Creative Crafting

Archive for the ‘Holidays’ Category

With his toothy grin and a pumpkin bucket, this cool cat is ready for a night of trick-or-treating! Reminiscent of vintage figures, ours is fashioned from plastic foam, dowels, and painted papier-mache

What You Need

* Green floral foam block
* 3/16-inch dowel
* Drill and drill bits
* 3-x-5-inch oval wood base
* Wood glue
* Celluclay instant papier-mache
* Resealable plastic bag
* Plastic modeling tools
* Toothpick
* Water-bottle lid
* Acrylic paints: gray, black, white, orange, neon green, lavender, and yellow
* Unused pencil eraser
* Matte-finish spray
* 26-gauge black wire

How to Make It

Create the Cat “Skeleton”

Textured wallpaper turns gift boxes into special-delivery packaging.

From Better Homes and Gardens “Christmas From the Heart” Library

Use this basic technique to
decorate boxes of any shape
or size.
What You Need:

* Papier-mache box (available at crafts stores)
* 1 roll of textured wallpaper
* Tape measure
* Crafts glue
* Disposable dish or cup
* 2-inch sponge brush
* Sheer white ribbon, gold-edged
* White decorations as desired

Instructions:

1. Trace and cut wallpaper for lid and sides of lid. Place the box, top side down, on the wrong side of the wallpaper. Use a pencil to trace around the lid. Cut out the lid shape, adding a 1/2-inch margin for the tabs. Use tape measure to determine the circumference of each lid; add 1/2 inch for overlap. Measure the height of the lid; add 1/8 inch. Use these measurements to cut a strip of wallpaper for the sides of the lid.

Gift tags don’t have to be store bought, or plain, use your imagination and create your own unique tags.  You can purchase blank tags at Michaels, or any craft shop.  Even some office supply place have blank tags.  Then just either use your leftover scrapbooking embellishments, or items from around the house.  Decorate them with costume jewelry or pictures of your kids.  Have fun and get the whole family involved.

Frosty’s Wish

Make a snowman out of clear buttons or beads. Then give him an outfit with a ribbon scarf, paper nose, and drawn-on top hat.

BGH Magazine

Share this:

I found this craft about a month ago and decided to try it. It was so simple and so much fun and it looks great. This is a great addition to any Christmas decorations you already have.

I have also been giving some thought to making a few for gifts, different holidays, or just for everyday living. The principles involved would be the same for all occasions.!

Copyright © 2007-2008 Jane Lake All Rights Reserved

Use small ornaments and Christmas figures to make a Christmas scene, with shifting snow, in a shadow box. This would be a nice activity to do with your children – let them play with the figures until they create a pleasing arrangement, then help them to glue everything in place.

You Will Need

This Santa ornament will be lots of fun to make, and a treasured keepsake to enjoy year after year.

Crafting Time:
1 hour plus baking time

Skill Level:
1 being the easiest

* Glass Ornaments (box of 6)
* Sculpey III® Polymer Clay: Beige, Red, Black, White
* Acrylic Paint, Black
* Cookie Sheet, clay dedicated
* Paper, white (to place items on when baking)

* Roller, clay dedicated
* Toothpick
* Paintbrush
* Paper Towel or Soft Cloth
* Knife, clay dedicated

Cost of each project will vary depending on materials used.

Due to the seasonal nature of some merchandise, actual availability of some products pictured may vary.

Condition each color of clay by hand until pliable.

Roll out beige clay to ¼-inch thickness. Cut an oval piece to form the face area and press onto ornament.

Like the mouse in the Clement Clarke Moore poem, this one isn’t stirring, but he does make a sweet holiday gift or decoration, no cheese required.

The kids could have fun making this little mouse for each guest.  Place it next to the guest dinner plates for a special take home present made by the children.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	2 1/2-inch Styrofoam egg
	White acrylic paint
	Fishing line
	Corsage pin
	White felt
	Pink felt
	Glue
	Googly eyes
	Craft wire, 5 inches
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. First, use a serrated knife to cut a 2 1/2-inch Styrofoam egg in half lengthwise (parents only), then cover one of the halves with white acrylic paint and let it dry.

BHG Crafting

With a few inexpensive embellishments, you can easily make high-quality Christmas cards from the old Christmas cards that you have received in previous years. Before you dismiss this idea as too chintzy for words, consider – what else are you going to do with those greeting cards? Are they destined for the wood fire or, worse still, the wastepaper bin? If so, please do Mother Earth a favor and take the time to recycle those cards into something useful once again. We have other great ideas for recycling greeting cards. But here, I’m going to show you how to use old cards as a resource for making new ones that are arguably superior to store-bought versions. Firstly, each card is homemade which means the design and sentiment is truly one-of-a-kind. Secondly, the crafting techniques combine decoupage, collage, scrapbooking and basic paper tole – all wonderful crafting skills worth trying at least once. Finally, this card project is just plain fun because you can pick from many appealing Christmas pictures, combine them into something new, then add your own personal touch of glitz, sophistication, humour or elegance.