Blog Archives
Badge: Quilling
Quilling is a paper craft that’s been around for hundreds of years. The tools you need are minimal and the final effect is very cool. You can use quilled items for cards, jewelry, ornaments and more. Let’s start rolling!
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Steps
1. Introduction
Quilling, also known as paper filigree, is a paper craft that involves strips of paper that you roll, shape and glue to create art. It might be as simple as a flower bud or a complicated three-dimensional ornament. This craft can be very easy as you can purchase pre-cut paper strips or it can be very economical by making your own supplies and tools.
2. History.
Many countries claim to be the originator of quilling. Unlike many old crafts, quilling did not vanish over time. Instead, resurgence has kept this craft alive. Read about the history of quilling and its growing popularity today.
3. Explore the Web.
From lessons to patterns to very intricate art, you can find a lot of examples of quilling. Explore the Web and find one or more items that you would like to try yourself.
4. Tools.
You can do quilling with only three items.
- Paper
- Glue
- Needle
Of course, there are many other tools out there that make it easier to quill as well as do more complicated filigree. Look at the tools you might use. Decide if you want to invest in this craft or start with your three main items only and see if you enjoy quilling before making a larger investment.
5. Simple shapes — rolls.
With the Simple Shapes Worksheet, make one sample of each of the thirteen rolls. Glue your samples onto the sheet for reference. If you need more help with the shapes, go to YouTube for video instructions.
6. Simple shapes — scrolls.
With the Simple Shapes Worksheet, make one sample of each of the five scrolls. Glue your samples onto the sheet for reference. If you need more help with the shapes, go to YouTube for video instructions.
7. Simple shapes — spirals.
A spiral may also be called a tendril. Unlike most shapes that tend to hold the same spiral, these are long, twisting pieces of paper. You might think of spiral curls as an example. Create a spiral / tendril and attach it to your Simple Shapes Worksheet.
Slide your completed worksheet into a sheet protector so you continue to use this reference sheet.
8. Making items with simple shapes.
Use your basic quilling knowledge and make simple items such as a flower or balloon. Single shapes can be placed on cards, scrapbook pages or even made into pendants and earrings. For jewelry pieces, make sure to seal the paper first to stiffen it and keep it clean.
9. Advanced shapes — rolls.
With the Advanced Shapes Worksheet, make one sample of each of the two rolls. Glue your samples onto the sheet for reference. If you need more help with what the shapes, go to YouTube for video instructions.
10. Advanced shapes — scrolls.
With the Advanced Shapes Worksheet, make one sample of each of the five scrolls. Glue your samples onto the sheet for reference. If you need more help with the shapes, go to YouTube for video instructions.
11. Advanced shapes — eccentric.
With the Advanced Shapes Worksheet, make one sample of each of the seven eccentrics. Unlike the shapes you’ve created so far, eccentrics follow the same shape guidelines but you control where the center of the roll is placed. This gives your final quilled piece a more “artistic” and less “haphazard” look. Glue your samples onto the sheet for reference. If you need more help with the shapes, go to YouTube for video instructions.
12. Technique — husking.
Husking is the next step after eccentrics. Where you control the center of an eccentric, husking is wrapping the paper around points to create a shape. Husking is popular for leaves to give them a more structured look. Try creating a husking shape. Place it on your sheet or write notes about any tips / tricks you want to remember.
13. Technique — fringing.
Fringing is cutting down into the side of the strip to make a fringe. Fringing can be done by hand, but it is very tedious. Fringe a strip of paper, then roll it and loosen up your fringe. Place this on your Advanced Shapes Worksheet as well.
NOTE: The cost of a fringer may not be worth it for you if you don’t plan to use it frequently. The time savings is enormous if you choose to get one.
14. Making more advanced items.
Follow the simple pattern ideas, but use the advanced shapes you created. Compare the looks and decide which you like more.
15. Changing it up!
Traditionally, paper is used for quilling. However, you can find quilled items where corrugated cardboard and felt is used instead of paper. Try creating one or more of the shapes above with a material other than paper.
16. Share your knowledge.
Show someone else how to quill. If you’re working with a large group, a tinker toy works great to roll paper on as everyone can see it.
17. Share your work.
Share what you’ve created with others. You can send cards you’ve made or even photos of quilled items you’ve completed.
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Supplements Available
SUPP_Quill_AdvancedShapeWorksheet.pdf
Sheet to make sample advanced shapes for reference.
SUPP_Quill_BasicInfo.pdf
Basic tools and tips for quilling.
SUPP_Quill_SimplePatterns.pdf
Flowers, balloons and butterflies to get you started.
SUPP_Quill_SimpleShapeWorksheet.pdf
Sheet to make sample simple shapes for reference.
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Sites to Explore
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quilling
www.mypaperquilling.com/paper_quilling/history_of_quilling.php
craftzine.com/101/quilling
weirdandsurprisinglygood.blogspot.com/2009/09/art-lesson-2-quilling.html
www.whimsiquills.com/servlet/the-template/Quilling%20Refernce%20Materials/Page
quillingwithwhimsiquills.blogspot.com/2007/07/teachinglearning-quilling-part-1.html
www.naqg.org
www.quilling-guild.co.uk/index.htm
ladyrain.hubpages.com/hub/Paper-Quilling-Making-Huskings
Badge: Scrapbooking Basics (revised)
Even if you aren’t “crafty”, you’ve heard of scrapbooking. Scrapbooking includes photography, journaling, lettering, design and more to create unique pages documenting lives of you and your family. The scrapbook you create is something that can be passed down to future generations.
NOTE: We will not cover digital scrapbooking in this badge.
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Steps
1. Definitions.
www.scrapbooking101.net/articles/scrapbook-definitions.html
Start here and learn some definitions before we start.
2. Tools.
As with any craft, you need tools. Make sure you have only the basics when you start. There are an incredible number of tools you can use, but keep it limited until you decide whether you will continue scrapbooking after completing this badge. Basic tools include:
- Scissors — detailed cutting
- Paper trimmer — cutting straight lines
- Ruler — metal
- Cutting mat and craft knife — can use this with the metal ruler in place of the paper trimmer
Before you go out to buy supplies, check your home for these items. If there are others you feel you must have, give yourself a budget so you don’t overspend.
3. Supplies.
The result of scrapbooking is creating archival items. So, make sure you read the package of everything you buy that you intend to put into your scrapbook. Acid-free and lignin-free are preferred. Scrapbook supplies can be found at general craft, discount and paper specialty stores.
- Adhesives — double-sided tape, glue sticks, glue pens, photo corners and dimensional squares
- Paper — these come in all shapes, sizes, colors and prints
- Photos — sort into groups so that you’re scrapbook has a theme
- Journaling pen — black
Of course, this is only the beginning. As you explore scrapbooking, you’ll find additional techniques that require more varied supplies.
