by Candie Cooper



With the hot days of summer on our heels, my mind takes me back to swimming at Grandma's pool, Popsicles on the porch swing, hose fights with my sister (when we were really supposed to be washing the car), flip flops, lightning bugs, and trips to the lake.  My mom always had little craft projects for us to make with our friends on the front porch.  With that in mind, here is a quick and easy jewelry project that you can make together this summer.



Materials:
Mod Podge
Paint brush
Fabric scraps
Clear acrylic pendants
Large jump ring
Extra bead embellishments, head pins, jump rings (optional)
Ribbon or leather (20" for each necklace)
Scissors
Tapestry needle



Cut a piece of fabric slightly larger than your pendant.  I used 100% cotton because it's super flexible which formed around the pendant easily.



Paint a coat of Mod Podge on the back of the crystal and place fabric on top.  Roll the crystal on it's side to burnish the fabric in place.  Set aside to dry.



Trim excess fabric around the edge of the pendant.



Seal the fabric with 2 more coats of Mod Podge and leave to dry. (tip: you can use a hair dryer to speed the drying process a bit)



Use a tapestry needle to poke a hole through the fabric where it hangs from.  Beaded embellishments can be added as well with extra jump rings, bits of chain, etc...  (Another tip: Mis-matched earrings make great added dangles, too, because they are essentially pre-made.)  If you want more tips on how to make your own jewelry, check out my jewelry making video on PlaidOnline.



String the pendant onto a piece of leather, ribbon or cord of your choice.
Tie around your neck with a bow for summer fun style!

When I picked up my son from school today he proudly showed off the project he made for his dad. I thought it was so cute and easy that I had to share it. All the kids did was Mod Podge tissue paper to tin cans. That's it! They each got creative with the colors they used and the way they placed the paper on the cans, and each one was a little masterpiece. Best of all, this project can be done in about an hour, not including drying time.

The teachers printed out "I love, you, Dad! Happy Father's Day 2011" and the kids glued it to the top of the can. They also printed out a little saying for the side:

"When I am at school, or when we are far apart, you are always in my heart. So here are some hugs and kisses for when I am away to remind you that I love you every day."



You know what is in the tin? You guessed it! Hershey's hugs and kisses candy. So sweet and simple, and Dad is sure to love it.

If you're looking for other last minute projects to do with the kiddos, check out our sister blog, Paint Me Plaid, and PlaidOnline.com.

Have a Happy Father's Day!

With all that has been in the news in recent years about toxic chemicals in our children's toys, we thought we'd let you know that Plaid paints are certified non-toxic. In fact, someone submitted a question to our sister blog, Paint Me Plaid, about it. Here's the post with the details.