Project: Papier-mâché Bowl

Do you remember 3rd grade? Did you do papier-mâché? Super easy and still so much fun! This is a craft that can be done solo, with a group, with kids, whatever. You can make this as simple or as complicated as you like....



You will need:

• a bowl to use as a mold, another for making glue
  
• newspaper or paper scraps
  
• plastic wrap
• flour
• water

Step 1: Tear your paper into strips that are approximately an inch wide, length doesn't really matter.


Step 2: Take a bowl and mix 1 part flour with 2 parts water. Stir it into a gloopy glop. Here is the point where I should remind you to have a workspace that is covered with newspaper or something.


Step 3: Cover your mold bowl in saran wrap.


Step 4: Dip your strips of paper into the flour/water mix. Slap those puppies onto your saran wrap covered bowl.



Step 5: Once the entire bowl has a couple of layers of paper on it use your hands to press down and let the excess liquid seep out.

Step 6: Set the covered bowl(s) aside and let them dry for a few days, depending upon how wet it may take a little time. They dry faster in an area with good air circulation.

Step 7: Once dry pull the bowls out of the mold, carefully. Trim off the excess paper. You could get creative and use paper punches or anything to give the bowl an awesome edge.


Step 8: Paint





Now this craft can translate into so many different projects. Need to make a pinata? Use a balloon and do it yourself! The sky is the limit. Let's take this world by storm. Let the papier-mâché madness begin!

Project: Dia De Los Muertos Shadow Box

For some reason I was bitten by the shadow box bug this week. I felt compelled to make a shadow box and once I have my creative mind set to something I just have to see it through, usually I end up with a dozen new ideas by the end of one project and that was the case with my shadow box.



Compelled by the season I decided on a bit of a day of the dead (dia de los muertos) theme instead of straight up Halloween.

Here is a little run down of what I did:

• I took a wooden box we had laying around, painted the interior. I wrapped the outside in paper from an old encyclopedia set.

• I found a branch that fit into the box and wrapped it with yarn.
• Next I cut out some curlicues from the same book and adhered them to the back of the box.

• I cut out some images of birds, adhered them to paperboard (for sturdiness), trimmed the paperboard, and attached the birds to the branches.

• I inserted a store bought nest.

• I made a skull and flowers out of clay.

• I added the clay elements and called it good.
  

I haven't decided if I am going to add something to the back so I can hang the box or if it is something that will sit on a shelf...

Have you got any cool ideas or themes for shadow boxes?

Project: Embellishing

Cordelia had this pink shirt that was perfectly fine, but I never put it on her because it was kind of dull. Yesterday evening I decided to jazz it up a bit. Here is what I came up with.




You could easily use this idea to hide stains on shirts, do it to bags, pants, hats, adult clothing (perhaps with a more grown up imagery).

Supplies

One garment, I chose this wrinkled turtleneck.


Fabric scraps


Miscellaneous buttons. I chose buttons that worked well with my vision for the end result.


Embroidery floss.


Heat N Bond

Not shown, an embroidery hoop and an iron are also needed


Step 1

Cut out the Heat N Bond into squares to match your fabric scraps. Lay the tacky side of the Heat N Bond on the wrong side of the fabric (the paper should be facing up and out).

Step 2

Iron the back of the Heat N Bond according to directions. On the paper make a simple sketch of the image you hope to transfer. I wanted flowers.

Step 3

Cut out the shape.

Step 4

Peel of the backing paper

Step 5

Lay out the shapes any way you wish on top of the garment.

Step 6

Iron them on according to package directions

Step 7

Next you can break out your embroidery floss, embroidery hoop and go to town. Just be creative. If you are new to embroidery then here is a link to get you started with some basic stitches. I outlined my adhered fabric because I find the Heat N Bond isn't always fool proof. I placed my buttons in the center of the flowers. I also used floss colors that matched the button and stood out against the fabric.







Have you been crafting lately?

Creative Parenting: Project Rock Painting

I don't know about you, but I am always looking for something creative to do. ALWAYS. I also find myself looking for ways to spark creativity in my little lady. I don't expect her to be an artist or anything, she can do what she likes, but I do hope to instill in her a sense of creativity. I assume that will only benefit her in the long run.

There are times when it can be a bit challenging to creatively engage an almost 2 year old (next week is her 2nd b-day). I find that part of the experience is the explanation beforehand, she gets really excited about our plans so that when we get to work she is far more enthusiastic than if I had had just plunked her down in front of a project.

