Fun Easy Crafts - Five Ideas for Making Home-Made Goodies for the Goody Bag

Fun Easy Crafts - Five Ideas for Making Home-Made Goodies for the Goody Bag

Party favors are an important part of any birthday celebration. They serve as a way to thank your guests for coming, and they give them something to remind them of the wonderful time they've had.

If you're on a budget, however, it may seem impossible to compete with those who put together huge goody bags for their guests.

Actually, creating great goody bags doesn't require a great deal of expense. Making home-made fillers can help cut costs and still put a smile on your guests' faces. Here are five great home-made goody ideas.

1. Bake some scrumptious home-made cookies or brownies.

Everybody loves sweet stuff, after all. And unless you're having lots and lots of guests, one batch will probably be all you need. Wrap one or two cookies or brownies in plastic wrap and tie with a ribbon, or simply put them in a sandwich bag. These probably won't be kept as long as other favors, but they will certainly be appreciated!

2. Make your guests some jewelry.

Not elaborate pieces with expensive gemstones, but fun beaded bracelets or necklaces. Buy some of those cheap plastic beads with letters, numbers and different colored beads. String them onto a piece of elastic or hemp cord, personalizing with the guest's name or the party theme and date.

3. Give them a photo to commemorate the day.

Make some paper frames ahead of time using scrapbooking paper or card stock. During the party, get all of the guests together and take a group photo, or take individual candid photos. Print them out with a photo printer or your computer, attach a frame to each with a glue stick, and add one to each guest's goody bag before he leaves.

4. Create goody bags that can be reused as something else.

Sew up some simple pouches that may be used to carry cell phones, MP3 players or other small items. Put the rest of the goodies inside of them. This is a great way to use up some of that scrap fabric!

5. Make some small, simple toys to use as kids' party favors. You can easily make a stuffed bunny with two bunny shapes cut out of an old t-shirt. Just sew them together, leaving enough space to turn them inside out and add stuffing. Once stuffed, finish sewing them, sew on some googly eyes and draw a nose, mouth and whiskers with markers.

Home-made party favors are much less expensive than those bought from the store. They're also a whole lot more meaningful and less likely to be tossed in the trash or the back of a kid's toy box. With a little imagination and a few simple supplies, you can make awesome party favors in no time.

Using Hemp and Natural Products in Your Crafting

Using Hemp and Natural Products in Your Crafting

Go into any craft store, and you'll see that there is a vast array of supplies to choose from. The use of synthetic materials has added to the selection. But many crafters still prefer to use natural products in their projects.

Many natural products are renewable and require minimal processing, making them good for the environment. They also give projects a natural beauty that is unmatched by man-made materials. Some of the most popular natural products for crafting include the following:


Natural Materials

* Hemp - There are lots and lots of things you can use hemp for. One of the most popular among crafters is jewelry making. Hemp cord is durable and inexpensive, and it can be used to simply string beads or be woven into detailed patterns. Hemp can also be used to make textiles, paper, and much more.
* Natural yarns - Wool makes a very high quality yarn, and it is very much renewable. There are also many other types of yarn that are made from animal fur without harming the animal itself.

* Grapevine - Grapevine is most often used to make wreaths and other types of wall hangings. Ready-made wreaths are available in craft stores, or you can make your own from grapevines that you collect yourself. They are often decorated with silk or dried flowers and ribbons.

* Clay - There are plenty of natural clays on the market. They can be used to create all sorts of crafts.


Natural Embellishments

* Moss - Moss is a crafter's staple. It's used to fill decorative baskets, make hair for rustic dolls and figurines, and add a special touch to gift boxes. Craft stores often sell moss in bulk.

* Pine cones - Pine cones make their way into a variety of crafts. You can easily find them in nature in many areas, but if there are no pine trees nearby or you need a specific type of cone that you can't find, you can buy them in craft stores or online.

* Stones - Crafters use stones to adorn everything from jewelry to furniture. They can be found in every shape, and in lots of sizes and colors. Some craft stores sell especially nice ones.

