Saturday, January 30, 2010

Beginner Scrapbooking Fun - Fun beginners Crafts

You can make the theme of your scrapbook as simple or complex. For a theme could consider a special event such as a birthday, a baby shower, a wedding, Christmas, or Halloween.

For a personalized them you will make your scrapbook about special interests. Special interests themes include favorite colors, sports, favorite television programs, music, the outdoors, or cultural influences.

So, choose your theme and start by printing your photos on good quality photo paper such as the canon photo paper plus glossy you always have to make very sure that you use top quality photos in your scrapbook other wise you will be doing all the work for nothing!

When you are considering your theme, think about the following:
  • What is the overall purpose for your scrapbook?
  • Who is the scrapbook for?
  • Who is the scrapbook about?
The answers to these three questions are all factors in selecting an appropriate theme. For instance, the scrapbook you are giving your nephew as he graduates from medical school is probably completely different than the grandparent book you send your mother.

Your nephew will probably appreciate a scrapbook with photographs, poems, journals, and more masculine embellishments. Perhaps, the theme of the scrapbook could be medicine. You could create embellishments that looked like scalpels and tweezers around various pictures of your nephew during his college years.

Your mother, on the other hand, will love a multitude of baby pictures fancifully embellished with flowers, ribbon, and baby fingerprints. The theme of this book will probably be your baby. Photographs could include baby and grandma with the baby. A nice journal about your baby's day could also add a nice touch

Monday, January 25, 2010

Baking With Toddlers: How to Disaster-Proof Your Kitchen and Your Child

Baking is a fun and educational activity for kids and it is one of the  ideal fun easy crafts for toddlers and can serve as a very good beginners craft along with crafts using Fimo Clay as you can find at Fimo Clay Ideas.


Toddlers are often thrilled to get in on whatever is going on in the kitchen, but many parents are hesitant to allow them to participate. There are lots of dangers lurking in the kitchen, so it's not surprising that they are concerned.

But it is possible to allow your toddler to help you bake without having to be on pins and needles the entire time. These simple precautions can keep your child (and your kitchen) safe from harm.

* Dress your child appropriately for baking. Don't put him in his Sunday best when he's helping you mix flour and spread icing. If possible, dress him in play clothes where you won't be too upset if they're stained. If that's not a option, put an old t-shirt or apron on over whatever he happens to be wearing.

* If staining the counters is a concern, cover them with newspaper or wax paper before you get started. Even if your counters are stainproof, this will make clean-up a breeze.

* If your toddler is agreeable to it, consider letting her do her part from her high chair. The tray will help keep everything within easy reach, and you won't have to worry about a possible fall like you would if she were standing on a step stool to reach the counter.

* Hold onto the bowl when you let your toddler do the adding of the ingredients or the stirring. If you don't, you're practically guaranteed a mess!

* Cutting is a good skill for toddlers to learn if given the right tools. Instead of sharp knives, let them use butter knives, or even plastic ones. They won't be able to cut hard foods with them, but they can use them to cut things like bananas and sticks of butter.

* Each time you and your toddler cook together, remind him of potential dangers. Young children forget such things quickly. You can never tell them that the oven is too hot to touch too many times.

* If your child is insistent on doing something that he is not ready for, find a way to work around it. For example, if he throws a tantrum when he doesn't get to use the mixer, call him into the kitchen after that part is already done or let him mix with a spoon. If he can't stay away from a hot oven, do the mixing with him and save the baking for naptime.

Baking with toddlers can be a little tricky, but it's also very rewarding. The look on their faces when they see the finished product that they helped create is priceless, and the things they learn will stick with them for a long time. So don't ban your child from the kitchen. Find ways to make baking safe and fun for him!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

How to Make a Mouse out of Walnut Shells

How to Make a Mouse out of Walnut Shells Is A Good Example Of A Beginners Craft.Other very good beginner's crafts are Mosaic Crafts For Beginners and Beginners Scrapbooking.

Normally, mice aren't creatures that we want in our homes. But these little walnut mice are so adorable, and you won't have to worry about them getting into the cookies! They make a great rainy day craft for all ages, because they're easy and inexpensive to make.

