No More Worries'! doll kit

A trip to World Market earlier in the year inspired us to make this next craft project: The "No More Worries' " doll kit. I bought one of the kits to use as a pattern ($1.99) and I also found a cylindrical package of 8 worry dolls ($3.99 approximately).  

*UPDATE*: I found worry dolls in bulk here : http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/186-0560145-8339133?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=WOrry%20dolls

Each box was personalized. The top box Effervescent Ethel made for herself, the second one for Commodore GrumpyBritches, and the third worry box for a friend's birthday.

Craft items used including suggestions:


-empty matchboxes
-scraps of fabric to line the boxes inside and outside
-scrap paper, recycled greeting cards, magazines, etc. 
-glue, regular and Alene's fabric glue
-scissors
-pencil
-ribbon
-things to decorate the inside and outside of the box: self-adhesive rhinestones, mini rick rack, googly eyes, small coins, movie stub, charms,  etc. Also, rocks (I added a few small sunstones), rhinestones/ sequins, buttons, loose glitter, magazine or greeting card cut outs, etc.; anything to personalize it.
-permanent marker to sign and date the bottom of the inner box.

The Batman! EE customized this No More Worries'! doll kit for Commodore GrumpyBritches.

Cost: $6 total (that includes the cost of the kit and the package of worry dolls). Each matchbox worry doll kit cost about .50 cents to make.

______________________________________________________________________________

More Spookiness! "The Spooky Halloween Forest" aka Halloween in a Mason Jar

Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with "scary," "spooky," "haunted," or "forbidden" in the title. ~From Scooby-Doo

;)

Layering the bottom of the Mason jar with all sorts of crafty goodies from our crafty stash!

LET ME OUT!!!!

 PROVISIONS used in our Spooky....Jar:

-Mason jar (recycled or new-new ones can be found at craft stores and Dollar Tree)
-miniature tree (Dollar Tree in the Halloween section)
-ground cover: pebbles, sequins, buttons (black, grey, white, silver), dried black beans and/or black eyed peas, plastic beads/pony beads, "rhinestones" in black and silver, marbles, etc. all in a Halloween color scheme
-glue
-various ribbon, black crepe paper
-doubled sided sticky tape (for attaching the ghost to the tree branch)
-paper, greeting cards, print and/or magazines to add characters (ghost, bat, moon, etc.), if desired
-scissors
-pencil, black pen or permanent marker
-loose glitter (black, silver and purple for her Halloween forest)
-paper, felt or scrap fabric to cover the lid (we tried black glittery felt and also used it on the bottom of the inside of the jar before adding the ground cover)
-one black LED votive candle (also from Dollar Tree in a package of 2)
-package of gargoyle figurines ("   " "  " in a package of 3)

*UPDATE* (1 October) : sorry, forgot to tell you that we added one black LED candle inside the jar.  Looks like this: 

Except for the tree, Mason jar, LED candle and package of mini gargoyles, all of the items used where from the craft barrels.

Cost: US$4.00

Source: inspired by a stroll through Dollar Tree recently while looking for inexpensive ideas for autumn/Halloween craft projects.

________________________________________________________________________________

'Spooky Rocky' hand painted rock

To make: 'Spooky Rocky' you will need:

-rock, cleaned and dried completely (I picked out a rock that was flat on the bottom so it wouldn't be wobbly)
-paint
-paintbrushes, various sizes (toothpicks are also useful for painting details)
-paper or other material to make stem (we used a small piece of scrap construction paper)
-glue
-scissors
-black permanent marker for details and to sign and date the pumpkin on the bottom.


Cost: $0

Inspiration here: https://www.google.com/search?q=painted+rock+halloween+pumpkin&biw=1138&bih=798&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=VLUpVL7qFoi9jALRuIBI&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ

_____________________________________________________________________________

"Now you listen to me, James Hawkins. You got the makings of greatness in you, but you got to take the helm and chart your own course. Stick to it, no matter the squalls! And when the time comes you get the chance to really test the cut of your sails, and show what you're made of... well, I hope I'm there, catching some of the light coming off you that day. " Long John Silver

3 Dimensional Paper Tree with Autumn Leaves

Source: http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/1007725/fall-paper-bag-crafts-for-kids

