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Kids Crafts is full of fun, crafty projects, awesome activities, bright ideas, links to great kid-friendly sites and more, brought to you by Plaid.
 Friday, July 01, 2011

Quick & Easy Paper Vases

It’s amazing that all around us are everyday objects… some beautiful, some utilitarian and some quietly hiding behind their humble functions. It is there that out of nothing, something beautiful becomes. TOILET PAPER ROLLS! Yes, toilet paper rolls can be beautiful, and Plaid Designer, Julie Lewis found one surprisingly beautiful way to utilize something we throw away on a daily basis. The color combinations for this project are endless. So hang on to those rolls and here is all you need to create these clever vases:

Folkart Acrylic Paint – 516 Light Lavender, 524 Calypso Sky, 741 Glazed Carrots, 654 Metallic Amethyst, 651 Metallic Blue Topaz, 663 metallic Bronze

Crackle Medium – 696, 3 toilet paper tubes, 3 small clay pots – 1 ½” x 2”, Glue, Flat brush – ¾”, Artificial flowers

Paint one each of your tubes a metallic color. No prep needed! Awesome!

 

Once they dry the fun can really start!

 

Liberally apply Crackle Medium to your tubes. Rotate them a bit after applying so you don’t get huge drips. Some drips are fine as they crackle beautifully! Love the crackle!

Let the crackle medium dry and then apply another coat of FolkArt acrylic paint. Liberally apply strokes lengthwise on the tubes being careful not to overlap. If you do, gently smooth ridge with paintbrush. You can see it start to crackle right before your eyes! Yes! It truly is cool and amazing! Apply the corresponding acrylic color over the metallic base.



Now paint one each of the clay pots in a metallic color and let dry. Keep the pots turned upside down.

Run a bead of glue around one opening of each tube.



Place over pot until it rests on the rim and that is all! Surprisingly simple…

yet so fun and a cool way to recycle. The color possibilities are endless! Make some for yourself and for super great gifts.

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 Wednesday, June 29, 2011

4th of July Magnets
By Candie Cooper



The 4th of July commemorates the birth of our nation. Show your patriotism and love with these shining star magnets.  Here's how to make them:



Base coat each of the stars with red, white and blue Apple Barrel paints.  You can paint the big star one color and the small star a contrasting color.



Sponge painting is a really easy way to add fun effects to your painting.  I cut up a sea sponge into small pieces (about the size of a golf ball).  Dip the sponge into paint and then blot it around on a scrap surface until most of the paint is removed.  Now it is ready to be dabbed on the star!



It's also fun to leave a few stars solid and paint them with red, turquoise, or hologram Extreme Glitter to add sparkle.  



Seal each star with a coat of glossy Mod Podge.  This will make all your stars shiny and sealed.  You can also glue the little star on top of the big star with Mod Podge.



Embellish the stars with metallic pipe cleaners twirled into coils, ribbons, sequins and buttons.



Use a thick tacky glue to adhere the embellishments.  Use a weight, like the extreme glitter jar to hold the coils in place while the glue sets up.



Finish by gluing a magnet to the back of the star with the tacky glue, and perhaps adding the month and year with a  permanent marker.


#  Posted in: Apple-Barrel | Fourth-of-July | Mod-Podge Comments [19]   Trackback

 
 Monday, June 27, 2011

Paint Party!
By Candie Cooper

So it's the day of the big birthday luau celebration.  The tiki torches are set, grass skirts await and the next thing you know the weatherman is calling for an 89% chance of rain.  Luau canceled.  Now what?!?  Rainy day paint party, that's what! 



This is a hit for kids of all ages and there are many ways to go about it.  For my birthday, everyone took turns painting on a large 5'x5' canvas which I have in my studio (makes me smile every time I walk by it).  The other option is to buy mini canvases in which everyone paints there own picture to keep (party favors---check!).



I chose a Folk Art pallet of paint ahead of time (this still doesn't mean party guests won't get in your delicious stash of paint though---also makes me smile).   For a large painting, it's good to have 1" to 3" brushes available.  Paper towels, paper plates, water buckets, and smocks were also on hand.



It was so neat seeing the painting evolve.  People painted on and off throughout the evening, adding their special touch.



When it was finished, I sealed it with Folk Art gloss varnish.  Check out these detail shots!







It ended up being the best birthday in a really long time.  I got to hang out with my friends, create and laugh.  I really can't think of a better way to turn 32.  Thanks to all my friends for playing.
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