A’s big brothers often have sleepovers, so when we were looking for a theme for A’s fifth birthday, a “sleepover” theme was the perfect choice! This unslumber party (or “sleepunder” party) was an absolute hit and such an adorable party.

The primary activity as well as party favor was sleep mask decorating with kids – we made this easy sleep mask craft that doubled as a party favor too.

This is a hit both as a party craft but also as something for kids to make at home, at sleepaway camp, or anytime this is a fit!

The kids absolutely loved it. It was very engaging, and they spent much longer on it than anticipated. In fact, they spent so long on it that I didn’t even have time to do all the planned activities!

And they wore them for the rest of the party, and some kids even wore them to school the next day (the kids ranged from 4-5 years old).

In this post, I’ll be sharing with you how to make this sleep mask craft (which isn’t much of a tutorial – it’s self explanatory) but also my tips for decorating them with kids and setting it up as a party activity.

Tips for sleep mask decorating with kids at a party

This makes such a good party activity because:

• There’s no dry time
• It’s open-ended – kids can really be creative
• It’s special – it requires specific supplies that are more affordable in bulk and isn’t just another thing they can make at home any time
• It doubles as a part favor.

Activity Setup and Guidelines

I decided to get a stick-on varsity initial to make it special and personalized for each kid. Make sure to get enough letters for each participant (I needed two packs of initials). You can purchase letters individually.

I also got a big pack of stick-on gems. These stuck really well and did make for a semi-permanent application (kids can pull them off but they won’t come off on their own.)

When the kids arrived, they each had a plate set up with their name, a mask, and the initial on it. The gem sheets were scattered across the table. Be generous with your gems – I regret not getting two packs. They’re great for other crafts too and inexpensive, and that way kids have more choices.

I find that having an open-ended (unguided) craftivity set up for kids right when they arrive is a great way to warm them up for an at-home birthday party. It helps them jump right in when they’re stil feeling a little shy and makes them excited about what’s to come.

Since everything is effectively a sticker, the kids just jumped right in and got VERY busy. They did not need any instruction at all. They were hypnotized by the activity, dedicating themselves fully to blinging their sleep mask crafts.

Just a quick seating tip: I seated the two friends who weren’t in her class next to A and the classmates together, just to make things less intimidating for those two.

Make sure to have a sample on the table for kids to follow (the upside down w “M” one you see was my sample).

Sending them home as favors

Especially when the activity doubles as a favor like by this Dog Man party – but even when it’s just a craft-heavy party – I like to have bags prepared in advance with the kids’ names.

That way, as they complete their crafts, I can simply slip it into their bags. Most of the kids wore their masks after but I did get bags for them regardless. The masks came in bags, but most of them tore when I took the masks out so I recommend getting separate bags.

Each bag was prepared with this laser heart keychain, and two scrunchies, and had plenty of space for the sleep mask crafts and the bookmarks they created (which I’ll share at a later date).

When they finished decorating the masks, they went to the reading corner (again, I’m going to share all the details in a later post) and I collected any masks that were left behind to put in their labeled bags.

The sticker was a Canva design (the same one I used for the invitation), printed on sticker paper.

You can see that the favor bags and labels were really inexpensive. While the sleep mask craft was a bit pricier, it was balanced out by savings in other areas, AND it was both the primary entertainment and the primary favor.

More tips for making a sleep mask craft

Whether you’re crafting this at home, at camp, at a party, or for any other occasion, I figured I’d share some tips and tricks for making this.

Embellishments and ideas

The only embellishments we provided were:

• An adhesive initial per person
• Sheets of adhesive gems.

That WAS enough, but if you’d like to offer more, here are some more ideas. Some are suitable for parties, and some should only be done in a one-on-one crafting scenario.

• Adhesive shapes – many initial sets come with more chenille style stick-ons. Those can be fun too, but you’ll still only want 1-2 per person.
• Adhesive patches – again, unless doing this at home, stick with adhesive, but you can get loads of embroidered patches for a cool look.
• Glue-on gems – you can do larger glue-ons but again, you’ll need more supervision with this and it’s best for when you’re just crafting at home.
• Buttons – bigger kids can sew on fun buttons.
• Paint markers or fabric markers – kids can color and decorate their sleep masks. Just test the markers in advance of the activity.

Favorite occasions and themes to make this craft

IF you spotted this craft not for a specific occasion, but just while browsing, here are some fun times to make them, besides for an unslumber party!

• An actual sleepover party
• A sleepover with one or two friends – you can get more detailed if you have an adult handling the hot glue gun.
• A take-home activity at a larger gathering, such as a school event
• This is so cool as a get-to-know-you icebreaker at sleepover camp
• Or if you’re having an overnight for day camp
• It’s cool for pajama day at any school or camp

How to assemble this sleep mask craft

The assembly process is very basic, but you’ll enjoy seeing the kids actually putting theirs together!

Pay close attention to my guidelines for the materials to use.

You’ll need

• Sleep masks: good quality satin ones make a big difference, especially if it’s a party favor. HOWEVER, the ones I got were adult sizes and too big for preschoolers. I did run them through the sewing machine for a second to take in the elastic at the back. You can also get adjustable ones.
• Gems: get enough gems in a good mix of shapes to go around – at least 2-3 sheets per kid. You’ll have extras for another project, but you want the kids to be able to choose.
• Initials: one for each kid. Double names still got one.

Tutorial

1. Stick the initial in the center of the mask.

2. Decorate with gems.

That is all! No dry time, just stickers. The kids had a blast! I hope you enjoyed!

The post Sleep Mask Craft – Decorating with Kids appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Ready for some outdoor fun? We first tried this easy DIY sidewalk chalk paint as a spur of the moment art birthday party activity for Y’s 8th birthday. I realized I’d need to get the kids ouside a bit so that I can switch from food to painting, and needed a same-day, on-the-fly activity!

DIY sidewalk chalk paint was the perfect solution – the kids had fun with it and it came together super quickly.

Today I’m going to share with you everything you need to know about making your own sidewalk chalk paint, including storage, use tips, and yes, how to keep it neater than I did.

And yes, it has that white chalky finish just like sidewalk chalk – but goes on as a liquid like paint! It’s the cornstarch that gives it its chalky texture, and yes, it just washes away, just like chalk!

They can even paint on their outdoor toys.

Does DIY sidewalk chalk paint stain?

I used food coloring to make this sidewalk chalk paint. The advantage is that you get the color in little drops, leaving the texture of the paint intact.

However, food coloring can stain! I stained my hands awfully because one of my food colors was old and lumpy and didn’t mix in well. (It’s photographed here but I threw that color out).

I did not find that it stained the outdoor surface or my kids’ clothing. I think it’s because the color absorbed enough into the corn starch.

