This table was made from old stairway baluster posts and some scrap wood from an old fence.  I found the stairway parts in the basement of my parents old Victorian home where they had been dumped when the stairway had been redone. There were square nails in the newel post, baluster posts, and handrail so I couldn’t bear to see them rot in a damp basement.  This is really simple so even if you lack woodworking skills you can make this table.

Step 1.

The first thing you will have to do is cut off the top of the posts so they are flat. (They will be angled at the top because that is how they fit into the bannister.) You can always find some at salvage stores and sometimes at garage sales but you will need to find some that are squared at the top and bottom or it will not be as easy to attach the boards. You will need to cut out eight boards that are the same length. I think 1 x 4’s work well for this project and I made mine about 20″ long but you can make them longer or shorter depending on what size you want the table to be.

Step 2.

Attach the first board on post #1 and line it up as shown in the picture above. I used screws and put two in each corner. You can use nails if you are more comfortable with a hammer.

Step 3.

Continue attaching the boards all the way around so that you make a square with a post in each corner.

Step 4.

Repeat the same process further down as shown. This will make the table stable and will allow you to have a two tiered table if you want. If you are using nails you will need to cut a board to prop up the legs as you nail them. You will measure from the ground to the post and that will stabilize the leg while you pound nails into it. When you are finished you will have a square at the top and the bottom.

Step 5.

You will need to put a crosspiece in the top of the table to make the table top stronger. I used a small sturdy board called a furring strip. They are cheap and sturdy and you can get them at any lumber place. Measure the inside of your table top and cut the board to fit exactly. You will attach it as shown above with a screw or nail.

Step 6.

Cut boards that are a little longer than your table top so you have a little bit of overhang. Nail or screw them on one at a time lining them up evenly. Next you will cut four boards to go around the edge as shown. This gives it a finished look. I did not put a shelf on the bottom because I am going to put a big fern under mine but it you want a shelf just repeat step 5 & 6.

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My youngest grandchild is fascinated with sand and seashells. Especially the sand and seashells in my very breakable candle holders. In an attempt to save them from sure destruction I came up with an idea that is quick and easy and will hopefully do the job.

Materials:

• Plastic container. If you live in rainy climates get one with a lid.
• sand
• shells  (I got a whole bag at a garage sale for 75 cents but they sell them at the dollar store and most craft stores.)

Container, sand, shells and the great outdoors. I am going to put one of the sand sifter toys in too and I think this will keep her busy for minutes. (Hours would be unrealistic.)

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This trellis will give support to tall flowers that need to be staked up. It’s free standing so it can be moved around when and where you need it. It’s really simple to make and I made this one from scrap wood.  I cut out some crows to add a decorative touch but you can use anything you want or leave it plain.

Step 1.

You will have to decide what size you want your table and then you will cut 8 boards that are all the same size. I made mine 24 inches square so each board was 24 inches long. I cut the four legs 36 inches tall. I used some 1 x 2’s but you can use 2 x 4’s.

Step 2.

Lay two of the legs on the ground and measure down 4 inches from the top. Lay one of the side pieces 4 inches down as shown and attach it with two screws. Attach it to the other leg as shown. Next measure down 5 inches and place the next board in place as shown and secure it with screws. Make another section just like the first one.

Step 3.

Stand the two sections up and join them together by measuring down 4 inches from the top like you did when you made the first two sections and secure a board with screws. Next you will measure down 5 inches and place the second board using screws to secure.

Step 4.

If you want to add a little decorative touch you can cut out some crows or any shape and then drill a hole in one or two of the legs as shown. Next you will drill a hole in the bottom of whatever shape you have cut out and glue a dowel into the hole as shown. Then you poke the dowel down into the hole you drilled in the leg.

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I spray painted all my matte frames with chalkboard paint so I can personalize them and change the message whenever I want. The glass keeps the chalk message in place until you change it. This is really easy and fast.\

Materials:

• matte frames
• chalkboard paint

Step 1.

Spray paint the matte frames. Let it dry for a little while and then give them a second coat.

Step 2.

After the frames are dry tape your pictures in the frame and then write your messages.

