Holiday Countdown: Felty Button Tree

This is a perfect project to get your wee one started on stitching. Buttons and beads are really easy to stitch on and when you make this happy hoop tree, you give your kidlet a chance to decorate yet another tree!

You will need:
*large embroidery hoop
*fat quarter of a happy print
*felted sweater
*small piece of felt
*needle & thread
*sewing machine
*scissors
*buttons and/or beads
*large paper plate (optional)

scrumdilly-do it!

You will be doing a large part of the prep here. Your kidlet can help you choose the colors for the project, draw the tree, cut a little and then stitch.The first thing you will need to do for prep (other than gathering all your supplies) is iron your fat quarter of fabric. Once that is done you are ready to go.

Place hoop over your fabric so that you can eyeball the size of felted sweater you need. Cut a rectangle out of your sweater that will fit into the hoop without filling it. This is going to be your tree.To make your tree, fold rectangle in half and draw half of a tree outward from the fold OR ask your kidlet to draw a tree onto a paper plate and cut out for a pattern.Place hoop back over fabric and center your tree. Pin into place and stitch using your machine.Center your tree/fabric combo onto the under ring of the hoop and place the outer ring on top. Tighten and pull fabric taught. Have your kidlet spend some time playing around with the buttons and beads until they are ready to stitch. If you like, you can add a ring of glue to the outer side of the inner hoop before placing fabric over it. This will anchor it all into place. Let it dry before adding the "ornaments". Trim excess fabric with scissors.Have your kidlet stitch on the buttons and/or beads with a shortish length of doubled up thread. A twelve inch tail is good. Do not worry about sharp needles and all that. Poking happens. My mother taught me cross stitch at 6 and I would go through phases where I was soooo eager to stitch and a lot of poking happened. It still does. You will need to keep an eye out for when to tie the thread and add a new one. Your kidlet can stitch many buttons on with one length. All she or he needs to do is to zig zag from the back.Beads may be easier than buttons as they only have one hole to go through. If you double up the thread you are good. Teach your child to go up from the bottom, thread through the hole of the bead and then go down from the top. They can do it, they really can! If yer not gung-ho about the stitching, get a bottle of tacky glue and have your wee one glue their "ornaments" on. Tacky or Fabric glue is key. White glue won't stick to the felt very well.

Once done with the decorating part of the tree, cut out a small rectangle of felt and add your trunk with a few long stitches. Hang and admire!

A big hoop makes for a bigger tree. Don't go too small. Kids may have little hands but their fine motor skills are still in dress rehearsal. For an added step, have your kidlet paint the hoop before beginning. You can also do a snowman with a button face or a felty wreath with beaded baubels. Happy Holidays!

Holiday Countdown: loverly wrapped bottles

I know it has been done before but look how cool a small grouping of similarly colored yarn bottles look. The best part, is that they are super duper easy to make and adaptable to any holiday gathering. They make a great gift for family as well! Centerpiece anyone?

You will need:
*assortment of glass bottles or jars (cans will work as well)
*glue that dries clear
*yarn

scrumdilly-do it!

Wash and dry your bottles and/or cans and gather up yer supplies.Squeeze a liberal amount of glue all over the bottom portion of your bottle. Use your finger to coat.Beginning with the bottom of your vessel, start wrapping your yarn around and around pulling a tad tightly as you wrap (I held the jar upside down while wrapping). The yarn can overlap previous wrappings but won't stick unless there is a lot of glue. Because we are using one color, the wrapping can be as neat or as wonky as you want. It all looks pretty festive. You can work with shorter lengths of yarn or from the ball. If you need more yarn, cut another length and add a dollop of glue to the end, press down next to where the previous strand ended and begin wrapping again.The more uniform in shape the bottle or can is, the easier it will be to wrap. You may want to work with cans if your kidlets are under age 8 or perfectionists. If your jar slopes inward at the bottom, begin your glue and wrapping a little higher, otherwise the yarn will slip under and there will be a lot of frustration (not like I'm speaking from experience or anything, ahem.)Super fat yarn would work very well for your younger tots. You can add button, sequins or pom-pom decorations when your jars are dry if you like. Plastic bottles may not hold your glue as well as the glass. Use eight smaller jars and you can turn this into a Menorah!

