5 crafty things you can do with your kids during the school break

So the school break is here. I dare say, it’s not something WAHMs look forward too. Having the kids around the house more often than not just screws up your routine, your plans and what have you; or is it just me? When my kids are younger, I tend to block out any craft activities or work. I can never get anything done.You spend more time in the kitchen fixing food; the kids are alway hungry. You just fed them breakfast, and they’re already asking for snacks, you know, that sort of things. 

I for one tries my best not to resort to tv and electronic gadgets to fill my kids time. So, I thought I put together some of the crafty things you can get your kids to do and do these activities with them for some family bonding time.

#1 Batu Seremban

Good old fashion hand eye coordination game. Teach them how to make their own batu seremban with scrap fabrics, some coarse sand or rice, thread and needle. Nowadays, kids play with 5 batu seremban. You don’t have to stop at a set. Make extra sets so they can give it to their friends as birthday presents or a just because present. Or they can sell them and learn commerce.

#2 Rock Painting

I personally love rock painting as much as my kids do. I get a sack of medium size flat rocks, wash them and they are ready to be painted. Use acrylic paint and unleash the creativity. I used to get smaller rocks so I can get my kids to make cute stuff like these cute strawberries and I use them as pattern weights. The kids can also give them to their teachers as paperweights. Teacher’s day is in May so it’s a good time to get started on some DIY gifts. 

#3 Perler or Hama Beads

You can get a medium sized tub of perler beads from Ikea along with the base and set your kids to make their own stuff which you can turn into a keychain like the picture below. You can look up in the internet and find patterns which the kids can follow. When my son is 10, I let him use my mini iron to heat and fused the perler beads together. For younger children, you might need to help them with fusing the perler beads.

#4 Leathercraft

You don’t need to get vegetan leather. Scrap leather or faux leather would do the same trick. I have metal stamps so my kids use them to make leather keychains for their teachers and it’s hand-stitched.

#5 Air Dry Clay

You can get them from any online crafts shops. They are reasonably priced. And they are fun to play with. I made these cute kittycats many years ago and finished them as bag charms. My daughter loves them. I like the fact that I don’t have to bake them in an oven.

OK, that’s 5 crafty things you can do with your kids. From the pictures, it is hard to deny that I had a good time myself playing with things I never get to play with when i was a kid. Try it. It’s fun to let the kid in you out and play with your own kids once in a while. Leave a comment if you have other ideas for kids crafts during the school break.

Rock painting workshop with Spotlight Mines

Another quick recap. Last Saturday, 19 March 2016, I collaborated with Spotlight Mines and did a rock painting workshop with them at Mines Centrecourt (in front of Old Town White Coffee). There was a Escalator Safety Awareness campaign by Antah Schindler. The crowd was fantastic because one, it’s the last week of school break, two, Boboiboy the Movie was at the cinemas. The location is where the moviegoers exit after the movie and we had a huge crowd after BoboiBoy’s afternoon show.

Thank you Spotlight Mines for the opportunity to collaborate. Watch this page for more news of future collaboration with Spotlight.

Rock Painting Workshop with Ihsaan Juniors at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus

Saturday, 5 March 2016, Danial tagged along with me to Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus to be my assistant for the day and helping out with my rock-painting workshop with Ihsaan Juniors.

Some of the kids of Ihsaan Juniors working on their rock painting

Helping Amir out with his details on his rock 

Focus :)

Group photo :)

 Thank you Fathiah and volunteers for having me and helping out during my workshop. Thank you Ihsaan Juniors for being a wonderful bunch of kids to be creative with :)

If you wish to organize a children’s arts and craft workshop, please drop me an email at rozirahman@gmail.com or WA at 012-2038117.

Kids craft: Rock Painting

I am keeping Arwen at home today because the doctor gave her an extra day of medical leave. It suits me fine because I can make sure she takes her antibiotics on time. She has a swollen lymph node below her left ear just behind the jaw that I'm concern about. 

She wanted to do some rock painting so I decided to indulge her. She made quite a few to give to her friends at school.

Since I've taken out all the colours and brushes, I might as well join in the fun. Here are some sets that I've made. I'm thinking of selling them as pattern weights for RM12 per set. Would anybody be interested?

Strawberries, A set of 4 for RM12

Design/Create/Craft/Make set @ RM12

Doa/Iman/Sabar/Usaha set @ RM12

Positive words set @ RM12

Golden hearts set @ RM12

I've been using only glossy Mod Podge to finish the rocks before but find them slightly tacky and I cannot stack them up in yhe boc for storage nor can I wrap them loosely with newspaper. The tackiness would cause the paint to chip or paper to stick to it (when I wrap them with newspaper).

This time, I sprayed a coat of clear lacquer over the rocks. It feels less tacky. I've put them away in a basket and layered them with fabric placemat. i hope the paint doesn't chip.

Leave me a comment if you are interested in my painted rock sets.