Write Your Own History by Scrapbooking Memories

Looking for a great family project? There is nothing more personal than a scrapbook filled with photographs that display your story with creative designs and colors. Both adults and children enjoy looking at them to learn more about their families, places they visited, or special events. Scrapbooking is like writing your own history. You can capture the essence of a special event with photographs and other trinkets like a wedding reception napkin or pressed flowers from a high school prom, decorating your page to your taste. You get to be the author and the creative mind on what your scrapbook looks like and the story it shares. Jennifer Herrington is our instructor for Cherished Memories: Introduction to Scrapbooking, and she has some helpful information for those wanting to attend this class:

In this initial class, I hope to introduce students to the basic tools needed for successful and creative scrapbooking. The four basic tools of the trade are scissors, a trimmer, a journaling pen and an adhesive! These tools will send you on your way to a successful project.

The first item is a great pair of scissors that are easily maneuverable and comfortable to hold. I prefer scissors that are lightweight and have an ergonomic handle because we use them a lot and heavy scissors can and will make your hands tired!

The second most important item is a personal trimmer.  You can start out with one that is personal sized – about 5×7, but after a bit, you will realize that a larger one that will accommodate 12×12 paper might be a little better to work with.  I personally use each one when I’m working!  The smaller trimmer is great for trimming off the excess edges of photos and helping to draw the eye in on the main subject of the photograph.  The 12×12 trimmer allows us to make decorative strips, or piece together 6×6, or 4×4 squares in colorful combinations to complement our photographs.

The third, and equally important item, is a journaling pen of archival quality.  This simple instrument records our precious memories, thoughts and recollections of events and increases the importance of the photograph.  I prefer to use a black journaling pen because it usually goes with almost anything I’m working on!

The last item is a great adhesive, which is necessary for putting your page design together.  There are many types out there and it’s important to use the right one for the job. When using pictures, you may decide to use mounting squares that have adhesive on both sides. If you want extra paper embellishments or paper piecing, a good glue stick always saves the day.  I am also a big fan of the “never-ending” roll of clear adhesive. Tombow makes a great refillable one!

Columbus has many wonderful places to shop for supplies. I use JoAnn Fabric and Crafts, Hobby Lobby, and Michaels when I shop around town. Students will have the opportunity to go on a field trip to compare and buy scrapbooking tools. Everyone’s budget can and will be accommodated. Scrapbooking doesn’t have to be expensive as long as you know where to shop! Online shops such as Creative Memories, is also great place to find quality supplies.

If you want to preserve your memories in an artistic storyline, visit ColumbusState.edu/CE or call 706.507.8070 for class registration.

The Kids Had a Blast in Saturday Sewing for Kids: Christmas Tree Centerpiece

I decided to stop by Sue’s Saturday Sewing class this weekend to check out the Christmas tree centerpieces the kids were making. Let me tell you, these Christmas trees were awesome! Sue Simoncini has the amazing ability of conveying precise instruction to kids because all of these Christmas trees looked like something you could buy in a boutique store. I think it’s great that these children have become so talented with their sewing.

I asked the kids what they were planning on doing with their Christmas trees when they get home. Some kids said that they were going to give the Christmas trees as gifts to their parents and some said they wanted to keep it as a Christmas decoration in their rooms.  They also had some spare time to make adorable stuffed elf dolls, gingerbread men and other interesting crafts of their choice. I love the idea of being able to create your own household decorations or gifts. Do-it-yourself projects are so much fun and can save you a ton of money, especially during the holiday season.  Now that these kids have the know-how on the sewing machine they can use their creativity to create whatever they like. These are definitely skills that can be very useful in the years to come.

Don’t worry if your kids missed out on this class because there are more to come. Our next Saturday Sewing class will be Saturday Sewing for Kids: Valentine’s Day Fun (Ages 8-14). In this class your kids will make special Valentine’s Day gifts. For more information and class registration visit, www.ColumbusState.edu/CE or call 706.507.8070.

