Hello all, and welcome to another Tutorial Tuesday. This time, we have a great craft you can do in time to give to mom on Mothers’ Day this Sunday! Mom will love a bouquet of these tissue paper flowers!
Materials –
- Tissue paper in assorted colors
- Buttons in assorted colors and styles (flat buttons work best)
- Chenille stems (plain or bumpy, green or other colors)
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Round items to trace (Masking tape, cups or cans work well)
- Various embellishments (rhinestones, glitter glue, stickers, etc.)
Directions –
Start with strips of tissue paper wide enough to cut your circle templates out of. Fold or stack them so several sheets are together – it is easier to cut multiple sheets at once.
Trace and cut out circles. You will need at least six circles for each flower. You can use multiple colors in each flower; just stack the circles in the color order you choose.
Poke a small hole in the center of each stack of circles.
Thread chenille stem through the hole and push up about three inches.
Thread the chenille stem through a hole in the button, then down through another hole and back through the tissue paper stack.
Pull button tight against tissue stack and wrap the short end of the chenille stem around the longer end to fasten.
Crinkle, separate and fluff up tissue to form the flower petals.
Decorate or embellish as desired to make each flower unique.
Gather several flowers together and tie with ribbon to make a bouquet. Alternately, you could place several in a basket, vase or other container.
Variations – Try different size circles – or use crepe paper – for more varieties of flowers.
Thanks for reading! Check out our other tutorials!
Gather your favorite scurvy pirates for a Talk Like a Pirate Day themed game night! From dice games to card and board games, we have a pirate-themed game for everyone!
Roll the dice – roll cannons to steal from the king, or roll skulls to steal gold from other players. Don’t roll crossbones – roll three in one turn and you lose gold. Collect the most gold to win (’cause, you know, pirate). Game includes 60 coin tokens, five pirate dice, and illustrated rules in a colorful tin box. For two to six players, ages eight to adult.
Every game begins with one basic rule: Draw one card, Play one card. As cards are drawn and played from the deck, the rules of the game change from how many cards are drawn, played or even how many cards you can hold at the end of your turn. New rules are cards that change the way you play. Keepers are cards you collect for victory. For two to six players, ages eight and up.
Monopoly rules are scaled down for the youngest pirates in this themed version of everyone’s favorite board game! For two to four players, ages five to eight.
With all the pirate sayings on the cards, Scallywags is an ideal game for Talk Like a Pirate Day! Beyond the fun phrases, you’ll also bone up on some key pirate skills like sneaking, bluffing, and swapping. You’ll even learn some elementary strategy as well! For two to six players, ages eight and up.
Jump Ship is a fun choose-your-own adventure game using cards to navigate your way through the story while trying to collect as much treasure as you can in the process (because, again, pirate…). Game contains 57 cards and instructions. For one or more players, ages eight and up.
Set sail for an exciting adventure of strategy and skullduggery in this captivating card game. Storm your opponents’ merchant ships and seize valuable treasure. But watch your back, matey – plundering pirates are out to capture your ships as well! The player with the most loot rules the high seas. For two to eight players, ages ten and up.
Do you have what it takes to find the treasure without waking up the haunted skull? Travel along the treasure map in search of precious jewels – but watch out! Snatch them quickly before the skull wakes up! Be quick and sneaky to make it around the island without losing the hard-earned treasure! This great skill and action game for the whole family is for two to four players, ages eight and up.
In honor of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opening in theatres today, we’ve updated our list of fun products that any Star Wars fan would love to find under the tree (or in their stocking) Christmas morning!
The Rogue One Pez Gift Tin is shaped like the Death Star with a rounded front and includes Storm Trooper, Death Trooper, Darth Vader and Death Star pez dispensers.
Each of these 1000-piece puzzle is made up of thousands of images from the original Star Wars trilogy. These puzzles from Buffalo Games are made in the USA with soy-based inks and 100% recycled paperboard with 90% post-consumer content (for both the package and the puzzle). The thick pieces snap securely together. These puzzles are appropriate for ages 14 and up.
Four new Metal Earth kits have been released for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story! Clip each piece from the larger sheet, insert tabs from one piece into the slots of another piece, then bend them over with tweezers or pliers, no glue or solder needed. Ages 14 and up.
Use the four ink pads, marker, and dual-tipped lightsaber pencil to make thumbprint versions of your favorite Star Wars characters. Simple step-by-steps include clone troopers and battle droids, Ewoks and Wookies, Jedi and Jabba the Hutt. Star Wars fans will love re-creating key moments from the movies and creating scenes of their own. Comes with: blue, black, green, and brown ink pads, black marker pen, dual-tipped lightsaber pencil (red, blue). For ages eight and up.
These Skill Level 1 SnapTite kits from Revell are molded in color and snap together easily – no paint or glue is required! For ages eight and up. Four different plastic model kits from Rogue One are available; other Star Wars plastic model kits can be found here.
February break is upon us, and many people will be traveling this week. Here are some fun travel games and activities to keep everyone occupied during a long car trip!
Magnetic games are great to play in the car, in a hotel room, or at a campsite, since all of the pieces stick to the board, making them difficult to misplace!
Travel Scavenger Hunt For Kids – To play, each player takes five cards and tries to locate various roadside objects. Players may have to find a red car, a school bus, a license plate with the letter “z” and many others. In addition, several funny “Hear It”, “Feel It” and “Smell It” cards encourage kids to use all their travel senses by listening for sounds, feeling for bumps and sniffing for scents.
