Hendrika's Easy Fun Crafts

Surebonder Ultra Glue Gun

2011-12-06T02:05:00.001-08:00

If you are a “crafty” family, thena glue gun is an essential tool to have. Hand held glue guns are notvery expensive and can be used for creating lots of fantastic craftprojects. Glue guns are great for sticking wood, metal, ceramics,heavy card, paper, plastics and cloth.

There are three different types ofSurebonder Ultra Glue Guns available, depending on your needs:

The Ultra Gun, Low Temperature (230°F)for projects that won’t need high gluing temperatures.

Ultra Gun, High Temperature (380°F).

Ultra Gun, Dual Temperature with highand low settings.

Each of the glue guns runs on 60W powerand benefits from a glue stand.

Overall, the Surebonder Ultra Glue Gunsare good value for money and will certainly help you with your craftactivities. A word of caution: glue guns get very hot, so please workcarefully to prevent injuries and burns, especially around children.

Teen Craft Leather Tooling

2011-09-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

There are many different craftssuitable for kids, but they love making things they can actually use.So working with leather is a good idea so is Macrame Beaded Jewelry.

Teens are a curious lot. They wanttheir independence and yet they’re often afraid to step out ontheir own. One way to continue connecting with your teen is through ashared craft. One craft teens may enjoy is leather tooling. You mayfind you enjoy it, too.

Leather tooling is the process oftaking pieces of leather and cutting, pressing or burning it tocreate an image or design which can be added to clothing or otheruseful items. Think about ornate leather saddles, purses or belts.Those things were created by leather tooling.

It is important to have the correcttype of leather when tooling it. It generally should be top-grain,vegetable-tanned and light-colored. Your teen will also need specifictools with which to work.

Those tools include:

Awl and spare point
Retractable craft or X-acto knife withspare blades
Retractable knife with blade whichbreaks off
Rotary punch
Needles
Bees wax
Waxed linen thread
Pliers
Scissors

There are other tools you can purchasewhen doing leather tooling, but you may want to wait until you see ifyour teen wants to continue the craft before spending too much money.Other tools include edge slickers, bevellers, punches, thong cutters,t-square, compass and yardstick.

There is an easy way to determine ifthe leather you and your teen have accessible to you is suitable fortooling. You can wet a corner and make a couple of lines to see howwell the leather reacts and holds the lines. It is also a good ideato put tape on the back of the leather while it is being worked on toavoid stretching it.

Find designs by looking through patternbooks or a simple picture possibly taken from a coloring book. Aneasy design such as a simple flower or leaf will give your teen anopportunity to try different tooling skills. The design will have tobe transferred to the leather using tracing or wax paper.

Dampen the leather after the image istransferred. Your teen will then begin creating depressions into theleather. When they are satisfied with their work, they can allow theleather to dry and then paint or dye it to complete it. The resultwill be a raised surface work of art they can be proud of.

Your teen should be able to find moreinformation about the particular skills needed for leather tooling ata craft store. They will have the tools needed as well as books andother supplies to get your teen started on a new craft they cancontinue into adulthood. The internet is another source ofinformation for learning leather tooling.

Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe (Spiral-Bound)

2011-07-15T00:42:00.000-07:00

The spiral-bound book “Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe” was written by Wendy Mulin who is the owner and founder of Built by Wendy, a NYC-based women’s and men’s clothing label and accessories. She has also written various Sew U instruction books.

In her book Wendy shows the reader how to sew fashionable clothing. The guide includes 3 basic patterns: pants, button down shirt and skirt in the sizes 0 – 12 and XS – L. These three patterns have been taken directly from her studio and can be used in lots of different and exciting ways to create various looks. You will be given easy step-by-step instructions and lots of ideas on how to make your old clothes look ultra-modern and unique.

The book reviews basic sewing skills, and introduces the reader to fabric cutting, more advanced sewing techniques and light pattern making. The author also gives general advice on how to work with a tailor and how to get your fashion ideas across.

If you have your own unique fashion style, and want to create your own personal look, and save money while you’re at it, then this book is for you.

Sewing Machine Fun Book

2011-06-03T04:43:00.000-07:00

I can remember as a little girl how much I enjoyed it when my mother taught me to sew. I spent hours behind the machine creating all kinds of items. In the long run, as a teenager, I found joy in making all my own clothes. So, maybe your little girl will also love to learn how to sew.

Teach your children the fun of sewing with the Sewing Machine Fun Book. It was written by Lynda Milligan & Nancy Smith, who own the Great American Quilt Factory. In their book they offer children from the age of 7+ a wonderful introduction to sewing.

There are 13 fun sewing projects contained within the book, with colorful step-by-step instructions. The kids will progressively gain more and more knowledge of sewing as they work their way through the book. Basic sewing machine skills from stitching, pivots, threading the machine, patterns for the different projects and how to take care of your machine as well as safety around the sewing machine will be covered.

Obviously, younger children will need some adult guidance and supervision.

The Sewing Machine Fun Book is a great way to teach children the basics of sewing, a useful skill that will stay with them for a lifetime. All you need is a sewing machine and your children will be on their way to discover how much fun sewing and making things can be. No more boring rainy days!

Another alternative to keep the kids busy, if they like handwork crafts is Kids Knitting Projects, where kids can learn to knit in a fun way. With this Sewing machine Fun Book and Kids Knitting Projects your little one will have hours of creative fun.

Review Of The Play-Doh Super Craft Caddy

2011-04-28T06:33:00.000-07:00

I have spent many happy hours with my kids and my granddaughter playing with Play Doh. They loved kids spending hours and hours kneading and making Play Doh sculptures. Play Doh is the ideal craft for little ones as it is safe and easy as well as cheap!

The Play-Doh Super Craft Caddy is a fantastic piece of equipment. Not only does it come with multiple tools to knead, cut and roll such as cutters and scissors, it also has some fun “girly” jewelry bead molds for making necklaces and bracelets.

Your kids will also love the cake stand and frosting presser for the bakers amongst your children. Or maybe your kids are more interested in “sand art” or “stained glass” activities. There is something for everybody.

This is a great organizer caddy as well. It has designated places to hold the Play-Doh tools so they won’t get lost in the house. It also has spaces for the included eight cans of Play-Doh, which come in different colors. I like that the caddy also comes with a colorful 3x3ft mat to keep all the bits and pieces of Play-Doh on the mat and not spread around your kitchen floor.

In my opinion, this product comes with lots of great features. It keeps your Play-Doh tools and Play-Doh organized and ready to be used the next time around for more hours of fun and enjoyment.

I think this product is well suited for kids from 3 years onwards and you might find yourself kneading, beading and baking with them as well. It would make a great rainy day toy.

After you have used all the Play Doh, and you are looking for more ideas, having a look at Salt Dough Just 3 Ingredients More Than 100 Projects, as it tells you how to make your own Play Doh and it gives you some very good ideas for projects as the kids progresses.

Easy Soap Making For Kids

2011-03-17T01:45:00.000-07:00

Little kids do not have to be limited to salt dough crafts. With a little help they can get into the fun of soap making. It is true that making soap with lye is dangerous and not suitable for little kids at all. However, as soap making is fun, there are other safe ways for kids to make soap.

Here's a recipe for glycerin soap that is appropriate for preschoolers and older:

What You Need

Glycerin soap (either bars or blocks)
Soap dye
Soap mold
Microwave safe container
Spoon
Knife

Instructions

Cut a bar of glycerin soap into three pieces. If using blocks, cut two or three pre-measured pieces. (Only an adult should do this step.)
Place the glycerin soap in the microwave safe container, and microwave for about 20 seconds or according to directions that came with soap blocks. Stir, and continue microwaving 10 seconds at a time until the soap is fully melted.
Add soap dye. For pastel colors, use only a few drops. For darker colors, keep adding dye until the desired color is achieved.
Pour the soap into the mold and set aside. Allow to harden for an hour.
Once soap has hardened and cooled completely, pop it out of the mold. If it is stuck, place it in the freezer for a few minutes and try again.

Tips

Use caution when removing soap from the microwave, and stir carefully to eliminate air bubbles. Soap that is heated too long or unevenly can erupt out of the container, causing burns.
If you prefer, you can melt the soap in a double boiler over low to medium heat.
If you would like a scented soap, you can add a couple of drops of fragrance oil. Just make sure it's safe for use on the skin, and remember that a little bit goes a long way.
Want a layered bar of soap? Add color to half of the melted soap, pour it into the mold, and let sit for about 5 minutes or until a “skin” forms on top. Then slowly pour the rest of the liquid soap (mixed with another color of soap dye if you like) on top.
You can make a swirled soap by waiting until you have poured the soap into the mold, adding drops of dye, and swirling with a toothpick.
To make a simple yet elegant soap on a rope, pour half of the liquid soap into the mold, let sit for 5 to 10 minutes, and place a strand of beads on top. Then pour the rest of the soap on top of the beads and let cool completely. This makes a wonderful gift!

With Mother's Day coming up, this is an ideal craft to get the kids involved in. Imagine mom's excitement when she receives this Mother's day craft gift on Mother's day. So, get the kids involved in easy soap making for kids.

Camping Craft Ideas for Kids

2011-03-11T04:09:00.000-08:00

Most kids find camping a lot of fun, but sometimes they still get bored from time to time. So, these camping crafts will give you, as a parent, some options when that happens. Of course, the same crafts can be used ad home as well. Remember to take lots of photos and then you can use them for scrapbooking. Go to Beginner Scrapbooking Crafts to see about that. This will make it branch out into a whole new life of crafts.

Here are your Camping Crafts Ideas For Kids:

Nature wreath:

If your child is like most, they’ll pick up found treasures while hiking or along the ground near the campsite. Let them keep their treasures; they can create a nature wreath from them. You can plan ahead by bringing a piece of heavy cardboard with you for this craft and cut it in the shape of a wreath.

After your child has found enough pine cones, leaves, rocks or other items to fill their wreath, let them begin gluing the items on the base with thick craft glue. They can place the large items on the wreath first and then put smaller items on. Try to help them fill the empty areas. When the glue has dried completely, they could spray paint it or use a clear paint with glitter.

Film canister first aid kit

It’s a pretty safe bet that while you’re camping someone will get a cut or scrape. This craft will come in handy. Have the supplies ready and your child can make a first aid kit they can carry with them.

The items they’ll need include:

Ribbon or yarn
Empty film canister (one for each child)
Antiseptic wipe
Small band-aids
Safety pin
Piece of wrapped hard candy
Change for a phone call
List of important phone numbers

How to do your crafts:

Help your child poke a hole in the lid of the film canister and one in the canister itself.
Run the ribbon through both pieces of the film canister and tie a knot in it.
This will enable your child to wear their first aid kit around their neck for easy reach.
Put the first aid items into the canister.
Your child can paint a red cross on the canister if they like.

If you go camping very often, put together a box with craft supplies that goes with you each time. Keep the box stocked with items you know they’ll use such as paper, scissors, glue, glitter, paints and paint brushes, and yarn or ribbon. Your child may also think of other ideas for craft supplies that you could provide. By keeping these materials readily available they will have them each time you go camping as a family.

Children can be funny sometimes. They can be eager to be outdoors but then complain because they’re bored. Using these camping craft ideas for kids can start your creative juices moving, which may allow you to think up other camping crafts for your children to enjoy the next time you go camping.

So, make sure you are prepared when you next go camping and let the kids have a ball with these camping crafts ideas for kids. It may even give you a few moments of peace!

A Hobby Kit Can Help You To Learn A New Craft

2011-02-22T02:01:00.000-08:00

For someone tired of the same old craft, getting a hobby kit may be a good idea. There is a variety of Hobby Kits available, such as the Latch Hook Kits, such as a Huggables 15 Inch Latch Hook Kit-Monkey. You will find that there are many hobbies and crafts that have hobby kits for you to start with.

A hobby kit makes learning a new hobby easy and you do not have to buy all the materials and equipment that are very expensive if you are not going to use them again. So, a kit allows you to try out the craft and see if you like it before you go to the cost of buying all the stuff before you find out if you really enjoy the craft.

So, this is obviously also the cast with Latch Hook Kits, such as the Huggables 15 Inch Latch Hook Kit-Monkey. This kit supplies you with all you need to make the monkey, except for the stuffing that is easy to come by.

Even for kids trying hobby or craft kits is a good idea. Kids do not know what they are going to enjoy doing. With a kit, such as the Alex Toys Super Knot A Quilt kit, you kid can try out various crafts before you have to go to a lot of expense.

So, have a look at hobby kits as an easy way to get to know a craft.

Fun Sixties Tie and Dye T-Shirt Craft For Teens

2011-02-07T23:57:00.000-08:00

If you are as old as I am you will remember all the tie and dye of that era. Even though it is true that tie-dye clothing, and other tie-and dye items, made their first appearance in the 1960s, tie and dye is still a popular choice for crafts. Teenagers and younger kids as well as some adults can wear tie-dye clothing and experience the fun of wearing something you made yourself.

Here’s how you can tie and dye your own t-shirt.

Rather than using commercial dyes, you can use simple food colorings which you probably have in your kitchen cabinets. Food coloring won’t give as deep a color as commercial dyes, but it’s safe for everyone to use.

You’ll need the following items to tie and dye your own t-shirt:

Light-colored t-shirt (wool, silk, and nylon work well; cotton may not work as well for food coloring but does work with clothing dye and soda ash)
2 Buckets or bowls of clear water
Rubber bands of various sizes
Plastic bags
2 or 3 colors of food coloring or clothing dye
Condiment bottles, one for each color
Vinegar
Salt

How to do your tie and dye craft:

Begin by soaking the t-shirt in an equal amount of water and white vinegar for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Take the t-shirt out and wring as much water out as possible so it’s still damp but not dripping.
Spread the damp t-shirt out on a table and grab the center.
Hold the center and twist the shirt and put rubber bands around the shirt or tie knots in it.
This is what gives the shirt its unique look.
Mix the food coloring or dye in the bowl with water.
You can also place the mixture in the condiment bottles.
When using bowls, dip the shirt into the dye; if you’re using the condiment bottles, squirt the mixture onto the shirts.
Since you’re using at least two colors, you can dip separate parts of the shirt into the dyes to create color explosions on the fabric.
If the two colors overlap they will create new colors.
Once the shirt is dyed to your satisfaction, wrap it in a plastic bag and place the bag someplace warm.
Leave it there for a minimum of 8 hours, up to 24 hours.
However, don’t let it get too hot - depending upon the fabric, it may begin to shrink.
After the rest time is over, remove the rubber bands from the shirt or untie it.
Fill a bucket or sink with clean cool water and one cup of salt.
Stir the water until the salt has dissolved as much as possible.
Rinse the t-shirt in this water.
This will help set the colors.
Keep rinsing until no more color shows in the water.
Then wash and dry the t-shirt with other colored clothing.

There is your fun tie-dye-T-Shirt for the summer. Now you know how to tie and dye your own t-shirt you can have the latest fashion item and have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve made it yourself. Of course, once your friends see your t-shirt, they may ask you to help them make one, too.

Once you have tasted the experience of working with fabrics such as this tie and dye crafts, you may want to move on to something a little more elaborate. For this silk painting is very good.

With silk painting you can make a beautiful scarf for yourself or a friend. So, do not stop with tie and dye, move on to silk painting. The easiest way to start is to get one of the many silk painting kits that are available and try it out first.

So, enjoy your tie and dye and then look into silk painting

Melissa & Doug Friendship Stamp Set

2010-12-16T02:00:00.000-08:00

The Melissa & Doug Friendship Stamp Set would make a very attractive and fun gift for a special child in your life. The set includes nine wooden stamps with different images, ranging from hearts, flowers, balloons, teddy bears and butterflies that can be used to create lovely pieces of art.

In addition to the stamps, there are five colored pencils and two pads of washable ink in pink and blue. I love the look of the wooden box the set comes in. It has a see-through lid and has different compartments to keep the stamp supplies easily organized. I am sure that your child will treasure this box and its contents and will create lots of beautiful artwork.

Overall, I think this would make a fantastic and well-appreciated gift, for any child. It is recommended for children age 4 and up.

Let's have a look at what others, actually using the Melissa & Doug Friendship Stamp Set has to say about it:

This is what Benjamin M. Hoyt has to say:

I bought this for my niece for Christmas and it was an immediate hit. I like the simple but useful packaging and the terrific price. My niece wasn't supposed to open the packaging on gifts until she got back home (to avoid messes at Grandma's house), but we found her hiding behind the tree coloring with her new stamp set! She's very happy with it, and the box it came with means she hasn't lost all of the pieces.

And this is what Granny B thinks of the product:

Bought this for my homeschooled granddaughters who are 4 and 6, and they love to do crafts as well. They are having fun with it and learning too!

Here is what K. Cornette has to say:

This was purchased as a gift for a 7-year old and I thought it was an adorable set, sturdy and will certainly last for years to come!

For more ideas for crafts for kids you can also have a look at Mosaic Ideas For Beginners. For a kit that will keep your little girl busy for long have a look at Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter.

Salt Dough Recipes and Craft Ideas

2010-12-03T04:04:00.000-08:00

It’s amazing how many people think some crafts are only for certain times of the year. Take salt dough crafts, for instance. Many people think you can only make them during Christmas. Using these salt dough recipes, you can make a variety of crafts for any time of the year.

For a few very good ideas you can have a look at Salt Dough Just 3 Ingredients More Than 100 Projects and Salt Dough Sculpture Creativity Series. In these you will find many more ideas for your salt dough creations.

There are a number of crafters who use salt dough to create wonderful Christmas ornaments which are three-dimensional and normally painted. You may have seen angels, candy canes, or snowmen and not realized what they were made of.

Salt dough is an easy craft medium to work with. The recipe is:

1 cup of fine salt
2 cups of flour
3/4 to 1 cup of lukewarm water (more or less water may be needed depending upon the humidity)

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Add the water, a little at a time, and stir until a large ball has formed. Take the ball out of the bowl and knead it on a lightly floured surface. Continue to knead the mixture until you’re satisfied with the texture.

If the dough is too tacky, add more flour/salt in the same proportions. Dry dough may require a little more water. For a more ‘rustic’ feel to the dough, use a coarse salt. This recipe will create white dough which will keep for several days in a tightly closed plastic bag. Color the dough by adding instant coffee, cocoa, or curry powder. Adding a drop of vanilla extract will produce a wonderful smell as well as act as a mold inhibitor.

Use cookie cutters, pizza cutters, rolling pins, or garlic presses to create the different elements of your ornaments. You can also make freehand designs by making the dough into ropes which can shaped into wreaths or braids. Roll the dough into balls of various sizes to create little animals, people, or abstract designs. The only limit you have is your artistic ability and your imagination.

Make a bouquet of flowers for Mom on Mother’s day out of salt dough. How about a miniature golf club and balls for the golf enthusiast in the family? You can even use salt dough to create wonderful, artsy jewelry if you want to. Be sure to place a hair pin or ornament hanger on any ornaments you intend to be displayed. If you’re making jewelry, poke a hole in the ornament before you bake it so you can put a piece of ribbon through it.

Easy Ways to Make Your Own Christmas Wrapping Paper

2010-11-25T04:25:00.000-08:00

Have you looked at the price of wrapping paper lately? It is highway robbery what they’re charging for it these days. If your budget can’t afford the added expense this year, try some of these easy ways to make your own Christmas wrapping paper.

Of course it is much easier if you use pre-made wrapping paper to wrap your gifts rather than making your own. But if you’ve taken time to choose just the right gift, it can be nice to put it in paper which is just as personal as the gift. That is another reason other than expense to consider making your own Christmas wrapping paper.

Try to make the paper fit the person the gift is for. If your son loves cars, you can find a car rubber stamp to use. Your niece may enjoy horses so you could use either horses or horse shoes as the theme for her paper. You don’t, however, want to match the paper to the gift. You want the gift to be a surprise and the paper could give it away.

Most wrapping paper has pictures in a repeated pattern. Another option would be to use a single picture and repeat it occasionally. Alternatively, you may not have any pictures on your wrapping paper at all.

Choose the size of paper you’ll need to wrap most gifts. Normally you can get wrapping paper that is at least three feet wide and ten or more yards long. This might not be possible with homemade paper. However, if you can find thin white butcher or craft paper, you may be able to get as much paper as if you bought it.

Use rubber stamps and colored ink to put the pattern on the paper. Potato and leaf stamping are other ways to get patterns on the paper. When you make your own Christmas wrapping paper, you know each one will be as unique as the recipient.

If you’d rather not use up that much time, you can also use found items around your home. Some options include using pages from the local newspaper for books; the comic section could be something you would use to wrap a child’s present or you can also use pieces of fabric if the gift would warrant it. Use yarn, raffia or fabric ribbons instead of the ones you can get at the store.

Small gifts might be the best choice for Christmas paper you make on your own. They don’t require as much paper and it would take less time to make different papers. These are some easy ways to make your own Christmas wrapping paper which you may want to try this year.

Of course, you can also make handmade cards to go with your gifts and you handmade gift wrapping. For you, making silk painted cards may be a good idea. Have a look at How To Make Silk Painted Cards Personalized Greeting Cards and for your kid you can have a look at lets Let's Have A Look At A Fun Crafts Kit: Make Your Own Cards

Bucilla Santa Poinsettia Tree StockingKit

2010-11-12T00:42:00.000-08:00

Bucilla Christmas Felt Kits Stocking Santa Poinsettia Tree Buy This Amazing Kit Form Amazon Today And Save 26%!

