Let’s Have a Crafternoon – Washi Food Picks

February 5, 2020createcraft with kids, crafternoon, create, food picks, homemade gifts, washi crafts, washi tapearthurized Leave a comment

Washi picks are a fun way to dress up party foods and baked goods. This easy DIY project is perfect for crafting with kids; and quick enough to make for Valentine’s Day. If you’ve got twenty minutes, you can craft a set of food picks.

Here’s what you’ll need to make them:

Washi tape – I like to keep an assortment of widths, styles, colors and patterns on hand. (You never know when a crafting emergency will strike.)
Round wood toothpicks (lollipop sticks would work as sandwich picks)
Scissors

Optional supplies:

Micro pom poms
Tacky glue – I like this one

To make the flags, cut washi strips into approximately 3″ lengths. Carefully line up the ends of the tape so that the long sides are flush. Don’t worry about the ends, we’ll trim them later. Press the tape together until you are about .25″ from the center fold. Slide the toothpick into the fold and line the top of the pick with the top of the tape. Press to seal.

Without creasing the tape, gently fold the fly end of the flag from top to bottom. Snip the tape at an angle into the center to create the “v” shape.

There are so many ways to customize these by varying the flag shapes and sizes. Add a tiny pom pom to the top of the toothpick to create a little finial.

Create a double flag by combining narrow washi tapes.

Washi picks are not just for dressing up sweets and treats. They are equally cute on finger sandwiches and sliders. Gift a pack of handmade washi flags to a friend who loves to bake.

For more creative ways to dress up food, go here.

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Let’s Have a Crafternoon – Painted Acorns

November 6, 2019create, decoracorns, craft with kids, crafternoon, easy crafts, fall decor, frugal crafts, thrifty craftsarthurized Leave a comment

Here’s a quick and thrifty idea for fall decor. Paint acorns in every shade of the rainbow, (well, except for purple, apparently) and pearlize them. This is a simple and fun craft to make with kids.

Don’t you think these look like tiny candies?

Here’s how I made them:

Collect fallen acorns.

Rinse the acorns thoroughly, and allow them to dry completely.

(Bonus step: Bake the acorns in the oven at the lowest temperature for an hour or so, to kill any unwanted inhabitants. I didn’t do this, but I should have. I left mine in a bucket in the garage for two weeks or so. Apparently the little freeloaders can live for two weeks in there. Notice a worm. Scream like a girl, etc.)

Glue loose acorns back into their caps using clear tacky glue.

Carefully paint the acorn using acrylic craft paint and flat and detail paint brushes. Let the first coat dry, then apply a second coat if necessary to get the desired coverage. One the acrylic paint has dried, apply a pearlizing medium over the acorn. This will soften the tone of the first coat considerably. Let dry, and display as you please.

Crank some tunes, make a mess! Sip a big ol’ mug of tea while you’re working.

Here are some ideas for variations:

Go monochromatic, and paint the entire acorn in a single color.
Create an ombre display using progressively darker tones of the same color.
Mix pearlizing medium directly into the acrylic paint if you like.
Dry-brush the cap using white paint for a weathered effect.
Paint glue onto the cap and sprinkle glitter over the wet glue.

Make an Easy Beaded Bracelet

September 25, 2019create, giftsbeaded bracelet, craft, craft with kids, crafternoon, gift, gift idea, tutorialarthurized Leave a comment

Each year at the beach, the whole crew goes souvenir shopping at Callahan’s of Calabash. It’s tradition. We load up on tees, hoodies, ball caps, beach totes and usually buy a blown glass Christmas ornament or two. We try to find an ornament that commemorates a special occasion, accomplishment or event during the year. For the past several years, my cousin Ruby and I have selected a piece of costume jewelry so that we can ‘twin’ across-the-miles when vacation is over.

This beaded bracelet with wooden buckle clasp was our pick a few years ago. Over time the elastic has become slack on a few of the strands, so it’s time for a restring. While I’m repairing mine, I thought it would be fun to show you how to make these easy bracelets. This project is simple enough that older kids can make them, with a little adult assistance in tying the knots.

Here are the materials you’ll need:
Buckle Clasp
Beads
Jelly Cord – I’m using 1mm
E-6000 – optional, to secure knots
Scissors
Ruler
Toothpick, or other small implement for applying glue – if using E-6000
Beading tray or kitchen towel – I don’t have a beading tray, so I use a terry cloth kitchen towel to stop beads from rolling off my work surface.

Now it’s time for math class! To calculate the length of beads needed: Using your favorite bracelet length, subtract the length of the buckle clasp when closed and multiply the result by the number of strands in the bracelet. (If you are using very chunky beads, make your bracelet a little longer than normal because of the larger bracelet circumference. The cord will sit farther away from your wrist. Does that make sense?!)

I like a 7.5″ bracelet. The buckle clasp is 1.5″ long when closed, so my strands of beads would be 6″ long. I have 5 holes in the clasp, and 6 x 5 = 30, so I need 30″ of beads. I bought a little extra in case there are any wonky beads. Make sure the bead strands will be narrow enough to fit into your clasp without crowding – I’m using 6mm beads, but I could have gone a little wider. Okay, class dismissed. Now it’s time for the fun stuff!

Taking your bead length measurement from above, cut a generous length of jelly cord. Keep in mind that you will need extra cord to feed through the clasp ends and for knot tying. I cut mine at about 40″.

Slip one end of the jelly cord through an end hole in one of the clasp pieces. Tie a large knot in the jelly cord, and pull it tight. Tug on it to make sure that the knot will not pull through the hole in the clasp. String the first row of beads, measure for length, then weave the jelly cord through the other clasp piece.

Repeat the process for each row. Before tying the final knot, lay the bracelet flat and make sure that the rows are uniform in length, and the cord is pulled firmly through, but not stretched. I used the toothpick end to tighten the jelly cord loops, row by row. Tie a large knot at the end. Trim the excess cord off of each end, and place a dab of E-6000 on each knot to help secure it. Your bracelet is complete!

To shop the post: Jelly cord / E-6000 / Buckle clasp / Beads

Love the beads, but not up for a crafternoon? I got you.
Multicolor / Turquoise / Lavender Multi / Red

Do these beads look like Sixlets to you, too? Don’t you think this is the adult version of wearing a candy necklace? This bracelet is a fun way to perk up weekend denim or a plain jersey and would make cute, girlfriend gifts. Happy Crafting!

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