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Arts & crafts

Crafty Ideas please

(14 Posts)
thisisnotme Thu 12-Feb-26 20:10:06

DD will be 40 this year and I intend to make a ‘This Is Your Life’ style book.

Obviously there will be many photographs and such like but I want to involve her children (10 & 7) in making some papercrafted items that I can include.

Ideas please - thank you

Chardy Thu 12-Feb-26 21:41:37

Search Youtube or Google:
Easy Paper Craft Ideas
Easy Paper Folding Ideas
Easy Origami

An example - YouTube might give you
www.youtube.com/watch?v=orVhqsZbqew

I used to make Danish baskets in December with 11tr olds
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jur29ViLEhk

J52 Fri 13-Feb-26 09:52:31

How about decorating the book cover with decoupage made up of pictures cut from magazines, of things that she is interested in.

keepcalmandcavachon Fri 13-Feb-26 10:18:35

Victorian paper hearts(you tube) are very easy, just one piece of paper folded, cut and coloured/decorated. The children could include family sayings & funnies as well as their I love you Mum quotes. These little missives would tuck sweetly into a pocket of a memory book for their mum to discoversmile

thisisnotme Fri 13-Feb-26 14:33:19

Thanks all for some useful ideas.

Stillness Sun 15-Feb-26 14:35:42

How about them both drawing/colouring/painting a picture of their mum. And/or of themselves. Or of the family. Or they could do the same using materials like coloured papers, card, fabric, etc.

madeleine45 Sun 15-Feb-26 15:03:31

Perhaps they could also do a sort of "consequences " style piece of paper each. So it starts as My name is X and I am Y years old. Then my favourite colour is. favourite book, food etc etc.,and this could be folded up and each one put in an envelope style package or perhaps with pictures to show these favourites, including them in their favourite clothes. Whilst this will just seem something for this moment, actually these pages will become much treasured memories in times to come, when much fun can be had in years to come,looking back at the choices they made. Perhaps it could even become a habit over years to do at perhaps christmas or new year, when you might enjoy looking back and be quite amused when you see what you chose in the past.

Up2u Sun 15-Feb-26 15:11:26

We made something similar using envelopes in a scrapbook for different occasions each envelope had pictures photos messages pressed flowers Confetti from a wedding. Anything that could be kept It’s lovely to look back over. As it has lots of memories from way back when gc were little. They love it too. So much eldest gd has created one for her own little one

grandMattie Sun 15-Feb-26 15:13:24

For my 70th, I asked my granddaughters to make me a self portrait each. They are treasured possessions!

JaneJudge Sun 15-Feb-26 15:16:56

madeleine45

Perhaps they could also do a sort of "consequences " style piece of paper each. So it starts as My name is X and I am Y years old. Then my favourite colour is. favourite book, food etc etc.,and this could be folded up and each one put in an envelope style package or perhaps with pictures to show these favourites, including them in their favourite clothes. Whilst this will just seem something for this moment, actually these pages will become much treasured memories in times to come, when much fun can be had in years to come,looking back at the choices they made. Perhaps it could even become a habit over years to do at perhaps christmas or new year, when you might enjoy looking back and be quite amused when you see what you chose in the past.

I think this is a lovely idea

thisisnotme, be prepared for some tears smile I did one too and I cried quite a lot. It was very emotionally draining but the recipient loved it

DeeAitch56 Sun 15-Feb-26 18:13:41

There are some question sheets you can get online where they ask the children questions about their parents like what does mum do for a job, how old is mummy as per this link, www.thequestionvault.com/questions-to-ask-kids-about-parents
It could be amusing

thisisnotme Sun 15-Feb-26 18:42:28

Some more great ideas - thank you one and all.

The grandchildren will love to do a ‘consequences’ type of memory along with little envelopes with ‘favourite things about mummy’ and ‘wishes for my mummy’.

I’ve already started with the tears as I sort through all the old photographs and acquire some from family and friends that I have never seen before.

Busy times ahead!

kjmpde Sun 15-Feb-26 19:34:55

look at Hobbycraft - some free projects and Youtube

FranP Sun 15-Feb-26 23:44:12

Maggie at www.redtedart.com/ is a fantastic mine of ideas. Try Mother's day and birthday in her search box.

10 year old can sew/ knit/crochet. Picture frames are fun, made of a couple off layers of card and painted/covered in fabric or papier mache. Little one could paint a picture to go in it.
Roses - take sheets of toilet paper and cut into petal shapes, colour with felt tips and damp until colour runs; fold in layers over an upturned aerosol lid and leave to dry. Turn over and remove lid.
One of my favourites might need some help - cut tapered strips of paper, roll tightly around a skewer and seal with glue. Paint and string into necklace or bracelet

Making a book is on there too. I have helped 8-10 year olds make papier mache, cover 2 pieces of card with it, paint when dry and use as pretty book covers, threading ribbon to join. It can be used to wrap around any kind of used pot (coleslaw, yoghourt) to make a pen pot.