Badge: Activity Box Crafts

Making activity boxes for craft projects can be endless. Not only can you do traditional crafts, you can move into digital crafting as well. Start with “Activity Box Basics” and then complete the badge program below to create your own activity box for crafts.

Steps

1. Notes.

As you’re working through brainstorming and creating your activity box, keep good notes. Even items you don’t use in one activity box may be used in another. While you work through the process, ask yourself these questions:

This is a short list of questions. See the List Fun supplement below for more questions.

2. Expertise.

When creating a craft activity box, you should have some knowledge in the type of craft before creating an activity for it. For example, I would be reluctant to make a box for crafts involving polymer clay as my knowledge is very limited. However, rubber stamping and papercrafting – I could teach weekly for a year and not run out of ideas. Brainstorm a list of the crafts you might want to feature in an activity box.

3. Type.

Starting with your list of crafts you are good at, which might work well in a box? Some, like stained glass, may not work well in a box. You could include instructions, but materials and tools would be difficult to incorporate. You might also want to break down your craft into smaller parts. For example, I would break paper crafts into everything from artist trading cards to zendoodle. Then, each craft-type box would be easier to create.

4. Materials.

You can determine your activity box by the craft materials you have available. Yarn is plentiful. Rubber stamps can be reused. Colored glue sticks might not be as easily found. You may need to adapt your projects by what is available to purchase locally.

NOTE: Craft popularity often comes in cycles. If you can’t find materials locally, search online. For example, I order many of my paper crafting supplies online. If I’m looking for new techniques and tools, I surf a variety of sites based in England, where many paper crafts are still popular.

5. Tools.

Another way to determine what to include in your activity box is by tools. If you create a box to punch circles to make a caterpillar, you could add other animals in that use the circle punch. This would minimize the number of tools you need to have available while allowing you to have multiple projects in the box. Keep this in mind as you build your activity box.

NOTE: To make it easier to create your craft activity boxes, create a list of crafting items you have available. This will give you a starting point when making your boxes.

6. Age.

Some crafts may be difficult for various age groups or abilities. Manual dexterity and understanding complicated instructions / steps might be beyond younger users. For example, I try to limit using scissors with kids in first grade and lower as well as older people (think nursing home age). Manual dexterity isn’t high. So, I try to adapt these by either pre-cutting items or doing work with punches so they can still enjoy the process, not the part that will frustrate them.

7. Theme.

A theme, color or other items for all the projects with a box can make it seem like they belong together. Look at the list below and brainstorm crafts you might include in the listed themes.

8. Programs.

You may be following a specific badge program that you want to complete with a box. For example, if you are doing a badge for making dolls, you would want to cover all aspects of the badge program. If not, you need to note what you are covering and what you left out. It gives the box user the ability to expand on your box to complete the program.

9. Open-ended.

You may just want to make a list of random items (recycled, nature, etc.) and provide open-ended craft ideas so that the kids can be more creative and not limited to materials in the box. You can also provide materials and a starting point. Basically, you’re enabling them to create from the materials with their imaginations. Open-ended crafts can be art projects including mixed media, art journals, artist trading cards, jewelry and more.

NOTE: With open-ended crafting, you can choose to let your kids experiment without you. It’s a great way to encourage creativity.

10. Vagabond.

As you complete craft projects and SWAPs, collect the left over items in a vagabond box. You may see this box as a collection area for scraps, but it can be an activity box by itself. See the supplement below for more information on this type of collection / recycling box.

11. Printables.

Printables such as coloring and zendoodle sheets are an easy activity box item. The simplest way to do this is to print and place a sheet in a page protector. A second sheet with information about making copies and basic steps can be put on the back. These can be collected in a binder. What other craft items might you be able to print and share?

12. Contents.

Create your forms, instructions and other items you need to include in your activity box. Gather all the items you plan to put in the box. Make a separate pile of everything you’re expecting your user to provide. Missing anything? Create, find or purchase it! Make any adjustments as you gather and prepare for your final box.

