Craft Elf

Introducing Crafters Chat

2011-09-19T16:03:00.000-04:00

There is a new crafting forum on the block, Crafters Chat. We started Crafters Chat earlier this year as a way to bring crafters together and provide a safe friendly place for them to communicate. We invite you to join us to share your projects, advice, tips and stories. If you are having trouble with a particular craft project or are looking for a special project, all you need to do is stop by and ask your fellow crafters for help. I find that crafters tend to be some of the most helpful people on the internet. We all love to show off our creations to other crafters and Crafters Chat is the perfect place to do that.

To celebrate when Crafters Chat reached it's first 100 registered users, we gave away a gift certificate to AC Moore craft store. In the near future we are planning a new promotional giveaway. I hope you will join us. Details will be coming in the next few weeks. The details will first be released on Crafters Chat's Facebook page so stop by and "Like" us today so you don't miss out on the official announcement.

It is free to join Crafters Chat and will remain free. I will give you an overview of how to use Crafters Chat incase you haven't used a forum before. When you arrive at Crafters Chat, click on register in the top right corner. It will then bring you to an agreement. Once you have read it, click on "I accept the terms of this agreement" at the bottom of the page. That will bring you to the registration form. Here you choose a username, enter your email address and choose and verify your password. Then type the verification letters and click register. Congratulations! you are now a registered user.

To use the forum, you can click on any of the categories on the home page to read posts that have already been published. If you read a post and would like to contribute your comments to the post, simply click the "reply" button on the right hand side of the page. This will bring you to a page where you can type up your thoughts. Once you click the "post" button on the bottom right your comments will be added to the original post. It's that simple. If at anytime you need to make changes to what you wrote, simply go back to the post and you will have an option to "modify" any sections you wrote however you cannot make changes to what others write.

To start your own new post (new topic), from the home page, click on the category you would like to post in and you will see a "new topic" button on the top right side of the screen. Click that and it will bring you to the page where you can write what is on your mind. Please remember to give your topic a "title" so others will know what your post is about.

It is simple to add pictures to your posts. Click on "Attachments and other options" underneath the box where you entered your post. You will see "Attach" click browse to find the file on your computer. Then click "save" in the bottom right corner. Note that there is a size limit on pictures so if you have trouble attaching your picture, try reducing the picture size and reattach it.

I hope that you will start using and enjoying Crafters Chat today!

Gifts kids can make for Mother's Day.

2011-05-02T12:23:00.003-04:00

Nothing brings a bigger smile to a Mom's face than to receive something hand made from a child. The child in turn fells a real sense of pride in giving something special he or she made. I feel that Mother's Day should not be a day for big expensive gifts but rather a day for giving something thoughtful and heart felt.

Below are a few suggestions of gifts that kids can make with little or no help (depending on age). Any and all of the projects/gifts are sure to become cherished keepsakes.

The first three projects I am showcasing here have all been made multiple times in school with first and second grade classes but could be completed by younger children as well.

Our tea light holder is made by painting glue on the outside of a recycled baby food jar, placing a fabric heart in the glue then sprinkling the outside of the jar with glitter or salt. You can find hints on using glitter with children on our hints and tips page.

Next up is a flower clip magnet which can be used to hold a shopping list, picture of whatever mom wants to show off on the refrigerator. A clothespin holds the paper/picture on the frig and the flower portion is made from craft foam and a pompom. Great project for practicing cutting and glueing.

Scented hot pads and coasters are great for any occasion. Simply changing the fabric used to make the coasters/hot pads completely changes the look of the finished project. For this project it is helpful to cut the fabric squares ahead of time for children and let them have fun assembling and gluing the finished project together.

Flower napkin rings made from felt can be assembled by any age child but younger children will need help cutting out the felt shapes. Mom will feel special when served dinner with a lovely flower napkin ring on hand.

Making a pot of flower pens would be best suited for children that are at least in the fourth grade as a little more skill will be needed to complete this project but it is a gift that can be used daily at home. Imagine how beautiful this pot of pens will look in the kitchen and how practical it will be to always have a pen handy.

Are you looking for a way to use up some old CD cases? If you are, this project is just for you. Turn those old empty cases into a picture frame with the help of some decorative paper.

A few more suggestions of gifts kids can make are:

Check out Craft Elf for more Mother's Day craft projects including sewing projects and projects for adults to make.

~Happy Crafting

Craft Ideas for Valentine's Day

2011-02-01T14:24:00.001-05:00

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and now is a great time to plan some craft activities for the kids.

If your child exchanges Valentines with friends, family or schoolmates, you should consider making one of our Heart Valentine Holders. All you need to make one is two pieces of construction paper, scissors and some tape. Follow our simple paper folding instructions and then decorate the holder any way you like.

Several of our Valentine's projects are made with craft foam hearts. Pick up a bucket of them at your local craft store and the kids can make many different projects for one low cost. Some of our projects that use these hearts are Beaded Heart Pin, Pot of Hearts, Heart Headband, Wreath of Hearts, and Valentine Magnets. As you can see, some of the examples of the Valentine magnets include a fish, bird, dog and flower. By purchasing craft foam hearts with sticky backs, you eliminate the need to glue the pieces together however, you will need glue to attach other embellishments.

Lollipop flowers are fun to make and are a great inexpensive Valentine to give out to friends and family. Once Valentine's Day is over, the recipient gets to eat the lollipop ~ Yum!

Visit Craft Elf for a complete list with color photos of all the Valentine's Day craft projects available.

~Happy Crafting!

Halloween Party Ideas

2010-10-23T13:46:00.002-04:00

Halloween is almost here and some of you may be hosting a Halloween party. Here are a few last minutes ideas that you can incorporate into your party to make it special.

First, every party needs to have a centerpiece. Craft Elf has designed a pumpkin centerpiece made from gumdrops. Orange slice gumdrops to be exact with two spearmint leaf gumdrops for the top of the pumpkin. You can let your guests snack on the pumpkin if you like or you can raffle it off and let one of the guests bring it home as a prize.

You will also need some treats or candy cups to give out to the guests. Learn how to make these adorable Candy Corn and Pumpkin Candy Cups. They are an inexpensive way to treat your guests this Halloween.

