Nature offers materials for kids’ craft projects

With school summer vacation in full swing, the days may be punctuated from time to time with the plaintive cries of “I’m bored!”

But boredom is only a state of mind and parents have only to look to the outdoors to find plenty of materials and ideas to keep the young ones occupied – and learning about Maine, the wonderful state they live in. Here are a few projects that may keep everyone happily occupied for one afternoon, at least.

These ideas were adapted from “Discover Maine Through Handicraft” by Emma J. MacDonald and Cynthia M. Ayer, published in 1974. The book is out of print, but may be available at public libraries. The book contains many interesting Maine-related craft projects that will keep hands and minds busy all year long.

. Take the kids out for a walk in the woods and collect a basket of pine cones. While you’re out there, gather some dried seedpods, weeds or other stuff from Mother Nature. When you get home, set the cones in small plant pots. Decorate the pine cones with the dried seedpods and other stuff you collected, and use it for a table centerpiece at an impromptu backyard gathering.

. Make a treasure box. If it’s still possible to obtain a cigar box, get one. If not, buy a small wooden box at a local craft store or department. Paint the box with washable craft paints and let it dry. Decorate the box with seashells, beach glass, flat stones or other materials glued to the box. Use it as a place to store summer treasures such as bird feathers, beach glass or pretty rocks.

. Make a lobster-shaped beanbag. You will need two pieces of red felt, two small circles of black felt for eyes and dried beans or peas for filling the beanbag. Fold a piece of paper in half and draw half of the general shape of a lobster along the fold. Cut out the shape, open it and use it for the beanbag pattern. Cut the lobster shape from the red felt. Sew the felt pieces together by machine or by hand, leaving an opening for pouring in the beans or peas. Sew the opening closed. Invent some lobster beanbag games to play with friends.

. Maine is famous for blueberries and they are available from the local grocery store in the frozen food section, or fresh from the field at many roadside stands and farmers markets in August. Strictly speaking, mixing up a batch of blueberry muffins isn’t a handcraft, but I see no reason the definition can’t be stretched a bit. In bowl, sift 2 cups flour, 3 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon salt. Add 1 egg, 3/4 cup milk (or water if you prefer) and 1/4 cup vegetable or olive oil. Stir enough to mix the ingredients together. Add the blueberries and stir them in. Spoon into greased muffin tins and bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Make a pot of tea or pitcher of lemonade and sit on the porch or back steps to eat your own good Maine cooking.

. Buy a package of index cards, or blank, unadorned greeting cards. Rummage through drawers and find scraps of paper of all different sorts – even newspaper. Cut tree, sailboat, lighthouse, canoe, animal or other shapes that suggest the Maine landscape to you. Cut the shapes small enough to fit on the card. Arrange the shapes in a design that pleases you and using a glue stick, fix the shapes to the card. Write a note to a friend or relative and mail it. (Yeah, I know, e-mail is a lot faster and way more hip, but a card like this is prettier and means a whole lot more to the one who receives it – especially to grammies like me.)

Snippets

. Project Linus can always use more cuddle blankets for kids in crisis. Finished quilts and blankets can be dropped off at the collection box at Jo-Ann Fabrics in Bangor. Visit www.projectlinus.org for information.

. Learn how about the art of gravestone rubbing at classes conducted the second Saturday of each month at Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor. Call Willow at 942-1910 for information.

. A reader is seeking a good home or homes for four large-ring binders full of vintage knitting magazines and individual knitting patterns. For details, give me a call at the number below.

Call Ardeana Hamlin at 990-8153, or e-mail ahamlin@bangordailynews.net.