Patriotic Fabric Wreath (summer craft)

Patriotic Fabric Wreath   I found this on herecomesthesun-kelly.blogspot.com

Do you need a last minute July 4th decor idea?

This is super simple and pretty quick to make.  I made it in one night.

MATERIALS

Wreath form (I used a wire one from Michael's)

Fabric

Rotary cutter and board

DIRECTIONS

Cut strips of fabric 2 inches wide and approximately 16 inches long.  Cut LOTS and LOTS of strips.  You could use scissors but it is easier and quicker to do with a rotary cutter and board.

Double knot your fabric around the wreath form, one strip at a time.  Scrunch your fabric together until you fill the entire wreath.

Since it is not very heavy, I hung it on my front door with a 3M picture hanger.  

I hope everyone has a SAFE and HAPPY holiday!

Star Medallions (summer craft)

Wanna make some of these star medallions for your Fourth of July Party? They don't take long, and there's some time before Sunday.
Here's what you'll need and what you'll do...

What You'll NeedCotton fabric (not a heavy weight)
Spray starch
Iron
Ironing board
Pins
Sewing gauge
Sewing machine
Scissors
Fusible webbing
(or) Hot glue gun
Matching ribbon

Step 1 - Cut a length of fabric. The width of the fabric will be the diameter of the medallion, and the length should be about 1.6 times the width. So, as Martha Stewart's directions explain here, for a 15 1/2-inch medallion (width), cut about 25 inches of fabric (length).

Stripes can radiate from the center or circle out from the center, depending on the direction of your width. I did both.

If you have any extra material left at the end (as I did because my folds seems to get slightly bigger with each fold), just cut away at the extra.

Step 2 - Fold fabric in an accordion-style at 1 1/2-inch sections. I used a sewing gauge to mark 1 1/2 inch. Then, I pinned the first 1 1/2 inch fold down so it was easier to iron. After the fold, spray starch on the fold, and iron. Continue folding the length of fabric.

Your first and last folds should point in the same direction. Either both down or both up.



I noticed while I was ironing the medallions that this was "Fresh Lavender Scent." I love spray starch, but the lavender had me sneezing. Oops!


Step 3 - Fold the long rectangle in half, and pinch it together so you can see the center. Then stitch along the center of the rectangle to create the pivot.


Step 4 - With your sharp scissors (or rotary cutter if you have it), trim both ends of the folded rectangle. at a 45-degree angle, from the raw edge of the fabric. The easiest way to describe this: the raw edge should be in the scissors blade first.

I tried different angles for a different look, and it was a total failure. Do the 45-degree angle.


Step 5 - Here, I changed up Martha's directions a little bit. There are two ways you can do this. I'll explain both, and you can do whichever you think would be easiest for you.

Non-glue: Cut a piece of ribbon that will be used to hang the medallion, about six inches, and set it aside. Cut fusible webbing the length of half the full rectangle. I used two strips to cover the rectangle side to side.

Connect the sides of the medallion by fanning the fabric over and ironing the two ides together. (This is pretty difficult - not going to lie. It's hard to iron with the pleats.) Before you iron the tip, sandwich the piece of ribbon between the fusible webbing and the medallion.

Connect the other half of the medallion with the fusible webbing. Leave out the ribbon on this side.

Glue: (This is much easier!) Cut a piece of ribbon to use as a hanger, about six inches; longer if you want. Heat up your hot-glue gun. Apply hot glue on one side of the folded rectangle, then fold and firmly press the other half onto the hot glue. When you get to the top, glue in the ribbon. Repeat the gluing process for the other side of the folded rectangle.


Step 6: Then you're done! Now just hang your medallions. I used fish line to give the appearance that the medallions were floating.





And at night...




 

Seashell Wreath (summer craft)

Seashell Wreath

This seashell wreath was my "summertime" craft. 

This is not a difficult project at all, just a little time consuming.  Grab a wreath form, seashells, some ribbon and fire up your glue gun. 

Start by wrapping the wreath in ribbon.  I made a wire hanger to hang it. I didn't take a picture.   Don't scrimp...shells are even heavier than gumdrops!

