One of the nice thing about using a pot as the basis of a craft activity is that it offers a different “canvas” than usual. Unlike the flat expanse of white paper, the shape and size of different types of pots can make for a wide variety of projects, and can remain interesting to kids, so they won’t easily be bored because they feel like it’s something they always do. In fact, you can fill more than a few lazy summer afternoons with a pot decorating project and each time the project can be different and interesting.

The best part about using flower pots as the basis of a summer craft project is that when the kids are done creating, you are not left with an art project that you put on your fridge for a few days out of obligation or send to the trash after a few initial “oohs” and “aahs”. Instead you are left with a functional item that can be used around the house, either inside or out, to plant some flowers, herbs or a plant or two – or you can earmark the finished flower pots as the perfect personalized gifts to give to teachers, grandparents, neighbors or anyone that you think could use a little pick me up.

So what do you need to get the kids creative juices flowing? Here are a few ideas, although there is really no right or wrong way to proceed with this type of craft project.

• Pots (you can buy clay or plastic pots in home improvement or craft stores and they’re pretty cheap)
• Acrylic paint
• Oil pastels
• Colorful gems, stones, shells, rocks or other small trinkets
• Glue (make sure it is strong enough to hold larger items like rocks, if used)
• Photos, magazine pictures, wrapping paper, or colorful strips of paper with modge podge – your kids can create a colorful collage right on the pot!
• Ribbon of varying widths (just glue in place)
• Waterproof sealer – if the kids are painting, using pastels, or creating a collage, you should apply a waterproof sealer over their finished artwork so it doesn’t get ruined the first time you go to water the flowers inside.

Just about any type of craft items you have in the house can be used to decorate the pots – just let their imaginations be their guides. Then, if you want, you can fill another afternoon by getting a bag of soil and some seeds, flowers or small plants, and having the kids plant them in their newly decorated pots.

This summer fun craft idea was contributed by Andrea Cohen, an editor at DIY Her Way.com,a site filled with home improvement advice, how-to info, and creative project ideas geared to women of all ages.

To make the glasse case, you will need the following simple materials: a square of craft foam, plastic or large blunt needles, lanyard lace or thick yarn. Cut two rectangles from the foam, each 3-1/2 inches (9 cm.) by 6 inches (15 cm.). With a hole punch, make holes on three sides of each rectangle, leaving one short side unpunched. Make the holes 1/2 inch apart and allow at least 1/4 inch between the hole and the edge of the craft foam. The holes need to line up so that the two pieces can be laced together. If you are preparing the craft for small children, you should make the holes yourself. Otherwise, the crafters can do this step if you have enough pairs of hole punches.

At this point the crafters can cut decorative shapes from other colors of craft foam, or you can buy sets of ready-cut foam shapes. If you are doing the craft at a special event, choose shapes that echo the theme of the event. For instance, if it’s a cowboy theme, find shapes that fit well, such as boots, cowboy hats, and stars. Let the kids choose the shapes they like and glue on as desired. You might also like to provide beads or sequins to glue on as well, especially if the crafters are a little older.

The next step in this arts and crafts idea is to thread the plastic needle with the yarn or lanyard lace. Yarn might be a little easier to handle, but lanyard lace is shiny and attractive. In a pinch, some teachers of small children use a bobby pin as a needle. It is certainly a safe alternative. Simply loop the yarn through the opening and use the open end of the bobby pin as if it were the point of the needle. The children can now begin to lace the front and back of the glasses case together.

To turn this arts and crafts idea into a necklace purse, simply attach a piece of lanyard lace to each corner making a long handle. Kids will enjoy using this case as a place to store secret notes and small objects. If they’d rather, they can give the glasses case to a parent, grandparent, or friend who wears glasses. Either way, this arts and crafts idea will be interesting for all.

Flower Wreath:

Cut the center out of a paper plate to leave an “O” shape. This is the base of the wreath. You have some different options at this point. Your kids can draw and color flowers directly on the wreath using different color crayons. Or they can draw and color flowers on colored paper, cut out and then glue on the wreath. They can also cut out pictures of flowers from magazines (gardening magazines would be great for this) and glue them on the wreath.

A bow can be glued at the top if you want.
You can also punch a hole at the top and use yard to hang it up.

Have fun making your wreath!

Here’s a bunch of summer coloring pages you can print out for your kids.

Watermelon
Sun
Palm Tree
Sun and Glasses
Another Sun
Gardening
Another Gardening
Swimming Pool
Beach Umbrella

~~~** Printable Activity Book **~~~
Thanks to Printables4Kids!

A kite consists of these basic parts:
# The Spine. The up-and-down, or vertical stick that you build your kite around.
# The Spar. The support stick(s), that are placed crossways or at a slant over the spine. Sometimes they are curved or bowed.
# The Frame. The joined spine and spars, usually with a string connecting their ends, that form the shape of the kite and make a support for the cover.
# The Cover. The paper, plastic, or cloth, that cover the frame to make a kite.
# The Bridle. One or more strings attached to the spine or spars, which help control the kite in the air.
# The Flying Line. The string running from the kites’ bridle, where you hold to fly the kite.
# The Tail. A long strip of paper or plastic of ribbon that helps to balance the kite in flight. Not all kites need tails.
# The Reel. The object you use to wind your flying line, to keep it form getting tangled or flying away.

DIAMOND KITE
Materials:
# butcher cord or thin garden twine
# scotch tape or glue
# 1 sheet of strong paper (102cm x 102cm)
# 2 strong, straight wooden sticks of bamboo or wooden doweling 90cm and 102cm
# markers, paint or crayons to decorate you kite.

1. Make a cross with the two sticks, with the shorter stick placed horizontally across the longer stick. Make sure that both sides of the cross piece is equal in width.

2. Tie the two sticks together with the string in such a way as to make sure that they are at right angles to each other. A good way to ensure that the joint is strong to put a dab of glue to stick it in place.

3. Cut a notch at each end of both sticks. Make it deep enough for the type of string you are using to fit in to. Cut a piece of string long enough to stretch all around the kite frame. Make a loop in the top notch and fasten it by wrapping the string around the stick. Stretch the string through the notch at one end of the cross-piece, and make another loop at the bottom. Stretch the string through the notch at one end of the loop at the bottom. Stretch the string through the notch at the other end of the cross-piece. Finish by wrapping the string a few times around the top of the stick and cutting off what you don’t need. This string frame must be taut, but not so tight as to warp the sticks.

4. Lay the sail material flat and place the stick frame face down on top. Cut around it, leaving about 2-3cm for a margin. Fold these edges over the string frame and tape or glue it down so that the material is tight.

5. Cut a piece of string about 122 cm long. and tie one end to the loop at the other end of the string to the loop at the bottom. Tie another small loop in the string just above the intersection of the two cross pieces. This will be the kite’s bridle, the string to which the flying line is attached.

6. Make a tail by tying a small ribbon roughly every 10cm along the length of string. Attach the tail to the loop at the bottom of the kite.

7. Decorate!
Tips:
# A properly located pivot point is generally located slightly ahead of the centre of gravity.
# Cut away from you!
# Spray can glue is really good for patching up paper kites.
# Stability is improved by the use of an effective bow and a flexible tail.
# Hold your kite up by the string when you are finished to see if it is balanced. You can balance it by putting more paper on one side.
# Kites are different each time you make one, so slight adjustments might need to be made for each kite.

Then, once it’s dry, they can fill in the outlined areas. Arrange an assortment of water tempera paints and paint brushes and have fun painting. Wiggly eyes, buttons and other embellishments can be added to your design. Use the creations throughout your garden or household plants.