This Week: PLEASE TAKE A NUMBER

Where would you want to hang a “Take a Number Sign?”  No need to be curt.  Make your numbers intriguing.  Then it’s more like “Ooooh, you get to take a shiny, pretty number!”

GET THE ARTWORK HERE

Or, get the artwork in the "artwork downloads" column to the right. Print it out on 4" x 6" photo paper, and make sure the print size is 100%. You might need to save the file and print using a photo application.

This art is only for your personal use, and may not be reproduced.  And please, if you use my artwork, send me a picture of what you made, so I can pin it to my pinterest board.

FIG. 1 Supplies:  Corrugated cardboard, cardstock (I used a manila file folder), craft knife, ruler, scissors, hole punch, washi tape, decorative paper, bone folder, pencil, hole reinforcements, glue, printout, and Command wire hooks.

FIG. 2 The wire hooks are deep enough to fit the stack of numbers (close-up view FIG. 13).

FIG. 3 Cut 10 tags from the cardstock, 1 ½” x 3.” Put a strip of washi tape across the top.

FIG. 4 Turn the tape face-down, and fold it back over the front. Press the fold with the bone folder.

FIG. 5 cut a piece of decorative paper the size of the tag. Add a washi tape stripe. Make it shiny and pretty!

FIG. 6 Glue the paper to the tag. Glue the flap down. Add a hole reinforcement. Press it flat and let it dry.

FIG. 7 Punch a hole.

FIG. 8 Cut out the artwork and glue on a number.

FIG. 9 Cut a v-shaped flag bottom.

FIG. 10 Finished tag.

FIG. 11 Cut a piece of corrugated 3 ½” wide x 8” tall. At this point, you could cover it with decorative paper, but I like the craft paper look.  Dry-fit the placement of the hook, and trace around it.

FIG. 12 Cut through the top layers of corrugated and remove them.

FIG. 13 Glue the hook into the hole. You can use that leftover piece of adhesive to attach the sign to the wall.

FIG. 14.  Glue the lettering to another piece of 3 ½” wide cardboard. Glue the cardboard so it just covers the white plastic part of the hook.  Trim the tops, and edges if necessary, so both layers are even.

FIG. 15 Arrange the numbers in order. If you’re giving this sign as a gift, just keep the #0 for yourself. No one will know it’s missing until you need to jump to the front of the line.

This Week: MACAROON BOOKMARKS

Here’s a sweet little treat for summer reading.

Put them in a bakery box for a hostess gift.

GET THE ARTWORK HERE

Or, get the artwork in the "artwork downloads" column to the right. Print it out on 4" x 6" photo paper, and make sure the print size is 100%. You might need to save the file and print using a photo application.

This art is only for your personal use, and may not be reproduced.  And please, if you use my artwork, send me a picture of what you made, so I can pin it to my pinterest board.

FIG. 1 Supplies: Little rolling pin, Tacky glue, Sculpey or other polymer clay, four coffee stirrer sticks, printout, scissors, pompoms, tape, ribbon*, baking parchment, paint brush, optional gold leaf paint. You can omit the gold paint if you like the color of your Sculpey.

*You might want to test your ribbon to see if it can withstand baking in the oven at 275˚ for 10 minutes.

FIG. 2 Stack two stirrer sticks and tape them together, repeat with the other two. Tape the stacks to the table to create spacers for rolling. Roll out a bit of clay.

FIG. 3 Cut out the artwork. Cut the dough leaving aprox. 1/8” showing around the art. Keep track of which art goes where.

FIG. 4 Remove the art from the cut-out shape. Cut a 12” piece of ribbon. Press it into the center of the clay, leaving about 3” of ribbon hanging out the bottom.

FIG. 5 Add a patch of clay on top of the ribbon.

FIG. 6 Roll the patch flat.

FIG. 7 Sandwich two pieces of art on either side of the clay. Squeeze them together gently while smoothing out the edges.

FIG. 8 Make sure both sides are free of fingerprints and facing the same direction. Then carefully remove the art.