If your kidlet is having trouble holding the bottle and wrapping. Plop it over the handle of a wooden spoon and plop that into a wad of play clay, or can anchored with wads of paper inside to prevent slipping.

Kristin Andreassen - Crayola Doesn't Make A Color For Your Eyes

this illustrates my childhood love of crayons...oh those awesome names and this video makes me smile like a fool. enjoy!

Christmas Countdown: Make Mini Wreath Ornaments, Tags & Decorations

Do you remember the phonebook wreath from last year? We're gonna shrink it up a bit and make them itty bitty. These are not just for Christmas, you can make these for any occasion. Who says a wreath has to be for Christmas? We're making ours out of an old phonebook so already, we've broken a few rules so go for it! Hanukkah wreath? Sure! Kwanzaa wreath? Why not? Boxing Day wreath? Bring it on! New Years Wreath? Of course! You choose the colors and the celebration. Have fun!

You will need:
*cardboard (a cereal box will work)
*old phonebook
*glue
*paint (you can use whichever kind you have on hand)
*sponges or brushes or hands if you're brave
*scissors
*pipecleaner, soda tab, paperclip or wire to hang
*cylindrical objects you can trace for a template
*hole punch
*waxed string, floss, dental floss or yarn
*wax paper (to place underneath all that gluey goodness)

Okay, so we're gonna go small with this so send your wee one off on a circle hunt. Explain how you are going to be making mini wreaths and ask your wee ones what shape they see when they look at a wreath. Next ask what they think would work as a pattern to use for their own wreaths. You can totally turn this into an exercise on shapes and patterns. If you do not have the time or your tot won't be too enthused, get a couple of cups from the cupboard and get ready to start. You will want two sizes. One for the full size of the wreath, and a smaller one for the center that you will be cutting out. I used a small glass and a bottle cap.Set up your work space with a splat mat or large sheet of wax paper under it all. Kids & glue equal fun messiness so be prepared! Flatten out the cardboard you will be using and get ready to grab some pencils and trace. Have your kidlet trace around the outer edge of the cup or bowl you are using for your template. Have them center the smaller one inside the larger circle and trace that as well. Repeat as often as you like. You will hopefully want to make more than one.Use the scissors to cut out the larger circles. You child can do this part if they wish. You will need to cute the center circle out as it may require an exacto to extract. The circles do not have to be perfect. The crumpled paper will flesh them out.Once all your wreath shapes are cut, get to painting them the colors of your choice. Set aside to dry.Have you child cover a couple of phonebook pages with paint. They can use as many colors as they like. If the pages get too saturated with paint they will rip, just so ya know, okay? Set aside to dry.Once dry, cut the pages into small squares about the size of a postage stamp. Or, 1" by 1".Cover your wreath shapes in glue and crumple up each little square and pop it onto the gluey goodness. Repeat until the wreath is as full as your child wants. Do you remember the tissue squares and pencil trick from kindergarten? You can do that as well.Once they are all dry, decorate your wreaths with sequins, ribbon, glitter or more paint. Set aside to dry if they need it.Punch a hole in the "top" of each wreath and thread with a length of string. Now you can connect wreaths to make a garland, top of your presents with them or hang them onto your tree. If you want to turn them into tags, cover the back with glue stick and affix a circle of paper onto the back. Write your To: & From: and you are done!Happy wreath making! If you want to stray from using phonebook pages and paint, cut your squares from tissue paper, you will want a "soft" paper for this project.

holiday countdown: make a garland to give or to keep

Earlier today I made myself a happy felty garland and wondered, how could I tweak this so that kidlets can make one? After a quick peek at what craft supplies were out in the open, I came up with this nifty piece of garland goodness that can be made for any holiday throughput the year.

The key to this craft is maintaining some control over the supplies. While I am usually all for an open ended art experience, I think something can be said to give parameters. You can call it a challenge if you like or call it a "Same But Different" project. Set out your supplies and delight in what your kidlet comes up with.

