Tag: craft

Wooden Easter Diorama Frame

Joggle Eyes

Step-by-step:

Pour a small amount of pastel paint onto a flat surface (painting trays, plates, messy mats, etc) and use a brush or roller to spread the colour to an even layer.

Gently press an Easter Sponge into the paint, then lift out of the paint and gently press down onto the cardboard. Lift off once more, leaving the painted print on the cardboard. Repeat as desired with each shape to fill the paper. Set aside to dry.

Use the leftover paint or POSCA markers to add detail over the dried paint (an orange beak, patterns on the eggs, etc) and set aside to dry.

Feed the dried painting through a laminator and set aside to cool down.

Carefully cut around the shapes.

Use strong craft glue to attach a wooden peg to the back of the laminated shape and joggle eyes onto the chick & bunny and set aside to dry.

Peel and stick a self-adhesive magnet to the back of the peg.

Done! The perfect Easter magnet is ready.

TOP TIP: Easter sponges are wonderfully versatile! Sponge the shapes onto cards, wrapping paper and Easter Hats. Or snip the prints out and paste them onto pop sticks for adorable storytelling props!

Wooden Diorama Frame

You will need:

Green Crinkle Paper Shred

Joggle Eyes

Mini Carrots

Yarn Chick, Bunny & Egg Ornaments

You will need:

Pastel Acrylic Yarn

Wooden Easter Ornaments

Joggle Eyes

Matt Paper Squares

Coloured Tissue Squares

Pastel Pom Poms

Natural Beading Cord

Paper Magiclay

Step-by-step:

Cover the wooden ornament in a layer of pastel paint and set aside to dry. Repeat paint application as desired.

For the Bunny and Chick, cut a workable length of yarn, wrap it around the wooden ornament, and tie it with a strong knot.

Wrap the yarn around the ornament until it looks full of colour (if needed, add another length of yarn). Tie the yarn off securely at the back.

For the Bunny – snip three lengths of beading cord 10cm in length, tie a knot in the middle to make whiskers, and press a small amount of pink Magiclay around the middle to hide the knot and make a nose. Attach in place with craft glue, along with two joggle eyes. Set aside to dry.

For the Chick – scrunch two tissue squares from the centre to make the wings. Fold an orange paper square in half and roughly draw a foot. Snip the foot out (you should now have two) and snip a small triangle shape along the remaining paper’s fold to make a little beak. Attach the feet, wings, beak and two joggle eyes in place with craft glue. Set aside to dry.

For the Egg – use the craft glue nozzle to ‘draw’ lines and squiggles on the surface, carefully placing short lengths of yarn over the glue. Finish off with a few pom poms and set aside to dry.

For each decoration, snip a short length of beading cord, thread it through the pre-cut hole and tie it into a loop to hang.

Done! The perfect Easter Yarn Ornament is ready.

TOP TIP: Taping the yarn at the back of the ornament with masking tape periodically will provide support for children with emerging fine motor skills.

Roller Print & Yarn Bonnet

You will need:

Easter Rollers

Cardboard Easter Hat

Pastel Pom Poms

Pastel Acrylic Yarn

Bio-Glitter – Pack of 12

Tacky Glue

Porcelain Teacup Planters

Painting Tray

Step-by-step:

Pop-out each piece from the large sheet of card.

Use brushes or sponges to apply a thin layer of pastel paint to the pieces and set aside to dry.

Pour a contrasting-coloured paint onto a messy mat or painting tray and use a brush or roller to smooth the paint to an even layer. Only a little paint is needed to make smooth prints.

Gently roll the Easter Rollers in the paint, ensuring an even layer of paint over each raised shape.

Roll the paint-loaded Easter Roller over the cardboard pieces, leaving behind its colourful print. Repeat as desired and set aside to dry.

Use the strong craft glue nozzle to ‘draw’ wavy lines over the crown and brim pieces, snip lengths of pastel yarn and gently press into place using the glue lines as a guide. Use the craft glue to ‘draw’ lines and shapes to shake Bio-Glitter onto, and small blobs of tacky glue to adhere the pom poms. Set aside to dry.

To assemble, sticky tape the scalloped crown piece together by the tabs, making sure it will fit the brim.

Sticky tape the tabs on the bottom of the crown piece to the underside of the brim.

