Patriotic Painted Rocks

Many people celebrate Memorial Day by visiting grave sites with their families and leaving flowers.  Painted rocks are a nice way for kids to feel involved, and to feel like they are leaving something that will last.

Materials

• Rock
• Acrylic Paint
• Paint Brushes

Choose a smooth rock that is a nice size.  Wash the rock with soap and water, and allow to dry thoroughly. 

Plan out your design before you start.  Paint the rock using acrylic paint.  I used a paint that is labeled for outdoor use, but my experience has been that most acrylic craft paint is pretty durable in any situation.  After you paint the rock, you may choose to use a protective acrylic spray.  I didn’t, but using it would make the rock look shinier.

If you don’t visit a grave site on Memorial Day, this is a nice activity to keep the kids occupied while the hamburgers cook!  Painted rocks look nice in a garden, or among other decorative rocks.

Happy Memorial Day!

How to Make a Yarn Basket

For National Craft Month, I’m revisiting crafts that inspired me as a child.  When I was in elementary school I made this “basket” out of a butter tub and yarn scraps.  Materials

Butter Tub (empty and clean)

Scissors

Yarn Scraps

Instructions

Start with a plastic tub like butter or margarine comes in.  I used a small one that had held almond paste.  Make sure to wash it very well to remove any food residue.  Make evenly spaced cuts down the sides of the tub.  It is very important to cut an odd number of sections, or your weaving will not alternate properly.  Do not pull the yarn too tightly.  The original basket I made years ago is lopsided because I pulled it too hard as I wove in and out.

Do not pull the yarn this tight.

Starting at the bottom, weave scraps of yarn over and behind the sections. It won’t look perfect in the beginning, but it will straighten itself out a bit as you continue.  When you reach the end of the yarn scrap, or you would like to switch to a new color, knot the new yarn to the old one so that the knot is on the inside of the basket.  I decided to use only green yarn because St. Patrick’s Day is coming up.  Depending on the yarn you use, this could be cute way to make Easter Baskets.  At the top of my basket, I used some green eyelash yarn that I’ve had for a long time.  Eyelash yarn is easier to work with when you use it with regular worsted yarn.  I used it with green yarn, but if you use it alone, it is fluffier.What’s Next?

March is National Craft Month, all month! More easy crafts for kids or adults!

Valentine Window Clings

This is a craft I’ve done since I was a child.

Materials

Puffy Fabric Paint

Wax Paper

Directions

Lay out a piece of wax paper.  I haven’t tried it, but I wonder if freezer paper would also work.  Plastic wrap will not work, because it doesn’t create a smooth surface for the back of the cling.

Draw designs using the puffy paint. Start with outlines and any fine details (like if you want to add an arrow through a heart).  Fill in large spaces last.  Don’t apply the paint too thickly or thinly–an even layer that covers the paper fully is sufficient.

Because you can see through wax paper so well, it’s easy to place a pattern underneath the paper to trace an outline.  I used a post-it under my wax paper.

Make different sizes and colors.  Think about how you might want to place the clings as you choose your size and color combinations.

Allow to dry.  Peel off carefully. Don’t worry if it seems like the wax is pulling off of the paper.  The clings will still stick.

Stick in the window.  The colors in the photo don’t show up well because of the backlight, but you get the idea.  These are very cute in person.

 

You could make these for any holiday or season.  Just get creative!

Happy Valentine’s Day!