This Santa is so cute. Almost reminds me of a little kid dressing up s Santa. He makes perfect present for anyone who normally goes all out and decorates or even someone who only want s a few things here and there. 
Materials:
half of a wrapping paper roll
flesh colored stretch fabric
scrap of red velvet
scraps of fake fur
jingle bell
scrap of holiday print fabric
white curly doll hair
two small black beads
2 large red buttons
small stick
scrap of burlap
fibre fill
Instructions:
Made of a roll of paper wrapper for body, cut in half, the head is from stretch fabric in flesh color, the nose and hands too.
The outfit is velvet, trimed with fake fur, hat and gingle bell added to end. Most glued on with hot glue gun.
The dress underneath made of holiday print fabric, big buttons to pretend the coat could be closed, the beard is curly hair for dolls, 2 tiny beads for eyes, a bit of blush for the cheeks, a piece of branch for the stick.
Some old burlap for his toy bag hung over his shoulder.
from Mrs. Lise Lapointe. Thi prject was found here
I saw them make this of Carol Duvall Show, who is a genius by the way. This was about a year ago. I swore I was going to make one. They are cutest things I have ever seen. Well, when I decided that I was making this blog I knew this was one of the crafts I had to include. Although these aren't exactly a "quick" craft due to drying times, it is fun and so worth it. Everyone I have made them for LOVES them.
Materials:
11-1/2" clay saucer
6-3/4" clay saucer
4" clay saucer
two 4" standard clay pots
two 1" x 1-1/4" mini terra cotta pots
six 1-1/2" standard clay pots
4" azalea clay pot
4 small wooden beads
18- or 20-gauge craft wire
wire cutters
pencil
four wooden spools (3/4" x 1")
Folk Art acrylic paint: (although I don't follow this color code exactly)
- Warm White #649
- Raw Sienna #452
- Licorice #938
- Rose Pink #632
- Napthol Crimson #435
- Yellow Ochre #917
- Hunter Green #406
gloss varnish polyurethane( I just use my regular sealer I use for all my projects. I can't see spending money on a separate one.)
Apple Butter Brown #819 antiquing medium
Aleene's Patio & Garden Outdoor Adhesive or Liquid Nails
flat paintbrush or foam brush
small liner brush for detail work
painter's caulk
painter's masking tape
white Polymark dimensional fabric & craft paint pen
1. You'll be assembling the table upside down. Begin by turning the 11-1/2" saucer lip side down.
2. Glue the 4" azalea pot upside down on the center of the 11-1/2" saucer, lip side down.
3. Glue the 4" standard pot right side up to the end of the azalea pot, end to end .
4. Glue the other 4" standard pot upside down to the first 4" standard pot, lip to lip.
5. Glue the 4" saucer facing up to the end of the second 4" standard pot, end to end and centered.
6. Glue the end of the 6-3/4" saucer facing up to the lip of the 4" saucer, centered.
7. To assemble the arms: String a small bead to one end of a wire about 7 inches long. Secure the bead. String on a 1-1/2" clay pot, lip first, through the drainage hole so the bead is concealed inside.
8. Next string on a wooden spool and another 1-1/2" pot in the same manner so the pot conceals the spool.
9. Add one more spool and 1-1/2" pot the same way. String on another small wooden bead to secure the arm pieces. Repeat to make a second arm.
10. Attach the arms to the tray on either side of the head by the lip of the end pot. Glue and tape in place, using the painter's tape to secure the pieces until the glue sets.
11. Glue the sides of the last pots along either side of the face and tape to hold in place until glue sets.
12. Cover the exposed bead ends with the two mini terra cotta pots. Hide the bead inside the pot and glue the sides to each side of the body.
13. Use painter's caulk to fill in any gaps around the arms and where they meet the body and head. Allow glue and caulk to dry completely.
14. To paint the gingerbread man: Basecoat the 11-1/2" saucer tray and the bottom 6-3/4" saucer in warm white paint.
15. Basecoat everything else raw sienna.
16. Add a napthol crimson stripe to the middle of the 6-3/4" saucer around the circumference.
17. Make the candy swirls on the top tray by locating the center by eye. Use a lunch plate or another 6-3/4" saucer to
create even swirls.
18. Using a pencil, trace a curve from the center to the end and overlap the edge of the saucer. Continue around the center evenly spacing the curves.
19. Paint every other stripe napthol crimson.
20. Paint oval shaped eyes in warm white. Add large licorice pupils and outline the eyes in licorice. Add a warm white highlight to the eyes.
21. Use rose pink to paint a circle for the nose and outline it in licorice Add a warm white highlight.
22. Paint a wiggly smile in licorice.
23. Add buttons in assorted colors. Outline buttons and paint crossed threads in licorice.
24. Using the white dimensional fabric paint pen, add wavy frosting lines around the small saucer at base, the "waist", the "neck", and the top of the head. Add wavy lines to "cuff" of arms. Refer to photo for placement.
25. Paint on antiquing medium and wipe off the desired amount.
26. Seal the entire project with high gloss polyurethane.
Tips: Use a doily or napkin on the tray when serving unwrapped cookies or cakes.
Here is the website with pictures and the instructions from above.
The cost of the project when I made mine were usually around $10.
Remember these? You used them as a kid. You colored really cool ways then baked them in the oven and watched then get real small and the colors intensified. Ever think of all the really cool things you can make with them now. Now not the character ones that they sell for you kids. How about the blank sheets. You can buy blank sheets you can print out of your computer. You can stamp on them, glitter on them, doodle, draw, it is only limited to your imagination.