Go to my Hubpage Felt-Applique-Stocking and see many more of the stockings available from Amazon

Are you planning to surprise a loved one with a handmade stocking this Christmas? The Bucilla Christmas Felt Kit includes all the essential craft bits to make a beautiful red colored stocking with Santa decorating a poinsettia tree. It comes with stamped felt, cotton floss, sequins, beads and needles. The instructions are very detailed and easy to follow. I also like the decoration tips to make each stocking unique and personal.

As a piece of advice, don’t try and make this stocking the day before Christmas. It will take some time, but the outcome is worth it. And what could be nicer than spending the pre-Christmas season creating a beautiful stocking for a special person.

When finished, this great stocking is about 18inches long and will look gorgeous hanging on the chimney ready to be filled with exciting surprises.

Go to my Hubpage Felt-Applique-Stocking and see lots more of felt applique stockings you can order from Amazon

Go To Amazon Now And Save Yourself 26%! Bucilla Santa Poinsettia Tree Stocking Kit

Craft Shows 101

2010-11-05T02:22:00.000-07:00

If you think Silk Painting Is Fun, you may end up with more articles than you know what to do with. This is when you should start thinking about crafts shows. To help you, here is some information about craft shows.

Depending upon how far you’re willing to travel, you could probably find a craft show nearly every weekend. Perhaps you’ve thought about selling some of the crafts you enjoy making. Read on to find out more.

Before you decide to do your first craft show it’s important to learn about them. One of the best ways is to attend as many as you can. Pay attention to what types of crafts are being sold and which crafts are selling well by watching what people are carrying. Then take time to chat with several vendors. Most will be willing to talk with you if they aren’t inundated with people at their booth.

You’ll want to do some research into the craft show you’re considering. Find out what type of crafts are typically sold. Are there other vendors who will sell the same thing you make? Will the craft show be indoors or outdoors? These are all questions you’ll want to consider along with the cost, how big an area you will have, and if there is a similar vendor whether they will be set up close to you.

Obviously having a good selection of crafts for people to choose from is important. Plan to take more than you think you will need just in case your crafts sell like gang busters. This will keep you from selling out and sitting at the booth with nothing to show. Of course, depending upon what your craft is, you may also want to keep some items set aside and take special orders for those.

Since you’re considering selling items at a crafts show, it’s a pretty good bet you already have a good number of items to sell. If your craft making does not need special equipment, be sure to take more supplies with you so you can make more during a lull in traffic. This will also ensure you have more of your crafts if they start running low.

How do you know what will sell? That’s a tough question to answer. Make items which you enjoy making and which people show an interest in. Ask friends and family for their honest opinions about your crafts. You can also ask them what would make the items better.

Find craft shows by looking in newspapers or on bulletin boards at local libraries, grocery stores, or recreation centers. Calling the local Chamber of Commerce or craft stores is another option. There are also a number of websites such as festivalnet.com and craftmasternews.com which list crafts fairs and festivals all across the country.

After you’ve made umpteen million (maybe that’s a slight exaggeration) of your craft, you’ll want to price them so they sell but still give you a profit. Consider the cost of your materials, how long it took you to make them, and overheads. This is your wholesale amount. Double this amount to reach your retail cost, which is what you’ll charge. By doubling your wholesale cost, you give yourself a little wiggle room if the show you’re at has several vendors with similar items.

There’s so much to know about setting up at a craft show and this article barely scratches the surface. Your best source of information is other crafters who have made the craft show circuit in your area. Most crafters are eager to share their knowledge and will be able to guide you in your desire to sell your crafts.

Thanksgiving Table Decorations Ideas

2010-11-03T06:37:00.000-07:00

When Thanksgiving rolls around, most people focus on the food on the table. Here's how to make the meal even more special by having a beautifully decorated table even before the food is added.

Thanksgiving was originally a time to celebrate a bountiful harvest. With that idea in mind, you can create thanksgiving table decorations with natural autumn colors. There are so many ways to decorate using natural items – crafts using pinecones, such as pinecone turkey crafts. You can do crafts using fruits, vegetables, leaves and twigs. Here are a few to consider.

Start out with a rich jewel-toned tablecloth. A deep red, golden yellow or orange tablecloth will make a wonderful backdrop for the place settings. Add contrasting colored cloth napkins if you have them. Create napkin rings out of beads and silk leaves. Glue a couple of acorns onto the napkin ring.

If you have enough dishes to do so, stack the main dinner plate on top of a golden charger. This will dress the table up considerably, especially if you use gold-toned decorations elsewhere on the table. If you don’t have other gold-toned items for the table, try to find candlesticks which are gold-toned or small vases to place flowers in.

Beeswax candles of varying heights can be added to the table. You can put the candles on a mirror for added interest. These can be placed at opposite ends of the table so you have enough room for a centerpiece. Spread cranberries or glass marbles on the mirrors to break up the reflection of the candle.

The centerpiece can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. Try to keep the centerpiece on the short side since people will be seated at the table. You want your centerpiece to allow you to have a conversation with the person across from you. Of course, if you love a tall, dramatic centerpiece you can always remove it before the food arrives.

Find large fall leaves and wash them. Then carefully write each person’s name on the leaf with metallic markers. These will be used as place cards. If you’re not sure about using leaves, you can also find small gourds or pears to lean the place cards against. Use raffia to tie the name card to the gourd or pear. Another idea is to find small picture frames and place a picture of each person in the frame. These can then be used in lieu of place cards.

Thanksgiving table decoration ideas don’t have to be elaborate to be beautiful. Think about the things you enjoy most about the fall and incorporate those ideas into your decorations. You’ll be proud of your efforts to supply your family with a beautiful table and delicious food.

Acorn Craft Ideas

2010-10-29T02:15:00.000-07:00

Let’s get a hand count. How many people have oak trees in their yard? Do you also have an abundance of acorns? These acorn craft ideas will give you something to do with all those acorns the squirrels miss when the colder months creep up on them.

Acorns can be used in a number of fall and winter crafts. With Thanksgiving coming up soon, you can use acorns to help decorate your holiday table. You can also create garlands and other items to decorate your home.

1. An ‘Acorny’ Family (You can also have a look at Acorn People - Kid's Thanksgiving Crafts)

Gather up a bunch of acorns from your yard or a nearby park. Try to pick up only the acorns with the tops still on them. You can also purchase wooden acorns from a craft store. If the tops come off while you’re transporting the acorns, use a little bit of craft glue to put the tops back on.

Find enough acorns for each person in your family for this first craft. You’ll also need to have some acrylic paints, paint brushes, a sharp pencil and possibly six or more inches of heavyweight thread.

Paint the bottom half of the acorn using a flesh-tone or light brown paint. While this is drying, paint the top or cap of the acorn your favorite color. You would then do the same thing with enough acorns for your family, making the cap of each acorn that family member’s favorite color.

When the acorn is dry you can paint a face on it using a detail paintbrush or a very sharp pencil dipped in the paint. Add other embellishments such as little bows for a girl’s hair or painted pearls for mom. You could even make acorn animals by gluing on pieces of paper for the ears. These are particularly cute for couples who don’t have children but have ‘fur babies.’

Allow the acorns to dry thoroughly and either set them in a bowl, near family pictures or glue string on them to hang them as ornaments. Another thing you can do is create an acorn person for each person who is attending Thanksgiving dinner. Glue their acorn on a folded piece of business card stock and write their name on the card so everyone knows where to sit.

2. Wreaths

If you have a wreath to place on your front door, tie acorns onto a piece of raffia. Next tie the raffia into a bow and glue that to the wreath. You can also hot glue the acorns in groups of three around the wreath. Then use other fall items like baby’s breath, silk leaves and berries to fill out the wreath.

3. Picture Frames

How many old picture frames do you have which you would like to update? Create autumn frames by gluing acorns onto the picture frame. To dress the picture frames up a little bit, dry brush gold or copper paint on the frame and acorns. Once the picture frame is completely dry, place the picture back into the frame and group them in one area as a photo display.

Acorns are normally in abundance in the fall and it really is a shame to throw them away. In the spirit of trying to recycle and reuse, these crafts will help you do just that. By making one or more of these acorn craft ideas you can use the acorns and decorate your home at the same time.

Edible Thanksgiving Craft Ideas

2010-10-20T06:58:00.000-07:00

For a typical Thanksgiving table you can make use of crafts using pinecones making pine cone turkeys. But, why not have fun this year and make some of your Thanksgiving crafts edible crafts? Here are a few examples of edible Thanksgiving crafts to do with kids.

There are some images which are common to the Thanksgiving holiday such as pilgrim hats, cornucopias and turkeys - to name a few. You can use familiar images as a guide to make edible

Thanksgiving craft ideas your children will love to make and eat. With ingredients found in your home, your children can make these edible crafts and enjoy themselves while staying occupied out of your way.

These edible crafts can serve more of a purpose than simply keeping your children occupied while you’re preparing Thanksgiving dinner. You can also use them to hold place cards for the table, as a treat to share with neighbors or as a means to teach very young children about Thanksgiving. Look over these ideas and see which ones you think your children would enjoy doing.

1. Pilgrim’s Hat

The pilgrim’s hat is an icon of Thanksgiving which can be made with cookies, large marshmallows, jelly beans, melted chocolate and wax paper. Since the chocolate has to be melted, an adult will want to help with this craft.

Put chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30 second intervals, taking them out to stir. If the chips aren’t melted, put the bowl in for another 30 seconds. Once the chocolate is melted your child can carefully dip the tops of the cookies in the melted chocolate and place them on wax paper.

Dip the marshmallows into the chocolate and place them on top of the cookies. Then add a jelly bean to the newly made pilgrim hat to indicate a buckle. Once the chocolate has hardened, the hats can be moved to a serving plate and stored in the refrigerator to keep the children from eating all of them.

2. Thanksgiving Cupcakes

Cupcakes are a universal treat because they can be adorned in so many ways. No matter what the holiday, you’re sure to come up with some way to decorate them. Thanksgiving is no different. If you can find candy or small toys which have a Thanksgiving theme, the work is half done for them.

Help your children make cupcakes following the instructions given. Once the cupcakes are cooled, your children can then ice them with plenty of frosting. Push the candy or toy into the frosting and you’re done!

3. Cornucopia

The cornucopia is another traditional Thanksgiving symbol. Using sugar ice cream cones, frosting and fruit-shaped fruit snacks you’ll quickly have an edible cornucopia.

Place a small amount of frosting inside the ice cream cone. Then fill the cone with fruit snacks. Lay the cone down on a small paper plate and let the fruit snacks spill out of this edible ‘horn of plenty.’

If these edible Thanksgiving craft ideas aren’t to your liking, you can find many more in books at the library or on the internet. Look up ‘edible Thanksgiving crafts’ and you’ll find more ideas to choose from.

Of course, no matter what edible craft you choose to do, make sure you compliment your children on a job well done and enjoy at least one of the treats with them. Making edible Thanksgiving crafts may become a favorite holiday tradition.

If the kids get tired of making these you can go back to the trusted crafts using pine cones and make pine cone turkeys as a centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table.

Macramé 101 - Macramé Beaded Jewelry

2010-10-12T05:19:00.000-07:00

Although the craft is believed to have originated in the 13th century by Arab weavers, macramé was a popular craft in the 1960s and 1970s. It has recently begun making a comeback in macramé beaded jewelry. This form of macramé is called micro-macramé. However, you can also make wall hangings and other useful items with this art form.

Macramé is basically tying knots to create a decorative fringe on shawls, veils, bath towels or other hand-loomed fabrics. If you were alive during the craft’s heyday in the United States, you may have also seen owl wall hangings or macramé plant hangers as well as traditional fringes. Macramé belts were also popular.

The most common materials used for macramé are strands of cotton, hemp, leather or yarn. Depending upon what is being made you may also find macramé items with beads of varying sizes and styles. Beads are particularly popular when making jewelry. Items which have special meaning may also be added to macramé jewelry to give it added significance.

Macramé is made by tying a variety of knots. The main knots used are the square knot and either a full hitch or double half hitch knot. Macramé also uses granny, Josephine, lark’s head and overhand knots. Today these same knots are used to create macramé pieces; however, the size and complexity of the craft has changed in the past decades.

If you’ve never tried macramé before, you can easily find books and instructions at craft stores and online. Some books will provide better direction, often with step-by-step photographs for the more elaborate. The supplies are easy to obtain and aren’t terribly expensive unless you’re going to use Swarovski crystals. Most beads, even the better quality glass ones, can be purchased for less than $7.

When just beginning this craft it is a good idea to purchase a macramé jewelry kit which can be purchased at any craft store. The kit will include all of the cord you need to complete the project, as well as any beads which may be necessary. They will also provide detailed instructions on how to finish the project.

Expect to spend a good amount of time creating your macramé pieces as the process of tying the knots is time-consuming. Other factors which may determine how long a piece takes are the size of cord you use and the number of beads added. Of course, more elaborate patterns will take more time as well.

Once you have become familiar with the different knots you may want to try to design your own macramé pieces. Look through books, magazines and the internet to help you see the breadth of options available to you. It is amazing how a macramé has changed over the centuries.

Paper Folding Your Children Will Love - Origami

2010-10-05T01:20:00.000-07:00

Paper folding or Origami is as suitable for kids as Mosaic Crafts For Beginners are. It is easy, can be completed in a small amount of time and will give them a lot of satisfaction.

Making something is an activity most kids love. They are especially charmed by creating fun things out of ordinary paper. This is where Origami comes in. It does not have to be complicated and they can attempt easy projects that will give them great satisfaction and can be completed in a short period of time.

Origami is not only fun and satisfying, but it also helps foster co-ordination and dexterity. Look for designs and projects that fit your child's age, and get ready for a project everyone will enjoy.

Did you know that you can download printable designs from the internet? (Type "free printable origami patterns" into your web browser.) There are even online tutorials with helpful pictures and videos. Also, your library will have lots of books on origami. To help you get started, here are some tips for folding neat, attractive origami creations.

1. Read first. It may be tempting to start right in on the folding, reading as you go, but take the time to read through the directions and the design before beginning.

2. Use the right kind of paper. While you don't need to use formal origami paper, make sure you use a paper that will work for your child's age and co-ordination level, and that fits your design. For example, thinner paper such as magazine paper works for smaller designs, but you will need something sturdier for larger, simpler projects for younger children. Origami paper is almost always square.

3. Start with projects that have ten steps or less. That prevents you feeling overwhelmed.

4. Make sure you are folding on a hard surface such as a smooth tabletop or floor. This will help keep the paper from creasing in unwanted areas and will help you to make clean folds.

For a simple beginning project, here are the basic instructions for a simple origami cat.

Materials:

1 sheet of square paper, at least 6 inches by 6 inches, in whatever color you like
Markers
Glue
Plastic "googly" eyes

Direction:

1. Fold the square paper in half diagonally to make a triangle. Make a smooth crease.

2. Fold the paper in half again, once more diagonally. Make the fold smooth. Then open this fold up again.

3. Fold the top tip of the triangle down so that it comes down about 1/4 of the way. The flat top you create with the smooth crease will be the top of the cat's head.

4. Fold the bottom right corner straight up - the point will go slightly beyond the top of the cat's head to make the ear.

5. Repeat with the bottom left corner.

6. Flip the whole thing over, and you have a simple cat's face to which you can add whiskers and eyes.

Making A Bird House With Twigs

2010-09-28T02:07:00.000-07:00

Kids usually love wild animals. As parents we know it is not good for them to touch them even though they want to do it. What we can do is encourage them to love birds and how to keep them coming back to your garden, even in winter. You can do winter crafts for kids such as making a pine cone bird feeder or this birdhouse with twigs. Let them hang it near a window so they can watch, and you may have a budding ornithologist on your hands.

Birdhouses can be made from a variety of items. Milk jugs, boxes, and soda bottles are common crafts items for children to try. Here’s what your child will need if they want to make one from twigs they find lying around the yard.

Supplies:

Clean, empty 1/2 gallon milk carton
Paint in natural colors like brown or grey
Twigs from around the yard, broken in to various sizes
Tacky glue or a low-temp glue gun if an adult will be helping
Safety scissors, depending upon the age of the child
Ruler
Pencil
Fishing line to hang the finished birdhouse

Method:

Measure 3 inches up from the bottom of the clean milk carton and make a dark mark. Continue measuring and marking 3 inches from the bottom on the remaining sides. Using the marks as a guide, have them cut the carton into two pieces. Be sure to save both parts; they’ll need them.

Starting with the top piece, your child can cut a 2 inch circle in one side of the carton. Then moving to the bottom part, have them cut 2 inches from the height. Place glue on all the outer sides of the smaller carton and push the larger one into the bottom. This will make the carton smaller than it was.

Glue the spout closed and then paint the milk carton one of the darker natural colors. Allow the milk carton to dry completely.

If your child hasn’t already done so, have them find a lot of thin, straight twigs or sticks. Thinner twigs will allow your child to break them with their hands rather than having to be sawn. Then have them break the twigs into different lengths to fit the sides and top of the birdhouse.

An adult will want to poke a hole in the middle of the top ridge of the carton. Let your child thread string or heavy duty fishing line through the hole and tie a knot in it. This will be how to hang the birdhouse.

Using tacky glue, have your child cover the sides of the milk carton with twigs, but leave the hole they made open. They may also want to push a twig under the hole so the birds have a perch to land on before they enter their new birdhouse. Glue it well.

Finally, they’ll want to cover the top of the milk carton by gluing sticks on it. They may want to leave a little of the twig hanging over the sides. When the birdhouse is completely finished and has had ample time to dry, help them find the best place to hang it.

Give your child the joy of watching nature by helping them learn how to make a birdhouse with twigs. Having a birdhouse near a window allows them to learn about nature from the safety of your home. It’s a win-win situation for both your child and the birds.

Tips And Ideas For The Beginner Knitter And Kids

2010-09-21T01:48:00.000-07:00

Learning to knit is a good idea. Knitting is not only for grannies any more and you will find kids knitting more and more. For a good resource to get the kids knitting having a look at Kids Knitting: Projects for Kids of all Ages is a very good idea.

Knitting is a pastime which has been enjoyed for hundreds of years, and with good reason. Knitting not only allows you to make some wonderful garments and household decorative items, but it also allows you to create while you relax.

Knitting gives you an amazing sense of accomplishment when you are finished with a project. Whether you are making a sweater or a scarf, you will be proud to show off your work when you have finished it.

Being new to knitting, there are a few things you need to keep in mind so that you will have the most success possible. They are:

1. Knitting Needles

Knitting needles are not all created equal. By far, the easiest needles to knit with are made from wood. Wooden knitting needles allow you to knit much easier because your yarn will stay in place on them. When you use plastic or metal knitting needles you will soon find that your yarns wants to slide off the needles if you are not careful in handling them. When you are new to knitting it really is best to stick to wooden needles.

If you cannot find wooden knitting needles in your area, you can take a dowel of wood and cut it to be about a foot long, sharpen the end with a pencil sharpener to a blunt point, and then rub it with a little candle wax. This makes a great pair of inexpensive and custom knitting needles.

When you are a beginner at knitting you should create your first project with large needles for a couple different reasons.

The first reason is that the large needles are easier to work with and allow you to see your mistakes much easier. If you drop a stitch you will immediately know it and can rip out and start again fairly easily.
The second reason is that large knitting needles make you complete your projects much quicke. You can very easily finish a scarf on large knitting needles in only a couple days. This sense of accomplishment is great for newbies.

2. Yarns and Fibers

When you are new to knitting you will want to start out with natural fibers such as cotton or wool. The reason you want to stick to the natural fibers is because they will not slide off of your knitting needles quite as easily as synthetic fibers will. While all those fancy yarns look inviting, they can be a challenge to work with if you are new to knitting. It is best to start off simple and move your way up.

When you purchase yarn or fibers for your projects make sure you take the time to get all of it from one dye lot. The packages of yarn will be marked with a number and you want to make sure they all match. This ensures that all of your yarn is an exact match to each other. You also have to make sure that the thickness of the yarn is the correct thickness for the needles you have.

3. Knit With Others

Being new to knitting offers some challenges. One of these is trying to learn to knit well from a book or off of the Internet or television. Knitting is one of those things which appears to be much harder than it really is. If you have a friend or relative who knits, ask them to show you how. If you do not know anyone who knits, then you might want to take a class at your local community college, or join a local knitting group. While you can learn to knit on your own, and many people have, it is a lot easier to learn when there are people around you who can show you what to do.

Fortunately with a resource, such as Kids Knitting: Projects for Kids of all Ages, you WILL be able to do it on your own. This book has lovely pictures and it explains all the detail you need to complete a simple project successfully

Stone by Stone Mosaic Art Kits

2010-09-14T04:09:00.000-07:00

Mosaics are beautiful pieces of art – they not only look great as a decoration in any home, but they are also lots of fun to make.

The Stone by Stone Mosaic Art Kits include everything you need to create your own piece of mosaic artwork. The kits can be bought as a single piece of craft, but are also available as multi-packs. These packs are great for birthday parties or groups of children, such as Sunday school groups.

