Archive for October, 2009
Okay – so you want to start scrapbooking. Learning the ‘ABCs’ of Beginner scrapbooking requires some commitment in time and effort, along with doing research on properly starting this hobby. However, the ultimate results are truly satisfying.
Creative scrapbooking isn’t something one can do on the spur of the moment without some thought. First, focus on a particular theme or special event which you want to commemorate. Gather together your photos and supplies, do the research for ideas and then get scrapping!
Scrapbooking as a hobby has become quite a sensation, not just in America, but all across the world. Besides the beautiful memories being created for present and future generations, the time spent scrapbooking is a very enjoyable time.
It seems to be a natural pastime for the person who enjoys taking a lot of photos. Any creative person who enjoys working with his or her hands certainly can find fulfilment in crafting a scrapbook album. With the vast variety of scrapbooking supplies available, due to the immense popularity of the craft, beautiful pages can be created to commemorate important or not-so-important occasions.
You may even want to have a scrapbooking party and share great ideas.
With all the advancement in the manufacture of paints, it seems as if a paint for nearly any surface or project has been developed. One favorite pastime of mine is painting on glass windows. Using the transparent paint created especially for this craft, you can easily give your windows the look of stained glass. Though a little time-consuming, the results are really worth the effort. (And you don’t have to cut a single piece of glass!)
The photo here is of one of my two living room windows which I designed and painted. As unlikely as it may seem to one not familiar with this, an onlooker must look very closely to realize that this is not a real stained glass window.
Quilt making has remained a popular pastime over the years. Because there are so many fabrics and designs available to the quilter, we can understand why quilt making and quilt collecting have become a passion with many people. An old, but still popular method of quilt making is the process of making quilt blocks and combining them to form a chosen pattern or design.
The quilt pictured here was made by my mother-in-law when she was over 90 years old. The colors are soft pastels of mainly pinks and a little blue, with various small roses and other flowers. There are 567 quilt squares in this particular quilt, and at the time, she made a total of 9 quilts, one for each of her 4 children, and one each for 5 of her 6 grandchildren. (This quilt is very large. For the photo it was folded in half longways and draped over the clothesline so what you see is only a portion of it.) I have no idea how much time she spent making these as it was quite a surprise when she gave them to all of us. I do know that these are gorgeous and very nicely made. I really love mine.
There is something about the holiday season that brings out the creative instinct in all of us, considering all the goodies to bake, decorations to make, and crafts to create. If you haven’t made a tradition out of making Christmas crafts, you might want to add this to your holiday to-do list.
The holidays are such a great time to enjoy making crafts. Not only do the kids enjoy the activities, but this allows you to spend more quality time with your children. A homemade item is always an extra special gift to give to a loved one, who will more than likely treasure it forever. Christmas crafts can extend far beyond the basic gift giving concept, as nothing looks more inviting than handmade centerpieces and table settings. Children will absolutely love homemade ornaments that they create themselves and display upon the family Christmas tree for all to see.
Candles are an attractive addition to the decor of any home. They add beauty in addition to a wonderful aroma in the air.
Candles come in a vast variety of sizes, shapes, designs, colors, and scents. Perhaps that is why candle making at home has become such a popular hobby and craft. The fun of the candle making process, and the joy of seeing your own beautiful finished candles makes the process even more pleasurable.
I’ve been teaching art at the elementary school level for several years now, and it recently occurred to me that the old curriculum was growing stale. First I asked around for ideas from other teachers and classroom aides. They had a few inventive suggestions, but nothing that stood out as creative yet simple enough for a grade-schooler to handle. Obviously the project needed to be fun – the messier the better to get a kid enthused about it.
Then I found some instructions online for soy candle making. It was just the sort of idea I needed, and I knew just when to introduce the project. Each spring, after farmers around town plant their crops, they begin spreading manure over top. Needless to say, the odor isn’t exactly pleasant and it permeates the entire school. By making fragrant candles during that week, our class will be getting a temporary respite.
When Halloween comes around, we all realize that kids just want to have lots of fun. You can keep them busy with plenty of Halloween crafts and activities. In short time you’ll have them playing, laughing, thinking, and learning. What better way is there to keep them entertained?
Crafting and activities that involve the entire family are great ways to bond with each other and share quality time, while having a great time too. Put away the video games, turn the television off, and just get busy being creative. Make it enjoyable for all involved, and you’ll be glad you made the effort.
Halloween is a fun time for kids and adults alike. It’s a time for all ages to enjoy, whether trick or treating or passing out treats to all the ‘creatures’ who come to the door. Perhaps you are hosting a Halloween party or attending one. Regardless of your involvement, there are numerous Halloween ideas to make this special occasion even more special.
Halloween parties are popular at this festive season of the year, I can remember parties which my mother hosted in our basement years ago. I remember playing games and bobbing for apples. (Do they even do that anymore?) I particularly recall one party when my brother and our cousin (both very masculine) dressed as twin Victorian belles in their frilly pink dresses with pantaloons. What fun we had!
Costumes come in any and all categories (butterflies, clowns, ghosts, witches, skeletons, mummies, pirates, scarecrows, princesses, just to name a few.) Some people wear masks; others paint their faces.
Candied apples, caramel apples, candy corn, caramel popcorn balls are a few of the treats that are abundant at Halloween time. Crafters are busy at this time of year making costumes, painting faces, carving or painting pumpkin faces along with, perhaps, baking and decorating the house.
Halloween is the beginning of the most enjoyable time of the year, ushering in Thanksgiving, followed by Christmas, and then the New Year celebrations.
If you haven’t tried pumpkin painting, now is the season of the year to do it. Halloween is nearly here, meaning that it’s time to get out the decorations – which certainly will include ghosts, bats, scarecrows, witches and most certainly a pumpkin or two.
We all know that pumpkins that are left plain are perfectly suitable for display, and pumpkins with the facial features cut out are very fun, especially with a burning candle inside – BUT have you ever gone through the effort of cutting out eyes, nose and mouth?
Why not take the easier route? Paint your pumpkins! The designs are limited only to your imagination – and after that purpose is served (if you do not wait TOO long and are so inclined), you can cook the pumpkin and make pies, cookies, or casseroles.
Be sure to guard your pumpkins from thieves. Quite a few years ago, when we were living in Ohio, my husband and I bought two very large pumpkins (probably 80 to 100 pounds each.) We put one on each side of our front steps for display. Imagine our surprise when we went out one day to find that one had been stolen.
I really hope this doesn’t happen to you!