St. Patrick's Day Centerpiece

When I think of St. Patrick's Day I immediately think four leaf clovers, gold, and green. I try never to think about those creepy little leprechauns! They give me the chills!

I wanted to design a table centerpiece that would look cute on my table without blocking anyone's view. I hate those big centerpieces that don't let you see anyone else at the table. I wanted something simple and fun.

Materials Needed:

• Foam Green Discs Item #01071P
• Silver Tulle Item #2913-25
• Apple Green Tulle Item #2913-41
• Pearlized Stamens Item #02PFS-21-P
• Corsage Pins 2.5″ Item # 38006
• Silver Bowdabra Bow Wire Item # BOW3060
• Brass Head Pin Item #1880-12
• Green Seed Bead Item# 1101-43
• Double Gypso Faux Flower Spray Item #DS-104-00
• Florist Wire Lime Item #1186-51
• 24 gauge Jewelry Wire Item #32030-4

Instructions:

1. I began by following the Tulle Flower Tutorial to make four green and silver tulle flowers. Please note I omitted the floral leaves.

2. Next, I used the Cutting Styrofoam Tutorial to cut 4 hearts and a clover stem. I then glued the pieces together with tacky glue, and let dry. I used the tacky glue liberally and waited an entire day for it to dry.

3. Once the glue was dry I used a hot glue gun to attach green ribbon around the edges of the clover. The hot glue worked really well to attach the ribbon to the Styrofoam, however, experiment first with a scrap piece of Styrofoam because often the hot glue will melt the Styrofoam. When using the hot glue run a thin bead of glue along the Styrofoam and immediately attach the ribbon.

4. Now, place the tulle flowers into the center of the Styrofoam clover. Then using white petals that you disassembled from a faux flower spray (item #DS-104-00) attach them to the Styrofoam using brass head pins threaded with small green seed beads.



5. Place the small flowers with bead centers around the entire floral arrangement.



6. Next, form a clover from the lime green florist wire. Forming the clover is a delicate process. First, begin by unraveling several feet of the wire and then slowly start to form the clover. To form the indents on each clover petal use something hard like the edge of a screw driver. Complete the clover by wrapping the floral wire with jewelry wire and small green seed beads.



7. Finish the arrangement by inserting the wire clover into the center of your arrangement. Place the floral arrangement on your table as a St. Patty's Day Centerpiece.




Original Post Published at Crafts Unleashed by Sarah Forhan
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How to Cut Styrofoam

Day 4 of National Craft Month!

Styrofoam is a wonderful craft tool for floral arrangements, but how do you cut it? Cutting Craft Styrofoam really depends on how thick it is. For thicker Styrofoam an electric knife (you know the kind you would use to cut the turkey at Thanksgiving) works great. For thinner Styrofoam, ones that are only one inch thick or less, a serrated bread knife works awesome.

First, begin by tracing out your pattern on a scrap piece of paper.

Next, mark your pattern onto the Styrofoam with a blunt instrument, I used a metal chopstick but the tip of a paint brush would work well, also.

Begin by cutting the straight edges first. To not damage your work surface-be sure to use a cutting board or cutting mat.

To finish the design slowly cut the curves of the Styrofoam running your knife along the edge at an angle.

Several pieces of Styrofoam can be glued together or even stacked one on top of the other to form a design.

To purchase the Styrofoam seen here along with other sizes visit Consumer Crafts.

This weekend only at Consumer Crafts 

Saturday, March 5th, 2011 and Sunday, March 6th, 2011

National Craft Month Day 2 - Decorating Your Banister

I love to decorate my banister according to a current holiday or season.  First and foremost, I want something that I can easily put up and take down without ruining my banister.  Secondly, I want something that just makes me happy every time I see it!

I am a Bowdabra designer and I use my Bowdabra to make all of my bows.  I decided to make some simple loopy bows first, next stack some green wire garland on top to form a four-leaf clover, and lastly I added a green pom pom for the center.  The greatest thing about this bow is that I was able to make it all in one easy step inside of my Bowdabra.

1. To begin cut and dove-tail the ends of two strands of ribbon long enough to fit the length of your banister, with tails hanging down.

2. Next, place a 24" strand of Bowdabra Bow Wire folded in half into the Bowdabra.  Then place the two ribbons into the Bowdabra at the spot that you want your first bow to be located. 

3. Then using the same ribbons or coordinating ribbons make several loops using the Bowdabra to hold it all in place.

4. Then using green wire garland place it into the Bowdabra so that you have two loops.  Place more wire green garland into the Bowdabra to form two more additional loops for a total of four wire loops.