What You Need

  •  Half a walnut shell
  • Sandpaper
  • Glue
  • Googly eyes
  • Scissors
  • Brown construction paper or felt
  • Yarn or string
  • Black permanent marker

Instructions

1. Make sure all of the meat is cleaned out of the half walnut shell. If necessary, sand the bottom of the shell so that it sits flat.

2. On the rounded end of the half walnut shell, glue a piece of string 1 to 2 inches long. This will be the tail.

3. On the pointed end, use the black marker to draw a nose and whiskers. Glue on two googly eyes.

4. Cut two small circles out of the brown construction paper or felt. These will be the ears. Glue them into place about a third of the way back from the nose.

5. If you like, use different sizes of walnut shells to create an entire mouse family.


Here's another walnut mouse project that's great for a rainy day, and it also makes a super-cute Christmas ornament!

What You Need

  • Half a walnut shell
  • A hazelnut
  • Scraps of felt in brown and some other color
  • Glue
  • Gold cord
  • Scissors
  • Black permanent marker

Instructions

1. Clean out the inside of the walnut shell, and make sure that the hazelnut will fit inside.

2. Make a loop out of the gold cord, and glue the ends to the rounded end of the half walnut shell.

3. Cut two small circles out of the brown felt for the ears. Cut out a thin strip for the tail.

4. Glue the ears onto the inside of the rounded end of the walnut shell so that they will be positioned properly when you add the hazelnut mouse. Glue the end of the tail to the center of the pointed end.

5. Put a drop of glue on the hazelnut, and press it into the half walnut shell. Make sure the top of the nut is positioned firmly against the ears.

6. Cut out a half circle of the other color of felt. Place it over the hazelnut mouse like a blanket, and tuck the sides and bottom in. Add a tiny amount of glue to keep the blanket in place.

7. Draw a nose, a mouth, some eyes and some whiskers on the mouse with the black marker. Let glue dry, and hang to display.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Cool Yarn and Fiber Craft Projects Your Teenager Will Love

Crafting is a popular hobby among younger children, and for them a kit such as Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter is a very good idea.

But as they get older, many of them gradually lose interest. They become more interested in social activities, and they outgrow the projects they found so fascinating just a couple of years ago.

Still, there are some teenagers who continue to enjoy crafting. This is frequently because they find projects that are more appropriate for their age and skill level. If you can help your teen find such projects, there's a good chance that she will continue to be creative.

Yarn and fiber crafts are a great choice for teenagers. They aren't frustratingly difficult, but they do present enough of a challenge to keep them interested. And there are lots of fashionable things you can create with yarn, so teens are often eager to learn as much as they can about the techniques involved. Here are some cool project ideas that your teen is sure to enjoy.

* Bookmarks 

Knitted bookmarks are among the easiest yarn projects to make, so they're perfect for beginners. Your teen can whip them up in short order, and making them provides valuable practice for bigger projects. The same technique can also be used to make bracelets.

* Fingerless gloves 

Fingerless gloves are cute and stylish, and they're not too hard to make. If your teen can knit a couple of simple stitches, she should have no problem making them. She can have a pair done in no time, so she may just make one to go with every outfit she has!

* Knitted bags 

When it comes to purses, knitted ones are rarely out of style. They have a bohemian quality about them that makes them perfect to carry with casual attire. They also make wonderful gifts for your teen's friends.

* Knitted hats 

In the winter, nothing keeps your head warm like a cozy knitted hat. Sure, you can buy them in any store, but it's much more fun to make your own. Your teen can use any color or combination of colors she likes, add some beads and have a hat like no one else's.

* Sweaters 

Sweaters take longer to knit than accessories, but the finished product is bound to make your teen knitter proud. There are tons of sweater patterns available from craft shops, and you can even find some for free online. And knitting sweaters is rather addictive. Once your teen succeeds in knitting one, you can almost guarantee that she will be ready to make another one.

