More Than Bargains

Build a Skyscraper August 13, 2008

The boys in the neighborhood wanted to build a city for all their cars and little people so our family will be making this skyscraper and some other buildings. This looks like a lot of fun!

Tape the boxes shut with packing tape, then stack and tape them atop each other. Using markers or crayons, your kids can decorate the boxes with windows, columns, gargoyles, mailboxes and so on. They might also add some 3-D touches, such as tissue paper flowers and bushes, construction paper flags or even some plastic figurines.

Cute & Clever Cardboard Crafts: http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/buildmodel/specialfeature/cardboard_creations_sf/

Make Your Own Back To School Bag

Blue-Jean Book Bag:

CRAFT MATERIALS
 Pair of jeans
 Scissors
 Sewing machine or needle and thread
 Cotton belt

Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Zip the jeans and turn them inside out. With a pair of fabric scissors (a parent’s job), cut off both jean legs 3 inches from the crotch. Set aside. Next, fold the cutoff jeans, matching up the side seams as you would to press front and back leg pleats.

2. Using a sewing machine (or a close, even hand stitch), sew closed each leg opening 1 inch from the cut edge. Trim the denim 1/2 inch from the stitching.

3. Turn the jeans right-side out. For a handle, thread a cotton belt through the belt loops and tie the ends together.

Video Instructions: http://familyfun.go.com/utilities/global/feature/fftv-archive-video-player/fftv-archive-video-player.html?video=bluejean_bag

http://familyfun.go.com/

Easy Sand Candles for 4th of July July 1, 2008

To make a sand candle, fill a clear drinking glass with enough sand so that a votive candle placed on top falls just below the rim. Set the glass inside a clear glass vase or jar. With a funnel, fill the gap between the two containers with layers of colored sand, using enough to reach the rim of the drinking glass.

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*Sand is available in a variety of colors at art-supply stores. Michael’s carries colored sand in the children’s craft area.  Idea and pics from marthastewart.com.

You can also use this idea for candles in your house too.  Just get sand that matches your decor.  I need to do this for my room.  We have purple, blue, orange, and brown in our room, wow that would make a beautiful sand candle.  Need to let hubby know I’m going to Michaels and Ikea this weekend. 

Baby Food Jar Crafts June 16, 2008

These are too cute:

Baby Food Jar Animals

You need:
Baby Food Jars
Scraps of Craft Foam
Tacky Glue or Low Temp Glue Gun
Pompoms
Cotton (for white animals)
Feathers (for bird)
10mm Wiggle Eyes
Plastic Lace for whiskers
Scissors

Instructions:

Clean baby food jar. Remove label. Fill with pompoms to match your animal’s face. Put the lid on and turn it upside down. Glue on wiggle eyes. Cut ears (or beak) out of foam and glue in place. Add pompoms if desired. For whiskers, cut pieces of craft lace and glue one end under pompom nose. Cut a strip of craft foam 1/4″ wide and glue around edge of lid.
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What you’ll need:
Baby food jar
Glitter glue in different colors
Oval jewels (flat on back side)
White glue, like Elmer’s
Glitter
Ribbon, optional

How to make it:
Put a puddle of glitter glue on jar. Push a jewel into puddle.
Repeat using different colors of glitter glue to attach jewels.
Let dry.
Using a paintbrush, brush glue to cover the jar sides from right below the jar threads and around the jewels.
Sprinkle with glitter. Let dry.
Tie ribbon around the jar threads if desired.
Insert a votive candle and display or give as a gift.
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Candle Holder
Materials Needed:
Used Cards (or stickers)
Baby Food Jar
Glue
Rubber Band
Salt

Instructions:
Cut out a pretty picture from an old card or use stickers; it should be small enough to fit on the side of a baby food jar. Cover the back of the picture with glue and glue it to the jar. Put a rubber band around the jar to hold picture in place till glue dries.
Remove rubber band. Using a paintbrush, cover the outside of the jar with glue. Sprinkle salt over all of it to make the jar glisten. Let dry.

Optional: Tie a piece of curling ribbon around the rim. Put candle inside.

 You can have the kids make these for gifts for the grandparents. 

 I got these ideas from http://www.about.com/

Michaels-The Knack-Arts and Crafts for Kids June 8, 2008

Michaels craft store has something for the kids to do for FREE! 

Sign up for the next class on Saturday, June 14, 10am-Noon. 

