hands?
• Do you need a purposeful place for them to be while you do your holiday shopping?
• Would your kids enjoy making handicrafts to give as gifts?

Then our new Handicraft Camp is for your child!

WINTER WONDERS Handicraft Camp for Kids 2012

Here's how it works:

Your child will be given hands-on tutorials to complete 6 Handicraft Gifts (they can keep or give them away), they will also complete 1 Art Activity, enjoy 1 Nature Activity and 1 Cooking Activity! Plus, FREE Gift Wrapping! (We wrap the gifts . . . not your kids!)

You leave them in our capable hands from 10 am - 4 pm during our full day Saturday Day Camp.  PERFECT to go get some shopping done, or go to the spa, or both!

HERE ARE THE WINTER WONDERS YOUR KIDS WILL BRING HOME FROM OUR FIRST CAMP: LET IT SNOW!

6 Handicraft Gifts (with FREE Wrapping)

• Snowman in a Jar Gift
• Handcrafted Soap Snowman Gift
• Woven Snowflake Ornament Gift
• Snowman Yard Art Gift
• Stacked Snowman Hot Cocoa Gift
• Handmade Snow Globe Gift

1 Art Activity

• Snowing Thumbprint Painting

1 Nature Activity

• Nature Ice Art

1 Cooking Activity

• Snowball No-Bake Cookies

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! for ages 5 and up! $40.00 for each Saturday Camp (Lunch not included), add $5.00 Gluten Free Pizza Option

ALL SUPPLIES ARE PROVIDED AS PART OF THIS WORKSHOP!

DECEMBER 8TH CLASS FULL - Let It Snow!

DECEMBER 15TH *4 Spots Left* Let It Snow!

DECEMBER 22ND *7 Spots Left* Season of Wonder & Giving! (I will announce the activities for this camp next week)

TO REGISTER You must email Joyful Socks (Heather Mac) with the name, age, grade and school of your child.  You will receive an emailed invoice within 24 hours to confirm your registration.  

FEE IS DUE AT TIME OF REGISTRATION! - Cash, Check & Pay Pal accepted

Workshop spaces are limited, register today!

Hoping your winter is full of wonders and joy!

The Joyful Socks Mom 

HERE ARE SOME MORE JOYFUL RESOURCES FOR YOU!

• Visit my new Etsy Shop: HERITAGE FOLK ART to get unique handmade gifts!  Custom orders are welcome. 
• Tired of all this holiday baking?  Check out the Heritage Folk Art & Baking price listtoday!
• HARMONY FINE ARTS: The best study for art and music appreciation!  Hard working moms with little time left will love this curriculum plan.

Statement of Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. The blog owner receives a small portion of sales generated from these links, which helps to support this blog. The blog writer does not receive compensation for thoughts or opinions expressed on this blog. Thank you for your kind consideration. 

Weaving Coasters:Camp How-We-Luv-2-Crafta!

Teaching handicrafts to children is an essential key in a Charlotte Mason education.  I love introducing my children crafting that they can develop over time and use in adulthood.  Not that gluing a "foam piece" to a construction paper doesn't have it's practical value, but long term beauty?  I just don't see it.  The potential of passing a handicraft on to the next generation and the generations after, just blesses this mother's heart.  

Camp How-We-Luv-2-Crafta will be my summer wind-down series featuring handicrafts that you can easily create with your kiddos.  Here are some of the handicrafts I will feature: Weaving Coasters, Rag Dolls, Yarn Dolls, Stick Rafts, Making Butter, Spool Knitted Scarves, Macrame, Loom Weaving and Spool Spinning.


Today's Tutorial: Weaving Coasters
Materials needed: Paper Plate, Scissors, Black Yarn (for preparing loom), Various colored yarn of your choice (at least 3 different colors) cut in 2 - 2 1/2 feet strands (the younger the child, the shorter pieces of yarn so they don't get frustrated having them in tangles).

