Baby Frame and Love Blocks: Baby Shower Gifts

I was invited to a baby shower. I haven't been to a baby shower in probably 18 years! Money is quite tight right now, so I knew I would be making the gifts instead of buying them. I decided on a cute little frame, some decorative blocks, and threw in some seeded bookmarks I had made previously. I couldn't even buy the gift wrap, so this was an extremely frugal adventure.

Total cost to me, including gift wrap = $0.00 :)

Everything I used I had on hand. So certainly there was a price at some point, but all of these items were in my craft supplies, the wrapping paper I had from a previous birthday, and I decorated a paper lunch bag for the gift bag. I just used some patterned paper cut into a flower shape, different paper for the flower center and a button on top of that. I used a hole punch through the top of the bag and tied it with raffia. For the gift box, I used some leftover pink tissue paper and white twisted paper to tie a bow.

I'm really pleased with how they came out. I just don't get to craft for ME anymore, it's always kid's crafts for work. So it's really nice when I get the chance to get creative with something like this. I sure hope she likes it!

Note: You can use Modge Podge for this project, but I just use a mixture of white craft glue and water for my decoupage.


Baby Frame
printable version

square wooden frame
decorative paper (two different patterns, I used circles and checks)
pink paper
3/4" wide baby green ribbon
1/4" wide brown ribbon
12" x 1" strip of burlap
1" wide button
white thread and needle
alphabet tiles to spell out "BABY"
white craft glue
paintbrush
water
scissors
brown paint (antiquing gel is better if you have it!)
sandpaper

Make a photocopy of the frame, cut out the copy of the frame to use as a pattern. Trace the pattern onto the patterned paper you want to be the main background (I chose the circles).

Cut out the patterned paper frame, then cut off about 1/4" all the way around the outside and the inside of the frame shape.

Next, position the paper frame on top of the wooden frame. Eyeball it, then trim where needed. Mix some white craft glue and water, equal parts of each, in a bowl to make your decoupage mixture. Using a paintbrush. decoupage the paper frame onto the wood frame, smooth out any bubbles or air pockets as you go. Cut two pieces of checkered paper, about 2" in height and the same width as the side of the frame. Position in the center on each side and decoupage on.

Tear a strip of pink paper to fit at the bottom of the frame and decoupage in place. If you have stain, or better yet, antiquing gel, use that (I only had brown paint, so I watered it down and worked with what I had) to give the paper an aged look. If using watered down paint, be sure to have a rag handy to wipe excess off as you work. Rough up all the edges with sandpaper.

Paint the alphabet tiles with thinned brown paint and wipe off excess. Sand all the edges with sandpaper. Glue the alphabet tiles to the pink paper.

Glue the green ribbon at the top and bottom of the checkered paper, wrapping around to the back and to the inside of the frame. Glue the brown ribbon to the center of the green ribbon.

Tie the strip of burlap into a bow. Sew button to the center of the bow, trim ends of bow if needed and make the edges ragged by pulling off a few threads. Glue the bow to the top left corner of the frame.

Love Blocks
printable version

4 - 1 1/2" wooden blocks
4 different patterned papers
antique white paint
antiquing gel (or thinned brown paint)
sandpaper
decoupage mixture (white craft glue and water)
paintbrush
scissors

Sand the wooden blocks and paint them with antique white. Paint each block with thinned brown paint (or age with antiquing gel) and wipe off. Sand the edges of each block.

Use your a software program, like Word, to type "LOVE" in Papyrus font, size 82. Print out the document and size it against the blocks to make sure the font is the right size. Change the word "LOVE" to just the letter "L" and print it on the first paper. Repeat with each letter for each patterned paper.

Trace one of the wooden blocks onto a piece of scratch paper and cut out. Cut the square a bit smaller and place it onto a wood block for sizing purposes. There should be visible block all the way around the paper square. If there isn't, trim it. Using that square paper as your guide, cut out the patterned letters.

Decoupage each letter onto each block. Let dry.

I'm participating in the following craft carnivals. To see some other awesome projects, be sure to visit them!

Honeycomb Design Jar

This is an update. I actually posted this in September of 2008, but hadn't included the pattern or instructions. I've received a couple of requests, so I've decided just to go ahead and add the pattern and tutorial. Would love to hear if you made it!