Yesterday while we were getting ready for the day we started talking about rocks and how fun it would be to paint them, what you don't do that? When we were dressed and ready we decided to take a walk in order to find a couple of rocks/exercise Bumblebee. Cordelia was eager to point out rocks along the way. Mostly she just wanted to take decorative rocks from other people's yards. When we had made our selections, from rocks that were not stolen, she proudly carried them home, hoisting them triumphantly in the air above her head.

When we got home she "helped" me with the set up. I laid out some butcher paper on the table and took off her cute clothes to keep them clean. I really need to just make her an art smock, anyone have a pattern? Next, I got out some of my old paintbrushes and some acrylic paint. I put the paint on a bit of aluminum foil and I let her get to work. I just kind of let her do her own thing, it wouldn't really be an exercise in creativity if I was hovering around her. I did my own painting and just made sure she didn't start flinging the stuff around the room.


Busy painting


Painted rock

She painted the rocks for a while. I knew she was done when she started painting herself, an example of my keen parental observational skills. I cleaned her up and laid her down for a nap while the rocks were drying.

When she awoke we went outside and she found the perfect place for her rocks.









What creative projects have you been up to lately?

Pirates, Green Baby Fingers(or toes), Animals, Flowers

We are off to a slow start to this morning. The last bits of illness are being coughed out in a symphony of hacking between Cordelia and I. We are both feeling fine, but the little bits of cough tend to linger as a phlegmy souvenir of this weekend. I am not really dressed for the day. I am wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt from the Alamarosa truck stop/restaurant. Despite how this may sound I have been super busy this morning and Cordelia has been playing like she's making up for lost time. She only stops briefly to hug or smooch me. Her hugs are always a little overwhelming and I end up with a head butt or a handful of hair missing from my scalp, but who can complain about sweetness at its most intense?

Cordelia wearing a pirate dress and sporting a serious case of bedhead

Elsewhere the house is calm. The sun is streaming in through the open curtains. The cats are lounging downstairs.

Ophelia


Mia

Bumblebee has quietly climbed onto the couch (she knows it is against the rules). I didn't bother to enforce the rules this morning. Bad and inconsistent of me. Shame---or I should feel shame, but generally I feel apathetic. Bum is such a sweet girl that I just don't mind this little indescretion. Ceasar Milan would not approve!

Sneaky Bumblebee

While the animals have been snoozing and Cordelia has been playing I have been crafting tons of flower clips. Why, you may be asking, am I making so many flower clips (see here for the tutorial)? I am so glad you asked. Well, on the 24th of this month my mother and I are going to be participating in our first craft fair with Wyoming Rose goodies. Between the two of us we are crocheting and crafting up a storm!

Pile of flowers

Finally, on a completely unrelated note check out this plant...

This succulent plant is called either baby fingers or baby toes. The translucent tips are where photosynthesis occurs. Cool huh?!

How is your morning going?

For the Birds: Project Bird Feeders

Yesterday afternoon things were threatening to unravel. Cordelia was at the whiney stage of the day and I was out of ideas. Suddenly it struck my like a bolt of lightning from the heavens into my brain---or else I just kinda of thought of it. I knew she'd be happy to do anything outdoors. I happened to have recently grabbed a few pine-cones which had tumbled from their coniferous mother only to be abducted by this mother.

I gathered the supplies: Pine-cones, string, seeds, peanut butter, something to spread the peanut butter with. You're on your own to find an assistant



Cut your string to the desired length. Tie it around the top of the pine-cone.



Have your assistant help you apply peanut butter to the entire pine-cone. Just a warning this has MESS written all over it, so if you are a tidy mother maybe you can do this part.



Obviously I am not too concerned with the mess factor. She decided that a snack was in order and dipped her toddler paws deep in the peanut butter jar (note: peanut butter jar will be contaminated, best to use the last bits of a peanut butter)



While she continued to snack I completed the job.



We happen to have a bucket filled with bird seed and it was quite helpful in this instance. She scooped the seeds onto the pine-cone, but you could just as easily submerge the cone in seeds.



Finally we had to scout out the perfect location for the four bird feeders we made. This took some careful consideration on her part.



Our next project included cleaning this mug up!



What traditional activities do you partake in to ease out of a whiney afternoon?