Creative Essex - Crafts
Explore Essex
Explore Essex are excited to bring you some creative activities try at home. Our four crafts should allow you to get creative once a week throughout May. You can view them all here or watch our socials for a weekly release.
All of our crafts have been designed in hope that you can get creative with resources that you already have at home. They also have underlining links to national and international awareness weeks in addition to creative learning and education.
We hope you and your families enjoy getting involved. Share and tag us in your images of your exciting creations @exploressex @visitparks @cressingtemplebarns
1. Make your own compostable bottle
Create your own compostable bottle by following our step by step guide. You can see our creation process in the video below.
This activity helps us to celebrate 'international compost awareness week' an education initiative to improve awareness of the importance of compost, a valuable organic resource and to promote compost use, knowledge and products. This year it falls on the 3 - 9 May 2020
Why should you compost?
- You will be helping reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill
- It gives you an excellent organic, chemical-free fertiliser that will improve your soil’s condition, which your plants will love!
- You can see the entire cycle of how unappealing food and garden waste can be turned into something that is pleasant to handle, good for the soil and has a positive effect on the environment
- It is a tool that contributes towards reducing climate change.
Did you know? Composting at home for 1 year can save global warming gases equivalent to all the carbon dioxide (CO2) your kettle produces annually or your washing machine in 3 months (recyclenow.com).
All you need: 2L bottle, dirt (not potting soil), scissors, pin, plant scraps (deadplants or leaves), shredded paper and water.
2. Make your own pencil pot
Create your own pencil pot by following our step by step guide. You can see our creation process in the video below.
This activity is a fun homeschooling craft and also a great way to keep our offices and stationery tidy whilst we are at home.
As they say, a clear space creates a clear mind.
All you need: Toilet roll tube, cardboard, colouring pens, scissors, glue and paper
3. Make your own dreamcatcher
Create your own dreamcatcher by following our step by step guide. You can see our creation process in the video below.
This activity was chosen to help highlight 'Mental Health Awareness Week' UK's national week raising awareness of mental health and inspire action to promote the message of good mental health for all. This year this falls on 18-24 May 2020.
The dream catcher was created in order to link the mental health foundations theme of sleep. However they have now changed their theme in response to the current pandemic to Kindness.
We recognise that there still remains a link towards these themes, as through having at least 7 -9 hours sleep we can feel more positive, experience a better mood and improved interpersonal relationships.
We would like to think that this would lead to the sharing and giving more acts of kindness.
All you need: Cardboard, wool or string, scissors, pen and 2 circular items, one small one large.
4. Make your own T- shirt bag
Create your own bag by following our step by step guide. You can see our creation process in the video below.
It's recycled, reusable and free, what's not to love!
All you need: An old tshirt, a plate or circular item, a pen and scissors.
Check out all of our finished crafts. Don't forget to show us yours! Share and tag us in your images of your exciting creations @exploressex @visitparks @cressingtemplebarns
