Holly Wreath Card

There are always special projects to do in Sunday School or Junior Church as Christmas is approaching.

I have 3  different things that I have done this year.

The first is this wonderful wreath card 

that we made a few weeks back.

When you teach the children about Christmas, 

you want to show them that the true focus

is about the birth of our Savior.

Below, you will find 

step-by-step instructions and online printables 

to help you have this project ready for children or adults.

SUPPLIES:
- red cardstock 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 inches
- white cardstock 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 inches 
   (printed with the Wreath Card base/inside)
- one wreath from the Holly Wreath Template
- something to cut out a window on the red 
  cardstock.
   (I used my Creative Memories tools, but you could just      
    trace a cup and then cut the shape.)
- cellophane for the window piece 
   (I used the plastic from a bouquet of flowers.  You could 
   use an overhead transparency, plastic packaging, or 
   purchase cellophane.)
- a copy of the Wreath poem
- red, green, & black Sharpie
 (I suggest that you use the Sharpie brand, because it is
  more permanent and dries faster than others.)
- brown crayon or colored pencil
- double-sided tape
- glue stick (optional)

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cut a window in the top half of your red cardstock.

2. Cut your cellophane a 1/2 inch larger 

than the size of your window.

Set aside your red cardstock.

3. Center your cut cellophane piece over 

your Holly Wreath Template.

(use one hand to firmly hold it in place)

4. Trace the Holly Wreath Template with the black Sharpie.

While the children are coloring talk about how

 the evergreens in the wreath represent the everlasting life 

we can have through trusting in Christ as Saviour.

Then ask them what they think the red berries represent.

Yes, that's right, the blood that Christ shed on Calvary for our sin.

5. Use the green Sharpie to color in the holly leaves.

6. Use the red Sharpie to color in the berries.

Set aside the colored cellophane.

7. Use a brown crayon or colored pencil to color 

the crown of thorns on the white cardstock.

8. Use a glue stick or double-sided tape 

around the inside edge of the window.

9. Center your wreath on the inside of the window over the crown of thorns and adhere by pressing down.

10. Use double-sided tape on the left-hand vertical edge to adhere the red to the white cardstock.

This makes your card.

Below is the best tape that I have found. 

This tape sticks to everything (metal, glass, walls, cardboard, paper, ceramic,...

so be sure to line it up well.

You may be able to find something similar at the craft store.

This heavy duty tape is always red, so look for a red roll of double-sided tape.

11. Use the glue stick or double-sided tape to adhere the Holly Wreath Poem to the front of your card.

This is what your finished project should look like.

My China Lady

Today, I am going to teach you how I made my "China" lady.

We were getting ready for our annual Mission's Conference.

Each family or person was assigned a table to decorate for a country around the world.

I chose China.

For a few weeks, I looked for ideas of what I could use for a centerpiece for the table.

Because it was a Mission's Conference,

I thought, "what would be better than to decorate the table with a Chinese person 

to remind us to pray for the people in China".

After looking in the stores and even the second hand shops,

 I realized that the best and most inexpensive thing to do was to make my own lady.

Now, what will I use?

She had to be big enough to stand in the center of the table under a tree

(well, really it was a branch from my neighbor's fuscia bush).

I looked through my cupboards for red/China-like fabric

and other odds and ends that I could use to make my lady.

This is what I came up with:

-an old lamp

- an old dress someone gave me to use for the fabric

- wire

-stuffing

- masking tape

To make the doll form,
I took the cord off of the lamp and
attached some wire to the top.







                                                                  Then, I used the masking tape to hold the wire in place.

After the wire was secure, I tore a piece of masking tape off the roll and crumbled it into a ball - this will make the head.

The ball was then placed on the top of the lampstand and secured into place by again wrapping more tape around it.

I worked at this for a while, adding layer after layer, 
until the head and neck seemed a proper ratio for the body.

{I love using masking tape because it is easy to use and is cheap.  To see some other projects I have used masking tape for click here.}
      

neck

Now to make the body.

