DIY Decorative Lamp Shade

I had a small lamp on my vanity that had a tiny lampshade. I tried to add a larger shade but it just didn't look right yet the little one didn't look right either so I had to improvise. Since I love anything that shines and glitters. I decided to add beads to it. I bought some tiny crystal beads from Walmart and strung about 12-15 per string. I knotted the first bead so that it wouldn't slip off and then I just continued stringing them and sewed them onto the lampshade. 

It turned out so cute and looks perfect on my vanity. I wasn't planning to add it to this page but I thought someone might like the idea. 

So enjoy!!

Here is a link to the crystal mirror I also did awhile back that's also on my vanity.

http://franandfriends.blogspot.com/2013/03/mirrormirror.html

April Craft---Growing seeds

Having a very ill teen at home leaves me little time to myself much less managing my blogs. I have decided to continue with my blogs but I will only be adding content occasionally for the time being.

April's Craft is going to be something for "spring". The warm weather makes you want to go out and dig in the garden.

My daughter and I both love to grow things. I think playing in the dirt and getting in touch with Mother Nature can be quite rewarding. I have bought several little kits for my daughter and so she began growing tomatoes,and sunflowers...etc...Being sick she isn't able to get out much so this project was very rewarding because she could watch her seeds grow and see the changes each and everyday. 
This photo is of my daughter's first seed project. I believe these are of Sunflowers.


Kids of all ages can enjoy doing a project like this. However if you have small children I would advise you to plant some of your bigger seeds like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, watermelon seeds etc...The plants are more hardy and seem to grow faster.  You might even get them to eat some of the vegetables they grow...if you are lucky.

You don't have to purchase these kits however. All you need to do is go to your local dollar store and buy a package of plastic cups,some seeds,a bag of soil and a permanent marker.

Fill the cups up with soil. Halfway is good enough...then make a small indent with your finger. Place a few seeds into this indentation and then cover lightly with soil. Water and place in a sunny window. Make sure you write the name of the plant on the plastic cup with a permanent marker. Be sure to keep the soil moist and check everyday.

If you want you can even add some plastic wrap over the cups to help the growing process. Germination doesn't take too long...soon you will see the leaves and stem poking through the soil. I have placed my cups in a baking pan so that it makes it easier to move from window to window.

Happy Spring and happy growing!!

Mr.Snowman

Snowman ball ornaments are simple and yet a fun craft. Here is what you are going to need:


Package of glass balls or white glitter balls
Miniature black pom-poms
Small red pom-poms
Craft glue
White paint
Fine White glitter
Gold pipe cleaners
Orange felt or pipe cleaner (for nose)


This craft is super simple. You can do it two ways. Either purchase clear white balls and paint them or purchase white glittery balls already done. Next follow  the picture as a guide and glue the mouth and eyes on your snowman's face. Next glue your nose  and ears muffs. Now take a gold pipe cleaner and cut to use as the center of your earmuffs. And voila! you have a beautiful snowman ornament!!


Here is another version I found on FamilyFun.com 
Snowman Ornament 

Snowman books:

Snowmen at Night
This is a fabulous book, certain to become a favorite! The creative story is written in rhyme, with clever use of humor along the way. The illustrations are breathtaking and silly. I have read this to my 3 year old, 5 year old twins and 8 year old twins. They can't get enough of the fun snowman antics. I've also read this to a Pre-K class and 3rd grade class. ALL CHILDREN HAVE RESPONDED POSITIVELY to this charming story. The best surprise is when you read the last page and learn about hidden images in the book. After reading this book 5 or 6 times we are still finding new images, like the snowman face in the moon. For more info

Snowman (Snow Shakers) 

For more info

Handprint Turkey

It's almost turkey time. Thanksgiving will be here on November 24th. Here is an easy craft for children.

Materials needed:

Paint or crayons
Sturdy paper plates
Construction paper
Colored feathers
Scissors
Wiggly eyes
Glue
Ribbon
Duck Tape
Hole puncher
Ribbon

TEMPLATE (I made a template for those who need one.)

Directions: (Requires adult supervision.)

