Looking for some activities to keep the little ones entertained or hoping to hone your own skills ? Then this is the page for you.
Many of the staff from Kildare Libraries often incorporate activities, arts and crafts with their storytimes or often as standalone projects. As we were receiving many videos and projects from our staff we decided to create a page just for all these fun activities and hobbies so have a scroll and feel free to click in to any that take your fancy. we would love to see the finished products you can send your pictures in to our Facebook group or even our Instagram page or post a comment here and let us know how you got on.
Activities, Arts & Crafts
Great Regular Events for Children at Kilcock Library
Our wonderful Reader in Residence for Kilcock Library is Emma-Jane Leeson and she has some intriguing regular events for different age groups. Emma-Jane is the writer of the beloved Johnny Magory books so who better to lead literary events for children! Read Along Session with Author and Reader-in-Residence Emma-Jane Leeson For children aged 5-7 yearsTuesdays…
Celebrate World Book Day with Leixlip Library’s Kite Making Workshop
By Emma, Leixlip Library Thursday 3rd March 3pm (6–8-year-olds) and 4pm (8 -10-year-olds) Leixlip Library Branch To celebrate World Book Day and all our favourite bookish characters Leixlip Library are holding two free after school Go Fly Your Kite arts and crafts events where we would love some of our younger members to join us…
Even More Family Events Happening This Weekend!
Festive Fun with Lámh workshop Friday 10th December at 6.30pm via Zoom This December enjoy Family time at Kildare Libraries with Deirdre ~ Senior Speech & Language Therapist & Lámh Tutor. Join us on Zoom in the comfort of your home for a fun filled Christmas evening with Sing & Sign Christmas songs, a special…
Tons of Family Fun With Your Library this December!
Every December, libraries in Kildare host a special programme of events that gets all the family involved, called Family Time at Your Library. The staff from each of the main libraries have been working hard putting together a mix of online events for you for this years programme. There’s even two as Gaeilge in-person nature…
Even more Online Library Events in November
Events For Children Weekly Story-time with Maynooth Library Staff – Fridays 10am / 2-5 years old Join the Staff of Maynooth Library for some storytelling and nursery rhymes! Please be aware thata parent/guardian must be present for the duration of the event.Booking via Eventbrite. Friday 05th November.Friday 12th November Friday 19th NovemberFriday 26th November Gymboree – Music for…
Lots of Great Children’s Events in October at the Children’s Book Festival
The Children’s Book Festival will be celebrated throughout October in Kildare Libraries as part of a national celebration. The Children’s Book Festival aims to spread the enjoyment of books and reading among children and families and connect the public to authors and illustrators both in classrooms and online.Below are the list of events running for…
Summer Stars July 2021 Events Leixlip Library
Zoom Events for Leixlip Library Hungry Caterpillar Art Workshop for 2-5 Year Olds Thursday 15th July at 10am Join Janet from Gymboree Celbridge for Art & Craft fun for 2 to 5 years old! All children benefit from an opportunity to be creative! Children will explore different mediums and textures, supporting sensory input, fine motor,…
Star Wars Craft – Making Jedi Master Yoda Using Paper
By Aoife, Newbridge library Hello everyone, Aoife from Newbridge library here with a craft to continue the Star Wars Day celebrations. Happy Revenge of the 5th Day. I am going to show you how to make Jedi Master Yoda using paper shapes. Let’s get started! You will need: One sheet of green paper (for Yoda’s…
Make An Easy Knit Baby Blanket
Post by Aoife Kerr, Leixlip Library What you will need: 4 balls of yarn in your choice Circular needles size 4.5 mm 24in (61cm) long How to Make the Blanket: Step 1 – Cast on 5 stitches Step 2 – Row 1 knit Step 3 – Row 2 knit 3, yarn over, knit 2 Step 4 -…
Knitted Easter Bunny
By Catherine Hi Everyone, Happy Easter to you all. I was working on this knitted Easter bunny egg cozy for a small chocolate egg and thought it might be a nice Easter knit for this weekend. ‘How to make a bunny egg cozy’ What you need 3: Cast on 4: Knit square Picture 5: Stitch…
Easter Egg Paper Decorations
By Aoife, Newbridge Library You will need: Printable template for Easter eggs (you can find one online) PrinterWhite paper/green paperColouring supplies (coloured markers, coloured pencils, glitter…..whatever you have)ScissorsGlue How to make: This craft starts with a printable Easter egg template. These can be found online from easypeasyandfun.com. *My template has six eggs on it, but it…
St. Patrick’s Day Ideas
By Elaine Patterson, Newbridge Headquarters Saint Patrick’s Day will be virtual this year due to the Level 5 Restrictions but there are still ways to celebrate. This year there is a dedicated http://www.stpatricksfestival.ie/ for the Saint Patrick’s Festival with events running from the 12th to the 17th March. There will be six days and…
Recipe: Delicious Buttermilk Scones with Honey
This recipe from Ann in Athy Library is easy to follow at home and makes delicious scones – the perfect accompaniment to tea and a good book, enjoy! Ingredients Needed: 450g of self-raising flour½ tsp salt2 tsp baking powder100 g of butter1 tablsp. honey300ml buttermilk Method: Preheat oven to 220C, Gas Mark 8.In a large…
Mother’s Day Craft : Jar of Hugs and Hearts.