You'll have the cutest Halloween party favors in town with our simple Pumpkin Party Favors. You decide what prize to hide inside this little pumpkin. You can even hide a different prize inside each pumpkin. To add even more fun and excitement to the party, after making the pumpkins, place them around on the ground outside and let the children go into the pumpkin patch and pick their own pumpkin. They will be so delighted to find a special prize inside!

Another fun activity is to play Pick a Pop with Ghost Lollipops. You can find complete instructions on how to play Pick a Pop in our June blog post titled Party Games for All Ages ~ Part 2. You can also adapt the other games in that post for Halloween. The Musical Pictures game can easily be played with Halloween themed pictures and the beach ball in the Beach Ball toss can be replaced with an inflatable pumpkin available at your local party store.

Happy Halloween and Happy Crafting!

Christmas Decoration Crafts

2010-09-30T10:50:00.002-04:00

Craft Elf invites you to check out a wonderful new website Christmas Decoration Crafts!

Christmas Decoration Crafts is a brand new website devoted solely to Christmas craft ideas. They have scouted the web for the best Christmas crafts and have brought them together in one place. The crafts have been neatly organized into categories so that you can easily find what you are looking for. Categories have already been set up for:

How to make Christmas Wreaths
Santa and Elf Crafts
Snowman Crafts
General Christmas Crafts
Countdown to Christmas/Advent Calendars
Ornaments including: Angels, Reindeer, Snowmen, Sweets and General Ornaments
Gingerbread which includes not only gingerbread crafts but also information on how to bake, build and decorate yummy gingerbread houses.

Over the next month many more categories are going to be added to give you an even greater variety of projects to choose from.

Every craft on Christmas Decoration Crafts includes a color photo so that you can go directly to only those crafts that actually interest you whereas most similar sites just list the projects with links and you have to click on each one to see if it is a project you would be interested in.

Christmas Decoration Crafts will always be on the lookout for and adding new projects as they find them.

~Happy Crafting!

New Craft Projects from Craft Elf

2010-08-18T15:50:00.000-04:00

The elves have been very busy lately. You may have seen some of the recent projects we have been working so hard on but there are also many more which will be added to Craft Elf in the near future. Recently we have added the following:

Baseball Fan Party Favor - The Baseball Fan Party Favor will be a fan favorite at a baseball themed party. It is made with Peanuts, Cracker Jacks and a baseball.
Knit Glove Doll - Turn an ordinary knit glove into a lovable doll.
Crochet Cotton Dishcloth - Free crochet pattern to make a simple cotton dishcloth.
Graduation Napkin Ring - Made from craft foam and embroidery floss, these napkin rings are sure to add a festive touch to any graduation party.
Poinsettia Pin - These pins are so simple yet eloquent to make. They make great gifts or items to sell at your next craft fair.
T-shirt Pillow - Preserve your old t-shirts by making them into pillows. You don't need to be an expert to stitch up some of these t-shirt pillows.

We have also added many new coloring pages over the last month or two and have fresh coloring pages ready to be added this week.

In addition to new coloring pages, keep a look out for the following projects which will be added over the next few weeks:

Fun Fur Flip-flops
Poinsettia Snowman Ornament
Pooh Goodie Bags
Wreath of Hands
Poinsettia Christmas Tree
Pom Pom Scarf
Present Centerpiece
Crochet Baby Sack

Our goal at Craft Elf is to continue adding fresh new projects to keep you coming back! If you are looking for any special type of craft project feel free to suggest it to the elves. We do our best to create the projects our fellow crafters are looking for.

Bead Craft for Kids

2010-07-17T10:02:00.003-04:00

Children are fascinated by beads and beads can provide hours of entertainment for them.

I would like to introduce you to a fun and different type of bead project available to kids and adults alike. My sister, Grace, introduced this unique product to my children when they were young - "Perler Beads". They also go under the name of "Fuse Beads". They are quite readily available in department and craft stores and come in two sizes, regular and jumbo. Perler beads are plastic with a hole through the middle. They are sold with plastic plates that have little spikes on them. The plates come in different shapes. You place the beads on the spikes that are on the plates. Once you have placed a bead on each spike, you cover the beads with special paper that comes in the kit or with wax paper and hold a dry iron on top of the wax paper. The heat from the iron fuses the beads together. Ironing should be done by an adult or for older children under close adult supervision. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions for specific directions on fusing the beads. Once the beads cool down, peel the wax paper off the beads and remove them form the plastic plate.

Thread a piece of monofilament through the completed designs and use them as Christmas ornaments or hang them in the window. Attach a magnet to the back of your design and use them on the fridge or glue them to popsicle sticks to make decorative plant stakes.

Yesterday afternoon we sat at the kitchen table to make a sample or two so you could see how the finished product looks. We had so much fun that several hours later we were still making Perler Beads. We stopped only for dinner and then got right back to our fun. My very special friend Josh, who is seven, was visiting and crafting with us and it was his first time using these beads. Within a very short time, he became and expert at making magnets and hanging decorations with the beads. His mom was so in love with them that she is going out today to buy their own set of beads.

Below is a small sampling of some of the ones we made yesterday.

As you can see, you can make your designs as simple or as complicated as you like.

~Happy Crafting!

Party Games for All Ages ~ Part 2

2010-06-29T14:11:00.000-04:00

With the Fourth of July only a few days away, many families are planning cookouts and parties to celebrate! Add some excitement and fun to your celebration by playing games at your 4th of July party. Below are three additional party games: Musical Pictures, Pick a Pop and Beach Ball Toss.

Musical Pictures –

· The object of this game is to be the one standing on a particular picture when the music stops.
· What you need to play is music that you can turn on and off (such as a cd player with a cd), pictures, construction paper, index cards, a glue stick and prizes.
· To set the game up, you will need one picture for each player*. You can print the pictures off line, draw them yourself or cut them out of a magazine. Try to get pictures that go with the theme of your party. For example a 4^th of July party would have pictures such as fireworks, an American flag, and the Statue of Liberty where as a Sesame Street party would have pictures of Elmo, Big Bird, Oscar and the other characters from the show. Using a glue stick, glue each picture to a piece of construction paper or cardstock. Write a word on the construction paper above or below the picture that describes the picture (such as “flag”) and write the same word or words on a separate index card. When you are done you will have a pile of index cards and a pile of picture cards. Place the picture cards on the ground face up in a circle.
· To play, have the guests stand in a circle on the outside of the pictures. When the music starts the players march or dance around in a circle just outside the pictures. They should not be dancing or marching on top of the pictures as this poses a slip and fall hazard. When the music stops, each player stands on the picture closest to them. If that picture is already occupied they should move to the closest unoccupied picture. Wait for all players to be on a picture then shuffle the index cards and pull one out and call out the description. If the card says “flag”, whoever is standing on the picture of the flag wins a prize. To play again, just restart the music and continue playing.

