We are keeping our celebration going, and celebrating Earth Day all week long. One great way to peak your child’s interest in becoming more earth friendly is by having them plant a flower. But don’t just stop with simply planting a flower decorate the flowerpot. MaryLea did exactly that with her little ones. Her family had a blast creating these flowerpots using Mod Podge washout and Apple Barrel paints. This is a very easy project to make, and one that is perfect for this spring season. Click here to find all the supplies used, along with their instructions on her blog Pink and Green Mama.

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.

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.

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!

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

This year at the Craft and Hobby show I got to show off Plaid's Ring Bling line. With a love for big rings, I was in heaven! Women (and a few men) stopped by to make a ring. It only took a few minutes and everyone walked away smiling. Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Plaid booth!

The line is made up of ring blanks and a few bracelet blanks with tons of embellishments to go on top. The embellishments are metal, acrylic, sparkly, beaded and matte, tiny and big. I love that the rings come in different adjustable metal colors as well as styles from vintage to modern so there is one to suit everyone's personal taste.

Here are just a few of the embellishments that you'll find in the line. I've stacked two or three pieces together so you get some ideas. Once you're happy with the layering, it's time to glue!

Use a multi-purpose adhesive like Quick Grip or Dazzle Tac to put them together. Put a small dot of glue on a piece of paper and dip a toothpick in it to apply small bits of glue to tiny embellishments.

You can prop the rings up on a tube of lip gloss while they dry. Another idea is to fill a bowl with rice and bury the ring part to hold it upright while it dries.

One ring leads to another and another and another. Super addictive! This is your warning!

For an extra idea, you can glue a pretty button or two to a ring blank. Or how about cutting the back off of grandma's old clip on earring and glue it to a ring like I did here.

This could be a perfect activity for girl's night out, teen slumber party, DIY prom jewelry, and rainy day activity. Plaid's new Ring Bling line can be found at Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts.

It is never too early to begin teaching kids the importance of recycling. A great way to do this is by showing them how they can make something from recycled goods. Here is a great project that displays this. This recycled paper bracelet is a great project to have them create. The bracelet was designed by, Cathie and Steve.

PLAID Supplies

·       Mod Podge ® Matte, 16 oz.

Other Supplies

Cardboard from a Cracker Box, Ruler and Pencil, Scissors, Scrapbook, Paper, Foam Paintbrush, 25” Ribbon for Ties, Scrap Ribbon, Glue,
Paper Flowers, and Buttons

Instructions

1.    Using a ruler, pencil and scissors, cut the cardboard in a rectangle shape that measures 1.5” x 5”.  Cut the scrapbook paper to 3.5” x 5”.

2.    Apply the paper to the cardboard with Mod Podge. Coat the back of the paper with Mod Podge. Center the paper over the cardboard rectangle.  Press to secure. Wrap the ends of the paper around to the back of the cardboard. Press and overlap the ends. Top coat both sides with a coat of Mod Podge. Use your fingers to press out any air bubbles. Smooth your brushstrokes. Allow to dry. Bend a gentle curve in the bracelet. 

3.    Cut the 25” piece of ribbon in half. Glue each piece to the ends of the cardboard. Glue scrap ribbons around the ends of the cardboard.

4.    Add flower embellishments to the bracelet. Using glue attach the flowers to the top center of the bracelet. Add a button to the center.

5.    To wear, wrap around your wrist and tie the ribbons into a bow.

Normally you may not think there are many recycled Valentine’s Day crafts. Well here is one you will definitely be amazed by. These Cereal Box Valentine Holders are so creative, and unique. Julie Lewis designed these. I could really see teachers creating these with their students. Kids would love this project. Not only is it a recycled craft, it is purposeful also. It’s a great way to store all your Valentine cards.

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, and Scissors

Instructions

1. Carefully cut three sides of cereal box for lid with craft knife. Cut an opening for Valentines and poke two holes into top side of box for handles. Front of box will open from top and fold down.

