By Candie Cooper of Candie Cooper's Journal

Growing up, my sister Carrie had a ton of miniatures and Barbies lying around.  I just wrote her to see if she still has the giant Victorian (unfinished) doll house. I'm suggesting we finish it, so this furniture has a home. I can see it now: Candie and Carrie's version of DIY Home Makeover---Miniature style!

 

It all started when I saw this sweet furniture at the dollar store. Cute pieces, not so cute color.

 

I base coated everything with FolkArt paints and detailed the knobs with Gold FolkArt.  You'll need some tiny brushes to go with these tiny pieces.

 

I asked my friend Lena to knit a blanket and we wove yarn in to add some color.  Then I made mini pillows with cotton balls, fabric, and a little Mod Podge Fabric to seal them up. Paper sheets were added to the bed with Mod Podge Matte.

 

Spools were transformed to stools with more FolkArt Paint. Paper seat cushions and place mats were added with Mod Podge Matte too! You can find accessories like plates and forks at the craft store.  

 

My friend Katie gave me the lamp from her parent’s miniature store--complete with toothpaste lid shade. Adding details to projects is definitely my favorite part. I had a blast making this project for Plaid. I hope you love it too!

Typically one of the first words kids learn how to spell is their name. They practice writing it over and over, and are elated to show it off. In addition to falling in love with writing their names, kids love their first initial. If this sounds like your little one, then you’ve got to have them make this initial frame. This frame is a beginner level project that would be great to teach in an arts and crafts class. Holli Nutter designed this project using a wood frame and FolkArt paint. Feel free to change out the initial letter and the paint colors. Below are all the supplies you will need for this project, and to find the complete instructions click here. 

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Moon Yellow, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Lime Green, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Perfect Purple, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Wicker White, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Licorice, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

Large wood frame with 5" x 7" opening
Wooden letter
Large flat brush
Liner brush
Small flat brush
Ruler
Pencil
Masking tape
1 1/2" circle template
White craft glue

We hope you had a great weekend. Did you make anything? Many people are looking forward to Mother’s Day, and instead of buying gifts many plan to create something. A Mother’s Day gift does not have to be all about Mom, it can be about the entire family. This year why not create this Damask Family Tree Canvas? With this project you can include the entire family. Make this elegant family tree making everyone a piece of artwork. Create this and give to you your Mom this year. You will need several Mod Podge supplies and some FolkArt paints. Below is a full list of supplies, and click here to find the complete instructions.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       Mod Podge ® Acrylic Shapes - Designer Shapes

·       Mod Podge ® Tracing Templates - Basic Shapes

·       Mod Podge ® Professional Tool Set

·       Mod Podge ® Podgeable Papers - Black & White Damask, Frames and Words

·       FolkArt ® Artists Pigments™ - Napthol Crimson, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Wicker White, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Burgundy, 2 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Dimensional Magic, 2 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Matte, 8 oz.

Other Supplies

8 x 10 canvas
4 x 6 canvas
Photo copies
Clear gems
Stencil brush
Liner brush
¾” flat
E6000

By Candie Cooper

Ready to leap from thumbprint lily pads? These frogs are loving the spring showers lately!

This mirror is from the dollar store, and frogs found in the party favor section of the super store. Pick out some green and blue FolkArt paints. Base coat the mirror blue and leave to dry.

 

Dip your thumb in paint and stamp around the border of the mirror to create lily pads. Putting paint on a paper plate makes it easy to get a little paint at a time.

 

Use cool temp hot glue to adhere frogs around the border of the frame.

April showers bring May flowers and fun springtime crafts! Please note-for outdoor projects, use the Outdoor FolkArt paint

Have you heard the phrase, “It’s the thought that counts.” This is never truer than on Mother’s Day. Moms love receiving any little gift of appreciation from their kids, no matter the size. This Mother’s Day create for your mom a happy little trinket box that she can stash away all her treasures and keepsakes in. Chris Williams designed this project using Mod Podge and FolkArt. This is a beginner level craft project, and it would be perfect for a tween or teen to create. Unleash your creativity and make something handmade for your Mom. Below are all the materials you will need for this project, and to see the detailed instructions click here.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       Mod Podge ® 7 Piece Tool Kit

·       Mod Podge ® Podgeable Papers - Antique Urban

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Licorice, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Coffee Bean, 2 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Dimensional Magic, 2 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Matte, 8 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Craft Glue, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

Foam plate
Brush Basin or container for water
Photo copy of photographs
Waxed paper
Assorted buttons
Fine grit sandpaper
Wood trinket box

Good morning crafters, and happy hump day. Today we’ve got a question for you, how do you keep your little ones organized? Do you use baskets, boxes, plastic tubes to store all their little trinkets? If you are looking for a more creative way to store and organize things we have a wonderful project to share with you this morning. For those of you with little girls you know all to well how difficult it can be to get all their hair accessories contained. Well we have a crafty solution for you, feast your eyes on this Bow Holder. Ashley from Ashley Suzanne designed this Bow Holder using our new FolkArt Handmade Charlotte Stencils and FolkArt paints. How cute is this? Now not only can you organize their hair bows, you can use them as décor in your little girl’s room. To see all the materials used, and learn how to make this project click here.

Create a special gift for mom and show her just how special she is by making this Mother’s Day Canvas. Chris Williams designed this new project just in time for Mother’s Day. This is a great gift kids can help create to then give to their Moms. To create this project Chris used several Mod Podge products including the new podgeable shapes, and papers. These new Mod Podge items can be found at your local Michaels craft store. Below you will find a full list of supplies you will need, and to view the complete instructions click here.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       Mod Podge ® 7 Piece Tool Kit

·       Mod Podge ® Podgeable Metal Blanks

·       Mod Podge ® Podgeable Designer Charms

·       Mod Podge ® Acrylic Shapes - Podgeable Shape with Stand, Large Square

·       Mod Podge ® Podgeable Papers - Summer Crush

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Deep Ocean Blue, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Morning Sun, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Ivory White, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Fresh Foliage, 2 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Dimensional Magic, 2 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Matte, 8 oz.

Other Supplies

24887 Mod Podge Melts - Milk Glass
24889 Mod Podge Mod Molds - Flowers
Foam plate
Brush Basin or container for water
Photo copies of your child’s favorite photo picking flowers
Waxed paper
Hot glue
Printer copy of text – “Of all the mothers in the world .. I’d pick you!”
four 1” Buttons
8” x 10” Stretched canvas
Blue cardstock

You’ve made it to the weekend. Aren’t you excited? We sure are, the weather is finally getting warmer and this weekend we are expecting to see some nice weather. If you are expecting something similar in your neck of the woods, then we want to suggest you take sometime out to craft. Today we wanted to share with you this bright and colorful project. Check out these Dinosaur Jar lids. This is a great project that is kid friendly. We discovered these lids on the blog Lolly Jane. How creative are these lids? To create this for yourself you will need Apple Barrel paints and Mod Podge washout. This Mod Podge formula is perfect when crafting with children, because if they spill it on furniture or on their clothes it will come right out with soap and water. To see all the supplies used in this project, and the step by step instructions visit Lolly Jane. Have a craftastic weekend.

Springtime is the perfect time to get organized, and your kid’s trinkets are no exception. They need help getting organized just as much as you do. Your kids have tons of little knickknacks that are probably loose all around their rooms. If you can relate to this problem, then you should create this spring thing three piece box set. This set is s bright and springy solution for organizing your things. Julie Lewis, one of Plaid’s talented designers created this project. It was created with several supplies including FolkArt paints. A full list of supplies can be found below, and to see the complete instructions click here.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       Plaid ® Wood Surfaces - 3 Piece Box Set with Tray

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Turner Pink, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Holly Leaf, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Calypso Sky, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Lemon Custard, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Wicker White, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Licorice, 2 oz.

·       Plaid ® Wood Surfaces - Unpainted Layered Shapes - Flower, 8 Petal

·       Plaid ® Wood Surfaces - Unpainted Layered Shapes - Ladybug

·       Plaid ® Wood Surfaces - Unpainted Layered Shapes - Bee

Other Supplies

Glue
Flat brush ¼” – ½”
Liner brush #1
Pencil

 

We hope you are beginning to experience some warmer weather in your neck of the woods. We are just starting to feel some warm weather here in Atlanta, and we couldn’t be happier. Since it is finally getting warmer we want to get you in mood, by sharing with you a spring themed project. Check out this spring sign created by Cathie and Steve. This is a beginner level craft and you will need a few supplies including Mod Podge. A full list of supplies can be found below, along with their instructions. Enjoy!

