Posted in Acorns, Arts and Crafts, Colonial crafts, Floral Crafts, Wreaths
An acorn wreath is a traditional Autumn/Fall craft project that will keep a child or adult occupied and make a gift or decoration for the home.
It will require some supervision, depending on the child’s age. You’ll need :
Acorns, a wicker wreath frame, a hot glue gun, glue sticks, a newspaper, flowers or other decorations.
To make the wreath, spread the newspaper on a flat surface and lay the wreath frame on it.
Heat your glue gun and, starting in the middle of the wreath, begin gluing the bottom of an acorn. Place the glued part of the acorn in the middle of the wreath and stand the acorn upright.
Make one row in a straight line going all the way around the wreath. Repeat the process from top to bottom with the wreath still lying flat.
Decorate with flowers, bows, or other ornaments. Be sure not to leave any open spaces except at the back. The back of the wreath should be clear of acorns so it lies flat.
A wreath hanger is recommended as it is quite heavy.
Posted in Candlemaking, Colonial crafts, Crafts, Easy Crafts, Recycled Crafts, Seasons, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving crafts
As Thanksgiving approaches children are taught in school about the first settlers and the first Thanksgiving. Give them an insight into the colonial period by making simple dip candles.
You will need:
* Wax or other old candles to melt down
* Wick
* steel washers
* double boiler or a coffee can and a cooking pan
* coffee can full of cold water
* candy thermometer
* sticks
Melt the wax in your double boiler or place it in a coffee can in a pan filled with about three inches of water. Use a wire rack under the coffee can to avoid it being too close to the heat source. Heat the water in the pot on the stove. Be careful not to use a high heat. Use your candy thermometer to measure the temperature of the wax. 180 degrees is optimal. Do not let the wax reach temperatures over 220 degrees or it could burst into flame.
Cut your wick a few inches longer than you want your candle to be. You can use a steel washer tied at one end for weight or use a steel nut. Tie the other end of the wick to a stick so that your hands can’t accidentally come into contact with the hot wax.
When your wax is hot enough, dip the wick into the wax and pull it straight out again. Let the wax cool and harden on the wick. Dip the wick again and pull it straight out. This way you will be adding the wax in layers. As the layers get thicker with subsequent dippings, you can dip the candle in the pan of cold water to harden it faster. Continue to dip the candle until it is the desired thickness. Candles are then hung up to harden completely.
When your candle is done, you can use a sharp knife to trim the bottom end to make it even and flat. Trim the wick to about 1/4 inch.
You have made your own dipped candles, just like the pioneers of yesteryear!
Posted in Colonial crafts, Corn husk dolls, Crafts, Easy Crafts, Family Crafts, Holidays, Kid's Crafts, Native American crafts, Seasons, Thanksgiving crafts
A corn husk doll is a traditional doll made by Native American children and also children of Colonial families in early America. No facial features are painted on the doll, also called the “faceless” doll.
The Native American legend says that the Creator made the first corn husk doll to help watch children while the parents were busy gathering food and doing other adult activities. The doll had a beautiful face and the power to walk and talk. One day after a rain, the doll saw her reflection in the water. She was so beautiful that she spent all the day gazing at her reflection in that pool of water instead of caring for the children and the Creator punished her by taking away her face and her ability to walk and talk.
To make your corn husk doll you will need cleaned and dried cornhusks. You can save your own the next time you buy corn from the farmstand and dry them in the sun or you can purchase them at craft stores.
You will also need:
*Twine or string
*Scissors
*Pipe Cleaners (optional)
1. Soak the dried cornhusks in warm water until they are bendable and soft.
2. Take six husks and arrange them with all the tips at one end and all the large ends at the other. Tie a string around them a about an inch from the top of the large ends.
3. Trim the large ends with scissors to make them straight and even.
4. Holding the cornhusks by the knotted end, turn down the corn husks over the knot to form the head.
5. Tie another length of string at the “neck”.
6. For the arms, take a pipe cleaner and roll another of your husks around it to make the arms. Tie the ends with string at the “wrists”. This will make the arms poseable. An alternative method is to take three strips of husk and braid them to make the arms.
7. Slide the arms between the husks under the neck knot.
8. Tie another string below the arms for the waist.
9. Take two thinner husks and tie criss-crossed across the chest and back and tie at the waist to form shoulders.
10. If this is a boy doll, divide the husks hanging down from the waist into two and tie with small strips of husk at the ankles, knees and hips to form legs. You can use pipe cleaner here too, to make the legs poseable.
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If this is a girl doll, take some more husks and tie them at the waist to form a full skirt.
11. Tie small strips of husk around the neck and waist to cover the strings.
