Polka Dot Flower Vase

Polka Dot Flower Vase

From: SjoesJoe Likes Lovely Things from ivillage

Materials: 

Empty glass bottles or mini-vases

dot labels (can get at the office supply store) if not available, use a puncher and put glue

ribbon, scissors and double-sided tape

Instructions: 

1. Have your kid decorate the vase with the dot labels. 

2. Next, measure the width of the base of the vase with ribbon and cut to fit, leaving a little extra to ensure it'll make it all the way around. 

3. Then have your kid take the double sided tape and secure the ribbon -- or they can tie it instead. 

4. Then your kid can add more ribbon or polka dots to finish his masterpiece.

This makes a perfect holiday gift for his teacher -- just add flowers!

Toddlers Craft: Fishing Handprint

Fishing Handprint

From Busy Bee Kids Craft

This Fishing Handprint craft is a really fun fish craft for Preschoolers or Toddlers to make! This would also make a great Father's Day, Grandparents Day, or Sunday School craft! Decorate your fish any way you choose, and write a message in the top right corner, for example: "Happy Father's Day", "Teach a man to fish" or "Gone Fishing"

Here's what you'll need... • Construction paper
• Glue
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Twine/yarn/string
• Decorations for your fish (markers, crayons, glitter glue, stickers, etc.)


Here's how you make it... 1. Trace and cut out a hand print from construction paper, make sure you include the wrist and upper arm. Cut out a long, straight paper 'fishing pole', a short piece of 'fishing line' from your twine, and a colorful fish.


2. Now you'll need to decorate your fish. We used some glitter glue to make fins, but let the kids get creative! Once you've decorated your fish, glue the handprint onto a piece of construction paper (just glue the wrist and palm, not the fingers!), glue the fishing pole into the palm of the hand, then glue the twine onto the top of the pole, and lastly, glue the fish onto the end of the fishing line.

3. Now all you need to do is glue the fingers around the fishing pole. One by one, glue each finger tip to the palm of the handprint! If you wish, write on a special message! 

Toddlers Craft: Loaves and Fishes Necklace

Loaves and Fishes Necklace

This Loaves and Fishes Necklace is a great craft for preschoolers (and up) to go with the 'loaves and fishes miracle' bible story.

The macaroni represents the loaves and the fish represent, well, the fish. If you want to make this craft quicker or don't have any paint, just don't paint the 'loaves', perhaps you can make your fish different colors to make it more bright.

Here's what you'll need... • Macaroni with holes big enough to string (Rigatoni was used in the picture)
• Yarn or twine
• Construction paper or card stock in what ever color you’d like to make the fish
• Hole punch (scissors will work)
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Paint (optional)





Here's how you make it... 


1. If you are painting your macaroni do it now. If not, move on to step 2.

2. Cut fish shapes out of construction paper, punch or cut holes in the top to string.


3. String your macaroni and fish. If you are using yarn to string your necklace try wrapping a small piece of masking tape around the end to make it easier for little ones.

More creative Bible Arts From Busy Bee Kids Craft

Starter Craft: Things God Made Booklet

Things God Made Booklet

From Busy Bee Kids Craft

The Things God Made Booklet is a great craft for preschoolers on up. This craft provides a wonderful opportunity to discuss all of God's creations! Great for Sunday School teaching!

Here's what you'll need... • 4-5 pieces of construction paper, your choice of color
• Small piece of twine or yarn
• Hole punch (scissors will work)
• Magazines
• Scissors
• Glue
• Marker
Here's how you make it...
1.Cut your construction paper into pages, make them as big or small as you like. Punch two holes in each peice of paper and "bind" your book together by tying twine or yarn through the holes. On the front of the Booklet write, "Things God Made."

2.Using the magazines, cut out pictures of things that God Made, perhaps it is your favorite things? Another option is to go for a walk outside and collect some real things God made, like leaves, flowers, and pebbles. Glue all of your pictures or treasures into your book and you will have a constant reminder of all of God's beautiful creations.

