Yikes it’s three days until Christmas Day!

I’m sure there are plenty of you out there who are getting super excited for the holidays and now that the kids have finally broken up from school, you can really spend some quality family time together at home.

Arts and crafts are a brilliant past-time to get the children creative, imaginative and have fun.

Knitting, although it can be tricky, can be quickly picked up by beginners and is fantastic for making homemade Christmas time decorations or presents (well, apart from the reindeer jumper your gran knits you every year!)

Why not weave some striped stockings to hang over the fireplace this Christmas instead of simply buying them from a store?

Try making some Pom Pom Snowmen for decorations on the mantelpiece that will bring a homely flair to the house; or try crocheting a robin nest to put in the Christmas tree?

Whichever arts and crafts you decide to make, you can always wear Aprons to protect your clothes.

Before you get started, here are some knitting abbreviations and terminology to help you along the way;

ch = chain
st = stitch
slst = slipstitch
dc = double crochet
tr = treble
tog =together
dk = double knit

Crochet Robin Nest

This craft is perfect to add some family tradition to the Christmas tree. Once it is made you can hang it up year after year.

Instructions

Pom Pom Snowmen

You can be creative and knit you own scarf and hats for these snowmen to make it that extra little bit Christmassy.

Instructions

Snowflake and Striped Stocking

What’s fantastic with this art and craft is you can do whatever colours you like to suit your Christmas theme in the house. Traditionally, red, white and green are the most iconic colours associate with the holiday season.

Instructions

It’s almost a month to Christmas!  

You can tell winter has most definitely arrived, with the icy roads and snow on the roof tops.  

It is perfect weather conditions for the kids to go sledge tobogganing, make snowmen and have snow ball fights.  

But it can be extremely cold, even with your hat, scarf and gloves on; so to ensure you don’t get ill it might be best to stay wrapped up warm inside.  

As most parents will probably know, it can be difficult keeping the youngsters entertained indoors. There is more to it than shoving them in front of the television or computer games to keep them quiet, it is about making sure them are as stimulated mentally as they would be playing games outside.  

Doing homemade projects like arts and crafts is a fantastic way to get the whole family together, to have fun and enjoy each other’s company; as well as keeping the little ones busy and on a low budget.  

As it is almost Christmas, why not spend time making Christmas cards for family members and friends? Sometimes receiving a personal card can really brighten up someone’s day, as that extra effort has been put in. What better way to say Merry Christmas than with a handmade Christmas card?  

You can use glitter and cotton wool for snow and coloured pens to draw reindeer, Santa Claus or robins; really go to town with drawing whatever you want. Cutting out bits and bobs and using glue to stick them down is also a great idea, be as imaginative as possible!  

Arts and crafts are great family fun but they can be dangerous. Please note that some glues are not healthy to be inhaled and may be highly inflammable; and when using scissors children should be supervised. Plastic safety scissors are perfectly acceptable for younger children.  

Ulster weavers have found some really fun card ideas for you to replicate, so get your aprons on and get creative!  

Winter Animals 

A cute little robin is really easy for the children to copy. Trace the outlined image and then colour in your own individual design; why not stick some ribbon on for its scarf and hat? 

  Messaged Cards 

Ok so this is a little bit much to ask your kids to design but it is a great way to show how you can design however you like, sticking gems and stickers on to make it unique. 

You could draw little mistle toes in the corner instead if you like. 

Winter Themes 

Winter themes are so varied there are so many ideas to flow with. A Christmas tree, a star, an angel or a navity play….explore your creativity.

With it coming up to Christmas time, why not get the kids into the festive spirit and pass the time with arts and crafts make your own masks.

Extremely enjoyable on a low budget, you can help make animal masks that the children will love to put on afterwards and play games in.

Homemade projects bring such delight to children as it gives a sense of satisfaction and achievement, and let’s face it you will have just as much fun, if not more, than they will!

What better way to make it seasonal than to portray winter animals such as a penguin, polar bear, or reindeer.

Make a simple paper mask coloured with crayons or paints; or why not create an elaborate paper mache animal face complete with added textures and glued accessories such as fur, glitter and feathers. Use a permanent marker for facial details and pay close attention to your animal’s facial patterns. Once your mask is complete, punch holes by each ear and a tie a string to the mask so you can wear it properly.

