How to Make Beautiful Religious Arts and Crafts

By Mary Amos

 

Religious arts & crafts
Religious arts & crafts allow artisans and crafters the opportunity to showcase the symbols of their faith, and the opportunity to craft an expression of their faith into tangible form. In this manner, religious arts & crafts provide a way for the faithful to proudly acknowledge their beliefs, and profess their love for their god or gods. Religious arts & crafts usually do this by referring to their religion's main textual tenants or predominant symbols.
Which religions use arts & crafts to express belief?
Religious arts & crafts, as commonly thought of in western society, is concerned primarily with Christianity. For this reason, the common symbols of Christianity - the cross, fish and loaves, angels, Jesus Christ, etc. - are commonly incorporated into American arts & crafts. Another popular theme is to incorporate scripture quotations. Of course, Christianity does not have a monopoly on religious arts & crafts; arts & crafts are well known within the Jewish tradition, for instance. Jewish arts & crafts typically focus on the most widespread symbols of Judaism, and include the Star of David, menorahs, and other icons of the belief. Jewish sayings are also frequently featured on Jewish arts & crafts.
Ideas for religious arts & crafts
Religious arts & crafts are designed to serve as decoration for one's home, office, vehicle, or church. Although religious features could be showcased in virtually any type of arts & crafts, these are some popular ideas for religious arts & crafts used for decoration:
1. Beaded Crafts: With a set of beads and string, pipe cleaners or safety pins, the devotee can create cute, creative religious arts & crafts. The possibilities for these crafts are almost endless, and are great for the whole family. These beaded crafts can be designed as jewelry, decorations, and other adornments. Virtually any religious symbol is possible with this versatile craft idea, from the Star of David to the Shroud of Turin.
2. Paint Your Own: Try to let your creative side out and paint your religious items for decoration and display or even for use in a religious service. Special ceramic paints are great to use for painting, decorating, and personalizing ceramic crosses, angels, and even scenes from the Bible. Personalize these paintings with names, birthdays, and scripture to make wonderful personalized gifts.
3. Cross Stitch & Embroidery: While it may take more skill and expertise, with a bit of practice most devotees can become experts and creating needlework arts & crafts. Religious needlework is especially noteworthy as it can combine both graphical images of crosses, angels, doves, and Bible scenes, as well as scripture, Bible verses, and other words of inspiration. Some more popular options for religious arts & crafts using cross stitch and embroidery include religious pillows and Bible covers.
4. Stained Glass Arts & Suncatchers: Stained glass art is popular for religious arts & crafts since stained glass is usually associated with churches and places of worship. This does not mean that you need to be a church to afford stained glass art. Far from it, inexpensive stained glass kits are readily available in most hobby and craft stores, and can be used by those without any previous experience.
5. Ornaments & Window Hangers: Ornaments and window hangers are often quite simple to create - in the absence of specialized skills, all you need is some imagination and a dash of creativity. Ornaments may be designed specifically for the Christmas season, or may be year-round crafts that can be hung anywhere, even from your rearview mirror. Look on the Internet for some fun ideas for religious ornaments, hangers, and other crafts.
6. Handmade Jewelry: Most religious people will happily wear the symbols of their faith as a personal reminder of their faith and devotion. Handmade religious jewelry is very popular, and can include anything from resin angel earrings to homemade metal crucifixes. Brooches, necklaces, and bracelets are also very popular, and while they are generally designed for women, men are becoming increasingly comfortable wearing fine handmade crucifix necklaces.
Looking for resources for making religious arts & crafts
Many arts & crafts shows will feature quite a bit of religious crafts and artwork. While there are rarely shows designed specifically for this niche market, a very high percentage of artisans & crafters feature work that includes a religious focus. If you are not able to attend any shows, do not give up hope. When looking for other ideas for religious arts & crafts, head to your local Christian bookstore or specialty shop. These stores will almost always maintain special sections dedicated to arts & crafts supplies of a religious nature. These stores also typically have arts & crafts ready for purchase and gift giving. If you are more adventurous, go to a hobby and arts & crafts store and convert a secular hobby kit into a testament of your faith.

Mary Amos loves arts and crafts and has been creating beautiful projects for years. See her exciting new ideas for religious arts and crafts at Religious Arts and Crafts, and be sure to visit Arts and Crafts for more fun projects !

