Picnic

Found Object Mobile

 

This is a fun project – starting with a scavenger hunt looking around the house for shapes and objects that can be used to make a simple and fun mobile.
What you will need:
*3 - in. dowels cut to three sizes – 6,6,7 in. (or you can use bamboo skewers – you can also determine your own size)
*ball of string or sewing thread – any colour
*found objects – different size buttons, washers, scrap fabric, paper, pretty much anything can be used
*white glue  *scissors

The real key factor to creating a mobile this way is balance.  You will determine your balance from somewhere in the centre of each dowel – kind of like a sea saw.
step one:
..assemble the objects – on this mobile I started with the first dowel ( about 6” long)  by stringing buttons together for one side and cut out a fabric cloud for the other side.  Once I tied each object onto either end of the first dowel I put a drop of glue to secure the string in place. Next, tie a string in the middle of the dowel and move it back and forth until the dowel with the objects hanging from it is somewhat balanced.  Put another drop of glue to secure the middle string.
Please note:.. I also find it helpful to tack a piece of string on the top of in a doorway with a paperclip on one end to help hold up the mobile so you don’t need someone to hold it up for you.
step two:
..take the center string from dowel no.1 and tie it to one side of dowel no.2 ( about 7” long) and assemble together some objects on the other end of the dowel.  Tie a piece of string to the centre and move it back and forth till everything is balanced.  Put a dab of glue on the strings.
step three:
..take the center string from dowel no.2 and tie it to the last dowel (about 6” long) and assemble some objects for the other end of the dowel.  Tie a piece of string to the centre and move it back and forth till everything is balanced and put a dab of glue on the strings.
Hang the finished product above your bed to enjoy.

This is a fun project to experiment with and you can use more dowels and make a more elaborate mobile – or use coat hanger wire so that you bend and shape the sticks.

via bkids.typepad.com

Fabric Collage

 

What you will need:
*1- board (cardboard, masonite, plywood) 8 x 10 in.
*note* –a lot of glue makes the cardboard pucker and bend
*variety of fabric scraps – heavy and light weight fabrics – patterned fabric
*white glue + old brush for glue
*yarn, rope, chord and scissors

This project is a great way to use fabric scraps without any sewing
step one:
..if you like – before you begin you can make a few drawings your image can be a landscape, an animal, a person or something abstract.
step two:
..cut out your fabrics and lay them out and arrange them the way you want...I think frayed edges are nice so don’t worry about making nice clean edges.
step three:
..glue down your fabric collage – putting glue on top of the fabric helps to keep the fabric flat.
as a final step...you can use the yarn or rope to create outlines around your shapes or as nice linear elements.

via bkids.typepad.com

Chalkboard clipboard and photo magnets

Chalkboard clipboard and bottle neck photo magnets by Courtney Russel from Two Straight Lines

My son Elliot started kindergarten last week and together we came up with a few fun projects to decorate his first locker.

Chalkboard clipboard...by painting a small clipboard with chalkboard paint and adding magnets to the back you create the perfect place for sweet notes, permission slips or photographs.

What you'll need:
*Small clipboard
*Clamp or zip tie
*Chalkboard paint
*Foam brush
*Sandpaper
*Glue or glue gun
*Magnets*Chalk

Step one: 
Cover your work surface with newspaper.
Step two:
Secure open the clip on your clipboard with a clamp or zip tie.
Step three:
Paint the clipboard with 3 coats of chalkboard paint.
Step four:
When thoroughly dry, sand the clipboard to distress it lightly.
Step five:
Glue magnets to the back at each corner.
Step six:
Draw all over chalkboard with chalk and wipe off. (this makes it look more like a chalkboard)
Step seven:
Hang in your little ones locker and scrawl a sweet note.

Bottle cap photo magnets...make these magnets with your little one and you can keep him company at school.