Arts and crafts are great family fun but they can be dangerous. Please note that some glues are not healthy to be inhaled and may be highly inflammable; and when using scissors children should be supervised. Plastic safety scissors are perfectly acceptable for younger children.

So get your aprons on and have fun with these Ulster Weaver animal mask ideas.

Penguin

Making a paper mask is much simpler to make if you want a stress and mess free mask making experience.  They also require fewer materials and take less time to complete. Print this image out or trace the outline on to paper and cut along your outline to get your mask’s basic shape. Just put a cross through any areas you plan to cut on the mask such as eye and mouth holes and colour in!

Picture Link

Polar Bear

Similar to the penguin mask, print out this image or find one of your own in a magazine or book and trace it on to some paper; and start colouring away! Don’t forget to make holes for your eyes and nose. Why not create the white/grey affect by using talc powder or white paint?

Picture Link

Reindeer

Print and make your very own reindeer mask this Christmas! Why not use felts to colour the antlers brown and the nose red and shiny? Or draw your own reindeer out to make your antlers bigger/smaller however you want.  Or why move away from the traditional image and create a glittery fun one?

Picture link

Picture Link

If you are in to arts and crafts and would like to visit a few shows, events and exhibitions but don’t know where they are held, then search no more as we have done a bit of the hard work for you.

Scouring the web, we have found some of our favourite organised art and craft events that you can take part in this winter. Whether its food and flowers, or cushions and bags, there are a wide range of events and exhibitions around the UK that you and your friends can take part in.

UK ART AND CRAFTS EVENTS 2010

2^nd – 3^rd October – Craft Gift & Food Show – Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield

3^rd October – Cushion Crazy – Farncombe Estate Adult Learning Centre, Worcestershire

8^th – 10^th October – Craft & Gift Fayre – Lady Green Garden Centre, Ince Blundell, Merseyside

15^th 17^th October – Bags Galore! Make Four in a Weekend – Farncombe Estate Adult Learning Centre, Worcestershire

16^th – 17^th October – Indoor Craft & Gift Fayre – Haydock Park Racecourse

21^st October – Christmas Scene Stamping – High Legh Garden Centre, Knutsford

30^th – 31^st October – Christmas Craft, Food & Country Gift Fayre – Beale Park, Berkshire

4^th – 7^th November – Crafts for Christmas – NEC, Birmingham

If you wish to find an art and craft show in your area, visit ICHF.co.uk, Craft-Fair.co.uk or Britevents.com which lists all of the latest craft shows across the UK and how you can take part.

Kids love crafts. Getting messy and creative is a sure way to keep your little one’s entertained while the big kids have gone back to school.

A fantastic way to get them out and about and active in the garden is to get them making crafts and garden accessories for your garden or as a gift to their grandparents. This gets their imagination going and allows them to feel more involved in garden projects as well as learning about the garden and the outdoors.

Instead of placing your child in front of the television when they are bored, invest a bit of your time into their day by teaching them different crafts for the garden. Whether its painting a plant pot or planting a flower bed let them feel proud to have created something to show off to family and friends in your garden.

To give you a few little ideas of what you can create with your kids in the garden, here are a few suggestions from Ulster Weavers; a sure way to keep your children super happy.

Bird Table

If you have a bit of time and a few bits of wood, why not get your child involved in making a bird table for the garden. Get them to help you paint the bird table and decide where to put it in the garden. Make sure that they are aware of the dangers of nails and hammers and that the wood is carefully sanded down in order to prevent splinters.

Flower Pot Friend

Why not get them to make your very own garden friend/gnome. You can easily create a gnome or flower pot man out of simple garden accessories such as flower pots, pieces of wood as well as decorative garden paints to add a smiley face to your garden friend.

Garden Stepping Stones

If you have room for garden stepping stones in your garden then why not get your little ones to paint their very own stepping stone. That way you will always have those special memories of your children and their mark on your garden. You can even get your children’s children to add their stepping stone to the garden in many years to come.