 

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Extreme Glitter™ - Peridot, 5 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Extreme Glitter™ - Hologram, 5 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Extreme Glitter™ - Gold, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Metallics - Rose, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Fresh Foliage, 2 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Gloss, 4 oz.

 

Other Supplies

Paper Mache letters that spell SPRING
Scrapbook paper – pink and green prints
Foam brushes
Ribbon – various colors
Silk flower petals pink – large and small
Silk flower petals yellow
Crocheted flower trim
Rhinestones
Hot glue gun
Scissors
Pencil

Instructions

1.    Paint each letter with 2 coats of either Fresh Foliage or Rose Paint. Paint the Fresh Foliage letters with 2 coats of Extreme Glitter Peridot and the Rose letters with Extreme Glitter Hologram. Allow for dry time in between coats.

2.    Using a pencil, trace the letters onto the back of the scrapbook paper. Cut out the letters. Apply Mod Podge to the back of the paper letters. Center paper on the painted letters, press in place. Use your fingers to press out any air bubbles; top coat with Mod Podge. Smooth your brush strokes.

3.    Hot glue ribbon around the letters. Hot glue the letters on top of each other in a layered design.

4.    Paint the large pink petals with Extreme Glitter Gold. Allow to dry. Using hot glue, layer the petals, flower trim and rhinestones around the letters. Glue rhinestones to the letters in a random pattern.

Welcome back from the weekend. We sure hope you had a crafty weekend. At the beginning of a new week, we’re sure there are several things swimming around in your head. You are keeping a running list of all the things you have to do. Often times unless you right things down, you can easily forget them. That’s why today we want to share with you this Handmade Charlotte Chalkboard Message Center To Do List Clipboard. Keep organized with this easy-to-make Chalkboard To Do lists. Chris Williams, one of our talented designers created this project, using stencils from the new FolkArt Handmade Charlotte stencil line. All the supplies you will need to complete this project are below. To see the instructions for this project click here.

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Chalkboard Paint - Black, 8 oz.

·       Stencil Decor ® Accessories - Stencil Tape

·       Stencil Decor ® Brushes - Stencil Brush, 5/8"

·       FolkArt ® Handmade Charlotte™ Stencils - Family Message Center

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Licorice, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

Clip Board
Brush basin or container for water
foam plates
paper towels

T.G.I.F. Hooray the weekend is here and after the week you’ve had, you may be in need of some well deserved R&R. Luckily crafting is always ranked highly as a good way to relax. So throw your cares away and pull out some paint. In case you’re stumped on what to make, we have a suggestion, why not make this adorable time out chair? While our kids maybe perfect angels most of the time, every now and again they will get into trouble. When they do, you can send them to time out in this adorable and colorful chair. Stephanie from Somewhat Simple created this chair using the new FolkArt Handmade Charlotte stencils and FolkArt paints. To see how to make this for your little one click here.

We have made it half way through the week. Yay! In order to get you over the hump we wanted to share a craft project we recently discovered online. Check out this sweet miniature dresser. We stumbled across this on the site Craft Quickies. Sarah designed this adorable project for daughter, using the new FolkArt Handmade Charlotte stencils. She used this stencils and FolkArt paints to refurbish a not so pretty mini dresser. The before and after photos of this project are amazing, a definite must see. To learn how you can make this for your little one click here.

When it comes to kids crafts we can understand that you may not want to spend a lot of money on supplies. Depending on what projects you and your little ones are crafting, the supply bill can quickly add up. One way you can save some money on supplies is by using things around your home. A popular kids craft surface are toilet paper rolls. Toilet paper rolls are very versatile, and can be used for projects all year round. Today we want to share an adorable project that uses toilet paper rolls. Check out these bumble bee buddies. Trenice Bishop, a talented freelance designer created them. To achieve this she used several supplies including Mod Podge and FolkArt paints. This is a very fun and simple spring project to make, and it will take about an hour to complete. See below for all the supplies you will need, along with their instructions.

Plaid Supplies

FolkArt Acrylic Paint – 735 Lemon Custard, FolkArt Acrylic Paint – 627 Tangerine, FolkArt Acrylic Paint- 713 Coastal Blue, Folk Art Acrylic Paint – 479 – Pure Black, Folk Art paint – 437 Lipstick Red, FolkArt Extreme Glitter Paint  - 2789 Peridot, Mod Podge

 

Other Supplies

3 Toilet paper rolls, 3 Square wood shapes, 2 Medium heart wood shapes, 4 Oval wood shapes, 6 Wiggly eyes, Black pipe cleaner, Liner Brush, Square craft brush, Hot glue gun, Water bowl, Foam brush, Scissors, Paper tape

 

Instructions

1. Paint each of the toilet paper rolls and square wood pieces with Coastal Blue, Lemon Custard and Tangerine. Apply another coat if desired.  And let dry.

2. When toilet paper rolls are dry, tape off with painters tape to make stripes for bee body. Paint on stripes with Pure Black. Remove tape and let dry.  

3. When the rolls are dry apply a coat of Mod Podge and set aside.  

4. Paint medium heart shapes in Coastal blue, and each pair of oval shapes in Lemon Custard and Tangerine for the wings.

5. Paint Coastal Blue “wings” with Turquoise Extreme Glitter, Paint Lemon Custard “wings” with Gold Extreme Glitter Paint and Tangerine painted “wings” with Orange Extreme Glitter. Let Dry and Coat With Mod Podge.

6. Hot glue the wings to the back or the corresponding “bee body” making sure the glitter painted sides is front facing.

7. Use the liner brush to mouths and seal painted square pieces with Mod Podge. Add wiggly eyes on top of wet Mod Podge or hot glue.

8. Cut black pipe cleaner to make antenna and hot glue to back of bee faces.

9. Add faces to winged paper rolls with hot glue to complete.

 

Happy Monday! We hope you had a nice Easter weekend. So long March and hello April, can you believe today is the first day of April? The year is moving along. We don’t know about you but we are very ready for a climate change. Warm weather should be on the horizon, and we can’t wait. While we’re waiting we want to share with you an adorable spring themed project, check out this giggles round frame. This frame was designed by Holli Nutter, and isn’t it unique? Frames can come in a variety of sizes and shapes. In this project a round shaped frame is used. This colorful frame was created using FolkArt paints. This is a beginner level craft that would be perfect to make with your kids. All the supplies you will need for this project are below, along with instructions.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Pink Melon, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Perfect Purple, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Baby Pink, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Wicker White, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

Large Circle Frame
Two wood flower cut-outs
Alphabet stencil
Pencil
White craft glue
Large flat brush
Small flat brush
Stencil brush

Instructions

1.    Paint the frame using the large flat brush. Dip one corner of the brush in Wicker White, and the other in Baby Pink. With criss-crossing strokes, slip slap paint the flat surface of the frame. Let dry.

2.    Paint the raised edges of the frame Wicker White.

3.    Using the wood flower shape as a template, trace additional flowers on the fame surface as shown in the photo. Paint 2 flowers Pink Melon and the other Wicker White. Centers are Perfect Purple. Paint the wood flower cut-outs in the same manner. Let dry.

4.    Stencil the word “giggle” on the frame using the photo for placement.

5.    Attach the wood flower shapes with craft glue.

Happy hump day! You’ve made it to the halfway mark of the week and we want you to celebrate, by crafting something cool. If you have a little one then you know that they are always trying to be taller than they actually are. We have something they will love, a step stool. This stool is great to make little keeps feel like they grew 5 inches instantly. Shannah from the blog Just Us Four designed this step stool using stencils from our new FolkArt Handmade Charlotte stencil line. This is a very simple project to recreate and won’t take long to finish. To see step by step how this stool was made click here. 

