Tag Archives: Decorations

Easter Sheep

Posted on by
Reply

Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

For a fantastic last-minute decorating idea, create this Easter sheep with your kids and fill with flowers, candy, eggs, and grass for an adorable Easter dinner centerpiece.

Materials

  • Recycled box
  • White cardstock or construction paper
  • White curling ribbon
  • Wiggle eyes, two
  • Blue/white checked ribbon, 6” length
  • Silver bell, 1⁄2”
  • White cord, 4” length

Tools

  • DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paints: White Wash, Baby Blue
  • Black markers: fine-tip, medium-tip
  • API The Ultimate! Glue

Basic Supplies

scissors, paintbrush, newspaper (to cover work surface)

Directions

STEP 1

Cut off top of box to desired height. (Note: Box height should be a minimum of 5-1/2” tall.) Round top edge with scissors.

STEP 2

On covered work surface, paint inside of box Baby Blue and outside White Wash. Let dry. Using fine-tip marker, outline rounded edges on top of box.

STEP 3

Print and cut out pattern. (Note: The blue word “pattern” is a link. To access this pattern, select the link, then download and print pattern.) Using fine-tip marker, draw outline and nose on head. Adhere wiggle eyes to head. Fold back flap on head and adhere to front of sheep.

STEP 4

Tie ribbon bow. Thread cord through bell and tie around bow’s center. Adhere bow with bell under head.

STEP 5

Cut curling ribbon into 3” lengths and curl using edge of scissors. Adhere pieces to sheep.

STEP 6

For legs, cut four 2-1/2”x3” strips from white paper. Use medium-tip marker to draw line on one long edge (hoof) of each strip. Roll strips into 3⁄4” tubes (legs) and adhere closed. Using scissors, make 1/4” snips around top edge of tube (side opposite of hoof) and fold paper down to create tabs for adhering to bottom of box. Adhere legs to bottom of sheep with black line on bottom for hooves.

Tips

  • Young kids can paint the sheep while you cut and curl ribbon. All they’ll have to do is glue!
  • Use a paper plate as a palette for paint or as an easier way for little kids to apply glue. Just give them a sponge scrap and have them blot glue onto ribbon ends.
  • Try cloud decorative-edge scissors to round the box top!

Another idea…

  • Pack your sheep with small travel items, candy, a deck of cards, mini perfume bottles, and other small gifts. Deliver to your local nursing home or to a local shut-in in your neighborhood!

by Mary Ayres

Watercolor Coffee Filter Roses

Posted on by
3

Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

You can create these gorgeous watercolor roses in any shade. Each one is made from four inexpensive coffee filters, then painted with Sakura of America Koi watercolor paints.

Materials

  • Sakura of America Koi Watercolors (tube)
  • Cone coffee filters, four per rose
  • Printer paper
  • Floral wire, 20-gauge
  • Green floral tape

Tools

  • Paintbrush
  • Wire cutters
  • Glue stick

Basic Supplies

scissors, pencil, ruler, bamboo skewer, measuring spoon, newspaper (to cover work surface), poster board (optional), hair dryer (optional)

Directions

(Note: This project was inspired by a project on the Martha Stewart Show, but has been simplified.)

Making Roses

1. Print two copies of patterns onto printer paper. (Note: The blue word “patterns” is a link. To access these patterns, select the link, then download and print patterns.) To create sturdy pattern templates, use glue stick to adhere one set of patterns to poster board before cutting out pieces on black lines. Keep second set of patterns intact to use as placement guides.

2. Place petal shapes onto four coffee filters as shown. Trace petals and lightly number with pencil near base. Cut out petals, cutting through both layers of coffee filter. (Note: Because coffee filters are thin, several filters may be cut at once to save time; be sure filters are facing the same direction and keep numbered pieces together in plastic cups or bags for future use.)

3. For each flower, cut seven 2-1/2” lengths of floral tape; set aside. Cut 15” wire length for stem.

4. To assemble rose, begin with petal #1. Poke wire down between right-hand petals until 5” length extends above petals. Loop wire tip around and poke back down through base of right-hand petals. Pinch loop slightly and gently tug wire down to secure first petal and prevent it from sliding up and down stem.

5. Fold right-hand petal inward and roll to coil entire piece around stem. Secure base of petal with shorter end of wire.

6. Add petal #2 in same way. Poke wire down between right-hand petals. Arrange petals so they fill empty spaces between first petals. Roll and secure with piece of floral tape. When applying tape, stretch piece while pulling to get good, tight hold around base.

7. Add petal #3 in same way as petal #2.

8. Petal #4 needs to be separated first. Gently tear along bottom of petal to make flat strip, then wrap strip around rose and secure with tape.

9. Get two #5 petals and two #6 petals. (Note: Since these petals weren’t cut on fold, there are two of each one.) Fan out four pieces like a hand of cards. Place rose in center and wrap petals around rose. Secure base with tape.

10. Repeat Step 9 using two #7 and two #8 petals.

11. If desired, wrap entire stem in floral tape for more realistic look.

12. Starting with outer petals, fan out petals, bending gently backward from base.

Painting Roses

1. Blend small amount of paint with approximately one tablespoon of water on palette. Paint petals, starting at center and working outward. (Note: To save time, dip entire rose in base color rather than applying with brush.)

2. Add second color while rose is still wet. This color needs to be more concentrated than first color; add water to paint with brush rather than tablespoon. Run tip of brush along edge of each petal to deposit color.

3. Hang rose upside down over protected surface; hanging preserves shape of petals. Allow rose to dry for at least three hours; to speed drying, use hair dryer on low setting.

4. Once rose is dry, shape petals by placing skewer behind petal and rolling petal backward.

Tip

by Maureen Wilson of MadeByMarzipan.com for Sakura of America