Brownie crafts HELP!!!

[Skramble]

Help I have been volunteered to help out at the brownies with some crafts, they want to do some halloweeen stuff soon, but I am going along for a "chat" about what this will involve, but have a feeling I may be expected to do some crafts that night too.

Trouble is I don't know what they have in the way of materials, and they are a rather erm lively new pack so nothing to complicated messy or takes longer than 10 mins I think to start with.

So any ideas welcome as I think I have been oversold if you like .

[avenanap]

Pom poms are always a good idea. They can finish them at home. Sewing things made from felt, the needles are blunt so they won't hurt themselves. Collages, decorations.

[Skramble]

I feel pom poms may take too long and they won't have a finished item, don't know what they have in the way of sewing materials but good idea for future nights.

Baker ross may not be able to solve this weeks problem as brownies is in a couple of nights and I have don't really want to have to finance it all myself, will come out of funds. I will have anothe look at Baker ross for ideas for Christmas. I ahve a feeling the halloween stuff will have a very limited brief as it is for a competition.

[Nbg]

You could do paper lanterns for halloween. With the help of google images of course.

Broomsticks, witches hats, baking?, carving with potatoes? or is that a bit dangerous for brownie age kids?

[Skramble]

Thanks but not looking for Halloween yet, just a nice simple activity I can do this week if I am sprung upon. Other than white paper I don't know what they have.

[mascarpone]

The one thing I did with my Brownies that kept them quiet (!) was give them biscuits to ice and decorate. Easy to adapt ie orange icing for halloween, yellow icing for Easter etc, lots of little decs for the top ie choc drops, icing spiders, silver balls etc.

However, UNDER NO CIRCS LET THEM EAT THEM IN THE MEETING! You have to put lots of food colouring in to make it a good colour and they all go bonkers!

An easy thing we also did were posters (ie help the environment, nature etc) by cutting up loads of old magazines and writing a slogan on them etc

I have just made felt necklaces with my Rainbows. Would probably be more successful with Brownies to be honest as they are a bit older. If you want the instructions, let me know.

[Skramble]

Thanks I like the idea of biscuits and the added advice .

Still looking for a stand in quick activity for this week involving plain paper and if I am lucky some colouring pencils. Doesn't have to be too spectacular anything to keep them interested for 10 -15mins.

[Skramble]

Sorry should clarify I have not been involved in the Brownies yet as I often work that night, they did have a leader that did crafts but has left, they are all claiming to have no ability . MIl who helps out sung my praises and volunteered me. I know a lot of the girls through my daughter but it really will be an ice breaker activity.

I used to have loads of ideas and books etc when I was a nursery nurse but mind is blank now and I am concious that it is a slighty older age group.

[CuppaTeaJanice]

Felt worms are always good - just a tube of fabric with a pipe cleaner inside and a couple of stick-on eyes.

[MadBadandDangeroustoKnow]

You could have a go at making a Brownie Promise tree (I think I got this idea from Guiding magazine or the website).

You need to draw and cut out a reasonably large tree trunk and branches - I used old wallpaper which was knocking around at home but got the most artistic Brownie to draw it for me. Then each Brownie makes a leaf shape on which she writes how she has kept her Brownie promise this week (helped her mum, was kind to her siblings, tried hard at school etc etc). They can then attach their leaf to the tree - with blu-tak or with Pritt if you don't want to re-use it.

My Brownies loved it. It's creative and it's very on-message for Brownies!

[Skramble]

Felt worms sound interesting how do you make the tube?

Don't know if I could do that this week though.

I need a book called 101 things do do with a sheet of A4 .

[Orinoco]

Message withdrawn

[JackieNo]

Not specifically Brownie-orientated, but this site has lots of ideas for simple crafts.

[Skramble]

Hmm promise tree sounds promising. I could just about manage the tree myself and get the brownies to do the leaves.

I was a bit concerned when browm owl said she would discuss what they are allowed to do don't know if she meant in general or for the competition, I know there was a stapler incident and they are now removed from use.

[KatyMac]

You can make cheerleading pom-poms out of newspapers

Lots of tearing & sellotape but quite quick & easy

[Skramble]

I could buy some pipe cleaners as there are a few ides invlving them I could stretch to that.

[Skramble]

Thanks that site is now in my favourites quite a lot of ideas there.

Lots of ideas now, I probably won't have to do anything now

[MadBadandDangeroustoKnow]

My Brownies also like recycled fashion - give them a heap of bin bags, newspapers, tin foil and anything else you've got lying around, some sellotape and string and see what they can create!

[Skramble]

I found a template for harvest angels. Removed the pumpkin from the design so it is not too halloween themed and will print off for girls to colour and stick together, I can have it in my bag ready and use them another time if not this week.

[serin]

Give them a newspaper, roll of tape and some scissors and get them to build a tower. The highest wins, get them to do it in small groups (?3's) as an icebreaker.

[Skramble]

Oh Serin that is a good standby activity, i will put it in my new arts and crafts folder.

[JanieK]

I had no idea there were so many brownie leaders/helpers on mumsnet. Where are you all from? I'm from southside of Glasgow and have 28 girls in the pack. We're very lucky to have 8 leaders too

[PurpleOne]

When I was helping out at Rainbows, one of the most popular crafty things I arranged was to make bird feeders.
We collected pine cones, stuffed them with lard, rolled them with seeds and honey and then tied string on the top of it.

The girls loved making them, especially the honey and seedy bits, and it's just the right time of year as it's getting colder, birds need food for the winter...so a cue for a talk about animals and hibernation

Hope that helps!

[MadBadandDangeroustoKnow]

janiek - From sarf London. I am Brown Owl. Have 1 assistant guider, 3 unit helpers, 1 DofE volunteer and 20 Brownies. Shall we start a roll call thread?