Sorry!

Sorry everyone! Thank you so much for coming to my blog, but it has been a year since my last post. I am not sure if I will ever post another craft on this again, but feel free to come back to look at the crafts that are already on here. Check out my other blog at www.lifeofopportunity.blogspot.com to see my new and updated blog. I update my new blog every day. Please go to it and tell all of your friends! Thanks :)
-Creative Crafter/LifeOfOpportunity

This was published on April Fool's Day. Just to clarify, this is not an April Fool's joke.
Please feel free to visit my other blog, though, which continues to be updated daily.
(Just because I feel like writing today's date in this blog-- Life Of Opportunity has been updated daily as of March 8, 2014 and it is still continuing. Thanks!)

April Fool's Day Water Ring

April fool's day is near! Celebrate with a handshake your "victim" won't forget!
I have never tried this one, but it looks fun. Meant for younger kids, this trick will make a day they will never forget! Some older kids might find this amusing.
 
What you need: 

• a button (the kind with the shank on the back) if you don't know what a shank is, it is that semi-circle attached to some buttons on the back of them.
• a five inch pipe cleaner (your choice of color)
• new kitchen sponge, cut to a size a little bigger than one of the child (or person making the ring)'s finger

How to do it:

1. Thread the button onto the pipe cleaner
2. wrap it around finger a few times
3. use bits that are left to tie on sponge
4. when you want to use it, wet sponge so it is thoroughly soaked but not dripping.
5. shake someone's hand, and be ready to run!

Cardboard doll elevator

This one I made up while wrapping presents for my sister, Laura (Happy Birthday Laura!), and the empty tube gave me the idea. This one is for younger children.

What you need:

• empty wrapping paper roll
• extra cardboard (or empty toilet paper roll)
• scissors
• yarn (just plain yarn; not any fancy, frilly, soft, velvety yarns or anything)
• tape or stapler (stapler seems to work best)
• parent help (unless you are an older kid)

How to do it:

1. Cut a small square out of the top of the wrapping paper roll and out of the bottom. (see picture above)
2. take your cardboard and cut some to form a small tube that can fit inside the big tube. Fasten it together. Or, if you used a toilet paper roll, cut the toilet paper roll down a bit so it won't be so tall. Then, cut a small strip out of the toilet paper roll and re-fasten it to make a tube that can go inside the big tube.
3. Cut a "door" on the mini tube, cut close to the top of it, but don't cut off the entire side.
4. For this step, you will need a little extra cardboard. Use the squares you cut out of the big tube. Cut a circle that is the size of the base of the mini tube and attach it to the mini tube's base. Save your extra cardboard!
5. cut a small strip of cardboard to go across the top of the elevator (mini tube) and fasten it. Cut another smaller strip to make a loop to be fastened to the bottom of the elevator.
6. With your yarn, measure enough to go through the tube and back out the other way, then to the starting point again.
7. tie one end of the yarn to the piece on the top of the elevator, then lower it into the big tube. Wrap the yarn around the outside and tie it, not too tight but not too lose, onto the bottom of the elevator. Cut excess yarn.
8. put a small doll (one that will fit) in the elevator and slowly, gently, pull on the string to raise the elevator. Pull from the bottom to lower it. The elevator is great for getting dolls into your bed or onto any small furniture. 
9. If you don't have a small doll, you can just play with the elevator for fun.
10. If the elevator doesn't work to satisfaction, trim it more in needed arias or do any other needed adjustments. 
11. Have fun! Remember-- it is delicate so don't pull too hard!

Origami Star Box

This one is in honor of my mom, who gave me the idea of putting origami on my website. This one isn't easy. It takes a skilled hand and a lot of determination. Have fun!
You will need:

• a square piece of paper (preferably origami paper) 

What to do:

1. Side that will be the outside of the box facing up, fold the top corner to the bottom, crease and unfold, then do side corner to side. Crease and unfold.
2. Flip it over. Fold it in half, crease and unfold, then fold it the other way. Crease and unfold.
3. using the creases you made, bring top corners down while the sides go in. 
4. rotate so open end is at the top. 

5.  Fold the uppermost outer flaps in to meet the center line.
 

6. Repeat Step 5 on the back side
 

7.  Fold each flap up toward the outer edge of the model and crease well.
 

8. This part is somewhat difficult. Open up the flaps and flatten.

9.  Repeat Steps 7 & 8 on the back side.
 

10. This is also hard. Tuck the top flaps behind themselves. Crease well.
 

11. Repeat Step 10 on the back side, so the model now looks like this.
 

12.  Fold bottom of model upwards. Crease very well then unfold.
 

13.  Push in the base of the model, along the creases you just made. This will form the base of the box.
 

14. Fold each point of the star downwards.
 

FINISHED STAR BOX!




*Please note: most of this was copied and pasted from http://www.origami-fun.com/origami-star-box.html *

Plaster Casters

This one is really fun. It takes time, but I enjoy it. It is better for older children, but you could do it with younger children, too. It takes a lot of patience to do this, so you may want to consider getting another adult to help. It is a great family activity!

(these are two of my Beatrix Potter plaster figurines I made)
The first one (left) I already painted. The second one (right) is unpainted. 

What you need:

• plaster of paris (get it at your local crafting store)
• latex plaster molds (I used Beatrix Potter characters, you can get them off eBay sometimes.)
• dish soap
• a bucket
• cardboard
• paintbrushes
• paint (acrylic works best)
• an adult
• lots of time

What you do:
1. Set up your bucket on a flat surface.
2. Cut a hole on the cardboard. Make it big enough so your plaster mold can go through, but small enough the plaster mold can hang upside down on its own.
3. Look at your plaster of paris, and follow its directions to make the plaster. Make it in a bowl, glass works best. Try to avoid bubbles.
4. let the child hold the top of the plaster mold as the adult slowly pours the plaster in about 1/3 of the way. pick the mold up and squish it all around to get the plaster into the smaller parts. Put it back.
5. Fill the mold another 3rd, and squish.
6. fill it all the way, adding a little extra to make a small base (fill it a little more then over the cardboard hole)
7. let your child hold the edges of the mold, holding it so that the base is nice and round. Hold it until the plaster sets enough that it will stay hanging on its own.
8. wait anywhere from an hour to a day. Feel it, and if it is hard enough, you take the latex mold out of the cardboard hole, get the outside wet, and rub a little bit of dish soap on the latex. Slowly peel it back and get your child to hold the plaster while you peel. Pull gently.
9. put it somewhere to dry more, or just get started painting it!
10. It works really well to glue some felt to the bottom, just for looks and it prevents scratching.

Clean-up

• To clean the plaster out of the bowl you used, let it dry. then use a fork or something to crack it, and then remove it and throw the hard plaster away.
• Or, you can wipe it clean with a paper towel.
• NEVER rinse plaster down the drain. It will harden and clog the pipe.
• right side out the latex mold, dry and put it away for use again and again!

Make recycled crayons

This is really cute. It is a great gift for family and friends. I love this one. Also, it is fun and easy! Grab an adult and get started!

materials:

• crayons- paper peeled off (about four to a crayon disk)
• muffin tin
• oven

1. Grab some crayons, and cut them into little pieces. (an adult will do the cutting)
2. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
3. fill the muffin tin with an inch thick layer of crayon pieces.
4. bake 15-20 minutes, or until wax is melted.
5. Allow it to cool, then pop them out and they are ready to use!