4. Non-archival items.
Sooner or later, you’ll want to include items in your scrapbook that are not archival. It might be a newspaper clipping, a concert ticket, or even a street sign. The easiest thing to do is to take pictures or make copies on archival paper. You can also add some non-archival elements by isolating them or adjusting the original. Explore ways to include non-archival items into your scrapbook.
5. Albums.
When most people think of scrapbooking, they think of heavy albums filled with photos and stories. Albums come in a large variety of sizes. When you first start out, try a smaller album so the task of finishing it isn’t so daunting. Sizes include:
- 12” x 12” (traditional)
- 8.5” x 11” (US letter)
- 9” x 9”
- 8” x 8”
- 6” x 6” (works well with standard 12” x 12” paper)
- And more!
You’ll find a variety of binding as well. Some are fixed pages with spiral wire binding. Some have posts that you can disassemble to add more pages.
Additionally, page protectors are available for many of these sizes. They will keep sticky fingers from damaging your pages. If you plan on handling your album a lot or having others view it, the investment is worth it.
If you plan on creating an album, explore local stores with available albums or check scrapbook stores online. You might even find a class that will give you a supply list and a start on your first album.
6. Non-albums.
You don’t have to scrapbook in an album. For Girl Scouts, I’ve found that doing one page and placing it into a frame is a great way to introduce the girls to scrapbooking. It gives them a success quickly and they have something they can show with a reasonable amount of effort. Other non-album scrapbooks may include:
- Coasters
- Tissue boxes
- Clipboards
- Self-made books
- Paper mache shapes
- Christmas ornaments
- Jewelry
Try a non-album way of creating a scrapbook for yourself or as a gift to someone else.
7. Organization.
When you begin scrapbooking, keep organization at the top of your “to do” list. Organization will help you:
- Find the tools and supplies you need more quickly
- Make sure you don’t waste money purchasing duplicates
- Keep your scrapbooking time for scrapbooking instead of cleaning
- Alleviate any additional stress
Keep this in mind as you begin your scrapbooking journey.
8. Why scrapbook?
Each person has their own reasons for scrapbooking. You may want to give the bride a scrapbook featuring the highlights of her wedding or your best friend those of her baby shower. You may want to show all your baby’s firsts or that special trip to Disney®. You’ll notice with each of these possibilities, a theme quickly develops. Determine the story you want to tell. Look through your photos and see what comes to mind. Then, we’ll continue with your first page.
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Your first page
9. Telling your story.
The page you create, or even the entire album, will tell a story. It might be heritage-based, telling the story of your grandparents who came to the US or the military service of a family member. It might be your daughter’s Girl Scout experience. As a troop, my girls worked on learning photography and created their own personalized pages featuring the photos they took at one meeting. The time your album covers may span decades or only two hours.
Tell your story. Pull out a sheet of paper and write down an outline, sayings or even a full story you might want to include. Add the photos you want to find, people you might need to talk to for more information, colors that fit your story, basically anything that you could put into your page that will support your story.
10. Photos.
Photos are the items that most people think of when scrapbooking. With digital cameras, we seem to have way more photos than we could ever use. So, you’ll need to look at your photos critically and think about your story. Will they fit? Can you tell the story in three photos or less? Which one tells the story better? Will one large photo work?
To start with, don’t cut your photos into shapes. Crop out undesirable items like the hand which comes out of nowhere with your paper trimmer. One benefit of critically looking at your photos is that your photography skills will improve.
One last note, heritage photos are irreplaceable should a mistake be made. Before you decide to cut into the only copy of your mother’s baby picture, think about copies. It might be a little costly to get a color copy or to scan and print, but your original photo will be intact.
Take the photo(s) you want to include on your page and start a collection for your page items. You may want to invest in an archival folder to collect them so they don’t get dirty, damaged or lost while you’re collecting items.
11. Colors.
Why put colors after photos? A great way to tie the page with your photos is to match a color in your photo with your papers and embellishments. Matching a color in your photos helps pull that element to the front of the photo. If you need to use copies of your photos, make sure you take the copies with you to the store when you purchase paper in case there is a slight difference in color between the copies and originals.
When you choose your paper, be aware that you’ll be looking for a background paper that everything will sit on as well as coordinating papers for photo matting (our next step) and other elements.
12. Photo matting.
You can create the illusion of layers by matting your photos. You cut pieces of paper slightly larger than your photo and then attach your photo to the paper. You can do one layer or multiple layers. Look at examples of scrapbook pages on the Web and see how matting affects photos.
13. No photos.
Perhaps you don’t have photos or the photo you want is of poor quality like a faded newspaper clipping. What can you do?
- Create a sketch from the image you have
- Do a caricature or cartoon if the image conveys humor or playfulness
- Find a stock photo or clip art that will do the same job as the photo you want to use
- Use stickers or other embellishments (see below)
If you would like to include one of these on your page, make yourself a note so you don’t forget when you layout your page.
14. Non-photo memorabilia.
You probably have a drawer of movie and concert tickets, sports ribbons, recital programs, coins and more. These items can be incorporated into your scrapbook. Often, you’ll copy or print them onto archival paper. You can also purchase archival holders that you can put these items into so they don’t damage the other page elements. If you have any of these for your page, look at ways you can incorporate them into your layout and put these into your page collection.
15. Embellishments.
Embellishments can quickly make you go broke. Not only can you purchase brads, eyelets, ribbons, stickers and more to put on your pages, you can incorporate other items that you make yourself. Here are a few crafts you can add to your scrapbooking page.
- Rubber stamping
- Punching
- Quilling
- Pergamano
- Paper folding
- Polymer clay
- Die cutting
What else can you do that could be incorporated? Put the embellishments that fit your color and theme with the items for your page.
16. Titles.
Every page you create may not have a title. You might feel the desire to put the person’s name and year in its place. Make sure your title works with the page, not overpowering it. Create a title for your page and see if it fits with the design. If not, create another that works.
17. Journaling.
This is your story. You’ll be telling it with a black pen and your words. You can put lined paper under your paper to help keep your lines straight or use a pencil and ruler to make very light lines to erase after you’ve written your information. You can even write the story in pencil before doing it in ink.
Can’t get started? Answer the simple questions — Who, What, When, Where, Why and maybe even How. You can write about why you chose these photos. What feelings did the photos invoke? What was happening? Is there a story behind the photo you want to remember? You can write about how the campfire smelled, how the sunset looked, how the baby duckling’s feathers felt.
Lastly, don’t worry about your handwriting. That is part of the story and makes your scrapbook page uniquely yours.
18. Layouts.
You can find layout ideas online, in magazines and in books. Look at other scrapbook pages to get an idea of how items flow. You can have one large focal image and two smaller ones. You can do an elaborate photo mat with only one photo. This is your page and your story.
Take the items you’ve collected for your page. Put your background paper down and lay your photos, embellishments and other items out. Move them around until you’re happy with how it looks. If you like overlapping photos, do it! Want to journal after you get your photos on the page, not a problem.