Available are the Mosaic Clock Kit Class Pack which includes enough mosaic stones and materials to make 12 unique clocks. The other option is the Mosaic House Number Kit Pack, the Mosaic Mirror Kit Pack and the Mosaic Sundial Kit Pack. All kits include easy-to-follow instructions and all the necessary tools.These kt packs are a very good option as mosaic crafts for beginners.

I like the look of mosaics and can really recommend these kits. They are fun to make and beautiful to look at. I am sure that they will be very much appreciated either as a gift or as a birthday craft activity.

How to Create a Vacation Scrapbook

2010-09-06T07:37:00.000-07:00

Scrapbooking is fun and if you are looking for some beginner scrapbooking tips and ideas you can have a look at Beginner Scrapbooking and Greeting Card Basics. I'm sure though, with this article you will have no difficulty in making your vacation Scrapbook.

When you go on vacation you probably take you take pictures to help you remember the time spent with family and the locations you visited. Perhaps you’d like to know how to create a vacation scrapbook to keep your photographs organized.

A scrapbook will also provide a place to record memories and funny things which were said during your trip.

Vacation scrapbooks are similar to general scrapbooks except the subject matter is limited to your vacation. Use the scrapbook to store memorabilia gathered on your trip.

Here are some things you may want to have on hand when creating your vacation scrapbook:

Scrapbook
Acid-free scrapbook pages
Photographs
Photo corners
Tacky glue
Stickers
Maps or other memorabilia
Acid-free ink pens

Most people use digital cameras and have the capability to print their own photos. You can also take digital photos to be developed at a variety of stores. At any rate, you’ll need pictures to put in the scrapbook.

Besides photos you’ll need paper to place the pictures. There are so many printed papers to choose from along with stickers with a vacation theme. Purchase the paper and stickers you’ll use so they will be available when you need it.

Choose the photos you’ll use on the various pages of the scrapbook. Pages can be planned based on day of the trip, locations, or any number of other reasons. When you have your pictures picked out, and you don’t have to use all of them, you’ll have a better idea which stickers and printed papers you’ll use.

Rather than filling the pages entirely with photographs, be sure to leave space on the page for memorabilia from your trip. Maybe you picked up some postcards along your trip. They would be a great addition to your pages. Other memorabilia to consider putting in your scrapbook are matchbook covers, souvenirs, maps or receipts.

You’ll also want to leave space for journaling as well. Describe the places you visited, anything memorable that happened along the way, and the names of the people in the photographs. Adding the date to the journal area will help you remember even more.

Try to get the rest of the family help you create your vacation scrapbook. Write down some of the things they remember from the trip. You may even want to have each person write part of the narrative in the scrapbook.

Now you know how to create a vacation scrapbook, you can use the ideas above to stimulate your creativity. Make each page unique, but use similar elements so the overall vacation theme is consistent throughout. Then when you and your family look back through the vacation scrapbook you can remember the time with happiness.

If you still fell you need a few more pointers, go to: Beginner Scrapbooking and Greeting Card Basics

Can You Use One Of The KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers For Crafts?

2010-06-28T02:40:00.000-07:00

Now you really think I have lost it. How can one of the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers possibly be uses in doing crafts with the kids? I do not blame you, but surprisingly it is possible.

To be hones with you this though only entered my mind this Friday as my granddaughter visited us. She wanted to do some baking and as luck would have it I had a packed for vanilla muffins in the house.

For this pre-mix you need to measure some oil and water and mix it with two eggs before adding it to the muffin mix. Then you had to mix it for 2 minutes on medium with an electric mixer and, of course, this is where on e of the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers comes in. It is and ideal mixer to use for this purpose.

Now what does this have to do with crafts you ask me? Well there are quite a bit of stuff your kids can do helping you to bake these muffins.

First of all my grade one granddaughter was able to measure all the ingredients. Then she was able to mix it, add it to the muffin mix, switch on the mixer and time the two minutes.

Then once the dough was ready, she was able to spoon the dough into the muffin tines that she has already prepared with cooking spray. So, as you can see there was quite a lot she could do during this baking session and that is why baking should never be ignored as a craft for our kids.

An Easy Seashell Candle To Make As An Easy Craft

2010-06-21T02:16:00.000-07:00

With the summer coming we are going to be gather seashells on the beach again. What to do with them later on? that is the question. Of course you can make mosaic crafts for beginners with them, but making a seashell candle with them is also a fun and easy way to use those candles.

Seashells are a favorite souvenir of beachgoers. And if you’re willing to look for them along the oceanside, they don’t cost a penny. These beautiful products of nature make great souvenirs and gifts on their own, and they can also be used in all sorts of craft projects.

Have you ever seen those candles that are adorned with seashells? They can be quite expensive in stores. But you can easily make your own seashell candle at a fraction of the cost. These go well with virtually any décor, and they can also serve as decorations at beach-themed parties and weddings.

Supplies

Cheap white pillar candle
Hot glue gun
Small seashells
Water
Bleach
Bucket
Old toothbrush

Instructions

1. Make a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water in a small bucket. Place the shells in the bucket and scrub them with a toothbrush to remove debris. Rinse thoroughly.

2. Place the candle on a pillar candle holder or some other surface that will not be harmed by melted wax.

3. Plug in the hot glue gun and allow time for it to heat up. Do not place a glue stick in it. Hold it over a piece of newspaper and squeeze the trigger so that any excess glue comes out.

4. Find a spot on the candle where you want to place a seashell. Place the tip of the glue gun on that spot and squeeze the trigger so that the wax melts. Move it around to melt a spot large enough to hold the shell.

5. Press the shell into the melted wax. Hold until the wax hardens enough to keep the shell in place.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you have placed as many seashells as you like on the candle.

If you prefer to have your seashells inside of the candle, you’ll have to pour your own instead of using a store-bought one. The easiest way to do this is to make a jar candle. Here’s how.

Supplies

Pint jar
Candle wick
Paraffin or soy candle wax
Seashells
Double boiler

Instructions

1. In a double boiler, cut the candle wax into small pieces. Heat slowly until all wax is melted.

2. Dip the candle wick into the melted wax. Let harden, and repeat several times to give it an even coating.

3. Pour a small amount of wax into the bottom of the jar. Place the candle wick into the jar, making sure it’s centered.

4. While holding the wick straight up, place some shells into the jar. Pull the wick firmly, yet not so hard that it pulls loose from the bottom of the jar. Try to keep the shells away from the center, and don’t add too many at a time.

5. Pour wax up to the top of the shells. Add more shells and repeat until the jar is filled. Let wax harden.

Decorations Ideas For Bikes For Fourth Of July

2010-06-18T06:27:00.000-07:00

Your children have likely seen the Christmas parade and commented that they’d like to participate. Maybe you don’t want to have your children riding their bikes for the entire length of a parade in the cold.

Besides that, your children may not really want to be a part of a long, drawn out, cold parade, but still want a chance to show off their bicycles, especially if you nine year old boy has a Mongoose Montana Boy's Mountain Bike 24 Inch Wheels!

Plan a mini-parade for the neighborhood children and they can use some of these Fourth of July bike decorations ideas to make their bikes stand out.

Perhaps your child already has a bike in one of the patriotic colors – red, white or blue. If that’s the case, they can wrap streamers of the other colors around their bike to make it more patriotic. This can be done whether your child rides a tricycle or a bicycle.

Here’s what they’ll need to decorate their bikes no matter what color it is:

Red crepe paper roll
White crepe paper roll
Blue crepe paper roll
Scissors to cut the crepe paper to the right length
Tape to adhere it

What to do:

Beginning at the front of your child’s Mongoose Montana Boy's Mountain Bike 24 Inch Wheels, or the bike your kids has, wrap one color of crepe paper around the frame. Be sure to cover the frame completely and tape it at both ends to secure it to the bike.
Next, take a second color and wrap it around the frame but leave enough space so the first color shows and will allow for a third color.
Then, wrap the third color of crepe paper around the frame so you can see the red, white and blue pattern on the frame.

Another idea, streamers:

You can also take three foot pieces of the different colored crepe paper to make streamers.
Gather one of each color to make a patriotic streamer and adhere it with tape to the handle bars.
You may also want to place one on the back of the seat.

One without streamers:

Maybe your child doesn’t like streamers. If they have a basket on their bike they could place red, white and blue Christmas ribbons on their basket. Christmas ribbons are usually more metallic looking, so they will show off your child’s distinct style.

Hang a small flag on the back of your child’s seat, or criss-cross two flags and secure them across the front of the handle bars. They could also weave red, white and blue streamers through the spokes on their tires.

Your child may have other Fourth of July bike decorations ideas that aren’t listed here. Listen to them and then help them create the decorated bike they’ve been thinking of. Then step out of their way and let them show off their handiwork and their bike.

Easy Crafts For Kids - Creative Paper Mache Projects

2010-06-04T02:41:00.000-07:00

Kids love paper mache, but for some reason paper mache is a craft that goes in and out of vogue, despite the fact it is one of the easiest and most versatile crafts. Using paper mache you can make nearly anything. It is really easy to do Easy Kids Crafts, Paper Mache crafts.

Do you need a piñata for a birthday party but don’t want to spend a lot of money? Make one with paper mache.

There is no right or wrong way to do paper mache. One recipe for the glue isn’t any better than the others, so you’ll want to find one you’re comfortable with and stick with it. Here are two of the simpler recipes to try.

No cook glue is simply made with flour and water. The ratio is one part flour to two parts water. If you don’t like the smell, add a drop or two of an essential oil. Adding a tablespoon or two of salt to the mixture will help prevent mold. Unused glue can be covered and placed in the refrigerator for a few days.

Cooked glue is a little harder to make but produces smoother consistency glue. The ratio of flour to water is different: one part flour to five parts water. Mix together on part flour with one part warm water, beating until all the lumps are gone. Then bring four cups of water to boil in a pot.

When the water begins boiling, slowly add the flour and water mixture and mix well. Allow it to boil for 2-3 minutes. This will also keep in the refrigerator for a few days.

To create a paper mache piñata, start with a large balloon. Blow it up the size you want and then tape crumpled paper to the balloon to create the shape you want. Dip strips of newspaper into the glue and squeegee off the excess. Lay the glued strips over the form until it is completely covered.

When the piñata is completely dry, cut a hole large enough to remove the balloon and add candy. You’ll also want to carefully put a hanger of some type on it which will allow it to be hung. Paint the piñata, fill it, and then hang it up. Then watch the kids at the party destroy your hard work.

Knowing how to do paper mache is also good for creating science projects such as a working volcano. Create a form using chicken wire wrapped around a soda bottle which has been placed on a wooden base. Use paper mache to cover the volcano and allow it to dry completely.

Paint it, add rocks or sticks to represent boulders and trees, and then place baking soda into the bottle. Mix red food coloring with vinegar and then when it’s time for the volcano to erupt pour the vinegar into the baking soda.

There’s no end to the things you can create with paper mache. Do you need props for a play? Make them with paper mache. Do you want decorations for your home?

Some of them can be made with paper mache. Look through your public library or on the internet to get more ideas of what is possible with a little paper, flour, water, and paint.

Toddler Craft – How to Make a 4th of July Firework Picture

2010-06-02T02:02:00.000-07:00

Kid's Fourth Of July Crafts are always a hit with the little ones. Of course as they get older you may want to move on to something such as Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter where a kid can do a variety of crafts to decide on a favorite craft.

Toddlers love to be a part of everything you do. However, you know that during the Fourth of July, that’s not always a good idea. This is particularly the case when fireworks are being used. Here’s how to make a Fourth of July firework picture your toddler will enjoy instead.

There are a couple of ways to create a picture of Fourth of July fireworks. Your toddler can use paint or glue and glitter. Why not let them try each way and let them decide which they like the most?

Your toddler will need the following items for this craft:
Construction paper – black or dark blue would be best
Water-based paints – use colors which are common for fireworks such as red, white, blue, purple, green, gold, or yellow
Straws – one for each color paint
Glue – school glue which can be thinned with water if necessary
Glitter – silver, gold, red, blue, white, and green are good choices

Begin by placing newspaper on the work station to help contain the mess which will soon ensue. Put a piece of construction paper on the table followed by a drop or two of paint. Put the paint in the area which will be the sky.

Have the child blow through the straw to make a circle with the paint. Before the paint is blown too thin, have them pull the end of the straw through the paint to make the fireworks falling to the ground. It might be a good idea to have pictures of actual fireworks available so your toddler can remember what they look like.

Put another color on the paper and follow the same steps. When they’re happy with the look of their fireworks, let the paint dry thoroughly. Ask them to color the ground or glue some green construction paper on the bottom for grass. They could also add a tree or star stickers to make their picture their own.

To make a fireworks picture with glitter, water down the school glue a little bit so it can be blown similar to the paint. Put some thinned glue on the paper and have your toddler blow the fireworks like they did before. When they’re happy with the way the first one looks, let them choose a color of glitter and sprinkle it on the glue. Shake off the excess and let it dry.

If they want other color fireworks, they can repeat the above process with another color of glitter. Let them overlap their colors and have fun. When the pictures are completely dry, date the picture and write your child’s name on it. Don’t forget to display them in a prominent place in your home.

Once your toddler learns how to make a Fourth of July fireworks picture in either of these ways, they’ll be able to enjoy fireworks at any time of the year. If fireworks safety is important to you, this is one sure-fire way to enjoy them without being worried about your toddler’s safety.

Rainy Day Craft Ideas for Toddlers This Summer

2010-05-31T01:28:00.000-07:00

There’s no doubt about it - toddlers can be a bundle of energy. And if you add rain to the mix, they may drive a poor mom, dad or babysitter crazy. Try out some of these fun rainy day craft ideas for toddlers. These crafts may help keep your toddler happy and you sane.

On a more sunny summer's day you can try out a fun Kids Summer Crafts – Caterpillar - Butterfly House that any kid will enjoy.

Of course, it helps if you have a box of craft items you can use with your toddler. Glue, glitter, feathers, construction paper, yarn, pony beads, finger paints, google eyes, pieces of felt, unmatched socks, old magazines and safety scissors are a few of the items you may want to have on hand. If you have things available, a rainy day won’t catch you by surprise.

Start an alphabet collage with your toddler. Go through old magazines and have them cut out letters from the titles of articles. These will generally be much larger and will be easier for your toddler to cut out. Glue the same letter on a sheet of paper, and then go back through the magazine looking for pictures of items starting with that letter. For instance, A – apple, alligator, adding machine, etc. You’ll end up with 26 pages, one for each letter, as well as a front cover and back cover. Your toddler will begin to learn their letters and the sounds the letters make.

Another way to teach them while they have fun is to let them use finger paint. Give them several sheets of paper and finger paint, and let them loose. However, you may want to teach them to “write” their name with finger paint or show them different shapes. Of course, they may have so much fun feeling the squishy paint between their fingers they may not want to stop once the sun comes back out.

Make a sock puppet with a couple of the unmatched socks you have lying around. Your toddler can glue pieces of yarn on top for hair, glue google eyes on if you have them, and cut out shapes for the mouth. Be sure to let the puppet dry completely before your toddler begins playing with it or the pieces may come apart and end up where they don’t belong. You can do a similar craft using paper bags.

It’s quite possible your toddler has started a collection of rocks; many toddlers do. If they have some larger smooth rocks, they could make paperweights out of them. Let them paint and decorate the rock however they’d like. When it’s dry, they can give it as a gift or keep it for themselves.

These are just a few fun rainy day craft ideas for toddlers you may want to try. The internet is also a great resource for more fun ideas you can use on rainy days, as well as your local public library. Your greatest resource, however, is your toddler's own creativity and having someone to share that creativity with.

Beginners Crafts To Boredom-Busting Craft Activities for Your Pre-Schooler

2010-05-28T02:19:00.000-07:00

A bored pre-schooler is definitely something we want to prevent! So engage your child and get started on some fun craft projects. A very good option is Mosaic Crafts For Beginners, making use of seeds so it is not too heavy on the pocket!

Of course there are many other excellent ideas as well and here are some ideas:

Paper Plate Flowers

Bring some springtime inside with this fun project. This is also a good way to recycle old paper towel or toilet paper tubes.

Materials:

A variety of paper plates of any size or color
Brown, yellow and green construction paper
Glue
Cardboard tubes such as paper towel, wrapping paper, or toilet paper. Varying heights make a nice effect.
Paints (if using white paper plates)

Directions:

1. Wrap the cardboard tubes in green construction paper. Glue the seam.

2. If you are using white paper plates, paint them in bright colors. Encourage your pre-schooler to paint from the center outward, like petals.

3. Cut circles from the brown and yellow construction paper in various sizes (these will be the flower centers).

4. Glue the circles onto the center of the colored or painted plates.

5. Glue the backs of the plates to the tops of the green cardboard tubes.

6. Cut out and glue green leaves to the flower "stems" if you like.

7. Set the flowers up on a sheet of green construction paper that represents grass, and make a flower field.

With a little modification, you could make a forest of trees using the same technique. Your pre-schooler can use the woods or flower field as a scenic backdrop for imaginative play.

Tissue Box Car

One of the keys to making boredom-busting crafts is to create things your kids can play with after they're made. A tissue box car is not only fun to make, it's fun to play with!

Materials:

Tissue box
One sharp pencil
Two drinking straws
Four plastic tops, such as those from 2-litres, milk jugs, etc.
Paints, construction paper, puffy paint, etc.
Hot glue

Directions:

1. Carefully remove the plastic from the tissue box opening.

2. Using the sharp pencil, the adult can punch four holes in the base of the box. These will be where the wheels go, so try to make the holes evenly spaced.

3. Poke one straw through each pair of holes, pushing it through until it comes out the other sid

Easy Mother’s Day Projects for Toddlers

2010-04-30T02:35:00.000-07:00

While a toddler can't make his or her mom breakfast in bed, there are still lots of neat projects you can do with a toddler to show how much you appreciate Mom. Here are some ideas for easy mother's day projects for toddlers.

Mother's Day Crafts - Egg Carton Tulips

Materials:

Cardboard egg carton
Scissors
Paint
Green pipe cleaners

Directions:

1. Use scissors to cut the segments out of the egg carton. You should now have separate cup shapes.

2. Cut the edges of the cups into tulip-like shapes.

3. Use scissors or a pencil to punch a hole in the bottom of each cardboard tulip blossom.

4. Poke a pipe cleaner up through the hole and bend it to keep the tulip bloom from slipping off.

5. Paint the tulips in all sorts of bright colors.

Framed Hand Prints

Mothers love their children's hand prints, and anything made from them. Here is an idea for a framed piece of Mother's Day artwork that will make Mom smile.

Materials:

Store-bought picture frame, any size - but think big for toddlers to have room to work
White art paper or poster board
Finger paints
Green marker
Construction paper
Glue

Directions:

1. Cut the white paper to fit inside the frame.

2. Cut out a basic vase or bowl shape from any color construction paper.

3. Glue the vase shape onto the bottom half of the white paper.

4. Let the toddler(s) make hand prints using the finger paint. Try to make sure the hand prints are generally above the vase shape, on the top half of the paper. Use several colors.

5. After the hand prints have dried, use the green marker to draw stems from each hand print to the construction paper vase. Try to make it appear as if the flowers are in the vase.

6. Place the piece into the frame.

Decorative "Stone"

Materials:

Modeling clay that will become hard and permanent upon drying, either air-dry or the sort that will dry in a home oven
Craft paints or acrylic paints
Permanent marker

Directions:

1. Take a large lump of clay and form it into a rough, stone-like shape.

2. Have the toddler press his or her hands into the clay to make two hand prints.

3. Dry the clay.

4. When the clay is hard, let your toddler paint the decorative stone in colors he or she likes.

5. On the bottom of the stone, write the date and the occasion with the permanent marker.

Do I Need Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium?

2010-04-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

It is normal for the Beginner to ask the question: " Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium?" Well, acrylic is a well loved medium and if you are a beginner artists or and accomplished artist this book will help you.

Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium does not only give you the basics, it also helps you with new techniques to get do much more from your acrylic paint.

This book will help everyone and is a must have resource in the library of every artist. Even so, even the beginner will find the basics needed to work with acrylics in it.

Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium teaches you how to prepare and paint on virtually any surface. This is where it will even help all beginner artists and beginner crafters.

What is also very helpful in this book is that it has a gallery of finished works by fellow painting revolutionaries that blend various acrylic techniques to create amazing effects. This is where Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium will inspire you and help you to think in new and innovate ways to produce better art.

So, I think if you love to paint with acrylics, having a look at Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium is a very good idea.

Make a Star Studded Door Hanger For Independence Day

2010-04-23T01:04:00.000-07:00

It is always fun to go all out with Independence Day decorations. There are so many fun crafts you can do so, why shouldn’t it be a day to go crazy with your decorations? So, looking at Kid's Fourth Of July Crafts is one way to start.

Decking your home out in red, white and blue is lots of fun, and it’s a great way to show your patriotism. This simple yet lovely door hanger is a great project to start with, and it’s so simple that even young children can participate.

Supplies

2 small paper plates
Star-shaped sponge or foam stamp
Acrylic paint in red or blue
Red, blue and gold glitter glue
Shiny red and blue garland
Craft glue
White yarn
Scissors

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of yarn approximately a foot long.

