Halloween crafts: Painted Leaf and Acorn Wreath

Halloween crafts: Painted Leaf and Acorn Wreath

Okay here’s what I did…

I went to Lowe’s and got this foam-pipe-cover stuff.  I don’t know what it’s called… I’m a girl, I don’t do technical hardware names. I found it in the plumbing section, okay? (It reminds me of those pool floaty noodles.) It cost .97¢. Good deal.

I cut the foam-pipe-cover thingy, to the size I wanted, and taped it with duct tape, like this…

(Now, after I made this wreath, I decided that I probably should have reinforced it with a wire hanger, on the inside of the foam. Once all the acorns are on it, they tend to weigh the wreath down a bit.)

I took a roll of paper, rolled it out on my driveway, and spread my acorn bottoms out on it.  You could use newspaper if you like. Then, I started spaying the acorns until I got the coverage that I wanted. I used an olive-green color. I used approximately 300 acorn bottoms to make this wreath.  I also picked out about 10 or 12 acorn caps and spray painted them a metallic copper color.

Once my acorns were dry, I started hot gluing them on the foam wreath.  I started on the inside circle, with the wreath laying flat, like this…

After I got my base row on, I kept gluing the acorns, one row at a time, until I covered the whole wreath.

Then, I took some of my left over acorn bottoms, and glued them into the caps, that I had painted.

I wanted some leaves on this wreath, so I spray painted some oak leaves. I used the same copper color that I painted the caps, and let them dry.

While I waited for my leaves to dry, I touched up the wreath with a little more green spray paint, in places that needed more paint, and let it dry.

Once everything was dry, I took my copper leaves and laid them out on the wreath, to see how I wanted them, and then started gluing them down.

Once my leaves were glued down, I glued my acorns, with the copper caps, on top of the leaves, like this…

I thought It turned out super cute. Yes?

Happy fall y’all!

Paper crafts: Party Paper Garland

I love, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this simple paper garland!

One of my greatest delights is being challenged to craft something for the least amount of money while using resources I have on hand.  I suppose that is what true crafting is all about.  It is the fun of creating something and seeing what happens. And this paper garland:FREE. Yes.

Paper crafts: Party Paper Garland

 And believe it or not...
This garland is made from paper off a couple doodle pads I have lying around to jot down groceries and phones numbers, card stock, scrap scrapbook paper, a circle paper punch and glittery string.

I wanted the garland to match these adorable plates and napkins I picked up at Target.  

I love that these are not conventional colors for Valentines Day since Cati's class of ten students has EIGHT BOYS and only two girls (one of which is my Cati). So I avoided the abundance of red and pink. Although y'all know me...the pinker...the better.

Each dimensional circle is just 3 punched circles
(2 folded and glued on each side of one flat card stock circle).  

It took me about 30 minutes to make. You can't beat that!

I love the color combination.
It pops with festive color while being delicate and sweet!

I hung it in my kitchen and just smiled every time I looked at it.

Until I lost 7 years off my life walking through the kitchen and it fell down as I passed through. 

Cheap scotch tape. :(

I hope to show you the pics after the fun party.  

I have another project in the works but I have no idea if I will finish it in time.

Easy crafts for Halloween: Paper Roll Pumpkin

For this craft, we used construction paper that we cut into small strips, then stapled them together to make circles. We glued them to a piece of cardstock in a pumpkin shape and then put it in a frame.

Easy crafts for Halloween: Paper Roll Pumpkin 

Video tutorial: Hawaiian Paper Flowers

Material required

• Cardstock of different colors
• Scissors
• Yarn
• Straws

Steps involved:

Step 1:

Get the print of the template.

Step 2:

Cut flowers of different colors. Their size depends on your choice.

Step 3:

Make a hole in the center of the flower with the help of a pin or punching machine.

Step 4:

Cut a yarn according to the how long you want your garland to be.

Step 5:

Cut few straws in 2 inch pieces.

Step 6:

Tie a knot at one end of the yarn.

Step 7:

Thread one flower and then a straw piece.