Don’t be afraid to pull items out and put different ones in. You may even find that you don’t care for the main photo you started with. This is your page — do what feels right!
When you’re happy with the look and the story, get out your adhesive and tack everything down. If you want to show others your work, make sure it’s protected with a page protector, frame, etc.
19. No intimidation zone.
You are not allowed to compare your final page with the magazines, books and Web sites you find. Many of these people have been doing scrapbooking for years. The page you create is the story you tell. It is the story of you. As you continue your scrapbooking journey, your tastes will change. Your style will change. There is no right or wrong. The only thing you need to worry about is your story.
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Sites to Explore
www.scrapbooking101.net
funscrapbooking.net
www.basicscrapbooking101.com
www.scrapwow.com/free-scrapbook-tutorials-basic.asp
scrapbooking.about.com/od/gettingstarted/How_To_Get_Started_Scrapbooking.htm
www.everything-about-scrapbooking.com/scrapbooking-for-beginners.html
www.creatingkeepsakes.com
www.makingmemories.com
Badge: SWAPS
SWAPS are small crafted items Girl Scouts share with each other at events. Two ways of describing the acronym are Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere and Share With A Pal. However, they are also great to include with mixed media and collage art projects. Find out about how Girl Scouts exchange these small tokens as well as exploring new ways to use them.
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Steps
1. History of SWAPS.
Find out about the history of SWAPS. Be able to answer the following questions.
- What are SWAPS?
- How did SWAPS originate?
- Why make SWAPS?
2. Etiquette.
When swapping with others, you want to make sure the experience is positive both for the giver and the receiver. Review the etiquette in the AEP supplement. Discuss with your girls so they know what to expect. Try to roleplay or give examples of good and bad experiences so the girls understand how important it is.
3. Considerations.
Before you start, you need to think about where you will be swapping. Here are some things to think about.
- Type / theme of event
- Community ideas to showcase your location instead of event
- Number of participants
- Realistic goals for final quantity
- One SWAP for the troop or one per girl
- Ways to make sure received SWAPS are kept separate from made SWAPS
- Ways to identify SWAPS you want to show but not trade
4. Basic supplies.
Review the AEP supplement for a list of basic supplies to have available. Start with what you already have. Brainstorm ways to get materials. Try to use recycled materials and tools instead of buying new.
5. Find directions online.
Search the Web for directions on creating SWAPS, SWAP photos that you can recreate, etc. Start your own collection of ideas and organize them in a way so that you can easily find them later. NOTE: SWAPS do not have to be pins, so do not discount items that do not come in that form.
6. Create samples.
To get the girls to start brainstorming, create samples. This can be from the directions found online (Step 5) or from any other resource. Be able to explain the theme and why you chose the materials / design you did. If possible, provide a supplies list and directions for your girls to peruse so they can duplicate what you created.
7. Make your own.
After creating samples, try making SWAPS of your own design. By yourself or with your girls, try taking the ideas you have and creating them with your materials. Remember the best SWAPS are inexpensive, hand-crafted and thoughtful.
8. Pick your SWAPS.
When you’re done experimenting, decide on which you want to produce in quantity for your event. If you don’t have enough materials, look at your brainstorm list in Step 4 and get more.
9. Save the rejects.
Even if you decide not to use a SWAP, don’t discard it. It might fit a theme later. Create a place to keep rejected SWAPS.
10. Identification.
SWAPS should have identification, a label or a tag works well. Include the troop number, event name, event date and location. Explore different ways to place identification on / with your SWAPS. Try both handmade and digital versions to see what works best for you.
11. SWAP protection.
Your SWAPS should be able to withstand water. Make sure your SWAPS and identification can stand a little rain. Paper items can be covered with clear contact paper (laminate). Some items may need to go into a small baggie. Review the items you make and make sure they’ll be able to withstand the weather.
12. More than SWAPS.
In case your girls are looking for more than just SWAPS, have them take a camera or notebook with them. As they make new friends at events, they can take pictures of the girls with the SWAPS they made and make note of email addresses or physical addresses so they can continue their friendships.
13. SWAP night.
Before going to a large event, hold a small SWAP night in your Service Unit / community. Provide areas to make SWAPS as well as an area to exchange SWAPS. After the event, review with your girls what happened and what could be done to improve their own experiences.
14. Start a collection.
Start a collection of SWAPS. You can ask for extras the girls have from events or make your own and SWAP at adult events such as trainings.
15. Create a book.
Create a book with your SWAPS. You can do a book with instructions or one with memories of the events and people you met.
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Beyond Girl Scouts
16. Look beyond Girl Scouts.
Where else can you use SWAPS? From small gifts attached to Artistic Trading Cards to incorporation in mixed media projects, SWAPS can be used in a variety of other crafts. Examine other crafts you enjoy. Can you include SWAPS with them?
17. Incorporate SWAPS.
Create a project and incorporate a SWAP you have made or received.
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Display SWAPS
18. Personal display.
From creating a special necklace to making a SWAP hat, personal displays allow you to show your SWAPS while letting others know that these are not tradable. Explore various display options and try at least one.
19. Banners.
You can make a banner, hanging flag or other item to attach your SWAPS. This allows you to display rejects (Step 9) or extras the girls don’t want to keep. Explore making a SWAP idea wall with your banners.
20. Notebooks.
SWAPS are often small enough to be placed into trading card holders in notebooks. Explore this option. You might also want to keep a card in the back of each SWAP listing the date and SWAP event.
21. Other ideas?
Brainstorm other ideas you have for displaying your SWAPS. Experiment and share those that work for you.
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Supplements
SUPP_SWAPS.pdf
Information about SWAPS.
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Sites to Explore
www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_central/swaps
www.gsswaps.net
swaps-a-lot.ecrater.com
parentingteens.about.com/od/girlscoutsandgirlguides
www.makingfriends.com/scouts/swap_scouts.htm
www.scoutswaps.com
trudyd.homestead.com/swaps.html
www.epilogsys.com/ScoutingWeb/Program/CraftsSwaps.htm
www.wikihow.com/Make-Girl-Scout-SWAPS
www.scoutmom.net/swaps/index.htm
www.squidoo.com/swaps
Badge: Rubber Stamp Basics (revised)
Rubber stamping is a craft kids of any age can do successfully. You can start without spending a lot of money. The many stamping techniques allows you to continue improving your skills and expanding your knowledge. Specific techniques will be explored in additional AEP badge programs.
Your number concern when crafting is your tools, in this case the stamps themselves. We’ll focus on stamps, supplies and beginning stamping.
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Steps
1. What can you rubber stamp on?
Rubber stampers joke that they will stamp anything that doesn’t move. This isn’t far from the truth. In addition to be fun and addicting, rubber stamping allows you to personalize clothing, cards and more. Here’s a list of things you might want to rubber stamp on.
