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Clear out the summer cobwebs with a lesson in creativity your grandchildren are sure to enjoy

As summer winds down, back-to-school season arrives, with its robust mixture of excitement and trepidation. Here are three craft projects that can help your little ones get in the educational spirit and create tools to get organized.

For Toddlers and Preschoolers:

ROBOT, ALIEN, OR BEAR REFRIGERATOR MAGNETS
Turn the front of your 'fridge into an art gallery. Your grandchild is the curator; you're the docent.

Materials:

• Three adhesive-backed magnetic disks
• Colored card stock, two different colors
• Colored construction paper
• White craft glue
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Circular dish, preferably with a 2 1/4-inch diameter
• A quarter
• A half dollar
• Two buttons for the robot, four for the alien, and three for the bear

Instructions:

For the Robot:

1. Cut a 2-inch square from the cardstock.
2. Peel the backing from the magnet and attach it to the center of the back of the square.
3. On the front of the square, glue on two buttons for eyes.
4. Cut a thin rectangle of construction paper and glue it on as a mouth.

For the Alien:

1. Use the circular dish to trace a 2 1/4-inch diameter circle from the cardstock. Cut out the circle.
2. Peel the backing from the magnet and attach it to the center of the back of the circle.
3. In a contrasting color of card stock, cut two thin rectangles to create the antennae and another shorter rectangle to create the mouth. Glue the antennae to extend from the back of the circle. Glue the mouth onto the front.
4. Glue on two buttons for eyes and another two of a different color at the ends of the antennae.

For the Bear:

1. Use the circular dish to trace a 2 1/4-inch diameter circle from the cardstock. Cut out the circle.
2. Peel the backing from the magnet and attach it to the center of the back of the circle.
3. Use the quarter to trace two small circles for ears from the same card stock. Cut out the circles. Glue them to the large circle (as shown).
4. On a contrasting color of construction paper, use the half dollar to trace a circle for a mouth. Glue that circle to the large circle (as shown).
5. Glue on two buttons for the eyes and another of a different color for the nose of the bear. To make the eyes pop, you can layer the buttons, as shown, with bigger buttons under smaller buttons.

For Grade-Schoolers:

FELT PENCIL CASE
This handy case will transport writing implements in style.

Materials:

• 9-inch x 12-inch sheet of colored felt
• Embroidery thread
• Embroidery needle
• Scissors
• Iron
• Assorted colored buttons, foam craft letters, glitter, or other decorative elements
• White craft glue

Instructions:

1. Lay the felt out vertically and fold up 4 1/2 inches so that there is 2 3/4 inches of felt extending above the folded portion. (The fold takes up 1/4 inch of felt.)
2. Fold the extended top piece over so that you have a piece that measures 4 1/2 inches x 9 inches.
3. Iron the folded edges so that you create crisp seams.
4. Thread a needle with embroidery thread and knot the end.
5. Beginning one-quarter inch from the side edge of the pouch, stitch up one side. Make sure to start your sewing on the inside of the felt so that your knot will not show. End the stitches when you come to the fold-over flap.
6. Do the same on the other side.
7. Mark a spot at the center of the top flap that is 1/2 inch above the lower edge. Sew a button on here.
8. Directly below that button on the front of the pouch sew another button. There should be approximately 1/2 inch between the two buttons.
9. Take another piece of embroidery thread and tie it on the thread holding the top button to the felt. Leave it about 8 inches long so you can wrap it around the lower button as a closure.
10. On the front side of the pouch, glue on decorative buttons, foam letters, glitter, or whatever else you'd like to customize your pencil carrier.

For Older Grandchildren:

CUSTOMIZED CORK BOARD
A colorful way to display work and inspiration.

Materials:

• 11-inch x 14-inch picture frame with a wide edge (must include a backing)
• Two 12-inch x 12-inch corkboard squares, thick enough to hold thumbtacks
• Matte knife
• Straight edge
• Cutting surface
• White craft glue
• Paintbrush
• Orange, red, and yellow acrylic paint
• Masking tape
• Orange, red, and yellow buttons
• Thumbtacks

Instructions:

1. Remove the backing piece from the frame.
2. With the matte knife, trim the two cork pieces so that the seam between them runs down the center of the backing piece and all the edges are flush.
3. Glue the cork onto the backing piece and set aside to dry.
4. Paint the front and sides of the frame orange.
5. While you're waiting for the paint to dry, glue red, yellow, and orange buttons onto the tops of thumbtacks. Allow to dry thoroughly.
6. Once the orange paint has dried, run the masking tape in a straight line down the length of the frame.
7. Leave a space of 1 1/2 inches and then run another piece of masking tape parallel to the first. Continue this pattern along the width of the frame.
8. Paint the space between the first two tape pieces red and allow it to dry.
9. Paint the next space between the tape yellow. Continue to paint stripes of red and yellow across the frame, in between the tape.
10. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly and then gently peel the tape away from the frame.
11. If you have any uneven edges on your stripes, you can touch them up freehand.
12. Once the paint and glue are dry, put the cork covered backing piece into the frame, stick in your button tacks and get organized!

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