Step 3.

Put your pictures back in the frames and you are done!

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This is a fun project to do with your kids for St Patrick’s Day that they will remember for a long time. The directions are detailed and easy to do and definitely worth the work!!  I used to start talking about leprechauns at the beginning of March and would get them excited about “catching” one. Then I would let each of them paint an oatmeal container and decorate it anyway they wanted. The hardest part was coming up with a workable trap that worked well enough to satisfy my middle child’s analytical mind and I had to do this from memory of long ago but I think this will do. On St Patrick’s Day they would wake up to find the trap tripped, the candy gone and footprints and a trail of green glitter leading out the door. The leprechaun always did a lot of mischievous things while he was there and the kids had so much fun finding all of them.  I always left a little leprechaun shoe and a hat behind but eventually  my son pointed out that all the footprints were left by a shoe and one set should have been a bare foot. That was the last year I did it…

Materials:

• green felt
• yellow/gold felt
• black felt
• gold chocolate coins
• 1  cheap sponge
• 1  oatmeal container with snap on plastic lid  (large)
• twine
• twigs for ladder
• hot glue gun

Step 1.

Hat

Cut out all pieces from green felt except the buckle and the hat strip. Cut the buckle out of the yellow/gold felt and cut the hat strip out of the black.

Step 2.

Sew the small circle onto the hat crown by starting at any point on the circle and working your way around the circle.

Step 3.

Sew the large circle onto the bottom as shown in the first picture and when you’re done turn it over and cut out the center.

Step 4.

Sew the black band around the base of the hat and then add the buckle on top.

Step 5.

Shoe

Line the shoe bottom up with one of the sides and start sewing it on the side of the shoe. It’s easiest to start from the back of the shoe and then work your way up to the front. The shoe bottom will only go to the part that curls up. After you sew the shoe bottom on start at the top of the shoe (the last picture) and sew from the point where my finger is and go all the way around the curled up part and around to the bottom where the bottom of the shoe is attached. Squeeze the two sides together where my fingers and attach to the bottom of the shoe. I added a buckle to the front of the shoe and you can see it in a picture at the top.

Step 6.

Cut a sponge using the pattern piece above.  Moisten the sponge and then dip it in a washable paint and make footprints wherever you want. Remember that leprechauns can walk up cabinet doors and just about anywhere they want. 

Step 7.

You can cover the oatmeal box with scrapbook paper or let your kids paint it and decorate it any way they want. When they are finished you will punch two holes in the side. Next you will punch a hole in the center of the plastic lid and one in the bottom of the container.

Step 8.

Run the cord through the two holes in the side of the container. Let one end hang down in the container and the other end will go through the plastic lid and tie a knot to secure the cord to the lid. Feed the other end through the bottom and tie a knot to secure it.

Cut a small notch on the top at the opposite side from the two holes. The cord that comes out the bottom is just to demonstrate to your kids how it works. The idea is that the leprechaun climbs the ladder to get into the container to get the gold candy coins that are inside. He uses the rope to climb out but as he pulls on it his weight pulls the plastic lid that is hanging over the side by the notch you cut up onto the top and if all works well it snaps into place and traps him. My son said that he didn’t think it would work because leprechauns have magical powers but I said they lose them when they’ve been outsmarted. I always left the candy in the trap and told the kids that the leprechaun must have gotten so flustered that he ran out the door and forgot them.

Step 9.

Take two twigs and cut them to equal length. Mine are a little crooked because I had to dig through snow to find them and my hands were getting cold. Cut ladder rungs from thinner twigs and then attach them with hot glue to the side pieces. I use wire cutters to snip twigs and that works really well. I added some jute twine around each step and tied knots in the back. This is really just for looks because the hot glue will secure them really well.

The post Catch a leprechaun kit for St Patricks day fun with your kids appeared first on Not2Crafty.com.

This leprechaun shoe garland is fun to make and can be used year after year. I hand sewed mine but you can make it using hot glue or fabric glue. The shoes are stuffed with green moss and have gold coins spilling out. Materials:

• green and white felt
• gold cord to tie the shoes together
• a yard of coin trim (I got mine at Wal Mart)

Step `1.

