Mrs Bee's Emporium: Yikes, it's Half Term! Keep Calm and Craft for Christmas!

"No self-respecting mother would run out of intimidations on the eve of a major holiday." Erma Bombeck

It probably feels like the kids went back to school after the summer holidays just yesterday. It certainly does here, yet half term looms with all the promise often associated with an impending visit to the dentist. After six weeks of keeping your precious moppets entertained, another week of ‘I’m bored’ or ‘what are we doing today?’ might be the final mental torture that tips you well over the edge and into the depths of desperate insanity.

Not only can keeping the little (or not so little) ones entertained be hard work, it can also be expensive, especially if the weather’s bad. And, let’s be honest, it’s pretty much guaranteed to be bad. But, fear not, intrepid parents, we have a solution! Why not combine your Christmas preparations with amusing the kids, and saving money, by getting them crafting?

I’m really not sure...

Are those some doubts we hear? While here at Mrs Bee’s we’re (unsurprisingly) pretty keen on crafting, we get that not everyone is quite as passionate. It’s a shame, because science has shown that crafting actually has a number of benefits. As well as the obvious one of encouraging creativity, crafting also helps to improve hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and dexterity, all key developments for kids. Intellectually, it can enhance problem solving abilities, and help extend children’s concentration and attention. Psychologically, crafting has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, and enhance mental well-being, especially when people choose to craft together.

You never know where it might lead…

Mrs Bee’s story began when, one day, I decided to have a go at knitting, inspired by some cushion covers I saw on a magazine cover. Like many people, I had made stuff when I was younger, but I had actually forgotten how much I enjoyed it. Don’t get me wrong – it took me months to actually knit anything without random holes – but I stuck with it.

Knitting was just a casual hobby until I went through work-related stress and depression. To distract myself, I bought a book on sewing, and found I loved that too. I then went on to try crochet, pottery, paper crafts and basically anything else I could get my hands on. I enjoyed them all.

Then, three years, ago both Dom and I suddenly and unexpectedly lost our jobs. Crafting once again came to my rescue. I considered going back to secondary teaching, but decided to take the plunge and took an advanced sewing course in tailoring and making wedding dresses. People began asking me for commissions, and Dom became involved. We were both enjoying the work and so we decided to launch Mrs Bee’s. It all came about because of some dodgy knitting!

That’s all great, but I don’t know where to start

Maybe it’s been a few years since you’ve tried to make anything. Or perhaps you think you have the artistic skills of a blind, flipper-less penguin. Don’t worry. There are so many different types of crafting, from the obvious such as painting, sewing and knitting, to the more obscure, such as wood turning and making matchstick models. Whatever your ability - or lack of it - there are plenty of fun projects you can get the kids making. Most only need normal household items, and some don’t even make a mess!

For younger kids

Younger kids need simpler projects, and handprint art is ideal. Whether it’s penguins or snowman, a handprint can be decorated with paper, felt, and googly eyes to create a wintry scene. Another possibility is adding cotton wool balls along the fingerprints, a red hat, and a face to create a jolly Father Christmas. If you want to get the whole family involved, draw around everyone’s hands, and stick them together (largest at the bottom) for a family handprint tree.

Egg cartons are great for crafting. Cut them up, paint and decorate them, add a bell or small pompom, and hang from a ribbon. These look great hung on a tree or a door frame. Alternatively, stick two together to make a ball, and turn them into snowmen, penguins (hmm, I’m spotting a theme here), or robins. Stack three on top of each other to create a Christmas tree that can be painted and decorated with stars.

Loo roll tubes are another versatile crafting resource - and something we all have at home. Wrap them in paper, add a triangle head, a red nose, oval ears, pipe cleaner antlers, and googly eyes for a convincing Rudolph.

For older kids

Older kids will enjoy something a little more challenging. If they love Advent calendars (who doesn’t?) why not make your own Advent garland? Don’t worry if you can’t sew – you can use a heat-activated webbing, such as Bondaweb instead. Cut out double of your preferred shapes (such as a horseshoe, or Christmas tree), allowing for a seam, and sew or stick the edges together. Make sure to leave a gap for the gifts! Add numbers in a contrasting colour, put onto a cord, and fill before hanging.

Christmas wreaths have become very popular, and making your own isn’t as difficult as you might think. They can be made from fabric or thick paper, by cutting out leaf shaped pieces in two or three sizes. If using fabric, opt for complementary or contrasting colours, while paper can be painted or covered in coloured or patterned paper. Stick them together in a circle, with the largest at the back. If you’ve chosen fabric, it’s worth sticking them onto a cardboard ring for rigidity. Add beads, ribbons, glitter or sequins for a truly glam wreath.

These are just a few ideas, but hopefully we’ve inspired you to have a go at getting crafty this half term. With all the benefits crafting offers, why wouldn’t you have a go?

Love

P.S. Come join our 'Organising Christmas' group over on Facebook and show us what you make! Everyone is very friendly and it's a great resource for finding ideas for hard to buy for people, and with our weekly Christmas challenges, you'll find that you'll be more ready for Christmas than you've ever been before!

In the Etsy shop today: