Crafting With Little Monsters

I'm just going to put this out there: I have one helluva craft closet. I know. You're jealous. Oh, wait, you're not jealous? You're just wondering why I would make such a random statement?

Well, since you asked, I'm telling you because I actually broke out some of those rarely used treasures for a little craft time with the boys the other day.  In fact, it went way better than the last time, in that paint wasn't spilled on the carpet and nobody squeezed glue into their or anyone else's hair. Onward and upward, right?

Aside: It's a shame our craft times always end up in some kind of disaster or shouting match, because I really do have an amazing supply of paper, origami, stamps, stencils, ribbons, felt, etc., etc., ad nauseum. I rarely buy anything now, but it's like I was planning for some kind of crafting apocalypse that would leave me unable to ever buy craft supplies again after the year 2002. It is not a coincidence that this is the same year that my second son was born and I gave up almost all hope (for total loss of hope, see third son in 2006) of ever having a daughter to share my craft-mania with.
 
I got CC set up with the origami, he made one boat, ran out of interest, and wanted to do something else, so I found a sun-catcher of a dog for him to work on. Something went awry for this one, I'm not sure if it is because he didn't have enough of the plastic bits in the frame or if it's because I over-baked it by about an hour. Whoops! But this is what it turned out looking like: Blobby. ------->

Destructo and the Animal both went to town with the stencils. Which we are a great thing to have for boys like mine that aren't confident in their drawing skills and need encouragement to practice their fine motor skills.  The boys always love playing with stamps, as well.  Please tell me I'm not the only one who went overboard at a Stampin' Up party (or four).

We couldn't find the regular colored pencils so I broke out the watercolor pencils for them to use, instead, and, like a scavenger hunt for craft gold, opening the box revealed a piece of paper I had left in it of some lettering that I had learned how to do in a workshop that I attending in 2000. So I decided to make nameplates for each of the boys. Which turned out rather nicely, if I do say so. 

In the end, everyone had a great time and I was reminded that craft-time with the boys can be a fun experience, not just a frustrating one.  However, there is one aspect that will always remain: 

When you break out the crafts for your kids, do you always make something, too? Or do you dedicate the time to solely helping and encouraging them in their craft-making? I'm curious if my own craft pursuits are perhaps the culprit for so many crafting sessions going awry. And do you keep a ludicrously over-stocked craft closet, as well, even if your kids aren't particularly crafty?

Robinsons, to celebrate the launch of Robinsons Double Concentrate and help parents transform today’s ‘indoor culture’ into something more creative and get their kids excited about the simple tradition of arts & crafts again, is launching its ‘Squash Monsters’ competition, with the support of current kids TV presenter, Laura Hamilton, and ex-Art Attack presenter, Neil Buchanan. Parents and kids can visit www.robinsonsfun.co.uk from the 11th April until the 3rd June 2011, for inspiration on how to get ‘a lot from a drop’ and be creative together at home with the Robinsons Double Concentrate bottle - they can watch videos of Laura making example squash monsters herself, read step by step guides on Neil’s creations and also follow hints & tips on how to make their very own imaginative squash monster. Then, all they have to do is upload a picture of the squash monster they have made together, to be in with a chance of winning one of many fantastic imaginative weekly prizes or a monster holiday to Florida for their whole family.

Disclosure: I received compensation to use and facilitate my post. And I laughed when I watched this video and realized that I do indeed have everything needed to make a Squash Monster in my craft closet right now.