Children have been crafting gifts for mom at Mother's Day since the dawn of age.
We've gotten tissue paper flowers, homemade cards and lots of other things. No, I'm not saying these things aren't appreciated or lovely and unique in their own ways. Some of the things children have crafted are quite unbelievably gorgeous and I don't know one mom that isn't bowled over to get the occasional dandelion from a little one.
I just think it's time to get the older child involved and maybe make something really different for mom for Mother's Day. So I've gotten instructions together for one or two.
The really cool part is you can teach mom how to make them too.
Homemade Screen Print
You'll need:
Materials:
* Wood or plastic embroidery hoop
* Sheer curtain panel (you can get one at the dollar store or yard sale-one panel goes a LONG way)
* Screen printing ink - any color or as many colors as you want
* White school glue or Mod Podge for fabric
* Flat paint brush
* Sheet of paper for your design
* Cardboard
* Cotton bag or t-shirt or apron or anything you want your print design on
* Scissors
* Pencil
Take your sheer curtain panel and fasten it into the embroidery hoop. Screw it closed and pull the curtain really REALLY tight.
Turn your hoop over and cut off the extra curtain material. Pull your material that's left on the hoop taut again.
Take the paper and lightly trace the outline of the embroidery hoop.You can either hand draw something, use a design from a coloring book or print clip art off the computer (remember,KISS---Keep it stylish and simple---just be sure it fits INSIDE that circle).With your pencil trace your design right onto the panel in the embroidery hoop. Turn the hoop over once again.
Using the brush, paint glue or Mod Podge for fabric on your screen where you DON'T want the ink to go through. This is called the " resist " because it resists the ink coming through the screen. Let dry completely, then add a few more layers to be sure it's completely covered, letting dry between coats.
Place the cardboard between any layers of the object you're going to print to make sure the ink doesn't bleed through.
Center the design and hoop where you wish to print, directly down on item.
Using a clean brush, paint Screen Printing Ink in your design that has no " resist ". Let dry.
Remove your embroidery hoop screen from your project.
Touch up any spots with ink if you need. Let dry.
Heat set----lightly blow with blow dryer on low for about 15-20 minutes or toss in the dryer on permanent press setting for 15-20 minutes.
Tip: Wash out the ink from your screen and you can reuse it to make the design on something else.
Reverse Collage Tray
You'll need:
* Gift wrap with any assortment of pictures or motifs you choose
* Tissue paper (complementary colors to your gift wrap)
* 16"x20" (or smaller, if you like) wooden picture frame with glass
* Color paper strips (complementary color to gift wrap and tissue paper)
* White school glue or decoupage glue
* Sponge paintbrush
* 2 drawer handles and screws
* Drill with bit to match handle screw size
Determine placement of handles on side pieces of frame and mark with a pencil. Remove glass from frame and drill through frame where marked. Return glass to frame and set hardware aside.
Cut motifs from gift wrap, as many or as few as you wish. Tear tissue paper into odd-shaped pieces of various sizes.
Place frame and glass wrong side up on work surface. Working over small area at a time, apply a coat of glue to back of glass.
Brush a coat of glue on right side of motif. Press motif into glue. Add a coat of glue on top, pressing out any air bubbles.
Tip: Use the tip of a wooden craft stick to press out the air bubbles.
Repeat to apply additional motifs until desired effect is achieved.
Tip: Flip right side up to check.
Coat entire surface with glue and place or sprinkle color paper strips into glue. Crumple 1 piece of tissue paper.
Flatten, leaving some of the wrinkles. Place tissue paper into the glue-covered area, covering the cutouts.
Brush a coat of glue on top of the tissue paper, wrinkling to add texture until the entire surface is covered. Let glue dry.
Attach handles securely to frame with screws.
What a surprise for mom to be served breakfast in bed on Mother's Day on a tray made especially for her!
My own children crafted these when they were teens. It allowed them to express their creativity without making them feel too juvenile. These craft ideas are simple yet elegant. You can make it as complex or as simple as you want. The thing is to make it your own and have fun along the way.
Have Fun Crafting!
No comments:
Post a Comment