Summer crafts for kids. Part 2.

As promised, here’s another blog post on summer crafts for littles. Because it’s still summer, and we’ve got a few more weeks of waking up late and watching movies in the middle of the day and hanging around the backyard. Glorious. I’ll take it. 

The theme of these 2 craft tutorials is using our senses. There is so much to see, feel, hear, smell - and sometimes even taste - outdoors in the summertime. When my sons and I walk our dog, I often entice them into coming on the walk with me by making it into a scavenger hunt. A few items that always make the list are heart-shaped rocks, heart-shaped leaves, and “cool” sticks.

When I found the tutorial for Paper Bag Journals, I immediately imagined the 3 of us on our morning walk, stopping to collect specimens to slip into the paper pockets while jotting down notes on each page. I imagined them bringing their journals into the house from our walk, and decorating them at the kitchen table. It’s a perfect summer-craft-turned-activity! Maybe I’ll make my own, too...

How to make a Paper Bag Journal [1]:

Materials:

4-5 brown paper lunch sacks

Stapler

Glue, tape, or a glue stick

Construction paper

Stickers

Crayons or markers

Ribbons

Other crafty cute decorations

Instructions:

1. Fold each brown paper sack in half, so they’re in square shapes.
2. Stack the folded bags all together, one on top of the other, with the folds on the left. Staple them together along the left edge.
3. Decorate each page with the paper, crayons, stickers, etc., leaving room for note-taking / journaling.
4. Go on a nature walk and record your observations and thoughts, using the “pockets” created by the folded bags to store leaves, flowers, and other special items you find.

Another favorite summer activity is bubbles! To be honest, I usually last longer at the bubble station than my 8 & 5-year-olds. I love blowing bubbles. There’s something deeping relaxing about it, watching those otherworldly orbs float across the yard, sometimes popping on a lilac branch, sometimes disappearing around a corner. But until now, I had never heard of colorful, scented bubbles! Sold. I’m in. Let’s go.

How to make Scented Rainbow Bubbles [2]:

Materials:

Pitcher

6 cups water

Unscented dish soap

Glycerin

Essential oils

Food coloring

8 jars with lids

Scissors

Wire or pipe cleaners

Wire cutters

Instructions:

1. In a pitcher, mix together 6 cups water, 1 cup dish soap, & 1 tablespoon glycerin. Stir well.
2. Distribute the bubble solution from the pitcher into the 8 jars.
3. Add 1 drop of red food coloring into the 1st jar, 1 drop of orange into the 2nd, 1 drop of yellow into the 3rd, 1 drop of green into the 4th, 1 drop of blue into the 5th, & 1 drop of purple into the 6th. For the last 2 jars, mix whatever colors you like.
4. Add a drop of essential oil (a different scent for each color) into each jar, and stir well.
5. Use the wire (or pipe cleaners) to make bubble wands, making sure they’ll fit into the jars.

Happy summer crafting! May these tutorials lift your senses and get your booty outside. Namaste.

[1] https://crazylittleprojects.com/paper-bag-journal-tutorial/

[2] https://www.handmadecharlotte.com/76214/

Photo by Kayla Farmer on Unsplash