Cretin Craftin'! HA! A thread for sharing random craft projects and experiences! Dads, don't be afraid to embrace your inner crafter! Some of the best times I remember as a child are crafting (though with my Mother). TheBoy and I have a blast every time we bust out the supplies. Though I admit I tend have a bit more fun if a glue gun is involved.

Share your projects. Share any cool crafty links you find out there on the interhighwayweb thing. You will not be judged here, even if ya bust out a scrapbooking project. Somehow, I'm the only one catchin' hell for owning a Cricut. But that'll change when I post up a couple of Cricut projects, I hope. (Probably not. But I pay no attention to BamaLynn.) (just kidding)

I have access to a lot of cardboard through work. So don't be surprised by my tendency to post corrugated projects.

And with that, I'll begin with a few cardboard craftin' tips:
Get yourself a good glue gun. If you plan on doing 'large' cardboard construction, I suggest a heavy duty industrial model. First buy just a small batch of sticks. If you find you dig this type of crafting, buy in bulk. It sucks to be mid project and be out of glue sticks.

MakeDo connectors. (makedo.com.au/) These are a bit of a craft luxury item. But they are great! Particularly for larger projects. I rebuilt the pirate ship (from the PlayDeck thread) using them and it was MUCH sturdier and easy to break down than using zip ties and duct tape. (Duct tape actually sucks for cardboard. Packing tape is a better alternative, even if it's not quite as macho because it's clear and not ManGray.) I got my MakeDos from FatBrainToys(www.fatbraintoys.com/toys/brands/makedo/), and just now checking, they are MUCH cheaper than when I got them. I got a "for Three" set for $48. The "for Ten" set is now only $60, but on sale for $43.50. Ain't that a bugger!) So anyway…

ZipTies. These make great hinges for doors, windows, hatches, anything needing to flap or connect on a more permanent basis. I also used these to reassemble the plastic play house tossed out for junk that didn't have the original connectors/fasteners. They work great for attaching cardboard wings, panels, etc. to bikes and wagons.

A couple of sizes of sharp razor using knives. (Carpet or utility knives, exactos, etc.) Keep these away from the kiddos of course, and use them carefully. But a sharp blade makes working with cardboard SOOO much easier.

If you have a self-healing cutting mat (or can steal the one your wife might have in her sewing supplies or scrapbooking stuff), it will make cutting easier as well. But these are expensive and this isn't a must have, you can always use an extra piece of cardboard or scrap carpet pieces to protect your floors/tables.

Markers. I don't like to paint cardboard. It usually doesn't look as good as you think it will, and it's paper. It soaks up, runs easy, and overall just doesn't like to be painted. I like to use markers on my projects where details are necessary. (Again, see the pirate ship in the PlayDeck thread.) But I know I have a few projects in my head where painting will be necessary. Several light coats are better, but still, not my favorite look. I have to remind myself, "It's CARDBOARD! It doesn't really matter!"

If you want a nice "clean" looking surface to begin with, most cardboard has an unprinted side. Especially boxes. Just break them down carefully, then put them back together "wrong side out." (See the Play Kitchen below for an example.)

You do NOT have to be "naturally creative!" I get virtually all my inspirations from others! None of what I will post will be complicated. If it were, I wouldn't be doing it! It doesn't have to be a pirate ship, or a play kitchen. Share even your simplest craft project! Not every Dad (or Mom) is crafty, but most kids are! Parents come here for ideas… let's give them lots of inspiration!

Got some crafting tips? Must have "tools," do's, don'ts, I-learned-the-hard-way-but-it-was-really-funny type craft stories? Share them here!

So to get things started with projects, I'll share the Play Kitchen I made this Summer. Just google "cardboard play kitchen" and you'll see enough to get you inspired. That's all I did. The plastic ones are expensive. (Though if you watch Craigslist, you can often pick them up free.) Making your own lets you make it exactly how YOU want. Er, I mean, how your CHILD wants. Yea. That's better.

Knobs are all various bottle caps attached with MakeDo connectors. All door joints are scored and reinforced with packing tape.

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"Windows" on the double oven are the plastic from the packaging of the toy pan set.

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Faucet is 3 bolts and some scrap wood. Sink is a dog bowl.