1.  Prepare your paper plate.  Punch hole in the center of paper plate.  Next, cut slits around the edge of the paper plate (every 2 - 2 1/2 inches around the scalloping on plate).  YOU MUST HAVE AN ODD NUMBER of slits.

2.  Now use your black yarn to construct your paper plate loom before beginning weaving.  Thread the black yarn through the center hole in paper plate, securing it with a knot.  Proceed by threading your black yarn up through an "edge slit" and then back through the center hole until all the "edge slits" are threaded with black yarn.  Black is easier for your child to see as they are weaving.  Secure last thread by tying a knot in the back of the plate.

3.  Turn plate around to begin instructing your child in how to weave their coaster.  Choose your beginning colored yarn.

4.  Thread yarn under a black yarn loom piece to begin.  Secure for your child by knotting the colored yarn to the loom yarn.

5.  Demonstrate and assist your child in weaving in an alternating pattern.  It is best when weaving a circle to begin with your fist few rows 2 under and then 2 over.  The remaining rows will simply be a 1 under, 1 over pattern.

6.  Be sure to tighten your weaving yarn during the weaving process.  Teach your child to pull, but not too tightly.  When they pull too tight the coaster while have snags.  When they don't pull tight enough the weaving will come loose easily.  Stop the weaving at lease an 1 - 1 1/2 inches from the end of black loom yarn.

 7.  Peel back the paper plate loom and rip away all paper from the yarn.

8.  Clip the ends of the black looming yarn in half.  Tie ends together and secure with a knot.

Remember: When instructing a child in handicrafts you need to encourage them in their work, while helping them to endure to the end result.  Teach them the importance of patience in achieving excellent.  Most handicrafts will need to be taught in small 20 - 30 minute increments and then resumed at the next instruction time.

Happy Crafting!

The Joyful Socks Mom  

This post is part of the Camp How-We-Love-To-Craft-A: Generational Handicraft series

Where we are at?  We are linking up this week at 3boysandadog for Homeschooling on the Cheap! 

Here are some more homeschool resources we recommend:

• Bright Ideas Press - The curriculum that Moms Love!  Home of Mystery of History.
• SHAPE Academy - SHAPE offers excellence in home education: Christian, classical, affordable, original and fun!
• No falling behind on Homeschool organizing!  Get the Weekly Homeschool Planner today!

Statement of Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.  The blog owner receives a small portion of sales generated from these links, which helps to support this blog.  The blog writer does not receive compensation for thoughts or opinions expressed on this blog.  Thank you for your kind consideration. 

Enriching Everyday: The Macrame Project

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The kids and I have been inspired recently by one of our Resale Shop finds.  The Reader's Digest Book - Crafts and Hobbies: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creative Skills.  The book cost me a whole $1.00 bill!  It contains a smattering of creative skills to learn like crochet, macrame, leatherworking, weaving, spinning, and basketry just to name a few.

This book has been a great spring board for our handicraft work this spring, and I thought you all might like to come along for the ride.  Our newest handicraft skill to add to our proverbial tool-belt is Macrame.  Which I see is making a comeback.

The first project we tackled was this Macrame Key-chain.  It was a great project for teaching the basic knots in macrame and practice.

• Here is the tutorial from That Artist Lady blog that we used: Key Chain

Here is are the Square Knot basics, with a little verse to help us remember the steps in our knot.  Here are the verbal instructions I gave to the Bug:

1. Starting with Yarn 1 and working from left to right (just like you read)

2. You jump over the alligator (Yarn 2 and Yarn 3)

3. Then you go under the little bridge (Yarn 4)

4. Now you start with Yarn 4 and work back, right to left.

5. Now you go back, under the old rickety bridge (Yarn 3 and Yarn 2)

6. And up through the tunnel (Yarn 1) and back out the other side.

7.  And now, the birdie flies up to the sky.

The next project that we are working on is macrame jars to make hanging planters . . . I know, it sounds totally 70's but it is really turning out lovely.  We are working on our  Macrame Herb Hanging Garden as a team.  I find the Bug especially does better with her handiwork, if mom is working on the same type of project.  So the big kids and I are getting the larger project done, while the little one is working on her basics.