5. Next, place a green yarn pom pom in the center of the Bowdabra.  Yes, the yarn pom pom fits great into the Bowdabra!  It makes the perfect centerpiece for your bow!

6. Scrunch the bow down with your Bowdabra and then tie it all together with your Bowdabra Bow Wire.  Thread the two Bowdabra Bow Wire tails through the wire loop and pull tightly to hold your bow firmly together.

7. Take the bow out of the Bowdabra and twist and tie the Bowdabra Bow Wire.  Fluff the bow and form the garland clover.  To form the clover; take each garland loop and place it north, east, south, and west.  Next, press with your finger into the center of the garland wire forming a heart.

8. Make an additional bow for the other side of the banister.  Place the ribbon tails into the Bowdabra at the point you want to start your next bow.

9. Attach your bows to the banister using the left-over Bowdabra Bow Wire on the back of each bow.

Stay tuned tomorrow for another post for National Craft Month.

St. Patrick's Day Jewelry using Blue Moon Beads

I want to make some little trinkets to go into the little St. Patrick's Day Treasure Box I made for my daughter.

I really like Blue Moon Beads especially their Lost & Found Collection.  The Lost & Found Collection is very easy to design with and requires very little jewelry making skill.  To purchase Blue Moon Beads visit AllCraftSupplies.com and browse their Beads Category.

I purchased three 18" Chain Necklaces and six metal charms all from The Lost & Found Collection.








 

I began by making a St. Patrick's Day Four Leaf Clover Necklace.  The only materials I need to add the charm to the necklace is needle nose pliers and some jump rings.  I began by opening the jump ring up with the pliers and attaching it to the charm.

I add two more jump rings; with the last connecting onto the necklace.  This necklace was very easy to make and cost under $7.00 (not including the cost of the pliers).

Next, I made a St. Patrick's Day Pin using ribbon and a Blue Moon Lost and Found Clover Charm.

First I began by threading (like an accordion) 5/8 wide ribbon onto a coil-less pin.

I threaded the ribbon onto the front of the pin until it was entirely covered and then I twisted it to give it a fun shape.

I then attached four jump rings onto the center of the pin and lastly attached the clover charm.











Disclosure

St. Patrick's Day Teddy Bear Giveaway

Announcing the first of many giveaways for Sewing and Crafting with Sarah!  This week I will be giving away a St. Patrick's Day Teddy Bear with Bow Tie (made by me).

The St. Patrick's Day Teddy Bear is 8.5 inches high when sitting down.  It is made using green fleece (super soft) and has movable arms and legs.  I added a St. Patrick's Day Bow Tie which is removable and can be replaced with a red ribbon for Christmas. This bear makes the perfect gift for a child or can be used as a seasonal home decor item.

• Contest will end Sunday March 7th at 5pm (EST) and winner will be announced Monday, March 8th.
• This contest is open to everyone (as long as you live in the US or Canada) and you can participate multiple times.

Ways to participate:

1. Sign-Up for Sewing and Crafting with Sarah Facebook Fan Page and leave a comment below.
2. Sign-Up for Google Friend Connect upper left corner and leave a comment below that you are a member.
3. Subscribe to my feed upper right and leave a comment below.
4. Join my mailing list upper right and leave a comment below that you joined.
5. Check out Crafters4Kids (http://c4k555.org) and tell me which of the St. Patrick's Day Kid's Crafts that you like the best.
6. Browse my St. Patrick's Day Crafts and tell me which one you like best and why.

Helpful Hints: To participate multiple times; every time you sign-up for one of the four services I offer or you visit http://c4k555.org, leave a comment.  For instance, leave a comment that reads: "I signed up on your Facebook Fan Page" and then another comment, "I signed up for Google Friend Connect".  If you are already a member of my Facebook Fan Page, email list, site feed, or Google Friend Connect just leave a comment of what you are a member of.

One comment will be chosen at random, check back on Monday, March 8th to see if you won!  Winner is then responsible to contact me by Wednesday, March 10th with their shipping address.  If I do not hear from the winner by the end of the day on the 10th winner will forfeit their prize.

Good luck and Happy St. Patrick's Day.

St. Patrick's Day Treasure Box

What I love about St. Patrick’s Day is that it is just so magical. The allure of fairies and Leprechauns just makes it so fun for children! I designed a little treasure box using Perler Beads and a recycled chicken bouillon container.