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And here's a cardboard and rubberband guitar I did last year. Again, not my idea… saw it on a random craft/parent blog somewhere along the way. (http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2011/03/mister-make-it-and-love-it-series.html)


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TheBoy digs it. (A true rockstar... he ain't wearin' no pants.) :laugh:

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More to come, but you're up. B)

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Okay. So we had these 7 canvases left in the house when we bought it. One had the beginning of an abstract painting on it but the others were all blank. An idea I had was to send canvases to friends and family, ask them to paint something for us and we'd hang them as a gallery exhibit for our housewarming party. Three went with my mother. Two would be done by my sisters and one by mom. She took the partly started one. Two were spoken for by friends in other states and I still need to send them out. The last two, we decided, would be done by the boys.

So this week I began the process of acclimating them to painting. We're using some of the partial ton of packing paper we have from the move both as canvas and as table covering. I'm splotching paint to the side for Duncan and onto the canvas for Tristan. Then letting them go to work. We'll turn out some temporary stuff a couple of times and then I'll use their canvases to make reverse prints onto the official canvases. These will get framed and named with the others we receive. Hopefully I remember to post the full gallery spread here when we have them all.

Now how should I send those canvases? Oh, yeah, butcher some boxes!

Here's Tristan.


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He wasn't as willing to get mixed in this project. He'd dip his fingers in and touch them together. I banged his hand around in the paint and helped him splash it a bit.

Love the canvas idea Ben! My boy would totally get into smearin' paint with his fingers... and then afterwards, "I'm sticky" and would clinch his fist and be afraid to touch anything('cept his shirt) 'til he was cleaned up. I kinda dig that particular neurosis that I've apparently passed on. I hate the hand prints on his clothes ALL THE TIME when he comes home from preschool, but I pick my battles. Shirts launder, couches and walls are a bit tougher.

Here is a craft link, but wasn't exactly kid related. This is the ghost craft I mentioned in the Halloween thread. makeprojects.com/Project/Halloween2011-Swaying-Arm-Ghost/1476/1

I tried to keep TheBoy involved, showing him each step, letting him mess with the parts, so he wouldn't be scared of the final product, a giant moving ghost... but, that didn't work out really. It still freaks him out a lil' bit. But I'm able to remind him that he played with all the parts, but when an arm moves in his direction, he wigs.

I forgot to post the actual art, huh?

These are the ones our boys did. The top os Duncan's the bottom's Tristan's.

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On top (below) is the canvas my mother took that was about 30% painted and she finished it. Below that is what my sister (an Elementary teacher) helped her kids (7 & 4) do. My other sister managed to get hers to us after our party.


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Getting smocks at Ikea was a brilliant move on my part. It contains the mess and even has a catch pocket for the big spills. I think they cost $8 for the two of them. We'll have to do something like this again soon.

I am so stoked with how these came out. Was a really fun project for me and TheBoy... first taking the pictures, making a list of all the friends/teachers he wanted to give them to, and then putting the candy on them.


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I can't and won't claim ANY amount of originality with them. TOTALLY stolen from the internet. (No, I'm not sorry.) I originally saw the idea at www.FilthWizardry.com but found others too. (via pinterest or some random blog link)

***Shakes dust off my profile*** It's been about 2 years since Ive been on this thing, couldnt reset password, username either. Just wanted to toss in there that the first Saturday of every month, Home Depot offers a free workshop for kids and parents, building different stuff such and boxes, planes etc. All free, and if you miss it you can still pick up project kits for the asking at the service desk thingee. The kiddo and I (she's now an ambitious 3.5) have gone to about 6 of these things so far, had a blast at every one. Here's a video of one of our most recent adventures, on FB, public for all to see. Was a heckuva good time!!!

www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2520746091872

Take care, I'll post more if I remember to write down me password...lol

Bri-

How did I miss that vid? Awesome stuff! She is adorable! "28 Sausage Face"

I will def. look into the Home Depot workshops... my Dad works there... so to go see Papaw AND do a craft... good times for sure.

Thank you for the Home Depot tip. My daughter and I are going this weekend to make a race car. I am sure that she would choose to make something else. Maybe a unicorn running across a rainbow over a lake of stuffed puppies and kittens. (She is such a girl) But I know she will have a great time anyway. I think we will make this a Daddy and Daughter tradition each month. I am not sure which one of us is more excited.

I'll keep you guys posted on how the race car comes out.

The kitchen is great! My mother got my daughter a smaller corner kitchen for a gift. It is a Fisher Price or similar brand. It is not nearly as cool as yours. I may have to make a replacement!