Kids Craft: American Flags

I help out at a home for mentally challenged adults.

One of the things I do is occasionally teach craft classes.

 While everyone here is an adult, because of their mental development, kids crafts are often best for their enjoyment.

With Independence day coming up and the potential to attend the town parade I thought it would be fun to help the clients here make some flags they can take with them if they want.
This is also partially inspired by the Iron Craft "red, white and blue" theme for this round.

My example for the participants to follow

One of the things I did to prepare was use a star shaped hole punch to cut out a bunch of white stars. Alternatively, you could have your participants draw stars on white paper and cut them out.

Next I took red sheets of construction paper and cut them in half. Each sheet was big enough for two flags.

I gathered the stars, red rectangles, some blue construction paper, white construction paper (or card stock), glue sticks, scissors and thin wooden skewers for the craft class.

(I snipped the pointed ends off the skewers to minimize accidental injuries.)

I had everyone cut out a small square of blue construction paper and glue it to the upper left corner of the red rectangles.

Crafting should be a bit messy!

Next they cut strips of white paper to glue on for the stripes.

To finish the flag they glued on the stars.

Even more messy and that's what makes it fun!

In order to make them wave-able they cut out a rectangle of construction paper and after putting glue on the paper they laid the skewer down the middle of it and then placed on the back of the flag.

Let them lay flat to dry.

Now take to your local parade or stick in your pencil cup or indoor plant! 

A couple of the finished flags

Red, White and a Little Blue

In case you hadn't noticed, it's that time when red, white and blue get very common in America.

For Iron Craft we were challenged to make something with some combination of those three colors. 

 At first I came up with an idea that would use red and white gingham.

But I dug through my fabric stash and found none...

Since I'm trying to save and make money I opted to see what else I had.

 I found red fabric with random white polka-dots. 

 My first thought there was it would make a great skirt for a little girl.

No little ones in my life to make for...

Hmmm

Then I had the idea of a bow-tie.

Bow-ties are cool!

So I cut a long thin strip and sewed the sides together then folded it over to make a bow.

I used dark blue ribbon to tie around the center and to hold a strip of red ribbon to the back. 

Added some velcro to the ends and proceeded to harass my cat. :)

Common, that's just cute!

A red with white polka-dots bow-tie on a cat that is black with a couple white spots.

He felt it was pretty stupid but behaved and let me have my photoshoot.

He got a couple treats for his patience so it all worked out.

My first attempt at the bow ended up too small so I made another and made them to be bought. My thoughts were bows for dogs hair (if you want your own dose of cute) but they could work for a human girl also. I made them on ponytail holders.

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