 {Here is my contribution to the Macrame Herb Jar Garden}

Here are some more Macrame projects for you to enjoy:

• Basic Macrame Owl
• Excellent Macrame Plant Hanger
• Mason Jar Macrame Cover
• Macrame Yarn Bracelet

{This is the Bug's Macrame Key-chain . . . it may take us a few more tries}

We will keep you updated on the Macrame project.  That is, if I can type anymore after all of these Square Knots and Reverse Square Knots!

Happy Homeschooling!

The Joyful Socks Mom     


Be sure to visit these other great resources for teaching Art:

• Drawing with Children by: Mona Brookes
• 300 Lessons in Art by: Robert Henkes
• The Wonders of Nature Sketchbook by: Colleen Monroe

Where we are at:

Linking up with 

Enriching Everyday: The Finger Knitting Project

We posted on our Crafting plans during our Spring Break from homeschool quite awhile back.  Now we have another update on how our projects have panned out.  Presenting the "Finger Knitting Project" . . .

The Squeaker has started her finger-knitting project and it is keeping her busy and focused . . . Nice bonus!  (Big thank you to our pastor's daughter for teaching her at Co-op)  Here is a tutorial that we found online, along with ideas on how to use your finger-knitting strands.

FINGER KNITTING tutorial HERE.

I also love this How-to Teach Child or Teen Knitting Lens - great resource!






Here are just a few projects you can craft with your finger knitting strands:

• Bracelet - of course!:  Here is a basic Yarn Bracelet, Jersey T-Shirt Knit Bracelet and here is another Jersey T-shirt Bracelet.
• Fuzzy Little Caterpillar:
• Flowers: Knit Flower Tutorial, 
• Headbands:  This is a great Braided Headband
• Necklace: Finger Knitted Nautical Necklace, Necklace & Garland Tutorial
• Stylish Scarf: Simply knit your strands, tying them off with a hefty knot and fraying them at the ends.  Here is a style we call Knot-Scarves.  The Bug made some of these this weekend for our "Craft booth" collection.
• Knot Scarves:  This tutorial is using crochet chains, but it works just as beautifully with finger knitted strands.

Here is how the Squeaker's "blanket" is looking.  I was given an entire garbage bag full of lovely yarn and she has almost used ALL of it on her blanket, small price to pay.  I am still not understanding how she is planning to bind it together, but she assures me she "has it covered".  Whatever! : \

Here is a great tutorial we found for the Bug to join in the knitting fun, as I am a crocheter and am clueless to knitting techniques. : (  The one weakness to my crafty super powers!

This is the Spool Knitter that we made and you can follow this link to view the easy, squeazy how-to.  This is a lovely way for the younger kiddos to knit.  It helps them keep the stitches more even and tighter than if they are just using their tiny fingers.

So, what are you waiting for?  Let's get to knitting!!!

Happy Crafting!

Have a blessed Resurrection & Passover Weekend all!

The Joyful Socks Mom 

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Spring Break Crafting Update: The Results!

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Just wanted to drop in and share a couple of pictures of some results of our Spring Break-Out Crafting.  The girls and I had a wonderful time putting our hands to work at creating.  Here are some of our results.

The Squeaker created this Mickey Mouse "pop-art" from magazine clippings.  She is planning to redecorate her "side" of the bedroom in all Mickey this summer.

This is the middle point of the Squeaker's finger knitting project.  Wow!  I thought she might have given up by now, but no, she is determined to string them together for a lovely little lap blanket.  Hey, whatever floats your boat!

This (of course) is what kept the Bug so very busy over Spring Break and beyond.  Prayer for the Nations yarn dolls.  She has raised over $100 so far for International Missions.  It is so awesome to see her on fire for sharing the gospel with unsaved souls.  

We did a couple of other projects and then spent a lot of time preparing for the Market Day at Rhineland Farm . . . more on all that later.  Thanks for stopping by to see what our hands are busy doing.

