Crafts

Art Kit Party Favor

There are many ways to go when planning a party favor. I love the one-gift idea very much, like a puzzle or a ball or some princess wings. We’ve also done our fair share of paper bags filled with junk. These happen to be a parent’s least favorite, but the kids love them. The more useless dollar store toys + candy the closer they feel to having won the jackpot. My very favorite favor to give is arts + crafts (of course!). I am so excited to share this favor idea because it’s affordable (about $5.00 if you make 10 or more) and so cute!

Art kit party favor items:

muslin bag (10 x 12, set of 25 for $28, $1.12 ea) or (muslin bag 8 x 12, set of 10 for $12, $1.20 ea)

wooden star (5.5 x 5.5, $0.47 ea)

paints (I got mine at Michael’s, $2.99 for set of 3, $1 ea) – you can also find these at CVS or Walgreens

brushes (I got mine at Michael’s, 25 brushes for $4.99, $0.20 ea)

glitter glue (I got my 5-pack at Michael’s for $2.99, $0.60 ea) – you can also find these at CVS or Walgreens

pom-poms ($8.90 for half-pounder bag, about $0.10 per handful) – you can also find these at Walmart or Michael’s

mini plastic bagettes (2 x 3.75, $5.35 for box of 175, $0.03 ea) – you can also get these at Walmart or the same place as the wooden stars

lollipop (24 pops for $9.15, $0.38 ea)

I used alphabet rubber stamps and some perler + letter beads to embellish the muslin bags. But honestly, you could put all of this stuff in a paper bag or a plastic bag, too.

I envision the kids racing home to pull out their stars, paints, glitter + poms. Then propping their finished stars up on the mantle for everyone to admire. Well, that’s at least what’s happening over here!

Happy ~~Monday~~ Tuesday!

21 May 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Crafts, Create, DIY, Featured, Party, Stamping, Supplies Tags: art kit, muslin bag, party favor, Stamping, wooden star

Pom Pom Chandelier

I have finally finished my pom-pom chandelier! I was inspired to make this when researching about traditional Polish chandeliers called Pujaki. Peasants used to make these during the winter months in preparation for their biggest holiday…Christmas! Although traditionally made from paper and straw, mine is made from pom-poms because I obsessively make them day and night.

If you are interested in seeing how this chandelier was made, please click over to Small for Big for the full blog post + more photos (one very cool one in particular).

Happy Monday!

6 May 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Crafts, Create, Decorate, DIY, Featured Tags: chandelier, pom-poms, Pujaki

Perler Bead Brooch // Mother’s Day

There is nothing fancy or original about these brooches, but they are just so darn happy (and simple)! We give these to grandparents, babysitters and aunts quite a bit. If you have kids ages five and up and you haven’t invested in some perler beads yet, then today would be a good day to start. They can spend hours with these little beads. It is a fantastic project for small motor skills, and for recognizing and creating patterns (I love when art meets math).

Supplies needed:

Perler beads

Parchment paper

Iron

Pin backs

Glue gun

Directions are included, but it’s very simple: Arrange the beads on the pegboard, cover with parchment, iron for a few seconds, let cool, add pin. Voilà!

My kids are really into the glow-in-the-dark beads these days. They really do glow! These beads have helped us through many a rainy/snowy/lazy summer day. I hope your kids will enjoy them as much as mine!

30 Apr 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Crafts, Create, DIY, Easy, Featured, Teen Craft Tags: broach, Mother's Day, perler beads

T-Shirt Bunting

With three growing kids, we collect a lot of t-shirts. Some of them end up in quilts, others I give to Good Will. I save many, though, because they are un-hand-me-downable. T-shirts from school walk-athons, soccer teams, variety shows…the ones that no one else would wear. The ones I use for projects!

Here’s what you need to make this bunting:

T-shirts {cut into 4 x 5 1/2″ pieces}

Twill tape in two colors {4 yard pieces}

Rotary cutter + board {or good fabric scissors}

Pins

Sewing Machine

For this bunting, I wanted a Spring color theme. I chose blues and light grays. I cut out about 50 pieces, but only ended up using 21. I laid them out on the table and arranged them in a random order. Then I carefully pinned each piece between the two different colored twill tapes. Using a wide zig-zag stitch, I ran the bunting through the sewing machine. Voila! I would say this project was very easy. You need the right supplies (a rotary cutter really helps, and also a sewing machine), but it is not difficult at all.

I love the end result. It is playful and colorful and I bet you will see it in future photos…lurking in the background. Start saving those t-shirts!

24 Apr 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Crafts, Create, Decorate, DIY, Featured, My Home, Recycled Tags: bunting, t-shirt bunting, t-shirts

Art Bar is a Year Old!

