Craft Blog|all things crafty & creative

If you and your family love crafts that spook and scare, then you just may want to invest in Creepy Crafts. This book provides instructions for making dozens of frightful and horrifying handicraft projects with a materials list for each craft covered in the book. With this book you get 64 pages of fun spooky crafts the whole family will enjoy.

If you want to spook your kids or give your co-workers something to think about, you need to have a copy of this inexpensive craft book so that you have your hands on crafts that will make them jump I their skin.

Here are a couple ideas of how you can use the crafts in this book:

• If your kids walk in the door asking what’s for dinner and keep nagging about it, then serve bowls of Bloody Nose Soup.

• Maybe your best girlfriend has a birthday coming up and you want to give her a gag gift. You can make her a pair of Dangling Digit Earrings.

There are tons of ideas like these in Creepy Crafts. It is a perfect find for kids who love crafts because it is filled with crafts, not just for Halloween, but for any day where kids just want to be little monsters.

Okay, so maybe you don’t want to give your girlfriend those Dangling Digits Earrings but your kids will love making gory crafts. If that’s so then this book is a perfect addition to your craft library. Whatever the reason, this is spooktacular find.

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Children love to dress up and eat candy during Halloween.  They also like creating creepy crafts while at school or at home.  You may want to try making some of these edible creepy crafts with your children to give as treats at school or for trick-or-treaters.  You can also create non-edible creepy crafts.

Edible

Ghost suckers are usually a big hit with children.  They’re easy to make as well as fun.  All you need is some suckers, white tissues, white yarn, and a black marker.  Cover the wrapped sucker with the tissue, tie it on, and then decorate the face.

Candy corn and popcorn are other common Halloween treats.  Purchase some clear plastic food service gloves that you can fill.  Put the candy corn in the finger tips to denote fingernails.  Next fill the rest of the glove up with popcorn.  Tie a ribbon at the wrist to keep the popcorn inside.  If you’d like to make them spookier, place toy rings (bats, rats, skulls, or whatever you can find) on the ring finger.

You can also make popcorn balls and decorate them like large spiders.  Make popcorn balls (you can also use rice crispy treats) into small balls.  Attach red licorice ropes for the legs and the mouth and attach mini M&Ms for eyes. This is one spider the children won’t run away from.

Non-Edible

Craft stick mummies take a little more effort than some others, but the effect is worth it.  Adults will have to help with this craft because it takes wire snips to cut craft sticks to create the arms and legs (2 ½ and 3 inches, respectively).  Glue the limbs onto a wooden craft spoon and wrap the mummy with torn muslin.  Attach wiggle eyes.

Spiderman has been a hit among children of all ages for years.  If your little ones are enamored with the superhero, they may like to make a creepy crawly spider bracelet.  All you need is black construction paper, wiggle eyes, scissors, tape, white paper, and glue.  Fold the paper in half and trace the mid-palm and fingers only.  Cut that out to create the legs.  Make a bracelet by cutting a one-inch strip wide piece of paper and glue it to the spider; use tape to keep the bracelet closed.  Glue on wiggle eyes and white fangs.  Allow them to decorate as they like with glitter, stickers, or pieces of paper.

There are so many different types of crafts available for Halloween.  If you’re creating creepy crafts for school, you can find directions and ideas on many websites by using a search engine.  The choices are endless and limited only by the skill and ability level of your children.

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Halloween parties are fun for everyone.  Crafty types can have a field day coming up with unique decorations for their Halloween get-togethers, from realistic-looking spider webs to one-of-a-kind jack-o-lanterns to spooky cloth ghosts.  But don’t forget the party favors!  Here are some ideas for favors that your guests are sure to love.

* Ghostly lollipops - Kids adore these, and they’re very simple to create.  Simply use a Blow Pop or Tootsie Roll Pop, and place it top down in the middle of a small piece of tissue paper.  Pull the tissue paper up over the pop, and secure with string or yarn, leaving the bottom loose so that it resembles a ghost when turned right side up.  Draw a ghostly face with a black marker.* Goodie-filled hands - Buy a box of clear plastic (not latex) gloves.  Fill each one with candy corn, popped popcorn, or a combination of the two.  Tie up the bottom with orange or black ribbon or yarn.

