The Craft Junkie

How to Make Paper Poppies

2012-04-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

Does this poppy look real to you?

Would you believe it's made from paper napkins from the Dollar Store?

This craft is one of my favorites. It's simple enough for children to make, and priced to fit any budget.

The result? Happiness and a smile.

These napkin flowers are perfect decorations for just about any occasion. Bridal Shower... Baby Shower...Birthday party.... You name it.

I hosted a craft party at my home recently with a group of other parents. Together we made an assortment of colorful bouquets that will grace tables and halls during our local elementary school Art Show.

Read on for a list of supplies and instructions.

Supplies Needed.

All of the supplies below can be purchased from the Dollar Store.

5x5 napkins for center of flower. Your choice of color.
Larger napkins for the petals of the flowers.
Green pipe cleaners, or floral picks (one per flower).
Bamboo skewers (one per flower).
Tissue paper in your choice of color.
Vase.
Scissors.
Green floral tape.

Begin by cutting the borders off from one black napkin (about one inch). This black napkin will be used for the center of the flower.

Snip along the edges of the folded black napkin like so to create a fringe.

Be careful NOT to cut along the folded sides.

Unfold the black napkin.

Next, open 2 or 3 other napkins (pink color in this case) and place on top of each other.
Position the black napkin in the center.

Fold all napkins accordian style.

Pinch the napkins in the center.

Wrap the wire from a floral pick around the center. You could also use a green pipe cleaner.

Round off the ends of the folded napkins.

It doesn't have to be perfect.

Do both sides.

Once you have trimmed the ends of the napkin, begin to open the flower.

I scrunch up the center of the flower. It gives it a more realistic, and less perfect look which I like.

Gently unfold the pink petals one layer at a time.

Wrap the floral pick or bamboo skewer with green floral tape. Stick it in your choice of vase and voila!

You can put tissue paper in a glass vase to add further interest and color.

Below are some images of real poppies to help give you inspiration!

Recycle your old LP records into Spinning Tops!

2012-04-09T01:00:00.001-07:00

I first saw the idea of recycling old vinyl records and turning them into spinning tops many years ago in an article by Karen Powell of "KidsCraft Magazine ." I decided to try it with my after-school-class. It was a huge success.

Several of my students had never seen a vinyl record before so I began with a short history lesson using an old portable record player I brought to the classroom. I demonstrated how to play records by lifting the player arm, finding the wide spaces between grooves, and gently placing the needle into the grooves. I showed different record speeds, 33, 45 and 78. They loved the fast speed that made the music sound like chipmunks were singing! We talked about how rap musicians turn the record back and forth to make scratchy tones common in their music today. The kids were simply fascinated.

There is an abundance of old records today because we don't use vinyl anymore. Vinyl records have been replaced by C.D.s and portable downloads. So it's fun to find ways
to recycle old records and give them a second life.

Instructions:
1) Begin with a clean old record. You can find them in places like garage sales, goodwill or even at your parents and grandparent's homes.

2) Next, cut several shapes of colored paper and glue them onto the record with a glue stick, or modgepodge. Punch the center hole with a sharp pencil, or icepick. Help the students with this process.

3) Insert an old pencil pointed end first, coming up from the under side of the record, until it catches on the metal band around the eraser.

4) Next, take a soft plastic lid - the kind used on milk jugs - and poke a hole into the center with a nail or ice pick. Carefully help the students do this to avoid injury. Place the lid over the pencil and push it down to the record. This will keep the paper and pencil in place.

5) Decorate the pencil with pipe cleaners and paper.

6) To spin, hold both sides of the record like a steering wheel and spin.

Bunny and Carrot Craft

2012-04-01T09:00:00.001-07:00

To go along with the sewnBunnies (previous posting), or simply as a stand alone, you can also make simple charms from Shrink Plastic.

The supplies are simple to use, and can be found at almost any craft store:

Shrink plastic, Sharpie pen, Jump ring, colored pencils.

Download my simple pattern and instructions for making a Bunny and Carrot charm by clicking here.

Happy Easter Crafting!

Stuffed Bunny Craft

2012-03-31T21:12:00.003-07:00

This week we hand sewed "Stuffed Alien Wabbits" from soft polar fleece fabric.

In the interest of time, I pre-traced the bunny template so the children could focus on the hand-sewing part of the craft.

Using embroidery floss and a "crewel #2" sewing needle, the facial features were first sewn into place. A thick knot was used for the pupil of the eye, and corners of the mouth.