What you'll need:
*Bottle caps
*Photos
*Flat screwdriver
*Mod Podge
*Paintbrush
*Glue or glue gun
*Magnets
Step one:
Cover your work surface with newspaper.
Step two:
Reduce photos to the size of your bottle caps (roughy 1") and cut out.  Check the size by placing in the bottle caps.
Step three: 
Remove the plastic gasket from the inside of the bottle caps. (a flat screwdriver works well)
Step four:
Apply Mod Podge to the inside of the bottle caps and insert your photos.
Step five:
Cover photo with two layers of Mod Podge, allowing it to dry between layers.
Step six:

via bkids.typepad.com

Apple Placemats

Apple Placemats by Courtney Russel from Two Straight Lines

As we celebrate the harvest season here in the US, it's nice to get the kids involved in decorating the holiday table.  These cute apple placemats are painted using a freezer paper stencil, a technique easy enough for kids.  Freezer paper can be found at many grocery stores or online, but be careful, once you start you'll be stenciling every thing in sight.

You will need:
*Burlap
*Scissors
*Printed fabric
*Fabric glue (I like Alene's Tacky Glue)
*Red and Brown Textile Paint (I use Jacquard Paint)
*Paintbrushes- 1 wide, 1 narrow
*Freezer Paper
*Iron
*Heavy Weight Paper
*Marker

Step one:
Cut your burlap to 13" x 17".
Step two:
On the heavy paper, sketch your apple, refining your drawing until you're happy.  Cut the apple out and trace around it on the paper side of the freezer paper.  Cut the apple out of your freezer paper, making sure that the area surrounding the apple is uncut-- this is your stencil.
Step three:
Place your stencil on the burlap where you would like it and iron it in place.
Step four:
Using the wide paintbrush, paint the area inside of your stencil with the red textile paint (tip: I used both foam and bristle paintbrushes and preferred the bristle).  Carefully peel your stencil away. Using the narrow paintbrush and the brown paint, paint the stem on your apple.
Step five:
Cut a leaf from your printed fabric.  Glue it next to your stem just above your apple.  If desired, use the marker to draw pretend "stitches" on the leaf.
Step six:
One at a time, pull four or five threads from each edge of the placemat to create a fringe.
Step seven:
Repeat until you have a placemat for every seat at your table.

via bkids.typepad.com

Okra Printed Gift Tags

Okra Printing Project:  Gift Tags by Kristen Sutcliffe from New House Project

This project is simple enough for even young children to enjoy.  My 2-year-old did a great job with it!  I used okra because of its unique shape, but you can try other vegetables too. (In the past I have made cute post cards using lotus root.)

What you'll need:
*fresh okra(vegetable)
*scrap paper
*card stock
*paints
*sponge
*felt
*hole punch


Step one:
Cut your card stock into desired shape for gift tags. 
Step two:
Slice okra in half using a sharp knife.  You will get a better print with a cleaner shape if you remove some of the seeds before stamping.
Step three:
You can make a stamp pad to use for this project by painting a sponge with a generous amount of paint.  Make sure the paint is pretty well absorbed into the sponge. 
Step three:
Practice stamping on a piece of scrap paper.  If you place your paper on a sheet of felt you will get better results.
Step four:
Stamp your gift tags, and then punch a small hole in each tag to complete the project. 

via bkids.typepad.com

Okra Printing Project:  Gift Tags by Kristen Sutcliffe from New House Project

This project is simple enough for even young children to enjoy.  My 2-year-old did a great job with it!  I used okra because of its unique shape, but you can try other vegetables too. (In the past I have made cute post cards using lotus root.)

What you'll need:
*fresh okra(vegetable)
*scrap paper
*card stock
*paints
*sponge
*felt
*hole punch


Step one:
Cut your card stock into desired shape for gift tags. 
Step two:
Slice okra in half using a sharp knife.  You will get a better print with a cleaner shape if you remove some of the seeds before stamping.
Step three:
You can make a stamp pad to use for this project by painting a sponge with a generous amount of paint.  Make sure the paint is pretty well absorbed into the sponge. 
Step three:
Practice stamping on a piece of scrap paper.  If you place your paper on a sheet of felt you will get better results.
Step four:
Stamp your gift tags, and then punch a small hole in each tag to complete the project. 

