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!

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

Are your kid's at that age where they are just beginning to learn the alphabet? If so, you should consider creating this project to help them learn it. This colorful alphabet sampler is the perfect way to add educational décor to your child’s room. Debbie Saenz designed this craft project, using a mixture of FolkArt paints and stencils. Not only does this project look adorable, it is also educational. This is a project that is perfect for an intermediate level crafter. It will take up to an hour and half to complete. Below is a list of the supplies and instructions you will need to recreate this project on your own. To see more educational craft projects from Plaid click here.

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

Instructions

1.    Use pencil to mark off a 1-inch border around frame.

2.    Paint inside of border with Medium Yellow.

3.    Paint border with Apple Red.

4.    Stencil the alphabet with a repeated pattern of True Blue, Apple Red, and Bright Green. Evenly space the letters of the alphabet across 6 rows leaving an empty space on each corner as shown.

5.    Stencil a star on each corner with True Blue.

By: Ariel C. Brodnax

Have your kids show some appreciation for the family cat, by having them make this creative pet frame. This is a beginner project that can take up to 2 hours to complete.

Plaid Supplies Used:

Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint - 20216 Fuchsia

Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint - 20513 Bright Yellow

Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint - 20740 Parakeet

Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint - 20504 Black

Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint - 20503 White

Plaid Memory Frame 4" x 6" - 96286 

Other Supplies Used:

Chenille pom-poms 1/4" - hot pink, Chenille pom-poms 1/4" - lime green, Chenille stems 6mm x 12" - black, White felt, Ribbon - your choice, Black paint marker, Hot glue gun, Foam paintbrush, Thin permanent black marker, White cardstock,  and Glue 

Project Instructions:

1. Sand the entire picture frame lightly using the foam nail file.

2. Apply two coats of Fuchsia to picture frame, allowing frame to dry twenty minutes between coats. Apply two coats of Black to picture frame easel back, allowing to dry twenty minutes between coats.

3. Cut out templates (either cat or dog). Lay out ear templates on white felt and trace around each template using the black marker. (Note: Ear templates are mirror images, so trace one ear, flip over, and trace the second ear.). Apply Fuchsia to back of ears (side without the trace marks) and allow to dry. (Note: Paint will bleed through to front of felt templates. This is okay.) (Step 3 photo.)

4. Apply one coat of White to front of each ear template to cover the Fuchsia paint bleed through. Allow to dry.

5. Apply one coat of Parakeet over White paint to front of each ear template and allow to dry. Cut out each ear.

6. Cut white cardstock in half and glue together. Transfer corresponding cat or dog collar tag to white cardstock. Allow to dry.

7. Cut out collar tag and paint Parakeet. Allow to dry. Write pet's name on tag using thin black marker.

8. Tape off bottom of picture frame as shown and paint Black. Remove tape. Mark whiskers on either side of the frame using the black marker for cat picture frame. Randomly paint polka dots using a 1/4" spouncer in Bright Yellow and Parakeet as shown.

9. Outline polka dots using the black paint marker. Adhere chenille pom-poms using the hot glue gun.

10. For cat ears, fold slightly in the middle of the ear and fold across the bottom as shown in the photo. Adhere the ears to the top of the picture frame using the hot glue gun. Add chenille pom-poms to the outside edges of the ears.

11. Adhere ribbon around the edge of the picture frame using the hot glue gun. Adhere ribbon across the bottom, lining up with the edge of the Black paint, to create the ribbon collar. Adhere small piece of ribbon to the collar tag to hang from the collar using the hot glue gun. Adhere to collar and cover with a small bow. Lastly, twist chenille stems as desired and adhere to picture frame at whisker marks. Adhere one pom-pom to the end of each whisker using the hot glue gun.   

A one eyed monster that will happily hold your favorite treats!

We've entered our project at the Halloween Blog Carnival! Check out the contest here!

Acorns and fall leaves for a warm, sunny window. Window clings can be changed with the seasons.

Make Halloween season more laughable this with this friendly and affable mummy.

This sunny sun catcher says "fall is here!"

Here at Plaid, we're totally into all of the crafting projects you can create with Apple Barrel paint and foam. Apple Barrel covers great on Foam. Make home decorating projects, kids crafts and more, like this cute butterfly door sign.

I'm in the middle of a lot or spring cleaning and redecorating. This time of year, it's great to add a touch of spring to your house with light colors and flower motifs. That's why I love this easy-to-do spring plaque. 

We love desk set revamps. They are easy to do and add a new look to a room. This desk set is so cute and trend-right with the popularity of the new Princess and the Frog movie. I also love the cool color combinations of green and purple-not traditional girl colors but definitely very cute and unique.

You can pick up the unfinished surfaces at your local craft store or use surfaces you already have handy. What a great way to get your favorite girl's room organized for the new year.

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.

What's better than apple pie? Preserving your favorite recipes. I think this rolling pin makes a great project for tweens and teens and is a great fall decoration. Plus, it is really easy to make with a little Mod Podge! Made by our craft faves, Cathie-and-Steve!

If you're looking to spruce up your child's room a bit, try making this chalkboard plaque. These also make great gifts!

Pretty and Fun project featuring Mod Podge! Visit Make and Takes for instructions!

Cool Letters for Kid's rooms from Inspire Me Crafts

As the mother of boy's I'm always looking for new theme's for boy's rooms. I just love these little boy projects with a boy's theme. There are four in all so click here to see them all.

Kid's home for the summer? Refresh your kid's room with this super easy table project, made with Chalkboard paint.

Make sure to check out the newest addition to the FolkArt® Family! New FolkArt Extreme Glitter™ gives you the shimmer of fine "sugar" glitter without the mess, allowing you to add glitz to any project! Available in an array of vibrant colors. Check out more information here or visit plaidonline.com!

Give a hoot and make this Owl Barrette Holder. This project was created by our favorite crafty duo, Cathie-and-Steve. Owl's are a hot decor tream, so this Barette Holder is the perfect craftfor your favorite tween. Make the project and check out more on Cathie and Steve, here.

These wonderful placemats were made using Chalkboard paint. What a fun and practical craft.
They were created and posted by Mamadoodles.blogspot.com. See her full blog entry for instructions.

Shannon, editor of Rocks in My Dryer blog challenged some of her readers to create kid's wall canvases, similar to the ones that are available at some high-end retailers. Below is the finished project created by the author. She used Mod Podge to decoupage her designs and states she loves some Mod Podge! To see the other projects that were submitted by her readers, visit her blog.

Here's a great way to give a kids desk set a new life. Repaint and add a chalkboard surface.

Here is a new project featuring the new stamps from High School Musical. To see the whole line visit Plaidonline.com

This cork board project is out of this world!