Purses and sock monkeys at the youth club....

I have a crafting blog but I'm going to slowly move everything over here and delete that blog... Crafting is a huge part of my life so why not have it with my everyday babble?

We've been busy at the youth club making purses and sock monkeys. I'm trying to steer the kids away from easy 5 minute projects and trying to get them to spend some time and effort in what they are making. But that means that the project has to be so cool that it will hold their attention for a longer period of time. The purses and sock monkeys have been a huge success.

Whenever I try something new with the kids, I have to first make a demo - so they'll know what it looks like when it's done and so I know exactly how to make it in order to explain it to them. After spending hours on the internet, looking for good ideas and tutorials, I get to work and then cross my fingers that that particular idea catches at least a couple of the kid's attention.

I love my new purse and the kids love making it. It's easy enough for them to make but it requires time and a commitment. I used my new purse for the first time going out last Saturday to the Pub and I was surprised over how many strangers noticed it - in a good way. (I'll admit it, that felt awesome!)

Wrapping paper with tape - around 250 pieces folded together. 

Added a "porno" red zipper to add some color. 

LS came up with the good idea to add pieces of silver (chip bag) in order to break up the black and white a bit. 

The sock monkeys have been a HUGE success. The kids have been busy and I have new socks everyday to cut up and start. I found this tutorial on the internet and after getting my new computer, I lost the link. Which really sucks because that person deserves all the credit. I think I found it via craftster.org and will try to find it again when I have a little more time. I made a monkey for LS (private joke) and when I gave it to her at her bday party, the other guests showed lots of interest. (Again, awesome feeling!)

One of the girls at the club made this monkey. It was quite large and now she had made 4 of them!

We always give them names and a background so they are all very unique. 

LS's new sock monkey. His name is Pablo and is a gay Italian. 

Sorry for the bad quality pictures - I had to use my phone camera since I didn't have a camera on me at the time.