This reindeer is made from a wine cork and some twigs. This is a really fun project to do with your kids. My grandson made this with very little help from me! Unfortunately my dog got a hold of it and chewed it up so I guess we will make some more soon!

Materials:

• two wine corks
• twigs
  
• tiny red bead or pom pom for the nose
  
• two wiggly eyes or beads
• small piece of twine for tail
  

Step 1.

I punched the four holes in the bottom of the cork using a punch or ice pick.  Logan and I went out and looked for twigs and then he cut them himself using small dog clippers.  They are perfect for cutting twigs but won’t work very well for your dog’s toenails after a while!  Next he dropped glue into each hole and stuck the legs (twigs) into the holes.

Step 2.

Adult will need to slice off a piece of cork to use as a head.Punch a hole in the bottom and insert a short twig to connect it to the reindeer body.

Step 3.

Punch a hole in the top of cork and then insert the head.  Next you will punch two holes in the top of the cork for antlers. We used some wild blueberry twigs for antlers but even in the city you can find many different twigs. When my kids were young we lived in California and we would go to a park near our home to find twigs and other stuff for craft projects.  I also used to make my husband stop the car when we went places so I could grab good branches and twigs!

Step 4.

Put dots of glue for eyes and then place the wiggly eyes or beads.  Put a dot of glue for nose. I used a tiny red pom pom but a bead would work too.

Step 5.

Poke a hole in end of cork and then attach a small piece of twine with some glue.

I had a cookie cutter cannister that was old and rusted so I decided to paint it and create a Halloween toy for my 5 year old grandson. I made different face shapes so that he can create many different ones. He played with this for a long time and asked for it several times while he was here so I’d have to say it was a hit.  This would be a great toy for throwing in your purse for doctor appointments and long car trips. Remember to keep any toy with small pieces away from young children to reduce choking risk.

Materials:

• One metal cannister. You can find these in office supply stores and any place you can buy cookie cutters etc…
  
• Orange spray paint
• One magnetic sheet. These can be purchased at craft stores.

Step 1.

Scuff up the surface with sandpaper to help the paint adhere.  Spray paint with the orange paint. Let it dry well and then add a second coat.

Step 2.

Hot glue ribbon around the edge of the lid.

Step 3.

Draw different shapes for faces on the paper side of the magnetic sheet.  The paper is waxy so you’ll have to use a permanent marker.

Step 4.

Cut out shapes.

Step 5.

Peel off paper backing and put black tissue paper over the sticky backing.  Trim around each piece. Store the pieces inside the cannister until your child is ready to play with them.

This is a fun project that allows you to look back on your kids previous Halloween costumes and decorate your house at the same time.  It’s easy to do with fabric, trim, and photo fabric sheets that work in your printer. You can easily add to it as the years go by and would be a great gift for grandparents.Â

Materials:

• half yard of five or six different fabrics including one solid color for photos
• fabric sheets designed for printers
• trim  ( I used ric rac and ribbon )
• ribbon to string flags on  ( needs to be less than 1/2 inch to fit through casings )
• fusing paper

Step 1.

Decide how many pictures you are going to use and then cut out that amount of solid fabric flags.  You will need enough patterned flags to fit in between each of the photo flags and one for the beginning and end of flag strip.  If you only have a few photos to use just add more patterned flags.

Step 2.

Press under 1/2 inch toward the back as shown.

Â

Step 3.

Cut a piece of ric rac long enough to go around flag.  Lay it down on the front side of flag and then stitch it into place sewing down the center of the ric rac as shown. After you stitch the first side, turn and press, then fold the ric rac back over top as shown and repeat this step on the other side of flag.

Step 4.

Stitch along bottom of folded over edge. This forms a pocket to slide ribbon through.

Step 5.

Select pictures you want to use and then select option to print wallet size photos.  My program allows me to select multiple photos from the same file at the same time by clicking the print option on one of the photos. This allows you to print all the photos on one sheet of fabric paper.

