Tag: arts and crafts

10 Days of Harry Potter: Personalized Owl Craft

Are you looking for inspiration for Harry Potter themed crafts to celebrate his birthday on July 31st? Create an owl or other animal from felt cut-outs.

At Hogwarts, you can bring an animal. As J.K. Rowling’s character Hagrid states, “Tell, yeh what, I’ll get your animal. Not a toad, toads went outta fashion years ago, yeh’d be laughed at-an, I don’t like cats, they make me sneeze. I’ll get yer owl. All the kids want owls, they’re dead useful. carry yer mail an everything.'” (Rowling, 1998). So what would you bring?

Felt Owl Craft

The felt owl craft is an easy project. With a little assistance, even the youngest family members can create a personalized felt owl.

Material Needed:

  • Pre-cut felt animal shapes or felt to cut (Note: the pre-cut owl shapes are stiffer which makes gluing items on the material easier)
  • Googly eyes
  • Feathers
  • Yarn pieces
  • Material scraps
  • Tacky glue
  • Sequins
  • Paint or permanent markers
  • Pom-pons
  • Pipe cleaners
  1. Gather your desired materials.
  2. Create your personalized owl by gluing desired materials on to the felt cut-out.
  3. Allow your pet creation to dry for at least 24-hours.
  4. Display proudly.

Creating one-of-a-kind owls or other animals is the best part of this easy Harry Potter inspired craft.

 

 

Reference:

Rowling, J. K. (1998). Harry Potter and the sorcerer’s stone. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books

 

Art Ideas: Collages

When making a collage, there is no set pattern to follow. Every art collage is unique with various materials. Yes, you can make up theme collages. For instance, make a collage with all red items or one with nothing but pictures of your favorite animals. Still, each collage is a personal piece of art.

Collage Base

The base of the collage is simply the area where you glue your various objects. Everyday school glue works well for collage art projects. You can use regular glue, glitter glue or glow in the dark glue to add special touches to your art

Now, the base can be a plain piece of paper or any of the following.

  • Cardboard box
  • Shoebox
  • Small wooden box
  • Piece of wood
  • Egg cartons
  • Posterboard (use different sizes or colors)
  • Card stock
  • Canvas

The choice of the base is completely up to you.

Collage Material

Finding items to glue on to your base is easy. In fact, many things are probably in your home right now.

Check out the following list below to find the perfect combination for your next collage project.

  • Yarn pieces
  • Feathers
  • Pipe cleaner pieces
  • Sequins
  • Beads
  • Fabric pieces
  • Confetti
  • Geometric shapes from fabric or construction paper
  • Beans
  • Noodles
  • Cereal
  • Rice
  • Egg or nutshells
  • Pieces of ribbon
  • Toothpicks
  • Foil pieces or strips
  • Buttons
  • Straw pieces
  • Leaves
  • Burlap pieces
  • Ric-rac
  • Small seashells
  • Cotton balls
  • Pompons
  • Stickers
  • Magazine pictures
  • Pieces of corrugated cardboard
  • Used stamps

Are you ready to start your collage project? Are you going to have a theme? Or simply begin gluing items on a base?

 

Self-Care at Home

Whether you are self-isolating, quarantined, social distancing, or just an introvert that does not leave the house, self-care is essential to your well-being. Check out the following for self-care activities to do at home.

  • Stay Hydrated: Drink lots of water.
  • Sleep: Leave the alarm off, sleep in for an extra half hour, or take an afternoon nap. The extra rest is good for you.
  • Read a Book: Dive into that stack of unread books. Or take the time to read a book to your family.
  • Bake: Make a homemade meal, bake cookies, or special dessert.
  • Unplug: Yes, stay informed during the crisis. But do not spend all day on the Internet or social media. Give yourself a break from the steady bombardment of information.
  • Take a Virtual Tour: Numerous museums, art galleries, nature parks, and zoos are offering free virtual tours or live cams. Spend some time touring a place that you may not normally get to see in person.
  • Burn a Scented Candle: Light your favorite scented candle to bring a new aroma to your home.
  • Declutter and Organize: Is there a particular area in your home that you have been neglecting? Spend some time decluttering, organizing, and rearranging your space to fit your needs.
  • Write in a Journal: The journal can simply be pieces of notebook paper. But, taking the time to write out your feelings, fears, or everyday frustrations can be liberating.
  • Listen to a Podcast: From movies to daily news, podcasts offer different perspectives on subjects of interest.
  • Play Musical Loudly: Turn up your favorite music. Listening to music is a stress reliever. Singing along is just added fun.
  • Workout: Try a new workout routine, yoga, or stretching exercises. YouTube has numerous videos at all fitness levels.
  • Stay in Your Pajamas: Alright, just be comfy. Stay in your pajamas, lounge pants, or sweat pants. Just spend the day being comfortable.
  • Take a Hot Bubble Bath: Relax in a hot bubble bath or take a long shower.
  • Watch the Sunrise or Sunset: Stepping outdoors for a few minutes or watching through a window, sunsets, and sunrises are magical to watch.
  • Text, Message, Call, or Video Chat: Use your devices to contact old friends or relatives. Being at home for long periods is perfect for safely reconnecting with people.
  • Do Crafts: Pull out your hoard of craft supplies and finish a project.
  • Snuggle With Your Dog: While binge-watching your favorite show, spend some quality time with your dog.

