Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Kid’s Crafts Contributor Stephanie, from the Blog Geek with Glasses.

May brings summer and summer brings gardens and what is better in a garden than a gnome?!?! Welcome the gnomes home with this cute moss covered wreath.  An easy project  for the kids to do!

Supplies:

• Styrofoam Wreath 
• Moss
• Letter Square Beads
• Leather Cord
• Tiny Wooden Bowl or Wooden Cap
• Tiny Wooden Candle Cup

Tools:

Glue
Red Paint 
White Paint
Brush

This is a very simple project, it takes a lot of glue and some patience to wait for it to dry. I used the green wreath so if the little ones do not cover the whole piece with moss it will not show as bad as if you would have used a white one.

First, start on the edge and lay a line of glue down and stick the moss to the wreath.  Work the whole way around, then start another line of glue working toward the center. It took 3 good lines of glue to cover the wreath.

While the glue is drying, string the wooden beads onto 2 pieces of leather.  

Then paint the wooden candle cup white and the wooden bowl or cap red. These 2 items will make the mushroom. Once the paint is dry glue the two items together with the bowl upside down to make the rounded top of the mushroom.  Then dot white paint on the red to decorate the mushroom.

After the glue on the wreath is dry, attach the letter strings. I used pins to tack them tight, glue would work too. Then glue the mushroom on.

This is very simply decorated, but mini silk flowers could be added as well.

Welcome visitors home and gnomes to your garden for a prosperous growing season.

By DCWV Diary

School is almost out and I wanted to make something special for my Kindergartener’s teacher to wear on the last week of school! It thought that the Lemon Flower Stack would be the perfect “happy, spring” stack for this project!

I created a special badge that says “Best Teacher Ever” for Mrs. M to wear. It shows just how we feel about her!! The top was cut out with a Tim Holtz Sizzix Die….layered patterned paper and chipboard to make it a little sturdy.

Then I layered ribbon that matched the stack to jazz it up a little bit. This ribbon is sooo pretty!!

I hope she likes it! Troy is so excited to give it to her

By General Crafts Contributor Melissa, from the blog MeloMomma.

We eat, breath, and sleep army type stuff in this house. So, when I seen a rather large box in the garage I knew just what to do with it. However, if you don’t have a large box tucked away in your garage, your neighborhood Lowes or Home Depot sells them.

What you will need:

• 1 large box and one 1 medium box. Must be large enough to fit in unless this tank is for decoration purposes.
• Tape (I loved the camo duct tape)
• 1 brown bag paper roll
• Scissors
• School glue
• Construction paper
• Markers
• Craft knife (or a steak knife works if you are in a bind like me )

Directions:

Tape the medium box to the large box. Cut off the top. Cut a hole in the large box so that you can fit into it.

Cut a small hole into the medium box and insert the paper roll. Secure it with tape both on the inside and the outside.

Cover with construction paper using school glue to attach. Cut 6 round circles and glue them on the bottom to make wheels. Cut out two rectangles and write US ARMY on them. Glue them on. Make a star for the front and back.

GO PLAY!

By General Crafts Contributor Mina, from the blog Mina’s Journal.

Want something to pretty up your paper projects? Butterflies can add a whimsical or reflective quality to your creative work. The butterflies come in two colors and two sizes, so should fit most needs.

Use the Butterfly Clipart For:

• Cardmaking
• Scrapbooking layouts
• Gift Tags
• Place Tags
• Name Tags

3D Butterflies

Cut the images out loosely, leaving some white space around them. Make folds along the body and bend the wings up to add dimension. Glue the underside of the body and stick to your project so the wings are ‘free’.

Download Orange Butterfly Clipart

Butterfly Bookmarks

Glue an image to the top of a long rectangular piece of card or craftstick for a pretty bookmark.

Butterfly Cupcake Decorations

Glue an image to a wooden skewer or toothpick to use as cupcake toppers.

Download  Green Butterfly Clipart

Occasions to Use the Butterfly Clipart With:

• Garden Party
• Wedding
• Hen’s Party
• Engagement
• Birthday
• Sympathy
• Friendship
• Fairy Themed Party

By Kid’s Crafts Contributor Stephanie, from the Blog Geek with Glasses.

The mornings are crazy, everyone rushing around to get ready for the day.  These bracelets can help the kids remember things without mom nagging. A simple reminder on their wrist will help them bring the stinky bag of gym clothes home or return the library books before they are overdue.  The  new season brings new sports, it might be hard for the kids to remember when practice is. Also, a way to help with a change in schedule, like “Don’t ride the bus” because mom is picking the kids up after school.

