CRAFTY VISIONS
NEWSLETTER
Volume ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March/April 1998
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Spring is finally here (at least it is in North Carolina, USA)! All the beauty in nature is an inspiration to get creative. Please enjoy the wonderful craft ideas we have for you in this issue including Mother Nature herself! Enjoy and have a blessed Easter season. And as always thank you for reading the Crafty Visions Newsletter. Also please take some time to visit our contributors websites or send them an e-mail. With out them this newsletter would not exist. Sincerely, PS If you want a condensed copy of this newsletter e-mailed to you, send a request to cvmar_apr98@wwvisions.com. And, if you have not subscribed to this newsletter, please fill out
our
SEASONAL CRAFTS Spring Spring Bunny Painted T-Shirtdesign and sample by Kim Fortin
Materials:
Instructions:Trace the pattern and apply to the front of the T-shirt. You may outline the entire picture with the fine line black pen if you wish but to give definition you should outline the carrots. Beginning with the color of your bunny paint his head and ears, his arms and his feet allowing him to dry before moving to the next color. Paint the whites of the eyes, paint the inner ears and mouth pink and the carrot tops and grass green. Again allow to dry thoroughly. Paint the carrots orange and allow to dry. Paint the iris of the eyes blue and outline and detail his eyebrows, eyes, nose, whiskers, mouth and markings on the carrots using the fine line black pen. When completely dry go back with white and place the highlight in the blue area of his eyes on the right approximately at 1:00 to 2:00 o'clock. Pin the bow just below the bunny's chin through the t-shirt. Carrot Earringsby Bluebonnet Crafters
Materials:
Instructions:Take a piece of Bread Dough or Fimo approximately the size of two English peas and shape it into a cylinder around the eye pin beginning about 1/2" down from the eye. Shape and firm into an elongated cylinder tapering to a point at the bottom to look like a carrot. Using the toothpick make small horizontal markings to give your carrot a realistic look. Flatten a piece of green clay and cut three leaves from the clay and attach them above the carrot around the exposed part of the eye pin. Cure following manufacturers' directions on the Polymer clays and air dry for the bread dough. When thoroughly dry the bread dough should have one or two light coats of water based varnish to protect. Hook the eye pin onto the earring findings. Faux Faberge Egg
by Bluebonnet Crafters Materials:
Instructions:Preparing the stand: Begin by making a stand for your egg. Place the four wheel beads one on top of the other joining them together with craft glue. Glue this stack of four beads on top of the semi flattened bead cap. Place the second flattened bead cap on the other end of your stack of wheels. One of the bead caps will be flattened enough to allow the eggs base to be glued to it. Preparing the egg: Lightly sand the entire exterior of the egg, the interior of the top of the egg and the upper edge of the bottom half of the egg. You need sand only enough to slightly roughen the surface. You may paint the egg or leave it the natural color of the plastic egg. Glue a string of beads, pearls, lace or decorative cord around the outside opening of both halves of the egg. Around the inside of each opening glue a second piece of trim to compliment the one on the outside. On the outside continue adding rows of pearls, beads and trims of your choice to completely cover the outside of the egg. Completely cover the inside of the top of the egg with craft glue and add irredescent glitter or Bead-It Beads to cover (it is better to over fill, tip and roll the egg half so the glitter is well distributed). Repeat this with the inside upper half of the lower egg. Place craft glue into the bottom of the lower half, add Spanish or sheet moss. Arrange a bird nest, butterfly, etc. as a small scene glued into the moss. Glue the top part of the egg to the bottom in the hinge area using the hinge hardware or the optional fabric hinge attachment applied with craft glue. The egg top should be at a 45 degree angle to the bottom. It may facilitate holding to glue the large bead in the angle between the bottom and the top half of the egg as a brace. Allow to dry thoroughly and glue the egg in place on the stand. Optional: After placing a row of trim around the outside and inside of each opening the remainder of the egg can be decorated the same as the inside top in the above application.