-Kindra Hunter

Make a Gingerbread House Together

You know the holidays are fast approaching when you get that itch to start baking, decorating, and setting the tone of the season.  The holiday season provides the perfect opportunity to connect with your little ones by doing these types of things with them. Do you remember how neat it was to make a gingerbread house when you were little? If so, you may be interested in taking your child to Karla Tompson’s class Classy Cakes: Gingerbread House. This class is set up a little differently than our others because in this class the parent and child attend the class together.

Karla is the owner of Fiesta Cakes Bakery in Columbus, GA where she turns an ordinary cake into art. I asked her about the materials she is planning to use in the class and she mentioned that, “The students will be getting a Wilton kit. The kit includes the gingerbread, the icing and all the candies to decorate the house. Besides the kit, I usually bring fondant to make a snow man and sometimes a snow cone to make a Christmas tree.” It should be quite interesting to see what tips and tools she can give you and your youngster for creating a whimsical gingerbread house this year.

Another fun part about making a gingerbread house is the fact that it’s edible. Karla said, “You can eat the house within a week, after that it usually gets stale. As a decoration, it lasts about one year if you wrap it with plastic wrap.” It’s great to know that if you are really impressed with your gingerbread house, there is a way to make it last to show off next year.

“When you have kids you want to create memories for them and what better than spending some time together working on a gingerbread house that can be used to decorate their house or that can be eaten with a good cup of hot chocolate!” This class is all about having a great time with a special family member and making memories that last a life time. If you would like to know more about this class visit our website www.ColumbusState.edu/CE or call 706.507.8070.

-Kindra Hunter

Make a Gingerbread House to celebrate the holidays

Sew Much to Love for the Holidays

All right kids, get ready for Sue’s Holiday sewing series. Our amazing sewing instructor Sue Simoncini has two Holiday sewing classes coming up soon that you might not want to miss, Saturday Sewing for Kids Series: 3-D Christmas Tree Centerpiece (Ages 8-14) and Saturday Sewing Series for Kids: Reversible Fabric Holiday Bowl (Ages 8-14).

In the 3-D Christmas Tree Centerpiece class, you’ll be creating a beautiful centerpiece that you can place on your family’s dinner table, coffee table, fireplace mantle, or wherever you’d like to display the Christmas spirit. You’ll make a stuffed Christmas tree out of calico holiday fabric, and you’ll sew on buttons and beads as Christmas ornaments to decorate your tree with. This is a great way to practice your sewing skills while making a decoration that you can use for years to come.

In the Reversible Fabric Holiday Bowl class, you’ll create a bowl that you can put fruits, decorations, potpourri, or anything else into. The great thing about this bowl is that it is reversible, and you can use it for two holidays. You’ll be using Thanksgiving print fabric on one side and Christmas print fabric on the other side. All you need to do is flip it to match the occasion. This is also a good way to keep those sewing skills fresh, and a chance to create a potential family heirloom.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner, and this is a fun way to get into the holiday spirit. Use these sewing crafts to give as a gift this Christmas or to keep at home. These classes are for experienced sewers only. If you fall into that category, registration information is available online at ColumbusState.edu/CE or you can call 706.507.8070. All materials in these classes are provided for you; you just need to remember to bring a bag lunch and a snack. Happy Holidays!

-Kindra Hunter

Get Down to Spooky Town

I love Halloween! It’s the one night of the year when you feel a true creepiness in the air, and your mind starts to summon up all the ghost stories you’ve ever heard. The dark streets are glistening with spider web, while fog machines and black lights on porches fill the night with mystery. Too many spooky decorations are never a bad thing. Halloween just wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t help add the fright. Since Halloween is right around the corner, now is the time to start planning for the big night!

I’m sure most kids have already picked out costumes by now, and parents have already planned which neighborhoods they want to take their kids trick-or-treating at. Don’t forget to help add the fright to the night with spine-chilling decorations. Cindy Newton, one of our youth instructors, has a creative idea to do just that. Here are her instructions to make a big hairy scary spider that can go anywhere in your house or yard to scare that unsuspecting trick-o-treater.

