Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By General Crafts Contributor Melissa, from the blog MeloMomma.

The holidays may be over, but winter is not! Making it still totally OK and adorable to make snowman crafts.

What you will need:

• Jar (I used a Ragu Pizza Sauce Jar)
• Felt
• Lace
• Fabric for a scarf
• Googly eyes
• Rocks
• Tissue paper
• Construction paper
• Clear Gel tacky glue
• Paint brush
• Scissors
• Glass bowl

 Directions:

1. Wash and dry the jar.
2. Using the tissue paper, cut out several squares of tissue paper. Cut a variety of sizes.
3. Put about a 1/4 cup of glue in a bowl. Add a tbsp water and mix well. The glue will be a little easier to work with now.
4. Paint the entire outside of the jar.
5. Cover with the tissue paper.
6. Secure any lose edges by painting glue over it.
7. Allow to dry.
8. Using construction paper, make a cone shape.
9. Glue on googly eyes.
10. Glue on the cone nose.
11. Take a walk outside and gathers some small pebbles.
12. Wash and dry the pebbles.
13. Glue the pebbles onto the jar to make the snowman’s mouth.
14. Cover the lid in felt. Be sure to cut off all the excess felt so the lid will still fit.
15. Add lace to the edge of the lid.
16. Tie a piece of plaid fabric around the snowman’s body for a scarf. (I actually used a prop from another craft, but fabric looks just as awesome).
17. You could place a flameless candle inside for a special glow!

By Guest Bloggers Melissa + Kellie, from the blog Icing Designs.

There are so many amazing DIY party hats out there, this is just our take on them. All you need to start is your favorite scrapbooking paper, a cheap paper party hat, ribbon (satin or sheer), crepe paper, faux feathers, embellishments of your choice, scissors, a stapler and a hot glue gun! This would be a fun project for New Years!

You can take apart an old or new paper party hat (that you can get at any party store) just to use as a template. We already had a template that we have been using. Just trace the shape of the hat onto the back of the paper you are making your new party hat of. Once traced just follow the lines and cut.

Then just wrap the end of the hat around and shape into a cone and staple. (You can use a glue gun if you want to glue the seems together.)

Its okay if there is a little hole in the top. Use your glue gun to put a dab of glue in the hole at the top of the hat and then stick your feathers in.

Next your are going to take your crepe paper and glue it around the bottom of your hat. Make sure that you glue the crepe paper in the middle so that there is an overlay on the top and bottom. (The middle of the crepe paper should be toward the bottom of the hat).

Then take the top of the crepe paper and pull in down and little bit and the bottom and pull it up just to give it some dimension.

Then you are going to take your two even strips of ribbon and glue them on the inside of either side of the hat. You can use any kind of ribbon you like, satin or sheer. We also glued a strip of different textured ribbon in the middle of the crepe paper.

Lastly, we just embellished the front with a paper rosette with a gem in the middle.

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

While working with teachers all over the world, I am often asked to create activities that are simple to put together and low cost. Throughout the year, I look for different containers that I can transform into learning games while keeping the cost minimal. Adding supplies from CreateForLess helps stretch budgets, while help to keep learning fun!

This activity uses colorful gift tins as holders for festive learning games! Perfect for last minute gift for a teacher, daycare provider, or friend with young children!

My example project features a Christmas themed tin, with candy cane shaped game pieces with opposite words. Each candy cane piece has a different word on it, and the goal of the game is to match the opposites. When not in play, the game pieces fit inside the tin.

Materials needed:

• Tin container (Any size)
• Cardstock
• Candy Cane Template
• Scissors
• Crayons/Pens
• Computer/Printer (Optional)
• Ribbon or Bow
• Embellishments (Optional)

Selecting the Tin:

CreateForLess.com has a wide selection of novelty shaped tins in different sizes to choose from. Any tin will work for this project. The outside of the tin can be decorated with ribbon, a bow, or other embellishments. (Keep in mind the age group of the children using the tin before using small pieces for embellishment.) Another option for decorating the tin is to paint the lid with chalkboard paint, and write the name of the game.

The tin that I used for this project was already colored, and the size was perfect for small hands. I added a simple grosgrain bow on the lid in Christmas colors to finish the look.

Candy Cane Template:

The candy cane template is provided, Candy Cane Template. The template was sized to fit a tin 3 inches long, 3 inches wide, and 3 inches deep. The template can be resized for whatever tin you are using. The .Gif file is provided so that you can add text prior to printing if desired.

There are several options for using the candy cane template. The pieces can be cut out and used as a template for cutting out colorful scrapbooking cardstock, printed out as is onto colored cardstock, or the image can be flood filled using any photo/image software before printing.

Click on photo for larger view.

In the example, I flood filled half of the candy canes in a light red color, and the other half in a light green color. Before I printed the pieces, I typed the opposite words using n a cute font. I printed the pieces onto white card stock so that the color would pop, and then I hand cut the pieces. Laminating the game pieces is recommended for durability for long term use.

This is a project that you can put together with young children too. It takes just a few minutes to assemble once you have the tin you want to use, and have decided how you would like to color the candy cane template.

The overall cost for this project was less than $2.00, and the project was complete in under an hour. The best part is that all of the supplies used in this project can be found at CreateForLess.com.

 By Guest Blogger Stephine, from the Blog Geek with Glasses.

Tinker Bell has been quiet popular at our house lately and I’m sure our house isn’t the only one, so I thought a personalized jar of fairy dust would be a nice surprise.If you are looking for a great stocking stuffer this is s simple project with cute results.

