Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Kids Road Trip Busy Box

Busy Box


Supplies

  • Empty food boxes: Cereal, rice, jello, cake mix, etc.
  • Decorative paper or wrapping paper
  • Coordinating card stock 
  • Scotch spray adhesive or tape runner
  • 2 yards of 1" wide ribbon
  • Letter stickers or vinyl letters
  • Large grommets 
  • Eyelet setter
  • Velcro (hook side)
  • Embellishments
  • Paper cutter
  • Scissors
  • Scoring tool
Instructions
  1. Decide how you want each box to be utilized in this project (horizontal or vertical).  Cut off edges of the box that will be the top.  Secure all the remaining edges and reinforce if necessary.  
  2. Cover each box with decorative paper or wrapping paper.  Be sure to cut paper large enough to fold over the top edges and adhere them to the inside of the box.  
  3. Glue boxes to each other in the desired location.  Make sure to use plenty of adhesive, possibly even E-6000 to make sure they stay put.  Hint: this project can be used on a table top as well as the car IF you create a solid bottom with all the boxes...meaning, make all the box bottoms even line up (don't have a smaller box bottom glued above the largest box bottom).
  4. Add embellishments...ribbon, flowers, bows, buttons, etc.  Have the kids help you add the finishing touches.  
  5. Next cut the ribbon piece in half.  These will be your two ties so that you can secure it to the headrest of the seat in front of child's seat. Fold up the end of the ribbon 1" and punch a hole through the ribbon using your "Crop-a-dile".  Do this to each piece of the ribbon.  
  6. Now punch holes into the BACK top edge of the largest box.  
  7. Place a grommet into each piece of ribbon and into the holes in the box.  Set each grommet into place using your "Crop-a-dile".  
  8. Add letters to spell out "Road Trip" & "Busy Box" or the child's name, etc. 
  9. Tie to the headrest of the seat located directly in front of your child's seat, fill the busy box with assorted games, activities, maps, white board, etc.  Don't forget the treats too! :)



WHITEBOARDS MADE EASY

     There are 4 ways to make an individual white board for your child.  
  1. Take a clean page protector (NOT THE GLARE PROOF) and slide a piece of white card stock or chipboard inside.  EASIEST WAY! 
  2. Use a piece of white acrylic plexi-glass and cover the edges with vinyl adhesive or decorative duct tape. Another easy way!
  3. Take a piece of melamine board or old clipboard.  Paint with high gloss white (or other color) paint.  Let dry and add two more coats.  Make sure each coat is COMPLETELY dry before adding the next so that you can maintain the nice smooth surface. 
  4. 8X8 white ceramic tile...a little heavier, so not the best choice for a very small child, but again...very easy! 
  5. ERASER:  Take a 2"X24" piece of an old t-shirt,  flannel or felt, fold accordion style and secure with a clothespin! Fast and easy! 


Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Patriotic Party Decor

Patriotic Party







Supplies

  • Cardstock - Patriotic in nature
  • Scotch glue dots 
  • Paper trimmer & scoring tool
  • Black ink
  • Wire
  • toilet paper/paper towel/wrapping paper roll
  • Scissors
  • Dowel
  • Empty soup can - large
  • Raffia
  • Craft cording - red, blue & silver
  • Optional: Electronic Paper cutter 
  • Scotch 3-D glue dots
  • Craft wire - red, blue & silver

Instructions:

INVITE:  

  1. Invitation holder: Cut the empty cardboard roll to 4" size (if necessary) and cover with decorative paper. Make sure to cut the paper 2" longer than your roll.  You will want 1" of paper to hang over each end.  Cut slits into the paper and glue to the INSIDE of the tube. 
  2. Invitation: Add a piece of blue paper and a star to the outside and ink, if desired. 
  3. Cut a piece of red cardstock 3.5" X 3.5".  Cut decorative piece of paper 3"X3". Ink along all the edges with the black ink.  Cut three 3" pieces (one each color) of the craft cording.  Fray one end of each color.  Adhere the decorative piece onto the solid red piece, but secure the cording at the top, middle edge of the card and between the two pieces.
  4. Add party details, fold into thirds and slide into holder.  



