Swirly Curls Art

The Challenge: Turn Infant Headbands into Big Girl Clips

2012-03-29T11:15:00.003-07:00

Difficulty level: Easy

A good friend of mine has 2 daughters which means TONS and TONS of headbands, clips, and bows. Her youngest grew out of nylon infant headbands, but my friend loved them way too much to put them away in storage.

Solution: Turn those baby headbands into big girl clips!

what you need:
scissors
fabric glue
clips (available at most craft and fabric stores)

what to do:
1- Cut the nylon headband off of the back of the bow.
2- Apply glue to the top of the clip
3- Add bow. Hold for a minute and then allow to fully dry.

Here's the result:

If you love this but dont have the materials, patience, or time to do it then call me! I can do it for you for just $2 a bow :)
free pick up and delivery

<3 Margalit 917-207-7649

Baby Jewelry and a Handmade Box

2012-02-08T07:18:00.000-08:00

Everyone and their mother has their own theory when it comes to guessing a baby's gender while still in the womb.My theory- and really, its just a theory so don't hold me to it- is that baby's gender comes in seasons.... YEP- there's boy season and girl season. For a few weeks/ months- everyone I know has boys and and then the season changes and everyone I know has girls.

Now let me tell you a little secret... Right now its girl season!

In case my previous tutorials on Wall Lettersand Bow Holders aren't enough to keep you in fabulous gift giving mode- This tutorial is pretty, easy, inexpensive and WRAPPED!!!! Isn't a gift all in the wrapping anyway??? ;)

What you Need for the Bracelets:
Nylon jewelry wire *for easy beading
latch and hook set for closure
beads

* I made my bracelets about 4 inches to fit infant baby.


wire and latch

Tie the closure to the nylon.
**make sure all knots are doubled and super tight for added safety**
Using the beads of your choice, simply add them on the nylon wire. I am not exaggerating- beading three bracelets took about ten minutes!

What you Need for the Box:
1 toilet paper roll
1 piece of pretty paper cut to wrap around the toilet paper roll
paper mod podge
foam brush
ribbon

Using the foam brush, paint the mod podge onto the roll.
**Make sure the pretty side is facing you while working
Wrap the paper around the roll and hold for a minute or two so that it sets.

Once the glue is dry, fold both sides of the roll into the center:

Once you have done both sides it should look like this:

For the finishing touch add a pretty ribbon:

Happy gift giving!!!

Perfectly Practical Bowholder

2012-01-10T06:15:00.001-08:00

Baby girls are truly the sweetest thing in life... what makes them even sweeter (if that is even possible), is a big beautiful bow or headband in their hair. However, storing these fantastic accessories can get a little tedious - to say the least ;)

With the following instructions, you can make your own bow holder to fit your specific needs. This is also an amazingly thoughtful and useful gift that you can make for someone's new addition. Making it yourself will save you TONS of money, but the outcome will be something unique and gorgeous.

Just so you know, this project is VERY SIMPLE... so, don't be afraid to just try it!

What you need:
Stapler
staples
wood
batting or a thin piece of foam
ribbons
1 yard of fabric (or whatever will cover the piece of wood you get)
mirror D loop hooks (for the back)
screwdriver
optional: oaktag and glue
optional: cup hooks

What to do:
start with a piece of wood- 1/4" thick is best because it is less bulky

Lay two layers of batting over the wood. Allow an inch of overhang on all sides.
*here is the batting I used: (available at most craft stores)

Flip wood over to the back and staple down the batting on all sides. Make sure to pull it somewhat tight so that it isn't lumpy.

Do the same with your piece of fabric- lay it over the batting and staple it down to the back.

Lay the ribbons you are using over the fabric vertically and staple down in the back. With this step, you can use different ribbons and make a pattern.