The fabric I used was already a child's dress.
So it was already sewn.
I cut off a length from the bottom that would go all the way above the neck and touch the table at the hem, with a little bit of a train trailing behind.

I left the top of the dress unsewn, with the rough edges showing.
Then I secured the dress in place at the base of the neck with a rubber band.

sleeve

The sleeves were made by cutting pieces of the dress lining and hot gluing them to make a seam.

Now the poor bald lady needed some hair.

I was not sure what to do about hair.

After a look around at supplies I had,

There was nothing I could find -

yarn was too thick and was too unnatural looking.     

Can you tell what I finally decided to use?

I know, you are probably shocked.

I used my own hair! 
Do you think that's gross?
There is always a clump of hair in my brush, so instead of throwing it out, I used it for my doll.
They say,
 "Necessity is the mother of invention"
and I have found that sooooooo true!

I really put myself into this project, ha ha!

After gluing my hair to the doll, I also made a bun for the back.

My messy work station

Now it was time to get out my paint stuff.

This is a picture of what my workspace looks like sometimes-

too many projects on the table

and a movie on my laptop.

I painted the China lady's hair jet black.

Then I mixed a little grit with white paint to paint over the masking tape.

If you use grit mixed with the paint,
it will hide your tape seams.

After the face was mostly dry,
I put another thick coat on.

The second coat smoothed out the face.

Now, I had to let the paint dry.

                                                                        I am not very good at drawing people's facial features.

I was so afraid to mess my lady up, 

but bravely, I looked online at some pictures

and then lightly penciled them on.

When I was was satisfied with my drawing,

I painted on her face.

I don't think she looks                               very happy.                                                   What do you think?

I gave her "china eyes".
bright red lips,
and rosey cheeks.

I finished my lady off with 
        a gold sash,
               black collar,
                       hair ribbons,...

Of course the women in China do not dress like this now, but when you think of traditional China you can't help thinking about the color red and a cute little lady like this.





My table was decorated with this beautiful lady 
to remind us to pray for the people in China to hear the Gospel.

Egg-stra Fun Easter Craft

The other year, my brother and I decided to do something for Easter that will last a lifetime.

I am finally (2 years later) getting the chance to post this.

We decided to make a new craft out of eggs.

To make this craft, you will need:

-fresh eggs

- a large needle

-bamboo skewer

- lots of hot air

- masking tape

- imagination

- sand/grit

- acrylic paint

- beads or other accessories

- wire

 

STEP 1: Pierce a fresh egg on the top and bottom with the needle.

(One hole to blow through and one hole for the yoke to go out of.

*If you have trouble getting it all out try popping the yoke with your needle.)

STEP 2: Make the holes larger by twisting the skewer into the hole.

(don't twist too hard or you will break the egg)

STEP 3: Now blow the yoke out of the hole.

STEP 4: Clean and dry the egg.

STEP 5: Get creative!

I wanted to make a bird so I first formed his head.

Then I used the tape to make his body.

My brother, William, wanted to make a cat.

See the head and ears?

Pretty good, huh!

Here are the wings on my bird.

I continued to wrap it with masking tape.

William's cat is taking shape too. 

See how he made the feet and attached them to the egg?

This is my finished bird and partially finished rooster.

William got all four legs on his cat. 

Its so fun having a brother who loves to create like I do!

STEP 6: Attach the hanging wire.

I just cut a piece of wire, shaped it like above,

and then taped it onto the bird.

Now the cat has a tail !!!

STEP 7: Mix your paint colors and add just enough sand/grit

 to give your paint the texture you need.

*I chose to do this to cover up the tape seems.  

It gives the ornaments a cleaner, textured look.

STEP 8: Paint your ornament.

Be sure to give it a nice thick coat of paint.

You saw how I made the bird, but the chicken was a little tricky-

I used wire to make feet for the chicken.

Then I used tape to secure the feet in place.

I already showed you how to do the rest (see steps above).

STEP 9: hang to dry.

ENJOY!!!

Linking up with: Rustic Renovations Weekend