Beat the Heat With these 3 Craft Ideas

Summer in Florida is hot, and children who attend the Diocese of Orlando’s schools in Polk County often do not realize they are overheated. Keep your little ones inside during the hottest part of the day by letting them complete these creative craft ideas.A clever scrapbook takeoff is a decoupage bowl, platter, or wall hanging.Place plastic wrap on a flat surface or across an existing platter or bowl, keeping the wrap tight and with a minimum of wrinkles. Cut out circles, squares, triangles, or shapes from pictures of vacations or family events throughout the summer. Dip the pieces in decoupage and adhere them to the shape of your surface. Remember, if you want to see the pictures on the outside of a bowl you must face them toward you and if you want them to be seen from the inside, place them face down. You can also use other souvenirs, such as placemats, maps, tour guides, or scrapbook paper to fill in any blank spots. Add another layer of decoupage to the bottom of all the photo cut-outs. When your project is dry, apply a coat of decoupage to the opposite side.Create a great exercise toy with a dowel or stick and strips of fabric.Wrap the stick with fabric, tying or gluing the fabric to the stick. Leave about two to four feet of streamers on one end in the same manner as the ribbon wands in gymnastic competitions. Leap, run, and tumble while twirling the stick to form circles, ellipses, and waves of fun. Make sure the boys engage in this activity by decorating in bold colors or in material depicting their favorite characters.Sea jellies (jellyfish) are no fun in the water, but creating paper sea jellies can create a beautiful underwater landscape.Use paper bowls for the bodies and add thin strips of bubble wrap for the stinging tentacles and crepe paper streamers for the longer tentacles.  Color the bowls to match the crepe paper streamers, and add stripes or dots to the exterior of the body. The tentacles can also be made with gift-wrapping ribbon or with long pipe cleaners. Hang your sea jellies from the ceiling or outside where the wind can gently blow the tentacles.No matter what activity you choose for your crafty children, the important point is to participate in it together. Your little ones will appreciate your time and love the nifty souvenir they have to remind them of the fun you had creating the craft together. The Diocese of Orlando’s website has more fun crafts for holidays and throughout the year on our blog page. Give the Diocese a call at 407-246-4800 for Vacation Bible School dates in your area, where your children in schools in Polk County can create beautiful faith-filled crafts.