You will need:

*2 small paper lunch sacks
*scissors
*tacky or fabric glue
*scrap lace
*old felted sweater
*length of bias tape
*safety pins

scrumdilly-do it:

Gather your supplies and set them up on a large flat surface. A kitchen table is perfect for this. Depending on the age of your child you may wish to cut your lace pieces and wool scraps for them. Cutting all pieces up in an assortment of sizes and setting them out in a muffin tin may get your child rearing to go.Cut your sacks into three pieces. I chose paper bags as they are a little bit more sturdy than plain white paper plus the color is different and just a tiny bit fancy-like. Since you are cutting each bag into three pieces, this will determine how many bags you need for your garland. You may wish to hack up a dozen or so bags and set them out for your kidlet to work with. Some kids get into the zone and will work until all supplies are depleted. Fold the top part of each piece under a little bit and ask that your kidlets go to town just under the crease. This will leave a clear spice for pinning or sewing your bias tape on.Set out you sack pieces in a grid format and challenge your kidlet to decorate each flag the same but different. They will be using the same supplies but how can they make each flag look like an original piece of art. Give them a happy tube of glue and let them go for it. When using wool or felt, I find that Aileen's Tacky glue works best. General use white glue soaks into th felt and does not stick at all. If you do not have a fabric glue, limit your materials to non-felty pieces. Once your child has finished creating their art, set aside to dry.When your pieces are dry, unfurl your length of bias tape and play with the pieces to get the spacing and order how you want it. Your kidlet will probably enjoy this part as well.Once you both are satisfied with the order, use your safety pins to pin each flag to the bias tape.** Once all pieces are pinned you can hang up your garland and do a happy dance! Check out scrumdillydilly for the grown-up version of this project!

**paper bags work well with a sewing machine if you wish to jazz up your bunting a wee bit more. You can also use brads and a hole punch or fun colorful staples. I just liked the way the safety pins looked. Also, these little flags of fun would look nice framed or stapled onto the cover of a blank notebook. There are all sorts of things you and your kidlets can do with them. Have fun and don't forget to add your pictures to the flickr group!

new kids project over at CRAFT

Turn your foil juice pouches into cozies for your ipods and such...good for holding crayons too! Check it out here.

a no-sew apron for kidlets (and you) to make!

my newest tutorial over at craftzine is just for you and yer kidlets! hop on over and check it out!

Halloween Candy Redux

In case you missed it last year, here is a small list of things you can do with your Halloween cnady...check it out!

Sshh...I cheated

(and changed my previous post titles)

I had planned to do thirteen back to back posts in honor of Halloween but the reality is, real life beckons and my responsibilities right now are mocking me big time. I will do my best to get back on track and finish up projects and take pictures and post...if only I had some children to borrow and put to work...the scrumdilly way. sigh.

halloween fun: alien heads

Make Alien Heads...or monsters, sea serpents, clowns...what have you...

(pics will hopefully happen, please don't run away!

Alien antennae, monster hat, whatever you call it, this project is fun and can be made with items from your house. The only thing you really NEED to have are paper bowls, which can often be found at the dollar store. If your kidlet's noggin is too big for a paper bowl, you can use a plastic colander. All those holes are perfect for housing those creepy bits. This project is also an exercise inn design and concept. I have done many similar projects with kidlets as young as 4, You know your kidlet best so if you think this would frustrate them, just give them the supplies and let them get to crafting, otherwise, I encourage you to try it out from their design to the finished product.

What you need:
*paper bowls or a plastic colander
*glue, Tacky Glue would work best
*pipe cleaners, pom-pons, paper, etc.
*paint and or markers
*scissors
*yarn or ribbon
*mess friendly work area

scrumdilly-do it!
Set out your supplies in a mess friendly area and grab a sheet of paper and a marker or pencil. Have your kidlet look at the bowl and/or colander and think about what kind of monster/alien hat they are going to make. They can pop the bowl onto their head and see how it looks to better visualize what they want. Ask them to draw it out onto the sheet of paper. This will be their blueprint for their hat.

To begin the hat making, discuss with your kidlet what they think they should do first. Do they want to change the color of the bowl? Should they paint it? Should they cover it in tinfoil? Paper? Fabric? Remind them to look at their picture as they go along. This is an exercise in planning and execution. Make sure to tell them it doesn't have to be EXACTLY like their picture but that their original drawing is to help them plan it out and visualize what they want to accomplish.

If their drawing includes all sorts of antennae and wobbly bits, brainstorm with them as to how they are going to stick them to their bowl. If they have a paper bowl, you can punch holes all over the edges with a hole punch, knitting needle or other pokey object. It goes without saying that your three or four year probably should not be jabbing their bowl with anything sharp so let them guide you as you add the holes for them.