For outer the edges of the bunny, a simple "over-under stitch" or "running stitch" worked beautifully. For those who have a little more stitching experience, a "blanket stitch" is also nice. Click here, and here for a tutorial on how to sew a blanket stitch.

We stuffed the bunnies with polyester fiberfill purchased from Joannes fabrics. Click here.

Age: 2nd grade and older
Time allowed: 2 hours

Happy Crowns

2012-02-01T20:14:00.000-08:00

Everyone should have a "Happy Crown."

I'm a firm believer in them.

A Happy Crown makes you feel extraordinarily special.

It reminds you of the things you love - the people and things that make you happy!

Like Soccer balls, fudgesickles, candy canes, and cupcakes. Who isn't happy with a cupcake?

Making a Happy Crown will certainly make you a bit happier. I promise.

And wearing a Happy Crown?

Well, you'll always make SOMEONE smile!

Make your own Snow Globes

2012-01-26T14:28:00.000-08:00

I've posted about doing snow globes before. It's always a fun project for my students and I was excited to introduce a new kind of snowdome this year from Snowdomes.com

But, a funny thing happened...

Several major snow storms hit the Northwest and my order of snowdomes never arrived! How ironic.

So, I reverted to what I've used in years past - Locktite storage Jars purchased from JoAnnes for about $2.50 each.

Of course the kids enjoyed the project just as much as years before.

We used EZ mold clay from Sculpey. It never hardens and is not affected by water.

The clay is tacky and stays stuck to itself and the inside of the lid.

I demonstrated how to make a simple snowman, hat and scarf.

We combined red and yellow clay for the carrot nose.

Beads were used for the eyes. Twigs for arms.

This scene has a "Snow Wall" in preparation for a few snowball fights. Too funny.

The kids got into it...even adding snowballs to the trees.

Plastic trees from JoAnnes help complete the scene. Simply press them into the clay.

Tap water can be used, but distilled water works best. Less air bubbles tend to form.

Glitter or plastic snow can be used. We also added a drop of liquid dish soap as a surfactant. It too helps prevent air bubbles from forming.

Pipe-cleaner Snowflakes

2012-01-05T22:22:00.000-08:00

Beaded snowflakes with pipe-cleaners! It's the perfect winter craft for preschoolers and elementary age children or for parties.

This week I shared this craft with the preschoolers and their families at the Children's Hospital. Eeesy peasey and beautiful.

Start with silver or white pipe-cleaners. Cut each in half with wire-cutters or scissors.

Gather 3 cut pieces in the center and twist 2-3 times.

Spread the twisted pipe-cleaners apart, creating 6 evenly spaced "arms."

Place several beads onto each "arm" of the snowflake. I placed a large container of mixed beads in the center of the table for everyone to choose from. The children tended to create beautiful random bead patterns while the adults preferred symmetrical patterns. Both were lovely.

When all the beads are in place, bend the end of the pipe-cleaner back into the beads and attach a ribbon for hanging. We hung them in the window from suction cups. They shimmer in the sunlight and are simply dazzling.

2011-12-26T11:27:00.001-08:00

Twas the night before Christmas, the ship was out steaming, Sailors stood watch while others were dreaming. They lived in a crowd with racks tight and small, in an 80-man berthing, cramped one and all. I had come down the stack with presents to give, and to see inside just who might perhaps live. I looked all about, a strange sight did I see, no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stockings w...ere hung, shined boots close at hand, on the bulkhead hung pictures of a far distant land. They had medals and badges and awards of all kind, and a sober thought came into my mind. For this place was different, so dark and so dreary, I had found the house of a Sailor, once I saw clearly. A Sailor lay sleeping, silent and alone, curled up in a rack and dreaming of home. Their face was so gentle, the room squared away, this was the United States Sailor of today. This was the hero I saw on TV, defending our country so we could be free. I realized the families that I would visit this night, owed their lives to these Sailors lay willing to fight. Soon round the world, the children would play, and grownups would celebrate on this Christmas Day. They all enjoyed freedom each day of the year, because of the Sailor, like the one lying here. I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone, on a cold Christmas Eve on a sea, far from home. The very thought brought a tear to my eye, I dropped to my knees and started to cry. The Sailor awakened and I heard a calm voice, "Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice. Defending the seas all days of the year, so others may live and be free with no fear." I thought for a moment, what a difficult road, to live a life guided by honor and code. After all, it's Christmas Eve and the ship's underway, but freedom isn't free and it's Sailors who pay. The Sailor says to our country "be free and sleep tight, no harm will come, not on my watch and not on this night." The Sailor rolled over and drifted to sleep, I couldn't control it, I continued to weep. I kept watch for hours, so silent, so still, I watched as the Sailor shivered from the night's cold chill. I didn't want to leave on that cold dark night, this guardian of honor so willing to fight. The Sailor rolled over and with a voice strong and sure, commanded, "Carry on Santa, it's Christmas, and all is secure!"

