These pockets are so simple to make, and you can easily make a bunch in one sitting. To make standard gift-card sized pockets, cut watercolor paper into 4″ x 5″ pieces. Fold each rectangle in half, then cut the top corner off one side. This will allow the gift card to peek out of the pocket. For this project, we splatter painted by tapping a paintbrush against a pencil. It’s not super messy, but there will be a little paint flying, so protect your work area....
Supplies for Stitched Caterpillar Bead Card: heavy cardstock paper piece 4 1/4 inches by 5 1/4 inches cork board pin or punching awl cross-stitch needle embroidery thread plastic pony beads, big enough to fit through a needle glue folded blank card pen or pencil **See here for the basic instructions on hand-stitched greeting cards for more help and inspiration. Lay your cardstock piece of paper onto the cork board and using your pin or punching awl, punch two holes at either end of the card, a few centimeters in from each side....
These are perfect for a last minute idea for your kids to make for Valentine’s day cards. They are quick and easy, and too cute! Find the full tutorial over I’m sharing over at Family Crafts About.com.
*You can really add almost anything to these little guys. Even a small gift could fit inside, maybe after-dinner mints, or even craft stuffing to make it a toy for the kids. Have fun mixing it up. Supplies: 8-10 inch square piece of brown tulle 1 brown pipe cleaner 2 inch piece of red pipe cleaner filling – mixed raw nuts, sunflower seeds, craisins Instructions: Lay out your tulle and add a small handful of the nut mix....
Supplies for Yarn Paper Tube Owl: paper tube yarn – any color glue dots or tape crayons scissors paper scraps To make the head with ears: Fold down one top edge of your paper tube, about 1/2 inch down. Add a glue dot on the top of the fold. Press and fold the other side of the tube down on top of the glue dot. See the video for help!...
Faux Antlers: Faux antlers will give your home that cozy cabin feel without actually having to be real antlers. These are easy to make and you can paint them white or any color you want to hang on your wall. (via Think Crafts) Granny Square Blanket: Sling this sweet granny square blanket over a couch to give your home that cabin look. Your family or house guests will fight over who gets to snuggle under this blanket....
This would also make a great Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift for a parents’ office. Perfect for hanging on the refrigerator too. Just adapt the embellishments to fit your needs and style. Supplies: clean, empty tin can, label removed felt decorated or color cellophane tape hot glue gun alphabet beads embellishments, such as buttons, beads, thread, etc 5 button magnets Instructions: Beginning at the back seam of your can, tape cellophane in place....
Do you know a few teachers who like to read books? Either on their own or in their classroom? When I was teaching my Kindergarten class, reading aloud to my students was my favorite part of the day. So we’re hoping these kid-made bookmarks come in handy for our kid’s teachers this year – thanks, teach! For our back to school project, I’m partnering with Xyron to help make our bookmarks complete!...
Making mini Jack O’ Lantern Votives out of baby food jars has become a family tradition. This year, I thought we would shake things up a bit and make a Frankenstein Monster and a Ghost out of jars of varying sizes. Working with kids is always a little unpredictable. My daughter was not interested in Frankenstein or a Ghost–she wanted to make a “Rainbow Monster”. So, she made a rainbow monster while I made Frank....
I still struggle with this playroom bucket chaos. But, on my good days, I tell myself that now it only takes 20 minutes to clean the playroom, rather than 3 hours. Now I have one less thing to lecture the kids about and battle with them over. After all, they’re small. I can teach them the value of organization when they’re more mature, right? I gave up, for now. Meanwhile, I’ll be living up the extra free time and less frustration…oh, baby....
Craft up a few really fun spinners–You spin them and they hum! It’s super fun and most things, you probably already have around the house! Here’s the how-to instructions. Supplies: twine cardboard circles printer paper with circle template, see below markers scissors glue sticks For the circle template: Just right click and save to your computer if you want to use my circles…you could just decorate the cardboard. Make 2 circles onto your printer paper, or download and print the template above....
Drawing Zentangle Elephants Salty Watercolor Background Let’s work on the background first, so it can dry while you design your elephant. I chose one of our favorite art projects for our background paper – watercolors sprinkled with salt. We have done this so many times, and it’s always a hit! Of course, your background could be colored, painted, or just a solid color of construction paper. To make the salty watercolor background, wet a piece of watercolor paper, then add your colors in any design you like....
If there’s one thing that thrift stores never seem to have a shortage of is baskets. Sometimes all they need is a little paint, a fabric liner, or to be decorated though to make them look brand new and perfect decor for your house. This basket I’m using for whatever craft project I’m currently working on. I love that it’s deep because when I’m knitting or crocheting I can keep my ball of yarn in there so it doesn’t run all over the floor....
Materials: craft foam sheets aluminum foil clear tape dull pencil or medium ball point pen colored Sharpies hole punch yarn or ribbon Craft foam sheets and foil are easy to cut, so big kids will probably be able to do all the steps for these pendants on their own. Yay for low-maintenance craft projects! Prep Work: Cut your craft foam into small pendant-sized pieces – we did squares, rectangles, and even a few triangles....
Moss Topiary from The Inspired Room (pictured above) Green Metal Star from The Nesting Place Green Composting from Small Notebook Faux 4 Leaf Clover from Zakka Life What do you have in your home that’s sporting the color Green? Share a link in a comment below!
Supplies for Crafty Elf Hat and Ears: craft foam sheets Leprechaun Ears Pattern pencil scissors – adult or child-size (this would be a fun project for little ones to cut out) craft foam hat glue – glue dots work great craft pom-poms The ears are a fairly simple pattern to draw. You can eye ball it or print out this pattern to trace: Leprechaun Ears Pattern. Print out the pattern, trace 2 onto your craft foam sheet with a pencil, and cut them out....
Supplies for Edible Umbrellas: mini candy canes vanilla meringues peanut butter cups – optional Take the straight part of your candy cane and “drill” a hole into the bottom center of your meringue. You’ll need to screw it in, back and forth, to let it make a hole in the bottom. That’s it! Make a plate of these and serve at your next holiday party, especially if you live in a rainy city like me… Seattle!...
First, collect some leaves, all shapes and sizes. If you don’t have any, I’m sure your neighbor won’t mind you taking some of theirs. Then I like to place the leaves onto contact paper and set a piece of heavy paper on top, sealing them in place like a sandwich. This step of contact paper helps preserve the leaves, so we can do this project again and again. Now you’re ready to rub....
These fun and colorful window clings are a great project for St. Patrick’s Day. Make plenty of bright designs to display on windows, mirrors and even picture frames! Supplies for Window Clings: puffy paint: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, white, black parchment paper rainbow template here: rainbow paper clips or stapler optional: puffy paint in light blue and light green The larger rainbow is a great project for elementary aged kids as it requires more patience than some of the smaller designs....
