Leprechaun Traps

Last year, to celebrate St. Patty's Day we made a leprechaun trap that we set out on the eve of St. Patrick's day.   We have a naughty little leprechaun that comes out each year that we wanted to catch and steal his gold.  We weren't successful; he avoided the trap.  But, he did leave us some chocolate.

The boys had so much fun that they insisted that we make a trap again this year.  We did.  It is now a fun family tradition.  I let the boys design the trap this year. We decorated a box to be a pirate hideout.  Anakin Skywalker drew a treasure map that we placed inside the box to lure the leprechaun into the trap.  

I love this map.  He is still learning to read.   I thought he did a great job of sounding out words all by himself.
The kids have a great time making these traps with me.   Its a fun easy craft that we can do together.  Have you made any leprechaun traps lately?

Lucky Banner

So, we made another banner for March today. Same idea as my Valentine's banner, just changed the shapes and the color scheme.  Buzz Lightyear helped me stencil the letters.  If you look at the picture closely, you can see a few places where he "helped" too much.  But, I didn't want to take the time to make new stencils, so I am living with the goof ups.  They will just be sweet little reminders of the time I got to spend with my adorable son.

Blarney!

I finished one of the words that I have been working on this week!  Blarney.
I wanted a word to add to my St. Patty's Day decorations. According to the dictionary it means skillful flattery and originates from the blarney stone, a stone in Blarney Castle, near Cork, Ireland, held to bestow skill in flattery on those who kiss it.

    

I cut the letters from 1x6 pine boards with my scroll saw.  Then, I sanded the edges smooth.  Next, I stained the edges and backs with a walnut stain.  I decoupaged the front faces of the letters with scrapbook papers. Finally, I added shamrock shaped embellishments and green and black ribbons. 

Blarney's home is going to be here at the top of one of my kitchen cabinets. 

Kisses, Luck and Spring

I recently finished these holiday words. I drew the patterns for the letters and then my mom cut them out of 1x8 wood boards on her scroll saw. Then, I stained the backs and sides with a walnut stain. Next, I decoupaged scrapbook papers to the faces of the letters. Once the decoupage layers were dry, I applied glitter, ribbons, flowers, tulle, etc for embelleshments. I am so pleased with the way the words turned out. I have the letters for "Summer" cut out and stained, I just need to finish decoupaging and embellishing. I am also busy drawing patterns for a few more words. I plan on cutting out "Easter", "Freedom" and "Thanks".

Wreaths

My front door looks lonely for most of the year because I didn't have any wreaths except for a fall wreath I hang during October and November, a Christmas wreath in December, and an Easter Wreath during Easter. So for our craft nights in January and February this year, I decided to rectify the lonely door situation. So far, I have completed a January, February and a March wreath. I plan to make a generic flower/summer type wreath to use after Easter until summer ends. Then for July, I will make a patriotic wreath. As I finish them, I will post.

Monthly Quilts

Project: Monthly Wall Quilts

Inspiration: On a trip to Houston to visit my parents Oct 2007, I noticed a pattern for a Christmas Nativity Wall quilt that I thought was absolutely beautiful. I tend to craft a lot with my mom, so we each decided to make one of these quilts. I had a great time sewing it and finished it with just a few days before Christmas that year. The next Christmas (2008) I actually got to enjoy it the entire season. We were living in a duplex at the time with a wall above my kitchen sink instead of a window. I hung the quilt there and it really brightened my days to be able to look at something so pretty instead of a blank wall while doing dishes. When January rolled around I was so sad to take down the quilt and be faced with a boring wall again. Wouldn't it be nice if I had something to hang all the time? Or even something seasonal for every month? And thus the monthly wall quilt was born. I created a quilt for almost every month, with only the months May and June sharing a quilt. My plan was to create each month's quilt during 2009 for that month. I almost made it. I had all quilts finished by the end of 2009 except for the May quilt. I just finished the May quilt today!

How-to: 1. I took wooden tole painting patterns, clip art pics, original drawings, etc. and modified them in size and complexity to make them suitable for fabric appliques. On paper, I created the designs and quilt blocks to portray the various months.

2. I then took the drawings and traced the mirrow image pieces onto fusible web. Then, I ironed the pics onto the various fabrics and cut them out. Then, peel the paper off and iron the applique onto the background fabric.

3. Use embroidery floss and blanket stitch around each applique to finish.

4. Then, sew the blocks and strips together to form the top of the quilt.

5. Make tabs and sew on. Then sew on back and batting like a pillowcase. Turn rightside out, press and hand sew the hole closed.

6. Quilt the top.

7. Hang and enjoy.

Finished Product:

JanuaryFebruary MarchApril
May and June

Or June and August
July
September
October
November
December