Pinwheel Wreath- For Any Occasion (Halloween)

I focus on projects for children, but as you follow my blog you will see that these projects are fun for everyone, not just kids.The Pinwheel Wreath is a project that can be made for any Holiday or special occasion just by using different papers. I have chosen Halloween papers for this wreath, but you could use Christmas, Easter, 4th of July or any other paper you choose. It is best to use double sided paper, but it can be made with one sided paper, which I will explain in the directions below. The straw wreath will cost around $3.00, papers will depend on single or double sided but should only be about $2.00.
K&Company Papers are great for doubled sided paper. This again is an inexpensive project for the kids/family and the supplies are easily found at Hobby Lobby, Michael's, Wal Mart....

****If this is a family project or your child is younger, you may want to cut the squares for them and then let them do the rest.

SUPPLY LIST

1- 12 inch straw wreath

3 sheets of 12x12 double sided paper- each sheet a different patterned paper

 (OR 6 sheets of single sided paper, different patterns)

Strong Glue Stick

Straight pins

24 inch piece of Ribbon-matching color

1. You will cut 10- 5 inch squares of the double sided paper.

 ***If you are using single sided paper you will need to cut 20- 5 inch squares. Using the glue stick, rub glue along all four sides of the wrong side of one square and place a different patterned paper on top, placing wrong sides together.  You will then have one doubled sided square. As you make the pinwheels you will see why you want a different pattern for each side.***

2. You will need to cut 10- 1 inch circles from the left over paper. If you have a circle punch this works great, if not make a sample/pattern for your child to use as a pattern for the circles.

3. Using the picture below and following the black lines, have your child cut each square from each corner to the center but do not go completely to the center.





4. Look at the pictures below to see how to form the pinwheels. Place glue in the center of the paper. Start at the bottom left corner. Take the corner up to the middle and place in the center of the paper onto the glue. Put more glue on top if the point you just placed in the center and place the next corner  in the center of the paper. Place glue in the center before each corner, continue with the next two corners. Complete for all 10 squares.

5. Place glue in the center once again and place one of the circles in the middle.

6. Take the 24 inch piece of ribbon and tie around the the wreath. Ties the ends together with a double knot. Place the knot behind the wreath, it will be hidden once you put the wreath together. This will be used to hang the wreath.

7. Lay the wreath flat on the table. Take one pinwheel and place it at the top of the wreath on the front.

Using a straight pin, push the pin in the middle of the circle on the pinwheel into the straw. Do this for two more pinwheels, placing them to form a triangle. See picture below.

8. With the remaining pinwheels fill in the empty spaces. You may need to adjust the pinwheels as you go. You may also only need 9 pinwheels instead of 10. It just depends on the way it looks for you.

Now you just need to find the perfect place for your child to hang and show off their creation. REMEMBER, this can be made for any holiday or occasion! Hope you enjoyed this one.













Halloween Ghosts in a Candy Corn Pot

I offer this class to grades K-8 so it is an easy project for all ages. It is a simple project but has a few options to change it up. This project, like most of my projects will take 1 1/2 hour to 2 hours. The ghost idea is about as old as I am, so I am not sure where the idea comes from. The candy corn pot idea comes from an ad I saw for a subscription to a craft magazine. Sorry, I don't remember the name but I am on the search, and will post it here as soon as I find it. All of the supplies can be found at any craft store, such as Micheal's, JoAnn Fabrics, or WalMart.

Now on to the fun. Let me know how your children like this project or any feed back you may like to give.

SUPPLY LIST

1- 4 inch Clay Pot

2-Googly Eyes-5/8 inch

1-Yellow Pom Pom-1 inch
1- 3 inch Styrofoam Ball

White Craft Paint

Yellow Craft Paint

Black Craft Paint

1- Foam Brush

1-small art type Paint Brush

3- Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pops

White cotton fabric 3-5 inch squares

Thin Ribbon or Twine

Tacky Glue

Black Sharpie or thin marker

Craft type grass

Optional: Candy corn instead of craft grass

 

1. Glue the Styrofoam ball into the bottom of the pot. Use quite a bit of glue, you don't want it to fall out. This will be covered later and it is what will hold the Tootsie Pop ghosts in place.

2. Picture the pot divided into three parts. The top rim is one part and then divide the rest of the pot in half. So have your child paint the bottom half of the pot with the yellow paint. Refer to the picture if this is not clear. The middle half of the pot WILL NOT be painted. This will be the orange part of the candy corn. Then paint the top rim of the pot white. Make sure to paint about half way into the pot with the white as well. This will make the pot look more finished when you decide the final finishing touch. You may need to put on a second coat of paint. If so, start at the beginning again.

Let this dry completely.

3. While you wait for the paint to dry you can make the three ghosts. Depending on the age of the children you may want to cut the squares for them. Cut three, 5 inch squares from the white cotton fabric. If you happen have flour sack towels they work great for the material. Place the Tootsie Pop in the middle of the square as if it was standing upside down. The stick is pointing upwards. Wrap the fabric tightly around the Tootsie pop and secure with white or black ribbon or a thin piece of craft twine. Using a black Sharpie or thin marker draw a ghostly face on the white fabric. Repeat this for the remaining two ghosts. Once you have the three ghosts finished, the paint on the candy corn pot should be dry.

