21 minute read
Frugal and easy crafts to do with stuff you have in your home
No need to go out and buy expensive kits to get creative with your kids
By Klynne Brinas
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Keeping kids entertained with crafts can get expensive. So, I’ve put together a list of crafts you can do using stuff you (probably) already have at home.
ORIGAMI
Our go-to craft on a rainy-day-in is origami. Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes or figures.
You can use whatever paper you have on hand. There are a lot of tutorials on how to make origami on the internet. Search for a video tutorial on YouTube so you can follow step-by-step and have the option to pause whenever needed.
We make our origami crafts unique by drawing doodles on our plain white copy paper before making them into origami pieces.
DIY PHONE SPEAKER
No need to buy that fancy Bluetooth speaker for your phone! Here’s how to DIY it.
You will need 2 paper or plastic disposable cups and a cardboard toilet paper roll. If you want to make this for your tablet, use a paper towel roll instead. In the middle of the cardboard toilet paper roll cut an opening that will fit the bottom of your phone vertically.
On the side of each cup, cut a hole that will fit each end of the toilet paper roll. Attach each end of the toilet paper roll into the cups with the cut-out side, you made earlier, facing upwards. Then decorate your speaker however you want.
Turn on the music and put your phone in the toilet paper roll to hold it in place. Now let’s dance!
SECRET MESSAGE
Secret messages are so much fun to make and pass around!
Squeeze into a container the juice of a lemon. Dip a cotton bud in the lemon juice and use it like a pen to write your message on a white piece of paper. Let the secret ink dry for a couple of minutes.
To unlock the hidden message, the recipient must put the paper close to a heat source. Make sure to have an adult supervise! You can use a candle or even try heating up the paper on the stove using a dry non-stick frying pan, or in the microwave.
ACID AND BASE EXPERIMENT
This is a great experiment for middle schoolers that are just learning about acids and bases.
Did you know that you can make your own acid/base indicator using red cabbage? No need for pH paper!
Make sure to have an adult supervise! Chop up a quarter of a red cabbage, place in a saucepan, and add enough water to cover the cabbage. Cook the mixture over low-medium heat long enough for the water to absorb the pigment from the cabbage, which will be about 15-20 minutes. After that, strain the mixture and discard the cabbage.
Place about a tablespoon of the resulting liquid in several clear containers. I recommend using clear plastic disposable mini cups or clear shot glasses. Add about a teaspoon of any liquid you want to test. Consider testing bleach, juice, pop, vinegar, hot sauce, and window cleaner. Any liquid that turns the indicator liquid red is an acid, and any liquid that turns it blue is a base.
Did you find more acids or bases at home?
LOOK MA, NO HANDS!
Challenge someone into crushing an empty can of pop without using their hands.
This is how you win this challenge: Prepare an ice bath by placing a generous amount of ice in a bowl that will fit the can of pop. Then fill up the container with water halfway.
Add a small amount of water into the empty pop can, just enough to cover the bottom of the can. Heat up the pop can on the stove top by placing it on top of a frying pan. Make sure to have an adult supervise! Once you see steam coming out of the can or hear the water boiling, use a pair of tongs, to pick up the can and place it upside down in the ice bath. Watch the can crush on its own!
ROCK CANDY
After all that crafting and experimenting, I’m sure you’ll be craving something sweet. Let’s make some rock candies! Make sure to have an adult supervise.
Combine equal parts of water and sugar in a saucepan and heat until all the sugar is dissolved. Then slowly add more sugar into the saucepan, while mixing, until the sugar will no longer dissolve in the water. The water will start to look cloudy at this point. The amount of sugar to water should roughly be about 3:1. Add flavoring and coloring to your liking at this point, if available. Once the sugar solution is slightly cool, place in a clear glass jar. We used canning jars to easily observe the crystal formation.
Dip wooden skewers into water then roll them in sugar and set aside to dry. Once the skewers are dry, dip them into the sugar solution in the glass jar. Make sure that the skewers are not touching the bottom or the sides of the jar. We used clothes pins to hold the skewers in place. You can also use pipe cleaners to keep the skewers in place, too.
Now here’s where lots of patience is needed. It will take about a week for the candy to look like the storebought rock candy your kids are used to. However, it is so much fun checking out the experiment daily and watching more and more sugar crystals form!
Now what are you waiting for? Let’s get crafting!