I did tell party participants to send kids in junk clothing, so I wasn’t worried about it at the party. I will suggest that if your kids get it on their clothing they should wash it right away (this always applies, even to washable paints!) I also recommend considering where you color – while it didn’t stain our outdoors, you need to keep open the possibility that it might leave light stains, and do it in an area where that won’t bother you.

You can also try using one of the following options to color it instead:

• Ground up sidewalk chalk (an extra step that makes it not so easy anymore)
• Washable kids’ paints (it’s less pigmented, so you’ll need to use more which may affect the texture).
• Washable liquid pigments
• Washable powder pigments

Food coloring is the easiest choice for me, but you can definitely play around with this recipe.

Tips

I always jot down notes as I do an activity to share with you how you can improve on it – or the choices I made that worked out well and made it easier.

Making it neater – on the prep end

This CAN be a neat activity to prepare, and yes, I did it quite neatly at the party. But then when I repeated this to share it in this post, I made a royal mess.

Here is my take on how to keep things neat:

• Mix up all the cornstarch and water in one large container and distribute it between smaller ones to add color. Remember: it’s food safe, so you can use your regular kitchen tools.
• Use containers that are larger than needed both for mixing in colors and for mixing the main batch.
• Use fresh food coloring and don’t add too much! Just 2-3 drops per color.
• Work slowly, don’t rush. Corn starch can get all over, but if you measure carefully and place it in a large bowl, you’ll be able to contain it better.

While I see people make DIY sidewalk chalk paint in muffin tins, I do NOT recommend that. I recommend making larger batches in food storage containers, and planning to use it all at once.

Which brushes should you use

We brought out an assortment of brushes but found that the typical bristled house painting (chip) brushes worked best. You can get large packs for a great price, and the large sizes are great for outdoor use (just make sure it fits neatly into the containers you’re using.)

We found that silicone brushes didn’t hold enough paint and foam brushes shredded on the pavement. Large, cheap bristle brushes held the paint well, gave us good strokes and coverage, and while they did lose a few bristles, they held up well enough.

Storing DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint

This DIY sidewalk chalk paint is NOT designed to prepare in advance. Your best bet is to prep it as needed – it really takes minutes.

If you need to advance prep, here are so me ideas:

• Prep pre-measured colored water (you’ll need to do the colors separately so it’s more work), and pre-measure cornstarch. Mix each color fresh.
• Store it in an airtight container. Use it as soon as possible.
• If it dries up, you can try rehydrating it.

I really, really, recommend that you just make it fresh.

It separates a bit (almost immediately) but still works totally fine as you paint. So don’t worry if you see a bit of separation.

How to make DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint

You’ll need

• Corn Starch (I used about 1/3 cup per color)
• Water
• Food coloring
• Storage containers
• Recommended: a large mixing bowl
• Paintbrushes (I recommend chip brushes 2-4 inches wide)
• Popsicle sticks or spoons to stir with
• Large mixing bowl or container
• Measuring cup

Watch the video

Process

1. Mix equal parts corn starch and water. Note: I recommend doing this in a big bowl and dividing it up after. If you’re doing it in separate containers, add water to one at a time and mix it right after.

2. Add 2-3 drops food coloring and mix well. Mix and match colors and add more only as needed.

Your DIY sidewalk chalk paint is complete! Have fun playing! And if you want a fun spin on this, try this foamy sidewalk paint too!

DIY Three Ingredient Sidewalk Paint

Make your own DIY sidewalk chalk paint - it's easy, cheap, and uses things you probably have!

Print

Ingredients

• Corn Starch (I used about 1/3 cup per color)
• Water
• Food coloring
• Storage containers
• Recommended: a large mixing bowl
• Paintbrushes (I recommend house painting bristle brushes 2-4 inches wide)
• Popsicle sticks or spoons to stir with

Instructions

1. Mix equal parts corn starch and water. Note: I recommend doing this in a big bowl and dividing it up after. If you're doing it in separate containers, add water to one at a time and mix it right after.

2. Add 2-3 drops food coloring and mix well. Mix and match colors and add more only as needed.

Your DIY sidewalk chalk paint is complete! Have fun playing!

Notes

• Mix up all the cornstarch and water in one large container and distribute it between smaller ones to add color. Remember: it's food safe, so you can use your regular kitchen tools.
• Use containers that are larger than needed both for mixing in colors and for mixing the main batch.
• Use fresh food coloring and don't add too much! Just 2-3 drops per color.
• Work slowly, don't rush. Corn starch can get all over, but if you measure carefully and place it in a large bowl, you'll be able to contain it better.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

The post Easiest Ever DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Craft this easy and fun paper butterfly using a clothespin to make it flutter! When you’re done, try this flapping butterfly craft using a straw. This post contains affiliate links.

Ever since my clothespin paper puppets went viral eight years ago, I’ve been loving to craft with clothespins. They’re affordable, they are wood and have a nice feel…and they can animate crafts in cool ways!

So while I already did share a clothespin butterfly in this space, I wanted something where the clothespin was used for animation, and the wings were a bit more butterfly-like.

So I decided to make these gorgeous paper butterflies using clothespins as the center! While it doesn’t fully animate it, combine the opening and closing with fluttering it up and down, and you have an adorable animated paper butterfly.

I started by designing a set of wings to use with the craft – all with patterns inspired by real butterflies. I made eight sets of wings total, and decided to offer two styles for free to keep it accessible for everyone, available to download at the bottom of this post.

The full 8 sets of wings in different sizes and file formats is available for a few bucks in my shop, on Etsy, and TPT. Your purchase helps keep this blog going, and more ideas coming, despite the major shifts in search and social media.

Tips for making a paper butterfly

There are so many ways you can craft this paper butterfly – and yes, it’s great for both big kids and preschoolers! A, age 4, had fun with it, I had fun with it…

Coloring it in

I chose to color the pink and green ones in using alcohol markers (I used this set for this craft). I used a thin white paint marker for detail as well. To demonstrate that you don’t need special equipment to make this gorgeous, I used regular Crayola Supertips for the other butterfly.

I didn’t necessarily follow any real butterfly design – you can do that if you want. Instead, I chose a hue and selected a few shades of the same to color it. It helps to have a good range of colors in your marker set – a 24 or 40 pack will do it, whether you’re using alcohol markers or Crayolas.

Color this in however you like – and get creative!

More ways to use this template

While this was designed for use as a clothespin butterfly, they are a perfectly adorable sweet set of wings that can be used in any craft! Note: they are wings only!

Here are some ideas:

• If you have a large format printer, you can turn them into a costume.
• Trace them onto a sheet of clear acetate, color them with Sharpies on the reverse side, cut them out, and use them as suncatchers.
• Try black glue art with them! Trace them using glue mixed with black acrylic paint, and then watercolor between the glue.
• Use spoons to turn them into spoon puppets.
• Use them in fairy crafts as fairy wings!