If desired, sticky tape the tabs on the top circle to the crown piece (making a shelf to hold extra decorations). Set aside to dry.

Done! The perfect Easter Hat is ready.

TOP TIP: There’s no need for precise designs! The free-form style of this Easter Hat craft is wonderfully open-ended.

We hope you love getting crafty this Easter and creating these 6 fun activities. If you’d like to download the step-by-step activity pack pdf, click here. Happy crafting, and please share your crafty Easter creations with us @modernteaching.

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23/03/202328/02/2024

13 Mother’s Day handmade gift ideas

Mother’s Day is right round the corner! We’ve gathered up our best inspirational list of thoughtful handmade gifts for the maternal figures in our lives – representing the love and gratitude we feel for them and to celebrate all they do for us each day.

There are so many keepsakes to create! And the beauty of MTA’s open-ended range of Mother’s Day materials is the ability to adapt the activities to children’s ages, needs & suitability – ensuring they can make a personalised treasure that’s just right for their much-loved role models.

Read on for some creative Mother’s Day themed crafts to make ‘Mum’ feel special.

Ceramic Teacup Planter

Keep Mother’s Day flourishing all year round with the Ceramic Teacup Planter. The plain smooth surface of the cup & saucer welcome personalisation with any combination of porcelain markers, POSCA pens, pastel paints or rhinestones. Decorate with a pattern, draw pretty pictures, or write down words of love for Mum. In whichever way you choose to customise your planter, it’s sure to have pride of place on the windowsill – and in Mum’s heart.

STEP-BY-STEP

Give your teacup & saucer a good wash and set aside to dry before applying paint or makers.
Using the Porcelain Markers or paint of choice, carefully draw/paint your design onto the ceramic cup and saucer (paint provides a great overall coverage of colour, while markers provide precise detail).
Set aside to dry thoroughly.
To set the markers and paint for wear & tear, cover with a layer of Crystal Clear.
Set aside to dry thoroughly.
Add soil and a small plant of choice – flowers, herbs or succulents are ideal.

Done! The perfect Teacup Planter for Mum is ready.

*TOP TIP – Practising your design on paper before adding to the plate is a great help when deciding how the final product will look.

Products Used;

POSCA Marker Pastel Bullet

White Chromacryl Acrylic Paint

Crystal Clear

Sand Art Flower Magnets

These beautiful pre-cut sand art flowers make for conveniently effective gifts that Mum’s are sure to treasure! Simply peel off the protective paper to reveal the sticky surface below for you to sprinkle sand over. As you work through the sections, you’ll see your flower blooming before your very eyes. The supplied magnets are perfect to stick your flower onto any magnetic surface – the fridge, dishwasher, Mum’s office computer etc. Now mum is reminded of her blooming treasures every time she sees her flower magnets.

The Coloured sand used for crafting is available in a handy pack of 10, or choose to purchase individually in the pictured blue, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow and green. The rich vibrant shades are ideal for this project!

Glitter shakers are super handy when it comes to applying the coloured sand too. They come with two types of pouring options from fine sprinkle to steady pour for easy application every time. Feel welcome to add a touch of Bio-glitter to the shakers for your flowers to shine bright!

STEP-BY-STEP

Choose your flower design and coloured sand.
Carefully peel back a section of covering to reveal the sticky surface below.
Pour or shake the sand onto the sticky surface until it’s covered, gently shaking off excess.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the entire flower is covered with coloured sand.
Attach the supplied magnet onto the back of the tulip.

Done! The perfect sand art fridge magnet is for Mum is ready.

*TOP TIP – Painting trays come in handy to catch the excess spill of sand so that it can be used – and avoid a sandy classroom!

Products Used;

Sand Art Flowers

Creatistics Coloured Sand

Glitter Shakers

Iron on Bead Frames

Iron on Beads welcome children to create. They work like open-ended craft materials, inviting children to arrange them into any number of shapes & patterns. Perfect to make jewellery or key tags, trinket bowls, coasters, embellishments and so much more – literally anything your imagination desires.

Perfect for Mother’s Day these pastel-coloured non-toxic plastic beads easily arrange on a bead board; just lay on a piece of ironing paper and with a quick iron over, the beads melt together to hold their shape. It’s super easy! Children can also use them as traditional beads, stitching through the openings as they thread and weave – ideal for beaded jewellery or finishing off hanging decorations.