*If playing with a large group, you can have two people stop on each picture when the music stops and both players will win a prize if their picture is called.

Optional: Once a player wins a prize have them sit out until all players have had a chance to win.

Pick a pop –

· The object of this game is to pick the pop that has a black dot on the bottom of the stick. There are no losers in this game because everyone who plays wins a lollipop but a lucky few will win an additional prize.
· What you need for this game are lollipops (one for each player), a basket or box, piece of Styrofoam large enough to fit in the bottom of the basket/box and fake grass or shredded tissue paper, a permanent black marker and a prize or prizes.
· To set the game up, place a piece of Styrofoam in the bottom of a box or basket. If using a box, consider wrapping the box in foil or wrapping paper before adding the Styrofoam to dress it up a bit. Cover the Styrofoam with either fake grass or shredded tissue paper. Make a black dot on the bottom of one or more but not all of the lollipop sticks. If you have a large crowd you may want to have several pops with prizes but you should limit the number of prize winning lollipops to not more than 15%. Stick the lollipops through the fake grass and into the Styrofoam. Make sure you have one lollipop for each person who will play the game and one prize for each pop that has a dot on it.
· To play, place the basket/box of lollipops on a table and have the guests line up. One at a time they come up and pick a lollipop. If the pop has a dot on the end of the stick reward the player with a prize in addition to letting them keep their pop. If there is no dot on the bottom of their pop, the player keeps the lollipop and it is the next players turn.

Beach Ball toss –

· The object of this game is to be the player who can successfully throw the beach ball into a basket from the furthest distance.
· What you need to play this game is a beach ball, a laundry basket and something to mark the ground such as masking tape.
· Prepare for the game by, inflating the beach ball and making a line on the ground with a piece of masking tape. If playing outside on a driveway or patio you could use sidewalk chalk to draw a line if you prefer. Place the basket across from the line. The distance you place the basket from the line will depend on the age of the players. For young players start with the basket fairly close to the line.*
· To play, have all players stand in a line behind the line you made on the ground. The first player in line tries to throw the beach ball into the basket while standing behind the line on the ground. If they get the ball in the basket, they go the back of the line. If they miss they sit out for the rest of the game and cheer on their friends. After each player has had one turn trying to throw the ball into the basket the basket is moved back a little further and all players that are still in the game try again. Continue moving the basket back a little further at the end of each round until there is only one player left in the game. That player is the winner.

*It is a good idea to start with the basket too close rather than too far. It is better for all players to get the ball in once or twice before it starts getting hard and players start getting eliminated.

If you missed our last blog post, go back and check it out for four of my favorite games Pass the Prize Ball, Birdseed Race, Guess the Candy and Water Relay and be prepared to have the best party you have ever had. Even if you are not hosting the party, ask the host if they mind if you bring along a game or two for the guests to enjoy!

Now go out and make some memories and have fun!

Party Games for All Ages

2010-05-28T13:35:00.006-04:00

With the unofficial start of summer this weekend, many families will be attending barbecues. Instead of just eating and sitting around try some party games. They are a lot of fun and will leave your guests raving about your party. Below are four of my favorite games Pass the Prize Ball, Birdseed Race, Guess the Candy and Water Relay. Read on to find out how to play.

Pass the Prize Ball – Everyone in this game is a winner which makes it a great game for kids however, adults love this game too. If you want to play with both adults and kids consider making two different prize balls with age appropriate prizes.

The object is to be the one holding the prize ball when the music stops.
What you need is music that you can turn on and off (such as a cd player with a cd), one prize (not too big in size) for each guest playing the game and aluminum foil. One prize should be slightly better than the rest but still not too big.
Prepare for the game by taking the best prize and wrapping it in foil. Place a second prize up against the first foil covered prize and cover the whole thing with foil. Continue adding a prize and covering it with foil until you have a big ball of foil with a prize under each layer.
To play, have the guests sit in a circle on the floor. Hand the ball to one player and when the music starts the players start passing the ball of foil quickly around the circle. You will need one person who is not playing the game to start and stop the music. When the music stops, the player holding the foil ball carefully un- wraps the outermost layer of foil and they keep the prize they uncovered. Once a player has received a prize they leave the circle and the game continues without them. After each round one more player is eliminated. When it gets down to the last two players, the one holding the foil ball when the music ends unwraps their prize and then the final player gets to unwrap what is left. Saving the best prize for last will give the last player to receive a prize a real winning feeling.

Birdseed Race – This game is played in teams and is best played outside. If you spill any birdseed, don’t worry the birds will gladly clean it up when you are done.

The object is to be the team with the most birdseed in their bowl when time runs out.
What you need for this game is bird seed, wooden spoons, bowls, a measuring cup and a watch or timer.
Prepare for the game by first deciding how many teams you will have. If you are having 4 teams you need 8 bowls. Place four of the bowls in a line two to three feet apart from one another. Directly across from each empty bowl, place a bowl of birdseed. The distance you place between the bowls is up to you and depends on the age of the participants and the size of your yard. We generally place the bowls approximately ten feet apart.
To play, have each team line up behind the bowl of birdseed for their team. Give the first person in line on each team a wooden spoon. The wooden spoon should be held in one hand and their other hand should be placed behind their back. When you give the word for the teams to start, one person who is not playing should act as the time keeper and call time once two minutes have passed. The first person on each team should scoop up birdseed with the wooden spoon. They then race across and dump the birdseed into the empty bowl across from them, run back and hand the spoon off to the next player on their team. The second player scoops up birdseed and races across to put it in their bowl just as the first player did. Play continues until time up is called. No more birdseed can be placed in the bowls after time is called. To determine the winning team, use a measuring cup to see which team collected the most birdseed.

