Getting Crafty

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With summer upon us, parents will be looking for fun ways to fill the days home from school.  If you have a crafty or creative kid, check out some of these jewelry making kits.

One of our favorite companies, B. Toys, makes 2 sizes of pop on jewelry in it’s own Pop Arty storage container.  Snap it on, pop it off, create your latest fashion piece.  In either 300 or 500 piece sets, you get an assortment of beads, bracelets, rings, and more for your designs.  The beads come in a wide range of colors, textures, shapes, sizes, and with different ends- some have only holes, some have two “nubs” for connecting, some with one hole and one connector.  Build one design, wear it, and then disassemble it and to match your next outfit- or your mom’s.  No mess with this project, as it has no glue, glitter, or molding required and comes with it’s own take along storage unit.

For kids three years and up, $15-$30 at stores like Target and Amazon.com.

This kit is great for slightly older kids who are able to use molds and more complex patterns.  Children can make their own beads in one or more colors, even accent them with glitter or included gems, and set them to dry.  When they do, they can add them to the included silver bracelet, add charms, and have a very personalized bracelet.  Two bracelets are included, as well as charms and the dough for molds, which makes a fantastic project for best friends or sisters to do on a rainy day.

Another fun find from Alex Toys is Bling Bangles- which is good for kids ages six and up, but I think tweens will really enjoy.  The kit comes with six metal bangle bracelets (just like mom’s!), 6 floss colors, and 6 gemstone strips in different sizes. Easy to make, children can add the desired “bling” of gems to the bangle and wrap the colored floss around the bracelet, and voila!  Done.

These kits and others available for $14.99 and up on http://www.alextoys.com

Perfect for girls who love their dolls, the Our Generation (makers of “American Girl” sized dolls and outfits without the price tag) Me & You Jewellery Set lets children create matching or complimenting accessories for your little one and her mini-me to wear together. Let your kids be as creative as they would like to be with a variety of colors, ribbons, ways to style their bracelet, and more.  Comes with 3 large (kid size) wooden bangles in different widths as well as two for her favorite doll. By the way- every purchase of this kit will give a donation of ten cents to the Free the Children’s Power of a Girl Initiative, which helps fund girls education.  The company also prints with soy based ink and uses recycled materials for packaging- so if you are looking for a brand that gives back, look no further. Fun and creative for your kids, and you get to help someone else’s at the same time (not to mention the environment).  Available for about $20 at http://ogdolls.com, http://www.target.com, and Target Stores.

The Craft Scene Pick n Mix Jewellery Kit makes up to eight jewelery pieces. Included in the kit is a 16-page illustrated activity guide with directions as well to show kids how to make specific designs, or they can create pieces from their own imagination. It comes with a convenient plastic storage box to keep creations safe and easily found for the next time they need to be worn. This is one of the more complete kits that we’ve seen, with a wide range of jewelry that can be made from it. In addition to the storage box, it comes with “200 felt strips and squares in 8 assorted colors, over 3 feet of lilac organza ribbon , over 4 feet of plastic stretch cord, over 3 feet of plastic coated jewelry wire, over 6 feet of black cord, 14 jump rings, 2 clasps, 4 clamshell clasps, and 4 ear hooks” ( as per International Playthings) so that kids can create just about any accessory they would like.  The age range is given as eight and up, which I think is spot on- but again, I think will be a hit with tweens looking to show their personality and be creative.  Available for $14.99 at http://shop.intplay.com