Snow and Ice Votive Holders: Kid Friendly Christmas or Winter Craft

A few years ago we were hit with a horrible winter storm which left us without power through the Christmas break (fortunately we had heat and a cooking surface with our wood stove fireplace). It's amazing how much we all depend upon electricity to entertain us! So, with three little boys to keep busy at night (when it was too dark for them to play in their rooms), and a definite need for candles, we started crafting.

My older two made the punched-tin candle holders most of us made as children. For my youngest, we made a Snow and Ice Votive Holder. It's the perfect wintry looking decor item, very easy, and costs only pennies.

You Will Need:

• A small glass jar (I used bullion cube jars)
• White school glue... you know, the kind with a bull on the label.
• Table salt

1.) Collect your jar(s), wash, and remove any labels.

2.) Paint the school glue in an even and a little-more-than-thin coat on the outer surface of the jar.

A 10 year old and a 4 year old getting in on the fun.

3.) Sprinkle the table salt onto the glue.

Allow it to dry and you will have a snow covered candle holder...and a very proud child, too.

Make Your Own Charlie Brown-ish Christmas Tree

Oh how we love the Charlie Brown specials! My kids look forward to seeing them every holiday season and randomly quote them throughout the year. So when we saw a "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree" at the local stores, the boys wanted one of their very own.

Here's the store version as shown on www.thegreehead.com:

So cute and pathetic, isn't it? On sale, I've seen it for around $12 but to tell you the truth I'm just cheap. I can't see spending that much on an 18 inch scraggly tree branch.

Fast forward to Black Friday... I was standing in line waiting for my turn at a great deal on electronics, when I see the tree on an endcap (these folks know they have a captive audience and use their marketing skills!). Why, it's nothing more than wrapped wire with a few pieces of faux evergreen. I can do that.

Here's what you'll need:

• Wire
• Floral tape
• A dollar store wreath, garland, or some source of the evergreen pieces
• Something for the base- I used wood scraps, you could also use an old coffee can, or a flower pot
•  Piece of blue flannel 
• Red ornament 
• Wire Cutters

1.) Cut ten pieces of evergreen.

2.) Cut a length of wire for the main stem, 23 inches (18 inches for the tree, plus some for under the base).

3.) Twist the end of the wire around one piece of evergreen.

4.) Start wrapping the floral tape where the wire is twisted and wrap around going down the wire about 3 inches.

5.) Make the branches in the same way, with shorter pieces of wire. Wrap the floral tape down most of the length of the wire for the branches, then twist them onto the main stem. Here you can be as creative as you want to be. I looked at a picture of the store's tree for reference and made my branches accordingly.

Wrap the main stem with floral tape as you go.

6.) Make or prepare your base. For my wood base I cut one piece in half and stapled them onto the main piece. I then made a small hole in the center with a screw. Other options are using a clean coffee can with a hole in the lid, or turning a flower pot upside-down.

7.) Feed the main stem through the hole and secure as needed. On my wood base I stapled the wire down and cut off any excess.

8.) All that's left is to add the scrap of blue flannel for Linus' Blanket, and a red ornament.

Have fun!

A Sweet Little Pin Cushion-No Sew

Today, I had a nagging pain in my neck and head. Today, I had dishes and laundry piled up. Today, the laundry just isn't getting done. Today, I needed a simple craft. Something quick and pretty, with almost instant gratification.Today...I stumbled upon the sweet little pin cushion tutorial from Creations By Kara. Perfect!

I gathered my supplies...

Tuna Can, and coordinating Fabrics


Cut a strip and a circle...



I gathered and stuffed...



I glued...


And glued some more, then embellished...



Ahhhhhhhhh. I have crafted. My laundry is still there, but I feel my day is complete.

Do me a favor and check out Kara's tutorial. She did a great job, and so will you!

Nifty-Gifty: A Quick Little Basket with Sew or No-Sew Instructions

This sweet little recycling piece is actually a project I did in Summer Camp around the age of ten (in a group of 9-12 yr olds), using hot glue guns instead of sewing machines. It makes use of an old plastic bottle and fabric scraps; it's a great fat quarter/scrap project;  AND it makes a perfect little gift basket for smaller items.

You Will Need:

• A Plastic Bottle (2-Liter soda bottles work well)
• Fabric
• Trim
• Glue Gun
• Rubber band
• Ribbon
• Stuffing

1.)  Cut 2 circles from your fabric. I used a 13 inch pot-lid to trace them out, but I found it was just a little smaller than I wanted. I suggest a circle with a 15 inch diameter.



As you can see I chose 2 coordinating fabrics


2.) I find it easier to work with if I sew the trim to the right side of one circle...