I used a glass vial I had at the house, but these are available in different sizes at the craft stores.

I printed the childs name and “Fairy Dust” out on a plain white piece of paper. It could be on an cream or antiqued paper. Just use paper, cardstock will not bend around the glass as nice.

Once printed out, tear the paper around the printing to give it an old feel. In this example I used an ink pad to create the look of a burnt edge. I like to use Distress Ink in Walnut Stain, but a black or brown ink pad would work too. I take the paper and lightly brush it against the ink pad.

NOTE: If you choose to try and burn the edge with a flame, do it outside or over the kitchen sink and make sure you leave a lot of space between the ripped edge and the printing – paper burns fast and crumbles when trying to glue it down.

To attach the label I used Mod Podge. I dab a little to the back and stick it to the vial where I want it, then I coat the whole label on the front with Mod Podge. This seals all the edges tight to the bottle.

While the Mod Podge is still wet I carefully go in and clean the bottle off. If the Mod Podge starts to dry, a damp paper towel can clean the glass. Let dry.

I didn’t fill the whole vial with glitter because it is big, so it’s about half full, which is fine. Remember a little goes a long way – at least that’s what I’m going to tell the tiny one. I made a custom blend of “Dust”. I started with the base of a pearl color, in a fine grade of glitter, then from the Martha Stewart Glitter Collection I added dashes and shakes of different colors. Shake, Shake, Shake and voila, custom dust color – hard to match, but the little one can’t find a match either, therefore it must be special.

Now to seal the vial. I used a pink candle. Sit the vial on a dinner plate – ceramic or metal pan, light the candle and hold it so it drips. The best thing to do is to just drip the wax into the top center. As the wax pool builds up it will run over the sides. IF THERE IS WAX ON THE LABEL JUST WAIT UNTIL IT IS COLD!! Don’t touch it yet. Finish up with sealing the jar.

Now that the wax is cold gently pick off the drips you don’t want. This is one of the reasons to use Mod Podge over the entire label, the wax will just flake off, if it is plain paper the wax will not flake off and might rip the label if picked at.

Quick and easy. Once it’s sealed it could be a shelf sitter, not to be used or it can be opened and a magical time can be had by all.

This fine glitter is fun to have around and I don’t mind my child playing with it. There is glitter all over the house 24/7. I used to work at a store that dusted each package that left the door so each customer could have a little fairy magic for their day. So I’ve been covered in glitter a lot. BUT it will get everywhere!!! Husband will go to work with it in his hair, the dogs will shimmer in the sun so beware and enjoy.

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

Fall is a wonderful time to take young children on an outdoor adventure. The outdoors during the season transition is perfect for teaching children how to observe, classify, and identify objects found in nature.

Prior to going on your nature walk, provide each child with a paper bag to collect leaves, nuts, rocks, sticks, and other miscellaneous items found on the walk. Leaves that have already fallen from the trees are best to use because they are already dried.

Materials:

• Fall Colored Cardstock
• Ziploc bags (quart size)
• My Leaf Book Template
• Marking Pen
• Binder Rings
• Hole Punch
• Double Back Tape or Glue Dots

Directions for assembling the leaf book:

1. Print out the template pages for the leaf book onto colored cardstock or construction paper.

2. Separate the items from your nature walk and place them onto the pages of the book. It is optional to have the children write what the items are onto the book page.

3. Use double back tape, or glue dots to affix the items in place on the pages.

4. To finish the page, place the page into a quart sized Ziploc bag.

5. When all of the pages are finished, put a hole punch in the upper corner and secure with a binder clip.

All of the items used in this activity can be purchased from CreateForLess!

By Guest Blogger Melissa, from the blog Melomomma.

My son’s teacher assigned a family craft! We were to make an animal entirely out of leaves. It took a little thought from the four of us, but with a little guidance my son designed Rahh, the lion! Have fun and be creative!!!

What you will need:

• Newspaper
• Leaves
• Cardboard
• Heavy books
• Scissors
• Glue

Directions:

1. Gather several different shapes of leaves.
2. Open a heavy book in the center and line the pages with newspaper.
3. Place the leaves on top of the newspaper. Be careful that the leaves do not touch.
4. Place newspaper on top of the leaves and close the book.
5. Repeat until al the leaves have a safe spot in the books.
6. Allow approx. 5 days to dry.
7. Remove the leaves from the books and design your leaf animal or creature.

It may be helpful to draw an outline before placing the leaves on to the cardboard.

I also recommend designing the creature and laying the leaves in place prior to to actually gluing them on.

By Recycled Crafts Contributor, Anitra from the blog Coffee Pot People.

Ready for ghoulish fun? I got the above altered jar in the mail the other day, and just could not resist sharing it. I’ll grant it might not be everybody’s cup or tea (or any other fluid, for that matter), but it completely busted me up, and that was before I opened the jar!

Don’t bother asking how my friend got all that in there. I can’t get it all back in. It was so much fun to go through all that bounty, and think about the ways I could use it. (I think I’ll put those skeletal hands in my hair, like barrettes….)

So just a few clues about what my friend did: I’m pretty sure the blood is red dimensional paint. She drizzled that over the plastic fingers, which are glued to a “nest” of black fun fur, and then to the lid of the jar. The jar itself is partially wrapped with Halloweenish paper, with stick on letters spelling “Bad Blood”.

Now, I know you won’t have time to mail one before Halloween, but can you picture the surprise, (and I hope delight!) of the friend whose porch you leave it on? I’m thinking a teenager, myself, especially one of the ones who have gotten into the whole vampire bit. Oh, yessssssss.