This easy to make Easter Egg Ensemble makes a lovely gift or decoration for any room in your house. Debbie Saenz created this project using several supplies including FolkArt paints and Mod Podge. The project technique you will use when creating this ensemble is paper mache. There are so many creative and kid friendly spring projects that include paper mache. Create this project in a school arts and craft class, or use as an after school activity for your kids. This is a beginner level project that will take up to an hour to complete. Below you will find all the supplies you will need, and click here to see the complete instructions.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Patina, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Artists Pigments™ - Titanium White, 2 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Sparkle, 8 oz.

Other Supplies

6 paper mache eggs
Cardboard egg container
Fabric in 6 bright coordinating colors with different patterns
Iridescent Easter Grass
Pink ribbon
Hot glue
Scissors

 

Easter is approaching fast and will be here before you know it. This week there will be many people doing last minute Easter crafts, especially kids. We have one project we wanted to share with you that would be perfect for your kids to help create. These Easter candy tins are so cute and useful. They are a great place to store yummy candies. The creative team here at Plaid Enterprises created these tins. Below are a full list of supplies you will need to recreate this project. To see the complete instructions for this project click here.

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Enamels™ - Wicker White, 2 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Matte, 8 oz.

Other Supplies

Tissue papers
Easter themed napkins
Flat paint brush
Recycled tin
Hot glue gun
Scissors
Ribbons/embellishments
Ultra fine black permanent marker

T.G.I.F. The weekend is here, and now you will have even more time to craft. With spring upon us there are so many creative ideas you can bring to life. We recently stumbled on a simple yet cute project from Fynes Designs. Check out this pretty painted plant pot. How cute is this? Virginia created this project using FolkArt enamel paints and peel & stick stencils. With these items it makes crafting so easy. This is a great project for kids to make. Have them paint a pot and give as a teacher or Mother’s Day gift. To see how Virginia created this pot visit her blog here.

Today is the first day of spring. Hooray! We have made it through the winter season and the warmer months are coming. To get you in the mood for spring we wanted to share with you this colorful project. Create these retro polka dot glasses using FolkArt enamel paints. Rebecca from Cre8tive Compass made these vibrant glasses. This is a simple project to make, and kids can help with. Since this is a glass surface be careful if you do have kids painting on them. Once complete fill them with your favorite springtime beverage, ice tea, lemonade, or water. To see all the supplies used, and step by step pictures of how Rebecca made this project, click here. 

Easter egg hunts are made more fun with this adorable crate for storing your finds. Kirsten Jones created this cute Easter craft, and now you can too. A great gift for kids to help create. All you will need are a few supplies including FolkArt paints. Easter will be here in less than two weeks. Crazy right? This month has flown by and this holiday comes a little early this year. There is still plenty of time to craft, and this egg carton won’t take long at all to complete. To make this project see a complete list of supplies needed below, along with their instructions.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Seashell Pink, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Extreme Glitter™ - Hologram, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Jamaican Sea, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Soft Apple, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Wicker White, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Licorice, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

Paper egg carton- ½ dozen
Burlap- 1 ½ x 10”
Gift tag
Jute ribbon
#6 Flat paintbrush
Liner brush
#4 Round brush
Scissors
Hot glue

Instructions

1.   Paint burlap piece with Soft Apple. Let dry.  Using liner brush and Licorice write ‘ Happy Easter ‘. Let dry.

2.   Using #4 round brush, paint daisies with Wicker white, let dry. Dot centers of flower with Seashell Pink and brush handle.  Let dry.

3.    Paint each flower with Hologram glitter. Let Dry.

3.   Glue burlap to top of egg carton as shown.

4.   Paint gift tag Jamaican Sea, let dry.  Paint bunny as shown, referring to photo for guide.

5.   Tie to carton as shown.

By Candie Cooper – To see more from Candie visit her blog, Candie Cooper’s Journal

 

These chickens future is so bright--you might need shades!  In all seriousness, the neon paints I used on these are so vibrant. You might really need sunglasses.  Your kids are going to love'm with all the neon colors popping up right now.

Pick your favorite Apple Barrel paint colors.  The gloss finish makes the eggs really smooth.  Tip:  Because of the light colors, it's a good idea to base coat the eggs white first.

 

 

I didn't have any bright orange or yellow paper so I painted some heavy card stock on both sides with the Apple Barrel paints.

 

When the paint dries, fold a 1" section over and cut tiny "V" shapes to create beaks. 

 

Finish by hot gluing neon feather wings to the top and sides.  Mod Podge works well for adhering wiggle eyes.  Plop them in some bright egg cups and these chickens are ready to party!

*Egg cups from Target.
 

Hooray! It’s Friday and the weekend is here. Now is a perfect time to tackle a home décor craft project. With the weekend you have some extra time to gather your supplies, and go to work on that idea you’ve been thinking about. This is exactly what was Jenny from Day of Chalk and Chocolate did. Jenny took a bland table and transformed it into an adorable table. To upcycle this table Jenny took some FolkArt paints and stencils, and the end result was fantastic. How cute is this? If you would like to see step by step how she made this project click here. What home project have you been putting off? Don’t delay a moment longer. Start crafting now!

Happy Wednesday! We are extra excited today because we have an awesome kid friendly craft project to share with you. This month we are all about stencils, and why not? Stenciling is a timeless craft technique that can make any project instantly standout. This month we are releasing a new line of stencils, FolkArt Handmade Charlotte Stencils. These stencils come in a variety of designs, and are great for kid crafts. Don’t take our word for it, take a look at this stenciled clock stool from One Artsy Mama. Amy used a variety of supplies including the new FolkArt Handmade Stencils, and FolkArt paints. Below are a few supplies she used, to see the rest of the supplies needed and learn how she made this stool click here.

 

- FolkArt acrylic paint 

- Chalkboard Paint

- Sponge brush

- Family Message Center stencil kit

By Candie Cooper - See more crafts by Candie on her blog, Candie Cooper's Journal

Avoid being pinched this St. Patty's day with these lucky pins. The shamrocks are made with fingerprints!

 

Paint a wood disc green and leave to dry. Follow up with a cluster of fingerprints in metallic Folk Art paint.

 

Outline the fingerprints in gold permanent marker to give it a clover shape. More doodles can be added to the surface as well with markers.

 

Adhere a gem to the center of the clover with Mod Podge. Apply a coat of Dimensional Magic. Laying the piece on a bed of rice keeps it level while it dries.

 

Once dry, the Dimensional Magic leaves a shiny seal over the marker and paint.

 

Glue a pin back onto the wood piece. To make it really jazzy add ribbons and trim!  

 

 

 

By Candie Cooper – See more from Candie at Candie Cooper’s Journal

 

Jewelry is always fun to make!  Check out these peace pendants that you can paint in your favorite colors.

 

I got these pendants from an online auction site.  Paint both sides in desired Folk Art colors.  You don't have to leave them solid--streaks, dots and swirls would be fun too!

 

Once the pendants are dry, you can sand and distress the edges with sandpaper or a Mod Podge file.

 

Leave the peace signs distressed or seal with Folk Art Extreme Glitters.  Gems (or your favorite embellishments) can be added with Mod Podge. 

 

Twist a large jump ring open and attach to a silicone cord like this.  Ready to wear!

Everyone wants to feel like a winner, and what better way to make someone feel that way, then by giving them a trophy. Trophies are great to use for several occasions, game nights, sporting event, birthday parties, and more. Kids more so than adults really get a kick out of winning a trophy. With this trophy project, our Plaid creative team has made it very easy to create your own using FolkArt Extreme Glitter. Create this trophy to have handy the next time to want to make your little one feel special. All the supplies needed can be found below, and to see the instructions click here.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Extreme Glitter™ - Gold, 5 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Extreme Glitter™ - Silver, 5 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Extreme Glitter™ - Red, 5 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Extreme Glitter™ - Black, 5 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Engine Red, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Artists Pigments™ - Pure Black, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Metallics - Silver Anniversary, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Metallics - Pure Gold, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

6” Flower pot
Candle stick
4” flower pot saucer
6” Flower Pot Saucer
2 dancing “G” wood letters
Red fun foam
2 Silver chenille stems
1 gold chenille stem
Black permanent ink marker Glue Craft Knife and Blades Large Flat Brushes

Kids just like adults need to have storage areas. Think about it, they have books, toys, games, and more. Often time these if these things don’t have a place to be kept they end up all over the place. Help your little ones get organized by creating this sparkly trunk. Sherrie Ragsdale designed this eye-catching trunk using Mod Podge and FolkArt acrylic paints. This would be a great family activity to do one afternoon or weekend. With this project fell free to adjust the size of the trunk or box you use. All the supplies needed for this project can be found below. To find the complete instructions click here.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Hot Pink, 2 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Sparkle, 8 oz.

