craft project: mosaic angel

The mosaic angel my children gave
their grandmother for Christmas.

Brief Description: My children made this mosaic angel for their grandmother one Christmas long ago. It still hangs in her garden room watching over her African violet collection.

Supply List:

• Selection of mosaic tiles, glass marbles, tiny mirrors, seashells
• Cement grout
• Elmer’s wood glue
• Plastic-like gloves
• Old damp rags, paper towels, sponge
• Sturdy prefabricated paper mache angel form
• Bucket of clean water

Directions:

1. First you will glue your tiles directly to the surface of the prefabricated angel with Elmer's wood glue.
2. Let the applied tiles dry over night to ensure that the glue has hardened. Do not check to see if the glued tiles have stuck to the surface permanently. Some of them will, some of them may only seem temporarily attached. The application of this step is necessary to help the tiles to stay in place before grouting them only.
3. Mix the grout solution according to the directions on the label.
4. Wear gloves if the label says that it is necessary.
5. Gingerly apply the grout directly onto the surface of the tile work. Make sure that the grout does get pushed into as many of the cracks as possible. This is a bit messy.
6. Wash your gloves thoroughly and you may put them back on or choose to remove them all together at this point. Be cautious about this removal however, some people do have mild skin allergies to grout and will develop a rash when coming in direct contact with it when its wet.
7. Now your going to delicately wipe down the surface of your tiles with a damp rag or paper towel. You will be throwing these towels away. If you wish to rinse and squeeze out a sponge or towels as you work, keep an old bucket full of water for this procedure. Do not wash this contaminated water down a sink! Grout will collect in pipes and harden. You will need to pour this old water down a sewer pipe outside or simply find an area of your yard where you may dispose of it. Grout won't hurt an old leaf pile or the ground where plants are not growing.
8. You want your project to look clean on the surface of the tiles when you are finished. The cracks between the tiles should also be completely filled with grout.
9. Leave your mosaic project out over night to harden properly.
10. If you see remaining grout on the surface of your tiles after it has hardened, you may go over the surface of these tiles with a light weight sand paper and damp sponge again.

Additional Suggestions: The color of grout you choose to use with this project will also make a big difference in it's appearance so think about it awhile before beginning.

All instructions and photographs, templates are copyrighted by Grimm 2017

Children love to paint rock pets

Left to right, a blue horse, 
a fanciful peacock and a purple mouse.

Brief Description: Pet rocks come in all shapes and sizes. The creator is only limited by his or her imagination. My youngest made these at camp when she was very small.

Supply List:

• a variety of rocks
• a variety of shells
• decorative feathers
• twine
• several colors of acrylic paint
• small scrap pieces of cardboard
• plastic eyes and beads
• wood glue
• hot glue gun (the adults must have one at hand)

Directions:

1.  First you must hunt for your rock pet and this could take an entire day at the beach. People might think that this is an easy thing to do, but it is quite difficult. Not every rock is destined to be a pet. 
2.  After finding your future pet, you must turn the rock over and over in your hands and decide what kind of pet that the rock is ment to be. Observe the rock from different angles, eat lunch, perhaps take a nap in the sun. This is a long arduous process when a person is away at camp because most rock pets are made at camp. Didn't I mention this fact?
3.  When you have decided "what" your pet rock shall become, select with care his or her features. It is important to remember that if your rock pet is a girl, it should be painted in girl colors. I'm not going to say what "girl" colors are but most rock pet artists instinctively know what these are. You don't want to embarrass your pet rock by making a mistake like that.
4.  Arrange the features of your pet and glue these on. This can be a bit tricky but there is usually some big person present with a hot glue gun who will make sure that those features do adhere in time.
5.  Now it is about time to return to the beach and play until sunset.
6.  After the features of your pet have dried, (this could take a day) you may paint your pet with acrylic paints. 
7.  Let your new pet dry again over night and then take him away to hide under your pillow or display him on your dresser. Rock pets like to ride in the car just underneath the front seats.

Additional Suggestions: Although rock pets need no food, they do need much attention. These critters will listen to anyone talk for hours and they will never expect a fee for it. Parents should be forewarned that rock pets do have feelings and should never be randomly tossed away. I've had to keep several of these for over twenty years! If this were not the case then I wouldn't be able to blog an entry such as this, so my teenager has spoken.