1. First either use the template or trace your hand onto brown construction paper.
2. After tracing hand, slowly and carefully cut the hand out.
3. Now glue the hand to your paper plate.
4. Next decorate and make as pretty as you wish,use your imagination.
5. If you do not have feathers you can improvise with colored construction paper. Just cut out some feather shapes and glue onto plate. (They will go right where your fingers are on the cut out hand.)
6. Now trace and cut out the wattle. The wattle is red.
7. Once you cut out then glue under your turkey's chin.
8. Now trace two yellow legs for your turkey.
9. Once they are cut out glue onto your turkey.
10. Finish by glueing some big wiggly eyes onto your turkey.
11. Punch a hole into the paper plate and attach a ribbon so you can hang your turkey up for thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Books--

The Littlest Pilgrim
Reviewed on Amazon--"This is a very sweet story with which many little kids (especially ones with big brothers and sisters!) can identify. The book is about Mini, a pilgrim who wants to help. But everyone is too busy or she's too little to help with any chores. What makes this book unique is the setting. She's wanting to help stack wood and mend dresses and bake bread... all of these activities can lead to great questions/discussions about early Americans. So cute!" For more information

The First Thanksgiving
Reviewed on Amazon--"I like this book, it has cute pictures, but the story doesn't really flow well especially with the flaps. There are a lot of flaps on some pages and 1 on others. Some have words under the flaps, some don't. It's just kind of awkward. The story is nice and so are the pictures, but the flaps kind of ruin it all." For more information

Candy Corn

This is a really simple craft that even the little ones can enjoy. All they have to do is rip,scrunch up and stick onto the paper. With a little bit of adult supervision they can make a Halloween decoration and have fun.
Materials needed--

• Card
• Glue
• Yellow, Orange and white tissue paper

Directions--

• Cut a triangle from card. Round the edges if you like to make it into a candy corn shape.
• Rip the tissue paper into pieces and scrunch into small balls.
• Glue the tissue paper to the triangle to make stripes, using our photo (or real candy corn!) for inspiration.

Books related to our project--

Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch 

by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
"Biscuit goes everywhere, does everything and makes just a touch of mischief wherever he goes (goodheartedly I might add). This is another splendidly illustrated book that shows the little retriever puppy following his little girl around the pumpkin patch in search of that perfect harvest pumpkin. The story is simple and cute (lots of woofs woofs from Biscuit) and the book itself is in a heavy board quality. My kids (2 and 3 1/2) thoroughly enjoy this one and ask for it frequently"~reviewed on Amazon To Purchase

The ABC's of Halloween

by Patti Reeder Eubanks

"My two-year-old LOVES this book! They read it at our local bookstore storytime, and he insisted to carrying it through the whole store for the trick-or-treat parade, and I had to buy it! He's insisted that we read it several times a day ever since we got it home. The pictures are delightful and the creative words will introduce your toddler or preschooler to lots of vocabulary as they enjoy picking out the letters in all the pumpkins. Highly recommended"~reviewed on Amazon 

Rub a dub dub, Barbie's Is In The Tub!

Some of my best memories are watching my sister's kids and my daughter playing in the tub. We had this really neat Sesame Street toy that was applied to the side of the tub with suction cups. The kids would slide their little GI Joe's or Lego people down the slide.

When my daughter came along I used to make boats and rafts for her Polly Pockets and Barbie dolls. Too bad I didn't anything I made.

There is so many thing you can make with odds and ends that you find laying around the house or things that are going into the trash. Here is a perect example. Here is a simple catamaran that I found on Family Fun. This is a very simple ccrafts that is easy to make and it will give the kids hours of fun.** Adult Supervision and help is required.

Materials needed:
2 Plastic bottles

Rubber bands

Colored plastic tape

Craft knife

Directions

• Remove the labels from the plastic bottles
• Clamp the bottles together temporarily with the rubber bands, then wrap them with colored tape, as shown.
• Remove the rubber bands, then, with a craft knife (a parent's job), cut the oval seat openings.
• Sail away with a crew of fashion dolls, action figures, or waterproof plush toys.

