Showing posts with label Crafts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crafts. Show all posts

Monday, July 23, 2012

Arts and crafts idea: Foam sheet glasses case



You are a camp Director, teachers or Homeschool mother in search of a new arts and crafts idea for your kids? Or you are a recreation Director at a Senior Center or nursing home and could use a new project. In both cases, this arts and crafts idea be interesting and fun for all. This case can, given as a gift be used or converted a chain wallet.




To make the glasses case, you will need the following simple materials: a square of craft foam, plastic or large blunt needles, lanyard lace or thick yarn. Cut two rectangles from the foam of each 3-1/2 inch (9 cm) by 6 inches (15 cm.). With a hole punch, holes on three sides of each rectangle, leave on one short side unpunched. The holes 1/2 inch apart and allow at least 1/4 inch between the hole and the edge of the foam crafts. The holes need to set up in a line, so that the two pieces together can be put together. If you prepare the craft for small children, should make the holes. Otherwise, crafters can do this step if you have enough pairs hole punches.




At this point crafters decorative forms of other colors can craft foam cut or buy sets of ready to cut foam shapes. If you are doing the craft to a special event, such as Vacation Bible School, choose forms, which echo the theme of the event. For example, the Bible school or camp has a cowboy theme, see forms that fit well, such as boots, cowboy hats and stars. Can select the children shapes that they like and glue on as desired. You can also like beads or sequins to glue, offer especially when the artisans are a little older.




The next step in this craft idea to the plastic needle with yarn or lanyard lace thread. Might be a little easier to use yarn, but lanyard lace is shiny and attractive. In an emergency, some teachers of young children use a Bobby PIN as a needle. It is certainly a safe alternative. Simply loop through the opening and the open end of Bobby pins use the yarn, as if it were the point of the needle. The children can now begin to put together the front and back of the case together.




This idea of art and crafts in the budget chain turn, simply attach a piece of lanyard lace to every corner make a long grip. This case as a place to store secret notes and small objects children enjoy using. If you would prefer, they can give the case, a parent, grandparent, or friend who wears glasses. In any case, this arts and crafts idea for all will be interesting.


Sunday, July 22, 2012

Bust Boredom with Kid Crafts




Have you ever heard those familiar words, "I'm bored," coming from the mouth of your child? If so, then kid crafts are the answer. Provide the kids with craft materials and boredom will be a thing of the past. Read on for ideas about kid crafts.





Kid crafts essential materials include paper, crayons, safe scissors, and glue. Paper for kid crafts can include construction paper, plain typing paper, cardstock of various colors, and many other options. Even junk mail and old magazines can make interesting art projects. Crayons are nice for younger children, but the stores are now filled with other options, such as washable dry-erase markers, watercolor pencils, and gel pens. Kid crafts supplies can run into money, but even on a budget there are many possibilities.





Other materials kids can craft with include recycled junk and found objects. By recycled junk, I'm referring to empty cereal boxes, toothpaste boxes, cardboard from packaging, plastic containers, and even tin cans. If you let kids craft with tin cans, however, you need to make sure the open edge of the can doesn't have any sharp edges. Simply file these off or squeeze them flat with a pair of pliers.





Found objects include leaves, twigs, rocks, snakeskins, and other natural item a child might find. Perhaps there is a sheep farm nearby. If so, wool scraps can often be found stuck to the barbed wire fences. Any or all of these items can be used in kid crafts.





One of the most fun and popular kid crafts is making a collage. Kids can glue anything down when making a collage. Use heavy paper for the background, and then let the creativity begin! For an extra challenge, a collage can be built around a theme, like food, animals, or babies. Old magazines can be searched for just the right pictures, which can be cut out and glued to the background. The older child might wish to cut out details from magazine pictures and reassemble them in new and interesting ways. They might cut out interesting words and headlines and add them as well.





Younger kid crafts can include collages made of glued down pasta, beans, popsicle sticks, leaves, and many other materials. Don't forget about glitter, too. If the budget allows only a few kid crafts splurges, remember that kids of all ages, particularly girls, really enjoy crafting artwork that includes glitter. But whether your kids are boys or girls, young or older, suggest some kid crafts the next time your kids are bored!


