Posted in holiday, kids, stuff to make, tagged valentine card, valentine craft, Valentines Day, Washi on February 10, 2013 | 2 Comments »
These paper heart pouches, with conversation hearts inside, are perfect for class valentines. They have a little bit of candy, and are easy enough for kids to make before they get bored and wander off. We traced hearts using cookie cutters and taped two together with washi tape, leaving the top open. Then we punched a hole through the top and tied the opening shut with some baker’s twine. To finish them off, we taped a heart to the end of the twine for a label.
Posted in holiday, kids, paper, recycled materials, stuff to make, tagged easy valentines, heart stamps, kids' valentines, rubber stamps, valentine crafts, valentine ideas on February 5, 2013 | 4 Comments »
A Sweetheart candy-induced sugar rush fueled a valentine bonanza at our house this weekend. We tried out stamps that we made from heart-shaped buttons glued on wine/beer corks and tiny heart stamps carved into pencil erasers. Yes, carving a pencil eraser takes some adult fine motor skills–and I learned that a Speedball carving tool works better than an X-acto knife. We also sewed paper valentines with yarn stitches (I punched holes and my seven-year-old Zeke stitched). Zeke preferred simple stitches–the star design (above) was too tricky for him.
But when it came time for all-out valentine production for Zeke’s classmates, we kept things simple. With washi tape and construction paper, we made big, neon plaid hearts. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Posted in holiday, sewing, stuff to make, tagged Christmas ornament, embroidery, Felt, scandanavian design, Tree topper on December 17, 2012 | 3 Comments »
Until last year, we always traveled to Florida on Christmas Eve. Although we liked to fancy it festive to get up at the crack of dawn to zoom to JFK, jostle with fellow travelers laden with presents, and so on, it is infinitely better to spend Christmas in our own home. We can finally have a non-token Christmas tree–not only are we here to enjoy it but we can actually have a tree taller than a toddler. Resulting in a sudden need for ornaments. I’ve made some over the years and we bought some more, but we needed a tree topper extraordinaire. I made this star out of felt. I improvised the embroidery based on designs in the book Scandinavian Needlecraft. First I cut out two stars, embroidered the design on one side, then blanket stitched the two stars together. I left the side of one point open and used a chopstick to push stuffing into the points. Then I stitched a loop of ribbon into the open space before blanket stitching the star closed. Here it is atop our tall tree!
Posted in holiday, paper, stuff to make, tagged christmas card display, holiday card display, ways to display Christmas cards, ways to show off holiday cards on December 11, 2012 | 2 Comments »
My small apartment just won’t allow a lot of holiday display. There’s no fireplace, no mantle, and not a lot of surface area that isn’t already buried in unopened mail.
So I’m pleased that I found a happy solution to showing off holiday cards (many of which have come from Brigit over the years–like the great fabric tree above). I bought a couple of yards of pretty ribbon, cut two slots inside each card with an X-acto, and threaded the ribbon through. Now the cards are hanging merrily along a doorway–festive but not cluttered. Also it’s my favorite type of project: low-skill, low-cost, and high in satisfaction. Merry Festivus, folks.
Posted in holiday, paper, recycled materials, stuff to make, tagged Christmas craft, free printable, Holiday matchbox house, Matchbox house, Winter matchbox house on December 1, 2012 | 3 Comments »
Get out your fine-point Sharpies! I made a new Winter Matchbox House for the holidays for those of you with both time and matches on your hands.
I couldn’t manage to take a decent photo of the downstairs with my new camera. I’m not blaming my new camera per se, but it’s the only new variable here. I’m just saying. If I manage to take some better photos, I’ll post them.
brigitdermott
margaret