Crafty Candleholder

I was at the $1 store and found these scouring pads. I was going to use them to distress paper for another project, but realized when I opened them that they were not rough enough. The material was really soft and pliable. I started pulling at it and thought it could work as an interesting cover for something…

I found a plain clear candleholder that I already had and it worked perfectly. I ended up with this really cool candle holder.

 

Here’s how you can do it to!

Supplies:

*Candleholder

*Scouring Pad/Sponge (I used a silver one from the $1 store, but the copper kind will work too)

 *School Glue

*Paint Brush

 

Supplies

 

 

Mix the glue with a little bit of water. Paint the glue all over the vase.

 

Stretch the scouring pad out so that you can get it over the vase. Pull it over the entire vase until you are happy with how it looks. 

 

Stretch the scouring pad.

 

 

Scouring pad stretched around the candle holder.

 

 

Let the glue dry (at least 2 hours). Although it takes awhile to dry, the school glue mixed with water is the best because it will dry relatively clear and not goopy looking. Then, put a candle in it and admire your work!

 

Candle holder complete

This craft cost me $1, because I already had the candleholder, the brush and the glue!

I’d love to know what you think! Leave a comment and let me know if you liked this craft. And, if you try it, send me a picture and let me see how yours turned out!

Butterfly Craft

Here’s another simple craft for kids using items you have around the house.

 

What you’ll need:

*Toilet Paper Roll

*White Construction Paper

*Scissors

*2 Pipe Cleaners

*School Glue

 

Butterfly Craft Supplies

Sketch out butterfly wings on the white paper (as pictured). Leave some space on one side of the paper (enough to cover the toilet paper roll). 

 

Draw Wings onto the Paper

Cut out the wings. This is a great time to let your little one color the wings (it easier to let them color the wings before you attach them to the roll). Allow them to color the strip of paper that will cover the roll too. Then, apply glue to the paper and roll the paper onto the toilet paper roll so that it is completely covered. (as pictured)

 

Cover the Toilet Paper Roll

Glue the wings to one side of the roll. Then glue (or tape) the pipe cleaners inside the tube allowing half of them to stick out as the antennas. 

 

Finished Butterfly

 That’s it! Your Dabble Butterfly is finished. 

 

*NOTE, I actually used this project in my art class for kids 3-7yrs. I let them use water color paper and paint and they had a great time. The finished butterflies were really colorful and had an interesting tie die effect to them.

Paper Bag Puppet Owl

I teach an arts & crafts workshop once a month for kids 3-6yrs old. One of our sessions was all about puppet making, we made felt puppets and paper bag puppets. I decided to post this particular paper bag puppet because it was a huge hit with our 3yr olds.

First gather your supplies.

*1 paper lunch bag

*glue stick or liquid glue

*construction paper

*crayons

*scissors (you will need to cut the pieces for your child)

OPTIONAL:

*circle punch (I am horrible at cutting a perfect circle, so I like to use the cutter)

*sticker eyes

Paper Bag Puppet Supplies

I used three different color pieces of construction paper. I did that so that the kids could identify them easier, but you can use one large piece of paper to cut all of the shapes from. If you are only going to use one color, use white so that they can color the pieces themselves.

Next, draw the shapes on the paper. You will need:

* 2 wings

*1 large triangle

*1 small triangle

*2 circles (about the size of a silver dollar)

*1 tail

A COPY OF THIS PATTERN CAN BE FOUND HERE:

http://tinyurl.com/yh8k7r8

Draw the Puppet Shapes

Then, cut all of the shapes out. If your child is of age to use scissors, let them cut the pieces.

Puppet Pieces

Before you begin gluing on the shapes, make sure the fold of the paper bag is facing up. Glue the large triangle first. Then the yellow triangle (for the beak), then glue on the white circles.

Owl-Front

Then, flip the owl over and glue on the wings and the tail.

Owl- Back

Flip the owl back over, stick the eye stickers on, or draw them in. Let your child color or decorate the owl with stickers.

Completed Owl Puppet

Show your child how the puppet works by putting your hand inside the bag and moving the fold up & down to make the puppet “talk”. Even better, gather the family, make several puppets and have a puppet show!

Magnus coloring his puppet in a recent Dabble Workshop

Did you like this craft project? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

I will be posting tons of craft project ideas for kids so be sure to check back. 🙂

DABBLE Scrapbook Inspired Frame

I saw these adorable frames while I was traveling recently and I thought there had to be a way to make them myself for cheaper. It took some planning, but I figured it out, so now I want to pass on this technique to you.

Scrapbook Inspired Frame

First, I started with a wooden frame that I already had on hand. Price $1

Plain Wooden Frame

Then, I painted the frame using Liquitex acrylic paint. I found that when painting on wooden opjects, it is best to use a foam brush because it fills the cracks in the wood frame nicely. Plus the paint turns out smooth and even.

Painted Wooden Frame

Next, I picked from my assortment of scrap paper to coordinate with the color of the frame. I decided on a flower pattern that matched the color I painted on the frame. I decoupaged the paper to the frame by soaking the paper in water for 10 seconds (until it relaxed a bit),

I applied a thin layer of adhesive (also by liquitex, but a thin layer of Elmer’s glue also works) and then I placed the paper on the frame. I smoothed out the wrinkles and let it dry.

paper adhered to frame

Once the frame was dry, I cut the excess paper from the center of the frame with an xacto knife. I then glued  paper flowers with brads to add some decoration the other 1/2 of the frame. I like making asymetrical pieces, I feel it makes for a more interesting outcome. I let the project dry over night, then I was done!

The finished product!