One year ago today, I wrote my very first post! (It is still one of my favorite photos of the little guy learning to jump rope.) When I started the blog, my plan was to create a photo journal for my kids so that some day it could be printed, bound, and put on a shelf for them to look through when they were older. The fact that I have followers is icing on the cake!! I feel such gratitude towards my friends and family, and all of the cool ladies I have met through my blog. It brings a smile to my face when I wake up in the morning and get a comment from someone I don’t know from another part of the world – someone who has connected with something that I have written or shared. And reading other people’s blogs has opened up a whole new world to me. I read about what other moms are doing in Australia, London, Holland, Germany, France, and even Qatar! And guess what? We are all doing the same thing – getting through the day, working hard to create a happy, cozy + creative home for the ones that we love so dearly. Thank you awesome people!! Below are some photos of my favorite memories + crafts from the year.

1. building a fort / 2. flubber / 3. balloon surprise / 4. learning to ride / 5. postcard banner / 6. art of play / 7. teacher tags / 8. daddy portraits / 9. disney journal / 10. art opening / 11. ojo de dios / 12. long island sound / 13. designing postcards / 14. summer studio / 15. triple berry muffins / 16. fave family photo / 17. art show / 18. self-portraits / 19. color study / 20. gift tags / 21. hands + hearts / 22. hello! / 23. new baby cousin / 24. one-word resolutions / 25. valentines / 26. more snow / 27. i like you / 28. winter vacation

And that’s a wrap. Here’s to another year of creative ideas, making friends and building community. Thank you for your encouragement!!

xo Bar

10 Apr 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Crafts, Create, Featured Tags: anniversary, art bar, my blog

Simple Signs // Make

My family and friends have seen me make these signs for years. They are my last-minute, in-a-pinch, go-to idea when I need something colorful + sincere – but fast! I would say it takes about 30-45 minutes to make these from start to finish, which is pretty good. Usually my family is waiting in the car while I’m finishing up, but that’s alright. It’s not officially a family outing until kids are screaming and husband is honking anyway!

Here’s what you need:

Large paper (14 x 17)

Colored paper

Pencil + scissors + tape

Hole punch (1/16″)

Twine or Ribbon

To make the sign, fold the colored paper in thirds. The folds will guide you as to the size of the letters. Draw your letters free-hand with a pencil and then cut them out. Cut out any embellishments, like the hearts. Or you can just leave the sign plain + simple. Use rolled tape to adhere. I have tried white school glue, but it dries all buckled. And rubber cement takes too long. I find that rolled tape is just the fastest. Punch holes, tape on embellishments, weave in the twine, and you’re done!

This sign was made for my dear cousin who had an impromptu joint baby/wedding shower. Long story short, she found the man of her dreams a bit later in life and they didn’t want to waste any time!

You can make these signs for birthdays, baby showers, welcome homes….just about anything. I’m already planning my next one which will go on my front lawn and say something like, “Scoop your poop”. I’ll let you know how that goes.

4 Apr 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Crafts, Create, Decorate, DIY, Easy, Featured Tags: banner, hand-letters, sign, simple sign

Silk Dyed Eggs

I saw these on someone’s blog recently, or maybe it was Pinterest? The internet is a fascinating place but it sometimes turns my mind into a warped speed slide show. (Hence my one word resolution which is staring me in the face right now.) Ok, so this idea has been around for a while but is a new discovery for me. I bought a kit on Etsy which arrived just in time for the weekend. I made these with my daughter and it was equal parts frustrating and amazing! Here are some tips if you want to make these yourself.

Silk Tie Eggs // Art Bar

First of all, I forgot to read the directions and I hard boiled all my eggs. With this method, you actually have to use raw eggs because you hard boil after they are wrapped. Duh! (for me, not you – because you’re smarter). Secondly, the scraps from Etsy were just a teensy bit too small. We had trouble wrapping them around the eggs. We ended up doing each egg as a team. One person would hold the scraps in place while the other wrapped with the white scrap. It then took two people to twist tie. In the future, I think I will just go to the thrift shop and get some old ties to cut up myself so that I can use bigger scraps. Oh, and one more thing…the tie scraps looked sort of dark and dull to me. But afterwards, they transfer onto the egg much lighter and they really do look so beautiful! We used both white and brown eggs.

Silk Tie Eggs // Art Bar

I really love these eggs. The best part was that I didn’t have to take out any dyes! No dyed hands, no mess to clean up for a change. Give it a try!