Theme: Sea Life Transported.  With a few paints and a stencil, kids create a bag for toting stuff. 

http://michaels.com/theknack

Teacher Appreciation Gift May 24, 2008

Materials List

*Canvas tote bag, blue
 *Iron-on letters, red
 * Assorted grosgrain ribbon, 1 yard pieces
 * 2 buttons
 * Scissors
 * Iron
 * Heat’nBond®
 * Fabric glue
 * Ruler

Step 1
Parents, follow directions on the iron-on letters package to personalize the bag.

Step 2
Follow the directions on Heat’nBond® tape and iron ribbon onto the bag as desired. We stacked narrow ribbon on top of wider ribbon for a coordinated look. Add ribbon to the top band of the bag.

Step 3
To make a flower, cut 3 pieces of ribbon 6-inches long. Make a closed loop and secure with glue. Stack 3 together to shape bow, securing with glue. Glue buttons to the center of the bow and glue bow to bag as shown.

Tip:
Start your ribbon in center back, bring around front and around to back. Secure ends with craft glue to keep from fraying. This gives you a great finished look

This looks like FUN to make with the kids. Teachers always need a something to put all those papers they need to grade in!

See project at http://www.theknackkids.com/ProjectView.aspx?Id=52

End of the Year Teacher Gifts May 22, 2008

I got the email yesterday from another parent asking all parents to contribute whatever they can to an end of the year gift for our wonderful Kindergarten teacher.  Of course!  Then the question is what to get her.  In my head the first thing that pops up is stuff for the classroom that she needs for next year.  I emailed back what I could contribute and my ideas.  Plus I sent this link http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/specialfeature/doca0503_teachergifts/ hoping to help with ideas.  I can’t believe it is the end of the year already.  I’m going to have a first grader on my hands soon, wow!  My kids are growing up so fast. 

The family fun article did help our class on picking a couple different ideas so if your stuck on what to get your teacher then click on link above.  I love this site by the way!  It has everything from crafts, recipes, and other ways to entertain my kids.

Mother’s Day Craft Project~Hand-Colored Oven Mitts May 8, 2008

This craft project is too cute!!!

CRAFT MATERIALS:
 Oven mitt or pot holder
 Pencil and paper
 Colored fabric markers

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Trace the oven mitt or pot holder onto a sheet of paper and experiment with different designs.
2. Next, resketch the perfected design on the mitt and color it in with the fabric markers.

craft project from http://familyfun.go.com/.  Family fun is wonderful site to get craft projects that KIDS can make, recipes for the whole family and so much more!

I would love to get a gift like this because it’s personalized by my children!

Quick-To-Knit Shrug or Shawl-Joann.com Project April 7, 2008

Fun, fast and easy project. These shawls are a great addition to any wardrobe. Nice spring project. I wish I knew how to knit because I want one of these! It’s a level 1 so it is EASY.

Project Directions:
http://www.joann.com/static/project/0611/P137038A.pdf

YARN SALE:

See everything that is on SALE at Joann.com: http://www.joann.com/joann/shop/promotion/sales_listing_home.jsp

Plus FREE SHIPPING on your online order of $25 or more with promo code: EBD104 expries 4/13/08

The Knack-Arts and Crafts for Kids March 25, 2008

Join The Knack for FREE and watch your kids soar to new heights!

Michaels® created The KnackSM to show parents new ways to engage, create and build confidence in their kids. It helps parents like you encourage your kids to discover new skills and have fun in a memorable way. Every child has a knack for something—let The Knack give you the power to help your kids discover theirs.

As a member, you’ll be inspired by:

*24/7 access to exclusive online projects
*A monthly e-newsletter featuring new projects, products and events
*Email updates about new events and products
*Invitations to special promotions, offers and sweepstakes
*And much more—all with the convenience of a Michaels store nearby
*Enter The KnackSM/Crayola® Sweepstakes at Michaels
*Join The Knack today and you’ll automatically be entered into The KnackSM/Crayola® Sweepstakes. Five lucky winners will each get over $1,400 worth of Crayola products

This site has crafts, coloring pages and a lot more. Wow I’m very impressed with this site. We will be doing some of the projects and posting them on here. My kids love arts and crafts so we will be using this site a lot!

https://www.theknackkids.com/Home.aspx

Lace Eggs-from Woman’s Day Magazine March 21, 2008

What you need:
Ceramic eggs
Making Memories
Scrapbook Colors acrylic paints
Natural sea sponge (from crafts store)
Paper doilies
Repositionable adhesive
Fine-tipped scissors
Small stencil brush or fine-tipped paintbrush
Soft white acrylic paint

1. Paint ceramic eggs by sponging on the Scrapbook Colors paint with a damp sea sponge; dry for 5 to 10 minutes.

2. While eggs are drying, spray backs of paper doilies with repositionable adhesive. Cut out sections of doilies and arrange on eggs as desired, pressing with fingertips for a secure hold.

