fun, messy crafts for an 8 year old birthday party?
October 28, 2013 4:28 PM Subscribe
My girl is turning 8 and we're having her party at the local Michael's. Unfortunately the sales people there haven't been real helpful in terms of making recommendations for what crafts the girls can do; and I'm completely overwhelmed when I look on the Internets. So here's the question: what are some really fun crafts that can be done in an hour and a half, and are messy? (Because that's the whole point of having it at the store instead of in my house, right. Otherwise I'm wasting that $50.) Is marbling paper fun? Is tye-dying fun? What else haven't I thought of?
I guess these are the parameters:
*the craft should result in something the girls can take home as favors
*it should be able to be done in an hour and a half - no taking home to iron or bake or whatever
*it should require a minimum of adult involvement, because ain't nobody got time for that
Tell me what you crafty stuff you remember doing or that your kids have done that was really fun!
I guess these are the parameters:
*the craft should result in something the girls can take home as favors
*it should be able to be done in an hour and a half - no taking home to iron or bake or whatever
*it should require a minimum of adult involvement, because ain't nobody got time for that
Tell me what you crafty stuff you remember doing or that your kids have done that was really fun!
Tie-dying is very fun.
When I was a kid I really liked making sand art creatures (you filled bottles with various colored sands in different layers, tapping all the time to make sure it compacts, and then cork it and glue bits and bobs to the outside).
posted by vegartanipla at 4:40 PM on October 28, 2013
When I was a kid I really liked making sand art creatures (you filled bottles with various colored sands in different layers, tapping all the time to make sure it compacts, and then cork it and glue bits and bobs to the outside).
posted by vegartanipla at 4:40 PM on October 28, 2013
Best answer: Paper marbling can be fun but it's a little less.... social and engaging. It takes a lot more effort and thought than other crafts. Tie-dying is the best because you get clothes you can wear forever out of it. It's also gloriously messy, which I'm sure an 8-year-old would appreciate.
Tie-dye is 100x better if you know some of the different patterns. That site oddly doesn't actually have pictures of the finished products, but from personal experience their drawings are spot-on.
Also, if you do tie-dye, is it going to be with actual solutions (like soda ash) and good dye or just splashing Rit on things? Doing the whole (1) soda ash presoak (2) tie (3) dye (4) rest (5) wash process makes for perfect and awesome tie-dye, and is leagues above any shortcut methods.
But yes, tie dye. Do it. It's awesome. Don't doubt it for a second.
posted by soma lkzx at 4:41 PM on October 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Tie-dye is 100x better if you know some of the different patterns. That site oddly doesn't actually have pictures of the finished products, but from personal experience their drawings are spot-on.
Also, if you do tie-dye, is it going to be with actual solutions (like soda ash) and good dye or just splashing Rit on things? Doing the whole (1) soda ash presoak (2) tie (3) dye (4) rest (5) wash process makes for perfect and awesome tie-dye, and is leagues above any shortcut methods.
But yes, tie dye. Do it. It's awesome. Don't doubt it for a second.
posted by soma lkzx at 4:41 PM on October 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Tie-dye is super fun. I basically thought it was magic when I was that age. But keep in mind that you'll have to be transporting wet fabric somehow, as it won't dry within your timeframe.
Marbling paper is fun but a little finicky for most kids that age -- it's really easy to end up with mud. Also, it has the same problem as the tye-dye in that the oil-based inks you'd use won't necessarily dry fast enough.
My favorite crafty thing to do at that age was to paint my own tee shirts. I'd recommend buying some white shirts (or skirts, or tank dresses, or whatever) ahead of time, as the ones at the store might not be the right size.
White canvas sneakers are also SUPER FUN to decorate.
My sister and I had a grand old time decorating hats and wreaths with artificial flowers, sparkle-covered twirly sticks and other nonsense from the floral department. We used glue guns and wire -- it's up to you if you think these kids are okay with something they could burn themselves on. This would be especially great if you're close enough to Thanksgiving or Christmas to make a wreath or centerpiece or other decorative item that's appropriate for the holiday. The glittery flowers and branches and what not are the most fun and that glitter gets EVERYWHERE, so definitely worth doing outside your house. (Bonus: no burns or hot glue on your kitchen table.)
posted by Narrative Priorities at 4:42 PM on October 28, 2013
Marbling paper is fun but a little finicky for most kids that age -- it's really easy to end up with mud. Also, it has the same problem as the tye-dye in that the oil-based inks you'd use won't necessarily dry fast enough.
My favorite crafty thing to do at that age was to paint my own tee shirts. I'd recommend buying some white shirts (or skirts, or tank dresses, or whatever) ahead of time, as the ones at the store might not be the right size.
White canvas sneakers are also SUPER FUN to decorate.
