Demented-crafts
Yarn balls
I never know what to do for a centerpiece; I always have a big ugly bowl in the middle of the table and on my list of things to do is to go buy something cool to put in it. Fake lemons are expensive. I bought real ones once and filled up the bowl but no one ever even came over to see it and they started rotting within a week. UGH. So when I saw this craft I figured it would be a good way to keep Megan entertained and give me something to decorate the house with for easter. I bought all kind of spring colored yarn and a thing of glue and some 5 inch balloons. When I went to the craft store and party store for balloons they only had 12 inch and I needed 5 inch. Typically me finding a craft that seems simple and making it complicated. I ended up asking the clerk at the party store and they had some.
1. Blow the balloons up only about half way. The ones in the picture are from blowing them up all the way and they came out way too big. Although they do look like easter eggs which is sort of appropriate.
1.a. (optional) have the kids rub the balloons on their hair and stick them to anything and everything. This worked for about an hour of entertainment for the kids.
2. Put some elmers glue in a tupperware container and mix with water.
3. Take the yarn off the skein (I know you're impressed i know that word) and wrap around your hand, wrapping maybe 20-25 times. I didn't wrap enough yarn and you can see my ball isn't quite covered enough in yarn.
4. Cut the yard and drop it in the glue making sure all the yarn is covered in glue. Be careful not to mix it around too much or you will get the yarn all tangled.
5. Wrap the yarn all over the balloon in a criss cross pattern
6. Once your yarn runs out dip the whole ball in the glue.
7. Let it dry ont he counter or a paper plate. I put pam on the counter so the glue wouldn't stick to it
8. Let it dry 24 hours then pop the balloon and pull it out through the hole
Megan and I did this with a friend and I didn't take any pictures along the way but I am going to do more this weekend and will update. Megan loved this whole thing start to finish. And i didn't make enough to fill the bowl so this is to be continued...
Valentines Day cards using photoshop
What to do on a snow day to keep a 6 year old occupied? Homemade
Valentines Day cards of course. Made these for Megan's friends using photoshop and she cut them out and wrote on the back of them. That worked for an hour anyway :). Megan is an arts and crafts girl!! And I am just her buyer/grunt worker.
Ginger bread house
Yarn balls I never know what to do for a centerpiece; I always have a big ugly bowl in the middle of the table and on my list of things to do is to go buy something cool to put in it. Fake lemons are expensive. I bought real ones once and filled up the bowl but no one ever even came over to see it and they started rotting within a week. UGH. So when I saw this craft I figured it would be a good way to keep Megan entertained and give me something to decorate the house with for easter. I bought all kind of spring colored yarn and a thing of glue and some 5 inch balloons. When I went to the craft store and party store for balloons they only had 12 inch and I needed 5 inch. Typically me finding a craft that seems simple and making it complicated. I ended up asking the clerk at the party store and they had some.
1. Blow the balloons up only about half way. The ones in the picture are from blowing them up all the way and they came out way too big. Although they do look like easter eggs which is sort of appropriate.
1.a. (optional) have the kids rub the balloons on their hair and stick them to anything and everything. This worked for about an hour of entertainment for the kids.
 |
| Sam does not seem to enjoy this game |
3. Take the yarn off the skein (I know you're impressed i know that word) and wrap around your hand, wrapping maybe 20-25 times. I didn't wrap enough yarn and you can see my ball isn't quite covered enough in yarn.
4. Cut the yard and drop it in the glue making sure all the yarn is covered in glue. Be careful not to mix it around too much or you will get the yarn all tangled.
5. Wrap the yarn all over the balloon in a criss cross pattern
6. Once your yarn runs out dip the whole ball in the glue.
7. Let it dry ont he counter or a paper plate. I put pam on the counter so the glue wouldn't stick to it
8. Let it dry 24 hours then pop the balloon and pull it out through the hole
Megan and I did this with a friend and I didn't take any pictures along the way but I am going to do more this weekend and will update. Megan loved this whole thing start to finish. And i didn't make enough to fill the bowl so this is to be continued...
Valentines Day cards using photoshop
What to do on a snow day to keep a 6 year old occupied? Homemade
Valentines Day cards of course. Made these for Megan's friends using photoshop and she cut them out and wrote on the back of them. That worked for an hour anyway :). Megan is an arts and crafts girl!! And I am just her buyer/grunt worker.
Ginger bread house
Am I the only person who thinks people who write gingerbread house directions are on crack? We started our tradition 4 years ago when my husband still had an interest in participating in my craft projects. I love how i do these things "for the kids" (my son is not remotely interested in any of these projects and my daughter, who must sense my desperation, has become more obsessed than me).
In any case our first gingerbread house did not involve reading the directions; after all, how stupid do you think I am that I can't make a gingerbread house without reading directions? Yes I AM THAT STUPID. We made the whole thing at once and once we got it all put together we couldn't even decorate it because the roof kept sliding off the house. Apparently you are supposed to build the house and let it dry before you put the roof on. I learned this the next year when I decided to read the directions.
In any case our first gingerbread house did not involve reading the directions; after all, how stupid do you think I am that I can't make a gingerbread house without reading directions? Yes I AM THAT STUPID. We made the whole thing at once and once we got it all put together we couldn't even decorate it because the roof kept sliding off the house. Apparently you are supposed to build the house and let it dry before you put the roof on. I learned this the next year when I decided to read the directions.
So now making a gingerbread house is a week long endeavor as we frost and wait. This year I had my neice Jillian's help. 12 year olds are so much more helpful than 6 year olds.
We started by making the frosting; despite the directions which said to add 5 tablespoons of water; we added 95; one at a time as we blended, added and blended the "glue" for the house. Seriously how much more incorrect could the instructions be? In any case, this is the base of the house. Apparently construction requires a degree of precision I lack.
This is the house while drying. And yes i feed my kids spaghetti o's. Shoot me. Several weeks later after I have sufficiently rested from the effort and the frosting is harder than concrete we try to finish our project and I sucker I mean enlist the help of Megan's friend Mercedes and her mother to decorate. And by help I mean do it all while I watch and take pictures. I had to add like a cup of water to loosen it then added too much and had to use all the confectioners sugar in a 10 mile radius to finish it. But we did it and it doesn't look bad for a couple of 6 year olds!
Look at that fancy walkway!
Halloween photo booth!
This year I got a tripod for my birthday. I saw a friend's facebook post of his wedding where they had a professional photo booth and props. It seemed like an awesome idea for a party only it was $1,500. I have been known to waste money but this seemed ridiculous so we did it ourselves. We got alot of good pictures like this one. Its amazing the difference a good camera and a tripod make; especially when taking nighttime pics.
Tombstones
As most of you know I am a certifiable Halloween nut. Whatever practicality and rationaility I show at work is fully used up there because somewhere along the line I decided that it would be a good idea to make my own tombstones. I even bought a foam cutter. I got the shapes made and painted them and that's where it ended 3 years ago. This year I motivated myself to finish them mostly because they were mocking me in my basement. I tried to carve the epitaphs with a knife and wanted to cut my hand off from the pain after an hour. I am known to spend money on stuff for projects used once and decided to be cheap about buying the tool to carve them. Why not paint the epitaphs you say? Well that wasn't good enough. Better they stay in the basement than do a half ass job. I borrowed a dremel from my friend Mike and voila!
Ghosts
I made these a few years ago wtih some sheets and foam heads
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