All you need is:

-  1 large styrofoam ball

-  1 small styrofoam ball

-  1 bag of large black pipe cleaners

-  One long black, fuzzy feather boa

-  White push-pins or googly eyes

-  1 Wooden skewer

First, connect the large and small Styrofoam balls by sticking them onto the wooden skewer. Depending on how large you want your spider’s leg you can leave the pipe cleaners long or cut them in equal lengths. Once you have your eight pipe cleaner legs, make four holes on each side of the large Styrofoam ball and glue the legs into the holes. When the legs are dry, glue the feather boa around the styrofoam balls until no Styrofoam is showing. For the final touch stick your push-pins in or glue your googly eyes on for the eyes.

NOTE:  Any size Styrofoam balls will do, as long as there is one Styrofoam ball that is bigger than the other. If we want to make the legs stronger, we can twist 2 pipe cleaners together for each leg.

See how frightening you can make your spider. Cindy Newton is always coming up with new ways for kids to have fun. If you are interested in giving your kids something different to do on the weekend, check out her upcoming classes Leather Tooling for Beginners and Last Child Outside. For more information visit ColumbusState.edu/CE or call 706.507.8070. Happy Halloween everyone!

-Kindra Hunter

Create this cool spider for Halloween

Make Your Own Purse out of Patchwork and Denim

It’s so much fun creating your own customized accessories. When I was in grade school; I remember seeing girls that made purses out of Capri Sun pouches. I asked where they got it from, and they told me that they made it. I was amazed that they made the purses themselves because it seemed like it would be difficult. It was pretty cool to me that someone could show their creativity through a nifty craft like that. I liked the idea that someone could create a purse in their own style. Not only would you be the only one to have a purse like that, but people would also be impressed that you actually made it yourself.

Now you can have the chance to make an awesome accessory to take to school with you. In Sue Simoncini’s class, A Purse of Patchwork and Denim, you’ll get to make a purse that fits your style. If you were an Activ8er that took at least one of Mrs. Sue’s sewing classes during the summer, then this class is for you. Choose calico fabric patterns and mix with denim to get a look that is unique as you. You’ll be ready to rock your new purse at school on Monday, and show your friends how good you are at sewing. This is also a great opportunity to hang out with your friends, and break your typical weekend routine.

Why hang out at the house on Saturday when you could be sewing a new handbag? All materials will be provided. All you have to bring is a bag lunch and a snack. Remember that this class is for students who have already taken a sewing class. For more information on this class or beginner sewing classes visit ColumbusState.edu/CE or call 706.507.8070. 

-Kindra Hunter

Let’s Learn Sign Language

Whether you have a child that is deaf or not, there are benefits for both. These include the deaf being able to communicate with each other and hearing children being able to communicate with non-hearing children. Children can also find sign language to be a great asset in their future if they are inspired to pursue a career in sign language. It can even satisfy language requirements at some colleges. Scuba divers frequently use sign language as well.

It’s important to know that the earlier one starts learning sign language the easier it is to pick it up. This is the same for any language. Most of us have heard the phrase “Kids are like sponges,” and this is true when they learn things like sign language; they absorb it.  However, sign language is relatively easy to learn because of the visual aspect of it.

See how easy it is to learn sign language by viewing the tutorial on the phrase “Nice to meet you”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S40fTlJY0PQ

Give your children the opportunity to learn something useful and unique. Look forward to your kids coming home truly excited about what they’ve learned. This fall Kristin Luke is instructing sign language classes at Continuing Education for kids ages 8-14. If you think that your child can benefit from learning sign language, check out our classes online at ColumbusState.edu/CE or call 706.507.8070.

