DIY Recycled Crafts

Resourcefulness is a must have trait for any person. It is the need of the hour that we teach our kids how products are made, the materials used and how this process impacts the planet . I always encourage Kid K to use the scraps of paper we have . We start searching in that bin whenever we decide to do any craft. Many a times the bin inspires and shapes our project in the process . The outcome is even better than what we had envisioned most of the times. Using recyclables in creative projects not only saves materials but boosts creativity .

Kid K had a project assigned in school. The project was in line with the theme "Reduce, reuse and recycle ". Kids were assigned to make a useful item from something at home that can be recycled instead of throwing away. After brainstorming multiple ideas this is what we came up with. We made a piggy bank from an empty salt container. All I helped was to cut the top part for the coin slit . She drew and cut the ears and nose. After wrapping the container with pink construction paper she glued the nose and ears . Finally she added the googly eyes and a pipe cleaner as a cute curly tail . Our mini heart punch came in handy for the emebellished ears . All I had to do was make little suggestions here and there but mainly encourage her . It took us less than 30 minutes from start to end. Kid K is so excited to talk about her piggy bank in "show and tell" at school this week .What do you think about this money saver piggy bank ?

Pinterest Projects - DIY Valentine Love Bugs

 Love is in the air and in my craft room as well. With my Kid K bugging me for a valentine craft project all I could think of was love bugs . So we both decided to start with making some hearts . We put them all together to create different love bugs. Of course first one was the butterfly . We only used scraps of cardstock paper we already had from previous projects . Reuse, reduce and recycle . Aptly what Kid K is learning in class currently. The size of our paper love bugs was pretty much defined by the size of scrap paper we had at hand . After a fun and love filled crafting session here is what we both came up with . Also Kid K learned a new skill .She can now easily use the mini heart punch  . It is her favorite crafting tool now . Can you tell ?

We used these bugs on every door in the house. Now our favorite room in the house is the "Monkey bedroom" and we clean up the "Ladybug room" aka toy room every day. Hope you all had a good valentine's day this year . 

Pinterest Projects - DIY Wood Mason Jar Sign

Who doesn't love Buffalo plaid ? It is one of the oldest patterns around but still so current . It is widely used each year to decorate for christmas . The perfect graphic pattern with red, black and white colors . Yet has the traditional holiday colors and looks super festive . You can literally decorate every inch of the house with buffalo plaid for christmas and never get bored . Phew! You can never have enough of plaid decor in the house. Even little additions with this print can instantly transform the house making it look so apt for the holidays . Adding pillows in buffalo plaid to the couch or even porch swing is a great start . Swap table mats, add napkins or even charger plates or dinner plates in this print for the holiday dinner table set up . If you want to keep it simple just use some plaid wrapping paper for your presents . Save the scraps to reuse on gift tags , or mod podge ornaments with them for a rustic decor . Go Green . I mean Go Plaid .  

I was already feeling the buffalo plaid christmas vibe. And of course my craft room had this print in stock . I had vinyl sheets from Siser in buffalo plaid.  So I decided to try some project that I had not done before . I decided to add the vinyl to a laser-cut wood mason jar shape . You can easily find these cutouts at craft stores , Target and Amazon . Next I added some lettering in white vinyl . My Cricut Explore Air 2 came in handy again . Lastly added some jute twine and a tiny foam christmas tree sticker for a little pop of color . I just love the way it looks . A perfect door decor to hang . May be even a little DIY present to my like minded craft lover friend . What do you all think ?

Materials -

1. Mason jar shaped wood cutout

2. Vinyl - in buffalo plaid, black and white 

3. Scissors and a cutting machine ( I used Cricut Explore Air 2 )

4. Twine and embellishments (optional )

Step by step instructions -

 1. Measure the wood cutout  and accordingly cut the plaid vinyl . Stick it to the wood cutout. I added an image on Cricut design space to cut the buffalo plaid vinyl . Instead you can hand trace it on the plaid vinyl and cut it with scissors . 

2. Add lettering to the wood sign already covered in plaid . I used my cutting machine for white vinyl lettering . After weeding carefully I used transfer tape to transfer the lettering onto the wood sign . 

3.  Add a jute twine around the narrowest area of the wood sign . I wrapped it around 3 - 4 times and tied a knot in the end to look like a bow .

4. Add embellishments if you wish. Tiny foam christmas tree sticker came in handy. Love the pop of color in green . The little hint of sparkle is just perfect for the holidays . 

Tips -

1. You can use paint instead of the vinyl. Use a sealer afterwards if you paint .

2. You can also drill holes to add a wire or twine as a hanger .

3. Embellishments can be anything and everything . Foam stickers, felt stickers, tiny wood or real ornaments, pompoms etc. 

 

Thanksgiving 2020

 Thanksgiving is a time for family. It is all about togetherness, sharing a meal with your loved ones ,being thankful and grateful . Given the pandemic it will be a very different kind of celebration this year. Some families may even be doing a virtual thanksgiving celebration this year. It can still be a beautiful celebration if we all act responsibly and do our part to limit the spread of disease. 

I am so blessed and thankful this year that my parents are here with me on this special day. So I cooked a very simple menu ahead of thanksgiving day yesterday . It turned out to be simple but delicious . No traditions, no staples but a simple healthy heartful meal with my loved ones. What else can I ask for? Just feel blessed. My heart is full of gratitude . Sharing my plate with you . 