My sister and I had a grand old time decorating hats and wreaths with artificial flowers, sparkle-covered twirly sticks and other nonsense from the floral department. We used glue guns and wire -- it's up to you if you think these kids are okay with something they could burn themselves on. This would be especially great if you're close enough to Thanksgiving or Christmas to make a wreath or centerpiece or other decorative item that's appropriate for the holiday. The glittery flowers and branches and what not are the most fun and that glitter gets EVERYWHERE, so definitely worth doing outside your house. (Bonus: no burns or hot glue on your kitchen table.)
posted by Narrative Priorities at 4:42 PM on October 28, 2013
Best answer: Ah, awesome, I found some somewhat less detailed tying patterns + finished result drawings. And plastic bags from the grocery store are tie-dye's best friend for transportation.
posted by soma lkzx at 4:45 PM on October 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by soma lkzx at 4:45 PM on October 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
Finger-painting!
Paper mache!
Messy fun, those are.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:53 PM on October 28, 2013
Paper mache!
Messy fun, those are.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:53 PM on October 28, 2013
Melt & pour soap (and/or bubble bath, bath soap, salt scrub, or lotion).
Shrinky-Dinks (if they have an oven).
Jewelry making.
Embellishing tote bags, t-shirts, notebooks, picture frames, trinket boxes, pillowcases, flip-flops, or water bottles.
posted by editorgrrl at 5:15 PM on October 28, 2013
Shrinky-Dinks (if they have an oven).
Jewelry making.
Embellishing tote bags, t-shirts, notebooks, picture frames, trinket boxes, pillowcases, flip-flops, or water bottles.
posted by editorgrrl at 5:15 PM on October 28, 2013
Best answer: As a kid I looooooved personalized boxes. I'd get some of the wooden ones and let them go to town with paint, glitter, gems, etc .
posted by brilliantine at 5:24 PM on October 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by brilliantine at 5:24 PM on October 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Definitely tie-dye. As a former eight-year-old girl who did a heck of a lot of tie-dye at summer camp with a bunch of other eight year old girls, it is literally the most fun thing in the world at that age. As a former camp *counselor*, it is helpful (if possible) to have more than one item for each kid to dye, to minimize "what if I screw up my one chance at this magic" meltdowns. More than one shirt is likely overkill, but a whole bunch of soccer socks maximizes the DYE ALL THE THINGS fun.
posted by pemberkins at 5:47 PM on October 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by pemberkins at 5:47 PM on October 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Making Goo is fun, too.
For one person's worth:
(Solution 1) 1/2 tsp borax (washing soda) dissolved into 1/2 cup water
(Solution 2) 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup elmer's glue, food coloring
Mix (solution 1) into (solution 2). Stir until it gets gloopy. Then take the bloop out of the extra water and squish it around and it will dry out so it's not tacky. Then you can stretch it and break it and make it into balls and...
This quantity of Goo fits nicely into a snack-size ziploc bag.
---
Coloring small fabric bags with fabric markers is good too, albeit not as messy.
posted by leahwrenn at 9:15 PM on October 28, 2013
For one person's worth:
(Solution 1) 1/2 tsp borax (washing soda) dissolved into 1/2 cup water
(Solution 2) 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup elmer's glue, food coloring
Mix (solution 1) into (solution 2). Stir until it gets gloopy. Then take the bloop out of the extra water and squish it around and it will dry out so it's not tacky. Then you can stretch it and break it and make it into balls and...
This quantity of Goo fits nicely into a snack-size ziploc bag.
---
Coloring small fabric bags with fabric markers is good too, albeit not as messy.
posted by leahwrenn at 9:15 PM on October 28, 2013
Best answer: We just went to a birthday party that did tie dying out on their driveway with squirt bottles of dye. This was the Dharma Trading Company style tie dye, with real dye and fixatives and so on. They pre-treated the cloth ahead of time, gave the kids wet silk scarves or t shirts, let them at it with gloves, rubber bands, and dye. Then they put the cloth in sealed plastic bags labeled with the kids' names, washed and treated them, and delivered them to each kid's house later in the week.
Pros: Beautiful results! Fun activity for the kids. Something to remember the party by.
Cons: at least slightly dangerous chemicals with small kids. A LOT of work ahead of time to pretreat and after to wash, post-treat, and then deliver the items. Very messy kids, coming home from the party splashed with permanent dye. (Protip: if you have hippie friends, check to be sure they're not going to be freaked out by the kids using the dyes.)
posted by instamatic at 2:38 AM on October 29, 2013
Pros: Beautiful results! Fun activity for the kids. Something to remember the party by.