Other Supplies

Old travel trunk
6 different types of scrapbook paper
Hot pink glitter
4 large ball knobs
10 wooden unfinished flowers
1" hole punch
Scissors
Craft knife
Hot glue gun
Epoxy gel
1-1/4" pink ribbon
Hand saw

 

Welcome back from the weekend. Can you believe that February is almost over? Before you know it spring will be here. The birds will be singing, and the flowers will begin to bloom. With a new season, come new things to craft. There are tons of great kids friendly spring crafts and one of the most popular surfaces to craft with is clay pots. Julie Lewis, one of Plaid’s designers, created this project. These pots were made using FolkArt Chalkboard paint. It is a beginner level craft and will only take an hour at most to finish. All the supplies can be found below along with their instructions.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       Apple Barrel ® Colors - Bright Yellow, 8 oz.

·       Apple Barrel ® Colors - Leaf Green, 8 oz.

·       Apple Barrel ® Colors - Barn Red, 2 oz.

·       Apple Barrel ® Colors - Bright Blue, 8 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Chalkboard Paint - Black, 8 oz.

Other Supplies

2 medium size clay pots
Chalk
#12 flat brush
Sponge brush
Liner brush

Instructions

1.    Paint first pot body Bright Blue – rim with Leaf Green.

2.    Paint oval with Black Chalkboard paint.

3.    Dot around oval area with red dots using end of brush to apply.

4.    Use #12 flat brush to make color circles with red and Yellow. Use Liner brush to paint black leaves, stems and spiral on flowers.

5.    Paint second pot body Barn Red – rim with Leaf Green. Paint circle with Black Chalkboard Paint. Paint yellow petals around black center. Use liner brush to outline all petals with black. Using handle of brush, dot around black center with Leaf Green. Add Curly-Q’s and leaves with Black. Fill in leaf shapes with Leaf Green. Note: Let cure for 24 hours. Rub lightly with chalk to condition.

 

 

Happy Valentine’s Day! We hope this day of love is filled lots of love and sweet treats. Even though Valentine’s Day takes place on February 14^th, you can still use this holiday as a theme for your craft projects anytime of the year. Share love all year round, and incorporate it into your craft projects. Take this heart side table. Here is a perfect example of how you can incorporate the feeling and theme of Valentine’s Day into an everyday item. This side table was created using FolkArt paints and FolkArt stencils. It would look great in a little girl’s room, and feel free to change up the colors on this project. With this side table you can add a little love to any room.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Bright Baby Pink, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Pumpkin, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Painting Stencils - Large - Filigree Heart

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Hot Pink, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Wicker White, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

Wood nightstand
Sandpaper
3/8" Stencil brush
Stencil adhesive
1” Foam applicator
Foam plate
Paper towels
Ruler
Pencil

Instructions

1.    Basecoat sides and front of nightstand Wicker White; paint top Hot Pink using 1” foam applicator; allow to dry.  Sand rough areas using sandpaper.  Reapply basecoat. If desired, trim edges in complementary colors.

2.    When top is dry, measure and mark lightly with pencil the center vertically and horizontally. 

3.    Dip brush into Wicker White; wipe on paper towel to remove excess.

4.    Position stencil on surface using horizontal and vertical marks as guidelines to create even spacing; hold stencil in place using stencil adhesive.

5.    Begin stenciling in a circular motion by placing bristles on an uncut area of the stencil.  Move brush gradually into an opening of the stencil.

6.    Reposition stencil; continue stenciling until all four repeats have been stenciled. 

7.    Clean up with mild soap and water.

Flowers are such magical things. Their colors when in full bloom are captivating, and can change the vibe of any room. Now, while flowers are nice to admire they can take a lot of work to care for. No worries we have an alternative for all of you that love flowers. You can create everlasting flowers with Mod Podge Podgeables and zipper trim. Cathie and Steve designed these flowers using podgeable shapes and Folkart acrylic paint. This project is perfect for all ages and won’t take long to make. You can make these flowers anytime of the year, but with Valentine’s Day drawing close, why not make some today? This project would make a wonderful gift to give or to keep in your home.  All the supplies needed can be found below, and click here to see the complete instructions. 

 

PLAID Supplies

·       Mod Podge ® Acrylic Shapes - Designer Shapes

·       Plaid ® Hot Glue Gun Helpers

·       FolkArt ® Shiny™ Acrylic Paint - Grass Green, 2 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Hard Coat, 8 oz

Other Supplies

Tin pitcher
Scrapbook paper
Scissors
Foam paintbrush
Dowel rod
Hand saw
Orange zipper trim (1.5 yards)
Yellow zipper trim (1.5 yards)
Hot glue
Teal zipper trim
Plastic bags

Welcome to another week. We hope you had a craftastic weekend. Are you all set for Valentine’s Day on Thursday? Well even if you are, we wanted to remind you that this day of love is for all ages, young and old alike. Kids enjoy this special day because they receive sweet treats. If you are in need of a kid friendly Valentine’s Day craft, and a place they can store their candies then we have the perfect option for you. This 'love bee' is the perfect bearer of candy or small gifts for Valentine's Day. Sherrie Ragsdale designed this adorable project using FolkArt acrylic paints. This is a fun and simple project to do that will only take about an hour to complete. All the supplies for this project can be found below, along with their instructions.

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Baby Pink, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Wicker White, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Calico Red, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Licorice, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

Medium clay pot
Small clay pot
Small clay saucer
White Black and green chenille stems
Red craft foam
Pencil
#12 flat brush
¾” flat brush
Liner brush
4” lace ribbon
Hot glue

Instructions

1.    Base coat the two pots Baby Pink. Base coat the saucer and the inside of the larger pot with Licorice.  Allow to dry.  Add Calico Red Stripes to smaller pot.

2.    Add Wicker White eyes using the end of a pencil eraser.  Use a stencil brush with all of the excess Calico Red removed for the cheeks.   Paint the mouth with a liner brush in Licorice.  Add the black dots to the center of the white eyes with the end of the paint brush.

3.    Glue the pots together.  Glue the body of the bee to the black saucer.

4.    Tie a lace bow for the wings and glue to the back.

5.    Glue a black chenille stem to the back of the bee for the arms and roll up ends.

6.    Glue two black chenille stems the saucer for the legs.  Roll up the ends and bend at knee.
 

7.    Fold a green chenille stem in half and roll up the ends and twist after bend.  Cut out a heart from red craft foam.  Write “be mine” with extra fine marker.  Glue heart  to the green chenille stem. 

8.    Fold white chenille stem in half and roll up ends for the antennas.  Glue to the inside of front of pot.

By Candie from Candie Cooper’s Journal

 

Here's a project that's a conversation heart in its own special way.  It has been painted with chalkboard paints so that you can write and doodle your own sentiments.

 

You will need two wood hearts-1 sold and 1 filigree.  Paint each of the hearts with Plaid's chalkboard paint.  I chose old school green and black, but Plaids chalkboard paint comes in many colors.  Pick your two favs!  The solid heart will need the back painted as well.

 

Adhere the filigree heart to the solid heart with thick craft glue.  It helps to set a book on top of the layers to keep the pieces flat while the glue sets up.

 

Doodle on the heart with colored chalks.  Add small hearts, polka dots, scallops, stripes and more. 

 

Painting the back of the heart makes the chalkboard reversible!  How about cutting a heart from a small sponge to act as an eraser?

 

Now it's time to erase and repeat.  This would make a fun teacher valentine for sure!

Happy Monday! Welcome the start of a new week by creating this simple yet adorable Valentine’s Day projects. Sherrie Ragsdale created this project using FolkArt paints. This I Love You Flower Pot is a fantastic kids craft, and one teachers can have their students create in an art class. It will take about an hour to complete, but once finished you will have a wonderful flower pot filled with lots of love. Keep for yourself, our give as a gift to a special someone. All the supplies for this project can be found below, along with their instructions. Enjoy and have a wonderful week.

