3-D Greetings Card

I was visiting Disney FamilyFun.com and thought you'd enjoy this:

3-D Greetings

http://familyfun.go.com/christmas/christmas-gifts-cards-decorations/christmas-cards/crafty-christmas-cards/3-d-greetings-674931/

Tree Card Video, good one for the kids!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8LDwv21kZU

Shoe Card, made from a template. | TweetPhoto

Shoe Card, made from a template. | TweetPhoto

Oh so crafty! Felt Roses, simple, beautiful craft idea!

While I wouldn't make the headband I thought the roses are so easy and beautiful! Such a simple idea I am sure the card makers among us will find a use!


Felted Wool Flowers (Click the link to see photo's sorry could not capture them!)

Here is a photo of the headband being worn by daughter, who was not so keen on having her picture taken...so I snuck up on her. Its the best I could do. Sadly, my photographic skills lack compared to hers. She took the amazing photo, and made my new banner. Check out her other work here.

The inspiration for these roses came from two different sites. the first was Creature Comforts and her tutorial for a paper flower. I made some from paper, and then saw that Betz White had used the same technique on felted wool. The first step is to cut a circle out of your wool.

Starting on the outside edge, start cutting towards the center, making a spiral.

Beginning at the outside of the spiral, start rolling the wool up forming your flower.

I always end up with a tail on the bottom of my flower and I just snip it off with my scissors.

I had been sewing the layers of wool together with neat little stitches, but now just glue them together using a hot glue gun. I all so used the glue gun to attach the flowers to my headband.

Tada! Thats it, you've made a flower!

Posted by Tricia at 9/02/2009 4 comments

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Felted Sweater Headband.

While I don't wear headbands myself, (I have very short hair,) my daughters do wear them and I wanted to make a fall-ish headband for Megan.

The first step was to cut a strip of wool from the bottom of one of my felted sweaters.

Then I trimmed it to 16 1/2" long by 1 1/2" wide. I then tapered the ends by folding the wool in half and measuring down an inch I cut the corners off. (Please excuse my ragged crafters cuticles.)

I then cut 5" of elastic to make the stretchy part of the headband.

With matching thread I made two little rows of stitches to attach the elastic to the ends of the wool.

Then came the fun part. Embellishing. I made a bunch of felted wool flowers and attached them with a glue gun. I stuck a few pearly buttons in too, to brighten things up.

I did a little embroidery on the band as well.

And here we have the finished product. Honestly, the purple flowers looked better in my head than they do in reality, but my Megan deemed it cute, so I'm happy. More importantly, she loves how soft and comfortable the headband is to wear.

Posted by Tricia at 8/29/2009 9 comments

Advent Calenders

Christmas is coming! It’s time to pull out your advent calendar or make a fresh new one.  There’s still time to finish it if you start soon, and there are so many options that I was astonished.
After finding more than 40 amazing and different Christmas Countdown Calendars, I put them all in in a new  Advent Calendars Gallery.
Here’s a sampling:

I love the clean lines of this Wall Pocket Quilt Advent Calendar. It’s a great use for a collection of Christmas fabrics.

Have a country Christmas with this Yo-Yo Christmas Tree Quilt Advent Calendar pattern. The days are counted down with small ornaments hung on buttons sewn onto the green yo-yo’s of the tree. Very cute!

Another fun way to use up bits of Christmas fabrics, the Sewn Christmas Stockings Advent Calendar is nice if you are filling yours with gifts or candy.

The Little Birdie Advent Calendar is a great take-along hand-sewing and embroidery project

The Stacked Matchbox Advent Calendar is irresistible.  I love cute little drawers and I love the hidden secret picture that is revealed as the drawers are opened and reversed each day.

No-sew and almost no work at all, the Baby Socks Advent Calendar is so sweet and so easy!

Festive indeed! This Clear Christmas Ball Ornaments and Tinsel Advent Calendar could be hung on the mantel or on a  Christmas tree

While this version of a Unique Cone Advent Calendar has a kid-inspired look, I think you could also make an elegant version with fancy scrapbook papers.

Perfect for families to create together, there are several idea for Origami Advent Calendars

As simple or complex as you wish, a Printable Blank Advent Calendar awaits your creative mind!

Customize this Printable House Photo Advent Calendar to highlight special people and events throughout the year.

Not into cute? Try this Modern-Retro Printable Advent Calendar on for size.