2. Cut garland into several pieces, each about 16 inches in length. Five to eight pieces should suffice.

3. Put a thin layer of glue just inside the edge of the top side of one of the paper plates, going all the way around. Place the other plate on top face down, and press the edges together.

4. Place one end of the yarn between the two plates. Place the other end between the plates an inch or two away from the first end to create a hanger.

5. Directly opposite from the middle of the yarn hanger, place the end of each piece of garland between the plates. Press the edges together all the way around to reinforce, and let dry completely.

6. Put a small amount of the acrylic paint in another paper plate or on a piece of newspaper. Dip the star stamp into the paint, and then press the stamp gently into the center of the plate. Remove carefully to avoid smudging.

7. Trace around the star with a contrasting color of glitter glue. Use another color to create a border around the hanger. You could make a solid line or do a zigzag or curlicue pattern. Or, if you prefer, make a border in red and another border inside of it in blue.

8. Use the glitter glue or paint to add a message to your door hanger. “Welcome” and “Happy Independence Day” are two phrases you could use.

9. If desired, wrap the garland tightly around a pencil in a spiral, then let go to make it curl. Let paint and glitter glue dry completely before hanging.

This simple yet festive door hanger is a great way to welcome guests and celebrate the Fourth of July. It also makes a great family project. Each of the kids could make one for his or her bedroom door. And if you don’t have paint, glitter glue and garland on hand, markers and crepe paper can be used instead.

Crafts Galore! The Ultimate Guide for Girlfriends

2010-04-21T05:11:00.000-07:00

Crafts Galore! The Ultimate Guide for Girlfriends is a great resource for all girls to get together and get crafting. It has a wealth of different project ideas that are easy and fun to make together. The finished pieces of craft can easily be used as presents, at parties or even sold at a church or school fundraiser.

The book comes with supply lists, which cover materials needed, costs involved and timeframes. This detailed information makes it easy to plan ahead. The book benefits from detailed instructional pages. All projects have been tried and tested.

The individual craft projects are divided into different sections, such as: Food Crafts, Service Projects, Gifts, Seasonal Crafts and Crafts with Devotion. They include projects such as:

* Ribbon Cards
* Giggle Jars
* Creative Clipboard
* Door Delights
* Mini Journal
* Mailable Photo Frame
* Patriotic Pillows
* Spring Flowerpots
* Bead Bracelets
* Soup Mixes
* Chocolate Dipped Spoons
* Sweet Psalms Box of Chocolates
* Memorial Candle
* And others

For more information on this fantastic book, go to Amazon and have a look at Crafts Galore! The Ultimate Guide for Girlfriends

Have a look at what some are saying about: Crafts Galore! The Ultimate Guide for Girlfriends

This is what Disciple Forever has to say:

I am always looking for fresh ideas to create simple, yet meaningful gifts of quality. You do not need to be Martha Stewart (or Donald Trump!)to make these creative items. This would also be a really fun resource to use when a group of girlfriends get together and are looking for a great activity to do together...a great addition to any Bible study or Book Club!

And this is what Susan H. Lawrence is saying:

Remember the days of doing a craft just for the sake of doing a craft? This book is full of ideas for fun crafts you will actually USE! Some are designed to be used for service projects, some can be given to friends, and some you can even eat. You can use some for fundraisers, retreats, gift-making and parties. Or, maybe you just want to get a bunch of girlfriends together on a regular basis...and you know we get so much more done when we are sitting around a table of girlfriends!

With easy supplies lists (separated for what you'll need per woman and what you'll need for women to share), time to allow, and cost symbols (the least expensive symbolized by one dollar sign and also two $$ and three $$$), Crafts Galore! makes it easy to plan crafts. Many of the instructional pages can be reproduced, so you can make copies for each table instead of read through instructions for everyone. And...all the crafts have been field tested, so you aren't the guinea pig. I've already made the Creative Clipboard, Journal in a Jar, Comfort Pillow and Chocolate-Dipped Spoons, and all were simple AND useful!

This is what Tracey Guilliams says:

No matter what your budget is...small or big...there is a craft in here for you and your friends to do. This book can be used easily for a women's group to make gifts for themselves or others. My personal favorite is the Door Delights! Make several of these easy to do Door Deligts and give them to shut ins, nursing home patients or your best gal pal!

You won't be disappointed with the easy to follow directions and pictures.

Go To Amazon Now! Get Crafts Galore! The Ultimate Guide for Girlfriends

Let Freedom Ring, A Patriotic Pattern Pack

2010-04-16T02:10:00.000-07:00

Where to buy: www.currclick.com

Go To Fun Kids Crafts For More Kid's Fourth Of July Crafts

“Let Freedom Ring” is a fantastic patriotic pattern e-book full of patriotic craft projects which include quilting, sewing, stitching and appliqué. The patterns are a great way to celebrate America’s patriotic holidays and are perfect for Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th etc.

Whether you’re making a picnic blanket, table cloth or potholders, you will find lots of attractive ideas and designs. The projects are easily completed by sewing beginners. The patriotic pack includes all the detailed techniques, patterns, information and illustration needed to finish each project successfully.

The projects are divided into ‘inside’ patriotic and ‘outside’ patriotic. Samples for an outside patriotic project are:

* Picnic tote bag
* Beverage Carriers
* Picnic Blanket
* BBQ mitt
* BBQ apron
* Warm day cool wrap

Samples for the inside patriotic projects include:

* Potholder
* Microwave potholder
* Table runner
* Decorated placemats
* Coasters
* Kitchen towels
* Quilted throw
* And more

The various techniques used for the projects include:

* Heat’n bond appliqué
* Clipping curves & points
* Hand stitching
* Hand embroidery
* Topstitch
* Applying bias tape
* And more

These patriotic Kid's Forth Of July Crafts projects are a fantastic way to celebrate and commemorate American holidays with your children.

Save Money By Catching The Sewing

2010-04-14T00:14:00.000-07:00

Clothing is expensive. Those fashionable designer pieces can cost hundreds of dollars a pop. Even a simple t-shirt often costs more than going out to eat. Department store offerings are slightly easier on the budget, but even they seem to get more expensive each season.

There is a way around the high price of getting dressed. You can sew your own clothes. There was a time when almost everyone made clothes for her own family. Learning to sew takes some dedication, but it isn’t difficult. You can learn to make simple pieces in no time.

For those with a unique sense of style, sewing one’s own clothes is the perfect answer. Fabrics of all types can be found at your local craft shop or online. And there are tons of patterns to choose from, so you’re sure to find something that suits your taste. If not, you can always make adjustments to make each piece truly unique.

Your kids may be stuck on the designer fashions that their friends are wearing. But you can find patterns similar to almost anything out there. Let your child pick out the fabric, and when he sees the end result, he’ll likely change his mind. He may even be the envy of his friends, because they can’t find anything like it in stores!

Sewing also makes gift giving less expensive. You can sew a piece that matches the recipient’s personal style for much less than you would pay for a store-bought gift. And a handmade article of clothing is sure to be appreciated more.

Sewing is one hobby that has lots of money-saving potential. You can get started with nothing more than some fabric, a needle and some thread. Once you’ve learned the basics, you can move on to an inexpensive sewing machine. Patterns can be pricey, but you can find many online for free. Most craft stores also have patterns at very low prices, sometimes as little as a dollar. And by using different fabrics and making minor modifications, you can create an infinite number of pieces from one pattern.

Fabric can also be expensive. But if you shop at the end of each season for the following year, you can find some great deals. You may be able to find some for a dollar or two per yard. It’s important to examine fabric for flaws before you buy, but minor ones will make very little difference in the finished product.

If you’ve never sewn before, the thought of starting can be intimidating. But if you start out with simple patterns, you can boost your confidence and work your way up to more complex ones. Sewing does take time, but the money you save makes it well worth the effort.

Consider Knitting As a Self-Help Tool

2010-04-09T02:40:00.000-07:00

We have to get our kids knitting with Kids Knitting: Projects for Kids of all Ages. Non-knitters often consider knitting monotonous and boring. It’s true that knitting is not a fast-paced hobby like skydiving, but it does have lots of benefits. In fact, many experts are convinced that it has therapeutic properties.

Anyone who knits will tell you that knitting is a wonderful remedy for stress. At the end of a tough day, picking up a project can quickly calm one down. It’s those very repetitive movements that those who do not knit consider boring that produce a soothing effect comparable to that of meditation.

In fact, knitting has a lot in common with meditation. In both activities, you focus on one particular thing. When meditating, that thing is your subconscious. When knitting, it’s your stitching. In either case, you’re forced to push your worries, stress, anger and sadness to the side.

The focus required by knitting can help with a number of health issues other than stress. These include:

* ADD/ADHD – Knitting is great for improving concentration. The act of knitting forces the two sides of the brain to work together, and that’s something that those with ADD and ADHD can have a lot of trouble with. By knitting regularly, they can improve their brains’ ability to focus and hang on to information that is learned.

* Chronic pain – Chronic pain can greatly decrease one’s quality of life. But instead of using dangerous (and often addictive) painkillers as the sole treatment, many pain doctors are encouraging patients to include less conventional therapies in their treatment. Knitting is one activity that can help. The calm state of mind it produces, and the attention it requires, blocks pain signals from reaching the brain.

* Brain damage – After a brain injury, doctors seek to restore as much of the brain’s prior function as possible. Complete recovery is not always possible, but certain activities can help patients relearn fine motor skills and cognitive skills. Knitting is one of many possible treatment options. It tends to work well because it incorporates both types of skills into one activity.

* Anxiety – Anxiety may be mild, moderate or severe. At any level, knitting can be beneficial. While it probably won’t stop a full-fledged panic attack, knitting can reduce overall stress and divert attention from specific stressors.

* Chronic illness – When one is facing a long-term or terminal illness, depression can set in. Those who are bedridden are limited in what they can do, and this can give them too much time to think negative thoughts. Knitting is something they can do that is not physically demanding, yet it takes their minds off of their illness. And the finished project also gives them a sense of accomplishment.

Knitting as therapy may not be the latest medical breakthrough, but it can be helpful in many cases. It’s a relatively easy hobby, and it’s very inexpensive. And it engages the mind in a relaxing way that few other pursuits can.

So have a look at: Kids Knitting: Projects for Kids of all Ages, as it says - Kids Of All Ages!

Paint An Easy Independence Day T-Shirt

2010-04-07T01:34:00.000-07:00

Almost everyone can do T-shirt painting. It is easy and it’s lots of fun. That is why it is up there with all our other beginner crafts, such as beginner scrapbooking, mosaic crafts for beginners and a kit such as Alex Toys happily Ever Crafter.

So if you’re lacking Independence Day apparel, why not get out the fabric paint and make yourself a patriotic tee? Or better yet, get the family together and let everyone make their own!

There are many ways you could design your Independence Day t-shirt. In general, you’ll need a plain white t-shirt, a t-shirt board or piece of stiff cardboard to place inside the shirt, newspapers, fabric paint and a paintbrush.

Before you begin, wash the shirt and do not use fabric softener. Dry and stretch the shirt onto the board to keep it straight and prevent paint from soaking through to the other side.

To make a fireworks t-shirt, use fabric paint in a squeeze bottle. For each firework design, draw a horizontal line in the color of your choice with a break in the middle (in other words, two short lines of the same length side by side).

Then make a vertical line that intersects with the horizontal one, again with a break in the middle. This will look like a plus sign with the middle removed. Use another color to make an X in the same manner, but make the lines slightly shorter. Add some dots at the end of each line to finish.

Here’s another fun patriotic t-shirt idea:

Stars and Stripes T-Shirt

Other Supplies Needed

* Masking tape
* Ruler
* Pencil
* Star-shaped sponge or foam stamp
* Rectangular sponge or foam stamp
* Plastic plate, bowl or lid

Instructions

1. Stick a strip of masking tape across the shirt from seam to seam, starting just below the neck opening. Place another strip below that one, overlapping slightly. Repeat until you have taped off a stripe approximately 1 ¾ inches wide.

2. Measure 1 ¾ inches below the stripe you made, and make a light mark with the pencil. Make another stripe just like the first one.

3. Continue placing stripes of tape 1 ¾ inches apart all the way to the bottom of the shirt.

4. Put some red paint in a plastic plate, bowl or lid. Dip the rectangular sponge into the paint, and dab it onto the areas that are not taped off. When finished, let the paint dry completely.

5. Put some blue paint into a plastic plate, bowl or lid. Dip the star-shaped sponge into the paint, and press it carefully onto the shirt anywhere you like. Pull straight up when removing to avoid smudging.

6. Continue adding stars to the shirt as you like. When finished, let dry. Remove the masking tape.

If you’re particularly artistic, you could try your hand at a Statue of Liberty t-shirt. Or if you’d rather not paint, get some blue and red dye and make a tie-dyed Fourth of July shirt. Use your imagination and create a patriotic tee that’s as individual as you are!

Make An Easy Patriotic Hot Air Balloon Decoration

2010-04-03T04:51:00.000-07:00

On the Fourth of July, we often look to the sky to watch fireworks in all shapes, sizes and colors. But in some locations, there’s more to see up above. Hot air balloons are festive and fun reminders of the American holiday.

A patriotic hot air balloon decoration in red, white and blue makes a wonderful Independence Day centerpiece. Here’s how to make it.

Supplies

Large, white, high quality latex balloon filled with helium
Large balloon net
Small wicker laundry-type basket with two handles
Red, white and blue crepe paper
Basket filler in red, white and blue
Candy or goodie bags

Instructions

1. Drape the balloon net over the helium-filled balloon.

2. Divide the ribbons from the balloon net into two equal sets.

3. Tie one half of the ribbons to one of the basket handles. Tie the other half to the other basket handle.

4. Decorate the basket with red, white and blue crepe paper. Wrap it around the basket and secure with clear tape, and/or tie streamers to the handles for decoration.

5. Fill the basket with the patriotic basket filler. Add candy or goody bags, and place in the middle of the table as a centerpiece.

If you prefer, you could add real or silk flowers to the basket instead of candy or goody bags for a unique floral centerpiece. You can also adapt the project to use as a gift holder for birthdays or other holidays by using different colors of crepe and basket filler.

Balloon nets may be available from a local party supply store or florist. If you can’t find any for sale, here’s how to make one.

Supplies

* 150 feet of decorative ribbon in red, white, and/or blue
* Scissors

Instructions

1. Cut strips of ribbon long enough to drape over the balloon and tie to the basket, making sure they will keep the balloon at the desired height. Add a few extra inches for tying and to leave room for error.

2. Lay a strip of ribbon flat diagonally. Lay another strip parallel to the first one, about an inch away. Keep laying down strips of ribbon until you have enough to cover the top of the balloon. If using two or more colors, alternate them in a set pattern.

3. Lay a strip of ribbon across the first strip, going diagonally in the opposite direction. Repeat until you have a square of a fishnet pattern large enough to cover the top of the balloon, with enough ribbon hanging to keep the balloon as far as you desire above the basket.

4. Tie knots in the ribbon at the corners to secure the pattern.

Make a Patriotic Necklace It's Easy

2010-03-31T01:01:00.000-07:00

Well, the year is on it's way and it is not long before independence day is her again. If you are looking to do some easy beginner crafts you can have a look at this patriotic necklace. Of course you can also have a look at Fimo Clay Ideas as well and use Fimo Clay instead of making the beads yourself.

Independence Day is a wonderful time to show your patriotism. In the weeks before the holiday, you can find red, white and blue t-shirts, hats and jewelry in almost any store. But it’s also easy to make your own patriotic clothing and accessories. This patriotic necklace is easy and inexpensive to make, and it’s sure to be quite the conversation piece.

Supplies

* 1 tbsp. all-purpose flour
* ½ tbsp. water
* ½ tbsp. salt
* Toothpick
* Acrylic paint
* Paintbrush
* Nylon cord or strong fishing line in desired length, plus about 8 inches (for an 18-inch necklace, the cord should be about 26 inches long)
* Beading needle
* Small red, white and blue beads
* Clasp
* Scissors

Instructions

1. Mix flour, salt and water until dough forms.

2. Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Model dough into a star shape for the pendant. Make it at least ¼ inch thick. You should have some extra dough when you’re done.

4. Poke the toothpick through the star about ¼ inch from the top, going from side to side so that it will face forward when placed on the necklace.

5. Bake the pendant for 2 to 2 ½ hours. Let cool completely.

6. Paint the pendant with acrylic paint. You could make it solid red, blue or gold, or paint designs on it. Let dry completely.

7. Thread the nylon cord onto the beading needle. String beads onto the cord in the pattern of your choice. Keep stringing beads until the necklace is half done.

8. Add your finished pendant to the necklace. Then continue beading in the same pattern until you’ve added enough beads to make a necklace in the desired length. Make sure you have several inches of cord left on each side so that you can add the clasp.

9. Hold the necklace up to make sure the pendant is centered correctly. If it isn’t, remove beads from one side and add them to the other until it is centered.

10. Tie the eye of the clasp onto one end of the necklace, getting it as close as possible to the last bead. Knot securely, and cut off the excess cord. Tie the hook of the clasp onto the other end, knot and trim.

Want a matching bracelet? You can make one in no time! Just cut a piece of nylon cord about 16 inches long, and string beads in the same pattern you used for the necklace. Make the beaded portion about 7 ½ to 8 inches long. Then add a clasp the same way you did with the necklace, and trim the ends. Now you have a matching set of patriotic jewelry!

Chronicle The Softies Kit Boxed

2010-03-26T03:40:00.000-07:00

Who doesn’t like soft toys, especially when they are as outrageous as the ones in this kit. Your whole family will enjoy the uniqueness of these plush pals.

This Chronicle “The Softies Kit Box” is a follow-up to a book called “Softies”. “Softies” are cute plush toys inspired by a Japanese craze for soft toys. The new kit box includes lots of exciting new plush toy projects. It comes with a 24-page instruction booklet, project cards and easy to follow instructions for 15 exciting new “Softies” that will make admired and cute gifts.

You will be able to make:

Japanese Cherry Cake
Little Penguin
Hambone, a stuffed ham
Little Elephant
Deer iPod Holder
Chick in a Bonnet
Sparkle Bunny
Gingerbread House
Charlotte with Her Fedora
Birthday Banner

Also included in the box are pattern sheets and everything you need, from fabrics to needle and thread, to make a Party Felt Cake that everybody will adore.

Summer All Year Long With Your Own Take Away Beach Craft

2010-03-24T00:46:00.000-07:00

Kids love doing crafts and if it is about something they enjoyed and loved, it is even better. So, this summer take away beach craft will be a craft all kids will love. Make sure they have a comfortable place to work, such as an Alex Super Art Table With Paper Roll And Two Benches, this will prevent accidents and it will make sure everything you need is at hand.

Here is your summer take away beach craft:

How to Make a Takeaway Beach

A trip to the beach can be the highlight of one’s summer. Children are especially captivated by the sand, water and beautiful scenery. When it’s time to go home, they may not want to leave. And for that matter, you might wish you could stay, too!

Moving to the beach might not be an option. But you can take a little piece of the beach with you when you go home. Collecting seashells, driftwood and other beach findings is a fun way to commemorate your vacation. And when you get home, these items can be used to make your very own beach… inside of a jar. Here’s how to make this simple yet meaningful craft project.

Supplies

* Glass jar with lid
* Glass cleaner
* Paint pen
* Sand
* Seashells
* Pebbles
* Small bits of driftwood
* Pieces of sea glass
* Craft glue

Instructions

1. Remove any labels from the jar and wash thoroughly. If part of a label is particularly stubborn, try using a scraper blade and/or rubbing alcohol to remove it.

2. Use glass cleaner to remove fingerprints and any remaining glue from the jar.

3. Use the paint pen to paint the name of the beach you visited on the side of the jar, near the bottom. Add some beach-inspired designs such as starfish, palm trees or ocean waves if you like.

4. Pour some sand into the jar. The amount is up to you, but try not to add so much that it overpowers the other items you will be adding.

5. Drop lots of seashells, pebbles, driftwood and sea glass into the jar. You can fill it up to the top or leave some empty space.

6. Pick out some favorite shells and sea glass to adorn the outside of your takeaway beach. Arrange them to your liking on the lid, glue on with craft glue and let dry. If you like, you could also glue some pieces of sea glass onto the jar itself.

7. Place the lid on the jar.

Your “beach in a jar” can serve a number of purposes. You could give it as a gift to someone who wasn’t able to go with you. You could use it as a paperweight. If you used a large jar, it could double as a doorstop. Or you could simply place it on a shelf somewhere that you will see it each and every day.

Trinkets from the beach souvenir shop are nice. But something that holds memories of your unique experience at the beach is far more nostalgic. Your takeaway beach will remind you of the fun you had for many years to come.

How to Build Beautiful Ice Sculptures

2010-03-17T01:03:00.000-07:00

Usually, when we see ice sculptures, it's at a wedding or other formal affair. But the beauty of sculpted ice is fascinating to adults and children alike. Wouldn't it be great to be able to build a beautiful ice sculpture at home with the family?

Actually, you can. And you don't have to give your children sharp objects to do so. So it is as good a craft to do with the kids as mosaic crafts for for beginners. Best of all, creating an ice sculpture provides a valuable learning experience for kids of all ages. You can even take photos of it and use the photos to do some beginner scrapbooking!

