| Kiddy Crafts
by Garnet WindDancer Scout is becoming quite the little witchy apothecary! Alongside some of the dried flowers she grew last year, as well as whatever she has managed to raid from my spice cabinet, she now has a large bottle of "dragon scales". Of course, she says, these were collected after the dragon shed the scales. No harm to the dragon at all! You need pines cones. Using a pair of needle nose pliers (or whatever works for you), pull off the shingles. Scout has spray-painted hers. Some are a shimmery green, some are gold, some are silver. She keeps them in a little jar, next to her Mermaid bubbles, which are simply squares of bubble wrap, cut into individual bubbles. Of course her most prized possession is her Unicorn horn. Apparently, according to Dr. Scout, Unicorns shed their magical horns just like deer shed antlers. For this, you need polymer clay. Work the clay until it is soft and then separate and roll into three coils or what we call "snakes". Pinch them together at one end and then twist the coils together, forming a spiral. You can make any size horn you want, from adult to baby size. Make as many as you want. Place on a cookie sheet and bake according to clay directions. Of course, supervise your child when using the oven. Allow to cool completely. Then you can decorate any way you want. Glitter paint is a fun way to do so. A lot of these ideas have come from The Book of Wizard Craft. Scout has laid claim to it and reads it over and over. She is teaching herself to read tealeaves! There's no author attributed because the book was written by a very ancient "Wizard" especially for kids but it was "illustrated" by Lindy Burnett. I highly recommend it. Dragon's Blood for kids What you need: mixing bowl large spoon or spatula 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1 tbsp powdered cocoa 1 quart light corn syrup 1/2 cup non-sudsing soap 1 oz. red food colouring 15-17 drops blue food colouring 1/8 to 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol large jar with screw-on lid (for thinner blood, use a bottle of dark corn syrup and 2-4 tbsp of peanut butter, plus the food colourings, soap and alcohol) Put the peanut butter and cocoa in the bowl and add the corn syrup until the concoction is runny, mixing well with the spoon. Add the soap and food colourings and mix well. Add the rest of the corn syrup and the alcohol, mix well. Pour the mixture into the jar, screw on the top, and shake well. Kraken Slime What you need: 17 oz warm water clean quart jar with screw-on lid 1/8 cup borax laundry booster small mixing bowl or cup tbsp white craft glue green food colouring plastic food storage bag Put the warm water in the jar and add the borax. Screw on the lid and shake 'till the borax dissolves. Allow to cool. Measure 2 tbsp of white glue, putting it into bowl. Add 3 tbs of water and stir. Add 2 or 3 drops of green food colouring and stir. Pour the mixture into the plastic storage bag. Measure 1 tbs of the cooled borax solution into the bag, then knead the bag to mix the contents. Fizzing Phantom Potion What you need: glass jar or drinking glass bottle of white vinegar large platter or tray food colouring of your choice 1tbs baking soda in a bowl or jar water Fill the jar or glass half full of vinegar and place on tray. With a dramatic flourish, add some drops of the food colouring to the glass while you intone "I command you, phantom, to make my potion bubble" (note- this is what the book says to say. I would, of course, be far more creative ) Sprinkle the baking soda into the vinegar and voila! (you can always call the baking soda magic pixie dust or ground unicorn hooves or horn (they shed!) to liven it up a bit) What would be really cool, then, is to give your child some dram bottles and allow them to set up their own magical supply cabinet. Then they can tinker and you don't have to worry about them getting into your stash! Silly Putty By far easier and much more fun than the slime! All you need is equal parts of Elmer's glue and liquid starch. One tablespoon of each makes a good-sized single serving or whatever ya want to call it. Add food colouring, if ya want! Stir well and then knead until firmer. Store in an airtight container. The kids at the party had a blast with this stuff! Scout says they are STILL talking about it at school and several parents have called me for the recipe 'cos their child couldn't remember it. |
| Make solar images
Bring the outside in and let creativity flow. Making round, golden shapes that mimic the sun is a wonderful, old tradition. You can help the kids make wreathes decorated with flowers and bright ribbons. Make little suns out of clay from your local craft store. Use toothpicks or chopsticks to make rays and happy faces. Make suns out of paper plates, construction paper, or paint wooden disks. The possibilities are endless and the only requirements are that they be round and that colors evoke the sun's radiant splendor. Hang them around the house afterwards. http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/pagan_parenting/116526 |
| Play with fairies
Midsummer is a great time for fairy magic. Older children interested in divination might enjoy being introduced to a tarot deck with a fairy theme. Smaller children will get a kick out of building a fairy shelter. It's easy and fun. All you need is a small box that is open on one end (a shoebox will work). Paint it or decorate it with ribbons and whatever you can find in the yard -- sticks, feathers, flowers, leaves. Place it outside and leave out some milk or honey for the fairies. Little kids always get very excited to find the offerings gone and the fairy house turned upside down from their wild parties. You can also leave a small gift for your child as a thank you from the fairies -- a shell, a flower, a pretty rock, or perhaps a small trinket that had been "lost" around the house (everyone knows they faeries love to play tricks). http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/pagan_parenting/116526 |
| Start a war
Many NeoPagans believe this holiday is represented by the Sun (or Oak) King. He is radiant, but immediately begins to lose strength. The Holly King appears and begins to wrestle with the Sun. Help your kids create a little play where they act this battle out. They can wear green man masks they've made. Simply cut eyeholes in paper plates and glue on leaves, real or made out of construction paper. http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/pagan_parenting/116526 |
| Hairy Harry
What you need: Styrofoam cup or paper cup (recycle) scissors construction paper markers glue buttons (or cut them out of paper for young children) potting soil rye grass seed Steps: 1. Have the children cut eyes, ears, mouths, nose, etc...out of construction paper and glue in place on their cup. Let them also use markers to color on the cup. Let them use buttons to embellish or anything else you may have lying around. 2. Have the children fill their cups about 2/3 full of potting soil. Then plant the rye grass seeds in the soil. Place the cups in a sunny place and water regularly. 3. Hairy Harry will begin to grow "hair" in about seven days. Wind Socks You will need: Styrofoam cup large one works great crepe paper streamers 6 colors yarn glue sharp pencil take the cup and poke 6 holes in the end of the cup.... Cut strips of streamers about 15 ins long. Roll the end to make a pointed tip.. Poke throw hole and put glue on tip and stick to inside of cup. Do this will all six color strips. Poke a hole on the side to cup and put another hole opposite to that. Take some extra crepe paper and glue on outside cup-- doesn't matter what it looks like... tie yarn through holes on side and fly cup when dry!! Bath Buddies Ivory Snow detergent (or any other soap flakes) Liquid food colouring Water Vegetable oil Bowl String (if you want soap on a rope) How To Make It In a bowl pour approximately 3 cups of soap flakes. Add 1 to 1 and 1/2 cups of water with a few drops of food colouring added to it. With your hands mix the contents of the bowl until it forms the consistency of play dough. To shape it, take a drop or two of vegetable oil and rub it between the palm of your hands -- now shape anyway you wish. If you want to make a soap on a rope, cut a piece of string and tie the ends together. Push the knotted end gently into the your finished shape. Let the completed soap stand to set over night Tips If you can't find soap flakes, you can make your own. Get some bars of pure soap and finely grate them to make soap powder. This powder may not need as much water to be workable. Start with just 1/3 to 1/2 cup per 3 cups of soap powder. Add more as needed. |
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| Litha / Mid - Summer Crafts |
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