How to Make a Paper Scarecrow
Scarecrows can be helpful when you want to keep birds out of your garden. They’re also the inspiration for some whimsical fall crafts. Even small children can get in on the scarecrow craze with this simple paper scarecrow project.
What You Need…..
Card stock
Construction paper in a variety of colors
Pencil
White craft glue or glue stick
Magic markers
Googly eyes
Straw or raffia
Instructions……
1. Draw a basic scarecrow template on card stock. If you’re not sure how to do it, try drawing a puffy “T” shape with a circle on top for the head.
2. Cut out the scarecrow template.
3. Using the pencil, draw clothes for your scarecrow on the construction paper. Use the template to ensure that they will fit correctly. You could make a shirt and overalls or a dress, and add accessories such as hats, gloves, shoes and more.
4. Cut out the clothes. Use markers to decorate them.
5. Draw a face on your scarecrow. Make small dots where you will put the eyes, then glue them on.
6. Glue the clothes onto your scarecrow. Let dry.
7. Glue straw or raffia under the bottom of sleeves and pants. You could also cut out a hat shape and glue straw to it to make a straw hat.
Tips…..
Find some small buttons to embellish your scarecrow with. Add them to shirts or overalls.
Place a stick-on magnet on the back of the scarecrow for easy display on the refrigerator.
Make a paper crow out of black construction paper. Cut feet and a beak out of yellow or orange paper, and add googly eyes.
Stick it on the scarecrow’s arm for added fun.
Embellish your scarecrow’s hat with some dried flowers.
Use Spanish moss to make hair for your scarecrow. Glue it around the head or under the hat.
Instead of drawing the nose on, you could glue on a pom pom or a construction paper triangle. For the mouth, you could use a chenille stem.
Consider making some patches for your scarecrow’s clothes. Simply cut squares out of contrasting colors of construction paper and glue them on randomly.
If you want your scarecrow to last for years to come, use only card stock and construction paper to make it. Then laminate it and cut away the excess plastic, leaving ¼ inch around the edges to maintain the seal.
If you prefer, you could make the scarecrow’s clothing out of patterned scrapbooking paper or wallpaper scraps. You may need to glue these types of paper to card stock first to make them sturdier 
Pete.
How to Make a Nature Bracelet
Nature holds all sorts of treasures just waiting to be discovered. From flowers to pine cones to interesting pebbles, you can find numerous objects of beauty on a single trip out of doors. Simply looking for such items is a great activity for the family.
Kids enjoy finding interesting things when they’re outside. And they often want to bring some of them home. But once they get them in their rooms, they often end up in the bottom of a drawer somewhere or get lost. Making a nature bracelet is a nice way to enjoy the treasures they find and display them for all to see.
This project isn’t meant to last a lifetime. But it’s a great way for children to show off their findings for a while and keep them all together. And it’s so easy that even toddlers can do it.
Supplies……
Wide masking tape
Small items found in nature
Instructions……..
1. Before going outside, wrap a loop of the masking tape around your child’s wrist, with the sticky side out. Make it large enough that it can slide off but small enough that it will stay put. If she is right handed, wrap it around her left wrist, and if she’s left handed, wrap it around her right wrist.
2. Go on a nature walk. The woods is one of the best places to find items for a nature bracelet. But if there are no woods nearby, try the local park or your back yard.
3. Help your child find small items such as flowers or flower petals, leaves, bark, feathers and small pebbles. Then she can stick them on her bracelet.
4. If you can take nature walks on a regular basis, you might consider making a themed bracelet each time you go out. Your child could look for feathers one day, small flowers the next time, and so on.
This simple activity is also quite educational. Kids can learn about different kinds of plants and rocks. And for younger children, it can help develop both gross and fine motor skills. The sights, sounds and smells experienced along the way provide lots of sensory stimulation as well.
Even after your outing is over, the bracelet can still provide learning opportunities for your child. When she shows it to someone, she can exercise her language skills by describing the things on it and telling where and how she found them. You might even encourage her to draw pictures of what took place and write a story about it.
