Popsicle Stick Basket

I am not a crafty person. I don't mind the kids getting messy. We get right into baking (hands and all) and I'll set up a science experiment on a moments notice. When it comes to glue, glitter and paint I begin to shake and go weak in the knees. Yes, I took fine arts in college and enjoyed the experience but I was only mediocre. I "had my own style" and it wasn't what the teacher was looking for and I think it's scared me off creating in a way. I totally want the kids to have their own style and create all kinds of wonderful and wild projects but I still can't help avoiding the experience whenever possible.

I've decided though that it is important for the kids to just get into it and create. I've taken out the art supplies that have been hidden away in a plastic tub for over a year. The kids are free to use them whenever they choose. Unfortunately, I think I've scared them off of creating as well and they have been very cautious to approach them. I've had to come up with some crafting ideas to get us going and we started with something really simple and well, practical, with easy to follow instruction. I don't particularly consider it creating (as we just followed someone else's formula) but they needed to see that gluing things together was fun.

You can get instructions for this basket here.

Some practice gluing just for the fun of it. (I am ashamed to say that it is the first time the kids have ever used school glue).

The top of the basket that  I started for the kids. Liam's "fences" in the background. He wanted to build a fence frame around the table but I wasn't sure what we would do with it after wards so we compromised and he made the fence around one side of the table only.

After I started it the kids took over and did a really good job taking turns putting on layers.

Morgaine made the base while Liam looked on (impatiently, by this point, waiting for the moment we could turn the basket around to see our work).

The finished product! I think it turned out nicely.

I have to run because I am busy turning a box into a transformer with Liam. Once you start creating you want to create all the time. I hope that we'll be able to share more projects with you soon. Maybe we'll even venture into the forbidden world of paint. Maybe we'll even finger paint....

Maybe...