I don't have a great track record of doing crafts with my kids.

There.  I said it.

We do plenty of fun things together, but crafting + children + momma has, in the past, been a recipe for some stress around here.  I don't like this about my parenting, and I want to improve (read: loosen up).  One of my children is especially creative, and I know it's in his best interest for me to get over my control-freak hang-ups about having things "just so".

I confess that I get a little overwhelmed at the messes generated by a crafty day (or afternoon.  Or hour).  And when you’re dealing with multiple children, adjusting the same craft to more than one age level can be a challenge. 

But no more.  I’m committed to diving into the glue and paint headfirst with my kids.  Especially with the school-free days of summer looming, I've been doing some browsing around the blogosphere lately for some ideas.  I've been interested to find moms writing about crafting with their kids and providing some specific ideas and resources.

Here are some of the things I've been finding:

Amanda of Soule Mama is a mom committed to exposing her children to as much creativity as possible.  She literally wrote the book on it, The Creative Family.  See this post, in which she helps her son with an embroidery project.

Patricia Mayville-Cox of Green Daily has some ideas specifically eco-friendly ideas.  These earth Rice Krispie treats are just too much fun.

B&B Ex Libris has offered up a book review of the book Making Stuff For Kids.  She writes:

The brilliance of it is where it calls out to parents and children alike: pick me up!!! Be creative!! Get messy! Don't stress!

*deep breathing*  I can do this.  And I think I'm buying that book.

Design Mom guest author Maria writes an excellent and practical piece on relaxing a little where kids' crafts are concerned. She gives specific pointers about stocking supplies, and helping younger kids (use tape instead of glue, whenever possible).

Kids' Craft Weekly is a free weekly newsletter with children's crafting ideas specifically designed to be inexpensive and simple.  I'm really impressed with the "do-ability" of this site.  My kids are going to love these stained-glass windows.  And these patty-pan flowers are adorable.

Instructables.com ("the world's biggest show and tell") has an entire section devoted to kid-friendly crafts.  Check out the paper wallet!  My pre-teens would love to give this a try.

Step one in my new Craft Mom Era begins this weekend.  We're going to do some art on canvas for local art festival next month, in which local children are invited to make their own presentations. 

We can do this. 

Shannon Lowe is a BlogHer Contributing Editor (Mommy/Family), and she also writes at Rocks In My Dryer.  She is hyperventilating a little at the thought of glue in the carpet, but she's pushing through it.