Kids Art Parties
Book your next pARTy at Vin Gogh Paint Studio. We do a variety of creative parties for kids. In-studio or mobile. Create fun art and memories! • www.vingogh.ca www.vingogh.ca • (403) 475-4644 • info@vingogh.ca
Fueled by strong coffee and a Gemini personality, Klynne shares ideas on living a minimal organized life full of adventures. For creative ideas on how to elevate frugal to luxury, visit thisfamilylifewelive.com. Tag her on Instagram to share your crafts at @thisfamilylifewelive! CCM
calgary's child calendar
APRIL
April 9 to May 28; Skooby Doob and the Haunted Race Track at Jubilations Dinner Theatre! A production written for kids, and a meal designed with kids in mind! Join us for a fun-filled morning of laughter, music and food! Visit jubilations.ca for more information and tickets.
April 9 to 10, 10am to 4pm; Aggie Days at the Calgary Stampede Strap on your cowboy boots and head on down to the Nutrien Western Event Centre and enjoy visiting the farm without even leaving the city. The event will include interactive agriculture activities, which could include cow milking, sheep shearing, farm animals, corn maze, and much more. Visit ag.calgarystampede.com for more information.
April 13; Heritage Park’s Dinner & A Movie: Crazy Rich Asians Enjoy the perfect date night out! Dine on a delicious, three-course, movie-themed dinner in the Selkirk Grille before settling in to watch a film in Gasoline Alley Museum. Visit heritagepark.ca for more information.
April 13 to May 1; Kim's Convenience at Alberta Theatre Projects Come check out the hit Canadian play by Ins Choi that inspired the TV show. A family-friendly production (suggested for ages 14 plus) or a perfect parents date night out! Visit albertatheatreprojects.com for more information and tickets.
April 15 to April 18, 9am to 5pm; Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo’s Easter Eggstravaganza This renowned event is back with family-friendly fun designed to help you say “goodbye” to winter and “hello” to the warmer weather! Activities include a virtual egg hunt, prizes, photo ops and more. Visit calgaryzoo.com for more information.
April 15 to 23; The Wind in the Willows at the Pumphouse Theatre Based on Kenneth Grahame’s best-selling classic of children’s literature, and with a book by Oscar-winning screenwriter and Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and songs by Olivier Award-winning composers and lyricists George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, The Wind in the Willows is a wild, thrill-seeking tale about what it truly means to be a friend. Visit untoldstoriestheatre.com for more information and tickets.
April 16 to May 8; Butterfield Acres Barnyard Baby Days Good times to remember forever with all spring cuties (lambs, goats, bunnies, cows, piglets, chicks) and other fun experiences including lots of cute spring photo ops, the opportunity to see and bottle feed spring babies, and some heart-warming up-close moments with some favorite farm animals. Tickets are required. Visit butterfieldacres.com for more information.
April 21 to 24; The Calgary Comics & Entertainment Expo at Stampede Park Attendees can shop hundreds of vendors and exhibitors, check out panels and workshops, meet their favorite stars and creators, and celebrate what makes them geeky with thousands of other fans in cosplay. There is something for every fan at Calgary Expo, and fun for all ages! Visit fanexpohq.com for tickets and more information. April 22 to June 4; Storybook Theatre’s SpongeBob the Musical. Adapted from the iconic Nickelodeon series. SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy, Squidward and all of Bikini Bottom face total annihilation – until a most unexpected hero rises to take center stage. For more information and to buy tickets, visit storybooktheatre.org
April 23, 1 to 2:30pm; Fort Calgary’s Stories and S’mores Gather around a roaring fire for family-friendly tales from the lands we now call Fort Calgary. Storyteller Nicole Henbrey will share the fascinating histories of some of the different people who lived on this very site. Along with true stories to excite your imagination, they’ll provide everything you need to make the perfect s’more over an open fire. Visit fortcalgary.com for more information.
April 24, 3pm; Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra’s Peter and the Wolf In Sergei Prokofiev’s imaginative classic, Peter and his animal friends try to capture a wolf lurking near the village. A delightful introduction to the orchestra, the instruments are characters in this narrated story. Visit calgaryphil.com for tickets and more information.
April 29, 30 and May 1; The Wildlife Festival Presented by YYC Nature and Education Centre at the Nutrien Event Centre, Stampede Park. Meet a wallaby, alligator, armadillo and more! Admission $18 at the door. Email yycnaturecentre@gmail.com for more information.