In front is a large, pink, trumpeting elephant
with giant sea shell ears. In the background is 
a very sleepy black mouse.

photographs and written craft pages copyrighted by Grimm 2017

Older kids might prefer to make dot patterns on their rocks.

assemble a half mask for a masquerade

A close view of the half mask.

Brief Description: I made this mask for my younger teen one year for a party. These kinds of half masks are very easy to assemble if you've got a glue gun.

Supply List:

• one prefabricated half mask
• two small bags of silk flowers
• one prefabricated glittery peacock
• approx. five yards of satin ribbon
• two yards of contrasting ribbon
• one long sturdy dowel rod measuring approximately 15 inches

Directions:

1.  Wrap approximately two yards of the larger quantity of satin ribbon around the dowel rod. Apply very tiny drops of hot glue to the back side of the dowel rod as you wrap.
2.  Hot glue a small portion of the larger quantity of satin ribbon around the half mask.
3.  Hot glue into a pleasing arrangement, the tiny silk flowers.
4.  Hot glue the glittery peacock onto the right side of the mask if the lady is right handed, to the left if the lady is left handed.
5.  Hot glue the dowel rod to the back side of the half mask so that the top of the dowel rod does not show above the mask.
6.  Hot glue the remaining ribbons to the back side of the dowel

Additional Suggestions: Work as neatly as you can: the aesthetic appeal of such a project depends upon the careful attachment of the elements.

The full length view of our masquerade mask.

photographs and written craft pages copyrighted by Grimm 2017

Craft More Masks:

• Kids Crafts: Superhero Masks and Template
• Fun Family Crafts: Masks
• Craft A Simple Butterfly Mask 
  

decoupage a postage stamp vase

Two glass bottle decoupaged
with old stamps.

Brief Description: This is a perfect project for used postage stamps. As long as these are not valuable, why not use them to decoupage a vase or two? These little vases display nicely on top of a bookcase or antique wooden desk.

Supply List:

• many handfuls of used postage stamps
• a small, clean and dry glass bottle
• Mod Podge glossy or mat
• twine for bottle lip (optional)
• old paint brush
• wood glue

Directions:

1. Wash and dry the glass bottle
2. Cover a small area with Mod Podge using an old paint brush
3. Layer stamps randomly on top of the glue.
4. Paint another layer of glue on top of those same stamps and cover a new area and then repeat the same step
5.  After the glue dries, glue on a felt bottom to prevent scratches on furniture. Use wood glue to add this felt.

Additional Suggestions: Mod Podge dries very clear so do not become concerned about how the end product will look.

Glue on a felt bottom with the wood glue only. Clip the
edges after the felt dries to give it a cleaner appearance.

photographs and written craft pages copyrighted by Grimm 2011 

More crafting with postage stamps: 

• Jewelry from postage stamps
• Resin Paperweights decorated with old postage stamps
• Photo charms from old postage stamps 
• Decoupage bracelet (postage stamps)
• Postage Stamp Art
• Funky Little Bird Houses

  Patioelf shows you how to crystalize bottles & jars.

wrap a bottle to create an interesting vase

Close up view of the surface of my vase.
Different textured yarns lend unusual interest to the project.

Brief Description: This project takes patience but the end results are definitely groovy! It is also a good way to use up old yarns that have been tossed around in storage forever.

Supply List:

• lots of yarn of any size, shape or color
• white glue
• old discarded plastic bottles
• scissors

Directions:

1. Start by adding a generous bead of glue to the base of a washed and dried plastic bottle.
2. Wrap the first layer of yarn on top of this bead of glue.
3. Then add a second layer of glue and continue wrapping yarn on top of the glue. 

Additional Suggestions: The key to getting excellent results in this project is patience! The first two rows of yarn will seem slippery but, once the glue becomes tacky, the rest of the following rows will apply easily. Don't forget to add a felt bottom to your bottle's vase to prevent scratching the surface of tables.

A finished yarn wrapped vase.

photographs and written craft pages copyrighted by Grimm 2017

More links to yarn crafts:

• Yarn Octopus
• Yarn Stars for Christmas
• Craft a Yarn Wrapped Star
• Yarn Butterflies
• Yarn Coaster Craft Kit 
• Create a Yarn Butterfly Picture

cut a construction paper frame

Side view of the project

Brief Description: This construction paper frame stands on its own and is an affordable way for children to display photos of their family around their room. Mrs. Lewis, a paper craft enthusiast, made a template for my teen daughter to use in the cutting of the window.