Toddlers Craft: Butterfly Baggie

Butterfly Baggie

from Busy Bee Kids Craft

This butterfly Baggie is just that - a butterfly made from a regular zip-lock baggie! If you can crumple paper, you can do this craft, perfect for toddlers and preschoolers!

Here's what you'll need...• Zip-lock baggie
• Construction paper
• Pipe cleaner
• Scissors


Here's how you make it...1. Cut the top off the baggie that sticks up above the zipper.


2. Cut construction paper into squares, crumple them and place them inside the baggie. Fill the baggie about ⅔ full.

3. Squeeze out the air in the baggie and seal it tight. Gather it in the middle and wrap and twist a pipe cleaner around the center. Twirl the ends to make the butterfly's antennas. There are other ways to do this craft. You can slide flat pieces of paper inside the baggie, fold the baggie accordion-style and secure with a pipe cleaner. You can also use a clothespin for the center rather than a pipe cleaner.

Teen Craft: Paper Lantern

Easy Paper Lantern

By Sherri Osborn, About.com Guide

Fancy Paper Lantern

Photos from Family Craft

This paper lantern is easy to make and can be embellished to match any decor or to suit any occasion.

Before you start any project it is easiest to gather together all of the supplies. For this project you will need:

•           1 Piece of Paper (You can use bond paper, construction paper, or even card stock. For best results, use a piece approximately 8.5" x 11")

•           Pencil

•           Ruler

•           Scissors

•           Markers or Crayons (optional)

•           Stapler or Tape

Gathering The Supplies

Before you start any project it is easiest to gather together all of the supplies. For this project you will need.

Folding and Marking

Next, fold the piece of paper in half, lengthwise, making sure you line up all the edges. If your paper has a 'right' and 'wrong' side, you will want to make sure the wrong side (the side that will be on the inside of your lantern) facing out at this point. Draw a line along the open, long edge, of the paper, about 3/4" of an inch from the edge.

Cutting Lantern Strips

Now, take your scissors and, starting at the folded edge, cut a strip from the folded edge up to the line you drew. Make the first strip about 3/4" away from one of the short edges and continue to cut several strips along the piece of paper like shown in the picture above.

Re-Folding the Lantern

Once all your strips are cut, you should unfold your piece of paper and refold it length-wise so the pencil mark will be hidden on the inside.

Decorating the Lantern

If desired, you can now color or embellish the outside of the lantern.

Assembling the Lantern

To assemble the lantern simply roll the paper into a tube shape as shown in the photo above and staple or tape the edges together.

Adding the Handle

Finally, using the strip you cut of the paper in step 3, attach the handle by taping or stapling the ends of the strip of the paper just inside the top of the lantern.

Your completed lanterns can be hung up or set on a table for decoration. These lanterns are only for decorative purposes and should not be used near open flames such as candles.

More Paper Craft at Family Crafts About.com

Teen Craft: Dried Flower Sachet

How to Make a Sachet Using Flowers

By Sherri Osborn, About.com Guide

Sample of dried flower from Microsoft clip art

Make one of these simple dried flower sachets for every drawer and your nose will get a pleasant surprise every time you open one. They also make unique gifts.

Materials Needed:

•               Tulle

•               Ribbon

•               Dried Flowers

•               Scissor

•               Hole Puncher

Instructions:

1. Dry your flowers as described on the page: Save Your Summer Blooms.

2. Cut a circle, about 12-inches across, out of your tulle. Tracing around a dinner plate seems to work well. Use a hole puncher or the scissors to make holes around the edge of the fabric. You will want the holes to be about an inch in from the edge. Each hole should be around 1-inch apart.

Sample of Dried flower sachet

3. Thread a piece of ribbon, in-and-out, through the holes. Do not cut the ribbon or cord until you have it threaded into the holes with about 4-6 inches to spare on each end while the fabric is laying flat. Now, Simply pull both ends of the cord or ribbon tight to gather the top of the bag together to make a bowl shape.