Guess the Candy -

The object of this game is to have all guests try to guess how many pieces of candy are in the candy jar. Whoever guesses closest without going over wins the jar of candy.
What you need to play this game is a see through jar and small candies such as jelly beans, M&Ms or Skittles. You will also need slips of paper and something to write with such as a pen or pencil and a clean empty coffee can.
Prepare for the game by, filling the jar to the top with the candy counting it as you fill it. Cap the jar. Write down how many pieces of candy are in the jar and put it away where no one will see it. If you want to get fancy you can decorate the jar with paint pens, tie a bow around the top of the jar or decorate it some other way. You can also decorate the coffee can by cutting a piece of paper that will fit around the outside of the can. Decorate the paper with markers or use decorative paper. Tape the paper around the can and cut a slit in the lid of the can. Cut a piece of paper into pieces large enough to write a name and number on.
To play, have each guest write down their name and their guess as to how many pieces of candy are in the jar. After writing out their guess, it should be placed in the slit in the top of the coffee can. Once all guesses are in, take the lid off the can and see whose guess is closest without going over the total number of candies in the jar. The one who guesses closest without going over is awarded the jar of candy to take home.

Water Relay – Plan on getting wet when you play this game. It is great family fun and the perfect game for a family reunion.

The object of this game is to be the team with the most water in your soda bottle at the end of two minutes.
What you need to play is a big tub of water, 5 oz cups, empty 2 liter soda bottles, a watch or timer and chairs.
Prepare for the game by first deciding on how many teams you will have. You will need one chair, soda bottle and cup for each team. Place the chairs in a row facing the bucket of water with enough room between each chair for a person to easily walk past it.
To play, choose one person from each team to sit in the chair and hold the soda bottle. The bottle must be held between their knees but they can use their hands to help hold the bottle. All other players on each team line up behind their team’s chair and the first person in each line is given a 5oz cup. Once the time is started the race will continue until 2 minutes are up. When the timekeeper gives the word, the first person in line behind each chair races over to the tub of water, fills their cup, runs back and pours the water into their team’s soda bottle. (The person holding the bottle is not allowed to help pour the water.) They then hand off the cup to the next person in line and go to the back of the line. The second person runs over, scoops water, and pours it into the soda bottle and passes off the cup to the next player. Play continues in this manner until time is called. The team with the most water in their soda bottle when time is called is the winning team.

Spending quality time with family and friends is a great way to strengthen relationships and make memories that will last a lifetime. Look for future blog posts with more great party game ideas.

Kids Birthday Party Ideas ~ Party for a Little Girl

2010-05-15T14:37:00.004-04:00

As a mother of four I have thrown my share of birthday parties over the years. The best parties we ever had were the parties we hosted at home. The key to a hosting a great kids birthday party is organization. Choose a theme, relate all elements of the party to that theme, plan everything ahead and most importantly be organized.

I will be sharing the details of some of our most loved birthday parties through a series of articles on this blog. Pick and choose the elements of my party ideas that you feel will work well for your child and the other guests and don't hesitate to change any elements that don't suit your particular child.

In this first article, I will share my all time favorite party for a young girl. I call it "Bring your Baby" because all the guest are asked to bring their favorite baby doll or stuffed animal. On the invitation we wrote "please bring your favorite baby doll or stuffed animal". This party is perfect for little girls age four to seven, however, young boys also enjoy parenting with their teddy bears.

Before the party:
Clear the party area, in our case it was the living room, of all extra toys and bring in all the toys related to "playing house". For my daughter's party, these items included her sink/stove, refrigerator, little table and chairs, cradle, stroller, play dishes etc. We will call this the "house" area. I collected unwanted pocketbooks, costume jewelry and infant onesies from relatives and friends. Then, bought play money, sample size baby powders (one for each guest), a package of premie diapers, and doll size diaper bags. I found the doll size diaper bags for two dollars each at a discount store but if you have trouble finding them at a reasonable price you might consider stitching up a little tote bag for each child to use as a diaper bag. You can buy or collect many different items for the dolls such as baby spoons, bottles, pacifiers, cups and/or bowls. Disposable versions of many of these products are available in the baby department of your local discount store or you can donate your unneeded baby items as long as they are clean and in good condition.

I put some play money into each pocketbook before the girls arrived and set the pocketbooks aside. In a separate room from where the main play area is I set up a store for the guest to go shopping. I used the dinning room table for our store by removing all the chairs and placing all the items to be "sold", such as the costume jewelry and baby items, neatly on the table. A check out area was set up near the entrance to the dining room by placing a play cash register on a tray table.

As an added item for the store, I sewed an apron for each of the girls and they were thrilled to be able to take that home in addition to all their baby items and their new pocketbooks. You can find instructions on how to sew an apron by visiting Craft Elf.

Let the Party Begin:
As the guests arrive let them choose a pocketbook. Let them know that there is play money in the pocketbook but they should leave it inside because they will need it later for something really fun. After they receive their pocketbooks they should be directed to the "house area" where they can all play house together with their babies.

Once all the guest have arrived explain to the mommies that they are going to go shopping and they should get their pocketbooks and babies ready to go to the store. Each child should be allowed to buy one of each type of thing, such as one baby powder, one piece of costume jewelry etc. This way there will be enough items for all the guests. If you have any baskets with handles available you could let the children use them to bring their purchase up to the register but as with any store they should leave the basket with the cashier. Depending on the number of guest you might want to bring only a few "mommies" to the store at a time. The cashier should be played by an adult or older child. Once everyone has had a chance to visit the store and enjoy their newly purchase items for a little bit, you can move on to presents and cake and ice cream.

Now it's time to move on to a game. Have the girls line up around a table and undress their dolls. Give them each a premie diaper which they should lay flat on the table to the right of their doll. When you give the word they should put the baby's diaper on and pick up the baby as quickly as possible. Whoever diapers the doll first is the winner. It is a good idea to give a demonstration on how to put on a diaper before the game starts.

Another fun activity would be to teach everyone how to properly wrap a baby in a receiving blanket.

