How to make a unique holiday gift for your favorite hairdresser

Do you need to make a unique little holiday gift for your favorite hairdresser?  You can give a gift card or an extra large tip but if you want to give that unique holiday gift that will be treasured then, paint one! 

It’s easy with these step-by-step instructions.  Simply purchase a wide backed hairbrush.  I got one for a song at a department store.  This little snowman will be perfect for the holidays and even throughout the winter. Tie a festive bow on the handle and you will have a perfect and unique holiday gift for your hairdresser!

Materials:

Wide backed hairbrush

Acrylic paint, white, black, Payne’s gray, red, orange, burnt umber, ultramarine blue

Small paintbrush

Ribbon Bow

Alcohol

Paper or foam plate to use as a palette

Instructions:

1.     Gather all your supplies. Then, Wipe down the back of your hairbrush to remove any oils. 

2.     Next, working on the back of the brush, load your brush with white paint.  Make a small circle close to the top of the hairbrush.

3.     Now make two circles, each larger than the previous one on top of each other.  (Snowman is shape made)

4.     While the white paint is still semi-wet add some blue to the left sides curving around each white circle.  Blend together so there is no line of demarcation.

5.     Add some extra white paint where it needs it.

6.     Now, draw a hat shape with the Payne’s gray.  Add a little white paint on the right side and top and blend together. Let dry.

7.     Finally, paint a red scarf around the snowman’s neck.  Add two black dots for eyes, and several for the mouth.  Paint an orange triangle shape for the nose and underline with the burnt umber for shadows.

8.     Finish the snowman.  Use black paint and burnt umber to paint two arms.  It doesn’t matter what direction it faces or how many twigs you add. Add some little dabs of white paint on the twig arms, and top of the hat.  Then, add some snow with white paint under the snowman.  Use the blue paint to add some shadows.  For a final touch add some dots for snow. (Optional)

9.     Tie a bow on the handle and give to your favorite hairdresser!

How to make amazing dimensional gift bags quick and easy

Black Friday comes and goes.  And you’ve bought a few gifts you will want to come home to wrap them before anyone sees them.  What happens when the gifts are small and hard to wrap?  You grab a gift bag, right?  Well, you can make several dimensional gift bags in minutes that will definitely be a showstopper! 

These dimensional gift bags are quick and easy to make using some elements cut from Christmas cards and then embellished with little extra touches.

I always buy my Christmas cards through the mail and in the months that precede the holiday I receive stacks of samples with just the covers to choose from.  I would never throw them away and that is how the dimensional gift bags came about.  You just need at least two card fronts that are identical.  If you don’t get card samples just use an inexpensive pack of cards that are all the same for your dimensional gift bags.

Materials:

Two Christmas card fronts with individual elements you can cut out

Small sharp pointed scissors

Dimensional foam circles

Gift bags (I purchased a pack of 10 for under $5) or you can even use a plain recycled store bag and cover the logo with your image

Tacky craft glue

Small bows, rhinestones, jewels, pompoms or any coordinating embellishment

Dimensional fabric paint – Crystal sparkle

1.     Gather your supplies. Carefully, cut out both chosen images from the card fronts.

2.     Spread some tacky craft glue on the back of one of the images.  Center the image on the bag and attach. 

3.     Next, remove the paper from the double-sided sticky surface on the foam circle and attach to the image on the bag.  Add them all around randomly.  I like to add a second foam dot on top of the first one for extra height.  You can if you desire, use only one.

4.     Now, remove the paper from the dots and add the second image on top of the first one making sure you line it up evenly.

5.     Then, add the embellishments with some tacky glue and let dry. 

6.     Use the crystal sparkle dimensional fabric paint to accent the image.  Let dry.

7.     Add the gift to your bag and you will be sure the gifted recipient will save it and re-use it for years to come.

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How to make a fun recycled mosaic Easter egg

You can make a fun mosaic Easter egg from an old DVD.  It will catch the light and shine in basket or for an Easter egg hunt.  No losing this one!

Cutting DVD’s can be hard on the wrist and hands when you recycle them for crafts, but, did you know that DVD’s have layers?   If you separate the DVD into two layers then you will have two shiny sides that are much easier to cut into pieces.  You can only do it with DVD’s though, not CDs, but who doesn’t have some old DVD’s lying around?

This year when you have your Easter egg hunt you can have a really special egg for the grand prize.  These eggs look so elegant as it catches and flashes all the colors on the shiny surface. This is an awesome kid’s craft.  Just be sure a parent separates the DVD layers first! Gather a group and they can have fun making a whole basket of shiny mosaic Easter eggs.

Supplies:

Paper mache Easter eggs (they come in bags of 6 at the craft stores) or upcycle some old plastic eggs.

DVD

Scissors

Thin steak knife (Mom or dad can do this step)

Thick tacky glue

Acrylic paint in desired color the darker colors will show between the pieces

Small paintbrush

Egg tray to put the eggs in as you work

Optional:  tweezers

Directions:

1.    Cut a DVD towards the center hole.  Using the pointed end of a steak knife, carefully slide it in between the layers and push it all around to separate the layers.  You will have two pieces of the DVD.

2.    Use some acrylic paint and a small paintbrush to cover the entire egg with a base coat.  It is easiest to paint half the egg, put it in the egg tray to dry and when dry turn it over and paint the other half of the egg.

3.    Cut small pieces of the DVD in all shapes.  Since you are gluing to a curved surface it is best to keep the pieces small.

4.    Work in small sections at a time.  Apply dabs of tacky glue and attach the pieces one at a time close together but it’s not necessary to be exact.

5.    Continue adding pieces until you have covered the entire egg and let the glue dry.  Lightly clean off any excess glue from the shiny pieces with a damp paper towel if necessary.