School Is Out

The kids are out of school for the next two weeks so we are headed off to our cabin in the woods for the holidays.  The Internet connection is slow and painful at the cabin so I won't be posting again until the new year.  Of course, I was not about to leave you hangin'.  I've taken advantage of Typepad's new "Blog It" feature and will be posting some amazing craft idea's from one of my favorite blogs, Bloesem Kids.  Enjoy and please take the time to check out Irene's blog, it's amazing!

 

Heart Garland

To Make:

1. Draw 1/2 a heart on a piece of paper bag.  Fold it over and trace it on the other side creating a symmetrical heart.  Cut it out.  This is your heart pattern.
2. Cut 11 hearts from red felt and 11 hearts from a matching printed cotton.
3. Top stitch the felt and cotton together, wrong sides facing each other.
4. Using zig-zag scissors trim both layers around the edge of the heart.  Do not cut your stitch.
5. Thread an embroidery needle with red embroidery floss and hand stitch the hearts together, alternating fabrics (see above photo).
6. Space the hearts the way you like and trim the embroidery floss to your desired length.

  

Snowflake Gift Wrap

I bought a role of artist paper at Ikea a while back and brought it home only to find that it did not fit the size of our easel. Instead of using it for my original purpose, I keep it with my gift wrapping supplies and have Bijou help me decorate it when it's time to wrap a birthday gift for a friend. For the holidays this year, we are making snowflake gift wrap. 

Supplies: butcher paper or brown packing paper, stencil brush, stencil, painter's tape, & acrylic paint.

  

Step 1: Tape your stencil onto the paper with the painter tape.

Step 2: Dip your stencil brush in the paint and paint inside the stencil by lifting your brush straight up and down quickly. You do not want to use brush strokes while stenciling. Paint can creep under the stencil if you do it that way.

 
  Step 3: Remove the tape and pull up the stencil.

Step 4: Let the paint dry overnight and then wrap your gift.

This craft idea was originally posted here.

Thank You Notes

I always check the sale table at The Paper Source every time I go in for a visit. On this lucky day, I scored some glassine envelopes and red scalloped edge note cards. 

Step 1: Handwrite a thank you note on a 3x5" index card. 

Step 2: Stamp "thank you" at the top. I LOVE the imperfections that come from using rubber stamps.

 

Step 3: Affix the index card to the scalloped note card with Happy Tape. I buy mine here.

Step 4: Seal your envelope with a cute sticker. I bought my pelican stickers here.

Step 5: Stamp and hand write addresses. I used these Martha Stewart labels from her wedding collection because I like how their scalloped edge matched the edge of the note card inside.

 

*** Inspiration for this craft came from here. ***

*** This craft idea was originally published here. ***

 

Wool Garlands

My Mom gave me a huge bag of wool sweaters she had washed in hot water to felt them. They had already been hacked up by her because she had made a patchwork quilt for her bedroom. They sat in my laundry room for nearly a year until I came across a good use for them in Amanda Blake Soule's book, Handmade Home. This project can be done with children, as long as they are old enough to use scissors. 

Supplies- Wool in various colors, embroidery thread, hand-sewing needle, scissors. 

Step 1: Cut 1" squares from the wool felt, hundreds of them. They don't need to be perfectly square so this is the part I encourage you to enlist your child's help on a rainy day. 

Step 2: Choose the length of your garland, double this number and add 10". Cut a piece of embroidery thread to this length. 

 

Step 3: Thread the needle and double the strand of thread and start threading the squares of wool onto the thread. When your garland is complete, tie a knot at the end to secure the wool. 

Step 4: I choose to hang mine along my mantel for some fall/winter decor but it also looks nice as a Christmas tree garland.