FIG. 9 Put the pieces on a parchment-lined baking pan. Bake according to package instructions. Keep track of which art goes where.

FIG. 10 I wanted a little more shine to my gold clay, so I painted it with gold leaf paint.

FIG. 11 Hang them up to dry. Keep track of which art goes where.

FIG. 12 Paint glue in the center.

FIG. 13 Put the art back in it’s spot.

FIG. 14 Trim the short end of the ribbon to 1”. This should be the bit of the ribbon hanging out the bottom of the macaroon. Spread open a pompom and add some glue.

FIG. 15 Put the end of the ribbon into the pompom and squeeze it closed.

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This Week: 4TH OF JULY FAN

Here is a fan to go with last week’s firecrackers. It looks like we might have a fog-free fourth here in the bay area. So I might actually get a chance to use may fan.  If you want to get super creative and design your own fan, use one of the fins from my artwork as a template. Trace around it 15 times on cardstock, and draw your pattern or picture. I'd love to see what you made.

You'll need two printouts

GET THE ARTWORK HERE

Or get the artwork in the "artwork downloads" column to the right. Print it out on 4" x 6" photo paper, and make sure the print size is 100%. You might need to save the file and print using a photo application.

This art is only for your personal use, and may not be reproduced.  And please, if you use my artwork, send me a picture of what you made, so I can pin it to my pinterest board.

FIG. 1 Supplies: You’ll need two printouts to make one fan, a drill with a tiny (1/16”) bit, washi  tape,  one piece of 8 ½” x 11” printer weight paper, scissors, glue stick, scrap wood, paper clip, needle nose pliers with a wire cutter, a 17” x 1” piece of crepe or tissue paper, ribbon, and at least eight coffee stirrer sticks.  My stirrer sticks are 7” x ¼”, the same size as Starbucks’. Get extra, as they tend to warp and split. You can use other sizes, as long as you dry-fit the spacing of the fins and adjust accordingly.

FIG. 2 Wrap tape around the bottom of eight stirrer sticks. This keeps the wood from splitting.

FIG. 3 You can add more tape decoration to the bottom 3” of the sticks if you like.

FIG. 4 Drill a hole in the center of the tape. Repeat for each stick.

FIG. 5 Straighten out the paperclip. Twist one end into a loop, and then bend it to a 45° angle.

FIG. 6 Thread one end of the ribbon through the loop. Holding both ends of the ribbon together, make a knot, and tighten it around the loop.

FIG. 7 Thread the wire through the holes in the sticks. Cut wire ½” long.

FIG. 8 Twist the end of the wire into a loop. And then fold it over, tightly squeezing the stack of sticks together.

FIG. 9 Cut out the artwork. Glue a fan fin onto each stick.

FIG. 10 This is what the back looks like.

FIG. 11 Ok, now it gets a little complicated. Tape the stick on the bottom of the stack to the paper. Line it up with the lower left corner. You may want to tape the paper to the table too.

FIG. 12 Take one of the leftover fins (ones that are not already attached to a stick) and stick it down temporarily, with a little tape ball on the back, to the right of the first fin. Line it up so the bottom is barely touching, and there is a little space between the tops of the fins. DRY-FIT the layout of all the fins. Repeat, alternating between sticks and leftover fins, working from the bottom of the stack to the top. Adjust the spacing evenly, and temporarily tape things in position. If you run off the edge of the paper, glue on a little patch. Make sure there is a little space between fins.

FIG. 13 One-by-one remove only the fins that are not attached to a stick. Put some glue on the back, and put them back in position. End with the stick on the top of the stack. You will have one leftover fin piece.

FIG. 15 Remove the fan. You should have seven fins glued to the paper.

FIG. 15 Cut out the paper around the fins.

FIG. 16 Start the first accordion fold on the left. Fold it toward you. The next fold is away from you.

FIG. 17 Try to make your stack nice and straight.

FIG. 18 Apply glue to the paper in the first space on the left.

FIG. 19 Starting at the top of the stack this time, glue the first stick down. Pinch the paper and make sure it’s really stuck down. Fold and open the accordion to make sure it fits.

