Little Pilgrims



Little Pilgrims
by
Terry Ricioli

 Hi Crafters!

Here are a couple of little Pilgrims that I created for Thanksgiving.  They are quick and easy, so you have time to make them for your decorations for your table, a wreath or the mantle.  The kids can join in on the fun!  The instructions are over on the Smoothfoam blog.

And, while we're on the subject of Thanksgiving, I want to tell you how thankful I am that you have stopped by.  Thank you also for all the lovely comments and for following my blog!  I appreciate it so much!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Terry

Ornament Blog Hop - Glitter Birds

Hi Everyone!

I love to get new ornaments for the house and the tree.  Over the years I have collected quite an assortment of different types and styles from clothespin reindeer the kids made to beautiful Murano glass globes.  

This month is the perfect time to create a new ornament to give as a gift or decorate the house.  Smoothfoam and The Robin's Nest have sponsored this blog hop and sent us designers some great material with which to create.  We started with the Smoothfoam shapes and added beautiful cardstock and Dew Drops from The Robin's Nest.  

I created sparkly little birds that reminds me of the vintage bird ornaments from the 40's and 50's.  I don't usually work with glitter, but I may have to use it more in the future because I love the look of it with the glittery swirls on the paper and the sparkly Dew Drops.  I'd can see a whole flock of these on my tree or added to a pot of poinsettias!



Glitter Birds by Terry Ricioli



I started with a Smoothfoam 2 1/4" egg and a 1" ball.  Besides the cardstock and Dew Drops from the Robin's Nest, you'll need paint, tacky glue, fine glitter, wood teardrop shapes for patterns and a bamboo skewer or wire loop.  Tools needed are scissors, a paintbrush and a serrated craft knife.

Instructions:

On the ball on the side opposite the hole, trim off the side to create a flat spot.  With the hole in the egg down on your work table, slice off a spot on the top of the egg near the large end.  Slice off a small amount on the pointed end of the egg.  The ball is the head and the egg is the body of the bird.

Glue the head (ball) on the body (egg).  Sand the seams to make a smooth surface.

For the red bird:

Paint the bird with two coats of acrylic paint.  For the red bird, I used Tomato Red from Deco Art Americana.  I painted the skewer Sour Apple.

Thin tacky glue with water and paint the bird with it.  Sprinkle glitter over the bird and let dry.

Use wood teardrops to trace and cut shapes for the wings and tail.  Use a marker to color the edge of the paper if you like.  Glue the tail pieces into a fan.  Glue gems to the wings and tail and glue to the bird.

Cut thin strips of paper and wrap around the skewer to curl.  Glue into the hole on top of the head.  Glue gold Dew Drops on the head for the eyes.  Glue two diamond-shaped Dew Drops together for the beak.  Make a hole in the front of the head for the beak and glue the beak into the hole.  Glue diamond-shaped Dew Drops to the front of the body and glue the skewer into the hole on the bottom of the body. 

Poke the skewer into a flower arrangement or wreath.  If you want to hang the bird, push a wire loop or eye pin into the top of the bird between the wings and add a hanger.

For the green bird:

Paint the bird Sour Apple.  I used smaller teardrop shapes for the wings on this one and cut strips of paper for the tail which I curled around a pencil.  I also punched a paper dot and glued it under the eye.

Green Glitter Bird Ornament



Hop around and see the other fun ornaments that the designers have created.  You're sure to find a new ornament you'll want to make!  Leave a comment and become a follower on the blogs to be entered in the prize drawing!  Start by going to the Robin's Nest blog to see all the ornaments!






Hop Here!

Happy Holiday Crafting!

Terry 

Thankful Heart - Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to another first Monday of the month Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop!  This month we're creating thank you gifts.  I've created a Thankful Heart plaque that you can give as a gift or use to decorate the house for Thanksgiving or all through the year.  You can make this as a family or with a group.
 

Thankful Heart 

I've made it a reminder of a few of the people and things for which I am thankful.  You'll have your own things for which you are thankful so you can individualize the heart with names of loved ones or other words you like.

For this project, you'll need:

8x10 canvas
DecoArt Americana acrylic paint in Jack-O'-Lantern Orange and Milk Chocolate
Off-white cardstock and a word processing program/computer
Raffia-covered wire, about 1 foot
Small dry sticks
Tacky glue
Paintbrush, pliers, sponge

Instructions:

1.  Mix some orange and brown paint and paint the canvas.  Leave the paint streaky and uneven.  While the paint is still wet, press the sponge on the paint using different angles to create more texture.

2.  Using a word processing program and your computer, make a sheet of words describing things or people for which you are thankful.  Space them so that you can tear them apart.  Change the fonts and sizes on some of the words for interest.  Print them out on cardstock and tear the words apart into different shapes.  Thin the brown paint and randomly paint the words.  Let dry.

3.  Break the sticks into pieces to make the letters for the word "Thank".

4.  Using the pliers and your fingers, shape the wire into "ful".  For kids and seniors, use yarn instead of the wire.  Write the "ful" in glue, then follow it with yarn. 

5.  Glue the word "Thankful" as shown or as you like.

6.  Glue the paper words into a heart shape.

That's the basics, but as usual, you can change the project around to make it as individual as you are! 

Thanks for stopping by!  

Terry