Fork Tulips

It's been a month or two of one craft fail after another, mateys. Here's a success story for you:!

Compile:


-paint (we used acrylic paints)
-piece of white paper + background paper, if desired
-(glue)
-forks of different sizes 
-sponge paintbrush for painting the acrylic paint onto the forks
-wipes!

For this lesson we learned about 'perspective'. The original instructions specified plastic forks with three prongs. I used metal and plastic forks of various sizes to teach the 'perspective' concept. (And as you can plainly see not all of the forks had three prongs.)


Notice how the colors mixed and created pretty variegated petals with her painting! Much as  one would see in Nature itself/herself!



source: http://www.kidsplaybox.com/spring-art-tulip-painting/

 The real deal- (my photo)

Cost: 0


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Valentine Ribbon picture with L O V E

http://54.203.255.99/blogtest/valentine-art-blogger-competition-no-2.html

Used:

-picture frame
-background paper
-ribbon, Valentine colors
-spray paint in bright pink (Krylon™ Short Cuts)
-glue
-scissors
-glitter ribbon to spell out the word  L O V E

   

The ribbon L O V E  letters kept falling off. I used glue dots thinking they would hold but it didn't work. I don't own a glue pistol (have a love/hate relationship with glue pistols).  In the end I used Alene's Tacky Glue™ to adhere the ribbon letters.

Cost: about $5 for several spools of ribbon, picture frame and light pink background specialty paper. 

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Button Shamrock

                                                                  23 February 1716 


Kind crafters-                                        

The month of February has been a bust. Your Captain Mad Ellen was sick with the flu (the constant movement and listing of the Ebony Oyster wasn't helping with recovery).  Once I eventually started feeling better and easing back into crafting we experienced several small craft fails along the way. Thank you for your patience and unceasing loyalty to your captain. Favorable winds! 

Cordially, Captain ME


https://www.google.com/search?q=button+shamrock+craft&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqhMeO047LAhVDyWMKHaX3AQAQ_AUICCgC&biw=1543&bih=913

Gather:
-canvas,  sturdy background paper, fabric or wood (I used an 8" square canvas)
-gold spray paint or gold acrylic paint
-paintbrush
-buttons, sequins, "rhinestones",  glass/plastic beads, etc. in appropriate shade of green to decorate the shamrock
-glue
-loose gold glitter, for embellishment on the gold background (optional)
-Krylon clear fixative (optional but recommended)
-frame to display, also optional

Cost: $3.50 for canvas (purchased with a 50% coupon). If you don't want to use an artist's canvas a piece of craft wood, cardboard or sturdy cardstock will work. You could also substitute fabric for the background, as a suggestion and skip the painting part entirely. There are small artist's canvases (some with mini-easels!) available at most any craft stores that'll run about ¢.99 cents each and sometimes you can purchase the canvases in sets for a good price. This works out well financially especially if you are doing this craft with a group and take advantage of a store coupon in combination.


I cut out the shamrock shape and taped it to the canvas. Then EE painted the background gold with acrylic paint ('King's Gold' by craftsmart™.) Let dry then remove template. Glue on the buttons, etc.  Outline the shape of the shamrock with permanent pen, art pen, etc. if desired. Once completely dried I sprayed a light coating of Krylon clear fixative. 

*Crafter's trick I discovered a few years ago*: Use your cell phone camera to take pictures of your craft/art projects as you progress. By taking photos you really notice the mistakes or at least the areas that need assistance creatively. Try it! Really works! 



Here's the link to the free shamrock printable I used as our template. Note that I used a three-leaf shamrock. 
 http://coloringpage.mesotheliomasymptons.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/easy-toddler-shamrock-coloring-pages.jpg







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Valentine's Day Ring Bling Napkin Holders and Valentine Tic Tac Toe Game (a 2-for-1 craft project!)

Source: http://www.worthingcourtblog.com/valentines-day-decor-2/ (for the napkin rings)

Craft #1 Valentine's Day Ring Bling Napkin Holders

-package of Valentine-themed paper napkins or solid color in red, purple, pink, etc.
-scissors
-Valentine "gem rings" (depending on how many napkins you'll need especially if you plan to make the Tic Tac Toe game, it may be necessary to buy at least 2 or more packages of the "gem rings")
-standard size pencil, straw or chopstick


Take the pencil and place it across one corner of the folded napkin. Roll up the napkin (not too tightly), insert the ring in the center of the napkin then twist gently to remove the pencil. 

