About Family Crafts

This Week's Spotlight Crafts (October 31 - November 6)

2009-11-07T09:00:59Z

What is your favorite project this week?

Basketball Beaded Safety Pin Design - Follow this pattern and the basic directions to complete this beaded safety pin project. A fun way to celebrate Basketball Day!
Pine Cone Wreath Craft - Instructions to make a wreath using pine cones and a wire coat hanger. A fun gift idea or a great Christmas decoration.
Candy Plant Craft - Find out how to make a terra cotta clay pot fully of tasty flowers. A great gift idea shared by Susan and a perfect project for National Candy Day!
Tree of Thanks Craft - Create a fun hand print picture to help you celebrate everything you are thankful for.
Pine Cone Angel Craft - Using these directions, your family can make a collection of pine cone angels.
Leaf Prints - Try your hand at printmaking by making pictures and other items using leaves.
Clock Craft - In this day and age it is a little harder to teach kids about telling time and reading a clock simply because digital clocks are more commonly found in many homes that clocks. Use this fun craft to help them learn how to read a clock and about different times of day.

Enjoy, and remember, if you complete any of these crafts, take a few moments to send me a picture and it can be featured here too!

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This Week's Spotlight Crafts (October 31 - November 6) originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 09:00:59.

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Up Movie Printable Activities

2009-11-06T09:00:32Z

In celebration of the release of the Disney/Pixar UP Movie on DVD and Blu-Ray on November 10th, print out and enjoy these printable crafts and activities. You can visit the UP Movie's Official Web site to learn more about the movie and download even more activities!
RELATED:
- Famous Characters Color Pages
- Science Crafts
- Printable Projects

(Picture courtesy of Disney/Pixar)

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Up Movie Printable Activities originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 09:00:32.

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Make It Merry - Week 1

2009-11-05T09:00:58Z

I am happy to be part a creative group who, starting today, will showcase excellent handmade holiday crafts. Every Thursday you'll find a new set of tutorials on how to make everything from personalized presents to yummy holiday snacks. This will be a group of thumbnails and links to each project. It's an easy way to browse all sorts of holiday ideas from like-minded crafters like you.

Clothes Pin Holiday Card Holders
What to do with all those holiday cards? Hold them up with clothes pins as dazzling as twinkling lights with this how-to from Kate Pullen.

Make a Gingerbread House
Ever want to create the perfect gingerbread house? Okay, I have yet to master this skill..but you can! Our Barbara Rolek will show you how.

How to Draw a Christmas Tree
Here is one that will come in handy for all those handmade cards. Master sketch artist Helen South will show you how to draw the perfect tree from start to finish.

Paint a Glass Ornament
Turn a plain glass ball into a work of stained glass art. Our Guide to Painting will show you how to create this delicate trimming.

Silent Night Cross Stitch Pattern
Don't just get cozy, get your stitch on. Create a Silent Night design with this free pattern from Connie G. Barwick.

Stitch a Pear Trio
Hang up something special in your home for that Thanksgiving gathering. This free 'Pear Trio' needlepoint pattern from Cheryl Fall is just what your walls needed.

Easy Christmas Ornaments
Start a tradition for the kids to make new ornaments each year. Sherri Osborn has the shape patterns and project ideas for these ornaments that reflect Christmas traditions.

Print Thanksgiving Placecards
Add some warmth to your table with these Thanksgiving place cards that will have your guests saying 'awwwww'. Barbara Crews has the free printable for you to personalize.

Wine Bottle Wrap Pattern
Instead of giving a bottle of wine in one of those skinny bags, make a felt wrap that the bottle can be displayed in all season. Phyllis Dobbs will show you how.

Make a Miniature Christmas Tree
Why are tiny things always so darn cute? Learn how to make a little pine tree with Lesley Shepherd.

Interchangeable Thanksgiving Pins
Sometimes you just can't commit to just one pin. With this interchangeable Thanksgiving pin by Tammy Powley, you can tell everyone when you're ready for pie...and when you're overstuffed.

Want to Join Make it Merry to show off your holiday crafts? We will showcase your crafts and recipes of all holiday traditions. Learn more.

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Make It Merry - Week 1 originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 09:00:58.

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The 12 Days of Christmas... Crafts

2009-11-04T09:00:23Z

Many of you enjoyed my 31 Days of Halloween newsletters, so I thought I would share my special Christmas newsletter! To help with your Christmas planning, sign up for this The 12 Days of Christmas... Crafts and you will receive a variety of Christmas related craft project ideas delivered top your email box every day for 12 days - everything from advent calendars to Santa Claus crafts!
RELATED:
- Crafting Through the Alphabet Email Course
- Creative Recycling Email Course
- Christmas Crafts and Activities

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The 12 Days of Christmas... Crafts originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 09:00:23.

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Christmas Elf

2009-11-03T09:00:12Z

Check out this post on the Family Crafts Forum made by a visitor named Dorothy:

"I saw an elf craft item several years ago that I really liked. It was a shelf/mantle elf... Legs and arms were red/white or green/white fabric, black muslin shoes, and the body was Xmas fabric. It opened behind the elf head so you could insert a bag of cookies/caramel corn/ etc for holiday giving..."

Can you help Dorothy out? I have never seen anything like what she is talking about, but I will do some searching. If you can help her out, please take a moment to read the entire post and post a reply.
RELATED:
- Post on the Family Crafts Forum
- 100 Home-Made Gift Ideas
- Easy Sewing Projects

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Christmas Elf originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 09:00:12.

