Recycled wine cork hanging trivet

If you happen to have about 14 wine cork lying around and want to do something with them, why not create a quick wine cork trivet.  You can lay it on the counter or even hang it on the wall. 

You will need:

14 wine corks

Xacto knife or craft knife

Piece of old glass from a picture frame to work on

5 x 7 laser cut wooden plaque (The inside dimension is 5 ½” x 7 ½”

Small paintbrush

Brown acrylic paint

Brown felt for backing

Sanding block or sand paper

Glue gun and glue sticks

1.     Protect your work surface with newspaper or a cut open paper bag.  Use a small paintbrush to cover the entire front of the plaque with brown acrylic paint.  Let dry.  Turn over and paint just the laser cut edging and let dry. (You will be covering the back unpainted area with felt)

2.     Working with wine corks on a piece of scrap frame glass use a craft knife to cut the corks in half lengthwise.  The cork is fairly easy to cut but it is easier if you use a rocking motion as you work your way down the cork.  Continue cutting corks until you have approximately 28 cork halves.

3.     When you have finished cutting the corks use a sanding block to smooth the cut surface.

4.     Using a glue gun and hot glue sticks, begin gluing the cork half pieces cut side down and side by side across the plaque.  You will have about 7 cork halves for each horizontal row. Continue adding corks for each row until you reach the bottom. 

5.     Cut a piece of brown felt 5 ½” by 7 ½” and glue to the unpainted backside of the plaque.  You may hang your trivet or just set it on a counter.

Note: please use care when cutting the wine corks

Conversation heart mini box tutorial

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 cute little gift for someone special.  Great craft for kids too!

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.

4.      Fill the finished boxes with candy hearts or even a small gift.

Kid’s Valentine card free printable with envelopes

The kids are bored.  It's cold outside and they want something to do.  Why not craft with them?  Download this free printable, print out on some card stock and then let them make easy envelopes for presenting them. The printable features four cards per sheet.  Simply cut out and add a greeting on the back. Use some all purpose paper to whip out easy envelopes with the tutorial that follows.  The kid's are busy measuring, cutting and gluing and they won't be bored anymore!

Click for free printable

You will need:

Computer and printer

White cardstock paper

Downloaded free printable

All purpose computer paper (white or any color you choose)

Glue stick

Scissors

Pencil

Ruler

1.     Click on the link to download the free printable.  Print on cardstock paper with your home printer.  Cut apart each Valentine.  There are four to a sheet.

2.     To make a presentation envelope for each card, measure a piece of paper (You can use any color you like) to a 9” x 5” rectangle.  Cut out.

3.     Fold up the paper to a ½” from the top.  Fold down the top ½” which is the closure flap.

4.     Open the paper and use a glue stick to apply glue to each side just up to the line where you folded the flap.  Press to close and insert your Valentine card. 

Personalized candy box Valentine cardholder

When is a card a personalized Valentine’s Day gift?  When it is on top of a heart shaped candy box with a miniature representation of the recipient.  The little clothespin doll on the top of the box is dressed up for Valentine’s Day in his tuxedo! Make one for your Valentine this year! 

You will need:

Wooden doll pin

Wooden doll pin stand

Dowel cap with 5/8” hole

Drill with small bit

Round paper clip

Heart box (you can buy it already decorated like I did for less than a dollar, or just paint your own)

Acrylic paint, flesh, black, white, gray, and hair color of recipient (I used yellow ochre)

Fine line sharpie markers, Black, brown, color to match eye color in blue/brown, or green, pink

Pencil

Small paintbrush and liner brush

Glue gun and glue sticks

1.     Gather your supplies.  Use a drill and a small drill bit to drill a hole in the top center of the dowel cap about ½” down. (Head)

2.     Working with the dowel cap, (head) use the pencil to mark the hairline and ears.  With the small paintbrush apply hair color using the pencil lines as a guide.  Let dry and then apply flesh to the face area.  Set aside and let dry.  Pull open the round paper clip slightly and stick in the top of the dowel cap in the hole you previously drilled. 

3.     When the dowel cap head is dry, use the black sharpie marker to make two small circles for eyes.  Fill in with the proper eye color. (I used blue)  Make a mouth with the pink sharpie marker and then outline the hairline and ears with a brown sharpie marker.  This is where you can really personalize your doll, by making glasses, freckles, etc.

4.     Working on the clothespin, use the pencil to draw a line down the center, lapel lines, and a bow tie shape on the center front.  (See photo) Put the head on the top of the pin to make sure that all your pencil lines will show when the head is attached.

5.     Use the pencil lines you made as a guide to paint the body of the tuxedo black.  When the paint is dry paint the lapels a dark grey.  Let dry.  Use the gray paint and the liner brush to make a separation line down the center and all around the bottom area of the tuxedo jacket. Paint the shirt area white and the bow tie black. Continue painting the pants and inside the clothespin with black paint.  Let dry.

6.     Use the liner brush with gray paint to make arms and some flesh to make hands at the cuffs.  Let dry. Paint the doll pin stand black, let dry and adding a bit of hot glue, place the painted clothespin in the stand. 

7.     Assemble your candy box.  

8.     Add some hot glue in the dowel cap and attach to the top of the clothespin. Attach the clothespin and doll pin stand  to the top center of your heart box with more hot glue.

9.     Fill your box with candy or even small gifts and use the paper clip on top to clip on your greeting card.

Did you say that you want a companion box for the girls?  Well stay tuned for upcoming tutorial.