Guide to Summertime Crafts for Bored Kids Part II

Summer has begun and the kids have already tired of cartoon re-runs and video games. And you have already grown tired of transporting them to the pool every hour and the whines of 'There's nothing to do' and 'We never go anywhere.'

It is definitely time to pull out the craft box and find something that only occupies their time but also inspires them to create their own.

WHIRLY BOTTLES: You will need (for each): 2-liter plastic soda bottle, colored marker, paper and tape, craft knife (adults only), acrylic paints and paintbrushes, (adults only) power drill [optional], hammer and small nails, 3 feet of 1-inch-diameter wooden dowel.

INSTRUCTIONS: Remove the label from the bottle. Let the bottle it in warm sudsy water in the sink (label side in the water which may mean you'll have to hold it in position) and with warm water inside the bowl. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Then use a vegetable or cheap plastic scrubber to remove any glue. Drain the bottle and let it dry. NOTE: It is better to do this part a day before. There's nothing like impatient kids when you're attempting to prepare a craft project!

Ask your budding artist to think up a design to paint on the bottle such as flowers, butterflies, horses, baseballs, etc. Then make a template on paper. If your child chooses a symmetrical design such as butterflies, baseballs or flowers, have him/her draw a straight line down the middle and cut out ½ of the image. If it is an animal, such as a horse, have them draw only a profile of its head and neck.

Tape the template onto the bottle. Use a marker (preferably black) to trace the OUTER EDGE ONLY. Do not trace the centerline or the base of the neck of the animal (in case of horses, just draw the sloping part of the neck). Repeat this all around the bottle but keep equal amount of space between each drawing. NOTE: Until I got used to doing this, I used a small measuring tape to make certain the spacing was accurate.

Adults, use the craft knife to cut along the outlines. Fold the silhouettes forwards at a 90-degree angle from the bottle. Remember not to cut it completely off of the bottle. Yes that happened with the first few; call it being overzealous. Now paint the images. Once the paint dries, drill or poke a small hole in the center of the bottom of the bottle. Tap the nail through the hole in the bottom and into the top of the dowel stick so that the head extends ¼ inch above the plaster. Now you shove the sticks into the ground and you will have spinning wind catchers for your front yard, or in my case, rows of spinning catchers!

NOTE: Remember that the neck of the bottle will be at the bottom of your dowel stick. This is a good thing to remember when having your child draw their picture. We had one or two upside down images that we had to re-do because of this!

BUG HOTEL (Boys love this one!) You will need: oatmeal container, markers/poster paints/paintbrushes, (adults only) craft knife, 2 feet of fiberglass screening (from hardware store).

INSTRUCTIONS: Use markers or paints to decorate the outside of the oatmeal containers (remember, it needs to be one of the round containers) and dress it up to look like a real hotel! Paint or draw on shutters, then the adults can use the craft knife to cut them out with sideways H shapes. Paint the door, then cut it out making sure its bottom edge is at least ¼ inch above the floor inside (to keep your captured 'guests' from leaving early).

Roll the screening around the inside of the containers so it fits well. Trim it so the top edge fits beneath the lid and leaves a 1-inch overlap where the side edges meet.

Also be sure to leave some 'bug' food and water in a plastic bottle cap or you will have dead guests very quickly.

RECYCLED SANDALS: These are really cool and they do work! Just don't try walking through water with them!

You will need: 30+ sheets of newspapers (1/2 of a full double page), masking tape and craft glue.

INSTRUCTIONS: roll each newspaper sheet lengthwise into a tight tube and tape it. Press each tube down hard to make it into a 1-inch thin strip. For each sandal, begin by making a 2-inch fold at one end of a strip and then coiling the strip tightly around the folded section. Tape the next strip to the end of the first and continue winding and taping until the oval is half the length of your foot. For a strong sandal, wind a strip tightly across the width of the oval and tape it. Wind more strips around the outside of the sandal until it is big enough for your foot, and then tightly tape around the entire sandal.

