School is out for the summer. No more reading or arithmetic. Is mom ready to pull her hair out yet? Here’s an idea that will be fun and educational: organize a day camp centered on using fabulous novelty fabric.
Whether your child is a budding fashionista or a closet Rembrandt, novelty fabrics can be used to craft just about anything. Gather several lifestyle, craft and fashion magazines for inspiration, and let the 8-12 year olds have free rein.
- From scraps they could create a beautiful fabric mosaic to place in a picture frame or have professionally mounted for larger creations.
- For a mod or retro look, the girls can sketch a simple A-line pattern and sew up a summer shift.
- The animal lovers can make cat toys out of bird fabric and dog toys out of cat fabric. What fun! All you need is some stuffing and a few plastic cable ties and presto: chew toys that their pets can bat around the house for hours. Or how about designing clothes for their pup?
- From Betty Boop to batiks, they can sew up chef aprons, man wallets, slouch bags, fabric belts and more.
Crafting Creates Brain Balance
The beauty about combining education with art is that it uses both sides of the brain. When kids “have” to do something, like schoolwork, they rarely explore the creative side of themselves. Crafting in your own backyard is a way to reach your child in a completely different way.
You both can really relax and enjoy the process. As long as you keep it loose, provide a variety of novelty fabric and sewing tools (pinking shears, glue sticks, staple guns, wood strips), you’ll be amazed at the exploration and innovation of the pre-teen imagination.
Here’s a way to open a world of beautiful and interesting creations in a fun and safe environment. Your budding artists will come away surprised and delighted by the end results.