(Art direction by Cap'n Mad Ellen)

To make the tree you will need:

-brown lunch bag (you can use a large grocery bag or packing paper depending on what size art piece you want)
-scissors
-glue
-leaf stencil or pattern or leaf shaped cookie cutter (we used stencils from the "Fun With Leaves' Stencils" Little Activity Book by Dover Publications http://store.doverpublications.com/048626808x.html)
-scrap paper in autumn colors, magazine print,  and/or recycled greeting cards for making the leaves
-pencil or pen (to trace)
-background paper
-"canvas" (we used a recycled cardboard box from Amazon)
-tacks or similar for displaying on a wall

Cost: o

Tip: I cut the bag from the unopened end; wrinkled and pleated the bottom of the bag (the trunk) to give it texture.

Notice here how I cut the slits at various lengths and remember- I cut from the unopened end. Some of the slits were then cut into two "splits" to create tree branches.

____________________________________________________________

Back in the saddle: Fast and Easy Decorated Mini Pumpkin

A very easy, slide-back-into-school-routine type craft project. We picked up a mini-pumpkin at the grocery store for .33 cents (US$1.99 pound). 

I was quite fond of the original color but Effervescent Ethel wanted to paint her pumpkin.

Cost: .33 cents and using provisions we already had on hand

Used:

-mini pumpkin
-clear glue
-scissors
-self-adhesive pumpkin themed ribbon
-lacy and polka dot ribbon
-autumn colored sequins
-gold spray paint (it is more of an antique gold)
-gold loose glitter

___________________________________________________________________

'Tis the Season to Be Scary" Paper Garland

Original idea, layout and artwork by resident artist Effervescent Ethel. Kickstarting the autumn season a wee bit prematurely with no complaints from ye ol' Cap'n Mad Ellen!

These are the supplies we used to make the paper garland:


-scrap paper
-glue
-scissors
-ribbon, string, raffia or similar to hang the garland
-decorations, your choice
-(pre) decorated clothespins (found very inexpensively on a discount rack @ Michaels)
-crayons, markers, colored pencils
-lead pencil
-pumpkin cookie cutter or template
-pushpins in seasonal color(s) to hang up the garland (optional)



Cost: $1.00-$1.50

________________________________________________________________________

DIY Cloth Crayon Roll

  Purchased Cloth Crayon Roll to be used as a pattern. See example below.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

^^I found this handmade cloth crayon roll at Goodwill for .99 cents whilst in port last month. After a thorough soaking and hand washing to remove some splotches of blue marker ink; followed by an ironing, the crayon roll is almost as good as new. Part of the reason I bought it was to use the roll as a pattern to make more rolls. Have you seen the prices for cloth crayons rolls on shopping sites-Etsy for example? $$$ In addition, it was also easy to make a pattern from it and is a perfect sewing project for your budding seamstress and/or seamster.


 This is my test piece. Needs some finishing on the details and a good ironing. Not perfect but we'll get there...Effervescent Ethel claimed the test piece as hers hot off the press.


(Notice that I bar tacked where the two fabrics meet in the center. Although the tops of the pockets have yet to be reinforced. Both stress areas.)

Need:

-about 1/4-1/3 yard of scrap fabric or fat quarters (1 fat quarter for main fabric, the other fat quarter for the contrast)
-sewing machine
-fabric shears
-thread
-bias tape for the edges (or make your own bias tape with fabric)
-ribbon for the ties (or you can use some of the contrast fabric to make the ties)
-Fray Check™ if using ribbon ties (optional)
-lightweight batting, interfacing, lightweight woven fabric such as flannel or muslin cloth for stability


The dimensions are: *13" x 6 1/2". The ties are roughly 21" long.  *The size of the roll will vary depending on what its purpose will be: regular crayons, "Twistables@, color markers (Pipsqueaks™ or the thicker ones?), colored pencils, etc.


Tip: Remember to reinforce the seam at the top of each pocket and where the ties are attached. Wouldn't hurt to bar tack the corners as well.


Cost: insignificant. Try to keep the cost at or around US$5 or you're defeating the porpoise-so to speak.

____________________________________________________________________________

Rest in Peace Robin "Peter Banning" Williams :(