Craftside

21 Christmas Craft projects to create a festive holiday season

Over at the new Craftside blog there is a great list of 21 Christmas Craft projects collected from the past years.

How to make a mini terrarium trellis out of sticks inspired by the book Trellises, Planters and Raised Beds

Do you ever do a project and it brings back unexpected memories? That is exactly what happened to me while making this mini terrarium trellis out of sticks inspired by the ones in the book Trellises, Planters & Raised Beds: 50 Easy, Unique, and Useful Projects You Can Make with Common Tools and Materials.

I had the pleasure of receiving a Fairy Terrarium Kit from Horizon Group (which you can enter to win over at this post at Craft Gossip recycling along with a copy of the book Miniature Gardens: Design & Create Miniature Fairy Gardens, Dish Gardens, Terrariums and More-Indoors and Out.

I had a blast taking clippings from my yard and buying a few new ones and making this terrarium, a mini garden! Well, that's where my past was brought back to me. I did a lot of mini model-making in my first career in stop motion animation. I thought it would be fun to make a mini trellis for my new terrarium.

So back out to the yard for a dead branch....not too hard to find! This page from Trellises, Planters & Raised Beds was my inspiration.

I started by cutting 4 branches about the same length and then just wrapped them together with wire toward one end.

Then I cut little lengths of stick and hot glued them toward the bottom. I did one between each of the two sides and then joined the two sides.

I simply repeated this a few more times working my way up to the top.

It was beyond fun working in miniature! I can't wait to build some more little objects.

More about the Cool Springs Press book:

Trellises, Planters & Raised Beds: 50 Easy, Unique, and Useful Projects You Can Make with Common Tools and Materials

by Editors of Cool Springs Press

A step-by-step guide that gives any gardener all the information needed to make garden furnishings that are both simple and beautiful. This book includes 50 complete plans for trellises, raised beds, planters, window boxes, and just about any imaginable project you can make to train and display plants in your garden and around your home. Featured projects are created using a host of easily found materials, including wood, metal, hypertufa, upcycled barrels, clay pots, sticks, latticework, copper tubing, re-rod, wire, landscape timbers, retaining wall block, and natural stone. Each plan includes photographs, a scaled plan drawing, cutting and shopping lists, and thorough step-by-step instructions.

    

How to make a dog paw print plaque from the I Love Dogs! Activity Book

Congrats to Malachy, the Best in Show this year at The Westminster Kennel Club Show! If you have a four-legged friend you love and want to make something special to honor them, why not make this paw print plaque featured in the book I Love Dogs! Activity Book: Pup-tacular stickers, trivia, step-by-step drawing projects, and more for the dog lover in you!.

Click on these pages from I Love Dogs! Activity Book to enlarge and read the recipe for salt and flour clay then the directions on how to make a dog paw print plaque.

More about the Walter Foster book:

I Love Dogs! Activity Book
Pup-tacular stickers, trivia, step-by-step drawing projects, and more for the dog lover in you!

by the

Walter Foster Creative Team

Illustrator: Diana Fisher

Kids are sure to have a tail-wagging good time completing the pooch-inspired activities in this activity book. Inside, kids can learn how to draw an array of favorite dog breeds by following easy, step-by-step instructions. They can also increase their canine know-how with fun-fact trivia cards, answer entertaining diary prompts, and even learn how to make doggy treats. Full of stickers, postcards, bookmarks, and other canine accessories, this book is a must-have for all dog-loving kids!

More than 80 years ago, Mr. Walter T. Foster set out to prove that anyone can learn to draw. The “how to” art books he wrote, illustrated, printed, bound, packaged, and shipped on his own soon grew tremendously in popularity! Today the Walter Foster Publishing company carries on the tradition, developing books and kits that encourage creativity and spark imaginations.

 

Dr. Grymm at the Mark Twain House and Museum

The Steampunk Bizarre Exhibit:

October 1, 2011 through January 15, 2012

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Open during regular museum hours. Exhibit included with admission.

