My Little Crafty Corner

Archive for February, 2008

Check out this cute lil Leprachaun

Even if you can't catch a leprechaun this March 17th, you can still make one.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Toilet paper tube
	Green craft foam
	Acrylic paints: green, skin-tone, pink, and brown
	Black permanent marker
	Tacky glue
	4 brown pipe cleaners
	Decorative button
Time needed: About 1 Hour

1. For this crafty little decoration, first trace around the end of a toilet paper tube onto a piece of green craft foam.

2. Draw a 2 1/2-inch circle around the first circle, then cut them both out to create a hat top and brim and set them aside.

3. Next, using acrylic paints, paint the paper tube green. Add a skin-tone face and hands, plus rosy cheeks, as well as a band of brown paint around the back for hair.

4. Once the paint has dried, use a permanent marker to draw on facial and clothing details, then use tacky glue to stick on 3 coiled brown pipe cleaners: 2 in the back for hair and 1 around the face for a beard. For feet, fold another pipe cleaner in half, then tightly coil and pinch the ends, as shown.

5. Place the folded pipe cleaner inside the tube and glue the feet to the edge. Glue on the hat top and brim and a 5 1/2- by 1/2-inch strip of craft foam for arms.

6. Finally, glue a decorative button to the hat brim.

I want one of these popup tv lifts for if and when I get a plasma TV! Then I won't have to have a TV sitting on my dresser. I could have a cute stand at the foot of my bed, and then just hit the remote and have the TV pop right up when I want to watch it, then of course hit the button to have it close back down. I so need to convince my hubby that this is an absolute must!! 

 Aren't these the cutest things?? 

Teach your kids the art of quilling, a decorative paper-rolling technique, then round up a set of these message-bearing spring icons.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Colored paper
	Toothpick
	Card stock
	Glue
	Googly eyes
	Clothes pins (2 per note holder)
	Magnetic strip (optional)
Time needed: About 2 to 3 Hours

1. For each, start by cutting a few dozen 1/8-inch-wide strips of colored paper, each at least 4 inches long. Curl each strip tightly around a toothpick.

2. Next, cover a rounded, 3-inch card stock body with glue and attach the curls. Cut out a card stock face and ears, adding googly eyes and other facial features, and glue them all in place. Allow the glue to dry.

3. For the legs, which also serve as note holders, glue 2 clothespins to the back of the body. Stand the critter on a table or attach magnetic strips to the back and stick it to your fridge, then post your message in the clips.

Do you shop on Amazon? If so make sure you get your Amazon coupon codes.  You can get discounts from Target, Best Buy, Staples and many more stores. I have just discovered Overstock dot com, not only do you get some great deals to begin with, you can get a little bit better percentage off by using the coupon codes.

I need to get some new bathroom lighting. I want a nice dimmer switch, so I can set the mood when I get ready to go soak in a nice tub of bubbles. While I am at it, I should look into getting a new exhaust fan. The one we have now is not in hat great of shape. So many things I need to get to have this house market ready.