Halloween Pasta Craft

First of all, let me just mention how much I love to use egg cartons to organize my craft supplies. You can fill the egg carton with all sorts of pasta shapes for this project.


What you will need:
Pasta
Craft glue
Cardboard or thick cardstock(to support weight of pasta)
Paint (I used Acrylic, but if you have little kids doing this project you can use tempera and they will work just as good)

First, I bent my cardboard into 3 distinct sections. This will make it stand easier.
Second, I decided on my design and penciled it on to the cardboard.
Third, I applied glue over my penciled design (work in small sections so the glue doesn't dry while you are working)
Fourth, I chose my pasta pieces and arranged them on the glue design


Let the glue dry for a few hours or overnight before you start the next step.

Fifth, I painted my cardboard and pasta charcoal gray.


Sixth, I added 3 different metallic colors to the project to create a spooky effect.


And, that's it. So easy, and so fun...pasta, glueing, painting a great way for the little ones to get into the Halloween spirit.

Send me an email of your pasta creation and I will post it in my artist gallery: princesspeacrafts@cox.net

Spider Bite Cupcakes

I had to share these spider bite cupcakes with you...they are adorable and YUMMY!

The idea came from WomansDay magazine, but my mom put her creative touch on them.

Here is the link for the yummy recipe...Click Here

Now, it has to be said that my mom has a weakness for Mallomars. She actually can't be trusted around a box...she just might eat them all! In fact, I was a little worried that these yummy mallomar inspired cupcakes might not make the trip up to my nephews house. How sad would their little faces be if they opened up the cupcake container to half eaten (only the mallomars) cupcakes? Luckily she showed some restraint. Mom, I am proud of you!

She made her cupcakes extra special...she used halloween themed cupcake wrappers, tinted the frosting orange, skipped the nose (because, do spiders really have noses?), and used little white cupcake candies for the eyes.



These cupcakes made our day and really got us in the Halloween spirit.
Thanks Mom, I love you.

Stained Glass Fall Leaves

It is HOT here in Southern California. Yesterday, Los Angeles hit 113 degrees! It is Fall, right?

When I was little, and it was hot like this, my sister and I would melt crayons on the bricks in our yard. We would break the crayons into little pieces and then melt the pieces together. It was one of my favorite things to do! Many years later Crayola came out with a crayon making machine; the machine took little pieces and melted them together in the form of a new crayon...kind of takes the fun out of the old fashioned way.

Anyway, the melted crayon idea got me thinking...how can I incorporate melted crayons into a fall craft project?

Stained Glass Fall Leaves

What you will need:
1. Old, unwrapped crayons in an assortment of fall colors
2. scissors
3. wax paper
4. hole punch
5. curling ribbon
6. iron
7. old pillow case or baking parchment paper

optional items:
egg carton (I'll explain)
leaf stencils (you could free hand if you want)



Step one:
Tear off sheet of waxpaper. Fold in half.

Step two:
Shave crayons with scissor blade between the two halves. We used child safe scissors and they worked just fine.


This is wear the egg carton might be handy. If your child is too young to shave the crayons...YOU can shave the crayons into the egg carton and then HE/SHE can spread the shavings on the waxpaper.


Be sure to spread the crayon shavings evenly on the waxpaper.

Fold over the top half of the waxpaper to cover the bottom half.

Step Three:
Turn the iron onto the lowest setting. Place an old pillowcase or parchment paper on the ironing board; to protect the ironing board.


Step Four:
This is the REALLY fun part...put the crayon/waxpaper sandwich on top of the old pillow case or parchment paper. On top of the waxpaper sandwich place another piece of parchment paper; so the iron does not stick to the waxpaper. Quickly run the iron over the project. The crayons will melt quickly. Kids love to watch while you melt the crayons!

Step Five:
Let the crayon sheet cool for just a minute. Peel off the parchment paper.
This is what you will have:


Step Six:
Trace your leaf patterns onto the melted crayon sheet with a crayon. You will not see the crayon color, just an indentation on the waxpaper.


Step Seven:
Cut out the leaves.


Final Step:
Hole punch the leaves and use ribbon to hang in front of the window.


Have fun decorating for fall!
Send me a picture of your finished stained glass fall leaves and I will post it in the artist gallery: princesspeacrafts@cox.net

Quick Color Project

I love this project. It is so simple, all you need is a blank sheet of paper, a black pen and a box of crayons, pens or colored pencils.

For those of you craving to use color on the pen pattern diary, now is your chance.

Step One:
Using your black pen create a pattern to color in. In one continuous stroke scroll your pen around the page until you have filled it in. Your design should be random; don't over think it. Once you have your pattern be sure there are no "open" shapes. If so, close them off with a line.

Step two:
Color your shapes in.


Daniel thinks my design looks like a clown face. Do you see it?

How easy is that???

(You can refer to my color wheel when making your color scheme choices)



To add interest to your masterpiece think about using one of these color schemes:

Complementary - Colors opposite each other on the color wheel. I used orange and blue as my complementary colors, but you could also use red and green, or purple and yellow.

Analogous - adjacent hues on the color wheel. For example, red and purple, purple and blue, blue and green, etc.

Monochromatic - variations of a single hue. This can be very interesting! Choose 3 or 4 shades of the same color. For example, yellow green, green, granny smith apple, and spring green.

Triadic - Three colors equidistant on the color wheel. This is very popular with the younger crowd...red, yellow and blue.

