Construction Paper Art

These images are symbollic of my life, in a way. The first image represents family as a tree deeply rooted in good soil. The next image represents me (my branch of the tree) and music being something that helps me grow. The last image is two trees growing towards each other (me and my hubby) and bearing fruit (baby!).

Symbolism Art Project

Task: Create symbollic artwork that represents your life (e.g. your family life, your spiritual/faith journey, etc.).

 

Time: 30 minutes

 

Materials:

- Square white paper, stiff. (this was watercolor paper)

- Construction paper in various colors.

- Glue stick

- Scissors

 

For best results, draw your design in mirror image on the back side of the construction paper, then cut it out. When you paste your colored paper onto your white paper, the pencil lines will all be on the back so it will look clean on the front without any pencil indentations or eraser marks.

Easy Nursery Crafts with Flannel

I'm 41 weeks pregnant so I decided to work on some easy crafts for the baby's nursery to pass the time while I wait for labor to start. I completed these projects in one afternoon using flannel prints (purchased on sale at $2.99/yard).

 

 

First up, I made a fitted sheet for the Pack N' Play with this fun "imaginary friends" print. Then I made a matching burp cloth out of the leftover scrapts (plus strips of a coordinating flannel).

 

To make a fitted sheet, all you need to do is cut out a rectangle, leaving a decent amount of edge around the outside (a few inches). Pinch the corners and mark where the corner should be, then fold and sew the corners, cutting away the extra square of material out of each corner (I used a serger which made this really easy). Lastly, trim the edges (or serge all four edges) and then turn over the edge, sewing elastic underneath, pulling the elastic tight as you sew it to the fabric using a zigzag stitch.

The other project I completed was a fitted cover for the diaper changing pad. The process for making this was basically the same as the fitted sheet. Again, I pieced together leftover scraps to make a little coordinating wash cloth/burp cloth.

Both of these projects were quick, easy, and cost-effective. Considering that fitted sheets are usually $20 and up, I made these at less than 25% of what it would cost to just buy one.

Materials:
Flannel (pre-washed) at $2.99/yard
Thread (white)
Elastic (1/8" wide)

None of these crafts require a pattern.

Easy Paper Bunting

Need party decorations and short on time? I whipped this up in 30 minutes or less, for my cousin's baby shower. These are also really cute in a baby nursery.

Start with a selection of coordinating scrapbooking paper. For one-sided paper bunting flags, you can get two flags from one square sheet.

Create a pattern out of a piece of scrap cardboard. Draw a line down the center. Then measure an equal distance out from one end of the line and mark two points which will be the corners of your triangle. Draw lines to connect the points to the other end of your line. Cut out the triangle.

Place your triangle on the paper. You can position the base of the triangle against the edge of the paper. Use a roller cutter and mat to quickly cut the triangle out.

Flip your pattern piece and cut a second triangle from the same sheet. Repeat for all of your sheets of paper - you can cut 2 or 3 sheets at the same time to go faster. I used 6 sheets of paper for 12 total flags.

You need string and a sewing machine for this part.

Place your first flag pattern-side down. Using the widest zig-zag stitch and a length of about 3, stitch along the top edge of the triangle, keeping the string under the zig-zag so your stitches land on either side.

When you finish, the flag will look like this. Stitch the rest of the flags in a row, leaving a couple of inches between each flag.

When you are done, string them up and party on!

Baby Gift: Fleece Blanket (No Sew Project)

Baby Blankets make wonderful gifts.  But honestly these can be made for any age just by changing the print. 

This is a EASY project and can be made by anyone 7+, which means kids can be brought in for slave labor, I mean for learning experience.  ~cough cough~

So this is one of those times that making your own doesn't necessarily make it cheaper, but here's a few reasons why you should do it anyways

• Can double the layers making it warmer
• Decide your own prints
• Mix your own prints
• Pick your own size
• Homemade is just always more personal

Here I've got a Winnie the Pooh and Kermit the frog print.  I'm using two layers, but this can work with a single layer as well.

I asked the fabric store to cut me a larger piece because I dont have confidence that they will cut straight lines when they are rushing through customers.  I placed my kermit fabric on the bottom and the Winnie the Pooh print on top and cut out a *perfect* rectangle based on the lines provided on this print.  Of course fleece does stretch, so try to lay as flat as possible.

You'll want to cut the edges to fringes (cut both layers together) around the entire blanket.  Remove the corner squares. Next tie off each of the fringes, if it's double layer than tie both layer's fringe together

The tying process can be done while watching tv on the couch.  Just make sure to do sections around the whole blanket first to keep blanket from shifting to much before it is complete. 

Vola, a wonderful soft and personally made blanket for loved ones to enjoy

Repurposing Oatmeal Containers

I eat a lot of oatmeal, and the containers just seem too potentially useful to just throw away! They have lids and could be excellent storage containers for craft supplies, but they look like trash, right? Well, then... I just need to make them look cute!
Materials:
- Oatmeal canisters (empty, clean)
- Shelf liner/contact paper with a pretty pattern (Option B: use decorative paper and double-stick tape)
- Scissors, pencil, ruler

1. Do a little test to see what the finished product will look like by wrapping a scrap of the contact paper around the canister. I had this shelf liner paper leftover from lining the drawers of a refinished nightstand. You could use any sort of decorative paper, but this particular type has a sticky back to it so you don't need glue or double-stick tape.

Does it look good? Does it fit under the lid? Yes? Okay let's continue.

2. Measure the height of the canister, then add 1/4 to 1/2 an inch so the paper will overlap the bottom. This is the WIDTH of the piece of contact paper you will need to cut out.

3. Wrap the paper around the canister and use a pencil to mark the circumference, then allow for 1/4 to 1/2 inch of overlap. This is the LENGTH of the piece of contact paper you will need.

4. Use a ruler and pencil to mark the lines on the back of the contact paper, then cut out the rectangle.

5. Wrap the paper around the canister to get a good fit, you may need to make an extra cut if your canister is tapered at all. Then peel off half of the backing and start applying the paper to the canister. Match up the edge with the top of the canister, leaving the overlap at the bottom. Use your thumb to smoothe out the air bubbles as you go.

6. Use your thumbnail to press the edge of the paper in at the top lip.

7. Press the overlapping edge down around the bottom of the canister.

8. Put the lid on it. All done! Now do all the rest of your oatmeal containers to make a matching set...

9. The best part: figure out what to put in them!

I discovered that they make excellent paintbrush holders.

Message in Wood Blocks

So I was walking through the Wood section of my local mega mart craft store and found these miniature children alphabet blocks. So cute.



Ok everyone, this project is WAYYYYYY easy, I dont want a single person complaining they can't do this.

And this project was really inexpensive, cost was about $2 a pack and I had to buy two packs.

Directions

1) Piece together with a message that you like. In my case I used me and my honey's names. I find that it looks more interesting if you dont go with the standard symmetrical row by row look.

2) Glue them in place, I used good old fashion white glue

3) Wait until the glue dries

And here is our finished product.

SO CUTE and personable



-SmallRiniLady