Archive for the ‘Natural materials’ Category
Oat in the pot plus unfading flower for Mother’s day!
Tuesday, April 8th, 2008AnyΒ Mom loves gardening. Well, not any, but most of. Impress your beloved one with something that you grew yourself!
Craft supplies
Flower pot (yogurt cup size is enough. Or, you can use yogurt cup itself) with soil
Cat grass seeds (very fast to emerge – from just 3 days!)
Acrylic paint and glitter glue to decorate pot; paintbrush
Slim pipe cleaner for flower frame, 3mm green pipe cleaner for stem and leaf
Beads: I, heart symbol, love you Mom
Multicolored pony beads (we had glowing in the dark ones)
Directions
Plant the seeds in the pot, following instructions on the pack (don’t forget to do it in advance since sprouts need time to emerge and grow! Allow about 2 weeks)
Connect 2 chenilles together so you have one long one with no bumps
String the letters, twist, string regular beads and twist again, forming petals
Bend green chenille in half, twist all along to make it stronger for holding flower (don’t forget to form a leaf in the middle of the stem)
Put loose ends from flower through the top loop of stem, secure
Don’t forget to water your grass every day π
On the Mother’s day, stick the flower into the soil, present to your Mom! Gosh she will be happy!
Sea treasure display case
Friday, April 4th, 2008No any practical function, just beautiful memory makeup π
Craft supplies
Unfinished display case from craft store
Acrylic paint – pink and blue (or your favorite colors), paintbrush
Colored sand (we used glittered one, it adds some “wetness” effect to display)
Shells and/or pebbles you brought from your vacation on the sea shore
Directions
Color wooden parts of case with your favorite colors, let it dry
Fill the bottom of the case with colored sand, mixing it artistically
Tip: you may want to fill the very bottom with regular sand so you don’t waste your glitter behind the frame
Cast shells and/or pebbles on the sand
Lock the case
Display proudly
One more tip: postpone making this craft if you are to move π Shaking trucks may transform artistic piece into a mess!
Just hatched! Chick in the Easter basket
Friday, March 21st, 2008Craft supplies
Pompom chick (instructions HERE)
Little basket from craft store
Paper Easter grass
Egg shell (natural π ), broken in two, washed, dried
Chocolate (chocolate it is! There is no options when it’s Easter! π )
Directions
Fill the basket with paper grass
Put the chick inside the shell, wear smaller part of shell on his head (you might want to glue it)
Put the egg inside the basket
Add chocolate around
Decorate your holiday table or just give this piece to anybody on Easter! It’s just irresistible, “aaawww” is guaranteed! π
Enjoy your Holiday!
Napkin rings – easy and fabulous!
Sunday, February 10th, 2008Craft supplies
As you see, they are all different. One unchangeable component is 1/3 of paper roll. So for 6 count set you’ll need only two toilet paper rolls!
Craft knife or any other sharp knife (adult’s work!)
Then, as you see on the picture above from left to right: 1) ribbon with bamboo leaves, hot glue; 2) blue acrylic paint, brush, gemstones – flowers, butterflies etc.; 3) kitchen foil, gemstones; 4) Semitransparent glimmer ribbon, hot glue; 5) red satin ribbon with chicks, hot glue
One on the red background (good for Christmas): 15 mini craft sticks, golden acrylic paint, brush, hot glue, about 16 glass stones (for zig-zag design)
One on the black background: blue ribbon, hot glue, light-yellow ribbon
One with beans (good for Thanksgiving day): large Lima beans, roman beans, red kidney beans, black beans, pink beans, yellow split peas, hot glue, acrylic sealer (optional)
Directions
Cut paper roll into three pieces by width
For ribbon: just wrap it over and under and glue the ends inside ring
For paint: paint it over (inside, too), let dry, hotglue embellishments
For foil: wrap the ring with foil, glue gemstones. Gosh it’s fast! π
For craft sticks: hotglue all sticks around the ring, paint, let dry, decorate with glass stones (use hot glue)
For beans: just glue them all over the ring in any design you want. Varnish (optional).
Use rings yourself or present somebody. Handmade is always touching and moving!
Decorated shells
Saturday, February 9th, 2008You can give it to your Mom on Mothers’ day or any regular day, she can put it on her bedside table and this cute “palm” will keep her ring, necklace, earrings or cell phone while she’s asleep. Or, use it just as loose change keeper! π
Craft supplies (for one)
1 big shell
Acrylic paint, brush
Glitter glue pen or chunky glitter glue, or just glitter, stickers – your choice!
Acrylic sealer – optional
Directions
Wash and dry the shell
Paint the inner part, let it dry
Decorate with glitter, glitter glue, stickers… Draw or stick some hearts on the shell and you have Valentine’s Day gift!
Gift it to your mom, or granny, or friend – it’ll remind them of you every time they use it!
Chinese wishing tree in a pot
Thursday, February 7th, 2008
Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday celebrated among Chinese people. It is often referred to as the spring festival because it signals the beginning of spring. It is a time when families and friends get together to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new.
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Clay & shell magnet β memorize your vacation!
Sunday, February 3rd, 2008Craft supplies
Blue air-dry or baking clay
2
Round magnet
Directions
Mold a sphere, then squeeze it between palms to get βcookieβ form
Press in shell pieces transversely to each other β make them form a boat
Press in magnet to the wrong side of βcookieβ
Let the clay dry or bake it in the oven
Cover blue zone with chunky glitter glue
You can also paint the boat with transparent glitter glue to make it shiny
On the wrong side of your magnet write a name of the place of your vacation (where you actually picked those shells?), and a date
Now put your magnet on the fridge and let your heart be warm every time you see it!
Important: do not put glitter glue on before sending your project to the stove! Only after it’s baked and chilled.