Craft – Picture Frame Tray

Posted on May 30, 2013 by barbara

While shopping at a local craft store, I always enjoy the aisle with the decorative drawer pulls and knobs. There are so many beautiful ones but these items can be a little pricey if you are planning on replacing several of the existing ones on the various furniture pieces or the cabinets in a kitchen or bathroom of your home. I wondered if I could use the drawer pulls and knobs for a simple craft project that required just a few supplies and I decided to create a picture frame tray. I had a picture frame that I had previously purchased but was not currently using and the size was perfect to use for a tray.. Now I had an excuse to return to the craft store to purchase several drawer pulls and knobs which happened to be on sale!

Picture Frame Tray – supplies

Wooden picture frame, a minimum size of 8×10 or larger frames are preferred
Picture mat with no openings (other options to use: scrapbook paper or fabric)
2 decorative drawer pulls
4 decorative drawer knobs
Screws for each drawer pull or knob, be sure the length of the screws in the correct size
Drill, to make the holes
Screwdriver, to attach the hardware
Epoxy glue (optional – for the drawer knobs)

Important things to consider before starting this craft project:

Determine the correct size of the screws being used to attach the hardware. Specifically the drawer knobs that are attached to the bottom of the picture frame, they should be the correct length for the thickness of the frame but should not go all the way through the frame. (we wound up drilling the holes, then cut the screw down and used epoxy glue to attach them to the frame)

Determine what type of “mat” that will be used for the picture frame. There are several options to consider. One is a traditional style picture mat but with no openings, just a solid surface. The other choices are more decorative, such as: scrapbook paper, wrapping paper or fabric. Be aware of the thickness of the “mat” and allow room for glass and backing to be replaced into the picture. (I used a fabric remnant for my tray)
Before replacing the glass and the backing of the picture frame, determine if you want to add other elements to the tray, such as: photos, decorative trim for the edges, etc. If you choose to add any of these elements, now is the time to decide on their arrangement on the tray.

Picture Frame Tray – instructions

To protect the work surface, cover the area with newspaper or old towels.

Remove the glass and backing from the picture frame.
Determine where the drawer pulls and knobs will be positioned and mark the positions with a pencil.
Drill all the holes at one time before attaching the hardware to the frame.
Starting on the front of the frame, attach the drawer pulls. The drawer pulls will act as decorative handles for carrying the tray. (for my tray, the screws needed to be cut down shorter, my husband sawed off the excess length)
Next, flip the frame over to the back, attach the four drawer knobs first to each corner of the frame. The drawer knobs elevate the picture frame and act as decorative stands for the tray. (for my tray, my husband cut down the screw length with a saw and we decided to epoxy glue the knobs into place)
Now is the time to add any additional decorative elements to the “mat”, such as: photos, trim, etc. before replacing the glass, “mat” and the backing into the frame. (for my tray, I decide to use a fabric remnant)

Design Tip: The fabric or paper in the tray can be changed out seasonally or if there is a special event photos can be added or changed to fit the occasion. Some examples would be Christmas wrapping paper during the holiday season, photos of Mom and the family for Mother’s Day, etc.

The picture frame tray would make a wonderful gift for family and friends. It would also make a great housewarming present. The gift can be customized to match any style and color.

Craft – Childhood Handprints

Posted on May 9, 2013 by barbara

Mother’s day is coming up this month and here is an easy and inexpensive craft project to do with the kids to create a very sentimental Mother’s Day gift. This idea is also a great gift idea for Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day or Christmas.

Children handprints, especially when they are very young, always make interesting art work for a home. When children are at the preschool or kindergarten age their hands are very small and they make excellent tools for these simple art projects.

Follow these simple steps for a perfect handprint craft/art project.