Once they get started, teens usually love yarn and fiber crafts. They take great pride in creating their own clothing and accessories, and having items that are one of a kind. Introducing your teen to this fulfilling hobby will give her something productive to do and foster a lifelong love of crafting.

For younger beginners carters, have a look at a kit such as the Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Beginner Scrapbooking: How to Get Started

Beginner Scrapbooking: How to Get Started


Scrapbooking has become a very popular hobby. Perhaps you've admired a friend's scrapbook and thought about creating one of your own. It can't be that hard, right? But once you walk into a scrapbook supply store and see all of the different supplies that go into creating those pretty pages, you might have second thoughts. But , with a little help Beginner Scrapbooking does not have to present a problem.

Creating a scrapbook isn't a matter of just throwing some pictures on a page. But it's not brain surgery, either. If you can cut and paste, you can scrapbook.

For Beginner Scrapbooking Here's how to get started.

1. Choose Your Photos

The most important element of any scrapbook is the photos. Most scrapbooks follow some sort of theme. They might contain pictures featuring a certain person from childhood through present day, or be centered around a specific event such as a wedding or family vacation.

Once you've come up with a theme and selected your pictures, you'll need to further organize them into sub-topics. For example, for a wedding scrapbook, you could do pages with photos of the bride and groom getting ready for the wedding, pictures of the wedding party, and so on. Getting your photos organized first thing makes the project much easier, and you can always make changes later if needed.

2. Select an Album and Paper

Some scrapbookers buy the album first and then decide which photos to put in it, and that's fine. But for your first album, it may be better to choose the album after you've chosen a theme and photos. That way you can easily choose the right color, style and size for the project.

You'll also need to choose some papers that co-ordinate with your album. You'll need paper for the pages, as well as paper to use in matting photos and creating borders. Try to buy all the paper you'll need before you get started. That way, you won't have to worry about running out mid-project and not being able to find another pack of the same paper.

3. Buy Basic Supplies, Tools and Embellishments

When you're just getting started in scrapbooking, you don't need lots of tools. A pair of scissors and a glue stick are all that you absolutely have to have. But there are certain tools that make things easier and give you more options for customizing your scrapbook. A paper cutter, for instance, will make it quick and easy to cut in a straight line. Other tools to consider include hole punches, pinking shears and eyelet setters.

There are all sorts of embellishments available for scrapbooking. But for your first scrapbook, you'll probably want to keep things fairly simple. Stickers are easy to work with, and they come in just about any motif you could possibly want. You can also buy ready-made paper frames for your photos to add a nice touch without a lot of effort.

Alternatively, you could purchase a scrapbooking kit. Found in most craft stores, these kits include co-ordinating papers and embellishments. This isn't the most original approach, but it eliminates the need to search for matching items separately and lets beginners concentrate on learning the techniques used in scrapbooking.

As with any hobby, it's best to start simple when you're learning to scrapbook. You don't have to use lots of fancy embellishments to create a beautiful page. The basics will do just fine, and you can always learn more as you go.

Beginner Scrapbooking: How to Get Started, as you can see with a few basics  you can do it!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Cuisinart Classic Stockpot For Those Soups And Party Pastas

Every cook knows that it is necessary to have at least one big pot. The Cuisinart Classic Stockpot will fill that gap. The Cuisinart Classic Stockpot is a 12 quart stockpot and your precious liquid will not boil over when you are using this stockpot.

The Cuisinart Classic Stockpot is made of professional quality 18/10 stainless steel with a mirror finish that will not fade. It is dishwasher safe and even oven safe up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit! So, no worries there, your Cuisinart Classic Stockpot will stay as pretty and shiny as it starts out.

To ensure the even distribution of heat your Cuisinart Classic Stockpot has an aluminum base encased in the stainless steel. It will not wobble as it is good quality and you will really get years of use from your Cuisinart Classic Stockpot.

The Cuisinart Classic Stockpot has solid, riveted stainless-steel handles so the handles are strong and they stay relatively cool to prevent accidents. There is nothing more annoying than a pot's handles that start to wobble!

Part of the excellent features of the Cuisinart Classic Stockpot is the tight fitting lid and the drip free rim. The tapered rim of the Cuisinart Classic Stockpot also allows easy pouring.

