Halloween is almost here! For any parents who have the horrors over mask-making, teacher, mum-of-three and avid crafter, Shannon Wong, shares her top tips for getting hands-on.
1. Comfort zone
My number one tip for parents who don’t feel so confident about getting crafty with their children is to always work within your comfort zone. Keep it simple to avoid stress and minimise mess.
2. Tool kit
You don’t need hundreds of felt tips and heaps of glue, glitter and paper. Choose a few key materials that are easy to use and low on mess. The basics are: coloured card, coloured pens or paint markers, string and a stapler. I have just discovered Pintor Paint Markers and I love them for their fantastic colours and ease-of-use – you can use them on anything. We used them on paper, terracotta and rocks. They can make any artwork look fantastic and kids love them. Place them in a container or tray to stop them rolling off the table and for easy grabability!
3. Don’t be scary
Halloween can be a tricky celebration as sometimes the imagery can be scary, especially for young children. Opt for bright colours and simple designs that spark kids’ imaginations without being frightening.
4. Get help
When you’re busy juggling work and family, the last thing you need is to conjure up craft projects, especially if it’s not your thing. There are plenty of resources out there – just hop online. I have developed two easy craft activities that I am sharing on my Instagram page @ohcreativeday. The Mix and Match Monster Mask contains different features that children can colour and glue onto their mask base to create their own design; and the Pintor Pumpkin Patch Mask comes in a variety of sizes. You can transform it into a colourful mask or cut out the smaller pieces to decorate trick or treat bags.
To download Shannon’s Halloween templates, go to pilotpen.com.au
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