Art & Crafts For Kids
Sleepover Party Crafts
By Abigail
Beal
Web Site: Creative Crafts Teachers
Sleepovers are always so much fun because you get to see all of your friends at once. You get to stay up late and play games. But sometimes sleepover parties are a time for kids to cause mischief – and they do so because they are simply given a little too much free time. Here are some fun crafts that are great for sleepover parties that involve the fun of working as a group, but also creating something special that you get to take home. The kids will have fun making the projects but also will have fun knowing they have made a special memento. My niece has a message & doodle pillowcase that is now five years old that she absolutely treasures – and she’s not a “crafter”. You may also spark a bit of creativity in someone that night by offering a craft project – you never know!
Message & Doodle Pillowcases
You will need:
Pillowcases – any color
Permanent markers
Cardboard
Give each child a pillowcase and a piece of cardboard. On
each pillowcase they will write their name and a special message
to that person. This craft works best if the children begin
by writing their own names on their pillowcases, then you
can help keep track of whose pillowcases are whose. Have the
children write their names all in the same place – such as
in the right corner.
Also have some pads of paper handy because some children may
want to practice drawing their message or a special doodle
that they like to draw, to be sure they get it right. It may
also be a good idea to purchase several extra pillowcases
in case someone does make a large drawing error, because with
permanent markers there is no way to erase your mistakes.
While drawing their name or a message on the pillowcase, have
the child place the cardboard in the pillowcase to keep the
message from coming through on the other side. You can also
use a bunch of sheets of paper; at least five sheets of paper
should work. Have each child work on a flat surface like a
table, hardwood floor or even the seat part of a chair.
Permanent markers now come in a rainbow of colors – no longer
are we stuck with just red, black, blue and green. You can
write your message in permanent marker in pink, orange, purple,
silver, gold, light green, lavender, deep purple – pretty
much any color. Be sure to use permanent markers because the
design will remain on the pillowcase through repeated launderings.
Once every child has drawn a message on the pillowcases they
are done. The children can then use the pillowcases at the
sleepover party they are attending, and they can also take
them home.
Design & Doodle Nightshirts
This is a great craft to do in the beginning of the sleepover
party. Make sure to do these at least three hours before the
children will actually wear them, so that they have ample
time to dry. (Hanging them in a warm and dry room will speed
this process up also).
For this project you will need:
Large white or colored t-shirts
Fabric paint
Fabric stamps
Permanent markers
Cardboard
This project the children will have their name in large letters
on the front with a stamped design and then autographs and
messages from their friends on the back. You may also want
to put on the top of the back of the shirt the date and the
occasion “Jamie’s 10th birthday party July 11th”.
Give each child a t-shirt and some permanent markers. Have
them write their name on the front of their shirt – in a special
and fancy way. This will also help to keep track of whose
shirt is whose. Then have each child write a message and a
doodle to each other on all of the shirts. Put cardboard between
the shirt so that the message does not seep through.
Once the children have completed the back, it is time to stamp
a design on the front. Put fabric paint out on large paper
plates and give each child a fabric stamp. Designs that circle
the name are probably best.
After the shirts are completed, lay them to dry flat or hang
them as long as the fabric paint does not drip.
Sleepovers are always so much fun. These projects may lead
you to create others, or may inspire other projects for your
children to enjoy.
Abigail Beal © 2004 Abigail Beal a.k.a. “the Gift-wrap Goddess”
teaches gift wrap in suburban New York. She is the author
of 2 ezines: GiftWrapGoddessWraps and CreativeCraftsTeachers.
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