Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Crafts for Learning Contributor, Danielle from the blog Crayonbox Learning.

This simple activity is perfect for summer travel with the kids! You can pre-make multiple sets, and put them inside a small metal tin or pack with a small cookie sheet.  If you prefer recycled items, tin cookie tin lids also work great for portable work tins.

Materials Needed:

• Magnet Paper
• Scissors
• Permanent Pen (Non-Bleed)
• Printer
• Ziplock Baggies
• Small metal tin or cookie sheet
• Download Color Fish Magnet Templete
• Download Black & White Fish Magnet Template

Directions:

1. Print template onto Printable Magnet Paper.
2. Use a Permanent Pen to color in, or draw numbers, shapes, alphabet letters onto the printed out magnet paper. Let dry completely.
3. Cut out individual game pieces.
4. Store game pieces in ziplock baggies.

By Cardmaking & Scrapbook Layout Contributor, Peg from the blog Peg’s Crafting Corner.

Q1. What is lacquer used for?

A1. Lacquer is quite popular right now. It’s a dimensional adhesive that can not only glue things down including vellum, but create fun finishes on a variety of projects. It can be colored with pigments, dye-based inks or even watercolors and used to paint with on paper. It’s fun to use to cover an image that has been placed in a bottle cap. Once dry, it has a glass like finish to it and adds a decorative look to the image. Run a thin line down a project and allow it to dry or paint over it with acrylic paint for another fun project idea. The uses for it are endless!

Q2. How do you give an embellishment a 3D look?

A2. Make an embellishment pop off the page by using a 3D adhesive. They come in circles and squares in different colors and sizes. You can use them to layer punched or die cut pieces on top of one another to create an even different layered look.3

Q3. I’m having trouble cutting the correct size with my Martha Stewart Craft Station. Do you have any suggestions?

A3. When you line up where you want to cut the paper, the movable blade housing is what is lined up with the ruler on the Craft Station. The clear strip is not what is used to line up the cut. It will sit approximately 1/8″ off of the chosen ruler mark which if not lined up properly will cause your paper to be 1/8″ shorter or longer than needed. For example, in the picture the blade housing is lined up so that the paper is cut at 5 ¾”.

Q4. What can I use for centers on paper flowers?

A4. Brads and rhinestones are two popular things to use for the centers of flowers. You can, also, use things such as Stickles and buttons. Buttons and brads that have a pattern on them add to the fun and look of a flower.

Q5. Is there a way to use different patterns of paper on a project so the patterns go together without looking too busy?

A5. Yes, there is a way to do this. There are a few key things to remember: 1) Try to choose 2 papers that have the same size of design in the pattern and one that has a smaller size of pattern. 2) Choose one paper that has a busy print and the next one that isn’t as busy, but has the same scale mentioned in #1 and then use a third print that will balance out the other two. 3) Use two patterns of paper and balance it with a solid color. 4) Use the same collection from a company. They have already done the work for you and created the papers in a collection to go with one another.