Side Notes and General Suggestions:
It is highly recommended that you label each of the items when they are given to or bought by the children so there is no confusion over what items belong to which guest. Masking tape is excellent for placing the child's name inside of the pocketbook. Other items can be marked using a sharpie or by using masking tape. The best time to do this is when the children are checking out from the "store" except the pocketbooks should be marked when they are given to the child.

Personally I think the children enjoy the party more, especially at a young age, if there are not too many guests.

I find it helpful to write an outline for myself to follow on the day of the party. This helps keep the party moving along and serves as a reminder so that you don't forget anything.

Gift Ideas Mother's Day

2010-05-03T11:46:00.006-04:00

One of the best gifts you can give your mom for Mother's Day is a homemade gift. Taking the time to craft something special for someone so special shows how much you love her.

Craft Elf has a wide variety of crafts to make for Mother's Day. We have showcased a few of these great craft ideas here for you starting with some easy projects for the kids to make.

Message in a Bottle - Write a special note to Mom to tell her how much you appreciate her. Place the note in a recycled bottle with sand and mini shells and seal with a cork. For an added special touch, color the sand before adding it to the bottle.

Pot of Flower Pens - Free craft instructions to make flower pens by attaching artificial flowers to the top of pens and wrapping the pens with floral tape.

Popsicle Stick Picture Frame - This is an oldie but a goodie. Once assembled, have fun painting and decorating it.

Tea Light Holder - Use a clean baby food jar, glitter and a scrap of fabric to make this unique gift.

CD Case Picture Frame - If you like to recycle, check out these easy craft instructions to turn an empty CD case into a picture frame.

For the more experienced crafter you might want to try our Crackle Candle which is made by pouring wax over ice cubes to make a Swiss cheese effect in the wax. The wax is very hot so this is not a project for children.

Our Sofa Doorstop - is made around a brick base. Customize the sofa by choosing a fabric in your Mom's favorite color and a stuffed bunny, bear or no animal at all. This project requires some sewing and the use of a hot glue gun.

If you still haven't found just the right gift to make for Mother's Day check out our other craft projects or sewing projects to find the perfect gift idea.

~ Happy Crafting

More Crafting Hints & Tips

2010-04-13T12:59:00.001-04:00

To me crafting is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable pastimes. A sense of accomplishment when successfully completing a project is a real source of pride. Successfully completing craft projects is not as easy for some as it is for others. Becoming familiar with the crafting hints and tips below will help you to be one of the successful crafters thus making crafting a fun and enjoyable activity.

When gluing small objects such as goggly eyes onto a larger object, squeeze the glue onto the larger object then place the smaller object into the glue. Doing the reverse can be a real source of frustration, especially to children, as the small object will stick to your fingers and be difficult to place where you want it once it has glue on it.
When crafting work over a clean Styrofoam tray. It will help keep your work area clean and keep small parts from getting lost. Styrofoam trays, like fruits and vegetables come on, can be put in the top rack of the dishwasher.
When applying glue with a glue stick to small pieces of paper, lay a scrap sheet of paper under the pieces you are applying glue to. This will keep glue from getting on your work surface.
When you need to tie a string around something, after crossing the ends and tucking one end under, tuck the same end under a second time before completing the knot. This will help keep the string much tighter while you complete the knot.
When threading ribbon through a hole in a tag, cut the end of the ribbon at an angle and/or fold it in half before threading it through the hole. It will go through easier like this.
When cutting out a heart, fold the fabric or paper in half and cut just half of the heart out being sure the center of the heart is on the fold. This will make both halves even when you open up the fabric or paper.
To draw a shamrock, first make a heart template then use the heart to draw the shamrock by tracing three hearts that overlap at the sides and meet at their points then finish the shamrock off by drawing a stem at the bottom of the three hearts.
To tie an overhand knot, keep the two pieces of string together (as if they were one piece) and wrap them around your finger forming a loop. Then, pass the ends through the loop you made and pull taught.
When painting with fabric paint in squeeze bottles, to lessen the number of air bubbles, keep a paper towel nearby and before each use, tip the bottle of paint upside down and tap it gently on the paper towel. This will help remove any air from the tip of the bottle.
To make a professional finish on a bow, either cut the ends on an angle or fold the ends of the ribbon in half and cut the ribbon on an angle cutting higher on the end where the fold is. This will form an upside down V shape in your ribbon.
To keep fabric from fraying, use pinking shears to cut it out.
To curl ribbon, buy curling ribbon and tie as desired then using the blade of a pair of scissors, quickly run the ribbon across the blade. Don't be afraid to run the ribbon across a second time if the ribbon isn't curly enough. As always, use caution when using any sharp object.

For even more tips on crafting successfully read more at Craft Elf's Hints & Tips section.

If you have any hints and tips for crafting, please feel free to share them below in our comment section. We would love to hear from you.

How to Make Custom Window Clings

2010-04-08T13:27:00.001-04:00

Did you know that with special paints you can make your own custom window clings?

Several different companies make the paints but the two that I have used are Liquid Rainbow paints by Deco Art and Gallery Glass by Plaid. The Liquid Rainbow paints are more watery which allows them to blend more naturally. When they dry they are more translucent than the Gallery Glass paint. You will also need a bottle of leading paint and a styrene blank to make window clings.

Choose a picture that is not too complicated and place it under the styrene blank. Then, trace the pattern directly onto the styrene blank using the leading paint. The leading paint has to dry for one to two hours. Once dry it creates a barrier which contains each color of paint. It is very important to be sure each line connects completely to another line or to itself so that the paint will be contained while it is wet. If there is any gap in your outline, the paint will flow out of your design.

Use your Liquid Rainbow or Gallery Glass paint colors to fill in your design. Do NOT shake the paint or you will have lots of air bubbles. Hold the tip of the bottle just above the surface and gently squeeze the paint into the area you want to fill moving the tip side to side. It is important that you fill the outlined areas with the paint until the paint is level with the leading. Also, be sure the area is completely filled and there are no gaps between the leading and the paint as this will create holes in your finished project. The look of the paint changes dramatically as it dries.

You can find complete instructions and more tips at Craft Elf.

You can make window clings for any holiday or occasion. We have a graduation coming up soon so I will be making some graduation hats and diplomas. For a birthday you can make a hat or cupcake. Use your imagination!

