| ISSUE 93 • 1 NOVEMBER 2010 | |
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Editorial I've re-discovered Amanda Soule. I first started reading Amanda's blog... actually, I don't even know when! It was a long time ago though – back in the days when I was still at home with babes in arms. For years I found inspiration and peace in her thoughtful words. I could conjure up smells from the images she posted of her life on the other side of the world. She gave me ideas. She gave me strength. She gave me food for thought. About a year ago, or maybe even further back, I found myself growing tired of her blog. I felt frustrated by the sponsored posts. I found that her idyllic life, in stark contrast to my own, had become a burden. I stopped feeling inspired by her – I started to feel inadequate by comparison. And one day, I just stopped visiting. And time passed. Seasons changed, along with my circumstances. But just the other day, out of nowhere, I sat down at my computer and went back for a visit. I was amazed to realise how much it felt like stepping back into the company of an old friend. I cooed and gasped at how big her kids had grown. I marvelled to see that she had moved house since I last visited. Yes, the sponsored posts that so annoyed me were still there but so were those words, those pictures, those insights. And best of all, as I read I didn't feel helpless and inadequate – I felt inspired again. The move back into full-time work has been very fulfilling for me in a lot of different ways but I've really noticed how quickly we've got stuck in a rut of routine and chores and rushing from one commitment to the next. Visiting Amanda's blog after all this time made me realise that it's time to challenge our routine a little. To slow down. It's reminded me that we have to make room for fun and laughter and spontaneity and creativity – despite leading busy lives. So this evening I picked up my well-worn copy of Amanda's book The Creative Family  and starting reading and dreaming and smiling. It's a
very special book and reading it again has left me in a very happy
space. If you haven't read it before, I do recommend you get hold of a
copy as a treat to yourself.Tomorrow is a public holiday here in Melbourne and I'm planning to spend some time being present with the kids. Dressing up, being silly, making puppets and taking the time to take note of the things that make my little family so special and weird and wonderfully unique. Happy crafting and I'll see you next time!  Amber Carvan editor@kidscraftweekly.com PS. The 2010 Kids Craft Weekly handmade card swap is coming! Details in the next issue – stay tuned! |
These cute finger puppets are so simple and appealing. You can use the same embellishments as we did or come up with your own ideas based on your favourite characters. You will need • a rubber glove • scissors • white glue • small white dot stickers • marker pens • wool scraps Directions 1. Cut the fingers from a rubber glove.  2. Draw faces on the small white stickers.  3. Stick the stickers on the rubber glove fingers.  4. Use the wool scraps to prepare some fancy hair-do's for your finger puppets.  5. Stick them on using white glue. This is quite easy if you peg some clothespegs along the side of a box, then place your puppets on the pegs to keep them steady and upright.  6. And there you have it – ever so cute DIY finger puppets! 
These adorable spoon puppets are easy to put together using items from around your home – that is, provided you're happy to sacrifice a wooden spoon! You will need • wooden spoons • marker pens • curling ribbon • tape • fabric scraps • rubber bands or hair ties Directions 1. Draw a face on a wooden spoon.  2. Tape on some hair made from curling ribbon (or string, or wool).  3. Wrap some fabric scraps around the handle of the spoon and fasten with a rubber band or hair elastic.  4. Now, if I were a dish I would certainly be running away with one of these lovely spoons. 
Sock puppets have so much personality, especially when they're planned and created by young kids. This simple sock puppet idea is perfect for the young ones as it requires no sewing. Better still – it won't ruin your sock! You will need • a sock • felt scraps • scissors • safety pins (small) • split pins (brads) • small white stickers • sticky velcro dot Directions 1. Use safety pins to attach ears and a tongue to your sock. For a nose, try a split pin (brad) or a sticky velcro dot. Stickers make good eyes. Here's what we came up with:   2. Then put them on and the fun begins again! 
We have a whole box of packing peanuts in the house at the moment so I was thrilled to put some of them to good use with this brilliantly scary box puppet. If you don't have any on hand you can glue on screwed up balls of crepe paper or even uncooked macaroni for a fabulously toothy looking t-rex. You will need • cardboard box • paint and brushes • knife • egg carton • cotton reel (or alternative) • tape • packing peanuts • white glue • felt or coloured paper for tongue Directions 1. Select a long solid cardboard box that can be sealed closed at both ends. Paint box a suitable colour for a dinosaur. For extra effect, paint one side red (this will be the inside of the mouth).  2. Cut box in half along three sides and fold in half to form a box puppet.  3. Attach segments from an egg carton to form eyes, and a cotton reel to make a nose.  4. Glue packing peanuts around the mouth to form teeth. It's a good idea to let these dry before you embark on the finishing touches.  5. Glue on a felt or cardboard tongue.  6. Paint on some reptilian eyes and your box puppet will be ready to rampage!  |
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