* Creepy bookmarks - Halloween bookmarks are very easy to make.  Just cut card stock into strips, add some Halloween art or sayings, and laminate.

* Spooky goodie bags - A bag full of candy is perfect for Halloween, but why use a plain old paper or plastic bag?  Tie up some candy in a small bag with some orange and black ribbon, and decorate with googly eyes, plastic spider rings, and other scary stuff.  Of course you don’t have to fill them with candy.  Some other fun Halloween items you could use include stickers, pencils, glow sticks and small toys.

* Halloween jewelry - Simple handmade beaded or charm jewelry makes a great favor for any party.  For Halloween parties, you could make pins, bracelets or necklaces with spooky motifs.  You can find beads and charms shaped like bats, spiders, ghosts and more in the months leading up to Halloween.

* Gourd candleholders - This is a good party favor for an adult Halloween party.  Buy some small pumpkins and/or squash, cut off the tops, and hollow them out enough to put a candle in.  You can use them for centerpieces, then send them home with your guests when the party is over.

* Halloween magnets - Magnets are fun and useful party favors.  For a Halloween party, you could make some bats, witches, vampires, and other spooky figures out of clay or plastic canvas.  Add a strong magnet to the back with hot glue, and you have a favor that’s sure to be a hit.

* Scary keychains - Almost everyone uses keychains, so you can’t go wrong here.  They can be created with beads, clay, and all sorts of other materials.  You could make them in the shape of a tombstone, ghost, skull, or anything else you like.

Oh My Words! Embellishments -Halloween “Oh My Words! Embellishments 4/Pkg-Halloween: Make your craft projects a little more personal when adding definition, color and dimension with these word assortments. * Soft, vellum like finish and lightweight * Dimensions of each word shape: 1” x 3/8” x 3/32” * 4 per package * Safe for scrapbooking”

Technorati Tags: halloween crafts, keychains, magnets, crafts, party crafts, halloween party

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In the fall, you can find all sorts of seasonal table decorations at any home décor or discount store.  There are lots of nice designs to choose from, but wouldn’t you rather have something that fits your style perfectly?  You can make your own fall place mats quickly, easily, and inexpensively, and they can brighten up your table in an instant.  Here are some ideas to get you started.

Fabric Place Mats

If you have a sewing machine, it’s easy to make your own fabric place mats.  You can even sew them by hand if you like.  All you need is two yards of fabric.  Or if you’d like to have two looks in one, you could use a yard each of two coordinating fall colored fabrics.

To make a rectangular place mat, cut two pieces of fabric about 15 by 20 inches.  Fold each edge under 1/2 inch toward the wrong side of the fabric, and iron those edges into place.  Then place the wrong sides of the fabric pieces together, pin, and stitch 1/2 inch from the edge all the way around.  Stitch again 1/8 inch from the edge, and you’re done.

Harvest Thyme Crow/Pumpkin “Harvest Thyme Crow/Pumpkin Toss: Harvest time and Halloween are right around the corner! Get a jump start on your fall craft, apparel and home decorating projects. * 100% Cotton * Machine Wash Warm Delicate, No Chlorine Bleach, Tumble Dry Low, Warm Iron * 44 inches wide * Sold in whole Yd. increments. 8 Yd. bolt. * Made in USA”

Laminated Fall Place Mats

Making laminated place mats is fun and easy.  They also clean up nicely, requiring nothing more than a quick wipe with a damp cloth when soiled.  Here’s what you’ll need to make them:

* Poster board
* Fall photos, kids’ drawings, post cards, or any other flat paper or fabric items
* Glue
* Contact paper or laminating machine

Xyron Laminate Sheets “Laminate Sheets 8 1/2”x11” 10/Pkg Matte: Laminate sheets allow crafters to laminate a variety of items from book covers to diecuts and photos. In addition to the usual clear and matte, Xyron also offers Crystal and Jewel tones. Crystal designs feature etched patterns on the surface for a lamination with a crystalized visual effect. Jewel tones allow a slight red, green, yellow or blue color to be applied to any surface. All are acid free. “

Cut the poster board to the desired shape and size.  Arrange the photos, post cards or drawings to your liking and glue them on.  Let dry.  Cover with contact paper, or laminate.  Or if you prefer, you could take them to a local copy shop to have them laminated.

