Written By: Sumera Garcia-Quadri
In light of the fun crafts that my 77 yr-old grandmother has been doing at LA Center for Active Living 55+ which she surprisingly loves due to the bonding opportunities, I thought I’d share some of my childhood favorites.
When I wasn't in after school dance programs or hanging out with my friends, I was often at home cooking with my dad or watching my favorite shows. But that could get boring at times and then I would get creative at finding ways to occupy my time. We didn’t have cellphones or tablets then. Art and craft was my main hobby and I could do it for hours on end. While my sister’s was creative writing, drawing, and singing. Don't get me wrong, we would have benefited from being enrolled in more social and recreational programs, but growing up with a single father who became physically disabled and then my grandparents, meant, we couldn't always ask for non-essentials. Now, I think growing up that way wasn’t so bad, because should my cellphone or laptop ever break down, I've got a hobby I love in my pocket.
Toilet Paper Roll Safari Binoculars
What you need: 2 toilet paper rolls, 1 string, any colored paper (tissue paper, gift wrapping, newspaper), stickers and pens, a stapler or duct tape and scissors
Method: Lay the 2 toilet paper rolls beside each other. Join the two rolls together by stapling or gluing the sides together. Place another piece of tape across the middle of the two rolls to secure them together. Make 2 holes with a hole punch on the outer sides of each roll. Decorate with your favorite paper, gems, and stickers. Weave a string through the holes and tie a knot. Make sure there’s enough string to go over your head so that it can hang around your neck like a necklace. You’re done! Go exploring!
Option: to tint the lenses, wrap see through colored plastic paper at the front of each lens and secure it with staples or tape
Pasta Baroque Frame
What you need: one side of a cereal box, 1 ruler, pastas (bow, fusilli, mini wheels), non toxic white glue, gold or brown matte paint and gold sparkles, 1 gold or black satin ribbon, and double sided clear tape
Method: for the frame, draw a 6 x 6 square onto the box and cut it out. Draw a smaller 4 x 4 square on the square and cut the inside out to create a frame. The frame should be 2 inches thick. Make 2 holes on the top of the frame with a whole punch for the string. Using the cardboard side, generously spread glue all over the frame and decorate with pasta shells. Allow to dry over night until the frame is hard and dry. Paint the entire frame. Add the sparkles to the wet paint and tap off the excess. Allow to dry. Add the ribbon through the wholes and secure with a knot. Stick a picture to the back of the frame with double sided clear tape. You’re done! Hang It!
Option: instead of hanging it, simply add enough sticker magnets to the back of the frame to hang it on the fridge
Tea Bag Stained Ancient Paper Treasure Map (fun for treasure hunt parties)
What you need: 1 page of white paper (any size), 2 tea bags, a cup of hot water, red and black crayons, scissors or a lighter
Method: Crumble the paper a few times and then lay open. Steep 2 tea bags in hot water until the water is dark brown (5 to 8 minutes). Once cool, squeeze the water out of the tea bags and dab onto the paper. Continue dabbing until the paper is as dark as you want it. Allow to dry over night. Once dry, cut or lightly burn the edges safely, parents should facilitate with this part. Use black and red crayons to draw a treasure map. You’re done! Go Hunting!
Happy Crafting!