Happy Homeschooling

The Joyful Socks Mom   

Crafty Spring Break Plans

The Scout will be out the door this morning for a visit with family in Houston, as we are taking a full week from schooling.  We have lots of back and forth, running around town to do this week.  My grandparents recently moved into an assisted living home and we have many commitments to help out this week.  We have family coming in from out of town to help, which means some tidying up around the Mac house too.  Lots of cleaning and repairing to do at my grandparent's house and getting ready for a yard sale.  Whew!

Where does that leave the girls for some fun Spring Break vacation action?  Well, we have planned out a week of crafting to make up for the fact that the Squeaker and the Bug will not get much of a road-trip this year.  Here are our best laid plans and we'll let you know how it turns out:

The Squeaker:
Being 13 she has her own idea and crafting style, so all I have done is make some suggestions.  Some worked, some didn't.  Anyway, here is what she is planning - 

• Hand Knitting a Blanket (This is of her own design, so I have no tutorial to share . . . yet)
• Stick Raft: I am certain she is envisioning launching this at the park.
• Micky Mouse Collage Art The girls are planning on redecorating their room this summer.  The Squeaker will be decorating her side in Mickey Mouse art and deco.  She's planning this collage to get a jump start.

The Bug:

• Missionary M and M bracelets The Bug will be making these bracelets to support her missionaries in Haiti and beyond.  Here is the Friendship Bracelet pattern we are using.
• Weaving She has chosen this really neat looming craft.  We recently covered A New Coat for Anna during our FI♥AR curriculum at Co-op.  Since then she has been enthralled with weaving.  Hopefully this will help feed her need to loom.
• Treasure Rocks We really thought these "Treasure Rocks" sounded cool.  She is planning on making lots for her friends and her cousins, The Doodle Bugs (my 19 month old nieces).

Mommy:  These are my hopes for a few solitary crafting moments for myself 
. . . we'll see. : )

• Quiet Books I love these and have wanted to make them for the Doodle Bugs for quite awhile.  I have most of these materials on hand, so it should work out.
• JUST SOME QUIET CROCHET TIME - I don't care what I do, I just need a hook and some yarn.  Here's my best Greta Garbo impression, "I want to be alone . . ." with my yarn!
• Card Book Taking all the lovely cards that I have saved and making them into a journal.

Altogether Now:
We are planning on crafting together some Fairy Houses.  We have built several around the local Nature Trail and in the backyard.  I think we might try our hand at gluing them together, where our dog or the elements could tear them apart.


What are your Spring Break plans?  Any crafting in your near future?
Leave a comment and let us know.

Happy Homeschooling

aka The Joyful Socks Mom

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FRUGAL Flip - Floppy Flowers

Greetings!  This my fist installment in a great blogging carnival called Kiddos Create: Challenge of the Week by Mama Jenn.  I was excited to find Mama Jenn's blog a couple of weeks ago.  She is an encouraging and inspiring homeschool mom (the best kind of mom if you ask me).  I have been enjoying many of her posts and am excited to participate in this fun challenge and share it with my loyal readers.
So here's the scoop . . .
The Problem: The Squeaker & the Scout get to attend 2 separate camps during the summer, leaving the Bug home alone.  She endured not going shopping for camp clothing and supplies over the last few weeks, whilst her Sissy & Bubba have received ample goods (and attention) over their camping excursions.The Solution:  Sending the Bug off to Granny's so she can feel special too!The Challenge: To create something special for The Bug to take along on her vacation without spending mulla . . . we need frugal here people.  Like I said, just sent kids to camp you know!The Creation:  Flip-Floppy Flowers
1 Pair of "plain jane" Flip Flops + Scrap yarn from last month = FLIP - FLOPPY FLOWERS

ALSO = 1 Happy Bug!

