Doodle Scottie dog greeting card

Think you can’t make a unique hand made card?  Don’t’ be silly.  Just copy the silhouette and fill it in with your very own doodles.  Drawing tiny circles is very relaxing and fun. Trust me, it gets addictive and you won’t be able to stop with just one.

Click on and print full size

You will need:

5 x 7 blank note-card in desired color

Bristol board (or lightweight cardboard or cardstock)

Fine line permanent markers, black and red

Tacky craft glue

4 Cabochons, rhinestones, or buttons

16 inches of Gold or silver braided ribbon

Double-faced tape

Scissors, pencil, tracing paper, ruler graphite or carbon paper

1.     Cut a piece of Bristol board or lightweight cardboard 3 inches by 5 inches.  Trace the silhouette, (see pattern) onto the cardboard piece.  Go over the outline with the black marker making sure to make the lines thicker around the front and back paws. (See photo)

2.     Fill in the body with little circles varying the sizes with a permanent black marker.

3.     Fill in the bow with red marker exactly as you did the body. (See photos)

4.     Attach a couple strips of double-faced tape on the back of the Scottie piece.  Center it on the card and adhere.

5.     Cut the ribbon into two five-inch pieces and two three-inch pieces. Glue the two 3-inch pieces across the top and bottom of the image and two 5-inch pieces on both sides with some Tacky glue.

6.     At each corner where the cords meet, glue a rhinestone, button or cabochon to cover the raw edges.

7.     You may, if you have it available, stamp a greeting on the inside or leave blank for notes and letters.

Conversation Valentine Mini-heart box tutorial for Paint Party Friday

It's still me, Crystal from Crystal Clear and I just wanted you all to check out my second blog just for craft tutorials, my-- work in progress. I haven't been around for a few weeks, recovering from a respiratory infection but I'm back now and good as new and I can't wait to see all of your newest work!

I found these little paper Mache boxes in a pack of 6 for under $3.00 at a local AC Moore craft store.  I just knew they would be perfect painted to resemble the conversation heart candy that is just everywhere on Valentine’s Day. You can fill them with a few of the candy hearts themselves as a party favor-- or better yet a special little gift for someone special.

You will need:

Mini paper Mache heart boxes (pack of 6)

Acrylic paint in pastel colors--pink, green, lavender, lemon yellow, and blue

Gold acrylic paint

Small paintbrush

Fine line marker in rose or pink

Ruler, newspaper, pencil with eraser, paper plates for paint

1.     Cover your work surface with paper to protect it.  Paint the inside of each box with gold metallic paint.  Let dry.

2.     Paint each box a different pastel color and let dry.  When dry add a second coat of paint if needed.  Yellow paint sometimes needs three coats.  Let dry completely.

3.     Use the examples given to write the sayings on the top of each box or personalize with some of your own with the fine line pink/rose marker. The height for the lettering should be approximately ¾ of an inch.  It is not that important to be perfect.  The candy hearts themselves are not always perfect!  If you are a bit leery about lettering, than lightly write the saying in pencil and then go over it with the marker.

When are finished you have a "conversation heart piece"...couldn't resist that one!  Visit all the other fantastic, wonderful, supportive, creative people this week on Paint Party Friday  Thanks to Kristin and Eva.

Recycled k-cup daffodil pens

The most popular item at Christmas this year at our house was my husband’s k-cup coffeemaker.  Of course you know I had to come up with something to make with the k-cups.  The challenge was that the used cups have a tiny hole in bottom.  Not to worry, how about making some k-cup daffodil pens?

For each pen you will need:

One used white k-cup, paper filter removed and washed thoroughly

Thin floral wire

Yellow felt, regular for soft petals but stiffened felt works even better

Misc. seed and bugle beads

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Stick pen

Floral tape

Needle nosed pliers

Wire cutters

Scissors, ruler, pencil

1.     Cut four pieces of thin floral wire 5 inches each.  Stick all four in a bunch through the bottom hole in the k-cup bend the wire against the back making sure that the wires inside come just to the edge of the k-cup.