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Amos

Crafting With Kids in 30 Minutes or Less

By Jennifer Johnson

 

While many parents are daunted by the idea of tackling craft projects alone with their kids, with little effort, even the least creative parent will find crafting to be an easy, relaxing activity. With a few materials from around the home and some basic supplies, you too will be producing quick and easy crafts with your kids. By keeping these few simple tips in mind, you can literally create countless crafts with your children without having to break a sweat or make a mess.
Keep it Simple
Toy and craft stores sell fancy, expensive crafting materials and kits. While these can be fun and shouldn't be overlooked, they aren't necessary for creative, fun projects. Construction paper, glue, scissors, scrap fabric, non-toxic paints, crayons, and markers are sufficient for thousands of potential crafts, especially when combined with discarded household items or backyard treasures.
Recycle and Reuse
Save empty milk jugs, paper towel rolls, bottle caps, old wrapping paper and greeting cards, and other various boxes and containers for crafts. A plastic storage bin or large cardboard box can make a perfect storage receptacle for these items, which can be saved for a rainy day craft. Not only are these items ideal craft materials, but crafting with these items will teach your kids about the importance of recycling and reuse in a very tangible context. Include in your stash old newspapers to use for protecting your craft table and other surfaces.
File It
You don't need to buy expensive books or subscribe to magazines to get a constant flow of ideas for crafting. Web sites, newspapers, library books, pre-school newsletters and more can provide you with hundreds of great crafting ideas. Clip, print, or copy to create a file of ideas for a rainy day. You can pre-screen for quick and easy craft ideas, and also use these articles as a guideline for items to store and save.
Be Selective
If you are looking for something quick and easy, reject craft ideas that are a twelve-step program or have a materials list longer than your weekly grocery receipt. Don't go out of your way to tackle a craft for which you do not already have the necessary materials, and only use non-toxic, washable paints and inks. If you are not the adventurous sort, you might look for craft directions that include patterns or pictures you can cut out for reference.
Style and Blow Dry
Allowing an item to dry naturally is a perfect time for taking a break from crafting, but if you are under time constraints, such as at a birthday party or scout meeting, use blow dryers to speed up the drying of paint or glue. Craft projects will dry in a fraction of the time with applied air and heat, and usually drying to the touch will suffice for moving on to the next step of a project.
Keep it Clean
By far one of the most frustrating aspects that keeps parents from crafting is the potential mess. Mess can be minimized by always remembering to protect your crafting surfaces generously with newspaper. When you are done crafting, just pick up, and toss. Using water-based paints, inks, and glues will make washing a snap, and manufacturers produce plenty of easily washable markers, paints, and other materials commercially. And if you are following the advice of being selective, you can always reject projects that include mess if clean-up is not in the cards. Origami, pipe-cleaner sculpting, and watercolors are a few examples of low or no-mess crafts.
Have Fun
Remember, crafting with your kids is about exploring creativity and having fun. You expect produce the perfect, flawless product. Professional photographs of crafts usually are taken in ideal lighting and made exclusively by adults, with the discarding of several less-than-perfect attempts. Don't feel that your product has to look like a picture in a magazine - to your child, it's a special work of art.
There is little that is more rewarding than crafting with your children. You are creating not only an opportunity for your child to express his creativity, but you giving him special time with you you. You are creating not only fun and whimsical items, but precious memories for your family that you will cherish for the rest of your lives.

Jennifer Johnson is a mother of two and a contributing editor of http://www.kideas.com/ - a site where parents can find plenty of free craft ideas, activities, printable coloring pages and more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Johnson

Crafts For Kids To Do - The Best Way Of Having All The Crafts You Need

By Magriet Du Plessis

 

I think the first question we have to ask ourselves is, why are you looking for crafts for kids to do?
There may be many reason why you are looking for crafts for kids to do. Let's have a look at some of these reasons may be:

1. Summer is coming and you know you will have to have lots of activities to keep the kids occupied.
2. You simply cannot think of crafts any more and need some new ideas.
3. The crafts you do find, are difficult to do and you cannot print any of it.
4. All the crafts do not have enough pictures to make it easy for you to see what the completed craft should look like.
5. It takes hours of searching the net before you have crafts suitable for the stage of you kid's development. Time you could have spent doing the crafts.
6. All the crafts for kids to do, that you do find, use specialized supplies that you do not have in the house at all times. You have to go and buy supplies before you can start crafting with the kids.
7. You want to save money by using crafts activities to help your kids make gifts for family and friends.
8. You want to spend quality time with you kids doing crafts.
9. You are looking for activities to lure your kids away from the television.
10. You are homeschooling your kids and you are looking for ways to improve your kids small motor skills.
11. You are homeschooling and you are looking for ways to help with your kid's concentration span.
12. You are aware of the fact that crafts improve your kids self confidence.
13. You are looking for ways to teach the kids perseverance and know that crafts are an ideal medium to do just that.
14. You are a play group leader and are running out of crafts.
15. You are a kindergarten teacher and just cannot think of new crafts any more.
16. You can not always find crafts that are appropriate for all the holidays.