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Bright Baby Pink, 2 oz.

·       Simply ® Stencils - Value Packs - Shapes

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Lipstick Red, 2 oz.

·       Stencil Decor ® Accessories - Dauber Set, multi

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Wicker White, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Nutmeg, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

Brown construction paper
Pink construction paper
Red construction paper
Skinny sticks
Brown ribbon
Brown chenille stems
3 red buttons
2 1/2" rose clay pot
3/4" Flat brush
Black marker
2" Styrofoam ball
White craft glue
Scalloped scissors
Scissors

Instructions

1.    Draw and cut out two red hards and one pink heart using construction paper.

2.    Using the Dauber, make dots as shown in photo, Lipstick Red dots on pink heart and Bright Baby Pink dots on red hearts. Add Wicker White dots with the end of a small paint brush to all hearts.

3.    Using the permanent marker, write "I," "love," "you" on the hearts.

4.    Glue hearts to brown construction paper. Cut out hearts with scalloped scissors, leaving a small brown border.

5.    Paint the skinny sticks and styrofoam ball Nutmeg. Allow to dry.

6.    Paint the pot Lipstick Red. Allow to dry. Add the Bright Baby Pink dots to pot using the 1/4" dauber.

7.    Glue the stick to the back of the hearts to make a stem. Tie a brown bow and glue to bottom of heart. Take the brown chenille stem and wrap it around the back and back to front . Twist to hold in place. Make spiral by wrapping it around you finger.

8.    Glue the red button to front of bow.

9.    Insert ball into the pot and insert heart flowers into the ball.

 

Oh happy day, its Friday! The weekend is here and before you get swept up in running errands, cleaning, or preparing for your Super Bowl party, we want to share with you a great weekend project your kids can make. Cassie from Hi Sugarplum created these DIY Animal Bookends. How cute are they? Cassie made this project using a mixture of duct tape and FolkArt paints. This is such a creative idea, and we’re absolutely in love with it. To see how you and your kids can create these bookends click here.

You know, you don’t always need to leave your home to find craft supplies. Often times they are lying around right in front of you. Take these cereal box Valentine holders. With this adorable project you can turn leftover cereal boxes into cute Valentine boxes. Julie Lewis created these holders, and they are very inexpensive and Earth friendly! Spread the love this Valentine’s Day by creating this project. Have your little ones take this to school to collect all their Valentine cards. Julie created this project with FolkArt paints. All the supplies you will need are below, and click here to see the instructions.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Wicker White, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Licorice, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

Empty cereal boxes
Flat brush ½”
1 ¼” foam spouncer
Craft knife
Ruler
Brown craft paper
Red grosgrain ribbon
Assorted gems and glitter stickers
2 large red glitter stickers
Wood valentine appliqué
Pink and red chenille stems
Glue
Double sided tape
Scissors

Although the first month of the year is almost over, we are still at the beginning of 2013. People love to take time during this time to think about new projects to tackle, or things to spruce up. A simple project to create that can be a nice addition to a door in your home is this Chalkboard Door Sign. This is a fun sign for teen or tween room. Kirsten Jones designed this cute sign using FolkArt paints and FolkArt chalkboard paint. Your tween or teen will be able to create several messages on this door sign. All the supplies can be found below, and for the complete instructions click here.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Chalkboard Paint - Black, 8 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Daffodil Yellow, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Lime Green, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Calypso Sky, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Light Fuchsia, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Wicker White, 2 oz.

·       Plaid ® Wood Surfaces - Door Hangers, 6 pack

Other Supplies

#10 flat brush
Small round brush
Artist varnish gloss

 

Education does not start and begin in school. A child can be educated in and out of school, and even at home. This colorful alphabet sampler is the perfect way to add educational décor to your child’s room. If your little one is beginning to learn their A-B-Cs, this project it a must have item to add to their room. Feel free to change the colors choices based on your child’s preference, and don’t just stop at the alphabet create a number sampler to accompany this project. Debbie Saenz designed this project using several FolkArt acrylic paints. While this project may a tad too advanced for your little one to make by themselves, they can definitely help you. Encourage your child to enjoy education, and show them how fun learning can be.  All the supplies you will need can be found below, and click here to see their instructions.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Bright Green, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Apple Red, 2 oz.

·       Plaid ® Stencils - Value Packs - Letter Stencils - Old School, 1-1/2"

·       Stencil Decor ® Brushes - Stencil Brush, 3/8"

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - True Blue, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Artists Pigments™ - Medium Yellow, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

11” x 14” Artist canvas
Pencil
Ruler

In need of a pretty and practical storage idea? You’re in luck we’ve got just the thing check out this Chalkboard Pencil Box. Kirsten Jones designed this adorable storage project. If you’re a teacher this would be a great kids craft for them to make, or you can make one for your desk at work, or home office. This project was created using FolkArt paints and Mod Podge. Pencils and pens are objects that need to be stored, or else you will loose them and always wonder what happened to them. A list of supplies you need to make this pencil box are below, and to find the complete instructions click here.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Bright Baby Pink, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Glazed Carrots, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Wicker White, 2 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Gloss, 4 oz.

Other Supplies

Chalkboard and wood pencil box
1 piece of scrapbook paper- desired pink and orange pattern
#12 paintbrush
Pencil
Scissors

There are staple craft surfaces that are never going to go away. One of those surfaces is a frame. Frames give us the possibilities to adorn our memories of our family and friends. This Valentine’s Day create this modern Heart Zig Zag frame made with Mod Podge. Amy Anderson from Mod Podge Rocks created this frame. It is so cute and puts a different spin on the traditional frame. To make one for yourself or to give as a gift to someone see all the supplies and instructions below.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       Martha Stewart Crafts™ 2oz Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Craft Paint - Camellia Pink

·       Martha Stewart Crafts™ 2oz Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Craft Paint - Pink Dahlia

·       Martha Stewart Crafts™ 2oz Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Craft Paint - Habanero

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Pure Gold, 8 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Satin, 8 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Dimensional Magic - Glitter Gold, 2 oz.

 

Other Supplies

Wood frame
Wood hearts – 1 large and 3 small
Scrapbook paper in the color or pattern of your choice
Paintbrush
Pencil
Scissors
Craft glue

Instructions

1.     Place your frame face down on the back of the paper and trace.

2.     Cut out the paper using the scissors and set aside.

3.     Paint the edges and back of the frame with several coats of Habenero. Let dry.

4.    Paint the wood hearts with the remaining colors (see photo for reference). Let dry.

5.    Mod Podge the paper to the frame. Use a medium coat of Mod Podge and spread over the entire frame. Smooth the paper down and let dry for 15 – 20 minutes.

6.    Add a coat of Mod Podge over the top and let dry. Add a second coat and let dry.

7.    Glue the hearts to the frame as shown using craft glue. Let dry.

8.    Add Dimensional Magic to the tops of the hearts and let dry overnight, keeping the frame flat.

9.    Once the Dimensional Magic is dry, place a picture in the frame and display.

For many of you, you are still on holiday vacation nibbling away on left over holiday treats. One of the treats many people may have many left over, are Candy Canes. Put those sweet treats to use and create these Candy Cane Chalkboard place cards. Cheryl from That’s What Che Said created these adorable cards. What a creative way to use candy. This is a very simple craft project that uses only a few supplies including FolkArt chalkboard paint. To learn how to make these place cards visit Cheryl’s blog here.

Did you know a wreath can come in other shapes besides a circle? Try something different this holiday season by creating a unique rectangle snowman "wreath" for your door. Kindra Boroff designed this adorable craft using FolkArt Outdoor paints. This is a beginner level project that is fine for all crafters to make. Use this wreath on any door in your home to add some extra holiday cheer. Below are all the supplies you will need. To find the complete instructions for this project click here.  