Because they are loose wings, you can do so much with it, and use it as a template for many different types of butterfly crafts.

Another variation within the same paper butterfly clothespin craft: You can overlay the wings on the flat side of the clothespin, or you can attach them to the narrow sides where it opens – on each side!

Choose your favorite way to make this.

Activities to try with your paper butterfly

So you crafted your clothespin paper butterfly – now what? This is a great way to get started with Spring and Summer activities!

Here are some fun activity ideas to try with your crafted paper butterfly:

• One of my favorite thing to do with any craft is to make it alongside a story or book. So if you’re reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar – or anything about butterflies – use this to bring that part of the story to life.
• Craft it in conjunction with learning about metamorphosis. The beauty of the wings will show kids that even from a “plain” caterpillar (the clothespin), with enough hard work, something beautiful can emerge.

• Different results: give a group of kids the same single set of wings, don’t let them see each others’ progress, and watch how they get different results! Share how even given the same set of circumstances, you can influence the end result. And that each person can create something beautiful, even if it’s vastly different.
• Use it in fine motor activities – the pincer grasp of the clothespin helps build prewriting skills!

How to make a paper butterfly

Watch the video

Watch the full-length video on YouTube if you prefer to learn that way! Or scroll down for written instructions with photos.

Supplies needed

• The templates printed on regular paper (so that they flutter) – get it here or print the free sample at the end of this post.
• Markers – alcohol markers (for teens and adults) will come out gorgeous, or go for something like Crayola Supertips
• Clothespins
• Scissors
• Glue – any white glue will work but I like to use double sided tape.

Process

1. Color it in. Make it realistic or fantastical. Play with different shades of the same hue if you’d like.

2. Cut out the wings.

3. Glue them side by side on the flat part of a clothespin, or on each side of the side that opens.

Pinch them and wave them up and down to make them flutter!

Download the paper butterfly template

The full bundle

If you want all the butterfly designs, it’s a premium download, available in my Etsy shop. Your purchase helps keep this blog alive and the tutorials coming. There is also a free sampling below.

The free sample files

To download, fill out the form below. You’ll be signed up for our free newsletter – unsubscribe at any time in the footer of the emails. I respect your privacy and the law and won’t share your information with anyone.

The post Paper Butterfly Clothespin Craft appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

I love using the texture of knots to create pattern variations and this flip flop friendship bracelet does just that! This popular design is similar to my horizontal stripe friendship bracelets, however it’s made quite differently.

On this one, you have a diagonal stripe. It’s essentially a twist on the candy stripe friendship bracelet, with a slight modification to make the cool textured row: instead of working each color once across and move it on to the next, you flip it over, work it again, and then flip it over and knot again.

Because you’re alternating showing the front “stitch” side of the knot and the back “wrap” side of the knot, you get this super cool texture.

The flip flop friendship bracelet is an easy, fun, cheerful pattern. There’s something about the diagonal stripes, with an edge that forms a kind of zig zag, that makes it a cheerful pattern – regardless of which colors you choose! But I like to add my own twist to things, so I made this one my favorite way… using graduated colors for an ombre look!

To best accomplish this, you can either head in-store and buy open stock floss, or, just get a big package with lots of color options.

Now to be clear, these are not gradient threads – these are colors that I chose in different shades of the same color to give it a beautiful look. I’ve shared ombre bracelets in the past that had a 3D effect – like my most popular zig zag friendship bracelet that looks like a ribbon, and the diamond friendship bracelet that looks like two ribbons.

This one doesn’t necessarily create a 3D effect, but if you choose a strong gradient (like my red and green test samples) you get quite the drama!

The flip flop friendship bracelets can be made with any number of colors, and wider or narrower. The sweet spot will be 5-8 strings (you can repeat colors to do a simpler palette) to showcase the beautiful texture, without curling like on excessively wide bracelets.

Finally, you can choose to finish off your flip flop friendship bracelets using any method you choose but my favorite will definitely be a clasp! You can learn how to put a clasp on a friendship bracelet here and explore more ways to start and finish a friendship bracelet too.

Supplies and String Cut Sizes

• Embroidery floss. For 6 strand bracelets: cut 6×40 inch strands, or double over 3×80 inch strands
• Thread snips
• Optional: clipboard. Make sure to get one with a flat edge that’ll hold your threads in place.
• Optional: Ribbon crimps and hot glue OR cord ends, clasps

How to make a flip flop friendship bracelet – Step by Step

If you prefer, you can watch the full-length YouTube video here. Or scroll for a full written tutorial:

The rule: you are making ONLY left-to-right forward knots on every row.

1. Arrange your strings in the order in which you’d like them to appear.

2. Forward knot your leftmost string around the one to its right. To recap: a forward knot means you’re knotting left to right TWICE.

Pull it tight.

3. Repeat this forward knot around every other color until the leftmost string takes the rightmost position.

4. Now, flip your bracelet over so that you see the back of it. Your working thread – the one you just used – is now your leftmost again.

5. Forward knot it around every other string individually until once again it’s at the rightmost position – and at its starting point.

6. Flip your bracelet back over to the front.

7. Now repeat the first row you did: forward knot the leftmost string around every other one until it reaches the rightmost position. You’re finished with this color for now and have completed a round.

8. Now work with your NEW leftmost string – the one you started off with as second from left.

9. Repeat the process. Forward knot it around every string. Flip over your bracelet to the back. Forward knot it around every string. Flip your bracelet back to the front. And forward knot it again around every one, finishing this color, with the working thread now in the rightmost position.

10. Repeat this process with every color and continue until your flip flop friendship bracelet has reached the desired length! Finish off as desired.

You’ve successfully learned how to follow the flip flop friendship bracelet pattern. Which bracelet should I teach next? Comment below!

Yield: 1

How to Make Flip Flop Friendship Bracelets

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Active Time: 1 hour

Additional Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $1

Flip Flop bracelets are easy to make and a variation on the classic Candy Stripe Bracelet. The only difference: you are alternating which side you're knotting on by flipping it over twice for each color round!

The rule: you are making ONLY left-to-right forward knots on every row.

Each color is used for three rows before switching.

Follow these rules and htis is one of the easiest friendship bracelets you'll make!

Print

Materials

• Embroidery floss. For 6 strand bracelets: cut 6x40 inch strands, or double over 3x80 inch strands
• Thread snips
• Optional: clipboard. Make sure to get one with a flat edge that'll hold your threads in place.
• Optional: Ribbon crimps and hot glue OR cord ends, clasps

Instructions

1. Arrange your strings in the order in which you'd like them to appear.
2. Forward knot your leftmost string around the one to its right. To recap: a forward knot means you're knotting left to right TWICE. Pull it tight.
3. Do this around each of the colors to its right. Flip over your bracelet so that your working string is back on the left.
4. Forward knot it around each string to its right.
5. Flip over so that your working string is back on the left. Knot again around every string to its left. You should have three rows of this color now - one with the back of the knots facing (the flat side) and two with the front raised side (the stitch). The working string is now on the right. Don't flip.
6. Repeat with the newest leftmost string.
7. Repeat with every color until you're happy with the length of your bracelet.