Cons: at least slightly dangerous chemicals with small kids. A LOT of work ahead of time to pretreat and after to wash, post-treat, and then deliver the items. Very messy kids, coming home from the party splashed with permanent dye. (Protip: if you have hippie friends, check to be sure they're not going to be freaked out by the kids using the dyes.)
posted by instamatic at 2:38 AM on October 29, 2013
Best answer: Masks--the half-face kind that just cover the eyes. Add feathers, glitter, jewels, sequins.
posted by Elsie at 5:02 AM on October 29, 2013
posted by Elsie at 5:02 AM on October 29, 2013
Best answer: Questions to ask yourself before committing to tie-dying: Do you have the room for a bunch of wet tie-dyed t-shirts to hang around at home until they dry? How are you going to get a bunch of wet stuff home in the first place? Or are you going to send wet things home with the kids at the end of the party? If so, how? Maybe provide hangers and a garbage bag to slip over (might work well, actually)? Will there be smocks, aprons and gloves available, or do you have to provide those? (Some kids might show up in nice "party clothes".)
As fun as the tie-dying was, I regret my decision to do this when my daughter was a kidlet.
My advice is to stick with something that can go home immediately.
We once had a party where we made some kind of kit-based "stained glass" ornaments/window sun-catchers. Messy, but small enough that they dried enough during the cake and presents portion of the party that each kid could take hers home right away.
My 8-year-old niece is seriously into the Rainbow Loom. Not messy at all, so maybe not what you're looking for, but could be fun to have a HUGE selection of rubber bands available - more than what the girls have at home already.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:25 AM on October 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
As fun as the tie-dying was, I regret my decision to do this when my daughter was a kidlet.
My advice is to stick with something that can go home immediately.
We once had a party where we made some kind of kit-based "stained glass" ornaments/window sun-catchers. Messy, but small enough that they dried enough during the cake and presents portion of the party that each kid could take hers home right away.
My 8-year-old niece is seriously into the Rainbow Loom. Not messy at all, so maybe not what you're looking for, but could be fun to have a HUGE selection of rubber bands available - more than what the girls have at home already.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:25 AM on October 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
Here is a GREAT-short tie-dye tutorial which has both pictures of the ties and a video! This is a cool tie-dye shirt that 8 year-old kids at your party could definitely make.
If you have enough time and can get the kids to bring some white tights (or socks), you could also tie-dye those. Now they have a comfy tie-dye shirt, which depending on where you live they may not be able to wear so much right now (Summer shirt) AND warm winter tights suitable for Fall and the coming Winter.
posted by misha at 8:59 AM on October 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you have enough time and can get the kids to bring some white tights (or socks), you could also tie-dye those. Now they have a comfy tie-dye shirt, which depending on where you live they may not be able to wear so much right now (Summer shirt) AND warm winter tights suitable for Fall and the coming Winter.
posted by misha at 8:59 AM on October 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You could also do melted bead sun catchers,if you bring (or they have) a toaster oven there. To my mind, they are much better, longer lasting, than the color-in sun catchers, and cheaper to make. You can use small embroidery hoops or frames and cheap pony beads. (The sugar skulls on that page are my favorites, and I know they have those skulls at Michael's because I painted and decoupaged one for Halloween to hang on our door). Pic.
posted by misha at 9:28 AM on October 29, 2013
posted by misha at 9:28 AM on October 29, 2013
Came in to recommend Rainbow Loom also - my 9 year old is obsessed with it as are all her friends.
posted by mazienh at 4:54 PM on October 29, 2013
posted by mazienh at 4:54 PM on October 29, 2013
Watch this video for slime / goo (as commented above). I've found you don't actually need to drain the excess water - just keep stirring.
True awesomeness comes from adding glitter to the mix.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 2:21 AM on October 30, 2013
True awesomeness comes from adding glitter to the mix.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 2:21 AM on October 30, 2013
Oh my gosh, as a Mom who thinks the messy craft idea is great fun for the store and would have no problem with my kid bringing home tie-dye in a bag for me to just run quickly through the wash--
The idea of glitter-filled Goop in my home fills me with remembered terrors. Please consider the sticky carpets, floors and rugs flecked with glitter-Goo and maybe give that one a pass?
posted by misha at 11:08 AM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
The idea of glitter-filled Goop in my home fills me with remembered terrors. Please consider the sticky carpets, floors and rugs flecked with glitter-Goo and maybe give that one a pass?
posted by misha at 11:08 AM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
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Or t-shirts, fabric markers and glitter paint. Pretty much any craft that involves glitter paint. Kids love it. It is a horrific mess to clean up at home: have them decorate treasure boxes or jewelry boxes.
What about decorating butterfly wings?
Or making magic wands?
Or crowns?
posted by LittleMy at 4:36 PM on October 28, 2013 [1 favorite]