Step 8:

Repeat step 7 until your thread or yarn is about to finish.

Step 9:

Tie the end of the yarn to the knot you made in step 6.

Your garland is ready.

Take  a look at the video to understand making Hawaiian paper flowers lei:

Video tutorial: Hawaiian Paper Flowers

Paper crafts for kids: MAKING ORIGAMI PAPER FLOWER – TULIP video tutorial

Things required
    1 sheet (7” X 7”)


Steps involved:
Step 1:
Make a square base and hold it in such a way that the opening is at the top.



Step 2:
Fold the left and right corners to the center to create dark crease. Unfold.


Step 3:
Again fold the corners but now till the crease made in step 2.


Step 4:
Fold the paper along the crease.


Step 5:
Repeat step 2, 3 and 4 on the other side also.


Step 6:
Now fold the lower edges to the centerline.


Step 7:
Flip and repeat step 6.

Step 8:
Hold the flower from the bottom and with the help of your fingers open the upper part to give it a flower like appearance. If you want you can cut the petals in the pattern you want to give to your flower.
Your flower is done.
Take a look at the video to understand better how to make a more complicated origami paper flower – tulip:

Crafts tutorial: Hanging Fabric Doilies

Crafts tutorial: Hanging Fabric Doilies

Since learning to sew a few months ago so I have been thrilled to enter the vast world of incredible fabric!! Among the many projects that I have taken on for my daughter and her nursery is a fun puff quilt, and I just loved squeezing as many tiny pieces of beautiful fabric together as possible on it. There was no need to restrain myself among the fabric gorgeousness, and I barely did! But after spending entirely too much time researching, shopping for and ordering fabric, I realized that I wanted a more permanent way to display the collection in her nursery than just the quilt.

So I came up with these Hanging Fabric Doilies. Aren't they sweet?!

Want to see the details? Read on!

I started off with 6 inch and 4 inch paper doilies. I cut off the lace edges and used the center circles as templates to cut out my fabric circles.

I mixed equal parts of fabric stiffener and water, brushed it onto the circles and let them air dry.

They dry a bit wrinkly, so I ironed them flat on a low heat setting, then folded them in half and ironed down the crease.

I took 2 doilies, folded those in half as well, and paper clipped them together so that they wouldn't shift while I was sewing them.

I slipped one of the creased and stiffened fabric circles under the paperclips on each side of the doilies.

I then sewed a straight stitch down the center of the doilies and fabric circles, using my creases as a guide, and left a 3 foot long string at one end.

Now I was really getting excited! I wanted my fabric circles to lay flat against the doilies, so I used a thin squiggle of hot glue to secure them in place.

I opened up the folded sides of the doilies and glued 2 coordinating fabric circles onto those as well.

You could leave the alternating sides blank, but since this is for a nursery I wanted alternating colors to best keep the baby's interest.

I made several fabric doilies in different sizes and pattern combinations, and hung them from the ceiling above the rocking chair.

I also made five of the 4 inch fabric doilies and strung them onto the frame from my son's old mobile.

It was the perfect way to spread the fabric around the room, add some pops of color, and still leave a light touch.

I just love the sweet detail on the doilies and the bursts of color are just too fun!

Curious about the fabrics?

Gift presents for a little girl: Cross Hair-Clip tutorial

Gift presents for a little girl: Cross Hair-Clip tutorial

 I've had this idea in my head for a while.  I love hair-bow sculptures and I thought that this would be perfect one for Easter (or anytime really)!  

Cross Hair-Clip

 What you will need:
ribbon
feathers
hot glue
satin rosette (found mine at Hobby Lobby in the bridal section with the small floral stems)

 First make a two loop bow. One will have the same length for both sides, the other will have a longer end.  Hot glue to secure

 Hot glue both together.

 Now add some feathers and a rosette.   

Easy Peasy!!!

 Beautiful... and reminds me where I find my hope and joy!!!

On a side note... my Pinkie Pie is growing up.. she looks so so... BIG!  She's gorgeous both inside and out. 

Happy Creating!