CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--MILK CARTON BIRDHOUSE

In honor of Earth Day, coming up on April 22^nd, I’m repeating a craft project from the very early days of Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers. Our kids are often the driving force in making us think green. Crafting is a great way for the entire family to enjoy a reuse/repurpose/recycle activity beyond separating the glass, plastic, and newspapers for curbside pick-up. So coax the kids away from the video games and spend an afternoon crafting. 

Milk Carton Birdhouse

Materials:

clean, empty half-gallon milk or juice carton

compass and pencil

hammer and nail

1/8” dowel or twig, 3” - 4” in length

wooden bead to fit dowel or twig

sandpaper

craft knife

weatherproof white acrylic primer

weatherproof acrylic paint in colors of choice

weatherproof acrylic varnish

paintbrushes

tacky glue

scissors

scraps of colored paper

3 spring type clothespins

narrow plastic cording (the kind for making lanyards)

dry pasta, popsicle sticks, buttons, cereal, etc.

Directions:

1.  Lightly sand carton.

2.  Glue the carton closed, holding together with clothespins until glue sets.

3.  With hammer and nail, make two small holes in top flap for hanging loops. (Adult should do this.)

4.  Using compass and pencil, draw a 2-1/4” circle centered approximately 2” above base of carton on one side.  Using craft knife, poke a small hole 3/4” below circle.

5.  Using craft knife, cut out large circle.

6.  Poke dowel or twig through small hole.  Secure by gluing wooden bead onto dowel inside the bird house.

7.  Apply a coat of primer to carton and dowel.  (Twig can be painted or remain unpainted.) Paint in desired colors. Allow to dry between each coat.  (Note: if using roofing materials that require painting, glue them to top of carton before painting.)

8.  Glue dry pasta, popsicle sticks, buttons, cereal, or other materials to top of carton for roof.

9.  Cut shapes from colored paper and glue to sides of birdhouse.  Other materials may also be used (pictures from magazines, stickers, buttons, pasta, ribbon, scraps of wrapping paper, colored yarn dipped in glue, etc. Use your imagination!)

10.  Apply several coats of varnish to entire bird house for protection, allowing to dry between coats.

11.  Thread plastic lacing through holes on top for hanging. 

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA - CHRISTMAS TREE WREATH

Christmas Tree Wreath

This wreath can be a family project as long as kids are well supervised.

Materials: 10” Styrofoam® wreath, 1/4 yd. red fabric, sequin pins, 2” x 3” piece of cardboard, scraps of felt in assorted shades of green, 6 craft sticks, brown acryllic paint and paint brush or wide brown marker, 5mm and 7mm round gemstones in assorted colors, tacky glue, jewelry glue, ruler, pencil, scissors, pinking shears (optional.)

1. Cut the craft sticks in half. Paint with brown paint or color with markers. Allow paint to dry.

2. Cut red fabric into 1-1/2” strips. Reserve an 8” length. Wrap wreath, overlapping strips slightly and securing with sequin pins.

3. Mark the midpoint on one 2” side of the cardboard. Draw a line from the each corner of the opposite 2” side to the midpoint. Using the craft knife, cut out the triangle.

4. Using the cardboard triangle as a template, outline 24 triangles on the felt and cut out. If desired, use pinking shears. You’ll need two felt triangles per tree.

5. Using the craft glue, glue two triangles together, sandwiching half a craft stick between the felt pieces with the curved part of the craft stick extending 1” beyond base of triangle.

6. Using the jewelry glue, glue gemstones randomly to trees.

7. Using the tacky glue, glue trees spaced evenly around wreath.

8. Fold the 8” strip of fabric in half, short sides together. Glue ends together. Glue to back of wreath for hanging loop. Secure with sequin pins for added strength.

TRAVEL WITH SERENA - MUSEUM DAY

Looking for something to do this coming Saturday? How about taking in a museum? Whether your tastes run more toward natural history, architecture, folk art, or painting and sculpture, hundreds of museums all across the country will be offering free admission on September 29th. To find a museum near you and get your free passes, visit Museum Day.   