Available in so many shades, choose from vibrant colours and the handy vibrant pack, pastel colours and the handy pastel pack or bright neon if you’re feeling like some flare. And for younger age groups, they might find the jumbo sized beads more workable along with their jumbo-sized square bead boards, or jumbo assorted shapes boards.

STEP-BY-STEP

Arrange the iron-on beads into a design on the bead board.
Warm a household iron to high making sure the steam is off.
Cover the design with a sheet of ironing paper and iron over until the beads start to melt and fuse together into a colourful and flexible shape.
Allow your design to cool before removing from the bead board. 
Peel the protective layer off an acetate sheet and cut two pieces to the size of your frame.
Sandwich a photo or drawing between the acetate sheets and glue layers together, then glue to the back of the frame.
Set aside to dry thoroughly.
When dry, peel an adhesive magnet from the sheet and attach to the back of the frame.

Done! The perfect keepsake for Mum is ready.

*TOP TIP – Hot irons are not for young children. Have an adult help or complete the ironing steps.

Products Used;

Pastel Iron on Beads

Ironing Paper for Iron on Beads

Creatistics Square Bead Boards

Tacky Glue

A4 Acetate Sheets

Self-Adhesive Magnetic Sheets

Stained Glass Flowers

Take the hassle out of planning with pre-cut stained glass shapes ready to decorate. Made from black cardboard, these pretty flowers frame the included coloured cellophane beautifully. They even come with their own hanging ribbons. It’s a brilliantly convenient craft pack!

Display on windows, use the ribbons to hang or stick onto greeting cards for handmade gifts that’ll surely bring a smile to Mum. These colourful flowers will last the test of time too– long after cut flowers have wilted these elegant creations will proudly blossom.

STEP-BY-STEP

Choose your flower design and gently press out the petal inserts.
Apply a small amount of glue to one side of the flower (the edge of a glue stick or washable school glue will work with precision).
Press the coloured cellophane onto the glue, snipping the pieces to size as desired.
Use scissors to carefully snip off any excess cellophane from the edges of the flower.
Use a tab of strong craft glue (or sticky tape) to attach the enclosed ribbon for hanging.

Done! The perfect blooms are ready for Mum.

*TOP TIP – Use glue sparingly, too much glue with lead to wrinkled cellophane.

Products Used;

Stained Glass Flowers

Creatistics Superstik Glue Stick

Tacky Craft Glue

Shrink Film Beaded Key Chain

With her very own handmade key chain, Mum can take your love along with her all the time.

Made using shrink film, this versatile medium works like drawing on a piece of paper – only so much more fun! When you’re finished with your design, simply cut it out, punch a hole in the top (to thread into), and bake in the oven. You’ll see your design shrink before your very eyes! When it’s completely cooled, you’ll see it’s now a durable hard trinket ready to transform into a myriad of things.

Necklaces, bracelets, key chains, bag trinkets, car rear-view mirror accessories & door hanger decorations are all super simple to make. Just thread some beading cord or leather through the hole, add some beads and finish off with a key chain as desired. This is a gift that’s sure to last the distance.

STEP-BY-STEP

Draw keychain designs onto the shrink using the matte side with coloured pencils or permanent markers.
Carefully cut around design and punch a hole to attach the beading cord.
Pre-heat oven to 150°C.
Place each design on a lined tray (matte side up) and bake.
Plastic will begin to shrink after 10 seconds, watch carefully! They will shrink to approx. 60% of the original size.
Remove from oven once plastic has flattened and set tray aside to cool completely before handling.
Thread beading cord through the shrink film decorations and add desired number of beads.
Firmly tie the cord onto the key chain to hold everything in place.

Done! The perfect keychain for Mum is ready.

*TOP TIP – Coloured pencil markings will darken in the oven; a very light shading is all that’s needed for bright vibrant colour!

Products Used;

Hanging Porcelain Planter

Perfect for growing creativity! These adorable porcelain planters are ideal to personalise for Mother’s Day. There are so many ways to decorate them! Pastel paint & felt feathers add calming shades to compliment Mum’s soon-to-be favourite plant, or bold & vibrant paint with glitter glue will surely brighten Mum’s day!