Well now the next question is where you can find all these crafts for kids to do. I think the very best way is to buy an e-book with lots of printable crafts in it. With an e-book you can simply print the crafts you need and start crafting without having to look for crafts for hours.
The reason I recommend an e-book, and not a printed one, is because it is easy to print the crafts you need. If you buy a printed book you have to draw the templates or you have to make photo copies. This obviously increases the cost of doing crafts. So, with a printed crafts book it is not always possible to do crafts on the spur of the moment but with an e-book you can simply print the craft you want to do and start crafting.
So, I think if you always want to have crafts for kids to do, on short notice, a kid's crafts e-book is the best. It is well worth the time to look for a good crafts e-book as it will save you lots of time in the future.

Magriet has lots of kids crafts at Fun Kid Crafts, Magriet also has really fun Bible Crafts at Bible Crafts For Kids. If you are still looking for even more kids crafts you can Visit Here! and see Magriet's site about kids crafts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Magriet_Du_Plessis

Arts & crafts with kids!

There are countless reasons why it is a great idea to do arts and crafts with your kids. For one, working on arts & crafts helps to hone children's creativity. Arts and crafts can also help promote teamwork and sharing, as well as offering the perfect opportunity to bond and find new common interests. Arts and crafts also allow kids to openly express themselves, even at very young ages. Nonetheless, despite all these positives, the best reason for getting your kids involved in arts and crafts is that it is fun! If you are panicking that you will not know how to guide your child through their first craft, there is no need to worry; there are plenty of arts and crafts ideas for all ages from pre-schoolers up through teenage artists.
Best practices for doing arts & crafts with kids
1. Don't ask "What is it?" when you are befuddled as to the identity of your kid's final creation. Just ask your kid to tell you more about their art or craft, and let them explain how they see their creation.
2. There will be a mess. There is nothing you can do about it. As soon as you make that realization, the whole experience will be far more enjoyable. Indeed, sometimes it is even important to make a mess. Take that knowledge to plan ahead. Get a large clear workspace for your kids, and give them the opportunity to be creative without having to worry about getting paint on your new Persian rug
2. Making arts and crafts is supposed to be about using your imagination. For this reason, try not to show your kids a completed craft as an example. Instead, let your kids learn to interpret the instructions as they wish in order to truly be creative. This will also give your kids a good lesson on the best ways to follow and adapt instructions.
4. Making arts and crafts requires a lot of focus. For this reason, it is best to get your kids to calm down a bit before placing them in front of glue and scissors.
Basic supplies for making arts & crafts with kids
Just like your kitchen pantry, a kid's craft drawer should have a few staples. While you may need something more specific for special crafts, for the most part you will be able to get by with the following list: kid-friendly paint, scissors, crayons, etc. It's also a good idea to keep a drawer stocked with construction paper, beads, glitter, paint brushes, glue sticks, and the ever popular "wiggly eyes."
The education benefit of arts & crafts
Arts and crafts can be used to apply hands-on learning to any subject. Using crafts this way helps kids think more in-depth about the subject of their artwork or craft projects. Virtually any subject matter can be taught using arts & crafts with a little creativity. For instance, if you are learning about world geography, you could have the kids make a tissue paper globe.
Learn about holidays, history, and any other topic your kids should study. Even math can be enriched through arts and crafts. Remember that school isn't the only place kids should be learning; your kids will be much more willing and excited to learn if you make learning fun with interactive arts and crafts projects.
Some ideas for kids' arts & crafts
Kids' arts and crafts can be quick and simple to keep the attention of on-the-go toddlers. They can also be sophisticated and complex for older kids who are up to a challenge. To get an idea of the scope of arts and crafts projects out there, take a trip to your local arts and crafts store or teacher's supply shop. These stores will have pre-designed craft kits, including jewelry art, painting kits, and other craft ideas. Each kit will come with instructions and all of the materials you require.
Another good idea, once you have gained some experience, is to walk arts and craft stores to shop for kids' art ideas. Here are some ideas: try straw painting, where kids can create arts and crafts by blowing paint through a straw onto a poster board or construction paper; or let your kids dip marbles in paint and roll them across the painting surface for a messy (but fun!) painting project. If you are looking for something a bit less messy then try pipe cleaner art. This is a great craft because kids of all ages can join in. Young children can use their imaginations to create simple objects out of pipe cleaners. Older kids may enjoy incorporating other supplies such as beads into pipe cleaner art.

