Posts Tagged "scissors"

Diagonal Knotted Bracelet

Diagonal Knotted Bracelet

Friendship BraceletsA Diagonal Knotted Bracelet is a great project to start during a shorter meeting or craft session and have the girls finish later in their down time.  Please refer to the Friendship Bracelet Knots page for instructions on how to make the knots mentioned below.

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Materials NeededMaterials Needed:

DirectionsDirections:

  1. Cut 2 pieces of each color thread to 36″ in length.
  2. Make sure the ends are even and loop one end and knot together.  Tape or pin down in the order you want the colored stripes.
  3. Start on the left side and make a left knot with the first color.  Make left knots with this color across the remaining strands.
  4. Start again on the left side and make left knots across with the other strands.
  5. Repeat knots always starting with the left thread and working left to right.  A diagonal pattern will begin to form.
  6. Work until the length is right for your wrist.
  7. Once the bracelet is long enough, tie a knot at the end, leaving a 4″ tail and trim.
  8. Wrap the bracelet around your wrist and tie the tail end to the looped end.

Safety TipsSafety Tips!

  1. Only older girls should use the safety pins to secure the starting end of the bracelet.
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Easy Braided Bracelet

Easy Braided Bracelet

make bracelets!Easy Braided Bracelets and Friendship bracelets in general are one of the most classic crafts done at camps world-wide, and one of my favorites.  There are a few basic types of friendship bracelets, but this is the easiest.  It may not be challenging enough for older girls, but it’s perfect for younger girls making their first friendship bracelet.

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Materials NeededMaterials Needed:

DirectionsDirections:

  1. Cut 5 pieces each of 3 colors of craft thread.  Each piece should be 24″ long.
  2. With all the ends even, loop together at one end and knot.  This loop will be the closure.
  3. Tape or pin the looped end on a clipboard, pillow, or book to hold it in place while you are braiding.
  4. Separate the 3 colors and braid together, taking the left group over the center group, then the right group over the new center group until the braid is long enough to wrap around your wrist.
  5. Once the braid is long enough, tie a knot at the end, leaving a 4″ tail and trim.
  6. Wrap the bracelet around your wrist and tie the tail end to the looped end.

Safety TipsSafety Tips!

  1. Only older girls should use the safety pins to secure the starting end of the bracelet.
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Dragonfly Friends

Dragonfly Friends

Dragonfly FriendsDragonfly Friends is a great craft to start the new year off right, especially if you’re adding new girls to your troop.  You can have each girl make a dragonfly friend and then swap them randomly, and those two girls will be buddies for the next field trip or outing.

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Materials NeededMaterials Needed:

DirectionsDirections:

  1. Cut 6″ piece of chenille stem; fold in half.
  2. Slide 9 pony beads onto the folded chenille stem, leaving the folded end about ¼” exposed.
  3. Glue mini pom pom onto folded end.
  4. Glue 1″ pom pom to other end of the chenille stem for the head.
  5. Using another chenille stem, fold the ends in towards the center, overlapping the ends at the center by an inch.  Shape the ends to create loops, twisting the loose ends around the center to create a bow.  Position the overlap ends for legs.
  6. Glue wings between beads and head.
  7. Glue wiggle eyes in place.

Safety TipsSafety Tips!

  1. Adult supervision is required.
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Tie Dye Shirts

Tie Dye Shirts

Tie DyeThis was one of the most fun projects we did at summer camp.  Yes, it’s messy but tie dye shirts are a great project that girls of all ages can enjoy – and enjoy wearing!  If you’re doing this for a camp, you should include a white shirt specially for crafts on the packing list.  To boot, Tie Dye Shirts make for a great souvenir to bring home from camp.  For a troop activity, you can either buy the t-shirts for your girls or send home a request for them to send an old white or really light colored t-shirt for the project.

