Tag Archives: Holiday

Painted Paddle Flag

Posted on by
Reply

Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Old Glory has never looked better! Make this quick-and-easy version for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday.

Materials

  • Wooden paint paddles, 14” long, nine
  • Darice: Rusted Tin Sheet, 4” square; Rusted Wire, 22-gauge, 28” length, 36” length
  • Delta Ceramcoat Acrylic Paints: Barn Red, Midnight Blue, Trail Tan, Spice Brown
  • Jute twine, 22” length

Tools

  • Drill with 1⁄4” bit
  • Delta Ceramcoat Painter’s Helper Crackle medium
  • Eclectic Products E6000 Industrial-Strength Adhesive

Basic Supplies

scissors, pencil, handsaw, sandpaper, soft cloth, heavy books, paintbrush

Directions

STEP 1

Cut handles from seven paddles, so each paddle measures 12” long; cut one end into point. Sand and wipe dust with soft cloth. Cut 9” lengths from remaining uncut paddles; drill hole 1⁄2” from one end of each. Lightly sand; wipe dust.

STEP 2

Arrange 12” paddles into flag with points facing left and straight ends aligned. Perpendicular to paddles, place 9” paddles on top and 1-1⁄2” in from each side, with holes overlapping top edge of flag 3⁄4” (for hangers). Adhere in place. Place heavy books over paddles to secure while drying.

STEP 3

Basecoat front and back of flag Spice Brown. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to apply crackle medium to front.

STEP 4

Trace 3-1⁄2”x6” rectangle in upper left corner; paint rectangle and hanger Midnight Blue. Let dry completely. Paint remaining paddles alternating Barn Red and Trail Tan, and remaining hanger Barn Red.

STEP 5

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.) Cut seven stars from rusted tin sheet. Adhere to flag as shown.

STEP 6

Wrap 28” wire length around upper left edge of flag as desired; curl ends. Attach remaining length around bottom right corner in same way.

STEP 7

For hanger, insert ends of jute length through holes from back to front. Knot and trim.

Tip

  • Make a larger version from fence pickets or a smaller version from craft sticks.

by Linda Bauer

Mini Easter Basket Favors

Posted on by
1

Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Use a cute die set to craft mini baskets and boxes for all occasions. Lattice insert and optional handle provide many options.

Materials

  • Cardstock scraps: yellow, teal, purple, light purple, olive green
  • Purple polka-dot or glitter paper
  • Flower brads
  • Easter grass
  • Candy filler of choice

Tools

  • Die-cutting system
  • Lifestyle Crafts Basket Die DC0458
  • Paper Source Stamps: Bunny Standing, Easter Egg Decorated Scallop
  • Clear embossing ink pad
  • White detail embossing powder
  • Gel ink pens, assorted colors
  • Adhesives: Beacon Adhesives Zip Dry Paper Glue, low-tack tape, foam tape

Basic Supplies

paper trimmer, detail scissors, ruler, pencil, fine-tip tweezers, paper piercer, heat tool

Directions

Size

Size is 2-1/2”x2-1/2”x2” (without handle)

Favors

1. Place basket and handle dies on base cutting plate. Insert lattice dies into basket die template, if desired, and secure with low-tack tape to prevent shifting. For variety, die cut lattice on two sides or all four sides of basket.

2. Die cut basket and handle. Remove shapes from machine and use tweezers to remove any stray cut-outs.

3. Fold basket as indicated and adhere sides together; let dry.

4. Adhere handle ends inside top of basket on opposite sides, or attach handle using flower brads. Use paper piercer to poke holes for brads to prevent tearing.

5. Stamp bunny image onto yellow cardstock; heat emboss with white powder. Stamp and emboss egg images onto assorted cardstock scraps. Color images with gel pens as desired; let dry.

6. Detail cut images. Adhere images to baskets with foam tape, or place inside with grass and candy filler.

Tip

  • Spread a rainbow of color across your Easter table. Make each favor basket a different color, or replace candy with colored eggs.

by Roberta Wax (www.creativeunblock.wordpress.com)

Chick ’n Stick

Posted on by
Reply

Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Have you ever seen such a cute little chick, sitting on a stick? Make one to place in a potted plant, or to add to a little one’s Easter basket.

