By Theanette Holmes, Oldfield Sports Club March is National Craft Month and it is almost upon us! If you are a crafter like me you couldn’t be more excited. I live for rolling up my sleeves, getting my hands messy and creating something beautiful. However, I know crafting can be daunting and downright scary to some. The idea of paint on clothes and glitter, well…EVERYWHERE, is enough to give some Moms hives. But with a little organization crafting can be easy, fun and mess-free for the entire family! Here are some tools I use when crafting at home with more than one child: 1)      Pick an idea they love! When the craft is something your child is completely “in to,” not only will they be super excited but they will also stay on task! Pick a craft that not only seems feasible and age/skill level compatible, but one that also will pique the interests of your entire group. Something that will make your kids’ hearts and imaginations soar! 2)     Pinterest. Don’t know where to find a craft they will love? Browse Pinterest! When I have no more original ideas left in me or when I just need to be inspired to sprout some more, I always turn to Pinterest. It’s not just for preschoolers! There are millions of ideas out there for crafts for every age group from toddler to adult, and for every subject area. Yes, some pins are over the top but there are several very practical and cool ideas out there waiting for you! 3)     Use found materials. You don’t need to spend a ton of money on materials to use for crafting. In fact, you may not have to buy anything at all. Look around the house at things that are not being used and can be repurposed. Paint, Playdough and even glue can be made with basic kitchen ingredients! Check Pinterest for recipes! Also many “trash” items can be recycled into material for art.  Let your children look at things you’re planning to throw away and challenge them to think of another use for it! This helps teach your child about those three Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle; cuts down on clutter; and leaves you with a beautiful end result. 4)     Organize your materials. Once you pick a craft the best mess preventative is to get your materials organized. I usually take a bin and put all of the materials that will be used for a particular craft in that bin so I don’t have to waste time searching for, say canary yellow paint or circle sponges, while my child is crafting. The better organized I am the more smoothly the craft will go. When I don’t have to turn my back to search for something we need I can keep my eyes on the crafting at hand and help prevent potential disasters. 5)     Baggy Up. Once I have my craft and my materials, I will look at what pieces are needed for each individual to complete their craft and then put the appropriate number of pieces in a plastic baggy for each child. So, if we are making a Leprechaun who needs a Hat, beard, head, body and shamrock, I will precut those pieces and each child will get a baggy including those five things. This helps me ensure I have enough for every child and makes assembly a breeze. 6)     Have Fun! There is nothing more fun than creating something together. It doesn’t need to look perfect or really like anything at all for that matter. The experience you will have making something together will be what makes it all worth it in the end. So have fun together get silly, take pictures and craft a lasting memory! Want to try crafting something with your family for National Craft Month? Send us a picture of your end result and I will post it on the Sports Club Bulletin Board! Happy Crafting!