- Balloons
- Bookmarks
- Business cards
- Coasters
- Candles
- Cards
- Clay pots
- Frames
- Jewelry
- Magnets
- Ornaments
- Ribbons
- Skin
- T-shirts
- Tablecloth / napkins
- Walls
- Wrapping paper
- And much more!
2. Rubber stamps.
All “rubber” stamps are not made of rubber. In addition, some may be attached to a base while others need to be temporarily attached for stamping. Investigate different types of stamps. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
- Mounted, flat
- Mounted, roller
- Unmounted
- Rubber
- Polymer
- Foam
- Digital
3. Anatomy of a rubbber stamp.
When you purchase mounted stamps, there is a mount (usually wood or acrylic block), foam and the rubber. Depending on what you plan to stamp on, you’ll need each of these in varying degrees.
The mount itself is the flat part of the stamp, giving your stamp stability. Your foam gives your rubber the flexibility to make sure the entire rubber surface comes in contact with your stamping surface evenly.
Purchasing unmounted stamps will save you a lot of money, but you need to find a mounting system that works for you. Polymer stamps which attach directly to a solid surface may need a sheet of foam under your stamping surface to work the same as a traditionally mounted stamp.
Examine the types of stamps in Step 2 and see how these three items interact with many stamp materials. Which do you need to eliminate to stamp on non-flat surfaces, if any?
4. Rubber stamp characteristics.
Rubber stamps are not created equal. Some work better for certain applications. Different characteristics of stamps and their limitations are listed below. Look at images of rubber stamps to find examples of these characteristics and explore any additional you find.
- Fine detail — These stamps have fine lines that do not show well on items like fabric.
- Shadow — Large, usually simple shaped stamps that are solid or have gradients – can be used for layering.
- Deep etched — Raised surface of the stamping area is vastly higher than the base. The deeper the etch, the better the impression. You need deep etch for stamping into clay.
- Bold designs — Large solid areas of rubber without a lot of detail, good for using with any material.
5. Rubber stamp designs.
Rubber stamp designs are incredibly varied. You will notice there are “trends” that hit the stamping world. A certain theme will become very popular such as “Asian” or “fairies.” Choose your favorite search engine, visit Flickr, or find another image site and look at rubber stamps. List designs you find that speak to you. How can you use these images in your own creations?
6. Rubber stamp storage.
Before purchasing stamps, you need to seriously think about storage. Wood mounted stamps take up a lot of room. Polymer stamps can be damaged easily if not stored properly. Look at stamp storage systems and decide what will work for you.
Think about indexing your rubber stamps as well to eliminate duplicate purchases. Indexing also makes information available for card swaps, magazine submissions, etc.
7. Rubber stamp maintenance.
Taking care of your rubber stamps will extend their lifecycle. This will also contribute to your storage decision in Step 6. Avoiding sunlight is incredibly important. Research ways to clean and extend the lifecycle of your stamps.
8. Rubber stamp purchases.
What do you need to look for in a quality rubber stamp?
- Deep etching
- Lack of defect
- Quality of foam
- Size (Smaller stamps are easier to use.)
Where can you get rubber stamps? Look at your local craft stores, discount stores and online. Compare rubber stamp characteristics, materials and design.
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Moving beyond rubber
9. Rubber stamp supplies.
These are only the most basic supplies. As you move away from being a beginner, your stamping supplies will grow. Before you purchase any supplies, check your home. Use what you already have first to determine what you like before spending a lot of money.
Materials to stamp on include paper, fabric and clay. Paper is the best to start with as it is inexpensive and readily available. Often, making cards is a great way to start as a final card can be a first success within minutes of starting a project.
“Inks” may be anything from inkpads to bottled acrylic paint. These are applied to the rubber to make your impressions. Inkpads come in dye (fast drying) and pigment (slow drying) varieties. Also, you’ll see some inks, such as “Staz-On”, are specially designed and may need a specific material to clean the ink from your stamp. Make sure you read your directions before applying “inks” to your rubber.
Coloring materials may include markers, colored pencils, watercolors, chalks or anything else you can use to color in the details after making your impressions.
10. Rubber stamp accessories.
Again, most of these items you will already own. Collect them in a box or basket. Try them out before purchasing any more accessories.
- Scissors
- Craft knife
- Self-healing mat
- Ruler
- Bone folder
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Let’s get to it!
11. Getting a good impression.
Here are a few suggestions for getting good impressions. What other ways can you think of?
- Stamp on a stable, flat surface
- Place a few sheets of paper, foam placemat, etc. under your stamping material in case the ink goes through.
- Ink your stamp by patting the inkpad to the stamp or vice versa. Make sure it’s completely covered.
- Stamp on a scrap piece of paper first if you’re using specialty paper
- Apply firm, even pressure – DO NOT ROCK
- Large stamps need more pressure, smaller stamps need less
- Lift the stamp up straight from the paper
- Experiment!
12. Back to kindergarten.
Remember when life was about staying in the lines? Once you have your stamped impression, your job is to color in your image. This is the step where your creativity shows. One rule for this — have fun!
13. A few impressions more.
Once you have stamping down, you may find that stamping a few extra images is a good thing. You can color them as you’re watching television and keep them in a box for those “I need a card now” moments. You can also use them for collage, scrapbooking and a slew of other paper crafts.
14. Selling your stamped items.
As you get better, you may find you want to sell items you stamp. In Step 6, we mentioned indexing your stamps. Each stamp company has their own policy for how you can use their images. When you purchase a stamp, you’re agreeing to use it for your personal use. “Angel companies” allow you to sell items with their images on them. Most do not allow digitizing their images. Read the usage policies for a few companies and compare them. Stampin’ Up! Is a huge stamping company, start your research there.
15. Learning more.
In addition to the links following the badge steps, there are many printed items for you to explore. There are stamping magazines you can peruse to learn more about stamping. These include:
- Vamp Stamp News
- RubberStampMadness
- Stamper’s Sampler
- Card Maker Magazine
- Scrap and Stamp
You can also visit your library for a variety of books on the subject of rubber stamping.
16. What happened to digital?
Digital stamps (digi stamps) are black and white computer images that print out looking like a traditional stamped image. The draw is the lack of physical storage needed and the ability to manipulate an image by resizing, flipping and more. They are limited to printing materials that go through your printer and must be cut out. Look at a few digital stamp companies. Explore the advantages and disadvantages of digital stamping. Is it for you?
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Sites to Explore
www.littlebit.com/rubber1.htm
rubberstamping.about.com/od/gettingstarted/tp/The-Basics-of-Rubber-Stamping.htm
www.creativity-portal.com/howto/artscrafts/rubberstamping.html
crafts.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Rubber_Stamp_Storage
www.associatedcontent.com/article/132897/how_to_start_a_rubber_stamp_collection.html?cat=6
www.stampinup.com/us/enu/5293.asp
www.stampington.com/html/beginningbasics_artstamp.html
www.stampendous.com/Tips+%26+Techniques
www.splitcoaststampers.com
www.papercraftz.com
www.vampstampnews.com
www.rsmadness.com
www.cardmakermagazine.com
www.craftstamper.com/article.aspx?x=startstamping&d=list
Badge: Photo Crafts (revised)
Digital cameras open up an entire area of crafts to people of all ages. When photos are included in your crafts, they become more personal and a reflection of you. Try traditional crafts with your photos as well as digital ones.
