Sparkly Snowflakes - Kids' Crafts Saturday

No...today isn't Saturday, but we made these on a Saturday - does that count?  :)

Actually - I call it Kids' Crafts Saturday because Don and I volunteer at the Fascinate-U Children's Museum in Fayetteville, NC on the second Saturday of every month (sponsored by Xyron - yay!).

We create fast and easy craft projects and have a BLAST doing it! I'm going to start sharing these projects here with you - maybe on Saturdays, maybe on other days, but I hope you'll be inspired to make these with some of your favorite little ones!

Supplies:
foam shapes (we got boxes of these snowflakes for a RIDICULOUSLY low price because all the stores were clearancing out holiday stuff)
markers
Xyron 5" Creative Station (also known as the 510)
glitter
tupperware container
scrap paper

Set out your scrap paper, markers and foam shapes on your craft space. (Tip - if your foam shapes have punch-outs in the middle, do NOT punch them out until after the glitter process. Trust me.)

Let the kids color on the foam shapes to their little hearts' content! (Another tip - if they color it TOO much the adhesive won't stick as well because the foam will be saturated.  We had more than 50 kids come through and it was really only an issue for about 4 of them - we solved that by just putting glitter on the non-colored side.)

 

Run your foam shape through your 510 (of COURSE I don't have a photo of this part!) with the colored side facing down. The 510 is easy enough to use that kids can help crank the handle! Peel off the top film, then peel the foam shape from the backing and place adhesive side down in your tupperware container filled with glitter.  You need enough glitter in the tupperware to make sure the bottom of the container is completely covered.

Help the kids move the foam shape around in the tupperware to cover the foam shape with glitter.  The beauty of Xyron is that if you pick it up and realize that you missed a spot - you can just stick it back down in the glitter!

And voila!  Sparkly snowflakes!  You can keep the foam shape intact,  or punch out the center for a cool shape.

Oh...and uhh...I held a snake.  :)  This has absolutely nothing to do with crafts - but it sure was awesome!

Happy Crafting Everybody!

last minute Halloween projects!

Waiting until the last minute for a little Halloween craftiness?  Yeah - me too.  With the weather getting colder (SNOW anyone?) in several parts of the country, this weekend is the perfect chance to put together a few fun, easy projects - with instructions included! Got little ones? Check out our kid-friendly mummy candy box below.  Happy Haunting...err...Crafting everybody!

Mini Halloween Garland 3 or more 12x12 patterned papers fromBella Blvd Too Cute To Spook collection Scrap pieces of cardstock Sizzix Sizzlits Mini Paper Rosettes die* Manual die cutting machine (this project used the Xyron Creatopia with the Shapez component) Trimmer Adhesive Runner Liquid Glue Coordinating Twine (this project used The Twinery's charcoal twine) 1 1/2" punch 1" punch Xyron 1.5" Create-A-Sticker (also known as "the X")

*Don't have this die?  You can also create these manually using a scoring tool.  Here is a great tutorial for how to do it!

Using the scrap cardstock, punch a 1 1/2" circle for each large rosette you will be creating and a 1" circle for each small rosette you will be creating.

Run the circles through your X and lay them on the table with the adhesive side facing up. Arrange them approx 3" apart alternating small and large circles.

Lay the twine across the circles and press gently to adhere.

Cut patterned paper in to 2 1/2" strips.  You will get a large rosette and a small rosette from each strip, and the paper is double sided.

Run paper through die cutting machine using Rosette die until you have the desired number of rosette strips.

Fold the rosette strips in to an accordion and use either liquid glue or an adhesive runner to attach the edges to each other, then gather the top of the paper together and gently push down so that the bottom spreads out to form the rosette.

Apply liquid glue to your first scrap circle and adhere rosette to the circle (press down for a few seconds to make sure it holds).  Repeat for all rosettes.

The mini rosette die also cuts out small circles for the center of your rosette that you can run through the X and apply.  You can also use buttons, letter stickers, whatever tickles your fancy!

Welcome little ghouls and goblins with this darling door knob hanger featuring Maya Road and Echo Park!

Boo Hanger Maya Road ATC Coaster 1 sheet of patterned paper from Echo Park Apothecary Emplorium collection Xyron 2.5" Create A Sticker (also called the 250) Xyron 1.5" Create A Sticker(also called the X) BOO diecuts or stickers (letters in photo created using Cricut) WRMK Crop-A-Dile Coordinating Kaisercraft Gems and/or Pearls Trimmer Sandpaper Black ink pad Decorative buttons (skull button in photo purchased at Michaels) Coordinating glitter or flocking Coordinating ribbon Scissors

Cut patterned paper to 2.5x3.5.  Run through 250 and apply to ATC coaster.

Sand edges of coaster to round corners and eliminate any overlapping patterned paper.

Ink edges of coaster.

Adhere BOO letters to coaster (letters in photo adhered with the X)

Insert decorative buttons upside down in to the X.  Rub thoroughly and gently peel button from adhesive backing.  Place adhesive side up on your work area.  Sprinkle glitter or flocking on button, spread with finger to cover entire button, and tap off excess. If you have excess adhesive on your button, use the tip of your scissors to remove. Insert decorative button with glitter/flocking side up in to the X.  Peel off adhesive backing and apply to coaster.

Use Crop-A-Dile to punch holes in top two corners of coaster.

Select length of ribbon and tie both ends through holes in coaster.

Decorate as desired with gems/pearls.

Mummy Candy Box 1 sheet 12x12 kraft cardstock Approx 1 yard of white party streamer (could also use toilet paper or gauze) 2 googly eyes Xyron 2" Runner Xyron Mega Runner Clear tape Trimmer with scoring blade Scissors

Score the kraft cardstock at 4" and 8". Rotate paper 90 degrees and score again at 4" and 8" - this will give you a tic-tac-toe pattern.

Using the top left square as #1 - cut the cardstock between squares 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 7 and 8, 8 and 9.

Add adhesive to squares 1,2,7 and 8 with the 2" Runner.

Fold squares 2 and 8 at a 90 degree angle to begin to create the sides of the box.

Fold up the 1,4,7 side of the cardstock, adhering square 1 to the back of square 2, and square 7 to the back of square 8.

Fold up the 3,6,9 side of the cardstock, adhering square 3 to the inside of square 2, and square 9 to the inside of square 8.

Apply tape to one end of the party streamer and begin wrapping around the box.  Once box is completely wrapped, tape the other end of the streamer to the box.

Apply adhesive to the back of the googly eyes using the Mega Runner.

Adhere to one side of the box.

Fill with treats and enjoy!