FIG. 20 Repeat with the second stick from the top.

FIG. 21 Glue all the sticks in position. Trim off and extra paper.

FIG. 22 Make sure your fan can fold up nicely. Open it carefully so it doesn’t dry stuck together.

FIG. 23 Fold the tissue/crepe paper into quarters and cut fringe.

FIG. 24 Don’t cut all the way through.

FIG. 25 Glue the fringe to the back of the fan.

This Week: FIRECRACKER PEASHOOTER

No explosives necessary for this week’s craft. These cute little firecrackers are just pretend. They're kind of like blow-darts without the pointy end, so they would be great for a  4^th of July party with kids.  

GET THE ARTWORK HERE

Or get the artwork in the "artwork downloads" column to the right. Print it out on 4" x 6" photo paper, and make sure the print size is 100%. You might need to save the file and print using a photo application.

This art is only for your personal use, and may not be reproduced.  And please, if you use my artwork, send me a picture of what you made, so I can pin it to my pinterest board.

FIG. 1 Supplies: Have you noticed that at Starbucks or Peet’s they have two sizes of straws? Grab both the big and the regular size. One of the wide straws makes four firecrackers. You'll also need, about 32” of ribbon, rubber bands, scissors, tacky glue (kids might have an easier time with a glue stick), thin cord for pretend wicks, tissue paper (I used gold, but red or yellow is fine), and printouts. Each printout makes four firecrackers and a shooter. You’ll also need a stapler that is not wider than your ribbon. (See fig. 17)

FIG. 2 Cut the wide straw into 2” segments.

FIG. 3 Cut out the artwork. Curl the edges of one of the shorter rectangles. Look at fig. 3 to see in which direction to roll. Apply a small amount of glue (or glue stick).

FIG. 4 Wrap the art around the straw. If any glue squeezes out the seam, quickly wipe it off with a damp paper towel.  Keep the seam closed with rubber bands.

FIG. 5 Repeat with the rest of the firecrackers, and let dry.

FIG. 6 Wrap and glue the long rectangle art on the regular size straw, starting 1” from the end.

FIG. 7 Cut the tissue paper into 2” x 2” squares.  You’ll need two for each firecracker. Fold a piece of tissue paper in half. Cut fringe without cutting through the fold. Add a small line of glue and a 2” wick.

FIG. 8 Start rolling from one side.

FIG. 9 Roll it all the way up.

FIG. 10 Twist the top.

FIG. 11 Fold a 2” square of tissue paper in half.  Add a dot of glue and the other end of the wick.

FIG. 12 crumple the paper up into a little ball.

FIG. 13 Line the inside rim of the firecracker straw with glue.

FIG. 14 Shove the paper ball into the straw. This should be airtight. If you have gaps, fill them with glue. Let dry.

FIG. 15 Cut a 14” piece of ribbon. Fold it in half and tie a knot just below the fold, but keep it loose.

FIG. 16 Put a little glue on the seam of the blow tube straw and the end of the art. Slip the ribbon loop over the seam and tighten the knot.

FIG. 17 Use the remaining ribbon to make the firecracker ammo belt. Fold and tie the ribbon as in fig. 15.  Pinch a firecracker between the two ribbon ends and staple through both pieces of ribbon.

FIG. 18 Repeat with remaining firecrackers. 

This Week: Snakes!

Here’s a summer kid activity. I’d like to see a bunch of these fall out of a piñata. There is a wire inside, so you can bend them, to hang on just about anything.  Bad hair day? I’m definitely going to hot glue a bunch of these snakes to hair clips. And, I might not wait for Halloween to wear them.

GET THE ARTWORK HERE

Or get the artwork in the "artwork downloads" column to the right. Print it out on 4" x 6" photo paper, and make sure the print size is 100%. You might need to save the file and print using a photo application.

This art is only for your personal use, and may not be reproduced.  And please, if you use my artwork, send me a picture of what you made, so I can pin it to my pinterest board.

