Polymer Clay Tools

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Polymer clay can be used in a wide variety of craft projects. Use polymer clay to make embellishments for scrapbooking projects, elements for jewelry making, miniature items for dollhouses, toppers for handmade cards and a wide range of other items.

Unlike other clay mediums, polymer clay requires very little in the way of special tools and most people will have the basics at home. Once you have progressed past the basics then one or two additional tools are worth purchasing. One of these is a pasta machine. A standard domestic pasta machine is suitable. You do not have to purchase anything fancy.

As a polymer clay tool a pasta machine will prove to be very useful and can be used in a variety of ways. Condition polymer clay, roll even, flat sheets of polymer clay, different decorative polymer clay techniques can all be obtained through the use of a pasta machine.

Polymer clay fed through the pasta machine squeezes the clay between two rollers and produces a flat sheet. Pasta makers can be adjusted to bring the rollers closer together or move them further apart thereby allowing you to control the thickness of your sheets.

The ways that a pasta machine can be used include:

  • Conditioning polymer clay – The action of running the polymer clay through the pasta machine several times produces more pliable polymer clay. Start by working the clay through the largest setting on the rollers as the clay becomes fully conditioned you can adjust the setting to a smaller width.

Making A Christmas Shadow Box

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This shadow box decoration is a wonderful holiday craft for the whole family.  It is easier than you might think and a wonderful keepsake.

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

  • shadow box – at least 1½ inches deep (available at craft stores or dollar stores)
  • assorted Christmas figures and small decorations
  • optional: alphabet blocks
  • strong craft glue or glue gun and glue sticks
  • crystal snow or fine artificial snow

Project Instructions:

Remove the back of the shadow box and set aside.

Collect an assortment of Christmas figures and decorations and, working from the back, start to play with different arrangements until you create a Christmas scene that you like when seen from the front.

Begin gluing in the various pieces. If you’re using alpabet blocks, as we did, make sure they either sit firmly against the glass, or have enough clearance to prevent fake snow from getting trapped in front of them. Some possible short letter combinations for the alphabet blocks include NOEL, XMAS, SNOW, ANGEL or JOY.

Make sure all the pieces are glued in firmly; you don’t want them coming adrift after the shadow box is filled with snow and assembled. Let the glue dry.

Gift Bags

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With the holidays almost coming up faster than some of us would like it is time to start thinking of ways to wrap our gifts.  Gifts should be presented to be one of a kind and a good way to do this is by using unique, personalized gift bags.

Gift bags do not have to be generic store bought items.  But should reflect your tastes and that of the person to whom you are giving the gift.  For that reason I suggest you dig out your scrapbooking papers, embellishments and other doo-dads and get to work having some fun and making personalized gift bags!

The Basics

Begin with simple, plain gift bags I have found that if I use a plain bag such as tan-colored I get better results. These plain gift bags come in a variety of colors and can be found at any craft store and even some scrapbooking stores. Once your bag is complete, stuff in some matching tissue paper to give your bag an extra burst of color!

Here are some ideas for different individuals in your life! Since I haven’t started mine yet I borrowed some ideas from Kayla Richards Filip at Scrapbook.com.

For Teachers

  • school-themed patterned paper
  • black-and-white dotted grosgrain ribbon
  • assorted buttons
  • red organdy ribbon
  • plain #2 pencil

Scrapbooking for Beginners

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You may come across with various definitions of what a scrapbook is. And you may even have set one for yourself. But you see, of all those meanings associated with scrapbooks, there will always be one thing central to it- keeping memories.

Just like photos, scrapbooks are keepers of precious moments that you would always want to return back to. The moments that you have captured in photos and the moments of your creativity, deeply embedded in every page, note, captions and journals in your scrapbook.

One day, you’ll take a look at the scrapbooks you have created and they will deliver you back in time.

Not all of us are avid scrapbookers. Many may not even have tried starting one. However, we all have an idea of how to preserve our past. Well, scrapbooking is like that, only you would have to add up some creativity and art concepts into it.

The hardest junction might be to start from scratch. Scrapbooking may look simple for some yet the hours and the ideas you have to invest on them are so enormous that many find themselves initially frustrated. Or possibly, on wits end before an idea crops up.

We have prepared some guidelines in here that you may modify and apply in your own experiences. Basically, this is just a collection of ideas that will help shed light on the thoughts bugging in your mind.

Somehow you have to know your own style.

