Shapes
Whether they're glued on to a collage or used to decorate a greetings card, shapes are endlessly versatile and are available in a huge range of materials. They also do away with the need to have scissors and, therefore, a closely supervised session every time. Asco's Fun Foam Frenzy includes hundreds of brightly-coloured foam shapes as well as letters and numbers contained within a storage bucket. The bucket contains 3oz of Fun Foam shapes; 216 wiggly eyes; 100 craft sticks and12 10mm magnetic strips, priced 10.95.
* Telephone 0113 2707070
Step by Step stocks a wide selection of shapes, ranging from fish to faces.
The latest addition to the range is a pack of Felt Flowers (above). The flowers are brightly coloured and have 'cut out' centres, each measuring 8 x 9cm. The pack contains 100 items, priced 5.99.
* Telephone 08451 252550
Galt specialises in paper shapes, some of which are 'pre-gummed'. The latest additions are Butterfly Shapes and Flower Shapes. The Butterfly pack contains 100 giant butterfly shapes in assorted colours. The shapes measure 26 x 18cm. The Paper Flowers (above right) include 500 flowers in bright colours, measuring 8cm in diameter. Each set is priced 5.99.
* Telephone 08451 203005
Materials
The use of different materials in craft sessions encourages children to explore textures and use them imaginatively. In addition, you can leave out the paper and glue on some occasions and encourage 'transient creations', which means that you can recycle the materials at a later date.
Mindstretcher's catalogue includes a Creating & Weaving section that contains a range of materials which can be used and recycled in a variety of ways. Coir, the fibre made from coconut husk, comes in a complete range of colours. It is available in 200g bags, priced around 5. Cinnamon sticks are sold in 500g bags, priced around 8. These can be used over and over again if you add a drop of essential oil to the bag when you are putting them away. Lavender comes in 400g bags, priced around 8.
Small sections of wood, which have been cut from managed silver birch trees are available for modelling and priced from 1.50. Florist ribbon, that is designed to be recycled indoors and out, and will not 'bleed' is available in all the colours of the rainbow as well as black and white. It comes in 100m rolls and is priced around 3. Weaving frames, circular rings and rug canvas are also available from this range.
* Telephone 01764 664409
Pen and paint
While it is worth saving the traditional art session of paints, easels and mural size creation for a separate sitting, it is still a good idea to provide crayons, pencils and paint brushes so that the children have the chance to mix their media and experiment thoroughly. Galt's new Finger Brush Painters come in two sizes, suitable for younger and older children.
They allow the painter to work more closely and avoid the need for a great stack of brushes and storage pots to clutter up the arts and crafts session. The brushes have nylon filaments and are available in packs of 30, priced 18.95.
* Telephone as above
Crayola's Mini Kids range includes colouring pens, jumbo crayons and pencils, especially designed for very young children (from one year upwards) to use safely. The pens have a mechanical nib, a sonic plug and rinse-off ink. The gumball nib of the pen is designed to create bold strokes at any angle. It costs 2.99 for a set of different coloured pens.
* Telephone 01234 360201
Craft packs
If you are planning a big number of large-scale craft sessions you will need to assemble a generous amount of resources. It helps to have a few 'ready-made' packs in the back of the materials cupboard for when you want to quickly set up a small corner for a few children. Play-Doh's Full of Fun Bucket (above right) contains three 6oz tubs and three 2oz tubs of Play-Doh in different colours, five animal and four shape moulds, a pen extruder with a ruler die strip, scissors, a rolling pin and assorted cutters. It is suitable for three-year olds upwards, priced 8.99 and available from Flair.
* Telephone 020 86430320
The Kids & Things catalogue from LFC stocks exclusive packs for craft sessions. The Coloured Paper Kit includes 24 sheets of 'fadeless'
animal-print paper; a pack of 50 Art Kraft paper sheets; 24 sheets of Spectra art tissue; 12 Corobuff colour sheets and a pack of 100 A5 sheets of construction paper. The Crafty Collage Kit includes a pack of multi-coloured sequins; two packs of 10mm wiggly eyes; a pack of 200 geometric foam shapes; 100 assorted pompoms; 200 construction paper shapes; two packs of multi-glitter, and ten sheets of Kolorfast tissue, as well as 100 A5 sheets of construction paper. Both kits include a plastic storage tray with a snap-on lid and cost 16.99.
* Telephone 08458 506507
Craft extras
Lakeland stocks plenty of items to keep craft sessions clean and efficient.
Messy Mats are made from flexible, waterproof polypropylene that can be quickly wiped clean after use. They are marked up with 2cm square grids to help children plot and plan their craft work. The mats measure 66 x 47cm and come in a pack of two, one blue and one clear, priced 5.95.
The Xyron Quick Sticker, also from Lakeland, enables children to 'sticker'
work without glue. Place the item to be 'stickered' in the top and pull it out at the bottom. The Quick Sticker (left) has a permanent 6m adhesive cartridge, which measures 10 x 6 x 10cm and is priced 7.50.
Replacement cartridges are priced 3.95.
* Telephone 01539 488100