Thick patterned ribbon

Thin ribbons


layered ribbon- pink 2" stapled over pink and white 4"

Glue a white piece of oak tag on the back to cover the staples and extra fabric
*If you are making this for yourself, and don't care what the back looks like, you can skip this step

Screw mirror hanging hooks onto the back.- I like to use these types of hooks because they are heavy duty and much safer- but technically, you can use whatever you want.

As an optional extra, you can screw a few cup hooks onto the front of the wood. These are great because you can put headbands and jewelry on them!

The finished product:

Here is the bow holder I made for my daughter's room:

As always, I am dying to see pictures if you make this! I am also always available to help!

If you love this, but you are a crude crafter, custom bow holders are available for purchase. You can call me 917-207-7649 for pricing and details.

If you love this but you have a BOY, don't despair!!! Next post will be a boy's accessory organizer!!!!!

Sunset Silhouettes

2011-12-14T18:19:00.000-08:00

I love sunset silhouettes because they look pretty and they're sooo much simpler to make than a regular painting. I made the painting above in college with acrylic paint... and I still love it!

All you really need are sunset colors: pinks/ reds/ oranges and yellows... and for contrast- black.What's great is that you don't need to paint the intricate details of an object... all you need is the shape of the outline and you're set!

First you paint the sunset and you can do this so many ways! Sunsets always look different and many times are swirls and bursts of color.Afterward you add the black paint- you can do trees, mountains, people etc... You can even trace the outline of something you like, and paint it all black--- no one will know that you traced -- trust me!

In my 5/6 year old art class, we made a few sunset silhouettes... The sunset is in watercolor and the silhouette is painted with black tempera paint (which is thicker than water color). Not everyone got to finish in one class, but here are a few examples:

Here is a sunset mosaic i made out of plastic poland spring bottles! (a lesson for another day)

Below are some real sunset photos I found on Google. Its great to look at these for inspiration and a little guidance.

Create a Brand New Look with Rubbing Alcohol, Distilled Water and Paint

2011-12-04T16:51:00.001-08:00

Coffee Table Top

A few months ago I woke up one day and decided I was totally sick of my coffee table. I wanted more color in my life and as usual, I couldn't find what I wanted... so I decided to make it....

Unfortunately I painted my table long before I began this blog, but I will try my best to recreate the process for you. Its amazingly fun and satisfying to see such a gorgeous result from a simple technique.

My original table was a dark cherry wood... something like this:

Now, it looks like THIS!!!:

This table is soooo much fun and it brings a playful quality to my living room. It took self restraint not to do this to every piece of furniture I own : )

Detail 1

detail 2


detail 3

What You Need:

*An assortment of craft Acrylic paint colors. I used regular and metallic paints.

*Distilled water - available at most pharmacies

*Rubbing Alcohol- 97% proof is best

I am going to begin by saying there is no right way to do this. What makes its pretty and fun is the fact that the paint and alcohol do the work. DON'T THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT.

I painted some sections of the table with one light coat of different color paints. I also allowed some sections to stay natural so that the dark color wood would show through in some places.

Dilute your paint with the distilled water. Spill the diluted paint on to the table. Allow different colors to run into each other. be generous with the paint... have fun

Then, drip the rubbing alcohol onto the table. It will separate the colors and create an amazing effect. Here is a video I found on you tube which displays the technique wonderfully: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUgNm5VVQMU

As always, if you are having trouble with this project, do not hesitate to ask! I would be happy to help you with it!!!!

Make Your Own Crayons Right Now!

2011-11-24T06:10:00.001-08:00

These super cute and fun crayons are so easy to make, you are going to want to make them every chance you get! You can make them as gifts for birthday parties, party favors, or holiday presents for the kids!

All you need is:
old crayons
disposable muffin tray/ silicone baking tray -

To make peeling off the paper super easy and fun for kids to do, simply score them lengthwise with a knife.

You can make peeling the crayons a game- who can peel the most quickest.... who can get the most reds.... blues... greens etc...

Then break the crayons into pieces.