Here's how to do it.

What You Need

Water
Ice molds and/or plastic containers
Food coloring
Salt
Dish washing liquid

Instructions

1. Wash the ice molds or plastic containers thoroughly with dish washing liquid and warm water. You need to make sure there are no traces of dirt or dust inside of them, because if there are, it will affect the outcome of the sculpture.

2. Fill each mold or container about 90% full of water to allow room for expansion during freezing. Add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly. If the molds or containers you're using are opaque, you might want to mix the food coloring and water in a clear container beforehand so that you can see the results.

3. Place the molds and containers in the freezer, making sure that they sit level. Allow to freeze at least overnight, and for a couple of days if possible.

4. Remove the molds from the freezer and place them on a table. It's a good idea to do this outdoors if possible, because it will get messy!

5. Have your child or children build sculptures with the various shapes of ice. Each child can build his own sculpture, or they can work together to create one big one.

6. When the sculpture is the way they like it, sprinkle a bit of salt on the parts of the ice that touch other pieces. This will melt the ice a bit, helping the pieces stick together.

Tips

* For best results, use distilled water instead of tap water. Distilled water makes clearer ice, especially if you let it sit in the ice mold for a few hours to overnight before freezing.

* If you'd like to add a little extra shimmer to your ice sculpture, try adding a bit of glitter to the water before freezing.

* If temperatures are below freezing outside, and won't get above freezing for several days, you could leave the molds outdoors to freeze. This will eliminate the need for extra freezer space and make it possible to make as many pieces as you have molds. If you choose to do so, it's best to place the molds in a sheltered area and leave them for at least a few days to ensure proper freezing.

How to Make a Paper Plate Easter Bonnet

2010-03-11T07:03:00.000-08:00

If you know how to work with melted chocolate and molds you will know How To Make Your Own Chocolate Easter Eggs, but that is not all you can do for Easter. Why not try an Easter bonnet?

In days gone by it wasn’t unusual to see women dressed in their finest clothes and Easter bonnets on Easter morning. The habit of wearing hats has seemingly fallen out of vogue. Your child can still learn how to make a paper plate Easter bonnet as part of their Easter tradition.

To create a paper plate Easter bonnet, you’ll need to pull together a few craft items:

Paper plates
Ribbon or yarn
Scissors
Glue or glitter glue
Markers or crayons
Construction paper
Hole punch
Artificial flowers, if desired

There are a several methods to choose from when making a paper plate bonnet. Here’s one method that’s relatively easy so even young children can make them.

Begin by cutting the middle out of the paper plate so it will fit on the child’s head. There should be a considerable amount of plate left which is where the decorations will go. Punch two holes in the plate, one across from the other. Be sure the holes are far enough into the plate so they don’t easily rip.

Let your child decorate what’s left of the plate however they want. They can make paper flowers and glue them onto their hat, or glue silk flowers. They can also color it with markers or crayons. Paper can also be cut into strips and curled to add to the brim of the hat. Let them have fun decorating it.

When the children have finished decorating their paper plate Easter bonnet, it’s ready for them to try on. Then they can tie two pieces of ribbon or yarn (about 10 inches long) into the holes, one on each side. Make a bow with the ribbon under their chin to hold the Easter bonnet on.

As you can see, it really isn’t difficult to make an Easter bonnet. You and your child can work together to create a new Easter bonnet each year. Make it a family tradition to enjoy with your child.

Your Own Easter Tree It Is Easy

2010-03-09T00:39:00.000-08:00

People are used to seeing decorated Christmas trees before and sometimes long after the holiday has passed. In recent years, you may also have seen trees decorated with eggs outdoors at Easter time. Here’s how to make your own Easter tree to decorate your Easter table.

You may not want to put an entire tree on your furniture, but you can create a smaller version of it. Start by finding a branch of a tree with several small limbs. You can either leave the tree its natural color or you can spray-paint it.

Find a planter or bucket where you can “plant” the tree. This can be spray-painted and then decorated if you like. Fill the planter or bucket with plenty of sand to be weighty enough that the tree won’t topple over. Push the branch down into the sand to secure it.

Poke silk flowers into the sand to hold them and then put Easter grass around the base so it looks like the tree is growing. If your child has small stuffed animals such as a lamb, chicks, or rabbits, they may want to place one or two of them at the base of the tree. Consider buying a small animal to place with the tree and then give it to your child as part of their Easter gift.

Cut several pieces of ribbon, enough for each ornament or egg you’ll be hanging. You may want to see if you can find small springtime or Easter-themed ornaments. If you can’t find anything you think is appropriate, your children could make them or you can simply hang plastic eggs from the tree.

What types of ornaments could your children make? They could draw pictures associated with Easter on construction paper and cut them out to decorate the tree with. They could draw eggs and decorate the eggs using markers or stickers, lambs, crosses, lilies, birds, or anything else they might like to use. You may want to have the children write out Bible verses and place them on the tree to help them remember the meaning behind the holiday.

Some families use the Easter tree to hang Easter candy rather than using a basket. Wrap string around the filled plastic eggs and then tie them to the branches. You can also tie a ribbon or yarn around chocolate eggs or bunnies.And if you know how to work with chocolate and molds, then you will also know How To Make Your Own Chocolate Easter Eggs.

Once you and your children learn how to make your own Easter tree you may decide it’s something you’d like to add as a family tradition. Each year you can make new ornaments to add to the tree. However you decide to use your Easter tree, enjoy the time you spend with your children making the tree this year.

To compliment your tree you can also make an Easter Mosaic, even though it is almost spring you can still make Mosaic Crafts For Beginners with seeds and more.

How to Make Your Own Natural Egg Dyes

2010-03-05T02:57:00.000-08:00

Chocolate Easter Eggs are part and parcel of Easter, that is a given. If you can work with chocolate and molds you can make them yourself. If you know How To Make Your Own Chocolate Easter Eggs, you and the kids will have a lot of fun with it. But, Easter Eggs go further than that, decorating Easter Eggs is a very popular Easter Craft as we all know.

Children love creating and searching for colored Easter eggs. They’re as much a part of celebrating Easter as chocolate bunnies and baskets. Rather than using pre-made coloring dyes, why not learn how to make your own natural egg dyes? Natural egg dyes aren’t as vivid as artificial dyes but they’re every bit as beautiful.

Natural egg dyes can be made from a variety of foods, flowers and plants. The dye is transferred to the egg either while boiling the eggs or, as with normal dyes, after the eggs have been hard-boiled. When boiling the dye with eggs, be aware you’ll be limited to the number of colors you can do at once by the number of eyes your stove has.

When dyeing the eggs while boiling, you place the coloring ingredients into the pan of water which covers the eggs. Include a teaspoon of vinegar for deeper colors. If you’d rather dye the eggs after they’ve been boiled, cover the eggs with water and a teaspoon of vinegar, and then add the dyeing ingredients. Allow the eggs to sit in the dye in the refrigerator until they are the desired color.

Here are various ingredients you can use to create the colors you want for your naturally dyed eggs:

* Lavender

Violet blossoms plus 2 teaspoons lemon juice, Red Zinger tea, or a small amount of purple grape juice

* Violet blue

Small amount of red onion skins placed in the water while boiling, violet blossoms, hibiscus tea, or red wine

* Blue

Purple grape juice or canned blueberries added to the water and placed in the refrigerator, red cabbage leaves placed in the water while boiling

* Green

Spinach leaves boiled with the eggs

* Yellow

Any of these can be boiled with the eggs: orange or lemon peels, carrot tops, celery seed, ground cumin, or ground turmeric. To get the same color with the cold method, add green or chamomile tea to the water.

* Orange

Boiled yellow onion skins; cooked carrots, chili powder, and paprika will result in the desired color in the cold method.

* Brown

Black walnut shells boiled with the eggs, or you can add strong coffee, instant coffee, or black tea to water in the refrigerator.

* Red

A large amount of red onion skins boiled with the eggs. Using the cold method, add canned cherries in their juice, pomegranate juice, or raspberries.

* Pink

Use any of the following, added to water and placed in the refrigerator overnight: beets, cranberries or cranberry juice, raspberries, red grape juice, or the juice from pickled beets.

Remove the eggs from the water, place them in an egg carton, and let them dry. If you’d like your naturally dyed eggs to look shiny, you can rub vegetable oil into the egg shells. Perhaps, after learning how to make your own natural egg dyes, you won’t bother with the prepared dyes you can buy at the store.

With your colored Easter Eggs you can move on and do some more Easter Egg Crafts - Dotty Easter Eggs with them and then afterward you can use all those egg shells in some Easter Egg Shell Crafts.

Here Are Some Easter Egg Decorating Ideas

2010-03-04T03:49:00.000-08:00

If you know how to work with chocolate and molds you will know How To Make Your Own Chocolate Easter Eggs, but you may need some ideas for decorating Easter eggs.

It’s a pretty safe bet you’ll be decorating Easter eggs before too long. However, you don’t have to be satisfied with simply dyeing the eggs. Try these Easter egg decorating ideas to make your eggs as individual as the people you’re decorating them for.

You may be surprised to know that many cultures have been decorating eggs for centuries. In fact, the most famous decorated eggs are the Fabergé eggs which were created for the Russian Tsars from 1885 to 1917. Of course, no one expects you to create anything as elaborate as a Fabergé egg!

If you plan to eat the eggs after they’ve been decorated, remember to use edible food coloring, paints, or items which are not hazardous to your health. This also includes using stickers, non-toxic glue, and crayons. Using non-traditional items to decorate your eggs can result in great-looking eggs that are unique.

Get your children involved in this idea. After the eggs have been hard-boiled, cooled, and dried, give the children crayons and let them draw various designs on the eggs. You can leave the eggs like this, but dyeing the eggs after they’ve been drawn on will create more vibrant designs. When the egg is dyed, the dye won’t penetrate the wax of the crayon and the design will stand out.

Egg heads can be created using either dyed or non-dyed eggs. Decorate only one side of the egg at a time and allow it to dry before decorating the other side. Use 3-D paint or pieces of yarn glued to the egg for hair. Use construction paper to create a ribbon for a girl’s hair or a boy’s tie. Glue them on after you decide where to place the wiggle eyes. Draw the mouth and other details with a water-based marker.

Place stickers on the eggs prior to dyeing them. When the eggs have reached the color you desire, remove them from the dye and allow them to dry thoroughly. Remove the stickers to reveal the color of the natural egg which will be a contrast to the dye’s color.

Create a tie-dye look by carefully wrapping rubber bands around the eggs prior to dyeing them. Allow the eggs to remain in the dye until they reach the desired color; take them out and allow them to dry. Carefully remove the rubber bands and place the egg into a different color. Again remove them and allow them to dry. The result is amazing!

Your children will undoubtedly want to help with these Easter egg decorating ideas. Let them have fun with you and you may just create a family activity to share each year. Happy decorating!

How To Make Your Own Chocolate Easter Eggs

What You Need to Know about Color Theory

2010-03-02T00:22:00.000-08:00

Acrylic painting is fun and to get a good idea of the basics you can have a look at How To Paint With Acrylic Paint. Of course part of the acrylic painting will be mixing colors and for that you will have to know some color theory.

Here are a few questions. Is white a color? What about black? Do you remember your primary, secondary, and tertiary colors? You may not realize what you need to know about color theory if you decide to take up painting. However, what you know and remember can definitely affect the finished artwork.

Color theory is simply the guidance necessary to mix colors, and the impact color combinations can have on the person looking at a piece of artwork. Some believe color theory began as early as the mid-to-late 1400s, but most agree it developed with the declaration of primary colors. In case you don’t remember, the primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. They cannot be created by mixing colors. It is from these colors, however, that all other colors have their origin.

When you mix two primary colors you arrive at a secondary color. Red and blue makes purple, red and yellow makes orange, and blue and yellow makes green. Once you mix three colors together, such as orange, orange, and yellow, you get a tertiary color. Which tertiary color you get will depend on which primary colors you combine and in which proportion.

Most people consider black and white to be colors. Actually they’re not. You can’t make black or white by mixing other colors together. These are considered hues or shades. When you add black to a color, you darken that color; conversely, when you add white, you lighten the original color.

Colors also have a tendency to be either warm or cool. Reds and yellows, as a general rule, are considered warmer colors. Blues, on the other hand, are considered cooler colors. While there are different types of primary colors, you will always get a secondary color when mixing two primary colors together.

To help you determine what colors you will receive when combining a particular set of paints, you may want to create a color wheel or chart. Begin with a triangle on a sheet of paper. At each point paint one of the primary colors from your set. In the middle of those two colors, on each side of the triangle, mix equal amounts of the primary colors to make the secondary color.

Keeping track of which primary colors you’re using when creating a new color is helpful. You’ll want to list which colors you began with and then in which proportions so you’ll be able to duplicate the color in the future. Look at the colors opposite of each other on your color wheel; those are called complimentary colors. So, the complimentary color for red is green, blue is orange, and yellow is purple.

Why do you need to know about color theory and how will it help you as a crafter or artist? Knowing what colors are needed to create other colors can help when painting, using colored pencils, or deciding which colors to combine for your home décor. Now, what can you do with this new knowledge?

Craft Fairs Can Be So Much Fun

2010-02-27T05:12:00.000-08:00

Most crafters do what they do because they love to do it. But if you're good at a craft, it can open the door for money-making opportunities. There are all sorts of ways you can sell your crafts, including selling wholesale to retailers, placing items in consignment shops, and selling online.

Some crafts take a lot of time and is pricey, so to be able to sell than is a benefit. Even is you are still looking at options such as quilting with embroidery or something such as silk painting with silk painting kits, in the long run you will have to sell some of the crafts you do if you want to continue.

But if you want to have fun and make money at the same time, craft fairs are something worth considering. Hitting the craft fair circuit gives you a reason to travel to places you may have never been before and to meet fellow crafters. And since they attract craft lovers, you can make a substantial amount of money in a short time.

Does this sound interesting to you? Here is what you need to do to get started.

* Get busy crafting. You'll need plenty of inventory to take with you to the fairs for quick sales. You can also take custom orders, but most craft fair attendees prefer to leave with something in hand.

* Check out the legal aspects of doing business wherever you might participate in a fair. To keep things simple, you might choose to only participate in fairs in your home state. But if you want to do business in other states, it shouldn't be too hard to get set up.

* Find craft fairs in your area and others you are willing to travel to. Ask your crafty friends to keep you informed about any they hear about; check the newspaper and search online.

* When you find a craft fair that interests you, read the application information carefully. Most require application fees, and some are juried. You may have to pay additional fees for electricity and other amenities.

* Determine what you'll need to bring along to set up. You'll definitely need tables and chairs, and many fairs do not provide them. You'll also need a tent if the fair is outdoors, and you may need other items such as display cases depending on what you're selling.

* Get your office supplies together. You'll need some business cards and other promotional materials, receipt pads, bags, and a credit card machine if you accept credit.

* Price your crafts if you haven't already. Take into account all of your expenses, including travel and meals. You'll need to make enough profit to at least cover this, and preferably enough to pocket some of it.

* Dress comfortably, and take along food and drinks. Bring an assistant or two with you as well, if possible. Craft fairs are usually all-day (and sometimes multiple-day) events, so you'll need to be prepared.

Craft fairs provide the opportunity for you to sell your crafts in a fun atmosphere. But be warned: it's hard to stop at just one! Once you've experienced a craft fair first hand, you'll probably be scouring the papers looking for another one.

Angel Clay Handprints Kit

2010-02-25T01:09:00.000-08:00

Casts of children’s handprints are a wonderful keepsake for parents, grandparents and godparents alike. It’s a nostalgic way to preserve the memory of your baby or child’s hand or footprint.

The Angel Clay Handprints Kit is suitable for children’s hands from birth to about age 12. The handprint clay tile is made from Mexican clay. The clay is self-drying and therefore easy to use at home.

The kit includes step-by-step instructions on how to make perfect impressions of your newborn’s foot or handprint or your older children’s handprints. Also included in the kit are shape clay , wax paper, sponge and twine for hanging up the treasured clay tile. The finished handprint tile measures approximately 9”x8.5”.

Imprint a message and a date and the angel clay handprint will be admired forever by the person who receives it as a gift.

Another keepsake grandparents and other family members will enjoy is a Scrapbook. If you are not familiar with scrapbooking why not go and have a look Beginner Scrapbooking.

Go, you will really enjoy it: Beginner Scrapbooking.

How to Make Rhythm Music Instruments

2010-02-24T00:33:00.000-08:00

Despite the availability of all manner of complex electronic toys, kids still love to make noise with things they find around the house. This is great for developing creativity and motor skills. It also presents some grand opportunities to get them involved in crafting.

You might be surprised at how many rhythm instruments your child can make with everyday objects. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Tambourines

Supplies

* Two paper plates
* Markers, glitter glue, stickers and other decorative items
* Rice
* Glue
* Paper towel

Instructions

1. Decorate the bottoms of the paper plates with markers, glitter glue, stickers and anything else you like. Let dry.
2. Place one of the paper plates right side up on the table. Put a handful of rice into the middle of it.
3. Add glue about ¼ inch from the edge of the plate, running all the way around. Be careful not to make it too thick, but make sure there is a solid line.
4. Place the other plate upside down on top of the first one. Squeeze the edges together. Wipe off any excess glue and let dry.

Maracas

Supplies

* Two plastic bottles, cleaned, with labels removed
* Dried beans or peas
* Paint and paintbrushes
* Super Glue

Instructions

1. Paint the bottles any way you like. Add other embellishments if desired. Let dry.
2. Fill the bottle about ¼ full of dried beans or peas.
3. Have an adult put some Super Glue around the threads of the bottle, where the lid goes. Quickly put the lid on and tighten it. Let glue dry so that the lid cannot be removed.

Cymbals

Supplies

* Two foil pie plates
* Two strips of cloth
* Scissors
* Glue or tape

Instructions

1. Turn the pie plates upside down.
2. Place your hand in the middle of one pie plate. Hold one end of a cloth strip onto the plate with your other hand, and have someone else hold it down on the other side and mark the length.
3. Cut the strip to the correct length. Center it on the back of the pie plate, and glue or tape each end to make a hand strap.
4. Repeat with the other pie plate.

Glass Xylophone

Supplies

* Several glass cups or glasses
* Water
* Drumstick or spoon

Instructions

1. Fill one glass nearly full of water. Put a little less water in the next one, and a little less in the one after that, and so on until each glass has a different amount of water.
2. Line the glasses up from the most to least full.
3. Tap the glasses gently with the drumstick or spoon to make different notes.

These simple projects can provide hours of entertainment for kids. They’re also very educational, and can help plant the seeds for a life-long love of music.

Dimensions Fleece/Felt Applique Blanket Kit Jungle Animal

2010-02-23T03:55:00.000-08:00

Felt Applique is a lot of fun. For Christmas you can do the most beautiful Felt Applique Stocking, but that is not all.

If one of your loved ones or friends is expecting a baby and you would like to give something really special to the new arrival, why not create this special cuddly and soft blanket.

This Fleece Felt Appliqué Blanket Kit Jungle Animals, available from Amazon, will make a wonderful gift for a newborn. The blanket is made of soft fleece with jungle animals featuring an elephant, a lion, a giraffe, a monkey and a bird.

The blanket is easy to assemble. You simply cut out the felt pieces and sew onto the fleece patterns. The end result is a jungle animal blanket that will be loved and treasured by mother and baby alike.

The kit includes everything you need for this project:

* Cotton threat
* Printed fleece and felt
* Needle
* Detailed Instructions

The kit also includes letters and numbers for personalizing the blanket and making it one of a kind.

The product is high quality and made in the US.

How to Make a Kitchen Garden

2010-02-22T00:22:00.000-08:00

The benefits of gardening are many. Planting a vegetable garden gives us fresh food to enjoy during the summer and early fall, and we can preserve the extras to eat throughout the winter. And for kids, gardening is a fun and educational experience.

It’s a common misconception that you have to have lots of land to plant a garden. If you have a yard, you can plant a small garden outdoors. And even if you don’t, you can plant some of your favorite vegetables in a large pot. Here’s how.

1. Find an appropriate space for your garden. Ideally, it should receive at least eight hours of sun each day and have room for at least six square feet of planting space. It should also be close to the kitchen if possible for quick, as-needed harvesting.

2. If you’re planting in the ground, till the soil. If planting in a container, you’ll need to use a lighter weight soil. Try packaged potting soil from your local garden center.

3. Plan your garden. If planned carefully, it can yield far more than if you just throw it together. You can plant early season crops first, midseason crops after the first harvest, and late season crops after those have been harvested. Most seed packets have instructions that tell you when to plant and harvest.

4. Know how tall each crop will grow. The tallest ones should be planted in the center of your garden (or the back if it is located against a wall) so that they won’t shade the shorter ones.

5. Pay attention to how far apart crops should be placed. Some need several feet of space between them, while others only require a few inches. For best results, draw a diagram of your garden space to scale on graph paper and plan where you will plant each crop.

6. Start planting. You can find cheap gardening tools at your local dollar store that will work just fine for a kitchen garden.

7. Water your plants each day. Gardens planted in containers tend to dry out very quickly, so you may even need to water twice a day if they get full sunlight. Keep watering until water runs out of the drainage holes.

