Christmas Fair craft stall

[doglover]

In a mad moment of optimism I volunteered to run a Xmas craft stall at our school fair. It needs to be something where children of varying ages can come and 'make' without costing megabucks (probably about £2 max). I've got a Baker Ross catalogue but just wondered if any of you have had experience of anything similar and would like to impart any words of wisdom?! I'm an organised person but not necessarily hugely 'arty', if you know what I mean. Please help!

yes and its hell on earth and you will be an unpaid babysitter

borrow a laminator, buy some calendars - single A4 page and provide pens, stickies etc and then laminate them

let them do special christmas cards

paint a mug etc will be too expensive

good luck

This is the WORST stall - the PTA must have been rubbing their hands in glee when you volunteered.
Try to steer clear of fiddly shiny things that you stick on cards - you will be sweeping up and unsticking them from tables, chairs and the floor hours after everyone has gone home.
I'll try and remember some of better crafts that we have tried.
Good luck!

Message withdrawn

fridge magnets?
also quite cheap to prime some cheap plant pots, and get them to decorate them

cut out some christmas shpes with bigshot/sizzix, and let them glue onto card blanks. add some pens, voila.
or stamping?
but definitly no glittery stick on bits.

Decorating baubles with glitter and paint pens

laminate pics to make xmas decs?

Yes I remember doing the baubles. The paint pens are expensive but easy to use on the plastic. Ours chose a couple of sweets to put in them and the tinsel to hang it with.
I think the baubles came from baker ross.
And no mess at the end!!!
(Shivers in horror at the reindeer food post)

cheap canvases from 'the works' and hand/foot prints?
painting stones for paperweights?
how about pieces of A4 card they can draw on and then those little calendars that you can then stick on?
little glass candle holders from somewhere like asda and glass paints?or wine glasses if pressies for parents?dont know how practicalbut they are v.cheap in tescos.

I'm now positively quaking! What have I let myself in for?! Keep those suggestions coming, please!

I am now putting my ex-treasurer's hat on.
Don't allow the little darlings to sit there and hog all the space for more than 10 mins max. This needs to be an efficient conveyor belt of a stall.
You are not only stopping other children from coming along and spending money, but if the parents are staying with them that means the whole family are not spending money elsewhere!

Just read that back and it sounds pretty ruthless. Sorry!

Hi, Don't panic Im sure it will be lots of fun. How about saving up all your finished toilet rolls, pre-painting them red or white (so the messy bit is done and dry before you go) and providing big bags of cotton wool or pre-cut material so the children can make snowmen, Father Christmas, Angels etc and use thier imaginations. You could then display them or let them take them home.

I think toilet rolls arn't allowed anymore for craft sessions though. Because of where they came from etc.

I never thought of that but in all honesty, the same could be said about anything really as who knows what people could do with things if they are that way inclined. We live in a sad world!

Our craft stall this year will include :

Hama Beads!
Plaster of Paris Models for the kids to paint (gather as many moulds from parents at school)
Bracelets