Creative Crafting

Blow Painting

Nancy — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:22:30 +0000

Check out this wonderful, creative way for children to become involved in painting from a fellow blogger. Busy Moms’ World

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Up To My Ears In Birdhouses!

Nancy — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:48:53 +0000

I have been getting bored since Christmas. There is only so much you can do in Michigan in the middle of winter. I don’t ski, I don’t ice fish, I don’t tobaggan. I do like the snow though and I love Michigan. It is a great state.

In the winter I have to find things to keep me busy. The months between January-end of March are particularly nailbiting for me!

I have been collecting for the last 10 years, birdhouses. The kind that you don’t hang outside, but are purly decorative. You find them at store thoughout the midwest that cater to folk art, country decor. So I have about 20 of the life size birdhouses hanging around the house (not literally).

So I decided with my love of Polymer Clay, why not make miniatures of them! So I have been busy. Each one stand about 2″ high and 11/2″ deep. The width depends on the style of the house.

Here are some samples.

The house is not crooked, just my aim of the camera!

Little pine trees and shrubs make the house complete

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Weddings

Nancy — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:34:28 +0000

I have been married a few years…40 to be precise. Unfortunately, or fortunately whichever the case maybe, I don’t remember much of that day only through pictures. I don’t have many of my wedding gifts left, but that is what happens over a long period of time. The one item I do have and I cherish is a decoupaged wedding invitation given to me by my late brother and his wife. I have always loved it and it has always hung in a place of honor in my home.

It is such a simple gift and yet it is the only one that has lasted a lifetime. Several years ago in another home, we had a small fire and some of my wedding memories were lost in the water and smoke damage so I no longer have the original invitation, only this reminder.

I am sure when my sister-in-law made it she never thought what this gift would come to mean to me and my husband. It is a reminder of a beautiful day with family and friends.

The reason I am telling you this story is this: Wedding season is upon us. The brides will have their lists at various stores of items they need and want, and you will no doubt purchase something for them. But why not add something personal with the gift. Something you made by hand for them to remember long after the gifts have worn out.

Thank you Joni and Jack..for the memory.

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Happy Holidays

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:28:51 +0000

To: All of my readers

From: The Kraska Family

Our holiday crafting is done for this year, at least I think it is. I have made all of my tags with embellishments from spare scrapbooking items, decorated packages with homemade items from polymer clay, the house is done, I think. Each friend and family member received their handmade Christmas cards (I hope). So I am done! For now.

I have a lot of ideas for next year and hope to post some of the more successful ones here.

Thanks for supporting my blog and have a safe and happy holiday season!

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Ribbon Candy Ornaments

Nancy — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:23:50 +0000

Ribbon Candy has always been a Holiday staple as far as I am concerned. So this year when I found a way to make decorations out of polymer to look like ribbon candy, I couldn’t wait to try it.

I am using these on the tree, to decorate packages and a bowl of “fake” ones on the table in a candy dish. I have no small children coming to my house, so I don’t have to watch for anyone wanting to eat them!

Click on picture for more instructions

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Bas Relief Winter Scene Christmas Ornament

Nancy — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:17:22 +0000

So much for my 21 days of Christmas Crafting…my only excuse is shopping.

Design by Marie Redmond

Last year around this time I was just starting my exploration of Polymer Clay. I knew from the start that this was something I would enjoy for years to come. One of my favorite aspects of clay is the miniature scenes, characters, and villages one can make. I like doing things in a small size.

I ran across this on my favorite Polymer Clay site Sculptey.com. The complete instructions for this and other crafts are there for both novices and experienced alike.

Happy Holidays!

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Frosty The Doorstop

Nancy — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:31:57 +0000

Here is a fun and easy craft for the kids to make for either grandparents, teachers, or friends.

The pavers might be hard to find this time of year, but you can use the same principle and use Styrofoam forms and use it as a window decoration instead.

Use your imagination…isn’t that why we craft?

Materials

* Keyhole-shaped paver (available at many home improvement stores) *
* Paintbrush
* White and black acrylic paint
* Orange modeling clay
* Superglue

* Fleece
* Pipe cleaner
* Two 1 1/2-inch pom-poms
* Rubber band
* Felt

Instructions

1.Rinse off the paver to remove any loose bits of dirt or cement. Paint it white and let it dry. If needed, apply a second coat and let it dry completely. (if using Syrofoam cover it with white felt or white cotton)

2.Lay the paver flat and paint on the eyes, mouth, and buttons. Let the face dry, then mold a clay nose and affix it with superglue (a parent’s job).

3.Cut a fleece scarf (ours measures 1 by 22 inches) and tie it in place. For the earmuffs, bend a 5-inch piece of pipe cleaner into an arc. Superglue the ends to either side of the head and the pom-poms over the ends (a parent’s job), then wrap the rubber band around the snowman?s head to hold the earmuffs in place until the glue dries.

4.To protect indoor floors, superglue a small piece of felt to the base of the snowman.

Merry Christmas!

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Santa Penguin

Nancy — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:04:47 +0000

Polymer Clay will not be left out of this holiday craft run.

This cute little guy was so easy to make, a child could do it. I am going to give you a link to a site that I use quite often for my ideas. Normally I would write down the instruction and then put them on here, but they have everything laid out so nice and simple. I figure it would be better just to send my readers there.

Santa Penguin

But be sure and come back for more ideas on holiday crafting right up until Santa time!

Happy Holidays

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