8.25.2011

Learning patterns through bead necklaces


Our friends over at craftprojectideas.com sent us a box of free art supplies to inspire us.  I will post more and more on using these products.  All of them can be found at Walmart in the craft isle.  I can't tell you how excited my eldest daughter was to get a whole box of new beautiful art supplies.  She wanted to get started on something right then.  I let her pick and beaded necklaces and bracelets won her attention!


This is such a simple project that is very self explanatory.  Put the beads on the cord.  Well, sounds simple except we had several bracelets not work because I didn't cut the cord long enough and while trying to tie it onto my daughters wrist dropped it causing all the beads to fall off.  Oops.  My suggestion:  Go long!


My girls got started right away.  Both putting beads on as they wanted. Grace, my two year old, tried hard to do the work herself, but soon needed my help.  She was a bit too young to do this herself, but the more she practices I am sure she will get there.


I wanted to make one using the instructions provided in the hemp cord.  One of the projects was to braid the cord and add a bead, then braid again, in that pattern.  I made a little bracelet with four braids and three beads that turned out really simple and beautiful.



I then took the opportunity to talk to them about patterns.  showing them that a pattern can make something so beautiful. We talked about how there are countless ways to do a pattern.  I chose an AAABCBAAABCB pattern and made Grace a set of necklace and bracelets.  She loved dressing up with them.   My daughter Ally has been inspired thinking in patterns and has been making necklaces and bracelets on and off for two days now.


Thank you again to Craft Project Ideas.  I look forward to doing more and more crafts with your products.  


6 comments:

  1. Hi, I love all the ideas on your blog and so does my two year old son! One idea that I do for the beads is have my son string them onto pipe cleaners. They stay put and slide on easily yet they are still working those fine motor skills. This is hands down his favorite "game" we play!

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  2. so awesome! how fun is that! we've got some bigger beads that we do this with too!! love their creations!

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  3. That looks so fun. Our girls just love beads for scooping but I am not sure they have the motor skills for the necklaces yet. Steph, I like the pipe cleaner idea.

    Vicky @ http://messforless.blogspot.com

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  4. hi laurs! you can use uncooked spaghetti noodles too (for a quicky craft from the pantry). LOVE Grace's smile in the 3rd pic! your kids are so dang cute :] Yay, for your free crafting gifts!

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  5. my girls love beads, patterns & necklaces so this is something we enjoy often. So simple yet so fun. Your braided one is cute.

    Thanks for sharing on the Sunday Showcase - looking forward to what you have in store for us next week. You are always up to something FUN!

    Bern

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  6. This is exactly what I had in mind for my baby girl.

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