Clay pot crafts: make a Bell for the porch



Clay pot crafts are a cute way home decoration making. In the clay pot crafts can made clay pots in a variety of decorative things, which are to gardeners. Typically, the crafter begins with new pots. The pots are often decorated with color and create things with rope or cord, to be bound.




Pots for clay pot crafts can be purchased in many different sizes from small those no more than 2 inches in diameter, with huge about a foot above. Start a project beginning with smaller pots. Beginners should choose also clay pot crafts that use too many pots to elaborate design.




An example of a good trade for someone new is pot crafts a Bell in tone to make two pots. Buy a pot that is about five or six inches in diameter, and another that is very small. Use the small entry, as the clappers to the Bell. You need also some decorative string, two large wooden beads and paint in the colors you want. Can some jewel glue-on the Bell to decorate to purchase. The Bell is a beautiful decoration for a porch.




Cut the cord two feet (60 cm) long. Fold more than 3 inches (8 cm) and in an overhand knot at the end so that a loop to bind. This loop is for Bell hanging from a hook or nail. Now runs the larger pot. Passed loose end of the string after down through the hole in the pot. Put the pot on its side and slide one of the large wooden beads until the string is up to about 10 inches (25 cm.) of the loose end. Now tie the cord around the bead, so that the pearls from his position on the string glide can not. If you have done this properly, you can remove the pot from the loop. The clay pot craft enough to the cord through the hole in the bottom of the pot must be large the pearls to stop.




You will attach the small pot in the same way to the loose end of the string. Push up the cord to facilitate the small pot, bind the other large wooden bead to the end of the string. Now, if you remove the entire arrangement through the loop, the smaller pot should hang freely in the larger pot, make a pleasant sound when it smack against the larger pot.




Outside of the larger pot with color as desired to decorate. Perhaps you want to draw in black and white spots Holstein cow theme. You can also like to top of the Bell with silk or dried flowers and green and a ribbon bow to decorate.




Make this craft three bells for a modification and hang them from a horizontal piece of driftwood or other interesting piece of wood. When hanging clay pot craft, make always sure the beads are large enough and are closely tied to place, since the pots will break if they fall to the ground.




Other clay pot crafts include making lined up a large Doll or scarecrow nested pots together and painted. The doll can a sitting Chair or step of the porch. His face to look like a scarecrow, a jack-o-lantern, a GNOME or paint a child. Clay pot crafts are suitable for outside shows.


Saturday, July 21, 2012

Paper Crafts: Scrapbook and Greeting Card Basics




Paper crafts are a popular pastime right now. Scrapbooking is a fun way to display pictures and chronicle family history. Other paper crafts include making greeting cards and even making hand made papers.





When getting started at paper crafts, it is easy to spend a lot of money! Go easy at first until you know what sort of paper craft products you are likely to use. For instance, you may find that you love using stickers in scrapbooks, but rarely use your rubber stamps. If this is the case, you would be better off spending more on stickers and less on rubber stamps for your paper crafts.





Almost everyone has at least some of their photographs stored somewhere in a shoe box. Scrapbooks are a great way to get those photos out where people can enjoy them. You will need a loose leaf binder, some plastic page protectors, and some colored cardstock for starters. Many paper crafts experts insist on only archival quality materials. Check the labels as you buy. Most paper products, even the cheaper ones, are labeled "acid-free," which means that it shouldn't fade or otherwise deteriorate if stored for a long time. Sunlight will bleach almost anything, but your paper crafts should not be out in the sunlight very often.





To start a scrapbook you have several options. You can select photos that all relate to one event, such as a trip or a child's participation in sports. This type of scrapbook will be short, but can be designed around a theme. This is a good choice if your photos are not in a jumble. If they are, then you may wish to choose 3 or 4 photos around a general theme, and change the theme for each page. You may want to include some 2 page spreads in your scrapbook.