USA TABLE BANNER:
  1. Cut 3 triangle pieces of blue card stock, 3 sizes, gradually smaller.  Sizes will vary, but the sizes I used are:  Large triangle, top edge 10" and sides 12", Medium triangle, top edge 7" and sides 10" and the smallest triangle, top edge 5" and sides 7".  Ink edges
  2. Cut 3 triangle pieces of red card stock, just smaller than the blue sizes. Ink edges
  3. Adhere the red triangle pieces to the blue pieces and set aside.
  4. Cut 3 pieces of patterned paper measuring 3"X12".  Ink edges.  Score each piece all the way across (length wise) at every 1/4".  Redirect every other fold backwards so that when you fold it all together it resembles a tightly folded fan (you know the kind of fans we all made as kids with a piece of paper...folding it back and forth, back and forth).  
  5. When all the folds are completed, smooth flat onto a hard surface and using a glue runner, place glue along ONE of the LONG edges (glue will be running ACROSS each fold). Squish your folds back together and one end will be glued together just like a fan now. 
  6. Now that you have 3 folded, glued and resembling mini fans, glue the long edges of each piece together so you now have a circular fan.
  7. Cut 2 pieces 2"X10" and 1 piece 1.5" X 8".  Ink edges. With these pieces repeat steps 4-6 above to create the other two circular fans needed to complete this project. 
  8. Glue the largest circular fan to the largest triangle, medium on the medium, etc. 
  9. Cut out 2 sets of the "USA" letters.  Letter U needs to be 6", S needs to be 4" and the A needs to be 2". Ink edges. Use the 3-D glue dots to glue the 2 like letters together...you can off center them just a bit as shown in the photo.  Adhere onto the top of each fan...U on the large, S on the med and A on the smallest.  
  10. Cut out 7 stars and ink all the edges.  Adhere to the top corners of each triangle piece. 
  11. Glue triangles onto the dowel in the correct order...U,S,A.  
  12. Cover soup can with decorative paper, cut a 4"X3" blue card stock and adhere to the front and finish off with the remaining star.  
  13. Rocks in the bottom of the can will help it stand on its own.  Place bottom end of the dowel into the rocks, fill the can with raffia and you are done!

FIREWORK TABLE DECOR
  1. For each 3-D firework, you will need to cut 3, 15" pieces of wire...one of each color.
  2. Wrap each piece of wire around a marker, pencil, dowel, etc. to to create a twisted piece. Set aside
  3. Cut out 8, 8" flowers from red card stock and 8, 6" flowers from blue card stock.  
  4. Fold each flower in half equally.  Make sure you fold each color of flower the exact same way.
  5. Place glue all along ONE OUTSIDE of a red folded flower.  Adhere it to another red folded flower so that it matches up and glues together perfectly.  Continue to glue another flower, and another, etc. until all of your flowers have been added.  Glue the last flower to the first to create your 3-D firework.
  6. Do the same thing with your blue flowers.  Additional sizes can be created as well.
  7. Cut out a star for each 3-D firework, ink the edges and add it to the middle of each firework. 
  8. Secure 3 twisted pieces of wire (one each color) into the top center of each firework. 
  9. Smaller flowers can be cut to create a miniature name card for each guest. (photo)

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

"Can-It" - Unique Wrapping

Scotch Brand Adhesives - Today's Sponsor! 

 Thank you so much to today's sponsor and for providing a give-a-way for our viewers.  

Using Scotch brand adhesive dots and super glue we created a unique way to, not only recycle cans, but use all those scraps laying around to creatively wrap your next gift!  We used the glue dots to attach the paper around the can and secure all of the embellishments.  Place your gift inside the can and make sure to leave about a 1/2" space at the top.  You do not want to get glue on your gift.  Our final step was to use the Scotch Super Glue to glue the lid back in place.... your wrapped can is ready for giving. 

First we used a "safe edge" can opener, one that does not leave sharp edges when you remove the top. Wash, dry and disinfect the can you will be using.  Next take your scraps of paper, ribbon and other embellishments, and get creating your unique masterpiece.  The next time you need to wrap a gift..."CAN-IT"!





Scotch Brand:

Scotch Adhesive Dots for scrapbooking and crafting have a new "no touch design".  Each dot is dispensed on a clear tab, so you can place the dot exactly where you want it without touching the dot...no finger oils on the adhesive.  

Scotch Super Glue is now in a precision applicator.  Precise application with 60% less mess than other metal-tube super glues.  This new patented droplet control technology dispenses one droplet at a time, like an eye dropper.  The design of the bottle acts as a spring, sucking adhesive back in when the user stops squeezing the bottle.  

Both of these adhesives are available at local Target and Shopko locations.  You can also visit their website. 






Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Bojagi & Furoshiki ~ Oriental Fabric Wrapping

We had a lot of fun with Bojagi/Furoshiki in today's tv segments.  Who knew you could be so creative with some scarves and fabric!  From gift wrapping to baskets and purses...we showed a little bit of it all.




For those of you who are not yet acquainted with those foreign words, here is a quick description for you...


BOJAGI ~  is a traditional Korean wrapping cloth. Bojagi are square and can be made from a variety of materials, though silk is common

FUROSHIKI ~  is a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth that were frequently used to transport 
clothes, gifts, or other goods




This is an easy way to instantly create something personal and unique.  Grab a light weight piece of fabric that is square and thats all you need...NO SEWING INVOLVED!!!  You can leave the edges unfinished, use pinking shears along the edge or use a non-fraying product.   If you want to be a little more creative with your fabric wraps, sew two pieces, of contrasting fabric, together so you have a varied look for your wrap.

You will be amazed at what a colorful scarf can do for your next gift or basket...and so will the person receiving the gift!

Check out the video segments at  http://connect2utah.com/ 
At the bottom of the home page you will find the "Craft Projects" link.  :)
Click on "Crafty Chick Fabric Wrapping" Parts 1 & 2


Happy Crafting! :)