Making a nature bracelet is very easy, and it’s lots of fun for both children and their parents. And if you’re on a budget, you’ll be happy to know that can make lots of them without spending lots of money. So the next time the kids get bored on a nice, sunny day, grab the masking tape and head outdoors!
Pete.
How to Create Beautiful Leaf Prints
The great outdoors holds many treasures that we can use in crafting. Flowers, pine cones and rocks can be used as the basis for many crafts, and they also make lovely accents. Even simple leaves can add a nice touch to your projects.
Leaf prints can bring a hint of nature to the most sophisticated of crafts. Yet they’re so easy to do, even children can create them expertly. Here are two simple ways to capture the beautiful intricacies of leaves.
Leaf Rubbings……
Supplies…….
* Paper
* Leaves
* Crayons
Instructions…..
1. Lay a pretty leaf flat on the table, with the veins facing upward.
2. Lay a piece of paper on top of the leaf, positioning it so that the leaf is where you want its impression to be.
3. Peel the wrapper off of a crayon in the desired color. Holding the paper down around the leaf, gently rub the side of the crayon over the paper on top of the leaf.
4. Reposition the leaf, or place another type of leaf under the paper and repeat with a different color. Continue to create a pattern, or just make rubbings at random to complete your work of art.
Painted Leaf Prints…..
Supplies……
* Paper, poster board, card stock or fabric
* Leaves
* Paint (acrylic, tempera or fabric, depending on the material you’re working on)
* Paintbrush or sponge
* Newspaper
* Paper towels
Instructions…….
1. Lay the leaf on top of the newspaper, with the veins facing upward.
2. Use the paintbrush or sponge to thoroughly apply paint to the leaf. Alternatively, you could simply put some paint on the newspaper and dip the leaf into it.
3. Carefully lift the leaf off of the newspaper, and place it paint side down onto the material you want to make a print on.
4. Place a paper towel over the leaf and press down gently but firmly.
5. Remove the paper towel, and peel the leaf off of the material, taking care not to tear it.
6. Repeat to create prints of the same leaf in the same color. Let dry.
7. Use a new leaf for each different color, and let each new color dry before adding another one.
There are also other ways to create leaf prints. Pressing leaves onto ink pads and then onto paper is a simple way to make them. It’s also possible to make imprints of leaves on clay by gently pressing the leaf into it. These techniques present all sorts of crafting possibilities.
Leaf prints are simple enough for toddlers to create with little assistance. They make wonderful rainy day projects on their own, or they can be used to enhance all kinds of crafts. So if you’re looking for some inspiration from nature, look no further than that tree in your back yard
Pete.
How to Make a Birthday Piñata
Piñatas are all the rage at kids’ birthday parties. There’s just something about getting blindfolded, trying to hit a brightly colored object with a stick, and picking up the candy that falls when someone succeeds that young people (and the young at heart) love. Piñatas have become must-haves for birthday celebrations, but unfortunately they’re not cheap.
But did you know that piñatas are really easy and fun to make? You can create a colorful piñata with just a few supplies, and you can find some of them around the house. Here’s how to make a simple one.
Supplies……
* Newspaper
* 1/4 cup flour
* 6 cups water, divided
* Large balloon
* Large bowl
* Poster paint
* Twine or other strong string
* Candy and/or small toys
Instructions…..
* Cut or tear newspaper up into strips 1 1/4 inches wide. Make more than you think you’ll need to cover the piñata, because several layers must be applied.
* Mix up some papier-mache paste. Mix the flour with 1 cup of cold water, and press out all lumps. Then put the other 5 cups of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add a spoonful of boiling water to the flour and water mixture, and mix well. Continue stirring while slowly pouring the mixture into the boiling water. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes and let cool.
* Blow up the balloon and tie securely. Set it down in the bowl.
* Soak a strip of newspaper in the paste until soaking wet. Smooth it onto the balloon, wiping off excess paste with your fingers.
* Add more newspaper strips soaked in paste, overlapping each by about an inch and crossing the strips. Cover all but the tied end with two layers of newspaper.
* Let the piñata dry for 2 to 3 days.
* Pop the balloon and remove it.
