My parents were both very creative and instilled in me the love of being a Maker, a DIYer and Designer. My mother taught me how to sew when I was five and would cut out doll clothes for me to sew. She fostered my creatvity by making fun projects like big newsprint houses with empty rooms and with glue, scissors and the Sears catalogue, a mansion was born. I grew up crafting and with my daughters, my kindergarten classes I was always making projects with them.

And here I am now a grandmother to eleven "grandlittles" and every party has to have a craft. Miss M above loves the Big Shot and is a pro at die cutting! The girls usually choose pink and glitter and the boys seem to have a thing about black and mustaches!  Prestofelt has been a huge favorite and they can use the back paper to draw their shapes and then cut them out.

It certainly is all about the embellishments with the girls! It is also the fun, the conversation, the trying of new techniques and the confidence it builds with their creative accomplishments.

Yes these two, they love to craft together! The other little ones will be soon joining them!

It can also be very serious as they craft, everyone quiet and caught up in making their own special project.

Yes it is all about the mustache with the boys, from "Pin the Mustache" to wearing the mustache!

Creating with kids is not only fun for them but it is a wonderful experience to share the love of crafting, making projects with children. When my youngest daughter Kate was seven in 2000, I volunteered time and supplies to craft with the kids at school. At that time I was making bears and so I devised a simple bear pattern, sewed up all the pieces from plush felt for my daughter's class. They would learn how to stuff, do a simple joint, add features and a simple vest to make their very own bear.

It was an amazing afternoon with those children. The bears sported patches, some were pirates, others had earrings. One little boy said he had been so excited he could not sleep the night before, another was going to teach his entire family to sew. They had the best time and so did I. Unfortunately I could not locate any photos but I did find something I had forgotten about.

A couple days later my daughter arrived home with a folder and in it each of the children drew a picture of their bear and told the story from each bear's perspective of what his life was like. Below are some of those stories.

So during National Craft month I am reminded how powerful creativity is and the many gifts it brings to everyone and particularly to children. They approach crafting with a wonder and curiosity, they learn important skills and they are present in the act of creating. There is no better way to celebrate this month than creating with kids!

Happy (inter)National Craft Month!
Debra