8. Fertilize your garden once every two to three weeks. Read directions carefully to avoid over fertilizing, as this can damage or kill plants.

There are many types of vegetables that you can plant in a container garden. Some of the most popular include tomatoes, leaf lettuce, summer squash, cucumbers, carrots, green onions and bell peppers. Herbs may also do well alongside vegetables. Try some basil, dill, parsley, thyme or tarragon.

Planting a garden is not an activity reserved for those who own a farm. Anyone can plant vegetables, as long as they are well suited to the area’s climate. With a small initial investment, you can have enough fresh veggies to last your family several months.

How to Make a Beautiful Ice Skating Picture

2010-02-20T03:37:00.000-08:00

There are many fun crafts for kids. You can think about something such as Mosaic Crafts For Beginners. Here is another possibility, an Ice Skating picture.

Ice skating is a popular winter activity that's as fun to watch as it is to do. Ice skaters have a certain grace that is truly a sight to behold. That's why they are so frequently photographed and videotaped.

The beauty of ice skating can also serve as the inspiration for some fun craft projects. This ice skating picture is easy enough for a small child to create, and beautiful enough to keep on display all winter. Here's how to make it.

What You Need

Piece of light blue card stock or construction paper
Piece of white card stock or construction paper
Piece of yellow card stock or construction paper
Aluminum foil
Cotton balls
Fine-tipped black marker
Small twigs
Pictures of figure skaters
Glue
Scissors

Instructions

1. Cut the white card stock in half lengthwise, but instead of cutting in a straight line, make some subtle curves. Glue the cut out piece onto the bottom half of the blue card stock to make a snowy ground.

2. Use the scrap of white card stock to cut out some cloud shapes, and glue them onto the blue sky. Cut a circle out of the yellow paper to make a sun, and glue it onto the sky as well.

3. Cut an oval shape out of the aluminum foil. Glue it onto the white card stock with the shiny side up to make a reflective pond.

4. Find some small pictures of figure skaters, either in a magazine or book or online. If you can't find any that are small enough, you could use a computer graphics program to resize them and print them out, or even draw some on white paper or card stock. Cut out the figure skater pictures and glue them onto the aluminum foil pond.

5. Glue three cotton balls onto the “snow” in a vertical line to make a snowman. Draw a face and some buttons on with the marker, and glue two small twigs into place to make arms.

6. Hang up your work of art for all to see!

Tips

* For best results, use heavy duty aluminum foil. Regular aluminum foil tears more easily, and might rip as you're gluing it onto the paper.

* To make sure your pond is smooth and bubble-free, use a craft stick to smooth it down after gluing it into place.

* If you want to make it look like it's snowing in your picture, you could splatter paint it once you've done all the cutting and pasting. Simply splatter white paint onto the picture with a toothbrush, and let dry.

Ten Easy Knitting Ideas for Children

2010-02-19T00:13:00.000-08:00

Knitting is often viewed as an activity for elderly ladies. But young adults have taken quite an interest in it as well, knitting fashionable sweaters and funky scarves for themselves and their friends and families. And did you know that knitting is a wonderful activity for kids, too?

Kids Knitting Projects must be fun and they must see results pretty fast. Slowly they will learn to love knitting.

Children tend to become bored easily, and knitting is a very effective remedy. During car trips or while waiting for dinner, kids can occupy themselves by knitting. It helps them develop longer attention spans and improves their fine motor skills, and most kids find it enjoyable and relaxing.

There are many simple knitting projects that kids can do. Here are ten ideas:

1. Bookmarks – You can quickly and easily create a yarn bookmark by finger knitting. This is a great first project, as it requires no needles and no fancy stitches. All kids have to do is make a row of stitches.

2. Scarves – Simple scarves are among the easiest knitting projects. Using one color and the basic stitch, this provides excellent practice for young knitters. And the finished product makes a useful accessory for your child, or could be given as a gift to a grandparent or other family member to cherish for years to come.

3. Belts – Knitting a belt is very similar to knitting a scarf. The main difference is that it’s not as wide. Just knit a rectangle long enough to go around the waist and tie, and you’re done.

4. Squares – Knitted squares can be used in a variety of projects. If you need some for something you’re working on, let your child make them. This is a great way to practice making nice, even stitches that aren’t too tight. The knitted squares can also be used to make a patchwork quilt. In South Africa that is very traditional. Read more about patchwork quilts at: What Is A Patchwork Quilt

5. Bean bags – A basic bean bag is easy to make out of two knitted squares. And if your child is interested in sewing, it provides an opportunity to practise that as well. Just have your child knit two squares of the same size, sew them together on three sides, put some beans in an old stocking and insert it in the bag. Sew the fourth side up, and it’s all done!

6. Coasters – Knitted squares can be used as coasters. Your child can knit up a set to use at home or give as a gift. If she would like to try a different shape, patterns can be found online and in beginners’ knitting books.

7. Dishcloths – Knitted dishcloths are great for getting those stubborn plates clean. And they make wonderful projects for young knitters. The broken rib pattern is a good choice for this project, and it’s an easy new stitch pattern to introduce to kids.

8. Envelope purses – An envelope purse is very easy for kids to make. Just knit a large rectangle, fold it together leaving a flap at the top, and sew the sides together. Add a knitted strap, and you have a stylish new bag.

9. Baby bibs – If there’s a baby in the family, big sisters, brothers or cousins will jump at the chance to make something for him. Knitting a baby bib can be as easy as stitching a large square and a cord, then sewing the cord on.

10. Animals – Knitting stuffed animals is a good way to introduce shapes to kids. They can knit two simple animal shapes, sew them on all sides but one, stuff and finish for a cute new toy.

It Is Easy To Create a Good Scrapbook Layout - Here's How

2010-02-18T04:22:00.000-08:00

Beginner Scrapbooking does not have to be frightening. I know that when you read about scrapbooking in magazines or online, you see the elaborate layouts that you can get. From this it is easy to see that many of them took hours to create. As a result you find that many would-be scrapbookers are intimidated by the complexity of the layouts they see and decide not to pursue scrapbooking and to turn to another hobby instead.

But you don't have to use elaborate layouts to make your scrapbook beautiful and memorable. Creating attractive layouts is much simpler than most people think. And by keeping things fairly simple, you allow your photos to take center stage. Read on to learn how to create a great layout without going to art school.

Choose the Right Papers

The paper is undoubtedly the most important element of any scrapbook layout. It doesn't matter how beautifully you embellish a page - if you choose the wrong type or color of paper, it won't look right. So it's important to spend some time choosing the right papers.

For the page itself, you'll need to use card stock. Solid colors are easiest to work with, because you don't have to worry about the patterns of your embellishments competing with the background. But using a patterned paper can work if you do your borders and frames in co-ordinating solid colors.

Colors should be co-ordinating and appropriate to the theme of the scrapbook and page. You can also help bring the page together by choosing colors from the photos themselves to use in borders and mats.

Matting Photos

Matting your photos gives your page a more finished look. And it's very simple to do. All you need is a pair of scissors or paper cutter, two colors of card stock and a glue stick.

To create the mat, choose the color you want to directly border the photo. Measure a square or rectangle that is a half inch wider and a half inch longer than the photo, and cut out. Then measure a square or rectangle on the other color of paper that is a half inch longer and a half inch wider than the first shape, and cut it out too. Center the smaller shape on top of the larger one, and the photo on top of it all.

Add Embellishments

Once you've chosen the colors and photos for the page, it's time to get started with embellishments. These include borders, stickers, die cuts, pressed flowers, and whatever else you want to place on the page.

When working on your layout, it's a good idea to hold off on gluing things down until you're sure that everything is the way you want it. That way, if you make a mistake, you won't have to start over from the beginning. It also allows you to experiment with placement of the items.

Creating a great layout requires some planning, but anyone can do it. The trick is finding the right balance between your photos and the other items on the page. If you avoid using so many embellishments that they draw attention away from the photos, and choose colors that co-ordinate with each other and your photos, it's hard to go wrong.

Ten Sewing Projects for Beginners

2010-02-17T00:14:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for beginners sewing projects for a kid, have a look at Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter is a very good idea. In it you will find various "sewing" projects a child can try to see which she really enjoys. You will also find good beginners crafts if you go to Fun Easy Crafts.
When you’re considering taking up sewing as a hobby, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. The pieces made by experienced sewers look as good as something you’d buy in a boutique, and the patterns in stores seem to be in a different language. But don’t be discouraged. There are plenty of easy projects that beginners can cut their teeth on.

Now on to your promised sewing crafts ideas. Here are ten to try.

1. Bags – You don’t have to be an expert to make yourself a new purse. Envelope purses are very easy to make. Just cut out a large rectangle, fold up leaving a flap, and sew the sides together. Add a strap and you’re done! Drawstring bags are also a cinch.

2. Potholders – The potholder is a classic beginner’s sewing project. If you can cut squares out of fabric and filling material and sew seams, you can make one in a snap.

3. Heating pad – Heating pads are great for soothing sore muscles, and they’re simple to sew. Just cut a rectangle of fabric, fold the right sides together and sew the sides together. Turn right side out, fill with rice, and sew the fourth side up. Pop in the microwave to heat.

4. Halter tops – If you’re looking for a nice, vintage fashion project, how about a halter top? It’s as easy folding a bandana into a triangle, folding the top down, stitching casings at the top and bottom and running shoelaces through both.

5. Pre-printed pillow tops – Those adorable handmade pillows can be easily made with pre-printed pillow tops. Just buy a kit and follow the directions for a unique throw pillow.

6. Blankets – If you want to try your hand at a larger project, blankets are great for beginners. You’ll need to do some measuring and pinning, but other than that, all that’s required is sewing seams.

7. Aprons – Aprons are wonderful gifts for the cook in your life, and they’re really simple to make. They’re basically just a large rectangle of fabric with diagonal cuts at the top. Keep in mind that you’ll also have to have enough fabric to make straps to tie it with.

8. Stuffed animals – You don’t have to be an expert to sew a stuffed animal. You can whip one up out of any kind of fabric. Snakes are easy to make out of strips of scrap material. Just fold the right side of the strip together lengthwise, sew the edges together, turn right side out and stuff with batting. Sew the ends closed and draw a face on for a quick and easy toy. Of course you can also always make stuffed toys with Fun And Easy Latch Hook Kits, that is even easier than sewing.

9. Shawls – A shawl is an elegant accessory for special occasions, yet it’s a cinch to make. All you need is a couple of yards of fabric and some thread, and there’s very little cutting involved.

10. Children’s clothes – When you’re ready to move on to more complex projects, try children’s clothing. It uses the same techniques as adult clothing, but on a much smaller scale. If you botch a project beyond repair, you can start over without having to purchase much material.

How to Make Inexpensive Decorations to Welcome Spring

2010-02-16T01:15:00.000-08:00

In winter we did Crafts Using Pine Cones but now, after a long, cold winter, with the first signs of spring it offers us a breath of fresh air and new fun crafts ideas.

The trees start sprouting leaves, the flowers start blooming, and the sun makes more and more appearances. For those who love to watch nature renew itself (and those who can't stand freezing temperatures), it's certainly cause for celebration.

If you're looking for a way to welcome this beautiful season, one thing you can do is decorate for it. You can find some beautiful spring décor in your favorite store or catalog, but you don't have to spend a lot of money to welcome spring properly. These inexpensive yet lovely décor ideas will fit the bill nicely, and creating them will help get you in the spirit of spring even faster.

# Decorate with garden items. Watering cans make wonderful planters or vases, or they can be incorporated into centerpieces.

# Make a simple yet elegant spring wreath. You can buy inexpensive grapevine wreaths at craft shops or dollar stores. Adorn them with dried flowers and pastel-colored ribbons, and hang them on your front door or wall.

# Buy some ivy garland and wrap it around the bannisters of your staircase or front steps. If you're using it indoors, add some tissue paper flowers every few feet. You can make them as follows:

Tissue Paper Flowers

What You Need

* Tissue paper in one or more colors
* Scissors
* Chenille stems or florist wire

Instructions

1. Stack eight pieces of unfolded tissue paper on top of one another, and cut them in half.

2. Take one stack of the tissue paper and fold one of the shorter edges down ½ to 1 inch from the edge. Make another fold the same size, but fold it back. Continue to make accordion-style folds until you've reached the other edge.

3. Use the scissors to round each end of the folded tissue paper. If you like, you can also cut a slit in the middle of each end.

4. Wrap a chenille stem or piece of floral wire around the center of the folded tissue paper, and twist to hold it together.

5. Very carefully, separate the layers of tissue from the ends to the center. Fluff as needed. Arrange some of your tissue paper flowers in a vase, glue them to a grapevine wreath, or use them to create a pretty centerpiece.

These easy-to-make spring decorations are great for welcoming the season without spending a lot of money. By creating your own décor, you can get your home all decked out for spring for less than you would pay for one or two ready-to-use items. So instead of going on a shopping spree, get creative!

How to Make Edible Play Dough and Modeling Clay

2010-02-15T01:44:00.000-08:00

Before we look at these crafts for the little ones, let's think about a fun craft for those little older kids of 6+. If you feel their motor skills still need a little help, why not look at a craft kit such as Alex Toys Super Knot A Quilt

In the early years, it's important for children to participate in art projects. It encourages creativity and helps build fine motor skills. But with toddlers' and preschoolers' tendency to put things in their mouths, the prospect of giving them art supplies can be scary.

The solution? Give them edible art supplies! It's simple to make play dough and modeling clay out of edible ingredients. When your child gets done playing with them, you can feel good about encouraging them to eat their creations. Here are a few recipes to try.

Peanut Butter Play Dough

Ingredients

* One 18-ounce jar of peanut butter (creamy variety)
* 6 tbsp. honey
* ¾ cup non-fat powdered milk

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients together. You can easily change the consistency by adding more powdered milk.
2. If the dough is not consumed soon after making it, it may be stored in an airtight container.

Chocolate Play Dough

Ingredients

* 8 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
* ¼ cup plus 1 tbsp. light corn syrup

Instructions

1. Place the chocolate chips in a double boiler and heat slowly until melted.
2. Stir chocolate until smooth.
3. Stir in corn syrup, continuing to stir until mixed thoroughly.
4. Allow to cool briefly, then pour the mixture into a plastic bag. Refrigerate until it is firm.

Note: This dough is also great for decorating cakes!

Kool Aid Play Dough

Ingredients

* 1 cup flour
* 1 cup water
* ½ cup salt
* 3 tsp. Cream of Tartar
* 1 pkg. unsweetened Kool Aid mix, any flavor
* 1 tbsp. cooking oil

Instructions

1. In large saucepan, mix all dry ingredients.
2. Mix oil and water and stir into dry ingredients. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens into dough.
3. Remove from heat and place on a heatproof cutting board. Knead until cool enough for your child to handle. This play dough may be stored for up to six months in a tightly covered container.

Chocolate Clay

Ingredients

* 10 oz. chocolate chips
* 1/3 cup corn syrup

Instructions

1. Place chocolate chips in a double boiler and heat slowly until melted. Stir until smooth.
2. Stir in corn syrup and mix thoroughly.
3. Pour onto waxed paper and spread out about ½ inch thick. Cover with more waxed paper and allow to harden for two hours.

Note: This clay may also be used to decorate cakes.

Easy Edible Clay

Ingredients

* 1 cup flour
* ½ cup salt
* Water

Instructions

1. Stir salt into flour.
2. Add water, a little at a time, stirring constantly.
3. Continue to add water until the desired consistency is reached. Knead before using.

Note: This clay may be baked after modeling to create a permanent shape. It is non-toxic and edible, but its flavor is not very appetizing.

Edible Cookie and Cake Decoration Ideas for Little Chefs

2010-02-12T01:46:00.000-08:00

Easy Beginners crafts are always a good idea to develop those small motor skills. Various beginner crafts are very good, you can look at mosaic crafts for beginners or even beginner scrapbooking and then of course these edible cookie and cake decorations.

Cooking is a great activity for kids of all ages. Older children can learn advanced techniques that will serve them well when they are out on their own. And younger children can benefit from the opportunity to spend quality time with their parents and learn how to measure and mix ingredients.

Even very young children enjoy putting the finishing touches on cookies and cakes. Here are some fun cake decoration ideas that parents and youngsters alike will love.

Edible Markers

Kids love to draw on anything and everything. So most of them will jump at the chance to draw or write on food! You can find edible markers at cake decorating supply stores and online. They're made with certified food color, so they're perfectly safe for consumption.

Icing

Icing comes in many different flavors and forms. There's the super-sweet icing we're all accustomed to eating on cakes, buttercreme icing, and whipped icing. There's icing you spread and icing you write with. No matter what kind of cake or cookie you're making, there's probably a type of icing that will go well with it. Kids can apply it with a butter knife, or squeeze it straight out of the tube.

Sugar Pearls and Sprinkles

Sugar pearls add a beautiful touch to cakes and cookies. They're most often found on professionally made cakes, but they may be purchased from bakers or online. You can also make your own if you have the right equipment.

Sprinkles are available at any grocery store, and they are great for adding color to your baked goods. Either of these items are great for young decorators.

Edible Play Dough and Clay

You wouldn't want to eat a cake or cookie with Play Dough on it, would you? Or how about clay? Well, with these recipes, it's not so bad after all. The kids can make shapes out of these concoctions, then use them to decorate cakes and cookies when they're done playing.

-Chocolate Play Dough

Ingredients

* 8 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
* ¼ cup plus 1 tbsp. light corn syrup

Instructions

1. Put the chocolate chips in a double boiler over medium heat, and allow to melt.
2. Stir the melted chocolate until it is smooth.
3. Add the corn syrup, stirring until thoroughly mixed.
4. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes. Pour into a plastic bag and refrigerate until firm.

-Chocolate Clay

Ingredients

* 10 oz. chocolate chips
* 1/3 cup corn syrup

Instructions

1 .Put chocolate chips in a double boiler. Heat slowly until melted, stirring constantly.
2. When chocolate is smooth, add corn syrup and mix thoroughly.
3. Pour the mixture onto waxed paper. Spread out until it's about ½ inch thick. Cover with waxed paper and let set for two hours.

Digital Scrapbooking Explained

2010-02-11T00:25:00.000-08:00

Scrapbooking is a fun and relaxing hobby, so looking at Beginner Scrapbooking is a great idea. Unfortunately there are certain aspects of it that are less than appealing to some. For one thing, all those scrapbooks that accumulate over time take up a lot of room. They also use up a lot of paper, which isn't good for the environment. And all of those supplies that scrapbookers need cost a significant amount of money.

So what's someone who loves the look of scrapbooks but doesn't want to deal with the clutter and expense to do? Try digital scrapbooking!

Like traditional scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking offers an attractive way to display your photos. But instead of making a physical album, you do everything on your computer. You use digital photographs and graphics to create pages much in the same way as you would with a paper scrapbook, only without the paper.

Digital scrapbooking has numerous advantages, including:

* It's much less expensive than paper scrapbooking in the long run. You probably already have a suitable graphics program on your computer. If not you'll have to purchase one, but by the time you've created a few scrapbooks, you'll still come out ahead.

* It's easier to make changes to a digital scrapbook. With a paper scrapbook, once you've created a page, you can't really remove elements or switch them around. With a digital scrapbook, all it takes is a click of the mouse to make any change you want to make.

* If you create a template you love, you can save it and use it again and again. There's no need to recreate it from scratch.

* You can afford to send copies of your scrapbook to friends and family. Not only would duplicating a paper scrapbook be time-consuming, it would be quite costly. But with a digital scrapbook, all you have to do is send a file via email or burn it onto a CD. There are even websites where you can create a digital scrapbook and send the link to anyone you want to see it.

* You don't have to worry about your photos fading. Digital photos and scrapbook pages are immune to the effects of heat, time and oxidation.

* If you decide that you want a hard copy of your digital scrapbook, you can always print out the pages and make one. There are also printing companies that will turn your scrapbook pages into a professionally bound book.

Some scrapbookers enjoy the process of putting pages and books together. Others like the look of scrapbooks, but long for an easier way to create them. If you don't think paper scrapbooking is for you, or if you lack the time or funds to do it as much as you would like, try digital scrapbooking. But be warned: it is highly addictive!

Easy Beginners Crafts - How to Make Edible Alphabet Cookies

2010-02-09T01:29:00.000-08:00

Alphabet Cookies is a very good example of an easy beginners craft to do with the kids. They will love it. Another alternative are mosaic crafts for beginners where the small motor skill are also used encouraging the development of small motor skills.

It's no secret that kids love sweets. So if you can find a way to combine them with something educational, you have a grand opportunity to teach and reinforce skills that your child needs to learn. Alphabet cookies are a great example of how to accomplish this. And they also make fun place cards for kids' birthday parties – just make them in the shape of the first letter of each child's first name, and place them on a napkin with the rest of the name written out beside them.

What You Need

* 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour (unsifted)
* 1 ½ cups butter
* 3 hard-boiled egg yolks
* 3 raw egg yolks
* ¾ cup sugar
* 1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Put the flour into a large bowl. Cut butter into small pieces, add to flour, and mix it with your hands until fine crumbs are formed.

