How to Make Fall Crafts for Kids

Since the kids are now back in school, it's more important than ever to make an effort to spend time together. And what better way to do that than by crafting with each other on the weekends (after the homework is done, of course).

Fall craft projects for kids are a great way to nourish the bond you already have with your children, as well as help it grow. One of my favorite fall crafts for kids is this Brightly Striped Pot project.

Painting clay pots is a wonderful kid's project because it's easy and super fun. Even as an adult, I love painting unique designs onto pottery. There's something therapeutic about it. Aside from being fun, like most fall crafts for kids, it's extremely versatile. You can paint whatever you want and should encourage your kids to do so. Let your kids explore the depths of their imagination and express themselves through the painting.

Ready to get started? Here's how to put a fun fall twist on pot painting:

1. Go on a scavenger hunt. Before you start painting your pots, take your children outside to find some leaves. Collect as many leaves as you want - the more kinds the better. These will be used for decorating later on.

2. Clean the pot. Make sure you remove all of the dirt and any labels off of the flower pot before painting. Dry completely.

3. Select your colors. Let your kids pick out what colors they want to use for their pots. If you're going to display your finished creations outdoors, it's a good idea to use weather resistant Patio paint. Otherwise, whatever paint you want to use is up to you!

4. Trace your leaves. Take a pencil and trace some leaves onto the pot. Use large and small ones to make a unique design.

5. Paint away! Have fun with your paint! Fill in the leaf outlines with any color you want. I love to use red and gold. If you have some Mod Podge on hand, you can also decoupage the leaves onto the pot. This gets a little more messy, but it adds great texture.

6. Protect your masterpiece. Once you're done painting, spray a coat or two of acrylic sealant all of your pot(s) to seal in the colors. Enjoy!

What's your favorite project to make with kids? Do you have any great fall crafts for kids that we should know about? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Caitlin Kavanaugh is an Editor for http://www.FaveCrafts.com - a popular online resource for all things crafting, from crafting with kids and Christmas crafts to free crochet patterns and free knitting patterns.

Five DIY Crafts For Dried Flowers

It can be hard to throw away a vase full of cut flowers. I'm sure I'm not the only one who receives them so rarely that I can't stand to dispose of the special treat. I suppose that's why I hang them upside down to dry out in my garage. Of course, after awhile, it can start to look like a strange and morbid garden has grown on the ceiling. But there are plenty of crafty ways to use your dried flowers to compliment your house or pass the gift on to another deserving soul (although for some uses, you may want to press flowers rather than hanging them to dry).

1. Card stock. You've probably seen those insanely high-priced greeting cards made from handmade paper with leaves and flower petals meshed into it. While you might not want to go to the trouble of making your own paper (although, then again, you may), you can still make a unique look of your own. Simply distress some pre-made paper or card stock (rub it with coffee grounds, stain it with tea bags, and crumple it a bit) and then rub on a little tacky glue and carefully press the petals on. You can even sew around the edges with some gold thread for an expensive look at little cost.

2. Sachets. Instead of buying these handy little baggies to keep your lingerie drawer sweetly scented, get a breathable bag (or make one from linen, lace, or a tight mesh, like pantyhose), fill it with petals, and tie it with a pretty ribbon. Voila! Instant potpourri. And you can always make a fancier version for gifts.

3. Decoupage. If you just can't figure out what to do with that old coffee table that's been in your house forever (you know, the one with the stained top), then consider giving it a floral makeover. Go to your local craft store and pick up some decoupage glue, a brayer (this is a smoothing tool that's sort of like a rolling pin, but if you don't want to buy one, opt for Popsicle sticks instead) and a sponge or paintbrush. From there, all you have to do is paint a layer of glue on the surface, place the petals in any pattern or arrangement you choose, and seal it with one or more layers of glue that you can smooth and flatten with the brayer (the end result should be fairly smooth, although you may need to sand it lightly).

4. Wall art. Old-timey hand-drawn flowers torn from the pages of flora and fauna guidebooks have recently made their way into home stores everywhere in the guise of chic, framed art for your powder room. So make your own by pressing small wildflowers, pasting them to yellowed card stock, and writing their Latin name in script. Then throw them in an old frame you found at a garage sale to give them that antique-y look you love (for less).

5. Hats. If you're one of the many women who appreciate a good chapeau, then pretty up your brim with some dried blooms. Probably the best method for drying them is to use glycerin (which leaves the flowers slightly malleable and lasts longer than other methods). Simply submerge them in a solution of two parts warm water to one part antifreeze (or other glycerin) for two to three weeks before you hang them to dry. Once they are completely dry, simply affix them to your hat with pins or ribbons. They won't last forever, and you'll want to avoid getting them wet, but they can make a nice seasonal addition to your favorite summer hat.

Do you love arts and crafts? The Art of Crafts blog brings you design ideas, how-to articles, fascinating interviews and previews of fellow crafters' creations. Take a look today ==> http://art-of-crafts.net/

Decopatch Ideas: Intriguing Crafts For All Occasions

Creating eye-catching crafts is something anyone can do, given the proper technique and supplies. This is also true with Decopatch. Just about any material can be covered in Decopatch, making it a very versatile crafting technique. The following Decopatch ideas can be used for a variety of holidays and occasions.

Picture Frames

A Decopatch frame can be used for a beloved family portrait and given as a gift any time of the year. These are also fun to help a child make for framing their favourite piece of artwork from school. Picture frames can be vibrant colors for accenting what it surrounds or made with muted colors so as to not detract from it. Either way, the pieces of paper can be added right onto any type of frame; wooden, metal, or even plastic.