These are only a few of the features of the Cuisinart Classic Stockpot.

Go and find out more. Go to:

Cuisinart Classic Stockpot

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Tattered Angel –Glimmer Kit – Girl

For More Fun Crafts Go To:

My Easy Craft Idea


The Tattered Angel – Glimmer Kit – Girl is a wonderful scrapbooking kit. Everything you need to create a fantastic looking Glimmer Glass Window Album is provided within the kit. Glimmer Glass Window Albums are archival-safe windowed and tabbed albums with glimmer glass accents. It is fun to work on and a very creative way to store your favorite photographs, poems, drawings etc.

The kit features:


  • One Glimmer Glass Window Album – Frosty
  • Three Bottles of Glimmer Mist: Mustard Seed, Candy Apple Red, Peach Delight
  • One Set of Glimmer Chips
  • One Glimmer Screen Stencil – small flourish
  • Red pearl and flower embellishments
  • Ribbon
  • Two Coordinating 6”x6” Papers
  • Tags or Mini Envelopes
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
The glimmer mist, when sprayed on, creates a fine shimmer and looks fabulous. It is water based, acid-free and non-toxic.

For more information on this great kit, go to

Tattered Angels Glimmer Kit - Girl  Tattered Angels

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Craft Ideas For Beginners - How to Make a Winter Sun Catcher

Winter is most often associated with cold weather and snow, this gives you a unique opportunity for fun Craft Ideas For Beginners such as this winter sun catcher. Even though it's chilly outside, the sun still shines beautifully on some days. This frozen sun catcher takes advantage of both the sub-freezing temperatures and the sunshine to add beauty to your porch or lawn. This is one of the Craft Ideas For Beginners that will fascinate any child! 

You may also be interested in Beginner Scrapbooking and Mosaic Crafts For Beginners. Go and have a look at these pages for more craft ideas for beginners.


What You Need

* Water
* Food coloring in a color of your choice
* Shallow disposable aluminum pan (pie pans work nicely)
* Round orange slices
* Dried flowers
* Pressed pine needles
* Small pine cones
* Cranberries
* Sturdy twine
* Scissors

Instructions

1. Run enough water into a pitcher or bowl to fill the aluminum pan. Add food coloring until the desired color is achieved.

2. Pour colored water into the pan until it is about a quarter of an inch deep. Keep the rest of the water for later use. Place the pan in the freezer or outside overnight so that it freezes solid.

3. Cut two pieces of twine, each about a foot long. Place the end of one piece about halfway down one side of the ice, and run it along the side up to the top, leaving the remainder outside of the pan. Do the same on the other side with the other piece of twine.

4. Arrange the orange slices, flowers, pine needles, pine cones and cranberries on the surface of the ice. When you have arranged them to your liking, slowly pour another quarter inch of the colored water into the pan. The pieces might move around a bit when you pour the water in, but if you pour the water slowly, they shouldn't move too much.

5. Place the pan back in the freezer or outside overnight so that the new layer of water will freeze into ice, locking your design in place.

6. Sit the sun catcher out in your home at room temperature until you can easily remove it from the mold. Or if you prefer, run warm water over the back of the pan until the sun catcher is released.

7. Find a nice spot outside, and tie the pieces of twine together to hang your sun catcher!

Tips

* For best results, use a light color of food coloring. Darker colors could soak into the orange slices and change their color.

* Keep in mind that the sun catcher will eventually melt. Consider putting it in a spot where it will be in the shade for at least part of the day to keep it looking good longer.

* If it's nice and cold outside, consider doing the entire project on the porch or patio. That way you won't have to move it after adding the decorations and the water, and the items won't shift around as much.


So, get the supplies and have a look at this amazing winter sun catcher. In South Africa it is summer now, and even our winters will not be cold enough for this, so enjoy. This is one of our Craft Ideas For Beginners for all of you to have fun with in the winter. As we are seeing extreme cold and snow this year, I think this is just the right time to give you this craft, one of our really fun Craft Ideas For Beginners.