Step 6.

After printing out pictures on the fabric sheet cut them apart and peel off the paper backing.  Then place the photo on fusing paper and cut around photo as you want it to appear on the flag.Â

Press with a hot iron to fuse the paper to the photo.

Let it cool and then peel off the backing.

Lay the photo on the flag and press again with a hot iron. This will fuse the photo fabric to the flag.

Step 7.

Apply a thin strip of glue around edge of flag.  Place ribbon on top of glue folding it over at bottom point and then going up the other side.

Stitch the bottom of the 1/2 inch you folded over at the top.

Step 8.

Attach a safety pin to the ribbon or string you are going to use and then pull it through the casing on each flag.

This lemonade stand is designed to be taken apart and placed in a bag so that it is completely portable. It’s made from pvc pipe and is easy to make with just basic skills.  A lemonade stand is a great way to help your children learn about business and provides an opportunity to earn some spending money while having fun. 

Materials:

• 45 ft of 3/4 inch PVC pipe
• 6 elbow connectors
• 12 T connectors
• 2  four way connectors
• 3 yards of 60″ vinyl backed canvas (Wal Mart fabric sells it for $3.97 per yard but you can find it at almost any fabric store. )
• glue  ( I use Gorilla glue )
• 2 yards of 60″ canvas type fabric for bag
• Small vinyl numbers ( you can get these in a scrapbooking store )
• two 1″ X 6″ pine boards for counter top

Step 1.

Mark pvc pipes as follows:

• five pieces @ 3ft
• six pieces  @ 30″
• two pieces @ 11 1/2″
• four pieces @ 6″
• four pieces @ 12″
• four pieces @ 2″

Step 2.

Using a chop saw, hack saw, or pipe cutter make cuts as follows:

• Cut four 6″ pieces of pvc pipe.  Number these 1,2,4, and 6.
• Cut six 30″ pieces of pvc pipe. Number these 12,13,14,15,32, and 33.
• Cut five 36″ pieces of pvc pipe. Number these 11,23,31,37, and 43.
• Cut four 2″ pieces of pvc pipe.  Number these 17,21,25, and 29.
• Cut four 12″ pieces of pvc pipe. Number these 19,27,35, and 41.
• Cut two  11 1/2″ pieces of pvc pipe.  Number these 39 and 45.

Step 3.

• Label the T connectors with 1,3,5,6,8,10,22,24,34,36,38, and 40.
• Label the elbow connectors with 18,20,26,28,42, and 44.
• Label the four way connectors with 16 and 30.

Step 4.

Glue pieces together as follows:

•  A. 1 to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4, and 4 to 5.
•  B. 6 to 7, 7 to 8, 8 to 9, and 9 to 10.
•  C. 17 to 18, 18 to 19, 19 to 20, and 20 to 21.
•  D. 25 to 26, 26 to 27, 27 to 28 and 28 to 29.
•  E. 22 to 23 and 23 to 24.
•  F. 30 to 31, and 31 to 16.
•  G. 39 to 42.
•  H. 44 to 45.
•  I.  40 to 41, and 41 to 38.
•  J.  34 to 35 and 35 to 36. 

These are all the pieces you should have when you’re finished.

Awning and front and side flaps for lemonade stand.

All of these measurments apply for fabric that does not need a hemmed edge. If you are using fabric that needs hemmed you should add a seam allowance all the way around. 

Step 1.

Cut four pieces of fabric as follows:

• 34″ X 34″
• 34″ X 11″
• 34″ X 11″
• 30″ X 34″

Step 2.

Using the piece of fabric that is 30″ X 34″ make a scalloped edge at the bottom of the 30″ length. The easiest way to make the scallop is by using a lid, plate, or anything that is round and can be traced around. Start at the edge and trace halfway around the circle. Move the circle over and repeat all the way across as shown in photo.

Step 3.