Put the broken crayons into the baking tray. There is no method here- you can keep them monochrome or mix them - I mixed them.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 5 minutes-When they are done they will be fully melted:

Allow them to fully cool and then pop them right out of the tray. If you do not use a disposable tin baking tray or a silicone one- popping the crayons out will not be easy at all!

That's it! brand new crayons!!!!!

Send me pictures of the crayons you make!!!!!

***** I am selling these homemade crayons - ALL the money made will be given to kids in need. To purchase crayons call Margalit 917-207-7649

Shrinky Dink Charm Necklace With A Mix of Homemade Beads

2011-11-16T10:05:00.001-08:00

Shrinky Dinks are SUPER FUN but sometimes you need a quick project to keep the girls happy and you don't have time to run to Toys-R-Us. This super cute necklace and shrinky dink charm can be made with things you have at home (or things you can get really quickly at your local store).

You're not going to believe it but shrinky dinks can be made from a plastic container often used for salads or baked items. The one I used is square:

It is important to note that at the bottom of the container there will be a recycle sign with the #6 inside. If there is a different number I do not endorse using it.

Simply cut the 2 flat sides of the container out and cut the squares into 1- 1.5" pieces. Make sure to round the edges because after these pieces are baked, they will become hard, and pointed edges will become sharp.

Color the plastic with permanent marker. If you use standard washable markers, the color will rub off immediately!

*** helpful hint: before handing your little one permanent markers, rub some hand lotion on their hands. This will provide some coating so that the ink will not stain their hands as easily.

Use a hole puncher to make a hole at the top of the charm and place on a sheet of tin foil.

Bake at 400 degrees for about a minute and a half, if you see it hasn't shrunken fully leave in for 30/40 more seconds.

For my necklace I used an assortment of beads because I thought it was more fun! I used fabulous homemade magazine beads, straw beads, and a mix of store bought beads. I gave a tutorial on the magazine beads for my homemade chalkboard post (shame on you if you didn't read it!) Here is the link for the simple instructions: http://swirlycurls.blogspot.com/2011/11/make-magazine-beaded-chalkboard.html

To make straw beads simply cut colorful straws to the size you wish... It really couldn't be easier or quicker!

Simply string your assortment of beads onto thread/ string/ or whatever else you may have lying around.

***helpful hint: If your little one is struggling with the beading process, wrap a piece of tape at the edge of your string. This will make it much easier for them to get the beads onto the string.

When you are done stringing half of the thread, put the shrinky dink charm on so that it is centered. Then continue beading the thread with your assortment of beads.

You can also let your child make more than one charm and space them evenly through the beads!

Enjoy!

Send in pictures of your necklaces!!!!!

Saimir Strati Obsession

2011-11-14T11:35:00.001-08:00

Saimir Strati is an amazing artist I recently discovered and let me tell you- AMAZING can not describe what he is capable of. He takes everyday objects such as nails, corks, and paintbrushes, and turns them into mosaic masterpieces. The piece above was made from TOOTHPICKS!!!!


This is made of industrial screws and nails

portrait of Da Vinci made from nails


made from cork!!!

These pieces are truly inspiring because ANYTHING CAN BE ART- even a toothpick!

Thank you Google Images for helping me find these photos!

Make a Magazine Beaded Chalkboard

2011-11-09T08:51:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, you have way too much free time on your hands- work/ school/ kids and all- so, why not make your very own chalkboard from scratch????
It may sound like a trying task, but let me just tell you, it is VERY, VERY EASY! I promise!

For this project I used an extra piece of wood I had at home. (I tend to have lots of scraps since I'm always working on something- but normal people can get wood from a local hardware store for a few dollars).
You can use any brush to paint the wood with the chalkboard paint, but I like to use a foam brush because it's not streaky.

Paint the wood at least two coats for good coverage. I used Valspar chalkboard paint which dried fast and cost about $15. (It also comes in a spray paint version)

Once the paint is dry, THAT'S IT! you have your very own handmade chalkboard. BUT, I wanted to make mine pretty so I framed it in two rows of handmade magazine beads!