* Seashells - When we see a seashell, we instantly think of the beach. Shells make lovely jewelry, and can also be used to make magnets, decorate jewelry boxes, and much more. If you're not near the beach, you can buy seashells in stores or online.


Natural products make beautiful crafts. They can be used to make home décor that is inspired by nature, or to create jewelry that is sure to become a conversation piece. And for those who like to spread environmental consciousness, they provide a wonderful avenue for doing so.

Five Simple Projects You Can Make With Fimo Clay

Five Simple Projects You Can Make With Fimo Clay

Fimo clay can be used to create a wide variety of crafts. Skilled sculptors can use it to make beautiful figurines, intricate jewelry and much more. But there are plenty of great projects that beginners can do, too.

If you're looking to get started with clay, here are five easy projects to choose from:

1. Magnets - Magnets are good projects to get started with because you can make them somewhat flat. This leaves less of a chance for error.

You can use a pasta machine or a roller to make flat pieces to use for your magnet. One flat piece can be used for the base, and you can cut shapes or letters out of other colors and place them on top of it. Self-adhesive magnets can be attached to the back after baking, or you can glue a magnet on with a hot glue gun.

2. Beads - It's quite easy to make beads out of Fimo clay. The hard part is making them uniform. But the slight differences in size and shape will add character to the jewelry you make with them.

To make a round bead, simply roll a small amount of clay around in a circle on a flat surface until a ball is formed. Then poke a toothpick through it (if you plan to string the beads) and bake. You can make an oval bead by forming a ball and then rolling it back and forth a few times. Other shapes will require a little more work.

3. Rings - It's a cinch to make rings out of clay. All you have to do is make a strip of clay of the desired width and thickness, make a loop that will fit around your finger, and bake. You can also add beads or smaller strips of different colors to it if you like.

4. Christmas ornaments - If you have some Christmas cookie cutters that you do not use to make cookies, you can easily make Fimo clay ornaments. Simply roll out some clay to the desired thickness, cut the shape out with the cookie cutter, and decorate with strips and beads of different colors. Punch a hole at the top for hanging and bake.

5. Vases - You might think that it would be very difficult to make a vase out of clay, but it doesn't have to be. Using a pasta machine, you can make sheets of clay that you can use to cover old glassware, transforming it into a lovely new vase. These make beautiful home décor, as well as great, inexpensive gifts.

Some crafters are intimidated by clay because it is a three-dimensional medium. Easy projects such as these can help you get your feet wet, letting you get a feel for clay before you move on to more complex pieces.

Good News! There is a site with lots of very good and fun kids crafts. Go to it and do all these Fun Kids Crafts with your kids!

Fun Kids Crafts

There is a crafts book that I am very exited about. It is packed with 700 crafts with illustrations and templates and it is suitable for kids from the age of 3 years and up. You will not have a problem getting more, easy mother’s day crafts for kids in this e-book.

There are over 370 pages filled with fun crafts for kids to make. If you are looking for some more easy mother’s day crafts for the kids to do I very sure you will find it in this newly released craft e-book.

Go on and have a look at “Fun Kids Crafts E-book,” your sure to find lots of crafts in it that is suitable for easy mother’s day crafts for kids to make. Have fun with it!

The name of this excellent e-book again: “Fun Kids Crafts E-book”

Have a look at all the crafts included in “Fun Kids Crafts E-book:”

• Fathers Day Crafts
• Easter Crafts
• Valentines Crafts
• Christmas Crafts
• Crafts Without Glue
• Easy Crafts
• Egg Crafts
• Halloween Crafts
• Holiday Crafts
• Mothers Day Crafts
• Preschool Crafts
• Thanksgiving Crafts
• Themed Crafts
• Toilet Roll Crafts

This is only a few of the crafts in this e-book, there are many, many more. Have fun this year with lots of easy mother’s day crafts for kids and crafts for all the other holidays to come.

Go and have a look at Fun Kids Crafts now! It is instantly downloadable.

Get some fun crafts:

You Are Just Moments Away From Discovering Amazing Craft Ideas and 100's of Easy-to-make Crafts & Gift ideas!" You will not have any trouble finding an easy craft for kids to make in this e-book, “Fun Kids Crafts E-Book”

These Crafts Are Specifically designed to be:

• Simple
• Practical
• And most of all - FUN!