Notes

• Finish off with braids, a clasp, or however you'd like.
• Color choice is everything! I like to go with different shades of the same color for a gradated effect.
• These stack beautifully, and are wearable with "real" jewelry especially if you finish it off with a real clasp!
• My recommendation is to do a minimum of five strands for this (it'll be four knots wide). It looks even nicer with six, and the sweet spot is 6-8.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

The post Flip Flop Friendship Bracelet Tutorial appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

I love crafting fun little surprises for my kids, and they’re all big fans of cozy things.

With summer weather warming up, this felt ice cream cone craft is the perfect mood! It’s an especially great pick if you’re home on vacation, because there is so much skill-building and things to learn! You can take your time to get into it – learn new stitches, add extra scoops and designs, or start a collection of different flavors.

Your tweens will definitely love crafting this felt ice cream cone, but it’s also really sweet for parents to craft for their kids.

Many kids like little stuffies like this just to keep and hold, but if you want to do more with your creation, you can attach a keychain or brooch pin and use it as a backpack charm. You can also gift it to a young friend to serve at their next doll party. It’s not suitable for a baby or toddler, though.

This felt ice cream cone can also be crafted as a flat felt craft, and made smaller as a brooch to wear.

The template I’m giving you includes a cone, two scoops, and a cherry, but it’s easy to just use those as a starting point – for a simpler project, you can use one scoop and no cherry; for a more complex project you can add extra scoops or toppings. You can also print the template on a larger scale to make a bigger stuffie if you have time to work on it.

I also included an SVG version of the template for the Cricut crafters.

The instructions for this craft teach you to embroider the details on the ice cream cone, which is a big part of its charm. But if you have a beginning crafter who wants to join in and really isn’t ready to embroider, you can always use permanent markers or fabric paint markers to make the designs.

Beginners can also use a simple whip stitch for the edges instead of the blanket stitch that I’ll be showing you. A small craft like this is a great way to learn and practice more varied stitches, but if you’re not ready it’s fine to keep it simple.

Another fun variation would be to use pellets instead of soft filling. Pellet filling provides a great sensory experience to hold or squeeze. It adds weight which can feel nice to fidget with but would make it a little harder to carry on a keychain, so keep that in mind.

If you don’t have polyfill or stuffing, you could use cotton balls in a pinch – the craft is small enough. Polyfill will give you a better squishy texture, though.

What you’ll need

• Soft felt
• Embroidery floss (or another heavy thread)
• Embroidery needle
• Polyfill
• Scissors
• Washable Fabric Marker
• Straight pins
• Template – download at the bottom of this page
• If Cricut cutting – I recommend using the Maker with rotary blade and Fabric Grip mat. Treat the felt like a fabric for best results.

How to craft a felt ice cream cone

1. Print the template and cut out all the pieces (or cut them using your Cricut). Trace them onto felt sheets in the colors of your choice and cut them out. Your template includes one of each shape; for a stuffie, make two of each scoop (the cone will fold over on itself)

2. We’re going to start by adding the waffle design to the ice cream cone. I started it off freehand, but eventually drew on temporary lines.

Thread your needle with tan thread (or the color of your choice for the lines on the cone). Make a knot in the end of the thread. Insert the needle through the back of the cone and pull it through to the front.

3. Bring the needle around the edge of the cone to the back again, and sew it through to the front again – this time, bring the needle up right through the middle of the first piece of thread to form a split stitch.

4. Pull the rest of the thread through. Don’t pull it tightly enough to squeeze the felt edge; do it just enough so there is no loose thread hanging around.

5. Start your second stitch by stitching the needle through the felt from front to back.

6. Now, bring the needle back up in the middle of that stitch, pulling it through the middle of the piece of thread.

7. Repeat steps 5-6 to continue making a whole row of split stitches across the length of the cone shape.

8. When you get to the opposite edge, flip the piece over and sew through one of the last stitches to secure the end in place.

9. You don’t need to cut off the thread; you can just move over about an inch and start the next row the same way you started the first. Continue to make lines of split stitches across the whole cone. When you’ve filled the cone with lines going one way, turn the corner and make lines going across the other way using the same technique.

How sweet is this cone?! Time to fill it with ice cream!

10. Next, we’re going to make some sprinkles. You can do this simply by stitching small stitches across your scoop. Or, for more texture, make French knots!

I’m using red thread on a chocolate background. Thread your needle, make a knot, and pull it through from back to front.

11. Holding the needle against the felt right where it emerged from the back, wrap the thread around it two or three times, close to where the needle emerges from the felt.

12. Poke the needle back through the felt as close as possible to the same hole where it came out of (but not actually through the same hole – just very close).

13. With one hand holding the looped thread against the felt where the needle pokes through, use your other hand to gently pull the thread through to the back.

14. Tighten it – it’ll form a tidy little French knot.

15. Repeat as many times as you want, scattering sprinkles randomly over your ice cream scoop.

16. Now that the ice cream is ready, let’s put it in the cone! Arrange all the parts (cone, scoops, and cherry) on your work surface and use straight pins or clips to hold them together. When arranging the pieces, fold the cone in half similar to how a real ice cream cone is closed.

17. Thread your needle and knot the end of the thread. Starting at the tip of the cone, insert your needle going from the inside to the outside of the cone.

18. Secure it in place with 1-2 stitches going around the tip of the cone.

19. Use blanket stitches to sew up the edge of the ice cream cone.

20. Blanket stitch until you come to the point where the cone meets the scoop.

21. When you get to the top of the cone, secure the corner with a single stitch.

22. Now we’re going to attach the cone to the ice cream. We only want to attach the top layer of the cone to the top layer of the ice cream scoop – be careful not to sew the layers together, so you have space to stuff it later.

One way I like to keep myself on track is to open up the project on one side and stick my fingers in to separate the layers as I work.

23. Make blanket stitches along the top edge of the ice cream cone, with the needle going through both the cone and the top layer of the ice cream.
Do the same thing on the other side – continue going around the top edge of the ice cream cone, but this time stitch it together with the other layer of the ice cream scoop, continuing to keep the layers separate from each other.

When you’ve gone around both sides, finish off by making a knot on the inside of the project.

24. Thread the needle with a color that goes with your first ice cream scoop, and make a knot at the end. Starting from the inside again, make blanket stitches around the edge of the ice cream scoop. Stitch together both layers of the ice cream along the side just until you reach the second scoop.

25. When you get to the second color of ice cream, separate the layers again and only sew together the top layer of each ice cream scoop – just as you did when the edge of the cone met the first scoop.

