Blog - Laura Kelly's Inklings

April 16, 2021 by: admin

Team Creative Crafts Craft-A-Thon

GIFT-A-THON Giveaways!

The Team Creative Crafts Craft-A-Thon is a virtual event streaming on Facebook with 5 hours of crafty happiness. There will be over 10 projects to make using a variety of mediums, supplies, tools and techniques. The Creative Crafts girls (Me, Beth Watson from Creatively Beth and Ann Butler from Bella Crafts Publishing) are ready to teach you all kinds of new fun ways to get creative.

Giveaways

The first giveaway you can enter to win is this awesome PRIZE BOX from Therm-O-Web!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

There will be LOADS of giveaways, like more than 50! Be sure to say YES that you are attending in the Facebook Event because our first 5 winners will be announced at the beginning of the Craft-A-Thon and will all be randomly selected from the pool of those who let us know ahead of time that they are joining us.

Who is Team Creative Crafts?

There are three of us who work together to bring this crafty fun to you! — me, Ann and Beth. We are crafty besties and work together is lots of ways. Ann blogs over at Bella Crafts Publishing and shares so many fantastic ideas and techniques. I love Ann because she is always smiling, almost always in the middle of creating something and is truly the kind of friend and friend would want to have. Beth blogs over at Creatively Beth. She is over-the-top creative and my bestest travel buddy. We would LOVE it if you would join all of us on our creative adventures!

Ann at Bella Crafts Publishing | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest
Laura at Laura Kelly Designs | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest
Beth at Creatively Beth | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest

Schedule

We will be starting a new project every 30 minutes beginning at 1 pm. EST. You can get all of the details in the Facebook Event!

Team Creative Craft Gift-A-Thon

On Friday night (the eve of the Craft-A-Thon), we will be sharing our first ever Team Creative Crafts Gift-A-Thon featuring our favorite handmade makers that sell their products (and a few of our fave small businesses too). There is a Facebook event for that too. It will be tons of fun and filled with inspiration, connection and MORE GIVEAWAYS!!!!

We sure hope you will join us!
Cheers,

Laura (and Beth and Ann)

April 14, 2021 by: admin

Linky Party Edition 37

Wowza what a week this was. Beth and I are in Florida at the Wizarding World but headed back to my studio tomorrow. We are going to meet Ann and be sharing TONS of creative inspiration for the following few days. Make sure you are following along on Instagram and Facebook.

There were a lot of fun things shared last week in the linky party. Check out our faves.

ANN’s fave was the checkerboard table by Libbie with A Life Unfolding
LAURA loved the peanut butter and jelly charms by Lindsay with Artsy Fartsy Mama
BETH chose the sweet gum tree balls by Sarah with Sadie Seasongoods

There are three of us who work together to bring this party to you! We would LOVE it if you would join all of us on our creative adventures.

Ann at Bella Crafts Publishing | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest

Laura at Laura Kelly Designs | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest

Beth at Creatively Beth | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest

RULES

The rules are simple:

Please visit our hosts on social media and say HI! We can’t feature you if you aren’t following us on at least one platform because – teamwork!
Share up to THREE family friendly – crafts, recipes, DIY, home décor, printables, etc. – linked to a specific post – not your main website URL.
Also, Please don’t link up shops, advertising, round-ups, other linky parties, or any sales promotions, we appreciate it.
Help us spread the word about this party by sharing the Creative Crafts Linky Party button in your post or sidebar. Use the hashtag #creativecrafts when sharing on social!
Additionally, It’s not a party if you aren’t mingling! Visit other links at the party because it’s always nice to leave comments and pin from the original source.

By linking to the Creative Crafts Linky Party #34, you give us permission to share your post and images on our blogs and social media. We will always give proper credit with a photo and link back.

LET’S GET THIS LINKY PARTY STARTED!