www.TheMacRak.com

www.TheMacRak.blogspot.com

HIS Kids Craft: Rainbow Windstreamers

Don't know about ya'll (bet you can't guess where I'm from), but it's still really windy here. Time to take a step out to the back door and test out how fun the wind can be. . . after I take my Benadryl, of course. Here is a craft from April 2009: HIS Kids Club Feature Craft #3 Rainbow Windstreamers. You can build it here by following the directions and watching "The Scouts" HIS Kids Craft T.V. broadcast. No time or materials to craft? That's O.K., get you all-inclusive craft kit at http://www.themacrak.com/ or TWEET YOUR ORDER (http://twitter.com/MacRakMom) Tweet via Direct Message: HCKF3-MRORBS-0904 and your email - We will invoice you through Pay Pal ($5.25 + $1.00 Shipping). Happy Crafting!!!

Rainbow Wind streamers Craft
HKCF3-MRORBS0904
(This craft is not intended for children under the Age of 3. Adult supervision is recommended.)

Craft Benefits: Hand-eye coordination, Patterns, Creativity, Sense of Accomplishment, Motor Skills, Family Quality Time, Relationship Building & FUN!

Materials:
Paper Plate
Glue
Scissors
Multi Colors of Streamers
Pencil

1. Outline the inside of the paper plate with a pencil, making a full complete circle.
2. Carefully use scissors, gently punching a small hole to begin cutting path along the edge of the circle, inside the paper plate. You should now have a large hole at the center of the paper plate.
3. Arrange your streamers in the pattern of your choice. Decide in what order you will place them on your plate.
4. Attach your streamers to the plate. Glue a thin ribbon of glue, in a half circle, on the outermost area (or rim area) of the plate. Place your streamers by the end of the streamer to the glue on your plate. Allow to dry.
5. Now use your wind streamers to run outside and test out the wind. Or put holes at the top and hang in your room as a mobile or outside as a wind sock. Discuss with your family what promise from God the Rainbow streamers remind you of. What are God’s most precious promises to you and your family?

Watch the HIS Kids Craft T.V. HOW-TO GUIDE on this craft - posted below.





We hope this quality time has been a blessing to you and your family.
For HIS Kids . . . For HIS glory!
Love: The Macs

Scout Crafting

Cub Scout Craft-Of-The-Month
This month’s theme for scouting is Leave Nothing Behind But Footsteps. This is one of the crafts we will be doing with our Webelos den and we wanted to share it with you. This is also a super craft to do following Earth Day, April 22nd, and talk about why it is important to be a good steward of the Earth.

Litter Bug Craft Supplies:
Trash (Newspaper, String, Straws, Bottle Tops, Caps)
Tacky Glue

Instructions:
Crumple up a piece of newspaper. Wrap another piece around it. Wrap with string and tie off to hold newspaper in a ball. Add straws, bottle tops, caps... anything to make it look like a litter bug.

This craft was brought to you courtesy of Terri from http://www.makingfriends.com/ - Thanks Terri for all you do for us crazy crafters!

* Do you have a child in scouting? Do you know any scout leaders? Help them out by recommending http://www.themacrak.com/, we build Scout Packs at a discount to help scout leaders have quick and purposeful activities for their meetings . . . Without the fuss! Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts & Camp Fire.
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The Bug Featuring: Ladybug Egg Carton Craft

Hey guys and gals! We have been busy mixing up some super crafting fun for the entire family. Take a look at what is going on with the main site. http://www.themacrak.com/

The following Youtube videos feature The Bug creating one of our April Featured HIS Kids Craft kits. Take a look at Part 1 then Part 2.

I also put in a video of an activity that you can do with your kids after you have completed this craft. The Bug decided to make up a song about her pretty little ladybugs. It is was too cute! Of course, as mother, I could be a little bit biased!

Take a look and let us know what you think about our new HIS Kids Craft TV format.

Here it is Ladybug Egg Carton Craft How-To video Part 1



And Part 2 . . .



Now take a look at another great activity you can do with this craft . . .



Thanks for taking a look today HIS Kids & their patient parents!
Have a blessed week.



Heather Mac
Owner & Senior Crafter
http://www.themacrak.com/