For those of you who do things last minute for the holidays or just plain forget than you are in luck with a couple ideas I have for your Thanksgiving table this year. I just whipped these up with a little help from Better Homes and Garden magazine from October.
This one I did myself with no help, hopefully it is not that obvious..LOL. We went to a pumpkin patch last month and gathered up all kinds of pumpkins some of which we used for pumpkin carving for Halloween and the rest we strategically placed throughout the house.
So, what I did was
1. Grabbed one of the pumpkins that I already had
2. Put it on a decorative plate that is displayed in our house throughout the year
3. Used a vase that I already had and went outside in my very sparse backyard (we live in Colorado), grabbed some mulch and rocks, added a pinecone and nut mixture that I use for my Christmas decorations
4. A very large candle that I purchased at Walmart for $1.99 last month.
5. As the final touch I used some fake leaves that I purchased also at Walmart for $3.99.
I am kind of proud of myself for this because it cost me less than $7.00!
It's not the most fancy centerpiece I have ever seen, but it works!
Thanksgiving Craft Idea For Your Thanksgiving Table
Filed under Holiday Crafts, Thanksgiving Crafts by 
Halloween Craft Ideas
Imagine you had no concrete plans for your children this Halloween, but they are invited to a party at the last minute and don't have a costume planned. If this happens to you, don't panic! There are some things you can do fairly quickly to create a cool costume without spending too much time or money. First, remember that the mask makes the costume. You can print out masks online and color them in, then cut them out and attach them with string or a rubber band. Don't forget to cut out the eye and nose holes! Or, you can opt to make a mask out of a paper bag. The process is easy, and once the mask is decorated it can look really creative. Be sure you have a snug fit that won't fall off and it allows for plenty of room for vision and breathing. More on Quick Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas
Filed under Crafts, Halloween Crafts, Holiday Crafts by
There are a whole lot of "The Latest Craze" ideas out right now, but, from what I see, everything is being embellished. A good amount of the "new" craft ideas that are coming out, are basically a new or reworked idea on an old idea. Some of the latest things I have seen are: altered wall clocks, home albums, tole painting, wood crafts, decoupage projects, doodling, sewing, felt crafts, bandaid tins, shadow boxes, picture frames, stamping, handmade cards, handmade gift wrap, needlework projects, scrapbooking, etc. These "new" crafts are, in my opinion, a step up from the ones that were "cool or rad" in the past 15-30 years. One really great things about these crafts and hobbies is that if you have projects or have inherited some older items or project pieces from the past, you can alter them or if it is an unfinished piece, you get the best of both worlds! There are a whole lot of thrift and antique stores that carry these projects. I have an untold number of unfinished or never began projects that if I had enough time, I could really whip up some great crafts! There are a lot of crafts from the 1980's that I don't care to ever see, but, there are a few that have come back that I really like!
Adorn It! has some really fantastic wood projects that remind me of the 80's. I loved their Halloween Candy Shakers, Treat Bags, Wood Letters, and all of their Spring and Easter Papers! Oh, I should also mention, that they always have great wood kits and their wonderful papers to go along with them. I also love their craft ideas, scrapbooking ideas, and I loved their neighbor gift ideas from their Winter Idea Book. Some of the most common ways of altering any item today, is by painting, decoupage, ribbon, flower petals, paper clips, buttons, chip baord pieces, paper, eyelets, brads, sewing, staples, jewels, clothing tags, movie tickets, ribbon tags, clips, metal rim tags, book plates, fibers, fabric, rub-ons, decorative tape, glitter, plastic letters, and the list goes on…I have been trying to think of something you couldn't alter, and quite honestly, I haven't come up with much! There are definitely things that I personally wouldn't alter, or use in a craft, but, that's just me.
