Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Halloween | Fun crafts for kids


Having a Halloween party?  Check out these fun crafts for treat bags, favors and prizes!  Click on the links for the full tutorials:








Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Kids craft | Halloween spider free printable



I guess you could say I'm not a fan of spiders and in the fall they go into overdrive building their webs all over the place.  Maybe they are getting ready for Halloween?  Whatever the case these little spiders are much cuter.  Simply print them on cardstock, let the kids color them, attach a length of string or cord and hang them from light fixtures, the ceiling, whatever.  Hang several at different lengths for a fun party decoration too!

You will need:

Printer and card stock paper

Needle and white thread

Crayons, markers, colored pencils

Scissors

Clear tape

Glow in the dark dimensional fabric paint (optional)

1.  Print the spiders on cardstock.  Color the spiders with crayons, markers, pencils as desired.




2.  Dot the eyes with the optional glow in the dark dimensional paint and let dry.

3.  Cut out the spiders and place them back to back.  Using a needle and thread punch through both spiders in the top center. Tie a knot with the ends of the thread. (Have fun putting different colored spiders together so when it spins different spider will appear)


4.  Use clear tape to attach the hanging spiders from light fixtures, ceilings, etc.  Vary the lengths of thread.







Thursday, September 5, 2013

Halloween Pumpkin treat bags




These little treat bags are so easy you can make a bunch for your Halloween party.  Change the mouth (Smile, sad, scary, etc.) on each one to make them all unique!

You will need:

Pack of orange paper sacks 2 ½” x 4” (There are 25 in each pack and the top folds down to close)

Dimensional fabric paint, green glitter and black glitter

Black button for each bag

Halloween wiggle eyes two sizes

Pencil

Tacky craft glue

1.     Work on one side of the bags at a time letting the paint dry in between.  If you are making a lot of bags, work assembly line style.  Turn bag to the backside where the flap turns over to close and working on the orange side use the green glitter dimensional paint to paint wavy or straight lines for the hair. Please note that this will be folded over on the opposite side for the hair.  Let dry completely for a few hours.



2.     When the hair is dry turn over and work on the face. Draw a mouth shape in pencil (Have fun drawing different mouths to make each bag unique)  Using tacky craft glue, attach a black button to the center for the nose.  Glue two wiggle eyes above the nose.  It is fun to use two different sizes of wiggle eyes for a whimsical look. (See photo)





3.    Use the black dimensional glitter paint to trace over the pencil outline.  Add two eyebrows over the wiggle eyes.  Let dry completely.




4.     Fill with small candies.  Fold over the flap to close.



Monday, September 2, 2013

Easy Apple wreath tutorial







You know I love wreaths.  I don’t just display them at Christmas.  I have wreaths for all seasons, all events, and all holidays.  It’s a good thing I have a large basement in order to store my bounty of wreaths while I switch them out.  I recently found a bag of apples and fall leaves at my local craft store and all of a sudden—I thought, Wreath?  Now that wasn’t such a big surprise was it?

You will need:

·      Grapevine wreath

·      Faux apples

·      Artificial fall leaves

·      14-gauge wire

·      Floral wire

·      Wire cutters

·      Hot glue gun and glue sticks

·      Tacky craft glue

·      Hammer

·      Bowdabra bow maker

·      Bowdabra bow wire

1.     Attach a piece of floral wire on the back of the wreath and form into a loop for a hanger at the top center of the wreath.



2.     Separate the leaves and using a glue gun and glue sticks attach leaves around making sure they are all facing the same direction.


3.     Cut a 1 ½” piece of 14 gauge wire and poke into the wreath through the leaves, use the hammer to drive it down till about ¾” is sticking out.  Spread some tacky glue onto the back of an apple (Since the apples are usually Styrofoam based you cannot use a glue gun or it will melt) and insert onto the wire sticking out of the wreath. Continue to cut wire pieces and insert them evenly around the wreath.  Attach the apples onto each wire.  Let the glue dry.







4.     Make a Bowdabra bow.  Cut a 24-inch piece of Bowdabra bow wire and fold in half.  Place into the Bowdabra Bowmaker.  You will have a loop at one end and two pieces of wire at the other end.


5.     Cut a 24 inch piece of 2 ½” wide ribbon in a matching color and place in the Bowdabra with the same lengths on each side.  This will be your bow tails.


6.     Cut 36 inches of the same ribbon to make your bow.  Insert the ribbon in the bowmaker and make a loop on the other side.  Make a matching loop on the opposite side.  Repeat two times for a total of four loops. 

 

                                                   

 


7.     Scrunch down the bow with the Bowdabra wand.



8.     Insert the two loose ends of the bow wire through the loop and pull tight. Tie in a knot at the back and adjust the bow.