* Decorate the piñata with poster paint. Glue on construction paper accents, streamers and other decorations if desired. Let paint and glue dry.
* Using an ice pick, carefully poke a hole on each side on the top. Thread a length of twine through the holes and tie the ends together to make a hanger.
* Fill the piñata with candy or toys. Cover the hole with masking tape, and paste some newspaper over the tape. Let dry for 24 hours, and paint to match the rest of the piñata.
If you like, you can use a large balloon and a smaller one to make a body with a head. Just cover the balloons separately, let dry and decorate as desired, then put the open ends together after you’ve added the candy. Attach with more newspaper and paste, and let dry.
Making piñatas is rather messy, but it’s also lots of fun. A homemade piñata is also much less expensive than a store-bought one, and it is completely customizable.
The next time you’re planning a birthday party, why not try your hand at papier-mache model-making? Great Fun
Pete.
Kids Make Their Own Photo Flower Frames
Most moms love flowers, and all love photos of their families. Why not combine those two ideas to give her flowers that will never die and feature cherished photos of her children? These Mother’s Day photo flowers are sure to make Mom’s big day extra special. Even small children can make them with a little help with the cutting.
Supplies
* Construction paper, colored card stock or patterned scrapbook paper
* Glue or glue stick
* Photos
* Pencil
* Scissors
* Clear tape
* Green chenille stems
Instructions………
1. Cut photos into circles. To make it easier, try putting a 50 cent piece, spool of thread or other small, round object on top of the face you want to cut out and tracing around it. Then cut around the circle you drew.
2. Draw the outline of a flower on a piece of card stock or construction paper, making sure you’ll have plenty of room for the photo in the middle. Cut out.
3. Trace around your original flower on paper in other colors to make as many flowers as you like. Cut them out and set them aside.
4. Glue a photo onto the center of the first flower. If using liquid glue, take care not to use too much. Wipe any excess off with a paper towel.
5. If you like, draw more flower shapes on patterned paper or contrasting colors of construction paper or card stock. Make these about 1/4 inch larger than the first ones. Glue the flower with the photo on it onto a larger flower shape, centering it so that it makes an even border.
6. Attach a chenille stem to the back of the flower with tape. Trim the stem if needed.
7. Repeat with the rest of your flower cutouts to make a beautiful photo bouquet.
Presentation Ideas
* Bundle the flowers together and tie a ribbon around the stems. Spread them out above the ribbon so that all are visible.
* Make a flowerpot to put the flowers in. Use markers or paint to decorate a styrofoam cup, stick some floral foam in the bottom, and stick the stems into it to create a pleasing arrangement. Glue some Spanish moss on top of the floral foam to complete the look.
* If you prefer, omit the stems and make the photo flowers into magnets. You can buy strips of peel and stick magnets at any craft store. Just cut off the size of magnet that you need, peel off the paper and stick it to the back of each flower.
* If you want to keep the flowers looking beautiful longer, have an adult help to laminate them before attaching the stems.
Pete.
Kids Make Unique Handmade Birthday Invitations
There’s so much to do when throwing a birthday party.
There are party favours to choose, cakes to buy or bake and decorate, gifts to purchase, and decorations to hang. But one of the most important things to do when planning a party is to invite the guests. A party is not much fun if there’s no one there to celebrate with you!
You could go to the store and pick up a pack of invitations. Or you could make your own unique ones. It’s not as hard as you might think, and it can actually save you money. Here are some tips to help you make beautiful invitations without breaking the budget.
1. Start with the right kind of paper.
Card stock is the best choice, as it is very sturdy but easy to work with. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns.
2. Fire up the computer.
There are plenty of card-making programs on the market, and while some of them are expensive, the simpler ones are usually reasonably priced. They include ready-made card designs as well as clipart and fonts you can use to make your own cards. You can do everything on the computer, or you can customize the invitations with a variety of embellishments.
3. Make use of stickers that match your party’s theme.
You can find themed packs of stickers at your local scrap-booking, discount or dollar store. Those featuring licensed characters can be a bit pricey, but you can find lots of fun options that are less expensive.
