crafts – Page 27 – the long thread

August 29, 2009

Quick Crafty Round-Up

8-29-09

A very cool way to make a flip doll with legs from We Wilsons (link via Luv in the Mommyhood).

And over at Meet me at Mike’s, Pip has posted some great links: 25 Adorable Amigurumi Critters to Crochet and25 Super Cute Totes to Make (that’s my kid’s artwork tote pictured).

Print this handy Pocket Stitch Book from Cassi of The Crafty Crow for Sew, Mama, Sew.

Make this Table Runner from Betz White for Craft.

Pincushion from A Stitch in Dye (link via Whip Up). And look, she has a new book available for pre-order.

Find some sandwich inspiration for your kid’s lunchbox from Funky Lunch (link via Craft Gossip).

Log Cabin washcloths from The Purl Bee.

Make it Do shows you how she made these school bags (she used my squirrel appliqué design that you can find here).

August 29, 2009

Look what I just ordered! Parasol•Craft is a new downloadable craft magazine from the very talented illustrator Yasmine Surovec, of A Print a Day. And at only $2.50 an issue, you should definitely check it out.

The magazine includes interviews with 22 artists/crafters including Diane Gilleland, quite a few talented Etsy sellers like La Pomme, and new-to-me and amazing doll artist Paola Zakimi. And I was thrilled to be mentioned in the list of 30 online resources. The magazine also includes printable iron-on templates for the super cute dolls pictured above, some paper print-outs and embroidery designs. Really great stuff! You can order it here.

June 30, 2009

Summer Reading Craft #2

the-very-lonely-firefly2

I know, it seems like I’ve forgotten about the summer reading crafts, but here’s a project!

Eric Carle naturally comes to mind when thinking about children’s book illustration, so we decided to make these firefly lanterns based on The Very Lonely Firefly, the story of a firefly in search of friends. You can learn more about Eric Carle’s process here. I modified the process to make it simpler for the kids. This is a two-step project because your tissue paper will need time to dry before you make the collage. And you’ll want to work on a surface that is easy to clean. Here’s how we made our firefly lanterns:

firefly-lanterns

firefly-lantern-detail1

Supplies:

recycled glass jar
plain tissue paper
paints (we used kid’s poster paints)
brushes
decoupage glue (mod podge)

1. First, cut the tissue paper into small squares to make it easier to handle. Then have kids paint the tissue paper. To achieve the multi-layered effect of Carle’s work, I encouraged my kids to use several colors on their brush.

painting-tissue-paper

2. When the kids finish a square, an adult can gently peel the paper from the surface since it tears easily.
3. Set aside and allow the tissue paper to dry.

painted-paper
4. Once the tissue paper is dry, cut it into shapes to make a firefly or anything else you can imagine.
5. Coat the front of the glass jar with mod podge and apply the tissue paper shapes.

gluing-together
6. Add another coat of glue on top to seal it.
7. Light a candle and watch your fireflies glow. Careful: hot glass!

June 24, 2009June 24, 2009

50 Summer Crafts for Kids

summer-crafts

Summer is here! Keep your kids busy with these crafts and ideas:

50 Ways to Get Children to Love Reading from Read-Aloud.

OUTDOOR PROJECTS & NATURE CRAFTS

Tie Dyed t-shirts from Kaboose.

Bubble Mixture from Suite 101.

Sunprint Tutorial from The Light Garden.*

Seashell Garden from Urban Organica.

Hammered Flower and Leaf Prints from Build/Make/Craft/Bake.

Painted Rock Crafts from Martha Stewart.

Milk Carton Bird Feeder from Kaboose.

Make a Kite from Storm the Castle.

Paper Bag Wind Sock from Canadian Living.

Paper Boat that Floats from wikiHow.

Mosaic Bird Bath from The Seattle Times.

Footprint Garden Stepping Stones from Make Baby Stuff.

Sidewalk Chalk from Alpha Mom.

Sidewalk Chalk Paint from ohdeedoh.*

Grass Head Monster from Activity Village.

Stone Dolls from Maya Made.

How to Play Hopscotch from Quiet Fish.

Build a Fairy House from Light-Beams Publishing.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Homemade Playdough from The Long Thread.

Flower Pinwheels from Alpha Mom.*

Recycled Crayons from Make and Takes.

Fairy Wings from Threadbanger (see our kid version here).

Kaleidoscopes from Se7en.

Pressed Flower Art from Mom in Madison.

God’s Eyes summer camp yarn craft from Wise Craft.*

T-shirt weaving from Alpha Mom.*

Tissue Paper Butterflies from Marie for Design Mom.*

Make Your Own Fingerpaint from The Australian Women’s Weekly.

Clothespin Dolls at Going Sew Crazy.

Vacation Memory Jars from Martha Stewart.

Cardboard Dollhouse from Esprit Cabane.*

Scratch Foam Block Printing from Glitter Goods.

Dr. Seuss inspired ooblek (like gooey liquid playdough) with Skip to my Lou.

Watercolor Resist Painting from Bookhou Craft Projects BloesemKids.

Recycled Newspaper Beads from A Storybook Life.*

Tin Can Stilts from Kaboose.

Rain Sticks from Creative Kids at Home.

Party Poppers from Little Birdie Secrets.

Tension Rod Puppet Theater from Sycamore Stirrings.

Mexican Metal Tooling from Restoration Place.

Colorful Bean Bag Balls from Family Fun.

Canvas Checkerboard from Martha Stewart.

Friendship Bracelets from wikiHow.

Fabric Scrap Braided Necklace from cakies.

SUMMER EATS

Make ice cream in a coffee can from Homemade Ice Cream Makers.

Watermelon Carving Ideas from the National Watermelon Promotion Board.

10 Frozen Treats for Summer Family Fun.

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam from Soule Mama.

Raspberry Lemonade from Joy the Baker.*

*pictured above.

June 3, 2009June 3, 2009

Summer Reading Craft #1

summer-reading

This summer I’ll be doing crafts based on children’s books. This week we read Elmer by David McKee. Elmer is the story of a patchwork elephant who wants to look like everyone else, but soon realizes that it’s boring to blend in with the crowd. At the end of the book the elephants have a parade, so the girls and I decided to make an elephant parade garland.

Click here to download the .pdf template if you’d like to make one too.

Simply print the template and cut out the elephants from card stock. Let the children paint, collage, or color them. Then string them together with twine. A fun and easy project for a summer afternoon. Stay tuned for more children’s book projects all summer long!

elmer

elephant-garland3

elephant-garland2