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Remembering is Only Half the Fun, Spending Quality Time with your Kids is the Other!

Spending quality with our kids is such an important part of child rearing, yet we don't always make room for it in our busy schedules. Between homework, extra curricular activities, friends and work, it can seem a bit overwhelming. Having 4 children myself, (one being developmentally delayed) I too, find it challenging to find the time, wbc247 patience, and most of all, the energy.

However, I make no excuse and diligently set time aside just for them every week. The one thing that I find very rewarding is crafting with my kids. Even though they are getting older (1 teenager and 2 pre-teens), they still like to sit down with mom and create stuff. No worries though, I still have an 18 month old who will give me plenty of crafting years yet.

Another great thing about crafting is, it doesn't have to be expensive or complicated and can be educational when appropriate. For this reason, I've decided to create a series of crafts that go back many years. I thought it would be fun to revisit the old days and revive some of the classics.

Now, I'm not a child from the 50's or 60's, but I've bought enough magazines and books from that era over the years to know a thing or two. Remember what I just said, a thing or two, I don't profess to know it all. (LOL) My goal is to publish at least one craft per week, perhaps more, if I have the time and energy.



















Anyways, to kick start things, I'd like to begin the series with a popular paper crafts.

This was probably a part of every school curriculum back in the day and since valentine is right around the corner, this will be the focus of my article.

Enjoy!





Cards I've Created
Click thumbnail to view full-size






































































Picture Cards Using Shapes

The idea of this craft is to create a picture card or postcard using various shapes like circles, squares, triangles, rectangles and ovals. (No curves aloud, some exceptions apply!) Even older children and like minded adults will enjoy the challenge of producing a work of art utilizing the fundamentals of geometry, so without delay, gather your materials and spend some quality time with your kids.











Materials



Construction Paper (various colors) or Recycled Newspaper

White Bristol Board (Cardstock)

Scissors

White all Purpose Glue

Hole Punch (Optional)

Assortment of Crafting Accessories (Optional)

Black Marker







Instructions

To make things a heck of lot easier, I pre-cut all my shapes using scrapbooking templates. This way, the kids can just dig in the pile and find the appropriate shape for their picture.

Next, you need to determine if you're creating folding cards or just postcards. I prefer the latter. Using your white card stock, take a C.D. or any other method you prefer and draw around it, then cut it out. This will serve as your base card.

All that's left now is to assemble a picture with the shapes, just like a puzzle and glue it on. You can add glitter like I did, or just about anything you have on hand to embellish the card. I also used a black marker to write some quotes.

One more thing that I found very useful was to create a list of suggestions to get their creativity going. Here is a sample foe your use.



Crocodile

Ladybug

Flower

Teddy Bear

Scenery (trees and houses)

Robot

Night Sky (Stars and Planets)

Hint: You're out this world, be my valentine

Another way to find ideas is to look at books with your kids. Perhaps you can ask them what shapes they can find in the various parts of the pictures. Then you can use this as a guideline. I think if you create a few of these, you're kids will know their geometry shapes in not time flat.

If all else fails, I've taken the time to create one for you step by step below.













Lion
Click thumbnail to view full-size






Step 1





Step 2





Step 3





Step 4





Step 5





Step 6





Step 7





Step 8





My Kids Handy Work

Did you think that I had all the fun? Of course not. My children also created their own cards as well as the neighbor's child. My daughter didn't quite like the way hers turned out, but I told her it was great, after all, it's the effort that counts and the spirit!





Sara















Jean







Final Thoughts

I hope that you enjoy this article as much as I enjoyed putting it all together. Remember, there is always time for your kids. Stay tuned for more crafts from the 50's and 60's coming your way!

Chantel


























































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Eastern Rainbow

10 years ago


Very beautiful






desert blondie

12 years ago from Palm trees, swimming pools, lots of sand, lots of sunscreen


Hello! Just joined hubpages a couple of weeks ago, so still "looking around." I am a child of the 50s,60s and love felt, glue, sequins and pipecleaners. My mom was great at crafting with my sister and me for every occasion. When I became a mom, I kept "the old ways" with my two daughters making dozens of child-proof Christmas tree ornaments, easter decorations...and I'm hoping I'll be just as 50s and 60s crafty when I'm lucky enough to have grandkids!






maham

12 years ago


creative hub





AUTHOR
chantelg4

12 years ago from Northern Ontario


Thanks for the compliment, you know I did contemplate this, but then I would have to teach math, english, and geography, which I am not so fond of! LOL! However, for a long time, I volunteered when the kids were younger at the school and did all kinds of neat things with them, who knows, perhaps that's why I chose to have another baby 10 years after the last one.






trakker14

12 years ago from franklin


You should be an elementary school teacher or teachers aid, seriously, our kids could benefit from someone with your ideas and talent. Thanks so much for the memories.






caspar

12 years ago from UK


I love the cards - I'm going to try these out in my family learning class.






Patty Inglish MS

12 years ago from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation


Amasing. I just got done with hubs on the 1950s and 1960s in US History and here are the crafts to go with that time. The snoman is best. :) Great Hub!

Patty






Iðunn

12 years ago


I spend many happy hours making projects with my children and this is a great hub. You are right that it's mostly about shared happy time and making memories. :)





AUTHOR
chantelg4

12 years ago from Northern Ontario


Not exactly, but I do try to spend "fun"times with them when I can, it makes up for my imperfect qualites.






Ashok Rajagopalan

12 years ago from Chennai


You must be an amazing, super Mom! Can't stand here talking to you, must rush off to become your fan! :)






Zsuzsy Bee

12 years ago from Ontario/Canada


Great To see some people still like crafting

And a fellow Canadian at that.

regards Zsuzsy






elisabeth reid

12 years ago from Colorado


Sitting down with the kids and crafting or baking or anything that lets you spend time together, creating something tangible, is one of the best ways to spend an afternoon. My kids, although they're starting to grow up (11, 13, 15, 18 and 24), will still drop everything if I tell them I'm making gloop.






















About-The-Home

12 years ago


Must be great to get the children away from the tv or the computer.

They will enjoy the togetherness and it will leave them with happy memories.

Well done for that.

GerryM






Tiddledeewinks

12 years ago


We all need to spend more time with the kids and crafting is a nice way to spend that time. They will remember it years later with their own kids.






tracker1

12 years ago


If you need more ideas try this it fun for the whole family






Pat73

12 years ago


We really enjoyed doing this. Thanks






In The Doghouse

12 years ago from California


chantelg4

Having been raised by a kindergarten teacher for a mother, this was a craft we certainly enjoyed. Thanks for the awesome memories and great ideas. Have fun with your kids!