The night before Saint Patrick’s Day children should leave their treasure boxes out. In the morning children will awake to their treasure boxes being filled with mysterious treasures from the magical world of fairies, pots of gold, and Leprechauns. The trinkets are little though, because the Leprechauns are tiny; their small hands cannot carry big treasures.

Follow the instructions below for the perfect small treasure box to hold tiny magical trinkets. Gold glitter was added to the treasure box to attract Leprechauns because they love gold!

Materials Needed:
Washed and Cleaned Chicken Bouillon Container or Similar Style Container with a Screw Lid 
Perler Beads
Perler Peg Boards (round and square)
Ribbon
Gold Glitter Glue
Glue Dots

Instructions:

1. Begin by forming the clover using Perler Beads and a Perler Square Peg Board.
2. Finish clover according to the manufacture's finishing instructions (ironing both sides).
3. Using gold glitter glue draw the four clover leaves onto the Perler Bead Clover Shape.

4. Form a circle using Perler Beads and a Perler Circle Peg Board.
5. Finish circle according to the manufacture's finishing instructions (ironing both sides).

6. Attach ribbon around the sides of the container, use glue dots to attach the clover to the front and the circle shape to the top.  Finish the treasure box with gold glitter glue around the edges.






Look for future posts on how to make small magical trinkets; for now read my review and helpful hints for working with Perler Beads.

Click on the ad below to purchase Perler Beads from All Craft Supplies.
Disclosure

St. Patrick's Day Kid's Crafts by Crafters4Kids

I am very proud of the kid-friendly crafts that I designed for Crafters4Kids (http://c4k555.org) for Saint Patrick's Day.  The goal of Crafters4Kids is to provide easy, inexpensive, simple to make crafts that parents can do with their children.   C4K555.org provides step-by-step pictures with instructions for all of their crafts.  They are available for download in picture format or in an easy printer friendly version.

Visit http://c4k555.org and click St. Patrick's Day Crafts for all of the St. Pat's Day craft tutorials.

A few of my favorite crafts are the Magic Leprechaun Wand and the Leprechaun Treat Hat.  I think the idea of Leprechauns is such magical fun thing for children.  These crafts incorporated with a Leprechaun Fairy Tale would make a wonderful lesson plan for the classroom, home-schoolers, or just a fun afternoon "craft time" with a parent.  I recommend "Jack and the Leprechaun" by Ivan Robertson, here is an online opinion of the book and a storyline.

 

How to Make a St. Patrick's Day Woven Yarn Purse

I live in New Hampshire and the last couple of days we have had large power outages and heavy snow. What did I do with no television or electricity; I made a woven yarn St. Patrick’s Day purse, with a marabou trim, and a beaded handle?

I used the Woven Ribbon Purse Instructions I designed a couple of days ago and replaced the ribbon with yarn.
  
I took step-by-step pictures of the yarn purse while I was making it. Follow the instructions for making the Woven Ribbon Purse and use the pictures below for guidance.

1. Cut a piece of corrugated cardboard 8 inches wide by 6 inches. Along the top of the cardboard cut slits every 1/2 inch. You should have a total of 15 slits across the top. Then on the bottom right hand corner ¼ inch from the edge cut another slit.



 

2. To begin weaving start at the first slit on the top left. Measure your yarn 2 inches in and place it through the slit at the 2 inch mark.

 3. Wrap the yarn completely around your cardboard loom; back to front and through the first slit. Next, pull the yarn across the back to the second slit. Then, front to back and through the second slit, again. Next, pull the yarn across the front to the third slit. This time back to front through the third slit, again. With each slit alternate front to back forming loops across every other slit.

4. Finish the loom by pulling the yarn down from the fifteenth slit to the bottom right slit. You should have 15 strips of yarn on the front and 16 strips of yarn on the back.





(back of the cardboard has 16 strips - two strips of yarn are in one slot)

5. Weave the yarn in and out on both sides using a weaving needle.  If you want to change the color of the yarn or when you run out of yarn tie the ends together.

6. Weave the yarn to the very top of the cardboard template.

7. Fold the edges of the cardboard template and separate the cardboard from the woven yarn purse.

8. Attach green marabou using a double strand piece of yarn and loop the marabou onto the edge of the purse.

9. Attach the marabou around the entire perimeter of the woven yarn purse.

10. Using a double strand of yarn, knot it on the side of the purse and thread large eyed beads onto the yarn.  Helpful Hint: Tape the end of the yarn for a stiff end for threading the beads.

11. Tie the yarn end on the other side of the purse and knot.  Helpful Hint: Push the frayed ends of the yarn towards the inside of the purse for  a nice finished look.