-Kindra Hunter

We Know why Kids Love Anime

In order to figure out why Anime is so cool, I took a couple of notes from Anime instructor Stephen Glass. Stephen will be teaching Anime and Cartooning this fall at Continuing Education, so I thought he would definitely be able to explain the craze over this art form. He told me that, “Kids normally like drawing, coloring and creating anime for many reasons such as the story lines, characters, and the imaginative eccentric style of the series.” Television is flooded with Anime cartoons such as Bakugan, Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, Pokemon and many others. How can we forget about the obsession over Pokemon?

Kids have a chance to truly be creative in this class. They are able to draw characters that are similar to the ones on their favorite shows, and come up with imaginative story lines. Stephen mentioned that Anime art classes are not typical art classes because, “it requires the student to not just draw from observation. Observation is not the focus, understanding and telling the story is the focus. Students must create a character that lives within a whole world, and tell how that character is to interact with the world. The students must master a great understanding of proper proportions in order to manipulate them into an exaggerated art form.” It seems to me that Anime is all about the imagination, and kids use that everyday. It only makes sense that they would love to create art that actively uses their imagination.

If your kids are already into drawing Anime, or if they like to watch the shows on TV, they will most likely be interested Stephen Glass’ Anime class at Continuing Education. These classes are conveniently scheduled on Saturday mornings. For more information, visit ColumbusState.edu/CE

-Kindra Hunter

See Ya Later Activ8er!

Sadly this is Activ8’s final week, and it is almost time to bid our amazing kids farewell. Harper, from the Activ8 Academy, will definitely miss having fun with her friends at Continuing Education. She’s been coming here for 2 years now and loves every minute of it. She told me the class that she’ll miss the most is Seuss City where she was able to watch Dr. Seuss movies and draw a picture of the Cat in the Hat. The best part of coming to Activ8 is seeing her friends, but fortunately Harper will get to see them at school very soon. Even though saying good bye is hard, we are staying focused on all the fun we are planning for next year!

Stay tuned if you or someone you know missed out on Activ8 this year. Our kids have a truly unique experience in our programs. As some of our previous blogs explained, kids are able to participate in activities that are not offered anywhere else. They are given the opportunity to explore interests that they didn’t even know they had such as sewing, drawing Japanese Anime, blasting rockets, rock climbing and so many more. It’s also nice for parents to get a break, run errands or go to work knowing that their kids are well taken care of. Next summer go to Activ8er.com and check out all the cool classes your children are guaranteed to enjoy.

See you next summer!

-Kindra Hunter

Take a look at Activ8 through Ibri’s eyes (View from a Between 2 Teen camper)

It has been a busy summer at the Continuing Education department this year. Activ8 has had, and still has, lots of happy campers. Recently, I dropped in on the class Artistic Time Travel: Pop Art, to get an Activ8er’s opinion. Ibri was the first camper to raise her hand when I asked the class who wanted to do an interview, so you’ll be learning about Ibri’s experience as an Activ8er today.

Irbi told me that she had been attending Activ8 camps for about 2 years, and that she really enjoys spending time here. Her absolute favorite camp is Japanese Anime and Manga, which is a type of Japanese cartoon art. She didn’t know what the class was about in the beginning; she said it sounded interesting and decided to take it. Ibri took that class last year and signed up for it again this year. Ever since taking the class, Ibri has been keeping her own journal of Anime and Manga cartoon drawings. I was amazed at how good she is!

Some other camps she signed up for were Kids Can Cook, Rock Climbing and Mad Scientist. In Kids Can Cook, she’s learning how to make ice cream and fudge. Rock Climbing was cool to her because she was able to go really high. In Mad Scientist, she tie-dyed her own shirt in blue, yellow, red and green.

In Ibri’s opinion, Activ8 is great because you are able to create and draw things that you usually would never do. The camps give kids the opportunity to discover new interests. She also mentioned that at home you usually wouldn’t think about doing activities like this, and that her school doesn’t have these types of activities available. This is why Activ8 is so special to our campers. Give your kids something awesome to look forward to in the summer by remembering to sign them up for Activ8 at Activ8er.com.

-Kindra Hunter