December 12th, 2006
To make these Christmas ornaments, you will need: acrylic paints, glass ornaments (I buy the packages at the dollar store), & a paper cup.
1. Take the gold topper off the ornament, usually by squeezing the hanging wire.
2. Then drizzle small amounts of paint into the glass ornament, & turn it around to get the cool swirl effect, then add another color until the entire ornament is covered in paint.
3. Turn the ornament upside down in a paper cup so any excess paint can drip out. Wait until all the paint is done dripping & then put the gold topper back on & ta da, hand painted ornaments.
4. (Make sure you say ta da, it is an integral part of the process).
This would be a great craft to do with kids or to give away as wedding favors. Plus this is an inexpensive way to decorate an entire tree with unique ornaments.
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December 9th, 2006
Last year I wanted a teddy bear angel for our angel tree. This seemed impossible for me to find. So I decided to make one. I found this teddy bear ornament at a craft store for $.97. I bought a sheet of felt for less than a dollar & cut out what I though look like wings. I stitched around the wings easily because I wasn’t going for a “perfect look”. I used the end of the embroidery thread to sew the wings to a bear. So for less than $2 & 10 minutes, I had the perfect angel ornament. These would be great gifts for teachers, or used as a package topper, or as a gift all by itself.
I think next year I am going to try to make a Yo Yo Angel Craft, it would be perfect for the angel tree.
Tags: christmas, holidays, presents, gifts, diy, crafts, ornaments
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December 3rd, 2006
I always have post Christmas cookie withdrawal. It’s not as serious as it sounds. It’s not an actual medical condition. I know, I know, it sounds like it is, but it’s not. I get used to neighbors & friends dropping off fresh cookies or baked goods. This is when I pull out one of my favorite presents: gifts in a jar. These are usually layers of dried goods in a jar with instructions. It contains everything you need to make brownies, cookies etc. You just have to add the eggs, milk etc. & bake. At first I was like, “Why would someone give me something I have to cook?”. Then I realized I could save it, (I’m quick like that), so I didn’t have to eat all the Christmas cookies at once. Plus, these look really fun to make & give away to neighbors, teachers, or even use for bake sales.
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October 31st, 2006
A few weeks ago I posted about how to make bubble magnets from those clear marbles that you can find at dollar stores. We had a church activity where we were told to bring a glass item. Then we all sat down & glued these same pebbles to our glass items. I just used a salad bowl I got at the thrift shop for $1.50, the pebbles & glue were practically free. You could assembly line a lot of these gifts for practically nothing. Getting the pebbles to stick was a little exasperating, it’s a good thing we are not a swearing people. Super glue for glass worked the best. Another hint is to place the glue on the stone & let it set up for a few seconds before trying to place it on the glass. These aren’t dishwasher safe, but they would make great Christmas presents. We did bowls, vases, stemware, votives, candleholders, anything glass. You can do this in random patterns, or even just around the rim of the bowl. For a more elegant look, try using the clear glass pebbles. I’m addicted to gluing these baubles (they really should make a name for these, any suggestions would be appreciated) on everything in sight. I need some sort of support group to quit. Works for me!
Crafts, DIY Christmas Gifts, Kids Crafts | 4 Comments »
October 30th, 2006
It snowed here in September, so cute winter items are a must because it seems like we use them most of the year. I love making hand knitted/crocheted items, but it just takes sooo long. Enter the “knitting loom”. These are very inexpensive & easy to use. (Only $19.99 for all 4) Great beginner project. Kids can even use these. You can make scarves, hats, booties, squares for an afghan & much more. I can make a baby hat or pair of baby booties in an hour with one of these looms instead of 4-5 hours if I knit or crochet it. Great for using all those scraps of yarn. I make a lot of items with this, & donate them to charity. Here are some of my favorite free patterns for knitting looms.
Step by step instructions with pictures on how to get started with your knitting loom.
Even make dolls with the loom.
Free scarf & poncho patterns & much more from Roberts.
Save a lot of money on Christmas gifts this year, or even start your own craft business with these easy to use looms.
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Gilmore is a 27 year old who loves decorating and is a self-proclaimed expert on just about everything. At least she likes to think so. Copyright 2011. Consult a design professional before beginning your project.