Books related to our subject:

"Wonderful book! Perfect to read to a younger child. Illustrations are beautiful. Purchased for my grandson. His mother is a teacher and she loves the book! I would choose this book over others that are similar"

TO PURCHASE 

"Our creative young hero has made a boat from a can, a cork, a pencil, and a piece of cloth. He and his beloved boat are inseparable. He sails it on the lake, holding on to it by a string. The boat sometimes wonders what it would be like to be free. One stormy day, the boat gets loose and encounters a series of menacing large boats, each of which seems to tell it to "Move along!" The toy boat is almost sinking, and missing the boy, drifting alone and frightened through the night. In the morning, however, circled by a small fishing boat, the little boat's sail catches the wind. To their mutual delight, boat and boy are reunited on the shore in this simple story's happy ending. Long uses acrylic paints to create uncluttered naturalistic double-page scenes. The loving relationship of boy and boat is established on the book's cover. Inside, the personified sequence of "real" boats is filled with their aggressive tendencies as they menace the toy. Emotions are stirred by scenes of the tiny boat all alone on the vast, moonlit sea, and of the happy reunion. The endpapers show the items the boy uses to build his boat, perhaps to encourage other builders" Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Name Plaque

This is a really simple project that I did one Saturday afternoon with my daughter. She glued her name to the wood ribbon but it could be a name, a simple saying or even just a word like Mom or Dad or I love you.

Materials Needed:
1 piece of wood ribbon (from craft shop such as AC Moore,Michaels,JoAnne's etc...)
Wooden Letters
2 Hearts of any type of ornamental wood such as music notes, hair clippers,football,cheerleading)
Craft Glue (it's more sticky)
Colored Paint
Spray Vanish
Ribbon
Duct Tape
Newspaper

Directions:
Lay old newspaper out on a hard surface (table). Paint the letters and allow to dry. Once they dry glue letters onto ribbon or whatever kind of board you chose. Allow to dry. Now have your parent take outside and spray with vanish to seal and protect your art work. Once the piece dries completely (usually 24 hours) take a piece of ribbon about 5-6" and using the duct tape secure each side to the back of the wood. Voila! Now you have your name plaque and it's already for hanging.

Make Your Own Play-Dough

This is a fun project as well. My daughter and I made this for the first time 14 years ago when my daughter was in pre-school. I love this Play-Dough Recipe because it is super easy and quick to make. You can make different colors by making several batches and just change the food coloring.  The play dough can be stored in air tight bags or plastic airtight container.

Materials:

• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 cups salt
• 3 cups water
• 1 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
• a few drops of food coloring (color of your choice)

Directions:

1.    Mix ALL of the ingredients in a large pot

2.    Cook over medium to low heat, keep stirring,until the dough comes away from the edges of the pan and becomes thick so it is difficult to move the spoon.

3.    Remove from heat.

4.    Let play-dough cool in the pan until it can be handled.

5.    Turn play-dough out on counter or on wax paper and knead 3 - 4 times.

Lastly, now play and enjoy!!!

Easter Basket Project

Easter is just around the corner. Peter Cottontail will be hopping down the bunny trail right to your front door with these cute handmade bunny baskets. You can make them for your children, grandchildren or get the kiddies involved in a fun and easy craft project. This is an inexpensive craft project made from materials you may have laying around your home.

BUNNY BASKETS

Materials:

• An empty, shoe box
• Scissors
• Big bag of cotton balls
• Glue or glue gun
• Pink or white yarn
• Marker
• Pink felt
• Black or felt, black jelly beans, or black paper

Instructions:

Use the lid and draw two bunny ears the length of the lid. After you have drawn the ears, cut them out. Cut 2 ovals out of pink felt, foam or construction paper and glue in the center of your ears. Once you have done this secure your ears in place onto the inside front of the box. You can secure them in place with some heavy tape such as lduck tape. Once in they secured in place have the kids glue cotton balls around the pink of the ears and all over the entire bunny.

Once your bunny is dry add black eyes, and some whiskers and make a yarn tale by taking a few pieces of pink yarn or you can make a pop-pom and glue it on.

 Click to learn how to make easy Pom-Pom.



 



This is how it will look before the cotton balls are glued on