2.     Carefully draw a bead of hot glue where the wire is bent on the back to attach to the cup.

3.     Cut out the petal pattern and back circle cover from the yellow felt.  Attach the petal piece to the back of the k-cup with some hot glue.  Add the circle cover to the back to further hide the wires.

4.     String some seed and bugle beads on a wire inside the cup up to ¼ inch from the end.  Using the needle nosed pliers bend the wire into a loop to contain the beads.  Separate the wires in a pleasing way and repeat with the other three wires.

5.     Grasp the pen and the wires coming out of the back together.  Starting at the top edge of the pen  wrap the floral tape around the pen and wires together.  Sometimes it helps to dab just a bit of glue on the wires and pen in order to keep it stable while you wrap.

6.     Continue wrapping the floral tape down the pen almost to the end.  Squeeze the tape with you fingers since floral tape sticks to itself when pressed.

Daffodil petal pattern - Copy and print full size

You now have a usable conversation piece!  Enjoy and come back often for more easy projects!

Quick, easy, and inexpensive, stick man chenille pins

Ever notice on the back of some vans and cars the little stick figures that represent family members?  By varying the chenille stems and colors you can make your own to wear, maybe not the whole family but one or two might be nice.  Stay tuned, pets coming soon!

You will need:

Pack of sparkle chenille stems (you need one stem for each pin)

Tacky craft glue

1-inch pin back

Wiggle eyes  (one set for each pin.)

1.     To make a pin fold a chenille stem in half.  At the top, using your fingers form a small circle. 

2.     Measure down two inches on one side and bend stem upwards.  (see photo) Repeat on the other side.  Cross right stem over body area and come up with the end at the neck.  Bend into place.   Bring other side around back and cross around neck to front and twist in place.  Adjust hands to any pose desired. 

3.     Glue two wiggle eyes right at the area where the head meets the neck  and let dry.

4.     Glue a one-inch pin back onto back of pin and let dry.

Easy felt heart pin

Valentine’s Day will soon be upon us and these instructions are very easy and come together quickly.  Supplies are inexpensive and readily available at any Craft store. You can make them in various sizes and wear them in groups or wear just one. This project is easy enough for kids but why leave all the fun to them? Make one two or a dozen in just a few short minutes and have everyone wearing their hearts on their sleeves...or lapels.  J

You will need:

Embossed red felt

White stiffened felt

Faux pearl beads, several small oval and a few small round

Tacky glue

Paper edger scissors (I used a scalloped shape)

Paper, pencil, scissors

Pin back

1.     Make the heart pattern.  Fold a piece of paper in half. (I used paper that was white on one side and printed on the other for demonstration purposes)  Estimate what size heart you would like and draw a half heart shape on the fold.  See photo.  Cut out.

2.     Open the piece of paper and make sure the heart is the size and shape you desire. Trim if necessary.  Refold the heart and put back on another area of  the fold and using it as a guide trace around ½ larger.  See photo.  Cut out.  You will have two heart patterns, one a bit larger than the other.

3.     Using the larger heart pattern, trace onto the stiffened white felt.  Cut out with paper edgers.

4.     Using the smaller heart pattern trace onto the embossed red felt and cut out with scissors.

5.     Spread some tacky glue onto the back of the smaller felt heart and attach to the larger white stiffened felt heart.  Make sure it is centered and leaves an even margin all around.

6.     Run a bead of tacky glue around the edge of the red heart and start to attach the oval faux pearls.  Glue the oval faux pearls all around.  You may have to attach a small round faux pearl at the top center and bottom point in order to connect the pearls.

7.     Glue on pin back and let dry.

You can make these hearts in several sizes, small, medium, large and they make wonderful little Valentine gifts for teachers, co-workers and friends. 

Note:  If you like these free craft instructions and would like to keep them coming on Wednesdays please leave comments, or follow this blog, thanks for your visit! 

J