Artsy-Craftsy

I wrote this during March for South Huntsville Neighbors magazine. March was National Crafting Month. It was the perfect month, when winter is still trying to hold on and we are looking to do something with our cabin fever. Being summer, and the kids are still home from school, it's another time that is perfect for finding crafts to do.

What does craft mean?

It used to be synonymous with trade as related to skilled labor. It now means skills practiced using creative means. I could write a whole article listing examples, here are some:

• knitting / crocheting

• quilting

• needlework

• scrapbooking

• calligraphy

• woodworking

• stenciling

• leatherworking

• sewing

• ceramics or pottery

• fly tying

National Craft Month History

Who Created National Craft Month?

Craft and Hobby Association, now known as Association for Creative Industries (AFCI), in 1994, with the goal to find a new favorite craft or reconnect to an old favorite.

How to Celebrate National Craft Month(H5)

Shutoff the technology and start making:

Greeting Card paper, paint, markers, glitter and glue – whatever you have in your house. Sending it snail mail? Before you start, cut the paper to 10" x 7" and fold to 5" x 7" and buy an envelope sized at: 5 1/4" x 7 1/4". Did you know artists create the cards found at stores?

Egg Carton crafts (paperboard best) go on a scavenger hunt in your home for:

• glue

• construction paper

• googly eyes or buttons

• pipe cleaners or twist ties.

What animals can you create from the egg carton shape? Try for a chick, crab, caterpillar, frog, or some spring flowers.

Enjoying this? You should be a Sculpture artist. For more ideas and instructions visit Spruce Crafts.

Origami okay this one might take some research, a trip to the library or try the site mentioned below.

Did you know that there is towel origami?

This art form is most likely from Japan, since the word's origins are Japanese. Oru meaning to fold and Kami meaning paper, translation: to fold paper.

Did you enjoy this? There are several types of paper crafts for you to explore. If you are unable to get to a library, visit Origami Projects for Kids

Bookmarks are 2" x 6" to 8" in size. But, with all the above paper cutting you might have 1"- 3" x 8"-10" scraps. Crayons, markers, colored pencils, or paint. You did bring home some books from the library, right? Or have some lying around? Tell the story in pictures, like an Illustrator would.

Nature Crafts time to go outside. Find whatever catches your attention, skipping the poison ivy. Once that's achieved – what can you assemble? A self-portrait, or your favorite animal? Interested in learning about Nature Mandalas? Visit How Wee Learn

Have fun, you are now practicing to be an assemblage artist.

Vegetable Printing ends of carrots, celery, or any vegetable will work. Star shape of an apple core. Achieve this by cutting crosswise in half, then cut around the cores. You could eat the yummy part before the paint gets near it. Pour some poster/acrylic paint into a dish, touch your veggie to it, stamp on paper. Find inspiration from these shapes to create patterns and pictures. This is one form of Printmaking. FirstPalette offers step-by-step instructions.

Hoping you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed sharing how craft can overlap with art. Plus, I hope this offers some activities to keep the kids busy.

Elizabeth freelances as Content Coordinator for South Huntsville Neighbors. A magazine that can discovered in mailboxes in Southeast Huntsville, Alabama.

Linked sites are not the responsibility of Elizabeth Reich, founder of LZBTH Creative, who strongly encourages parents to visit the suggested websites with their child.