Fold the scalloped edge back six and a half inches right sides together.  Measure down two inches from top edge and mark at several points.  Draw a line by laying a ruler along the marks you have made.  This gives you a line to sew on which will become your bottom pocket for the pvc pipe to slide into.  After you sew it, turn the scalloped edge down and then stitch along the seam line which will help the scallop lay flat.  ( See above photo. )

Next you will turn down four inches from the top, right sides together, and stitch along the bottom edge.

Step 4.

Now take the remaining three pieces of fabric and fold back two and a half inches at the top.  Stitch along the edge as shown.  

Assembling the lemonade stand.

Step 1.

Connect A and B with piece #11.

Step 2.

Take pieces 12, 13, 14, and 15 and place them in the top of the T connectors as shown.

Step 3.

Take pieces E  and F and place on top of the poles as shown.  The four hole connectors (F) will be used for the front of your stand and (E ) for the back.

Step 4.

Take pieces C and D and attach to ends as shown above.

Step 5.

Insert piece # 32 into piece # 16. 

Insert piece # 33 into piece # 30.

Step 6.

Insert # 34 (J) into # 33 and piece # 40 (I) into # 32.  

Step 7.

Insert piece #45 (H) into piece #34.

Insert piece 39 (G) into piece # 40.

 

Step 8.

Insert piece #37 into the top pocket of awning.

Insert piece #43 into bottom pocket of awning.

Step 9.

Insert top of awning into piece #38 and #36.  

Insert bottom of awning into piece #44 and #42.

Instructions for carry bag.

Step 1.

•  Cut a piece of fabric that measures 55″  X  32″
•  Cut two pieces of fabric that measures 2″ X  36″
•  Cut one piece of fabric that measures 2″  X  72″
•  Cut out an 11 1/2″ circle

Step 2.

Fold fabric in half, right sides together, so that it measures 55″ X 16″.  Using a 5/8 inch seam allowance stitch along the side of bag. 

Step 3.

Pin fabric circle to bottom of bag as shown.  Stitch into place using a 5/8 inch seam allowance.  

Step 4.

Narrow hem the top of bag as shown.  Now turn over 2 1/2 inches, right sides together, on top of bag.  Stitch into place along edge. 

Now stitch again 1 inch from top as shown to form a casing for the drawstring.

Using a seam ripper carefully make a small opening in the seam of the top of bag to thread the drawstring through. 

Step 5.

Fold 2″ fabric strips in half (right sides together) and then stitch 1/4 inch from edge as shown. 

Turn inside out by pulling a safety pin through the casing as shown.

Using a safety pin, pull the drawstring through the opening you made in the casing on the top of the bag. 

For the counter top lay the two pine boards across the top. 

To stabilize the stand you can use dowels or rebar by driving them into the ground and placing the pvc pipe legs on top of them.  Do this by putting down the base first and then driving the dowel or rebar into the ground through the holes in the T connectors.  Then place the pvc pipes from step # 2 over them. If you’re setting it up on concrete you can just tie the frame to something solid.  It stands up pretty well on it’s own but because children may accidentally bump into it I recommend stabilizing. 

To pack up lemonade stand lay the awning out flat with the poles inside the casings.  Place the rest of the pieces on top of the awning and roll them up inside and tie with the ties you made. Then it will easily slide into the bag.

Video Tutorial

Step By Step Direction – With Pictures

My childhood was filled with fun summer nights spent chasing fireflies and putting them in jars. I would fall asleep watching them flicker then set them free in the morning. Now that I have grandkids I am having just as much fun watching them chase fireflies. I decided to make firefly jars as a project at “Grandma Camp” and they were able to do it themselves with very little help from me. I hope you enjoy the video as much as we enjoyed making it. We will be sharing more craft projects in the coming weeks.

Materials:

• Plastic mayonnaise jar with lid\
• wire or rope
• wire cutters
• hammer and nail or drill
• stencils and glow in the dark paint

Step 1.

