DIY EXTREME Puffy Paint Classroom Folders

It's Back-to-School time again, and if you're looking for a way to brighten up the classroom in a BIG way with a SMALL budget, these DIY Classroom Folders are just the ticket! 

Bohemian Wax Dyed Shorts

I don't know about you but my favorite time of the year is the SUMMMER! I love the sun, the smells and wearing fun whimsical clothes. One thing about me is I like to create my own clothes and add personal touches to them that you will not find anywhere else. Today I will show you a fun technique using wax and tie dye. This tutorial will get you thinking of so many other things to create, I promise!

Let's get started...

Food Allergy Awareness Week - Your the Sunbutter to my Jelly T-shirt

This week is Food Allergy Awareness Week. Unlike, say, Valentine's Day or the Fourth of July, this holiday (if I can call it that), which affects 15 million Americans, does not have many crafts associated with it. My son Baxter is one of those 15 million. Crafts help bring awareness to a holiday or event. I've decided to make it my mission to make more crafts related to food allergies. My little man Bax is the Sunbutter to my jelly, and I wanted to make him a shirt to say it loud and proud!

DIY Alphabet Block Shoes

My toddler is VERY into his letters and numbers lately, so when it came time to think up a theme for a spring shoe refashion, his vintage-style alphabet blocks stood out from the pack (that, and I'm not as good at drawing dinosaurs or trains, which would have been the other top contenders!). And sure enough, when I presented them to him the morning after I made them, he picked one up and said, "ABC shoe!" Exactly, my dear. Now we can practice his letters and colors while on the go!

"A is for Animal" Wall Decor!

A is for Ant, B is for Beetle, C is for Cat.... Here's an easy way to turn old clothing scraps (in this case, T-shirts and jeans) into personalized decoration for a young (or young at heart) friend's bedroom wall or door. Whether you stick with the animal theme, or go with fruits and veggies (A is for Apple, B is for Broccoli, C is for Carrot), geography (A is for Australia, B is for Belgium, C is for China), or a more random selection of words (A is for Astronaut, B is for Bubbles, C is for Castle), part of the fun is brainstorming the image that will represent the recipient's initial. For me, N is for Narwhal was a shoo-in. N is for Newt came second. What animal would you choose for your name?

Materials:
-Paper
-Pen or pencil
-Scissors
-Fabric scraps (old T-shirts and denim pieces)
-2 sheets 8 1/2" x 11" medium-weight cardboard (often used as stiffener in a flat parcel)
-Aleene's OK to Wash It or Aleene's Fabric Fusion permanent fabric adhesive
-Ruler
-Fabric paints (optional, for additional embellishment)


1. Select a first initial and then choose an animal (or two) with a name that also begins with the letter: I chose to start with N for Narwhal (that fabulous sea mammal that looks like it was crossed with a unicorn) and N for Newt (an orange salamander. Draw an outline of each animal and the capital and lowercase letter. Cut them out and arrange them on the cardboard to make sure they'll fit. Set them aside.


2. Spread fabric glue evenly over one side of one of the sheets of cardboard and press it onto fabric.


3. Fold and glue the edges to the back of the cardboard. (It's okay if the edges are messy -- they'll be covered up.)


4. Trace one of the paper animal templates (in reverse) onto the wrong side of one of the fabric scraps. Repeat with different scraps with the letters and second animal.


5. Arrange and glue each of the elements onto the fabric-covered cardboard. Add background (like water!) and details (spiral on the horn, eyes!), making sure to layer the pieces appropriately. Let it dry and proceed to decorate the second piece of cardboard!


6. Cover the second piece of cardboard by following steps 1 and 2. Arrange and glue on the embellishments by following steps 4 and 5.


7. Flip one of the panels backside up and measure about 3" in from each side. Mark each point.


8. Squeeze fabric glue at each mark, and press the length of a T-shirt cord into each line of glue.


9. Then spread glue across the entire backside of one of the panels and press it firmly to the back of the other, sandwiching the hanging strap ends between them. (This tidily covers any messy work and makes the sign reversible, whether you prefer caps or lowercase -- or narwhals or newts.) Let it dry.


10. A, B, C, D, E, F, G...H, I, J, K, L, M, N is for Newt and Narwhal!

After it's completely dry, choose a side to display and hang it up!


Variations:
-If you're feeling ambitious, make multiple signs to spell out a person's name. Arrange them in a row, a column, or rectangle.
-If you're feeling really ambitious, make the whole alphabet, and line the edges of the room with A through Z animals!

Silly Kids Craft - A-Craft-A-Day with Pattiewack for National Craft Month

I thought it would be fun to end the month on a silly note with these funny spoons I made into monsters!  I love crafting with kids, and I know they will get a kick out of this fun craft.  You probably have everything you need in your craft stash.  But if you need the deets on how to make these, go to iLoveToCreate.com.

I hope you've had as much fun as me during National Craft Month, and that I sparked up a little creativity for you and your friends and family.  

Happy Crafting!

Pattiewack

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Craft on!

Pencil Crafts - with Pattiewack for National Craft Month!

Who knew pencils could be so cute!  Kids go crazy for crafting when you have a project that's this fun.  I loved making these with craft foam.  And of course, the googlie eyes are the best part.  For a printable project page, go to iLoveToCreate and get crafting!

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Water Bottle Carrier - A-Craft-A-Day with Pattiewack for National Craft Month!

What I loved about making this water bottle carrier, is the BUGS!  My grandson Zane is fascinated with bugs, and I think he would love this to poke his water into and take to kindergarten.  You could even make it larger so you could stick a snack in there too.  If you need a pattern to paint your bugs, go to iLoveToCreate.com and while you're there, check out the oodles of crafty projects that kids would love.

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Recycled Pull-Tab Rings - A Craft A Day with Pattiewack!

 

Recycled Juice Cap Rings

These rings made from recycled juice caps are just the thing to get girly girls excited about crafting!  And the fact that they have glitter AND crystals is even MORE exciting.

You'll need peel-n-stick sheets, glitter, crystals, and the instructions on the iLoveToCreate website, and all the pull-tabs you can save for this simple and fun craft.

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Craft on!