Hello and belated happy new year!

It's been far too long since I last updated this blog - amongst my numerous NY Resolutions is one to get to grips with blogging and tweeting on a regular basis. I guess it's just a matter of getting myself into a regular routine......any tips are much appreciated!

Christmas at home was manic but fab - my little ones are 4 and 5 (she was 6 at Christmas too) so they are such a great age to really appreciate the magic of it all. And Christmas at ARTventurers was also great - our Christmas sessions were full of fun, glitter and sparkle and some fantastic creations were made!

Looking forward to 2012 my plan for ARTventurers is to hopefully increase the number of Little ARTventurers classes (for 18 months to 5 years) over the course of the year and to also do more work with schools and nurseries, delivering themed art and craft sessions and ceramics courses. I've also really been enjoying the party side of the business - it's such a pleasure to be asked to provide the activities for someone's special day and we've had great fun doing it! Our Pirates and Princess and Build a Bear parties have been especially popular this year.

In the meantime, our Thursday morning is class is on the move - from Washington Arts Centre to Whitburn Parish Hall. As most of our attendees were travelling some distance to the arts centre anyway it seemed more sensible to move the location of the class and the Parish Hall provides a larger space for lots of creative fun! I like to ensure that our classes are fun and interactive with space to move around, create and play - if we've been making rockets we need some space to whizz them around the room! We hope to continue to use the Arts Centre space though for other holiday sessions during the year - our Little Potters class there last summer was a great success.

Half term is not too far around the corner and our school holiday sessions are always very popular. This half term is Monster Messy Madness! We'll be running sessions on Tues 14th Feb at Ashbrooke and Thursday 16th at Whitburn - sessions suitable for age 18months to 7 years (approx). We'll be making paper bag monsters, string painting, modelling and more! To book a space either call 07775911990 or email us mail@artventurers.co.uk

Here's to a happy, healthy and creative 2012 for us all!

Fiona x

All About Me Collage Craft Activity - for all ages!

I first used this craft as part of an “All About Me” themed session where we also made a fingerpainted house and created some fantastic self portraits on the painting table!

It's really simple idea and craft but very often the most simple ideas are the best!

It was such a popular craft for younger children that it’s one I’ve taken out and about again and again. Kids love to make their whole family so it’s worth printing out quite a few extra templates – and it’s a craft that can be used as a great learning tool for colours, families and body parts as well as exploring different textures. Older kids can also use it as a scissor practice exercise!

This is what you’ll need

Stiff a4 card

Glue

Pens or crayons

A box of different materials – fabric, card, papers,wool, tissue……..

Firstly, print out the A4 template below onto card – like I say it’s a good idea to print out a few! You should hopefully be able to copy and paste this template and then resize it if needed - if not then you can download templates elsewhere or just draw your own person!

Let your child get creative with the template, materials and glue – dress it, colour it in, add hair (or not!).

You can either leave the person as he/she is on the card – or try cutting it out to make a cardboard doll!

Making a Magic Craft Box

If you plan on getting crafty with your kids at home then it's a great idea to make a designated craft box and stuff it full of craft essentials so you've got everything in one place ready for when you hear the cry "Mummy, I want to make something!".

As I hoard more and more stuff our Magic Craft Box has turned into the Magic Doodle Drawers (we nicked that term from Cbeebies Mr Maker LOL!) - a set of drawers I bought from Ikea which live in the playroom. I also love the idea of making the craft box itself from a plain cardboard box and getting your child to decorate and personalise it him/herself. We also have a little childrens table and stools in the playroom and all of the craft stuff is accessable for them to use whenever they like - apart from the glitter, I'm not brave enough to allow free reign with that!

Anyway, I thought it might be helpful to have a list of those bits and pieces that I think are essential if you're starting your own magic craft box at home......

1. Construction Paper (slighty rough surfaced coloured paper - cheap, buy in bulk, fab for childrens crafts)
2. Scissors
3. Glue - glue sticks and PVA glue
4. Sellotape
5. Things to write and draw with - felt tips, pencils, crayons, pastels..
6. Googly Eyes
7. White plain paper bags - can buy in bulk on ebay really cheaply
8. White Paper Cups - as above!
9. Lolly sticks
10. Pipe Cleaners
11. Stickers - what child doesn't love stickers?!
12. Bits of coloured wool
13. Cotton Balls
14. Paper Plates - I buy Smartprice ones from Asda
15. Ruler
16. Washable Paints - I buy the squeezy bottles
17. A variety of brushes and sponges
18. String and ribbon
19. Bits of fabric, tissue paper, foil, foam sheets, textured paper for collages
20. Empty cardboard tubes
21. Glitter/sequins to add a touch of sparkle

Whilst this list might seem long and expensive - lots of the stuff can be picked up really really cheaply, or for free by recycling! As you might have gathered I'm a bit of an ebay queen and I get a lot of my session materials via ebays Wholesale section as I'm buying in bulk for large numbers of children. Shops like Poundstretcher, the Pound Shop, B and M Homestores and good old Asda are also fantastic for crafty items at great prices. Google searches will  produce a vast list of online craft suppliers.

If you're a bit of a novice at childrens craft activities the list above should stand you in great stead and get you on your crafty way - you can begin to add to your magic craft box by saving everything from old magazines to yoghurt pots, cardboard boxes to egg boxes and then you'll never be stuck for things to do on a good old British rainy day!

Happy crafting! x