Attach your photos to the cardstock with double-sided tape squares or a gluestick. Then it's time to decorate the page with stickers, paper shapes, or rubber stamped designs. In addition, you can use a colored gel pen to write dates, names, and other highlights about the activities in the pictures.





Other items are available in paper crafts stores. These includes die cuts, which are pieces of paper already cut into shapes and objects. There are also special scissors that cut paper with an interesting edge. A pair of the type called "deckle" scissors is very useful for making elegant looking scrapbook pages, greeting cards, and other paper crafts. If you also have an old pair of pinking shears that are too dull to cut fabric, you can use those for cutting out shapes and photos.





Many paper crafts enthusiasts begin with scrapbooking, but then branch out to making their own greeting cards. Greeting cards may or may not have an original poem written on the inside. A simple "Happy Birthday," "Get Well Soon," or even just "Hi!" is enough to brighten someone's day, so don't worry about not being a good enough writer to make your own greeting cards. Rubber stamps often make beautiful greeting cards. You can even attach small ribbons, beads, and other items to hand made cards. A handmade card is sure to please anyone, whether they are interested in paper crafts or not.


Wedding Crafts Ideas for Saving Money




Weddings are a joyous occasion but can get expensive in a hurry. With wedding crafts you can insert a personal touch and hold the price down as well. Here are a few ideas for wedding crafts to add sparkle and creativity to your big day.





It is not that hard to create your own wedding veil. To make this wedding craft, you will need a length of bridal illusion in the desired length. You will also need a comb to attach it to your hair and a hat or headpiece to cover the comb. Sew large running stitches about an inch from the end of the illusion and gather it tightly. Now sew the veil to the comb. Top with hat or headpiece. As an alternative, you can decorate a wide-brimmed straw hat with silk flowers, ribbon, and pearls.





The bouquets and floral arrangements can also be personally crafted. For a simple outdoor wedding, consider wild flowers. They are free and have a charm all their own. Bouquets can be arranged in large clear vases, with a bow tied elegantly around.





Favors for the guests are particularly appropriate wedding crafts. Refrigerator magnets are a simple and well-received favor. A really nice idea is to make a magnetic picture frame and include a picture of the couple. You could cut a frame out of craft foam in one of the wedding colors, arrange over the photo, and glue all onto a cardboard backing. Place self-adhesive magnet tape on the back of the cardboard. Decorate the front of the frame with foil heart stickers and a monogram of the couple's last name.





Bows for the ends of the pews or rows make simple wedding crafts. Wide velvet ribbons are nice for fall and winter weddings, while satin is more appropriate for spring and summer weddings. Loop some flat lace in with the ribbons. In the center of the completed bow, attach some silk flowers and pearl sprays with a hot glue gun.





Perhaps you'd like to try your hand at decorating your own cake. Check the craft section of the department store for pans and gadgets of all types to help you create a cake to remember. Do remember, though, that it takes a steady hand. Be sure to practice before starting on the real cake.





Preparing for a wedding can be expensive, but with wedding crafts, you can take some of the sting out. Plan early, however, because it will take a little while to make favors for everyone and all the other little details you will want to take care of. Maybe creating wedding crafts will even relieve some of those wedding jitters. In any event, crafting your own wedding items is a way to have a personal, beautiful, and less expensive wedding.


Friday, July 20, 2012

Hot Weather Fun: Summer Crafts for Kids




When boredom looms and the weather's hot, get everyone involved in summer crafts for kids. Kids are always excited to be free from the school routine when they are let out for summer break, but it isn't long until they start wondering what to do. Summer crafts for kids will keep them occupied and maybe even teach them a thing or two.





In summer, crafts for kids can involve found objects, like seed pods, grasses, and similar objects. Let kids create nature collection collages by gluing these items to a stiff piece of cardboard. Help them spray paint some of the findings with silver or gold paint. Alternatively, they might like to glue glitter to some of the findings. Perhaps they would also enjoy collecting wild flower seed heads and creating dried flower arrangements. Arrange the bouquet in a homemade vase.





