I’m not a crafty person by nature.
I can appreciate the visual arts. I’ve even been known to create a clever doodle or two. But crafts? Not my thing. A hand knitted quilt is a beautiful, time consuming endeavor I want no part of other than to see the end result and curl under it. In bed. With some ice-cream. While I watch television.
Being a mom though, I’ve had craftiness thrust upon me.
School projects in the early years are impossible for children to complete without adult intervention. A kid who is just mastering scissor use and still gets glue in his hair on a regular basis, can’t realistically be expected to dress a cardboard doll in the traditional garb of Spain using fabric and other textured materials. Can you tell where our next project is headed?
So, in a pinch. I can make stuff. If I have to.
I just don’t necessarily like what it does to me.
“Mommy, I want to help you.”
“Don’t touch it. I’m trying to get myself an A…I mean you. I’m trying to get you an A.”
Here are some recent efforts.
Last year’s skeleton was made using a paper stencil and some fabric paint on black sweats that were harder to find than you’d expect. Maybe because it’s 103 degrees outside and nobody in their right mind would force their kid in to black sweats.
This was made the year before that for a preschool “Harvest” festival since the idea of Halloween didn’t sit well with a large portion of other parents. This was a scarecrow costume with patches sewn on from some of my old pajamas, along with some hay borrowed from a neighbors outdoor Fall decor. The belt is an actual length of rope. Authentic, no?
And to celebrate Thanksgiving, there was the paper bag Native American vest, decorated on the front with two eagles representing the spirit as well as diamonds representing geometry and zigzags representing the ability to…not run in a straight line?
On the back are what may be bear claws but I’m not entirely sure, since I don’t believe I did the research. Note my ingenious head band design keeps it from sliding down over his eyes. How’s that for innovation? How’s that for shameless egotism?
My craft abilities don’t end there, those are just the attempts I’ve got documented in photographs. Sadly, based on this post, it seems like the only kid I get crafty for is my six year old son, but the girls have seen their fair share of parental assistance over the years as well.
Don’t even get me started on science fair projects. That’s an whole other rant post, trust me.
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For a real Arts and Crafts fix, visit Sprite’s Keeper. You just may learn something.
There’s some beautiful work right there! I especially love the scarecrow one!
Sprite’s daycare has an assignment to cut and paste for a pumpkin. It’s due by the 19th. I’m still without the pumpkin and paste and even kid friendly scissors. What WILL I do?
You’re linked!
Awwwww, I love it all! You ARE a crafty person. Believe me. I work at Michael’s arts and craft store and I have come across some of THE most uncrafty people. So, hold your head up high because when it comes to makin’ stuff, you’ve got it!
Now, in regards to how I’m feelin’…you’re probably wondering….I’m STILL pregnant. I just got done with an ultrasound that was to determine if she should/could stay in there through the weekend. And well, the result was; she’s doing fine, but she’s getting BIG. They’ve estimated she’s about 9lbs. 6oz. A cake walk since the boys were born 9lbs. 11oz. and 9lbs. 15oz. I’m thinking I want them to induce me tonight. I’m hoping my dr. calls soon so we can discuss this.
Have a great weekend! Talk to you soon….
note to self, keep old pjs in the rag bag for patch placement. So whatcha got when it comes to trying to make a 4yrold look like WALLE?? hmmmmm? I’ve got sponge bob licked, must remind hubbie to get that Box from work….
Your talent is great, I’m very impressed.
I hate all crafts or as I call them craps. I do make the kids costumes every year. It includes lots of frustration and swearing on my part. You did a super job on all 3 of those. I like the scarecrow for Harvest Fest. Our neighbors think it’s Satan’s birthday so they sound like your preschool parents.
I think you are quite crafty indeed. I don’t yet have to do crafts projects for my son, but his babysitter is always sending home craft projects they worked on together. She’s not even certified. she doesn’t HAVE to do all that stuff. She just does. It is awesome! I’m too tired to click and reply on your other post (I either have Swine Flu or ate too much crap today. I’m betting on the latter) so I’m going to reply here: 103!? Holy crap. I thought I wanted to move to Fla. Not so much. Thank you.
Am I the only person who thinks it’s amusing that Hallowe’en isn’t PC, but random appropriation of indiginous culture is?
Some pretty crafty work there, m’dear!
I think they look great. Kudos.
i can’t even past photos in my kids baby books. you’re martha freaking stewart compared to me!
and lmao@keely!
I probably made hundreds of those paper bag Native American vests when I taught second grade and we made the costumes for our “Thanksgiving Feast.” What was I thinking? I could have had all the parents make the costumes at home!
I love the skeleton costume! I haven’t made a costume yet…Party City is my best friend at Halloween…um, I mean, Harvest time!
Let it not be said that you’re not crafty! You’re majorly crafty. You’ve even got proof!
Our school’s projects were always stupidly unrealistic. My husband would ask how I did on my project. I always got A’s of course. Thank you very much. I have particularly un-fond memories of the “chick hatching” game on which Kevin didn’t lift a finger to help me, and as I glued and colored, whined, “When is this going to be done? I’m bored!” I know. I’m an idiot. But his teacher was a bigger idiot.
Wow, you are much more crafty than I am. I could do little to help my kids with their craft projects cuz I suck at it. And the ones I have tried to do in the past, like cross stitching or making ornaments, get half done then sit around taking up space for three years.
Those are great costumes!
Have a fantastic Sunday!
Raven
I wish I weren’t THAT crafty, lol. That is GREAT! All of them! Very very crafty indeed! My crafts are like Martha Stewart on crack, lol
Your craftiness blows mine out of the water. Nice job on the costumes. Do you make house calls?
Do you hire out to make costumes for 6 year olds? Those were seriously CUTE and crafty!! LOVE them!
Awesome stuff. But I have to say, what I liked the most was your admission that you say things like, “Don’t touch it, I’m trying to get an A.” I loved that because boy did it strike home with me. Recently, Danny had to decorate a cutout of a boy to look like himself. They are using these cardboard “dolls” throughout the year for different activities and they are displayed on the wall when not being used. I really wanted Danny’s to look nice. But from experience, I knew that his idea of what looks cool and mine are a whole universe apart. He is constantly decorating things is really unusual ways (ie, when he had to decorate a Christmas tree last year, he used bunny stickers and pumpkin stamps, as well as stickers with words such as “Celebrate” and “Baby Boy”).
Anyway, I resisted the urge to do the project by myself and we ended up with the strangest looking boy ever. I wish I had taken a picture, because I cannot even begin to describe it. The other day when I was volunteering at school, I noticed the display of paper kids and decided that many of the other parents were even more controlling than I. No way that a kindergartener would make beautiful clothes out of coordinating fabric and ribbons and buttons. At least no kindergartener that I have ever raised. My poor kids…..
Way better than anything I would come up with. I’d still be sitting on the couch under my quilt eating ice cream and watching TV.
Duude. You’ve seen my pathetic excuse for art work. You are a true artist compared to me. You’re Martha friggin Stewart. So will you do my kid’s projects from now on? Thanks.
I’m seriously impressed. You’ve done way better than I could ever do. One of my kids wants to be a skeleton for Halloween and I’m heading straight to Target to buy him the costume because the thought of me actually trying to figure out how to make him a skeleton costume makes me want to OD on Wellbutrin.