There's no cure like CRAFTS & CANDY

The day had been long, until I walked into the classroom. I saw all the magazines and cardboard laid out and dove right in! We were told to create journals and use our creative freedom of utilizing anything that was in front of us. Once we were prompted to finish up, we were divided and directed to different craft/activity stations. Our first station was creating a mirage with different paints and equipment/materials to do so! Next, was an activity station where we drew pictures on each others backs and tried to recreate them. We then created crazy faces and pictures by only adding one thing between each switch around the table. By the end, the people and pictures were ridiculous! The next station was creating a bracelet! I thoroughly enjoyed this station and got to go home with a new accessory! Last but NOT LEAST was creating candy houses :)) To say I indulged in this activity would be an understatement!

Throughout the activities we were told to think as a CTRS might. With this mindset I was able to get my gears turning for different populations and settings that each of these activities could be utilized with. I really liked the idea of the modgepodge art. It could be utilized to create functional journals as well as scrapbooking. This would help them express important people in their life or their interests.

By the end of the session, I learned that how much I personally get from crafting. It is a much needed outlet of my creativity and self expression. Like I said, it was kind of a crazy week/day and I felt 100% refreshed after crafting. I also learned that I have no self control when it comes to candy :) but... let's be real, i've known that for awhile.

To "strive for excellence," I really found myself putting all my effort into each activity. With the journals, I chose pictures and colors that seemed personal to me. When we were group painting, I felt that I stepped outside the box and used some techniques that may have been a little different, such as sucking up paint and blowing it out the straws. I believe that's why I ended up getting so much out of the day, because I really put my whole self into it.

Let's just say, I got pretty into all the activities.. I didn't want them to end!