Calming Crafts

Calming

Crafts These projects are the perfect ways to relax By Shannon Fisher

With all the stress from the last few months, I have been asked a lot about stress-reduction techniques to help with anxiety and worrying thoughts. Here are ideas for stress-busting craft s.

Th e use of our fi ve senses can reset our thinking when anxiety creeps up. You can start with tracing your hand on paper and cutting it out. On each fi nger, write a diff erent sense. What do you see, what do you feel, what do you hear, what do you smell and what do you taste?

This grounding technique can bring us back to the now and help us calm our thoughts of things we cannot control. It may take a few times or some practice, but it can help change our negative thoughts and bring us to a less stressed state of mind.

Deep breathing can also calm a nervous system and painting while breathing can be even more calming. Start with paper, paint and a paint brush. You can use the brush to create a fi gure eight shape. As you paint, take a deep breath in, hold for 4 seconds, and breathe out. Once the paint dries, you can also trace with your fi nger and do the same breathing patterns. Th is helps train us to take slow, controlled, mindful breaths to help combat stress.

Play-Doh is another great stress reducer. Start with one cup of fl our. We used glutenfree, all-purpose fl our because that’s what we had on hand. Next, add 1/4 cup of salt; 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar; and optional spices such as 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of ginger, 1 teaspoon of nutmeg and 1 teaspoon of cloves if you want it to smell good. You can use any scent you want if spices are not a smell you like. Mix dry ingredients and then add the wet ingredients. You will use 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of oil. Stir the ingredients together until it is like cake batter

and cook slowly in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly and heat until thickened. It should form one large clump. Allow the dough to cool and knead until smooth. Th e dough be can used to squeeze and roll out to relieve stress. Store in an airtight bag or container to enjoy repeatedly.

I hope this month brings a time of less stress and time for more calming craft s.

Shannon Fisher is a local wife, mom of two girls and owner of Shannon Fisher Photography. She taught high school and elementary art before opening her photography business.

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