Original post from 2008: Just a quickie post this morning to show off a design I did several years ago. The bees are dying off and driving me crazy on my balcony, so I thought of this as we close out summer. LOL Hope to post more soon:

Honeycomb and Bees Jar
design by Amanda Formaro

printable version of instructions
download or print the pattern


Supply List
liner and shader brushes
Micron black craft pen
acrylic matte spray sealer
old toothbrush

Paint Colors
(all paint colors are Delta Ceramcoat)

white
antique white
crocus yellow
antique gold
pink quartz
bouquet pink
bonnie blue
navy blue
leaf green
dark forest green
yellow
black
autumn brown

Tip: if you are painting on jars, you can prepare your surface by washing the jar, completely removing all labels and glue, then giving the jar a rinse in white vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Allow the first coat of base coat to dry COMPLETELY before attempting a second coat.

Instructions

Base coat surface with 2-3 coats of white.

trace pattern onto base-coated surface.

Paint entire honeycomb with antique white. Float all edges with crocus yellow, then fine float with antique gold.

Paint honeycomb opening with autumn brown. Darken some autumn brown with a little black and shade opening with the mixture. Paint small highlight line with thinned white.

From left to right, paint the first two flowers with pink quartz, float edges with bouquet pink. Paint third flower with bonnie blue and float edges with navy blue. Paint flower centers with crocus yellow.

Paint the grass blades with leaf green, shade edges with dark forest green.

Paint the bees' bodies with yellow and the wings with white. Use the black Micron craft pen to outline wings and draw on bees' stripes. Use a small criss-cross pattern on the wings. Use the pen to draw dashes for the flight trails.

Splatter completed painting with white and white black using an old toothbrush.

Sign your work! Spray the completed project with 2-3 coats of acrylic spray sealer (matte) according to directions on can.

If you would like to see other crafty creations, visit the following craft carnivals that I participate in!

Decorative Framed Map

I've seen some pretty cool looking frames around the blog world lately. Taking an old frame and turning it into something new is something I love to do, but never seem to have the time anymore. I have noticed that a lot of crafters are using vinyl lettering to dress up their projects. Those vinyl letters are truly awesome, but I didn't have any... so I improvised. I used several items from around the house in order to make my own letters. Here's how to make your own.

Decorative Framed Map
printable version

an old cheap 8x10 frame, missing the glass
page out of a road atlas
a strip of burlap
a brown paper grocery bag
thick piece of cardboard
scissors
craft knife
black paint

ruler

pen

glue stick

white craft glue

font file (or type your own letters in Word, I used the "Angelina" font)

Measure the inside of the frame, then cut your cardboard just slightly smaller than that (by about a centimeter). Decide where you want your map positioned, then use a glue stick to attach the cardboard to the back of it.

Turn it over and smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles, making sure your map surface is nice and flat. Turn it back over and glue the excess map to the back of the cardboard. 

Paint the frame with a coat or two of black acrylic craft paint and let it dry.

When dry, spray it with an acrylic sealer, gloss or matte, whatever you prefer. You can even use a little bit of white glue mixed with water to add a coat of sealant. 

In order to make the letters, paint a section of the brown grocery bag with black paint. Print out the font file and use a black sharpie marker to trace around the letters, making them bigger.

Next, position it over the top of the black section of the bag and trace around the letters using a pen.

The indentations will carry through to the bag. Carefully cut the letters out, use a craft knife to get the center of the letters "a" and "o".

Cut a 7"x2" strip of brown paper bag and a 6" x 2" strip of burlap. Trim the burlap to fit onto the bag strip, pull a bit of the threads out to tatter it a bit. Set at least one long burlap thread aside. Line the bag strip with white craft glue and smooth it with your finger. Attach the burlap to the bag strip. Spread white craft glue onto the back of the letter "v" and press onto the burlap. Repeat for all the letters. Attach the completed strip to the map with white craft glue.

Insert the completed map into the frame. Tie one of the spare burlap threads into a small bow. Trim the ends and glue to the bottom right corner of the frame.

© Copyright Amanda Formaro

To see other great craft projects from this week, visit the following Craft Carnivals that I am participating in (see the McLinky below)!

Cotton Ball Container Bunny

Turn a recycled cylinder container into this cute bunny with your kids this Easter. Whether it's a Pringle's can, an oatmeal container, creamer package, or any other cylindrical container. cover it with cotton balls and decorate! I made this several years ago with my kids and I think he came out pretty darn cute :)



Cotton Ball Container Bunny
printable version

You will need

potato chip canister (or any other can you have)
Liquitex Basics Gesso OR white acrylic paint
bag of cotton balls
3 feet of white twisted paper (ears)
1 chenille stem, any color
4 large white pom poms (cheeks and hands)
1 small pink pom pom (nose)
2 medium wiggle eyes
2 lilac colored foam flower shapes (feet)
6 small white foam circles (toes)
1 large white foam circle
1 pink foam flower shape
1 green medium foam circle
2 rectangular foam shapes (teeth)
pink acrylic paint
6-8" colorful ribbon
White craft glue
scissors

What you do

Completely wash and dry potato chip canister. Paint outside of canister with one coat or Gesso. This does not have to look nice, it's just a thin coat of medium to help the glue stick better. Let dry completely.