Make two holes in lid for wire using a hammer and nail or a drill. If you decide to use rope you will need to use a drill bit to make holes large enough to accomadate the rope. Make additional holes for ventilation.

Step 2.

Push the wire, or rope, through the holes you made. Twist the ends, clip, and then push up into the lid. If you use rope tie knots after you push it through each hole.

Step 3.

If you want to add a design tape a stencil to the outside of the jar and paint it with glow in the dark paint.

Spend some quality time with your child today !

This project is a great one to do with kids.  You can let them help you sand the tin and then type in the words you want to use on your computer.   You can also print up some clip art for even more fun.  This is a very easy and inexpensive project that can actually help your child improve their reading and sentence skills.  This is also a good one to take on car trips.

Materials:

• Tin cannister such as the kind Altoids come in.
• A roll of magnet tape with adhesive on one side.
• Spray paint

 Step 1.

Rough up the surface of tin with sandpaper.  This will help the paint adhere to the metal.

Step 2.

Spray paint the tin in the color you have chosen.

Step 3.

Type words or sentences using Microsoft Word and then print them up on regular printer paper.  You can have your kids come up with words they would like to make sentences with.  It’s also  fun to do themes such as weather,  school,  animals,  gardening etc….

Step 4. 

Cut the lines of words into strips that will fit onto the magnet strip you purchased.  ( I used half inch for mine.)  Peel back the paper on the magnet strips and carefully position the paper strips onto the sticky side of the magnetic tape strip. 

Step 5.

Turn magnet strip over and trim away excess paper.  

Step 6. 

Cut the words apart and place in tin.

This project makes a great gift for grandparents, aunts and uncles, or anyone who loves your kids!  I made these when my kids were little and now I’m making them with my grandchildrens handprints.  You can use this same idea on aprons, dish towels, tablecloths, napkins, or placemats. 

Materials:

1/2  yard of  fabric

1/2  yard of contrasting fabric

1/2  yard of  cotton quilt batting

1/2 yard of stitch witchery or any kind of bonding fabric

1 package of seam binding

Step 1.

Trace your childs handprint on some paper and then cut one from fabric and one from bonding paper. 

Step 2.

Cut out circles from same fabric as handprint, contrasting fabric, and cotton quilt batting.  You will need two of the quilt batting circles for each pot holder and one each of the contrasting and handprint fabrics. 

Step 3.

Using a hot iron attach the handprint to the front fabric of your potholder.

Step 4.

Using two strands of embroidery floss outline the handprint using a buttonhole stitch as shown in the illustrations above.  (If you want a more detailed description of embroidery stitches there are many web sites dedicated to embroidery.)  I added my grandchildrens names to the hand using a running stitch and two strands of embroidery floss.  (Embroidery thread has six strands.)

Step 5.

Put all layers together as shown. 

Step 6.

Stitch all layers together with a basting stitch about 1/4  inch from edge.

Step 7.

Open up seam binding and pin it to pot holder as shown in picture. Pin it all the way around and then stitch 1/4 inch away from edge.

Step 8.

Fold seam binding around to the back and hand stitch into place.  Press with a hot iron and then hang using a clip on curtain ring. 

 

This project  is fun and easy and one that the kids will have a lot of fun with.  It requires some canvas  (which can be purchased at any fabric store) and some chalkboard paint. 

Materials:

1 yard of canvas

chalkboard paint  

Step 1. 

Cut out  a piece of canvas measuring 22 x13.  Hem the edge all the way around as shown in picture.

Step 2.

Cut a piece of fabric 6″ x 4″.  Hem it all the way around.  I added some alphabet ribbon for fun but you can leave it plain or use any kind of trim.  Stitch the pocket onto the placemat as shown.

Step 3.

Place several layers of newspaper down first and then paint placemat with chalkboard paint.   Let it dry completely and then add another coat of paint.  After it’s completely dry rub some chalk over the entire surface to “season” it.  Wipe it off and then it’s ready to use.