Paper Crafts for Kids

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Here are some fun downloadable crafts to do with kids. Great for a rainy day.

Pictured above: Mom and Baby Ladybug downloadable paper toy, available for $1 from Leafty.

Fantastic Toys has an adorable doll house and mushroom cottage.

The Toymaker has free, downloadable paper toys.

Pop-up book artist Robert Sabuda’s website has some free pop-up designs that would make beautiful cards.

Wee Wonderfuls free paper dolls.

Paper dolls from Kiddley.

The V & A Museum of Childhood has a Victorian village and more paper dolls.

If you want to get more complicated, try this UK site, the Flying Pig. Or you can order kits for architectural models from Paper Landmarks.

Kiki + Polly

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I truly love these customized portraits by Kiki + Polly. Portland artist Lisa Golightly can incorporate your child’s image into one of her original works of art. In addition to her site featuring custom work, she has an Etsy shop here and a nice blog here.

Etsy Finds Friday

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Serving Bowl, $150 from Red Riot Pottery.

Paper Nesting Dolls .pdf from Fantastic Toys, $3.

The Verna Reversible Bag Pattern from J Stephens, $6.

19/20 Limited Edition Print from Geninne’s Art Store, $25.

Vintage Wooden Soldier Bowling Pins, $32 from the Saturday shoppe.

Crazy Kitty Plush from Puncezilla’s Toys, $25.

Layla Fancy Face zippered pouch from Pretty Little Things, $55.

Twill tape from Little Bird Designs, 15 yards for $30.

Changeable Charlie from Stump Pond Toys, $18.95.

Gocco Invitations

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My first real printing project using the nifty Gocco printer.

I drew these ginkgo leaves, scanned them into Photoshop and then printed them and copied with a photo copier to make a carbon screen for the Gocco. I like using the metallic inks because you can’t get that effect from a printer. I wanted to use silver, but it looked a bit flat. Since the invitation was large, I printed the green lettering on my inkjet printer and then stamped the image and the name of the couple with the Gocco printer. I have definitely learned that when you are making the screen, it is best to hold it down for about 20 seconds and let the image really burn into the screen for full inking. Looking forward to making lots of fun stuff with the Gocco!

California Vacation

This is unrelated to crafts, but here’s what we’ve been doing lately.

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Here’s the front of my husband’s Elvis running outfit for the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. And here he is after the race under the JCPenney sign (he’s the little speck with a wig off to the right side). Long story. A man who has run 26.2 miles dressed as Elvis can frighten customers.

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Sprinkles cupcakes in L.A. before and during consumption by our three-year-old. The mocha flavor tasted like a Godiva truffle. It’s understandable why this place had a line out the door.

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Our first visit to The Getty Center in L.A. The beauty of the architecture and setting actually seem to overshadow the artwork. Love these sculptural trellises with bougainvillea.

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Our vacations always include baseball, so here’s a photo of Petco Park in San Diego, which is family-friendly and even has a sandbox in the bleacher seats. And Dodger Stadium in L.A. has an interesting ’50s vibe as you can see from the corrugated metal overhang. My Encyclopedia Husbandica tells me that it was actually built in 1962.