Everyone’s home now and that Includes kids of all ages. Seems like a good time to think about how the younger ones especially might get involved in photocrafting? Maybe make something for them; maybe help them create something to give to someone else (it’s hard not to see friends and family in person!); maybe use their artwork as the photo! We’ll list five of our favorite ideas, some new and some based on photo projects we’ve already shown you. Hope you’ll add some ideas of your own in our Comments or on our Facebook page Photocrafting Fun.
#1. A STICKER BOOK about kids and for kids
Shell has been looking for ways to keep her 3-year old toddler entertained during this stay at home period. She happily discovered Pinhole Press with a tab for kid specific products.
Three of the choices particularly interested her: a personalized ABC Board Book, a Memory Book, or a personalized Face Photo Sticker Book. The first is especially good for young learners. For example, they can learn the alphabeet from their favorite things like foods, toys, clothes and more. Just upload your favorite photos and add text in a large, easy-to-read type. The second features a favorite photo on each page with space around it for your child to draw and/or write their memories.
Shell chose to create and order a third option, the Sticker book. It provides photo stickers to paste on pages and then draw whatever the child imagines — a family group or themselves as an astronaut.
Shell took pictures of her son’s face, using her phone so she could get close up as he made funny faces (e.g. a blue tongue or sunglasses on his mouth.) You can also select images from your Facebook or Instagram accounts for a total of 8 different images. (You might want to take different family members and pets rather than 8 different images of one child.) After uploading the images, you can do some minimal editing like zooming and centering. The resulting book is 5″x7.5″, 30 pages with 8 pages of stickers. The stickers are 1.5″ wide. Shell received her book within a week. Prices range from about $25 to $40.
COVER 
#2. A BLANKET featuring kids’ artwork
Do you know a child who likes to draw? Have them make a picture for you and snap a photo. It’s quick and easy as we showed in an earlier post to put the photo onto a blanket that will be fun for the child now and a memory forever. I again used PrinterPix which only requires uploading the photo and you’re ready to go. However, my original photo was taken with the artwork on the carpet and a medium resolution. When I tried to enlarge it for the blanket, I got a warning: “Photo resolution too low. Change the photo for another one of a greater resolution to ensure a good print quality.” I took my photo, cropped it, increased the resolution (using Adobe Elements), and uploaded the new version. It’s a good reminder to use a relatively high res setting on your camera or phone when taking pictures for photocrafting!
PrinterPix has good tools for enlarging your photo to fit. 
#3. A JIGSAW puzzle for kids
Shutterfly has a jigsaw puzzle just for toddlers with 12 thick wooden pieces in a wooden tray. The puzzle with tray is about 12″x9″. With photocrafting, you can personalize the puzzle for your child: a fun picture of themselves or a family member, a favorite pet, or even a drawing they made. To the left is a puzzle with Charlie, a very well-loved pet. You can see the outline of the pieces; the photo extends onto the tray.
#4. A NIGHTSHIRT for mom
How about getting a head start on Mother’s Day? A computer savvy child could do this on their own — photocraft a CafePress nightshirt! Pick out an image, upload it, add some text, chose the color and size, and order! The nightshirts come in heather gray or pink and are priced around $32.
#5. CARDS for kids to design and send
A great way to keep kids entertained and sharing with friends and family is to design and send cards. Even when there are plenty of ways to stay in touch by phone and computer, it’s always fun to receive something personal in the mail. Almost every photocrafting site has photo cards, but a quick and easy option is from Touchnote.com. We explained it in some detail in our first post but now turn it into a stay-at-home project. Let the kids help pose for a photo and choose what they want to say.
* P.S. I want to show you photocraft projects that I’ve made myself. However, when the images include family and friends, I like to protect their privacy as much as possible. Many thanks to Unsplash and photographers Chayene Rafaela and Steven Libralon for providing two of the photos in cards shown above.
Photocrafting Fun 