I decided to use the 9 inch wood letters from Provo Crafts again. This time I took a 12″x12″ board, press board is really cheap, it is about $.50 for a 12″x12″ piece. I bought a large 4′X8′ piece because we were doing a class and needed lots of boards. You might be able to get a lumber store to cut a small piece. Anyway the pressboard is pretty inexpensive. Then I painted it black, you don’t even need to sand it, actually you shouldn’t sand pressboard or it will just crumble. Pick out a 12″x12″ scrapbook paper and trim it down about 1/2″ to 1″ on each side, it is totally up to you how much of an edge you want. Then use spray glue to stick the paper onto the wood. You can paint your board any color to co-ordinate with your paper, it doesn’t have to be black. Then paint your wood letter just on the front, once it is dry just hot glue it to the board. You can sand down the edges of the letter for a ruffed up look or leave a smooth finish. Now get an easle and set it up on a table on on the floor by the fireplace. Really great looking gift idea and the best part is, you can make this craft for around $5.00

http://www.chandlercreations.com

Bingo is an addictive hobby; adults often go out to play at special clubs, or pay for bingo every night. Many people play free bingo games online all the time. Kids love bingo too! And with smaller kids, it’s also a great way to teach them to recognize numbers, and improve their basic math skills. So try to tear yourself away from your own online bingo game, and get ready to have some fun teaching your kids to play too!

What You Need:

White & Brown Heavy Construction Paper
Scissors
Pencil
Permanent Marker
Black & White Pom-poms (small)
Glue

1. Fold a piece of construction paper in half. Use a pencil to draw the basic shape of a teddy bear –see picture, on one side of the paper. Outline the bear in marker, and cut out around the shape, with the paper folded. Now you have two! Use the first pair as a stencile to make more, some brown and some white, until you have enough cards for all the players. Use the markers to add faces to your bears, and also, to draw on six random numbers, between one and ten. Space the number apart enough so that six playing pieces will fit easily on the card.

2. Use glue to secure a small circle of paper to each pom-pom. The way they’ll sit flat on the playing cards. Make six game pieces for each player. If you like, you can draw a little face on each. Number each of the playing cards from one to ten.

3. Put your pieces in a small box, or cup, and place your cards in bag. Have the players pull out one card each, while you call out the numbers. To make things a little more interesting, say “brown” or “white” before each number, alternating between the two, while calling numbers aloud.

And then have fun! If you love to play bingo too, browse online for more internet bingo information. This post was inspired by Marie E. Cecchini’s idea, “Bear Bingo”, found at HighlightsKids.com.

The first thing that comes to mind when most people think of the Herbalife Nutrition Shop, is high quality herbal supplements, beauty and bath products, and several other products that infuse wholesome herbal remedies with modern health and well-being. Or even the great work from home opportunity that Herbalife offers. However, the holidays are right around the corner, and there are several ways to spice up the gift giving season, while using gifts that everyone will love! –Not only do these crafts look great on the table, and under the tree, but they also look great while being used.

What You Need:

Three small bottles/tubes of Herbalife product (vitamins, skin care, bath and body, etc.)
Rosemary seed packet
Thyme seed packet
Basil seed packet
Three small red clay pot; about four inches in height, and diameter.
Topsoil
A sheet of colorful, or plain plastic wrap
Ribbon
Assorted candy (optional)

Fill the three small clay pots about 2/3 full of soil each, and insert a seed packet into each, pressing them down into the pot, about 1/3 of the way. Next, set each pot and seed packet in the center of a square of plastic wrap. Gather the plastic wrap at each corner, then tie the tackage off tight with a bit of ribbon. Pretty, right? Do the same step for all three pots. Now, just set those in your baskets, along with the Herbalife products, and optional candy. Fans of Herbalife, and healthy living, will absolutely love the gift. For more information about being an Independent Herbalife Distribributor, visit their website!

An “ear of corn” bookmark is a fun project to make and give. It is a perfect bookmark for those that have to mark a few succeding pages since the paper clip base is flexible can be adjusted. A great gift to give to students and teachers!

Hi! It’s my first time to write a tutorial so please bear with me. Do leave me a comment here or at my blog if you have any suggestions/questions about this tutorial. Thank you!

Quilting has been an American past-time since colonial days, when women gathered scraps of cloth, feather down, or bits of cotton, to sew them into heavenly warm blankets that were cherished for several generations. Everyone has some fond memory involving a warm quilt on a chilly day or night; there are also quilt museums, fairs and other community event. There are even quilting website for quilting lovers, and quilting forum where people can meet and share techniques. However, when it comes down to it, many people shy away from quilting because they’re intimidated by the time and effort necessary for the task. Quilting doesn’t have to take hours, and it doesn’t have to be difficult either. Here’s one easy quilting task that anyone with a sewing machine can manage in a single day.

What You Need:

Sewing machine
Four yards muslin
Two pieces of fabric, each two yards long
Thread
Scissors
Needle

Instructions:

1. Wash fabrics, along with the muslin, together, according to the care instructions for the fabric (which can be found on the bolt.)
2. Lightly iron fabric and muslin after it’s washed and dried.
3. Stack fabric wrong sides together, with mulim on top.
4. Machine stitch three of the four sides, using a straight stitch and a quarter-inch or so seam allowance.
5. Turn the piece right side out, and look for mistakes or irregularities in the seams.
6. Turn it back around and trim any excess fabric from the seams.
7. Turn the quilt right side out and take time to smooth the quilt and make sure that the muslin is distributed evenly around the quilt.
8. Stitch the fourth side by hand.
9. Do any finishing work; sew straight lines down the quilt, and then across to make a pattern of squares. This also helps to keep the muslin in place.

You can share and find easy quilting ideas like this one, online from a quilting group. Have fun, and happy stitching!