4. Glue the eyes onto the orange part of the pot, the yellow pom pom (nose) just below the eyes. Make sure to leave enough room to paint the black mouth under the nose.

5. Using the black paint and small brush paint a spooky mouth.

6. Once everything is dry you can put it together. You can do it one of two ways. Place glue all over the Styrofoam ball and sides of the pot and cover with the grass, as I have in the picture, or you can fill it with candy corn. If you choose to use the candy corn I would put a piece of kitchen plastic wrap over the Styrofoam ball and up the sides of the pot first before filling it with the candy. Once that is done take your ghosts and press the stick down into the ball. Being careful for the grass or candy. It works best if you picture a triangle in the pot and place them one in the back and two in the front. You are now done!

Find a prominent place to display your spooky Halloween ghosts. BOO!

***Make some extra ghosts and hang them around the house.***



Gumball Jars/Treasure Jars

This is always a favorite project with kids of all ages. It is very inexpensive and can be completed in about ninety minutes. As I add new projects to this blog I will always try to say where the idea came from. This is a project that I have been doing for over 15 years and unfortunately cannot say where it originated. If anyone know for sure let me know.

As you can see, this can be done in many different ways. Here I show one with Packer football colors and one for Valentines Day. Let the kids choose their theme or colors. They can make it for just about any holiday or occasion. Your child can make it, fill it with gumballs and give it as a birthday gift to a friend.

SUPPLY LIST

1-four inch Rose clay pot

1-5 inch saucer

1-glass vase

1-2 inch wooden ball. Flat on the bottom.

2 or more paint colors, Craft paints are best, they dry QUICKLY!!
1 bottle of Tacky Glue

2 or more 1-1.5 inch wide sponge brushes

Ribbon or fabric.

Tacky glue
Gumballs or Treasures

Optional: stickers, stencils, other embellishments

So the first thing you want to do is determine what colors you want your gumball jar to be. Will it be a sports team, your favorite colors, a holiday? 2-3 colors are best, any more and it may look too busy.

You can purchase all of these materials at craft stores, such as Micheal's or Joann Fabrics and of course WalMart has it all as well. The pot and saucer will run about $2.00 total, the vase, you can usually find for about $1.00. I have only found the wooden balls in a bag of 7 for about $2.00. But if you like the craft you will have plenty for another jar. Paint, brushes and ribbon just depend on what you choose. You may find some of these items already in your home.The whole project without gumballs costs around $5-7. Your child can also use this as a treasure jar instead of a gumball jar by putting all of their small, "special items" in it.

Now that you have all of your supplies you can have your child start painting. Have them pour a little paint at a time onto a paper plate, cool whip cover, plastic disposable cup or anything you can find that you don't mind throwing out afterward.

1. Decide if you will use one or two colors on the pot and saucer. As you can see in my pictures I have done it both ways. Let your child be creative and decide how they want to paint it. Once they have decided, paint the outside of the pot, including the bottom, (which will be upside down when we are finished). They have to put a second coat of paint on it so don't worry too much that the color of the pot is coming through. Paint the rim and just a little bit inside of the pot. No need to paint it all as this will be upside down when we are finished. Paint it once and set aside. We will come back to it after you paint the saucer. It drys quickly.

2. Decide how the saucer will be painted. Paint the inside of the saucer next. Just one color would be best, as this will not be seen. This too will need a second coat later. Set aside to dry.

3. Paint the wooden ball. Set aside.

4. Test the paint on the pot to see if it is dry enough for the second coat of paint. If so, go ahead and do it all over again.

5. Now paint the outside of the saucer. You can use one or two colors here. Some of the kids in my classes have chosen to paint the rim of the saucer one color and the main part the other color. As the bottom of the Packer jar.

6. Once the saucer is dry go over it again with the second coat of paint. Let dry.

OPTIONAL: Once everything is dry you can have your child add stickers, paint designs or decorate it any way they choose.

7. Putting the jar together.

Turn the saucer upside down and put glue on the flat side wooden ball. Place ball in the center of the saucer.

Place a LOT of glue on the bottom of the pot. Getting it all over and to the edge of the pot. Place the globe vase on top, and gently place pressure to help secure. If the glue comes out of the hole in the pot or along the sides just wipe the side off, it will dry clear and you won't see any sign of the glue.

Take a long piece of ribbon, or you can use fabric that you rip down to the size you want. Make it long enough wrap around the jar where the vase and pot are glued together, and to tie either in a knot or a bow. The bow will take more ribbon or fabric than tying it in a knot. Make sure you have enough either way for some ribbon/fabric to hang down a bit.

Fill with gumballs or treasures, place the cover on top and you are finished!

Let me know what your child thought of this project and I would like to know how they decorated theirs.