A vase for summer bouquets, fresh or dried, is another craft that naturally fits into the summer crafts for kids category. A simple vase can be made from a tin can. Soup cans work particularly well because they are smooth on the outside and rather narrow. Be sure to file off any sharp spurs on the inside opening. Start the work of art by cutting a piece of construction paper or other colored paper to fit around the sides of the can. This will be glued to the outside of the can, but first it needs to be decorated.





The vase cover can be decorated in many ways. The child can draw a summer scene on the paper and then decorate it with glued on glitter or small stickers of summer things. Another idea is for the child to write their name in large letters, and glue beans, seeds, or glitter to the letters. Let all glue dry before attaching the paper to the outside of the can. Add water and fresh flowers or leave dry for dry flowers.





You can also use the can for a trinket container or a place to put pens, pencils, and markers. To make them real summer crafts for kids, glue grass seed heads and found seed pods to the paper in a decorative way.





Jar vases make good summer crafts for kids, too. Canning jars make particularly cute vases, but any cast off mayonnaise, pickle, or other jar, even plastic ones, can work, too. To make a jar into a vase it first needs to be sparkling clean. Kids love getting wet in the summer, so let them roll up their sleeves (or put on a bathing suit!) and have fun splashing at the sink while "washing dishes." When the jar is clean and dry, tie an attractive ribbon around the opening. If desired, decorate the outside of the jar with glued on beads and buttons.





Summer crafts for kids will provide some cute decorations around the home and keep the kids from being bored. This summer, crafts for kids should be at the top of every parent's To Do list!


Holiday Crafts: Thanksgiving Decorations Kids Can Make




Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday! What a spiritual renewal to take a day to reflect over the past year about just how good God has been to you and your family, to give you harvest and shelter, health and hope. To get the most out of this joyous occasion, make some holiday crafts with your children. These days, Thanksgiving often gets squeezed out by Hallowe'en's spooky decorations and the lights and gala of Christmas. With the following holiday crafts, your home can be decorated for this quieter but important celebration.





Turkeys are a natural choice for decorations. A familiar project at this time of year is for a child to trace around her hand and make the resulting drawing into a turkey. The thumb is the head and the fingers are the tail feathers all displayed. While many of the turkeys that are raised for food are now the domestic white variety, the turkeys eaten by the Pilgrims at the first Thanksgiving were the wild brown ones. The tail feathers on a wild turkey are brown, but they are iridescent. catching light and appearing to be multi-colored. This is why children color the tail feathers in bright colors.





The turkey's head has a wattle under the beak. This is a vertical flap of loose skin that is red colored. Be sure to draw this in order to make the hand turkey look like a turkey. Add skinny legs and bird feet. When done, the children can cut out the turkeys and hang them on the wall. It's really cute to make a whole flock of these turkeys in the sizes of all the hands in the family. The little hand shapes are particularly sweet.





Another nice turkey decoration to make when making Thanksgiving holiday crafts is a turkey door decoration. Make a brown construction paper body and head of a turkey. Now make a large number of colored feather shapes. Each family member writes on a feather something he or she is thankful for before attaching as part of the turkey's tail. Repeat until all the feathers are used, and hang the turkey on the front door to greet visitors with a message of gratitude. Make a sign to accompany the turkey that says "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good!" or simply "Be thankful!" or "We're thankful for you!" or whatever you like.





Children love making construction paper chains. To further decorate the house for Thanksgiving, let them make a paper chain in fall colors as one of their holiday crafts. Using 9 by 12 inch construction paper, cut the paper in half across the long side and cut the halves into one inch thick six inch long strips. Use a stapler to attach the ends of the strip into a circle. Loop the next strip into the circle and staple it. Continue the process alternating colors of brown, red, yellow, and orange. When the chains are long, you can drap them along the ceiling or stair rail. If you don't make the door turkey, the children can write something they're thankful for on each strip of paper before adding it to the chain.





Thanksgiving is too nice a holiday to let the other more commercial holidays crowd it out. By making holiday crafts to decorate the home for Thanksgiving, you can keep this day special, too. The extended family, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc., will be pleased to see the holiday crafts the young ones have made to decorate the house and make it cheerful for their visit.