need help for ideas

Hi Mamatwich

My mum and I use to run crafts for a local primary school togther. I think the most successfull things were:

- baking (chocolate crackles or cupcakes with icing)

- for mothers day we made felt needle cases in the shape of apple ("apple of my mothers eye sort of thing) - cut 2 apple shapes out in red felt and one apple shape with a leaf out in green. Sandwich them all together (green in the middle) and sew a seam in blanket stitch on one side. We then cut cute little worms out of yellow felt and glued them on the front.

- french kniting (check out this sitehttp://www.knitting-naturally.com/french-knitting.html) - we made most of our bobbins with old wooden cotton spools and nails so its cheap to set it up.

- recycled newspaper bowls/vases (there are a few good tutorials on CO&K for that)

- PomPom animals - good for making Easter Chicks (check out this site - http://www.craftideas.info/html/pom_pom_chick_b.html)

I hope these ideas are good to get you started - Message if you have any questions. Its always fun working with kids - you never know what is going to happen!


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that sounds great thank you so much and i had just remembered atc looked kinda interesting as well and that might b good idea so the kids can all do the same but different at the same time bc we need stuff 2 help us concentrate it helps calm the tics so it will b adults 2 and its so they will b able 2 do it at home as well on those bad days

I ran a sock monster project this time last year.The kids had great fun working with adults .You might think about looking at the inchies how to as well.You can use paper and that make pretty cards if put in sets of 3x2. ATC's are a great idea as well.

Anything with sticky paper, glue, cardboard.

I used to make animal puppets. Draw animals from a front facing position (as though you are looking at them face on). An elephant is really good for this. Put a round hole where the trunk should go and this is where the finger will go. You can make them with two holes at bottom to make legs. Kids come up with brilliant suggestions if you get them interested.

try
craftbits.com
there is a section that is "therapy crafts" they really aren't like basket weaving like in the old days, more like easier crafts that you can do in a group!

I used to co-facilitate a craft group where I work (daycentre for adults with MH problems) and Origami went down quite well. We worked from a book in our local library and made flowers. I've also got quite a few tics and love crochet, I think its the simple rhythm that I find calming, probably a bit like you with knitting. I also asked a similar question about 6 months ago on the arty crafty section and there were some good suggestions on there. One was tapestry - even though the young man in my art group who I needed ideas for has now left he did get on with cross stitch quite well. I'd just recommend having some needle threaders on hand too if you're going to try anything involving needles. I get a terrible tremor some days and I can steady myself when I'm on my own but sometimes if I'm aware people are watching its really hard.

thank you everybody for the suggestions and arty kitkat thats about right with what u said about the knitting its also i need something 2 concentrate on 2 calm the tics bc when u think about it it goes completely nuts and then u think about it more visious circle