Paint a Plant Pot

Very easy and lots of fun. Buy a few different plant pots and get your little one’s painting in the garden. Get them thinking creatively and encourage them to think of inspiration from the great outdoors. You can really go to town when painting plant pots using finishing accessories such as buttons to complete the design.  Make sure you get the little one to wear childrens aprons so they don’t get their clothes too messy. You could even get them to choose their very own flower from the garden centre which they can plant in their decorative plant pot and look after each day.

It’s coming towards the end of the summer holidays and you are probably finding that your kids are getting super bored with all this free time they are having off school. So much so that their day to day games and playing with friends has become somewhat of a bore to them, that they are getting much more pleasure annoying you instead. Sound familiar?

A great way to get your children involved and kept thoroughly entertained is through creative arts and crafts. Getting them involved in creating their own gifts and crafts allows their imagination to explore and for them to be proud of something they have achieved on their own. Nowadays there are many arts and crafts shops across the UK which invite children – as well as children’s parties – to come along to design and make their own crafts. From ceramic mugs and egg cups to ornaments and jugs kids can create their own crafts that they can take away to give to their family and friends.

If you know that your children will love the idea of crafts then we at Ulster Weavers have put together a fabulous ‘make your own mug’ plan that you can do in your own home with your children.

Things you will need

• Pre-glazed ceramic blank white mug.
• Light blue grease pencil.
• Ceramic mug paints or markers.

TOP TIP: YOU CAN PURCHASE YOUR PRE GLAZED MUG FROM A VARIETY OF ARTS AND CRAFTS STORES AS WELL AS ONLINE STORES. THEY AREN’T EXPENSIVE AND MANY COME IN A PACK CONTAINING PAINTS AND MARKERS FOR YOU TO DECORATE YOUR MUG.

1. Firstly lay out an area where you and your children can work. Make sure that you cover the area so that no mess is made on the carpets or furniture. Get your child to wear a PVC apron to make sure they don’t get their clothes messy.

2. Sit down with your child and talk about the design and pattern they want to create. This will get their brain thinking about things they like and things they like to draw and paint. Allowing them to jump in feet first with their paints and markers may mean they design something they don’t like and they won’t be able to start again. Maybe get them to draw the design on paper first so they can work against something when drawing onto the mug.

 TOP TIP: GET THEM TO THINK ABOUT THEIR HOBBIES, INTERESTS, FAVOURITE TELEVISION SHOWS, FRIENDS, FAMILY AS WELL AS PLACES THEY HAVE BEEN, FAVOURITE ANIMALS, THE LIST IS ENDLESS. THE MORE YOU GET THEM THINKING, THE MORE CREATIVE THEY WILL BE WHEN DESIGNING THEIR MUG.

3. With the grease pencil get your child to sketch their design onto the mug. Wipe away any mistakes and revise designs with a damp cloth. Let your child know that they don’t need to rush and that they should draw lightly with the grease pencil as pressing too hard will make the grease harder to get off.

4. Paint and draw over the design with ceramic mug paints or markers. Work from left to right around your mug ifright-handed and from right to left if left-handed. This will prevent the design from smearing.

5. Once they are happy with the design bake the mug(s) in the oven at about 300 degrees Fahrenheit on a baking tray for about 15 minutes so that the paint and ink will set. Make sure you use an oven glove and explain to your children the importance of keeping safe when near kitchen appliances such as the oven.

6. The mug is now ready and dishwasher safe to use.

 Sit down with your children and have a little tea party full of treats as well as their newly designed ceramic mug that they can drink out of.

And it’s not just paints and markers that can get your child creative. Many online sites allow you to upload digital photos online, arrange them on to a ceramic mug to be printed and sent direct to your home. These make ideal gifts for friends and loved ones and don’t cost too much either.

Ulster Weavers Charlotte Bone China Mug

If you are getting in on a slice of the creative action and want to create your own mugs, take a little inspiration from the collection of Bone China Mugs at UlsterWeavers.com.

You are sure to find a wide range of inspiration from their fantastic collection including the Charlotte Bone China Mug a beautiful vintage rose design that is back in fashion in a big way. The collection comes complete with a Charlotte coasters, double oven glove, placemats, small and large tray, pot mitt, tea cosy, small, medium and shoulder PVC bag, PVC and cotton apron, linen tea towel, gauntlet, 2011 calendar tea towel, tea cosy and PVC packable bag. The beautiful collection is the complete collection you need to make your house a home.