Melissa & Doug Water Wow activity books use plain water in a special pen to color and draw on its pages. The image fades when the water dries, and then the pages can be drawn on again!
Mad Libs – Mad Libs is a fun word game where you fill in the blanks in the story with your own words before reading it out loud.
Magic Pen Books – Use the special Magic Pen to reveal the colors in these mess-free coloring and activity books. Several varieties are available, including Spider-Man, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Finding Nemo and Disney Princesses!
Spot It on the Road – Spot it! meets Travel Bingo! This edition includes an additional game variation: players scan the scenery for objects that match the symbols from the cards.
Whether you’re in the big city, cruising down the highway, or just around town, there is always something to spot.
I was recently given a kit from our Metal Earth collection.
These kits come in many varieties, including several Star Wars models.
My wife chose the R2-D2 kit for me 🙂
The kit includes 2 metal sheets of pre-cut parts that just need to be punched out.
Pictorial instructions are included too, but you’ll need some small tools to complete construction.
The first step was assembly of the domed head. I thought this was going to be very difficult because of the curved shape, but it went quite well. I was on my way.
Next I needed to form the two halves of the main body. Curving the pieces was pretty easy because they’re so thin.
A couple details needed to be added to the inside of the body halves before they could be joined.
Next it was on to the legs. They were much more complicated than any previous steps. But I was ready for a challenge.
The legs had to be attached to the body before the head.
R2 is really taking shape now. The feet may be the hardest part of this kit but they’ve worked me up to it.
Haha, he looks like he wants to help.
See all the detail in his feet. There are several parts with lots of folds involved but it all went smoothly.
These are some of the parts used to make his center foot.
Now the center foot parts are attached to his bottom.
He’s almost done! Time to mount him to the display base.
I spent about four hours over two separate days on this little project. I decided to split it up because my eyes were getting a little tired. The tabs and slots are very small. I may use my magnifier lamp for my next kit.
Overall I really enjoyed making R2-D2. I was concerned when I first opened the package that the metal sheets might be sharp. I imagined poor R2 would end up all bloody from my cut-up fingers. However, I never cut myself through the entire process.
Now I just need to decide which kit to make next 🙂
Here is a little video of R2 on one of our solar powered spinners. He looks great in the sunlight.
Thank you for reading my blog. I hope you try one of our Metal Earth kits yourself. Here is a link to our selection:
Metal Earth (link)
In honor of Star Wars: The Force Awakens opening in theatres today, we’ve picked five of our most fun products that any Star Wars fan would love to find under the tree (or in their stocking) Christmas morning!
Meet BB-8 – the app-enabled Droid that’s as authentic as it is advanced. BB-8 has something unlike any other robot – an adaptive personality that changes as you play. Based on your interactions, BB8 will show a range of expressions and even perk up when you give voice commands. Set it to patrol and watch your Droid explore autonomously, make up your own adventure and guide BB-8 yourself, or create and view holographic recordings.
Each of these 1000-piece puzzle is made up of thousands of images from the original Star Wars trilogy. These puzzles from Buffalo Games are made in the USA with soy-based inks and 100% recycled paperboard with 90% post-consumer content (for both the package and the puzzle). The thick pieces snap securely together. These puzzles are appropriate for ages 14 and up.
Make a metal model of your favorite Star Wars ship, vehicle or droid, no glue or solder needed! Clip each piece from the larger sheet, insert tabs from one piece into the slots of another piece, then bend them over with tweezers or pliers. Ages 14 and up.
Use the 4 ink pads, marker, and dual-tipped lightsaber pencil to make thumbprint versions of your favorite Star Wars characters. Simple step-by-steps include clone troopers and battle droids, Ewoks and Wookies, Jedi and Jabba the Hutt. Star Wars fans will love re-creating key moments from the movies and creating scenes of their own. Comes with: blue, black, green, and brown ink pads, black marker pen, dual-tipped lightsaber pencil (red, blue). For ages eight and up.
This Skill Level 1 SnapTite kit from Revell is molded in color and snaps together easily – no paint or glue is required! The ship is 14¾” long when fully assembled, and includes a clear cockpit with Han Solo and Chewbacca figures! The kit contains 52 pieces and illustrated instructions. For ages eight and up. Other Star Wars plastic model kits can be found here.
This week, our staff shares their top picks for great Christmas presents! Here are our suggestions for gifts that adults will love!
Check out all of our 2015 Staff Gift Picks here.
This week, our staff shares their top picks for great Christmas presents! Here are our suggestions for gifts for kids!
Playmobil Pirate Adventure Island
Demolition Lab Triple Blast Warehouse
Revel Snap-tite Build & Play Jeep
Check out all of our 2015 Staff Gift Picks here.
This week, our staff shares their top picks for great Christmas presents! Here are our suggestions for stocking stuffers!
Classic Metal Works Mini Metals Vehicles
Check out all of our 2015 Staff Gift Picks here.
This week, our staff shares their top picks for great Christmas presents! Here are our suggestions for craft kits to give as gifts this holiday season.
Works of Ahh Solar System Mobile Kit
Coventry Cottage Dollhouse Kit
Klutz Learn to Draw DC Superheroes
Alex Wood Wonders Ultimate Set
Check out all of our 2015 Staff Gift Picks here.
Dan's Crafts & Things 