4. Use pressed flowers for an elegant look.
You can buy these in craft stores and online, but it’s much cheaper to make your own. Just pick some small flowers, place them between two plain pieces of paper, and insert them in the middle of a heavy book. They’ll dry on their own in about two weeks. You can also buy flower presses that you can use in the oven or microwave to dry them faster, but if you only press flowers on occasion, a book will suffice.
5. Make your invitations pop with glitter.
Loose glitter provides lots of shine, but it can be very messy. Glitter glue is easier to use, and you don’t have to worry about getting little shiny flakes all over the place.
6. Do you love the look of filigreed cards?
Use craft punches to recreate this look in your invitations. You can find them in scrapbooking stores in a variety of shapes and sizes.
As a bonus, you can use the punched-out shapes on your invitations or other projects.
7. Give embossing a try.
It’s easy to do, and can be accomplished with embossing tools or embossing powder. There are even embossing pens that you can simply write with like you normally do.
8. Add more texture with embellishments such as ribbon and lace.
Put scraps from sewing and other projects to use if you have them.
9. Use decorative scissors to create elegant or fun edges.
You can find these in craft stores, and many have inter-changeable blades.
10. Consider adding a photo.
You can print it directly on the card with most card-making programs, or you can crop and paste a photo as you would on a scrapbook page.
Making unique handmade invitations is lots of fun, and your invited guests are sure to love them. So instead of buying plain old birthday invitations at the store, get creative and make your own!
Pete
How to Make a Takeaway Beach
A trip to the beach can be the highlight of one’s summer. Children are especially captivated by the sand, water and beautiful scenery. When it’s time to go home, they may not want to leave. And for that matter, you might wish you could stay, too!
Moving to the beach might not be an option. But you can take a little piece of the beach with you when you go home. Collecting seashells, driftwood and other beach findings is a fun way to commemorate your vacation. And when you get home, these items can be used to make your very own beach… inside of a large jar. (A demijohn or similar). Here’s how to make this simple yet meaningful craft project.
Supplies
* Glass jar with lid
* Glass cleaner
* Paint pen
* Sand
* Seashells
* Pebbles
* Small bits of driftwood
* Pieces of sea glass
* Craft glue
Instructions
1. Remove any labels from the jar and wash thoroughly. If part of a label is particularly stubborn, try using a scraper blade and/or rubbing alcohol to remove it.
2. Use glass cleaner to remove fingerprints and any remaining glue from the jar.
3. Use the paint pen to paint the name of the beach you visited on the side of the jar, near the bottom. Add some beach-inspired designs such as starfish, palm trees or ocean waves if you like.
4. Pour some sand into the jar. The amount is up to you, but try not to add so much that it overpowers the other items you will be adding.
5. Drop lots of seashells, pebbles, driftwood and sea glass into the jar. You can fill it up to the top or leave some empty space.
6. Pick out some favorite shells and sea glass to adorn the outside of your takeaway beach. Arrange them to your liking on the lid, glue on with craft glue and let dry. If you like, you could also glue some pieces of sea glass onto the jar itself.
7. Place the lid on the jar.
Your “beach in a jar” can serve a number of purposes. You could give it as a gift to someone who wasn’t able to go with you. You could use it as a paperweight. If you used a large jar, it could double as a doorstop. Or you could simply place it on a shelf somewhere that you will see it each and every day.
Trinkets from the beach souvenir shop are nice. But something that holds memories of your unique experience at the beach is far more nostalgic. Your takeaway beach will remind you and your kids of the fun you had making the ‘Beach-In-A-Jar’ for many years to come.
Pete.
Make a Kitchen Garden For Your Kids
The benefits of gardening are many. Planting a vegetable garden gives us fresh food to enjoy during the summer and early fall, and we can preserve the extras to eat throughout the winter. And for kids, gardening is a fun and educational experience. Watch their faces light up as the veggies grow and as they get the taste for their ‘very own’ home-grown produce.
It’s a common misconception that you have to have lots of land to plant a garden. If you have a yard, you can plant a small garden outdoors. And even if you don’t, you can plant some of your favorite vegetables in a large pot, an old box frame or an old disused car tyre. Here’s how.