PLAID Supplies ·       FolkArt ® Outdoor™ Acrylic Colors - Brush On - Engine Red, 2 oz. ·       FolkArt ® Outdoor™ Acrylic Colors - Brush On - Pure Orange, 2 oz. ·       FolkArt ® Outdoor™ Acrylic Colors - Brush On - Fresh Foliage, 2 oz. ·       FolkArt ® Outdoor™ Acrylic Colors - Brush On - Calypso Sky, 2 oz. ·       FolkArt ® Outdoor™ Acrylic Colors - Brush On - Licorice, 2 oz. ·       FolkArt ® Outdoor™ Acrylic Colors - Metallic - Pure Gold, 2 oz. ·       FolkArt ® Outdoor™ Acrylic Colors - Brush On - Warm White, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

3 unfinished wood snowflakes
6 ½” plywood circle
Large plywood circle
11 x 14 unfinished wood frame
Faux evergreen branches
Wire hanger
Old sweater or felt
Hot glue
Pinking shears
#1 Script liner
1” flat brush
Stencil brush
Sandpaper
2 small tree branches

By Candie Cooper - To see more projects from Candie visit her blog Candie Cooper's Journal

Rawr! These mighty dinos are ready to decorate the tree!

 

Gather your favorite paints, brushes, Mod Podge and embellishments along with some plain dinosaur ornaments.  I found these dinos at the dollar store--10 for $1.  Decorate them with your favorite techniques.  Some ideas are sponge painting, Mod Podged paper with gems, and a coat or two of Extreme Glitter.  Use Podge to attach a wiggle eye.  A scrap of ribbon or old sweater cut into strips makes a great scarf.

 

Don't forget your name and date on the back.  That's always fun to see year after year.

 

Bakers twine fits neatly through the hole so you can hang it up.  Maybe I should rename this post to "dazzling dinos!"

Do your kids love gingerbread men? If so they are going to love this adorable craft project. Have them get in the spirit of the holidays by creating this Mod Podge Gingerbread Man Wreath. We discovered this easy to make project on the blog Radmegan. Megan used several Plaid products to design this wreath including Mod Podge and FolkArt paints. Since this project has a few steps to it, it is perfect for a family to create together. Maybe this weekend you can make some gingerbread cookies and this gingerbread man wreath. To learn how Megan made this project click here. 

Welcome back from the weekend. Did you get some crafting done? We sure hope so, but in case you didn’t we have a jammed packed holiday post to share with you today. Kindra Boroff, a very talented designer, created three amazing and simple to make ornaments. The best thing about these ornaments is that you can create them with your fingerprints. She made a snowy Christmas tree ornament, reindeer polka dot ornament, and a Christmas light strand ornament. To learn how to make one or all three see below for a list of supplies, along with their instructions.

 

Snowy Christmas Tree Ornament

 

Plaid Supplies

 

FolkArt Acrylic Paint-938 Licorice, 661 Metallic Black Sequin, 901 Wicker White, 660 Metallic Pure Gold

 

Other Supplies

 

Glass ball ornament, Green satin ribbon, Green rhinestones, Red rhinestones, Clear rhinestones, Hot glue

 

Instructions

 

1.    Basecoat the ornament with Licorice. Allow to dry. Follow with a few coats of Metallic Black Sequin.

2.    Using your fingerprints and Wicker White create Christmas trees. Start with four fingerprints on the bottom row and add one less on each row.

3.    Using a dry brush or toothbrush, lightly splatter Wicker White to the ornament to create a snowy look.

4.    Paint the star with Pure Gold.

5.    Hot glue the rhinestones to the Christmas trees. Tie the green bow to the top.

 

Reindeer Polka Dot Ornament

 

Plaid Supplies

 

FolkArt Metallic Paint-671 Metallic Peridot, 664 Metallic Copper

FolkArt Acrylic Paint-2578 New Leaf Green, 938 Licorice, 901 Wicker White

 

Other Supplies

 

Glass ball ornament, Green satin ribbon, Glitter, Red Rhinestone, Hot Glue, Gloss sealer

 

Instructions

 

1.    Basecoat the ornament with New Leaf Green.

2.    Using the end of the paintbrush and Peridot add polka dots to the ornament and sprinkle with glitter.

3.    Using your thumb press the nose of the reindeer in Copper. Using your finger press the head of the reindeer with Copper.

4.    With the end of the paintbrush, add two Wicker White dots for the eyes.

5.    With Licorice, paint the antlers, smile and dot in the eyes.

6.    Seal the ornament with gloss sealer. Hot glue the rhinestone nose.

 

Christmas Light Strand Ornament

 

Plaid Supplies

 

FolkArt Acrylic Paint- 651 Metallic Blue Topaz, 437 Lipstick Red, 227 Bright Green, 524 Calypso Sky, 2550 Daffodil Yellow, 938 Licorice

 

Other Supplies

 

Glass ball ornament, Green Satin Ribbon, Hot glue, Black rickrack

 

Instructions

 

1.    Basecoat the ornament with Metallic Blue Topaz.

2.    Using your finger, press the colors listed above around the ornament.

3.    Hot glue the rickrack to the middle of the ornament as shown.

4.    With Licorice add the light bulb details.

5.    Tie the green ribbon in bow on the top of the ornament.

Happy Friday crafters! We have made it through the workweek, and now it’s time to get excited for the weekend. Every weekend from now till Christmas is sure to be a busy one for many people. There are gifts to buy, people to see, and parties to attend. Even with all this going on you still need to make time to craft with your kids and we have the perfect project. Make this Poinsettia Headband with your little girl. We found this adorable project on the blog Moneywise Moms. Gina designed this project using Mod Podge, dimensional magic, and FolkArt paints. Click here to learn how you can make this project.

Welcome back from a long holiday weekend. We hope you enjoyed some time off with family and friends. Now that Thanksgiving is over, it is officially time to countdown to Christmas. This is the perfect time of year to have your kids get crafting, and we have just the project they can help create. Make this deer clay pot family using FolkArt Acrylic Paint and Mod Podge. Kindra Boroff designed this adorable project. It is a great beginner craft that will only take up to one hour to complete.

 

Plaid Supplies

FolkArt Acrylic Paints: 940 Coffee Bean, 901 Wicker White, 938 Licorice

Mod Podge - CS12948 8oz, Antique

Plaid Brush Set-50536 Taklon & Natural Brush Set

Other Supplies

8” clay pot, 6” clay pot, 4” clay pot, Red & white hounds tooth paper, Red& white polka dot paper, Multi polka dot paper, .79 gold jingle bells, Brown felt, Dark brown adhesive felt, Large red pom pom, Medium black pom pom, Small black pom pom, 7/8” Red satin ribbon, Hole punch, Scissors, Hot glue, White thread, Red chenille stems.

Instructions

1.     Basecoat the clay pots with Coffee Bean.

2.     Using the templates, cut the front and backs of each antler out of the scrapbook paper.

3.     Using Antique Mod Podge, adhere the front and backs of the antlers together. Apply a few top coats on each side.

4.     With Wicker White, paint the eyes on the pot as shown. When the paint is dry, paint the Licorice section of the eye. Using the end of a brush handle and Wicker White, add the dots to the eyes.

5.     With the script liner and Licorice, paint the eyelashes to the girl deer.

6.     Cut the felt ears and the dark brown felt using the templates.

7.     Punch holes in the antlers and tie the jingle bells to the antlers with white thread.

8.     Hot glue the red chenille stems to the back of the antlers for more support.

9.     Hot glue the antlers to the clay pot as shown. Follow with the felt ears.

10.  Hot glue the pom poms to the clay pots. Hot glue the red bow to the girl deer.

11.  Using the hole punch and the dark brown adhesive felt add freckles to the baby deer and the beauty mark to the girl deer.

Click here to see the antler template that goes along with this project.

By Candie Cooper – To see more crafts by Candie visit her blog, Candie Cooper’s Journal

 

It's time to set the table for Thanksgiving with these cute napkin rings! Here's an easy idea that your family can make together to say what you're thankful for.

 

You will need a few magazines, Mod Podge, Extreme Glitter in gold or orange, silk leaves, scissors, buttons, decorative papers, cardstock and some paint brushes.

 

Have everyone cut out words they are thankful for from the magazines.

 

Mod Podge them to the decorative paper and cut into tags.

 

 

Paint a layer of Extreme Glitter onto the silk leaves and set aside to dry. Cut 1" wide strips from the card stock.

 

 

Form a loop with the 1" strips and glue (I used cool temp hot glue). Glue a leaf, tag and button on top. These would also be fun place cards with names instead of thankful words. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!!