April 30 to May 1; Spring Calgary Baby and Tot Show A fun, family-friendly two-day consumer trade show with everything for bump, baby, and beyond all under one roof. Come out and support local businesses and artisans. There’s everything from services and shopping to educational seminars and family entertainment. Visit calgarybabyshow.com for tickets and more information.
MAY
Opening May 1; Bow Habitat Kids Can Catch Trout Pond The Bow Habitat Station’s Kids Can Catch Trout Pond is open for the season. This pond is stocked with rainbow trout raised in the fish hatchery for you to catch and release. Visit bowhabitat.alberta.ca for more information. Beginning in May; Dinosaurs Awakened. Get ready to marvel at the sights and sounds of these magnificent life-like creatures and see for yourself what Alberta might have looked like when dinosaurs reigned supreme. For more information visit calgaryzoo.com.
May 6 to May 7; Spring Fling by MarketSquare This event is paired with the Okotoks Trade and Lifestyle show. Come celebrate and support local artists, artisans, and the business community. There will be 250 plus vendors under one roof. Visit themarketsquare.ca for tickets and more information. bringing in money that they use throughout the year to support school and community programs and provide free books and literacy resources to children and families across Alberta. Visit calgaryreads.com for more information.
May 7, from 10am to 3pm; Mini Golf for Big Hearts Charity Classic Mini Golf Family Event Book a tee time and bring your family together for a round of indoor mini golf fun at Bow Valley Square. Learn more about all the amazing programs we offer that support children living with disabilities and specialized needs in our community. A family ticket includes 18 holes of golf, a drink and a snack per person. Visit varietyalberta.ca/familyminigolf for more information.
May 7, from 7pm to 8:30pm; Calgary Children's Choir Concert in May The end-of-year event will be held at Rozsa Centre at the University of Calgary. Visit calgarychildrenschoir.com for more information and tickets.
May 7 to 8 and 14 to 15, 9am to 5pm; Day Out with Thomas at Heritage Park All aboard! We’re full steam ahead for a day with this ‘Really Useful Engine’! Imagine how far you’ll go with big dreams and even bigger smiles. The highlight of the day is riding in an interactive train pulled by Thomas himself, but there are plenty of other special activities. Learn more at heritagepark.ca.
May 7 to 16; 2022 Hike for Hospice Calgary. You choose when, where and how. Honor your loved ones in the Hike for Hospice Calgary by walking a favorite pathway or visiting some personally meaningful spots. With your support, along with our sponsors, we hope to raise $100,000 for Hospice Calgary’s services. Learn more and register at hospicecalgary.ca
May 7 to June 11; The Great Race at Stage West Kids. Join Hannah Hare and Tanya Turtle in a fun-filled musical adventure as they compete to win the grand prize in The Great Race. For more information and tickets, visit stagewestcalgary.com
May 14, 7:30pm; Stars on Ice The well-known event is bringing figure skating back to its loyal fans across Canada following the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. The 2022 Stars on Ice tour will be co-headlined by skating icons Kurt Browning and Elvis Stojko. For more information and tickets, visit starsonice.ca.
May 21 to 22; Otafest 2022 – Calgary’s Premier Anime Festival Otafest is a 3-day Japanese Cultural and Animation Festival at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre. Activities include shopping, cosplay, playing games, watching anime and even the possibility of meeting your favorite voice actors. For more information and tickets, visit otafest.com.
May 23, from 12pm to 4pm; Puppet Power: Family Festival Day Join us for the live event kick off to our week-long festival, Puppet Power, as we explore the idea of celebration! Watch puppet shows, make your own
take-home puppets, join a puppet parade! Listen to stories that feature puppets! Perform your puppet for an onsite video! Build a kite (upside-down marionette!) Face painting, ice-cream and much more! Learn more at wppuppet.com.
May 23 to May 29, 11am to 6pm; Puppet Power: Festival of Ideas Local, national, and international master puppeteers and presenters will provide inspiring talks/panels, practical how-to workshops, and puppetrybased performances. Visit wppuppet.com for tickets and more information.
May 27 to June 5; Royal Canadian International Circus 2022 The all new Royal Canadian International Circus 2022 is coming to Calgary! This spectacular show will mesmerize, astound, thrill, and captivate audiences beyond the extraordinary. There are no exotic animals in this show. Want 2-for-1 tickets? Buy them online at royalcanadiancircus.ca and use the code: calgaryschild!
