Summer Crafts

Of all the Christians, Orthodox are the most community oriented. Our liturgical and cultural traditions re-inforce this strongly. One thing a nonOrthodox would be quick to note is that generally we all enjoy each others company, regardless of age, etc. Anything that goes along to support this, such as a summer program, is a support of true Orthodox Christian principles. A craft session is very much of an easy-come, easy-go affair (but planned!) with few barriers. The old and the young help each other, learn from each other, and get to know each other. It can be an upbuilding community experience.

What I have written here are but a few guidelines on how to go about organizing a summer school craft session. They are not hard and fast rules as each session or place is different. The few things I have to say are based on experience and may be of some help to any parish wishing to set up this type of summer school program.

Getting Along

  1. Plan Ahead - Waaay Ahead! The best time to start planning is several months ahead. A June session needs to be given thought starting in January. This doesn't mean you are going full steam, then, but a good idea is even better if it percolates for a few months. Remember - a simple idea or project only looks simple because it has been well planned and organized.
  2. Don't Do It Alone. No one person can really do the whole show alone. Involve as many people with as many different talents as possible. You may need a chief to organize, but the best ideas are those that come through interaction. Some people will come through whom you or even they may never have considered as having good ideas. The best plan comes from many fragments. A painting is made up of many brush strokes. Don't wait for people to volunteer; very often an invite or a prod may incite an otherwise unknowing soul that he or she would be appreciated and needed in such a project.
  3. A craft session Must Have A Theme - If you only plan to make a few interesting things to pass the time, forget it. The craft session should be used primarily as a teaching device. Just because it is summer doesn't mean that learning is notto go on. Organize and plan your crafts to get across some message concerning our Orthodox faith.
    • Look over the Epistles and Gospels for the Sundays in the summer, and see if there is a message worth relating.
    • Look at your Church calendar and see what saints and feast days occur during that time and consider possibilities here.
  4. Ideas for crafts are everywhere -we shall give you a few here, and in the publication sheet and display you can see where you may come across a few good ideas.
  5. When planning ideas remember that the cheapest materials, and ones most accessible are the best. Craft shops will offer all kinds of kits, but for the most part, they cost too much and often do not relate to what you should be aiming for. Don't rule them out completely, but consider other alternatives.
  6. Do not plan projects that cannot be completed in a single session - i.e. about a 45 minute time span. This is a limiting factor and rules out many things and simplifies many others, but this rule is one that should be kept in mind.
  7. Don't go into a session cold without having tried the project yourself. This wayyou can predict any difficulties and make changes as problems arise. You should also plan your program so that whoever will be assisting in the program will also be involved in doing this ahead of time.
  8. Tell the children why you are doing a particular project. Sometimes it is best first to gather them around before starting, in order to do this. Keep this reason in their mind as you go along during the session.
  9. Keep the parents informed. Print out a little blurb and put it in the pews or as an insert page in the Sunday bulletin. This is good PR and people appreciate being kept informed.
  10. Recruit all people who have interest and talent, young and old. You will find it a good idea to include your Teen group on this; it will be a rewarding experience. Keep a record of when people are scheduled to assist.
  11. Grade your projects for different age groupings - i.e. Preschool to 7, 8 through 11, 12 and above. You may find some will want a more difficult project - let them do it, but realize that younger children are satisfied with something much simpler.
  12. Keep all the children together. You will want to set the preschool group off at a separate table, but it is best to have all of them together in one place - i.e. the church hall. Your two older groups more than likely can all work at the same set of tables.
  13. Records and planning:
    • Make out an inventory list (or best assign one person to be in charge of purchasing and getting materials for each session and for each project - PLAN!)
    • Keep records of who comes to the sessions. 3. keep samples of each project in a special file for future reference.
    • Take photographs of what you are doing.
    • Let the parish know what you are doing. Plan an end of the summer display and open-house.