This badge program features supplemental PDF files to help with ideas and more. Do not feel you must follow the PDFs. There are numerous photo ideas online that you can incorporate into your crafting.
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Steps
1. No originals.
Never use your original photos. You do not want to take the chance of destroying the only photo you have. For this reason, digital photos are a great material for crafting. Whether you have traditional or digital photos, always use copies for crafting.
2. Cards.
Cards can benefit from the addition of photos. You can create cards digitally or by hand. Create one or more of these cards to start exploring photo crafting. Feel free to expand beyond this list.
- Christmas cards
- Friendship cards
- Postcards
- Birthday cards
- Valentine cards
- Recipe cards
Check out SUPP_PhotoCards.pdf for additional card ideas.
3. Bookmarks.
Start with including a photo to a traditional rectangular bookmark. Add words, stickers or other items to your bookmark before laminating. Lamination will help protect your bookmark. If you don’t have a laminator, use clear contact paper or clear packing tape. Check out SUPP_PhotoBookmarks.pdf for additional bookmark ideas and create bookmarks for yourself and others.
4. Calendars.
Calendars can be a great gift for friends and family. The number of photos you’ll need depends on the design. For ideas, check out SUPP_PhotoCalendars.pdf for calendar ideas and sample templates. Create one or more calendars.
5. Jewelry pieces.
You can incorporate photos in jewelry with charms, pendants and pins. SUPP_PhotoJewelry.pdf can be a start to your jewelry designs. Create charms, key rings, zipper pulls or jewelry you can wear or give as a gift.
6. Fabric possibilities.
Incorporating photos with fabric can involve transfers, printing directly on fabric or iron-ons. Of course, creating stencils can be done, though it will be a lot more work. Choose one of the following to incorporate photos or try an idea of your own.
- Tote bag
- Purse
- Quilt square
- T-shirt
- Sweatshirt
- Wall art
- Table linens
- Towel
- Pillow
- Pillow case
- Sachet
- Eye pillow
- Lunch sack
- Apron
- Bulletin board
- Frame
- Book cover
- Wine bag
- Dolls
- Patch
SUPP_PhotoFabrics.pdf has some techniques for working with fabric.
7. Flower photos.
From SUPP_PhotoFlowers.pdf, select one of the versions of flower photos to create flowers using your photos. If you’d rather create flower photos from your own ideas or the Web, do that instead. This is a great idea for Mother’s Day.
8. Faux it.
Creating a magazine cover with your child’s sports photo or postage for a letter for your kids gives a personal touch to everyday items. Use photos to create faux items. Some ideas are included in SUPP_PhotoFaux.pdf. For a quick list, try any of these.
- Magazine cover
- Album cover
- CD sleeve
- Trading cards
- Money
- Gift card
- Postage stamps
- License
9. Fridgies or refrigerator magnets.
Use photos to decorate your refrigerator or other metal surfaces. Check out SUPP_PhotoFridgies.pdf for fridgie ideas. Don’t forget to check out the Web or jot down your original ideas as you try crafting photo fridgies.
10. Ornaments.
Ornaments might be for Christmas or everyday decorations. From SUPP_PhotoOrns.pdf or from an online project, create an ornament from one of your photos.
11. Puzzles and / or games.
You can make puzzles from your photos. Game pieces featuring the players might make a game more interesting. Explore ways to incorporate photos in your play life by checking out SUPP_PhotoPuzzles.pdf or projects you find on the Web.
12. Scrapbooks.
Scrapbooking is a craft that features photos. Create your own scrapbook or a page featuring your photos. A couple unusual ideas for scrapbooking are included in SUPP_PhotoScrap.pdf.
13. Frame it.
Crafting a frame is another way to incorporate your photos. Purchase frames that you can decorate that fit your photo or create a frame from everyday materials. Check out SUPP_PhotoFrames.pdf for some ideas.
14. Home décor.
Looking for ways to display photos around your home? Check out SUPP_PhotoDecor.pdf or search the Web for ideas. Try one or more.
15. Explore beyond this badge program.
SUPP_PhotoVarious.pdf gives you a lot of additional ideas for crafting with photos. If you find any additional on the Web you feel would fit into this badge program, feel free to share your links.
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Supplements
SUPP_Photo.pdf
Listing of what is in each supplement of this set.
SUPP_PhotoBookmarks.pdf
Three bookmark ideas.
SUPP_PhotoCalendars.pdf
Considerations before creating calendars and sketches for design ideas.
SUPP_PhotoCards.pdf
Two card ideas, with variations, and sketches for design ideas.
SUPP_PhotoDecor.pdf
Three home décor ideas.
SUPP_PhotoFabrics.pdf
Techniques for getting photos on fabrics and more.
SUPP_PhotoFaux.pdf
Faux postage with templates.
SUPP_PhotoFlowers.pdf
Two ways of making photo flowers.
SUPP_PhotoFrames.pdf
Four frame ideas.
SUPP_PhotoFridgies.pdf
Three ideas for fridgies plus information on sealing photos.
SUPP_PhotoJewelry.pdf
Three jewelry ideas and three charm ideas.
SUPP_PhotoOrns.pdf
Five ornament ideas.
SUPP_PhotoPuzzles.pdf
Two puzzle ideas.
SUPP_PhotoScrap.pdf
Four scrapbook ideas and a template.
SUPP_PhotoVarious.pdf
List of ways to use photos that don’t fit other supplements.
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Sites to Explore
www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/PrintLab/pl_home.jsp
www.familyfun.com
www.yourpix.com/createphotos/photocrafts.jsp;jsessionid=82C9EFA3ABC1A06C60EC13FCF60562B7
h71036.www7.hp.com/hho/cache/755-0-0-39-121.html
www.makingfriends.com
www.marthastewart.com
www.squidoo.com/createit
www.squidoo.com/photo-craft
www.ourdigitalphotographysuccess.com
www.framecraft.com
www.photocarddesigns.com
www.shutterfly.com
www.snapfish.com
www.photo-opps.com/crafts-using-pictures.html
www.activityvillage.co.uk/photo_crafts.htm
1000words.kodak.com/thousandwords/post/?id=4901740044025006775
www.ehow.com/photo-crafts
www.brighthub.com/multimedia/photography/articles/18109.aspx
parentingteens.about.com/od/craftphoto/Photo_Picture_Craft_Projects_for_Teens.htm
Badge: Paper Beads (revised)
Paper beads can incorporate recycled materials and are a low-cost craft project. Experiment with paper beads and make a final project with them.
