Crafty Corner

[jadien]

for a windsock to hang on your porch etc. Its so easy!!! ok you know the ready made icing that all of use buy?? well those containers can make windsocks. You take one of those, a 13 gallon trash back and glue. then You just take the paper off your icing container and take off the lid. Now with the lid you are going to take the trash bag and fix it over the icing lid to where its in the middle and even all around. then youll glue it that way. next you decorate the top of the icing container. any way you want is fine. After its dried or whatever punch a little hole in the top of the icing container. thread a piece of yarn or string thru it making a knot at the end so your string doesnt fall out. this will be your hanger. then you ll close it up all together. gluing the seem of the lid to the container. then take scissors and cut your garbage bag in long strands. this sounds complicated but it really isnt. the kids will love it to. great rainy day project

[jadien]

For Mothers's Day, I had the girl scouts make refrigerator magnets. Cut small rectangle boxes from styrofoam, wrap them in pretty wrapping paper and add a small ribbon on the front near the top. Attach a magnet to the back. On a small piece of construction paper type or write this poem and glue it to the front. Mother This is a very special gift That you can never see; The reason it's so special is It's just for you from me. Whenever you are lonely Or even feeling blue, You only have to hold this gift And know I think of you. You never can unwrap it; Please leave the ribbon tied; Just hold the box close to Your heart, It's filled with love inside.

[jadien]

Lil' Easter Baskets You need a can of spray starch, yarn, and a ballon. Blow your ballon up to almost full size. Oh yea it has to be the round kind. After that wrap your yarn around your balloon. Make a basket shape. Do the base of the basket first, then the handle, and then the base again. Now spray the starch all over your yarn. Make sure it gets good and soaked. Pat it with your hands to make sure it gets through the yarn good. Then stick outside or up high to dry good. Would recommend you let it sit overnight. Then just pop the balloon. Now you have a basket to do with what you like.

[jadien]

Time Capsules Anyone? Another idea for the kids........Take a mason jar or old pickle jar and let the kids put some little things in it that they think is of *this day and time*. Then have them write a letter telling best what they like and whats in now ( you can help with this if they need you ). Then close the jar up tight. Next take a saucepan and fill it 3/4 way up. On top of this saucepan place a metal mixing bowl and fill it with candles. Heat on meduim to high heat. Your candles will begin to melt. Have something though to pull out the strings from them. When candles have melted to where they are soft turn off your burner. You will then take your wax out and mold it around your jar. Put it kinda thick. Be careful your wax may be to hot. Check it first. Then bury your time capules in the back yard or whereever. In a few years dig it back up. Word to the wise.....REMEMBER WHERE YOU BURIED IT!!

[jadien]

Keepsake Boxes We all have things that are sweet and precious that we put away to look through in later years so this a perfect thing. Take a cardboard box, markers, glitter, ribbon, etc. Decorate your own box, flaps and all. Since you guys are proably moms and Im not heres an idea, let the kids make their own, it will just be another keepsake from them to you. Its a great project for a rainy day and it will keep them outta your hair. You could even got pictures out of books or coloring pages. Kids love that stuff

[jadien]

Painting a room???? This a great idea for anyone who is redoing a room. Not to mention cheap. Paint the room the color of your choice then take a paint pan and dump some of the extra paint you have (theres always extra) and add a little white to it to lighten it up a bit. Your choice how light. Then lightly dip in the tip of your feather duster and then dab the walls with it. It looks really neat and gives it a design that looks good. You could also do this with your dressers and nightstands. You can make the dressers and nightstands a different shade but just stay in the same color zone. Now everything matches and it didnt cost you a bundle

[jadien]

Hello guys!! Here are a couple of craft recipes: Fingerpaint: 2 cups flour; 2 teaspoons salt; 2 1/2 cups cold water; 2 cups boiling water; food coloring - Mix flour, water and salt. Stir until smooth. Gradually add this mixture to the boiling water. Boil until smooth & thick. Add food coloring, then stir until smooth. Glitter: food coloring; 1/2 cup salt - Add 5-6 drops food coloring to salt. Stir well. Cook in microwave for 1-2 minutes or spread on waxed paper and let air dry. Store in an airtight container. Use as you would glitter.

[jadien]

Anyway, save your old cake icing canisters with the lids, remove paper. Wash and then use tempera paint or hot glue some decos. (sequins, clip art, etc..) or just markers and let the kids decorate them. They can use these for any number of things, from collections to banks, pencil holders to flower pots! Or use them to store small objects around the house in...the uses are endless.....okay, so it didn't take a genius to put this together, but I tried!lol

[jadien]

Okay guys, new twist on tiebacks...well...maybe old to some, but new to me... Instead of using tiebacks the old way, try using silk flowers. You can twist a few of your favorites together, or twist them around a pretty tieback rope or cord with tassels. Easier still, use the silk flower candle rings, the bigger ones of course, and just slide drapes through and stitch on the backside to hang freely or use tieback hooks. Makes for very pretty windows throughout! I used ivy vines( not crazy about flowers) but it was still nice. Let it hang a little in front, used plain old white sheers, then attached vine with safety pin instead of stitching it, let the curtain hang free instead of pulling it back, and it looks great! Makes for an interesting change anyway.....

[jadien]

Shower curtain rings....dull to look at anymore!! Use tacky glue, hot glue, etc....attach a seashell to front of ring, preferable small, but can cover front view of ring. Changes the whole decor! You can then do the same with pics in the bathroom. Line a photo frame with smaller shells, the brush holders, etc.....now have new bathroom!! Can use a variety of things other than shells, such as clear glass marbles, miniature brushes, flowers, or for the kids own bathroom-use their smallest trinkets...anything your heart desires could be adapted here. Use stencils to do the mirrors or front of cabinet doors in seashells, or other bauble you choose, as well, although this then makes it a permanent change. I like to change the decor often, so I don't redo the cabinets, etc.....unless its a design I really want to stay with.

[jadien]

Dusty Flowers??? I love flowers and have them everywhere. Silk ones i mean. Anyways since they re such dust collectors I had to find something to fix that. You can take a hairdryer and just go over them. Poof!!! No more dust

[jadien]

You take any type of jar and decorate it as you like. In the jar you put 100 little slips of paper with questions written on them. Such as Whats your Birthday? Wedding Date? How you meet your husband? Whats your favorite childhood memory? etc. etc.
Then you buy a little notebook and a pen. You give it as a gift and everyday the person you gave it to takes a slip or two from the jar and writes it down in the book. It makes a great keepsake for the person and they can also hand the jar down to other ppl in the family and add to the book or add other books.

[jsalba]

Excellent ideas!

Thanks for sharing them... and I hope you don't mind if I "steal" them... I'm making a craft book for my sister and niece.. thought they might enjoy your ideas.

[Ttulipss]

You are just too crafty, jadien! Thanks for the ideas!

[jadien]

Thanks! Im glad you enjoyed my ideas. I work so much that doing crafts has become very relaxing...weird as that sounds. And jsalba I dont mind at all for you 'stealing' them. Alot of them are really fun for kids. I can say I have tried them out with all my lil cousins and friend's children and it keeps them occupied for awhile plus they have something to show off. Ill try to post some more when I get some new ideas or stumble across one of someone elses lol