CRAFT IDEA RESOURCE MATERIAL
Here is a list of a few publications and booksthat you might be interested in. Please keep in mind that there are lots of other places you can look. Sometimes one idea can easily lead to another, and so on.
1. Creative Activities I and II from Dept. of Christian Education, 358 Mountain Road, Englewood, N.J. 07631.
2. Pack O' Fun Treasury of Crafts, Gifts and Toys by Edna and John Clapper. (One of the best sources of ideas ever put out!!!!) All kinds of ideas here and well worth its price; can be obtained sometimes in craft stores or Protestant Sunday School supply stores around the country. If you can't locate it, write to: Hawthorn Books Inc., 260 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016, about $3.00. Pack 0 Fun - an excellent monthly craft magazine. Write to: Pack 0 Fun, 14 Main Street, Park Ridge, Illinois, 60068
3. Creative Handicrafts, 4 vols., Compiled by Eleanor Doan
a) Grades 1, 2, 3, and primaries b) Ages 3, 4, 5, early childhood
c) Grades 4, 5, 6, (Children-Juniors) d) Youth grades 7 and up
These four volumes (about $1.25 each) contain about 100 craft ideas specifically oriented for Church school and camp craft sessions. Regal Books - G/L Publications, Glendale, California 91209
4. Any craft store. Check out local shopping centers around your home which usually have a bookrack with pamphlets or books on specific crafts. They are worth thumbing through, but I would only consider them iftheycontain ideasthat could be done in about 45 minutes - otherwise don't waste your time or money.

Project I
Glass Icons
Materials needed:
Clear plastic film - can be bought in a dime store by the yard - the thicker the better.
Permanent markers - felt tip - El Marko by Flair is a common brand and seems to work ratherwell.
Card board
Metallic wrapping paper - with a pattern is best (wedding, Christmas wrap, or tin foil).
Colored tape - only red - Scotch brand is best - narrow strip.
Cutting knives or sharp scissors. Bottle of white ink.
(This project as shown here can be adapted for stained glass projects, also). Source of patterns - back copies of THE NAC SUNDAY bulletin covers or the excellent Icon Book published by Department of Christian Education, 358 Mountain Road, Englewood, N.J. 07631.
Step 1.    After you have chosen a design of icon - trace it out on tracing paper thin enough so that you can turn it over and still see the pattern.
Step 2.    Using the black marker, trace the reverse pattern on the plastic film. Let it dry for a few minutes.
Step 3.    Color in the traced areas as you see fit. Flesh tones can be approximated by going over in both yellow and orange. Be careful not to go over the black lines too much as there may be a slight
tendency to smudge - especially important in facial area.
Step 4.    Cut cardboard to size of icon. It is best as experience will show later to have all material precut.
Step 5.    Cut piece of foil the same way.
Step 6.    Place transparency, foil, and cardboard together, with the foil between the transparency and the cardboard.
Step 7.    Tape together with colored tape, using it both as a border for the icon and a means of holding the three parts together.
Step 8.    Put hanger on back.
PROJECT 2
Laminated Icons
Materials needed:
Icon prints   
Acrylic paint or woodstain
Sandpaper   
Varnish and cleaner
Wood Hangers
Elmer's Glue   
Cheap paint brushes
(Always be cautious using lacquers as most are flammable. Many hardware stores carry latex or water base lacquers.) It is best in a project of this type to recruit the assistance of a member of the parish who has had experience in working with wood or refinishing furniture.
1.    Cut pieces of wood to exact size of print you are to laminate. Do this ahead of time.
2. Sand down all rough edges.
3.    Paint edges with brown or dark acrylic paint or a wood stain. Let dry and be careful not to get on clothes because it doesn't come off when dry.
4.    Put a thin coat of Elmer's glue on surface of board.
5.    Put icon print glued side and press down to get rid of air bubbles. Rub gently but firmly with the back of a spoon.
6. Optional - cover back of board with paint or stain.
7.    Varnish. I am partial to Valspar, a can varnish. Spray varnishes are a little hard on people with breathing or sinus problems.
8.    Put hanger in back.
Icons prints may be obtained from a number of places:
1.    Holy Transfiguration Monastery 278 Warren Street
Brookline, MA 02148
2.    St. Vladimir's Seminary Bookstore 575 Scarsdale Road
Crestwood, N.Y. 10707
3.    St. Tikhon's Bookstore (Monastery) South Canaan, Pennsylvania
- all have catalogues or can help you out.
Father James McLuckie is a priest in the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese. A graduate of St. Vladimir's Seminary, he was a member of one of the OCEC "Contact" Teacher Training Tours while at the Seminary.