bookhoucraftprojects

Project #91: Fun Paper Glasses

Fun Glasses by Teri from Giddy Giddy

My contribution this week is a simple afternoon activity: making paper eye-glasses or “fun-glasses” with kids. In our family, these are part of the costume bin.  The glasses alone canhelp transform us into little old ladies, crazy goons, movie-star, robots, etc.

What you'll need:
* 100 or higher cardstock paper that is atleast 13 inches wide
* color transparencies or clear plastic
* tape, scissors, glue & markers/paint
 
step 1.   
Measure face (temple to temple and also from temple to ear). Use measurements as guide when sketching eyeglass design on cardstock paper
step 2.   
Cut out and fold at corner temples.  
step 3.   
Decorate with paint, sequins, and also tape color transparencies for the shades/glass.

That's it. I hope you make outrageous and fantastic paper glasses!

.. Giddy Giddy..

All images by Teri, please link back to this url.

Project #90: Badminton heart

Badminton heart by Kristen Sutcliffe from New House Project

There are lots of these cool vintage-looking badminton racquets at my neighborhood thrift store, so I had the idea to make some wall decoration for my daughter's room.  I used many colors of embroidery thread that I already had at home.  You could make a simple image or your child's initial.  I chose to do a heart.

What you would need:
*various colors of embroidery thread
*wooden badminton racquet
*embroidery needle
*marker

Step 1:
Decide on your design and sketch it out.  Then use a permanent marker to mark your design onto the racquet.
Step 2:
Cut a yard or so of embroidery thread.
Step 3:
Tie the thread into a knot on the racquet.  Leave a two inch tail of thread so that you can tie the other end off when you are finished wrapping.
Step 4:
Continue wrapping thread onto the racquet until the area of your design is completely filled in.  Change colors of thread as often as you like.  A needle isn't completely necessary, but it made the job go more quickly for me.

..New House Project ..

Project #89: how to make retro postage stamps

How to make retro postage stamps by Teri from Giddy Giddy

I can still recall fondly,  playing post office when I was a kid. Now my own daughters have their own way of playing this game. There’s no more performated sheets of stamps that you had to tear off one at a time, and no more gummed backing that you had to lick.  I was feeling rather sentimental about the way things used to be, so we made a project out of making old-fashioned stamp sheets.

But actually,  this activity is also an excuse to have friends and family take turns contributing to a colorful and varied collage of artwork.

What you will need:
*Paper
*tracing wheel (sewing tool) (or sewing machine )
*Gluestick
*Markers and or colored pencils
*cork board


Here are the very simple instructions:

Step 1
Lightly fold paper to desired square or rectangular pattern. Remember to make the crease loose just for the purpose of making line guides.
Step 2
Cut rubber stamp block to match desired square pattern then apply blocks of color using light colored ink pad.
Step 3
Now get creative! Draw and color in mini picture on each of the colored blocks. Our entire family took turns filling up the page with our ideas.
Step 4
You can create perforation by placing paper on cork surface and applying pattern making wheel pulling straight while against a ruler. The cork surface is necessary to create clean puncture holds.(Another way is to run the paper through an unthreaded sewing machine.)
Step 5
To make gummed backing like those old fashioned stamps, apply glue stick generously to the back and let dry. When you are ready to use stamp, activate glue by applying water with finger or sponge. (glue not edible so its not for licking).
Step 6
Now play post office!



.. Giddy Giddy..