Pine Cone Tree Ornament

Pine Cone Tree Ornament

How to Make Christmas Trees out of Pine Cones

By Sherri Osborn, About.com

See More About:

• pine cone crafts
• ornaments
• christmas

Pine Cone Tree Ornament

Sherri OsbornFind out how to make a tiny Christmas tree using a pine cone. A great ornament for your own Christmas tree.

• Age Guideline: 3 Years and Up
• Time Required: 20 minutes (Does not include drying time)

The above age and time guidelines are estimates. This project can be modified to suit other ages and may take more or less time depending on your circumstances.

Materials Needed:

• Pine Cones
• Paint
• Ribbon
• Miscellaneous Decorating Supplies (See ideas below)
• Craft Glue
• Paint Brush
• Scissors

Instructions:
Start out by painting your pine cone green.
Cut a 10-inch length of ribbon. When the paint is dry, tie it into a circle and glue the tied section to the pointy tip of the pine cone.
Use miscellaneous supplies to decorate your pine cone so it looks like a miniature Christmas tree. Here are a few ideas of items to use:

• Glitter
• Sequins
• Beads
• Rick-Rack
• Rhinestones/Gems
• Buttons
• Felt
• Craft Foam
• Yarn

You can also paint the tips of the branches white if you like to look like snow. While the paint is still wet, sprinkle glitter on your pine cone if you like. The pine cone tree can also sit on a shelf by painting a tiny clay pot to set it in. If you don't have a clay pot, paint a film container lid or milk cap. Use you imagination!
- See a photo of this craft completed by D. Beveridge.
- See a photo of this craft completed by Molly in IL.
- See a larger photo of this craft completed by G. Kent and C. Kent.

card-making-downloads

Not sure if I have told you about this one but there are some free & very cheap downloadable craft products ranging from 0p. Brilliant site! Follow the link to crafters paradise! http://www.card-making-downloads.com/

Recycling nature friendly tip of the day

Do you have small bits of batting, ribbon and fabric left over after craft projects? Consider placing these tiny scraps outdoors during the spring. Birds will make use of them as nesting material.

Simple card ideas for starters

Glue and Glitter Cards


These cards are messy to make but the effect is spectacular and I guarantee the kids will love it! They do cover the recipient in glitter when they open the envelope but I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing – I call it festive!

         You will need

• blank cards

• kid's pvc glue

• a couple of different colours of glitter

• christmas cookie cutters

Directions

1. Pour glue into a small container or tray until the glue is about 3mm deep. Make sure that your containers is large enough to accommodate the cookie cutters.

2. Dip a cookie cutter in glue and then use it to make a glue print on the blank card. For best results, leave the cutter in place on the card for about three seconds to allow for the glue to drip down onto the card. Repeat until you have made all the glue prints that you want for that particular card.

        3. Sprinkle different colours of glitter on top of the glue prints, making sure to cover all of the glue     
        marks. Then shake the glitter off into a tray and allow card to dry.

Little Angel Clothes Peg Crafts

Clothespin Angel Craft


By Sherri Osborn, About.com

.See More About:ornamentschristmasclothespin craftsangel crafts

NextMake This Easy Craft

A sweet advent craft!

TOBPA shares this advent craft along with a poem that goes with it.

 

• Age Guideline: 5 Years and Up
• Time Required: 30+ minutes (Does not include drying time)

The above age and time guidelines are estimates. This project can be modified to suit other ages and may take more or less time depending on your circumstances.

Materials Needed:

• Cardboard
• Paint, Markers, or Crayons
• Ribbon
• Small Bell
• Individually Wrapped, Small Candies
• Scissors

Instructions:
Cut a large Christmas tree shape out of cardboard. I cut mine approximately 14" by 18". Coloring book pages like these make for good templates. Color or paint the tree. Glue the bell to the top point of the tree.

Write this poem on the tree, choosing a spot that will not be covered with candy. Good options are to write it on the trunk or choose a spot to highlight in the center of the tree.

December 1st 'til Christmas is the longest time of the year.
Seems as if old Santa never will appear.
How many more days 'til Christmas? It may be hard to count,
But this little gift of candy will tell you the exact amount.
Untie a piece of candy each day when Sandman casts his spell
And Christmas will be here by the time you ring the bell.

Cut 24 pieces of ribbon, each about 10" long. Glue the center of each piece of ribbon onto the tree, leaving the long ends loose to tie around the candies. Try to evenly space the ribbons all around the tree. Let the glue dry and then tie a piece of candy onto each ribbon. Hang up and enjoy!

TOBPA says, "This was a HUGE seller at our church bazaar. It is a GREAT idea... Tootsie Rolls and peppermints are the favorite in my house, and colorful hard candies look like ornaments!"