These are super easy (but are slightly time consuming) I rolled them mindlessly while watching The Jersey Shore :)

Here's how:

Cut pretty pages of a magazine into a triangular strip:

Roll the bigger side toward the smaller, pointy side:

Use a small piece of scotch tape to secure the bead once it is rolled:

Simple right?

Once you've made a bunch of beads for your border, simply glue 'em on!

*** you can also use this chalkboard paint for a wall in your playroom or to touch up the Ikea easel you bought last year that no one ever uses anymore :)

** you can make these beads with your daughter for a pretty necklace or bracelet on a rainy day!!!

ENJOY :)

Painting Class (ages 4-5)

2011-10-31T22:16:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures from this week's art class.
We painted picture frames, small pictures to put inside the frames, and bigger pictures of whatever the girls wanted! They are so cute and amazing

see the faces?

Who Needs Missoni for Target When You Can Have Missoni for Your Wall!

2011-10-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

Ever want to make a bold fun statement in a room in your house? Why not try a fun print?
My friend Jacqueline and I painted this Missoni zig zag striped wall in her basement!!!!

coordinating kid play area

Ribbon Wall Hook

2011-10-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

Ok so I found this 2 x 4 piece of wood by my apartment and couldn't resist making it into something. It's a really fun project because you can do this in any color, size, shape, style etc... and it's super EASY! It's also very cheap (wall organizers and bow holders are usually not cheap at all!)

2x4 scrap wood

paint the color of your choice

varnish- for protection against scratches and peeling

lay out ribbon and pattern


staple ribbon to the back of the wood

add hooks


bow holder


entry hook

Detailed Instructions:

What you need:
2x4 wood (or any other scrap you have)
paint
varnish
ribbon
hooks
stapler
hooks to hang the piece on the wall

-Lightly sand rough edges if the wood needs it.
-Paint with the color of you choice. I recommend doing atleast 2 coats.
-Paint on protective varnish coat to prevent against peeling
-After everything is completely dry, lay out ribbons and begin to staple them to the back of the wood.
- Screw hooks on the back for hanging on the wall- I prefer mirror hanging hooks.
- Screw hooks in where desired. Here, I used the tea cup hooks but you can use any hooks you find- coat hooks would be great if you want this by your door. (Any home improvement store will have a large variety of hooks to choose from).
Enjoy!

Creative Places to Take Your Kids This Week

2011-10-16T15:20:00.000-07:00

We've all been there; kids are home from school and chaos erupts because you have no where to take them. You've already been to the Children's Museum, zoo, aquarium, and "jumping place" (as my son David calls it) too many times to count. You can go shopping or to lunch for an hour, but who really wants to do that if they intend to keep their sanity?
I've done the research for you, and here is a short list of places you can take your kids that you haven't been to. (And if you have gone, you haven't seen what they're showing now.)
I will keep looking for more but if you have any requests let me know!

Children's Museum of the Arts
This fabulous museum creates a fun learning environment for kids who love art. They have classes and activities for kids according to their age. Their current exhibit "Make Art (in) Public" explores various artists who stage their art publicly, including the ever-famous grafitti artist Keith Haring. For more info visit http://www.cmany.org/visit-us.php

NY Hall of Science
Mon- Thurs from 9:30- 2:00 kids can play real mini golf that follows a space flight! for more info click here: nysci.org

Manhattan Movement and Arts Center- Pinkalicious
60th street between Amsterdam and west end avenues
212-579-0528
* only open saturdays and sundays- ends November 27
for more info click here: pinkaliciousthemusical.com
This show is pricey but probably worth it for fans of the pinkalicious books

Staten Island Children's Museum
Right now they have a few specialty exhibits such as: "Great Explorations" which allows kids to explore different environments such as the ocean floor or the rain forest. They also have "Ladder 11" which allows the kids to dress up as firemen and play the part!