Materials

  • Wooden spoon, 12” tall
  • Plaid Apple Barrel Acrylic Paints: White, Black, Wild Iris, Lilac Dust, Strawberry, Pumpkin Orange, Canary Yellow
  • Mauve satin ribbon, 1/4”-wide, 6” length
  • Yellow feather

Tools

  • Paintbrushes: liner, flat
  • Black fine-tip permanent marker
  • Craft glue

Basic Supplies

scissors, cotton-tip swab, toothpick

Directions

(Note: Let paint dry before painting next portion of project.)

1. Cut out pattern. (Note: The blue word “pattern” is a link. To access this pattern, select the link, then download and print pattern.) Transfer jagged lines to spoon, continuing lines around back.

2. Basecoat top of spoon (chick) Canary Yellow, spoon handle (legs) Pumpkin Orange, and area between jagged lines (eggshell) Lilac Dust.

3. For cheeks, use cotton-tip swab to drybrush cheeks Strawberry. Dot eyes white. Use toothpick to add Black pupils. Paint beak Pumpkin Orange; highlight White.

4. Use liner brush to shade edges of eggshell Wild Iris. Mix equal parts Lilac Dust and White; highlight eggshell.

5. Use black fine-tip permanent marker to: outline eyes, beak, and eggshell; add eyebrows; draw details on beak and legs and cracks on eggshell.

6. Tie ribbon into a 1”-wide bow. Trim ends; adhere to top of head. Cut 2” from top of feather. Adhere cut end of feather to back of head, with 1” extending above head.

by Tammy L. LeBlanc

Clay Bunny Ornament

Posted on by
Reply

Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

This bunny has been up to no good – stealing carrots from the garden again! But he’ll help spread some love by decorating those Easter baskets!

Materials

  • Polyform Sculpey III Oven Bake Clay: 1 pkg. each: Tan, Sweet Potato, Leaf Green
  • Craft wire, 22-gauge, 1” length
  • Pink satin ribbon, 1/8” wide, 7” length

Tools

  • Delta Ceramcoat Acrylic Paints: White, Pretty Pink, Black, Moroccan Red
  • Polyform Sculpey Glaze, Satin
  • Paintbrushes: liner, flat, shader
  • Parchment-lined baking sheet and oven
  • Adhesives: Polyform Liquid Sculpey, one bottle; Beacon Adhesives Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive

Basic Supplies

scissors, ruler, craft knife

Directions

STEP 1

Follow manufacturer’s instructions to condition clay. Roll Tan into balls as follows: one 1” (head), four 1/2” (ears and feet), and two 3/8” (paws), and one 3/16” (nose). Print and cut out patterns. Use patterns as guide to shape ears, paws, and feet. Shape head into 1-1/2”-long egg shape.

STEP 2

Roll carrot-shape from Sweet Potato; press against work surface to flatten. Use craft knife to score fingers on paws and toes on feet. Roll Forest Green into two 2”-long snakes for scarf.

STEP 3

For hanger, fold wire length in half making loop in center; twist ends together. Apply liquid clay to ends; insert into top of head. (Note: Liquid clay acts as adhesive.)

STEP 4

Apply liquid clay to all bunny sections to be adhered together. Press ears to head; head to top of carrot; scarf to carrot below head (wrap around carrot and twist ends together at side). Press paws and feet to carrot; nose to face, then remove. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to bake. Dip in water to cool.

STEP 5

Use liner and Black to paint face as shown in Fig. 1. Drybrush edges of feet, paws, and ears White and center of ears, heels, toes, and paws Pretty Pink. Paint nose Pretty Pink and hearts on carrot and mouth outline Moroccan Red. Use liner and Black to paint remaining details as shown. When dry, apply glaze to entire surface.

Figure 1

STEP 6

Adhere nose to face. Insert ribbon through loop on head; knot ends.

by Dimples

Sock Beanbag Bunnies

Posted on by
6

Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Add some fun to your Easter décor with these adorable beanbag bunnies. They are sure to hop off the Bunny Trail right into your child’s heart!

Materials

  • Fleece or furry sock: pink OR white
  • Dried rice, two cups
  • Pom-poms: one large white, two medium white, small pink
  • White chenille stems, two
  • Pink felt, scrap
  • Ribbon, 12” length
  • Wiggle eyes, two

Tools

  • Circle template, 3/4”
  • Aleene’s Fabric Fusion Glue

Basic Supplies

scissors, ruler, pencil, measuring cup

Directions

(Note: Materials and directions are for one bunny.)

