Posts Tagged ‘Crafts’

Kids are getting more and confined to electronic entertainment devices like TVs and PC games. The simple reason behind this disappearance of kids is their contraction of hobbies and interests into the flat screen called computers or TVs. While it is true that getting kid’s attention away from these electronic gadgets is difficult it is not yet impossible thanks to various fruitful hobbies and games available today. It is unthinkable for me to see kids who are totally unsocialable when they grow up and they can only talk to each other via keyboards and screens.

Guide your children to these hobbies and activities by involving yourself also into it. So ensure you provide them with creative and attention seeking hobbies in their leisure times. There are many hobbies that children love once they are introduced to them.

Let’s take a look at 3 hobbies that can help getting your kids out of the world of television, and into the world of diverse arts and crafts.

Try to engage your kids in good hobbies like latch hooking a rug. It demands simple accessories like Latch Hook Patterns, a Mesh Polyester Cotton Canvas, Latch Hook Frames, Latch Hooks, Rug Binding Tapes, Rug Fringe Yarns, Wool, Wicker Baskets and magnifying glasses for easy vision. Many craft stores provide latch hook rug kits with its associated paraphernalia along with instructions. The design can be either the design you get from a latch hook kit which can be purchased from nearby fancy stores or add some uniqueness by using programs which convert camera photos into patterns. Try out latch hook rug kit as a hobby and develop some creative minds for your kids.

Take advantage of their cartoon icon and dazzle them with the Hello Kitty collection. SANRIO store is a leading online provider of such Hello Kitty collections. This creative hobby kit – also available online includes stitching and tapestry accessories. Check out some of the Hello Kitty stuff and perhaps you can see some great ideas from here.

Introduce them to the world by leading them to stamp collection. Stamps are beautiful images which have a deep history of the particular country. Introduce them to stamps of a particular nation before setting to widen their horizons. There are around 20 million stamp collectors in America. Philately, which was a hobby confined to the Western Europe royalties, is now a growing phenomenon with almost 20 million philatelists in US alone. However with the advent of online and email communication, easy access to stamps are a thing of the past. Stamp collecting can be a great hobby. Not only it is fun, it is also educational and children will learn a lot of things just by collecting stamps. Plus, stamps that are collected for years do have some monetary value, so it’s not a bad idea isn’t it?

Give your kids adequate knowledge about these hobbies and rouse interest in them before providing the accessories. You will be glad to see their creativity and thinking power increasing day by day. These hobbies benefit kids in the future also as they get basic planning-and-execution lessons from them.

Sewing was earlier done only to make clothes, later it changed to a profession for earning income and today it is a hobby catching on with ready-for-anything young generation as well as the seen-all older generation. Women sewing baby quilts and regular mending were common events of yore. Today various reasons abound, some want to give a unique stitch on their apparels whereas others learn for the regular repair work. Some take it as a hobby; others use it for minor mending while still others want to get that extra freaky stitch on their denim. Though the reasons are many an issue common to all is deciding on the best sewing machine for beginners.

Art of every form requires the artist to be equipped with the basics. You can easily get a basic sewing machine by scouring the repair shops near you. They are really helpful due to their acquaintance with various era machines.

You can get a good beginners sewing machine from the leading brands like Kenmore or Singer or go for any of the smaller ones available at Wal-Mart or Sears. have various brands in this section for you to select. The warranty conditions and user instructions must be thoroughly studied. Before making your final decision make sure you try your hand at the machine. For example, try The Sewing Machine Book or Fine Machine Sewing, Owner’s Guide to Sewing Machines etc.

But this doesn’t mean you must have the advanced computerized machines which can also be too much of an expense and complication for a beginner. Also avoid the advanced computerized models or the ones with embroidery options because in the case of beginners they are good at confusing than teaching. Mechanical ones are the best in sewing machine for beginners to learn needle positioning and speed control.

Try them out to make sure the machine gives a good straight stitch, adjustability of foot pressure etc. among other things.

Learn to hold a sword before plunging into battle. Try a zigzag or fill the bobbin, work on a couple of threading etc. The knowledge of simple stitches further allows you to try out your creative streaks with fancy stitching on different materials.

Remember initial hiccups will teach you more than any other school so go ahead and take your first step by getting the right sewing machine for beginners.

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When we think about pumpkins, we think about Halloween, Jack-O-Lanterns, pumpkin pie, and Thanksgiving.

But, truthfully, there are plenty of ways to use a pumpkin!

During October, pumpkins are abundant. Sometimes, they are too abundant. And it’s not uncommon to see excess pumpkins cast aside or left to rot after Halloween, but there’s really no need to let the extras go to waste.