STEP-BY-STEP

Apply your chosen shade of paint to the porcelain planter and set aside to dry thoroughly.
Decorate your planter using POSCA markers with words, drawings, or messages of love, and then set aside to dry.
Spray on a layer of Crystal Clear to protect from the weather and wear & tear.
Use tacky glue to stick on your desired embellishments and set aside to dry once more.
Add soil and a plant of your choice (flowers, herbs or succulents work well).

Done! The perfect planter is ready for Mum.

*TOP TIP – Before applying paint, markers, or embellishments, it’s recommended to thoroughly wash the porcelain planter and set aside to dry.

Products Used;

Hanging Porcelain Planter

POSCA Marker Pastel Bullet

Pencil Holder Frame

This Mother’s Day keepsake is not only beautiful, its wonderfully functional too. Decorate the pine wood pencil holder and PVC frame for stationery to sit proudly on Mum’s desk as a reminder of a special occasion for years to come.

Perfect to decorate with pastel paint and special papers (Mother’s Day, Impressionist or Patterned) and then finished off with the cutest accent embellishments (Flowers, Feathers, Wooden MUM Tiles, Glittery Daisies or Flower Rhinestones). Follow the simple step-by-step guide below to assemble yours. The only tough choice here is, how will you decorate yours?

STEP-BY-STEP

Remove the PVC display frame from the wooden pencil holder and set aside.
Using a brush, apply paint to your pencil holder and set aside to dry.
To cover some of the sides with patterned paper, lay the pencil holder onto the paper and use a pencil to trace around.
Lift the pencil holder off the paper, and using scissors, cut around the pencil markings (snipping inside of the pencil markings will ensure the paper fits neatly in place).
Apply a layer of Superstik Glue Stick to the surface of the pencil holder you’re wanting to place the paper on, and then firmly press the paper onto the surface, using your hands to smooth it down.
Repeat steps 3 to 5 for as many sides of the holder as desired (children’s drawings on cover paper also make a beautiful alternative to patterned paper).
Use dabs of Tacky Glue to apply your choice of embellishments and set aside to dry.
For the display frame, print and cut-to-size a photograph or child’s drawing, and gently slot it into place along with the PVC frame.

Done! Mum’s perfect pencil holder is ready.

*TOP TIP – Several layers of paint will provide complete coverage, while paint thinned with water will provide a rustic whitewashed effect.

Products Used;

Pencil Holder Frame

Felt Flowers

Latte Mugs & Marker Value Pack

Tacky Glue

Personalised Latte Mugs

A one-of-a-kind latte mug is just perfect to remind Mum how loved she is. Whether she’s gearing up for a big day ahead, or ready to relax at the end of it, her very own personalised will be Mum’s go-to favourite cup! These beautiful mugs are supplied as plain white, providing the perfect canvas for children to decorate and personalise with drawings and messages.

STEP-BY-STEP

For best results, we recommend to thoroughly clean your mug with soapy water, giving them a good rinse and dry afterwards (a dishwater is ideal).
Draw or paint your desired designs onto the outside of the mug.
Set aside to dry thoroughly.
To set the mug ready for drinking, wear & tear and dishwasher use it will need to be baked in an oven. Set oven to 150 degrees C, and once oven temp has been reached, bake the mug for 30 minutes, turn oven off and allow to cool before removing.

Done! The perfect latte mug is ready.

*TOP TIP – Paint provides a great overall coverage of colour, while porcelain markers provide precise detail.

Products Used;

Creatistics Chunky Colouring Markers

Akwa Glass & Tile Paint

Love Heart Tie Dye Calico Bag

Tie-Dye (or tied dying) is an ancient art that’s been well-known across continents and cultures for thousands of years. It’s made a modern resurgence with plenty of colourful textile designs to experiment with. All that’s needed is fabric, coloured dyes, and string – although modern tie dye is made a breeze with the use of rubber bands.

Choose any number of coloured dyes in vibrant rainbow and bright fluorescent shades or keep to the pictured warm colour tones of purple, magenta, red, orange, and yellow and you’re all ready to start! It’s the position of the rubber bands wound tightly around the fabric that creates the unique and mesmerising result. Creatistics Tie Dye takes the hassle out of the process too! No need for messy salt & vinegar and tubs of water, simply apply the coloured dye straight from the bottle onto the fabric.

Whichever collected of shades and pattern of rubber bands you choose; Mum’s shopping bag will be the envy of every shopper!

