Top 10 Must Have Items for Your Homeschool Craft Cupboard

Summer's here!  The weather is warming up, the school books have been put away (mostly), and our days are slow and easy.  But wait.... no school for the next 10 weeks???

Well, sort of.  While we're taking time off from traditional schooling for a summer break, that doesn't mean that the learning stops in our home.  Nope, we're just getting creative.  

Summer is the perfect time to get creative. And while I love learning handicrafts with the kids, there's also something to be said for just having a well stocked craft cupboard.  From your toddlers to your teens, no one can resist a little freedom to just be creative.  These are ten items that we keep in our homeschool craft cupboard to encourage those crafting moments.

1. Variety of Paper--

  Different stages have introduced different types of paper to our craft cupboard.  From butcher paper for life-size drawings to tracing paper for perfecting our drawings.  Currently with teenagers and a preteen, we go through lots of kite paper and origami paper.  But paper is always an essential.

2. Variety of Writing Utensils-- 

  Over the years, we've tried lots of different writing utensils as well.  We started out with classic crayons, but over time, we've added mechanical pencils, thin markers, chalk pastels, and oil pastels.  All of my kids have gravitated to different mediums at different points in their lives.

3. Buttons--

  This is a funny one, but buttons can be used for so many projects.  From eyes on drawings to creating Christmas ornaments, my kids have come up with some pretty cool projects just from digging in the button jar.

4. Stencils--

  This is a personal favorite of mine.  I'm not the best artist, but stencils help me bring my visions to life.  At least most of the time.  I try to keep a variety on hand... from plants to holidays to animals.

5. Adhesives--

  There are as many adhesives out there as you could ever imagine.  Over the years, we've used our share of scotch tape, glue dots, hot glue, Elmer's glue, velcro dots, and so much more.  

6. Felt--

  We love having felt sheets and scraps around the house for creating everything from dolls to puppet clothing to ornaments... and more!  My favorite is to create Christmas ornaments every year.  This is a great beginning sewing project for elementary kids as well.

7. Foam Sheets--

  Foam sheets are great for creating play scenes for those peg dolls to enter into as well.  Or what about a homemade door mat for your child's bedroom?  Or a sun catcher for the window?  These are nearly as inexpensive as felt, and provide hours of entertainment.

8. Paints--

  Summer is a great time to experiment with different painting techniques and mediums.  Watercolors, for instance, are on my personal experiment list for this season.  But what about acrylics or oil pastels?  Pick up some inexpensive canvases at the Dollar Tree and give your kids a chance to see what they can create.

9. Blank Books--

  Blank books can often be found at the dollar spot in Target or a teacher's supply store.  These books are great for encouraging budding writers.  With the pages already bound, young writers can feel like they're creating real work.  You'll be amazing at the stories that will flow out of them.

10. How to draw books--

  For those creatively challenged individuals like myself, how to draw books give some guidance in getting started.  I love to keep a variety on hand from popular cartoon characters to realistic animals to facial expressions.  Sometimes having that starting point is just enough to get a young artist creating.

What items do you keep on hand to encourage creativity in your kids?