Once again, it may help you to hold/separate the layers from the inside.

26. When you finish connecting the two ice cream scoops, run your needle through the inside of the project to the other side to continue sewing the sides together.

27. If you’d like, you can tie off and switch to a different thread color when you reach the next scoop. Blanket stitch the first side of that scoop through both layers to close the side. When you get to the top, attach the cherry just as you did for the scoops, and then continue the blanket stitch around the outside of the cherry. Leave the other side open for the stuffing.

28. Take your stuffing material (polyfill or pellets) and push it in through the open side. Use your fingers to distribute it evenly through the cone and scoops.

Sew the last bit closed using a blanket stitch, finishing with the needle on the inside. Pull the needle between the front and back layer, knot off as close as possible to the seam. Trim and use the needle to poke the knot back between the layers, to the inside of the project. 

Your felt ice cream cone stuffie is done! It looks too cute to eat!

Download the felt Ice Cream Cone Stuffie Template:

To download, fill out the form below. You’ll be signed up for our free newsletter – unsubscribe at any time in the footer of the emails. I respect your privacy and the law and won’t share your information with anyone.

Your file will arrive in a ZIP folder. Learn how to unzip files here.

The post Felt Ice Cream Cone Craft (Free Template) appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Nothing brightens up the world like blooming flowers, especially big, vibrant sunflowers! Celebrate summer with this Mini 3D Crochet Sunflower Pattern. With the viral success of my regular crochet sunflowers, I decided to offer a spinoff pattern that’s a bit more three dimensional in nature.

I don’t know about you but I don’t have a lot of patience. I like when things come together quickly. And once you get the hang of this mini 3D crochet sunflower pattern, it’ll go so quick, you’ll never want to stop making them!

These little flowers make wonderful accents for larger projects, or existing items – spruce up a plain jacket or hat you’re getting tired of, or add pizzazz to your tote or handbag. You can attach several in a garland for spring decor, or attach one to a hair clip or brooch pin as a temporary applique.

Last year, we brought you these adorable 3-D puffy flowers. This crochet pattern uses a similar style, but the sunflower design is really unique. You’ll love how the bright petals burst out from the round center.

This Mini 3D Crochet Sunflower Pattern is geared toward crafters who are familiar with the basic stitches. This should not be your first crochet that you do, however, it is definitely beginner-friendly and you don’t need to be a pro.

If you’re new to crochet, you can find easy tutorials on YouTube to help you follow along with the simple stitches used in this project. You’ll be using chain stitches and slip stitches, which are both the basic building blocks of crochet. These are so simple to make and provide quick satisfaction, something that’s rare with crochet projects!

If you still feel like you need more practice, try these crochet granny squares first to get you used to crochet, and then come back here to try some next-level 3-D action!

And if you want more fun sunflower crochet to brighten your day, you can try a crochet sunflower granny square!

Stitches Needed for a Mini 3D Crochet Sunflower

• Chain
• Slip

What you need

Yarn – medium-light or medium, brown and yellow/orange

Crochet hook – 3.5mm

Scissors

Tapestry needle

Optional: green felt for leaves – recommended if you’re using this as an applique! Or crochet leaves instead.

Mini 3D Crochet Sunflower Pattern

1. We’ll start with the center of the crochet sunflower. We’re using dark brown medium-weight yarn for the center. Work a slip knot first and then work 8 chain stitches.

2. Work a slip stitch through the first chain to form a loop or ring of the 8 chain stitches.

3. Slightly pull out the yarn on hook and then yarn over once.

4. Insert the hook through the ring and pull yarn through the ring, but do not pull through the loops on the hook.

5. Yarn over the hook and insert the hook through the ring, and pull yarn through the ring again.

6. Your hook should have 5 loops on it, including the first slip stitch. Pull through all 5 loops.

7. Now, work another slip stitch.

8. Repeat step 3 through 6 to form the next puffy stitch through the base ring.

9. Continue to repeat until you have 8 of these puffy stitches around the base ring.

10. Without removing the yarn from the hook, work a slip stitch through the first top chain stitch and pull out a few inches of the yarn. Cut off extra yarn. Secure the remaining yarn on the back of the crochet pattern.

11. Take a skein of yellow yarn and make a slip knot. Pull the slip knot through a gap between any 2 of the brown puffy stitches and work 3 chains. Yarn over once and stretch the yarn on the hook to the height of the 3 chains.

12. Insert the hook through the gap again and draw yarn through the gap. Stretch and level the height of the yarn on the hook with the 3 chains and the other loop.

13. Repeat the step 12 4 more times, so that you have five loops on your hook the same height as the chain.

14. Use the same technique to create another 5 sets of long loops attached to the next chain stitch (at the top of the brown puff, for a total of ten.

15. Yarn over and carefully pull the hook through all 10 loops on the hook.

16. Work a slip stitch and tighten the slip stitch as firmly as possible, bringing all the loops together at the ends into a petal shape. This slip stitch starts on the right of those loops, but pulls the yarn “tail” from the left and sits at the top, essentially tying them toegether. 

17. Work 3 chain stitches.

18. Work another slip stitch through the slip stitch that “tied” your loops together.

19. Work 3 chain stitches.

20. Work another slip stitch through the same stitch used for the last set of loops. The first petal is complete.

21. Work 3 chain stitches on the hook.

22. Work 5 sets of 2 loose loops through the next gap between 2 of the puffs on the flower center,  and another 5 sets of loose loops through the next top chain stitch.

23. Yarn over, pull the hook through all 10 loops and follow steps 16-20 to complete the 2^nd petal.

24. Work around the base to complete 8 petals. Finish the petals by working a slip stitch through the first chain stitch. Pull out a few inches of the yarn and cut off the rest.

25. Stitch the remaining end of the yarn into the back of the crochet sunflower pattern.

If you’d like, you can cut leaves out of felt to decorate your mini 3D Crochet Sunflower.

Puffy Crochet Sunflower - Printable Pattern

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Difficulty: Intermediate

Estimated Cost: $1

A puffy sunflower that comes together really quickly once you get the hang of it! Use for appliques, temporary embellishments, as part of kirigami, in wreaths and garlands, etc.

