Kids Craft Blog by PlaidOnline.com

Freelance Friday: DIY Mod Podge Pencils

Your DisplayName here! — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:38:18 GMT

Happy Friday! Boy am I glad the work week is coming to a close. I just returned from CHA, and I am in need of some rest and relaxation :) In case you feel like I do, and just want to unwind this weekend here is a great craft project you and your kids can create. Have your kids be the envy of all their classmates, by sending them to school with these DIY Mod Podge pencils. I found these adorable pencils on a blog called, Omiyage. To learn how to create these click here. Have a great weekend!

Web Wednesday: Several Valentine's Day Crafts from Around the Web

Your DisplayName here! — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:46:07 GMT

Are you in the Valentine's mood yet? Have you been dreaming of pink, red, and or purple hearts? Well if you are still not quite in the Valentine's Day spirit these and more craft projects will help. Over on Today's Mama they showcase several Valentine's Day crafts. I am sure after you see all of them not only will you be more excited for this holiday of love, but you will be off to your nearest craft store to buy supplies. Click here to see all the Valentine projects.

Tuesday Tutorial: A Mod Podge Collage

Your DisplayName here! — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:29:45 GMT

Can you believe this is the last day in the month of January? The year is already flying by. Tomorrow will be February 1st, and then the official countdown to Valentine's Day will begin. I know that there are many teachers scrambling to find and/or create kid friendly projects to show and teach to their students. Well here is a great project that is not only kid appropriate, but also fun for them to make. This is a Mod Podge collage. You will not need a whole lot of supplies, just mainly paper. I found this project on 365 Days of Crafts. To learn how to create this Mod Podge collage click, here.

Monday Funday: Monkey Love Card

Your DisplayName here! — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:05:53 GMT

Happy Monday :) . This is a great time of year to make cards. Not only are they simple craft projects to create, but you can get as creative as you’d like. One of the best gifts to give for Valentine’s Day is a lovely card. A designer of Plaid's, Sherri Ragsdale made this project. This cute, whimsical monkey card makes a great Valentine's Day greeting. See below for the supplies needed, and instructions on how to make this adorable car.

PLAID Supplies

· Simply ® Stencils - Value Packs - Tween Girl

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

· FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Nutmeg, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

Brown construction paper, Pink construction paper, White cardstock, 1/8" red ribbon, Glue stick, White craft glue, Scissors, and Stencil brush

Instructions

1. Stencil monkey onto pink paper in Nutmeg. Stencil the heart in the center with Lipstick Red. Allow to dry. Cut out monkey.

2. Cut out a piece of brown paper 1" shorter than the length of the card. Glue to card as shown in photo using the glue stick. Glue the monkey to card.

3. Cut seven uneven 1" strips from pink paper in different widths. Glue to top of card.

4. Cut red ribbon the width of the card front and adhere using the white craft glue in between the brown paper and the pink stripes. Tie a bow and glue onto card.

Freelance Friday: A Table Makeover with Apple Barrel

Your DisplayName here! — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:47:49 GMT

Tables are an item that we all have. Many are very basic in color and style. If you are looking for away to make your ordinary table more unique, then use this table makeover as inspiration for how a simple design, can still make your table really standout. How cute is this table? I love to see how people re-purpose their furniture, using craft products. I love how cute and simple this table is. The creator used spray paint, and apple barrel paint to makeover this table. I found this project on, Me and My First Grade Gang. To learn more on how this table was made click, here.

Teaching Thursdays: Valentine Candy Boxes

Your DisplayName here! — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:36:55 GMT

In less than a month your kids are going to begin bringing home tons of Valentine candies. Don’t wait until the last minute to figure out where to store all these goodies. These Valentine Candy Boxes will definitely come in hand. Help create these boxes with your kids. They will enjoy making them, and you will enjoy having a place to store their candy. These adorable boxes were made by, Cathie & Steve.

PLAID Supplies

FolkArt ® Extreme Glitter™ - Hologram, 5 oz.

· FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Pink, 2 oz.

· Mod Podge ® Matte, 8 oz.

Other Supplies

2 clear heart shaped favor boxes, Foam paint brush, Scissors, Hot glue gun, Decorative paper, Wood heart, Ribbon or trim, Silk or paper flower, and Rhinestones

Instructions

1. Trace the lid of the candy box onto decorative paper. Apply a layer of Mod Podge on the box lid and to the back of the paper. Place the paper on the lid. Apply more Mod Podge to the top, press with your finger until smooth. Apply more Mod Podge as necessary. Smooth your brush strokes.

2. Paint the wood heart pink. Topcoat with 3 coats of Hologram Extreme Glitter. Allow to dry.

3. Using hot glue, add trim across the box, the heart to the top of the box and a silk flower and rhinestone to the heart.

Web Wednesday: Mod Podge Flameless Candles

Your DisplayName here! — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:27:53 GMT

When you have little ones, there are often several precautions you have to take around your home. Many adults love candles, but they are not the most child friendly item around, for obvious reasons. Many kids love candles, because they become entranced by the flames. Well here is a project that may be a good compromise for both kids and their parents, mod podge flameless candles. I stumbled upon this craft project from a blog called, Love Bug Living. I saw these candles, and immediately fell in love with them. I love these! This project is great to do with your kids, and is very budget friendly. To learn how to re-create this project click, here.

Tuesday Tutorial: Cereal Box Valentine Holders

Your DisplayName here! — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:13:19 GMT

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.

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, 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.

Monday Funday: Hearts a' Flutter Bugs

Your DisplayName here! — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:31:49 GMT

By: Candie Cooper (See more projects from Candie on her blog, Candie Cooper's Journal)

What do you get when you put two hearts together? Wings! And love, of course which is what these little Hearts a' Flutter Bugs are all about!

Here are the basic supplies, but you'll also need some Mod Podge, paint brushes, buttons, sticky dot magnets, pink paint and thick glue.

Paint each heart silver and then decorate in a variety of ways. One way is by sponge painting as seen here. I'm using the Martha Stewart sea sponges with Metallic Pink Folk Art paint. This is one of my favorite ways to add surface decoration because it's so easy!

These craft sticks came decorated like this, but you could always cover plain ones with scrapbook paper. I'm using love themed K and Co. die cut strips to jazz em' up even more. Look for them in the scrapbook section of the craft store and use Mod Podge to adhere them to the stick.

Another way to decorate the wings is with Hologram Extreme glitter. Oh yeah!

Or with the Martha Stewart pink glitter paint that I used in last weeks, "Sweet Heart Art" post. I put it around the edge and a little in the middle. Glue the heart wings to the upper half of the craft stick followed by two magnet dots.

Fold a pipe cleaner in half and twirl the ends to create antennae. Use thick or cool temp hot glue to attach to the back of the head. See the picture above where I added mini pom-poms and big sequins to the end of the antennae for more pep.

You can also add a few buttons on the wings. These bugs are easy going and perfectly ok being decorated with the extra craft supplies you have laying around. Glue two wiggle eyes and suddenly your Flutter Bug is alive and ready to fly, spreading love to all!

Freelance Friday: Crayon Organizer from Monkey See, Monkey Do

Your DisplayName here! — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:31:12 GMT

All month we here at Plaid have been doing our best to give you some tips on how to organize your craft room, and supplies. Kids need help also organizing, their craft materials. As we all know it can be a little difficult at times to get kids to clean up after themselves, but here is a project that might make it easier for them. Jennifer from Monkey See, Monkey Do created these crayon organizers. She used a few craft supplies including, paints from the Martha Stewart craft line. I love this project, and it is a great way to help keep your kids' crafts organized. To learn how Jennifer made this click, here.