STEP-BY-STEP

Soak your calico bag in cold water and wring out the excess water.
Fold your damp calico bag vertically in half.
Use a Creatistics Colouring Marker to draw a half-heart shape with the centre aligning on the fold (washable markers will come off when you put the bag in the washing machine).
Scrunch the bag with tight pleats following along the marker line, matching up the marking together, and tightly wrap a rubber band around the pleats on the marker line.
Add another rubber band approx. 4cm below the first one.
Keep adding rubber bands until you reach the length of the bag.
Wearing gloves, apply Creatistics Tie Dye straight from the bottle onto the fabric bag, a new colour for each banded section, covering the entire surface.
Place the calico bag into a plastic bag or alternative plastic wrap.
Let sit for a few hours in a cool damp place (a fridge is ideal).
Remove the fabric bag from the plastic bag and remove the rubber bands (carefully cutting away with scissors is ideal).
Hang the calico bag on the clothesline and allow it to air dry.
Once thoroughly dry, place the calico bag in a dryer for 5-10 minutes on a hot spin setting to enable the colours to fully bind (we also recommend to separately wash the bag 3 to 4 times before washing with other laundry to avoid running).

Done! The perfect carry bag for Mum is ready.

*TOP TIP – Educators and older students will find applying the dye straight from the bottle the easiest methods, however younger age groups may find it easier to apply the dye from a bowl with a brush.

Products Used;

Calico Bags

Creatistics Tie Dye

Rubber Bands

Shrink Film Jewellery

Just like the key chain earlier, shrink film jewellery makes beautifully memorable keepsakes and yet they’re easy-peasy to assemble. With just a few simple items and a touch of creativity, in no time at all Mums around the country can proudly sport their Mother’s Day jewellery.

Whether you choose clear shrink film, printable white or pre-cut charms, young creators will have free reign to design the perfect adornments for their mums and much-loved role models. Read on to follow through the steps to make the colourful pictured pendants.

STEP-BY-STEP

Draw jewellery designs onto the shrink film using the matte side with coloured pencils or permanent markers.
Carefully cut around design and punch a hole to thread through.
Pre-heat oven to 150°C.
Place each design on a lined tray (matte side up) and bake.
Plastic will begin to shrink after 10 seconds, watch carefully! They will shrink to approx. 60% of the original size.
Remove from oven once plastic has flattened and set tray aside to cool completely before handling.
Thread beading cord through the shrink film decorations and add desired number of beads.
Firmly tie the cord to hold everything in place, leaving enough room to fit a bracelet or necklace on as desired.

Done! The perfect jewellery for Mum is ready.

*TOP TIP – Coloured pencil markings will darken in the oven; a very light shading is all that’s needed for bright vibrant colour!

Products Used;

Scratch Art Greeting Cards

DIY Mother’s Day cards are perfect for children to use their creativity in imaginative ways to make something just right for their Mum. A thoughtful and loving message inside the card will be something Mum will hold in her heart forever.

And because they’re so quick and simple to make, they’ll be time for children to make a card for all their role models & friends – mums, step-mums, grandmas, aunties, the kind neighbour always offering a friendly wave… Why not get the class together to send kind messages to the residents at the local retirement village? These beautiful cards will make anyone’s day!

STEP-BY-STEP

Using the provided scratch tools scratch away the black surface of a scratch-art heart to reveal the colour gradient below. It could be a special message with words, drawings or pretty patterns.
To make the coloured card front, apply a small layer of glue stick to the front of the card and lay it onto a piece of coloured paper.
Cut away excess paper.
Apply the glue stick to the back of the scratch-art heart and firmly press onto the font of the greeting card.
Set aside to dry thoroughly if needed.
Draw and write loving messages inside.

Done! Mum’s perfect Mother’s Day card is ready.

*TOP TIP – Don’t forget the envelope! It’s a terrific space for children to personalise with drawings, stickers or embellishments.

Products Used;

Scratch Art Hearts & Cards Pack

Hot & Cold Coloured Paper

Alphabet & Number Stamps

Perfect to incorporate printmaking into arts & crafts, this traditional alphabet & number stamp set will print messages of love into all sorts of mediums. Whether they’re used with ink on cards, or stamped into paper Magiclay, silk clay and air dry clay your creations will have that extra special touch this Mother’s Day.

