Get Crafty This Summer!

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When school finishes for summer break, it feels like there is so much to do. Endless hours with friends and fun in the sun. Even though it seems like every minute will be filled with activities, people tend to resort to technology. Instead of spending time outside, they will be isolated on their iPhones. To stop yourself from wasting the summer away, we have some fun activities you should try. Crafts are a perfect way to spend your time and stay offline.

One activity to do is making patchwork clothing from old items. While this does require basic sewing skills, it is an easy way to recycle fabric. You can make patchwork hoodies, t-shirts, tank tops, etc. All you need is a needle, thread, extra fabric, and the piece of clothing you want to change. Tutorials can be easily found online, along with inspiration for your next project. Below, we have listed both tutorials and pictures for this fun craft.

In addition to making patchwork designs, embroidery is a fun way to rejuvenate old clothing. This activity is more difficult and requires an embroidery hoop to keep the fabric taught. In addition to the hoop, you should also have embroidery floss. If you are feeling fancy, bead embroidery is also very cool! Instead of embroidery floss, you need basic thread and small beads. Instead of filling in the area with color from strings, you fill everything in with beaded color. A helpful tool to make any type of embroidery easier is embroidery transfer paper, but it is not needed for basic designs.

On a side note, buttons can also be a lot of fun when modifying clothing. They add unique whimsy to anything and are easy to sew on. Button collections can also become a fun pastime due to the varied sizes, shapes, and colors of buttons. Whether you have a large or small collection, the buttons can be used for practical or ornamental purposes. Large bags of buttons can be found anywhere online or in any crafts store.

If sewing is not your thing, string bracelets are a fun way to pass time. They use the same embroidery floss mentioned earlier and can be easily attached to water bottles on the go. Designs range in difficulty, so this activity is for everyone. Different patterns can be found on social media apps or on braceletbook.com. Making bracelets also helps fine motor skills and hand coordination. Bracelets also don’t take up too much attention, so they can be done when and wherever.

Another activity that helps with fine motor skills is crocheting. Crocheting requires yarn and a crochet hook. This task can be a little more difficult than the others, but it is a fun hobby to learn. Similarly to string bracelets, there are different levels of crocheting. If you want to learn how to crochet but can’t find a tutorial that works for you, join the crochet club next year. The crochet club hopes to debut next year, but there are no guarantees.

Something easier than crocheting, sewing, or making string bracelets is creating beaded keychains. All you need is stretchy elastic and small colored beads in order to make adorable keychains for anything. There are patterns for these keychains easily accessible online, and inspiration is just a quick Google search away. Animals make amazing keychains for cute additions to a backpack.

Lastly, model magic can be a fun activity for someone who isn’t the most crafty. Plain white model magic can be turned any color with a marker or paint. Once again, inspiration can be found quickly online. Once you have an idea of what you want to create, the fun becomes endless. Even if you mess up, all you have to do is peel off that piece of model magic or squish it back together to sculpt it. When you are satisfied with your creation, all it needs to do is air-dry until firm. Model magic can be purchased at your local craft store, such as Hobby Lobby or Michaels.

Overall, if you’re looking to get off your phone and have an engaging summer, these activities are perfect. While many of them will need a device for inspiration or for a tutorial, once you get the hang of the craft, they are easily done offline. Feel free to try out all of these activities and enjoy a phone-free summer!

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