Easy crafts which can sell? - Learning disability craft group!

[mioxx]

Hi all,

I am a support worker for adults who have additional learning support needs. I run a little group which does different arts and crafts- it used to be more focused on fun and personal enjoyment.. however with council cuts we are having to change our service to make it more sustainable and to learn and develop the skills of the people who use our group.

We aren't looking to make a tonne of money from our crafts, but I'm looking for some ideas or something that I could learn to do and teach the group members to do, so nothing too complex. We have collected a lot of jars and would be keen to use these for something, my thoughts were different glass painting and decorating and perhaps selling these on filled with something, or as a candle holder, small vase?

I like to think I'm crafty, but I'm looking for new ideas I wouldn't have thought of before. Any ideas would be welcome [smiles]

Thank you!

Ah there's a shop local to me which sells things made by people with learning disabilities...they do lovely cushion covers, bunting and simple bags in addition to lavender sachets and dolls which I think the lady who runs the classes makes as they're very advanced.

Jars might come in useful for things such as snowman soup near Christmas..

Marbling (on paper) is easy. People buy it to use as gift wrap/craft paper.

Polystyrene tile printed paper (like Lino printing but can draw design on tile with a pencil)

Rag rugs (could be completed individually or in groups)

Printed greetings cards.

Crocheted flower broaches.

The jars could be filled with candle gel.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=candle+gel&client=ms-opera-mini-iphone&channel=new&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=QU0HVe-1MquP7Aazk4H4Ag&ved=0CCgQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=658&dpr=2

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I shall research these and see if they will be suitable!
I was keen to make printed tote bags as i think they will be nice. Some of the people I support don't recognise that less is more and much prefer to fit on as much of something to every available space. For that reason cardmaking is not a good option.

Candle gel... what form does that come in? Where could it be bought? I have seen the candles and never thought it was something you could do yourself!

You can get the gel from craft shops. They often sell it in candle making kits. However I've just looked the method up and you do have to heat it till v.hot, so it might not be suitable. Objects can be embedded in the gel as decoration, so that perhaps could be the design aspect, with plain gel poured in.

With the jars make tealight holders. Cover the outside of the jar with pva glue mixed with a little water then stick on coloured tissue then cover again with pva mixture. We make these with my Boys' Brigade group and use as Mother's Day presents.

A similar project near us sells decoupaged old furniture. Chairs covered in maps, shelves covered in comics, etc.

Quite good as gets round the less is more issue - with decoupage it's all got to be covered and you can't do it too many times

Years ago my parents worked with adults with SEN, there was a craft/plant shop on site, they also had a craft workshop.

I remember that they used to do quite a bit of simple sewing, draught excluders, peg bags, simple soft toys. They also used to get fabric and (clean) rags donated , the rags were cut up and used for stuffing or making rag rugs. I also seem to remember that they made wool rugs as well (the canvas hook through sort). At some point there was a knitting machine too.

It was all very teachable and simple. I am trying to remember some of the other things that they used to make.

My auntie does a lot of craft with elderly group she runs and I help her out sometimes
The best website i have found is craftinfo

Nice simple ideas

Grasshead people are good and cheap.. Tights and seed etc
Light bulbs- flick paint on for a marble effect
Hairgrips - kirby grips - flick nail polish on - nice for children
Plain cheap door mats (tesco) - use stencil and spray paint over designs
Source cheap candle sticks - frames from charity shops and spray with funky colours from rustins

I will think of more ...

Wow thanks so much! Great ideas! Will do some research on these [smiles]

You can crochet sleeves for the jars to make candle holders which are really effective. Look on ravelry. com for patterns.

Popped back on to say how rubbish it is that you have to make it about the money, like the fun and friendship means nothing. Grr.

Also remembered the place near us does some combined classes/workshops so they are for people of any ability which is nice - and makes a few £££.

Aaaah, I fondly remember my days as a support worker for adults with learning disabilities. I loved it!

We did some crafts....

• painting/ stencilling designs on to tote bags
• felt is great, making felt decorations, as you can cut out the pieces and then they can be stuck together with fabric glue
• making handmade greeting cards always goes down well, again you can use pre cut shapes, ribbons, sequins etc and they can be stuck on
• pot plants sell well, you can plant seedling and then spray or paint designs on to the pots
• simple iPhone or iPad cases made out of fabric or felt or even knitted/ crocheted
• homemade bird feeders always used to sell well and so easy to make, there are loads of tutorials online, if I can remember we used peanut butter mixed with seeds, make it into a ball and then thread twine through so it can be hung up from a tree.....

Hope this helps!

If you go to Pinterest and put in the search engine ideas for glass jars they will have some great ideas there.

If you have problems with people wanting to put too much on a card, give them a smaller square/rectangle of card to decorate that can then be stuck onto a greeting card. They can then fill up all the blank space but still not fill the entire card.

The same applies for a decorated bag if you have someone who can sew the decorated squares on afterwards.

How about this...

www.gatheringbeauty.com/2014/06/diy-stamped-clay-bowls_18.html#.U_4TFEj9l7-

you could add a bit of varnish or mod podge to give it a shiny finish. I'd buy something like this and actually the steps should be quite straightforward?

Similar to owlcapone's idea is to get them to just decorate with brightly coloured paints to cover a bit of thin card, fairly randomly (perhaps blowing with straws or paint flicks really covering the card could look good) and then get a stamp cutter of a butterfly and use that that to cut from the decorated card, and stick those onto the main card. I'll try and have a look for an example on Pinterest!

Pinterest is your friend!

Just off to work now but will come back with ideas - used to run a crafting group in day care centre for elderly & we used to sell the work.

Tote bag....

www.clumsycrafter.com/2014/01/diy-heart-tote-bag/

Sort of thing I was talking about before...
www.pinterest.com/pin/323625923195006342/

pinterest.com/pin/82824080622537918/

pinterest.com/pin/210402613816501567/

Or Pom pom bookmarks. Attach them to some card and they could look quite saleable!

Thanks again, some really great ideas. The clay bowls look amazing! I had considered doing the tote bags but wasn't sure if it would be too tricky. The idea for the card making using small squares could be good, we already own much of the materials we would need for that.
The peg magnets could also be really good. Making different felt crafts would be really good too!

Thanks again all [smiles]

glass jars - using glue & coloured tissue paper you can make 'stain glass tea lights. tried to attach image
can also paint jars using PVA glue, coloured with food colouring - gives a 'sea glass' type effect - very pretty.

using PVA & tissue paper & balloons - papier maches bowls - lovely & sticky and you don't have to worry about painting them as the tissue is already coloured. You can also use cotton fabric, pva glue & balloons - again bowl is already coloured. these need to be thoroughly dried in a low oven / airing cupboard. have tried to attach image
look on Pinterest under Crafts - there's so much you'll be spoilt for choice.

Good luck and have fun