I’m on vacation this week, but don’t worry, I’m swatting up on great crafts to bring you on my return in a few days.

Stay tuned for some terrific ideas for the fall/autumn season and the runup to Christmas and all the festive holidays.

Duncan Cairncross

Summer is a fun time to do crafts as a family.  It is also a good time to think about crafts for decorating in the fall and as gifts for the holidays.  Many crafts can be put together by the materials we gather from evening walks; summer brings us a large and very available craft shop - the great outdoors provides us with a lot of materials at no cost at all (but don’t pick your neighbor’s flowers!)

This romantic and cheery wreath will fit into many decors.  It isn’t difficult to make and just requires a few supplies, some imagination, and a little bit of time.  It can be used outdoors or inside.  Have fun and try some different ideas for totally different looks.  I know you will be happy with the results.

Spanish Moss Wreath

Nothing to do this weekend?  It is still hot; I think it is hot everywhere now and staying inside in the air conditioning and doing some family crafts seems right up my alley.  Brave the heat long enough to go up to the hardware store and pick out some pretty tiles.  Get large enough ones to work on the surface, say a foot square or so, and then head to the craft store and pick up some decoupage and a clear sealant.  The rest is going to come from things in your own home and your imagination.

Old photographs are a nice touch on these tiles.  Glue the photograph down and run your hand or something over it to remove any bubbles.  Many decoupages are meant to use as the glue and will bubble less; I prefer those.  Just be sure to remove the air bubbles from under the picture.  You can use magazine photos, antique photographs, seed packets (just the front layer)… anything you like. 

Once it is sealed on, follow the instructions on the decoupage bottle and then on the sealant container.  Be sure you are in a well ventilated room.  Then you can attach hangers and display your work or you can use them as trivets for hot plates (don’t put anything too hot on it to protect the photograph if it means a great deal to you).  I would recommend if the photograph is one of a kind and cannot be replaced, that you spend a few dollars and have it photostated by a professional photocopying service and save the original in a safe place.

These tiles will make great gifts and a great memory of a fun day.  These crafts are easy, inexpensive and totally individual to each crafter. 

I have never been much for getting into the crafts that are all mucky and dirty.  I guess I am truly one of those “indoor” girls.  Every now and again I’ll get a burr in my bonnet and do something with houseplants and maybe transplant an outdoor set of flowers, but basically I lean to the fiber crafts and other “soft” crafts.  Ones that require clean hands!  This is neat craft for people like me because you do get to muck around a bit but it is in clean material that won’t make you feel like you need a complete manicure later that night.  I tried this craft about a billion years ago (okay, more like 15) and I loved it.  Papermaking is a great craft, its inexpensive, and the results are absolutely fabulous.  It is a unique craft that will express your artistic and creative side.

The materials are easy:

• Different sources of paper (different textures, colors, and weights are fun to combine)
• A blender (use one you don’t plan to use for food again)
• A window screen stretched tightly on a frame
• Plastic tub (at least as big as the screen frame)
• Liquid starch
• White flannel or felt
• Tacks or staple gun

This particular set of instructions will tell you how to make flat “sheets” of paper.  Decorate them as you like to make stationery, greeting cards, artwork to frame, or any other use you come up with.  Be generous with leaves, silk ribbons, flowers, glitter… whatever you like.  Your imagination is the only limit. 

Tomorrow I’ll present another idea for paper making that is truly unique.  This is a process that takes a little longer but is my favorite thing to do with papermaking crafts.  You may get hooked too!

Paper Making

Papermaking

Making Paper From The Garden

Papermaking Recipes