Print

Materials

• Yarn – medium-light or medium, brown and yellow/orange
• Crochet hook – 3.5mm
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle
• Optional: green felt for leaves

Instructions

1. We’ll start with the center of the crochet sunflower. We’re using dark brown medium-weight yarn for the center. Work a slip knot first and then work 8 chain stitches.
2. Work a slip stitch through the first chain to form a loop or ring of the 8 chain stitches.
3. Slightly pull out the yarn on hook and then yarn over once.
4. Insert the hook through the ring and pull yarn through the ring, but do not pull through the loops on the hook.
5. Yarn over the hook and insert the hook through the ring, and pull yarn through the ring again.
6. Your hook should have 5 loops on it, including the first slip stitch. Pull through all 5 loops.
7. Now, work another slip stitch.
8. Repeat step 3 through 6 to form the next puffy stitch through the base ring.
9. Continue to repeat until you have 8 of these puffy stitches around the base ring.
10. Without removing the yarn from the hook, work a slip stitch through the first top chain stitch and pull out a few inches of the yarn. Cut off extra yarn. Secure the remaining yarn on the back of the crochet pattern.
11. Take a skein of yellow yarn and make a slip knot. Pull the slip knot through a gap between any 2 of the brown puffy stitches and work 3 chains. Yarn over once and stretch the yarn on the hook to the height of the 3 chains.
12. Insert the hook through the gap again and draw yarn through the gap. Stretch and level the height of the yarn on the hook with the 3 chains and the other loop.
13. Repeat the process 4 more times.
14. Use the same technique to create another 5 sets of two long loops attached to the next chain stitch (at the top of the brown puff.)
15. Yarn over and carefully pull the hook through all 10 loops on the hook.
16. Work a slip stitch and tighten the slip stitch as firmly as possible.
17. Work 3 chain stitches.
18. Work another slip stitch through the first slip stitch.
19. Work 3 chain stitches.
20. Work another slip stitch through the same stitch used for the last set of loops. The first petal is complete.
21. Work 3 chain stitches on the hook.
22. Work 5 sets of 2 loose loops through the next gap between 2 of the puffs on the flower center, and another 5 sets of loose loops through the next top chain stitch.
23. Yarn over, pull hook through all 10 loops and follow the previous steps to complete the 2nd petal.
24. Work around the base to complete 8 petals. Finish the petals by working a slip stitch through the first chain stitch. Pull out a few inches of the yarn and cut off the rest.
25. Stitch the remaining end of the yarn into the back of the crochet sunflower pattern.

Notes

Stitches needed:

• Slip
• Chain

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

The post Mini 3D Crochet Sunflower Pattern appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Each flower is uniquely beautiful – sunflowers never fail to impress with their large, brightly colored round heads, and their stature. They practically shout out that it’s a beautiful day to shine and grow!

This paper sunflower craft is especially beautiful, with complementary colors and a gentle 3D effect that makes it really pop. It would look great as a bulletin board or as fun wall decorations.  It’s mounted on a popsicle stick (optional), so you can even stick it into a pot filled with clay to use as a little kid-made decor.

If you want a more grown-up variety that is properly stemmed (and not flat), or you prefer an SVG format for the template, check out these paper sunflower templates.

Even though the 3-D folded paper looks impressive, it’s still flat enough to use on a card for Mother’s Day or another occasion, especially if it will be hand-delivered.

The purpose of the folds are uniquely to give it some texture and dimension, and that’s what makes this paper sunflower craft for kids so lovely.

This sophisticated design is actually remarkably easy to make. Older children and adults will enjoy the relaxing process and beautiful result, but even a very young crafter should be able to do it with just a little modeling and assistance.

The shapes are fairly simple to cut, and most of the folds are very simple, too – I’ve included instructions to simplify it even further if needed. This makes it an excellent fine motor skills activity and provides a refreshing change from simpler cut and paste designs.

And yes, it’ll look fabulous even if not cut perfectly!

I recommend liquid glue (regular or tacky) for this project. School glue can work as well but won’t be as secure.

Use small dots of glue so that they dry efficiently and so the pieces don’t slide around (this is less of an issue with tacky glue).

If your crafting partners are very young, you can put some glue in a cup and have them use a stick or paintbrush to dab small amounts of glue onto the project. This can work better than squeeze bottles for moderating the amount of glue that comes out.

Get ready to greet the sunshine with this beautiful sunflower paper craft!

What you’ll need

• Construction paper or colored cardstock in two shades of yellow, brown, and green
• Popsicle sticks – you can use green ones OR
• Green paint
• Scissors
• Liquid glue
• Pencil
• Markers (optional)

Download the template at the end of the post.

How to make a paper sunflower craft for kids

1. Get your papers ready! We used two different shades of yellow for the petals, green for the leaf, and brown for the twirl at the center of the flower. We used yellow for the base, too.

Next, cut out the template pieces and trace them onto the colored papers. You’ll need 8 of the larger petals in one color, and 8 of the small petals in a different shade. Cut out all the petals along with a leaf, base, and twirl pattern.

2. Fold each petal cutout in half symmetrically. Gently crease it along the middle, and then unfold it most of the way – so that you can see the full petal shape, but it isn’t lying flat.

3. Take the base cutout and apply 4 drops of glue spaced evenly around the edge (top, bottom, right, and left)

4. Take 4 of the large petals and stick them onto the glue drops. The rounded edge of each petal should overlap the base while the pointed end sticks out.

5. Put four more glue dots in between these petals, and attach the remaining four large petals. They will overlap the first four petals.

6. Create your next layer using the smaller petals, the same way you did the large, overlapping each other. Position them in between the larger petals so that you can still see the tips of the larger petals sticking out.

7. Fold the leaf in half. While it is still folded in half, fold it accordion style at a diagonal angle to the half fold. When you unfold it, the creases will look like veins on the leaf.

Very young crafters can simply fold the leaf in half and unfold it as you did for the petals, if the accordion fold is too difficult.

8. Take the spiral cutout. Roll up the paper, starting from the outer edge.

9. Keep rolling until you reach the center of the spiral. Use a bit of glue to hold it together.

10. Glue the rolled-up spiral to the center of the flower base.

Take a popsicle stick and paint or color it green. Let it dry completely.

11. Glue the sunflower base to the end of the popsicle stick. Glue the leaf to the stick below the flower.

Your paper sunflower craft for kids is complete!

Download the paper sunflower craft template

To download, fill out the form below. You’ll be signed up for our free newsletter – unsubscribe at any time in the footer of the emails. I respect your privacy and the law and won’t share your information with anyone.

The post Paper Sunflower Craft for Kids (Free Template) appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

A couple of years ago I shared a crochet sunflower pattern and knew I needed to revisit them once I saw how popular they were. So…

Check out these sweet crochet sunflower granny squares! They really showcase the beautiful colors and shapes of this popular flower. You can also change the colors to look like other flowers – or to use up leftovers from past projects. The classic crochet craft and soft yarn give this project a rustic feel that bridges both antique and contemporary styles.

Granny squares are a wonderful project for beginners to learn to crochet larger projects, or a relaxing activity for more experienced crocheters, because they are small and flat. You can feel the accomplishment of finishing a project quickly, even if your end goal is to produce more of them. Because they’re small, they’re a great way to use up smaller amounts of yarn if you don’t have enough for a bigger project.

They serve as the “building blocks” of larger project, and much like quilting squares, can be combined with different styles – such as this crochet flower granny square – to make something totally unique. 