Have fun with this quick and easy project!
What does your design look like? Send me an email of your drawing and I will post it on my Artist Gallery page. Princesspeacrafts@cox.net

Pen Pattern Diary

Above Artwork by Princess Pea

Artwork by: Daniel Age 9

I love two-dimensional design. There is something so satisfying about turning a blank canvas into a textural work of art; with only the use of your pen and the patterns you create.

The Pen Pattern Diary is a project for all skill levels; from the most basic shapes to the most intricate designs. You want to give your page interest, movement and texture. Your imagination is your inspiration.

This project is meant to be done in black ink. We want to focus on the visual texture of the page; adding color would be confusing to look at.

My favorite brand of pens to use for this project are Prismacolor because of the perfect saturated color you get on the page, but any brand will work. I would also suggest having two or three different pen tip sizes for a variety of line widths (this will add interest to the project).

For the younger set, you might want to think about using Crayola washable markers :)

Daniel and I used templates to create some of our patterns. If you don't have templates laying around the house, you can use every day household items:

Here are some simple patterns that make a big impact on the page:


Diagonal lines are very good at creating energy and movement on a page.
Graduating shapes sizes can also create movement on a page.
Solid filled shapes are dynamic and become a focal point.
Empty space can be just as dynamic as filled space. (Positive/Negative space)
For the young kids: stars, hearts, circles, squares, and triangles.

If it becomes too overwhelming to think of filling in a whole page...section it off and do one section at a time. I usually start with my biggest shapes first and then fill in with pattern later.

Here is an example of Daniel's work before it was complete. This will give you an idea of how he sectioned off the page:

This is a project that can be done a little each day. Sometimes it helps to step away from the drawing...

This is my current pen pattern drawing (close up version). It is a work in progress...

Email me YOUR pen pattern drawing to princesspeacrafts@cox.net and I will post it on my blog.
Have fun drawing!

Super Soccer Mom

Now that it is soccer season I thought I would let you in on my favorite end of season/party favor.

The kids love collecting them and they are really easy to make.

Keychains!



I have used this idea for birthday party favors and end of the sports season favors. I have been known to put them on my kids backpacks and instrument cases with their contact information.

Let's get started on a custom soccer keychain:

1. You will need an acrylic picture keychain. I bought mine in bulk through a wholesaler online, but you can buy them at any craft store or Oriental Trading online.



2. You will need to take a picture of the team banner. You don't want it to be too close up or you won't be able to shrink it down to size to fit the keychain.

3. You will want to write a message to fit on the back side of the keychain. I think the most common idea would be the child's name, team name and season of play.



4. Print out the picture and message and cut down to size. You can use the back frame as a guide.



5. Put the pictures into the frame; back to back.

6. Snap in the back and you are done.

So easy and what a great way for the kids to remember their team by AND get you the title of Super Soccer Mom!

Good luck Fall 2010 teams!

Magic Scratch

Last night was a "Magic Scratch" night.

First, let me tell you what Magic Scratch is, then I will tell you about the fun filled craft event.

Magic Scratch is colorful glossy paper coated with black tempera paint. When the tempera paint is "scratched" off, with a wooden stick, beautiful colors are revealed.





The craft event last night was space themed. We used Magic Scratch bookmarks, doorhangers, and frames with "space" stencils.





We had a great turn out at the craft table. Kids of all ages had fun; the toddler set liked to scratch off all of the paint to reveal the board underneath, the elementary set really got into it with some fantastic designs; the pre-teen set even gave it a try; the adults were really interested and I think would have sat down to try it out if there had been room at the table, I should have made a table just for them.









Here are some of the "Out of this World" designs; done by the kids:













A lot of parents were asking me where they could get the supplies to do this project, at home. I bought the scratch board kits from Oriental Trading online. Here is the LINK.
You could also go to your local Art & Craft supply store; I'm sure they will have kits, probably not as big a selection as what you will find online.

"Shoot for the stars" and keep on crafting!

Everything is Better with Glowsticks

"Everything IS better with glowsticks!"







In my mind, there is never a party that couldn't do without a little GLOW.

Here is my list of celebrations that could use a little bling bling to liven up the party/event:

1. New Years Eve-Who doesn't love to get decked out on New Years Eve?
2. Independence Day-the ultimate safe and sane fireworks...glowsticks
3. Camping Trips-the kids can sword fight with glowsticks until dawn
4. Night time beach parties-are those KIDS running on the beach or GRUNION?
5. Trick or Treating-obvious safety reasons...the more illumination on dark streets the better.
6. Girls Night Out-Bling Bling light up rings, need I say more ladies???
7. Concerts in the park-besides having entertainment value the glowsticks help find your kids in a crowd.
8. Slumber parties- last year my son and his friends turned out the lights and put all of their glowsticks in the middle of their sleeping bag circle and proceeded to tell campfire stories. All they needed were marshmallows and graham crackers...



Big D's birthday is on New Years Eve. We try to find special ways to celebrate every year. Two years ago we had a NEON themed party; all decorations were in neon colors, I painted black t-shirts with neon puffy paint, everyone was decked out from head to toe in glowsticks and even our drink cups were blinking bright.

The next time you are thinking of lighting up your celebration; check out "THIS" site.

If you have a great glowstick celebration idea that you would love to share; comment below.

GET YOUR GLOW ON!