Glue cotton balls onto canister, completely covering the surface. Start at the bottom, glueing cotton balls next to each other until your finish the row, ending at the one you started with. Repeat this pattern all the way up the can until the canister is completely covered in cotton balls.

Cut the twisted paper in half so that you have two equal lengths of 18" each. Open the twisted paper and stretch it out to make a wide ribbon. Fold in half, end to end to create the an ear. Cut chenille stem in half. Holding the ends of the ear together, start about 1 inch above the bottom of the end and secure them together by twisting the chenille stem around them. Repeat this for the other ear as well. Glue the ears to the inside of the top of the canister.

About 1/3 of the way down the can, glue 2 white pom poms on for the cheeks. Glue the pink pom pom just above and in between the two white ones. Glue wiggle eyes on above the nose.

Using the lilac colored flower foam shapes, cut all but three of the petals off. Glue small white foam circles onto each remaining petal for the toes. Repeat for other flower. Next, cut two small ovals from the large white foam circle. Glue onto lilac flower below the toes for the footpads. Glue the feet at the bottom of the canister as pictured.

Glue the small green foam circle into the center of the pink foam flower. Glue the remaining two white pom poms onto the bottom of the flower. Glue this whole thing onto the front of the rabbit above the feet. Flower should be sticking out above the hands.

Lay the bunny on its "back" and glue the teeth in place, underneath the cheeks. Tie a colorful ribbon into a bow and glue at the base of one ear.

Paint the center of the twisted paper with pink acrylic paint for the center of the ears.

Leave bunny in the lying down position, check for items that may have slid around. Put any wandering pieces back where they belong and let dry completely.




To see other great craft projects from this week, visit the following Craft Carnivals that I am participating in (see the McLinky below)!

3D Tissue Paper Shamrock

St. Patrick's Day is on Wednesday the 17th, so if you are looking for a last minute idea to keep the kids busy, this may just be the answer. Do you remember doing this? Tear or cut the tissue paper into squares, then twist it around the eraser end of a pencil and press onto a glued pattern. My kids always loved these types of projects. They're easy and fun, but best of all, they can be time consuming, keeping them busy for a while. ;)

3D Tissue Paper Shamrock
printable version

You will need

green construction paper, card stock or poster board
school glue or white craft glue
green tissue paper or party streamers
scissors

What You Do

Draw a shamrock shape (draw three hearts with a stem) onto a sheet of green construction paper. Cut out.

Rip or cut up the green tissue paper into small bits, about 1 inch square.

For younger children, have them crumple up the bits of tissue paper. Put a little glue into a glue pot or margarine lid for each child. Have each child dip one of the crumpled bits of tissue paper into the glue, and place on the cut out shamrock shape. Alternatively, you can put a layer of glue directly on the shamrock shape, one shamrock leaf at a time. This method creates less mess than dipping individual pieces into the glue.

For older kids, using a pencil with a new eraser, place the eraser in the center of the tissue paper square. Twist the tissue paper around the eraser and then press the eraser onto the construction paper. Lift the pencil out of the tissue paper, leaving it on the shamrock.

Continue until the shamrock shape is full of tissue. Glue a piece of yarn, string or ribbon to the back to hang your shamrock.

See my other St. Patrick's Day ideas here

I'm linked up to these great blog parties and carnivals, visit them to see more great projects!

Make Your Monday
Making the World Cuter
Just Something I Whipped Up
Market Yourself Monday
Made by You Monday
Tot Tuesday
Get Your Craft On
Talented Tuesday
DIY Day
Tip Me Tuesday
Toot Your Horn Tuesday
Show and Tell
Make it Yours Day
A Little Craft Therapy
Whatever Goes Wednesday

Paper Plate Lady Bugs

Is it silly to love certain crafts you make with your kids? These are one of my all time favorites, made with painted paper plates, scraps of fabric and some felt. I just think they are so darned adorable, I sometimes feel like making some just for me! :) While I did originally make these for FamilyCorner.com a few years ago, my kids and I have made them several times since.


