Gel-ly Bowls

Dick Blick does it again. What a beautiful project! This is constructed with wire mesh, collage materials (i.e. tissue paper) and "gel medium". I wonder if you could simply use mod-podge (I love mod-podge)...I'm going to look into that.

I got to meet the creative forces at Dick Blick at a recent conference. Once again, I was not disappointed. They have a boatload of amazing projects that they haven't even posted online yet...I'll have to keep checking back...but they never fail to inspire me.

Again, I love this because it is useful, fairly inexpensive to construct, and a camper doesn't need to be Picasso to end up with a thing of beauty.

Instructions can be found here.

Tick Tock Block Clock

Hello! How adorable is this. We have done clocks in the past, but this one is so original. The colors on the blocks are actually paper which is decoupaged on. And if Mod-Podge is involved, I'm totally into it.

I can see using different coordinating patterns to get a really cool effect, or we could simply paint these.

This is a great older girl project, though I think the younger girls would probably do well.

We need clock works, wooden blocks, mod-podge (of course!) and general embellishments.

From the geniuses at www.DuncanCrafts.com
Click here for instructions.

3d Chalk Drawings

Okay, I'm pretty sure we are NOT going to do this project, but oh my, it is incredible.

Home Made Checkers

I love when projects are USEFUL. Something that our campers will use during the winter and think about warm summer days. Something that their moms won't want to toss in the trash the minute they come home.

Several summers ago, we made our own Checkers Sets.

The campers painted checkerboards with acrylic paint on wooden boards. We sealed the paint with acrylic spray, or we could have used Envirotex for an extra shiny finish.

My daughter made hers in pink and green by first painting with the lighter color, and then masking off the areas to be checkered and then painting the darker color.

Checkers were made out of Sculpey in complimentary colors. It was just precious, and I think its time to pull that project and put it back into circulation.

Sculpey Swirley Frame

We have used Sculpey clay every year. The colors are vibrant, the clay is easy to work with and the funnest part is when you can mix the colors to make new beautiful marble-y patterns.

Sculpey has come out with a new product called "Studio" by Sculpey. The colors seem richer, the finish is suede like, and they say that the finished product is more durable than projects made with traditional Sculpey.

Picture frames are always divine, everyone can use and enjoy them, and this project seems simple enough. Even though this is shown with the new Sculpey, I'll bet the good old classic Sculpey will work just fine.

Instructions for Sculpey Frame

Nature Necklaces

Family Fun Magazine and website has a very clever array of original craft ideas. I kind of like this one, part nature, part jewelry.

The campers could spend the first ten minutes of their class hunting for beautiful stones, and then the balance working with wire to turn their finds into cool necklaces.

I think the younger campers would find this particularly appealing, and think this would be one of the few jewelry projects that might appeal to younger boys as well.

At our camp, we hold on to all projects until visiting day. I think our biggest challenge with this one will be keeping the campers from sneaking these back to their bunks!

Nature Necklace Instructions

Just for Monkey Girls

We have offered a sewing class at camp for one season. Last year we made a lot of pillows, pillows, pillows. I'm hoping that we expand our repertoire this year, and thought what could be more appealing than the classic sock monkey.

I'm thinking this might be appropriate for our older campers only, since the younger girls might not yet have the fine motor skills needed for this craft.

My measure of a good project is whether or not I can do it. Sounds silly, right? Not really. I am a craft lover, not afraid to get messy and open to trying new things. But, I'm not patient! My skills aren't much different from our older campers...and believe me, some of the girls talents far eclipse mine!

So this one, I'm going to attempt myself...I'm a sucker for stuffed animals, and I have a soft spot in my heart for monkey girls. Assuming I finish, I'll post the results...and if it's really cute, there's a certain New York City Monkey Diva that'll get to keep it.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SOCK MONKEY CRAFT

NEW! Carol Duvall Video - How to make a Sock Monkey!