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Steps
1. Materials.
To make paper beads, you’ll need to have:
- Scissors or craft knife and mat or paper cutter
- Glue
- Knitting needle, sewing needle or other item to wrap paper around
- Ruler
- Pen / pencil
- Toothpicks
- Foam or something to place toothpicks into while beads dry
You probably have these items in your home. Collect them before continuing.
2. Material adjustments for kids.
If kids are planning on making beads, try rolling the beads on pencils and a glue stick to glue the end down. This works better for little fingers.
3. Bead shapes.
Download the four PDFs with bead shapes. Print out the shapes on cardstock for templates. Make at least one of each type to see how they look.
4. Paper for beads.
Paper for beads can be found anywhere, including:
- Magazines
- Catalogs
- Wrapping paper
- Scrapbook paper
- Newspaper
- Wallpaper samples
- Construction paper
- Origami paper
- Sheet music
- Any other type of paper
Try a variety of materials and find the one(s) you prefer to work with.
5. Decorating your beads.
If your paper starts out as rather boring, you can use paint, markers or anything else to decorate your beads. Try decorating a few beads to see if you prefer decorated or non-decorated beads.
Don’t limit yourself to decorating after you’ve rolled the paper. For example, if you use a metallic gold pen on the edges of a triangular black paper before rolling, you’ll have thin gold lines on your final bead.
6. Coating for beads.
After the beads are wound, they need to be sealed to keep the paper in good condition. Some of the ways you can do this include:
- Clear nail polish
- Decoupage medium and paint brush
- Embossing fluid, embossing powder and heat source
- Acrylic sealer spray
7. Making beads from recycled newspaper.
www.astorybooklife.com/how-to/paper-beads
Instead of cutting strips and rolling beads, create beads from recycled newspaper pulp. Try this way of making paper beads.
8. Paper pod beads.
foldingtrees.com/2008/09/pod-bead-tutorial
Paper pod beads are made with paper punched shapes. Explore this way to make paper beads.
9. Covering wooden beads.
Try a different way to make “paper” beads by gluing paper over wooden beads. Make sure the bead is clean. Thinner papers, such as tissue paper, will wrap over the bead easier. Mulberry paper will hold together better as it is stretched over the bead. Glue the paper and coat it with one of the coating methods listed in Step 6 or one of your own.
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Using your beads
10. Beaded curtains.
You can take many paper beads and make curtains or room dividers. Determine how many beads you’d need to make to create a curtain. Time how long it takes you to roll and seal a bead. Is this a possibility?
11. Beaded jewelry.
Paper beads can be incorporated into necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and more. Create enough beads to make a piece of jewelry to keep or give away.
12. Paper embellishments.
Paper beads can be used to embellish scrapbooks and other paper crafts. They can be strung on ribbons or strings. Brainstorm places you can place paper beads as embellishments.
13. Bead people.
Combine a variety of sizes and shapes to create unique “bead people.” By combining beads, you can use your bead person on a keyring or necklace. You also could use a bead to create a person or face by painting features on a bead.
14. Trading beads.
Swap beads you have made with others. Incorporate your collected beads in one of the above projects, SWAPs or another project.
15. Start a collection.
If you love your beads too much to part with them, start a collection of your favorites to show others.
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Supplements
SUPP_Paper Bead Temp01.pdf
SUPP_Paper Bead Temp02.pdf
SUPP_Paper Bead Temp03.pdf
SUPP_Paper Bead Temp04.pdf
Templates with various shapes to create paper beads.
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Sites to Explore
www.graciousrain.com/2010/08/09/paper-bead-tutorial
www.bellaonline.com/articles/art15826.asp
www.how-to-make-jewelry.com/paper-beads.html
www.thebeadsite.com/chi-hom.html
familycrafts.about.com/od/makingbeads/ss/paperbeads.htm
www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Paper-Beads
www.beadinggem.com/2010/01/how-to-make-paper-bead-and-jewelry.html
gomakesomething.com/ht/recycled/paper-beads
paperbeads.org
www.astorybooklife.com/how-to/paper-beads
foldingtrees.com/2008/09/pod-bead-tutorial
www.paperbeadcrafts.com/howto/index.shtml
www.making-mini-scrapbooks.com/paperbeads.html
thepapergirlblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/make-paper-covered-wooden-beads.html
www.artfarm.com/dollpaperbead.html
Badge: Explore Crafts (revised)
Crafts can be a fun hobby or a way to earn extra cash. Let’s explore a variety of crafts to enrich your life as well as share with others.
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Steps
1. Look at crafts.
A starting list is on the last page. Choose one you’d like to try from the list or discover your own by choosing from materials you like to work with, skills you have, something you’ve always wanted to try or any other way you’d like to chose.
2. Online research for your chosen craft.
Go to your favorite search engine and do a search for your craft. Not only may you find tutorials or workshops, chances are you’ll find patterns and templates as well. Check out the following types of sites:
- Vendor / supplier sites
- Magazine / pattern publishers
- Associations or groups that feature your craft
- Pattern sites, free
- Tutorial / workshop sites
- Template sites
- Individual enthusiasts
3. Traditional research for your chosen craft.
Go to the library and find out if they have books, magazines or even DVDs that can help you explore your chosen craft.
4. Take a class in the craft you’ve chosen.
Check out local and online craft stores, interest groups or even online classes. Perhaps your local YMCA, library or other community area has craft programs for adults. Choose a class that appeals to you.
5. Practice your new craft alone or with a group.
Most crafts are done individually. Explore ways to make your craft more of a group activity. Search for online groups as well as those that meet locally. Start out with free resources to find out if you actually enjoy the craft before looking at “for pay” groups.
6. Share your new craft with family and friends.
Show what you have learned and be able to answer the following questions.
- Why did you choose it?
- Would you do it again?
- What did you like / didn’t like about it?
- How can you share your experiences?
7. Share your new craft with other enthusiasts and find out more information.
Here are a few ways you can share your craft. Include any others that you enjoy.
- Web (Yahoo! Groups, blogs, etc.)
- Local individuals
- Formal or informal groups
- Vendors / suppliers
8. Cultural exploration.
Some crafts have cultural variations. Research to find out if there are techniques or additional information outside the mainstream for your chosen craft.
9. Creativity counts.
Some crafts evolve as people add their own creativity. This may be as simple as new crochet stitches or as expansive as creating a new craft. Look into your craft’s history and see how it has evolved. Can you add your own creativity to your craft?
10. Teach others what you’ve learned.
Turn this into a training session for other adults, teach it to kids or even family members who show an interest. By teaching your craft, you’ll have others who may want to continue doing it with you.
11. Start or help with a club for your craft.
Sharing your craft not only expands your knowledge, you also can have fun with others sharing similar interests. Find out if there are any local craft clubs in your area, including local craft stores. If not, explore what you need to do to start your own.
12. From craft to career.
Some people enjoy their craft so much they make it a successful career. Writing about your craft, submitting completed projects, providing supplies or even teaching can provide either a supplemental or full income. Explore the possibilities of how you can make money from your craft.
