Camp Crafts - 4

As part of an interview at the first camp I worked at, I took examples and pictures of things I could make, had made, and ideas I had to grow on. The picture here was one of those including a paper box, a small God's Eye, Worry Dolls, and a couple friendship bracelets (also popular worn as anklets). I even took an apron dress I had made without use of a pattern and then tie dyed in a rainbow pattern.

The God's Eye is something I learned years and years ago in Girl Scouts usually involving yarn and two sticks. This one was a small example I made using a couple pieces of broken wooden skewers and embroidery floss I had one hand. It hangs in my craft/sewing room now.

Worry Dolls, the directions included in a previous post.

Friendship bracelets, using various knots and macrame techniques were favorites among campers, counselors, and staff. There are tons of techniques and styles out there, the ones pictures using a half knot and a mix of colors of floss and embroidery floss. Camper would often start the knotted jewelry in the Craft Hall, then take them with them to finish during quiet time in bunks or other downtime through the night and evening. They would attach the end loops to toes, nails, pinned on jeans or shoe, or anything else available, including their friends.

The paper box is great for storing worry dolls or gift giving of friendship bracelets.

The instructions for a Paper Plate Drum was made while working with camping families with small children. I don't know that anyone ever used it, even thought we made a few of them.

Paper Box - How To

I love making paper boxes of all different sizes as they make great gift boxes, the smaller ones for trinkets, worry dolls, or homemade jewelry and larger ones for cookies, cupcakes, or other bits. I've been making them for so long, I don't even remember learning. They might have been something my mom taught me and/or something from my Girl Scout days (my mom was my leader for a long time). When working & loving at camp it was something I often taught kids, especially to store worry dolls, jewelry, or just for fun.

They can be made from plain, colored, or decorated paper and are a great way to recycle & reuse newsprint, comics, brown paper bags, doodles, or old wrapping paper. Versatile and can be made in all sorts of sizes.

Boxes

Painted pressed paper box

Sometimes you just need someplace to put your trinkets, treasures, jewelry, gifts, or other little bits. They come in all shapes and sizes, can be made from all sorts of materials, and can be decorated in a variety of ways.

I painted a fire-inspired marbling effect on the round pressed paper box that can be found at most craft stores. I accented it with the black swirls and sealed it with an acrylic spray sealer to keep the paint nice and to give it a nice shine. It's just the right size to hole loose chance emptied from a pocket, rings, bracelets, a necklace, worry dolls, little notes, a set of keys, or other little bits.

The pressed paper boxes are available in different sizes and shapes and can be used in all sorts of ways. I have a few that are small, dollhouse size.

The heart shaped box is made from fuseable beads and a heart shaped form. Using the heart shaped form I made two full hearts, one for the bottom of the box and one for the lid, fusing them per the directions with the special iron paper and an iron. Then I made three hearts that were just the outline of the heart to form the walls. Using a needle and thread I attached the bottom and the three side pieces to form a box. For the one pictured, I used a few stitches to attach the lid and make it flip up.

Fuse Bead Box

 There are a lot of things you can do with the fuse beads, available in kits the include the pegboards, special paper, and special fusing beads or beads and boards separately. We used the beads at one camp and I have used them with kids I have watched around home to make boxes, coasters, sun catches, dice, magnets, and other little things to hang and decorate with. (Check Out these pegboard forms) (Oriental Trading Co. Supplies) (Perler Bead Supplies)

The folded paper box is another nice little box that is versatile, easy to make, and a nice touch for certain things. They are a nice added touch for gift giving that can be made to preferred size. I use them for all sorts of  little things and gift giving.