Children have always loved magic and mystery in their play. Why not introduce a 'New Age' twist or a touch of some popular fantasy characters in your homemade crafts?
DREAMCATCHERS
A dreamcatcher is a traditional American Indian artefact, believed to give its owner pleasant dreams or to catch them before they fly away. Try making your own dreamcatcher, and be sure to hang it in the bedroom window, to catch the good dreams before they escape!
You will need:
* stiff card
* a pair of compasses for drawing circles
* scissors
* holograph or shiny gift tape
* embroidery silk
* 50cm of thin ribbon
* 14 beads with large holes
* 6 small feathers (available from craft shops)
* PVA craft glue
What to do:
To make the ring: Using the compasses, draw a circle on the stiff card. Set the compasses so that the pin and the pencil point are about 6cm apart, to give a circle with a diameter of 12cm. Create a ring by drawing a second circle inside the first circle, with a diameter of approximately 11cm.
Using the scissors, cut out the ring. Don't worry if the cutting is a bit rough, as the ring will be covered with decorative tape.
To decorate the ring: Cut eight small triangular nicks into the outer edge of the card ring. Position them approximately at the points of the compass - north, north-east, east, south-east and so on. Twist short strips of gift tape around the ring, making sure that the nicks are not covered by the tape. Tie a long piece of embroidery silk to one of the nicks, leaving an end of about 5cm. Wind the rest of the silk across the ring. Use the nicks to hold the silk secure and work from one nick to the next, to make a regular pattern. From time to time, thread the silk with a bead. Thread the silk twice through the hole to hold the bead secure. When you reach the last nick, tie the silk in a knot. You should end up with a bead- studded star pattern, stretching across the centre of the ring.
To add the feathers: Cut the ribbon into three lengths of about 14cm.
Thread two beads on to each of the ribbons and tie knots in the ends to hold the beads secure. Push the ends of two feathers up into the bottom beads. Tie the beaded ribbons to the bottom of the ring, about 4cm apart.
If the ribbons slip, secure them to the ring with a blob of PVA glue. Using the loose end of embroidery silk at the top of the ring, hang the dreamcatcher in the child's bedroom window.
Sweet dreams!
A SPANGLED WAND
Harry Potter and 'The Lord of the Rings' have made magic and fantasy more popular than ever with children. Make your own magic wand using a real twig and glass 'dragons' droppings'.
You will need:
* a twig
* stiff card
* scissors
* dragons' droppings (small glass nuggets, available from gift shops and art and craft shops) or small polished crystals
* PVA glue
* D aluminium kitchen foil
D a sharp bread saw (for adult use only)
What to do:
Find a nice, straight twig, about 40cm long. Using a sharp bread saw, slice off any buds and cut the ends of the stick so that they are smooth. Cut out a circle or a star from stiff card. Spread glue across the star and cover with silver foil. Stick a few dragons' droppings or small crystals to the centre of the star, using thick blobs of PVA glue. With the bread saw, carefully slice down into the top of the twig to make a groove about 2cm deep. Check that the star will fit into the groove. Drip PVA glue into the groove and slide in the spangled star so that it is held firm. Make sure that the glue is dry and all the pieces are securely attached before letting the child play with the wand.
Wingardium leviosa!
A CRYSTAL CASKET
Crystals, fossils and many types of small polished stones are great fun to collect and very beautiful. Make a special casket to hold the child's most precious and magical gems.
You will need:
* a sturdy gift box with a lid
* gold paper or silver foil
* stiff card, such as the card from a cardboard box
* small polished crystals
* PVA glue
* tissue paper
What to do:
Start off by covering the box with gold paper or silver foil. Cut out a shape from sturdy card, checking that it will fit on to the lid of the box.
Encourage the child to choose a shape with 'magical' qualities, such as a circle, a star, a diamond or a pentagon. Cover the shape with a thick layer of PVA glue. Carefully drop the crystals on to the glue, leaving as little space as possible. Finish off by shaking glitter over the shape, to fill in any gaps between the crystals. Once the glue is dry, stick the crystal-encrusted shape on to the box lid. Make a bed of crumpled tissue paper inside the box and use the casket as a treasure chest for crystals and other precious, magical keepsakes.
Open sesame!