Paper Plate Ladybugs

printable version

You will need

2 paper plates
acrylic paint in black and your choice of colors
Paint brush
paper fastener
2 large wiggle eyes
glue stick
fun black patterned fabric
black felt
scissors

What you do

Paint one paper plate black and the other whatever color you choose. Red is traditional for ladybugs, but you can get colorful like we did if you like. Set aside to dry.

While the paint is drying, use scissors to cut different sized circles or ovals out of the black fabric. You will need approximately 12 circles for each ladybug. Set aside.

From black felt, cut out half a circle for the head.

Once paint has dried, take the color paper plate (not the black one) and cut it in half. Line the two halves up with the black paper plate and spread the "wings" open a bit. Hold at the top and carefully poke a hoe through the top of the wings and through the black plate underneath. Still holding it in place, push the fastener through the hole and secure.

Glue the circles onto the colored wings. Glue the head over the top of the wings to hide the fastener. Glue wiggle eyes onto the head.


Amanda's Notes: You may substitute the black polka dot fabric we used with black felt, craft foam or construction paper. If you don't have wiggle eyes on hand, make your own out of white and black felt or craft foam.

I'm participating in the following blog carnivals this week. Be sure to stop by and see what other amazing talent is out there!

Made by You Monday
Make Your Monday
Making the World Cuter
Just Something I Whipped Up
Market Yourself Monday
Get Your Craft On
Talented Tuesday
Do It Yourself Day
Trash to Treasure Tuesday
Toot Your Horn Tuesday
Show and Tell
A Little Craft Therapy
Whatever Goes Wednesday
Show Off Your Stuff
Strut Your Stuff
Get Your Craft On
Frogs, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
Thursday's Treasures
Creative Cats
Feature Yourself Friday
We Made It!
Weekend Wrap Up Party

Country Dammit Doll

This little country doll is a great comfort gift for someone you care about, or an adorable addition to any room in your home. You may remember Dammit Dolls from your grandmother's time period and they are still around today.

Several years ago, I made this for a friend who was living in Germany. Her husband was in the military and away quite a lot. She missed him dearly and seemed so sad. She loved the gift and still cherishes it today.

There's a much larger photo at the end of this post.

You will need

FOR THE DOLL
country floral fabric (half of a yard should do it!)
doll pattern
white yarn
darning needle
Fiberfil
curled jute
sewing needle
thread to match fabric
6 buttons to coordinate with the fabric
2 flat backed black eyes
fabric glue
large unpainted wood button
scrap of blue gingham fabric for neck bow

FOR THE CONTAINER
12" cylindrical papier mache container
acrylic paint in antique white, light brown, and country blue
crackle medium
paintbrush
household sponge or sponge scrap
curled jute
rusty tin button
blue gingham fabric scrap
white tacky glue
black fine tip craft pen
ruler
scrap piece of paper
pen or pencil

What you do

THE DOLL

Bodice
To begin, print out the doll pattern and cut two pieces from country floral fabric, RIGHT side of fabric facing out. This doll is sewn on the outside, rather than sewn and turned inside out. This gives it a more primitive country look. Using a darning needle and white yarn, begin at the top/center of the head and sew downward, all the way around the doll until you get to the other side of the neck. Pause here to stuff the doll with Fiberfil, using the eraser end of a pencil to gently push the stuffing into the arms and legs. Complete the stuffing of the doll's head and sew shut, knot off.

Embellishments
Using a length of curled jute (can be purchased in the craft store where doll hair is sold), cut into 1 1/2" pieces. For each piece, fray the ends halfway, leaving the other half curled. Use a sewing needle and thread to sew the curled end of the jute pieces to the top of the head, frayed end should be pointing upward for the hair. You will need around 6 or 7 pieces of jute to complete the hair. Sew 3 buttons to the front of the hair, in the center, and 3 to the back, running thread through two buttons at once (one in back, one in front). Cut a strip of blue gingham fabric and fray the ends. Tie around doll's neck and secure with a couple of threads. Use fabric glue to adhere eyes to the doll's face. Sew wood button to the front of the doll's body.


THE CONTAINER

Paint the papier mache cylinder and lid with a coat of antique white acrylic paint and allow to dry completely. Following the directions on the crackle medium, apply a coat of crackle medium over the antique white, and allow to dry according to the manufacturer's directions (usually 15-45 minutes, or until tacky but not completely dry). Finish with a coat of light brown, again, follow the directions on the crackle medium! Use single brush strokes, DO NOT brush over and over, you will lose the crackle effect. Allow to dry completely.