If you’re into scrapbooking, you could use scrapbook paper instead of poster board and create the place mat just like you would a page.  Create a layout, add photos and embellishments, and laminate, and you have a unique place mat that’s guaranteed to be a conversation piece!

Painted Fall Place Mats

If you are an artist, you can easily make beautiful painted place mats!  Simply cut canvas to the desired size, plus an extra half-inch.  Turn the edges under 1/2 inch, crease, and secure them with glue.  Then paint the canvas just like you normally would.  Once the paint is dry, add two coats of polyurethane.

Why buy the same boring place mats everyone else has when you can create your own?  With some inexpensive supplies and a little imagination, you can have great fall place mats that suit your tastes and dining room décor perfectly.

Green/Tan Pine Cone on Cream Flannel “Green/Tan Pine Cone Flannel: Quilters and crafter alike will find this harvest print appealing for their next project! * 100% Cotton Flannel * Machine Wash Warm, No Chlorine Bleach, Tumble Dry Medium, Warm Iron * 44 Inches Wide * Sold in whole Yd. increments. 8 Yd. bolt * Made in Pakistan”

Technorati Tags: placemats, fall crafts, holiday crafts, sewing, painting

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The summer is winding down and the days are getting shorter. Soon the weather will begin to change, as well. Now would be a great time to begin a new hobby. In fact, cooler weather is the perfect time to try your hand at crocheting, knitting, or sewing. Not only will you be able to create a useful item, you may also keep yourself warmer during the colder temperatures.

Learning to crochet isn’t difficult. Crocheting is so easy; in fact, it only requires a crochet hook and yarn to begin. You can find online tutorials for a beginner, most of them free. You can also find a vast collection of free patterns on the Internet – ranging from easy to complex. If you don’t have Internet access, crocheting books are available at most craft stores or at the public library.

Once you are comfortable with crocheting, you will likely want to purchase a number of different sized hooks. You will also need to purchase the yarn for the pattern you attempt. To help you stay warmer, you might consider creating an afghan. There are a number of patterns, but you don’t have to attempt something difficult. Afghans can be created using just one or two crochet stitches.

If you’re more adventurous, perhaps you would like to give knitting a try. Knitting has been the technique used throughout history to create wearable objects – sweaters, hats, gloves, and scarves are all made by knitting. To learn to knit, you will learn the two basic stitches – knit and purl – which can be used to create a multitude of different stitches each giving a different appearance.

While crocheting only requires one hook, you need two needles to knit. In fact, some knitting can be done on circular knitting needles. These needles make it possible to create an object without a seam and make knitting easier by cutting out the need to turn your project at the end of a row.

What if you aren’t really interested in using needles or hooks and yarn to create your warm-up project? There’s always quilting, which has been a relaxing hobby for years. One of the benefits of quilting is the increased freedom you have versus other similar crafts. Creativity and time are what you need to make a quilt you can be proud of.

As with crocheting and knitting, you can find patterns and instructions for quilting on the Internet. The biggest expense, if you choose to quilt in this manner, is a sewing machine. You can quilt entirely by hand, however, if you would like to quilt in a traditional way, you will need a machine.

Crocheting, knitting, and quilting don’t have to be expensive; you really can create many wearable pieces with each type of craft. And, if you need to stay a little bit warmer this fall or winter, starting a new hobby such as these might be just the thing to try this autumn.

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Birthday party invitations are often expensive when you buy them in the store. Making your own invitations can save you money, but that’s not the only reason to do it yourself. Creating original invitations is a fun project for you and your child, and it makes the party guests feel extra special.

Balloon Invitations

A fun and easy way to make great invitations is to put them into balloons. You’ll need to use regular paper instead of card stock to avoid potentially putting a hole in the balloon. Simply write a note with the party details on it, roll it up, and insert it into a balloon. If you can fill them with helium that’s great, but it’s not necessary.