How do you plan to celebrate this day ?

DIY - Diwali Akashdiwa

 Diwali is next week. I am so excited to decorate the house for this big upcoming festival. Diwali is celebration of lights. Back home I used to make a "kandeel" or "akash diwa " every year to hang in our balcony (or patio ). Every year it was a big ordeal to go shopping for craft supplies along with my mom while she picked out groceries to make "faral " or sweets. So like my childhood days or actually a childhood tradition  I still make akashdiwa every year. Now my kids join in too. Fun crafting time with mommy. So here is our 2020 version of "akashdiwa" or "wind sock" as my kindergartener says .

Supplies -

Paper - Any kind that is thin and easy to  fold- crepe /glitter/cardstock/construction 

Scissors

Glue

Embellishments (optional )

Step by step instructions -

1. Fold the A4 size construction paper in half lengthwise .

2. Leaving a margin of about 1.5cm on either side start making linear cuts lengthwise starting from the folded edge(edge that is still together/bound from the fold ). Do not cut all the way to the open edges. leave about 2 cm from the top.

3. Open the sheet and add crepe ribbons to one of the sides (one that is longer in length )

4. Fold around and glue the sides together (at the shorter length) . 

5. Add embellishments as you wish. I used scraps of blue paper and cut out stars and hearts using a mini punch. Recycle and reuse . 

6. Punch holes and add a string/ribbon/yarn to hang it .

So which color is your handmade akashdiwa ?

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

 

Ahoy, maties ! Happy International Talk Like a Pirate day . You think I am making it up. Aye! Don't you ?  But I am not. Check Wikipedia or do some google search yourself . Here are some fun facts I found online. The idea for this day was born in 1995 in Albany, Oregon. Two friends named John "Ol' CHumbucket " Baur and Mark "Cap'n Slappy "Summers came up with this idea .This movement or made up holiday or whatever you want to say it is has grown over the years. So I thought today will be just the perfect day to share some cool pirate related craft activities. Easy DIY things to dress up as a pirate. Before our rickety ship sails let's get ye educated . Avast ye ! As I work on my pirate literacy why don't you try these crafts ? Yo ho ho !

Materials -

1. Black cardstock

2. White cardstock  (optional)

3. White paint

4. Black thread 

5. Jute twine 

6. Kitchen towel paper tube 

7. Scissors, glue, tape 

Pirate Eye Patch -

1. Cut a circle from black cardstock . Size it such that it will cover your eye. Chop off less than 1/4th part of the circle across. Draw a skull picture with white paint . Add black thread to the back of your eye patch . Tie it on matey !

Pirate Hat -

1. Cut a 2'' wide and very long strip out of black cardstock. The strip should be long enough to cover the entire circumference of your head . Glue the ends together to make a crown/ring to fit around your head .

2. Make 2 cut outs from the black cardstock . The cut outs should look like this picture .

3. Using white paint draw a skull on one cut out and crossbones on the other. Add cutouts to the long strip such that one is in the front (sitting above the forehead ) and one in the back of your head sitting below the crown of your head .Your pirate hat is ready.

Hair Extension -

1.Cut jute twine in 3 pieces depending on how long your hair is. Match it to the same length or just a bit shorter . 

2. Braid the 3 pieces together. Use a hairclip to secure and wear the braid. Your hair extension is ready .

Lastly the kitchen paper towel tube can be used as a telescope. All Hand Hoay !

DIY Cake Bunting

I just love decorating for all occasions . You just name it- festivals, birthdays, parties, baby showers . And  I love DIY decorations more than store brought ones. I know my kids could care less if their mom made decorations or brought them from store for their birthday . But I enjoy every bit of the process of making decorations. During the Pandemic was my birthday. We were in the initial phase when there was a lockdown. All the quarantine talk, social distancing measures  and scary news everyday felt so depressing.  I wanted to do something to cheer me up . So I decided to make a cute little cake bunting. Arts and crafts activities are my stress busters. With the materials on hand I started working on this project. In less than 30mins I finished it too. A cute little bunting was a perfect addition to my home baked eggless date cake. I love the contrast of mint twine against the pink colored triangles. The 3D green flowers were a perfect addition . The green color was so fresh that it brought a smile on my face and heightened the much needed positivity. After all adorable and handmade is what I love and it makes me happy . Did you like my bunting ?

Materials-

1. Cardstock paper 

2. Twine

3. Popsicle sticks

4. Scissors , glue and tape

5. Embellishments (optional )

Step by step instructions -

1. Cut little triangles(or any other shape you like ) from pink cardstock. 

2. Cut the alphabets in white cardstock . I used my Cricut machine to cut the alphabets .

3.  Glue the letters onto the traingles .

4. Using a tape add the triangles onto a baker's twine.

5.Wrap the twine over the popsicle sticks at the edge tying a knot to secure the bunting .

6. Add embellishments to cover the knot which secured the twine to the popsicle sticks. I used the 3D flower stickers .

Tips -

1. Wooden skewers or drinking straws work well to make a bunting . I used popsicle sticks since I did not have anything else at hand . 

2. Spacing is the key to fit the bunting on the cake .

3.You can punch holes and thread the twine instead of using tape. 

4. Replace pre made embellishments with shapes cut from cardstock. Stars, balloons, hearts to name a few . Get creative. 

5.Instead of cutting alphabets from cardstock you can hand write or stencil the letters.