Decorated Snow Trees

2011-12-15T07:13:00.000-08:00

Today, my young afterschoolers made these adorable bead and button trees.

We used 6" styrofoam cones, purchased at the Dollar Store, for our base.

Next, we cuts 2" strips of Snow felt (dollar store) and wrapped the styrofoam cones, pinning in place at both the top and base. We used sequin pins - available at Joannes next to the sequins.

Eyelash yarn was used to represent tinsel. Pinning at the base, then wrapping to the top and finishing with another pin.

I set out several bowls of mixed buttons (Oriental Trading) , cup sequins (Joannes), beads and pearl pins (Walmart).

The children combined the various embellishments and pinned them to their trees.

A foam sticker star was placed on top with a pearl pin and buttons.

This project took one hour and is well suited for 2nd grade and older students.

List of Supplies:

Noel Drape (Dollar Store).

Styrofoam cone (Dollar Store).

Cup Sequins (Joannes).

Assorted Buttons (Oriental Trading).

Sequin pins (Joannes).

Pearlized Pins (Walmart).

Foam Stars (Micheals).

Sheet Music Holiday Wreath

2011-12-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

You might remember I posted this tutorial a couple years ago on how I made a wreath from vintage Christmas Sheet Music. I'm posting it again with additional links from other artists who create something similiar. Use them for inspiration to make your own Musical wreath this season!

My daughter's piano teacher gave us an old Christmas Music book - probably vintage. The pages were brown and frayed and quite beautiful. I turned them into a wreath for the Holidays.

I rolled several sheets of music on the diagonal, then hot glued them onto a large piece of cardboard.

I found an aged glittered star at the local antique mall and not glued it to the center. For added sparkle, I spritz some spray glue and sprinkled holigraphic glitter across the rolls of sheet music.

Since these stars might be hard to find, I'm putting a link for instruction on how to make your own dimensional star. http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/free-christmas-templates?xsc=eml_crd_2010_12_04&#slide_25

Below are photos and links for additional inspiration.

This wreath is by: roseflower48 Click here for link

This beauty is by: "Creative Call." Click here.

Wow! This is by "Eventide Musings." Click here.

A super dense wreath by "Button & Thread." Click here.

"Vintage Blue Smiles." Love that name. Click here.

Here is a lovely website with a fantastic tutorial on how to make your own. Click here:http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/2010/09/vintage-sheet-music-wreath-by-primp.html

A shout out to the Locals!

2011-11-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

On Friday, I'll be at this event selling handmade and decorated Giant Gingerbread Cookies to benefit local families in need. Stop by and say hello! Chances are, you'll also discover something irresistible for a holiday gift.

Simple Thanksgiving craft - Indian Headpiece

2011-11-05T01:00:00.000-07:00

Recently I needed an easy Thanksgiving craft for preschoolers to do at our local hospital. I remembered a feathered mask I tried on after a Las Vegas Cirque Du Soleil Show.

It became the inspiration for my simplified version that could work easily as a Thanksgiving Indian feathered headpiece. Read on for instructions and sources.

1) Start with packages of bulk feathers. They come in many colors and are fairly inexpensive. I found mine at Walmart, Micheals, and Joannes.

2) Cut a large piece of brown sheet foam into several 2 inch wide strips, using the entire lenth of sheeting. These will be the imitation "leather" headband.

3) Punch holes aproximately 1" apart (horizontally) and 1/2" apart vertically from each other in each of the "leather" bands with a 1/8" paper punch.

4) Tie a 6" length of ribbon on each end of the headband.

5) Let the children pick their feathers, then inserted them one at a time into each top hole, and back through the bottom. Easy peesy. No messy glue and the feathers really held in place well.

This headband was made using white Turkey Feather Quills. I love how it turned out.

Day of the Dead masks

2011-10-31T21:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween is over. Now what?

!!!DAY OF THE DEAD!!!

It's really a passion for life. It's a Happy Holiday. Read on...

I love this Holiday because it's such a Happy celebration. It's reallly not scary at all.

It's filled with my favorite things: vibrant colors; flowers; sweets; and lots of sentimentality.