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Make-It-Over Monday

2009-11-02T09:00:23Z

Do these Make-It-Over Monday craft challenges give you a little something to look forward to on Monday morning? I hope so! Last week's Make-it-Over craft challenge item was a toilet paper or paper towel roll. Besides getting many wonderful submissions, I got a note from a concerned reader who wanted to let everyone know that she had heard it from a reliable source that toilet paper rolls can contain some harmful bacteria. Just something I thought some of you might be interested in knowing!

Here are a few toilet paper roll and paper towel roll craft projects shared this week:

Toilet Paper Roll Snowflake Craft submitted by Tiffany Davis
Mummy Treat Roll Craft submitted by Pamw65
Paper Towel Roll Noah's Ark submitted by Kim Fanning
Paper Towel Roll Snowman submitted by Anneliese Lawerentz
Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder Craft submitted by Anniem
More Toilet Paper Roll and Paper Towel Roll Crafts

A big thanks to everyone who participated in this week's Make-It-Over craft challenge and in all past challenges.

Are you all ready for this week's Make-It-Over Monday craft challenge? This week's challenge item is a sock:

I thought this challenge might be a good way to do something creative with the orphaned socks many of us end up with over time. Your project can use socks of any size, shape or color. It can also use more than one sock... So, what are you waiting for? Let's get crafting!

You can share your simple ideas and tips using the comments feature on this blog post, but to get your project possibly featured in next week's Make-It-Over Monday blog post, please submit it, along with a photo, using this simple form. If you have a blog or Web site and participate, I will happily include a link to your site on the project page.

Some of the submitted ideas will be shared in next week's Make-It-Over Monday blog post. You can look through projects submitted for past challenges if you want some inspiration. You can also still submit craft projects made using past Make-It-Over craft challenge items.

If you have questions or comments about this craft challenge, use the comment feature below. Suggestions regarding this feature? Again, use the comments feature to post your suggestions; and, thanks for playing along. If you want a reminder when Make-It-Over challenges are posted, sign up for the Family Crafts newsletter.
RELATED:
- How to Submit a Sock Craft
- Past Make-It-Over Craft Challenges
- Get Craft Challenge Email Reminders

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Make-It-Over Monday originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 09:00:23.

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Crafty Blogs to Explore - 68th Edition

2009-11-01T09:00:53Z

Which craftty links inspires you the most this week?

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love - Vickie shows how to customize photo mats to go with your favorite photos!
The Artful Crafter - Make some romantic mood light candles with decorative tissue paper and decoupage medium.
The Impatient Crafter - This is a story of a refugee who found her strength in creativity. Though she recently died, her story lives on. Please read and share the story of Haiffaa Ali.
Crafty Princess Diaries - Tammy found out crocheting chemo hats is trickier than she thought, but she found success.
Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world - On the Craftside of things there is a free Japanese bunnies and moon piece of clip art, a cool video full of tips on altering a pattern, a how-to on folding paper ricrac, a cool source for vintage style findings and using research magazine pictures as ATC canvases in an altered book.
Mixed Media Artist - Cyndi has started another small quilt, this time featuring pears!
Aileen's Musings - Aileen offers, just barely in time for Day of the Dead or Halloween, an easy peasy earring's tutorial!
Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery - Halloween Decoration using my craft supply stash to make Jack O' Lanterns.

(Graphic is courtesy of morgue.com)

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Crafty Blogs to Explore - 68th Edition originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 09:00:53.

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This Week's Spotlight Crafts (October 24 - 30)

2009-10-31T09:00:04Z

Such a busy week and I am sure a busy weekend for most. Hope you can take a few moments to enjoy these projects.

Paper Bag Treat Bag Craft - Elizabeth Gray from Stampin' Up shared these directions for make a Halloween treat bag.
Balloon Spider Decoration - Denise Wells explains how you can create an easy spider decoration for your next Halloween party or any other event.
Jewelry or Dresser Box Craft - Everyone will have fun creating boxes to hold their jewelry and other treasures. They can experiment making a variety of sizes.
Pumpkin Necklace Craft - Follow these directions for making a cute, pumpkin-shaped necklace.
Leaf Print T-Shirt - Amy Brandon from Wisconsin explains how you can paint a shirt, and other items, using leaves.
Pumpkin Sun Catcher - Find out how to make a simple suncatcher that looks like a pumpkin. This is a great craft for even the youngest child in the family.
Spin a Yarn Spider Web - This is a fun and easy family project. Everyone can site down together and create unique spider webs using black paper and yarn.

Enjoy, and remember, if you complete any of these crafts, take a few moments to send me a picture and it can be featured here too!

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This Week's Spotlight Crafts (October 24 - 30) originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 09:00:04.

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November 2009 Special Days

2009-10-30T09:00:35Z

Find out what holidays and birthdays are celebrated in the month of November; plus, find ideas for crafts, games, and other activities to help you celebrate creatively. This special days calendar includes ideas for International Drum Month, Peanut Butter Lover's Month, Sandwich Day, Hug-a-Bear Day, Thanksgiving Day, and many more... Make sure you also take a minute to print out your November 2009 calendar pages.
RELATED:
- More Special Days
- More Free Calendar Pages

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November 2009 Special Days originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 09:00:35.

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Fast and Simple Last-Minute Costumes

2009-10-28T09:00:57Z

So... You procrastinated a little bit and still have not figure out what costume you or your family members will wear come Halloween night... Don't worry! I have this collection of several last-minute costume ideas you can make with items you may have laying around your house. I have included a variety of costume ideas, check them out!
RELATED:
- Make Your Own Trick-or-Treat Bag
- Photos of Costumes
- How to Win Halloween Costume Contests

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Fast and Simple Last-Minute Costumes originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 09:00:57.

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