Cut out two green pieces for each shoe. Cut out one green shamrock for each shoe.

Step 2.

Either sew or glue the shoe pieces together leaving an opening at the top as shown above.

Step 3.

Lay your green shamrocks on top of the white felt and cut around each one leaving a small border of white showing.  Hand stitch or glue them together. 

Step 4.

Attach the shamrocks to the front of the shoes as shown using glue or stitching them on.

Step 5.

Using a large darning needle pull the gold cord through each shoe and then pull the cord tight and tie a bow. I tied two together at the toes and two at the heels and then alternated them as shown above.

Step 6.

Fill each shoe with moss.

Step 7.

Cut the coin trim into sections with three or four coins attached. Stuff the fabric band into the moss so it doesn’t show. Let the coins dangle out. Using the darning needle make a loop of gold thread on the first and last shoe for hanging.

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This is a very quick and easy project for St Patrick’s day fun. I bought 2 packs of coins and strung them together with split rings. This is a decoration that could be used outside.

Materials:

• St Patricks day lucky coins. (I used two packages for this garland)
• package of 12mm (.47 inch) split rings. I used gold.
• drill to make holes in coins.

Step 1.

Drill holes in the coin as shown above.  Join them together using the split rings. I pushed the split ring onto the first coin and then pushed the next one on as the first coin held the split open. Then I worked them both onto the ring at the same time. It went really fast this way.

Step 2.

Continue on until your garland is the length you want.

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I am going to start doing projects from things I find in thrift stores and share my ideas with all of you. I have always had the ability to see something as it could be instead of how it is now and you can learn to do the same thing. This Merry Christmas garland was really outdated but now it is contemporary and I probably saved it from the trash dump. I used chalkboard paint so that it can be used for other occasions but it could also be painted and have a message stenciled on. Very quick, easy, and inexpensive. This can also be made from purchased wooden hearts.

Materials:

• wooden hearts or garland from thrift store or garage sale
• string or twine
• chalkboard paint or any craft paint
• sandpaper

Step 1.

Sand hearts down really well. I sanded them on both sides and the edges.

Step 2.

I gave them two coats front, back and sides letting them pretty good between coats. If you are using purchased hearts you will need to drill two holes in the top of each heart.

Step 3.

Put a piece of tape on end of twine so it will be easier to thread through the holes. Thread the cord through the holes as shown.  Tie a loop at each end for hanging.

Step 4.

Write your message in chalk or stencil on with paint if you prefer.

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I had a bunch of old bottles that I wanted to put labels on but wasn’t sure if I wanted to use them for Halloween or to put the french labels on. Fortunately I discovered repositionable paper adhesive so I can take the labels off and put different ones on for different holidays. It is easy to find labels on the internet and many are free. I have a disk that I purchased that has a bunch of different labels but I also found some nice ones online that were free. If you don’t have old bottles you can buy some nicely shaped bottles that are empty or look around the supermarket and see what you can find. I just love these for Valentines day!

Materials

• printed or purchased labels
• repositionable paper adhesive
• old bottles

Step 1.

Print up labels that you want to use on cardstock paper. The size of your bottles will determine the size you will want to print up your labels.

Step 2.

Apply the adhesive to the back of the label and position it on the bottle. I use rubber bands to hold it in place. These will peel off easily after a few weeks.  

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This string of hearts is so easy to make and one your kids could help you with. They would love peeling the cardboard and painting the hearts because it doesn’t need to be perfect. I like recycling cardboard because I like the look and the durability. I also like that it’s free.

Materials:

• cardboard
• string or twine
• paint

Step 1.

Cut out one heart from the paper pattern and then use the cardboard to trace the rest of the hearts and cut them out.

Step 2.

Peel some of the paper off the hearts but leave some on.

Step 3.

Paint the hearts. I don’t completely coat them because I like the cardboard color showing through. Poke holes in both sides of the hearts and then string some twine through. I used strings that I pulled out of some burlap fabric instead of throwing them away. It’s nice and strong but also soft.

Step 4.

Tie a loop on each end to hang and you are done.

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