3. In a smaller bowl, mash the hard-boiled egg yolks with the sugar. Stir into the flour mixture.

4. In the small bowl, mix the raw egg yolks and the vanilla. Stir into the flour mixture, using a fork.

5. Press the mixture into a firm ball, then roll out with a rolling pin.

6. Cut the dough into 3- to 4-inch strips. Roll them to make rope shapes.

7. Shape the ropes into letters, and press down to flatten a bit. When you're done, they should be about ¼ inch thick.

8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. They're done when they start to turn brown on the bottom.

9. Leave on baking sheet for a few minutes, then move to a rack and cool completely.

Tips

* If you want more colorful cookies, separate the dough into three or four sections after mixing in the egg yolks and vanilla and add a different color of food coloring to each section. Stir just until the color is even.

* You can also spruce these cookies up by adding some colored sugar or chocolate chips after shaping the letters.

* If you'd like to spice your cookies up a bit, add half a teaspoon of cinnamon to the recipe. Or, for a slightly different flavor, add a teaspoon of almond or lemon extract.

* If you prefer, you can use letter-shaped cookie cutters instead of shaping the letters by hand.

* Once the cookies are cooled, you could add some colorful icing and/or sprinkles.

* This is a great recipe to make with your kids. They can assist with the measuring and mixing and help shape the letters. This provides an opportunity for both bonding and learning.

* The dough may be covered and refrigerated overnight if needed.

How to Get Started in Calligraphy

2010-02-08T02:59:00.000-08:00

Calligraphy is not only a way of writing, it is an ancient art form. Its roots are believed to go back as far as Egyptian hieroglyphics, which represent the first stylized method of pictorial communication. Calligraphy as we know it, however, originated with Middle Age monks, who used it to make copies of the Bible and other holy texts.

Just as those monks used fancy writing to indicate the beauty and importance of the words they were writing, calligraphers today use the writing style to evoke similar feelings. Calligraphy is often used in signs, menus and other business applications to lend an air of grace and sophistication. Other places you might find calligraphy are in pieces of artwork and on wedding invitations.

While many people are intrigued by calligraphy, comparatively few take it upon themselves to learn it. They often feel that they do not have the artistic ability that is required. What they don't realize is that calligraphy really doesn't require much of that. It's more about attention to detail.

For those who are looking for a hobby that doesn't require a large investment, calligraphy is great. You only need a few supplies and a willingness to learn to get started. Two very good resource you may want to have look at though is:

The Calligrapher's Bible as it gives you all the strokes and more
Sheaffer Calligraphy Maxi Kit that is a kit with everything you need to get started so you do not have to buy a huge amount of supplies to start with your calligraphy.

1. Paper for Calligraphy

Choosing the right paper for calligraphy is very important. You don't need the most expensive paper for practice, but you do need a paper that will not bleed much. Some beginners use graph paper to help them get accustomed to making their letters in the correct sizes and proportions. Others use bond paper and draw light lines in pencil to guide them.

For finished work, a higher quality paper of a heavier weight is needed. Many calligraphers use handmade papers. Some also use vellum, which is made of animal skin. Whatever type of paper you use, it should be smooth and acid-free.

2. Pens for Calligraphy

Cheap ballpoint pens simply won't do for calligraphy. You don't necessarily have to use quills like they did in the old days, but you will need a flat-edged pen that is specifically designed for calligraphy. Or even better, a set of pens in a variety of sizes.

Fountain pens and felt tip pens are easier to use than dip pens, but it's hard to get the same quality out of them. These types of pens are suitable for learning, but for long-term use, a reed, bamboo or quill pen is a better choice. These types of pens utilize nibs, or tips, of various sizes. You'll also need some quality ink, but it's probably best not to spring for the really expensive stuff until you get some practice in. Some inks have droppers built into the lid to make inking your pen easier.

3. Other Calligraphy Supplies

To start with, paper, pens and ink are all that you really need. As you learn the basics and begin to work on more complex projects, you might find that you need more tools. These may include rulers, compasses and line guides. You'll also find that an ultrasonic cleaner makes keeping your nibs clean much easier.

Calligraphy is a fun hobby, and it can also provide a source of income if you want to go that route. Learning takes practice, but it doesn't cost much to get started. And just about anyone who has a steady hand and plenty of patience can do it.

How to Get Your Teenage Boy Interested in Crafts

2010-02-04T23:46:00.000-08:00

When they're young, boys and girls alike usually enjoy crafting. But as they reach the teenage years, they tend to lose interest. This is especially true for boys, who often feel that crafting isn't masculine enough a pursuit.

But crafting is good for children of all ages, as well as adults. It's great for building self-esteem, and it provides something productive for them to do outside of school and extracurricular activities. And while you might be hard pressed to get many teenage boys to try their hand at sewing or knitting, such as you will find in the Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter, there are certain types of projects that they often enjoy.

Here are a few to try.

* Solar system –

Building your own solar system is quite educational, and it also makes a great decoration for a boy's room. You can find kits that contain everything your teenager will need to create a model of the solar system, or you can buy the supplies individually at your local craft store. Hang it in the center of the ceiling and add some glow in the dark stars, and you've got an instant bedroom makeover!

* Volcano models –

This project is often done for science fairs, but it's also a great craft to do just for the fun of it. The volcano itself can be made out of play dough or plaster, and it's easy to make it erupt with some vinegar and baking soda.

* Wood crafts –

Boys often love the idea of making things out of wood. It is a craft, yet it's not perceived as being “girly.” Building wall shelves is a nice, easy project for beginners. Birdhouses can be made to give as gifts or to sell for extra money. Woodburning requires a bit more practice, but it's a craft that can be used to make lots of great décor items and gifts.

* Decoupage –

Boys and girls alike often enjoy decoupage. It's fun and simple, and it can be used to decorate everything from plaques to furniture. With a little Mod Podge and some photos, magazine pictures or even fabric cutouts, your teen boy can give his room a whole new look.

* Photo collages –

A photo collage is lots of fun to make, and it provides a unique way to display your favorite photos. Teenage boys could make collages out of their favorite sports shots, pictures of their friends and family or movie scenes.

As you can see, there are plenty of craft projects that teenage boys can enjoy. Encourage him to try some of these projects, and he might even let you help with them. And as any parent of a teenager knows, any opportunity to bond with your child is a welcome one.

The Difference between Western and Chinese Calligraphy

2010-02-04T00:36:00.000-08:00

Calligraphy is a beautiful type of writing that lends an air of sophistication to anything it's used on. To the casual observer, one piece of calligraphy might look much the same as any other. But each calligrapher has his own subtle differences in style, and there are also many different types of calligraphy that one may encounter. For all the info on Calligraphy you can have a look at a resource such as The Calligrapher's Bible. There you will find all the basics plus so much more.

The two most common types of calligraphy are Western and Chinese. Here are some facts and characteristics of each type.

Western Calligraphy

Western calligraphy dates back nearly as far as the Roman alphabet, which came into use around 600 BC. One of the first types of Western calligraphy that resembled the art as we know it today was called rustic capitals or canonized capitals. Rustic capitals were similar to their predecessors, Roman square capitals, but whereas square capitals were extremely uniform and intended for use in inscriptions, rustic capitals were more compressed, curvier, and better suited to pen and ink writing.

Uncial script developed in the second and third centuries AD. Like rustic capitals, it consisted entirely of capital letters, but it was more rounded in order to be more suitable for use on new, smoother papers such as parchment and vellum. Uncial was frequently used by monks to copy religious texts.

Western calligraphy underwent many more changes throughout the years, with the development of such styles as Semi-Uncial, Caroline and Gothic. The Gothic style was incorporated in to Johannes Gutenberg's original printing press, making it the world's first typeface.

Although the printing press made it much faster and easier to produce copies of scripts, Western calligraphy has stood the test of time. Modern Western calligraphy is done with pens and ink. Many calligraphers still use reed or quill pens, but fountain and felt-tip pens are also options.

Chinese Calligraphy

Also known as East Asian calligraphy, Chinese calligraphy is practiced in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. But true to its name, Chinese calligraphy originated and was developed in China. Although some Chinese scholars disagree, Chinese calligraphy is generally considered an art in the countries that practice it.

Chinese calligraphy has also undergone many transformations in its centuries of existence. The first known incarnation of the writing style was Jiaguwen, which has been found on carvings that date back to ancient China. Calligraphy was also done with brushes and ink in those times, but samples of such did not survive the test of time.

Until around 220 BC, each kingdom of China had a unique set of characters. But emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered that a set of standardized characters, called Xiaozhuan, be created. Lishu and Kaishu styles were subsequently created, and Kaishu is the style that is most often used today.

The most notable differences between Western and Chinese calligraphy are the alphabets and mediums used. But each style has its own colorful history. Have a look at The Calligrapher's Bible

Beginner Scrapbooking Fun - Fun beginners Crafts

2010-01-30T00:29:00.000-08:00

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

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

2010-01-25T08:20:00.000-08:00

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!

How to Make a Mouse out of Walnut Shells

2010-01-20T01:47:00.000-08:00

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.

Cool Yarn and Fiber Craft Projects Your Teenager Will Love

2010-01-17T02:59:00.000-08:00

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

Beginner Scrapbooking: How to Get Started

2010-01-16T02:10:00.000-08:00

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!

Cuisinart Classic Stockpot For Those Soups And Party Pastas

2010-01-14T23:12:00.000-08:00

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

Tattered Angel –Glimmer Kit – Girl

2010-01-13T23:44:00.000-08:00

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

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

2010-01-05T05:16:00.000-08:00

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.

Crafts For Beginners - How to Create a Winter Splatter Painting

2009-12-29T01:08:00.000-08:00

Crafts For Beginners should be fun and easy to complete. On such crafts for beginners is mosaic crafts for beginners using pumpkin seeds and here is another craft the little ones will love, Splatter painting!

Painting is a great way for kids to express themselves. And just like many of the other activities they enjoy it can be quite messy! Splatter painting is especially messy, but it creates a very interesting effect.

Splatter painting works very well for winter scenes. When you do the splattering with white paint, it looks just like falling snow. Here's how you and your child can create a winter splatter paint masterpiece.

What You Need

* Construction paper in a variety of colors
* Scissors
* Glue
* Paint in white and other colors
* Bowl
* Toothbrush
* Silver glitter
* Newspapers
* Easel
* Smock

Instructions

1. Using construction paper in black or another dark color for the background, create an outdoor winter scene. A simple village looks nice, or you could create a Christmas scene with Santa and his reindeer. You could cut shapes out of other pieces of construction paper and glue them on, use paint to create a scene, or do a combination of both. If using paint, let dry completely.

2. Since this craft is so messy, it's best to do it outdoors. If attempting it indoors, make sure to cover the work area thoroughly with newspapers. And dress children in old clothes and/or a smock.

3. Hang the picture on the easel with some newspaper behind it. (If you don't have an easel, tape some newspaper onto a wall and tape the picture onto it.) Pour some white paint into the bowl, and add a little water if necessary to thin it out to a “splatterable” consistency.

4. Dip the toothbrush into the paint, and sling it onto the picture to make snow. Use as little or as much paint as you like.

5. If you want to add some sparkle to your painting, sprinkle a small amount of sliver glitter onto it while the paint is still wet. Shake off the excess over a pie pan. (Keep in mind that the paint will not hold as much glitter as glue would.) Let dry and hang up for all to see and enjoy.

Tips

For best results, do a test splatter before splattering paint onto your picture. To do this, simply hang up a blank piece of dark construction paper and splatter the paint onto it. If the paint runs, it is too thin. If it's hard to splatter, add a little bit of water and try again. Keep working with it until it's just the right consistency.

If you're making your scene out of construction paper cutouts and don't want them to have “snow” on them, glue on only the background items before you do the splatter painting. Let dry, and then glue on the figures in the foreground.

Tie Dyeing 101

2009-12-26T00:19:00.000-08:00

Tie Dying is an easy craft very suitable as a beginners craft, such as the beginners crafts ideas you can get for silk painting on the page Silk Painting Is Fun. Most of us associate tie dyed clothing and décor with the late 60s and early 70s. But did you know that there are samples of tie dyed fabric that date back as early as 800 A.D.? The techniques used to produce these ancient garments produced results somewhat different from what most of us see today, but they are certainly recognizable as tie dye.

Tie dyeing is simple enough that a child can do it with a little assistance.

Here's a step-by-step tutorial.

1. Choose a fabric that will hold dye well. 100% cotton is one of the best choices, and it's very easy to work with. But other natural fabrics such as silk and rayon can also be successfully tie dyed. For best results, wash and dry the garment before you dye it.

2. Get your materials together. You can buy pre-packaged tie dye kits if you don't want to purchase everything separately. If you buy your materials individually, you'll need dye, rubber bands, rubber gloves, squeeze bottles, urea and soda ash. You should be able to find all of these items in your favorite craft supply store.

3. Mix soda ash with warm water according to the directions on the label. Soak the garment for about 10 minutes. Then put on some rubber gloves and wring it out thoroughly, or put it in the washer on spin cycle to get all excess water out.

4. Lay the garment flat on a table or other flat surface. Place a dowel, a wooden clothespin, or even your finger in the center, and start turning it clockwise. Continue until the entire garment is twisted into a circle, pushing the fabric down off of the dowel as you go so that it remains as flat as possible. Remove the dowel carefully to avoid pulling the fabric up.

5. Slip rubber bands onto the twisted garment, taking care to retain its shape. You'll need to use several of them and go in all different directions. Keep the garment as flat as possible throughout the process.

6. Mix one or more colors of dye in squirt bottles per the instructions on the container.

7. Protect your work area by covering it with plastic and a layer of paper towels. Place the garment on top of the paper towels, and start squirting the dye on. For a rainbow-colored garment, use yellow, fuchsia and turquoise. Squirt each color thoroughly on a third of the garment, overlapping them a bit. Don't leave any white areas, because there will be plenty of those in the wrinkles of the garment.

8. Turn the garment over onto a pile of clean paper towels, and repeat the process on the back, putting each color behind where the same color was on the front if you're using more than one.

9. Place the garment into a ziplock bag, seal, and leave in a warm place for 24 to 36 hours.

10. Remove the garment from the bag, and rinse in cold water until the water runs clear. Wash it by itself on normal cycle in the washing machine, and it's ready to wear!

This technique may be used to create a variety of projects. The most common is the t-shirt, but you can also use it on pants, accessories, and even curtains. And once you get the hang of this technique, you can do the twisting and tying in different ways to produce different effects. Have fun!

Clay Handprint Kit - Angel Handprints Keepsake - Baby Handprint

2009-12-21T00:32:00.000-08:00

Angel Clay Handprints Kit

Casts of children’s handprints are a wonderful keepsake for parents, grandparents and godparents alike. It’s a nostalgic way to preserve the memory of your baby or child’s hand or footprint.

The Angel Clay Handprints Kit is suitable for children’s hands from birth to about age 12. The handprint clay tile is made from Mexican clay. The clay is self-drying and therefore easy to use at home.

The kit includes step-by-step instructions on how to make perfect impressions of your newborn’s foot or handprint or your older children’s handprints. Also included in the kit are shape clay , wax paper, sponge and twine for hanging up the treasured clay tile. The finished handprint tile measures approximately 9”x8.5”.

Imprint a message and a date and the angel clay handprint will be admired forever by the person who receives it as a gift.

Go and Have a Look: Clay Handprint Kit - Angel Handprints Keepsake - Baby Handprint

How to Make an Edible Garland for Feeding Birds

2009-12-17T23:55:00.000-08:00

Garland is a favorite Christmas decoration of many. You can find all sorts of garlands in stores – shiny ones, beaded ones, subdued ones and fluffy ones. But it's much more fun and original to make your own than to buy the same ones everyone else is using.

Lots of families make garlands out of candy or popcorn to use when decorating their Christmas trees. It's a simple project that the whole family can do together. But did you know that edible garlands are also great for attracting birds and other small animals to your yard in the winter? Here's how to make a beautiful decorative garland that the critters will find absolutely irresistible.

What You Need

* Raffia or twine
* Scissors
* Large sail maker's needle
* Unsalted peanuts with shells intact
* Small pine cones
* Peanut butter
* Birdseed
* Butter knife
* Pie plate
* Unsalted, unbuttered popped popcorn
* Soft dried fruits such as cranberries, dates and raisins
* Sunflower seeds in the hulls
* Plain Cheerios cereal
* Millet sprays

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of raffia or twine to about a foot longer than length that you want your finished garland to be. Thread the needle with it.

2. Securely tie a peanut to the end of the string. This will keep the items you string on from falling off.

3. Using the butter knife, spread peanut butter onto the small pine cones. Place some birdseed into a pie plate and roll the peanut butter-covered cones in it.

4. Thread the treats, including the pine cones, onto the string in a pattern or at random.

5. Use small pieces of the raffia or twine to tie millet sprays onto the garland at regular intervals.

6. When the garland is filled to about 6 inches from the end, tie on another peanut to keep everything in place.

7. Hang the strand of garland on an outdoor tree, and watch as the birds eagerly devour it!

Tips

* You can make clean-up easier by making this project outdoors. When you're done, you can leave anything you dropped for the birds to eat.

* If making this project with small children, close supervision should be provided to prevent injury from the sharp needle.

* Feel free to add more items to your garland. Just make sure they're safe for birds and other small animals to eat. They should be all natural, with no salt, butter or other unnecessary additives.

* If you want the birds to come even closer, try looping the garland around the rails on your front porch.

* Make sure the garland is kept out of the reach of pets and small children. They might decide that they would like a snack and destroy it.

How to Make “Happy Kwanzaa” Cards

2009-12-16T11:32:00.000-08:00

Kwanzaa is a holiday celebrating African heritage and culture. Celebrated from December 26th to January 1st each year, it features candle-lighting ceremonies, feasts, gift giving and more. The holiday was not intended to replace Christmas, but rather to give those of African descent a time to celebrate themselves and their ancestors.

Each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of seven principles. These are:

Umoja – Unity
Kujichagulia – Self-determination
Ujima – Collective work and responsibility
Ujamaa – Co-operative Economics
Nia – Purpose
Kuumba – Creativity
Imani – Faith

Just like those who celebrate Christmas send out Christmas cards, those who celebrate Kwanzaa often send out cards for the holiday. What better way to celebrate the principle of Kuumba than to make handmade cards for your friends and family? Following are some ideas for creating beautiful and unique “Happy Kwanzaa” cards.

Use Kwanzaa Colors

The traditional colors of Kwanzaa are red, green and black. Each of these colors has a special meaning. Red symbolizes the blood shed by Africans, and represents the principles Kuumba, Ujamaa and Kujichagulia. Green represents the land of Africa, as well as the principles of Ujima, Nia and Imani. And black represents the African people and the principle of Umoja.

One way you could utilize these three colors is by weaving. To do this, fold a piece of card stock in half. Then cut a piece of black construction paper the size of the folded card, and cut slits in it starting ½ inch from one end and ending ½ inch from the other. Repeat every half inch. Then cut out half-inch strips of red and green paper and weave them through. When finished, glue the weaving to the front or inside of the card.

The Symbols of Kwanzaa

Incorporate the symbols of Kwanzaa into your design. These include a candleholder with seven candles, the unity cup, and crops. Corn is an especially meaningful symbol, as it represents the children of the family.

Here's a fun and attractive way to make an ear of corn to use on your cards. Lay a piece of yellow construction paper on top of a piece of gold foil paper. Draw the shape of an ear of corn on the construction paper, and cut through both layers. Use a hole punch to punch rows of holes out of the yellow paper, and place it back on top of the gold foil. Then cut green construction paper in the shape of a husk, leaving space for the corn to show through, and glue it all together.

Sending handmade cards is a fun Kwanzaa activity. You can capture the spirit of the holiday by using the traditional colors and symbols, and help spread it by sending out cards to your friends and family.

Silk Painting Activity Set

2009-12-15T01:05:00.000-08:00

Alex toys are always winners when it comes to crafts kits for children and the Silk Painting Activity Set is no exception. With this Silk Painting Activity Set your kid will have a lot of fun.Silk Painting Kits are fun and your kid will love it.

Getting craft kits is always a good idea when you are starting a new craft. The kits make it possible for you to try out a craft without having to spend a fortune on all the supplies you need. Once you know that you enjoy a certain craft, them you can invest in all the equipment and tools you need. In this respect Silk Painting Kits are no different.

If you want your kid to try out silk painting first before spending a fortune, this Silk Painting Activity Set is a very good idea.

There is also a very good silk painting kit available that you may like to try and it is silk painting kits by Jacquard. these kits will give you all you need to try silk painting and it is called: Jacquard Silk Hoop Painting Fun Bag.

So, if you want to try out silk painting yourself get it. For your kid get the Silk Painting Activity Set.

Go To: Silk Painting Activity Set

Cuisinart CBT 700

2009-12-10T00:11:00.000-08:00

Smoothies are tasty and smoothies are fun! So, having a look at the Cuisinart CBT 700 Smoothie Maker is a good idea. Smoothies are the ideal drinks to treat kids with on party, so go and have a look at the Cuisinart CBT 700 Smoothie Maker or Blender and have tasty drinks for the kids on your New Years day dinner.

With a Cuisinart CBT 700 Smoothie Maker you will be able to treat more than only the adults. If you are family orientated, that will of course be very important to you. So, why not have a look at the Cuisinart CBT 700 Smoothie Maker and treat the kids in style!

