Playing With Clay

A couple of weeks ago I took a polymer clay class and made my very own beads! I had never worked with polymer clay before so I was thrilled to get the chance to learn something new and make my very own beads (look out HGTV's Carol Duvall). I did have the forethought to bring my camera, and here are a few pictures I took.

Here is my pendant after I had worked the clay, which really means running it through a pasta machine a few times.

The instructor is very resourceful, here we have the beads on copper wire skewers, I just loved her "baking boat" for the oven.

Looks like a toaster oven, right? I thought so to, but alas it is a polymer clay and craft oven.

Here, the handy-dandy get the hot stuff out of the oven paddle is a shoe box top! Recycle and reuse is the name of the game - love it. Here are my pretties fresh out of the oven.

Ta Da... The final product after they have had their clear coat. I used rubber stamps to get the swirls on the front and back of each bead, I also used some embossing powder to give the beads some shimmer. Right now I'm not sure how I will use the beads, I do have enough to make a necklace, bracelet and earrings, or perhaps I will make a necklace and earring set, still pondering what other beads I will use as well.

My instructor does fabulous work, and I could not resist buying these two pendants. She originally planned to make them into pins, but I asked her to drill a hole in the top so that I could use them as a pendant, the lighter background one looks like mother-of-pearl, so tweet.

Embroidery Lesson

While my mother was visiting with us for Thanksgiving, she taught the kids how to embroidery. We went to one of the craft stores and purchased a kit with the design stamped on the pillowcases, ours is called Passion Flowers. The kit included two pillowcases and instructions, I purchased the floss separately, only to return home to find my stash of floss in my cross-stitch bag. We choose to get only one kit, just in case they didn't really want to do the craft.

I was a little surprised that both kids were excited about learning how to embroidery, we thought it would take them at least a couple of day, perhaps even weeks to complete the project, but no - they would have finished in one afternoon only I made them pack it up so that we could have dinner! Here are a few pictures of Gene and Nicole's first embroidery class, taught by their Grandma Agnes:





Knot tying was the only tricky part for both. Ma taught them to tie a knot every few stitches, so that in case a section was accidentally cut the whole piece would not unravel. Good tip!






The kids did an excellent job. They wanted to do more, so we went back to the craft store the next day to purchase another set of pillowcases.

Medieval Crafts

Last week the kids worked on a craft project from The Krafty Kid, here is the link to see what all the completed projects look like in this pack. Gene made the knight's shield project...


Nicole did the golden goblet, here are the finished projects.

These are great because our studies are in the Medieval time period, so the kids are learning and having a bit of fun too and it didn't require me to run around collecting anything for the craft! Not sure what we will do this week, we have several options! This is GREAT.

Craft Packs

At the September mom's meeting of my homeschool group we had the opportunity to hear and see the wares of the creator of Kids Craft Fun, themed-based craft projects for kids, all packaged together and ready to use, all you need are scissors and the kid. This is one of those
"Why didn't I think of that!"

The craft packs have 10 crafts all bagged and ready for use, with instructions, facts and other activities the child can do, everything is included, glue, paint, the actual craft materials - everything. Did you get that, no running around to the store armed with a list of things you can't find or have never heard of! It is all in the bag! I love this concept. The price for the packs are $25, that works out to $2.50 per craft - love it!

I purchased the Medieval History and Colonial American craft packs to go along with our Tapestry of Grace studies, and the kids will either work on the projects together or we will divide them up.

Here is the Medieval History Pack... no storage issues here.



Each craft is in its own baggy...



Here is the list of projects you get in the Medieval History Pack:

1. Jousting Knight


2. Knights' Shield


3. Golden Goblet


4. Illuminated Nameplate


5. Jester's Hat


6. Medieval Hand Harp


7. Lavender Sachet


8. Medieval Pouch


9. "Stained Glass" Window Handing


10. Medieval Castle Mobile

The projects for the Colonial American History Pack:

1. Wooden Colonial Fort
2. Colonial Pineapple Ornament
3. Tri corn Hat
4. Quill and Scroll
5. Colonial Hornbook
6. Quilt Square
7. Beeswax Candle and Candleholder
8. Weaving Project
9. Punched Metal Lantern
10. Tooled Metal Liberty Bell
    

These are BIG time (and mind) savers for moms who are not crafty or who are crafty but struggle to provide those hands on activities for the kids. Looking forward to showing you the completed crafts!


Note for those bloggers who are real savoy:
Why did my second list of numbered bullets turn out single spaced, but the first list are doubled spaced? I've wasted about 15 minutes trying to get them doubled spaced and finally threw my hands up and will just post them as is. Can someone help me with this? Would love to hear from you!

Footprints in the Sand

Ana left a comment asking me about my craft project from years ago, it was a counted cross stitch called Footprints in the Sand. I purchased the instruction leaflet from Wal-Mart many, many years ago for $1.78 (it still has the green price tag) but I'm sure any craft store would have it.

If you know how to cross stitch you would not even need a pattern, because the majority of the piece are the words to the poem, with shells in three places. In my piece I didn't include the water, it was too busy for me or I was too lazy to actually do them - not sure which. Also, I picked a fabric that looks like sand. Here is a picture of the leaflet, I found one for Psalms 23 in my cross stitch bag that I've never used, well to be honest it was several that I've never used!



I searched the web for the words to the poem and found out that there are three versions. The first one is the one used in my project. Thanks Ana for your kind words, be sure to take pictures and let me see yours if you make it! Come back and visit often!

Footprints

One night a man had a dream.

He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD.