FIG. 1 Supplies: Six pieces of 1” x 13” crepe paper with the grain running in the short direction, scraps of crepe paper for tongues, printout, three pieces of floral stem wire, cut to 13”, wire cutters, detail scissors, Tacky Glue (not shown).

FIG. 2 Draw a snake tongue shape and cut it out.

FIG. 3 Make three tongues.

FIG 4 If your crepe paper is curling, you can tape it to the table at the corner.

FIG. 5 Run a bead of glue down the center of a piece of crepe paper. Press a wire into the glue.

FIG. 6 Attach the tongue.

FIG. 7 Press another piece of crepe paper on top.

FIG. 8 Cut out the artwork. Keep the three tail pieces in order, because they taper. Glue the head above the tongue.

FIG. 9 Glue on the tail pieces.

FIG. 10 Dry-fit the body pieces. That means, lay them all out on the crepe paper and adjust the spacing. Then, glue each piece in position, one-by-one. Trim the edges to 1/8”

FIG. 11 Bend the edges of the crepe paper up between the sections, and down at the sections.

This Week: POP-UP TENT

This little tent is great for Father's Day. It folds up into a tent-kit in a card.

Make this with your kids (there are a few tricky steps) then they can draw a nice landscape on the background. The welcome mat opens up! So leave a message under the mat.

Or, keep going and make the whole camp!

GET THE ARTWORK HERE

Or get the artwork in the "artwork downloads" column to the right. Print it out on 4" x 6" photo paper, and make sure the print size is 100%. You might need to save the file and print using a photo application.

This art is only for your personal use, and may not be reproduced.  And please, if you use my artwork, send me a picture of what you made, so I can pin it to my pinterest board.

Ready? There are 28 steps; my biggest project yet! Parents: watch out for those wire cutters, and tiny parts.

FIG. 1 Supplies: Pencil, ruler, detail scissors, tape (I used masking, but you could use transparent), two pieces construction paper (9” x 12”), glue stick, five bamboo skewers, and wire cutters (parents, you could also cut skewers with plant clippers or a sharp knife on a cutting board).

FIG. 2 Cut the tent-colored paper into two 6” x 7” pieces.

FIG. 3 Fold one piece of paper into thirds (across the short side), crease, open up.

FIG. 4 Fold the two side flaps in half again.

FIG. 5 Open the left flap. Fold the corners down (like you are dog-earing a book page). Notice you are folding two layers of paper on one side, and only one layer of paper on the other side.

FIG. 6 Close the left flap, and fold the right flap open, on top of the left flap. Fold the corners down.

FIG. 7 Close the right flap. Fold down the top and bottom points, crease, then open again.

FIG. 8 Open the box from the center flaps.

FIG. 9 Reverse the direction of the folds in the box corners and crease sharply. Congratulations you made a French Baker’s Box! Or, in this case, a tent base.

FIG. 10 Fold the remaining 6” x 7” piece of paper in half vertically, and then in half vertically again. Draw  horizontal lines 1 ½” from the top and bottom. The center should measure 4”.

FIG. 11 Draw diagonal lines between the folds to make two points on the top and bottom. Cut out the points. Save the big triangles for your flag base.

FIG. 12 Mark four skewers at 3 ½”

FIG. 13 Cut the skewers. BE CAREFUL! THE POINTY END WILL SHOOT ACROSS THE ROOM. POINT IT INTO A TRASH CAN.

FIG. 14 Lay two skewer pieces at the edge of a piece of tape. Leave a little space between them.

FIG. 15 Roll the tape around the skewers to make a hinge.

FIG. 16 Lay the hinged skewers just inside the lines on the tent. Tape down one side.

FIG. 17 Fold the tent at a right angle, and then tape down the other side. If you try to tape both sides flat, the paper will rip when you fold it.

FIG. 18 Fold back a tiny flap on each side of the tent opening. Put a piece of tape on the inside, and tape the sides together.

FIG. 19 Put the tent on the base.

FIG. 20 Cut your flagpole skewer to 5”.