All the projects are made from easy to find materials, using simple techniques that really do work. Even the little ones that still have undeveloped motor skills will be able to manage with easy. Even your little 3 year old will be able to do these easy crafts and make a gift for mom

Have a look at all the benefits of Fun Kids Crafts e-book for making gifts and other crafts, “Fun Kids Crafts E-Book.”

• You can spend some creative & quality time with your child
• Your gift will always be unique crafts
• These crafts have easy-to-follow instructions
• Pictures & Templates included
• You will save hundreds of $ making your own crafts and gifts

You will be able to have your kid make Valentine's day crafts as a gifts with very little expense to everyone’s delight.

To use this e-book to get easy Valentines day crafts for kids to make, will ensure that you do not have any problems with the crafts, just follow the easy instructions and your little ones with have a ball!

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ave Money with Unique Handmade Birthday Invitations

Save Money with Unique Handmade Birthday Invitations

There's so much to do when throwing a birthday party. There are party favors to choose, cakes to buy or bake and decorate, gifts to purchase, and decorations to hang. But one of the most important things to do when planning a party is to invite the guests. A party is not much fun if there's no one there to celebrate with you!

You could go to the store and pick up a pack of invitations. Or you could make your own unique ones. It's not as hard as you might think, and it can actually save you money. Here are some tips to help you make beautiful invitations without breaking the budget.

1. Start with the right kind of paper. Card stock is the best choice, as it is very sturdy but easy to work with. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns.

2. Fire up the computer. There are plenty of card-making programs on the market, and while some of them are expensive, the simpler ones are usually reasonably priced. They include ready-made card designs as well as clipart and fonts you can use to make your own cards. You can do everything on the computer, or you can customize the invitations with a variety of embellishments.

3. Make use of stickers that match your party's theme. You can find themed packs of stickers at your local scrapbooking, discount or dollar store. Those featuring licensed characters can be a bit pricey, but you can find lots of fun options that are less expensive.

4. Use pressed flowers for an elegant look. You can buy these in craft stores and online, but it's much cheaper to make your own. Just pick some small flowers, place them between two plain pieces of paper, and insert them in the middle of a heavy book. They'll dry on their own in about two weeks. You can also buy flower presses that you can use in the oven or microwave to dry them faster, but if you only press flowers on occasion, a book will suffice.

5. Make your invitations pop with glitter. Loose glitter provides lots of shine, but it can be very messy. Glitter glue is easier to use, and you don't have to worry about getting little shiny flakes all over the place.

6. Do you love the look of filigreed cards? Use craft punches to recreate this look in your invitations. You can find them in scrapbooking stores in a variety of shapes and sizes. As a bonus, you can use the punched-out shapes on your invitations or other projects.

7. Give embossing a try. It's easy to do, and can be accomplished with embossing tools or embossing powder. There are even embossing pens that you can simply write with like you normally do.

8. Add more texture with embellishments such as ribbon and lace. Put scraps from sewing and other projects to use if you have them.

9. Use decorative scissors to create elegant or fun edges. You can find these in craft stores, and many have interchangeable blades.

10. Consider adding a photo. You can print it directly on the card with most card-making programs, or you can crop and paste a photo as you would on a scrapbook page.

Making unique handmade invitations is lots of fun, and your invited guests are sure to love them. So instead of buying plain old birthday invitations at the store, get creative and make your own!

Crafts And Stuff - Be Aware of Toxic Chemicals in Art Supplies

Be Aware of Toxic Chemicals in Art Supplies

Art is a wonderful thing for children. It helps them develop creativity, cognitive skills and motor skills. It is also great for self-esteem. While these benefits are undeniable, art also poses some risks to children. That’s because many art supplies contain toxic chemicals.

It’s fairly well known that kids should not be exposed to certain types of paint. The chemical fumes are quite obvious, and the containers are clearly labeled with warnings about breathing those fumes and ingesting the product. But many parents are unaware that not every product that contains toxic ingredients is clearly identified. There are certain labeling standards that must be adhered to by law, but the label doesn’t always tell the whole story.