Mary Amos loves arts and crafts and has been creating amazing projects for kids and families for years. See her exciting new ideas at Arts and Crafts with Kids, and be sure to visit Arts and Crafts for more fun projects!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Amos

Non- allergy cat

I am allergic to cats but really adore

cats, particularly the fluffy ones that almost asphyxiate me. So, I solved my dilemma and have this little dude who I call Gallileo, one of the original scientists, hanging out in the lounge room.

Revamping

What woman doesn't love a handbag? Thi

s one had long been my favorite but after a few years of use lacked some pizzazz. I happened to be in my favorite craft shop, hanging about, when I spotted this lace that looked like it belonged on my handbag. A few minutes later and I was a on my way home with a mission in mind. Some craft glue, sizzors, a rainy day. I was in heaven and this is again, my new favorite handbag.

Multicrafting Goes Global: A Craft Industry Analysis

The Craft and Hobby Association in 2011 released results of research into the U.S. Craft and Hobby Industry. You may be surprised to learn that crafter and hobbyists contribution towards this industries net worth is approximately $29 billion, double the $14 billion first reported by Craft Organization Directors Association (CODA) in 2001. A surprising figure to emerge from this research (even to us avid crafters) is that over half of U.S. households acknowledged engaging in a craft activity at least once per year.
When we unpack that $29 billion net worth figure we get a clearer picture of who loves their hobby. Woodworking was the front runner in the top 10 craft sectors by spend coming in at $3.32 billion with 16.8 million individuals engaging in this activity. I myself have some lovely bookends purchased at a local Sunday market that have clearly been lovingly produced by one such woodworker.
These days every industry engages in analytics and who wouldn’t want to have a picture of their client base so savvy marketing campaigns can bring a little more of that dollar value their way. And what an impressive dollar value it is. The artists among us, thought to be 21.1 million households, spent $2.6 billion on our passion. The jewellery making and beading craft accounted for $2.3 billion with 14.7 million people crafting earrings, necklaces, bracelets and broaches. Over eighteen million households engaged in Scrap Booking and other paper crafts spending $3.3 billion preserving family memories and turning photos into family heirlooms. The crocheting hobby injected $1.062 billion into the industry via 17.4 million strong crochet fans. That’s a lot of towels getting topped.

With speculation that the global financial crisis is responsible for providing this boost for the craft industry Hobby Lobby’s Eileen Liffick attributed an increase of people attending craft shops or online craft sites looking for ways to create craft for their families without spending a lot of money to the current economic conditions.
“Not only are people saving money, they’re making it. We have many people selling these items making extra money”.
What was previously a much loved hobby is now a means of saving the family money. “People are looking to create something special, something homemade. They want to help others save money, while making a little extra for themselves”.

Despite the impact of large scale business successful craft businesses are popping up everywhere seeking to share in the crafting industries net worth of $29 million. Crafting is a convenient work from home business and respected cottage industry. Approximately 81.2% of total craft industry operators in Canada are estimated to be businesses without paid-employees (non-employers) in 2011.

Peartree Solutions produced a report on the profile of the Canadian craft industry (2003) highlighting that Canadian craft, recognized internationally for its quality and distinctive character, was at the time considered to be a growing and vibrant collection of individual craft persons, studios, enterprises, media guilds, public and private galleries, retail and wholesale shows, and organizations. The industry in 2001 had generated $727 million in economic activity which including over $100 million in exports.
At the time of this research there were approximately 14,048 craft studios operating in Canada, where 22,597 people were employed. Ten percent of those surveyed had craft revenues in excess of $120,000. The net craft income (or earnings) of full time craft professionals averaged $17,300 in 2001, while the top ten percent earned net income of $49,000 or more.

Southern hemisphere crafters are every bit as enthusiastic about their hobby. Australia has less than one fifth of the population of U.S. however managed to spend an estimated $250 million on art and craft materials in 2009-2010. These figures are not a true representation of the Australian craft industry however as the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) define a hobby as an activity that was undertaken only for oneself or for family or friends, that is, the output was not for general consumption. If the item produced was to sell then this would be considered a work involvement and not measured in the hobby category. The ABS survey showed that in 2007 there were 2.1 million people aged 15 years and over in Australia who were involved in Art and craft as a hobby activity only.

Prize money from craft competitions can be quite lucrative for the hobbyist. A winner of an award for embroidery in 2009 beat the pool of 24 finalists from 24 countries selected from 330 applicants, and took home $10 000.

Craft industry statistics clearly show that with over half of U.S. households engaging in a craft activity, many, many people experience that unequal feeling of satisfaction that comes from creating something beautiful. Nothing is as self-soothing as those stolen hours immersed in the craft you adore.

Find this article at Multicrafting.com”