Now, take a deep breath. Spending time away from others is beneficial to everyone. Use the time to implement different self-care activities.  Make your efforts family-oriented activities.

How to Make a Christmas Organization Notebook

Staying organized during the holiday season is essential. Making a Christmas organization notebook is one of the best ways to keep all your information in one place. Fill the pages with Christmas card lists, recipes, gift ideas, grocery lists, receipts, and much more.

I begin the Christmas Organization Notebook by decorating. When I write out my lists or tape return addresses inside to use later, I want a festive and fun covering. Make the notebook part of your holiday crafts.

Making a Christmas Organization Notebook

Each Christmas Organization Notebook is a personal process. Decorate or leave plain, the choice is up to you. The idea of the notebook is convenience. When you are sipping your morning coffee, you can glance through the notebook to add or cross off items. I leave mine on the end table. When I am relaxing in the evening, I write down what I would like to accomplish the following day. Or add to lists that I need to finish before Christmas gatherings.

Materials I Used:

  • Christmas Cloth (I buy the pre-cut pieces at Wal-Mart. At $1.47, the price is right for simple crafts.)
  • Composition Notebook (I love these notebooks. They are inexpensive with a sturdy cover.)
  • Construction Paper
  • An Envelope ( I actually used an old one)
  • Scissors
  • Marker
  • Embleshiment
  • Hot-Glue Gun
The basic materials for your Christmas Organization Notebook

Measure and cut the cloth to fit around the notebook. Leave room to fold the fabric over to glue down.

Cut the fabric piece to fit around your notebook

Before gluing the fabric down on the inside, cover the inside with construction paper. This step is optional. I like using the green and red construction paper to add to the Christmas theme.

Construction paper covers up the inside information.

Next, begin gluing. Before careful, the contents are hot. There is a reason for the name hot glue gun. When folding the fabric over to glue, you will need to cut the middle to allow the cloth to lay flat.

Next, glue the envelope in the back. I like having one place for all my shopping receipts. Placing them in the envelope, allows me to keep track of spending. I have the receipts on hand in case I need to return anything.

An envelope for the receipts.

Finally, add your embellishments. Since my fabric had snowflakes, I added a large snowflake to front of my Christmas Organization Notebook. I wrote in the year. I keep my notebooks as resources for the following year.

 

I record my purchases in the notebook. I can look back to see what I bought each person on my list. This way I know I do not purchase similar items the following year.

National Tell a Fairy Tale Day

Did you know February 26 is National Tell a Fairy Tale Day? The pandemic, social distancing, school, work, daily routines, and other commitments can easily fill your schedule.  Try taking time out to celebrate unofficial holidays. Celebrating National Tell a Fairy Tale Day is a great way to try something new and simply have fun. Fairy tales have a long-standing place in history.

Think back; what was your favorite fairy tale from childhood? Some family favorites may include:

Do you remember the excitement of learning the story? Now there’s an entire day dedicated to the love of a fairy tale.

How to Celebrate National Tell a Fairy Tale Day

Traditionally, a fairy tale is a mythical or fantasy-based short story. The characters may include a prince, a princess, fairies, gnomes, or talking animals. The setting usually contains a castle or magical forest. The limitation of the storyline is only your own imagination. So, embrace the day by celebrating fairy tales.

1. Go to Your Local Library

If open, visit your library on Tell a Fairy Tale Day. The trip provides you and your loved ones with the opportunity to find the perfect story. Consider finding a new fairy tale to read. Or check out an old favorite to enjoy once again.

2.Read to Your Children

 Read your favorite tale to your children. Children love to hear new stories.  Spending quality time with your children is also a rewarding experience. Ask open-ended questions about the tale to ensure understanding. The process will actually help your children’s communication skills.

3. Go to the Bookstore

 Purchasing a new book of fairy tales is a great way to find a new story. Bookstores often carry stories from different cultures or countries.

4. Write Your Own Fairy Tale

Pick up your pen and write your own tale. If you have children, encourage them to write a fairy tale. The creative process enhances critical thinking, social, and communication skills. Ask younger children to verbally express their fairy tales. Writing down their thoughts in a notebook may turn into a lasting memory.

5. Arts and Craft Time 

After reading or sharing a story, use the fairy tale storyline as the basis of your art and crafts project.

  • Draw pictures with chalk, colored pencils, crayons, or markers
  • Paint a picture
  • Make a collage with magazine cutouts or other material.
  • Create a storyboard or storybook of your fairy tale.
  • Decorate a plastic container to use later to plant magic beans. The decorated pot will easily complement the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. 

6. Create a Puppet Show

Creating a puppet show can be a creative and rewarding process. A large box may be part of the stage or backdrop for your fairy tale. Make hand puppets or finger puppets to act out a fairy tale. If your children are hosting the show, record the event.

7. Bake or Cook a Special Treat

Decorate cookies to match your fairy tale. Or cook a special meal to incorporate a theme from your favorite fairy tale. For example, adding peas to your meal can be part of the Princess and the Pea fairy tale.

8. Host a Family Fun Movie Night

Disney movies are a wonderful resource for fairy tales. Make popcorn or other special snack and enjoy your movie night.

Regardless of the way you celebrate, take time to enjoy National Tell a Fairy Tale Day. Life is short; make memories. Use your imagination, enjoy the day.

 

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