We love crafts in our house! As a designer myself, I feel strongly about making sure we find creativity in our daily lives. From painting, coloring, constructing, and just creating – its a very important foundation to what I believe is the driving force of the mind. It opens up a world to a child, and builds a foundation of bigger thinking for the future.
I was overjoyed to hear about the new subscription craft service that offers crafts that give back. What a brilliant idea, and wonderful way to educate children on kindness, and the importance of giving back to others.
Little Loving Hands provides pre-packaged craft kits, that encourage children to be kind and give back. Every month, they spotlight a different charity and send out all the materials needed for a child to learn about who they are helping, and to create a beautiful gift that is sent back to the charity using a pre-paid envelope. To date, kids all over the country have directly helped support children, the homeless, and the elderly.
We jumped at the chance to try the service for ourselves, and to be part of this new craft with a cause movement.
Our craft arrived in a happy bright orange box, with all items neatly packaged inside. All materials were included and were of high quality, and put together with care. Easy to follow instructions on the craft, instructions on the return of the product, and charity information were included as well. The perfect slogan “throw kindness around like confetti” was realized through fun orange crinkle confetti found in the package itself.
The kit also includes a pre-paid return envelope, a completion certificate your child gets to keep, and a fun button.
I personally loved the detailed charity information. The card clearly states who you are helping, and includes a detailed synopsis of the charity including website and contact information. A summary of all points: who they help, what they do to help, where they help, how they help, and why they help the group that they do, is included as well.
Our charity this month was Enchanted Makeovers. We learned that Enchanted makeovers is a non-profit organization whose mission is to create environments and educational programs at shelters for women and children that promote creativity, self expression, and worth.
The project is to create two heartwarming gifts for a child in a shelter. The items will then be placed into a “Love Box” that is given to the child. When a child in a shelter receives a handmade gift, it gives a message of hope and care to their hearts, and gives them a special gift each child can keep for their very own.
Such a special project, and opportunity to give back. We couldn’t wait to start.
The craft for Enchanted Makeovers is two parts – first, a soft heart shaped pillow that the child can cuddle with in the shelter, and a heart shaped memory game for a child.
We started with the pillow decoration. Easy to follow instructions were included. They were incredibly clear, and loved how they included images for young children to follow along with as well.
First step was to paint the pillow. Our little guy chose to use the included stencil to create the word LOVE. The kit included everything you need for the suggested look of the craft, but also encourages creativity and for each to be unique and different.
Completed! While this dries, we moved to paint the memory game.
The craft kit included 8 wooden hearts. Children are asked to paint one side of a pair of hearts a color, creating 4 sets (2 blue, 2 yellow, etc). This is so that while turned over it becomes a matching memory game for the child.
Out lil guy got a bit messy, but all in good fun! All paint is of course non-toxic, and is easy to clean up.
Painting the next color, yellow!
The last painting step is to decorate the pouch that will hold the hearts. The instructions encourage creativity – and ask for the children to decorate as they wish. Lil Kid chose to decorate his pouch with painted hearts.
Painting portion has been completed! Allow to dry.
Next step is to create the pillow. The pillow if formed by tying the fringe together. Continue tying all the way around the pillow, leaving a few inch opening for stuffing.
Next, add the stuffing into the pillow through the small opening. Lil Kid’s favorite part!
After the pillow is stuffed, finish tying the fringe to close the pillow.
The completed project! So cute!
Made with love. A final hug before sending out our project!
Our little guy loved it. A brilliant project and concept.
Learn more about the Little Loving Hands company and movement HERE
