Recycled Magnets and One Direction

My daughter loves One Direction and all those fan items are so darn expensive. So as a single Mom, I am always looking for ways to make things and save money. I had a bunch of these large over sized magnets on my fridge advertising anything from corn dogs to insurance so I went to the dollar store and bought some photo paper and made some new magnets  recycling the old ones.


Here's what you will need:

• Photo Paper (As I said I bought mine for a $1.00 from the dollar store and I always grab a few to keep on hand for projects)
• Craft Glue (Something good like Alleene's tacky glue---it's about $2 at Walmart for the small one)
• Old magnets from your fridge
• Scissors
• Computer (Go online and choose the photo you want for your magnet and print it or print from your folder on your computer

Have fun with it. Make them for yourself. Give them to your friends for gifts. Just have a good time!!

Partridge Art Work

Materials Needed:

• Burlap
• Colored fabric
• Colored buttons
• Green felt
• Green duster (from dollar store or some fake grass
• Old frame
• Cardboard
• Glue gun
• Glue sticks
• Twigs or pipe cleaners for legs
• A few bugle beads

Measure your cardboard and cut it to the size of your frame. (You won't need the glass). Spread burlap over cardboard and glue into place. You can also help secure it with a few pieces of duck tape or masking tape. Once the burlap is secured onto cardboard you are ready to begin.

I made 2 bird shaped templates from the cardboard. You will need 1 large bird and 3 small birds (unless you want less or more). You will also need 3 cardboard wings and 1 larger wing. You can draw these free hand and then cut them in cardboard. Once you have your cardboard bird templates cover with colorful fabric and glue them down onto the burlap allowing about 2 inches for your grassy area. I used bugle beads for eyes and pipe cleaners for the legs but I think next time twigs would have looked so much cuter.

For the grass you can either use moss,or Easter grass or like me I used a cleaning mitt that I got from the dollar store. It was green so I cut it apart and then glued it down it bits and pieces. I then added button flowers and green felt stems with bugle beads for the stamens (centers).

Be creative and have FUN!!!

DIY Suncatchers

These suncatchers are so easy to do. (**Mom's you need to help and supervise as we use a hot oven for this one!!)
This is what you will need:

• Use an old round cake pan. (Make sure it's clean and free of grease.)
• Bag of colored plastic beads (Walmart or any craft shop has them)
• Drill to make a hole
• Nylon thread or some type of cord for hanging
• Suction cup
• Oven and oven mits

Pour it into the cake pan and let your child at it down. I got creative and added a heart cookie cutter to the center and fileld it with red beads and then when I took it over to the oven I very gently removed the heart cookie cutter before putting it into the oven to bake.

Bake at 350 degrees until beads are melted. (You have to watch it)

Drill a hole and add string and it's ready for hanging. When the sun hits it it looks like a giant starburst!

This is how it looks with the sun shining through. It reminds me of a giant sunburst of colors.

Blinged Out Clock

Hi everyone!!

This is for pre-teen and up. **We use a glue gun for this project so please make sure you have your parents permission and supervision.

 

I had my eye on a fancy decorative clock at Walmart. My house was recently painted and I have been trying to decorate each room and as you know it can get very expensive. So, I decided why not make the clock myself.

 

So, I used the $5. old clock on my kitchen wall and I bought---1 pack of clear bugle beads,and 1 pack of rhinestone flowers in assorted sizes. The cost was approximately $5. @ Walmart and I had leftover beveled clear beads from another project.

 

I used my hot glue gun and in tiny sections I glued the bugle beads on over the entire clock. Make sure you sit the glue gun on a oven mit or a plate because it gets hot and can make quite a mess. Also be very careful as the glue gets extremely HOT. I use a Popsicle stick for places that are difficult to reach. The project was quick and easy to do and as you can see it looks quite beautiful to use in any room of your house.

 

 

Mirror,mirror

This is a craft for pre-teen and older. I had an old wooden framed mirror and was trying to think of how I could dress it up and make it look elegant. So,I went to Walmart and bought a bunch of beads and glue sticks. For $12. I was able to make a very elegant blinged out mirror for my bedroom vanity.

Supplies:
2 bags Bugle Beads (1.97 Walmart)
1 bag of Faceted beads (2.97 Walmart
1 box of rhinestones (all sizes 4.95 Walmart)
Large pack of glue sticks (for glue gun )

You can use a mirror that you have around your home or go to a thrift shop and buy a 2nd hand one. This project takes about 2 days depending how fast you work and how much time you put into the project. You don't have to use clear beads either you can use whichever color that suits you for your project/room.

Africa---The Water Project

Many Christmas's ago my daughter was very young and so sad because Santa brought everyone gifts but no one took Santa presents. I had to take my daughter to the dollar store so Francessca could buy Santa some socks and then she marched right up to the mall Santa with her little present in her hand and gave them Santa. Santa looked at me and I said, "Santa, she was sad for you. Merry Christmas! "

Another time we were on the road and she would ask to take sandwiches to people standing begging for money. Other times she would want to get scarves or gloves for those standing on the corners in the freezing cold. These are times as parents that our heart feel good and we know we are raising our kids right.

Like my daughter Francessca, I would like you all to meet aother very special 8 years old who has a very BIG heart too---her name is Nina. Nina is quite special. She is very talented. She writes her own stories and songs. She helps create smoothie's and healthy food ideas with her Mommy (Bernice Website) She helps her Mommy with her little adorble brother and she's a great big sister I hear. She is a 3rd grader and an honor roll student. And as you can see she is beautiful outside but she is also beautiful inside too.

One admiral thing that touched me about Nina---she has a BIG, BIG heart. She has big goals and wants to do BIG things in life. At just 8 years old, Nina started a fundraiser and is raising money so she can help build a well in Africa.

Over a billion people in Africa need fresh water. There is disease, lack of water, and a cycle of sickness due to this lack of water. Nina wants to help build a well to provide clean water to people but to do this she needs our help. So through the grace of God, prayers and kind people like you we can help make Nina's dream come true. Please click on this link below for further information---

http://thewaterproject.org/community/profile/nina-lakota


So in honor of Nina and our African friends and the well fundraiser today's crafts is---  



African Rainstick








http://www.freekidscrafts.com/recycled_rain_stick_craft-e89.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!!