The following are just a few of the great uses for pumpkins:

1. Pumpkins in Recipes

As food, pumpkins are low in calories, yet high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, protein, and potassium. Dig out your favorite cookbook and search for recipes containing pumpkin.

Pumpkin breads, pumpkin pies, and muffins are favorites, but you can probably find plenty of others. As an impromptu house guest in Paris, I was once served an pumpkin soup (though I never completed my search for ). There are more exotic recipes to try as well – pumpkin juice, pumpkin ice cream, and even fried pumpkin.

2. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds (also called “pepitas”) are also known to be highly nutritious, and are used in weight-loss diets. They provide fiber, healthy fats, and protein, as well as magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron, and copper. They are also known to strengthen the immune system, and to be good for people with high cholesterol.

Roasted pumpkin seeds make excellent , can be sprinkled over a holiday squash soup, and are a favorite in Mexican cooking. Candied pumpkin seeds are good for parties as well – and even your children might accept them among their Halloween candy.

3. for Pets

Mashed pumpkin is a well-known remedy for digestive trouble in dogs. It can be used to combat weight gain or diarrhea, and for resistance to infections. It is also said to be good for a dog’s night vision and general health.

Simply add a few of cooked, mashed pumpkin to your dog’s food. (Important: it must be pure mashed pumpkin, not a mix!) For instructions on how to create your own mashed pumpkin, see point #4 below.

Cats may like pumpkin as well, and it can be used to help cats with similar digestive troubles, as well as hairballs.

Remember, if your pet is sick, take him to the vet! Also, ask your vet about using pumpkin as a home remedy.

4.

When there are more pumpkins than you know what to do with, you can save them for later use in recipes and for winter holidays.

There are several ways to create pumpkin puree which can be frozen . The following are three preparation methods:

1. Baking – Cut the pumpkin in half, place it on a baking sheet with the flat side down{}, and bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, for about an hour, or until it is tender when tested with a fork.

2. Microwave – , but instead of placing the pumpkin in an oven, microwave it on high for about 15 minutes, or until it is tender.

3. Boiling – Cut the pumpkin into large chunks and . Then, place the chunks into a cooking pot, cover with water (fully immersing the pumpkins, plus one inch of water on top), and boil until tender.

After you’ve utilized one of the above methods to soften the pumpkin, cool it off, peel it, and mash it in a food processor. You can also use a potato masher .

Then, simply seal the puree into zip lock bags, or whatever is convenient, and freeze it for for the winter. The puree can be used as a substitute for canned pumpkin, in any recipe.

5. Pumpkins as Dishes

You can clean a pumpkin well, cut it in half, and dry it for use as a serving bowl or a flower vase. You can also use a halved pumpkin to cook or bake other foods in.

6. Pumpkins for the Skin

Pumpkins contain anti-oxidants and alpha-hydroxy, which are said to be good for the skin. You can use pumpkin peels as facials, to combat or other skin problems.

7. Pumpkins for Children and Games

children’s drawing or carving contests. If your kids are too little to start carving yet, they can also decorate pumpkins with markers or paint – or even . Another use of a pumpkin is as a target for archery practice.

definitely don’t recommend any games that involve throwing pumpkins, nor using them as substitutes for soccer balls.

And, possibly even better, how about a cross between a Jack-O-Lantern, a Snow Man, and a Scare Crow? Your kids might have a great time making a Pumpkin Man – and it’s much better for them than watching TV.

8. Pumpkins as Ornaments

Pumpkins, gourds, and squash can be used to create candle holders, Thanksgiving centerpieces, and other ornaments.

9. Musical Pumpkins

Yes, that’s right, pumpkins make good musical instruments as well. Or, at least they can if you know how to make (and play) them. You can find a variety of ideas for instruments that can be made from gourds, squashes, and pumpkins. Although many musical instruments are made from gourds, one can easily imagine how a large or small pumpkin would do just as well in several cases.

10. Pumpkins Crafts

If you are an experienced craftsman or a devout hobbyist, you might try some more advanced and creative uses of pumpkins. You can make pumpkin leather like the American Indians did, or just settle with a simple pumpkin bird house.

As you can see, there’s really no need for pumpkins to go to waste, either before Halloween or afterwards.

During economic recessions, it’s not uncommon for people to have more time on their hands than they have money. Instead of letting extra pumpkins go to waste, these are a few ways you can stretch your grocery budget a bit further, invest some time in your health, get your kids away from the screen, and have some fun at the same time.

About the author: Megan Barlow helps others understand how to utilize existing resources in their lives, reduce waste, and adopt eco-friendly lifestyles. Find out more at her blogs, the Source and Resource website and the Build and Rebuild website.

Source Article: Uses of Pumpkins