Single squares can be used as coasters to protect a surface from a warm drink. Back it with cork to provide further protection from spills. A few squares stitched together can make a decorative wall hanging. And if you crochet enough squares, you can even connect them to make a whole blanket! Pretty much anything you can make out of fabric could also be made by combining crochet squares.

If your goal is to combine squares, you might choose to make them all the same for a uniform, repeating pattern, or you might want to make them in different colors for a whole different effect. 

You can alternate two or three colors in a pattern, or use a whole rainbow of colors randomly. You can keep the background color the same while making different colored flowers, or you can keep the flowers the same while changing the background – or change both if you really feel bold! 

You can even alternate squares of totally different designs, not only sunflowers, as long as they’re the same size. Add in some regular crochet granny squares too to balance things out. 

The possibilities are endless, but they all start the same way – grab some yarn in pretty colors, get a crochet hook, and let’s start crafting!

Sunflower Granny Square Crochet Pattern

Stitches Needed

SL- slip stitch

CH – chain stitch

DC – double crochet

TC – Treble/triple crochet

Materials

• Yarn – medium or medium-light
• Crochet hook – 3.5 mm
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle

How to crochet a sunflower granny square

1. Take the colored yarn you want for the center of the sunflower and tie a slipknot, without cutting it off of the skein. Make 6 chain stitches.

2. Work a slip stitch into the first chain stitch to form the chain into a ring.

3. Make one more chain stitch.

4. Start working double crochet through the base ring.

5. Work a total of 12 DC (double crochet) into the base ring. Work a slip stitch through the first top chain stitch to close the center part. Pull out the yarn by a few inches and cut it off.

6. Take another color of yarn for the sunflower petals. Make a slip knot with this new color.

7. Pull it through any of the stitches around the edge of the center.

8. Make 3 chain stitches.

9. Work a treble crochet through the same chain stitch but do not pull through the last 2 loops, keep them on the hook.

10. Work another TC and do not pull through the last loop. You should have a total of 3 loops on the hook.

11. Now, pull through all 3 loops at once.

12. Work 3 chain stitches.

13. Work 3 treble crochet through the next chain stitch, keep the last loops on hook like we did for the previous stitch. This time you should have 4 loops on the hook.

14. Pull through all 4 loops at once. 

15. Work 3 chain stitches again.

16. Repeat steps 9-15 until you’ve gone all the way around the center circle.

17. Work a slip stitch through the first top stitch and pull out a few inches of the yarn. Cut off extra yarn.

18. Select a color for the outside of the granny square. Start with a slip knot and join the slip knot with the sunflower part through a gap that was formed by the outer sets of 3 chain stitches (the gaps between the petals).

19. Chain 2 and work 2 DC through the same gap.

20. Work 3 TC through the next gap.

21. Work 2 chain stitches.

22. Work 3 TC through the same gap. This forms a corner of the granny square.

23. Work 3 DC through the next gap. Work another 3 DC through the next gap again. 

24. Then, work the corner stitch (3 TC, chain 3 and 3 TC).

25. Repeat this process until you’ve covered the flower through all 3-chain gaps.

26. Work a slip stitch through the first top chain stitch to close the granny square part.

27. Pull out a few inches of the yarn and cut it off from the skein. Use a tapestry needle to stitch the remaining end of the yarn over and under the back of the pattern. 

Your sunflower granny square is complete! What will you be making with yours? Comment below!

DIY Crochet Sunflower Granny Square

Print

Materials

• Yarn - medium or medium-light
• Crochet hook - 3.5 mm
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle

Instructions

1. Take the colored yarn you want for the center of the sunflower and tie a slipknot, without cutting it off of the skein. Make 6 chain stitches.
2. Work a slip stitch into the first chain stitch to form the chain into a ring.
3. Make one more chain stitch.
4. Start working double crochet through the base ring.
5. Work a total of 12 DC (double crochet) into the base ring. Work a slip stitch through the first top chain stitch to close the center part. Pull out the yarn by a few inches and cut it off.
6. Take another color of yarn for the sunflower petals. Make a slip knot with this new color.
7. Pull it through any of the stitches around the edge of the center.
8. Make 3 chain stitches.
9. Work a treble crochet through the same chain stitch but do not pull through the last 2 loops, keep them on the hook.
10. Work another TC and do not pull through the last loop. You should have a total of 3 loops on the hook.
11. Now, pull through all 3 loops at once.
12. Work 3 chain stitches.
13. Work 3 treble crochet through the next chain stitch, keep the last loops on hook like we did for the previous stitch. This time you should have 4 loops on the hook.
14. Pull through all 4 loops at once.
15. Work 3 chain stitches again.
16. Repeat steps 9-15 until you’ve gone all the way around the center circle.
17. Work a slip stitch through the first top stitch and pull out a few inches of the yarn. Cut off extra yarn.
18. Select a color for the outside of the granny square. Start with a slip knot and join the slip knot with the sunflower part through a gap that was formed by the outer sets of 3 chain stitches (the gaps between the petals).
19. Chain 2 and work 2 DC through the same gap.
20. Work 3 TC through the next gap.
21. Work 2 chain stitches.
22. Work 3 TC through the same gap. This forms a corner of the granny square.
23. Work 3 DC through the next gap. Work another 3 DC through the next gap again.
24. Then, work the corner stitch (3 TC, chain 3 and 3 TC).
25. Repeat this process until you’ve covered the flower through all 3-chain gaps.
26. Work a slip stitch through the first top chain stitch to close the granny square part.
27. Pull out a few inches of the yarn and cut it off from the skein. Use a tapestry needle to stitch the remaining end of the yarn over and under the back of the pattern.

Notes

Stitches Needed:
SL- slip stitch
CH - chain stitch
DC - double crochet
TC - Treble/triple crochet

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

The post Sunflower Granny Square (free crochet pattern) appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Twinkle, twinkle away – with the nights getting longer and earlier here in the Northern hemisphere, we need as much light as we can get! Add some sparkle and shine to your winter decor with these simple, elegant origami star shapes.

While 5 pointed origami stars may seem like a very basic shape, that’s exactly what makes them so versatile. The little kids among us might want to glue them to the tip of a stick or dowel to make a wand or scepter for a fairy, princess, or angel.

 For some more sophisticated decor, try stringing them together in a garland or banner, or hang them from a clothes hanger or embroidery hoop to create a mobile. You can use them to decorate your holiday or party table, either as place cards, stand-alone accents, or as part of a centerpiece.

Because the shape is so simple, this is the perfect base for some fancy decorating. Try using a patterned or shiny paper, or create your own pattern with markers or glitter on your finished stars.

So, how do you make a 5 pointed origami star out of a 4-cornered paper? It’s not hard at all with these simple-to-follow origami directions. All you need is a lightweight paper that’s easy to fold (plain copy paper or origami paper works fine.) If you’d like, you can also use a tool to flatten your creases, such as a bone folder or plastic ruler. Get your stuff together and let’s make the magic happen!

