Most children enjoy making special gifts for family members and friends, and the fast-approaching holiday season makes this a perfect time to start helping kids with their gift-giving list and projects.
In this week’s Craft Corner, we offer a couple of projects that combine simplicity with the opportunity for young folks to be creative.
Our first suggestion is to use purchased shadow boxes to display treasured objects or original creations.
Shadow boxes can be found at most craft stores, although sometimes it’s hard to find the smaller, deeper ones at all locations.
We found a variety of 5-by-7-inch deep frames at Michael’s in Everett, ranging in price from $4.99 (on sale) to $9.99.
To fill the boxes, we used some items that have special meaning to us: two little metal mouse picture holders and a St. Francis of Assisi holy card; and one of our original creations: a Christmas spider, which readers may remember from a previous Craft Corner column.
Begin your assembly of the shadow box by removing the backing and cleaning the front and inside of the cover glass.
The next step is to decide how your featured items will be placed and secured in the box.
We wanted our mice to hold the St. Francis card, and since the mice would be sitting on the floor of the box, we decided to use the Velcro that was included in the box to secure their bases to the box.
Of course, we could have used glue for a more permanent piece, but we decided that we might like to use our mice for other purposes in the future.
Once secured, we closed up the back of the box and went on to the second one – our Christmas spider.
We began by adding a purchased button sticker border around the inside edges of the box. Such stickers are self-adhesive and all you have to do is cut them to length and press in place.
Securing our spider was a bit tricky as the Velcro wouldn’t hold the beads making up the body in place.
After the spider fell off for the third time, we decided that sterner measures were called for, such as a good old-fashioned needle and thread.
Using a long needle and transparent nylon thread, we attached the spider to the backing with a couple of stitches in several strategic places.
Voila! Success.
Our second project is using decorative stickers and paper and a photo frame to make a festive holiday picture.
Decorative stickers and papers can be found in the scrapbooking section of most crafts stores. The papers will cost between 59 cents and $1.59 per 12-by-12-inch sheet, and the stickers will range in price from $1.99 for the less fancy ones to $5.99 for “puffies” and other more elaborate versions.
Begin assembly of the picture by removing the glass from the photo frame (save it for another use) and covering the backing with a suitable decorative paper.
Next, arrange your stickers of choice on the backing and secure in place.
You can also decorate the frame itself with smaller, coordinating, stickers.
For a truly unique touch, kids can make their own stickers and glue them on the paper, or simply draw a picture to put in the frame.
Whatever they decide to do, these projects will make one-of-a-kind gifts that parents and grandparents will treasure for years.
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