Twig Snowflake Ornament

 This is a simple craft. 

What you will Need:

• Twigs you find from outside
• Artificial greenery (Michaels, on sale after season)
• Ribbon
• Hot Glue Gun
• Red berries or various buttons
• Cutters for branches
• string

Cut the twigs to desired lengths and hot glue them to make a star like look. Add cross pieces anywhere you like. I put some on the ends in the middle. Next glued the greenery, berries then tied a bow and glued it as well.  I put a loop of string on the back to hang for the ornament. You can make them more detailed however you like.

This year I used them as part of the gift wrapping and then they also have a keepsake.

Happy Crafting!

Linked up with:

         

Pintrest Project Share

 As you know I love Pinterest!! I am finding great DIY, recipes, home decor ideas, and more. You can get a little Pinning crazy so I decided to try to start doing what I PIN.
I am going to feature something I found on Pinterest that I actually did as I complete them.

FOOTPRINT BUTTERFLIES:

• Small Blank Canvas
• Finger Paint in various colors
• Sharpie Markers

I added a twig border and you can be creative and add whatever you like or leave the Canvas without a borer. I drew the bodies with Sharpie Marker and used their fingerprints for the antennas.


That is the beauty of DIY you can change it up!!

Final Project:

                         
My Husband helped me execute this project, my little guy (18 months) needed to be held in order to paint his feet and place them on the canvas! 


~Happy Pinning!


The Original Idea:
http://projectbalancingact.blogspot.ca/2010/08/fingerpainting-fun-with-james.html

Linked Up With:
     


Also LInked to A Bowl full of Lemons:
http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/2012/07/one-project-at-time-garage-organization.html

Dollar Store Crafts: Tidbit

I Found this great website through Pinterest. It is called Dollar Store Crafts. You can find many fabulous ideas for less. Check it out if you are looking for something to do that is fun, different and needs to be low cost to your wallet.

http://dollarstorecrafts.com/

From website: Tiered trays are one of the most popular varieties of dollar store craft.  This variation, assembled from serving trays and candlesticks, uses spray paint to add a pop of color.  (If you use paint that is not food-safe, make sure you do not place food items directly on the trays; use a barrier such as cocktail napkins or cupcake liners to keep your guests safe!)

Recycled Crafts

With Earth Day quickly approaching I thought I would share a craft that my daughter and I did.

I have been saving baby food jars for awhile and have found various crafts to do with them that can be useful, decorative or just plain fun. After all it is Earth month and this is a great Recycled Craft!

We have used the baby food jars to create cute pencil holders. We used scraps of construction paper to create a princess and prince around the jar. I use them to hold scissors and crayons or paintbrushes.

Another way we used a jar was to paint it with special glass paint and then turn it into a cute little vase. We made tissue paper flowers and I used small pipe cleaners left over from another craft to make the stems. (I didn’t need long pipe cleaners because the jars are small.)

I save scraps all the time because you never know when they will come in handy!!

Happy Crafting!!!

Easter Crafts and More

7.         I have found some cute Easter crafts to do with your kids. The few displayed are from one of my favorite websites Disney Family Fun website. I have always been happy with their crafts and they have great recipes, articles and more. I have also included a cute easy snack called Carrot Patch Cookies.

Disney Family Fun Link:

http://familyfun.go.com/

Another website that I love is called Busy Bee Kids Crafts. This site is full of wonderful ideas and I refer to it all the time. Busy Bee has crafts for all ages and categorized so it is easy to find just what you are looking for and more.

Busy Bee Kids Craft Link:

http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Easter-Crafts.html

Next week we will have another Guest Blogger. She is a dear friend and a Children’s Ministry Director so keep a look out for her and her perspective next week. Happy Crafting!

Magazine Mini Basket

by NAOMI SHULMAN 

Total Time Needed:

1-2 Hours

A tisket, a tasket: this colorful basket is created from strips of recycled magazines. Fill your container with shredded scrap paper for a greener take on Easter grass.

Materials

•    Magazine covers

•    Ruler

•    Scissors and craft knife

•    Clear tape

Instructions

1.

2. To make the base, cut a 9-inch square from a magazine cover. Use the ruler to draw a tic-tac-toe grid across the square, then cut it as shown, leaving four tabs (these will be the basket's sides).

3. With the craft knife, cut four slits in each tab as shown (an adult's job). Fold the four tabs up.

4. Cut more magazine covers into 1/2-inch-wide strips. Starting at the bottom, weave the strips in and out of the slits. When one strip ends, tape it in place, then begin weaving the next strip until all the sides are covered.

5. Tape on a strip to serve as a handle.

Tips:

Younger kids might find it easier to make the base from card stock, which is a bit sturdier.

Tie-Dye Tuffets

Materials

•    2 coffee filters

•    Egg dye in various colors

•    1-inch-tall segment of cardboard tube

•    White glue

Instructions

6. Fold each filter into quarters and dip its edges and point into a different-color dye. Unfold the filters and let them dry on a paper towel or draped over an empty egg carton.

7.

8. When the filters are dry, fold them again and snip fringe along the edges. If you plan to make the collage eggs below, reserve the trimmings.

9. 

10.           Lay each filter flat. Lightly coat the outside of a tube segment with glue, then put it at the filter's center. Gather the filter around the tube, adhering it to the sides. Repeat with the other filter. (For small eggs, double up the tube segments, fitting one inside the other.)

Variations:

Bonus Idea! Don't toss the coffee-filter trimmings from the tuffets; instead, use them to make pretty collage eggs. Simply brush hard-boiled eggs with watered-down white glue, stick on the trimmings, and brush the eggs with another coat of glue. Let them dry for an hour.

Melted Crayon Eggs

by NAOMI SHULMAN 

Total Time Needed:

30 Minutes or less

When the most humble of art supplies meets the shell of a just-boiled egg, the crayon wax softens, and the colors swirl together in a magical way. The results are fast, fun, and gorgeous.

Materials

•    white eggs

•    tongs

•    empty egg carton

•    crayons

Instructions

11.           Hard-boil white eggs. Remove them from the hot water with tongs or a slotted spoon, dry them, and rest them in an empty egg carton or on plastic bottle caps (an adult's job).

12.          

13.           Color them with the crayons' tips or remove the paper coverings and use the crayons' sides. For a speckled effect, grate a crayon and sprinkle the bits over the eggs. The waxy eggs are very slippery, so take care when turning them to color the underside.

14.           When you're done coloring, leave them to dry for about an hour.

Carrot Patch Cookies

A crop of these tiny treats will add whimsy to any Easter or springtime celebration.

Ingredients

•    Orange Mike and Ike candies

•    Green gummy candy (we used Rips licorice pieces, which are flat)

•    Nabisco Biscos sugar wafer cookies

•    Chocolate frosting

•    Chocolate wafer cookie crumbs

Instructions

15.           To make each carrot, cut a slit in one end of a Mike and Ike candy with a sharp knife (an adult's job). Cut a small triangle from the green gummy candy (if needed, roll it flat), then fringe the base to form leaves. Tuck the triangle into the slit of the Mike and Ike and pinch it closed.

16.           For each carrot planter, place a wafer cookie base on a flat surface. Form the longer walls from two whole cookies and cut a third one to fit the shorter ends. Attach the pieces with frosting.

17.           To fill four planters, combine 2 tablespoons frosting with 2 tablespoons cookie crumbs. Fill each box with the mixture, then press three candy carrots inside. If needed, add more of the frosting mixture to hold the carrots in place.

Notes:

We used Biscos because they're smaller than many other brands. If you use a larger cookie, increase the amount of frosting and cookie crumbs.