Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Martha Stewart Arts and Crafts - Homemaking Guru

Martha Stewart is the homemaking guru. She makes June Cleaver look like a diva that eats Bon Bons in the bubble bath all day. While executing all of her projects might be too much for any one person to take on, us mere mortals can execute most of them if, perhaps, we do one at a time.

Martha Stewart Arts and Crafts: The Holidays

Turns out pumpkins can be used for more than just pies and jack-o-lanterns! One of Martha's crafts with pumpkins is to download and print out her witch and bat template. She has them available on her website. Place them over a "hole" cut into the face of the pumpkin (after cleaning the pumpkin of its insides) and you've got an enticing and eerily delicious centerpiece. Scatter some autumn leaves (store bought or yard picked) to complete the holiday setting.

Another pumpkin craft involves a pumpkin and lollipops. Buy the orange and black lollipops and stick them in the pumpkin, all over it. The final project will look like something from a science fiction movie and the kids will love it. Offer each trick or treater one and have them pull one out for themselves!

Martha Stewart Arts and Crafts: Weddings

Want a special way to say "thank you" to your guests? Make your own Thank You cards with a little help from Martha Stewart. One idea is to create postcards with a picture of the happy couple, and each is wearing a shirt especially made for the occasion, perhaps, "Thank you!" on one, or "We use it all the time!" on another. Be creative!

Or, instead of going the modern, trendy route, you can opt for something more traditional. Find a clip art sketch of any Victorian-era birds and copy them on to some card stock paper. By placing tiny "thank you" envelopes you create separately and placing them "beneath" their beaks, you now have beautiful, classic and three-dimensional thank you notes.

A wedding favor idea is get votive candles in three different off-white colors. Wrap them in corrugated paper, and tie with twine. Write messages on the inside of the paper from the bride and groom such as, "Thank you for sharing our day!"

Martha Stewart Arts and Crafts: Kids

Make Dad a coupon booklet for his birthday, holiday gift giving season or Father's Day! Go to the Martha Stewart website for coupon template, print them all out then hole punch each in the top left hand corner. Secure with a paper fastener and you've got them all in a neat little bunch. Cut out a cover from a swath of fabric (any semi masculine material will do like plaids, stripes, solids), then attach to the blank top coupon by sewing it. Fill out the coupons for things such as Free Car Wash; Free Dog Wash; Free Leaf Raking, anything Dad will appreciate!

Elephant Feet is a craft kids will love because it makes them taller and it has the potential to make a lot of noise. Grab a couple 15 oz cans of tomato puree, poke holes in the sides, drain, rinse and clean. Paint elephant toenails with acrylics on the front, loop stretch cord - you'll need about 5 feet worth for each leg - through the holes so the child can "walk" with the Elephant feet. More fun than actually stomping around in the jungle!

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