Find Quality Family Time In Crafting

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It doesn’t seem that long ago that my children were young. I was never a skilled crafter but what I like to call a “crafter wanna be”. In a lot of respects I am still not a skilled crafter. So what does this have to do with the subject at hand? Let me explain.

Some parents are skilled crafters. Others are doing well to cut paper in a reasonably straight line. No matter which group you fall into, crafting with your kids can be beneficial for all involved.

Few things bring families together like crafting. Here are some of the good things that come out of crafting with your kids.

  • Crafting builds creativity. Developing minds need a creative outlet, and crafting provides the opportunity for kids to use their imaginations. It helps them learn to solve problems, and it could lay the groundwork for a lifetime of interest in art. For parents, getting creative can help reduce stress and promote using the brain in ways that we don’t have a reason to use it every day.
  • * Crafting teaches kids to follow directions. This seems like a very basic skill, but we all know adults who can’t seem to follow directions. When kids craft, they learn the consequences of not following directions when their projects do not turn out as expected. This instills in them the importance of doing things the right way the first time.

Easy Ideas For A Creepy House Halloween night Decorating Options

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Easy Ideas For A Creepy House Halloween night Decorating OptioAuthor: Carla Wise

Haunted houses, bats, spirits and goblins everywhere! Halloween is an enjoyable time of year for young children and grown ups alike. Do you want some ideas for decorating your house for all hallows eve? Try these simple and fun and economical Halloween decor ideas.

Entryway: The entryway to your house is the first impression people get of your residence. All too often we forget about how much impact this can have when decorating for the seasons.

Halloween Display. Make the most of it by creating a simple display of Halloween statuary set on a small table covered with a black or orange tablecloth. The 4 to six inch collectible figurines are affordable enough to even use outdoors if you have enough room for a compact table by your door. Indoors, you can go with this same strategy, even adding scary lights and garlands readily available at dollar and discount stores.

Animated Items. Animated Halloween figures can add immediate festivity to a dull entry table. These objects can move, have sound, and some are even motion activated. A smart way to make your entry one to remember! With growing popularity, these items are now showing up in dollar and discount stores.

Living Room/Family Room: To dress up the rooms where your family spends the most time, use most of your Halloween decor ideas in these rooms.

Digital Scrapbook Pages

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A Day In The Life Of Gizmo

Once making a scrapbook was confined to paper, pen, pencils, and any scraps of paper you found that related to the picture.  Now there is a whole new world out there for those of us who like to embellish our pictures.

Scrapbook stores have popped up around the country to instruct people in the different materials and methods you can use to make a page.  Ideas are shared and clubs are formed.

The problem I have, and many others like me, is that I don’t have the time to go to a store and sit for a couple of hours.  Not that I don’t enjoy people, I do, but to cart my scrapbook “stuff” around in the car is not making the best use of my time.  Not only that but the expense can be a killer!  And I am on a fixed income.

So how did I remedy my problem?  I love scrapbooks but I don’t have room for all the papers, embellishments and all other materials needed to make a good page.  A couple of years ago an online friend at one the many forums I belong to mentioned digital scrapbooks.

All you really need is a good photo editor program such as Photoshop, Paint or in my case Microsoft PicturePlus, a scanner and a good digital camera.  All of which I already had.

Recycling Old Toys

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Ever wonder what to do with those left over blocks?  The ones that show up and you have no idea which building set they belong to?  Or how about the little matchbox cars that no one wants to play with anymore?  Doll accessories?  Puzzle pieces?  I can think of a hundred uses for this simple craft projects.

The size of the magnet is going to be determined by the size and weight of the toy.  For instance a matchbox car/truck will take more than one magnet, it might take two or three to hold it up.  Whereas the Lego blocks should only take a small amount.

The end result is limited only by your or your child’s imagination.   Make Christmas gifts for the grandparents out of leftover toys.  As a would be grandparent I can safely say that anything made especially for me by one of my grandchildren would be cherished.

So have fun with your creativity!

Materials and Tools:

small plastic toys
strong, quick-setting glue
disc magnets

Steps:

1. Gather small items to turn into magnets. Building blocks (shown) work great as do any lightweight toys such as dice, plastic figurines or puzzle pieces. Other options are sea shells, smooth river rocks or glass gems.

2. Add a blob of glue to magnet and attach item. Press firmly until the two pieces begin to bond then set aside and allow glue to fully cure.