For the lid, cut a piece of blue gingham fabric long enough to fit around the lid, fray and tie. Trim and fray the ends. Use tacky glue to secure the fabric to the lid. Tie a piece of curled jute around the lid over the fabric, tie in place, secure with tacky glue. Gently thread a rusty tin button with the jute, and tie, ends should hang downward.

When the light brown coat is dry, use the household sponge to apply an oval shape to the front of your cylinder using antique white. The oval should cover most of the length of the container, leaving about an inch at the bottom and the top (below the lid). Sponge a light border of country blue around the outer edge of your oval.

Using a piece of scrap paper and a pen or pencil, sketch out the poem listed below to ensure that you can fit it all on your oval. You can use a ruler to approximate how much area you have to work with. Use a craft pen to write on the poem when you are comfortable with it.


DAMMIT DOLL

When you want to climb the wall,
And stand right up and shout.
There's a little Dammit doll
You cannot do without.

Just grasp it firmly by the legs,
And find a place to slam it.
And as you whack the stuffing out
Yell Dammit, Dammit, Dammit!

If Dammit's not a word you say
Then twist its little neck
And grumble out repeatedly
Oh Heck, Oh Heck, Oh Heck!

And once your done abusing it
Just sit it on the shelf.
But hug it first, as I'd hug you
If I were there myself.

Note: Carefully stuff container with some light tissue paper before placing doll inside. You may need to tuck your doll's arms in a bit to fit her in. Cover her with a bit more tissue paper and cover with the lid.

This project is entered in the following blog carnivals this week:

Made by You Monday

Make Your Monday

Making the World Cuter

Just Something I Whipped Up
Market Yourself Monday

Get Your Craft On

Talented Tuesday

Do It Yourself Day

Trash to Treasure Tuesday
Toot Your Horn Tuesday
Tip Me Tuesday
Show and Tell
A Little Craft Therapy
Whatever Goes Wednesday

Show Off Your Stuff

Strut Your Stuff

Get Your Craft On
Thursday's Treasures

Creative Cats

Feature Yourself Friday

We Made It!

Weekend Wrap Up Party

Styrofoam Cup Leprechaun Hats

A week or so ago I showed you some pretty little spring bonnets made from shrunken foam coffee cups. I had mentioned the Leprechaun Hats I made and a few of you asked to see them. So here they are, so simple, and so cute! Get the kids together and have some fun making these miniature leprechaun hats!


Styrofoam Cup Leprechaun Hats

printable version

You will need

Styrofoam cups
acrylic paint in green and black
gold chenille stems
scissors
hot glue gun
shamrock buttons
magnets (optional)

What you do

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

Note: The temperature and instructions in this craft are based off of a dark coated cookie sheet at 250 degrees F in an electric oven. You may want to experiment with different temps until you receive satisfactory results. I recommend baking one or two cups at the recommended temperature and time first. If they seem to melt too quickly or the ends curl up and under, try reducing the temperature and trying again.

Place Styrofoam cups upside down (open end of cup down) on a dark coated cookie sheet, placing them about 1-2" apart. Note: we experimented with both dark coated and silver cookie sheets, the cups did not melt properly on the silver sheets.

Bake in the oven for approximately 3 minutes, don't walk away! It will take about one minute before you see any changes to the cups, then the heat will begin to melt and shrink them rather rapidly after that. It's lots of fun for the kids to watch, so be sure to turn the oven light on.

Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and set aside to cool completely. DO NOT try to remove the cups from the cookie sheet until they are completely cooled. As they cool, the Styrofoam that is stuck to the sheet will relax and release its grip from the sheet, allowing you to remove them easily. Most cups will melt rather well, thought you may end up with one or two that look rather distorted or disfigured.

Paint the "hats" with green paint, one coat is usually enough, and allow them to dry completely. Once they are dry paint a black rim around the hat and allow to dry again.

Mean while, take a gold chenille stem and bend it into a square or rectangle for the hat's buckle, trim end off with scissors. When paint is dry, hot glue the bockle to the front of the hat on the black rim. Hot glue a shamrock shaped button to the top portion of the front of the hat.

Note: Instead of the buttons, you can either paint a shamrock on by dipping the eraser of a new pencil into dark green paint and dotting it onto the hat three times, or cut your own out of felt or craft foam.

If you like, you can hot glue a small round magnet to the bottom of the hat at the brim and hang on the refrigerator.

If you are looking for fun St. Patrick's Day crafts, try my Pot of Gold Greeting Card or my Welcome Shamrock!


Visit these great blog carnivals to see more fun projects:

Creative Cats
Friday Showcase
Get Your Craft On
Strut Your Stuff
Feature Yourself Friday
Frogs, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
Thursday's Treasures