These days D.I.Y. is certainly a do! Homemade goods, like those sold on craft-centric websites like Etsy.com, have never been hotter.

Even if you’re not a Martha Stewart in the making, it’s easier than you think to get crafty. We suggest gathering friends and working on an activity together.

Read the rest of this entry »

How do you fill the time at your child’s party, beyond eating cake and opening presents? The CRAFT blog has some great ideas for crafts that will keep your young guests busy. The kids’ creations make great take-home favors, too!

Velcro Catch Ball
Super easy instructions to make a velcro ball that sticks to regular knit gloves.  A perfect game at a party or as a party favor.

Read the rest of this entry »

Have a budding artist in your family, a kid who loves to create beautiful art creations with paint, crayons, markers, watercolors, glitter glue, etc? If it is a growing passion for your child, you may want to consider throwing an Art Gallery party.

1. The party centers around hanging your child’s wonderful art work throughout your home. Work with her to create titles for each piece and place these beside the pictures.
2. Put together a brochure featuring some of your child’s art pieces with a little description about each creation. Also, make sure to interview your little artist and include a bio. sheet in the brochure. When guests enter to peruse through your Art Gallery, they will receive a brochure.
3. Have your artist dress up for her showing. Have a camera on hand to take pictures of your guests with the artist. Also, you may want to have a video camera out to also record her conversations throughout the exhibition.
4. Serve light appetizers and drinks to your guests. Using your artist’s favorite colors, create a an inviting table with small plates, cocktail napkins, and plastic glasses. Cheese, fruit, and veggie platters with an array of dips would be perfect.
5. The party is best organized as an Open House for guests, both kids and adults alike, can peruse through your gallery, enjoy something to eat and drink, and chat with one another.
6. After people have walked through your gallery, have a table set up where the kids can create their own artistic creations. Lay out construction paper, crayons, markers, glitter glue, etc. You can have a wall in this area where these creations can also be hung up.
7. Another idea, after people have looked through your gallery, have an empty journal book open for guests to record their comments, just as you often find at museum exhibitions. This will be a wonderful keepsake from your party.

Read the rest of this entry »