Valentine's ideas... yes I know it's late... but for next year!

Three-Dimensional Candy Flowers

Give these paper flowers a three-dimensional effect by adding a bubblegum-filled lollipop to the center and using the lollipop stick as the flower stem. To make, push a lollipop through a mini cupcake liner, then cut a slit in the paper flower and push the lollipop through. http://www.bhg.com/holidays/valentines-day/cards/valentines-day-cards-with-candy/?sssdmh=dm17.579909&esrc=nwdiy02082012&email=3724673697#page=26

 

I think we may just try this... easy and cute!

 

What you'll need:

• Glass ball ornament
• White craft glue
• Wide paintbrush
• Seed beads
• Bowl
• String for hanging

How to make it:

1. Place the seed beads into a bowl.
2. Pipe glue all over the ornament and spread it around with a paintbrush, creating an even coat. (See photo.)
3. Hold the ornament by the hanger and roll it around in the seed beads. The beads will stick to the ornament, but you can lift beads with your fingers and sprinkle them on to fill any missed spots. (See photo.)
4. Run some string through the ornament hanger and hang somewhere safe to dry.

Tips:

1. This is such a simple project, that even the smallest of children can do it. Because the seed beads are very small, be sure to supervise and don't allow children to put beads into their mouths.
2. Seed beads can be found in the jewelry department of your local craft supply store.
3. White school glue can be used in place of white craft glue.

http://crafts.kaboose.com/seed-bead-ball-ornament.html

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer had a very shiny nose! Everyone loves Santa's lead reindeer, so how's this for a bright idea – make your very own version of him using an old lightbulb!
Decorate your whole home with festive Christmas crafts! Create homemade cards, your own Christmas ornaments, tasty Christmas recipes, or just snuggle up together with printable Christmas activities.

What you'll need:

• Burnt out lightbulb
• White vinegar
• Paintbrush
• Acrylic craft paint: brown, white, black and red
• 1 small jingle bell
• 6" thin gold ribbon
• 3 brown chenille stems
• 1 black chenille stem
• Black thin tip marker
• Red or silver glitter glue
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors
• Sealer spray

How to make it:

1. Rinse the lightbulb with white vinegar and let dry.
2. Paint lightbulb brown and let dry overnight.
3. Paint lightbulb with a second coat and let dry for 2-3 hours.
4. Put a dot of hot glue on the screw cap where it meets the glass of the lightbulb. Place the end of a brown chenille stem on the glue (see image). Wrap the chenille stem around the screw cap, gluing as you go.
5. Before continuing with the second chenille stem (it will take two full chenille stems to cover the screw cap of a standard light bulb), bend the black chenille stem in half. Glue the open ends of the black chenille stem onto the brown twists you just added (to create the ornament hanger). Now continue with the second brown chenille, wrapping around the ends of the black chenille, covering them up (see image).
6. Bend the third brown chenille stem into the shape of antlers (see image). Squeeze the bends so that the bends are touching each other (see image). Glue the antlers to the back of the chenille covered screw cap (see image).
7. Dip thumb in red paint and gently press onto the large end of the bulb for the nose.
8. Dip your pointing finger into white paint and dot on the eyes. Let the nose and eyes dry before continuing (see image).
9. Meanwhile, thread the jingle bell onto the gold ribbon. When the bulb is dry, turn it over and glue the ribbon to the back of the bulb, you want the jingle bell to hang down just below the bottom of the bulb so that it appears your reindeer has on a collar (see image).
10. Use the handle end of a paintbrush dipped in black paint to dot on the blacks of the eyes.
11. Put a little silver glitter glue on your finger and smear it over the top of the red nose.
12. When dry, spray the entire lightbulb with sealer spray and let dry by hanging somewhere safe.

Tips:

1. Jingle bells are available at discount department stores and craft supply stores.
2. Watch for sales on ribbon after every holiday.
3. Save burnt out lightbulbs for these types of projects. If you save the packages they came in when new, mark the outside of the box "burnt out" and store them in there so they won't break.

http://crafts.kaboose.com/lightbulb-rudolph.html

New Autograph Books for our Disney World Trip!

I finally got this project done before we leave for Disney World in 5 days!!  These were super easy and much cuter than the ones that are available to buy... not to mention cheaper.  My sister-in-law Lisa sent me the idea from a blog (you can see this on my blog under crafty).  I am going to add this to the goody bag I made for the girls so when they come home from school next Wednesday they will have a bag full of goodies/activities for the plane and then they will hopefully figure out that we are going to Disney World.  It has been really hard to keep this trip a secret but I know it will be worth it when we see the expression on their faces!

A fun Disney craft!

So since I am taking my girls to Disney World this fall I thought this would be really fun to make for them to get autographs.  These are super cute and much cheaper!!  Let my crafting begin.  Thanks to my sister-in-law who told me about this blog!  See below for this cool idea!

 

 

http://the-wilson-world.blogspot.com/2011/08/disney-crafts-autograph-book.html

One of the most memorable things about a Disney vacation is getting to meet the characters. Before our last trip I remember worrying about my boys being scared of the characters, but when we got to Disney my boys couldn't get enough of them. Well, except for the princesses who they refuse to even stand beside for a picture:) Getting autographs is a big part of meeting Mickey, Donald, and even the Green Army Man, so every kid needs to have an autograph book. Sure you can buy the ones that they sell in all the gift shops, but why not make your own really cute {personalized} version for way less money!

 I started our autograph books with a small spiral bound notebook that I picked up at Walmart for less than $2. Using my Silhouette, I cut a few Mickey heads and the year out of white contact paper. Because the contact paper is so thin {and I was trying to cover up the writing on the cover of the notebook} I had to do a double layer of Mickey heads on the cover. Then I cut each of my boys' first initials out in black vinyl { I used a font called Waltograph} and put the initial onto the white Mickey head. If you look closely at the top right corner, you can see that I also added a small piece of black vinyl to cover up the smaller logo {Mead} that was on the front cover.

Now all three of my boys are ready to get some autographs from Mickey Mouse and all the gang...and I'm hoping maybe we can manage to get at least one picture with a princess:)