STEP-BY-STEP

With a rolling pin, roll out your chosen clay medium to create a smooth surface.
Use a cookie cutter or free form your clay in your desired shape, eg. Necklace pendants, trinket bowls, key chains, tea light holders, desk paper weights etc.
Gently press the letters/numbers into the clay, forming messages of love, eg. ‘MUM’, ‘XOXO’, ‘BEST MUM’ etc.
Set your works aside to thoroughly dry (don’t forget to poke a hole in your works if you’ll be threading leather or cord to hang).

Done! The perfect message for mum is ready.

*TOP TIP – A sprinkle of Bio-Glitter always adds a touch of sparkle to Mum’s present.

Products Used;

Alphabet & Number Stamps

Now that your craft supplies are organised, have you got your wrapping sorted?

For large presents tissue paper, cellophane or paper rolls that can be personalised with paintings or drawings are ideal. For small items, paper bags are perfect, available in festive polka dots or easy-to- personalise natural or white. Finish off with ribbons made with satin, raffia or jute and you’ll be all set for Mum’s special day.

Now it’s time to gather the class and get your craft on!

Download our Mother’s Day activities PDF Bundle

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03/08/202222/02/2023

9 Memorable Father’s Day Art & Craft Activities

Fathers, Grandfathers, Great Grandfathers, Stepfathers, Uncles, Brothers and all other loving father figures in the community will love to open a personalised handmade present- representing the love and gratitude we feel for them and to celebrate all they do for us each day.

The beauty of MTA’s open-ended range of Father’s Day materials is the ability for children to adapt them to their own needs & suitability – making a personalised treasure that’s just right for their role models.

Whether in the school classroom, early education setting, home-based learning or weekend crafting – there’s something for everyone in MTA’s NEW and best-selling Father’s Day art & craft resource collection.

Read on for some creative Father’s Day-themed activities to make Dad feel special.

1. AIR DRY CLAY BOWLS

Air Dry Clay is wonderfully versatile, allowing young hands to easily mould into all sorts of treasures – including small plates and bowls to act as desktop paperweights or handy holders for keys, coins, wedding rings, and cufflinks etc. These beautiful keepsakes will be held in Dad’s heart as they hold his keys!

HAND BOWL STEP BY STEP

Divide Air Dry Clay into roughly 8 portions
Using a rolling pin, roll out each portion to roughly 1cm thick
Place the child’s hand onto the clay and gently trace around using clay tools
Gently cut away excess clay with a clay knife
Lift hand print off the messy mat and smooth down any rough edges by gently pressing with fingers
Set aside to dry for a few days
Decorate with paint as desired and leave to dry
When completely dry, coat with PVA Washable School Glue or Crystal Clear to provide a barrier to dirt, tarnish, wear stains and moisture.

*TOP TIP – placing the handprint in a small bowl lined with a paper towel while it dries will ensure it hardens into a shallow bowl shape.

Featured Products;

White Creatistics Air Dry Clay Ceramic Clay – (one packet does about 8 little hands)

Crystal Clear OR Creatistics PVA Washable School Glue

2. WOODEN HANGING FRAME

Perfect for home, Dad’s office, the tool shed, or garden shed, Wooden Hanging Frames are perfect for children to decorate and add their own style. Use paint, patterned, paper, markers or embellishments to personalise and then add a photo or drawing to each of the different-sized frames. When your paint and glue has dried, each square frame is ready to be strung together using the handy pre-cut holes.

TO MAKE DAD ROSETTE

Fold paper square into 4 lengths and cut along each fold – you will have 4 x long rectangle lengths
Fold each rectangle length into a paper concertina (fold the strip back and forth along the length of the paper).
Repeat for all 4 lengths of paper
Glue the ends of the concertina sections to each other, alternating paper pattern. You will now have 1 long concertina.
Bring 2 edges of the concertina together and glue in place to make a circle
Cut two lengths of patterned paper into ribbons and apply glue to the top, attach to the back of the rosette.
Cut a circle out of carboard, smaller in diameter to your rosette.
Using a metallic marker, write #1 Dad, BEST DAD AWARD, or desired quote
Use a thin permanent marker to trace around the metallic letters for crisp & clear lettering
Apply an even layer of PVA glue to the back of the cardboard circle and lay it over the front of the concertina circle, apply pressure to the layers while drying (laying a book over the rosette will help it to dry flat).
When dry, attach to the frame with a good dab of PVA glue

*TOP TIP – Low melt Hot Glue Guns will glue the rosette components together quickly for older age groups, or educators.