FIG. 21 Fold the two big triangles, that you saved, in half, and glue them shut.

FIG. 22 Fold the triangles in half again and place them on either side of the flagpole. Attach with one piece of tape underneath and one on top.

FIG. 23 Open the stand and make adjustments so the flagpole stands up straight.

FIG. 24 Cut out the flags. Fold them in half, glue.

FIG. 25 Pinch the flags tightly onto the flagpole. Let dry.

FIG. 26 Glue the welcome mat onto a slightly a bigger card. You may have to tape two scraps together.

Fig. 27 Set up camp.

Fig. 28 Fold the pieces up. The tent top will need to be folded in half again. Fold the remaining piece of construction paper in half to make a card. Secure the tent pieces  to the card with strips of paper. You might want to draw a landscape on the top of the card.

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This Week: KITCHEN SCRATCH PAPER

Keep scratch paper handy on this little hook. Possible categories to write on the label: "Shopping List", "Receipts", "Recipe Notes", or sometimes I just want to write “Take a Number” and put a number on each scrap of paper.

GET THE ARTWORK HERE

Or get the artwork in the "artwork downloads" column to the right. Print it out on 4" x 6" photo paper, and make sure the print size is 100%. You might need to save the file and print using a photo application.

This art is only for your personal use, and may not be reproduced.  And please, if you use my artwork, send me a picture of what you made, so I can pin it to my pinterest board.

FIG. 1 Supplies: Mat knife, Tacky glue, printout, poster hanging goo, (or stick-on magnet, depending on where you want to hang project), adhesive picture hangers, hole punch, scissors, scratch paper, pencil, glue brush, ruler, craft wood (I used 3/32 bass wood from model making section of art store).

FIG. 2 Make multiple passes with the mat knife to cut wood into pieces. Mine are 3 ½" x 6". For strength, make sure the grain is running the long direction.

FIG. 3 Cut out the art. Draw a centerline on the back of the art, at the bottom.

FIG. 4 Paint glue all over the back of the art. Line up the hook so you can see the centerline through the hole. The hook is facing the front of the art.  Trim off any of the tab that overhangs the art.

FIG. 5 Paint glue over the back of the hanger and place it on the top of the board.

FIG. 6 Cut poster adhesive into four small pieces and apply it to the back of the board.

FIG. 7 Punch holes in your scratch paper and hang it on the hook. Write a category on the label like “Farmer’s Market,” or “To Do.”

http://www.510families.com/510-family-faves-cleo-papanikolas-in-berkeley/

This week: LOCK GIFT WRAP

Thinking ahead,this could be a fun way to wrap a father's day present. Hint:get a small present. The chain is labor-intensive. You won’t want to make enough to wrap  a bicycle.  This project requires some delicate gluing. If your fingers get sticky, just go ahead and wash your hands. Don’t try to push through the mess. Getting the wires to line up, and stick down in position, is one of those things you just have to get right on the first try.

GET THE ARTWORK HERE

Or get the artwork in the "artwork downloads" column to the right. Print it out on 4" x 6" photo paper, and make sure the print size is 100%. You might need to save the file and print using a photo application.

This art is only for your personal use, and may not be reproduced.  And please, if you use my artwork, send me a picture of what you made, so I can pin it to my pinterest board.

 FIG. 1 SUPPLIES: Printout, tacky glue, glue brush, wire cutters, scissors, decorative paper for the back of the locks (something you can write on), X-acto knife, Floral stem wire (keep it straight! Bent wire will be difficult to work with.)Or you can use twist-ties - like the kind that come in produce or bulk bins, metallic and colored crepe paper. I used this kind of crepe paper. 

FIG. 2 Make the twist-ties. You are basically making the wire ties you get with the bags in the produce section of the grocery store. So if you want a green chain… To make a gold chain, cut a piece of gold crepe paper and stretch it out a little. It should end up 12” x 4” with the grain running in the 4” direction. Cut a piece of contrasting paper (red) just a little bit bigger.

