25 Days of Christmas: Day 25

Day 25: Kids Reindeer Picture - Well, we finally made it. It is the 25th day and I thought this would be a great craft for kids to do, with supplies you probably have. Crafts Direct is closed today but will be opening at 7am the morning of the 26th. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

Supplies:

• Light & Dark Brown Paper
• Red Glitter Dot or Pom Pom
• 2 Eyes
• Glue
• Green Paper
• Frame (we used and 8x8)
  

Steps:

1. Trace child's foot on light brown and child's hands on dark brown and cut out.
2. Cut green paper tot he size of frame.
3. Adhere the hands together overlapping them. Then adhere them tot he back of the foot behind the toes.
4. Adhere the eyes and nose to the reindeer.
5. Then adhere the reindeer to the center of the green paper.
6. Remove backing & glass from frame. Insert green paper w/ reindeer. Replace the back.
   

25 Days of Christmas: Day 24

Day 24: Decorative Tea Towel and Apron - The Fabric Dept did a great job with coming up with projects to accent their theme room, Country Charm. They went above an beyond decorating their room. The apron pictured is made from a tea towel, ribbon and felt mitten die cut from the Accu-Cut Machine. The towel was made the same way. It is an an adorable set and would make a great gift for the baker on your list. Crafts Direct sells all the products to recreate these items and to make it even easier you can just pick up a kit for the apron. You can find instructions here for the towel or here for the apron. Have a wonderful Christmas Eve!

25 Days of Christmas: Day 23

Day 23: Scrunchie Scarf - Out of all the projects and ideas I have posted in the last 23 days, this by far, is my favorite. If you can sew using a zig zag stitch and have a half an hour this project is right up your alley. At Crafts Direct we sell these pashmina scarves and they are beautiful. But to make them even more beautiful we have a pattern to turn it into a scrunchie scarf. It gives the scarf the effect of being ruffly and I love it. When you go to put on the scrunchie scarf you don't even need to tie it. It bunches up nicely around your neck without having to, and it is so warm. Get the instructions here.

25 Days of Christmas: Day 22

Day 22: Paperweights - Now I know what you are thinking, "they are to cute to be paperweights," that is where you are mistaken. Megan made these and did a great job of showing all the different techniques and mediums you could use to create your own. Some are made from an acrylic and some from large round marbles, otherwise known as Glass Drops. You can find the materials to make them on the back end cap of aisles 16 and 17 at Crafts Direct. They are the perfect gift for a co-worker or secret Santa.

Supplies:

• Small or Large Glass Drops - SPC
  
• Acrylic Dome paper weight - SPC
  
• Patterned paper of your choice
• Ultra-Seal
• Stickers, Embellishments, Vinyl letters, Rub-ons, etc.
• Circle punch or Die-cut machine (2",2.25",3")
  
• Cork circles - SPC
  

Steps:

1. Depending on what size Glass drops you use, you will want to use either the same size circle punch or die from the Die-cut machine top cut your paper in a circle shape.
2. After you have your paper cut out to match the size of the Glass Drop use Ultra-seal to adhere paper to the one side of the magnet.
3. Allow to dry.
4. Next apply of Ultra-seal to back side of paper (backside of Glass Drop) or you can cover the back side with cork, cut in the same size circle.
5. After all of the Ultra-seal is dry you can begin decorating the front side of your glass drop. Decorate however you wish!

Some Decorating suggestions:

• Rusty Tin Shapes
• Stickers
• Rub-ons
• Vinyl letters
• Paper punched shapes
• Ribbons
• Rhinstones
• Buttons

25 Days of Christmas: Day 21

Day 21: Clothespin Napkin Holder - This is another project that was made for our Homemade for the Holidays theme room Country Charm. The Fabric Dept. was in charge of creating ornaments and craft projects mainly using items from their department, and this is one of their creations. Isn't it cute? Find instructions here to make your own.

25 Days of Christmas: Day 20

Day 20: Yarn Ball Wreath - Any knitter would love to receive this as a gift or even make it as a gift. Seeing how it is wrapped around styrofoam balls, it is a great way to use up remnants of yarn. I think it is a very creative way to make a wreath for the Christmas Season. It would be cute to recreate this for other holidays, such as Valentines and 4th of July, just by changing the colors of yarn. Download the project sheet here.

25 Days of Christmas: Day 19

Day 19: Family Vinyl Kit - You could give this kit as is or give it away completely finished (as shown). I have given it away as a kit, but displayed it in a basket added some shred, and a $5 Crafts Direct gift card so they could pick out papers that coordinate with their homes decor. Then wrap it up in cellophane and add a bow. You can download instructions here and remember Crafts Direct carries all the materials you would need to recreate this project.