2. Paint one Licorice and let dry.

3. Cut Craft paper to fit all sides of box and either glue or secure with double-sided tape. Cut and ‘X’ in opening for cards, fold paper to the inside and secure.

4. Apply Wicker White spouncer dots.

5. Cut length of ribbon for handle, or twist pink and red chenille stems together. Insert ends through holes and glue.

6. Cut lengths of ribbon for straps and glue around boxes as shown. Start at the top end of the front box opening and end at the front just even with card opening.

7. Glue embellishments and wood appliqué to box. Add large adhesive hearts to end of ribbon to close.

There are several resources to use as craft supplies, just in your backyard. Are you in need of pine cones, stones, sea shells, or sand? Well your in luck many of these natural resources are simply just a few steps away from you. Before you head out to craft store, just look outside first to see what supplies maybe right at your fingertips. Recruit your kids to help you look for craft supplies outside.

Reuse and Recycle

With the recent economy being in such turmoil the past few years, many people have begun to reuse and recycle many items. Why not do the same for crafting? Like most people, you probably clean out your closets, and gather up old clothes, nick-nacks, jewelry, and other things to donate. Well that's great, but before you get rid of anything take a second look, and check to see if you can use any of these items in craft projects you plan on making. What else can be recycled for your crafts? Old magazines are perfect for scrapbooking. Old Christmas and birthday cards can be cut up to create new greeting cards, gift tags, or even special wrapping paper. Take a look at these old items with a new eye, and you’ll be surprised at what you can save.

Make A Shopping List

I am sure you have heard this one before, mainly mentioned when people go to the grocery store. Well the same can be said when going to craft store. If you plan before you go shopping, it will help you stick to your plan and be less tempted to get off your initial shopping list. Thus you will not make any impulse purchases, that could make you over spend on necessary items.

Discounts

One of the best ways to save money on almost anything is to never pay retail. Always look for coupons, or shop when discounts are going on at your local craft store. Also don't be afraid to shop online. There are huge savings you can get in on, online. There are several online discount codes and coupons. We here at Plaid offer several online promo codes and discounts. Click here to see what's on sale now.

This Halloween spoon witch makes a stir you can't resist!

For whatever reason, my boys love collecting rocks. It isn't unusual for me to remove several of them from their pants when I'm about to do laundry, and if I'm not careful they occasionally will make it into the wash. I don't really no why they love rocks so much, but I do think this project is a great activity and a way to transform a picked-up rock into a true 'pet-rock'. This is a great activity for camp crafting, and fun to do with themes as well like animals, aliens and people. Enjoy! 

If you are looking for some cool summer crafts and want something that even the toddlers can do, visit Mini Eco for some tips on painting with ice cubes!
This is a super fun and super easy way to let the little ones paint with minimal mess.

If you are anything like me, you'll be spending the next few weeks organizing, cleaning and making room in your home for new toys and gifts. The end of the year is a great time to get organized- everone likes to start the begining of the year with a clean slate. And I, like many, love to free up mental and physical space for new creative projects that I have on the horizon.

I like to apply this concept to my children's play area as well. I'm trashing, donating, and otherise clearing out oldies, as well as doing a little winter cleeaning at home. And on Plaid Kids Crafts,  I'll be featuring projects over the next few days that combine creativity and organization. The first is this chalkboard toy box. Whether you have an old chalkboard that needs a fresh coat or paint, or you've found one at your local thrift store, you can give your box new life with FolkArt Chalkboard paint. This toy box is simple and easy to do and provides a new surface for customizing with the children. Happy crafting.

...with this cute travel suitcase. Great for summer vacations, sleepovers or trips to grandmas.

What can you do with a paper plate? We crafted a variety of fun animals with a few paper plates and cups. Check out the goldfish here and visit Plaidonline.com to see the rest.

This easy and fun summer craft idea that uses Sparkle Mod Podge was posted by Mama Jenn. It doubles as a craft and a game.
Check the site out for instructions.

