Let’s be Creative!

These Pinwheels are so quick and inexpensive! Make a centerpiece for a fun July 4th get-together, then at the end send everyone home with a pinwheel party favor. You should be aware that the pinwheels may not be appropriate for young children because of the thumbtack.

Materials:

• Double Sided 12″ x 12″ Scrapbook Paper (Different pattern on each side)
• Paper Trimmer
• Roller dispenser with double sided tape or double sided glue dots
• Thumbtacks - beware all thumbtacks are not created equally. Some of the points are not long enough. Get some that are at least 3/8″ long. A little longer would be better, but shorter will not let the pinwheels spin around.
• Pencils with erasers in red, whites, and or blues
• Container for centerpiece - I just used a white milk glass bowl that I had on hand
• Piece of Styrofoam cut to fit inside container
• Masking tape
• Red or Blue shredded paper

Instructions:
Step 1. Using a paper trimmer cut the 12″ x 12″ piece of scrapbook paper into four- 4″ x 4″ squares.

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Step 2. Lay one 4″ square onto the paper trimmer diagonally lining up the corners on the cutting line. Cut down from the top to the 3-1/2″ mark. Make another cut from the bottom of the paper up to the 5″ mark.

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Step 3. Repeat 2 cuts on opposite diagonal.

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Step 4. If you separate the cuts slightly you will see four triangles that join in the center. Roll double sided tape on the top left angle of triangle at top of paper.

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Step 5. Pull angle down overlapping center of paper slightly and stick.

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Step 6. Turn paper one quarter turn to left.

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Step 7. Repeat steps 4 through 6, three more times.

 

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Step 8. Slowly push thumbtack through center taking care to go through all points.

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Step 9. Push thumbtack into the pencil eraser. If the pinwheel won’t turn then pull out the thumbtack slightly.

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Step 10. Make desired number of pinwheels needed to fit into container.

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Step 11. Stick masking tape that has been made into large loops (so that sticky side is on both sides) onto the styrofoam. Press styrofoam into the container.

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Step 12. Use something sharp and pointed slightly smaller than pencils to make holes in styrofoam. Stick pencils into “pre-drilled” holes.

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Step 13. Add shredded paper to cover the styrofoam.

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Posted on June 23rd, 2008 by Anita
Filed under: Holidays, Paper Crafts | 5 Comments »

What fun it is to create your own pillowcases decorated with your favorite characters. Janlynn has a line of pillowcases that are relatively quick and easy to make. They come with a set of special crayons that can be heat set making the coloring permanent.

The pillowcases come screen printed with permanent ink in wonderful designs like Disney Princesses Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, Jasmine, Tinkerbell, Pirates of the Caribbeans, Toy Story, and more. There is even a new Hannah Montana Pillowcase Coloring Kit.

They are reasonably priced, and a fun craft that you and your child can enjoy doing together. Best of all, the end result is something your child will enjoy displaying on their bed or taking with them to sleepovers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These Janlynn Disney Pillowcase Coloring Art Kits come with a standard sized pillowcase, a set of special non-toxic crayons, and an instruction sheet.

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The first step is to pre-wash the pillowcase in warm water. Do not use detergent nor fabric softener. Next dry the pillowcase in a clothes dryer on medium heat without softener dryer sheets.
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Next lay the pillowcase down on a flat surface and color with the special crayons included in the kit. There is not a color guide included in the kit, but you can look at the picture on the front of the package for ideas.

I have found that a light even pressure on the crayons works best. The harder you color the more loose crayon particles you will have on your pillowcase. If these particles are not removed they will make bits of unwanted color after your pillowcase has been ironed.

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I added a name at the bottom of the Tinker bell image, but obviously this is not necessary.
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Now you are ready to heat set your pillowcase to make the coloring permanent. This needs to be done with the help of an adult. Lay the pillowcase on an ironing board. Next lay a sheet of waxed paper down - always keep the waxed paper between the pillowcase and your iron.
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With iron on a medium setting and no steam, press all areas of design. Lay the iron down on design without moving for about 1 minute 30 seconds.

Lift iron straight up and move to next area for 1 minute 30 seconds.

Continue in this manner until all areas of design have been pressed. It is important to lift iron straight up and down so you will not smear the coloring.
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And that was it! Now your pillowcase can be washed in cool water and mild soap, and it can be dryed on a cool setting.

Posted on January 13th, 2008 by Anita
Filed under: Kids Crafts | 4 Comments »

Gallery Glass is a product line from Plaid that is used to create Faux Stained Glass. There is no lead involved. Instead they have Liquid Leading that is a thick water-based paint used to simulate the Lead lines. Once the “Lead” dries Gallery Glass Window Color Paint, also water-based, can be applied. The paint is translucent when dried creating the stained glass effect. Gallery glass paint comes in more than 50 colors, and the colors can also be mixed to create even more variations.

The Liquid Leading and Gallery Glass paint can be applied directly to glass, or it can be applied to Leading Blanks (basically just a special piece of plastic). After being applied to a leading blank and dried, the design can be removed from the leading blank and used like a window cling. There are also special hard clear plastic shapes that can be painted and used as sun-catchers.

Below is a quick tutorial on making a Window Cling using Gallery Glass Paint and Liquid Leading.

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Gather Supplies:<

• Gallery Glass pattern - the Pattern that we are using came from Gallery Glass Book of Super Window Clings
• Gallery Glass Paint in these colors:
  • 16001 Crystal Clear
  • 16009 Emerald Green
  • 16456 Morning Glory
  • 16457 Plum
• Black Liquid Leading
• Combing Tool or Toothpick
• Gallery Glass Leading Blank

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Lay the plastic Gallery Glass Leading blank over the pattern.
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Apply the black Liquid Leading along the pattern lines. This may require some practice. First tap the tip of the bottle several times onto a hard surface to get the paint into the tip and hopefully move any air bubbles away from the tip. Pick a starting point that is at the beginning of a line. I find that it’s easier to move away from my body instead of toward it. Touch the tip of the bottle to the starting point and start squeezing with a constant pressure immediately picking up the tip just a little. A string of leading will form. Still squeezing with that constant pressure, follow the pattern keeping the tip just above and not touching the Leading blank. Let the string of Liquid leading fall along the pattern line. When you get to the end of the line touch the tip to the Leading blank and stop pressure to end the string. Continue in this manner until the pattern is all leaded.

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Allow leading to dry completely.

Apply the Plum color to design leaving small areas open to apply highlight color.

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Paint the open spaces with the Morning Glory. Use the combing tool or a toothpick to blend the 2 colors, streaking back and forth. Also using the combing tool pop any bubbles that you see.

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Paint the Stems with Emerald Green. Paint the open Morning Glory in the same manner as the bud.

Paint inside the circle that is formed where the vine meets with Crystal Clear.

Very carefully tap the design on the bottom side of the Leading Blank with a pencil to pop any bubbles.

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Allow the paint to dry 24-48 hours. Make sure all cloudy areas have turned transparent before removing the clings from the Leading Blank.

When completely dry gently pull cling from plastic. Your window cling is now ready to use!

Posted on September 13th, 2007 by Anita
Filed under: Gallery Glass | 1 Comment »