With roots in Mexico, Day of the Dead is rapidly gaining popularity in the United States.

It's a Holiday about remembering those who have passed before us...

...celebrating their life as well as our own.

To enjoy this day, I'm making embellished masks with my after school kids!

It all begins with Sharpie markers, glitter paint, jewels and pre-shaped papier-maché masks.
Click Here for a supplier.

"I SEE YOU" eyeball lights

2011-10-18T20:06:00.000-07:00

Family Fun Magazine (Click Here) published a GREAT Halloween craft. I tried it out on the patients and families at the Children's hospital, and also with my Elementary after-school class. My 12 year old son and his friends made them for birthday party favors. With all of those groups, this craft was a HUGE success! Check out the photos of what we made below, then go to Family Fun Magazine to get the directions.

For a supply list and complete directions click here.

Monsters from Cut Paper

2011-10-10T01:00:00.000-07:00

This week at the Children's Hospital we made "Not-So-Scary Monsters."

I provided several basic Monster Shapes the patients could trace onto construction paper and cut.

Some patients created their own unique designs. This one was made from paper scraps and is reminiscent of the great cut paper master, Henry Matisse.

Circle punches were used to created symetrical eyes.

Additional features such as eyelashes and polka dots gave the Monsters character and personality.

Glue sticks were used to adhere the pieces together.

Each Monster was given a name by the patients.

The Monsters were hung in the Hospital Gallery and add a "not-so-scary" Halloween touch during the month of October.

Supplies Used:

Construction paper
Glue sticks
Scissors
Basic Monster Shaped Templates
Multiple Circle punches

Shrinky Dink Sculpture for Halloween

2011-10-07T08:06:00.000-07:00

For a fun twist on Shrinky Dinks, my class made a Halloween sculpture!

Each perspective has a different view.

Supplies you will need for this project:

Ruff n' Ready pre-sanded Shrinky Dink Plastic. Click Here.
Fine and Medium tip black Sharpie marker.
Colored pencils. Any brand.
Glue gun.
Oven.
Halloween images. Click Here for a free download.

Directions:
1) Cut a large sheet of Shrinky plastic into 1/4 pieces. With the rough side up, place 1/4 sheet of plastic over your image.

2) Outline with a fine tip Sharpie, and color with colored pencils.

3) "Blob Cut" the image - don't cutexactly on the outline. Leave a little extra around the edges.

4) For the base, I like to grab 3 colored pencils in fall colors and randomly scribble over 1/4 sheet of plastic.

5) Trim off the sharp corners and a little off the edges in a random wavy shape.

6) Once all images have been colored and blob-cut, place them on a cookie sheet.
7) Pre-heat your oven to 325 degrees. Bake for a couple minutes, or until the images have curled and COMPLETELY flattened themselves back out again.

8) Put a bead of hot glue on the bottom edges of the images and adhere them to the base.

This project is appropriate for ages 5 and older and takes about one hour to complete.

Mad Scientist Specimen jars

2011-09-19T21:57:00.000-07:00

It's not too early to start thinking about your Halloween decorations!
So even though I've posted this before, here it is again. I hope it helps or inspires you to get creative this season.

For Halloween my living room transforms into the the laboratory of a Mad Scientist. His name is Dr. E.Vil Genius.

The furniture is draped with old white bed sheets (Goodwill).

Clusters of glass apothocary jars filled with pale colored water (food coloring), and various fake body parts are displayed throughout the room.

A fake pair of teeth (complete with braces), and a set of vampire fangs sit next to a severed finger. An inexpensive growing hand is labeled as that of a 10 year old who got caught by an angry mother trying to take candy from the candy jar before Halloween. A plastic skeleton (purchased for $1.00) sits in an empty Rum bottle - a shrinking potion experiment gone awry.

In the jar above, I put a head of cauliflower to imitate a prisoner's brain (straight from Azkaban Solitary Confinement). I usually wait until a day or two before Halloween to place the cauliflower in the water so that it doesn't decompose too soon.

For jellyfish stingers, I made threads from my hot glue gun and immersed them into an apothecary jar filled with yellow water. Careful though, you could get stung, I mean burned!

A seed pod, or rubber snake works nicely for this jar filled with blue "pickled preservative."

Below: glowing gooey eyeballs (purchased from oriental trading) represent Werewolf eyes and will bring extra powers for seeing into the future. Plastic skeleton hands (Walmart) look like tiny Hob Goblin hands recovered from the deep forests of England.