 


9.     Use the hot glue gun and glue sticks to glue the bow on the center bottom of the wreath.






Saturday, August 31, 2013

Kid's Craft- stained glass leaves free printable



Technically, it's still summer but the stores are filling up with fall colors of orange, red, yellows, and and russets. And it won't be long till the leaves follow suit. Why not let the kids print and color these leaves in colors of the season.  Use marker, crayons or pencils and when printed on tracing paper you the color will show through for a cool stained glass effect.

Leaves-stained glass printable

Full instructions and more free stained glass printables here...

Instructions for printing



Sunday, August 25, 2013

Recycle advertising magnets into magnetic pets




If you’re like me you have a lot of those magnetic advertising and announcements (Some of them quite large) that come in the mail, etc. A few promote dated events like football and baseball schedules.  You’re not going to throw them out are you?  It’s super easy to remove the advertising part and replace it with a cutout of your favorite pet.  Display them on the fridge, lockers or anything metal.

You will need:

·      ·      Magnetic advertising sheets

·      ·      Printer and paper

·      ·      Scissors

·      ·      Small cuticle type scissors

·      ·      Double-faced mounting adhesive sheet


·      ·      Bowl or sink full of warm water

·          Paper towels

1.      Gather your supplies.  Fill a sink or large bowl with warm water.  Place the magnetic advertising sheets into the water and soak for a few minutes.  Begin peeling off the paper.  After you peel the larger pieces of paper off, use a rubbing motion to remove the rest. Dry off the magnetic sheet with paper towels. (The kids will love to help with this step!)  Use rubbing motion to remove the rest. Dry off the magnetic sheet with paper towels.




2.      Print your chosen photos on all-purpose printer paper.


3.      Peel one side off the double-faced sheet and apply your photos.  Smooth down with fingers. (the opposite side will still have backing paper.)


4.      Remove the backing paper from the photos revealing a sticky surface and apply to the magnet.  Make sure you apply it to the side your where you removed the advertising.




5.      Use the small cuticle or decoupage scissors to carefully cut around the shape of your pet photos.  You can apply it to any magnetic surface like fridges, locker, etc.






Note:  People photos are fun too!!











Friday, August 23, 2013

Tutorial Stenciled slate coasters-- and how to cut a personalized stencil--Friday two-fer




It’s easier than you may think to cut your own stencil designs.  So when you would like a stencil that is as unique as you are—cut your own!

You will need:

Piece of glass from an old frame to work on

Stencil blank (Available at craft stores)

Design you like from computer software, internet  sites, etc.

Masking tape

Wood burning tool or X-Acto craft knife

1.     Print out your design and place under a piece of frame glass.  You will be working on the glass. 


2.     Place a stencil blank on top of the glass and tape down.  For intricate designs a wood burning or all-purpose burner tool is best, but for most designs you may use a craft knife.


3.     Carefully cut your stencil following the lines of the design that shows through the glass and stencil blank.


Stenciled Slate coaster




Stenciled coasters are easy and make a great hostess gift.  You can use pre-cut stencils or cut your own for a personalized one of a kind design. 

You will need:

·      Slate coaster set (available in craft stores and online)

·      Round stencil brush

·      Acrylic paint or stencil creme ( it is best to use paint with a thicker consistency) I used Martha Stuart all purpose craft paint.

·      Paper plate

·      Stencil of choice

·      Modpodge exterior glue and finish

·      Small paint brush

1.     Work on a piece of scrap cardboard or newspaper.  Apply a  small amount of acrylic paint on a paper plate.  Load your stencil brush vertically, tip only into the paint and dab in another part of the paper plate to remove excess paint. You need very little paint on your stencil brush.  Stenciling it is a dry brush technique.



2.     Place a stencil of choice on top of your coaster and with the stencil taped down or held with your hand, apply paint with a dabbing motion, edges first and then fill in the center.  



3.     Immediately remove the stencil and place the coaster in an area to dry.  If the stencil didn’t come out the way you’d like simply wash it off and try again.  Stenciling on slate is a great first stencil project since it is very forgiving and you can wash it off and start over if you’ve made a mistake.


4.     Before stenciling the other coasters check to make sure no paint got on the underside of the stencil.  If it did clean it off before stenciling.  Let all the coasters dry completely.

5.     When the coasters are dry apply a coat of Mod Podge exterior finish on top of each coaster.  Let dry at least 48 hours.  I used exterior mod Podge because there will be wet items on them.  You can, however, use regular Mod Podge or finish.




6.     Tie the coasters together with a piece of raffia.