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Materials NeededMaterials Needed:

DirectionsDirections:

  1. Wash the t-shirt in a clothes washer to remove sizing.
  2. Cover your work surface with the plastic tablecloth.
  3. Place the damp shirt on your prepared surface and smooth flat.  To create a traditional bulls-eye design, pinch the front of the shirt just above the center then lift fabric up and scrunch fabric into a tube shape.  Wrap a rubber band about 2″ from the tip, wrapping several times until tight.  Repeat every 2″ or so along the entire shirt.
  4. Wearing gloves from the dye box, fill a dye bottle halfway with water.  Replace the cap and shake until all the dye is thoroughly mixed.  Remove the lid, add more water to the line indicated on bottle, and replace the cap and shake to mix.
  5. Carefully squeeze one color of dye on tip, turning shirt until entire tip has dye.
  6. Squeeze another color dye around center of next section, letting it bleed toward rubber bands.  Insert tip of bottle into folds and squeeze more dye as needed.
  7. Avoid squeezing the dye too close to the rubber bands so you can leave white rings between the colors.  Rotate through the colors available in the kit evenly.
  8. Let the dye set 4-6 hours.  Use scissors to carefully cut off the rubber bands.
  9. Fill a clothes washer to a full load setting with a small amount of laundry soap.  Once agitation strts, insert the t-shirt.  Dry in clothes dryer or line dry.

Safety TipsSafety Tips!

  1. Adult supervision is required when using the dye.
  2. Adults should cut off the rubber bands when working with younger girls.
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Pipe Cleaner Turkey

Pipe Cleaner Turkey

Pipe Cleaner TurkeyThe Pipe Cleaner Turkey is a terrific Thanksgiving project!  This project is perfect for Brownies and Juniors, and can be easily done in 30-60 minutes.  I would be helpful for the leader to complete one before the girls attempt it so it’s easier to help them.  As well, the girls may need a model in person to refer to.

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Materials NeededMaterials Needed:

DirectionsDirections:

  1. Bend 1 brown chenille in half. Set on work surface. To make head, connect 6 brown chenille by twisting ends together. Wrap around the large round marker overlapping so that the length does not exceed 2 inches. Glue the bent brown chenille into the head piece.  Set aside.
  2. Take one brown chenille and wrap around the highlighter without overlapping to make the neck. Slip over the remaining chenille sticking out of head. Glue the top edge into head.  Bend the chenille wire holding head/neck assembly into an upside down U shape. Set aside.
  3. The body requires 24 brown chenille stems that are connected and wrapped around the large paint bottle.  Slip off bottle and gently squeeze into an oval shape.  Pick up head/neck assembly, and glue into the body.  Make sure the head is bent over the top of body, as if turkey is looking at you. Set aside.
  4. To make a wing, connect two brown chenille stems. Refer to photo to see shape of wings. They are shaped by hand.  The stems touch only at the top of the wings. Glue them together along top to hold shape.  Repeat for second wing.  Twist wing ends together, so that they are 2 ½ inches apart.  Glue wings onto turkey back.
  5. Bend the wire at the top of the back in, to close off opening behind head.  Set aside. Cut one yellow chenille in half to make feet.  Take one of the halves, and bend it in half.  Measure ¾ ” back from bend, and bend the chenille at a 90 degree angle. Twist the ¾” together then separate the strands. Bend one piece up to make a V shape for the second toe. Measure and bend stem back at the ¾” mark.  Repeat for third toe.
  6. Repeat step to shape other foot. Bend the leg ends up ½” from end, and glue into body base front edge. Set aside.
  7. Cut a 4″ piece of yellow to form beak. Bend in half, and then half again.  Attach to head with glue.  See photo for placement. Set in front of you. Cut a 4″ piece of red to form warble.  Bend one end to fit over top of beak, allowing 1-¾” to hang down.  Bend remaining back up, and twist to secure. Glue onto top of beak. See photo if necessary. Place turkey in front of you.
  8. Roll one end of black chenille into a little ball.  Cut stem 1″ from rolled end.  Stick stem end into head, and glue into place.  Repeat for second eye.  Refer to photo if necessary.
  9. You need five stems for each feather: 15 green, 5 red, 5 yellow, 5 purple and 5 orange.  Twist 5 of the same color together and make a bend 7″ from one end to form an upside down V.  The next bend should be 6″ further. Each time you go up into the feather shape, the next V should be slightly smaller to fit inside the previous one. Repeat until all the feathers are assembled.
  10. Lay 2 green feathers with their twisted ends together forming a horizontal line.  Glue the purple and yellow feathers on top of the green ends to form a V shape at the top. Attach the orange and red feathers in like manner so they lay above the 2 green feathers at base.  Glue the last green feather slightly above the orange/red ends.  Refer to photo if necessary. Glue entire tail onto back base of your turkey.

Safety TipsSafety Tips!

  1. When twisting the chenille stems together to connect, be careful because the ends can be sharp.
  2. Adult supervision is required.
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