For a strap, thread one end of a strip between two outer strips, and then thread the other end through the other side. Then position the strap so it fits your foot, then trim the ends and secure them with lots and LOTS of glue or tape, preferably both! Then trace your foot on a colored sheet of newspaper, like the Sunday comics, and cut out the shape and glue it to the foot bed of the sandal. Finally cut two 1-inch wide strips from the same colored newspaper and glue them around the edge and the strap of the sandal. Let dry. This usually takes a few days.

ANT FARM: You will need: A 1-quart plastic jar, a ½-gallon plastic jar, sandy soil, sponge, bottle cap, corn syrup, string, scrap paper, black paper, plastic wrap, rubber bands and a pin.

INSTRUCTIONS: First, BE VERY CAREFUL! Nothing like ants loose in the house to ruin this project!! Now, that said, let's move on...Place the smaller jar inside the larger one and fill the gap between the two with soil. Wet the sponge and place it in the smaller jar along with a capful of corn syrup. Dangle several lengths of string from the soil in the larger jar to the bottom of the smaller one so the ants can reach their food and water. Now, adults, help the kids find some neighborhood ants (preferably not fire ants as we know how they bite). When you find a place with lots of them, lay down a sheet of paper with corn syrup on it (just a few drops). When several dozen ants have gotten onto the paper, quickly transfer them to the jar. Cover the jar's mouth with plastic wrap, wrap a rubber band around it and use the stickpin to poke air holes. Make certain that the holes are smaller than the ants! Wrap black paper around the jar and wrap another rubber band around that to keep the farm nice and dark. When you remove the paper in a day or two, you should see the beginnings of a city of tunnels. Add more syrup and water, as needed. Be sure when you are through observing your captives to let them go again.

GLITTER GLOBES: This is great for when you have a rainy day!

You will need: baby food or jelly jar with tight fitting lids, polymer clay (like Fimo), small plastic or rubber toy and plants, water, glycerin, glitter, small shells or aquarium gravel.

INSTRUCTIONS: Place the jar lid on a flat surface and use a small lump of clay to stick to the bottom of the lid. This will be used to stick your plastic items into so don't go light or your items will be floating instead of being stationary. Stick your plastic items firmly in the clay. Fill the jar almost to the top with water and stir in a few drops of glycerin and ½ teaspoon of glitter. Add shells and aquarium gravel. Then screw the lid on tightly. Turn your globe upside and wah-la! One official globe!

COASTERS: First step to this project is to go on a scavenger hunt! You will need to find good, whole leaves and possibly pine needles.

You will need: 4-inch square cardboard, waxed paper, rolling pin, self-hardening pottery clay (craft stores sell this individually for the kid's pottery sets; don't spend a lot of money on the more 'adult' pottery clay!), your leaves or pine needles, butter knife, matte acrylic varnish and white paint.

INSTRUCTIONS: Cut out your 4-inch square cardboard as your template. Cover the area that you'll be working in with waxed paper. Don't use newspaper as it has tendency to stick (and not come off of) your art project. Use a rolling pin to flatten a 2-½ inch ball of your pottery clay (make sure it's the self hardening type) to a ¼ inch thickness for each coaster. Arrange a pattern of leaves or pine needles atop the clay and gently press them into the clay with the rolling pin. Make sure they are shallow impressions so you can remove them from the clay. Remove your foliage and position the template on top of the clay. Use the butter knife to cut around the cardboard, and then lift away the excess clay. Set the coasters aside to dry on a clean piece of waxed paper for a day or so. Cover the dry coasters with a thin layer of matte acrylic varnish. Let it dry for 45 minutes then use a damp sponge and white paint to accent the impressions. Let paint dry completely before adding the last thin coat of varnish. NOTE: the edges of the coasters may be rough after completely drying. So get a long nail file (the type that discount stores sell that are metal with the pink handles) or fine sanding paper and smooth out the edges. If you use a nail file, make sure it isn't one you use for yourself and that you can throw away when finished!

Now that should be enough to get you to at least next week!