To fill the large blue jar in the photo above, I'll trim the stems from a very large Fennel root to represent the "heart" that was removed from an unknown creature found in the Cascade Mountain Range (A.K.A. Big Foot). I've also set out plastic trays and surgery tools with a few rubber body parts. The body parts (ear and nose) were given to us by a "frustrated Dutch Artist" (Vincent Van Gogh). Witch Hazel and Hydrogen Peroxide bottles sit close by. A replica of a vintage anatomical poster hangs on the wall.

Turn off the lights, scatter lots of tea lights around and you are ready for a spooktacular Evening!

For a free copy of the labels I made for the Mad Scientist Specimen jars, Click Here and then download them to print on your home computer. They come complete with instructions for aging the paper and affixing them to the glass jars.

Rose Drawings with Chalk Pastels

2011-08-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

Portland Oregon is known as the "City of Roses." To help celebrate our annual Rose Festival, I recently did a fun project with the children at Legacy Hospital using chalk Pastels.

We began with a sheet of quality black construction paper.
I prefer the Dick Blick brand because of the deep black color and smooth surface.

I demonstrated how to draw a basic rose shape using a wiggly line that swirls around and around. Imperfection is encouraged and drawing large enough to fill the page works best. Simple leaf shapes can be added to the sides.

The children drew their rose in pencil first. Next, they went over their lines with a fat tip metallic marker.

Chalk pastels were used to color the roses.

Layering multiple colors makes the image rich and dramatic. Blending the colors using fingers providers a smooth finish.

This project takes about 45 minutes to complete and is appropriate for all ages and skill levels.

Some of the older patients and family members also tried their hand at drawing rose buds - which were a bit more complicated to draw.

I think the results are fantastic.

Random scribbles for the background using white plus one or two similar colors creates a rich contrasting texture.

Supplies you will need for this project:
Black Construction paper.
Pencils
Metallic Markers
Chalk Pastels

Cement Stepping Stone Walk of Fame

2011-08-06T01:00:00.000-07:00

You don't have to be a Hollywood Movie Star to be part of a memorable "Walk of Fame."

By leaving your hand or footprint in a wet cement stepping stone, you'll make an impression that will last forever in your own garden! This is a project I have done every summer with my children since they were quite young. It literally takes only 20 minutes to mix and form (plus overnight for cure time) and the memories last forever. Cost is around $20.00. My children enjoy strolling through their personal walk of fame again and again. They like checking to see how much they've grown. We always include the footprints of our pets - Gerbils, Guinea Pigs, and of course our precious dog!

You will need the following supplies, available at most craft stores such as Micheals or Joann Fabrics and Crafts

One box of Portland Cement. I prefer Milestone brand.
Plastic mold (available individually, or sold as part of a set with the cement mix)
Measuring cup
Bucket, or large mixing container for mixing cement
Buck of clean water for washing feet, hands and tools
Wooden paint stick for stirring
Popsicle stick for writing names, or plastic letters for stamping onto wet cement
Misc. charms, rocks, shells or mementos for added decoration

1) Set all supplies out ahead of time so that you aren't dashing around for them after you have started. The mix set's relatively quickly. You won't have time to collect what you need once you have started. I put my children on alert too - "get ready. I'm going to need you soon."

2) Following the directions on the box, pour the cement into your mixing container in a well ventilate space - preferably outside.

3) Pour 2 cups of water into the powder, then stir. If the mix is too dry, gradually add water, one tablespoon at a time. It is important to NOT to add too much water.

4) Mix the cement and water to a consistency that will hold its shape when you press your hand into it.

5) Pour the cement mix into the mold.

Shake the plastic tray until the cement has settled and leveled. Any roughness or cracks, can be smoothed with your fingers.

6) Call your children and help press their foot or hand into the wet cement.

Be sure to push their toes into the mix by pressing down gently on each one. Lift their foot STRAIGHT UP as they step out for a clean impression. Don't you love that black nail polish?

If the impression isn't to your liking, smooth it out with a little water on your fingers and try it again. You'll have about 20 minutes to work with the cement before it starts to set.

7) Once the impressions have been made, completely wash hands and feet in a nearby bucket of water.

8) Using the tip of a Popsicle stick, or plastic letter stamps, press names and the date into the wet cement.

9) Place the tray on a flat surface where it can cure overnight undisturbed.

10) Completely wash all the tools you have used while the cement is still wet.

After your stone has cured overnight, turn the plastic mold and cement stone gently over onto the grass so that it is face down. The plastic mold should easily pull away and release itself from the cement stone.

