Two DIY Nativity Scenes

   From various online sources using items from the woodpile and craft barrels below deck.

https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=popsicle%20stick%20nativity&rs=typed&term_meta%5B%5D=popsicle%7Ctyped&term_meta%5B%5D=stick%7Ctyped&term_meta%5B%5D=nativity%7Ctyped

http://little-inspirations.blogspot.com/2011/11/wooden-doll-nativity.html

Cost: $O




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Shadow Box for Plundered Treasure

   To create your customized Shadow Box: 


-shadow box (Some shadow boxes are hinged with a front opening. The one I purchased has a back opening just like a picture frame.)
-Christmas ornaments; or other trinkets and tchotchkes for the shadow box
-ribbon, trim, other Christmas decorations
-background paper, optional 



This very simple craft project took care of a major problem I had with an overabundance of inherited vintage Christmas ornaments. I poked around Google for various craft project ideas that did not include or involve:

-glue/hot glue guns (not a fan of hot glue guns!) or hours of time

Cost: $19.99 for shadow box ($39.99 original price and shadow boxes were 50% off the day I visited Michaels' crafts. What luck!) In addition, the shadow box was already painted a light gold color which saved another step. 

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Pomandeering: December 2015 Edition

I don't know why I hadn't thought of this before, but tiny kumquats make an excellent canvas for pomanders (or as the Cap'n Mad Ellen says : "pomandeering"). The peel on a kumquat is soft, too which makes inserting the whole cloves very easy!

                                                                                 +

Gather:

-kumquats (usually less expensive by the pound than pre-packaged)
-whole cloves (typically cheaper in bulk rather than purchased in those small spice bottles)


To do: Insert whole cloves in the kumquats in any pattern or decoration. That's it!

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Mini Christmas Wreath

   Craft items for the Mini Christmas Wreath:

-round wood purse handle, set of 2 for $7.99 and 50% off (I used a sturdy purse handle instead of styrofoam or florist foam wreath forms which don't hold up well.)
-ribbon, to wrap the wreath
-pink iridescent tulle, " 
-glue
-scissors
-spray paint, color of choice for the wreath form: I used white although I wanted to paint it silver metallic but was out of that color spray paint!
-to decorate: buttons-many vintage, sequins, self-adhesive rhinestones, fake pearls, jewelry findings
-ribbon, to tie (optional)
-Krylon clear gloss/spray adhesive (optional but recommended)

  Cost: about $7.00 for the wreath form, tulle and ribbon
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Team Turkey USA

Inspired by an image I found online yesterday.

  To make:

-background paper
-a printout of an outline of the USA (found on Google)
-markers or crayons
-scissors
-glue
-pencil, to trace the design (optional but recommended)




Cost:  $O

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Thanksgiving Turkey Hat

Source:  http://www.parents.com/holiday/thanksgiving/crafts/super-cute-thanksgiving-hats/#page=1

  Gather together:

-paper plates (we also made a turkey hat using a smaller paper plate)
-scissors
-glue
-paint, markers, crayons, etc. for coloring
-(paintbrushes)
-tape
-construction paper or similar
-googly eyes, buttons or beans/legumes, for the eyes or you can use scrap paper
-pencil, to trace
-ribbon, string or similar to tie the hat to the back of the head
-3" diameter circle template (I used a Fiestaware cup)

Cost: O

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Acorn Cap Napkin Holders

   Source: based upon various projects scoured from the internet including Family Fun/Parent Magazine. 

Used:

-clean, dry acorn caps
-glue (E6000)
-ModPodge
-various craft items to decorate: glass/plastic beads, craft pearls, antique buttons, sequins, craft wire, pom poms, jewelry findings/charms, etc.
-scissors
-ribbon 1/2" wide
-package of Thanksgiving/autumn-themed paper/dinner napkins

Cost: Approximately $2.00 for a spool of Thanksgiving/Autumn-themed ribbon and paper napkins.

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Spool (Tommy) Turkey

From made by joel via Parents'magazine

http://www.parents.com/holiday/thanksgiving/crafts/make-it-wooden-spool-turkeys/

  To make our Spool "Tommy" Turkey:

-1 wooden spool (I didn't have any wooden spools-only plastic. It was far less expensive to buy one  cheap spool of thread than to buy a package of unfinished wood spools.)
-feathers
-scrap craft paper for body, beak, wattle, crest and feathers
-eyes: buttons, googly eyes or similar craft items (lentils, beans, popcorn kernels, etc.)
-floral or craft wire (You'll need a thicker gauge wire approximately 22 gauge. If the wire is too thin the turkey won't be able to stand up due to the weight of the spool of thread.)
-glue
-scissors
-1 button the same diameter as the spool and one slighter smaller, for tracing the turkey body
-permanent pen for the body swirls and a pencil for making the pattern

