Dollhouse

 This dollhouse was handmade as a major art project for an entire year of homeschool.  It is 2 sided with 16 rooms including a garden on the roof.  (More pictures to follow)

Alien Party

Amigurumi Alien- Green

Crocheted and Bejeweled little Amigurumi Alien

Made by Heidi James

Amigurumi Alien- Blue

Crocheted and Bejeweled little Amigurumi Alien

Made by Heidi James

Amigurumi Alien- Blue

Crocheted and Bejeweled little Amigurumi Alien

Made by Heidi James

Amigurumi Alien- Pink

Crocheted and Bejeweled little Pink Amigurumi Aliens

Made by Heidi James



Amigurumi Alien Jelly Fish- Orange

Crocheted and Bejeweled little Amigurumi Alien Jelly Fish

Made by Heidi James

Amigurumi Alien- Yellow

 Crocheted and Bejeweled little Amigurumi Alien Monster

Made by Heidi James

Amigurumi- Red Alien



Crocheted and Bejeweled little Amigurumi Alien

Made by Heidi James

Cupcake Hat



Made by Heidi James

 Adorable little girls crocheted cupcake hat!

Christmas Ornaments- Recycled Pop Tops

Items Needed:
-2 plastic gallon milk caps
-2 plastic 2-liter pop bottle caps
-Thread or thin string
-Tacky glue or E6000 glue
-Versa-tool, heating point
-Thin, long beading needle
-Recycled beads in various colors, shapes (with holes) from broken jewelry
-Silver/Gold Acrylic paints
-Paint Brush
-Scrap ribbon, rick rack, or material
STEP 1: With the heated point on a versa-tool, melt a center hole in all 4 plastic caps

STEP 2: With a layer of glue on the inside top edges of the milk caps, glue them together and let dry.

STEP 3: Paint milk caps gold, and paint pop bottle caps silver (or however you'd like). You will need 2-3 coats of paint. Let dry.

STEP 4: Glue bottom edges of pop bottle caps to each top side of (glued together) milk caps and let dry.

STEP 5: With your long, thin needle, run your thread through a bead or two, then all the way through the glued together milk caps, leaving strip at the top. You can also thread craft wire through the holes, bend a tiny circle at each end to hold all of it together.


STEP 6: At the bottom of the millk caps, thread on a few more beads, going in one hole on the last bead, out the other hole, then back up through every bead and cap you just threaded through, arriving back at the top.


STEP 7: Tie your thread into a knot for a hanger, or sew on a piece of scrap ribbon, material or string for a hanger.

OPTIONAL: Glue a scrap piece of ribbon, rick rack, or material around center of glued milk rings for an added look. You could also cut a strip of silver bag liner from a snack cracker box or other boxed item (you may need to use rubber cement for it to adhere better than with Tacky Glue). Use leftover ribbon from holiday packages from the year prior, sew on old buttons, or other small craft items. You can also use any water bottle lids, individual pop bottle lids.

Christmas Ornaments- Tin Punch Lids

To make:
1. Collect the tops and bottoms of cylindrical packaging from chips, crescent rolls, biscuits, dinner rolls, etc…
2. Get a pattern or draw your own on paper (or use no pattern at all). When I make some patterns, I’ll post them here.
3. Hold or tape in place the pattern you are using. The pattern should be centered on your “tin” top.
4. Use a hammer and nail to make holes. Make sure you have a board (or an old cutting board) underneath so as not to ruin your table. Use a workbench if you have one.
5. Add an extra hole in the top for stringing a ribbon or cord through to hang on tree.