April 9, 2021 by: admin

Recycled Paper Tube Rainsticks

Recycle paper tube rainsticks are a fabulous way to make fun, usable and creative instruments with your kids. The huge variety of colors from DecoArt’s Americana line create endless possibilities of designs, color schemes and patterns. Did you know that music ignites all areas of child development. It supports skills in school readiness (including intellectual, social-emotional, motor and language development. Making music can help the body and the mind work together. Exposing children to music and making homemade instruments during the younger years helps them learn the sounds and meanings of words too. So, lets make some.

Supplies Needed for Paper Tube Rainsticks

DecoArt Americana Paints in a Variety of Colors
Scissors
Parchment Paper
Poly-Pellets
Poly-Fil
Rubber Bands
Paper Tubes (Longer ones from paper towels work the best.)

Direction for Paper Tube Rainsticks

Start by painting your tubes. With younger kids, it is helpful to select a few colors before the painting begins. Here are some fun facts about this paint, taken straight from the DecoArt website. “First bottled in 1985, Americana Acrylics have long been known for delivering consistent, premium quality at a budget-friendly price. There’s a reason Americana is the brand of choice for more painting teachers and published artists than any other brand — the versatility and quality are unmatched.”

A great tip is to hold the tube from the inside with one hand while painting with the other because it allows control.

It is fun to paint more than one at a time because this allows the paint to be drying on one while working on others. It is also fun to paint different sized tubes and even a can with a lid to make other types of instruments.

While the paint on the tubes is drying, cut circles from parchment paper. Trace a jar lid on the paper then cut out. It should be about twice as wide as the tube.

Fold the circle over the end of the tube and secure it with a rubber band. Don’t make it too tight or it will cause the tube to indent. This step is best done with the help of a grown-up.

According to research, “a rainstick is a long, hollow tube partially filled with small pebbles or beans that has small pins or thorns arranged helically on its inside surface. When the stick is upended, the pebbles fall to the other end of the tube, bouncing off the internal protrusions to create a sound reminiscent of falling rain”. To make the inside work, add a scrunched up piece of parchment paper.

Then add about 1/4 cup of Poly-Pellets and put another circle on the other end. The easy pour spout is the BEST.

Another option is to put some Poly-Fil puffs in the tube with the Poly-Pellets. This will create a totally different sound.

Why Painting with Kids is a Good Idea

Painting with kids is so much more than a craft project or simple activity. It is a way for kids (of all ages really) do many very important things. Here are some fabulous reasons to get kids painting.

It helps them convey ideas and share.
Painting gives kids an opportunity to express emotions — even ones that might be hiding deep inside.
It uses several senses to paint and through that kids make connections.
Exploring color, the process and the outcomes teaches cause and effect.
When kids made handmade masterpieces, it boosts confidence.

Preparation Steps for Painting with Kids

One of the biggest factors in creating successful paint crafts with kids lies in the prep. Here are four things you can do to prepare for a great time crafting.

Expect a little mess. Prep your area knowing that paint can spill, drip and splatter. Cover your work are with kraft paper before starting.
Provide aprons for the kids. If you don’t want to but them, they can wear old adult sized shirts as aprons.
Have paper towels nearby and ready if needed.
Know the dry time of the project before starting. If there are several steps, there might be a dry time involved. Have a puzzle or activity on hand to do during that in between time. You can grab free ones here on the blog.

More Instruments

Anything that jingles, clacks or can be banged on is fun to make. I whipped up a little drum and a mini tambourine while making the rainsticks.

More Recycled Crafts

There are so many ways to recycle household items and make them into wonderful things. Both of my Creative Crafts teammates have some great projects to share with you today. Be sure to check back tomorrow for TONS of ideas from all of the bloggers participating in this month’s Team Creative Crafts edition of Recycled Crafts!

Beth created this amazing wreath! I am IN LOVE with it.

Ann created these beautiful recycled flowers.

GIVEAWAY!

Enter to win 10 pounds of PolyFil and a $100 gift card to JoANN Stores.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have fun making these. Be sure to share this project!

Cheers!
Laura

April 8, 2021 by: admin

Tin Can Stilts

Making tin can stilts is easy and a great way to recycle those cans. They are fun because they can be painted all the different colors and decorated to fit any personality. Using yarn to make the handles is fun because it too can add all the colors and textures. Did you play with the classic tin can stilts when you were a kiddo? Do you remember crazy fun it was? It took a lot of practice (along with some bumps and bruises) to get it right.