Then glue, glue, glue, making sure to alternate the direction of the shells.

And there you go...a perfect wreath to celebrate summer!

 

Dog Treat Jar (pet craft)

Give man's best friend his own Dog Treat Jar with enamel paint paw prints. These jars are cute and easy craft projects for dogs, and will surely bring a smile to your pet's face!



Materials:
DecoArt Products Required
Americana Gloss Enamels

• DAG67 - Black --- NEW!!
• DAG164 - Light Buttermilk --- NEW!!
• DAG265 - Tuscan Red --- NEW!!

Americana Brushes

• DBR2004-B - Round 4
• DBF3010-B - Shader 10

Supplies

• Foam plate
• 1/4" and 3/4" round foam pouncer brushes
• Glass snack jar (We used a jar by Komodo Intl., item TP-7SL.)

Steps:

Preparation: Remove all stickers or labels from surfaces.

1. Refer to photo for placement and use large pouncer dipped into Black to paint large paws on each flat side of jar.
2. Use small pouncer and Black to stamp four small dots by each large one.
3. With shader brush, paint Light Buttermilk lines for center of bones. Use small pouncer and Light Buttermilk to stamp two dots on each end to complete bone shapes.
4. Use round brush and Tuscan Red to paint heart at center of bones and paw prints; let dry.

Kitty Treat Jar (pet craft)

Store those snacks for Tigger in his own treat jar made with painted kitty.


Materials:
DecoArt Products Required
Americana Gloss Enamels

• DAG04 - Sand --- NEW!!
• DAG31 - Baby Pink --- NEW!!
• DAG67 - Black --- NEW!!
• DAG163 - Honey Brown --- NEW!!

Americana Brushes

• DBL1000-B - Liner 0
• DBR2002-B - Round 2

Supplies

• Foam plate
• 1/2 and 1 1/4 in. round foam pouncer brushes
• Glass canister: Anchor Hocking Item 85976

Steps:

Preparation: Remove all stickers or labels from surface before painting.

1. Use 1 1/4" pouncer dipped in Honey Brown to make circle for cat head. Use round brush to make small triangles for ears on top of head. Let dry.
2. Use 1/2" pouncer dipped in Sand to make small circle for cat's muzzle. Use round brush to paint stripes at upper sides of cat head. Let dry.
3. Use liner brush and Baby Pink to paint inverted triangular nose and small triangles for inside ears; let dry.
4. Use liner brush and Black to paint lines for whiskers and mouth; make small Black dots for eyes. Paint words "GOOD KITTY", using paw prints for letter O; let dry.

Beaded Dog Album (anytime craft)

Capture your cute pooch in beaded beauty. This is a fun album cover concept that works for any pet.

Materials:

• 4” x 6” photo album with blank cover
• Two 4” x 6” Treasure Tape sheets
• Diamond Beadlets®
• Miscellaneous buttons
• Kreinik #12 Braid 021 Copper, 032 Pearl, 015 Chartreuse
• Kreinik Japan #5 221J Burnished Gold
• Shallow pan or tray
• Photo of your dog or pet
• Satin or organdy ribbon for edge

Steps:

1. Lay one sheet of Treasure Tape on your album cover. Remove red liner to expose sticky part.
    
2. Lay your pet photo centered on this tape. Cover with another piece of Treasure Tape, and remove its red liner to expose sticky area.
    
3. Begin thread embellishment by writing in 021 Copper Braid. We wrote “My favorite things” but you can write your pet’s name, or any words. Then make other decorations, like the bone we made out of gold and pearl braids, or the cat shape out of pearl braid (with 015 chartreuse green eyes, and 221J burnished gold whiskers). Use our photo as a guide, or draw your own.
    
4. Lay buttons along each side, pressing into the tape to secure.
    
5. Lay satin or organdy ribbon along left side, as shown in photo.
    
6. When embellishment is complete, lay your album in a shallow pan or tray and cover all remaining sticky areas with Diamond Beadlets. Swirl beadlets with your fingertips to make sure everything is fully covered.
    