~Happy Crafting~

Sewing Hints, Tips and Projects

2010-04-05T12:19:00.030-04:00

Regardless of whether you simply want to be able to sew on a button, make small repairs or sew complete garments, knowing how to sew is a very valuable skill. I have compiled a few of my favorite sewing tips to share with you.

When turning a fabric tube right side out - attach a safety pin to one end of the tube and close the pin. Insert the pin into the tube and push the pin through to the other side. The fabric will follow and your tube will now be right side out.

When teaching children to hand sew - I find it helpful to use safety pins and place them all on the same side. This way as you instruct the children in sewing, if they always keep the pins facing the ceiling, the piece won't get all twisted and the thread won't get knotted as often.

When hand sewing - if the thread becomes twisted just drop the needle while holding onto what you are sewing and it will unwind itself.

When kids want to learn to sew with a needle and thread - Felt is the perfect fabric to start with as the edges don't fray and the needle glides through easily.

When threading ribbon or elastic thru a casing - attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic or ribbon and push the pin thru the casing. Be sure to close the safety pin. The pin will be much easier to push through the casing than the ribbon or elastic alone.

When sewing with a sewing machine - to make a knot, take 3 - 4 forward stitches then go backward 3 - 4 stitches and start stitching forward again. This will secure your thread so it doesn't come undone

Kids can easily stitch up little friends from felt. Trace any simple shape onto felt. You will need two identical shapes. Pin them together with safety pins. Stitch around the edge of the shape leaving a 3" opening. Fill the opening with Polyester Fiberfil (stuffing) then sew the opening closed. You can draw on a face with fabric paint or a permanent marker.

When children are learning to sew it can sometime be difficult for them to know how closely to make the stitches. Craft Elf has designed some "Learn to Sew" projects in which you cut out the shape and make holes around the edges for the child ahead of time. With Memorial Day, Flag Day and Fourth of July all just around the corner you may want to try this Patriotic Star Pillow.

Our other learn to sew projects include a Ghost; Gingerbread Man and Snowman. They each come with a full size pattern and complete sewing instructions. Craft Elf offers a variety of other sewing projects for both beginner and advanced sewers. Stop by today ad choose a project or two to stitch up.

~ Happy Crafting ~

Tips for Hosting a Shower

2010-03-28T14:30:00.001-04:00

Whether you are hosting a Baby Shower or a Wedding Shower it can be a lot of work but it can also be a lot of fun. Here is a suggestion to help the new couple or the new parents go home with a little something extra.

When sending out the invitations, include a request for the guests to bring a little something extra for the guest(s) of honor. You can simply write the request directly on the invitation or include a little poem asking for the extra item. Some ideas of extra items to request are:

Baby shower ~

A jar of baby food - if each guest brings just one jar of baby food the cupboard will be full when baby starts to eat.
An item to be used to assist baby in eating such as a spoon, cup, bowl or bib
A health care item such as powder, diaper ointment, shampoo, nail clippers, cotton balls etc.

Wedding shower ~

For a couple who is just starting out, non perishable food items
A jar of spices or seasoning - "to help spice up the marriage"
You can include a blank recipe card with the invitation and ask the guests to write their favorite recipe on it and bring it to the shower. The card could include a line such as "From the Kitchen of______________________" so that the bride and groom will know where each recipe came from.
Each guest could bring a kitchen utensil/gadget such as spatulas, serving spoons, measuring spoon & cups and other kitchen gadgets such as vegetable peeler, apple corer etc.
Another great choice would be cleaning supplies.

You should set up a spot for these special items to be placed as guest arrive. You could place a laundry or other basket on or near the gift table with a sign directing guest to place the item there. Recipes could be placed directly in a recipe box. Kitchen utensils and gadgets could be collected in a large pot.

If you have a large number of guest, you could split the requests between the bride's side and the groom's side so that half the guests bring kitchen utensils and the other half brings cleaning supplies or whatever you choose.

Enjoy the shower and

~Happy Crafting

New Coloring Pages and Crafts!

2010-03-26T11:31:00.001-04:00

It has been a very busy week here at Craft Elf!

We added eight new hand drawn coloring pages including three Easter coloring pages. Check out all 103 coloring pages from Craft Elf. More coloring pages are in the works so check back frequently to see what is new.

This week we created a bridal section in our party favor category. The first project, which is now available is a Fabric Sachet. They are so simple to make that beginning sewers will be able to successfully stitch them. Make one for each guest at your bridal shower or make just one to give Mom on Mother's Day.

Some upcoming projects to look for in the coming days are Jelly Bean Carrots for Easter, Ice cream Clowns: and a Lottery Ticket Tree. Further down the road we will be adding centerpieces for parties. It is so exciting and we have too many new ideas to list here so stay tuned for what is new at Craft Elf.

~Happy Crafting!

Learn to Sew - Sewing Definitions to Help You Get Started

2010-03-23T16:48:00.002-04:00

When learning to sew it is very helpful to understand the language used in the sewing world. The definitions below will give you the knowledge to get started reading and understanding sewing patterns and instructions.

Sewing Definitions

Baste - To baste is to make temporary stitching using long loose stitches that will be removed once your garment (or other stitched item) is complete. Basting can be done on the sewing machine or by hand stitching.

Bias - The diagonal direction of fabric. Fabric stretches on the bias.

Gather - Gathering is a process used to fit a larger piece of fabric into a smaller piece as in the waist of a skirt. To gather you make two or three loose rows of stitching then pull or gather the fabric along these stitch lines. When done on a sewing machine, set your stitch length to the longest stitch and loosen the top thread so it will gather easily without breaking the thread.

Right Side - The front side of your fabric. The side that is intended to be seen when your project is finished.

Running Stitch - A row of short even stitches made by passing the needle in and out of the fabric.

Seam Allowance - is the distance between the cut edge of the fabric and the line of stitching.

Selvage - The edge of fabric which is finished by the manufacturer to prevent raveling. This is cut off before sewing with this fabric.
Tension - The balance between the needle and bobbin threads (how tightly they pull on each other). An even balance or tension makes for a perfect stitch.

Top Stitching - A line of stitching done on the right side of the fabric used to reinforce a seam or add a decorative finished look to your project.

Wrong side - The back side of your fabric. Not the side that you would normally see.

