Thursday, October 1, 2009

Door hanger/organizer craft project

I love these craft project ideas from Disney FamilyFun magazine that I find on the wire service at work! Here's another one worth sharing because it's an item that is not only easy to make, but it just might come in handy – and not only for families with children.

This door hanger is made out of a simple peice of craft foam. (Disney FamilyFun/MCT)

DOOR HANGER/ORGANIZER

Craft time: Make a handy door organizer

Disney FamilyFun magazine

Hang this organizer on your front door and never lose your keys, sunglasses, or other essentials again. Sticky notes help remind family members of more ephemeral matters.

From a 12- by 18-inch sheet of craft foam, cut out the pieces as shown in the diagram. Line up the tops of the front and back panels and stick them together with double-sided tape. Stack the inner pocket on top so that it aligns with the bottom edge of the back panel, as shown. Align a strip of duct tape with the top edge of the pocket and wrap the tape around the stack.

Fold the bottom section of the front panel over the inner pocket and secure the sides with duct tape. Roll up the spacer piece and tape it closed, then tape it near the bottom of the back of the organizer. (This will help the organizer hang flat.)

Punch two holes in the outer pocket and link a short length of ball chain through them. Add a small carabiner to the chain. Use double-sided tape to attach a pad of sticky notes above the doorknob hole.

The diagram with measurements for the door hanger organizer. (MCT)

This door hanger is made out of a simple peice of craft foam. (Disney FamilyFun/MCT)


Friday, September 4, 2009

Super-easy kid's cape project idea made from an old T-shirt

A cape is super easy to make out of an old T-shirt, and kids will love it.

Here's a great idea for anyone who knows a wannabe superhero, princess, king, queen, prince (or other royalty), knight, red riding hood, robin hood, musketeer, villain, traveling minstrel ... the list goes on and on!!!

Not only is this craft super easy and requires NO sewing, but it has the added benefit of recycling (repurposing, really) old T-shirts that might otherwise end up being thrown away.

These instructions come from a story that will appear in Sunday's Lifestyles section in the Appeal-Democrat. The story originally ran in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Project 1: Kid’s cape
Number of steps necessary to make: Two
Difficulty: Super-duper easy
Time: About five minutes
Tools: Sharp scissors
Basic instructions: 1) Lay the shirt flat, with the portion you want on the cape facing up. 2) Cut, starting at one far end of the bottom, up diagonally to the collar. Repeat on the other side, and then cut around the collar of the shirt.
Observations: This was easier than I would have thought possible.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Ocean in a bottle craft

Here's a great craft to use some of those shells you or your kids pick up at the beach, courtesy of Disney FamilyFun magazine.

"This mini ocean made major waves with our kid testers, who loved to send the shells, sand, and water tossing and tumbling. The project starts with a clean plastic bottle (ours is an 18-ounce beverage container). Pour in a cup of sand and add a handful of small shells (we used 10). Mix a drop of green and a drop of blue food coloring into 6 cups of water, then use the tinted water to fill the bottle halfway. Add a pinch of silver glitter. Fill the rest of the bottle with mineral or baby oil, leaving as little air space at the top as possible. Run a line of hot glue around the inside of the bottle cap, then quickly screw on the cap to create a spill-proof seal."

Make your own beach using shells, sand and a plastic bottle.


Friday, January 30, 2009

Lavender wreath craft

Just in time for Valentine's Day, here's a craft that utilizes one of my favorite flowers: lavender!

This article comes from the Fort Worth Star-Telegraph newspaper.

This Valentine's Day, declare your love with this sweet idea for a lavender double-hearted wreath. (Clare Miers/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

Lavender lends Valentine’s Day wreath a European feel


By Clare Miers
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Valentine’s Day is a great winter-blues chaser. It’s not quite time to welcome spring, but it’s a colorful time to celebrate love and relationships of all kinds. Declare your love with this sweet idea for a double-hearted wreath.

THE INSPIRATION

Claire Heymann, owner of Hotel St. Germain in Dallas, told me once that in Europe, red and white for Valentine’s Day is not as popular as it is in the United States. She said that in Paris, we can find shades of lavender with a touch of black and other romantic combinations. Using one of Heymann’s favorite color schemes as an inspiration for a Valentine’s Day wreath project, I collected some lavender-y purple berry sprigs, fresh lavender and some natural grapevine forms to make something very special this year.

THE MATERIALS

Two heart-shaped wreaths from a craft store (I bought mine at Michaels for less than $5 each)

Twiggy-looking craft wire (Michaels, less than $3 for a large roll)

Purple and crystal-looking berry sprigs ($1.99 each from craft store)

Gold-tone heart-shaped ornament (craft store)

Bundle of dried lavender (available in most craft stores)

THE CONSTRUCTION

I arranged the two woody heart wreaths together in a layered pattern and bonded them with the woody-looking wire, twisting it on the back.

Then I inserted the ready-made purple and crystal berry sprigs onto the face of the grapevine hearts, keeping to the lower quadrants of the heart shapes, berries pointed upward.

I placed each lavender stem into areas with the berry picks to create a nice mix of artificial decor and natural botanicals. (The dried lavender makes the wreath smell wonderful.) I attached the heart-shaped ornament into the arrangement using craft wire.

To dress your wreath more, consider using more dried flowers or charms. I inserted a few tiny dried white roses and more lavender to cover where I installed the heart ornament. For charms, think of adding some old heart-shaped costume jewelry or look around for wooden hearts that are often hanging from garland sold at craft stores.

I added a loop of wire to the back so that the wreath would hang easily, and the project was complete.