Santa Face Beaded Pin

Ever since I discovered beaded pins, I am always looking for more cute idea patterns. I found this one a few weeks ago while looking for Santa crafts for work. Isn't it adorable?

I did use a 1 1/2 inch coiless pin to put all othe regular safety pins on.

14 - 1 1/16 inch Safety Pins 1 - 2 inch Safety Pin Seed Beads (see picture below for colors needed)

Each number column represents a pin; for example, your first pin will have 10 green beads on it. Your second pin will have 2 green beads, 1 red bead, 6 white beads, and 1 green bead on it. When you thread these beaded pins onto your larger pin, start with pin number 1.

Cinnamon Ornaments (non-edible)

cinnamon Ornaments (NOT EDIBLE!!!)

We made a similar recipe last year when Victoria was in 1st grade. Our nephew Mikey is down for the weekend and helped decorate the tree. When I pulled Victoria's ornament out from last year it still smelled so great. Everyone asked if we could make some this year. Sure...I had to run to the store to pick up some stuff so I picked up a few big bottles of cinnamon.

Making Cinnamon Ornaments are a perfect holiday fun activity for kids. The ornaments are easy to make and their aroma lasts long after the holidays are over.
Makes 12 to 15 ornaments.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 2 1/2 hours or 1 to 2 days drying time

Ingredients: 3/4 cup applesauce
1 bottle (4.12 ounces) McCormick® Cinnamon, Ground

Supplies needed:
Cookie cutters
Drinking straw
Colorful ribbon

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 200°F.

2. Mix applesauce and cinnamon in small bowl until a smooth ball of dough is formed. (You may need use your hands to incorporate all of the cinnamon.) Using about 1/4 of the dough at a time, roll dough to 1/4-inch to 1/3-inch thickness between two sheets of plastic wrap. Peel off top sheet of plastic wrap. Cut dough into desired shapes with 2- to 3-inch cookie cutters. Make a hole in top of ornament with drinking straw. Place ornaments on baking sheet.

3. Bake 2 1/2 hours. Cool ornaments on wire rack. (Or, to dry ornaments at room temperature, carefully place them on wire rack. Let stand 1 to 2 days or until thoroughly dry, turning occasionally.)

4. Insert ribbon through holes and tie to hang. Decorate with opaque paint markers, found in arts and crafts stores, if desired.

Tips:Test Kitchen Tip: If a different size bottle of cinnamon is used, measure 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons cinnamon.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: DO NOT EAT

Victoria and Mikey having fun with the dough.




All cut out and ready to go into the oven to dry. About 90 minutes into the drying I took them out and flipped them over. Then put them back in for another 60 minutes.

Here they are this morning, all dried and ready for ribbon.

Snowman Beaded Pin

I made this pin to show as an example of what we will be making during Snowman Week.

Snowman Pin
13 -1 1/16 inches Safety Pins
1 - 2 inch Safety Pin
Seed Beads (see picture below for colors needed)

Instructions:

Each number column represents a pin; for example, your first pin will have 3 light blue beads, 1 black bead, and 6 light blue beads. Your second pin will have 3 light blue beads, 1 black bead, 1 light blue bead, 3 white beads, and 2 light blue beads. When you thread these beaded pins onto your larger pin, start with pin number 1.

Thankful Trees

I ordered two dozen of the Thankful Tree kits from Oriental Trading. Some were for work and some were for Victoria's class. The kids wrote things that they are thankful for on the foam leaves then used glue dots to attach them to the tree.

I had to add one or two leaves to Victoria's tree.

Mini Clay Pot Turkey

This little turkey is quite simple to make. The cost is minimal and he makes a great table decoration or hostess gift for Thanksgiving dinner!

One 1-1/2" Diameter Wooden Ball
One 2-1/4" Diameter Clay Pot
3 or 4 Feathers
6" Ribbon
Button
6" Raffia
Tacky Glue
Black Finetip Marker
Small and Large Paintbrushes
Acrylic Paints in Brown, Tan, Mustard Yellow, Red, and Rose
Clear Coat Spray

Instructions:
For Body Place newspaper down on work surface. Turn clay pot over and glue wooden ball to bottom of pot. When glue is dry, use large paint brush to paint entire the outside of the clay pot and the entire wooden ball with brown paint. Let dry and apply a second coat. When dry, use large paint brush to fleck on spots of tan paint for effect. This does not have to be perfect! Using small paint brush, paint on feet and beak, use the photo as a guide if needed.

For Head Use small paintbrush to paint on the gobbler in red. Dab large paintbrush or stencil dotter in rose paint. Dab onto newspaper or paper towel until all excess paint is removed. Gently dab onto "cheeks" of turkey's face. With the black finetip marker, drawn on eyes and dot nostrils onto beak. Spray entire surface with clear coat.

Finishing Touches Glue miniature bow tie in place, or fashion a simple bow out of ribbon and glue in place. Trim excess to suit your tastes. Tie a piece of jute or raffia through the holes of the green button. Tie a bow and trim excess. Glue button to the body below the bowtie. Glue feathers to the back so that they stick up above the back of the turkey's head.

Mine was still a little wet so I couldn't put his little bow tie on.

Strawhat Turkey

This week's craft at work, was a mini straw hat turkey!

Use feathers, craft foam, and make a turkey out of a straw hat.
You need:
Straw Hat
Craft Foam
Tacky Glue
Hemp
Feathers
Scissors

Instructions:
Cut out pieces of craft foam to resemble the turkey shown above. Glue on a loop of hemp for hanging.