Craft Night recap: hardware bracelets!

Last night during Happy Hour and Craft Night we made bracelets out of hardware - something that seems all the rage these days! Give it a try, they are easy to make, so you could make them in an array of colors and shapes!

the first bracelet:

Materials needed:

Scissors

Washers or nuts - can be found at any hardware store

Cord or string - we used colored hemp cord from Michaels

Toggle clasp - optional, you could just tie the back if you wanted to

Step 1: Cut 6 lengths of cord approximately 15" long. Take 3 strands in one hand and double it over. Place the looped end through the center of the washer or nut. 

Step 2: Pull the other ends of the string around the edge of the hardware and through the loop. Pull the knot tight.

Step 3: Repeat this same process on the opposite side.

Step 4: Slip the 6 ends of the cord into one side of the toggle clasp.

Step 5: Using your wrist as a guide, figure out where you want the toggle to sit on the cord - it should hit the middle of the underside of your wrist when wrapped around. Tie a knot in the cord at that spot, so that the toggle stays in place. Repeat on the other side with the other half of the clasp.

Step 6: Trim off any extra cord with a scissor.

All done! Fasten the clasp, and wear your creation proudly!!

Where Twin Cities Magazine, September 2012

We got a lovely write up in the Where Twin Cities Magazine in September! 

Craft Night recap: felt and burlap door decorations!

Our crafters were full of fall inspiration last night at Happy Hour and Craft Night! We made felt and burlap door decorations, and they all turned out great! We have a couple of templates that you can use, otherwise, get creative and make your own fall designs!

Materials needed:

Scissors

Felt

Burlap

Skewer (or stick)

Ribbon (twine would be cute as well!)

Glue (we used hot glue, but you could use white glue as well)

Step 1: If you are using the pumpkin template or the leaf template, print it out, and cut out the shapes.

Step 2: Trace around the template onto the felt. Feel free to get creative and draw your own designs onto the felt as well! 

Step 3: Cut your shapes out of the felt using sharp scissors. 

Step 4: Cut a piece of burlap - we used a piece about 7" wide by 9" tall. Glue your skewer or stick about an inch from the top and when the glue is dry, fold over the top inch of the burlap and glue that edge down.

Step 5: Glue the felt pieces to the front side of the burlap (the side without the folded edge showing). When gluing, put scrap paper or a towel under the burlap, as the glue can seep through it.

Step 6: Tie ribbon or twine to the ends of the skewer or stick, and hang up your masterpiece! 

Happy crafting!

Craft Night recap: chevron ombre necklaces!

Last night we led a very popular craft night activity - chevron ombre necklaces made from paint chips! Everyone did a great job, and left with some very colorful accessories for fall! This craft is a bit more involved, becuase of the jewelry making component, but if the jump rings and clasps seem too hard, you can always just tie yours with ribbon! Get creative!

We saw a similar version here, and decided to give it a try - and they turned out great!

Materials needed:

Glue stick

Scissors

Paint chip with 3 or 4 colors shown

Chain

Jump rings

Clasp

Needlenose pliers

A piece of cardstock

Step 1: Draw an 'L' shape onto the 4 different spaces of the paint chip. On the chip we used, each colored section was about 1.5" tall, so our L's were about 1.5" x .25". This does not have to be super precise though, feel free to just eyeball it if you have a steady hand - I think a little imperfection gives it character!

Step 2: Cut out the 4 'L' shapes, and gently erase any pencil lines.

Step 3: Starting with your bottom (darkest) color, glue each 'L' onto the piece of cardstock, slightly overlapping each color until all 4 colors are glued down.

Step 4: Cut out the shape, staying as close to the paint chip edges as possible.

Step 5: Using a pushpin (or nail, safety pin, etc) poke 2 small holes in the top points of the shape. This is where you will attach the chain.

Step 6: We cut two 9" lengths of chain - this will result in an 18" necklace when finished. Depending on the type of clasp you use, attach the chains to either end of the clasp.

Step 7: Twist apart one of the jump rings, and put it through one of the holes you poked in the chevron shape. While the ring is still open, attach one end of the chain to the ring, and then close the ring using needlenose pliers. Repeat this on the other side as well.

All done! Not too bad, right? I hope this made sense, and that you have a FABULOUS new necklace! See you next week! Happy crafting!

Craft night recap: felt apple coasters!

These felt coasters might very well be my favorite craft night project so far! They are easy to make, and oh-so-cute. Give them a try, and enjoy your beverages a little bit more this fall. Happy crafting!!

We saw this tutorial on a blog, and thought we would give it a try (minus the sewing - we are all about the hot glue!). :)

Materials needed:

Felt sheets in various colors (available at Michaels)

Scissors

Hot glue

Apple parts template

Step 1: Print out the apple parts template on cardstock (regular paper will work too), and cut out the pieces. Begin by tracing the pieces onto the felt. Do not make the lines too dark, or they will be visible on the final product. 

Step 2: Cut out the felt pieces. For a double sided apple you will need: 2 apple bodies, 2 white 'slices', 4 seeds, 1 stem and 1 leaf.

Step 3: Start by gluing the stem and the leaf to one of the apple pieces.

Step 4: Continue gluing all of the pieces in this order:

Sandwich the other half of the apple on to of the apple/leaf/stem piece.

Glue the white 'slices' to each side.

Glue 2 seeds per side.

You can trim any uneven edges with a scissors. All done! I hope you love them as much as I do!!