Make Your Own Succah Decorations

2011-10-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

Being that Succot is this week and the kids will be off from school on Wednesday, now is the perfect time to think about decorating your Succah.

*To make any of these projects waterproof simply have them laminated at Staples or cover them with clear contact paper. (The contact paper can be found pretty much anywhere from dollar stores to Home Depot.)

Construction paper rings are a traditional Succah decoration. For a little bit of a twist, try these two variations:

1- Instead of simply using construction paper for the rings, use plain white paper and have the kids color them. Any white paper will do, including printer paper. Cut the paper into 1" strips and attach both ends with glue or a stapler.
2- Make the rings out of pipe cleaners and jumbo beads: simply string a few beads onto the pipe cleaner and twist the ends into a ring- this idea is great because it is glue/ paint/ crayon/ cutting free and therefore mess free! This idea is credited to a fabulous mother of 3- Joyce.

Cut out and color stars from construction paper and hang from the top of the Succah. This craft is a little more tedious on mom but the end result will make a statement, especially since it enhances part of the mitzvah which is to see the stars while sitting in the succah. Add star embellishments to make the stars sparkle!

I traced a cookie cutter to get my stars!

You can either hang the stars one by one to make it look like extra stars in the sky, or hang strings of stars:
To hang a single star, use a hole puncher to make a hole at the top and tie to a string.
For a row of stars, make a hole with the hole puncher at the top and bottom and thread a string, ribbon, or piece of yarn through them. *You can do variations of this with cut out flowers or fruits!

Another amazing idea is a Succah wind chime! I found this idea on another site and think it is so unique and creative. Here is a link with the instructions: http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Nature/Beaded_Wind_Chimes/Beaded_Wind_Chimes.html

If you love these ideas but do not have the materials at home to do them, I would be happy to put together a craft kit featuring everything you need to make these crafts!

The kit is $30 and includes: 10 cut out construction paper stars, 10 star sticker embellishments, 2 strands of yarn, 10 pipe cleaners, 60 beads 15 foam flowers with string to hang them, glue stick, paint, paintbrush and everything you need for the wind chime (except the bell and metal washer).

If you are interested in a kit please order them no later than tomorrow at 1. 917-207-7649

Paint a Princess

2011-10-09T04:40:00.000-07:00

In this week's 5 year old art class we painted and decorated crowns and wands for playing dress up. I always loved playing dress up as a kid (who hasn't????) and encourage all kids to dress up whenever they feel the urge. Just the other day my son was in a head to toe superman costume while we did a few local errands. :)

I loved the idea of the girls creating something they can actually use for dress up. Here are pics from the class:

I am putting together a kit that includes everything you need to make this project at home for $12
The kit includes: crown, wood wand, paint, glue, ribbon, beads, jewels, iridescent shapes, and a paintbrush!

Make your Child's Art the Centerpiece of Their Room or Play Area

2011-10-06T14:51:00.000-07:00

Painting and drawing is great for kids, however it can create unwanted clutter around the house (and who needs more clutter??)
I sorted through my son David's pile of paintings and scribbles and chose my favorite ones. I made sure to add paintings that had similar colors to the color scheme in his room.
I cut out the main portions of the images and arranged them on a yard of unfinished canvas. you can get this at any art supplies store for as little and $7. You can also use poster board, wood, or an old unused large frame that you have lying around the house.
Once I glued the cutouts onto the canvas, I had a HUGE work of art to put on an empty wall in David's room:

This project is great because not only is it cheap, but it also boosts your child's self esteem.
I cannot count the endless amount of times I had a visitor in the house and David rushed them to his room to show them the large collection of the paintings that he made.