To give you an idea, here is a tasty recipe for a smoothie the kids will love, See how much you will enjoy a Cuisinart CBT 700 Smoothie Maker.

Cereal Topped Fruit Smoothies

What You Need:

6 (8 oz.) containers of vanilla yogurt
3/4 C of orange juice
3 bananas
3 C of frozen whole strawberries
Trix cereal, crushed

How to Make It:

Place the yogurt into the blender.
Add the orange juice and stir just slight to incorporate into the yogurt.
Peel the bananas and break each banana into chunks.
Place the bananas and strawberries into the blender.
Cover and blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Pour into glasses and top with the crushed cereal.

Makes 10 servings

This healthy drink is great to serve to kids for their New Years Eve party. It’s not as cold as a milk shake or as time consuming as punch. These smoothies can be topped with miniature chocolate chips or cut up pieces of fruit if you prefer.

Preparation Time: approximately 15 minutes

Total Time: approximately 15 minutes

Nutritional Information per 1 C serving: (approximate values)

Calories 230; fat 2 g; sodium 90 mg; carbohydrates 47 g; sugar 38 g; protein 8 g

So, hurry and have a look at the Cuisinart CBT 700 Smoothie Maker. Remember, smoothies are also ideal for quick breakfasts and even lunch in summer. My son always used to have a nutritious smoothie for lunch during the summer. He loved it.

So, Go To: Cuisinart CBT 700 Smoothie Maker Now.

Alex Super Art Table

2009-12-09T23:44:00.000-08:00

Why is looking at the Alex Super Art Table a good idea? Well, to start with it will look beautiful in any kids' room or playroom. You can even use it in the Den and it will make a beautiful piece of furniture.

The fact that the Alex Super Art Table is a beautiful piece of furniture is not the main reason why you should get it though. The Alex Super Art Table is the ideal place for a kid to do arts and crafts on. The benches are wide enough so that you can sit with your kid and work together.

Of course I have also seen playgroups buying the Alex Super Art Table because it is ideal for little kids, it includes cups to place the supplies in and the canvas bag is ideal for storing everything in. It is also sturdy and will be able to handle all the abuse small kids will throw it's way.

The Alex Super Art Table includes a paper roll and a kid safe cutter for the paper. The paper roll makes it really convenient as the paper is always available. No need to go hunting for paper when you want to draw or paint. So, your little budding artist will be able to work safely, comfortably at a moment's notice.

So go and have a look at the: Alex Super Art Table now!

Our South African visitors can also get the: Alex Super Art Table

Why Is It Important To Limit The Amount Of Calories You Eat Per Day?

2009-12-09T02:22:00.000-08:00

Are you wondering why it is important to limit the amount of calories you eat per day? Well, the unfortunate truth is that if you eat too many calories per day, you will gain weight even if you are very active.

So if you are overweight already or if you want to prevent it, you may be interested in How To Lose Weight, Calories in and calories out. You see, you have to make sure that the amount of calories you consume are balanced out by the amount of calories you eat.

Now I know, counting calories is very difficult. It is hard to measure and weight everything, work out how many calories are in each meal you eat. An easier way is to get a good diet, if you want to lose weight, or a good eating plan, if you want to maintain your weight.

A healthy eating plan will give you a good idea of what you should eat in the course of a normal day. Of course, there will be times when you will have to divert and eat something else, well, all have to do then is do a little more exercise on that day to work off the extra calories.

If you have to lose weight, get a good diet, not a fad diet, stick to it and you will lose weight. Using a set diet is far easier than having to count calories. There are other easier ways to reduce calories as well and you can read all about it on How To Lose Weight Calories.

Go To: How To Lose Weight Calories.

Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures

2009-12-08T05:38:00.000-08:00

The author of Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures, Amanda Soule, has also written “The Creative Family” and is the founder of a popular blog, www.SouleMama.com. She has four children and enjoys creating and making things together with her family by consuming less and reusing more. She lives in Portland, Maine and her projects are certainly inspired by the rugged and beautiful coastline of her home area.

Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures includes 33 craft and sewing projects which reuse and repurpose materials that you can find in your own home or when hunting through thrift shops. The projects are easy to make, full of unique beauty and will give you joy for years to come.

Some of the projects are:

Family Art Table Runner
Silky Eye Pillow
Baby Sling
Letter Satchel
Baby’s Fringed Play Mat
Handkerchief Curtain
Memory Tree Quilt Art
The Family Heart
Cozy Wall Pockets
And many more exciting and back to earth projects

The author of Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures also gives advice on being eco-friendly and reusing and repurposing old materials. How and where to find vintage materials: from flea markets and antique halls to garage sales. Each project comes with instructions and gives information on ability levels. The book also benefits from beautiful colored photographs.

Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures is a wonderful addition to any craft library.

Button It Up: 80 Amazing Vintage Button Projects

2009-12-08T03:58:00.000-08:00

In her book Button It Up: 80 Amazing Vintage Button Projects, Susan Beal introduces you to 80 fantastic vintage button projects that you and your children will enjoy. Whether you are using up buttons you’ve been collecting over the years or pretty buttons you saw in thrift shops or flea markets – this book gives you ideas on how to make them into beautiful bracelets, button charms, button-embellished T-shirts and more.

The book starts by teaching you the history of buttons and why people have been fascinated by them for so long. Whether you are planning on creating a solo pendant necklace, button charm necklace, button dangle earrings, button cuffs, button hair clips, button toys, button embellished handbags or even vintage button embellished curtains and dinner party set – all the ideas are unique in style and eye-catching.

The book covers and discusses all the basic skills and materials needed to finish each project successfully, from wire to glues and chains. It also benefits from step-by-step instructions.

Button It Up: 80 Amazing Vintage Button Projects is a creative craft book that is suitable for every creative person to turn old buttons into something wonderful and colorful.

Three Helpful Tips for New Scissor Users

2009-11-25T00:07:00.000-08:00

For adults, scissors are just simple tools used to cut things. But to a small child, they represent infinite possibilities. Cutting is one skill that most children are willing to practise with little or no encouragement!

Parents are often apprehensive about letting little ones use scissors. They worry about the safety of the child, as well as the safety of their books, magazines and draperies. And who hasn’t heard (or experienced) a horror story about a toddler giving himself or the dog a unique new haircut? But learning to use scissors is important, and it doesn’t have to be scary.

Here are three tips that will help you make the most of your child’s cutting experiments.

1. Choose the right kind of scissors. The ones that are made completely of plastic might seem safer, but they just don’t work very well. They tend to frustrate young minds, leading them to give up quickly. Blunt-tipped scissors with metal blades are much easier to work with, and they are quite safe.

Keep in mind that small hands need small scissors. Large handles are harder for them to hold on to, and big blades are more difficult for them to control. Scissors made just for kids are essential until they get the hang of things.

2. Find appropriate materials for kids to cut. Newspapers and magazines might seem like a good choice, but they are rather thin for new scissor users. Construction paper and old greeting cards or note cards are much easier for children to cut.

You don’t have to stop with paper, though. There are plenty of other things kids can cut. Thin cardboard boxes are great for scissor practice. Even play dough will work. If you sew, try giving your child some thick fabric scraps to cut.

3. Don’t expect too much too fast. When kids first start out with scissors, it’s important to let them do their own thing for a while. It will get messy, and it’s unlikely that they will cut in straight lines. But giving kids time to learn how to properly hold scissors and see how they work before moving on to the finer points is crucial.

Once your child is cutting fairly well, you can move on to bigger and better things. Let him try his hand at cutting thinner types of paper, and draw some straight lines for him to cut. When he has mastered that, he can start cutting simple shapes.

Learning to use scissors is a big step for a child. It helps develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and cutting in itself is something we all need to know how to do. By providing the right tools and materials and close supervision, we can help our kids learn this important skill and have fun doing it.

How to Make a Thanksgiving or Christmas Napkin and Utensil Holder

2009-11-22T23:53:00.000-08:00

During the holidays Crafts Using Pine Cones are very popular as they make very good table decorations. It is not all you can do though and here is a pretty craft that can be used as a holiday centerpiece. It is easy to make and the kids can help you. So, whether you prefer Crafts Using Pine Cones or these pretty utensil holder, the kids will have a ball helping you with them.

How to Make a Thanksgiving or Christmas Napkin and Utensil Holder

An occasion such as the Thanksgiving and Christmas deserves some special table décor. This napkin and utensil holder has Christmas Motif that everyone is sure to love, and provides an attractive and convenient way to store your knives, forks, spoons and napkins.

Supplies

4 short cardboard tubes (about the size of bathroom tissue rolls, or slightly longer; but make sure they’re not so long that it will be difficult to remove plastic utensils from them)
Construction paper in red, green and gold
Gold chenille stems
5 ½ inch square of corrugated cardboard
4 plastic milk jug lids
Craft glue or glue stick
Gold Glitter
Scissors
Hot glue gun
Pencil

Instructions

1. Cut four strips of green construction paper wide enough to cover 2/3 of a cardboard tube and long enough to wrap around it. Cut four strips of red construction paper wide enough to cover 1/3 of a cardboard tube and wrap around it.

2. Use a thin layer of craft glue or a glue stick to cover each tube with a strip of green construction paper, starting at the bottom. Then glue a strip of red construction paper starting at the top.

3. Draw a star on gold construction paper and cut out. Use the star to trace and cut as many starts as you would like to use

4. Glue the stars onto the rolls, spacing them equally.

5. Glue the glitter onto the rolls, as you wish, you can also use different colors of glitter if you wish

6. Using the hot glue gun, glue a plastic milk jug lid into the bottom with the flat end to the outside.

8. Arrange the tubes on the cardboard two by two, with the ends containing the lids on the cardboard base. Leave an inch or so in between the rows for napkins. Glue the tubes down. Let dry.

9. Using the hot glue gun, glue a piece of gold chenille stem around the top of each tube. Glue gold chenille stems around the edges of the base.

10. Place utensils in each tube, and stand napkins up in the middle for a beautiful and useful Thanksgiving or Christmas centerpiece.

Have fun with this craft or go and have a look at the Crafts Using Pine Cones, making pine cone turkeys for Thanksgiving!

Craft Ideas For Beginners - How to Make a Beachwood Photo Holder

2009-11-15T23:35:00.000-08:00

Here is one of our easy Craft Ideas For Beginners. We all have these holiday photos, why not make the maximum use of them. Place them in your home and bring a little bit of the summer heat into a cold winter day with this, one of our craft ideas for beginners.

A trip to the beach is sure to create some lasting memories. The feel of the sand between your toes, the smell of the ocean and the warm beach sunshine are things that must be experienced to be appreciated. But once your vacation is over, photos can bring those sensations back quickly.

Many beachgoers file their pictures away in a shoebox or photo album somewhere and forget about them. Some place them in cheap frames or pin them up on a bulletin board to enjoy every day. But don’t your treasured beach photos deserve better than that?

This beachwood photo holder will do them justice while serving as a nice decorative touch for any room and that is why it is one of the very good craft ideas for beginners. You can also have a look at beginner scrapbooking as and alternative for all those vacation photos. Do not let them rot in a box somewhere! Use them in this beachwood photo holder or make a lovely dis play in your scrapbook.

To get started, you’ll need a large piece of driftwood found on the beach. It should be fairly flat and have plenty of character.

The other supplies you’ll need include:

Tacky glue
Wooden clothespins
Scrub brush
Shells, starfish and other beach findings
Drill
Piece of strong twine, around a foot long

Instructions

1. Clean your driftwood with the scrub brush. Try to remove all debris while maintaining the original look of the wood.

2. Glue clothespins to the driftwood a few inches apart. Be sure to leave enough room for your photos. Gluing the clothespins at various angles adds a casual and whimsical touch.

3. Arrange embellishments such as seashells, starfish and beach glass as you like on the driftwood. Glue and let dry.

4. With a pencil, lightly mark the horizontal center of the photo holder about a half inch from the top. Then measure and mark 4 inches to the right of the center and 4 inches to the left of the center.

5. Drill holes in the last two spots you marked. Tie one end of the twine through each hole to make a hanger.

Tips

* If you used a heavy piece of wood, you may need something stronger than twine to hold it up. Try straightening out a wire coat hanger, bending it in the middle and hooking it through the holes.

* If you want to preserve the rustic look of the driftwood, it’s best to leave it unpainted. But if you want to make it match your décor, add a coat of paint in a muted color.

* Artistic types could paint a beach scene on the photo holder before adding clothespins and other embellishments. Use your photos for inspiration.

* If you prefer a collage, omit the clothespins. Cut your photos into various shapes and stick them to the driftwood with Mod Podge. Let dry, then cover with another coat of Mod Podge before adding three-dimensional embellishments.

I hope you enjoy this very good example of craft ideas for beginners. For more craft ideas for beginners go to: Beginner Scrapbooking.

Speedball Deluxe Block Printing Kit

2009-11-14T04:02:00.000-08:00

Whether you are a professional artist, an amateur artist just getting started or an enthusiast who has been enjoying printing for a while, this Speedball Deluxe Block Printing Kit gives you everything you need to make beautiful and long-lasting prints.

The kit comes with a: <p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/right&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

4"×5" lino block
4"×6" Speedy Stamp
A lino handle
#1, #2, #3, #5, and #6 cutters
2.5 oz (74 ml) tube of black, water-based block printing ink
1.25 oz (37 ml) tubes of water-based block printing ink in colors red, blue, and yellow
1.25 oz (37 ml) tube of water-based block printing extender to create transparent color
4" soft pop-in brayer
Dual-purpose bench hook/inking plate

Speedball Deluxe Block Printing Kit

Get More Crafts Kits Go To: Silk Painting Kits Jacquard Silk Hoop Painting Fun Bag

Super Duper Art and Craft Activity Book

2009-11-13T00:17:00.000-08:00

The Super Duper Art and Craft Activity Book is full of exciting craft activities made from materials found in and around the house. Don’t let boredom get to your children, instead get them involved in these 75 messy and not so messy activities.

The Sunny Day Fun projects include a summer birdhouse, twig doll, rock zoo, nature’s leaf, doodle table, sand dough, sand castings, mysterious masks and more. The other chapters of the book include Rainy Day Fun projects, Recycle It and Party and Gift Activities.

Friendship bracelets, personal pillowcases, funny photo box, scented soaps, mummy’s tomb, spoon puppets, rag dolls, wind chimes, paper quilt placemats, floating boats, mini snowstorm, pom-pom pipecleaner creations, squiggle art and more – the projects are exciting and easy to follow with the step-by-step instructions and illustrations. The materials needed can easily be found in and around the house so kids will discover how to re-use recycled household items like egg cartons and natural materials, including bark, rocks and sand..

This Super Duper Art and Craft Activity Book is designed for kids of all ages and will show them how to have fun making things on their own or together with friends.

Discovering Great Artists: Hands-on Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters

2009-11-11T23:47:00.000-08:00

Discovering Great Artists: Hands-on Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters

If you and your children love art and want to learn more about artists from past centuries, this is a must-have book for you.

This detailed book informs you about many well-known and not so well-known artists. It is divided into four chapters. The first chapter is entitled “Renaissance & Post-Renaissance” and covers the artists of that era as well as their painting techniques and the materials they used. Each page introduces a different artist with a short biography, a sketch of the artist and ideas on how to recreate his painting style and technique.

Chapter 2 is about the Impressionists & Post-Impressionists, and Chapter 3 about the Expressionists & Surrealists. In Chapter 4 you will learn about Modern & Folk Art.

From Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Picasso, and Degas to Dali, Lichtenstein and O’Keefe – there is lots to learn about these famous artists and their individual painting styles. This book is not only for children but also for their parents – an exploration of art not to be missed!

Good News! You can get even more easy Beginners Crafts When you visit: Fimo Clay Ideas !

Discovering Great Artists: Hands-on Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters

Holiday Crafts - How to Make Festive Indian Corn Napkin Rings

2009-11-05T08:11:00.000-08:00

Holiday Crafts - How to Make Festive Indian Corn Napkin Rings

Holiday Crafts making something for the dinner table is always popular. These Festive Indian Corn Napkin Rings will really make your table look festive!

Autumn is a beautiful and colorful time of year. Fall flowers, the changing leaves, and seasonal crops all contribute to the vibrant colors of nature. These items provide the inspiration for a variety of crafts.

One of the most interesting of fall crops is Indian corn. Unlike most corn, its kernels come in lots of different colors. This makes it a welcome addition to cornucopias and other fall centerpieces. But you don't have to have the real thing to incorporate its unique look into your Thanksgiving table decorations. These napkin rings bear a striking resemblance to Indian corn, and they are easy and inexpensive to make.

What You Need

Construction paper (ideally orange, brown or another fall color, but any color will work)
Pencil with an eraser
Scissors
Tissue paper in yellow, orange and burgundy
White craft glue

Instructions

1. Place a piece of construction paper lengthwise. Draw a line about 1 ½ inches from the top to make a strip. Cut out.

2. Cut the strip in half.

3. Cut a piece of each color of tissue paper into 1-inch squares.

4. Spread a thin layer of the white craft glue over a 1-inch section of the construction paper strip.

5. Twist a square of the yellow tissue paper around the eraser end of the pencil. Push the twisted paper down onto the top corner of the glued section, and carefully remove the pencil.

6. Repeat step 5 with another piece of yellow construction paper placed next to the first one, and then with a piece of orange or burgundy tissue paper. Continue using two or three yellow pieces followed by an orange or burgundy piece until the glued area is completely covered.

7. Cover another 1-inch section of the construction paper strip with a thin layer of craft glue, and continue adding pieces of twisted tissue paper. Repeat until all but ½ inch of the strip is covered.

8. Bend the strip into a circular shape, with the tissue paper on the outside. Glue the ends together. Let dry completely before using.

Tips

* Each strip of construction paper makes two napkin rings. You should be able to make enough for all of your guests with a piece or two of construction paper.

* For best results, store the napkin rings empty and lying on their side until ready to use. This will keep the tissue paper from getting flattened.

* Be sure to roll napkins tightly so that they will fit easily into the napkin rings. If the glue does not hold, and you don't have time to glue them and let them dry again, try stapling the ends together.

Holiday Crafts really get everyone in the mood for the Holidays. Enjoy these Corn Rings!

Thanksgiving Arts And Crafts To Make - Make a Thankful Tree with Handprint Leaves

2009-11-05T08:04:00.000-08:00

On Thanksgiving, we get the family together for a big, delicious dinner. We remember old times, and catch up on what's currently going on in everyone's lives. And, if we stick with tradition, we take time to reflect on the things we're thankful for.

Unfortunately, the idea of giving thanks is often forgotten during the holiday festivities. But there are ways we can encourage our children (and other children in the family) to think about the good things in their lives. This, one of our easy Thanksgiving Arts And Crafts To Make, the “thankful tree” craft works nicely, and it's also fun to make. Here's how to do it.

What You Need

Brown kraft paper
Construction paper in orange, red, yellow and brown
Pencil
Crayons, markers or pen
Scissors
Cork bulletin board
Thumbtacks or stapler with staples

Instructions

1. Using the pencil, draw a tree trunk with branches on the brown kraft paper. Make it large enough to fill up most of the bulletin board. Cut out and tack or staple to the bulletin board.

2. Have a child trace his or her hand onto a piece of the construction paper and cut it out.

3. Have the child use a marker, crayon or pen to write his or her name on the handprint, as well as something he or she is thankful for. When finished, tack or staple the “leaf” onto the tree trunk.

4. Ask each child to make a leaf, or more than one if so desired. Arrange the leaves on the tree so that it is evenly covered.

Tips

If you don't have a bulletin board, you could attach your thankful tree to a door or wall. If doing so, use thumbtacks for best results.
Adults can participate as well, but their handprints may be too large if you're using a small bulletin board. To remedy this, you could simply cut smaller leaf shapes and have them ready for your guests to write on when they arrive.
If you don't have enough handprints to cover your tree, have children make leaf rubbings by placing a leaf under a plain white piece of paper and rubbing the side of the crayon over it. Cut them out and add them to the tree to fill in the empty spaces.
Want a more authentic-looking tree? Place a small tree branch into a flowerpot and fill with sand, marbles or rocks so that it stands up straight. Use a hole punch to make holes in the handprint leaves and tie them to the branch with string or twine, letting them hang down a bit. You could even add a string of white miniature holiday lights if you like. This makes a lovely centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table!

This craft, one of our Thanksgiving Arts And Crafts To Make, will bring delight to everyone taking part.

Pottery Tool Kit

2009-11-04T03:34:00.000-08:00

The tools in the Pottery Tool Kit are essential for potters, whether beginner or more advanced. The tools allow you to shape and mold clay, to add detail and texture to clay and any other soft surface, including plasticene, playdough or even papier mache.

The eight basic tools of the Pottery Tool Kit include:

Loop tool
Ribbon tool
Potter’s rib
Needle tool
Wood modeling tool
Sponge scraper
Wire clay cutter

The loop tool is essential to trim and refine the shape of your clay sculpture. The ribbon tool has a sharp edge that allows the clay to be cut, shaped and sliced. The needle tool is used to make holes and designs. The differently shaped ends of the basic tools make exciting designs and marks on your pieces of clay art and allow you to create beautiful pieces of pottery.

Have a look at The Pottery Toolkit