Balloon invitations will have to be hand delivered. Calling ahead to make sure the recipient will be home is a good idea. When you give them the balloons, be sure to tell them to pop them - they may not realize that there is something inside!

Puzzle Invitations

Kids love puzzles. So puzzle invitations are sure to be a hit. There are a few different ways you can make them.

A simple way is to write your message and the details of the party on card stock and decorate with stamps or stickers. Then just cut it up into pieces. The pieces should be large enough not to get lost in the shuffle, but small enough to provide a challenge. Then just put the pieces in an envelope and mail or deliver the puzzles.

You can also make a puzzle with craft sticks. Lay enough of them side by side to write your party details on, and paint them with spray paint or craft paint. Let the background color dry, then decorate by painting on designs or using rubber stamps. Then paint the party details on, or write them with a permanent marker. Once everything is nice and dry, mix the sticks up and tie them together with ribbon.

Making Invitations with Your Computer

It’s easy to make great invitations with your computer. There are lots of software programs available that have premade card designs that you can customize to your liking. Most programs also have clipart and fancy fonts that you can use to design a card that is totally unique.

You can add to the personalization of the invitations you make on the computer with some craft supplies. Scrapbooking scissors with fancy designs, punch outs, and stickers can all add character to your cards. If you’re feeling especially creative, you could forgo the computer and use card stock and craft supplies to make the invitations completely from scratch.

Homemade invitations can be as creative as you have the time and imagination to make them. They also provide an opportunity for you and your child or children to collaborate to make something wonderfully original. For less than you would pay for store-bought cards, you could make awesome invitations that are the talk of the town.

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Often when people think of crafts, they think of things like crochet, scrapbooking, or jewelry making.  These crafts are usually more associated with girls and women, but boys can be crafty, too.  Just ask them, and they’ll let you know that they enjoy creating with their hands as well.

There isn’t anything saying that a boy can’t enjoy any of the crafts mentioned above, but they are thought to be a little more feminine.  Boys typically need some crafts that allow them to be creative, in a masculine kind of way.  The following crafts might be what they’re looking for.

Woodworking – You can’t deny it, woodworking seems to be more of a manly craft than something a girl would like.  That doesn’t mean a girl couldn’t enjoy woodworking, just that it’s not a feminine craft.  In fact, you would probably see anyone enjoying this craft with dirty hands, sawdust all over them, and possibly a little sweaty.  Those just aren’t things most girls enjoy.  A boy, on the other hand, would think it was great!

There are a number of different areas of woodworking that a boy can try.  The simplest is whittling; the most complicated is to make a designer piece of furniture, a musical instrument, or a boat.  All of these are considered woodworking, although they’re also called something else.

Whittling is taking a piece of wood, often a stick, or driftwood that is found, and removing small pieces of wood to create an animal.  Balsa wood is a good wood for beginner whittlers because it is easy to manipulate.  The denser the wood, the harder it will be to remove what shouldn’t be there.  Make sure to keep your whittling knife, or any other item used for carving, sharp.  This will make your job much easier.

The more complicated aspects of woodworking include using electric power tools to cut, sand, and shape pieces of wood.  Often detailed plans are needed for this type of project and you have to be much more careful with what you’re doing.  If you make something simple like a bird feeder, being exact isn’t that critical.  It would be extremely important to be precise when you’re making fine furniture out of expensive woods.

Besides woodworking, boys sometimes do enjoy crafts that are considered to be more feminine.  Many professional football players enjoy crocheting or knitting as a way to relax.  Some even create items that can either be auctioned off or given away to help others.  Let’s see anyone call them a sissy for enjoying these crafts!

Blacksmithing is definitely a manly craft.  It’s another one of those dirty, stinky crafts that most girls don’t like.  It takes a great deal of strength to be a blacksmith.  Let’s face it; girls just don’t have the muscles.  Blacksmithing and wrought iron work also takes a lot of skill.  Manipulating hot metal isn’t a task for the faint of heart, or the weak of muscle.

