*We were gifted items to use in the session but this is an unpaid collaboration
A couple of weekends ago we had the chance to take part in something a little different. Viking Direct had sent us a big box full of crafting goodies to join them online for a fun and crafty session to make Fire Breathing Dragon and other crafty makes. The boys were excited to take part and had looked inside the box with excitement to find an array of everyday products such as bubble wrap, toilet rolls and paper straws plus paper, glue and colouring pens.
Unleashing their creativity
The box of goodies from Viking Direct came at just the right time. We had exhausted most of our own crafting goodies over the last couple of months so welcomed a chance to stock back up. I knew from my days in the office that Viking Direct sold office products and stationery but wasn’t aware they sold craft supplies and cleaning products too! We were going to use the products as part of the craft session and it was fun turning everyday items into crafty makes during the morning.
Led by Jane from Tea and Crafting, we set all our materials out and was excited to begin the craft session.
How to make a Fire Breathing Dragon
This was one of my boys favourite activities. They loved making the fire breathing dragon and loved the end result. It’s a quick and easy activity to do, just save up your toilet roll inners to make your dragons. If you’d like to try out the activity yourself, here’s what you need to do;
1. Clean your working area and wash your hands or use some hand sanitiser before starting.
2. Take a sheet of A4 paper. Measure how high your toilet roll tube is and then cut a strip of paper along the long side of the A4 using that measurement.
3. Spread glue over your toilet roll holder and then glue your paper to the toilet roll tube and cut where the paper overlaps. Trim off any edges that overlap the opening if needed.
4. Add eyes and a nose to your dragon’s body, do this by using a Sharpie to draw the eyes and then draw a little square under your eye. This square will fold back and be glued down so that the dragon eyes stay upright. Do the same for the nose and glue the eyes and nose down.
5. Cut tissue paper into strips no longer than about 10cm in length and about a finger’s width. Glue the strips to the top (this would be where the dragon eyes and nose are placed) and bottom of the inside of the toilet roll tube. There’s no need to add tissue paper to the sides of the toilet roll, at this point it’s fine if the tissue paper overlaps.
6. Hold your dragon at an angle in front of you and breathe into the toilet roll tube – you’ll see it’s tissue paper fire breath come to life!
How to make bubble wrap chocolate
This was a fun activity for my boys to take part in. They loved the break the chocolate up and watch it melt in the microwave. They were blown away by the end result. If you’d like to try out the activity yourself, here’s what you need to do;
1. We loved using Aero chocolate for this activity as it was so easy for little hands to break this apart. It just crumbled with little pressure, making it the perfect chocolate to use.
2. As we’ll be touching food products everyone should wash their hands with hand soap or use some hand sanitiser.
3. Clean your working area thoroughly.
4. Cut a small piece of bubble wrap about A4 size and just give it a quick wash and dry it.
5. Crumble about 3-4 chocolate bars into a small bowl using your fingers to squash the Aero and watch it crumble beautifully into the bowl.
6. Wash your hands to clean away all the chocolate bits left on your hand.
7. Melt in the microwave at 30 second increments. Ensure you stir after each 30 second blast, so you can evenly distribute the heat and help it melt quicker.
8. Pour the melted chocolate onto the bubble wrap and then spread it over evenly with a spatula or knife, making sure it’s not too thinly spread.
9. Pop it into the fridge for about 30 minutes to set.
10. Whilst the chocolate is setting clean your working area again wiping away any spilt chocolate etc.
11. After its set peel back the bubble wrap from the chocolate and be amazed at your homemade chocolate bubble wrap.
How to make walking parcel tape feet
This was a tricky activity for us. We didn’t have much success but it was fun trying! If you’d like to try out the activity yourself, here’s what you need to do. Make sure to clean your working area and wash your hands before starting on this activity.
1. Cut a straw in half and tape it (using the parcel tape) to the inside of the parcel tape roll making sure the straws stick out of the edge of the tape on opposite sides (i.e. left and right) and that they are placed on opposite ends (i.e. top and bottom) inside the parcel tape roll. Take a look at the image to help you place the straws. You only need a finger’s width of straw coming out of the tube so trim off any excess.
2. Remove the cotton wool from the cotton buds on both ends. If you’re using a kebab stick, there’s no need to trim at all.
3. Take a sheet of A4 paper and fold it half. Then trace around your child’s foot or get siblings to help each other to do this. Cut two little feet out of the paper.
4. Place your feet (ensuring it’s a left and right foot side by side) and tape the cotton bud to the inside of each foot (using image as a guide).
5. Slot the cotton buds into the straw, roll the parcel tape and watch your feet walk!
We had a brilliant morning with Jane using the materials from Viking Direct to make our Fire Breathing Dragon and other crafty makes. Thanks so much for inviting us and letting the boys unleash their creative side during lockdown!
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