Setting up the craft Summer School

We're getting ready for the craft Summer School which starts 23rd July for 4 weeks. So before it all gets totally crazy, I though I'd write a bit about how this came about.


We started running a few Saturday workshops for 8-12 year olds which were fun and the feedback suggested we should do more, but we needed more numbers.


Rather than trying to promote specific days and times the answer seemed to be to have a block of drop-in sessions in the school holidays invite everyone. A colourful A6 postcard has been printed and the local schools (except for one, which I won't name and shame) have been really supportive to help us promote the event by sending the cards home with the children in their book bags, hopefully to make it onto kitchen noticeboards and fridges around the county. Around 2,500 have gone out so far and I want to thank all of you who help get them delivered in time before the schools broke up.


Summer School is going to be great fun, there is junk modelling and card making, make & take projects plus a whole range of crafts will be demonstrated by staff and participants. The shop has been rearranged and right now the scrap is all tidy in labelled boxes which makes me very happy but I can't wait for the creative chaos next week. It could be a massive success, huge failure or anything in between. It will be fun, exhausting and I know that amazing things are about to unfold. 


The theme for the first week is Robots/Dr Who/Space/Aliens/Techy things, you can see its flexible! Then we're doing Circus, Animals and Seaside/Summer festivals or possibly anything really, our customers will decide. Someone gave me egg boxes today and they just have to be a crocodile...


So link here to the Facebook page and watch the fun begin.


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That's the way to do it!

ECHO summer window
The idea for the ice creams came first and originally we were going to make an ice cream parlour but after some group discussions it transformed into a day out at the seaside. We made the punch and judy show based on a lovely photo found on Wiki 

Then we came up with the idea of sticks of rock. These were cardboard tubes wrapped in pink tissue paper and then clear cellophane. We added 'ECHO ROCKS' lables - because we do! A jar of pretty shells helped us make the word 'ECHO'.

How to make a bug hat

This is a really easy make. I've used it many times at workshops, it is especially good for drop-in sessions when you have to create something with the WOW factor that is ready to take away in a matter of minutes. If speed is what you need have the pieces cut ready.

You will need:

1 x headband approx 60cm long and 7cm wide

6  Legs (or 8 for a spider)

2  Eyes 

2  Antennae + 1 tongue

Form the headband into a circle, measure to fit around the child's head then staple to secure.

Bend all the leg strips into zig zags all the way along and then staple them to either side of the hat.

Now for the features;

Add some pupils to the eye circles using coloured pens or paper. We used some vinyl scraps which are easy as they are ready to stick.

Wrap the antennae strips around your

finger or a pencil to make them curly.

Staple the features to the hat. 


Variations;
This hat was a bug but it can easily be adapted for other themes eg fish/under the sea or add flowers/leaves.
For a longer 'make' get the children thinking about the design in more detail before they construct the hat. Use paper and pens so they can draft their ideas and discuss them.