Januray 2010 Events Calendar

The January calendar is now on our website. We are offering many classes this January. We are also offering the the Happily Ever After (HEA) classes again, for all you brides to be. As for the Knitting 201 and the Sock-it-to-me (knitting class) we have changed out the projects with different patterns and yarn. Mini Book Club for January is adorable, as it is a recipe book made from a Kaiser album and Cosmo Cricket's Early Bird Line. I will definitely be taking that class.

Season has created some new pieces for each of the beading classes, that include wire wrapping. Cricut Classes are returning, as well and always seem to be popular after the Holidays, along with Scrap Days & Nights.

Crochet 101 is still being offered, and our Crochet Night will start up again, being held on each Tuesday night from 6pm to 9pm at Meeting Grounds Coffee Shop located in the front corner of our store. Sit & Knit is held on Thursday Nights each week at the coffee shop as well.

Oh I almost forgot... Card Chaos is back on the calendar as Sarah Lynn needed a break from all the card classes we offered in November. She is well rested and has some cute card ideas for January. We hope to see you in one of our many classes.

Gypsy Demo this Sunday December 20th!

Genna, our Cricut instructor will be here this Sunday, December 20th from 11am to 1pm demonstrating the Gypsy. Stop in and let her show you how it works. She can also, answer any questions you may have. It will be taking place at the end of aisle 12. We will also be having a sale on a lot of the other Cricut products that are available. See you then!

Coming Soon! New Cricut Cartridges.

Here are the new Cricut cartridges that Provo Craft announced today. They should be arriving at Crafts Direct and at www.cricut-craftsdirect.com by the end of December. We will let you know when we receive each cartridge.

25 Days of Christmas: Day 18

Day 18: Tea Towel Oven Mitt & Potholders - How much fun would it be receive either one of these as a
gift. They were made using tea towels and some printed fabric. Just click on the photos to download the instructions. If you are making them for a gift it would be fun to attach this little saying to them:
" Extending a warm hand of friendship to you and yours as you celebrate the holidays."

25 Days of Christmas: Day 17

Day 17: Corsage Pin Ornament - These ornaments were made for our Homemade for the Holidays theme tree Monkey'n Around. I think they turned out great and are one of my favorite ornaments. You can find instructions to make this colorful ornaments here.

25 Days of Christmas: Day 16

Day 16 : Magnetic Memo Board - We carry a variety of 12x12 memo boards that you can alter to make your own. This one is made using the magnetic dry erase memo board and is decorated in a winter theme. Here is another one we made but it done in a spring theme. Crafts Direct carries the supplies to recreate this memo board and others such as: mdf calendar, mdf magnetic note board, 24x36 memo board, 12x12 cork board, 12x12 magnetic recipe board, and this 12x12 dry erase board. The possibilities are endless.



Supplies:

• 12x12 magnetic dry erase board
• acrylic paint
• glue runner
• a few sheets of coordinating papers
  
• various size clear marbles
• ultra seal
• multi pack of mirrors
• snowflake stickers (we used K & Co.)
• 527 glue
• magnets
• circle punches
  

Steps:

1. Paint frame on memo board with a few coats of acrylic paint. Let dry.
2. Punch various size circles from papers to fit on the back of clear marbles.
3. Using ultra seal as the glue adhere paper circles to the back of marbles.
4. Tear corners from two different papers, making one bigger than the other and adhere to one corner of memo board with glue runner.
5. Apply sticker to the paper on memo board and to a few of the mirrors.
6. Using 527 glue magnets on the back of the mirrors with stickers and the paper covered marbles. Let dry.
7. Apply magnets you made to your memo board and put to use.
   

25 Days of Christmas: Day 15

Day 15: A Beaded Watch - Beaded watch bands are becoming a popular craft and any of these watches would make a great gift for you or someone on your list. You can make multiple bands for one watch face. Then all you do is change out the band to coordinate with your outfit. We carry many different styles of watch faces, and with our large selection of beads you are sure to find something you like. Just click on the watch you like to get instructions.

25 Days of Christmas: Day 14

Day 14: 'Tis the Season Canvas Wreath - This project idea is great for any paper crafter. It is fairly easy to make and what a great way to use up some of those buttons you may have setting around in jars.

Supplies:

12x12 Canvas

Green Acrylic Paint

Various Buttons

Maroon satin ribbon

Glue Dots

Fa La La Stripes paper by Making Memories

Cream Giggles Thickers by American Crafts

Directions:

1. Paint the canvas with acrylic paint.

2. Cut the 12x12 paper so it will be 11x11. Use a double sided adhesive to adhere the paper onto the front of the canvas.

3. Use glue dots to adhere various buttons in a wreath shape onto the front of the canvas. Use different colors and sizes throughout the wreath, and layer some of the buttons on top of each other.

