Magnet Craft Project

I wanted to share a craft project with you that I learned how to do at a local craft store.

I decided that the easiest way would be to make a short "how to" video.

Please excuse the low-quality video equipment.

The project is a magnet. It is made using pictures, decorative paper, or photo-copied pictures. The image is decoupaged onto a craft stone (like these).

Here's the how-to.

Savvy Stitches

I decided to try to learn how to embroider with the hopes that I could make some embroidered towels or something as Christmas gifts.

I ended up buying this Savvy Stitches kit from Michaels for only $6 with the 40% off coupon from the sale flier. It came with 32 iron-on designs, hoop, needle, embroidery floss, practice fabric, and instructions.

I did some practice stitches and then I tried a butterfly pattern that came with the kit.

I think it looks kind of funny with the head hovering over the body, but that was how the pattern came.

It was pretty easy to do. It was fun, too. I liked doing a fiber craft that had immediately visible results. Knitting and crocheting takes so long to finish. I am known to finish scarves long after the cold weather is gone.

Anyway, if you want to try out embroidery to see if you like it, I highly recommend these kits. The regular price is $9.99, but Michaels has 40% off coupons nearly every week. There are different designs available, too. Here is the manufacturer's website. It shows the four design sets available and you can search for a retailer near you.

Nice, But Easy Gift Craft

We made a really cool project for my mother for Mother's Day.

The D went out and got some cherry blossoms from the tree outside and pressed then between two pieces of wax paper in a book overnight.

The next day, the kids sharpened crayons and sprinkled the wax around the flowers on the wax paper. I covered it with the top sheet of wax paper, and a sheet of printer paper, and ironed it lightly to melt the wax.

While I let it cool, I took two pieces of blue card stock and made a frame by drawing a straight line on each side a ruler-width from the edge, then cutting the center out with a craft knife and straight edge or ruler.

I trimmed the wax paper/crayon/flower creation to fit the frame and hot glued the frame on each side of the picture.

On the top of the frame, I glued a string to the two corners, in between the two layers of frame, to be used for hanging.

Here is a picture of our creation hanging in the window where the sunlight shines through.

As usual, at least until I get a better camera, or learn to use mine better, the photo does not do it justice. And, yes, those are Christmas lights on my porch. I bring new meaning to the term slacker.