May 28 to 29, The Calgary Reptile Expo This is your opportunity to find your favorite local reptile and amphibian breeders and enthusiasts under one roof. For more information and tickets, visit albertareptiles.ca. ONGOING
Beginning March 1; Quantum Sandbox at TELUS Spark A digital immersion gallery like nothing before, where guests find themselves in a world of colours, sounds, movement and energy. The 3,000 square foot interactive pixel wonderland is a 25-minute loop where guests explore 5 physics principles. Learn more and buy tickets at sparkscience.ca.
Until April 15; Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition If you love an immersive gallery experience, you’ll want to know about Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, coming to Calgary in March and April 2022! Step into the world of Michelangelo and experience the Sistine Chapel like never before. The exhibit uses state-of-theart technology, as Michelangelo’s masterpieces stretch floor-to-ceiling and are closer than ever. Get tickets at sistinechapelexhibit.com.
March 17 to October 27, 3 to 6pm; National Music Centre's Jam Club Join the National Music Centre's free after-school Jam Club program! Youth ages thirteen to nineteen are invited to jam, practice their skills, and explore their creative potential, all while making new friends, every Thursday at Studio Bell.
May 7 to June 11, from 11am to 1:30pm; Stage West Kids: Tortoise & Hare In The Great Race. Welcome to The Great Race, a reality show hosted by Felicity Fox. Join Hannah Hare and Tonya Turtle as they compete to win the grand prize. Through obstacles, challenges and facing their fears, Hannah and Tonya discover that they are more the same than they are different. Based on the Aesop fable with a modern twist, The Great Race is a fun-filled musical adventure for the whole family. Visit stagewestcalgary. com for more information and tickets.
Until May 15; Explore TELUS Spark’s New Exhibition: RESCUE! Most people wonder how they would react in an emergency. Could you rescue a swimmer if you were the first on the scene with your jet ski? Now you can test your rescue instincts in 17 different interactive situations! sparkscience.ca/rescue.
Until May 28; Greased at Jubilations Dinner Theatre Come back with us again to a time when life seemed simpler. Tap your toes and laugh with us as Jubilations parodies one of the all-time great nostalgia trips. All your favorite rock and roll classics of the 50’s are queued up and ready. Learn more at calgary.jubilations.ca.
Programs at Calgary Public Library Check out your local library for in-person and online programs, workshops and more. From story time to jewelry making to gardening and beyond. Visit calgarylibrary.ca for more information.
For the most up-to-date calendar of events, check out our website, calgaryschild.com. Times and dates are accurate at time of printing; however, changes can occur. CCM
Weekly Camps Weekly Camps July & August July & August Monday - Friday Monday - Friday 7 AM - 6 PM 7 AM - 6 PM
Serious Serious Summer Summer Fun. Fun.
Sports STEM Arts & Crafts Field Trips Special Guests
contests
NEST DESIGNS BABY SWADDLE SLEEP BAG
As parents, we know that a swaddle sleep bag provides the ultimate comfort for our growing baby during sleep. This baby sleeping bag is a wearable blanket with easy-to-remove swaddle wings. Your little one’s feet have plenty of room to stretch out within the sleep sack while they are kept warm during the night for the coziest rest yet.
The lightweight sleep bag is made with stretchy organic cotton, making it a great summer sleep sack wearable in three different ways!
Features detachable swaddle wings, zipper flaps with snaps for protection of baby's skin, velcro to hold the wings in place, GOTS certified organic cotton, and a twoway zipper for easy changing.
This beautiful gift set also comes with Nest Designs’ Organic Cotton Dry Baby Wipes and some chocolates just for mom (because we know you need them!)
Nest Designs creates premium, eco-friendly baby products with a clean simple style. Their creations are meant to make memories - from playtime to bedtime and all the feedings in between.
To view the whole collection or order a sleep bag of your own, visit nestdesigns.com.
For your chance to win an adorable baby swaddle sleep bag gift set, find our contests on our homepage at calgaryschildcom (contest code: Swaddle) Contest closes May 30, 2022
MYSENIOR SUBSCRIPTION BOXES - THE COZY BOX AND SPRING SEASONAL BOX
The MySenior Subscription box is a family venture founded on the basis of legacy and continuous connection. The last few years have highlighted how important connecting with our loved ones is. MySenior is a special gift for loved ones - carefully curated seasonal boxes for senior citizens. Each box is filled with gift ideas for senior citizens that are a balance of local goods and necessity items.
