It’s Monday! Hope you had a wonderful weekend and were able to create a craft project. If you were not able to craft this weekend, no worries here is an easy craft you can create with your kids during the week. These chalkboard painted clay pots are very easy to create, and make for a great springtime project. For this project you will not need many supplies. Aside from the clay pots, you will only need some Apple Barrel and chalkboard paint. So simple and so fun.

PLAID Supplies

·       Apple Barrel ® Colors - Bright Yellow, 8 oz.

·       Apple Barrel ® Colors - Leaf Green, 8 oz.

·       Apple Barrel ® Colors - Barn Red, 2 oz.

·       Apple Barrel ® Colors - Bright Blue, 8 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Chalkboard Paint - Black, 8 oz.

Other Supplies

2 medium size clay pots
Chalk
#12 flat brush
Sponge brush
Liner brush

Instructions

1.   Paint first pot body Bright Blue – rim with Leaf Green.

2.   Paint oval with Black Chalkboard paint.

3.   Dot around oval area with red dots using end of brush to apply.

4.   Use #12 flat brush to make color circles with red and Yellow. Use Liner brush to paint black leaves, stems and spiral on flowers.

5.   Paint second pot body Barn Red – rim with Leaf Green. Paint circle with Black Chalkboard Paint. Paint yellow petals around black center. Use liner brush to outline all petals with black. Using handle of brush, dot around black center with Leaf Green. Add Curly-Q’s and leaves with Black. Fill in leaf shapes with Leaf Green. Note: Let cure for 24 hours. Rub lightly with chalk to condition.

I don’t know about you, but decorative trays always make pastries look so much more tempting. Take this sweet sixteen-cupcake stand. This stand is so adorable, and makes the sweets on display look so delicious. Create this stand for your next birthday party, or event. This project was created using FolkArt and Mod Podge. It is a beginner level craft, that should take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Display Sweet Sixteen treats with style.

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Azure Blue, 2 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Matte, 16 oz.

Other Supplies

Cookie/cupcake stand
Primer
Wax paper
Printed cotton fabric
Foam paintbrush
Scissors
Ribbon

Instructions

1.   Disassemble the cookie/cupcake stand. Prime all the parts individually and allow to dry.

2.   Paint the stem with two coats of Azure Blue.

3.   Cut the fabric slightly larger than the plates. Working on wax paper, coat each piece of fabric with Mod Podge (both sides). Place the fabric over the top of the plate and smooth with fingers. Allow to dry. Once dry, trim the edges so they match with the plate. Repeat for the other plate.

4.   Pierce the fabric over the plate holes and reassemble the cookie/cupcake stand. Add a bow to the top.

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April is winding down, and that means May will be here before you know it. During the month of May the most popular occasion to craft for is Mother’s Day. Frames are a great gift to give any Mom. It is a keepsake for your photo keepsakes. Debbie Saenz created this Mother’s Day frame. It was made with FolkArt and Mod Podge. See below for all the supplies and instructions you will need.

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Bayberry, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Nutmeg, 2 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Matte, 32 oz.

Other Supplies

Unfinished wood picture frame, Large wood tag, 1 piece 12” x 12” scrapbook paper (green with several large flowers), Pink ribbon, Pink silk flower, Pearl button, Ink jet printer (optional), Brown distress ink, Cosmetic wedge or cotton ball, Sandpaper, and a Hot glue gun

Instructions

1.   Sand frame and tag smooth, wipe clean.

2.   Paint inside and out side edges of frame with Nutmeg, Paint edges of tag with Nutmeg. Allow to dry.

3.   Load a flat brush with Bayberry and brush onto a paper towel until almost dry. Lightly stroke over Nutmeg.

4.   Use the frame as a template and cut out a piece of scrapbook paper to cover frame. Carefully cut out center and save for tag.

5.   Type up then print “Mom you make the world more beautiful” or other special message onto scrapbook paper. 6. Glue papers to frame and tag using Mod Podge. Allow to dry.

6.   Use sandpaper to sand away any extra paper until edges are smooth. (Sand in one direction - towards the back)

7.   Dab cosmetic wedge or cotton ball in brown distress ink then use to distress edges of frame and tag as shown. Allow to dry.