1. Find an appropriate space for your garden. Ideally, it should receive at least eight hours of sun each day and have room for at least six square feet of planting space. It should also be close to the kitchen if possible for quick, as-needed harvesting.
2. If you’re planting in the ground, till the soil. If planting in a container, you’ll need to use a lighter weight soil. Try packaged potting soil from your local garden center.
3. Plan your garden. If planned carefully, it can yield far more than if you just throw it together. You can plant early season crops first, midseason crops after the first harvest, and late season crops after those have been harvested. Most seed packets have instructions that tell you when to plant and harvest. Kids just love handling those seeds and can’t believe they’ll grow into the picture on the packet.
4. Know how tall each crop will grow. The tallest ones should be planted in the center of your garden (or the back if it is located against a wall) so that they won’t shade the shorter ones.
5. Pay attention to how far apart crops should be placed. Some need several feet of space between them, while others only require a few inches. For best results, draw a diagram of your garden space to scale on graph paper and plan where you will plant each crop.
6. Start planting. You can find cheap gardening tools at your local dollar store that will work just fine for a kitchen garden. But kids will enjoy using your old kitchen cutlery even more
7. Water your plants each day. Gardens planted in containers tend to dry out very quickly, so you may even need to water twice a day if they get full sunlight. Keep watering until water runs out of the drainage holes.
8. Fertilize your garden ‘lightly’ once every two to three weeks. Read directions carefully to avoid over fertilizing, as this can damage or kill plants.
There are many types of vegetables that you can plant in a container garden. Some of the most popular include tomatoes, leaf lettuce, summer squash, cucumbers, carrots, green onions and bell peppers. Herbs may also do well alongside vegetables. Try some basil, dill, parsley, thyme or tarragon.
Planting a garden is not an activity reserved for those who own a farm. Anyone can plant vegetables, as long as they are well suited to the area’s climate. With a small initial investment, you can have enough fresh veggies to last your family several months. And with the future looking ‘greener’, what better time to educate your kids in the undoubted ‘Magic’ of growing living breathing plants from seed through to fruition?
Pete.
What to Consider When Setting Up a Pottery Studio
Some crafts require little or no extra space to participate. Pottery is not one of them. Depending on your technique and your attitude toward pottery, you could need a free corner in your home or an entire separate building. Here are some things to consider before you choose a space for your studio.
* Do you plan to handbuild or throw? The act of handbuilding does not require a great deal of space. Unless you plan to do it frequently, the kitchen table should be sufficient and can be cleaned up easily to be used for other purposes. But if you’re throwing pottery, you’ll need a space that’s large enough to accommodate the type of wheel you plan to use. And since throwing is significantly messier than handbuilding, you’ll probably want a dedicated room or building.
* Will you need to store lots of pieces? If you’re planning on selling your work, you’ll definitely need some storage space for it. You’ll also need some sturdy shelves to hold your finished products.
* Where will you store your materials and supplies? Again, this depends largely on how much you plan to produce. If you’re just creating a piece every now and then, a small shelf or drawer unit might work. If you will make several pieces a week, you may need an entire room.
* Will you have your own kiln? A kiln is not a necessity, because many pottery shops will fire pieces for their customers. But if you’re producing a lot of products, you’ll probably want your own kiln. If you do get a kiln, you’ll need a separate building. You’ll also have to put it in a location where it can be adequately ventilated. And you’ll need heavy-duty wiring to take care of its power needs.
* Adequate lighting is important in any craft, and pottery is no exception. If you’re working inside your home, lamps may be enough to compensate for poor overhead lighting if necessary. If you’re building a dedicated studio or converting an existing space, installing plenty of lighting is the best course of action.
As a general rule, you’ll need one watt of power dedicated to lighting for every two cubic feet. Multiply the length by the width of your space, and multiply the result by the height to get your cubic footage. Divide by two to determine how many watts of total lighting you’ll need, and install fixtures accordingly.
If you plan to pursue a career in pottery, your needs will be much different than if you just want to handbuild a piece every now and then. Carefully planning your studio will ensure that you have all of the space and resources you need without going overboard.
Catch you later, Pete.
