All about buttons

What could we do with a jar full of buttons?

We can tie them together and create amazing necklaces and bracelets. 

Greeting Cards

It is always fun to send and receive greeting cards.

However, buying cards can be very expensive. We solve the problem by creating our own cards. 

Here are few samples of our cards

 During the Christmas time we saved old greeting card envelopes. We even went to the Dollar Store to buy cheap but ugly cards. We tossed away the cards but saved the envelopes to be later used for our own cards.

Crepe paper flowers

This year we celebrated Mother's Day with beautiful crepe paper flowers.

Don't these look like real flowers?

Fabric dyeing

An easy way to dye natural materials is to use plain old Kool Aid. Forget drinking it. Just mix a small cup of strong drink. Dip your paint brush in the sweet smelling mixture and paint your fabric. To set the paint you will have to heat set it by ironing or putting in a dryer.

Painting is fun!

During the past week we have learned secrets of acrylic painting.. For many students this was a first time painting since childhood. 

Here are few samples of our theme, "Field of Flowers"

 Miss Mary is showing her painting. On the background you can see more colorful paintings.

First day of spring

Our little chicks are getting ready for the spring.  

Yo-Yos for St Patrick's Day

Cut a circle twice the size of the finished yoyo.

 Fold the edge in and sew it with a simple running stitch.

Gather the edge by pulling the sewing thread. Secure the thread by tying a small knot.

Put the larger yoyo for the back and add the smaller one on the top. Sew the circles together and add a button in the middle.

Sew or hot glue a safety pin on the back of the finished yoyo flower.

 Wear it with a smile!

Wall Art

Beautiful finished samples of the toilet paper roll craft.

Don't these look amazing?

What to do with toilet paper rolls

Flatten the cardboard tube.

Using a ruler and a pencil, draw short marks 0.5" apart on the sides of the tube.

Cut the tube into 0.5"  wide rings.

Glue the rings together into interesting shapes.

Toilet paper rolls

We have a large box full of cardboard tubes. Maybe it is time to recycle them and make something beautiful.

Dolls

Our dolls were displayed at the senior center during the Black History Month celebration.

Becoming a doll

We started with an empty bottle with a little rice for weight. 

The head was formed with fiberfill or batting and tied around the neck of the bottle. A little more batting was tied around the bottle to shape the body. Thin t-shirt material was pulled over the head and tied around the neck.

                                     

The face was shaped with few stitches. With addition of yarn for the hair and the clothes, the doll started get personality. 

 Here she is. All finished and ready!

Recycling bottles

What could we can make out of old bottles, wire and sheets of batting?

Yarn dolls

We started the January by making dolls. The first project was yarn dolls.