Kids Arts and Crafts Ladybug Tic Tac Toe

This Valentine's Day I will be visiting the kids in my daughter's classroom and doing an arts and crafts project with them.

My goal when visiting, for a party, is that the craft is no mess!  No mess makes it easier for the kids, easier for the teacher, and so much easier for me!

This year the kids will be making a ladybug and then using the ladybug as a board to play tic tac toe. The craft is fairly simple and the kids can make it in under ten minutes.

Materials Needed: 

• Black Construction Paper
• Red Construction Paper
• 1 Black Pipe Cleaner (makes 4 Antennas)
• Foam Heart Stickers
• Googly Eyes
• 2 Brads 
• Silver Painters Pen or White Chalk
• Candy for playing tic tac toe (buttons or foam would work, too)

Instructions:
1.  Begin by cutting out your ladybug pattern.  I designed a pdf template for download here.  You will need two wings and the ladybug's body is folded in half - cut along the fold of the paper.

 2. Next, gather all the materials that you will need for the project.  There are 20 students in my daughter's class.  I have pre-cut the wings and ladybug's body for them.  I also hole punched places for the antennas and wings.

 

3.  Kids can design the ladybug's face by adding hearts, googly eyes, and pipe cleaner antennas.  They can decorate the wings with more stickers or even use markers.  Next, you can add a tic tac toe board for them using a silver painters pen or have them make their own using white chalk.

4. Kids can attach the wings using brads.  Then they just need to open the wings to play a game of tic tac toe!

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Easy To Make Valentines Day Wreath

Love is in the air - with this easy to make Valentine's Day pine wreath!

I try to change the wreath on my shed for every holiday.  However, the weather has been crazy here and I wanted to make an easy wreath that wouldn't get destroyed with the high winds and snow.

I had some leftover craft foam hearts from Creative Hands that I thought would be perfect for my outdoor wreath.

I literally assembled this wreath in ten minutes!  Love those quick and easy projects!

Using the a fake pine wreath I just inserted some of the wire pine needles into the hearts and just folded them over.  If you are using craft hearts that don't have punches along the sides.  Just use a hole puncher and add your own.

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Valentine's Day Purse

This duel purpose purse works as a Valentine's Day Card Holder for little girls as well has a purse to carry home all their Valentines.  Instead of decorating a cardboard box for my daughter to collect her school Valentines in, I wanted to surprise her with something special!

I designed the purse using stiff felt glued together with Fabri-Tac.  Stiff felt bends and cuts very easily.  Also because it is felt, Fabri-Tac glue works great to hold it all together.  

I added ribbon handles using Morex's Ribbon to Bead.  The Ribbon to Bead has a wire end that makes threading beads super easy.

Lastly, I made a bow using a Mini Bowdabra and the Hair Bow Tool and Ruler.  The Hair Bow Tool and Ruler comes with an interactive CD that gives step-by-step instructions on how to make 70 different hair bows.  For this bow I made a 4" wide Boutique bow with tails.

For free step-by-step picture instructions on how to make a felt purse, along with a matching hair bow, and ribbon bracelet you can download the pdf at Crafters 4 Kids.  I am a designer at Crafters 4 Kids, it is a non-profit site dedicated to bringing arts and crafts to children.  Scroll down to the bottom of their Valentine's Day page and you will see the Felt Purse Set (instructions also include hair bow and bracelet). 

With any left over stiff felt you can make a Valentine embellished with lace and buttons. (Instructions for the Valentine are also available at Crafters 4 Kids.)

Valetine's Day Mini Bowdabra and Hair Bow Tool & Ruler Giveaway *Contest Closed*

As many of you know I am a designer for Crafts Unleashed.  All of the designers at Crafts Unleashed are participating in a Valentine's Day Home Decor Challenge.  The theme of the challenge is LOVE.

Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday to decorate my home. There are several reasons why I really enjoy Valentine’s Day Home Décor. First, my home has very dark furniture and the red and white really pop along the mantles, doors, and walls. The second, and probably the most important reason why I like Valentine’s Day so much is that it is low stress. There are no parties to plan for, no huge presents to buy. I usually decorate our home, make a few “love” themed snacks for the kids, and buy a mushy card for my husband. In return, I get hugs and kisses from my children and flowers from my husband; Valentine’s Day rocks!

This Valentine’s Day I wanted to create something unique. I “love” the look of rustic metal and mirrors together and I wanted to design a wall hanging using both mediums.

Visit Crafts Unleashed for step-by-step instructions and material list for making the Valentine's Day Metal Art Wall Hanging.

Then come back here to Sewing and Crafting with Sarah for Bonus Instructions on how I made the two identical bows for my wall hanging using the Mini Bowdabra and the Hair Bow Tool & Ruler.

I designed the Hair Bow Tool & Ruler to be used with the Mini Bowdabra to make hair bows.  The ruler comes with an interactive CD to make 70 different hair bows.  Using the step-by-step instructions in the interactive CD you can make hair bows like this:

One of the great things about the Hair Bow Tool and Ruler is that you don't only have to use it to just make hair bows.  You can use the ruler to make matching identical bows each and every time!

To make the bows for the Valentine's Day Metal Wall Art begin by collecting all your materials.  You will need a Mini Bowdabra, Hair Bow Tool & Ruler, Bowdabra Wire, 3/16 wide red ribbon, and accent trim.

 

Next, place the Hair Bow Tool & Ruler over the Mini Bowdabra.  Cut a piece of Bowdabra Wire 18" long and fold it in half.  Lay the wire into the Mini Bowdabra.

Start with the 3/16" ribbon and lay it into the Mini Bowdabra to form a 2" tail.

Fold the ribbon to form a 1.5" loop .

Fold the ribbon to form a 1.5" loop on the other side.  Cut the ribbon to form a 2" tail.

Next, add the accent trim to the Mini Bowdabra.  Form a 1.5" loop

Continue folding the accent trim back and forth until you have created as many loops as you want.  Cut the ribbon from the spool.

Next, scrunch down with the Mini Bowdabra wand.

Using the two ends of the Bowdabra Bow wire thread them through the loop at the opposite end.

Pull the Bowdabra Bow Wire tightly.

Remove the bow from the center of the Mini Bowdabra and bring the Bowdabra Bow Wire around to the back and tie it off.

Make two identical bows using the Mini Bowdabra and the Hair Bow Tool and Ruler.  Add finishing ribbon to the center or a charm.

Mini Bowdabra and Hair Bow Tool & Ruler Giveaway

For a chance to win a Mini Bowdabra and Hair Bow Tool & Ruler please leave a comment below.  Winner will be chosen at random.  Contest ends Monday, January 24th at 11:59pm eastern time.   Winner will be announced on Tuesday, January 25th. Open to US & Canadian residence only.

***Contest Closed***
The winner of the giveaway chosen at random is LesRn, who said...
That's a cool gadget!!I've never used anything like it but I'm already seeing the possibilities!!Thanks for the opportunity!!

LesRn please email me at: customerservice@sarahforhan.com with your mailing address. Consumer Crafts will then ship your prize package to you.

Thank all for making this a successful giveaway. Look for more giveaways coming shortly.

Valentine's Day Wreath

Save a few candy canes from the holidays to make this fun wreath for your door this Valentine's Day.  I originally made this wreath for Crafts Unleashed for their Christmas in July promotion.  I love this wreath so much I will be putting it up on my door for Valentine's Day.  I love the simplicity of this wreath, the uniqueness, and that it can be used for so many occasions!

For instructions on how to make this wreath visit my post over at Crafts Unleashed.  You can even follow the links on the post to order the products from Consumer Crafts.  Most importantly remember you must save those candy canes!  Or run to the store while they are 75% off!