8.   Seal front and painted edges of frame and tag with Mod Podge. Allow to dry.

9.   Remove and discard plastic center from flower; glue flower back together with hot glue then glue button to center.

10.                 Tie ribbon into a bow and use hot glue to attach ribbon, flower and tag to frame.

Celebrate Mod Podge with this beautiful birthday project! Did you know Mod Podge turns 45 this year? Time flies when you’re having fun crafting. To celebrate this grand occasion we have some fabulous new Mod Podge crafts, such as these birthday place settings. Create and use these for your little ones next birthday celebration. These settings are an extra touch to make the occasion even more special.

Other Supplies

3 wood flowers- 2 layer shapes
3 assorted scrapbook papers
3 cards- natural paper

Instructions

1. Base-coat flowers with coordinating paper color, let dry.
2. Paint centers with Licorice, let dry.
3. Using wood shape as pattern- cut paper to fit wood shape.
4. Following general directions on Mod Podge add paper to wood shape, let dry.
5. Following general directions on chalkboard paint- paint centers of flowers.
6. Glue flowers to paper as show

Can you believe the month of April is half over? It’s amazing how much time flies when you’re creating. I don’t know about you, but for the majority of April I have been trying to do my part to make our Earth a cleaner place. I have really made an effort this year to recycle more, and craft with recycle items. Recycled items are great to use for kids crafts. This recycled box zoo project is a great example of this. Make this fun kids' decorative accessory from an old box top. Cathie and Steve designed this project. Have you recently created any recycled projects with your kids? Supplies and instructions are below.

PLAID Supplies

·       Plaid ® Wood Surfaces - Letter Packs - Bold

·       Plaid ® Wood Surfaces - Painted Shapes - Monkey

·       Plaid ® Wood Surfaces - Painted Shapes - Giraffe

·       Plaid ® Hot Glue Gun Helpers

·       FolkArt ® Artists Pigments™ - Lemon Yellow, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Artists Pigments™ - Pure Orange, 2 oz.

·       Mod Podge ® Matte, 8 oz.

Other Supplies
Old cracker box
Newspaper
Hot glue
Foam paintbrush
Scrap paper
Button

Instructions

1. Tightly stuff the box with newspaper. Hot glue the flaps closed.

2. Paint the box with Orange paint until the printing is completely covered.

3. Paint the wood letters with Lemon Yellow paint.

4. Use hot glue to attach the letters and animals to the front of the box.

5. Cut a simple door shape from scrap paper. Attach it to the front of the box with a thin layer of Mod Podge. Hot glue a button to the door to serve as a handle.

It's Monday. Did you have a good weekend? They go by so fast don’t they? Oh well, the weekend will be here again before you know it. Over the weekend I came across a cute craft project on the blog Katydiddys. Laura Bray designed this bowling set project and the thing I love most about it, is that it’s a learning craft project. She not only decorates this bowling set with Plaid simply stencils and FolkArt paint, but she uses this project to disguise a few math lessons. Click here to see how Laura made this project, and to see the math lessons she created to go along with this project.

TGIF! Wow this week really sped by quickly. I guess that's what happens when you’re having fun crafting, and creating. Do you have any craft plans for the weekend? Well if you are looking for something to do with your kids, try this plate-painting project. This is an adorable and simple project that your kids will definitely love. The supplies for this project can be found at any craft store, and you may already have some these in your home. Unleash your child's inner painter, by letting them paint a plate. Now normally you would never actually want them to paint the fine China, but this is an exception. I found this project over on the blog, LoisPearl. I love seeing what people create with FolkArt paint. There are so many different uses for this type of acrylic paint. To learn how this project was created click here. Enjoy and have a great weekend.

• Elmer's Tri-Fold Foam Display Board
• Painter's tape
• Plaid FolkArt Paints
• Felt
• Buttons Galore and More Buttons
• Wood Frame
• Martha Stewart's Chalkboard Paint
• Aleene's Original Tacky Glue
• Velcro(R) Brand Fasteners
• Fabric

It’s time to take a walk on the wild side with your little ones, by creating these fun wild animal coasters. Animal prints seem to always be a reoccurring trend, and this is a great beginner level project for your kids to do. Keep it cool with these fashionable, fun animal print coasters. FolkArt paint was used to create this project. This is a great project to make at home, or it could also be used as a class art project. One of Plaid’s talented designers, Sherrie Ragsdale, created these coasters. See below for the supplies you will need, along with instructions.