By Candie Cooper – To see more crafts by Candie visit her blog, Candie Cooper’s Journal

 

Pumpkins are popping up on clearance aisles all over the place with Fall coming to a close.  Here's an idea that you can make using whatever collage materials you like.  

 

You'll need a pumpkin form, Folk Art paints in orange shades, Extreme Glitter in orange, Gold gilding paint from Martha Stewart or Gold Folk Art paint, Mod Podge, brushes and some papers.  I used dictionary, but you can use colored tissue paper or any thin paper.

 

Tear the dictionary paper into small pieces. Use a foam brush to paint Mod Podge on the pumpkin and add paper, sealing each piece with MP as you go.  It takes a few seconds for the paper to saturate, but once it does it's easier to form around the pumpkin and smooth out with your brush.

 

Put some water in a small cup and paint on a pallet.  Dip your brush in water and then into paint and brush over the pumpkin.  This makes the paint thinner so you can see the paper.  Add as many paint layers as you like.

 

Seal the pumpkin with a layer of Extreme Glitter in orange.  This will make the pumpkin shiny and sparkly.  Optionally, you can paint gold stripes in between each of the ridges with a small brush.

 

Find some embellishments such as a few leaves or a pretty ribbon.  I stamped the tag above but you could print something from the computer too.

 

Arrange your embellishments on top and hot glue in place.

 

The paper adds such a fun texture to all the layers.  I made these with a craft club and it was so fun to see how each person's turned out!

By Candie Cooper – To see more crafts from Candie visit her blog Candie Cooper’s Journal

These little skeletons look like they are up to some tricks but inside they're all treats!

 

Folk Art paints love any paper mache' surface like these skeleton boxes. You'll need your favorite colors plus white, Extreme Glitter in Hologram, paintbrushes and a permanent marker.

 

Paint the bottom half of the box in the desired colors.

 

Paint the faces with Ivory White and leave to dry. Add a sparkly layer with Extreme Glitter. Use a permanent marker on the edge to add dashes, stripes, or dots.

 

Tissue paper was Mod Podged on the inside and left to dry. Have you seen the MP formula sampler pack? Awesome for beginners and small projects like votives, jewelry and more!

 

I found these die cut eyeballs and couldn't resist adding them to the skulls. Suddenly they come to life! Funny, huh?

 

Baker's twine bows were added with hot glue. Fill them up with sweet or silly treats for your friends this Halloween!

By Candie Cooper - To see more crafts from Candie check out her blog, Candie Cooper's Journal

Fall is here, the birds have flown south, and the rats and spiders have taken over! Decorate plain birdhouses with different Plaid products to get spooky houses like these. Here's how!

 

Paint your houses in whatever Halloween Folk Art colors you like. Add coats of Extreme Glitter for a bit of sparkle---I used Peridot over Calypso Sky Folk Art paint. For the green house, tiny sequins were sprinkled over a coat of Mod Podge Outdoor. A piece of black net was cut to lay over the rooftop, dipped in Stiffy and laid over the top to dry as well.  Stiffy makes any fabric surface rigid. Flat back crystals and embellishments were added with Mod Podge too.

 

Gallery Glass isn't just for glass! Use it to create a shiny slimy look on wood too as seen just above the spider. Ribbon was hot glued to the top in a loopy fashion to add a whimsical touch.

 

Little rats from the Dollar Store have been painted with Silver Outdoor Folk Art paint. You can glue them to the house with multi-purpose adhesive or let them scatter about. You can paint a spider web on the front or use a permanent marker to draw one.

 

Check out Plaid Crafts YouTube channel to see more Halloween ideas including the techniques used on these birdhouses. These houses are not completely outdoor proof so I'll be bringing the critters inside to set in my kitchen window. Happy crafting!

Bats, Spiders, and Pumpkins…ohh my! Looking for a great way to decorate your pumpkins, try using chalkboard paint. Chalkboard paint is a great craft supply for kids to create with. It allows them to draw on a surface, and gives them the option to erase their work if they want. Check out these chalkboard pumpkins, how cute are they? Have your kids make these, and add funny and creative faces to them. All the materials you will need for this project is below. To see the complete instructions click here. 

 

PLAID Supplies

·        FolkArt ® Chalkboard Paint - Black, 8 oz.

·        FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Licorice, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

1” flat brush
2 sheets stiff black felt
Thick black pipe cleaners
Craft knife

Happy Monday! Is anyone else as excited for the upcoming fall season as I am? One of my favorite decorative items to bring out during the fall, are pumpkins. You know pumpkins aren't just for Halloween, they're decorative items that you can use through the whole season. Use them as a centerpiece, or to jazz up a mantle. Cathie and Steve recently created a few pumpkins; check out this crochet flower pumpkin. A very unique and creative spin on what you can do with crochet pieces and a pumpkin. Below are the supplies you need for this project. Click here to see the instructions for this pumpkin.

 

PLAID Supplies

Plaid ® Hot Glue Gun Helpers

FolkArt ® Metallics - Inca Gold, 2 oz.

Mod Podge ® Fabric, 8 oz.

Other Supplies

 

Small fake pumpkin

Foam paintbrush

Crochet flowers

Rhinestones

Hot glue

By Candie Cooper – See more from Candie on her blog, Candie Cooper’s Journal

 

I was going to make a cheesy joke about skeletons and break dancing, but then I stopped myself.  Halloween decorations are everywhere, people!  The other day I was bopping around the Dollar Tree and picked up a wreath, some ribbon and these skeleton drinking straws. Wreaths are a fun project for kids to decorate because anything goes. Here are a few ideas....

This wreath was jazzed up with Purple Folk Art Paint, Purple Extreme Glitter, Sequins and Mod Podge. To make base coating the wreath easier, dip your paint brush in water before adding paint so it seeps into the cracks and crevices. Leave to dry and add a coat or two of Purple Extreme Glitter.

My favorite part about these little guys is their limbs move and wiggle. Cut the straws to fit inside the wreath--wedge them in or use hot glue to keep them in place. Add stars around the edge with dots of Mod Podge.

Glue a bow tie to the bottom and hang it from string (and cue the Monster Mash song just for fun). 

Notebooks are a must have back to school supply for any student, but instead of having a traditional looking notebook here is a unique one to try. Recycle a pair of old jeans and make a really cool notebook any girl would love. Debbie Saenz designed this adorable and creative project. Your little girl will be the envy of her friends at school when they see it. It is simple to make, and a perfect project for a beginner. See a full list of supplies needed and the project instructions below.

 

Plaid Supplies

 

Mod Podge Matte – CS11302,

FolkArt Acrylic Paint – 652 Metallic Rose,

FolkArt Acrylic Paint – 901 Wicker White

 

Other Supplies

 

Composition notebook, Jean pocket and strip of jean from an old pair of jeans, Floral scrapbook paper, Coordinating scrapbook paper, Flower embellishment, Button, Rhinestones, Velvet ribbon, Hot glue, Sandpaper, Pencil, and Paintbrush

 

Is your young scholar in need of a bookmark? If so, try creating this one designed by Kindra Boroff. Bookmarks are usually always on the back to school shopping list, but I bet you can’t find one in the stores as cute as this one. What really makes this bookmark so unique is that its base is a made using a clothespin. The clothespin allows the reader to clip the page they would like to hold in place. It is very simple to make, and uses tons of fun and vibrant FolkArt paint colors. This is a craft perfect for all ages that will only take up to an hour to finish. Happy bookmarking!

 

Plaid Supplies

 

FolkArt Acrylic Paint-2574 Brilliant Pink

                                          628 Pure Orange

                                          481 Aqua

                                          437 Lipstick Red

                                          938 Licorice

FolkArt Extreme Glitter-2837 Fuchsia

                                               2793 Orange

                                               2838 Aqua

 

Other Supplies

 

12 small wood circles, 1-1 ¼” wood circle, 1-2” wood oval, 4- 2” wood teardrops, 1- 1 ½” wood oval, 4-1” wood teardrops, Turquoise felt, 3/8” orange and white polka dot grosgrain ribbon, 3/8” aqua satin ribbon, Metal alligator clip, Clean spray bottle, Hot glue, Script liner, 1” flat brush, Aluminum foil, Baking sheet, Oven, Dowel rods, Clothespins, Scissors.