Before starting this craft project, be sure to assemble all the materials that you will need. I used both acrylic black and brown paint for several sets of handprints. (I wasn’t sure which color I wanted to use so I took a couple of sets in each different color so that I would have more options to decide from when I did this project with my daughter)
You will also need a paint brush to apply the paint onto the palm of the child’s hand.
A very important tip when making handprints and using paint is to cover the work area completely with newspaper or a plastic tablecloth. Another tip is to use an inexpensive apron to cover you and the child’s clothing while taking the handprints or another inexpensive solution is an oversized t-shirt, just be sure it is one that can be thrown out if it gets too much paint. Position the work space within easy reach of a sink with running water and have paper towels on hand for spills and clean-up. These simple steps will keep the project from getting too messy and therefore the clean-up time will be kept to a minimum.
For this particular craft project pre-select a poem to use with the handprints. The internet is a good source to find an appropriate poem, do a search for “handprint poem” and select one that you like. Center the poem near the top of the page to allow enough room at the bottom for the handprints. Be sure to include the name of the child and the year the handprint was taken. Print several copies from a computer. (I recommend at least four copies to start, this should be enough to allow for mistakes and to get at least one set of good handprints)
Before starting the project take the time to explain to the child what will happen during the handprint process, children tend to cooperate more if they know what to expect. A simple trick to taking good handprints is for the child to relax their hands and not roll their fingers into a ball. This can be a very messy process if you have to move their fingers into a straight position.
An important tip when taking handprints is to use a minimum amount of paint to create smudge-free prints. Place the palm of the hand near the wrist down first and then place the fingers slowly down on the paper. Once the hand is completely placed, gently press down on all the areas of the hand with equal pressure for an even print. Rest the hand for a moment and then lift straight up, this trick will help to eliminate smudges. After you get a good handprint of the first hand move onto the second hand.
After the both handprints are taken, allow it to dry for at least 24 hours. Once the handprint is completely dry.

Please check out last month’s Craft post, Zoo Animal HandPrints, for another fun craft project using children’s handprints.

Craft – Floral Purse Arrangement

Posted on May 7, 2013 by barbara

With Mother’s Day celebrated this month, why not consider creating one of these floral purses as a lovely gift. This beautiful floral purse gift would also be a fun idea for a present for a daughter’s sweet sixteen or a best friend’s birthday. This gift would also make a great bridal or wedding shower gift and for additional suggestions please check out the ideas at the end of this post.

To get stated creating one of these floral purses, just follow a few easy steps to create this amazing gift!

Floral Purse – instructions

To assemble a floral purse gift, the first thing to do is to find a great purse to use as the base for the floral arrangement. Look for a beautiful purse in a local retail store or consider a vintage purse from an antique store.
Before adding anything else to the purse, fill the bottom with tissue paper or a layer of small glass marbles if you need to add weight to the purse to keep it from tipping over.
Next, depending on the color and style of the purse, add some flowers and greenery to coordinate. Any type of flowers can be used, such as: roses, sunflowers, tulips, etc. Don’t forget to use some greenery or berry sprays to add some accent color to compliment the flowers and the purse.
Add some small additional gifts. Consider one or two jewelry items, such as: a beautiful broach attached to the purse or artistically drape a necklace or bracelet among the flowers. Consider other small gift items, such as: a wonderful perfume, body sprays and lotions or a collection of beauty products.
Finally, be sure to attach a gift tag to the handle of the purse or tuck a birthday card into the flowers.

Floral purse gift ideas and suggestions

A fun gift idea for a young girl’s sweet sixteen birthday gift is to purchase a fabulous designer bag, add some flowers and greenery. Next, add some gift cards to their favorite stores or spa and nail salon certificates, tuck them into the flowers for an extra special present. (The same idea could be used for a friend’s birthday gift)
This idea could also be used for a wedding shower gift idea, consider adding gift cards from the store where the bridal couple has their registry. For a kitchen themed shower, add several kitchen utensils and maybe a couple of favorite or family recipes written out on some cute recipe cards.
For a daughter’s bridal shower, consider giving a lovely bridal purse for her to carry on her wedding day. Think about adding something old, something new and something blue! A family locket necklace, grandma’s broach, a vintage handkerchief or maybe even their first communion rosary for something old. Something new could be the wedding purse or maybe new earrings, a bracelet or a necklace to wear on the wedding day. Something blue could be a lovely blue garter or perhaps a pair of sapphire earrings or a blue handkerchief. Don’t forget to put a lucky penny into the bottom of the purse!
For a bridesmaid luncheon, the bride could consider giving matching purses for the bridesmaids to use on the wedding day and maybe artistically hanging matching necklaces among the flowers. Don’t forget to attach a thank you note from the bride letting each one know how much she values their friendship and how excited she is to have them share in her special day.
For a baby shower, use a beautiful diaper bag. Fill it with a floral arrangement and tuck in several small baby items, maybe even toys.
This idea could also be used for creating a lovely floral arrangement for a bedroom dresser or nightstand for a home. The floral purse pictured in this post sits on the shelf in my master bedroom closet and it is the perfect decoration for the room!!