The Cozy Box is a perfect gift for cooler seasons for the special senior in your life! For the cooler seasons, we put together a wonderful box for those special people in our lives. This box features a balance of local and necessity items for your loved ones, including: • Small batch ethically-sourced tea • Hand made, luxury Shea butter balm • 1lb duck cloth bean bag for fitness and dexterity • A cozy scarf • A calming coloring card
The Spring Seasonal Box is perfect for those warmer days ahead! This season's box is sunny and bright, curated just for the older adults and parents in our lives. This box is a blend of essential items, local items and items we know our special people will love: • Pure, handcrafted soap from The Yukon Soaps Company (Yukon) • Interactive coloring book and crayons from Rasm Print Creations (Ottawa) • Five high-quality washcloths • A pair of cozy socks with grips for safe walking • Wildflower Garden Kit from Botanical Paper Works (Winnipeg)
For more information or to subscribe and let the senior in your life know you’re thinking about them, visit myseniorbox.com.
For your chance to win either the Cozy Box or the Spring Seasonal Box, find our contests on our homepage at calgaryschildcom (contest codes: Cozy or Spring) Contest closes May 30, 2022
DISNEY PRINCESS TEA PARTIES COOKBOOK
Teatime has never been so magical with this charming cookbook featuring over 50 kid-friendly and easy-to-follow recipes inspired by the Disney Princesses. From tasty cookies and biscuits to delicious herbal teas, Disney Princess Tea Parties Cookbook includes many Disneythemed treats for the ultimate tea party.
Featuring elegant and fun full-color photography, suggestions for alternate ingredients, and tips and tricks from some of your favorite characters, this all-ages cookbook is the perfect way to bring friends and family together with Disney Princess tea party magic.
To learn more and to pre-order your copy (releasing April 19!) visit amazon.ca or indigo.ca!
For your chance to win a copy of the Disney Princess Tea Parties Cookbook, find our contests on our homepage at calgaryschildcom (contest codes: Princess) Contest closes May 30, 2022
KYTE BABY TODDLER HOODED BATH TOWEL
Made from ultra-soft bamboo terry, Kyte BABY’s toddler bath towel is the equivalent of a warm, plush hug. Oversized with built-in pocket inserts for little hands, this hooded towel completely covers your little one from head to toe. The antibacterial fabric efficiently absorbs moisture, making drying time shorter and easier.
Kyte BABY has the softest baby and adult clothing and accessories, economically sourced out of bamboo! Bamboo is 3 degrees cooler than cotton, while also being hypoallergenic. The fabric itself also promotes the smart use of resources and sustainability. Bamboo is the best choice for your baby and for the planet’s future, and this way of thinking is evident in every aspect of Kyte BABY!
For more information and to buy your own super cozy sleep and loungewear, visit kytebaby.com.
For your chance to win a Toddler Hooded Bath Towel, find our contests on our homepage at calgaryschildcom (contest codes: Towel) Contest closes May 30, 2022
“RUN AWAY TO THE CIRCUS” WITH THE ROYAL CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS VIP PACKAGE
The all new Royal Canadian International Circus 2022 is coming to Calgary from May 27 to June 5! This spectacular show will mesmerize, astound, thrill, and captivate audiences beyond the extraordinary.
“It’s an incredible showcase of elite circus artists from all around the world that has been designed for multigenerational families,” says Ringmaster Joseph Bauer. “It’s the essence of a traditional circus; this year our visitors will be fascinated by the amazing new global cast of performers coming to perform for families.” Joseph is not only one of the finest Ringmasters on the continent, but is also a 9th generation daredevil performer.
Royal Canadian International Circus 2022 has no exotic animals and is about giving children and adults alike a glimpse into the world of traditional circus, where everyone can enjoy a truly affordable show together regardless of age. Because of the uncompromising quest for excellence, you’ll be amazed by this year’s all new Royal Canadian International Circus 2022.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit the website at royalcanadiancircus.ca.
Enter to win one of two special VIP packages exclusively for Calgary’s Child Magazine! This VIP experience includes: • 8 x VIP ringside seats • Introduced as Honorary Ringmaster • Behind the scenes tour with you and your 7 guests • Photo op with some cast members • Pony rides for the kids
For your chance to win this fantastic VIP experience, find our contests on our homepage at calgaryschild com (contest code: VIP) Contest closes May 1, 2022
Summer Camp & Program
23 Why Day Camps? | 24 Nature Play | 28 Camper Anxiety
