Elmer’s contacted me and asked me to host a very small Kids Craft Camp. Everyone we know is of the Preschool and Toddler age because that is also where we are age wise. So thought and planning had to actually go into our little event. Toddlers need organization, or perhaps this mommy needs organization. Elmer’s actually helped quite a bit with the “organization” part. They sent me an already organized into individual sets camp kit:
One Adult Kit
· CraftBond Gel Pens
· CraftBond Extra Strength Glue Stick
· CraftBond Tape Runner 
· Painters Markers
· X-ACTO Zigzag and Scallop scissor packs
· X-ACTO 8” Scissors
· X-ACTO Punch
5 Kids Kits
· CraftBond Extra Strength Glue Stick
· CraftBond Glue Spots
· Project Popperz Markers
· Mini Bi-Fold Foam Board
Plus they sent me a gift card to get extra supplies needed.
You know, stickers, colored paper, more stickers, kid safe markers, and some snacks. Can’t have kids camp without some snacks. Anyways, as I was saying, I still had to be even more organized, crafts with younger children is much easier on my soul if every step is “pre” done. So I had to pick a craft. We looked at three different craft ideas together before I made a choice. Based on what I had with me, we decided to make little summer photo books with the bi-fold foam boards.
It’s best to have everything pre cut. Say paper shapes, little pieces of ribbon. We like to use pipe cleaners and yarn for a lot of our crafts and Zoe and Miles are becoming quite the experts at making a mess I mean, using glue! So getting all of the supplies ready before hand is a huge help in crafting with preschoolers.
Have smocks ready. We have a lot of baby bibs left over and they make really great smocks. They are the elastic kind and stretch around the neck, fitting most preschoolers.
Make sure your supplies are age appropriate. The packs that Elmer’s sent us were geared for 5 to 6 plus. My kids still get markers all over every piece of their unclothed body so I had to switch out the makers, but everything else was ok for their age. 
Lastly, the key is for everyone to have fun. For me doing all the work ahead of time to premeasure everything for each child works best. You may come to my house and think it’s a disaster, but I can’t handle a mess. So whatever I can do to minimize it, I will. Using Elmer’s scissors and X-ACTO products made pre-assembly a breeze for me. I love all the different scissor shapes for scrapbooking.
The kids decorated the outside front and back. Then, one thing that’s really nice about technology and having enough adults around is that you can take pictures digitally and just print them off right away and add them to the photo book. Then let the kids take the rest home and add their own photos of summer adventures and then they can have the artwork and photos in their room on display. It’s a fun and easy idea. I guess it’s more like a photo collage than a photo book, either way the kids loved the chance to make their own “books”.
This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Trisha Lynn.
All rules can be found under giveaway rules. We received samples and a gift card to get supplies for our little camp.
Liked XACTO on Facebook- keely kephart hostetter- 2
hoss311@aol.com
Our favorite is to make flower bouquets using coffee filters that we “tie-dye” w/ liquid watercolors. When dry, edge with patterned scissors, fold into quarters and pinch a “stem” in the center, and then wrap a pipe-cleaner stem around to secure. So pretty!
I subscribe to your RSS feed.
I follow w/ GFC.
I follow on Twitter as stlyhu
The Ice Cream Cone is super cute!
I’m an email subscriber.
I used to teach pre-school art classes so I have a ton of ideas. Some of the best projects are when you just put out a lot of supplies and let the children create.
email subscriber
follow gfc-missdeb1
follow you on twitter-missdeb1
like you on facebook-debbie coyle
tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/missdeb1/status/94765388851712000
like elmers on facebook 1-debbie coyle
like elmers on facebook 2-debbie coyle
follow elmers on twitter 1-missdeb1
follow elmers on twitter 2-missdeb1
like xacto on facebook 1-debbie coyle
like xacto on facebook 2-debbie coyle
I love the idea of making multi-purpose goodie/party bags. A cute and useful craft project.
Email subscriber.
My son usuallly comes up with better craft ideas than me, but we always like making snow flakes out of paper and decorating them!
I have liked Mom Start on facebook.
I like the Craft-stick picture frames!
I voted for you in the Cookie contest today!
Jennifer Smith Stewart
I voted for you in the cookie contest entry 2!
Jennifer Smith Stewart
I like Elmer’s on facebook!
Jennifer SMith Stewart
I like Elmer’s on facebook entry 2!
Jennifer Smith Stewart
I follow Elmer’s on twitter! (kennedie0605)
I follow Elmer’s on twitter entry 2! (kennedie0605)
I like XACTO on facebook!
Jennifer Smith Stewart
I like XACTO on facebook entry 2!
Jennifer Smith Stewart
I subscribe via email!
I follow you on twitter! (kennedie0605)
I like you on facebook!
Jennifer smith Stewart
I follow via GFC!
tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/hoss3111/status/94851926054801408
hoss311@aol.com
voted 7/23 – 1
hoss311@aol.com
voted 7/23 – 2
hoss311@aol.com
I like sponanity with things- seriously more fun- even tp flowers
Working with kids I like to make flowers and hats out of various papers, make collages or landscapes using many media, and make projects for fine motor development like beading and sewing.
I joined Elmer’s on twitter as mbm218
tweet:
http://twitter.com/#!/mbm218/status/94918230921060352
I’m an email subscriber
I follow you on twitter as mbm218
I’m a gfc friend (Beth Elderton)
i like the i love you poster and glue fossil
nannypanpan at gmail.com
e-mail
nannypanpan at gmail.com
gfc nannypanpan
We like simple crafts with glue, paper and pens. (Well, I do.) We also love FOAM Crafts.