Accordion Pleated Paper Tulips

inspired by: http://prytulka.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/spring-tulip-cardsgreat-for-mothers-day/

Recently I found this inexpensive marbled *paper at JoAnns' Fabrics and Crafts. After using my 40% off coupon plus another 15% off my total purchase I got the paper for nearly a song.

Need:

-* the marbled paper was used for the tulips; plain green scrap paper for the stem and leaves.
-background paper for your tulip(s)
-scissors
-glue
-pencil
-markers
-crayons
-scrap piece of paper to make a tulip template or look online for a template (see link below)
-recycled greeting cards, newsprint ads or magazines (for decorating the picture) (optional)

Directions:



Draw a tulip pattern on a scrap piece of paper. Cut out. For tulip templates go here: https://www.google.com/search?q=tulip+flower+template&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Zv5CU82RDsviyAHGvYHoDg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1221&bih=963

Use the tulip pattern to cut out tulips on color paper of your choice. Cut out a stem and leaves.


Take the tulip flower and fold in an accordion pleat (either narrow or wide pleats). Glue it to the background paper. Glue on the stem and leaves. With recycled greeting cards, images cut out of magazines, markers or crayons, add grass, clouds, sun, birds or other seasonal decorations if desired. Set aside to dry.

This is Cap'n Mad Ellen's sample piece:

Cost: Less than US$1
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Paper Plate Tiger

Source: http://www.dillydaliart.com/2011/04/tiger-spin-art.html

Effervescent Ethel has been learning about wild animals from this book: My First Sticker Encyclopedia Wild Animals and each day doing a very simple and fast animal craft to add to a Wild Animal book we're compiling. This craft uses items you probably already have in your stores:

-paper plate (we used a 6"size paper plate)
-orange, brown and white paint (mixed together to create the color of a tiger's fur)
-black paint
-glue
-scissors
-masking tape*
-yarn, thread, string or similar for the tiger's whiskers (or you can paint, draw or make whiskers using scrap paper instead) We used thin metallic craft yarn in a silvery-tan color. See this link: http://dadiddleycraftcraft.blogspot.com/2013/11/lion-brand-bon-bon-yarn.html
-pencil
-black permanent marker
-small scrap black paper for nose
-brownish/orange buttons for eyes (or you can use paper or permanent marker to make the eyes if your artist prefers)
-scrap orange paper for ears  (we used a scrap of specialty paper)
-salad spinner (Note: *used to tape the paper plate onto the bottom of the salad spinner with painted side facing up.)
-tee shirt
-baby wipes and towel for messes and spills

Cost: $1.49  (GrrrrArrrr!!! Cap'n Mad Ellen was out of black paint!)

DID YOU KNOW?

The tiger's stripes are a lot like human fingerprints. No two tigers have exactly the same pattern.

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"I named the tiger Jack"!

A Polka Dotted Donkey...a Blue Horse...

For these paintings Effervescent Ethel was inspired by Eric Carle's book The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse (which in turn was Carle's inspiration from and various interpretations of Franz Marc's painting The Large Blue Horse)



Marc's Blue Horse

Carle's Blue Horse

Carle's Polka Dotted Donkey

Carle's Pink Rabbit

Effervescent Ethel's Blue Horse (she wanted a blue saddle for her blue horse)

EE's Polka Dotted Donkey (she wanted to paint some green grass for the donkey to eat)

EE's Pink Rabbit

Need:

-large piece of white construction paper
-pencil for tracing
-paint
-paint brushes
-toothpick or similar for small details (eyes, mouth, etc.)
-baby wipes for spills
-old tee shirt to protect clothes
-water in a cup
-Eric Carle's book The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse or look online for the images from this book



To do:  Effervescent Ethel traced the animal designs directly from Carle's book then painted.

Cost: we spent no money on this art project



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Clay Pot Cow or Pig (and a little bit of cheating)

Effervescent Ethel went to a craft class the other day at our local Ben Franklin craft store. The class made a pig and a cow out of miniature clay pots seen below. I stole the craft idea and am presenting it here to you today!

Tools: (Note: this list is for both cow and pig)

-2 miniature clay pots
-2 two-inch diameter styrofoam balls
-white, pink and black paint
-paintbrush
-glue
-scissors
-beads, small buttons, dried beans or similar for the eyes
-toothpick or similar to make the pupils of the eyes
-ribbon to decorate
-1 miniature jingle bell for the cow (optional)
-white and pink fun foam, card stock or scrap paper for the cow's mouth and ears, pig's snout and ears.
-brown or black fun foam (" "" ) for cow's horns (these are optional)

Cost: roughly $3 total



We added a swirly black tail to the pig!

  For clay pot pig inspiration go here:


https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+make+a+pig+from+a+clay+pot&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=LJ81U-nBK-TAyAG60IHgBw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=1221&bih=963

For clay pot cow inspiration go here:

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+make+a+cow+from+a+clay+pot&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=V541U-b-NcnlyAH-34GIAw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&biw=1221&bih=963
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Rolling, rolling, rolling...

Keep those TP rolls arollin'!

An entire blog dedicated to the fine art of toilet paper roll crafting! Be still me beatin' 'eart!







http://tpcraft.blogspot.com/2011/04/cute-little-bunny-toilet-paper-roll.html

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Bejeweled Mini Picture Frame

Need:

-glue

-picture frame (second hand stores, yard sales/boot sales, Dollar Tree, etc.)

-plastic "jewels" (craft stores, Dollar Tree)

-narrow ribbon to glue on frame before adding the jewels (this is optional and was an afterthought.)

Let your little artist draw or paint a picture suitable for framing. Perfect gift for birthdays, Mother's Day,  grandparent, etc. 

Cost: about $2.00

Tip:  remove any glue from the glass frame by using a Q-tip dipped in acetone/fingernail polish remover.


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Pot o' Gold 2014 Edition

Effervescent Ethel has been sick since the end of February with a bad chest cold, fever, sniffles, etc. I chose a simple craft project to ease back into crafting after two full weeks of no crafting, no keeling, no school, no scuttling, no nothing.



Cap'n Mad Ellen's sample

Effervescent Ethels' pot o' gold

Need:




-paint
-paintbrushes, Q-tips, or use your fingers,
-background paper
-plain white paper
-black construction paper
-1 cotton ball or batting
-gold loose glitter
-gold sequins
-glue
-scissors


Cost: no cost to us


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