{Ages 8 and up with a parent just because of frustration factor.}

25 Mar 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Crafts, Create, DIY, Featured, Products, Recycled, Science Tags: Easter eggs, eggs, silk tie dye

Egg Garland

Is it really almost Easter? I have to admit that I just took down all of the hearts around the house from Valentine’s today to make room for these cute egg garlands. (Truth be told, my Christmas cards are still in a basket in my living room. Seriously, who has time to keep up?) Holidays can’t just be ignored when you have kids, though, so over the weekend we got down to business. These garlands are pretty simple, and what I love about them is that they can be made with just about anything. We made one for each of the kids, plus one for each set of grandparents and one for my mantle. That’s seven garlands all in a matter of a few hours. Easy!

Egg Garland // Art Bar

Here’s how to get it done. First, you need an egg stencil. I thought about including a download, but then decided that really…we all know how to draw an egg, right? I know you can do it!. Just fold a paper in half and cut like you would a heart, but make it an oval. Next, decide what you want to use for your eggs. We used the following: marbled wrapping paper, map of paris, watercolor paints, washi tape, and old art (in this case it was the color studies from a few months ago). I got the wrap from the Papyrus in my town. They do not sell the map and marbled sheets online, but you can get some great wrapping paper at Paper Source.

Egg Garland // Art Bar

Then we got busy painting, cutting, taping, stringing. Sometimes we embellished with pom-poms or beads. We even cut up some straws to string! When the paper was thin, like the wrap, we glued the eggs to cardstock and then cut a second time. We used an 1/8 inch hole punch and a needle to string the embellished garlands.

Egg Garland // Art Bar

I’m slightly obsessed with garland (if you haven’t noticed), so I could make these day and night. But really, they are super easy and fun…so get busy. All you need is one cute decoration and you’re done (in my book). These might even be up until Thanksgiving!

20 Mar 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Crafts, Create, Decorate, Easy, Featured Tags: Easter, Easter eggs, egg garland, eggs, garland

Cardboard Creations // MacBook

My middle daughter is in love with technology. She is ten now, but this love of all things electronic started long ago. I dug up this photo of her from when she was about four years old. I remember this day – her dad and I decided that she needed a day out with just us. We gave her options: movie, lunch, skating, dog park. She chose to go to the Apple store. We tried to talk her out of it, but then we decided there was no point in that. She would be happy there and that’s all we wanted.

At the Apple Store

Now she is ten. This winter, she had a sick (ish) day at home. I told her no computer/iPad/TV. By 9:05 she was bored, and that was fine by me. I don’t mind when my kids are bored because it actually forces them to use their imagination. She was dyyyyinnngggg without her iPad and could she pllllleeeeaaaaase use it for just 10 minutes. No, no, no. (You have to be strong with this one, she will wear you down). All that was left to do was craft! I had to laugh when she said she was going to make a laptop. After all these years, she still loves those keyboards. Steve Jobs would be proud.

She set herself up with supplies: cardboard box, glue, paint, string, sharpie. I helped her cut the initial shape of the laptop, but after that she did everything 100% on her own. She asked to borrow my keyboard, which I was working on at the time…of course. (Her little way of taking technology away from me.) And then she set about creating. I watched her looking back and forth, counting the keys, writing all of the symbols. She was in her flow!

Cardboard Creations // MacBook

Later on, we both got back on the real computer and found a photo for her screen. After she was finished, she made some tea and helped herself to some dipping cookies, and then she played on her laptop. (Like mother, like daughter). I love the One Direction photo she found and how she drew in little pink mustaches. Ha! That girl makes me laugh.

Necessity is the mother of invention!

12 Mar 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Crafts, Create, Eco Friendly, Featured, Recycled Tags: cardboard, recycled boxes

Travel Art Bag

We’re back from our February vacation! It was beautiful in the Dominican Republic and we feel so fortunate that we were invited to share a very memorable family vacation with grandparents. Despite several trips to the infirmary for various problems (which I will not elaborate on because I am pretending none of that happened), we were able to relax, read, eat, play and best of all…create some pretty art! I threw together this little travel bag for the trip and it was perfect. I’ll include sources, but you can really just grab anything that you have on hand (or make a run to CVS) and even just put it in a ziplock! My goal was to get the kids to draw and paint from the beautiful nature that surrounded us. (I will share their art later this week.)

Here’s what I put in our travel art bag:

watercolors // colored pencils // washi tape // 1 pencil, 1 eraser, 1 sharpener, 1 sharpie // sketchbook // brushes // tempera paints // merimekko tote

I hope you had a nice little break as well (or will have one soon!). Don’t forget to pack a few art supplies when you travel!

{Travel tip: Remember, when traveling to a foreign country with small kids, curtail the habit of picking off of your kids’ plates or having your kids share any food. Also, don’t share utensils or have the whole family drink from the same water bottle at the airport. And wash hands frequently! Sickness could be spreading and you won’t even know it until it’s too late. And that’s all I have to say about that.}