Featured products;

Blue Gingham Paper Roll

A4 Coastal Cardboard 220gsm

Hanging Frame

Pattern Paper Squares

Leather Cord

Creatistics Superstick Glue Stick

Metallic Markers

3. LATTE MUG

Whether Dad is gearing up for a big day ahead, or ready to relax after a long day, a personalised Latte Mug will be Dad’s go-to favourite cup! These beautiful mugs are supplied as plain white, providing the perfect canvas for children to decorate and personalise with drawings and messages to remind Dad how loved he is.

To set the markers and paint for wear & tear and dishwasher use, the mug will need to be baked in an oven. Set oven to 150 degrees C, once oven temperature has been reached, bake mug for 30 minutes, turn the oven off and allow to cool before removing. Dad’s mug is now ready for his favourite hot beverage.

*TOP TIP – Paint provides great overall coverage of colour, while porcelain markers provide precise detail.

Featured products;

Latte Mugs

4. DAD ROCKS

Painting rocks is a simple and fun craft idea that’s recently become popular the world over – with this adorable Father’s Day version sure to delight! You’ll want a smooth and clean stone, thick acrylic paint and heavy-duty markers to decorate your Dad Rocks. A few base coats of paint will provide the ideal surface on which to draw a likeness of Dad, a positive message on the back or a funny rock-themed quote – be as creative as you like! A coat of PVA glue or Crystal Clear will provide a protective surface for general wear and tear. Dad’s rock is now ready to find in a treasure hunt, to brighten the garden path or to keep loose papers secure as a desk paperweight. Dad will always know he rocks!

*TOP TIP – A quick wash with warm soapy water before decorating will give a clean surface for paint and markers to adhere to your rocks.

Featured products;

Story Stones

Thinline Permanent Markers

Acrylic Paint Introductory Set

Crystal Clear OR Creatistics PVA Washable School Glue

5. FATHER’S DAY CARDS

DIY Father’s Day cards make light work out of present making – perfect for children to use a wide range of open-ended materials in imaginative ways to make something just right for their Dad. A thoughtful and loving message inside the card will be something Dad will hold in his heart forever. If you’re feeling like some creative card inspo, have a read on to follow the step-by-step guides to making a Dad Shirt card or a Patty Pan Award card.

DAD SHIRT CARD – Step by Step

To make the shirt front, apply glue to the front of the card and lay it onto the back of the gingham paper (the white side)
Cut away excess paper
To make the tie, select your desired colour of patterned paper and cut into a tie shape (narrow at the top, wide at the bottom with a V shape)
Glue tie in the centre of the shirt front card
To make the collar, apply glue to a length of cover paper and lay it onto the back of the gingham paper (the white side) and cut away excess to make your desired collar size
Fold the 2 sides of the collar length around to make the front corners of your collar (this is where the buttons will go)
Glue buttons in place onto the shirt front
Decorate the inside of the card with drawings and messages
Your card is ready for Dad!

*TOP TIP – To make the collar lengths apply glue stick to an entire piece of cover paper and lay onto the gingham paper, you will then be able to cut multiple strips of collars at the one time.

PATTY PAN AWARD CARD – Step by Step

Cut a circle out of coloured cardboard
Draw or write your message for Dad using markers
Cut patty pans into quarters
Glue sections of patty pans onto the back of the cardboard circle to form the Rosette (experiment with colour patterns, or multiple layers)
Cut 2 lengths of coloured paper or cardboard & cut an inverted V shape into the lower lengths to form the Rosette ribbons
Attach you ribbons onto the back of the rosette with glue
Apply a layer of glue to the back of the finished rosette and press down firmly onto the card
The inside of the card can be decorated with drawings and messages too!
Slot your card into the supplied envelope and it’s ready for Dad!

*TOP TIP – The front of the card where the patty pan award sits can also be decorated with paint, drawings or coloured paper for an extra splash of colour!