DECORATING WITH JEANIE -- SCARECROW YARD ART

Philadelphia Sports Fan Scarecrow

Toy Story Scarecrow

"Guy Crow" Insurance
Scarecrow

"Crow"-vert Affairs
Scarecrow

Fairy Princess Scarecrow

Knight Scarecrow

"Straw" Trooper
Scarecrow

Halloween is only a month away. Today Jeanie offers a Halloween decorating idea for welcoming all those boys and ghouls who come trick or treating. -- AP

Thanks, Anastasia! Do you know that Halloween is the second biggest holiday of the year when it comes to consumer spending? Have you noticed how people are going all out to decorate their homes and yards for Halloween as much as they do for Christmas?

I recently spent a Saturday afternoon at Peddler’s Village in Lahaska, PA. As it turned out, they were having a scarecrow festival and competition. Handmade scarecrows were everywhere, many made by children. And that gave me an idea.

For those of you who like to decorate your front yard for Halloween, this year, instead of spending a ton of money, why not buy a bale of hay, grab some old clothes and craft supplies, and make your own scarecrows? Make it a family project. Trust me, you and your kids will have a blast! Just take a look at the great examples I found to spur your imagination.

Thanks, Jeanie! These are fantastic! My favorites are the “Guy Crow” Insurance Scarecrow, the “Straw” Trooper Scarecrow, and the “Crow”-vert Affairs Scarecrow, but I’m a sucker for a good pun. What about the rest of you? Which one is your favorite? -- AP

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--GREEN KIDS

Green Kids.  No, I don’t mean green with envy or what your kid looks like right before he hurls his cookies.  I’m talking about environmentally conscious kids.  Our kids are often the driving force in making us think green.  Crafting is a great way for the entire family to enjoy a reuse/repurpose/recycle activity beyond separating the glass, plastic, and newspapers for curbside pick-up.  So coax the kids away from the wii and spend an afternoon crafting.  Today I’ll show you how to make a milk carton birdhouse or bird feeder.  Check back often for other family crafting activities.

MILK CARTON BIRDHOUSE OR BIRD FEEDER

Materials:
clean, empty half-gallon milk or juice carton
compass and pencil
hammer and nail
1/8” dowel or twig, 3” - 4” in length
wooden bead to fit dowel or twig
sandpaper
craft knife
weatherproof white acrylic primer
weatherproof acrylic paint in colors of choice
weatherproof acrylic varnish
paintbrushes
tacky glue
scissors
scraps of colored paper
3 spring type clothespins
narrow plastic cording (the kind for making lanyards)
dry pasta, popsicle sticks, buttons, cereal, etc.

Directions:
1.  Lightly sand carton.

2.  Glue the carton closed, holding together with clothespins until glue sets.

3.  With hammer and nail, make two small holes in top flap for hanging loops. (Adult should do this.)

4.  Using compass and pencil, draw a 2-1/4” circle centered approximately 2” above base of carton on one side.  Using craft knife, poke a small hole 3/4” below circle.

5.  Using craft knife, cut out large circle.

6.  Poke dowel or twig through small hole.  Secure by gluing wooden bead onto dowel inside the bird house.

7.  Apply a coat of primer to carton and dowel.  (Twig can be painted or remain unpainted.)  Paint in desired colors.  Allow to dry between each coat.  (Note: if using roofing materials that require painting, glue them to top of carton before painting.)

8.  Glue dry pasta, popsicle sticks, buttons, cereal, or other materials to top of carton for roof.

9.  Cut shapes from colored paper and glue to sides of birdhouse.  Other materials may also be used (pictures from magazines, stickers, buttons, pasta, ribbon, scraps of wrapping paper, colored yarn dipped in glue, etc. Use your imagination!)

10.  Apply several coats of varnish to entire bird house for protection, allowing to dry between coats.

11.  Thread plastic lacing through holes on top for hanging.

12.  Birdhouse can become bird feeder by filling with birdseed.


What are you doing to make sure your family thinks green?  Let's hear from you. Anyone who posts a comment this week will be part of the drawing to win a book from out Friday Book Club guest author. 


Also, Lois Winston, my author, has several designs in the August issue of  The Cross Stitcher. Check out her "America the Beautiful" sampler, "Life is Measured" pillow, and "Parrots" designs. -- AP