Make your own Snow Globes

I've posted about doing snow globes before. It's always a fun project for my students and I was excited to introduce a new kind of snowdome this year from Snowdomes.com

 But, a funny thing happened...

Several major snow storms hit the Northwest and my order of snowdomes never arrived! How ironic.

So, I reverted to what I've used in years past - Locktite storage Jars purchased from JoAnnes for about $2.50 each.

 Of course the kids enjoyed the project just as much as years before.

We used EZ mold clay from Sculpey. It never hardens and is not affected by water.

 The clay is tacky and stays stuck to itself and the inside of the lid.

 I demonstrated how to make a simple snowman, hat and scarf.

 We combined red and yellow clay for the carrot nose.

 Beads were used for the eyes. Twigs for arms.

This scene has a "Snow Wall" in preparation for a few snowball fights. Too funny.

 The kids got into it...even adding snowballs to the trees.

Plastic trees from JoAnnes help complete the scene. Simply press them into the clay.

Tap water can be used, but distilled water works best. Less air bubbles tend to form.

Glitter or plastic snow can be used. We also added a drop of liquid dish soap as a surfactant. It too helps prevent air bubbles from forming.

Pipe-cleaner Snowflakes

Beaded snowflakes with pipe-cleaners! It's the perfect winter craft for preschoolers and elementary age children or for parties.

This week I shared this craft with the preschoolers and their families at the Children's Hospital. Eeesy peasey and beautiful.

 Start with silver or white pipe-cleaners. Cut each in half with wire-cutters or scissors.

 Gather 3 cut pieces in the center and twist 2-3 times.

 Spread the twisted pipe-cleaners apart, creating 6 evenly spaced "arms."

Place several beads onto each "arm" of the snowflake. I placed a large container of mixed beads in the center of the table for everyone to choose from. The children tended to create beautiful random bead patterns while the adults preferred symmetrical patterns. Both were lovely.

When all the beads are in place, bend the end of the pipe-cleaner back into the beads and attach a ribbon for hanging. We hung them in the window from suction cups. They shimmer in the sunlight and are simply dazzling.

Twas the night before Christmas, the ship was out steaming, Sailors stood watch while others were dreaming. They lived in a crowd with racks tight and small, in an 80-man berthing, cramped one and all. I had come down the stack with presents to give, and to see inside just who might perhaps live. I looked all about, a strange sight did I see, no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stockings w...ere hung, shined boots close at hand, on the bulkhead hung pictures of a far distant land. They had medals and badges and awards of all kind, and a sober thought came into my mind. For this place was different, so dark and so dreary, I had found the house of a Sailor, once I saw clearly. A Sailor lay sleeping, silent and alone, curled up in a rack and dreaming of home. Their face was so gentle, the room squared away, this was the United States Sailor of today. This was the hero I saw on TV, defending our country so we could be free. I realized the families that I would visit this night, owed their lives to these Sailors lay willing to fight. Soon round the world, the children would play, and grownups would celebrate on this Christmas Day. They all enjoyed freedom each day of the year, because of the Sailor, like the one lying here. I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone, on a cold Christmas Eve on a sea, far from home. The very thought brought a tear to my eye, I dropped to my knees and started to cry. The Sailor awakened and I heard a calm voice, "Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice. Defending the seas all days of the year, so others may live and be free with no fear." I thought for a moment, what a difficult road, to live a life guided by honor and code. After all, it's Christmas Eve and the ship's underway, but freedom isn't free and it's Sailors who pay. The Sailor says to our country "be free and sleep tight, no harm will come, not on my watch and not on this night." The Sailor rolled over and drifted to sleep, I couldn't control it, I continued to weep. I kept watch for hours, so silent, so still, I watched as the Sailor shivered from the night's cold chill. I didn't want to leave on that cold dark night, this guardian of honor so willing to fight. The Sailor rolled over and with a voice strong and sure, commanded, "Carry on Santa, it's Christmas, and all is secure!"

Decorated Snow Trees

Today, my young afterschoolers made these adorable bead and button trees. 

We used 6" styrofoam cones, purchased at the Dollar Store, for our base.

Next, we cuts 2" strips of Snow felt (dollar store) and wrapped the styrofoam cones, pinning in place at both the top and base. We used sequin pins - available at Joannes next to the sequins.

Eyelash yarn was used to represent tinsel. Pinning at the base, then wrapping to the top and finishing with another pin.

I set out several bowls of mixed buttons (Oriental Trading) , cup sequins (Joannes), beads and pearl pins (Walmart).

The children combined the various embellishments and pinned them to their trees.

A foam sticker star was placed on top with a pearl pin and buttons.

This project took one hour and is well suited for 2nd grade and older students.

List of Supplies:

Noel Drape (Dollar Store).

Styrofoam cone (Dollar Store).

Cup Sequins (Joannes).

Assorted Buttons (Oriental Trading).

Sequin pins (Joannes).

Pearlized Pins (Walmart).

Foam Stars (Micheals).

Sheet Music Holiday Wreath

You might remember I posted this tutorial a couple years ago on how I made a wreath from vintage Christmas Sheet Music. I'm posting it again with additional links from other artists who create something similiar. Use them for inspiration to make your own Musical wreath this season!

My daughter's piano teacher gave us an old Christmas Music book - probably vintage. The pages were brown and frayed and quite beautiful. I turned them into a wreath for the Holidays.

I rolled several sheets of music on the diagonal, then hot glued them onto a large piece of cardboard.

I found an aged glittered star at the local antique mall and not glued it to the center. For added sparkle, I spritz some spray glue and sprinkled holigraphic glitter across the rolls of sheet music.

Since these stars might be hard to find, I'm putting a link for instruction on how to make your own dimensional star. http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/free-christmas-templates?xsc=eml_crd_2010_12_04&#slide_25

Below are photos and links for additional inspiration.

This wreath is by: roseflower48 Click here for link

This beauty is by: "Creative Call." Click here.

Wow! This is by "Eventide Musings." Click here.

A super dense wreath by "Button & Thread."  Click here.

"Vintage Blue Smiles." Love that name. Click here.

Here is a lovely website with a fantastic tutorial on how to make your own. Click here:http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/2010/09/vintage-sheet-music-wreath-by-primp.html

A shout out to the Locals!

On Friday, I'll be at this event selling handmade and decorated Giant Gingerbread Cookies to benefit local families in need. Stop by and say hello! Chances are, you'll also discover something irresistible for a holiday gift.

Simple Thanksgiving craft - Indian Headpiece

Recently I needed an easy Thanksgiving craft for preschoolers to do at our local hospital. I remembered a feathered mask I tried on after a Las Vegas Cirque Du Soleil Show.

It became the inspiration for my simplified version that could work easily as a Thanksgiving Indian feathered headpiece. Read on for instructions and sources.

1) Start with packages of bulk feathers. They come in many colors and are fairly inexpensive. I found mine at Walmart, Micheals, and Joannes.

2) Cut a large piece of brown sheet foam into several 2 inch wide strips, using the entire lenth of sheeting. These will be the imitation "leather" headband.

3) Punch holes aproximately 1" apart (horizontally) and 1/2" apart vertically from each other in each of the "leather" bands with a 1/8" paper punch.

4) Tie a 6" length of ribbon on each end of the headband.

5) Let the children pick their feathers, then inserted them one at a time into each top hole, and back through the bottom. Easy peesy. No messy glue and the feathers really held in place well.

This headband was made using white Turkey Feather Quills. I love how it turned out.