 

Instructions

 

1.    Preheat oven to 275. Line the baking sheet with aluminum foil. Wrap the ribbon around the dowel rods and hold in place with the clothespins. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove the ribbon from the dowel rod when it is completely cooled.

2.    Base-coat the large circle, small teardrops and oval with Brilliant Pink. Apply several coats of Fuchsia Extreme Glitter, allowing to dry between coats.

3.    Base-coat the small oval with Pure Orange. Apply several coats of Orange Extreme Glitter.

4.    Base-coat the large teardrops with Wicker White.  Individually mix Brilliant Pink, Pure Orange and Aqua with water. Add to the teardrops and lightly spray with water. Mix the paint to create a tie dye effect.

5.    Paint all but two of the small circles with Aqua. When dry, paint Aqua Extreme Glitter on the circles. Paint the remaining two with Lipstick Red.

6.    Hot glue the pieces together as shown, creating a butterfly.

7.    Add a drop of hot glue to the top of the alligator clip and wrap the aqua ribbon around the front of the clip. You may need to add a few drops of glue as you go to keep the ribbon from slipping. Glue ribbon swirls to the top of the back section of the clip and repeat the steps to wrap the back section of the clip with ribbon.

8.    Cut two shorter pieces of the curled ribbon and glue to the back of the head for antennas. Glue the butterfly to a piece of felt and trim the edges.

9.    Add two eyes and a smile with Licorice. Hot glue the butterfly to the clip as shown.

 

With school back in session many art and craft classes maybe looking for some in class projects to create. This Pinto Pony is a great choice, and utilizes several school supplies. Julie Lewis, a designer here at Plaid, created this adorable project. Below are all the supplies you will need for this craft. Click here to view the instructions, and have your students create this project soon.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Extreme Glitter™ - Red, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Artists Pigments™ - Pure Black, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Wicker White, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

½” flat brush
Foam spouncer
5 – Toilet paper tubes (or 1 wrapping paper tube cut into 4 ½” lengths)
1 – Salt container
1 – Child’s shoebox
7/8” wide grosgrain ribbon – red and black
Black construction paper
Hot glue
Scissors
Pencil
2 – 25mm wiggly eyes
Hole punch
2 – 1 ¼” turquoise buttons
4 – ½” turquoise buttons
Red foam sheet – 8 ½” x 3’

 

By Candie Cooper - To see more projects by Candie visit her blog Candie Cooper's Journal

 

The notebooks are being bought and the pencils sharpened. It's back to school time! Here's a fun bulletin board project to make with your kids or as a treat for your favorite teacher.
 

You will need Folk Art Paints in your favorite colors, stencil spouncers, paint brushes, ribbon and button embellishments and cork boards (owl and dog are from Target).
 
Base coat the board in desired color(s).  
 

Spouncers make the perfect polka-dots. Especially on this owl's belly!
 

Use a tiny paint brush to paint the beak and stripes around the eyes. Use thick tacky glue to adhere the buttons.
 

Ta-da! Use Extreme Glitter to add a touch of sparkle like I did for the dog bulletin board. Before I forget, it's a good idea to spray a coat of varnish to protect the paint before using.
 

For the dog, I painted the glitter directly onto the cork (no base coating!) and added a ribbon collar and button dog tag. The boards are light enough, you could add a few magnets and stick them in a locker.
 

This little fella is ready for my mom's office at school. She's going to love his orange and black school spirit!

By Candie Cooper - Visit Candie's blog Candie Cooper's Journal to see more cool projects

 

I'm a sucker for anything with corrugated metal including this flower hanger.  I usually steer clear of blank surfaces like this because I'm scared to death to write letters with a paintbrush.  You too?  I have a trick for you then.

 

You will need a flower sign, Folk Art acrylic paint, Folk Art Enamel paint, felt flower embellishment, multi-purpose adhesive, buttons, paint brushes and trim.  You might also need some Folk Art outdoor sealer.

 

FA enamel paints are good for ceramic and metal surfaces.  You can paint just the center or the entire flower.

 

Now for the lettering...  Find some large rubber stamp letters in the scrapbook section of the craft store and a clear acrylic block to hold the letters.  Paint the blank wood surface however you like--I suggest a lighter color underneath the letters.  Spell out WELCOME with the letters.  Spread some paint over a paper plate and dip the stamp block in.  Stamp letters onto sign (you may have to do this in two parts).  Optionally you can seal the sign with a clear varnish to protect it.

 

Finish by gluing some embellishments to the center of the flower and maybe some pom-pom trim to the bottom of the sign.  With the first day of school right around the corner, this would make a good teacher gift also.

During the summer months, many families spend more time together. Families enjoy cookouts, picnic, and vacations. There are several memories to capture, but most important its great to highlight each member of your family. This kids family tree turns family photos into a fun keepsake! Sherrie Ragsdale designed this project. This is such a simple, yet creative gift to make during this season. It is sure to bring your family together.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Ocean Cruise, 2 oz.

·       Simply ® Stencils - Uncut Blank

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Coffee Bean, 2 oz.

·       Plaid ® Wood Surfaces - Plaques - Rectangle, Large

Other Supplies

Black fine permanent ink marker
Six water bottle tops
Brown 1/8" ribbon
Glue
Scissors
Pencil
Large flat brush
Craft knife or stencil cutter

Instructions

1.    Base-coat the plaque Ocean Cruise. Allow to dry.

2.    Using the pattern provided, trace on stencil blank and use craft knife or stencil cutter to create stencil. Stencil tree and paint Coffee Bean. Allow to dry.

3.    Cut faces in circles and glue them into the inside of the lids.

4.    Using the marker, outline the tree and add detail to the inside of tree. Outline the plaque and add birds. Write "my family" as shown in photo.

5.    Glue lids to tree.

6.    Cut ribbon to desired length and attach with glue to back.

 

Do your little ones like the ocean? Have they been exposed to the creatures of the sea? If they are fans of the seas, then they are sure to fall in love with this great summer project. Wiggle away boredom with this hanging jellyfish. This is such a simple project that will take no time to create.

 

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Outdoor™ Acrylic Colors - Brush On - Lemon Custard, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

Water bottle
Sponge brush
Hole puncher
Seven 30" 1/8" ribbons - yellow
Six 30" 1/8" ribbons - orange
Two large wiggle eyes
Craft knife or scissors (adults only)
White craft glue

Instructions

1.    Cut the bottom half of the bottle horizontally with scissors or a craft knife (adults only).

2.    Paint the inside of the bottle Lemon Custard using the sponge brush. Allow to dry. Add as many coats as needed for opaque coverage.

3.    Punch 12 holes along the bottom edge with hole punch. Insert the ribbon alternating colors as you go.

4.    Glue wiggle eyes and the hanger in place.

5.    Puncture hole at center of bottle bottom. Thread ribbon through hole and secure with a knot to create hanger.

 

By Candie Cooper - To see more from Candie visit her blog Candie Cooper's Journal

I've spent a good amount of time in the lawn and garden sections at retailers this year.  I love the cute whimsies to decorate your garden with.  One thing that especially caught my eye was the pot hangers from raccoons to frogs and gnomes.  Inspired, I created some special Independence Day decorations that can hang from flowerpots.  

You will need:
Folk Art paint in red, white, and blue, silver Duck tape, acrylic gems, sparkly chenille stems, Mod Podge Hard Coat, paintbrushes, silver letter beads, desired wood shapes, paper and scissors.

Punch a hold in the wood shape with a drill or thumb tack.  Paint the shapes in blue and red and while the paint is still wet, brush white over tops in different designs (I used swirls and slashes).  Set aside to dry.  Use a contrasting color and the end of your paint brush to make dots around the edge of the shapes.

Put Duck tape on paper and cut out shapes to embellish the designs--a body for the butterfly, strips for the flower petals.  Use Mod Podge hard coat to attach them to the wood pieces.  You can also adhere the acrylic gems with the MP hard coat.  While those dry, spell out AMERICA or USA onto the chenille stems.  

String the stem through the hole in the wood shape, folding in half and then folding the top half again to make the hook.  For the flower, I added an extra piece that twirled from the side with USA beads.

Have a very safe and happy holiday from us at Plaid!