 

Here is a list of our favorite Earth Day project. Use this as inspiration to
Create your own Earth Day Craft Projects

Gift Bag

Give A Hoot Container

Animal Cracker Purse

Recycled Train

Alien Bank

Chalkboard Pots

Rock Chic Memo Board

This post features something good to make and something great to eat. Little Birdie Secrets offers a mega post-a recipe PLUS a tutorial so you can deliver your treats in style! Follow this link for directions and LOTS of photos!
 

This is a sweet idea and a great way to reuse baby's old board books once they are outgrown. This idea comes from Katie's Nesting Spot! What a great way to recycle and reuse. See her post for instructions and more photos!
  

Help your children show how thankful they are with this great little turkey with grateful feathers. This projected was posted by Parents.com. The Turkey is made with yarn, scrabook paper and a few other supplies. See this project and other great project ideas here.

Our first fall craft roundup includes fun, simple projects for younger kids. These project are great for classroom settings or at-home crafting. Enjoy!

• Fall Leaves Recipe Holder Craft by Apples4teacher.com
• Craft projects for smaller kids by DLTK
• Fall Door Hanger by Mycraftbook.com

The photo above shows easy-to-make recipe holders from Apples4teacher.com.

Who says that science can't be crafty? We've scoured the web to find examples of the kinds of cool things that happen when the world's of science and crafts collide. The following kid-friendly craft projects are part science, part crafts and a whole lot of fun!

Make a Homemade Themometer

With a few ingredients commonly found around the house, you can make a working themometer. This project is presented by education.com. Click here for instructions.

Edible Earth
Make a model of the earth that's good enough to eat. This project appears on Suite101.com and was prepared by Belinda Moody. Click here for instructions.

Eco-Friendly home-made laundy detergent
After inquiries from her children as to how laundry detergent is made, Capessa from Shine decided to brew a batch. Check out her blog entry on making detergent, along with some humorous do's and don'ts.

All these science crafts are great for kids and the entire family.

Make these cute Animal Puppets from the San Diego Zoo from odds and ends around the house.

Its almost time to start planning for school in the fall. In addition to the regular back-to-school supplies that your child will need for school, consider creating a stash of extra supplies especially for special projects, reports and extra-credit assignments. Here's a list to get you started:

• Old Magazines-Great for making collages
• Poster Board
• Mod-Podge - The all-purpose glue and adhesive is great for decoupage, assembling collages and makes a great sealant.
• Texture Paint -Check out Plaid's new texture paint, great for making models, maps and more.
• Crayons
• Permanent Markers
• Chalkboard Paint -Makes any surface a chalkboard-writing surface.
• Report Covers-Keep a stash so you don't have to purchase them each time a report is due.
• Construction Paper
• empty bottles and containers of various shapes

Celebrate Independence Day at a whole new level this year!  This windsock will be a breeze to make and when you're finished be sure to let it soar free in the wind for everyone to see!

It's vacation time!  And you know what that means... lots of time in the car or on an airplane!  Things can get kind of boring after a while, so this is a great game to play while traveling.  With its magnetic game pieces you won't loose a thing when your mom or dad's car hits all the bumps in the road!  Because it's so small, this little game is easy to pack up; it can even fit in a pocket for anytime you want to play a little baseball while you're waiting for anything!

      
Every little girl at some point in her life wants a cute little purse to tote around--to be just like mommy!  This small bag is perfect for her to hold all those important things, like... crayons, toys, candy, bubbles, etc.  She'll feel pretty as a princess!  This project is fun to make and she'll really want to strut her stuff when she's finished creating it!  So get out those old faded blue jeans you know you'll never wear again and get started!

      
Next week is the end of the school year for my first grader. If this year is like past years he'll come home with a folder full of papers, projects and art that he's accumulated. Then, I have the hard job of sorting through, discarding (ugh!) and organizing the keepers. So I am planning on preserving some of the best work and using it for gifts and such. Here's a cute idea for saving kid's art that started as just a plain unfinshed tray.