Painted Tennis Shoes

2011-07-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

You can turn ordinary, inexpensive tennis shoes into fabulous works of art.

These are a pair of shoes my teenage daughter painted and gave me for my birthday.

1) Begin with a clean pair of shoes. They don't need to be an expensive brand, and they could be slightly worn.

2) Using Delta brand acrylic paints, fill in background colors for a design. A small / medium brush made to use with acrylic paints works best. For these shoes, light pink was painted for a background face color, and two circles of dark pink were painted for the cheeks.

3) Next, add details with Scribbles brand Dimensional fabric paints. Lips, eyes and long curly strands of hair were painted with Scribbles paint. Those details will stay raised from the background when they are dried.

For a final touch, thread a grograin ribbon through the eyelets. Let the shoes completely dry overnight before wearing.

All paint supplies for this craft can be purchased from Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, or Micheals Crafts Store .

Delta Brand Acrylic Paints, and Sribbles Dimensional Paints.

For additional links on how to paint tennis shoes, Click on Jo-Ann Handpainted Tennis Shoes by Suzie Shineki. For additional info, click HERE and HERE

Glass Tile Jewelry Class

2011-07-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

If you are in the Portland Oregon area on July 23rd and looking for something to do, here is a fabulously fun class to take: GLASS TILE JEWELRY

No prior experience or expensive tools are required to make this jewelry. It's easy and fun, and I promise it's a craft you'll become addicted to. I did!

Glass Tile Jewelry

July 23rd:

2-4 pm $20.00 per person (plus $15.00 supply fee paid directly to instructor). Ages 15 and up.

100th Monkey Studios (click on this link to be directed there)
110 Southeast 16th Avenue
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 232-3457

Create beautifully fired, hand cut glass tile jewelry without a kiln! These jewelry pieces are simply stunning and don't require prior experience or expensive tools and equipment to make. Glass tile jewelry is fun, and easy enough for everyone to do. You'll easily become addicted to this craft. You'll have time in this class to complete 3 completed items ready to wear and take home plus get the best resources for purchasing more supplies at the very best prices.

Scrabble Tiles repurposed

2011-07-02T01:00:00.000-07:00

If you are a fan of Scrabble, or love to wear jewelry made from recycled or found objects, then you'll appreciate these pendants.

My husband scours Goodwill for bargains - it's like a giant treasure hunt for him. One day he brought home a heap of these Scrabble Tiles from old or discarded games. Being the Craft Junkie that I am, I was thrilled with his find and have repurposed the tiles into charming Initial necklaces.

They are edged in lightweight aluminum and finished with a sterling silver plated jewelry bail for attaching to a chain. I think they would make a perfect stocking stuffer, hostess gift, or birthday present for a little girl.

I'm selling them at Craft Shows this month and also on Etsy.

For more information, click here.

How to Make Balloon Embellished Flip Flops

2011-06-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

When the heat is on, and the kids are outside for the summer, here is a simple and fun craft to do. Embellish Flip Flops with water balloons!

This craft takes about one hour and you will need the following items:

- One or two bags of small water balloons (per person).
- An inexpensive pair of flip flops - often available at craft stores, Target, or Walmart for a few dollars.

1) Begin by stretching and wrapping a single balloon around the rubber foot straps. Pulling the balloon tightly, tie it into a simple square knot.

2) Continue the process until the entire straps are completely covered with knotted balloons. Push the balloons close to each other for a fully covered strap.

This is an easy craft that would be the perfect activity for kids at a pool party or for a birthday party activity...right before a huge water balloon fight!

Garden Mistress Crown

2011-05-23T18:04:00.000-07:00

I love crowns and tiaras. Yes, I'm a sparkly girl at heart.

The whole royalty thing fascinates me and I dream of a fairy-tale life where I can wear beautiful gowns and shimmering jewels. Oh yeah!

But...Royal blood does not corse through these veins

and I've never been crowned anything.

Ah well. I do not despair.

I shall MAKE myself queen of something.

Inspired by the book, Crowns and Tiaras by Kerri Judd and Danyel Montecinos, I have made my own crown from chicken wire, glitter, paper, and various dollar store flowers.

And now… I officially dub myself "Mistress of the Garden."

Queen of all I can see outside my back door!

Now…why don't you go make yourself Queen of something too!

YOU DESERVE IT.

Feather Earrings are the latest craze!

2011-05-09T01:00:00.000-07:00

Feather Earrings. I'm seeing them pop up everywhere.

Check out this Etsy Store for some great prices on Feather Earrings.

Lion Feathers.