13. Test.

Before including a project in the box, do it yourself with the items in the box. Be aware if you run into the office for scissors, the kitchen for water or anything else not included, you need to add it in your activity box contents or “to provide” list. Don’t rely on what you remember after you’re done with the box, but actually check your paperwork as you go. Alternatively, you can ask someone else to test the box for you. That way, everything is new for them and they’re more likely to catch mistakes and missing items.

NOTE: After making your final project, I recommend taking photos of it to include in your box or including the actual project in the box as a sample for reference.

14. Improve.

You can make your box better by adjusting per your testing phase. Including a feedback form will allow others to help you with more ideas to improve your box over time. Keep track of these forms and periodically review your box.

Badge and Supplement Files

Member Level

0EP_B_BPG_AB Craft_2in_12up_MS1_larajla — generic badge printable
0EP_BLIST_AB Craft_MS1_larajla — badge items per membership level
0EP_BSET0_AB Craft_MS1_larajla —badge set and related badges
0EP_SUPP0_AB Craft_Journal_MS1_larajla — badge journal
0EP_SUPP0_AB Craft_Planner_MS1_larajla — badge planner
0EP_SUPPL_AB Craft_MS1_larajla — supplements currently available per membership level

Supplement Fun

SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Activity Box_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Activity Box
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Artist Trading Cards_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Artist Trading Cards
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Backgrounds_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Backgrounds
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Cards_Greeting_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Cards, Greeting
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Christmas_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Christmas
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Color Fun_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Color Fun
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Color Sheets_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Color Sheets
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Enrichment Project_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Enrichment Project
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Enrichment Project Supps_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Enrichment Project Supplements
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Ephemera_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Ephemera
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Fairies_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Fairies
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Fathers Day_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Father’s Day
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Halloween_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Halloween
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Harry Potter_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Harry Potter
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Independence Day_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Independence Day
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Mothers Day_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Mother’s Day
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Night_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Night
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Paper Beads_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Paper Beads
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Paper Craft Techniques_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Paper Craft Techniques
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Paper Crafts_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Paper Crafts
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Photo Crafts_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Photo Crafts
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Punching_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Punching
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Quilling_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Quilling
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Simple Bracelets_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Simple Bracelets
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Teabag Folding_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Teabag Folding
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Thanksgiving_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Thanksgiving
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Totemic Sculpture_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Totemic Sculpture
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Valentines Day_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Valentine’s Day
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Vision Board_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Vision Board
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Zendoodle_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Zendoodle
SUPP_AB Fun_EPBS_Zine_Minibook_MS2_larajla — Enrichment Project Badge Set: Zine / Minibook
SUPP_AB Fun_Idea_Color Sheet Binder_MS2_larajla — Activity Box Idea: Color Sheets / Binder
SUPP_AB Fun_Idea_GS Paper Bag Puppets_MS2_larajla — Activity Box Idea: Girl Scout Paper Bag Puppets
SUPP_Form Fun_AB Checkout_MS2_larajla — Form Fun: Activity Box Checkout
SUPP_Form Fun_AB Feedback_MS2_larajla — Form Fun: Activity Box Feedback
SUPP_Form Fun_AB Updates_MS2_larajla — Form Fun: Activity Box Updates
SUPP_Instruct Fun_AB Create a Box_MS2_larajla — Instruct Fun: Create an Activity Box
SUPP_Instruct Fun_AB Supplements as AB_MS2_larajla — Instruct Fun: Supplements for Activity Boxes
SUPP_List Fun_AB Craft Questions_MS2_larajla — List Fun: Questions when Creating a Craft Activity Box
SUPP_List Fun_Vagabond Box_MS2_larajla — List Fun: Possible contents for Vagabond Box

NOTE: Actual digital activity box contents and supporting information can be found on the Membership Site under “Activity Box Fun.” This information will be updated online, but not included in this badge program.

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Badge: Activity Box Crafts

Steps

Badge and Supplement Files

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