Christmas Ornaments- Tuna Can Photos

• Tuna cans or any small can such as those for olives, sardines, or cooked chicken
• Christmas cards or family photos
• Thick ribbon
• Hammer and nail
• Scraps of yarn or string
• Glitter (optional)
• Lace (optional)
• Miniature ornaments for tiny Christmas trees such as nativity scenes, snowmen, or Santa Clause (optional)

Instructions for Making a Recycled Tuna Can Christmas Ornament for the Tree

1. Thoroughly wash out the can with soapy water.
2. Parents can use the hammer and nail to punch two holes right beside each other in the side of the tuna can.
3. Parents can tie a scrap of yarn or string through the two holes for a hanger.
4. Trace the can around a Christmas card or family photo.
5. Cut around the traced circle.
6. Spread a thin coat of glue on the back of the card or photo and stick it to the inside of the can.
7. Parents can help with a hot glue gun to attach ribbon to the outside and inside rim of the can.
8. Tiny ornaments can be glued to the inside rim to add depth to the ornament. Parents can let kids pick out an inexpensive pack for a miniature tree including holiday figures such as the characters in a nativity scene, teddy bears, rocking horses, nutcrackers, toy soldiers, snowmen, or Santa and his elves.
9. Embellish the ribbon on the outside of the can with glitter or lace.
10. Hang the ornaments onto the tree and enjoy.

Similar ornaments can be made from many other recyclable items such as jar lids. Packages of inexpensive ornaments and Christmas cards are easy to find at any dollar store.

Christmas Ornaments- Citrus Slice

Made by Martha Stewart

Citrus Slice Ornaments

Make beautiful, seasonal ornaments that add color to your tree. Cut four unpeeled oranges into rounds about 1/4-inch thick and bake on a greased cookie sheet at 175 degrees for 4 hours. To hang, poke a hole near one edge with a needle and thread doubled twine through to make a loop.

Christmas Ornaments- Beaded Snowflakes

Made by Martha Stewart

Beads can be used to create beautiful, everlasting Christmas ornaments. These snowflakes use a combination of small and large beads: small rocailles (silver-lined transparent beads); long, thin bugle beads; and larger druk beads (smooth, round beads).

Tools and Materials
-20-, 24-, and 30-gauge tinned copper wire
-Round-nosed pliers
-Wire cutters
-Beads (see above)

Beaded Snowflakes How-To1. Create a snowflake form by crisscrossing three 10-inch lengths of 20-gauge wire so their midpoints meet and the wires extend from the center like equally spaced spokes.

2. Secure the center by wrapping 30-gauge wire around it several times. Alternatively, you can solder the wires together.

3. Transfer four size-5/o rocailles to one arm; wrap one end of a 12-inch length of 24-gauge wire on the arm, as close to the last bead as possible.

4. Thread a large, a small, and another large druk bead onto the 24-guage wire; repeat bead transfer (see step 3) on next arm, and wrap the wire close to last bead.

5. Repeat until an inner perimeter is formed (below, right), then add two 5/o rocailles, a bugle bead, and a large druk bead to each arm.

6. Loop the end of each arm closed with round-nosed pliers.

 

Christmas Ornaments- Snowy Balloon Balls

Made by Martha Stewart

With little more than some balloons and glitter, you can fill your home with decorative snowballs.

Tools and MaterialsBalloon
Ball of cotton string
Craft glue
Clothespin
Dowel
Glitter
Pin
Tweezers
Metallic thread
Spray mount
Evergreen branch

Snowy Balloon Ornaments How-To1. Blow up the balloon until it's slightly smaller than your fist. Tie the end of the cotton string to the end of the balloon.

2. Thin the glue slightly with water and brush some on the bottom of the balloon to tack down the string. Begin wrapping the string vertically around the balloon. When 3/4 of the balloon is covered vertically, begin wrapping the string horizontally. To change direction, wrap the string around the tied-off end of the balloon. Continue until 3/4 of the balloon is wrapped horizontally.

3. Cut the string and secure it with a dab of glue. Brush the watered-down craft glue all over the string-covered balloon. Pinch the top of the balloon with a clothespin and thread the clothespin onto a dowel that you've suspended between two points. Allow to dry for several hours.

4. Once dry, pop the balloon with a pin and remove it, using tweezers, if necessary. Add a loop of metallic thread and brush the balloon with glue again. Working over a bowl, spoon on glitter and set aside to dry.