3.) ...then sew the second circle to the first one (right-sides together), sandwiching the trim between the two pieces. Leave a few inches unsewn  and turn right-side out. (P.S. If you don't have a piping foot, a zipper foot is very helpful)



*************************************************************************************

No-Sew Instructions:

1.)Iron a quarter-inch fold, towards the back, around the edges of both circles.

2.) Hot glue the trim to the back (wrong side) of one circle

3.) Then glue the second circle wrong-sides together to the trim, leaving a portion of the edge open to stuff.

************************************************************************************

4.) Stuff lightly.



5.) Cut the bottom off of the soda bottle about 4 or 5 inches up. The bottom will be your basket.



6.) Cut a strip of fabric long enough to cover the circumference of the bottle, and 8 inches wide. Hot glue this piece to the outside of the bottle, then fold to the inside of the bottle and glue down.







7.) Place the bottle on the center of the stuffed circle.  Gather the circle upward and secure with the rubber band.



8.) Cover the rubber band with a ribbon.



9.) Fill with whatever goodies you like: flowers; candy; potpourri; tea and crackers; soup mix; etc. Wouldn't this be a great gift basket or craft/party favor?



I filled mine with the lovely Coffee Filter Flowers I made (yes, I said those flowers were MADE) from Aunt Peaches' Blog.

No-Sew Tutu

Does it really need more of an explanation?  A tutu is a costume favorite, but you don't need to buy one... you can make it yourself with no sewing knowledge whatsoever.

You Will Need:

• 4 Yards Tulle (for adult size you may want at least 6 yards)
  


• Ribbon


• Scissors

1.) Cut the ribbon the length of the waist measurement plus 15 inches. Tie knots in the ribbon 7 inches in from each end.



2.) Roll the tulle into a long tube and cut 4 inch pieces.



3.) Once your pieces are cut you should have a pile of  rolled tulle strips. Unroll a strip and fold it in half end touching end. If this is too long for your needs, you may want to cut at the half, making two strips.

4.) Taking a strip of tulle, fold in half (end touching end). Starting at one knot, put the loop/folded-end on the ribbon. Then pull the ends through the loop thus tying the strip around the ribbon.



 

[caption id="attachment_193" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Ends pulled through the loop"][/caption]

 

 

[caption id="attachment_194" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Pull tight to secure it"][/caption]

 

5.) Continue tying the strips around the ribbon until all are knotted on.



Viola! A Tutu. Tie around the waist of your little ballerina/fairy/princess.

 

[caption id="attachment_202" align="aligncenter" width="194" caption="What girl wouldn't be happy in a tutu!?"][/caption]

 

Things you can add:

Slippers

Lace Crown

Pipe Cleaner Crown

Mom & Kid Friendly Craft: Pumpkin Stack

On a recent visit to Target, I was browsing the Dollar Aisle (my favorite aisle) when I found this cute little fall decor item:

[caption id="attachment_47" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="Sorry about the picture quality. I couldn't find a good one online."][/caption]

Now, I could have bought this for $2. But why buy it when I already have everything I need to make it at home? So I snapped a quick picture using my phone.

To make this cutie you will need:

• A scrap of fabric 14.5 in. X 17 in


• Dinner Plate
  


• Small (bread) Plate


• Strong Thread or Embroidery Floss


• Needle


• Stuffing


• Something for a Stem (I just picked up a stick in my backyard)


• Hot Glue Gun


• Trim Pieces (ribbon, raffia, etc)

**This may seem like a long list, but as I said, most crafters will have these things already. If you do not, a quick trip to your local craft store will supply what you need.

1.) On the back (wrong side) of your fabric trace two circles using a dinner plate and a smaller/bread plate. You should have a big circle and a slightly smaller circle. I was given some fabric swatches from a furniture store, so I will be using one of those.

[caption id="attachment_48" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="If you should be able to trace both circles on one piece of fabric."][/caption]

2.) Cut out your Circles.



3.) Using the thread or floss, sew a loose gathering stitch near the edge, all the way around the largest circle.



4.) Pull the thread to gather the edge together, leaving enough room to place some stuffing inside.



5.) Pull the thread to gather it tight, leaving an opening about two finger's width (one finger's width for the small circle). Secure it with a couple more stitches and a knot. Finish stuffing, you want it to be somewhat firm.



Repeat steps 1-5 for the small circle, and you will have this:



Now to assemble your Pumpkin Stack.

1.) Place hot glue on the end of your stem piece (sticks look wonderfully natural) and place in the top hole of the smaller pumpkin, into the stuffing.



2.) Place hot glue around the opening of the larger pumpkin, and place smaller pumpkin on top.



3.) Finish off the top with Raffia, Ribbon, or whatever your little heart desires.



My boys, ranging in age from 4-10 all loved making this. I just had to do the sewing and gluing for the 4 yr. old. If you make one of your own, I'd love to see it!

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