Crafts that boys would enjoy will most likely be more physically demanding than what a girl would choose.  There are also boys and men that enjoy the more feminine crafts, and there’s nothing wrong with that.  Whatever they choose, it’s important to remember that boys can be crafty, too.

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Toddlers love to create things with their hands.  It’s part of their personality and what makes being a toddler so much fun. These five crafts are perfect for toddlers. Try one or more so they can create artistic masterpieces.

1.  Noodle necklaces are so easy a toddler can make them.  Of course, Mom may have to color the noodles beforehand, but the results will be worth it.

• Mix together ½ cup vinegar and a few drops of food coloring for each color you would like.
• Soak various kinds of noodles in the various colors.  Allow them to dry on pieces of wax paper.
• When dry, your child can string the noodles onto pieces of yarn.  Tape one end to make stringing easier.
• Tie the ends together to close the necklace and let your child wear it with pride.

If you don’t feel like coloring the noodles, you could use colored cereal between the noodles to give it some pizzazz, or just make cereal necklaces, instead.

2.  Paper plate maracas are easy and fun for toddlers, particularly if they like to make noise, and almost all toddlers are experts at that.

• Have your child decorate the bottom of two paper plates with whatever items you feel like giving them.
• Mom, help with this step: Staple the edges of the two paper plates, insides facing together.  Leave a small opening for the beans.
• Place 5-6 dried beans or rice into the opening and then close it up.
• Put tape over the pointy side of the staples to be sure no one gets snagged on them.
• Turn on some music and let the kids join in!

3.  Let your budding artist create by making edible finger paints with sweetened condensed milk and food coloring.

• Mix together small amounts of the condensed milk with a couple of drops of food coloring.
• Give the child a sheet of paper on which to create their work of art.
• Don’t worry if they put the paint in their mouth, it’s yummy.
• Wash their hands quickly to keep the food coloring from staining their hands.

4.  Pompom caterpillars are furry friends you won’t mind finding in your toddler’s pocket.

• Get three pompoms, the same size, in varying colors.
• Glue the pompoms together in a line.
• Glue on the wiggly eyes.
• Mom, you may want to hot glue the caterpillars onto a clothes pin with a magnet and use them to show off your child’s other artwork.

5.  T-shirts with painted handprints are more than just a craft.  They are a snapshot to help you remember your child when they were little.

• Get a new t-shirt in your child’s favorite color.
• With fabric paint in a shallow bowl, allow your child to place their hands into the paint. Immediately help them put their hands on the t-shirt.
• As an alternative, they could place their thumbs or fingers in the paint and place several prints together to form a caterpillar.
• Help your child wash their hands thoroughly with soap.
• When the paint has dried, use paint markers to write the date and name on their t-shirt.  Finish off the caterpillar by drawing on a face, feet, and antennae.

Making crafts with your toddler can be a highlight of your day.  These five crafts, perfect for toddlers, may be enough to spark new creativity in your toddler, and in you.

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People enjoy crafts of all kinds.  Some take up little space; some take up a lot.  Some crafts need very few supplies, and some require enough to fill a cabinet or more.  Whatever the crafts, if there is more than one person in the family, creating the perfect craft area in your home is probably something you all only dream about.

Crafts like sewing require quite a bit of space.  You need to have a sewing machine, ironing board and iron, an easily accessible space for notions, and space to store fabric and patterns.  Dad and the kids have their own crafts.  Wouldn’t it be great to have one room where all of this could be located?

Begin by deciding which room you will turn into a craft room or if you will have to add one to your home.  If you have a room to use, measure it and draw the room to scale on graph paper.  Measure each piece of furniture that will go into the room and transfer those to the same scale size; cut out each piece so you can try different room arrangements without having to move heavy furniture.

One recommendation would be to divide the room into zones.  If someone is interested in painting, they will want to have access to direct sunlight.  Sunlight wouldn’t be so important to someone who was scrapbooking or putting together models. Create a painting zone nearest the windows.

Be sure to have plenty of overhead as well as task lighting in the room.  Each task requires lighting for close tasks as well as something more general.  Lamps that can be adjusted for specific tasks would be a good idea.  Do you have enough wall outlets or do you need to add more?

