Need "Cool" and not "Mom" crafts for Girl Scouts class

[pigfingers]

I am teaching a bunch of Girl Scout classes next spring for their all-day activity day. I am having a hard time finding crafts that will appeal to the 10-12 year olds that will be there, something "cool" for them, and not something that all of us would be all excited about but they would call "Mom" crafts (think of "Mom jeans").

My first thought was doing paper bag scrapbooks. I am wondering if that is just "has been done" I found some colored bags at Target and thought it would be fun and different to have the colored bags too instead of just the white and kraft ones. But again not sure whether 10-12 year olds will be ho hum on this craft.

Then I thought of tear bears and tear bunnies. Again not sure how exciting these kids might be about it. I personaly love them but hmm. Not sure.

I did accordion scrapbooks last year and while it was a great hit with most of them, there were some of them that expressed the "did that before" kind of agnst. I kind of want something for them to do that is relatively inexpensive but is kind of a "POW" -- memorable, gee did you do that class, that was really a cool class, kind of thing.

Keep in mind it has to kind of go along with the paper crafts theme, or altered stuff, etc. I can't do jewelry or making lipstick or other kind of crafts as I am in the category of papercrafts/altered stuff.

[a1r601]

You can try several things:

- Why not just make a set of cards (regular sized or 3x3) to go in a card box and matching beaded pen? Simple enough...

- Altering a paint can or lunch tin and then they can use it for whatever they want. You can fu-fu them up with different kinds of fibers and/or ribbon and bling.

- Alter wooden frames (I think you can get some bare wooden frames from M's for a $1) with dp, paint and ribbon.

- Alter a composition notebook with their initial on it with a matching pen (does not have to be beaded - just insert dp inside the barrel)

- Create coasters with their names on it and put magnets on the back so they can put it in their lockers at school. Or make coasters covered with dp you can put photos on.

- Create name frames (you can buy $3 frames from Wal-mart)

- Make bookmark jumbo paperclips to use at school.

- Decorate the front of a binder (the ones that you can insert the front with paper).

I think if you go with the scrapbook idea, they might lost interest if it is going to take too much time to complete. At that age, it is all about them - tee hee! Ask me how I know - DH is a teacher *wink*!

Hope this helps!

[phunkymama]

My daughter would love an altered comp book.

Shrinky dink cell phone charms? Don't know if that's pushing your theme...

Marble magnets, jumbo paperclip bookmarks, anything with chipboard are all things my daughter has enjoyed.

[phunkymama]

To see what is "cutting edge" as far as crafts, you might want to browse www.etsy.com

[Rubbernecker]

I'm a GS leader (my girls are 11-12). One year I made them clipboards:

More Girl Scout Clipboards by Rubbernecker at Splitcoaststampers

I made these for them as sort of an end-of-year gift, but you could have them make it themselves. Probably you would need to paint the clipboards ahead of time with acrylic paint (I asked the girls what their favorite color was ahead of time but you could make them all white) and then just have an alphabet set and some floral stamps and craft ink. To avoid messing up your pads, I would set rules that "the alphabet can only be used with X color" and each other stamp would be assigned a color and can ONLY be used with THAT color.

Good luck!

[Nicole's Mom]

How about making paper!! If your interested I could give you more information. It is really fun!

[glitterdovefairy]

Im in with the altered journal idea... my dd would like that

[Laurie FW]

I have a senior girl scout. We have done clipboards, journals, paperbag scrapbooks with her very small, crafty troop. They loved them all. One of their very favorite crafts was decorating a mailbox, though. Since you are talking about the spring, can you try to pick up some of those Target mailboxes and save them until then? We did this last spring with my troup and they easily decorated them in other themes besides Valentine's day and they really, really enjoyed themselves! They all did 2, one for their mother
or sister or best friend, also. Good luck!

[coffeeaddictsam]

What about the Stationary Box
http://jackietopa.typepad.com/Stationary.pdf

[TrayMoney]

I work for the Girl Scouts and running programming all the time.
Girls loooove altered journals. They love the idea of something that is all their own that they made themselves. Generally, if they make these they are hurrying to be able to write in them before the event is over.

[Angelnorth]

I have a book called "Alternacrafts" by Jessica Vitkus, subtitle "20+ hi-style lo-budget projects to make". The projects are pretty cool and some use recycled stuff of all sorts (like wallets made with snack wrappers, funky flowers made with magazine of comic book pages, bottle top pendants in a scrapbooky style...). I think most of the stuff in there would appeal from ages 10 up to late teens. Might be worth seeing if your local library has a copy.

[stampinmyfeet]

How about the DVD tins that you can make into lil scrapbooks? (there's a tutorial here by Julie Buhler). I made one and I love, love, love it