Featured products;

White Cards and Envelopes

Pastel Assorted Buttons

Blue Gingham Paper Roll

Pattern Paper Squares

Creatistics A4 White Cover Paper

Large Coloured Patty Pans

A4 Coastal Cardboard

Metallic Markers

Thinline Permanent Markers

6. SHRINK FILM BOOKMARKS

With just a few supplies and a lot of imagination, these handy bookmarks are super simple to make, and will remind Dad how special he is with each turn of a page.

To make, simply cut a length of clear shrink film or printable shrink film ) (one sheet of shrink film makes 4 bookmarks). Draw or write your design onto the matt side using coloured pencils or markers , use a hole punch to make a hole for threading the string later on – and then you’re ready to bake! Pre-heat the oven to 150 degrees C. Place design on a lined tray (matt side up) and bake. The plastic will begin to shrink after 10 seconds. Remove from the oven once the plastic has flattened and set tray aside to cool completely before handling.

To make the beads, roll small chunks of silk clay or paper magiclay ( in the palm of your hand) to form small beads. Poke each bead with a skewer all the way through, making sure the hole is wide enough to thread cord or string through and then set aside to dry for 24 hours. Use a length of strong string (or leather cord ) to tie through the punched hole, add some of your colourful beads and tie off with a coloured tassel . Your personalised bookmark will mark reading places proudly!

*TOP TIP – Coloured pencil markings go a long way once shrunk in the oven; a very light shading is all that’s needed for bright vibrant colour!

Featured products;

Clear Shrink Film (Each sheet of clear film paper makes roughly 2 car hangers).

White Printable Shrink Film

Jumbo Coloured Pencils

Lyra Giant Skintone Pencils

Thinline Permanent Markers

Candy Colours Paper Magiclay

Paper Punch One Hole

Leather Cord

Assorted Colour Tassels

7. CERAMIC PLANT POT with PLANT LABEL/STAKE

Plants truly are the gift that keeps on giving! Whether your Dad would like a spiky cactus to decorate his office or a tasty bunch of herbs to spice up his cooking, he’ll no doubt love a personalised plant to keep him thriving.

These adorable ceramic plant pots make the perfect vessel to decorate with glass & ceramic paint and porcelain markers. We’ve added a little shrink film plant label for further personalisation, which makes the ideal tag to jot down the care instructions for Dad’s plant.

*TOP TIP – Paint provides great overall coverage of colour, while markers provide precise detail.

Featured products;

Porcelain Flower Pot OR Terracotta Plant Pot

White Printable Shrink Film

Jumbo Coloured Pencils

Clear Shrink Film

Thinline Permanent Markers Assorted Pack

8. WOODEN HOME FRAME

Home is where the heart is, and what a beautiful home these wooden frames make! The sturdy surfaces of the wooden frames are ideal for all sorts of personalised decorations including open-ended Father’s Day essentials or silk clay . When your frame has been decorated and thoroughly dry it’s ready for a photo, drawing or special message to be added into the frame. You’re then ready to slot the wooden stand into the back of the frame so it can sit proudly on Dad’s desk where we’re sure it will stay forever!

*TOP TIP – Remember to add the date to the back of your Home Frame so Dad can remember what year it was when he looks back at his treasured memories.

Featured products;

Wooden Home Frame

Silk Clay Kit

Candy Colours Paper Magiclay

Father’s Day Craft Essentials

9. AIR DRY CLAY DECORATIONS

These sweet decorations will bring a smile to Dad’s face every time he sees them. For younger children, the design can be kept straightforward and simple lettering, with older age groups adding complexity to their designs with messages, carving decorations or clay beads.

To make, simply roll out a slab of air-dry clay and use cookie cutters or free-form tools to cut out your desired shape. Set aside to dry for 24 to 48 hours on a flat surface. Meanwhile, to make the beads, roll small chunks of clay , silk clay or paper magiclay in the palm of your hand to form small beads. Poke each bead with a skewer all the way through, making sure the hole is wide enough to thread cord or string through and then set aside to dry with the decoration. When the clay is firm to the touch it’s ready for painting. When your decorations are dry once again, they’re ready for stringing together – remember to tie them off well to keep those beads from rolling away!

*TOP TIP – The thicker your decorations are, the sturdier they will be able to withstand general wear and tear. A few coats of PVA glue will also provide strength to your decorations for added longevity.

Featured products;

Creatistics Air Dry Clay Ceramic Clay – (one packet does about 8 little hands)