Source: Forgot to save. I'll look for the source!

Craft #2 Tic Tac Toe game

-plastic rings, about 4 of each color
-washi tape or similar to make the tic tac toe rows, cut in about 1/2" strips
-foam that came with the ring package

Cut the foam so that there are 9 rings slits total. Cut and apply a thin strip of washi tape as shown in photo below. Now you can play Tic Tac Toe!

Cost: $2.00 (1 package of rings and 1 package of napkins from Dollar Tree)

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A Big Old Moon

source: http://craftwhack.com/a-big-old-moon-art-project/

"Grab your card stock and your masking tape, folks, ’cause we’re getting all Buzz Aldren up in here!"

To make Big Old Moon you will need these items:

-*tracing paper, typing paper ( < < < --- do they make that anymore?!), wax paper, parchment, vellum or similar
-black card stock or black construction paper (For stability I used a double fold of black construction paper and glued it together.)
-glue ^ ^
-masking tape, torn (not cut) into small pieces
-scissors
-stars stickers (Avery™ permanent foil star labels/stickers, stars cut from a magazine or recycled greeting cards, etc.) 

*The original instructions called for white card stock. I like the transparency of tracing paper. 

Cost: ø

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Winter Ribbon Tree

Gather:

-background paper or lightweight/medium weight fabric
- various ribbon in colors of choice
-glue
-scissors
-washi tape for the tree trunk. If you don't have washi tape, use masking tape, Scotch tape, hem facing/seam binding, specialty paper, lightweight/medium weight fabric or similar
-Krylon™ clear spray adhesive
-package of self-adhesive "sticky gems" (size 3mm) for the snowflakes
-picture frame (optional-we found this one at Dollar Tree)


Don't forget to sign the piece and date!



Cost: $5 for washi tape, picture frame, mini-gems, various spools of ribbon in silver and white, and  background paper. Of course the washi tape, mini-gems and ribbon spool craft items will be used in future craft projects. 

 

 The design on the picture frame reminded us of falling snow!

Homeschooling families/Educators: I used this craft project to expand upon a math lesson this week focusing on these math vocabulary words: pattern, term and core. (From Effervescent Ethel's 'Jump at Home' study book:)

  

I couldn't find a sample page online from the 'Jump at Home' book. Here's an example c/o Google. 

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Pasta Snowflakes

Happy New Year 2016 from the crew of the Ebony Oyster!


Special Message from the Captain: 

Cap'n Mad Ellen fell on board ship early last month and injured the ankle. 
Do you have any idea how difficult it is to balance on a peg leg and an orthopedic boot whilst out at sea let alone on terra firma? But craft we must! Ahoy!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Directions:
First, arrange the pasta shapes in a design on a large piece of wax paper or parchment. Use glue to attach the pieces together. Tip: It may be easier to use a paintbrush to apply the glue and a toothpick or tweezers to arrange the pieces. Let dry overnight.

With white spray paint lightly spray each side of the snowflake twice, allowing each side to dry thoroughly between coats.

Next day, apply a light coat of ModPodge or glue. Sprinkle the snowflakes with loose glitter. Set aside to dry. We added glue and glitter to both sides, allowing each side to dry thoroughly.

Now spray a light coating of Krylon clear spray adhesive to each side. Dry. Repeat. Set aside to dry overnight.

Once the pasta snowflakes are completely dry, they are now ready to hang from/up on the ceiling or wall. 

You will need:

-Pasts in various shapes. *It is far less expensive to purchase pasta in bulk bins. You can also get a good variety that way, too.* I learned quickly that the spiral-shaped pasta was not easy to work with for this project. There wasn't sufficient surface space for the glue to adhere properly. 
-wax paper or parchment, for the work surface
-glue (we used school glue but a stronger glue such as Aleene's would be better in retrospect)
-paintbrush
-toothpick or craft tweezers, to arrange pasta shapes (optional but recommended)
-white spray paint
-ModPodge™
-loose glitter in white, silver and/or iridescent
-Krylon™ clear spray adhesive
-fishing line, filament or similar to hang the snowflakes

Cost: about $1.00 worth of pasta 

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