Wall Letters for Any Room

2011-10-05T17:13:00.000-07:00

Wall letters are a fun and decorative way to add character to a room. Traditionally, a child's name hanging up in their room or over their bed is a great way to customize their personal space. You can also create letters like these for your kitchen, living room, hallway etc... with fun conversation starting words like "eat", "hello", or "lunch" (which was shown in a dining room designed by the amazing design couple, Courtney and Bob Novogratz. See here, http://blog.hgtv.com/design/2011/10/01/home-by-novogratz-hoboken-bachelor-pad/). The possibilities are endless!
Buying these letters can sometimes cost up to $15 per letter! However, making your own wall letters can cost about $6 per 9" letter! This tutorial will show you how to use colorful or printed paper to cover a wood letter. This technique is easier than painting them by hand and provides you with endless options. You don't need to be artistic to do this!

What you'll need:
1 sheet of paper per letter. -You can get specialty printed paper at any craft store. but places like target have fantastic card-stock books that come with coordinating papers all in one place! (These specialty papers can be found in the scrap booking section of the store.) For my daughter's wall letters, I simply made photo copies of fabric that I loved at my local Staples store.* Make sure the letter size you are using is not larger than the sheet of paper you are using!
Letters in the size and font you like- These are available at pretty much any craft store- A.C. Moore, Micheal's, etc...
Glue stick-It is important to use a glue stick rather than any craft glue because the paper will wrinkle if too much glue is used. (Unfortunately, I know this from experience so don't waste your time making the same mistake!)
Scissors
Pencil
Optional: Acrylic Paint - You only need this if you want to paint the sides of you letters. The 9" letters I use most frequently already come white in the store and there is no need to paint them, but sometimes letters are unfinished wood and they need this extra step.

unfinished wood letter

If you need to paint the sides of your letters, it must be done before the paper is applied. Otherwise, you risk the paper getting stained with paint.

Step 1:
Place paper and letter right side down (the backs of both materials should be facing you)

Step 2:
Trace the letter onto the paper.

Step 3:
Cut out the paper letter. Place the paper letter over the wood letter to make sure you don't want to make any changes before you glue it down.

Step 4:
Glue the paper onto the wood letter using the glue stick. Make sure to put glue on the edges of the letters so that the paper does not peel up. Voila! Custom handmade letters!

I hung these fabulous letters in my daughter's room. The "E" at the end of her name is the same exact print as the bow holder I made for her because I made a photo copy of the fabric I used. You can even photo copy your sheets/ bedding to make the wall letters cohesive.

Hope you enjoy making your own wall letters! If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask. I'd love to see your finished product if you decide to try these out. :)

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New Ways to Paint

2011-10-04T15:18:00.000-07:00

We've all tried painting with a paintbrush at least one time in our lives... but did you ever try using a cotton ball? or a toothbrush? If you haven't, now is the time to try! Last week we did exactly that in my 5 yr old art class. The girls explored texture and technique by using sponges, cotton balls, toothbrushes, paper towels and of course the traditional paintbrush! I pasted the paintings onto heavyweight black construction paper to give it a real artwork look. Here are some pics,

Using the rough part of a cleaning sponge creates a great textured grass effect

wiping wet paint with cotton balls allowed for a pretty cloud effect in the sky

Don't cry over spilled paint! This fabulous piece was made when some watercolor accidentally spilled. We moved the piece of paper around to allow the paint to flow freely. To me, it looks like someone dancing or leaping forward and I just love it!

After the accidental spill, we had some fun pouring paint on purpose and seeing what images were made as we moved the paper.

They really loved trying new ways to paint and seeing the different results. There is no right way and there are NO RULES!!!! Have fun and don't be scared to try new things!

My Very First Post

2011-10-03T15:39:00.000-07:00

Okay, So I've kinda been wanting to do this for a while, but didn't know where to start... I love all things creative- art, crafts, furniture, design, fashion, etc.... This blog will be a compilation of all the things I love.
I will also be posting pix and projects from my art classes, which should be helpful to try at home on a boring rainy day. I may even be courageous enough to post pix of my own projects and art pieces :)