Teen Crafts

Scribble Candle

Materials
- Candle - (non-dripping candles will work best)
- Hot Glue Gun
- Hot Glue Glitter Sticks
Directions
- Select a candle and a glitter glue stick that make a combinations you like.
- Put the glitter glue stick in the hot glue gun and let it warm up.
- After the glue gun is warm squeeze the glitter glue all over the candle except for the wick and the bottom. You could scribble the glitter glue on, which gives a neat effect; or, you could make a pattern with the glitter glue which also looks nice.
- You can make different color combinations for different holidays of just to match with your room.

Pencil Organizer

Materials
- small cardboard box
- Scissors
- Con-Tact paper, any color or pattern
- Piece of heavier cardboard
- Self-Adhesive Magnet, optional
- ruler
- You can use wrapping paper to decorate your locker organizer.

Directions
- Turn the box so its side is facing you. Then, cut a diagonal from right to left ending around the middle of that side of the box. Do the same on the other side of the box.
- Now, turn the front of the box towards you. Cut straight across the front.
- Measure from the top of the box to the bottom and from one side of the box to the other. Now cut a rectangle using those dimensions.
- Cover all of the pieces with the Con-Tact paper.
- Cut a vertical slit in each rectangular piece until you only have about 1.5 inches at the top of each piece.
- Slide the 2 pieces together so that you make a divider for your box.
- Add a magnet to the back of your pencil holder and stick it to you locker.
- (By the way, even though it is called a pencil holder you can put loose change, pens, paper clips, rubber bands, etc. in your holder.)
- Have fun organizing you locker.

Loving Pillowcases

Materials
- 1 yard of Bridal fabric 42-45" wide
- Sewing machine
- Matching thread
- Measuring tape
- Straight pins
- Iron
Directions
- Match selvages together, right sides together. Pin sides and one end.
- Sew, using 5/8" seam allowance, one end of the pillowcase closed.
- Sew up the selvage end. Be sure to backtack all beginning and ending seams.
- Fold over the open end 1/4" from the top (wrong sides together). Sew along this edge.
- Fold over 3" from the top (again to the wrong sides). Sew along this edge.
- Turn pillowcase right side out.
- Press with iron.
  - Be sure to make two pillows. One for the bride and groom.

Stuff holder

Material
- Small light plastic or cardboard box
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Ruler or tape measure
- Con-tact paper
- Sticky magnetic sheet
Directions
- Measure up 4 inches from the bottom of the container you are using and make a mark there with your pencil.
- Cut off everything above this mark.
- Cover three sides of the container with contact paper and leave the back plain.
- Cut the magnetic sheet to fit on the back of the box.
- Cover the back with the magnetic sheet.
- Hang in your locker to store loose change, rubber bands, paper clips, etc.

Marble Painted Paper

Materials
- assorted colors of oil paints or marbling inks (the inks work better)
- Plain, white paper (computer paper works best)
- Oven pan covered with tin foil (make sure the pan is big enough to fit your paper)
- Water to fill the saucepan
- 1 teaspoon of Vinegar (if using marbling inks)
- Newspaper to cover your work area
- Pencil or toothpick

Directions
- Cover an oil pan with tin foil.
- Fill the oven pan with water.
- If you are using marbling inks, put the teaspoon of vinegar in the oven pan, and mix well.
- Put in just a tad of the marbling inks or oil paints (using two or more colors works best). Swirl the colors with the pencil or toothpick.
- Slowly put the paper in the pan. Make sure to work quickly, especially when using oil paints. If you do not, the paint will make a sheet on top of the water, and you won't be able to marble.
- Take the paper out and put it face down on the newspaper for about a minute.

Painted Jars

Materials
- Empty jar
- Computer and printer
- Clipart (or internet)
- Acrylic paint
- Paintbrush
- Tape

Directions
- Using your computer, print out a graphic from the internet or clip art that you like.
- Tape the graphic inside the jar as a pattern to go by.
- Then paint the the graphic onto the jar by copying the graphic you taped inside you jar.
- Take out the graphic inside you jar and your done.

Paper Napkin Decorated Containers

Materials
- Container to decorate - clay pots work well
- Designed paper napkins (floral are nice)
- Mod Podge (decoupage sealer and adhesive)

Directions
- Separate the solid paper from designed paper napkin. Tear out designs -- don't worry about being exact. You will want enough to cover the outside of the pot.
- Use a sponge brush to spread Mod Podge on a section of the pot.
- Place a napkin piece in the section and spread Mod Podge on top of it.
- Fill the entire section with napkin pieces.
- Repeat the sections until the pot is covered. You want the sections to overlap. At the bottom of the pot, just fold the excess napkin under.
- The top of the pot is a little hard to do. What I've done for the first layer is tear out only three sides leaving one side the straight edge of the napkin. The straight edge goes carefully along the top. Shorter pieces work better.
- Let dry overnight and cut out the hole in the bottom. The napkins wrinkles which gives it a painted look when dry!