3. Using small stencil brush or fine-tipped paintbrush, paint over holes in doily pieces. Dry for a few minutes; carefully remove doily. (Most doily pieces can be used two or three times.)

http://www.womansday.com/crafts/11400/lace-eggs.html

Now these are pretty but in my household we will be coloring, painting, and gluing tissue on our eggs.

Easter Craft March 8, 2008

These bunnies are so cute.   I think I want to do this project with my son’s class next week.  I will be on the bead hunt Monday. 

Bead Bunnies

CRAFT MATERIALS:
 Round wooden beads in different sizes (the holes need to be large enough for double pipe cleaners to fit through)
 Pipe cleaners- 12 inch
 Acrylic paint
 Mini pom-pom
 Fine-point pen

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Paint two beads (one larger and one smaller) with acrylic paint.

2. Bend a pipe cleaner into an M shape.

3. When the beads have dried, bend the ends of the pipe cleaner under the larger bead to form two big feet, and adjust the loops above the smaller bead for ears.

4. Glue on a mini pom-pom tail.

5. Use a fine-point pen to draw on eyes, nose, and whiskers.

from site: http://familyfun.go.com

Thank you Family Fun for all the cool crafts.

Scrapbookers~Contests/Retreat info February 21, 2008

Enter the Adhesive Avalanche Giveaway!
Enjoy an assortment of adhesive products from SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L™ and books from Better Homes and Gardens worth over $200! All these great adhesive products will ensure you have enough to complete all of your scrapbooking & papercrafting!

Enter to Win! Digital Art Sweepstakes from CreateDigitalArt.com
Win a Digital Art Collection Kit containing 5 best selling CDs: Travel Adventures, Color Collage, Petite Bebe, Strawberry Picnic, & Wedding Rose. Each CD is accompanied by matching album and ribbon.

RETREAT YOURSELF…
TO A SCRAPBOOKING WEEKEND NEAR YOU!
Find a weekend retreat in your state, to get away for a weekend of cropping, pampering and girlfriend fun!  http://www.bhgscrapbooksetc.com/retreatfinder/

Cute Valentine Card-Kid Craft February 4, 2008

What you will need:
1 sheet pink construction paper (8″ x 11″)
Scallop-edged scissors
Fiskars heart puncher (optional)
1 sheet purple construction paper (8″ x 11″)
White craft glue
Snips of fabric
Small googly eyes
2 buttons
Black felt marker

1. Let your child fold the pink construction paper in half. Use scallop-edged scissors (available in crafts stores) to cut a 1/4-inch strip from the edges of the paper opposite the crease. (This will give the card a decorative look.)

2. Cut out about 10 small hearts from purple construction paper (or use a Fiskars heart puncher). Apply the hearts along the borders of the card using the craft glue. Let dry.

3. Cut out two heart shapes, each from a different swatch of fabric, and glue them to the front of the card. Let your child use glue to apply googly eyes and button noses.

4. Use a black felt pen to create the arms and legs of the dancing hearts. Once dry, your child can pen his own message inside.

~Jane Myers Dagmi, the mother of one, is a freelance writer living in New York City.

What a cute and easy project to do with your child. Maybe do it for a teacher, grandma/grandpa, or whoever you want.

Lace-Edged Napkins January 16, 2008

Very Easy Project~

Materials for each napkin:

13″ square gingham or other fabric, or plain finished napkins 1 1/2 yd lace trim Matching thread

Instructions:
1. Turn under edge of fabric 1/4″. Press. Turn under 1/4″ again; topstitch. Press.

2. Pin lace header to right side over hem, with lace toward outside. Start at a corner, folding small pleat to turn corners. Overlap and turn end under diagonally at last corner. Stitch around. Sew fold down.

Thank you~http://www.womansday.com! I love this site.

These reminded me of the fabric napkins my grandma always used. I would love to make some for our special family dinners.