Crafty Tips
Our Featured Artist - Kim FortinCreations by Kim is the business owned by Kim Fortin who provided us with the bunny pattern for this issues' wearable art project. Kim is a gifted artist that has chosen to display her artistic talents in hand crafted original fashions and accessories. This busy mother of two, a son Justin and her daughter Allison, still finds time to work as a sales rep for Diamond Apparel Inc. http://www.diamondapparel.com Kim began painting her original designs on the vest, shirt and denim products from Daimond Apparel. The company was so impressed with her work they hired her to do some samples for them which eventually progressed into her becoming a sales rep for the company. Kim tells us there is no minimum order required. You can request a catalog from her by calling toll free 1-800-388-7171. Our project bunny directions are for a t-shirt but he would be equally at home on a denim vest. Give Kim a call, e-mail or visit her web site http://www.geocities.com/FashionAvenue/4124/vests.html
In this feature, we invite readers to ask a crafting question. Questions will be printed in each issue. We then would like for anyone who has an answer to these questions to please send them to laurieann@ivisions.com . In the following issue, we will print the questions, the answers we received, and new questions for you to answer. Please submit your crafting questions to laurieann@ivisions.com Answers To Last Month's Question: Question 1. Hello fellow crafters. . .Happy Holidays! Here's the question....I have saved up a whole bag full of the M & M mini containers thinking there is surely a good Christmas project or other project that my grandkids can use them for. Any suggestions??? , Jill Answer - From: Terry Have the kids (or do it yourself) wrap each of those little M&M boxes in very bright, Christmas papers...use several different ones. Tie a little ribbon around or glue a bow on each one. Use a foam or cardboard cut out of a wreath to glue lots of the decorated boxes on. You'll need to overlap and/or stack some of them. You should have a lovely wreath of gifts! Question 2. I am wondering if anyone has a craft or idea for decorating with family photographs. Kathie Answers
Please submit your question to laurieann@ivisions.com
DOLL CORNER
By Diane Lewis Spring is here! Brought to you by none other than - Mother Nature! And we are bringing her to you! This Mother Nature Doll depicts her as a fresh, younger than springtime figure. She stand just about 12 inches high and is decked out in the latest spring fashions! The pattern offers easy construction and endless possibilities for embellishment. So let Mother Nature take her course right into your sewing rooms! She is sure to put a spring in your step! Materials Needed:
Directions: Starting with the Arms! The simplest way to sew these kind of parts is to mark the pattern directly on the fabric and sew before cutting. Be sure to leave open the area indicated so you will be able to turn the piece and stuff it. To close you will simply hand stitch. Use a small stitch setting on your machine. Trace two arms on a piece of muslin that is two layers thick. Sew around outline and then cut out, trimming to about 1/8 inch seam allowance. To turn the thumb you might chose to first put a dab of Fray Check on the tip of the thumb and let it dry. This will allow you to trim the fabric very close to the stitch line without having it fray or tear. Once arms are turned, begin stuffing with small amounts of fiberfill. Stuff the thumb and then, using a enough stuffing to give the hand a flat mitten look, stitch the fingers in place following the finger stitch lines. Continue to stuff the arm, using small bits of fill at a time and packing firmly as you go. Once the limb is firmly stuffed, sew the opening shut by hand. Constructing the Body Begin by tracing the pattern directly on your fabric. You will need to cut out the patterns giving yourself a 1/4inch seam allowance. It is very important that you be as accurate as you can to maintain the shape of the body. Sew the front seam of the body front together. Do the same for the back pattern, being careful to remember to leave the opening for stuffing. Once you have the front and back panel sewn, press open the seam. This will not only give the doll a smoother finish, it will make it easier to hand stitch the back closed. With right sides together, match and pin the front and back together. Sew around the entire doll, leaving the neck open. Once the body is firmly stuffed, hand sew the back opening closed. Making The Head Trace the head pattern on the fabric and sew. Even this piece is easier to sew before it is cut from the material. Once the head is cut and trimmed, hand sew a running stitch around the top of the head. This is will be gathered to close the head after it is stuffed. It's easier to sew it before it is stuffed, so leave the needle and thread in tact. Stuff the head firmly. Pull the running stitch to close head and secure it with a few extra stitches and a good strong knot. The face can be drawn on the doll either before or after it is sewn and stuffed. Whenever you do it, be sure that the eyes are about at the halfway point of the face. I did the face after the head was sewn and stuffed. Her eyes and mouth were done with pigma pens. Her blush was applied with a sponge and regular blush. The nose was done with a peach colored pencil and shaded and highlighted using eye shadow and dry foundation make-up. This works much like pastels but is more forgiving and always available in the right shades! Attaching Arms To make Mother Nature's arms pose-able you will need a long needle and really strong thread. I used a "doll sculpting needle" which is about 4 inches long. The thread I used is called "carpet thread." Lightly mark the Attachment points on the arms. Securely knot a double strand of thread that is about 18 inches long. You want to make this long enough so that you don't run out of thread before you are done lacing it through the body twice. Beginning with the inside of the arm, sew through and then back out the arm. Now you are going to sew through the body to the other "arm pit." Continue through the second arm. You should now be on the outside of the second arm, kind of where she would have a vaccination or where the other mark is. Run the needle back through the arm and through the body all the way threw the first arm. Make sure that the arms are positioned in the "socket " and pull the thread tight. Knot and secure. Don't be afraid to pull tight. If you have really tough thread like carpet thread your won't have any problems with breakage. You should now have moveable arms! If you