| While the craft glue and foam shapes of former | | | | walls. |
| summer projects lay gathering dust in the closet, you | | | | Window Treatments - Many styles of curtains are |
| wonder if you will ever be able to revisit those special | | | | very easy to sew and would make a great project |
| hours spent crafting with your child. Your little artist has | | | | for a beginner. Help your teen find a simple pattern and |
| grown into a teen, and craft projects have been | | | | some fabric and see what happens. Or, consider a |
| replaced with video games, television, and the internet. | | | | no-sew option if you don't have a sewing machine. For |
| There's no turning back the clock, so what's a parent | | | | example, purchase simple store bought curtains and let |
| to do? | | | | your teen tie dye them or decorate them with fabric |
| Think outside the box! Or should I say, inside the box - | | | | paint and stamps. If you have access to some basic |
| the box that your teen calls his room. Pull out the paint | | | | power tools (and experience using them), help your |
| supplies and power tools, because the foam shapes | | | | teen build a cornice board that he can install above his |
| are staying in the closet! The only way to convince | | | | window. He can either paint it or upholster it using a |
| your teen to put down the video game controller is to | | | | staple gun to secure batting material and fabric. |
| let him use things that were previously off-limits (with | | | | Shelves and Storage Units - While you have the |
| proper supervision, of course). Oh, and one more thing | | | | power tools pulled out, work with your teen to |
| - you can make suggestions and set limitations, but try | | | | construct some simple shelves and storage units. As |
| to go with the flow and let your teen take charge. | | | | you know, teens have more stuff than space, so this |
| And now, here are a couple ideas to get the wheels | | | | project may even induce him to keep his room picked |
| turning... | | | | up! Or, if you prefer, purchase unfinished furniture and |
| Wall Murals - Sure, you and your teen can spend the | | | | room accessories, and let your teen paint and |
| afternoon painting his room, but if you want to take it | | | | decorate them. If he's up for it, consider borrowing a |
| to the next level, run the idea of a wall mural past him. | | | | book from the library or searching online for faux |
| Take a look at the posters or wall calendar he has | | | | finishes to try. He can even personalize select pieces |
| selected for his room. Maybe he has a notebook full of | | | | of furniture or room accessories by decoupaging them |
| his original artwork. Would any of those images work | | | | with favorite pictures from magazines. |
| as a wall mural? He can use a projector to enlarge | | | | This is just the start. Working with your teen, you are |
| and trace the image on the wall, then fill in the picture | | | | sure to come up with many more ideas - from pillows |
| with acrylic paint colors of his choice. Or, if your budget | | | | to headboards to photo collages, there are many other |
| allows, consider purchasing a starter airbrush kit for him | | | | crafting projects you and your teen can work on |
| to use - just make sure he takes the time to perfect | | | | together. In the process, you will create memories to |
| his technique before using it to airbrush his bedroom | | | | last a lifetime. |