Sarah Forhan - Craft Designer

Valentine's Day Classroom Craft - Personalized Charm Necklace

I have 17 little first graders that are depending on me to come up with an easy classroom craft for Valentine’s Day. I like the crafts to be mess-free (for the teachers), easy (because “hello” they are six yrs old), and personalized (for the children).

The craft I have planned is this fun personalized Valentine’s Day necklace that they can either keep or give to their mom or grandmother.

First, I plan to pass out small plastic cups filled with beads for each of the children. I will then pass out pre-cut lacing cord with one of the ends looped so that the beads will not fall off.

Children will have fun choosing their own necklace pattern and looking at the variety of beads. Once necklace cord is beaded I will come around and thread the lace cord thorough the loop and then loop the other end. The necklace can easily fit over the head and the two loops will keep the necklace from coming undone.

Lastly, I will surprise each of the students with their own personalized charm. I used their school pictures (often the school office keeps them on file) glued them onto scrapbooking paper and then onto stiff felt. I hole punched the sides to attach sparkly brads and the top to attach a lanyard hook.

Help children attach their charm to their necklace using the lanyard hooks. Lanyard hooks are very easy to pinch open so they may not need help.

Valetine's Day - Chocolate Hershey Roses

Bringing chocolate and roses together into one is the perfect combination!

I have seen many different instructions to make chocolate roses but I needed to design one that was simple and elegant. I made over a hundred of these roses for a baby shower a year ago and that is why I came up with these roses. I needed a design that was not too time consuming.

There are many different variations that can be done to make these roses perfect for many occasions (just change the ribbon color): baby showers (boy or girl), bridal showers, weddings, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, and (of course) Valentine’s Day!


Materials Needed:
• Floral Stems
• Floral Tape
• Foiled Hershey Kisses
• Saran Wrap
• Ribbon for Roses
• Foliage (optional)
• Tissue Paper (optional)

Instructions:

Place two Hershey Kisses bottom to bottom. Put them in the middle of a piece of Saran Wrap approximately 6 inches long by 2 inches wide. Tightly wrap the kisses along the top. Place a floral stem at the bottom and finish wrapping the kisses with the Saran Wrap; including the tip of the floral stem.

Hold everything together by wrapping the base of a kiss and the top of floral stem with floral tape. Wrap tightly.

Cut a piece of ribbon 10 inches long. Fold down a corner of the ribbon forming a triangle. Start with the end point of the triangle and fold it around the base of the bottom Hershey Kiss. Holding the ribbon tightly continue to wrap around the kisses. To form the petals of the ribbon twist the ribbon when wrapping. Once the petals are completely formed take the end piece of ribbon and fold it down towards the base of the flower.

Wrap floral tape around the entire base of the flower securing the end pieces of ribbon.

Add foliage and ribbon to the roses for a nice finished look.



 For More Valentine's Day Post:

Valentine's Day - Easy Inexpensive Gifts for all Ages 

Valentine's Day Home Decor Crafts 

To learn more about me:

About Me: My Crafty Side 

Valentine's Day - Easy Inexpensive Gifts for all Ages

Valentine’s Day is a holiday to express your love and affection through cards and gifts. It is a time to express your love through “heart”-felt gifts not necessarily expensive gifts. The most wonderful gift you can give someone is something that was made from your “heart”.

Bath Salt - placed in a sheer bag and decorated with different ribbons. Your loved one can take a hot bath and relax with bath salt in the tub.

Tea Bags – placed in a decorated canning jar. Attach X’s and O’s to the end of the tea bags. Visit C4K555.org and print out the X’s and O’s templates in the printer friendly instructions.

Listed Below is: Classroom projects and gifts for children to give to their parents or grandparents.

Valentine’s Day Card with Heart Pin 

Valentine’s Day Card Holder

Valentine’s Day Beaded Bracelet

Visit C4K555.org click on the side bar entitled, "Valentine's Day" to download the craft instructions.

Visit related blog posts:  Valentine's Day Home Decor Crafts, Crafters 4 Kids