Cool crafting for tweens (and grownups)
From kumihimo to keychains, these are the crafts that everyone will want to make this summer
School’s out and nowhere is that more apparent than in our kitchen where the table is littered with pens, scraps of paper, split pins, random gemstones and bits of embroidery thread. I shouldn’t complain as nobody is on a screen; in fact all three of us have just spent the last hour making friendship bracelets.
My kids (8 and 11) love crafting as much as I do and it is something we have always done together. I dabbled in a Waldorf playgroup when they were really little and one of the many things I loved about it was that rather than helping the kids with their painting etc, the adults sat alongside them, doing their own craft activities.
We’ve continued like this, making things next to each other, and I always look forward to the school holidays as a chance to get some new craft supplies and try out new projects. This year I’m also on the hunt for craft activities that we can repeat when the girls have friends over for the day. So here’s what we’ll be making. I’d love to know what you are making too.
We are already obsessed with kumihimo bracelet making. Kumihimo is the traditional Japanese art of braiding cords and ribbons, and to make kumihimo friendship bracelets, you use a disk with little notches in it. It works a bit like a loom. It is super easy and takes a couple of hours max to make a bracelet. So it is ideal for a car journey or a rainy afternoon. I found it really mindful and relaxing too.
You can make your own disk and follow an online tutorial - so all you’d need is some embroidery thread (we picked up a bag secondhand for £2) or you can buy a kit - my favourite is the Cotton Clara kit (below) because there is a pattern to make a leopard print kumihimo bracelet.
Bandana jewellery is everywhere this summer and whilst there are lots of lovely makers to buy from, I think this is also a craft that my girls and I would love to do ourselves. You need some bandanas to cut into strips (but other patterned fabric would work too), jump rings and a few charms. I’ve seen some great inspo reels on Instagram from @oliveandbettesnyc and from @lifebyleanna and @sonjabonk.
necklace by Lesbijouxfaitsmains, £17.29 via Etsy The clamshell jewellery dish is pretty much a viral craft sensation - see @salt.babe.jewelry and @theshirleylife for simple reel tutorials. This is so easy. You just use decoupage paper or even a paper napkin to line the shell, cover it with decoupage glue and then use gold paint for the edging.
I love simple cardboard crafting and I am so inspired by these cardboard collage fish, created by Sally Payne Design. On her instagram page, there are also some wonderfully cheery animals and a cute village of cutout houses. Simple and beautiful.
Cardboard fish, from Sally Payne Design Fish necklaces are also a big trend this summer and I particularly like the beaded ones. I’ve spotted beaded fish keychain tutorials via @rebekahmarsden and also @littlecajunhouse (she makes this craft look super simple). I feel like these would look great on backpacks next term too.
6. For the best of the rest, I highly recommend checking out @ashley.robison on Insta - she’s made cute beach shack picture frames out of lolly sticks, teeshirt hair ties, junk charm claw clips and much much more. I’ll be stealing ideas from her for the rest of the holidays!