Across the sky flashed scenes from His life.

For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand.

One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of His life flashed before Him,

he looked back at the footprints in the sand.

He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it.

LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way.

But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life

there is only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you!

During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints,

it was then that I carried you.

-Carolyn Carty, 1963

Footprints Also Known As "I Had a Dream"

One night I dreamed a dream.

I was walking along the beach with my Lord.

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,

one belonging to me and one to my Lord.

When the last scene of my life shot before me

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

There was only one set of footprints.

I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life.

This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.

"Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You,

You would walk and talk with me all the way.

But I'm aware that during the most troublesome times of my life

there is only one set of footprints.

I just don't understand why, when I need You most, You leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you,

never, ever, during your trials and testings.

When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you."

-Margaret Fishback Powers, 1964

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life,

when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,

I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,

“You promised me Lord,that if I followed you, you would walk with me always.

But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life

there has only been one set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints,

my child, is when I carried you.”

-Mary Stevenson, 1936

Sewing

I would like to take a sewing class. I don't have a sewing machine and the last time I sewed was in Elementary or was it Jr. High School? Anyway... my mom was the instructor and I almost failed the class. Is this a sign that sewing is not for me? Hopefully not!

You would think that since my mom, her two sisters, and my sister Shirley - all sew extremely well, that somehow this talent and ability would have passed down to me. So far it has not, I CAN cross stitch, does that count? I'm willing to give sewing another try and see what happens. This time it is something I want to do, well I guess I wanted to back then, this time I really, really want to!

Days later...

I now have a sewing machine, it arrived Tuesday!! A early Mother's Day present from my dear hubby! Here is is...



I ordered the machine from Costco.com because they didn't have any more in the local store (Costco.com offers free shipping!). I have already watched the DVD, but will need to watch it again and actually do the steps they take you through. I plan to play around with it this weekend, get comfortable then schedule my sewing class. I told my mom that the machine has an automatic needle threader, we had a good laugh because I remember she would call one of us kids in from playing or whatever we were doing to come and thread the needle for her! Mom could have used that feature years ago!

Here are the features the machine offers:

110 stitch functions - 70 built-in stitches, each with multiple stitch functions - including utility, decorative, heirloom and quilting
LCD display with computerized stitch selection & built in help guidelines
New! Exclusive "Sew Nice" customizable picture frame
New! Super bright work area. 50% brighter, reduces eye strain
Includes 10 sewing feet, virtually all the sewing feet you will ever need
Includes oversized extension table for large sewing projects
Included hard case
7 styles of 1-step, auto-size buttonholes
Super-wide (7mm) zigzag and decorative stitches
Built-in thread cutter
Automatic needle threading
Fast, automatic bobbin winding
1-step bobbin replacement with quick set drop-in bobbin
Variable needle position
Operates with or without foot control
Drop feed for free motion quilting
Electronic speed adjustment
Narrow hemmer foot
Built-in stretch stitches: Sew fleece, elastic and other stretchy fabrics
Built-in decorative stitches: Embellish clothing, pillows, towels, etc.; crazy quilt designs
Built-in heirloom stitches: Create delicate family treasures
Built-in quilting stitches: Embellish or join quilt blocks
Free arm/flatbed convertible sewing surface
Accessories for zipper insertion, darning, twin-needle stitching and button sewing
Quick-change presser feet
Stitch width/length control
Adjustable thread tension control
Safety power and light switch
Accessory storage pod
English/Spanish instruction booklet
Instructional DVD included
Built-in handle for easy portability
Weight: 19 lbs

To be perfectly honest with you, I don't know what half this stuff means, but I'm sure by this time next year I will.

Good day!

The Wonderful Story of Easter

Our Easter notebooking project is finished!

We read the Scripture passages in the Bible and then wrote a narration on each topic:

Last Supper: Matthew 26:17-20, John 13-17

Gethsemane: Matthew 26:30-56, Luke 22:39-54

The Crucifixion: Matthew 27:11-56, Luke 23:27-49, John 19:1-30

The Resurrection: John 20-21





Cut and glued everything together, even did layering with the title, and used a colored pencil to color in the title. I printed out labels with “handmade by/date” to go on the back so that we can have a record of their showpiece.

Our Day

The kids and I are on a school break this week. This morning we went to the main library in town. I’m not sure if you know it or not, but I’m Directionally Challenged. I can count the number of times on one hand that I've ventured to this library. The library is located downtown, so many, many one way streets! We made it there and back without a major hitch; of course I can never manage to leave the same way I came. You are laughing with me, right?

We started our art project for this week The Story of Easter, a freebie from Hold That Thought. Here is a sample of the project so far, we only did one of the four notebooking pages, and didn't glue anything down yet.

More Craft Pictures

Thank you ladies at The Croppers Corner, you helped to make this a very special day. We always feel welcome when we come into the store, you all are so helpful and a pleasure to be around.

Enjoy!

Terrific Tuesday

Yesterday one of my dear friends, Trish joined the kids and I for some creative fun at The Croppers Corner. Trish and I made accordion tags the kids made a page layout. We had so much fun, the ladies at The Croppers Corners are extremely nice, helpful and a lot of fun.

After our crafting activities, the three of us had a lovely lunch at Subway, I didn’t take any pictures there because I was too busy eating and talking – of course not at the same time. It was so nice to be able to spend some time with my good friend, to laugh, and chat and just have fun.

Craft Day

The kids and I went to a scrapebook store on Tuesday morning and to do a craft project. The kids made the "lollipop flowers" and I made the notecards.