Coffee cans are fantastic for making stilts. You will need to clean the cans and remove all the labels before getting started. Be sure to have the following supplies ready too.

Supplies for Tin Can Stilts

Tin Cans
DecoArt Multi-Purpose Acrylic Paints
Hole Puncher that Cuts Through Metal
Yarn

Directions:

First, paint your cans to decorate them. They can be painted solid or with lots of decorations.

Next, punch holes in the can on either side.

Following the hole punching, use yarn to make the handles. Braid colors together to make it a thicker handle. Your final yarn handle should measure from your child’s armpit to their ankle then doubled.

Finally, tie the yarn handle through the holes of the can to complete the stilt. You will need to do this for both cans.

When the child stands on the can and hold the handles to balance, they become taller. This is a great activity for coordination and balance. It takes a lot to get the hands and feet and ropes and cans all working together at the same time!

More Recycled Craft Ideas

My Creative Crafts Team is sharing lots of ideas for recycling items into craft projects and DIYs. Check out these two from Beth and Ann.

Ann used a vintage linen from her grandmother and turned it into this beautiful heart ornament stuffed with Poly-Fil from Fairfield World. I think it is simply gorgeous.

Beth used Poly-Fil to make this awesome upcycled sweatshirt pillow.

Even More Recycled Crafts

I love recycled crafts because they make something old into something new and useful. Maybe there are some more things you would love to try making in this fun post.

What Recycled Items are Good for Crafts

There are so many things that can easily be recycled into craft projects for kids. Here are the things that I save up in my garage. When it gets to be too much, sometimes I do drop offs at the local elementary school.

Jars
Shoeboxes
Paper Tubes
Bottle Lids
Cans
Food Boxes

Ten Reasons to Craft

I am going to say this again. Crafting is just a great idea. It is proven that crafting can be really good for mental and emotional health. Studies show that making and crafting can lower anxiety. Another benefit to crafting is that it creates connection. When we make things and give them to others, we spread kindness and love. Here are my top ten reasons to craft with kids, and I mean kids of all ages.

Mental Health Benefits – Crafting puts me in a good mood.
Self Expression – Crafting allows me to express myself.
Education and Growth – I learn new skills by making things.
Connection – Crafting connects me others through workshops, classes and gifting.
Decor – Through making and crafting, I can totally customize every aspect of my decor.
Gift Giving – Gifts is totally my love language. I love to make handmade gifts.
Offline Time – Crafting keeps me off of my phone and social media. We all know this can be beneficial.
Income – Because I craft and sell items that I make, I have an additional income source.
Fun – I like to have fun and to me, making things is fun.
Socializing – Attending events where crafting is a part gets me out and around others with like minds.

GIVEAWAY!

Enter to win 10 pounds of PolyFil and a $100 gift card to JoANN Stores.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have fun making these. Be sure to share this project!

Cheers and Love,

Laura

April 7, 2021 by: admin

CREATIVE CRAFTS LINKY PARTY EDITION 36

TEAM CREATIVE CRAFTS LINKY PARTY EDITION 36

Welcome to edition number 36 of our Linky Party. We are so glad you are here. Well gosh, Easter came and went so quickly. This year is flying right on by. With spring in full swing — things are looking bright, cheerful and filled with more hope than I have felt in a while. There were so many great projects shared last week. BUT before we get all LINKY and stuff — I am super excited to share our upcoming Craft-A-Thon with you!

Team Creative Crafts Craft-A-Thon

The Team Creative Crafts Craft-A-Thon is a virtual event streaming on Facebook with 5 hours of crafty happiness. There will be over 10 projects to make using a variety of mediums, supplies, tools and techniques. The Creative Crafts girls (Me, Beth Watson from Creatively Beth and Ann Butler from Bella Crafts Publishing) will be joined by Katie Berry from A Sweet Berry Designs to teach you all kinds of new fun ways to get creative.