choose to, you may simply pose the arms where you want them and sew in place. I wanted her hands to be more expressive so I bent them slightly at the wrists and simply sewed a few stitches to secure them in the position I wanted. Attaching the Head Fold the raw edges of neck in. Using your finger, "drill" a hole in the stuffing in the neck opening and stick the neck in. Position the face in relation to the body and stitch the neck to the body. The Dress The dress is made with two pieces of chiffon, each 12 by 22 inches. One piece forms the dress part and the other piece forms the "bodice." Drape a piece of chiffon over her shoulder, toga style. Take the second piece of chiffon and gather or bunch it slightly so it will act like a "rope." Tie a knot in the center, like you would a scarf. Drape it over the shoulder positioning the knot in front. Wrap the two ends of the chiffon around the doll and simply tuck in the ends, creating the bodice. Arrange the dress part of the toga so the bent leg is exposed through the side slit. This costume is so easy to do and there is virtually no sewing unless you want to do a rolled hem on the edge of the chiffon. The chiffon falls beautifully and you can gather and tuck these two simple pieces of fabric to create a beautiful costume. The Hair The hair can be either sewn or glued on. Silk flowers are easy to work with and can give Mother Nature a coif she deserves! Undies! This Mother Nature is, in all modesty, wearing a silk fig leaf under her dress! I hope you enjoy making this doll. My best wishes for a lovely Spring! Diane Lewis The following items needed for Mother Nature can be found online at Sisters and Daughters, Inc Muslin - Springmaid Range Finder Muslin If you have any questions please contact me at: Diane@SistersAndDaughters.com
NOTE: To print only the doll instructions please click HERE. Diane is also a member of the Friends of Cloth Dolls mailing list. If you want to find out more information on the group please check out their website at http://TheDollNet.com/friends/
Crafty KidsMosaic Butterflyby Bluebonnet Crafters
An after Easter project using saved broken colored egg shells Materials:
Instructions: Trace the picture above onto the cardboard. Outline each line with a bead of tacky glue. Allow to dry and color with a black marker. Spread one section of the butterfly at a time with craft glue. Pace the broken pieces of egg shell into the craft glue fitting them as close together as possible. You can break the shells into smaller pieces to completely fill one area. Proceed to cover the whole butterfly in this manner. Set aside to dry. The children can use the colors as they wish mixing them within a section or making a section all one color as they choose. The body of the butterfly and the antennae should be black as well as a thick line around the outside of the wings. When completely dry cut around the butterfly shape on the outside edge of the black line. Glue the magnet to the back of the butterfly. Bunny Finger Puppetsby Bluebonnet Crafters
Materials:
Instructions: Trace the picture onto the felt and cut two body pieces, 2 ear shapes
and 2 inner ear shapes. Using a satin stitch embroider the two eyes in
blue and the nose in pink. Add stem stitch lines for the mouth on one body
piece of felt. Place the two body pieces wrong sides together and blanket stitch around the outside from the flat bottom around to the bottom on the other side. Glue the inner ear in the center of the outer ear and stitch both ears to the top of the body using the picture for positioning. Beaded Heart Barretteby Bluebonnet Crafters Materials:
Instructions: Insert one end of the rattail cord through the clip end of the barrette and even the ends. Alternating the three colors string 8 beads onto both cords. Thread one cord through the hole end of the barrette. Tie a double knot over the hole. String three beads on each cord using the same color sequence as you did on the barrette. Knot the end of each cord below the final bead.
Kitchen Craftsby Bluebonnet Crafters Bunnies & Candy Flowers Decorated CupcakesMaterials:
Instructions: Bake and cool the cupcakes. Prepare the frosting and use a small
amount as the glue for your bunnies and flowers. Set the rest aside covered
to keep it fresh. Prepare the bunny and flower decorations.When finished
frost the cupcakes and place your decorations into the freshly spread frosting.
To build a bunny place a large marshmallow on its' side and using frosting as the glue throughout place a second one on top of the first. Snip a small triangle of pink or red gumdrop for a nose and position it on the top marshmallow. Add two thin lines of snipped gumdrop for a mouth and half a jelly bean for each eye. Cut a large marshmallow in quarters and attach to the top of the bunnies head for ears. A miniature marshmallow is placed at the bottom back of the lower large marshmallow for his tail and two more are placed on the front as his feet. Option: You can use a broken toothpick to join the marshmallows together
forming your bunny but if for children use just the frosting. To make the gumdrop flowers place a gumdrop between two pieces of sugared waxed paper. Roll and turn as you would for pie crust until you have the gumdrop approximately 1/8" thick. Cut the shape of the petals out of the gumdrop, add a half a jellybean as the center and set aside to add to the cupcakes. Using the cut off portions of the gumdrop cut them in short snips and place them in the center of a different color gumdrop standing them on end to make the second type flower. Arrange five jellybeans in a circle on a scrap of gumdrop and stand one different color jellybean on end in the middle to form a third flower. Using these as a beginning continue to design your own candy flowers and decorate the tops of your cupcakes. Deviled Egg GiftsUsing your favorite deviled egg recipe make your deviled eggs. Place two halves together to reform the egg shape. Wrap in the colored plastic wrap and arrange on a serving plate. These are ideal for an Easter picnic.
General Craftsby Bluebonnet Crafters Spring Basket CenterpieceMaterials:
Instructions: Place the foam in the bottom of the basket and from the outside of
the basket place a greening pin dipped in craft glue through the basket
into the foam to anchor it in place. Spread your craft glue over the foam
and cover with sheet or Spanish moss. Begin with the tallest flower or greenery in the center and gradually decrease the height to the outer edge forming a mound or half ball look to the flowers. Option: You can add plant pokes or bees, butterflies, etc. as you like. Special Day Markers
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