Learning to sew is a great skill that will come in handy throughout your life. You will be able to save money by mending your own clothing. Additionally, the world of crafting will be opened up in a whole new dimension once you have learned to sew as there are many projects which require sewing. Get started today with some simple and some not so simple sewing projects from Craft Elf.

Help Kids be Successful Crafters

2010-03-19T14:08:00.003-04:00

Children can become frustrated when they are crafting if they feel the project is too difficult. Using the tips below you can help children to feel successful and nurture their love of crafting.

When kids are creating remember that it is perfectly fine if they do things a little bit differently than you do.
Praise the child while they are crafting and reassure them that their project is wonderful just how it is.
It's OK to help but don't take over. It will take a child longer than an adult to complete some projects so just be patient and let them try to work it out themselves.
If a young child is going to make something that involves a lot of cutting and they are having trouble mastering a pair of scissors, cut out the pieces ahead of time for them and just have them do the assembly or leave one or two items for them to cut but have the others already cut.
When tracing and cutting out, be sure the side with the tracing lines becomes the back so the lines don't show. The project will look better this way therefore the child will feel better about the end results.
When spreading glue over a large area, squeeze some glue out of the bottle and spread it with a popsicle stick, paintbrush or foam brush (applicator).
To attach a bar pin to a project, heavy duty double sided tape works great. Check out the Hints & Tips section on Craft Elf for a picture and explanation of the easiest way to do this.
Use glue dots! They don't require any dry time and are much less messy than white glue. How to use Glue Dots can be found in an earlier blog from Craft Elf.
When cutting, turn the object you are cutting into the scissors whenever possible. Do not turn the scissors.
When gluing small objects such as goggly eyes onto a larger object, squeeze the glue onto the larger object where you want the smaller object to be then place the smaller object into the glue.
When working with glitter, work over a paper towel or a piece of paper. After sprinkling the glitter over the glued area, fold the paper towel in half and pour the extra back into your container. The glitter lasts much longer this way! I use to instruct large groups of children and when we worked with glitter I would give each child a Dixie cup to pour their glitter into. Then we would collect the cups of glitter and pour them back into the original container. I usually came home with almost as much glitter as I started with and I saved the cups for the next project with glitter.
If your child wants to experiment with craft supplies let them. They may come up with something you never thought of or they may just make a mess but it is sure to be one of their favorite experiences.

Crafting with kids is a great way to let them express themselves. It helps to develop fine motor skills and helps them think outside the box.

For many years I brought craft projects into the local elementary school and I never found a child who did not want to participate. As these children have grown up and I have seen them in the community, they still remember the projects we made and many have told me they still have all the items they made! Crafting with kids is a very rewarding and memorable experience for both the child and the adult helper!

Guide to Knowing Which Glue to Use When Crafting

2010-03-18T16:43:00.001-04:00

Have you ever wondered which glue you should use? Craft Elf has compiled information on many of the glues commonly used in crafting. The guide below will help you in your decision on exactly which glue to use. If you don't have a specific glue, our guide can help you choose an appropriate substitute.

Craft Elf's Guide to Glue

Elmer's Glue-All - Inexpensive and great for general crafting. It is more watery than tacky glue so it does not work well when gluing heavier items. If this is the only glue you have on hand and what you are gluing keeps sliding down the surface it is attached to you can tape the item in place until the glue dries. Elmer's Glue-All dries clear, strong, is non-toxic and cleans up with water while it is still wet. It washes off skin with soap and water and is an excellent glue for children.

Tacky Glue - Great all purpose glue which has a thicker consistency than Elmer's glue therefore it holds items in place better while the glue is drying. It comes in white or clear but both types dry clear and are non-toxic. Washes off skin with soap and water. It is not intended for use on fabric.

Quick Dry Tacky - Same as regular tacky glue except it dries more quickly.

Elmer's Spray Adhesive - It is a strong water-resistant adhesive which can be either permanent or temporary depending on how it is applied. It is acid free, fast tack, dries clear and resists bleed-through.

Wood Glue - The name says it all on this one. Wood glue is used for adhering two pieces of wood together.

Duco Cement - Can be used on China, metal, wood and some plastics. It is dishwasher safe once dry and dries clear. Caution should be taken when using Duco Cement. It is not intended for young children to use as it is extremely flammable and is an eye, skin and respiratory irritant. Must be used in a well ventilated area.

Glue sticks - Glue sticks such as Elmer's school glue sticks come in a roll up dispenser similar to what lip balm comes in. It's main use is to adhere two pieces of paper together or to adhere paper to cardboard. It dries clear. Some types are colored when they go on so you can see where you are applying them but they too dry clear.

Hot glue - Hot Glue is great because it sets up quickly and can hold a variety of materials together. It is ideal for items such as wreaths or hard to glue items. It is not for delicate items or anything that cannot withstand heat. Hot glue is applied using a glue gun into which you insert glue sticks specifically designed for that glue gun (not to be confused with the glue sticks described above). The glue stick's come in different sizes and can be round or oval and are either high temp, low temp or multi temp. Low temp doesn't get as hot as the high temp but it cools very quickly so often times the hotter glue is desirable as it gives you a bit more time to set what you are gluing. Glue guns come in two basic sizes, regular or mini. The mini is smaller in size than the regular gun and the glue sticks are much smaller so they run out more quickly. If you plan on using the glue gun for larger projects I recommend getting a full size gun. The low temperature glue can only be used with a low temperature gun and the high temperature glue sticks can only be used with the high temperature gun. However, the multi temp guns can use either the low temp stick or the high temp stick but you need to be sure the gun is set to the type of stick you have in the gun. In order to avoid the confusion of which type of stick you have in the gun, you can purchase multi-temp glue sticks which work on high or low temperature. HOT GLUE GUNS GET VERY HOT especially when set to high and care should be take not to burn yourself. Over time items glued using a hot glue gun can come off and may need to be re-glued.

Mod Podge - One of the most popular decoupage glues, it is used to apply fabric, tissue or paper to a variety of surfaces. Once completed you use the same product to apply a coat over the surface to seal it. Mod Podge comes in matte, gloss or satin finishes. Mod Podge also comes in specialty formulas for fabric, outdoor use, for use as a puzzle saver or with a sparkle in the finish. Other brands of decoupage glue work in the same manner.