Continue the dialog and process and check out the awesomeness that they create! Depending on your klidlet, you won;t have to guide them along completely, get up and move about and give them a chance to tackle this on their own, you know, except for the sharp object parts.

halloween fun: monster hands

Monster Hands!

Here is a fun project done in two parts that your kidlets can use to decorate the house. Bring on the lab!

What you need:
*two sheets of paper or a paper lunch sack
*pencil
*glue (not a glue stick)
*scissors
*paper clip or clothespin (optional)
*wax paper
*paints, markers, glitter, etc
*plastic bags like from bread or the grocery

scrumdilly-do it!

Have or help your kidlet trace his or her hand onto a sheet of paper or one side of a paper sack.

If using a sack, cut out the hand shape so that you have two hands. If using paper, use a paper clip or clothespin to anchor two sheets together (one on top of the other) and cut out two hands.

Remove the top hand and place the other on a sheet of wax paper. Draw a line of glue around the edge of the other hand, keeping the wrist area glue-free and place its match on top. You can use clothespins or paperclips to keep the pieces together. Allow to dry on the wax paper. The wax paper won't stick to the gluey mess.
Once dry, gently stuff the hand with a plastic bag or two, fiberfill or cotton balls. Draw a line of glue across the opening and anchor closed using a couple of paper clips or clothespins. If the paper rips, just add glue or tape over the rip.Have your kidlets go to town making their monster hand! They can paint, collage, color or glue it to their heart's content. Make it as funny or scary as you like. Do one side at a time and allow to dry. While you wait for it to dry, begin your next monster hand! Make a pair! Make a trio!You can do this with fabric as well or make big freehand monster hands from large paper grocery sacks. Oooh, make a large freehand monster hand on a pillowcase (inside out). stitch it up, decorate and you have a nifty trick or treat sack!

halloween fun: tissue ghosts

a halloween classic: tissue paper ghosts

i can remember making armies of these ghosts (much to my mother's chagrin). i would often end up using an entire box of tissue and boy, did i get in trouble for that. you can make these with the traditional tissue, paper towels, tissue paper, fabric, cheesecloth or white plastic grocery sacks. whatever you choose, your kidlets will cotton to this like candy corn! this weekend, i whipped one up for the nephew (who is seven) and he made his own not ten minutes later and his had angry eyes!

what you need:
*tissue, tissue paper, fabric, cheesecloth or white grocery sacks
*scrap paper, newspaper, phone book pages, etc.
*string or yarn, twist ties or thin masking tape
*markers, permanent markers if using plastic

scrumdilly-do it!

Gather your supplies and get comfy. You can grab a box of tissue from the dollar store for cheap (i found cheesecloth there as well) but if using new supplies doesn't sit well with ya, see if you have any old white t-shirts or sheets you can cut up. Plastic grocery sacks can be cut up as well.. You will want your pieces to be about the size of a kleenex type tissue.

For each ghost, you will need two squares of tissue, etc. Pick up one piece of tissue and wad it up into a ball. You can have your kidlets race to see who wads theirs first or you can have them make monster-hulk faces as they wad/squeeze.Next, hold the balled up piece of tissue in one hand and plop a nice flat sheet over the ball with the other hand and twist to create a neck.Tie a piece of string or yarn to secure the neck. If you stick with white, it will blend into the ghost, you don't have to just check with your kidlet. Twist-ties would be awesome with this, you could also use cut pipe-cleaners.
Using your markers, add your face. Warn your kidlets that due to the tissue's texture, if the pens are held to the surface for too long they will weep into the paper and make big splotches of color. Some kidlets may begin experimenting with this while others may have a mini freak out. I remember discovering this on my own and being frustrated at first but then figuring out how to make the face quickly and being quite proud of myself!

Ta-da! You're kidlets have made their first ghost. Now it is time for an army of them!

You can hang these up in your doorway or home. I would not recommend hanging them outside unless you used plastic bags. They can be tied to a long sting for a banner or they can be "stitched" together with a needle and thread. Your kidlets can also glue them to a foam wreath or make your own wreath from a spare piece of cardboard. There are all sorts of boo-tee-ful things you can do with these ghosts! Have fun and don't forget to add your pics to the flickr group!