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Artists Pigments™ - Pure Orange, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Wicker White, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Licorice, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Coffee Bean, 2 oz.

Other Supplies

Two clay saucers
1/4" Flat brush

Instructions

1.    Base-coat first saucer Winter White. Base-coat second saucer Pure Orange. Allow to dry.

2.    Add the zebra stripes with Licorice on the Winter White and the leopard spots with Coffee Bean on the Pure Orange as shown in photo. Add second coats if necessary after the first coat is completely dry.

Happy Monday. Hope you had a good weekend. Now that Easter is over, it’s time to move on to new crafts to create. Out with the Easter eggs, and onto these adorable clay animals. How cute are these animals? You can’t help but smile when you look at them. Sherrie Ragsdale designed these animals, and she use FolkArt paint. See below for all the supplies you will need, and instructions.

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Texture Paint - White, 4 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Terra Cotta, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Artists Pigments™ - Pure Orange, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Lemon Custard, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - School Bus Yellow, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Maple Syrup, 2 oz.

Other Supplies
Two 2 3/4" clay pots, Orange felt, Brown felt, Yellow felt, Black Stiff felt, 8mm wiggle eyes, Two 1 3/4" wooden knobs, Extra fine Permanent, black marker, Glue, Toothpick, Popsicle sticks, Scissors, 1/4" hole punch, 1/2" flat brush, and a Small round brush

Instructions

1.    Glue the wooden knobs to the bottom of the clay pots. For the bear, apply the textured paint the to entire body of bear. Fill in the neck with the textured paint. Make a bump on the face where the nose and mouth will go. Allow to dry. For the lion, add the textured paint around the lions face and the back of lions head as shown in photo. Allow to dry.

2.    Paint the bear with Maple Syrup and the lion with School Bus Yellow. Allow to dry. Paint the lion's mane Pure Orange and the bears face with Terra Cotta.

3.    Paint a oval shape on the lions face using Lemon Custard for his mouth. Allow to dry. Make the nose from the stiff black felt using the hole punch. Glue on noses and eyes. Using the black marker, draw on mouths.

4.    Cut out two ears 1/2" horseshoe shapes from the brown felt for the bears ears and do the same for the lion but out of yellow felt. Add some glue at the bottom of the U shape and fold over. Glue to the tops of the their heads. You may need trim a little.

5.    Cut two 3" x 5" pieces from the brown felt and the two from the yellow felt. For the yellow felt add four strips of orange felt 1/2" x 5 long and glue to the edges of the yellow felt pieces. Roll up all pieces to form arms and legs. Once rolled up glue the edges. Cut each piece in half. Glue on the arms and legs.

Did you know Mod Podge is turning 45 years old this year? I know we can’t believe it either. Time flies when yours crafting. Celebrate Mod Podge with this beautiful birthday project! If you have an upcoming birthday for your little one, try creating these birthday place settings. They are simple to create, and all you will need is some FolkArt paint, and of course Mod Podge. To find out the additional supplies you will need, along with instructions for this project, click here.

It’s another week, and many people are looking forward to celebrating Easter on Sunday. Are you excited? A popular thing many people do to celebrate this holiday is to decorate Easter eggs. Now normally most people simply paint their eggs a single color, but if you are feeling a bit more adventurous, try creating this Giraffe Wood Egg. This egg was designed by one of our talented designers, Debbie Saenz. This project does not require a lot supplies, but a few FolkArt paints are a must.

PLAID Supplies

·       FolkArt ® Artists Pigments™ - Vandyke Brown, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Vintage White, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - School Bus Yellow, 2 oz.

·       FolkArt ® Finishes - Clearcote™ Aerosol Glaze - Hi-Shine Deep Gloss, 11 oz.

Other Supplies

Wood egg (2.5”)
Doll pin stand (1 1/8” x 1/2 “ Round)
Flat brush
Liner brush

Instructions

1.    Use flat brush to base-coat egg Vintage White; dry, then give a second coat; let dry.

2.    Draw irregular giraffe spots randomly with pencil and paint spots with Van Dyke Brown; let dry.

3.    Paint “egg stand” School Bus Yellow and Van Dyke Brown as shown in photo; let dry.

4.    Spray egg and stand with clear varnish when completely dry.