This is an easy idea for all ages. I used it for our Adult Take & Make program. It might also work well during the summer months as an in-person program.
I used the Cricut for this project. I’ve included a jpg version that can be uploaded to Cricut Design Space. I didn’t realize what a wobbly job I do at hand tracing until watching the Cricut cut out something I’ve uploaded. 🙂
Berryville Public Library offers an Adult Take & Make program. We provide a set number of kits on the 3rd Monday of each month. This is one our most popular programs. A free kit to complete at your leisure!
The goal is to give patrons an opportunity to try something new. We provide the supplies that a maker might not readily have on hand but assume that they’d have access to some of the more basic supplies.
It can be challenging to come up with ideas month after month. I’m always looking for inspiration. Whether that be on Pinterest, magazines, or just something I’m personally interested in.
I want to share some of our past Take & Makes as another resource for fellow librarians. (And anyone looking for bulk affordable making kit ideas!)
Berryville Public Library offers an Adult Take & Make program. We provide a set number of kits on the 3rd Monday of each month. This is one our most popular programs. A free kit to complete at your leisure!
The goal is to give patrons an opportunity to try something new. We provide the supplies that a maker might not readily have on hand but assume that they’d have access to some of the more basic supplies.
It can be challenging to come up with ideas month after month. I’m always looking for inspiration. Whether that be on Pinterest, magazines, or just something I’m personally interested in.
I want to share some of our past Take & Makes as another resource for fellow librarians. (And anyone looking for bulk affordable making kit ideas!)
Copy the larger donut shapes onto the color of paper you would like for your donuts. Copy the small ring shape onto colorful paper for your icing colors.
Use the scraps from the icing colors to cut sprinkles.
Cut out donut and icing shapes. Cut out center circles for the donut hole.
Use a hole punch to add holes to the donuts and string for garland.
The Bus Driver’s hat was made using the Paper Visor Template from firstpalette. Firstpalette has a number of useful (and free) templates. It’s one of my favorite resources.
Copy the paper visor template onto black paper and cut out.
Copy the top part of the hat onto the desired color of paper.
I love crafting for Mo Willems’ books! This time using the illustrations from Pigs Make Me Sneeze, we made Doctor Cat.
Copy Doctor Cat’s body on orange cardstock and cut out. Copy the stethoscope on green paper and cut out. I used a 1 inch circle punch for the gray part of the stethoscope. Cut out thermometers.
Our library also has a Bilingual Storytime! This month they read Chancho el Pug by Aaron Blabey.
Out of context, this pug looks extra creepy (his body looks like a gray chicken). I decided not to add the teeth. I thought it would make things even worse. 🙂
Copy the pug’s body on gray paper and cut out.
Print the mouth and ears on white paper and cut out.
I used 3 sizes of circle punches for the eyes and layered them.
I printed a generic ball image from the internet and colored it.
I freehanded the nose by cutting a triangle from black paper and drawing on the nostrils.
We revisited a favorite Storytime book, Chicks Run Wild by Sudipita Bardhan Quallen.
I saw this craft on Pinterest and thought it would be a great fit for this book. The craft is linked to TMACSKY but I just watched the video on Pinterest and made the craft from that.
I used a large circle punch (3.5 inches) and punched out white circles. Fold them in half and cut out small triangles across the center but not too close to the edge.
I free handed the beak and feather tuft. I used a heart punch for the wings.
Glue all pieces together and add googly eyes. The chickens will actually rock side to side.
Next up, another Bilingual Storytime tie in, Dragones y Tacos by Adam Rubin.
I think I had too much with this craft. Originally I had planned for the dragon to be sitting up but it’s easier to make the craft as a side profile and this was the final result.
We used a craft roll as the base for the body of the dragon.
Copy the dragon body and tail on to desired color of paper and cut out. (The template is in red but I copied it on to various colors and the scales looked fine on any color). I used a contrasting color of paper for the wings and belly.
Fortunately, I have a tiny heart punch! But if you don’t, you could use stickers or even draw on hearts with a marker. Add googly eyes and draw on a mouth.
I used some patterned scrapbook paper for the triangle/gnome hat and heart doily for the beard/face. For the nose, I used foam heart stickers. Glue gnome on a folded piece of colored paper. It’s a super quick and easy card.
We made a treasure map to tie in with a themed storytime.
I found an image of a blank map and printed it on ivory paper. I used free images from Canva for the symbols. I drew waves, palm trees, etc with markers.
I have done a craft for the Little Red Hen in the past. This time I was inspired to do something different. I envisioned the children as being a helper to the Little Red Hen.
To make the apron, you will need 2 pieces of card stock.
For the piece that will be have the pocket, round all 4 corners and punch holes in 2 corners. For tall/bib piece, round the top 2 corners and punch holes. Position 2 pieces of card stock together in a “T” shape and glue together.
I used patterned scrapbook paper for the pocket. Template is included.
Copy the chef’s hat template on to white card stock and cut out. Cut out 2 additional strips for the headband.
Copy the wooden spoons on to brown or Kraft cad stock and cut out.
This month I was inspired by other talented crafters! I only had to think of one original craft.
I might be a little bit obsessed with Paper Magic Reny! (Follow her @paper_magic_reny on Instagram for amazing craft ideas.) Paper Magic Reny shared an idea for a snowman made from snowflakes. I modified that slightly to make the snowman using coffee filters. Making snowflakes from coffee filters is easy for younger children (that can use scissors). Fold the coffee filter, my co-worker had a method for symmetry but I just fold them in half and half again. To make one snowflake smaller, trim the outer edge after you have it folded.
(Smaller/trimmed coffee filter on the right.)
Next use scissors to cut out a design. I also used a cupcake liner for the smallest snowflake.
Using a large piece of paper as your background, glue on the coffee filter snowflakes to make your snowman.
We have a lot of white dot stickers at our disposal and I added those for additional snow falling. I used a circle punch for the mouth and buttons.
I saw a few variations of this ice skate craft on Pinterest. I did make my own template for this craft but it is not a craft that I came up with.
Copy the ice skate template on to paper of your choice. For speedier cutting, this template can be folded in half and cut out. Then you only have to cut the skates apart in the center.
My life motto seems to be how can I make this harder? 😛 I found a really cute Christmas countdown that I modified, to make more complicated! I did not design the beard with the numbers but I did make templates to add some layers to the craft.
Copy the mustache and trim for the hat on to white paper and cut out. Copy the hat shape on to red paper and cut out. I used a circle punch for the nose and the pom pom for the hat. I colored Santa’s face with colored pencils. Glue all the parts to the paper with the numbered beard. Use whatever method you prefer to fill in circles as Christmas nears.
Another craft idea from Paper Magic Reny! Hot Chocolate Mugs!
I cut two wide strips of patterned paper and glued them together. I cut two narrow strips of patterned paper and glue them together. Fold the ends of the narrow strip like show to make a handle. Glue the wide strips into a tube shape and glue on handle. I used a circle punch for the eyes and nose. I free hand cut the mouth.
First Palette has many free templates that I have used for different crafts over the years.