4. Fill your tulle 'bowl' with dried flowers. Pull both ends of the cord or ribbon tight to close and tie. Place your sachet in your drawer or wrap and give it as a gift. If the smell of the flowers fade, simple spritz the sachet with perfume

Teen Craft: Topiary Tree

Project: Topiary Tree

designed by Twila Lenoir

This is a lovely homemade gift, especially if you coordinate the flower colors to suit the decor of the room where it will displayed.

Homemade Topiary Tree

Supplies:

hot glue gun
two 2 inch styrofoam balls
4 inch clay pot
twig from the yard
acrylic Paint in black, brown and gray for the pot
about 6 yards of flat red lace
6 yards of pink or light purple ribbon
2 dozen silk white bud roses (dollar stores often have these)
optional - small sprays of baby's breath or small white flowers
light gauge wire
moss
sand, pebbles or marbles as weight in the pot 

Topiary Tree

Craft Instructions:

1. Dispense hot glue to the tip of a sturdy twig and insert into one of the 2 inch styrofoam balls, to a depth of about an inch. Let the glue cool and set.

2. Clip the silk roses at the stem and neck, so that all you have is green leaves and the rose. Use hot glue to position the roses all around the styrofoam ball, leaving spaces for lace and ribbon.

3. Make bows out of ribbon and flat lace, twisting a piece of wire into the center of each bow.

Here's how: make four loops on each bow, two at the top and two on the bottom and twist the wire into the middle. The illustration at right may help you see how this should look.

Leave a little length of wire on the end to stick into the styrofoam ball.

Apply hot glue to the end of the wire and the bottom of the ribbons or lace on one bow, then quickly insert it into the styrofoam ball. Repeat with all the ribbon and lace bows, filling in all around the roses until your styrofoam ball is covered.

4. Optional: you can glue in some dried baby's breath or small white flowers to cover any bare spaces.

5. Prepare the clay pot by making sure it is clean of any debris and dry. Paint it in a base of black acrylic paint and let the paint dry.

With a makeup sponge, or something similar, sponge on a little of the gray paint and let it dry.

With a very fine paint brush, paint on some brown squiggly lines through the pot so that it looks like granite.

6. Add sand, pebbles, marbles or other heavy material to weight the pot and make it less likely to fall over.

7. Cut the second styrofoam ball in half and glue one half into the top area of the pot. When this is dry, apply hot glue to the end of your topiary twig and insert it into the middle of the ball in the pot.

8. Finally, use hot glue to apply a layer of moss to the styrofoam ball half, covering it completely.


Suggestion: You can also use dried leaves and flowers, laces, anything actually. Even jelly beans, just used a tooth pick . My first topiary was all buttons that I pick up from anywhere. My topiary was very beautiful. Too bad, that was 25 years ago...But I was able to make it while I was  in grade school :) 


More Homemade Crafts

Projects for your Daddy: Rock Paper Weight

Rock Paperweight

Supplies Needed:
large, clean flat rock
skin colored paint
paintbrush
markers
yarn for hair




Instructions:
Paint the rock in a color that matches Dad's skin tone and let dry. Glue on yarn for hair and add on facial features with markers to top of rock.


Source: More ideas at Create-kids-Craft 

BOOKMARK

Project: Bookmark

This is one of the easiest projects you can start with.

What you need:

Hole puncher

Cartolina or Cardboard

Crochet thread or scrap yarn

Scrap designs or pictures

What to do:

1.     Cut the cardboard depending on the size of your bookmark.

2.    Cut a picture big enough to fit in the cover the size of a bookmark.

3.    Paste the picture or design in the cut cardboard.

4.    Punch a hole in the bottom center of the cut out picture.

5.    Cut several lengths of thread or yarn and make a tassel through the hole in the bottom of the card.


Other Bookmark Website that could be useful:
http://www.womansday.com/
http://www.duckbrand.com/