1. Measure two cups of dried rice and fill bottom of sock. Wrap ribbon length around sock, just above rice; tie bow.

2. Measure 6” from ribbon bow to top of sock; cut off excess. Cut down center of 6” piece, forming two ears

3. Bend chenille stems into teardrop shapes; twist ends together. Adhere shapes on back of ears, wrapping sock around stems and securing on back side. (This makes ears sturdier.) Bend ears.

4. For nose, adhere pink pom-pom on center of face. Adhere eyes above nose. For muzzle, adhere two medium white pom-poms below nose. For cheeks, cut two 3/4” circles from pink felt. Adhere cheeks on sides of muzzle.

5. For tail, adhere large white pompom on back of body.

by Linda Valentino

Lucky Leprechaun Sign

Posted on by
Reply

Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Everyone gets to be Irish on St. Patrick’s Day! This charming painted leprechaun sign is a fun and easy project that’s sure to get your family and friends in the St. Paddy’s Day spirit!

Materials

  • Chalkboard with unfinished wooden frame, 7″x10″
  • Wooden items: heart, 1/8” thick, 4-1/2” across; round head plug, 1/2” diameter; teardrops, 1/16” thick, 2” long, two; rectangles, 1/16” thick, 1/2”x1”, two; craft spoons, two; jumbo craft sticks, two
  • DecoArt American Acrylic Paints: White Wash, Olive Green, True Red, Bright Green, Dark Pine, Gingerbread, Lamp Black, Mocha
  • DecoArt Emperor’s Gold Dazzling Metallic Paint
  • Green craft foam, 3-1/2”x4”
  • Green satin ribbon, 1”-wide, 1/2 yd.
  • Lime green iridescent pom-pom, 1”

Tools

  • Permanent markers: dual-tip (fine/bullet) black, green; extra-fine-tip opaque white
  • Ultra-fine iridescent glitter
  • Sawtooth hanger
  • Beacon Adhesives Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive

Basic Supplies

scissors, pencil, ruler, paintbrush, hammer

Directions

size

Approximately 11”x19”

Leprechaun

(Note: Use photo and patterns as guides throughout.)

1. Print patterns. (Note: The blue word “patterns” is a link. To access these patterns, select the link, then download and print patterns.) Transfer details, except face and ears, to heart. Paint head as follows: face Mocha, hair Gingerbread, collar and hat band White Wash, hat Bright Green. Drybrush edges of head with Dark Pine. Paint head plug (nose) Mocha. Transfer remaining details to head. Drybrush cheeks, nose, and inside ears with True Red. Dot cheeks White Wash. Draw eyes with bullet-tip black marker; draw smile and other stitch details with fine tip.

2. Transfer patterns to craft spoons (arms), craft sticks (legs), and rectangles (buckles). To make body, draw a horizontal line across one narrow end of chalkboard frame 2-3/4” down from top for waist; draw 1/2” wide vertical straps 1/2” in from each side. Paint as follows: hands Mocha, leggings and cuffs White Wash, shirt and sleeves Olive Green, overalls and tops of legs Bright Green. Paint bottom of legs and teardrops (shoes) Lamp Black. Paint rectangles (buckles) Lamp Black and Emperor’s Gold. Drybrush edges of body, arms, legs, shoes, and buckles with Dark Pine. Brush thin layer of craft glue over hat band, collar, and cuffs; sprinkle with glitter. Let dry.

3. Transfer pattern details to hands, reversing for right hand. Draw stitch details on overalls, arms, and legs with fine-tip black marker. Draw rounded uneven lines on leggings with bullet-tip green marker. Draw vertical lines on shirt and sleeves with fine-tip green marker. Transfer words to center of chalkboard. Using white marker, draw words and stitch line around chalkboard close to edge.

4. Transfer shamrock to green craft foam; cut out. Drybrush edges with Dark Pine. Dot with White Wash.

5. Adhere nose to face, head to top of body, arms to back of chalkboard, shoes to front of legs, and buckles to front of shoes. Adhere assembled legs to back of body. Adhere pom-pom to left side of hat. Adhere shamrock to hand on left. Let dry. Tie ribbon in a bow; cut ends in inverted “V”. Adhere bow to center of collar. Using hammer, attach sawtooth hanger to center top back of body.

Other Options

  • Use same pattern to create a Christmas elf in red and green. Make a matching ornament from craft foam.
  • For a simpler version, paint the chalkboard and adhere only the shamrock to it.
  • Instead of a sign, make a leprechaun photo frame for a proud Irish friend.

by Mary Ayres