Crocheting "lines"

My little guys and I crocheted some "lines" to use as manipulatives, or guns as my son chose to turn his into, as with everything he seems to touch,  he loves to play hunting (later it became a necklace).  We just chain stitched "lines" and then had fun forming our letters and numbers.  A great video tutorial on the chain stitch can be found here at Crochet school.  These are wonderfully done tutorials which I used to teach my 9 YO daughter how to crochet.  We find some of the best manipulatives are those we craft together. 

 

 

 

                         

                   How about you what kind of craftiness is going on with you and you littles?

"Hot"...... glue batik

For a couple of years now I have been wanting to try glue batik with my kiddos.  I first saw it here, at, That Artist Woman.  Instead of using washable glue though, we used a hot glue gun, with mom's help of course!  This is a super fun and super easy project, my kid's 9, 4, and 2 really enjoyed it.  Here's what we did.

Supplies we used:
white bed sheet
hot glue gun and glue sticks
scissors
paint brushes
acrylic paint
ribbon
water jar
rags
painting boards
iron
needle
yarn

How we created our banner:
1. We planned out what we wanted, which was a banner that spelled out LOVE. 
2. Cut out rectangles from a white flat bed sheet.  I started each cut with scissors and then tore them to prevent fraying. 
3.  Used our hot glue to add our letter to each rectangle. 
4.  Let them dry a few minutes and then I wet each rectangle under the faucet and wrung them out.

 

 

5. Each child painted one rectangle how they wished with acrylic paint-this created a watercolor effect on the fabric.
6. Let them dry for a few hours.
7. Rinsed them in warm water, which I don't think is necessary, because no paint came off.

 

8 Peeled off each letter.
9. Laid them out to dry.
10. Ironed them on the backside covered with a cloth, just in case any paint was to come off.

 

 

 

 11.  strung up each panel with yarn.

 

 

12. Hung it up:)

13. Admired!!

 

Hope you enjoy, would love to see how yours turns out, share a link!