What you need to make a 5 pointed origami star

• Paper
• Glue (optional)

• Bone folder (optional)

How to fold a 5 pointed origami star

1. Start with a square paper. If your paper is rectangular, cut it down to a square shape.

2. Fold the top down to the bottom to create a horizontal fold.

3. Open the fold.

4. Fold one side to the other to create a vertical fold.

5. Open the fold.

6. Turn the paper over.

7. Fold it in half along the square’s diagonal.

8. Open the fold.

9. Fold it in half along the other diagonal.

10. Open the fold. 

11. Bring the straight edges upward toward the center, folding it along the creases.

12. Flatten it to make a triangle with two layers.

13. Take the top flap on the left and fold it up to the middle crease.

14. Fold the right flap the same way.

15. Undo the last two folds to leave creases.

16. Take the flap on the right and fold it up to the diagonal crease on the left side.

17. Open the fold.

18. Fold the left flap up to the diagonal crease on the right side.

19. Open the fold.

20. Now each side has two diagonal creases after the middle crease. Take the left flap and fold it accordion-style so that the edge formed by the second crease touches the middle. 

21. Fold the right flap the same way, so that the two folded parts meet in the middle with points sticking up. 

22. Flip the whole thing over to the side that isn’t folded yet (the flat triangle)

23. Repeat steps 13-21 so that both sides look the same.

24. Pick up the whole project so that the single point is pointing downward. There are four tips pointing toward you. Grasping the project by the middle, bring the top two points downward toward you, as if opening the pages of a book.

25. You will begin to notice how this forms a star shape. Position the points at an angle that looks good, and flatten it out. Apply glue if you’d like to help hold the flattened shape.

26. Flip the project over to display the smoother side.

You’ve successfully made a 5 pointed origami star. What will you be using yours for? Comment below!

5-Point Origami Star

Print

Materials

• Paper
• Glue (optional)
• Bone folder (optional)

Instructions

1. Start with a square paper. If your paper is rectangular, cut it down to a square shape.
2. Fold the top down to the bottom to create a horizontal fold.
3. Open the fold.
4. Fold one side to the other to create a vertical fold.
5. Open the fold.
6. Turn the paper over.
7. Fold it in half along the square’s diagonal.
8. Open the fold.
9. Fold it in half along the other diagonal.
10. Open the fold.
11. Bring the straight edges upward toward the center, folding it along the creases.
12. Flatten it to make a triangle with two layers.
13. Take the top flap on the left and fold it up to the middle crease.
14. Fold the right flap the same way.
15. Undo the last two folds to leave creases.
16. Take the flap on the right and fold it up to the diagonal crease on the left side.
17. Open the fold.
18. Fold the left flap up to the diagonal crease on the right side.
19. Open the fold.
20. Now each side has two diagonal creases after the middle crease. Take the left flap and fold it accordion-style so that the edge formed by the second crease touches the middle.
21. Fold the right flap the same way, so that the two folded parts meet in the middle with points sticking up.
22. Flip the whole thing over to the side that isn’t folded yet (the flat triangle)
23. Repeat steps 13-21 so that both sides look the same.
24. Pick up the whole project so that the single point is pointing downward. There are four tips pointing toward you. Grasping the project by the middle, bring the top two points downward toward you, as if opening the pages of a book.
25. You will begin to notice how this forms a star shape. Position the points at an angle that looks good, and flatten it out. Apply glue if you’d like to help hold the flattened shape.
26. Flip the project over to display the smoother side.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

The post 5 Pointed Origami Star Tutorial appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Who’s planning to spend some time at the beach this summer? Whether you’re at home or away, you have nothing to fear from these friendly sharks. They’re so little and easy that you can make a whole shiver of them (did you know that’s the collective noun for Shark? I just learned it and I love it!) to share with friends.

And with shark week coming up, what better time to craft some friendly versions of these ocean creatures?

Clothespin toys are excellent for strengthening finger muscles and fine motor skills. See if your little one can make their sharks gobble up little “fish” represented by mini pom-poms or any small materials you have around the house.

Or use them as puppets and strengthen little fingers as you open and clothes the shark’s mouth to talk.

The other nice thing about clothespins is that you can easily get a pack of 30 at any dollar store. At least some things are still affordable, right? There are a few types of clothespins – for this craft, you really want the kind with a spring that opens and closes it so you can give your shark a nice working mouth.

Get the wooden kind, because paint and glue have a much harder time sticking to non-porous surfaces like plastic. Fortunately, wooden spring-loaded clothespins are super easy to find.

Once you have the clothespins, the rest of the materials for this project are really very flexible – acrylic paint will give you the best effect for color, but if you prefer something washable, you can have your child use markers. For a neater alternative, try paint sticks, such as Kwik Stix or Chunkies. 

I’ve used felt for the fins and tail, but if you have easier access to foam sheets or even colored cardstock or construction paper, you can go for it anyway (paper will be less durable, of course. But a day or two of fun is still a win!)

And of course, wiggly eyes are a favorite but can be swapped out for beads, paper, or just drawn with a permanent marker.

In short, this is a craft that anyone can do with minimal preparation. So what are you waiting for? Make some sharks and let’s go swimming!

What you’ll need:

• Wood clothespins with springs
• Acrylic craft paint – red, light gray, dark gray
• Felt or foam sheets – light gray, dark gray (if you don’t have felt or foam, you can use cardstock)
• Wiggly eyes
• White Cardstock
• Glue gun with glue sticks
• Marker
• Paintbrush
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Template – download free at the end of this post

How to make a clothespin shark

1. Paint all the sides of two clothespins with light gray paint. Paint another two clothespins with dark gray paint. Let them dry completely, and apply a second coat if you’re still seeing wood through the paint.

2. Squeeze the clothespins open and paint the inside of the open part with red paint. Let it dry completely, and apply a second coat if necessary.

3. Cut a strip of white cardstock about ½” wide. Cut pieces off the strip to make 8 little rectangles. Cut out tiny triangles from one side of each rectangle to create teeth.

4. Glue two wiggly eyes to each shark. If you don’t have wiggly eyes, you can use a marker to draw eyes.

5. Use a glue gun to attach a set of teeth to the top and bottom of each clothespin tip. (You can use regular glue too, but it will take some time to dry and you may need to hold the pieces in place while they set)

6. Print and cut out the clothespin shark template. Use a marker to trace the fin and tail shapes twice onto light gray and twice onto dark gray felt or foam sheets. Cut them all out, cutting inside the traced lines to keep your finished project looking neat and clean.

7. Glue the tail to end of the clothespin on the inside. Glue one fin onto each side and one to the top of the shark.

Download the Felt Clothespin Shark Template

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