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Sites to Explore
www.ehow.com/how_2185225_find-craft-websites.html
www.creativity-portal.com/howto/artscrafts
familycrafts.about.com/od/craftstechniques101/u/findaproject.htm
www.squidoo.com/groups/Explore-a-new-craft
52crafts52weeks.wordpress.com
www.favecrafts.com
www.allfreecrafts.com
craftideasweekly.com
www.craftsnthings.com/Default.aspx
www.brighthub.com/arts/crafts.aspx
www.crafterslovecrafts.com/paper-crafts.html
www.howtodothings.com/hobbies/how-to-find-craft-templates
findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1249/is_n4_v70/ai_19926663
www.factly.com/Article/Choosing-a-New-Craft-Hobby/91959
Badge: Artistic Trading Cards (revised)
Artist trading cards (ATCs) are small pieces of art. They can be made with multiple different materials in a variety of art and / or craft techniques. In addition, these can be as simple or complicated as you choose. ATCs are an excellent activity for kids and a great way for you to get rid of scraps and leftovers from other projects.
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Steps
1. Size.
Artist trading cards have only one rule — they must be 2.5″ x 3.5″. This is 64mm x 89mm. The size is the same as a standard trading card. This also allows you to place them into trading card plastic sleeves, the same as baseball cards.
2. ATCs on the Web.
Search for ATC images online to see what crafters and artists have created. Save any images that you find inspirational.
3. Cutting ATCs from a sheet of paper.
You can easily cut out nine cards from a standard sheet of paper (7.5″ wide x 10.5″ high).
- US letter — 8.5″ x 11″ (215.9mm x 279.4mm)
- A4 — 8.27″ x 11.69″ (210mm x 297mm)
To save paper, you can get 10 out, but trimming is a bit more complex. You can find templates on the Web showing you how to cut them. Cut a sheet of each and decide which way you prefer to use.
4. Simple techniques with ATCs.
Simple craft techniques to try with ATCs include:
- Rubber stamping
- Drawing
- Decoupage
- Coloring
- Stickers
Try one or more of these simple craft techniques on a card.
5. More techniques / materials for ATCs.
ATC cards can be made with any art or craft technique. Try making a card with paper, clay, fiber, wood or other material. You can also make embellishments to attach to the card with a non-paper product.
6. Kids make ATCs, even big kids.
Kids love to create ATCs. Collect some or all of the following and place them in the center of the workspace. Each kid will go through 3-5 cards an hour. Have extra cards on-hand in case you have very creative kids. Providing examples will give them a starting point.
- Scrap paper / construction paper
- Stickers
- Stamps and ink or paint
- Paper punches or scissors
- Markers / pencils / pens / crayons
- Yarn, embroidery floss or other fibers
- Scissors
- Glue
- Glitter
- Confetti
- Scraps of ribbon, lace, etc.
7. Sharing with swap-bot (www.swap-bot.com).
If you don’t have people that you send cards to, you can always swap cards. Swap-bot allows you to join (for free) and swap not only completed cards, but random items and more.
8. Card swaps.
Card swaps aren’t limited to swap-bot. Groups on Yahoo! and other sites trade in singles and multiples depending on swap themes hosted by volunteers. Some are very large . . . a US swap covered a card for each of the 50 states. Also, check out your local scrapbooking / paper / rubber stamp store to see if they have a monthly swap you can participate in.
9. Start your own swap.
Start your own ATC swap club. Show others how to make ATCs. Pick a theme, technique for everyone to use, etc. Perhaps you can invite others to share their art or craft skills to add variety to your cards.
10. Upload images to Flickr.
AEP has a special area on Flickr to share completed projects for others to see. Search for “AEP” or “Adult Enrichment Project” for our sites.
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Supplements
SUPP_ATC_9up.pdf
Diagram for cutting 9 cards out of a sheet of paper.
SUPP_ATC_10up.pdf
Diagram for cutting 10 cards out of a sheet of paper.
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Sites to Explore
www.atcsforall.com
www.wikihow.com/Make-Artist-Trading-Cards
www.art-e-zine.co.uk/atcnov03.html
gomakesomething.com/category/ht/atcs/
painting.suite101.com/article.cfm/artist_trading_cards
www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/artist_trading_cards_atc
thekeytomyart.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/artist-trading-card-atc-swap-and-tutorial
www.squidoo.com/atcs
www.mailartists.com/atcs.htm
Badge: Harry Potter — Magical Crafts
These crafts can be used for a Harry Potter theme or any magical /wizard theme you choose.
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Steps
1. Wands.
Create a wand. Make these ideas your starting point. Add your own individuality, mix and match or create your own unique design.
- Collect sticks outdoors and decorate with twine, feathers, etc.
- Use pencils and punched shapes to make wands
- Color doll rods, place foam stickers back to back and add glue and glitter to foam
- Create chocolate sucker wands
- Create wands with paper and hot glue per the “Dad Can Do” site
Your wand can be a stick only or you can add stars, snowflakes, pom-poms or more.
If you’re feeling very ambitious, try a technical approach and add LED lights you can turn on or other elements that add to the illusion that magic is real.
2. Quill and ink.
Make a quill — feather, bamboo or any other material you like. Experiment with ink recipes and find one you like to share.
3. Books.
Provide books, notepads or any other way to hold items collected during the event. You can ask the kids make their own or decorate a purchased composition book. All flat paper items collected during camp will become a keepsake that can be included in your book.
4. Bookmarks.
Bookmarks for each house can be created from original drawings of the participants to materials that feature a specific house or wizarding theme.
5. Runes.
Make a set of runes from air-dry clay or polymer clay if your kids are older. For younger kids, try creating runes by painting or drawing runes on wooden coins or rocks. Learn about runes so you can provide additional information.
See the Harry Potter: Games supplement SUPP_HPG_Runes.pdf for information on runes.
6. Crystal ball.
Create your own crystal ball. Use a baby food jar to fill with oil, glitter and water. Of course, you can put your own items in to your crystal ball. Find instructions for “snow globes” online and adapt these into unique crystal balls.
7. Witches hat.
Make a hat out of construction paper, felt or any other material you prefer.
8. Magical pouch.
Create a drawstring handbag or pouch using whatever crafting technique you prefer.
9. Costumes and accessories.
Beyond a simple hat our pouch, try making clothing or accessories for yourself or others. Adults wearing appropriate clothing for their house, position, etc. Your costume may be as simple as a normal Muggle outfit with a couple accessories that don’t quite fit in a Muggle world. You may also choose to go all out and create a costume like Professor Sybil Trelawny.
10. Broomstick.
Find an old broomstick to alter into a magical one or create your own from raw materials.
11. Golden snitch.
From origami to knit, there are quite a few ways to create your own golden snitch. Find a pattern you like and make yourself one.
