Creative Charlie

I've just discovered a great website that sells art and craft projects for children aged 3-6 so I thought I'd tell you all about them!

Creative Charlie art and craft projects are designed by Kerri Sellens, a mum of two and an artist with over 10 years experience of running art workshops for children in schools, galleries and museums. Each project contains everything you need to complete a variety of fun and stimulating artistic activities with your child. Easy to follow instruction sheets, along with all of the necessary art equipment, are included. All of the project contents are contain child-friendly and age-appropriate materials developed with the environment in mind so all of the paper and card used throughout is recycled and, where possible, contents and packaging are reusable rather than disposable. By using these materials, Creative Charlie provides an exciting way to introduce environmental issues to young children.

I think the Rainy Day Box is a great resource for all families and the Practical Pre-School Awards agree as it was announced the overall winner of the Toys and Games category in 2008.

Included in the box are:

25 sheets of recycled sugar paper,
5 sheets of recycled card and several sheets of wallpaper.
A sheet of star stickers
Activity sheets to make a mobile, make butterflies, make a pom-pom pet and make puppets.
3 paper doilies
3 paper plates
3 spoons
3 pegs
4 lolly pop sticks
A bag of pom poms
A bag of feathers
A bag of sparkles
A pot of glitter
Some scraps of material
A box of beeswax crayons, made without the use of chemical wax.
4 paints which are water based, biodegradable, and phalate free.
A pot of washable glue, which like the paint, is wheat, gluten and nut oil free (ensuring that children with these allergies can play safely).
A paint palette
A paint brush
A glue spreader
A pair of scissors - (and if you let them know when you order you can have a box with left handed scissors in)
A roll of tape
A recycled pencil
A window mount to present the finished art work
A stencil to practice writing letters and words

And

A kids apron made by a woman's cooperative in the Philippines from recycled juice packs is also included, which will protect your clothes and can continue to be used for future art and craft activities.

All of that for just £29.99 (plus P&P) - just think of the hours of fun and crafty makes you can do with all of that.

Along with the great creative product range, the website is also regularly updated with ideas for creative recycling, and lots of other inspiring things to do and places to go, plus there is a new blog which looks to be inspiring.