5. Spray the branch with spray mount and spoon on glitter. Allow to dry. Affix the ornament to the branch.

Christmas Ornament- 3D Doily

Made by Martha Stewart

Wood-Veneer Ornament How-To1. Using a 56-millimeter scallop-edged circle punch, cut 2 circles from birch-wood veneer. 

2. Brush back of 1 circle with craft glue; affix to second circle, aligning edges. Set under a weight. Let dry. 

3. Leaving a 3-inch tail at the starting point, begin winding embroidery thread (on spool) around circle: Fit thread into 1 notch at top of circle. 

4. Count 9 notches beyond first notch; draw thread across front of ornament, and slip it into 10th notch. Draw thread up back of ornament, and slip it into 2nd notch. 

5. Draw thread across front of ornament, and slip it into 11th notch. Draw thread up back of ornament to 3rd notch. 

6. Repeat pattern, winding thread until all notches are wrapped. 

7. Tie end of thread to original tail at ornament's edge. Knot thread ends at tip of 3-inch tail to form a hanging loop. Trim excess thread.

Christmas Ornaments- Ribbon Bow

Made by Martha Stewart

Petal Bow-OrnamentThe petal bow is similar to the medallion bow. For the petal bow, make 2 1/4-inch accordion folds in ribbon (ours is 5/8 inch wide and 45 inches long); end with the raw edges facing down. Pass needle and thread through bottom, about 1/4 inch from edge. Hold together, and pull taut; knot. Spread petals; tie silver twine around thread to hang.

Figure-Eight OrnamentThis is made with 15-inch-long, 3/8-inch-wide satin ribbon. Follow instructions on page 102 to make three figure-eight bows, but start with the cut edge at back of bow instead of at front, and make two layers instead of three. Cross and glue two of the bows. Glue a loop of silver twine at the front center. Glue a third bow across the middle, as shown, concealing twine.

Christmas Ornaments- Gingerbread Spice

A dreamy mobile, crafted from iced cookie cutouts strung from a painted embroidery hoop, is a simple, pretty lesson in the Scandinavian custom of decorating with gingerbread throughout the holiday season. We used a combination of light- and dark-colored gingerbread cookies, but you can make them in a single shade. Decorate cookies with royal icing.

Honey-Gingerbread Cookies
Molasses-Gingerbread Cookies

Bedroom Mobile Materials and ToolsRolling Pin
Gingerbread cookies (see above)
Royal Icing
Templates or cookie cutters
Paring knife
Skewer or large plain round pastry tip (such as Ateco #10)
Pastry bag fitted with a small round tip (such as Ateco #0 or #1)
Small paintbrush
Red tempera paint
12-inch-diameter wooden embroidery hoop
Eight 12-inch lengths of red-and-white baker's twine
Screw hook in white
Four 1-yard lengths of cotton ribbon in red mini gingham or gingham

Bedroom Mobile How-To

1. Roll out cookie dough to 1/4 inch thick. Use templates and paring knife or cookie cutters to make 3 deer and 5 trees (use one of the tree templates twice). With skewer or large pastry tip, make a hole in each cookie as marked on templates.

2. Chill and bake cookies according to recipe. Let cookies cool completely.

3. Fill pastry bag with royal icing. Squeezing gently from the top of the bag, start just above deer cookies' surfaces and pipe dots for eyes; use a zigzag motion to create shadows on their undersides. Fill in ears of smaller deer, and make dots along deer backs. Pipe an outline on trees. Let icing dry at least 2 hours (preferably overnight); flip cookies, and pipe icing around their perimeters, then fill in. Let icing dry, as above.

4. Paint embroidery hoop, and let dry.

5. Fold 1 length of baker's twine in half, and pass loop through hole in cookie, from back to front; pass snipped ends through loop, and draw them upward. Repeat with remaining cookies and baker's twine.

6. To suspend cookies, start with 2 similar-size cookies at opposite sides. Tie snipped ends of twine around hoop, but do not knot. Adjust placement and twine lengths to balance cookies; this is easiest to do if a second person holds the hoop. Repeat, 2 cookies at a time. Add last pair, moving them as needed. Knot strings once balance is achieved.