Supplies:

• Letter Beads
• Beads
• Stretchy Bead String

Tools:

• Scissors

To start this project, pick the message the bracelet will have. Choose the letter beads and decorator beads. Next measure around the wrist of the child with the stretchy string, do not stretch it while measuring. Cut the piece just a little longer than needed. String the beads on making sure there is enough decorator beads to go all the way around the child’s wrist. I finish by tying the 2 ends together with a square knot, right over left, left over right. The first part of the knot – right over left – is where I pull the string just enough to stretch it a little. When done the bracelet should have to stretch a little to get over the child’s hand then be snug at the wrist. Trim the excess string off.

The goal for these bracelets are to not fall off while playing at recess, if that happens then the remembering part is gone as well as the bracelet.

A great project for the kids to help with over spring break. The end of the year is coming and all thoughts go to summer not schoolwork. An added bonus if you use really colorful beads others might notice the bracelet and ask about it, making it more effective, because the child will explain and remember, score!

By General Crafts Contributor Melissa, from the blog MeloMomma.

My creative ideas are on overload now as we approach spring break. The kid’s are going to need lots of entertainment and if the weather here doesn’t cooperate we will be stuck inside! Therefore, I present to you the Awesome Toilet Paper Roll Car! It’s honestly a hoot to make!

We spend about 30 minutes making this and it kept my 5 and 2 year old entertained for quite some time! Not too shabby for a creation using supplies from the bathroom and cupboard! Enjoy your spring break!

What you will need:

• Toilet paper roll
• Glue
• Tape
• Scissors
• Construction paper
• Cardboard (use a cereal box) or chipboard
• Smarties (optional)
• Necco candy (optional)
• Little toy man (optional)
• Diorama trees for scenery (optional)

Directions:

Cover the toilet paper roll with construction paper. Use tape to secure it. Cut out two circles to cover the front and back of the tp roll. I made the back circle a little bigger.

Cut out a rectangle shaped hole in the top. Cut out four round circles for the wheels. It works best to fold the card board in half so the wheels are the same size. Using a glue stick secure the wheels.

Glue on two smarties for the head lights. Glue on a piece of Necco candy for the steering wheel (A cardboard circle would work as well). Decorate it if you wish.

Place a toy guy in and go for a ride.

By Kid’s Crafts Contributor Stephanie, from the Blog Geek with Glasses.

Enter an enchanted world with this adorable, durable crown! My daughter, like most children, loves fairy tales.  A lot of fairy tales include a prince and princess, king and queen, or super hero of some kind.  Crowns are a big part of the dress up accessories.  We have made all kinds of crowns such as paper ones that tear and the wearer is heartbroken, then the fix is to tape it or staple it and it’s never quite the same.  Felted crowns are beautiful but as with all things felt – in a house with shorthaired dogs, felt is a magnet.  I have spent many an hour with tweezers trying to pick the fur out of the felt toys.  So, one day I was at the fabric store and they had a large bin of Leather Remnants, a beautiful selection of colors and textures, and I thought this would make an indestructible crown fit for a king, queen, princess – you get the idea.

The benefit of this crown is that it is completely adjustable, it can grow with the child.  This crown will be 19″ in circumference, with the laces pulled tight it fits my 3 year old fine. Loosen up the laces a little and I’m sporting the crown. PLUS – it can be wiped down with a damp cloth.

Supply List:

• Ridged Leather remnant – 19″ x 6″
• Eyelets
• Leather Lace
• Leather Punch
• Crown Patterns
• Pen
• Eyelet Setter

First, print and cut out the Crown Patterns, trace it on the backside of the leather, make sure to mark the eyelet holes.  The patterns provided are set up to trace one side, then flip it on the center edge to make a mirror image to trace the rest of the crown.

I use basic scissors to cut the leather, nothing fancy.

Once the crown is cut out punch the holes for the eyelets.  I have a punch that uses a hammer but there are hand held punches that work like a paper punch.  If you don’t have either of those a nail and hammer will work. 

Push the eyelets through the hole from the front (good side), set the eyelet, by setting the eyelet setter on the back of the eyelet and hammer.  A couple of whacks is all it takes, be careful not to hit it too hard or the face of the eyelet will misshapen.

Next, lace up the eyelets like a shoe using a leather cord and tie a bow.  Place it on your head and take over a kingdom!

We like the simplicity of the leather, but these crowns can be decorated with gem stickers or glitter glue.