Every art supply sold in the United States must conform to ASTM D 4236 standards. This means that they must display warnings if they present an acute or chronic health hazard. Manufacturers are not, however, required to list each product’s ingredients on the label.

Some art supply manufacturers have their products tested by the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI), which is a non-profit organization that conducts evaluation and testing. ACMI may approve the product or require the manufacturer to place a caution label on it. Products with caution labels are not recommended for use by children.

While these measures are helpful, some harmful products can still slip through the cracks. For example, in 2000, three brands of crayons bearing the ACMI seal of approval were reportedly found to contain asbestos. While asbestos was not used as an ingredient, it may contaminate talc, which was an ingredient. ACMI testing did not find asbestos, but the manufacturers voluntarily stopped using talc in their products.

Another concern involves ACMI’s standards for approval. They do not require that products contain no toxins whatsoever, but that toxins not be present in quantities that pose a hazard. That means that approved products may contain small amounts of solvents, heavy metals, phthalates and other substances that are known to be dangerous.

How to Choose Safe Products

Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee that a product we buy off the shelves contains absolutely no toxic chemicals. But we can make choices that are less likely to harm our children’s health. Here are some things to keep in mind.

1. Avoid oil-based paints.

They often contain solvents that can cause serious health problems. Watercolors are the safest choice for children, but even they can contain dangerous pigments. Make sure they bear the ACMI approved seal.

2 Keep kids away from anything with a strong smell.

This is usually an indicator that a solvent is present. In addition to paint, such solvents may be found in markers. Choose markers that are water-based if possible. Alcohol-based markers contain some toxins, but they are less toxic than solvent-based ones.

3 Steer clear of rubber cement and similar adhesives.

They contain neurotoxins. White glue and library paste are much safer choices.

4 Do not allow children to work with dry clay.

Clay contains silica, which can be harmful if inhaled. Wet clay is much safer. Children should be kept away from kilns, because some of the dust is released when clay is dried in them.

If you are concerned about toxic chemicals in store-bought art supplies, you can make your own. Finger paint and playdough are easy to make at home. Using all-natural ingredients can eliminate concerns about hazardous chemicals. Recipes may be found online. Be on the lookout for the post on this blog for a recipe.

It’s unfortunate that many art supplies can be detrimental to our children’s health. But if we make informed choices, we can greatly reduce the risk and concentrate on the good things about art for kids.

Have a look at all the benefits of Fun Kids Crafts e-book for making gifts and other crafts, “Fun Kids Crafts E-Book.”

• You can spend some creative & quality time with your child
• Your gift will always be unique crafts
• These crafts have easy-to-follow instructions
• Pictures & Templates included
• You will save hundreds of $ making your own crafts and gifts

.

You will be able to have your kid make any crafts as a gifts with very little expense to everyone’s delight.

To use this e-book to get easy crafts for kids to make, will ensure that you do not have any problems with the crafts, just follow the easy instructions and your little ones with have a ball!

Download Fun Kids Crafts E-Book Now, Access Is Instant! Start Crafting Within Minutes.

Crochet Baby - Crocheting a Baby Gift

Crochet Baby Ideas - Crocheting a Baby Gift

The birth of a baby is a joyous occasion, one that is usually commemorated with lots of gifts. The new mom or mom-to-be often finds herself with a deluge of baby clothes, diaper bags and bath supplies. These are all useful gifts, but for crafters, a more unique approach is often desired.

One of the most popular ways to make baby gifts is by crocheting. With a crochet hook and some yarn, you can create all sorts of beautiful and utilitarian baby gifts. Here are a few items to consider.

* Baby blanket

When someone mentions crocheting, the first thing that many non-crocheters think of is a baby blanket. There's no doubt that this is one of the most popular crocheted baby gifts, and with good reason. It's something that new parents always need, it's easily matched to any nursery décor, and it can be passed down from generation to generation.

