30 December 2012

Wooden Puzzle Blocks

My last Christmas project finally done.  It was easy to put together and has already provided a ton of fun for K!  Six different puzzles from one package of blocks.



Items needed:
Pkg of 1-inch wood blocks from Hobby Lobby. 
Mod Podge Matte finish
sponge brush
paper cutter
book of choice

I purchased a Golden Book of The Night Before Christmas and picked out the 6 pages I wanted to use for each side of the blocks. 


I cut the picture down to a 4-inch square and then cut into 4 rows of 1-inch wide.

I laid out 3 blocks on the top of my 1" x 4" strip of paper and using a pencil made lines where each block was and cut on the lines in order to get four 1-inch squares.

Using my sponge brush I applied mod podge to a block and pressed a square onto the block surface.



I worked left to right and then started a new row until reaching the fourth row.



I let glue dry for a few minutes then used my zacto blade to trim any excess paper off my block so no edges stuck out past the wooden block.



Apply a top coat of glue to surface of block and once dry keep applying new pictures onto the blank areas of your blocks.



I always rotated my blocks in the same direction when getting ready to apply a new scene on the blocks.  Of course you don't have to this, I just wanted my blocks to be orientated the same all way around.




I liked how it turned out and think it will be a nice holiday edition to bring out each Christmas, especially since this was the book I remember as a child.


I have also started a large block puzzle of one of my favorite childhood books that I found in color.  I am using 2-inch blocks for this next project.  I bought these blocks from Hobby Lobby also.


Happy New Year!


16 December 2012

Fox Scarf

I had to make this one right away!  Love it.  There is a great tutorial over at Prudent Baby.  So I'm just going to share a few photos.

I'm much to impatient to drive all over looking for plaid flannel so I bought mine here.

I bought a yard and it was enough for 3 scarfs, if you are prudent with the pattern placement.

I also bought the minky fabric at  Fabric.com.





Love it.  Will surely bring a chuckle.

12 December 2012

Ornament Ice Skater

I loved this ornament the moment I saw it over at Creative Breathing

Such a cute addition for our tree. 

I was having a hard time printing out her pattern so I pretty much free handed my items.




Easy to put together:
6 inch white pipe cleaner, plus extra for ear muffs
Silver pipe cleaner
Wooden bead 3/4 inch
White thread for hanging and boot laces
Red wool felt
2 pom-poms
Hot glue gun



After bending the pipe cleaner in half, add a hanging string.  Bend some small feet.  Feed thread and pipe cleaner through bead hole.  Paint the face & hair onto the wooden bead.


I used a 3 1/2 inch circle template to cut out a felt circle.  Then using my pinking shears I trimmed it down a little more.  Then cut out a small pie wedge in order to wrap around your pipe cleaner body.

I drew the skate boots, gloves and arms onto freezer paper and ironed onto my felt.  I cut out the scarves to be 1/2 inch wide by about 5 inches long. 


I hot glued the dress tightly around the pipe cleaner, just under the wooden bead.

Then added a drop of hot glue to attach gloves to the arms.  Then attached to top of dress.

Wrapped the scarf around the neck and hot glued into place.  I then trimmed off excess and cut fringes onto end of scarf.





Formed almost a semi circle with pipe cleaner onto the top of head and cut to proper length.  Leaving space to add the pom poms under neath the pipe cleaner.  Hot glue the pipe cleaner onto top of head.

Before hot gluing the pom poms to the head trim off a small section in order to have a flat surface to glue.

Glue on boots and thread the string to mimic boot laces and tie into a bow.

Cut a small piece of silver pipe cleaner and glue to bottom of boot.






I like how her back leg is kicked up like she is skating!

I will trim the width of the neck scarf for my next one and shorten her arms a wee bit.  Poor thing is looking like Stretch Armstrong right now.   But over all I think she turned out okay and looks nice on the Christmas tree.


Merry Christmas!

UPDATE:  Yes,  much nicer with the shorter arms!