Back to Basics (with Cat's Cradle from Klutz)

Something about summer always makes me go back to the simple fun of my childhood, whether it’s skipping rope down the sidewalk, drawing on driveways or blowing bubbles in the backyard. Maybe it’s because, when it comes to outdoor play, simplicity rules. Or maybe I get nostalgic because, I think we can all agree, summer vacation is one of the best things about being a kid.

With a long weekend at the cottage ahead, I was reminded of the fun my little sis and I had playing car games on the drive up a couple of years back. So, I decided to break out Cat’s Cradle, the most classic kids game of all, for another spin this past weekend.

I know it seems simple--just a piece of string and some instructions--but with this little book you can have a whole lot of fun! Whether you are teaching little hands how to play (when all they want to do it gallop like a pony), racing against the clock for Cat’s Cradle mastery or using leftover Pom Pom Puppies yarn to stage a giant-sized game, this summer game will always be among the best!

Get Outside and Happy Canada Day! (with Chalk the Block by Klutz)

In my free time, you're most likely to find me hunched over my desk, crafting up a storm, scissors and glue in hand. But when the weather turns sunny and summer is here, it's all about being outside! 

This Canada Day weekend, I grabbed a copy of Chalk the Block and took my creativity outdoors, to spend some time in the sun, doing what I do best.

With some great ideas from Klutz on how to maximize my sidewalk chalk play, no crack or crevice was safe from my mad doodling! This weekend, everyone will feel the spirit of summer and some Canada Day pride when they pass by my house.

Looking for more great ways to play? Why not throw a Sidewalk Chalking, Balloon-Twisting front yard carnival, like I did one Canada Day past. Hopscotch and skill tests, balloon animals and a roaring chalk rollercoaster, our crafty little carnival was a total blast!

Whatever you do, hope you have a very happy (and hopefully crafty) Canada day!

Paper Flying Dragons Photo Diary

I must admit, when Paper Flying Dragons first landed (no pun intended) on my Klutz radar, I couldn’t really get into it. I mean, I love fantasy as much as the next nerd girl; I just wasn’t sure that would translate to paper-dragon play.

On a weekend trip to the cottage with all of my family around, it seemed like the best time to break out the book and rope some cousins into playing with me. My aunt and her two boys seemed totally on board, so we set up at the coffee table and got started. As we flipped through the pages of paper pop-out dragons, I started to feel some excitement. I picked out a purple hatchling, folded her up, then headed outside to put her in flight.

We hopped up on the deck to give us some height, then launched our dragons clear across the beach. These little beauties flew like a dream! As we watched our jewel-toned dragons soar through the sky, I started to feel a chill, so I popped inside to grab a sweater. And what did I find but a few more players at the coffee table, whipping up some paper dragons of their own.

Turns out our whirling, swirling spectacle had sparked some serious interest, and it wasn’t long before the whole family was outside, playing paper dragon battles, target practice, and racing up and down the beach. I wondered to myself how I ever doubted the power of flying paper dragons!

Taking the Long Way Home (With Cat's Cradle & Me vs. You)

 

Every summer, when I was a child, my parents would ship my sister and I up to the cottage for a month to hang with the grandparents and soak up the sun before heading back to school. Those summers at the cottage are some of my favourite childhood memories!

But all that fun came at a price, and that price was a six hour car ride…each way! Oh, the hours my sister and I spent, listening to the same couple of cassettes on repeat and singing at the top of our lungs (sorry dad!). Now that I’m a little older, it’s a price I would gladly pay but, boy, when I was little it was just the worst!
 

So, this year, as we headed up to the cottage for a long weekend trip, I packed some Klutz kits to keep us occupied and spare my dad’s exhausted ear drums. We squashed ourselves into the car and, between naps, pit stops and snack breaks, we had a back seat blast!

First was an epic showdown  of Me Versus You, red versus blue, and sister versus sister for the title of Queen of the Car Ride! We popped apart the two pads and flew through page after page of classic pencil games—word searches, scavenger hunts, jumbles, and more—smiling smugly at our wins and suffering graciously through defeat. And when there were no more games to be played—this was a six hour car ride, after all—we declared a winner and decided to move on to co-operative play time.

Who doesn’t love a good game of Cat’s Cradle? There is nothing more satisfying than remembering that magic combination of pinches and tugs that transforms one stringthing into the next. And with illustrated instructions for five different string figures and a sunny-coloured, tie-dyed loop of string, it’s as easy as a summer breeze! 

By the time we arrived, it felt like no time had passed. These low-tech boredom busters had whiled away the time and all that was left were memories of crazy competition, wild giggles, a Cat’s Cradle crown, and tons of road trip fun!