Supply List:

• three sheets of solid colored paper
• markers
• an oval window template, included below (6 1/2 inches by 4 inches)
• a favorite photograph (4 inches by 6 inches)
• white craft glue
• scissors

Directions:

1. Use the template provided below to trace and cut out the front paper "mat" of your frame
2. Then color the mat using simple shapes and bold colors.
3. Cut a second mat just 1/8 to 1/4 inch larger than the first.
4. Glue only the corners of your photograph onto this mat. Use minimal amounts of glue
5. Then center the decorated mat on top of the second to frame your photograph as you like and glue down the edges only.
6. Fold the remaining sheet of paper 15 inches by 7 inches into three equal parts.
7. The end fold will have an additional fold of one inch so that this edge may be folded up and behind the frame and glued into place.

Additional Suggestions: I would advise using acid free papers and glues for this project in order to avoid damage to valuable photographs.

My daughter's finished version of the project.

This template may be downloaded and sized in a
word document to fit the above measurements.
Read the Terms of Use before using it folks.

photographs and written craft pages copyrighted by Grimm 2017 

More frames crafted from paper:

• Folded Paper Frame by Beate Johns 
• Origami Photo Frame
• Christmas Star Paper Frame
• A Quilled Valentine's Day Photo Frame

the golden rules of teaching according to peanuts!

The Peanuts gang by Charles M. Schulz. Top row: Woodstock, Snoopy, and
Charlie Brown Bottom row: Franklin, Lucy van Pelt,
Linus van Pelt, Peppermint Patty and Sally Brown

"Thoughts and Golden Rules on Education"
was found at a St. Louis Book Fair by my sister-in-law.
We couldn't bear the thought of seeing it tossed out!
It was apparently made for a very special principle, "Miss Hays."

Rule Number 1 - Don't Lose Your Cool.

Rule Number 2 - Answer every question no matter how strange,
inappropriate, or ridiculously stupid.

Rule Number 3 - Don't smile until after Christmas break.

Rule Number 4 - Encourage harmless fantasy
and creative goals.

Rule Number 5 - Recognize student accomplishments!

Rule Number 6 - Volunteer and expect the worst.
Then repeat the scenario frequently.

Rule Number 7 - Tell the student what to do by suggesting it
and then look surprised when he or she doesn't conform.

Rule Number 8 - Be prepared to reinvent yourself now and again.

Rule Number 9 - It's alright to get a bit excited
about the end of the school year.

Rule Number 9 - again

Rule Number 10 - Treat everybody the same,
even though their not,
the same that is.

Rule Number 11 - Establish your authority early in the game,
I mean school year.

Rule Number 12 - Education is always number one priority,
although education about life sometimes gets in the way.

Rule Number 13 - Educators know more about
meetings than CEOs do.

Rule Number 14 - Sometimes it is better to just "sleep it off."

Rule Number 15 - The joys of life should always be
remembered with great nostalgic affection.

Rule Number 16 - This rule is often forgotten.
What was that rule again?

Rule Number 16 - Oh, yeah,
never forget to butter both sides of your toast,
oh, I mean bread.

Rule Number 17 - Teachers and administrators should be best friends.

Rule Number 18 - Saturday is the principle's day off!

Rule Number 19 - Secretaries rule, the rest of us drool.

Rule Number 20 - Principals should answer all questions.

Rule Number 21 - Teachers get fired if they don't know everything.

Rule Number 22 - Integrity, tenacity, accuracy always.

Rule Number 23 - A happy administrator,
makes for happy holidays.

Rule Number 24 - Learners inherit the Earth,
even when you least expect it.

Rule Number 25 - Always at all times
and in all places
be
appreciative.

More Links To Peanuts:

• The Best Peanuts Gang Pinboard Ever!
• The Official Peanuts by Charles Schulz Website
• Peanuts at GoComics.com
• Peanuts Collector Club
• 'Peanuts' Turns 60 - slideshow by Life magazine
• Novelist Jonathan Franzen's long New Yorker article "The Comfort Zone: Growing Up With Charlie Brown"