BUSY BOX MUST HAVES (PART 1)

A busy box is perhaps one of the best, most versatile sources of entertainment you can provide your child.  A properly stocked busy box can potentially keep your child occupied for a good while, as well as provide your child with a wonderful way to express his/her creativity and personality.

The full article can be found at HappyToeCrafts.com

FAUX STAINED GLASS USING TISSUE PAPER

I posted a new tutorial at Happy Toe Crafts.  It is another faux stained glass project.  This one uses wax paper, tissue paper and Elmer's glue.  It is simple and super cute!

Faux Stained Glass Using Tissue Paper

Happy Crafting,

J.

My Pets Love To Photo Bomb!

I'm thinking of doing a few more Valentine's Day crafts.  The hard part about doing these tutorials is photographing the steps.  I am not a professional photographer and the lighting in my room is horrible.  I love crafting in my little craft cave, but it is not ideal for photos.

Not to mention, I have 3 dogs and 3 cats that enjoy photo bombing.  Here is a perfect example:  Mako (my black cat) photo bombing a picture I was hoping to use in my next tutorial.  Naughty kitty!  Mommy lubs you, you silly boy!  

FAUX STAINED GLASS VALENTINE HEART

I posted a new tutorial at Happy Toe Crafts.  It is a very kid friendly and super easy Faux Stained Glass Valentine Heart.

This was made using Elmer's clear glue, food coloring, a black Sharpie, a transparent sheet of paper, and construction paper.

Check it out!

PAPER PLATE FLOWER ( A Fun Craft For Kids)

 MATERIALS

paper plate--(I used small, 7" white plate)

a few sheets of white paper

glue (Elmer's)

color paper for the flower's center

The petals are made by cutting several sheets of white paper into petal shaped pieces. No template needed.  Just free hand it!  Be sure to cutout the petals in varying widths and lengths.  Once your petals are cutout, you might want to sort them into two general piles...long and shorter.

Squeeze a ring of glue around the entire outer edge of the plate. Next, lay down a layer of petals along the outer edge of the plate, using the longer petals.  Once you are done with the first layer of petals, squeeze a ring of glue on top of the first layer of petals.

Now, lay down a second layer of petals--try to use the shorter petals.  You also want to avoid lining up your petal layers.  The petal layers should be centered between 2 petals of the previous layer.  I hope that makes sense.  Look at the photo above.  :)   

You can continue to build the layers, filling the entire plate, or until you achieved your desired flower fullness.  I stopped after 3 layers of petals.

Using color paper, cutout a large circle shaped piece, making sure it is big enough to cover the edges of the underlying petals.  Glue it onto the center of the flower and TA-DAAAA!!!  A lovely, super easy, super cute paper plate flower.  Oh, the things you could do with these!! 

By changing the color and shapes of the petals you can make a variety of flowers.  Orange and yellow petals and a brown center  would make lovely sunflowers.  I can't wait to make more of these!