12. Death eater mask.
Check out the Instructables Web site and others for ideas. Create your own mask, paint a paper plate or purchase pre-made masks.
If making a death eater mask is too dark for your group, try general mask making and call it “Transfiguration.”
13. Goblet / cup.
Decorate a goblet / cup with rhinestones, paint and other items to make it very fancy. You can also print out one of the AEP goblet drawings to decorate in the supplement SUPP_HPMC_House Cup.pdf.
14. Trading cards.
Create trading cards in the form of artistic trading cards. (See the AEP badge program Artistic Trading Cards for more information.) You can feature potion recipes, spells, poems, photos of the stars, original artwork and more.
For an additional idea, ask your participants to submit their favorite trading cards for an art contest and allow all other participants to vote for their favorite. You can award special prizes, points for houses, etc.
NOTE: Trading cards can also be a game after they are created. Before using originals in any game, make a copy or clear photo of the cards in case they are damaged.
15. SWAPs
Look through SWAP sites to find Harry Potter themed ideas. Perhaps you have items already in your SWAP stash, so check that out as well. Some ideas might include:
- Broomsticks
- Wands
- Crystal balls
- Mini potion bottles
- Beaded safety pins
A few SWAP ideas are included with the AEP supplement.
16. Your own magical crafts.
As you watch the movies or read the books, keep notes for any item you think you might be able to craft. Go back later and either elaborate on your design or create it.
17. Art influenced by Harry Potter.
Provide a variety of art materials. Ask your participants to create a piece of art based on the Harry Potter universe. For an additional activity, host a contest and ask your participants to vote on most authentic, strangest, etc.
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Supplements Available
SUPP_HPMC_House Cup.pdf
Ideas and three templates to create your own house cup.
SUPP_HPMG_SWAPs.pdf
SWAP ideas plus templates to make charms for SWAPs.
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SUPP_HPG_Runes.pdf
SUPP_HPG_BeanFlavorsB.pdf
SUPP_HPG_TCPotions.pdf
SUPP_HPG_TCPotionsB.pdf
SUPP_HPG_TCSpells.pdf
SUPP_HPG_TCSpellsB.pdf
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Sites to Explore
www.dadcando.com
crafts.kaboose.com/wizards-wand.html
www.instructables.com/id/Harry-Potter/
www.barleyhall.org.uk/MakeAQuillAndInk.asp
www.squidoo.com/broomsticks
Badge: Fairy Crafts
Fairies are popular with kids of all ages. From fantasy to Disney, fairies are usually depicted as small creatures with wings and magical abilities. Let’s have fun with fairies.
Steps
Human-sized crafts
1. Wings.
You can purchase wings, but making them is a unique craft. Search the Web for wing patterns. Find one you feel you can accomplish and build yourself or someone you know a pair of wings. Wear your wings for a while and decide what adjustments would make them more comfortable, easier to wear, etc.
2. Make-up.
Fairy make-up includes lots of glitter, color and rhinestones. Explore fairy make-up online. Create a unique fairy look for yourself or someone else. Take photos to document your design so you can recreate it later.
If you really enjoy doing the make-up, start a small photo journal to document your developing make-up skills. This will also help you when you’re stuck for ideas. Feel free to include images you find online that you’d like to duplicate.
3. Clothing.
Fairy clothing can be simple or extravagant. You can accessorize clothing you already have or make something new. Sketch out a fairy outfit for yourself or someone else. Here are some things you might want to incorporate into your outfit.
- Embellished sleeveless tops
- Tutus
- Leggings
- Satin slippers
4. Wands.
Wands are another simple craft item. Don’t feel stuck with a standard star on your wand. Try snowflakes or faux flowers to give it a unique look. Perhaps bubble wands are your thing. Search the Web for a multitude of wand ideas and make one or more to coordinate with your wings, make-up and clothing.
5. Flower garland.
Also known as a flower hair wreath, these utilize wire, ribbon and small flowers to make a cute hair piece. Find instructions online or design your own.
6. Fairy dust.
Fairy dust is as easy as glitter or a combination of glitter and colored sand. Also experiment making fairy dust with seed beads, no-hole beads and other mediums you can find. Place the fairy dust into necklace vials, bottles, pouches or a container you make yourself.
7. Treasure box.
Choose any box you like and decorate it. Use paint, rhinestones, flowers and other items that fit your fairy theme. Make sure your box is large enough to hold your fairy treasures. Of course, you may choose to make a treasure box that fits in your fairy house instead.
8. Fairy collage.
When most people think collage, they think of flat paper with pieces glued to it. While this is an option, try decorating and putting items in a shoebox or shrine. Add three-dimensional elements and create a special keepsake.
9. Tooth fairy pouch.
Make a simple drawstring bag from fabric. You can also stamp, add glitter paint, seed beads and other items to decorate the pouch. The pouch can be used to hold teeth for the tooth fairy or magical fairy dust.
10. Fairy journal.
Keep track of all your fairy activities. From sketches of fairies and favorite flowers to your own poetry, you can use your fairy journal any way you like. Create a simple journal with paper, string and an awl (for punch binding). Decorate the cover with your good fairy taste and have fun with this project.
11. Flowers for all.
Flowers are big with fairies. Find sites with instructions to make flowers out of paper, clay, felt or just about any material you can think of. Create flowers that are coordinated with your fairy look.
12. Fairy jewelry.
Incorporate your fairy style into headbands, necklaces, bracelets and more. Materials should include ribbons, flowers, charms and sparkling beads.
13. Fairy masks.
Using pre-cut masks or templates, use a variety of bright colored markers or paints as well as glitter. If doing this activity with a group, have a sample or two available to spark creativity.
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Fairy-sized crafts
14. Fairies.
Fairies can be made out of almost anything. Find free instructions on the Web. Create one or more fairies and determine for what age each type is an appropriate craft.
- Clothespin fairy
- Flower fairy from faux flowers and floral wire
- Clay fairy
- Ribbon fairy
- Recycled Barbie or other doll
Use one of these ideas or gather materials and create your own unique fairies.
15. Paper dolls.
Find paper doll fairies or adjust a paper doll and make a fairy out of it.
16. Photo fairies.
Take photos of family and friends. Either digitally or by hand, outline the photos and add wings and other items to make fairies. Create a collage with your fairy friends.
17. Outfits for dolls.
Take some of the items you created for human-sized fairies and size them down for your favorite doll or find patterns and make an item or two for your doll.
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Fairy crafts galore
18. Many more crafting ideas.
The number of fairy crafting ideas seems infinite. Look online or at your local library for even more fun fairy craft ideas.
19. Teach others.
Show others how to make the fairy crafts you’ve enjoyed. You can do this at a meeting, special day event or even do an entire fantasy day camp featuring the projects you enjoyed creating.
20. Craft fair.
For money earning, try holding or participating in a craft fair. Feature your fairy creations.
21. Fairy event.
Host a fairy event, utilizing one or more of the craft projects above as activities.
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