Dr. Grymm Laboratories presents the third annual 2011 Steampunk Bizarre Exhibit, featuring the works of 21 national and international artists that explore the unknown alternative world of Steampunk and Mark Twain. A complete Steampunk experience like no other, featuring special events, performances and interactive oddities! Opening reception will be on October 1, 2011. Funded by Hartford Steam Boiler and Foresite Technologies.

So if you are into Steampunk and in the Hartford area, pop on over!

The Mark Twain House & Museum

Phone: (860) 247-0998

351 Farmington Avenue

Hartford, Connecticut 06105

Parking is free!

More about Dr. Grymm's book:

1,000 Steampunk Creations:

Neo-Victorian Fashion, Gear, and Art

By

Dr. Grymm

Steampunk is a burgeoning counter-cultural movement; a genre, community, and art form. The Steampunk movement seeks to recapture the spirit of invention, adventure, and craftsmanship reminiscent of early-nineteenth century industrialization, in part, to restore a sense of wonder to a technology-jaded world.

Packed with 1,000 color photographs, 1,000 Steampunk Creations features a showcase of stunning jewelry, fashion, accessories, headgear, artwork, home decorations, and curious contraptions.

Dr. Grymm's alter ego, Joey Marsocci, proprietor of Dr. Grymm Laboratories, has been a freelance designer of theme park attractions, toys, puppets, graphic marketing, film props, and private consignments for more than 18 years. His custom contraptions and sculptures have been seen in Steampunk exhibits and publications around the world, including the Steampunk Exhibit held at the Oxford University History of Science Museum in 2010 and The Cosmopolitan Hotel of Las Vegas, NV. He also hosts an annual Steampunk art show, Steampunk Bizarre, which takes place in Hartford, CT and is the feature artist of the 2010 documentary entitled "I Am Steampunk." Visit his website at http://www.drgrymmlaboratories.net.

Want to see more inside? Then pop on over to Qbookshop and hit the Google Preview button.

Read, Craft, Repeat!

Craftside Make and Take Schedule at Unique LA December 11th-12th and Crafty Blogger Links

This coming weekend is Unique LA and here is the schedule for free make and takes in the Craftside area:

Saturday December 11th

12-2 Cathi Milligan of The Glass Studio - Glass fused mosaic pendant

1-4 Nancy Langdon author of Sewing Clothes Kids Love - Torn silk holiday fascinator

 
12-2 and 3-5 Linda Swingle - Fine Artist - Winter Goddess painted card

2-3 Stefanie Girard author of Sweater Surgery - Die cut recycled wool felted sweater flowers

3-4:30 Christi Friesen author of Polymer Clay and Mixed Media—Together at Last - Polymer clay and mixed media Steampunk heart charm

Sunday December 12th

12-2 Cherryl Greene Club Scrap Snowman holiday card

3-5  Cherryl Greene Judikins Stamped Holiday card

12-2 and 3-5 Linda Swingle - Fine Artist - Winter Goddess painted card

1-3 Jeanine Stein author of Re-Bound: Creating Handmade Books from Recycled and Repurposed Materials - Mini envelope book

2-3 Stefanie Girard author of Sweater Surgery - Die cut recycled wool felted sweater flowers

3-5 Lauren Andersen - The ChainMaille Lady™, will be offering a chainmaille make and take project.

I hope you will come and make something with us! Also pick up a pack of free Makeready Wrapping Paper.

Now onto what my fellow crafty bloggers are up to this week in blog land:

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Calling clay and gourd crafters: do you have any suggestions to help Kathy with a cracking problem on her wonderful clay Santas?

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge shares a Pink Ribbon Necklace project she created live on Jewel School at Jewelry Television!

Mixed Media Artist
The Bead Journal Project is starting up again for its fourth year! Registration ends soon!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make recycled sweater and zipper Christmas trees (or hats).

About Family Crafts
If you are in search of a special gift for a crafter or a wannabe crafter, check this collection of ideas and resources.

Aileen's Musings
Check out part 2 of Aileen's Pomegranate Liquor and download a freebie background while you're at it.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi downloads a cute Christmas graphic to make this fabric ornament.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Ta da! The 10-inch-squares crocheted baby afghan is done!