Aleene's Stop Fraying - This glue is intended to stop the fraying of fabrics, ribbons and trims but can also be use to attach embellishments and appliques. It dries clear and flexible and can withstand repeated washings.

Aleene's OK to wash it - OK to Wash-It is designed to provide a permanent fabric bond which can be washed.

Aleene's Paper Napkin Applique -This specialty glue is designed for attaching a paper napkin applique to fabric such as a t-shirt. Once cured the clothing containing the applique can be washed.

Aleene's Reverse Collage - Used to adhere napkins, wrapping paper, ribbon, glitter or silk flowers to the inside of a glass or plastic container or on the bottom of a glass or plastic tray. Items made using Reverse Collage glue cannot be submerged in water.

Spray Mount Artist's Adhesive - Designed for mounting art prints and posters but it also useful when crafting or scrap booking. It is repositionable on many surfaces, resists bleed through and is photo safe.

Glue Dots - Glue dots are one of my favorite products to use with children as they are not messy and you do not have to wait for them to dry. They come in a regular/standard strength for most applications but also come in heavy duty if you are glueing items that have a bit more weight to them. Glue dots are also great for adults to use. Use them anywhere you might use tape but don't want the tape to show, such as on gift baskets. Glue dots come on a roll of waxy paper. To use the dots, cut apart the paper so that you only have one glue dot on a small piece of the paper. Press the dot onto one of the items to be glued then peel the paper off and stick the other item you are gluing onto the exposed part of the dot. Using glue dots is very similar to using double sided tape.

Always read the specific instructions that come with any glue for the most accurate and up-to-date uses and for the proper way to apply the glue.

Hint: When using a hot glue gun, place a piece of aluminum foil under the nozzle of the gun to catch any of the hot glue drips.

~Happy Crafting!~

Hints and Tips to Make Crafting More Fun

2010-03-15T14:54:00.011-04:00

Craft Elf has compiled a list of Crafting Hints and Tips as well as Sewing Hints and Tips.

A few of my favorite general hints and tips are :

When you need a funnel- cut the top off a clean, empty water bottle or soda bottle to use as a funnel. If the cut edge is rough, cover it with tape such as duct tape, masking tape or painters tape.

When Cutting - turn the object you are cutting into the scissors whenever possible. Do not turn the scissors.

Pipe-cleaners should be cut using wire cutters - You can damage scissors if they are used to cut pipe-cleaners or any type of wire.

When making multiples of an item using a pattern - trace the pattern onto craft foam or cardboard as it will last much longer than a paper pattern and it is easier to trace around.

When tracing on black or another dark color - use white chalk or a white crayon so you can see the lines.

When cutting Styrofoam with a plastic knife - run the knife across wax, such as an old candle, to make it easier to cut through the Styrofoam.

When painting Styrofoam - do not use regular spray paint. It will melt the Styrofoam. Craft stores sell spray paint specially designed for Styrofoam or you can paint it with any kid's or acrylic/craft paint and a paint brush.

When painting - use old plastic lids to squeeze the paint out onto. Coffee can lids and Cool Whip lids work well.

To attach cording to a key ring - fold your piece of cording in half and put the fold (loop end) through the ring then pass the two loose ends through the fold and pull taught.

When checking a materials list - if you do not have a certain item on the list, look around the house and see if you have something else that will work. For example, when making a snowman that calls for an orange craft foam nose, if you don't have craft foam, use a piece of felt or a piece of orange fabric or better yet, paint a cork orange and use it for the nose.

Look for additional tips in future Craft Elf blogs.

Happy Crafting!

Category overview ~ Crafts How to Information

2010-03-11T14:09:00.002-05:00

If you are new to Craft Elf you may not realize all that we have to offer. Craft Elf provides free how to crafting information along with crafting hints and tips. Our craft projects are broken down in to seven main categories:

Crafting with Food and Party Favors are our two newest categories and we are working diligently to expand both of these categories. An expansion of the Party Favors category will include centerpieces and decorations for parties as well as wedding and baby showers. One of the new projects in the works for the Party Favor category is a wreath made from baby diapers. Our Diaper Wreath is a great gift for a new mom or a mom-to-be. Look for complete step by step instructions to be added to Craft Elf within the next two weeks. Here is a sneak peek at the completed wreath:

Holiday Crafts is further broken down by specific holidays and includes :

Our Knit and Crochet category not only has projects to knit and crochet but also has a list of commonly used terms and abbreviations. These lists provide and invaluable reference to both beginner and advanced knitters and crocheters.

Sewers will love our projects with full size pattens as well as our sewing information page. The sewing information page is broken down into three sections definitions, stitches and hints and tips.

In addition to all the craft projects, Craft Elf also provides hand drawn coloring pages. To date we have 95 pictures to print and color.

~Happy Crafting

Welcome to Craft Elf ~ your one stop for craft how to information

2010-03-10T13:13:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Craft Elf blog!

In 2006, my son David and I decided to combine his love of technology and my love of crafting. We came up with Craft Elf ~ a website filled with free craft projects and instructions. We are constantly working to increase the number of projects and the amount of crafting information on Craft Elf.

The Craft Elf blog will help keep all of our followers informed on what is new and upcoming.

When Craft Elf first hit the internet we had a few free craft projects for fellow crafters to choose from. Today we have 246 different project which appear in a total of eighteen different categories along with 95 hand draw coloring pages to print and color. Each craft project contains complete how to info along with color photos. In addition to the craft projects and coloring pages Craft Elf provides a Crafting Hints & Tips section, Sewing Information & Tips; Gadget Corner and a list of suggested craft supplies to have on hand. Gadget Corner showcases some useful tools for crafting and sewing. Many of our crafts are easy for kids to complete but we do also have a section of crafts devoted to more experienced crafters.

Whether you like to craft, sew, knit or crochet, you are sure to find the projects on Craft Elf fun and exciting! We work with a variety of mediums such as craft foam, felt, pipe-cleaners, ribbons, Styrofoam, yarn, pompoms, popsicle sticks, recycled materials and glitter just to name a few.

Stop by Craft Elf and choose a few craft projects to get started on. Check back at the Craft Elf Blog for updates on what is new and upcoming!

Happy Crafting!

~Barbara Norcia

The Craft Elf