Loofahs can be used to make exfoliating soaps.
Twelve-year-olds enjoy crafts that can actually be used personally or displayed in the home of their parents and grandparents. Useful crafts make them feel as if they are actually contributing something worthwhile, instead of just creating another craft for parents to keep for sentimental value.
Loofah Soap
Twelve-year-olds are at the age where cleanliness and good hygiene start to actually matter to them. Designing loofah soap is an excellent way to heighten this interest. Begin by cutting the loofah into pieces about 3 inches long, as suggested by Education.com. This is easier if you dampen the loofah first. Cut a large piece of plastic wrap and place the loofah piece into the center. Pick up the ends of the plastic wrap and lower the loofah section into a tall drinking glass. Do this with each of the pieces and make sure the plastic wrap hangs over this side of the drinking glass; this will prevent the soap from touching the glass.
Cut a large bar of glycerin soap into cubes and drop them into a microwave-safe cup or small bowl. Melt the glycerin in a microwave for 30-second intervals and check to make sure it does not start to boil. Stir the glycerin soap when it begins to melt. Add a couple of drops of essential oil or soap fragrance to each drinking glass. Pour the melted soap into the drinking glasses over each piece of loofah. Let them cool overnight.
Remove the plastic wrap and the loofah soap from the drinking glasses, and peel the edges of the plastic wrap from around the loofah. If you have a problem with it sticking, freeze it for about 10 minutes, and it should peel off easily. Slice the loofah soap with a sharp knife and let the children use them as exfoliating body soap. You can purchase the glycerin soap, essential oil or soap fragrance at a craft or hobby store.
Hot Pad
A ceramic tile will make a very effective hot pad for the dining room table, where it will be used and enjoyed for decades. Start by giving each child a 6-by-6-inch ceramic tile. Have them turn it upside down so that they can sign their names and date it, as suggested by TLSBooks.com.
Give them permanent markers to decorate their own hot pad. They can write their family's last name on it, create a scene or just give it a geometrically shaped or whimsical border. Once they are finished with the design, they should turn the tile over and hot-glue a marble to each corner of the hot pad. Be sure a parent is on hand when hot glue is being used.
Photo Jewelry
Twelve-year-olds will love fashioning their own one-of-a-kind jewelry out of their favorite photographs. Place inkjet printable plastic sheets into your computer printer. Have each child select a photograph or favorite design on the computer. Print as many of these images as you can onto one sheet. Remember that once the picture shrinks, it will be approximately one-third to half the original size of the picture, so make sure the children choose large enough sizes.
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees, as suggested by Education.com. Have the children cut a wavy or scalloped border around their pictures or just cut it into a circular shape. Poke a hole into the shape with a hole punch, so that it can be used for key chains, necklaces or earrings.
Tear off a piece of parchment paper and place it onto a large cookie sheet. Arrange the different cutout photos onto the cookie sheet, making sure that none of the photos touches each other. Bake your photos for about 2 to 5 minutes, checking on them occasionally. They will curl up and then flatten again. If they don't remain flat after baking them for five minutes, take a metal spatula and gently flatten them.
Let the pictures cool before touching and then attach them to earring wires and key chains, or string them onto a leather string or other necklace material.
Tags: plastic wrap, drinking glass, glycerin soap, make sure, about minutes, ceramic tile, cookie sheet