Teaching from the book...

Last week I taught a class of 'adventurous beginners' how to make the Paisley Necklace featured on the front of my book. The really great part about teaching this project was seeing how different all the necklaces turned out. The project features a piece of wrapping paper under a beveled glass square set into a piece of filigree. All the women who took the class chose different images or papers and one even chose a different bit of filigree. A very talented crafty gal made a piece of marbled polymer clay and matching beads (and she had just signed up that very morning!) It was really great to see the project in all the different color combinations.

The work of a toddler

Nora, peeling a carrot for bedtime snack tonight.

Getting Crafty with the Family

Are you hosting a whole crowd for Thanksgiving? Are you the out-of-town auntie who needs to arrive with magic tricks up your sleeves? Either way, I am a big fan of forced crafting. Seriously. While dinner is cooking or after the table has been cleared you can insist that everyone join you in making something. A few will complain, but if you are insistent you can get a good participation level. The memory of making something together will be with everyone for years; long after the memory of seeing Bolt at the multiplex fades.

What are some good crafts for the multitudes?

I like beaded snowflakes pictured above. Get out all the still-clean soup bowls from the china cabinet and fill them with 6-0 beads and other sparklies. Show Grandpa how to twist the wire on the ends to make a loop and let the kids make snowflakes nature never would. It's o.k. to make a mix of crazy colors. Hang these all in Aunt Edna's window when you take her back to the nursing home or send one home with each family to remind them how you are all alike, but different.

Try making some bottle cap magnets with a resin (Amazing Glaze or Diamond Glaze) and old magazine photos. Grab some buttons, bits of tinsel and other found objects to add the the fun, or let your family members cut up some dictionary pages to make magnets with a message. Glue a magnet on the back of the bottlecap after the resin is dry or cooled off.

Cover something with Decopatch paper...a chair or table, Uncle John's truck, whatever. This is a big project that all can help with...if you want to go the easy route try covering individual paper mache animals or buy a box of new pencils...voila! great stocking stuffers!


What are your favorite crafts for groups? Post them in the comments section..