[tag-self]Scrapbooking[/tag-self] [tag-self]Crafts[/tag-self] [tag-self]Home Decorating[/tag-self] [tag-self]Altered Arts[/tag-self] [tag-tec]Scrapbooking[/tag-tec] [tag-tec]Crafts[/tag-tec] [tag-tec]Home Decorating[/tag-tec] [tag-tec]Altered Arts[/tag-tec] [tag-icelScrapbooking[/tag-ice] [tag-ice]Crafts[/tag-ice] [tag-ice]Home Decorating[/tag-ice] [tag-ice]Altered Arts[/tag-ice]
Filed under Arts and Crafts, Craft-Cycling, Crafts, Scrapbooking by
We have searched high and low, and have found that it is very difficult to find good resources on the Internet about Popsicle and craft stick crafts. Most search results that come back are useless or are only links to buy the sticks. Below you will find links to actual sites or pages where you can see the actual finished project and tutorials. These crafts are great for preschoolers and up! Most all these crafts can be adjusted for the younger or older children and can be simple or very embellished arts of work.
Filed under Arts and Crafts, Family Crafts, Kid Crafts, Michael's Crafts by
Halloween Costume Safety
by Alan and Shonna Hammond
In the weeks leading up to Halloween, when it comes to choosing a Halloween costume, safety is not a consideration for children. When it comes to their trick-or-treat costume, children are transformed into discerning fashion critics. When they normally could care less about clothing, suddenly their costume must be perfect and make a bold statement about who they are. It must say, "I am five now and I am the true princess (or pirate, or Brett Favre, or fireman, you get the picture)." Thus, it can become difficult to ensure that a proper and safe costume is worn. You may have to get creative in your reasoning, but you must win in all of your costume requirements. Here are some things to look for when choosing a costume, along with some suggestions for accessories as well.
First, if a mask simply must be worn, ensure that it does not limit the child's field of view. There are lots of other kids running around and cars are not forced to remain parked during trick-or-treat hours, so good vision is important. Children often love face painting, so they may be convinced to paint their face like a pirate instead of wearing the eye patch.
Loose or flowing costumes may look pretty and seem harmless, but they are perfect for tripping or for catching fire over one of those pretty jack-o-lanterns. Steer your children away from such costumes or, at the very least, secure the loose ends so that they are not a hindrance or a fire hazard. Nowadays, many costumes are made of flame resistant material. Make sure the costumes you purchase have a label indicating they are flame resistant.
Halloween costumes need to contain reflective material. Glow-in-the-dark striping or tape, if not sewn into the costume, should be purchased and securely added. The clothing, trick-or-treat bag and shoes should all display some form of reflective material. If you can't find reflective tape, have each child carry a flashlight, with new batteries, that is to remain turned on at all times.
Depending upon where you live, Halloween weather can be unpredictable. If so, choosing a versatile costume that can be comfortable in all types of weather may be important. If the temperature or conditions on Halloween Night do not suit your child's costume, make certain that satisfactory alterations or additions are made before going out.
In the event that the costume has an accessory such as a magic wand, light saber, or a sword, try to ascertain whether the child is mature enough to properly handle it. Have them tell you how it should be carried while trick-or-treating. Watch them with the accessory prior to going out. If they don't pass either test, someone will be injured before the night ends, so consider taking it from them or don't let them out with it until they have passed a remedial course in "light saber safety."
Halloween can be a fun time for all of us, or it can be a time of great sorrow when tragedies occur. Fortunately, responsible parents can prevent a large portion of the injuries and unfortunate incidents with some careful planning and participation in their children's activities. Remember to not only look out for the well-being of your own children, but for that of other children as well. If most parent's take that advice, a lot more children will have a happy Halloween.
About the authors: Alan Hammond is a law enforcement official, freelance writer and former educator. Shonna Hammond is a master teacher, writer and consultant. The Hammonds reside in Lexington, Kentucky and they can be reached at ashwriting@insightbb.com.
Copyright 2006 More4kids™ Inc. – a Parenting and Personalized Gifts Company.
Tags: halloween safety, halloween crafts, arts and crafts, crafts, family crafts
Filed under Arts and Crafts by
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