Craft – Zoo Animal Hand Prints

Posted on April 30, 2013 by barbara

While visiting a local zoo, I saw a cute idea for creating zoo animals with hand prints. The items for purchase were expensive and I thought I could easily produce some animal prints at a relatively low cost at home and would be a fun project to do with the family. Several handprints of the same animal are great for the whole family (create a herd of elephants walking across the savannah, a group of monkeys hanging from a tree or a group of ducks swimming on the water) Be sure to include individual animal prints for separate family members that expresses their personalities. (maybe a lion for the father, a tiger for the mother, a monkey, zebra, giraffe, elephant or flamingo for the kids) I suggest framing each print in a white mat and simple black frame which won’t distract from the colorful prints. Take the time to label the prints with the names of each family member and be sure to include the year. Several of these individual prints along with one group print would look great to create an interesting wall display in a family room.

Zoo Animal print – supplies

Washable tempera paint – select corresponding animal colors
Paint brush
Black marker – to write names and date
Set of markers in a variety of colors – for drawing animal details
White paper – several sheets
Paper towels or wipes for easy clean-up afterwards

Zoo Animal print – instructions

Decide which type of animal print to make.
Cover the work surface with newspapers or plastic tablecloth
Apply a very thin coat of paint onto the palm of the hand, a minimum amount of paint is preferred for a better hand print, an excess of paint can create one big blob! Be sure to experiment to determine the correct amount for the hand print.
Once the paint is applied onto the hand, press the hand firmly onto the paper, apply even pressure on the entire hand for a nice print. When finished, lift hand straight up for a clean and clear print with no smudges.
Using the markers, create the animal details (such as: the lion’s mane, the giraffe’s spots, the tiger or zebra stripes, etc.)
Using the markers, create the prints accents (such as: green grass on the ground, a brown tree and green leaves or blue water)
Be sure to write the name of the family member and also the year when the print was made.
Let the print dry for at least 24 hours.
Once the hand print is dry, mat and frame the print, hang on the wall and enjoy the new art work you created!

Craft – Spring Garden Gift Basket

Posted on March 26, 2013 by barbara

Springtime brings Easter and the weather starts to turn a little warmer and our thoughts turn to the outdoors and planning our gardens. A Spring Garden Gift Basket is a wonderful craft idea with everything inside the basket that a person would need for inspiration. Consider bring one to an Easter celebration as a gift for the host/hostess. The basket would also make an excellent birthday gift for your family/friends or perhaps for a new neighbor as a thoughtful welcome gift. The Spring Garden Gift Basket can be as simple or elaborate as you wish but the amount of the items used is determined by the size of the basket you choose. Here are a few suggestions:

Spring Garden Basket – supplies

One basket
A package of moss, used to fill the bottom of the basket
3 – 4 small pots
Potting soil, enough to fill the pots
1 large zip-loc plastic bag for the potting soil
3- 4 seed packets
Garden tools
A pair of garden gloves
Several artificial flowers for basket decoration
A small garden-themed accessory (I am using a “pot-hanger” frog)
Raffia for a bow and a gift tag

Spring Garden Basket – instructions

In a large zip-loc plastic bag add enough soil to fill the pots. Be sure to seal the bag securely. Stuff newspaper in the bottom of the basket; place the bag of soil on top. Cover completely with some moss.
Arrange the pots, seed packet and garden supplies in the basket. Insert some artificial flowers for addition basket decoration.
Tie a raffia bow onto the basket, attach the small garden accessory. Be sure to include a gift tag to the basket.

Additional ideas and suggestions

Using a tiny water can as an accessory, fill it will some moss and insert a gift card to the local garden shop.
Depending on the size of the basket used, consider adding a gardening book.
Instead of using artificial flowers for the basket decorations, consider adding an African violet or miniature rose plant.

The Enchanted Manor

a lifestyle blog by Barbara Jones

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