Tag Archives: arts

Craft storage board in the making

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I decided that I need a craft storage board for my cottons, ribbons and scissors to get them off my sewing table.

Deciding that I can make it myself, I went off to Lowes Hardware and bought a pre-cut board. I really wanted a green chevron pattern for the base.

I painted the board with a premium white primer (3 coats) and once dried I went about laying the blue painters tape on the board to mark out my pattern. I used my 5 1/2 on square to get the perfect 2 inch alternating stripes. Below is board with all stripes laid down and the first coat of green wall paint.

After 4 coats of green paint (making sure it was dry before each application) the green was done. Leaving it to become touch dry, I then removed the painters tape – this is how it turned out. I was very pleased.

Next steps, I need to add:

hooks on the bottom for scissors
dowel bits at an angle (2-3 rows) so I can put cotton
1 row of dowel with two end pieces that will hold my ribbon

I will post photos once it is all finished.

Neck-tie wall art

Previously, I had made some cushions using neck-ties, and while looking around I saw this photo of neck-tie art. That has inspired me to make my own wall art from neckties. I am planning of framing it in a shadow box.

I am still thinking of adding some more ties but this is how it looks at the moment.

S for Snake

Sean was so happy with making the giraffe as our first track out project, that we repeated the activity with S for Snake as the subject.

Materials we used:

Foam board – red for the tongue
Champagne Cork for the head
White paper for the teeth
Wood stick (picked up from Lowes, then cut at various sizes)
Bottle caps (6)
String
Two eyes (picked up from AC Moore or any craft store)
Super Glue or Wood Glue (for the teeth and eyes)

Drill a hole in approx. center of the Champagne Cork, wood and Bottle tops.
Tie a knot at the end of the string (big enough to make sure the string does not slip through). You may need to melt the end depending on what type of string you use.
Wrap the other end of the string with a small piece of duck tape – try to get a slightly narrow end at the tip – it makes it easier to thread through.
Sean was able to thread the string through the pieces easily enough (with assistance). Start with the bottle caps for the tail (it rattles 🙂 ), then the wood pieces and finish with the champagne cork.
Tie another knot on the string, but you will want to bend the snake to make sure you tie it loose enough. If needed melt the end of the string on this end as well.
Cut a strip of the red foam and double it up to cut the tongue shape. Take of the backing and press the tongue pieces together with the string in the middle (like a sandwich).
Glue on the eyes and teeth.
Use paint, crayons, markers or paper to decorate the pieces of wood.

Here was his journal entry, his picture, the word snake he sounded out and wrote and his story.

“Snakes curl around whatever it finds and squeezes it. The snake opens its mouth and swallows whatever it finds. His body is then very big.”

Now to come up with the next one….I think we will do “Caves” or “B for Bats” based on our trip to the blue mountains.

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