7. Screw hook into the ceiling. Double-knot the 4 lengths of ribbon to hoop at equal intervals. Gather ribbon pieces, and tie them together around the hook, leaving 1 foot of ribbon to make a bow. If mobile isn't balanced, shift ribbons slightly.

Christmas Ornaments- Stocking



Made by Heidi James

 Instructions not available.

Christmas Ornaments- Reindeer Bulb



Made by Amanda Formaro



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.

Christmas Ornaments- Drip Balls



Made by Amanda Formaro



What you'll need:

• Glass ball ornaments
• Acrylic craft paint in holiday colors
• Empty egg carton
• Ribbon for hangers
• Water
• Paintbrush
• Clear glaze spray suitable for glass

How to make it:

1. Remove the hanger top from each ornament and set aside.
2. Place egg carton upside down and place ball ornaments in the middle of four egg cups to act as your holder (see image).
3. Place some paint in a palette and water the paint down until it begins to drip off the paintbrush (see image).
4. Keep the paint palette close to your egg carton holder. Dip paintbrush into the watered down paint, picking up a generous amount. Move the paintbrush to the top of the ornament immediately. Place a dollop of paint onto the ornament. If it doesn't begin to drip down, add some more paint until it does. Continue this technique around the ornament, alternating colors as well. When finished, allow the ornaments to dry completely (see image)
5. Once the ornaments are dry, replace the hanger tops and tie ribbon in place.
6. Hang ornaments on a dowel or strong twig, and then in a well-ventilated area, spray with clear glaze spray. Let dry completely.

 Tips:

• Using the egg carton as a holder will cause the paint to stop where the paint drips down and meets the egg carton. You can avoid this by hanging the ornaments on something sturdy while you paint, just be sure that you have newspaper below to catch the drips.
• The thicker the paint, the darker your drips will be. If you would like lighter drips, simply thin out the paint more.
• If you paint simply won't drip, you will need to add more water. Test by holding the paintbrush directly above the paint palette. The paint should begin to drip within 3 seconds.

Christmas Ornaments- Minature Presents



Made by Amanda Formaro



What you'll need:

• Wooden cubes
• Acrylic paint in festive colors
• Festive ribbon
• White craft glue

How to make it:

1. Paint each cube with desired color. Let dry.
2. If you like, make polka dots on your cube using a toothpick dipped in paint. Let dry (see image).
3. Cut a piece of ribbon about 12 inches long. Find the center of the ribbon and place a painted cube onto it. Wrap the ribbon around the cube as you would a regular present.
4. Tie the ends into a bow, and then double knot the bow.
5. Take the two open ends of the ribbon and bring the up together, tie in a knot at the top to create the hanger.
6. Use a few dots of white glue to secure the ribbon to the cube.

Tips:

• Wood cubes are available at your local craft supply store.
• Let children pick whatever colors they like for the paint, festive or holiday colors are not a requirement!
• If you prefer to make this a recycling project, use small boxes, such as a toothpick box.

Christmas Ornaments- Seed Bead Ball



Made by Kaboose



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.

Christmas ornaments- Candy Pails

Candy Pails

Turn small-ounce cans into decorative candy containers by tin-punching with a special design. Fill the can with water and freeze, then wrap your pattern around the can and tin-punch, adding an extra-large hole on either side at the top in addition to your design. Let the ice thaw, then add a wire handle by looping it through the two large holes at the top. Fill with candy and hang from the tree’s branches.

Christmas Ornaments- Tin Can Silhouette

This ornament is made from a tin can and predominantly recycled, vintage and used materials.

The outside and inside of of this ornament are covered in olive green velvet material and the back is covered in black felt. The front edge is covered in a miniature pearl trim and the back edge is covered in a woven gold cord trim. The image inside the ornament is from a vintage Christmas card and is a silhouette of a coach driver blowing a horn. There are rhinestones attached to the back image to simulate stars, as well as one hanging from a thread in the foreground. There is a green ribbon around the outside of the ornament that ties at the top to form a hanger, and is attached at the bottom to a decorative gold ball.