Great ideas:
charm bracelets- you can print out pictures of your kids, your favorite characters, hobbies, anything you can find. Once you have done that, you can either hole punch right on the paper itself, or you can glue the shrunken paper onto anything. Sometimes I have used polymer clay and made the base for the "charm" with the hole in the clay. Then I would glue the paper on the clay. The you would just put together like a bracelet, getting the supplies needed from the craft store.
Earring, or pins can be done the same way.
Ring-Do this by cutting a strip and decorating it the same way, then as soon as it come out of the oven, and it still burning hot, I mean it will still burn you so you should use gloves, twirl it around something to shape the ring.
Key chains- This is pretty much the same idea. They sell the rings for the key chain at the craft store.
Dog tags
Frames-These make great personalized one of a kind frames for your favorite pictures.
There is no end to what you can do with these. The jewelry supplies are very inexpensive and the paper runs about $10 at Walmart. You can get heavy weight paper or more light weight depending on what you are doing. You can also use recycled plastic lids, #6, like the kind from take out. Awesome idea when you are drawing the design. Save even more money and be green. Love it!
There are great ideas and tips about shrinky dinks here. It talks about trying different technigues, using different things, and different ways to seal them. A great blog!
It is such a family tradition for so many people to have an advent calendar. But with the cost of everythign going up, so many people are forgoing this tradition. You don't have to. Making one is very easy.
Materials needed:
-- 1 piece of green cardboard (at least 12 inches tall)
-- A spool of red ribbon
-- A red bow
-- Hershey's kisses
-- A glue gun
-- Scissors
First you should search for a Christmas tree template. Take the piece of green cardboard, cutting it into a tree. Once your pattern is cut out, put the red bow at the very top of the tree. Now, take the spool of red ribbon and cut it into 4 to 6-inch lengths and tie them into ribbons. You'll need twenty-four of them for each of the Advent calendars you make. Next use the glue gun to glue 24 ribbons to your calendar. Once that is done, you will want to glue one kiss under each ribbon on the tree. Let it dry overnight.
So what is so perfect about these? Not only are they adorable, and budget friendly. The kids can help make them. And because of the low cost, you can amke one for every member so everyone can have a little kiss that night.
This has always been a favorite for my kids grandparents. They work great for Christmas or any other holiday. Also a loved present for Mother's Day, Father's Day or Grandparent's Day.
Materials needed:
a wooden box from craft store ( great tip: AC Moore run 40 % off specials on these from every other month or so. When they do, I buy a few to stock up and keep them on hand. Then I have them) I like the harder ones but the light weight work just fine too.
A black and white picture printed off your computer I like to take a special one of my kids just for the project, but any picture will do.
Colored pencils
paint
decoupage medium
sealer
felt(optional)
Paint your box any color any color you like. If you would like to line the inside bottom with felt once it is dry, it make a nice touch. I don't always do this. While the box is drying, I print out the picture. With the colored pencil, I go in and hand color it. Sometimes I will only do maybe their eyes, hair, and lips, other times I will slightly shade the whole picture. It mostly depends on my mood or the effect I want for the picture.
Here are 2 examples. Neither of these were done by me, these are found on the web just as examples:
I use a paper towel to help me keep the shading light because it is easier to add than lighten. You can also use an eraser.
Once I have finished tinting, I take the decoupage medium, and cover the top of the box with it.I lay the picture down flat over top of it. It can be tricky at first so lay it down carefully. I start with one corner and work it slowly. Once I have it where I want it, I go back over with another layer of medium. Be careful not to smear the colors of your pencil. This usually only happens if you put too much medium on or if you press to hard. This stage will help get out any little bumps you have left in your picture also.
Once this dries, seal your box so it has a nice shiny finish and it is protected. It will stay beautiful for years. It can be used for anything. We have used them for jewelry boxes, remote holders, just to hold odds and ends. The kids have made hem with pictures of them and their friends. Everyone loves them. The possibilities are endless.
Super super cool Christmas tree ornament craft
Posted by Debi at 10:42 AM | Sunday, September 28, 2008So this would be for a Christmas Tree but You could even alter it for just a decoration for around the house... very sinple to make just a winter decoration.
It is clear glass ball and you have a small pine cone with some sprigs of pine inside. Ther eis aslo one with popcorn inside. This one made me think of my hubby who loves popcorn.
I saw these while looking at HGTV site. They are super easy to do, and very inexpensive. A great craft to whip together on an afternoon. And a great bonus, older children can help and even younger children can help with adult supervision.
Pine Cone and Popcorn Ornaments
For instance, Rogene soaks small pine cones in water until they're pliable, then slips them though the top of the ornament with a sprig of pine from the tree. She finishes by adding some white flakes inside the ornament and a raffia tie to the outside to top it off.
Next, learn about the popcorn ornament. To make this ornament, remove the cap from a clear glass ball ornament, add in a teaspoon or so of unpopped popcorn, place the ball without the cap in a small paper bag, then pop it in the microwave for a minute or so until the corn pops. Microwave times will vary with different ovens and ornament sizes so experiment until you find the right formula.
The holidays are coming quick and everyone knows money is tight. A great way to to help he money go farther and to give your holiday gift giving a more personal touch is by making it. Everyone loves a gift that come with love taht was made especially for them. It makes it special. You can tailor it to them. Maybe at something they collect or the colors of their living room. Whatever. It just makes it that much more perfect. So here, I will be adding some great gifts to make for the holidays no matter what holiday that may be.
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