FIG. 3 Cut the stem wire into 12” lengths, keeping them as straight as possible. Working in 1” strips, brush glue down the length of  the back of the gold paper. Make sure to get it in all the cracks. Lay a piece of wire in the glue and press it down with the edge of a pencil, or a bamboo skewer. Continue placing wires with a 1/8” gap between.  If you are using twist-ties instead of wire, put a little glue on the back of each tie and then line them up on the crepe, burnish the metallic side. Measure how long of a chain you need to make. My box is a 4” cube, so I used about 34” of chain. Each 12” wire section makes about 3” of chain, so I used about 12 strips of wire.

FIG. 4 Let the wires dry enough to stay in position. Paint more glue on top of the wires and sandwich the red crepe paper on top. Press both sides thoroughly with your fingers so the wire impression comes through evenly everywhere. Let Dry!

FIG. 5 Cut in between the wires to make long strips.

FIG. 6 Cut into 2” lengths with wire cutters.

Fig. 7 Fold one length in half, and then bend over the top edges and squeeze closed, to make an oval.

FIG. 8 Insert the next length and fold in half.

FIG. 9 Bend the ends, and close the link. If you want a strong chain, you should put a dot of glue in the closure of each link.

FIG. 10 Keep going until you get enough to wrap around the box one direction.

FIG. Loop the chain around the box and close with another link. Make two more sections for the other sides and connect them to the center front and back. Mount the artwork to the decorative paper backing and cut it out. Use an x-acto knife to cut out the holes. Write “To/From” on the back of a lock. And use more pieces of chain to attach the locks to the gift.

This Week: HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRIZE RIBBON

You can customize this prize with the correct number of candles for the birthday boy or girl. Just print out multiple copies of the art.

GET THE ART HERE

Or get the artwork in the "artwork downloads" column to the right. Print it out on 4" x 6" photo paper, and make sure the print size is 100%. You might need to save the file and print using a photo application.

This art is only for your personal use, and may not be reproduced.  And please, if you use my artwork, send me a picture of what you made, so I can pin it to my pinterest board.

FIG. 1 Supplies: Printout of artwork (make multiple copies to have enough candles for recipients over 11 years old), ½” masking tape, detail scissors, wire cutters, Tacky glue, floral stem wire, 3 ¼” poster board circle, 1 ¾” poster board circle, crepe paper in metallic and blue, and a pin-back if you want to wear the ribbon. I used this kind of crepe paper.

FIG. 2 Cut the metallic paper into a 2” x 8” strip with the grain running across the short side. Tape the ends together to form a tube.

FIG. 3 Flatten the tube out, stretching the outside edge. Glue the large circle to the center of the back.  Flip it over and glue the small circle in the center of the front.

FIG. 4 Cut out the artwork. Cut thirteen 1 ½” pieces of wire. Tape one to the back of each letter (make sure the letter is right-side-up), and trim excess tape.

FIG. 5 Repeat with all the letters.

FIG. 6 Tape the wire ends, one at a time, to the center circle. You may want to dry-fit the letter spacing before doing too many.

FIG. 7 Cut a strip of crepe paper 1” x 6” with the grain running across the short side.

FIG. 8 Flatten it out, and secure it in place with a piece of tape on the back.

FIG. 9 Glue the blue ruffle to the center, and then glue the cake on top. Fluff everything up a bit: stretch the crepe in opposite directions to ruffle the edges, and bend the wires toward you to lift the letters.

FIG. 10 Cut a piece of blue crepe paper 6”tall with the grain running across the width. The width will be determined by how many candles you are using. Glue candles along the bottom (with a tiny bit of glue) with 1/8” space between. I taped the paper to the table, with two small tape balls on the back, to keep it from curling and slipping.

Fig. 11 Cut between the candles.

FIG. 12 Tape the candles to the back one-by-one, checking the front to see positioning.

Fig. 12 I taped on a small loop of wire as a hanger. Or glue on a pin-back. Turn it over and stretch out the crepe on the candles in the back to make them hang a little lower. If you are using a lot of candles you may need to make two rows.