Butterfly sun catcher, Popsicle bracelets and beads

It's that time of the week again.  I have printed off a template from
http://www.minieco.co.uk/butterfly-sun-catchers/
and though I will have to photocopy on to black and then do the fiddly cutting out I think it will produce some nice effects with tissue paper bought very cheaply from Poundland or similar.

If you Google popsicle bracelets a variety of techniques come up.  I will try the quicker microwaving one and see what happens.  I only have 9 sticks at home.  If it is successful I will do more.

And finally beads - the perennial favourite.  Better to use the thin elastic than the thin stretchy slippery stuff - nothing gets them in a bad mood like seeing their bracelet come undone and all the beads go over the floor.  They need little supervision except an eye out that beads do not end up as ammunition or in pockets.

I now need to collect #6 plastic because you can apparently use it to make shrinkies!  More on that when I have enough.

Plastic wallets/ breadmaking/ scratch cards

And so to this Wednesday.
I bought transparent plastic wallets from Poundland @ 5 for £1.  Sharpie pens to decorate with stickers to personalize.  Just keep an eye when using permanent markers and warn all that use about getting on clothes etc.

Breadmaking - make up the dough in advance then say it needs lots of kneading - good therapy!  Use wet wipes so you don't have to send all your young people out to the loo to wash hands at the start - you may never see them again.  When they have made shapes (encourage ones of similar size or they cook unevenly) cook in oven from cold heating to about 180 degrees so plenty of time to rise again.  Add some butter and that is a very cost effective craft/snack with lovely aromas to go with them.

I look around for offers of those scratch cards that can be scraped to reveal patterns.  No skill involved and the young people love them.  Gather together lots of stencils which are another means of helping those with self-esteem issues who struggle when asked to be creative.

Add the usual mix of board games, pool, air hockey etc and that should keep 20 busy for an hour.

Small beginnings

My first effort at blogging is as much a memory jogger for me as a place I can direct people when the questions start coming.  This site is mainly for ideas on how to keep teenagers busy using the following criteria:

• economy
• recycling where possible
• short crafts that keep teenagers with very short attention spans busy
• where the minimum of help is needed as I need 'withitness' the whole time and cannot be too distracted by individuals needs
• must be a certain amount of street-cred to each craft - though crafts for younger talents can be used, they must not seem 'babyish' in any shape or form.

So this is why I have had a headache preparing for a Youth Cafe every Wednesday evening and why I need a memory-jogger myself for things that have worked.  So I hope these may work for you too.