The ornament measures 3 inches wide by 2 inches deep.

I use predominantly recycled, repurposed, vintage and used materials in all of my ornaments.

Christmas Ornaments- Mailbox



Made by Heidi James



click on link for instructions: http://www.gardensablaze.com/Crafts/CraftMailbox.htm

Christmas Ornaments- Salt Dough



Made by Heidi James

 This shiny Christmas dough ornament craft is the perfect finishing touch to decorating the tree. It can also be altered and made into lapel pins, magnets and gift-toppers.

What you'll need:

• ½ cup salt
• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup water
• Rolling pin
• Cookie sheet
• Toothpick
• Miniature cookie cutters: star and Christmas tree
• Acrylic paints: green, yellow, and various colors of your choice for tree ornaments
• Glitter glue or glitter paint
• ribbon

How to make it:

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
2. Mix together, salt, flour, and water until dough is formed.
3. Knead the dough on a floured surface until the mixture is elastic and smooth. If dough is too sticky, sprinkle with flour, continue to do so until stickiness is gone. Do not add too much flour, this will dry out the dough and will cause it to crack before you get a chance to bake it.
4. Roll out the dough to about ¼” thick with a rolling pin that has been dusted with flour.
5. Use cookie cutters to cut out as many trees and stars as you want.
6. Use a toothpick to make a hole toward the top of the shape. Poke the toothpick into the shape, then holding toothpick straight up and down, make a circular motion as if you were stirring something. Keep circling until the hole is the size you want.
7. Place all shapes onto an ungreased cookie sheet and place into the preheated oven.
8. Bake for 2 hours.
9. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
10. Paint the trees green and the stars yellow.
11. Use the handle end of the paint brush to dot on ornaments by dipping into paint then dotting onto ornament.
12. When paint is dry, use glitter glue (we used green) or glitter paint (we used gold) to put a sparkling cover coat on your ornaments.
13. When dry, thread ribbon through hole and tie in a knot in the back.
14. Tie onto package.

Tips:

• If your toppers are large enough, you can make two holes in each so that you can thread ribbon through like a button, only showing a small amount of ribbon on the front.
• These make adorable pins to wear to school. Just don’t make a hole. Glue a pin back to the back of the completed ornament instead.
• Uncooked salt dough doesn’t keep well, so only make enough dough for the ornaments you are going to make. If you are only making a few toppers, halve the ingredients above. The listed amounts will make enough ornaments for a classroom of 20.

Christmas Ornaments- Granny Square

Made by Heidi James

Materials Needed:
yarn- Christmas colors
Size H hook
glitter

Follow instructions as illustrated on website below to make a granny square.

http://www.crochetcabana.com/tutorials/granny_square.htm

Christmas Ornaments- Mini Greeting Cards

Made by Heidi James

Simply make an ornament as seen here using the same supplies you would in making a handmade greeting card.

Can be 2 sided.

Christmas Ornaments- Felt Shapes

Made by Heidi James

Materials Needed:
Felt
stuffing
crochet thread or embroidery thread
embellishments: bells, ribbon, buttons, ruffle, etc.

Instructions:
Cut the felt in the desired shape- 2 pieces.  Sew embellishments on front of one piece.  Place two felt pieces towgther and sew around the edge with a blanket stitch, leaving a small gap for stuffing.  Continue to sew rest of shape.  Use string, ribbon or wire for hanger.

Christmas Ornament- Melted Beads

 Material Needed:

plastic beads

cookie cutters

foil

ribbon

Instructions:

Shape foil around a cookie cutter to make a mold for your ornament.  Remove the cookie cutter from foil.  Begin stacking beads in the foil mold in the colors and shape you want.  There should be about 1/2 inch or 3-4 layers of beads.
Bake beads at 400 degress in preheated oven (I use my toaster oven) for 10-12 minutes depending on how melted you want the beads.

 Let cool and remove from foil.  Drill a small hole in ornament or glue string on back to hanger.

Done!