Cost: ¢.99 for one spool of thread using a 20% coupon for grand total of ¢.80

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Mickey Cutie Halloween Bats

From the October 2015 Family Fun magazine issue here is a very easy and quick paper craft project for Halloween.

source: http://family.disney.com/craft/mickey-cutie-halloween-bats

To create the "Mickey Mats" you will need:


-printer
-cardstock or medium weight black paper
-scissors
-glue
-double sided sticky tape (for attaching to a wall or window pane) *or* clear thread or monofilament for hanging the bats from the ceiling

Cost: Ø


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Paper Plate Black Cat for Halloween

source: http://www.kidspot.com.au/kids-activities-and-games/Halloween-craft+11/Paper-plate-black-cat+13193.htm

  To create the cat you will need:

-white paper plate
-black paint or black spray paint
-paintbrush
-glue
-scissors
-decorations for the eyes, nose, whiskers (we used googly eyes, embroidery floss for the whiskers, and self-adhesive stickers for the nose and ears)









Cost: Ø

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Jack Skellington Painted Rock

Inspiration here: https://www.google.com/search?q=jack+skellington+craft+rock+painted&biw=1574&bih=985&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMImfyp95iuyAIVCqWICh0vqw63#imgrc=_

Here's what you will need:

-one clean, smooth rock
-white paint (we used spray paint this time, two coats and both sides)
-*black paint or black permanent marker
-small paintbrushes (if using paint)

*Note: *EE used our set of Pigma Micron™  black ink pens of various nib sizes. However  what wasn't taken into consideration that the ink is not permanent and I smeared Jack's face accidentally! I tried my best to fix the mistake before Effervescent Ethel discovered it. Lesson learned.



Wash and scrub the rock well before painting and dry thoroughly. 

Paint rock and dry. 

And for the first time since I don't remember 

when I felt like 

my old bony self again...

And I, Jack, the Pumpkin King... 







   Cost: ø



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Paper Plate Calveras (Skulls)

http://scrumdillydo.blogspot.com/2010/10/make-paper-plate-calaveras-masks.html

To make:

-white paper plates
-pencil
-scissors
-ruler (optional but recommended)
-glue
-decorations: sequins, rhinestones, stickers, ribbon, lace, permanent markers/crayons/color pencils, rick rack, loose glitter, small buttons, etc. 

Note: I cut a narrow border from the discarded paper plate to make a hanger for the skulls and taped it on the back.  Dry completely and flatly before hanging up on the wall. This craft project is a great example for teaching symmetry. 

Cost: ø
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Paper Skyscraper / Cityscape

This week we are learning about what constitutes a 'city'. I found this easy project for creating a cityscape of skyscrapers at night. I taped together four pieces of black construction paper. Effervescent Ethel worked on this project throughout the week. 

Cost: ø


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http://www.education.com/worksheet/article/pirate-paper-puppet/

3D Paper Apples

I forgot to bookmark the original source for this next project but fortunately there are plenty of other websites of the same project-with slight variations. This one for example:

https://www.papermilldirect.co.uk/inspire/post/teachers-gift-ideas-papercrafted-apples

To create the paper apples:

-paper (card stock, old magazines, newspaper/Sunday comics, greeting cards, gift wrapping paper, etc.)
-scissors
-glue (We used a glue stick but I read on one particular website that the crafter tested Glue Dots™  and with very good results.)
-pencil, for tracing
-apple stencil (You can find apple templates/stencils *online free of charge. Or, if you have
an apple cookie cutter it can be traced on paper.)

*https://www.google.com/searchq=3D+paper+apples&biw=1523&bih=852&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIirGt28mayAIVFFuICh1U6QOS

We also used Google/Images to compare different types and colors of apples for artistic inspiration:

https://www.google.com/search?q=3D+paper+apples&biw=1523&bih=852&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIirGt28mayAIVFFuICh1U6QOS#tbm=isch&q=apples


Cost: ø


Effervescent Ethel's 3D paper apple

Next month we will be repeat this craft project using pumpkin templates. Look for that post sometime in early October!

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Q-Tip™ Autumn Tree(s)

http://laclassedellamaestravalentina.blogspot.com/2011/09/un-pennello-un-po-speciale.html


A Shark Bait photobomb!

Effervescent Ethel's autumn tree-

(EE used a ruler to trace the tree trunk.)

Cap'n Mad Ellen's-

To create:

-Q Tips™ cotton swabs
-paper
-paint
-round object, for tree pattern (plate, etc.)
-pencil to trace
-pictures from greeting cards, magazines, to decorate (optional)
-scissors (") 
-wipes for clean up







Cost: ø



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