* Socks and booties

If you're on a budget but want to create a useful baby gift, try crocheting some tiny socks or booties. These take very little yarn, so you may be able to make them with leftovers from other projects. If you use a thick yarn, they are perfect for keeping the little one's feet warm during the winter.

* Clothing

Baby clothes of all types are adorable, but crocheted items are especially nice. Baby girls look adorable in crocheted dresses. Sweaters are great for boys and girls in the winter. And crocheted hats are perfect for keeping newborns' heads warm. If you have the time, you could even create an entire matching layette set.

* Toys

Most of the time when we think of crocheted items, we picture either items we can wear or home décor. But crocheted toys make wonderful and unique baby gifts. They're nice and soft, and as long as we don't add any beads or other embellishments, they're very safe for infants. Making them in bright colors and putting a rattle securely inside will stimulate baby's mind.

* Gift baskets

A gift basket is nice for any occasion, but a crocheted basket is ideal for a baby gift. A nice, soft basket is great for holding an assortment of baby things such as bottles, bibs and bath items. And it can double as a handy caddy for mom to carry around frequently used supplies.

Crocheted baby gifts are attractive and functional, and the sentiment behind them adds to their beauty. You don't have to be a master crocheter to create them, either. Many items can be made using only the simple single stitch. So the next time a friend or family member announces that she's expecting a bundle of joy, get out your hook and yarn and create a gift that's sure to be adored.

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Crochet Secrets Revealed

Easy Fun Crafts - Chenille Stem Butterfly Mobile

Easy Fun Crafts - Chenille Stem Butterfly Mobile

Spring is full of beautiful things. It is an ideal time for easy fun crafts, especially to do with the kids. The birds and rabbits come out to play, and the flowers begin to bloom. And the colorful butterflies are a favorite of adults and children alike.

Butterflies are a favorite motif for spring craft projects. This chenille stem butterfly mobile makes a great project for children, and it gives them a beautiful spring decoration to hang up in their rooms. Here's how to make it:

Materials for this easy fun crafts:

* Black chenille stems

* Bumpy chenille stems in various bright colors

* Pom poms in various colors

* Wire cutters

* Needle-nose pliers

* Scissors

* Glue

* Paper plate

* Paint or markers

* Hole punch

* Fishing line

Instructions for this easy fun craft

1. Cut a black chenille stem in half. Set aside.

2. Bend a bumpy chenille stem in half, creasing at the base to create a V-shape.

3. Bend one end of the stem down toward the base, creating a sort of half circle. Bend the tip around the V.

4. Repeat step three with the other side of the chenille stem.

5. Use the needle-nose pliers to tuck away the sharp ends.

6. Push the middle of each half circle in toward the middle, making a hard crease. It should be shaped like a capital B on the right and a backward capital B on the left. You've now formed the wings of the butterfly.

7. Fold the black chenille stem you cut earlier in half. Twist the bend end about half an inch from the bend.

8. Slide the butterfly wings between the ends of the black chenille stem. Twist the ends above the butterfly to hold in place.

9. Separate the ends of the black chenille stem. Bend them to create antennae for the butterfly.

10. Put coordinating pom poms in the openings of the wings and glue them in place. Let dry.

11. Make as many more butterflies as you would like for your mobile.

12. Decorate the paper plate with paint or markers. You might want to paint a sky scene on it, draw a flower garden or do an abstract pattern in colors that match the butterflies.

13. Punch a hole where you want each butterfly to hang. Then punch four evenly spaced holes around the sides of the paper plate.

14. Cut four pieces of fishing line of the same length. For each piece, thread one of the ends through one of the holes around the edges, and tie. Tie the other ends together to create a hanger for the mobile.

15. Cut fishing line in various lengths to hang your butterflies. Tie one end to the middle of the butterfly, and run the other through a hole in the plate. Secure with clear tape or glue.

16. Hang your mobile from the ceiling and enjoy your easy fun craft!

I'm convinced the kids will love it. Do easy fun crafts with the kids and spend real quality time with them. Kids love creating things and they even love things that can be used more.

Have a look at Fun Kids Crafts for hour of crafting fun with the kids!