4. Tie the satin ribbon into a bow, and glue dot the bow to the top of the wreath.

5. Use thickers to spell out saying, Tis the Season onto the bottom of the canvas.

25 Days of Christmas: Day 13

Day 13: Decorative Paint Cans - These are perfect little gifts for a neighbor or secret Santa. The first one, a tag paint can, is made using a clear paint can and filled with handmade to/from tags. The second one is made using a small metal paint can, perfect for a packet of cocoa and mini candy canes. Crafts Direct sells all the materials to make these adorable cans and the stuff to fill them.

Directions for Tag Paint Can

1. Cut a sheet of paper 3”x12”
2. Cut the same sheet of paper 3”x3”
3. Cut coordinating paper to 2 ½ “x12” and 2 ½”x3”
4. Adhere on top of each other
5. Connect the smaller sheets of paper to the long strips to make a strip long enough to fit around can.
6. Using Zip Dry adhere strip of paper to the paint can
7. Print out quote from computer and use Giga size paper punch to punch it out adhere to Extra Giga size punch out of coordinating paper, adhere to front of paint can
8. Tie ribbons to the side of the paint can to embellish

Tags:

1. Using Giga oval punch, punch out paper to adhere to Extra giga punch out of coordinating paper
2. Tie ribbon to the top of the tag
3. Adhere stickers to embellish

Quote on Can: Here's a pail of tags for you, for all the wrapping there is to do. Attach to gifts for any reason to show your love this Christmas season."

Directions for Cocoa Paint Can:

1. Cut paper into 3" strip. Cut a coordinating paper into a 1 1/2" strip and adhere the two to the outside of the can using Zip Dry paper glue.
2. Print out quote for the can onto cream paper, and mat onto a patterned paper.
3. Cut small slits on the sides of the printed quote. Put ribbon through the slits, and tie the quote onto the can using the ribbon.
4. Cut a gingerbread man out of patterned October Afternoon paper, and use a pop dot to adhere the gingerbread man onto the front of the can, next to the quote.

Quote on Can: "To our friends and neighbors dear, enjoy a cup of holiday cheer! Whether you live far or near, we wish you warmth throughout the year."

25 Days of Christmas: Day 12

Day 12: Beaded Bookmark - The perfect gift for the reader on your list. These bookmarks are a cinch to make and cost less then the ones you can buy premade. The metal bookmark piece comes in a few different colors and we have a large selections of beads that you can add on the end. The bead line Lost & Found by Blue Moon, that we carry, has the perfect bead clusters to attach to the end of a bookmark, just with a jump ring. Now how fast and easy is that.

25 Days of Christmas: Day 11

Day 11: Snowball Snowmen - Aren't these snowmen adorable? They were made using a 4" snowball that we sell in sets of 6, on special for $4.99, which makes it a very affordable craft. Each one is unique in their own way from their eyes to their nose. Find instructions here to make your own. You can also find all the materials to make these in aisle 7 at Crafts Direct.

25 Days of Christmas: Day 10

Day 10: Family Canvas Collage - I couldn't think of a better gift for a family member, than this canvas. You can easily customize it to coordinate with ones home decor.

Supplies:

• 12x24 canvas
• acrylic paint
• Xyron sticker maker 250 or larger (optional)
  
• Mod Podge or Ultra Seal
  
• 5 to 6 different 12x12 sheets of double-sided paper cut into 2x2 squares
• Vinyl saying- Family what is done in love... - Vinyl Words

Steps:

1. On front of canvas paint in about 1" all away around. Also, paint all 4 sides.
2. Lay out the 2x2 squares on your canvas the way you want it arranged using the front and backs of the squares to add more variety to the collage.
   
3. If using Xyron sticker maker run your squares face side up through the machine, then peel off and apply them to the canvas. Or you can apply the squares to the canvas with Mod Podge or Ultra seal. Let Dry.
4. Following directions on package apply vinyl to the canvas.

Crafts Direct has a large variety of different vinyl saying that could be used in place of this one. We, also, carry all the other supplies you need to complete this project.

25 Days of Christmas: Day 9

Day 9: Gingerbread Boy & Girl small glass blocks - Glass block crafts have been extremely popular and look how cute these two are. It just takes a handful of products and a few steps to recreate these adorable gingerbread boy and girl glass blocks.



Supplies:

• 2 - small glass blocks
• vinyl gingerbread faces - Vinyl Expressions
• Glossy Woodtone spray paint - Design Master
• ribbon
  
• hot glue
• wire

Steps:

1. Spray outside of glass block with Design Master, covering the entire surface. Let dry.
   
2. Apply a vinyl face to each block along with vinyl bows (we position blocks so the opening on the bottom before applying vinyl).
3. Wrap ribbon around outside of each glass block securing with hot glue.
4. Make a bow for each block and hot glue into place.
   

You can find instructions on how to make a bow here. You just may want to make your loops and tails smaller.

It is as easy as that.