Patriotic Star Clock

Materials
- Paper Mache star-shaped box with lid
- Liquitex Gesso White
- Paintbrush
- Navy blue craft paint
- Red craft paint
- 4 Small Wood Star
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Clockworks
- Small screwdriver
- Hot glue gun and sticks

Directions
- Use the small screwdriver to punch a hole where the clockworks will come through the front of the clock. Before you punch the hole, put the clock works inside the clock and mark where you will punch the hole. Do it fairly close to the center of the star.
- Paint the whole box and the 4 wooden stars with Liquitex Gesso White paint.
- Allow the box and stars to dry overnight.
- Paint the lid of the box and the bottom of the box with navy blue craft paint. Leave the sides white for now.
- Let the blue paint dry.
- Draw stripes on the sides of the box with a pencil and a ruler. Paint every other one with red craft paint and leave the others white.
- Hot glue the stars to the front of the clock (bottom of the box) where the 12, 3, 6, and 9 of the clock will be located. See photo so you know what the position of the stars are.
- With white Liquitex Gesso, paint the marks between the wooden stars where the other hours are located.
- Place the lid back on the box. Set the box on its side so that you can read the clock clearly and place it where you want!
  Note: If you want to hang the clock you will need to remove the lid.

Personalized Memo Board

Materials
- Graphics software
- Color printer
- Photographs
- Scanner, digital camera, or other means to import a photo into graphics software
- Dry Erase Marker
- Magnets, adhesive back, long and flat strips
- Hole punch, optional
- Glue, optional

Directions
- Design a "poster" in your graphics program.
- Import pictures of family members, a pet, or just a fun background to decorate the board.
- If you want you can add a title telling what the board is used for. For example, Shopping List, Today's Adventures, Remember...
- Print out the "poster". Using card stock is not necessary, but adds to the strength of the project.
- Take the printout to an office supply store and have them cover using a heavy laminate.
- Attach some strong flat magnets to the back.
- You may want to hole punch through a corner of the laminate, tie on a ribbon, and attach (using glue to secure) the pen so it won't get lost.
- Wrap it up and you've got a great gift!

Recipe Cards to Print

Materials
- Cardstock white paper (about 40-65 pound)
- Index cards, printer paper, and glue; optional
- Printer
- Scissors
- Printable recipe cards (see below)

Directions
- You can either purchase cardstock paper at your local office supply store or you can print on printer paper and glue to index cards. I recommend using the cardstock paper.
- Decide on whether you will use 3x5" or 4x6" recipe cards. (Hint: Check to see what size recipe holder you have in the house. We can also make some holders.)
- Print the following for 3x5" cards:
  for the PC (90 dpi) - for the Mac (72 dpi)
- Print the following for 4x6" cards:
  for the PC (90 dpi) - for the Mac (72 dpi)
- Print multiple pages. Let the ink dry before handling.
- Cut on the dotted lines.
- Either write your recipes on the cards, or give as gifts.
- If you wish to give them as gifts, then tie them together with a pretty ribbon or wrap them up.

Seasons Greetings Blocks

Materials
- Wooden blocks (1")
- White craft paint
- Paint brush
- Paper
- Pen or pencil
- Alphabet stencil
- Small holiday stencils
- Paint pens or permanent markers
- Hot glue or wood glue

Directions
- Base coat blocks with white paint. Let dry. This may take 2-3 coats to cover blocks completely.
- Write down the holidays that you wish to use on paper. Count the letters to find out how many blocks you will need for the longest holiday "name".
- Using hot glue or wood glue, adhere the number of blocks required for the longest holiday "name".
- Let dry.
- Using the stencils and paint pens or markers, add your holiday greetings to the blocks. Note: When your holiday name is shorter than the number of blocks that you have glued together, use holiday "decorations" to dress up the blank blocks.
- Stack your blocks or put them side-by-side and rotate them as the holidays change.

