Kristen

Crochet Gnome To Make for Christmas

This adorable crochet gnome is perfect for Christmas. With the neutral colors, he can also be on display all year. You could make varying sizes and create an entire gnome family to adorn your mantel this holiday. Use different colors to experiment with different looks and play around with accessories if you’d like. Or, stick with the classic look as he is adorable as is. However you dress him up, this is a fun project to make for yourself or to give as a gift.

How To Crochet Gnome

Crochet Gnome Pattern

Jump on over to Paraligo.com for her free crochet pattern and written instructions. Her video may be fast, but she’s really just trying to show you how it all goes together. Use it as a resource in case you get stuck with the pattern.

Supplies Needed

The nice thing about this project is you don’t need a lot of supplies and you may have many on hand in your stash already.

Cotton thread– pattern calls for gray and cream but I think it would be cute to use different colors for different occasions.

Filling-typically a poly-fil to stuff the gnome

Wooden Bead-this pattern uses a small bead, but you may want a selection of sizes to find the one you prefer.

You’ll also need a size 7 crochet hook, scissors, stitch marker and needle.

I don’t know what it is about gnomes, but I think they are so cute. While this guy is cute as is, you could also add your own flair to it. Maybe a little bell at the top of his hat, or a scarf around his neck? I think there are lots of fun ways to get creative and make this gnome unique. But whatever you choose to do, I hope you have lots of fun making this fun crochet gnome!

Best Craft Gifts for Any Age

by Kristen 2 Comments

There are so many great choices for craft gifts. What I love about craft supplies is they are perfect for any age and any ability. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to find the perfect gift for a crafting pro, or a beginner, there are a lot of gift ideas for craft lovers.

Craft Gifts for Painters

Painting supplies get expensive, so the perfect gifts are those that help keep the budding artist fully stocked with paints, canvases and brushes. Here are a few ideas for supplies that every painter should have on hand.

Painting Canvases

Packs of artist canvases. These are perfect for all ages. I always have some on hand so that my daughter can paint and draw whenever she wants.

Acrylic Paints

Any type of paint set is great, but I think that acrylic paints are the most versatile. These come in handy for a variety of different projects, not just painting.

LED Light Box

A light box is a fun craft gift. This can be used for tracing a pattern or picture. This is fun for kids who may not be great at drawing, but love to paint. Simply trace your favorite picture and you can copy this onto your canvas.

Craft Gifts for Creativity

There are some arts and crafts that I love to have on hand and I think they make great gift ideas. These are things that people don’t always go out and buy, but they really come in handy when you want to try a new project and are looking for supplies.

Modeling clay– Good for building fun designs and these really come in handy for school projects. I prefer modeling clay that air dries and doesn’t require baking in the oven.

Embroidery Floss– can be used for cross-stitch, embroidery and making friendship bracelets.

Glue gun– a definite must have for any crafter. Be sure to keep lots of extra glue sticks on hand as these run out quickly.

Colored pencils– this is another versatile art supply to have on hand. Combine this with a fun coloring book and you have the perfect gift for any age. And I do mean ANY age. There are so many beautiful coloring books designed for adults and it is such a relaxing craft.

As someone who loves arts and crafts, my personal opinion is that you can’t go wrong with craft gifts. My daughter always requests arts and crafts for her birthday and Christmas and she has never been disappointed!

DIY Gift Idea For Kids

by Kristen 1 Comment

Here’s a fun DIY gift idea for kids, either to give to kids or for them to make. A vintage craft that you don’t see much these days, surprise balls are a fun craft for kids and adults alike. I like these because they can be used for all sorts of events. They are an inexpensive gift idea on their own, or use them as party favors or a gift tag for a bigger present.

How to Make Surprise Balls

Surprise balls are made by hiding something inside for the recipient to unwrap. You wrap the ball with layers of paper or fabric and then do a decorative exterior. I love these because they are perfect for all levels.

How would you decorate your DIY craft? I think that any type of animal would be cute and for Christmas you could make Santa Claus, Frosty or Olaf.

What To Put In Your DIY Gift Ball

I think that years ago when this vintage craft was created, it was probably filled with very inexpensive gifts. That could still be the case today if you want to make it more about the craft and less about what’s inside. But if you want to make it a fun way to decorate a gift, then I think the sky is the limit for what you put inside. It could hide a special piece of jewelry, or a hand-made trinket the kids made for Grandma. Or how about hiding a gift card inside. It certainly is a lot more fun than just handing over an envelope. Use your creativity for coming up with fun ways to fill and decorate these DIY gifts.

Click here for the video tutorial to learn step-by-step how to make these surprise balls. A fun DIY gift idea or a fun project for kids to make.

Thanksgiving Place Cards

by Kristen 1 Comment

A pretty place setting or using place cards is an easy way to make any meal feel special. Most of us only do this for Thanksgiving and other big holidays like Christmas and Easter. But the truth is, these little touches can make any night special. And best of all, it’s a great way to get crafty and use your imagination. Here are a couple of really easy Thanksgiving place card ideas.

I know that this picture is shown as a place setting for a wedding, but I love the idea of using a pinecone to create a place card for a family dinner. A fun project the kids can help with too and you can keep it rustic, or decorate the pinecone. You can even take this idea and switch it up for other holidays. What about gluing on some tiny beads or sequins to turn it into little Christmas tree name cards to use as part of the table setting?

Halloween Makeup Ideas

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Here are a few fun makeup ideas for Halloween. These were created using LimeLight by Alcone’s Perfect Eyeliner. Use a little eyeshadow for color and you can create some great looks for your next Halloween party. You’ll love the look and feel of using makeup instead of face paint which can be uncomfortable and it can also clog your pores.