Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Crafts for Learning Contributor, Danielle from the blog Crayonbox Learning.

While working with teachers all over the world, I am often asked to create activities that are simple to put together and low cost. Throughout the year, I look for different containers that I can transform into learning games while keeping the cost minimal. Adding supplies from CreateForLess helps stretch budgets, while help to keep learning fun!

This activity uses colorful gift tins as holders for festive learning games! Perfect for last minute gift for a teacher, daycare provider, or friend with young children!

My example project features a Christmas themed tin, with candy cane shaped game pieces with opposite words. Each candy cane piece has a different word on it, and the goal of the game is to match the opposites. When not in play, the game pieces fit inside the tin.

Materials needed:

• Tin container (Any size)
• Cardstock
• Candy Cane Template
• Scissors
• Crayons/Pens
• Computer/Printer (Optional)
• Ribbon or Bow
• Embellishments (Optional)

Selecting the Tin:

CreateForLess.com has a wide selection of novelty shaped tins in different sizes to choose from. Any tin will work for this project. The outside of the tin can be decorated with ribbon, a bow, or other embellishments. (Keep in mind the age group of the children using the tin before using small pieces for embellishment.) Another option for decorating the tin is to paint the lid with chalkboard paint, and write the name of the game.

The tin that I used for this project was already colored, and the size was perfect for small hands. I added a simple grosgrain bow on the lid in Christmas colors to finish the look.

Candy Cane Template:

The candy cane template is provided, Candy Cane Template. The template was sized to fit a tin 3 inches long, 3 inches wide, and 3 inches deep. The template can be resized for whatever tin you are using. The .Gif file is provided so that you can add text prior to printing if desired.

There are several options for using the candy cane template. The pieces can be cut out and used as a template for cutting out colorful scrapbooking cardstock, printed out as is onto colored cardstock, or the image can be flood filled using any photo/image software before printing.

Click on photo for larger view.

In the example, I flood filled half of the candy canes in a light red color, and the other half in a light green color. Before I printed the pieces, I typed the opposite words using n a cute font. I printed the pieces onto white card stock so that the color would pop, and then I hand cut the pieces. Laminating the game pieces is recommended for durability for long term use.

This is a project that you can put together with young children too. It takes just a few minutes to assemble once you have the tin you want to use, and have decided how you would like to color the candy cane template.

The overall cost for this project was less than $2.00, and the project was complete in under an hour. The best part is that all of the supplies used in this project can be found at CreateForLess.com.