Work space will probably be a premium concern.  Someone who sews would need a place for the machine as well as space to spread out fabric when cutting out patterns.  Of course, that area could be used by someone scrapbooking, as long as they weren’t trying to do so at the same time.  The longer the flat surface, the better it would be.  If it were long enough, it might be able to accommodate two crafts at one time.

Seating would be another area to consider.  Comfortable chairs are a must, especially if you’re sitting for long periods of time.  However, you don’t want to get lounge chairs.  Something that is ergonomic and practical would be best.  You want to be comfortable while working on your craft, but not so comfortable you fall asleep.  Good quality office-style chairs will probably do nicely.

The final component is where to store everything.  How much of the supplies needed for each craft can be stored on shelves rather than in cabinets on the floor?  Peg boards, wall-mounted organizers, and multiple shelved units could store a good amount of things.  What about putting strips of metal along the walls near each work area?  These would be a handy place to hold scissors, little jars to hold beads or buttons, and more.  The options are limitless if you think about it.

Crafts are an important part of our lives.  They help us relax and give us a creative outlet.  They help us to dream.  If they’re so important to us, why is it we don’t enjoy doing them more often?  Having a great space designated just for crafts might be the answer your whole family is looking for.  Think about the benefits, and then create the perfect craft area for your home.

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Grandmas adore handmade gifts from their grandchildren, even if they don’t have a use for the gift. They know just how to fawn over present given in love.  The following are five ideas that children may like to make for Grandma this year.  (Mom, be prepared to help, just in case.)

1.  What woman doesn’t love jewelry?  Make Grandma a perler bead necklace.  Perler beads are short pieces of plastic that are specially made to fuse together when heated with an ordinary household iron.  You can buy kits at any craft store; the kits come in a variety of colors and sizes to make multiple patterns.  After you have fused the beads together in whatever shape you desire (a heart would be great), why not hot glue some ribbon, sequins, or plastic gems on to make each a one-of-a-kind gift.

2.  Potpourri pies are popular in gift stores.  Here’s how your little one can create a similar experience.  Create this pie with a disposable pie shell.  Make a bottom pie crust out of flour/salt dough.  Add a potpourri that smells like your grandmother’s favorite scent, and then create a lattice pattern out of the dough.  Cover the potpourri and allow the dough to harden overnight. To enjoy the potpourri, “bake” the pie in a warm oven.

3.  Help your child make Grandma a great pillow without having to sew.  Purchase a floral polar fleece large enough to make a pillow from and some fiberfill to stuff it.  Cut this out into two pieces in the shape of a heart, about two and a half inches larger than the finished project should be.  Mom, carefully cut a fringe about an inch apart all around the fabric. Line up the fabric wrong sides together and then double knot each fringe, leaving a few pieces untied so you can fill the pillow.  Fill the pillow and then finish filling it up, making it as fluffy as you would like.  You can leave the pillow as is or decorate with paint markers, or any way your child would like to decorate it.

4.  This is another gift that Mom will have to help make, but it could be a lot of fun for both of you.  Buy at least 8 ounces of clear glycerin (you should be able to find this at a major craft store), a soap mold, and a very small bottle of lemon essential oil (or Grandma’s favorite scent).  You will also need yellow food coloring, 6 tablespoons of corn meal, and 2 teaspoons of poppy seeds.  Melt the glycerin according to directions, then add 2 drops of food coloring and 2 drops of lemon oil.  Add the corn meal and poppy seeds and stir very well.  Pour the mixture into the mold and allow it to sit until firm.  Remove it from the mold and place into a small basket.

5.  If you really want to tug on Grandma’s heart strings, find photos with your children and Grandma in them.  Create a small memory book with the pictures in it.  Have the children write the descriptions for each one, explaining what they remember about that particular time.  Pre-made scrapbooks would be great for this, and your child could decorate it they like, as well.

Mother’s Day is a time to let mothers and grandmothers know that we love them.  Each of the above five gifts made by your children will make Grandma’s day.  Not only will she know that your child loves her, but she’ll treasure each gift that was made especially for her.

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