Sheila from Leixlip Library has a lovely craft for us today which would make an excellent Mother’s Day gift. To make Sheila’s craft jar of Hugs and Hearts, you will need: A clean jam jarColoured cardA flowered servietteScissorsGlueA paint brushSome twineSome shredded tissue Paint some glue on the jar. Tear up pieces of the serviette…
Knit A Springtime Rainbow Cushion
Sheila from Leixlip Library has sent us in a lovely rainbow inspired knit cushion. This knitting recipe would be perfect for those already familiar with knitting and my be a little more difficult for beginners.What you need: Double Knitting wool 1 ball in each of the rainbow colours. Colour codes: 1) Red, 2) Orange, 3)…
Art & Craft – Rock Painting
by Craig, Naas Library Today I’m going to be doing some Rock Painting with you, and turning a plain old rock from the garden, into a colourful Ladybird. Rock Painting can be fun for any age group and is something creative that you can do together as a family. First you need to gather your…
Arts Crafts & Activities- Easy American Style Pancakes
Blog post by Ann Kearney, Athy Library Ingredients Needed:● A regular mug, mixing bowl & a whisk.● Self raising. flour● Milk● 1 egg● 1 tbsp. Sugar● Pinch of salt.● Pan and oil spray/butter Make sure to have an adult with you when cooking for supervision and to help you use hot cooking appliances. Method:● Put…
Christmas Craft: Hanging reindeer decoration
By Mary, Maynooth Library This is a stitched project. Please refer to the “How to Sew” instructions. Materials : Cream coloured felt for the body and a little brown felt for the antlers Red Embroidery thread Ordinary black cotton sewing thread 2 black beads for the eyes Wadding Ribbon…
Crafting: How To Sew – Basic instructions for “Running Stitch”
By Mary, Maynooth Library Use a needle with a fairly large eye ( the eye is the hole at the top of the needle). Pull the double thread through the eye. Knot the end of one length. Wind the end of the thread once or twice around one finger so that it forms a loop/circle.…
Christmas Crafting : Christmas Stocking Decoration
By Mary, Maynooth Library This craft is suitable for Children who can sew, Young Adults and Adults too. Materials Felt in two contrasting colours e.g. Purple and Yellow. Double strands of Red embroidery thread Ribbon 6 Buttons Also needed – scissors, needles and pins. Method: 1. Cut out two of each of the pattern pieces.…
Making a 35cm Christmas Wreath from Baubles
By Catherine Mackey, Naas Community Library #KeepWell in the months ahead. Switching off and having some time to yourself to be creative and do the things you enjoy doing is so important in looking after your mental wellbeing. Items needed · Wire coat hanger Lots of different coloured and different size Christmas baubles (Approximately 60)…
Knit Some Baby Mittens
By Ann Kearney, Athy Materials needed:25 g double knit for one pair of thumbless mittens35g double knit / for one pair of mittens with thumbsPair of 3.25mm knitting needlesPair of 4mm knitting needles (main needles)Gauge/Tension22sts and 30 rows to 10x10cm (4×4”) square in stocking stitch on 4mmneedles Useful Tip:Please take a little time to knit…
How to Knit a Pumpkin
By Aoife Kerr, Leixlip library Skill level: Easy Materials: orange wool, brown wool, 4mm needles, wool sewing needle, stuffing Cast on 40 stitches, and for 20 rows, knit 2, purl 2. This is known as a double ribbing stich. Once you have reached the end, cut off enough wool, so that you have enough to…
Egg Cozies (a short fun project)
— great idea for a thoughtful handmade Christmas Gift, maybe!(make a set of six in contrasting colours) By Ann, Athy Library Skill Level: Super Easy.Size: to fit an average size egg.Materials: DK or 4ply wool, colours of yourchoice. 3.25mm needles. Wool sewing needle.(oh, yes! ..and a fork.)Abbreviationsapprox : ApproximatelyK: knitRS: right sidest(s): stitchesWS: wrong side…
Felt Finger Puppets
Craft by Sheila, Leixlip Library Today I thought we could make some finger puppets! I have chosen a sheep and a lion. Maybe after you can have fun doing a puppet show. What you will need to make the puppets: Felt in a few colours. I’ve used dark brown, black, toffee colour and white. Card…
Party Wreath Craft
Craft by Sheila, Leixlip library You could hang this wreath up for your birthday party or just to brighten up the house. It’s a simple craft and fun to make. What you will need : A wire hanger or a florist wire wreath, Scissors andDifferent colours of crepe paper Cut stripes of crepe paper about…
Perfecting Portraits in Pencil
I am going to run through my drawing process with you, which I hope will help you to improve your pencil drawing skills. I am concentrating on portraits here, but you are welcome to adapt this advice to any subject you think it could apply to. I will be assuming a basic knowledge of art…
5 Fun Activities for Big and Little Children
By Aideen Kerr It’s a difficult time for everyone right now, but it’s especially tough on those who are either home alone, or those trying to juggle working from home with minding children. I’ve put together a list of fun activities for people of all ages, big kids like myself, and little kids who are…
Olson Face Mask Instructions
with thanks to Clayton Skousen & Rose Hedges for this guide. In recent times the practice of wearing face masks is becoming more common. We are even seeing people wearing some lovely homemade coloured ones. If you like me are a total sewing novice- I haven’t touched a sewing machine since my Junior Cert circa…
Stitched Easter Card
Craft supplied by Mary in Maynooth. Materials: Blank Card – Card used in this project is 5.5 inches by 4 inches. Embroidery Thread, Tapestry Needle (rounded tip – no point). A Larger Needle e.g. a Darning Needle, Scissors, Polystyrene block / (Packaging or layered towel.) Sellotape, Double Sided Tape, Foam Adhesive dots/squares and Glue Stick.…
Craft Tutorial: Facemasks
Mary has created this useful tutorial for people to make cloth facemasks at home. Materials needed : 2 pieces of cotton fabric 7″ x 9″ 2 lengths of 7 inches of 1/4″ elastic Thread, pins, scissors, sewing machine and iron Method : 1. Pin the elastic 1/2″ from top and 1/2″ bottom of right side…
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