Greeting Cards

It's always fun to create greeting cards that are more personal than the ones sold in stores. The store-bought cards that are hand crafted can be quite expensive. Homemade greeting cards can add a nice touch to the holiday salutations enclosed within them and help the card creator save a bit of money as well.

Easter Eggs

A basket filled with Decopatch Easter eggs catches a lot of attention. It's better if these eggs are emptied out first, by poking a hole in the top and bottom of the egg. After this is achieved, the contents can then be blown out. When the egg has been emptied and allowed to dry for a short while, the Decopatch can begin. This will make the eggs very sturdy and able to withstand lots of handling without becoming damaged.

Furniture

This is a great project for a child's room, sewing room, or anywhere there's a need for some flair. Tables and chairs are the most common forms of furniture that are covered in Decopatch, but any type of furnishing can be covered.

The process is fairly simple:

Step 1 - Tear paper into small pieces

Step 2 - Apply glue where the paper is going to be positioned.

Step 3 - Place paper onto the glued surface, one piece at a time.

Step 4 - Apply a coat of glue over the piece of paper that was just placed on the item.

Step 5 - Once all the paper is in place, make sure all pieces are coated with the clear glue.

Step 6 - Two or three coats of varnish can be added over the entire project for additional protection. Be sure to wait an hour between each application.

Do you like the ideas that are mentioned above? It's best to use clear glue that is designed specifically for Decopatch. We know that you are going to have a lot of fun doing this.

Katia is the author of a 10-page guide, "30 FAQ's to Help You Master the Art of Decopatch". For your complimentary copy, visit http://www.paper2play.com - a website that specializes in provided craft related tips, advices and resources to unlock your creativity with paper craft ideas!

Review Free Decoupage Crafts on the Internet

If you are a person who likes to do a lot of crafts, then doing decoupage crafts is your thing. Decoupage is a kind of craft where you can make something old into something new again. Where you can make something that is really ugly into something that is personal and beautiful. There are so many different types of projects that you can do with decoupage because there are so many items that you can do it with. This is the type of craft that is not only easy but very cheap as well. You probably already have all the supplies that you need right in your own home.

You can visit the Internet where you will find hundreds of websites that are created from people who have done many different types of decoupage crafts and like to show off their work. They will also give you instruction on how they created the projects along with what supplies they used. You can probably find hundreds of different projects that you never even thought about doing or thought that you could even do.

You will find decoupage crafts that are used for sneakers, vases, furniture, magnets, piggy banks, paper weights, decorated soap, mirrors, jars, blocks, eggs, picture frames, trash cans, candles, pumpkins, and many other items that you can use for your project. The possibilities are endless. Many people may come to a stump in their creativity and then reach a point where they feel they have done everything but browsing through these websites on the Internet can give you many more ideas. You're not only getting ideas on what types of items that you can decoupage on but you also get many ideas on what you can decoupage with.

You can make many decoupage crafts with pictures from magazines, photographs that you have stuck in a box. fabric, feathers, cards, and many more different items. Once you browse through the websites to get new ideas, you will be back into action, gathering your supplies and starting many more projects that will bring you and your family joy for many years. You can also find several different decoupage fan clubs that you can join and share your project ideas with others who may have gotten into their own slump.

Karen

Decoupage Your Life

For more information on Amazing Decoupage projects visit Decoupage Your Life. For Hints, Tricks and Tips on the amazing world of decoupage, Decoupage Your Life is The place.

Decoupage Crafts - Card Craft Basics

Decoupage crafts have enjoyed huge popularity these last few years and little wonder. Decoupage can be subtle or dramatic depending on your choice of papers. One of the attractions is the cost. Anyone can start with the basics of paper and scissors. But be warned; it is addictive!

I first came across Decoupage many years ago at a weekend Day School. Sadly the class was not well prepared or presented, which did little to inspire me. The lady may have been an enthusiast but she was no craft teacher.

I came away convinced the subject was dull and uninspiring. For may years I left it alone. What a shame, because I missed out of learning a new craft skill.

As you probably know, there is Flat Decoupage and 3D Decoupage.

Flat Decoupage is used on frames, trays, boxes etc. In fact you can use Flat Decoupage on any reasonably flat surface as you mould the cut motifs to your base shape.

You can use both gift-wrap or decorated napkins. Once the base has been prepared, your cut designs are then fixed on with a dilute glue and sealed with a varnish. There are various more expensive alternatives to this simple methods, but in essence, the ideas is the same.

- Choose and prepare your base

- - Cut your motifs

- - Paste on with glue

- - Varnish

The results can be dramatic. You can transform any humble tin or plate with appealing cut motifs. As long as you can carefully wield a pair of small pointed scissors - and fix it without tearing or damaging the delicate fibers, then you are in business!

There are 3 main skills to that you need to get your head - and your fingers around.

1. Choosing your designs

2. Cutting them out

3. Assembling them

3D Decoupage is favored by Craftsmen too. The idea is simple enough. It is the execution that demonstrates the skills.

Using the same design, various layers are built up on a base, separated by either Silicone Glue or Sticky Fixers. Skillfully applied, and with motifs cut to show spilling and feathering, it is possible to create tremendous works of art.

Both 3D or 2D Decoupage offer challenges. But with a little patience both product great results. The choice is up to you - flat or 3D. Decoupage crafts could be your next 'must do'.

I am judging a County Craft Exhibition in a few days time and I expect to see some great examples of workmanship. I will be looking for all the basics plus some added flair. They know the Standards they are aiming for and I suspect there will be a number of Decoupage Crafts waiting for my expert eye.

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