Beading With Kids on Snow Days or Anytime
Bead and Button Show Class Registration Starts Jan 17!
LandOfOdds Beaded Art Doll Competition Info!
We've all heard the chant during vacation, snow days, or a rainy Saturday. "There's NOTHING to do!" Pre-plan by having a box of wonderful beading supplies for your children to work with, and turn a boring afternoon into a fun, bead-filled day! Here are some ideas to get you started:
Polymer Clay. My pre-teen son loves working with this stuff. He's created snakes, cars with wheels that move, animal figures, and beads that he's turned into bracelets to sell at Mom's craft shows. For a "starter" set, purchase multi-packs of assorted colors and a good basic book on Polymer Clay. (My recommendation is The Polymer Clay Techniques Book by Sue Heaser.) As your child advances in their skill level, add tools, molds, a pasta maker (to condition and roll out clay in even sheets) and additional colors and textures of clay to your supply box. You will probably find yourself intrigued enough to make new beads for your own jewelry designs! Note that because Polymer Clay requires baking to harden the clay, supervise your children in baking their creations. Pans used to bake the clay should be not be used for cooking food.
Seed Bead Weaving. When I was young, I had a loom and wove bracelets with Southwestern patterns. A loom is a great tool for kids to start out with - using needles freehand to create complicated stitches can be frustrating and may cause younger children to give up. Inexpensive craft seed beads are fine for children to create fun bracelets, necklaces and watch bands for themselves and friends.
Bracelets and Necklaces. Couple of options.while I'm not a fan of plastic or acrylic beads for my own work, they are fine for children's crafts. Use colored shoelaces or leather laces to string pony or crow beads (beads with a very large hole); little girls may want to try stringing beads on lace or fringed yarn. Keep in mind that if you use metal beads, be sure they do not contain lead. Most pewter beads, unless they are specifically marked, contain trace amounts of lead that can be dangerous for children. Many silver-colored plastic beads have painted surfaces and are safe; however, if you are in doubt, don't use metal beads for kid's crafting or projects. For older kids, let them go wild with some of your "regular" stash of beading supplies. You might be amazed at the combinations that they come up with!
Orphan Bead Projects. Book Buddies, Rings, hair ties, anything you can make with a single bead or mix and match combinations is a winner. Toss out a handful of beads on the table and let your kids' imagination run wild. Use single beads or seed beads to decorate a picture frame, an old jewelry box, a pair of flip flops, anything you can find that could benefit from a little bling! Tacky? Glue or a hot glue gun work great to attach beads to objects.
Always supervise younger children when working with small objects, ovens, glue and cutting tools. Because beading is so fun and addictive, you'll find the supervision to be just plain fun.you'll probably join in and make a few crafts yourself!!!
Bead and Button Show Class Registration Opens January 17!
Don't miss out! The annual Bead and Button Show will be held June 11-18, 2006 at the Midwest Airlines Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Registration for workshops and classes opens January 17, 2006 at noon CT.
All levels, from Beginner to Master are represented in the over 400 workshops and classes offered by some of the nation's top instructors. Classes fill quickly, so don't wait to sign up!
LandOfOdds All Dolled Up: Beaded Art Doll Competition
Readers are asked to assist in evaluating and judging the top three entries in the LandOfOdds Second Annual Beaded Art Doll Competition. Entries are to be judged in terms of:
1. INSIGHT: The Bead Artist's inner awareness and powers of self-expression through sculptural beadwork
2. TECHNIQUE(S): Creativity of the artist in using various beading stitches, as well as creating the doll's form.
3. VISUAL APPEAL: The overall visual appeal of the doll.
4. QUALITY OF WRITTEN STORY: How well the written short story enhances an appreciation of the Beaded Art Doll.
Each entry has colorful photographs showing the doll from all angles, list of materials and techniques used to create the doll, and the artist's short story based on the following first paragraph and theme:
Theme: Over The Rainbow
"Once upon a time, in a land far away, there, Over The Rainbow, I discovered you, embellished with a kind of light and charm, mystery and magic, that one finds only in this special place. Whether it was Fate or Luck, we met again, my Beaded Art Doll, and I renamed you appropriately enough, ... "
Online evaluations will be tallied and used to adjust Panel of Judges at CBJA scoring by 25%. Readers may evaluate each entry only once. Evaluations close January 15, 2006. Winners to be announced immediately following close of evaluations.