"My Best Friend" Photo Frame (anytime craft)

Make this cute frame using FIMO soft oven-bake polymer clay and our new dog shape cutters to show off a photo of your favorite pet.
 

 
Materials:

• FIMO Soft Polymer Clay - 2 oz. package each of: Caramel, Sahara
• 12 x 12 sheet of burlap fabric - natural
• Small piece of burlap fabric - white
• Dark brown embroidery thread
• 12 x 12 Quilt batting
• Purchased wooden frame

Tools:

• AMACO Beveled Edge Cutters - Dog Set
• AMACO Pasta machine or PolyRoller
• AMACO Polymer Clay & Craft Oven
• Small sheet of coarse sandpaper
• Needle
• White porcelain tile work surface
• Rubber stamp - alphabet
• Permanent black ink
• Fabric glue
• E6000 or similar glue
• Tissue blade

Instructions:

1. Condition both clays separately until they are at a workable consistency. Roll the clay through the pasta machine (or the PolyRoller) so you have a sheet approximately 1/8" thick. Using the clay shapes cut four footprints from the Caramel clay and cut the inserts for the footprints using the Sahara color clay. You will need four foot pad shapes and 16 toe pad shapes.
    
2. Cut two dog house shapes one from each of the Sahara and Caramel clays. Cut three "bones", two from the Sahara clay and one from the Caramel clay. Use the "WOOF' stamp to press the word "WOOF" into the surface of the Sahara color dog house. Bake this shape by itself in the Polymer Clay & Craft oven according to clay manufacturers instructions. Allow to cool.
   
   
    
3. Work a small amount of the Caramel color clay into the impressed WOOF in the dog house until the impression is backfilled with the clay.
   
    
4. Using the dog house cutter, cut the roof from the still raw Caramel dog house. Place the Caramel color roof in place on the dog house and set aside for baking.
   
   
    
5. Assemble the dog paws by placing the Caramel colored paws face up on the work surface. Place the foot and toe pads in position on the paws so they are layered on top of them. Use the sandpaper to lightly press a texture into the top of the pads.
   
    
6. Using the sandpaper, texture the surface of the dog bones.
   
    
7. Press rubber stamp letters to spell out "My Best Friend" followed by your dog's name on the bones, using dark brown or black ink on the stamps to ensure that the text can be easily read.
   
    
8. If necessary, touch up with the sandpaper any places where you have pressed too hard and damaged the texture.
   
    
9. Bake all shapes in the Polymer Clay & Craft Oven according to the clay manufacturer's instructions.
   
    
10. Disassemble the frame and set the glass and backing aside. Trim the quilt batting to the shape of the frame, cutting it 1/4" smaller than the outside dimensions of the frame and cutting the hole " larger than the opening in the frame.
    If you place the batting over the frame you should be able to see the outside edge of the frame and the edge of the opening too.
     
11. Cover the front face of the frame with fabric glue and adhere the quilt batting to the frame. Set aside to dry.
    
     
12. Cut the burlap into four rectangles that you can piece together to cover the frame. Allow sufficient extra fabric to wrap around the edges of the frame and allow enough so the burlap edges will join easily. Cover the quilt batting with fabric glue and extend the fabric glue around the sides and across the back of the frame where the burlap will need to be glued. Adhere the burlap over the top of the quilt batting.
    
     
13. You may find it easier to do this in sections working one section at a time and hold the burlap against the fabric glue until it is set - this should only take a minute or two. This way you can ensure the burlap is stretched and doesn't crease. Continue until the frame is covered.
    
     
14. Cut two small squares of white burlap and one small square of natural burlap. Thread the needle with three strands of embroidery floss and stitch a rough square around the inside of the burlap squares. Fray the edges of the squares and then adhere the burlap squares to the frame using fabric glue.
     
15. Finish by adhering the clay shapes to the frame using the finished project as a guide and using either E6000 or more fabric glue.
     
16. Reassemble the frame - you can place the glass back into the frame or leave it out as desired. Trim a photo of your pet to the correct size for the frame, place the photo in position and replace the backing on the frame.