School holidays start to drag after a few weeks and we seem to be at that point – sadly! Here in Australia our kids go on holidays for the “Summer holidays” in December and go back to school at the end of January so my kids have about 6 weeks off.
The weeks before Christmas seem to always be fine. There are lots to do to get ready for Christmas so we keep busy with shopping and planning, plus they kids need some rest time after the big year of school. But now, in mid-January, they seem to have run out of ideas and every day I have to discuss time limits on electronic devices and make suggestions after claims of “I’m bored!”. Even the excitement of visiting my new workplace seems to have worn off after a few days and I’m struggling to keep my 8-year-old boy amused!
Thank goodness for crafty gifts!
Back in early December I received a fabulous sample box from CleverPatch including all kinds of crafty goodies for the kids and I to play with. Just browsing their catalogues is fun!
So when my Little Miss (10) was restless one afternoon I told her she could use anything she found in the box. This pretty star dish was the resulting project!
What You Need
- Porcelain Star dish – or use any porcelain dish you might have on hand
- Porcelain and Glass Markers – you can buy them individually or as a set, easy to use and mess free
- Oven to bake them when done
What To Do
- Wash your dish in warm soapy water and dry completely.
- Set up an area to work on a flat surface with a drop sheet or paper to protect from paint drips.
- Think about your design before you start – maybe even draw it on a piece of paper to practice first.
- Shake pens really well then just draw on your dish. You may need to push the pen tips gently onto a piece of paper to get the paint flowing the first time.
- Take your time and remember you can always wash it all off and start again if you’re not happy.
- When you’re finished, let your dish dry for 24 hours. Then bake in an oven heated to 160C for 90 minutes. This will set the paint and make your dish washable – even in your dishwasher!
More Tips
- Put lids back on your pens straight away so they don’t dry out.
- Store pens lying flat rather than standing on end.
- You could write a message on a plate or draw a picture as a gift for someone special.
- Grab a plain mug or cup and add your own art.
- Make a birthday plate.
- These pens also draw on glass – more ideas to come!
More about the CleverPatch site:
The site is huge and has so many options. I was amazed that I hadn’t come across them before. There are lots of discounts for buying multiple items – great for teachers or kids group leaders – but they also have really reasonable prices for parents to shop. I’m sure I’ll be shopping there this year so watch for more projects. Check out their blog for more ideas.