Snowmen Fence

Materials
- 5 Paint stir sticks (you get them free when you buy a can of paint)
- 6 Wide Popsicle sticks (about 3/4" wide by 6" long)
- White craft paint
- Rub-on Snowmen Faces (or paint them on yourself)
- Yarn, felt, buttons, pom poms, etc. for making outfits
- Tacky glue
- Hot glue gun
- Wood hot glue sticks
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Wire or string
- Wire cutters, if using wire

Directions
- Paint the paint stir sticks white. Let dry. You may have to add more than one coat.
- Paint the Popsicle sticks white. Let dry. You may have to add more than one coat.
- Rub on the Snowmen Faces according to the directions on the package. Note: You may also paint the face using thin permanent or paint markers, paintbrush and craft paints.
- Create scarves for each of the snowmen and glue in place around the "neck" (the part of the paint stick that curves in). Try felt shawls, scarves, and try braiding yarn for scarves too.
- Cut out hats for your snowmen and glue on their heads. Try making different kinds, using our pictures as ideas. Glue on pom poms for a fun look.
- Glue on buttons, pom poms, or whatever you have on hand for their buttons.
- Glue the Popsicle sticks to the back of the snowmen using the wood glue. Our bottom stick was about 3" from the bottom of the snowman. The upper stick was about 3 1/2" above the bottom stick. Be sure to use a ruler to get it close to being straight. If it doesn't appear straight, don't worry. Look around your neighborhood and see how many wood fences are actually straight! 8-D
- Add extra wood glue to help strengthen the sticks. You may also wish to glue additional sticks where they touch end to end to give them more strength.
- Hang on a couple of nails, or tie wire or string on the ends so you can hang on one nail.

Spring Windsock

Material
- White craft foam sheet
- Green craft foam sheet
- Craft foam sheets in multiple colors
- 2 liter pop bottle
- Clear plastic lanyard (Rexlace)
- 4 pieces of Purple ribbon (1" wide x 18" long)
- 4 pieces of Yellow ribbon (1" wide x 18" long)
- Scissors
- Pen
- Hole Punch
- Low temp hot glue gun or "the welder" glue
- Fishing swivel hook

Directions
- Cut 2 liter bottle near the bottom where it begins to curve inward.
- Wash and dry 2 liter pop bottle.
- Hole punch down the short side of the craft foam, about 2" apart.
- Take a sheet of green craft foam and wrap around bottle, matching to cut end of bottle. (Note: Put punched edge on top)
- Mark holes with pen where holes are located.
- Remove from bottle and hole punch other short side that is marked.
- Cut a long string of Rexlace.
- Wrap green craft foam around bottle, matching hole punches.
- Tie a double knot in one end of the Rexlace.
- Thread the Rexlace starting at the bottom (near the neck of the bottle) through about 3 holes.
- Mark the remaining holes on to the bottle (under the craft foam).
- Remove the craft foam.
- Carefully using the scissors, punch holes where marked on the bottle.
- Slide craft foam back on to the bottle.
- Lace the Rexlace through the two layers of craft foam and the bottle. Double knot at the end. Cut off excess Rexlace.
- Cut out the fence out of white craft foam sheet. Glue on to the green sheet.
- Cut out bugs, flowers, and any shapes desired out of the different colors of craft foam.
- Glue the shapes together and then on to the windsock.
- Hole punch 8 holes, evenly spaced, around the bottom (neck end) of the windsock.
- Tie a knot on one end of a piece of ribbon. Thread the ribbon through the back of the windsock.
- Repeat for the rest of the ribbon, alternating colors around the windsock.
- Punch 4 holes in the top of the windsock. Note each pair of two should be across from each other.
- Cut 2 pieces of Rexlace about 2 feet long.
- Tie a double knot in one end of a piece of Rexlace. Thread the Rexlace from the inside to the outside.
- Then lace the Rexlace from the outside to the inside of the opposite hole. Tie in a double knot on the inside.
- Repeat for other piece of Rexlace in remaining two holes.
- Attach a swivel fishing hook to the loops.
- Hang and enjoy your windsock!

Victorian Bottle Crafting

Materials
- Colored bottles
- Raffia
- Hot glue gun or craft glue
- Fabric paint
- Buttons
- Old jewelry
- Lace
- Fake jewels
- Fabric (with patterns)
Directions
- If you are coordinating a decorating theme, you can cut out material that matches your color scheme and randomly glue the pieces on your bottle.
- Use fabric paint to color the trim of the fabric (to keep fabric from fraying) or glue lace around the fabric.
- Tie a piece of raffia into a bow around the neck of the bottle.
- Add buttons, jewelry, (I break the ear piece off pierced earrings and glue the pieces onto the bottle.) or any charms onto the bottle in random or decorative order.

Wallpaper Envelopes & Stationery

Materials
- Outdated wallpaper sample books
- Small mailing envelope
- Cereal box cardboard
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Glue
Directions
- Go to your local wallpaper store and ask for outdated wallpaper sample books - they are free.
- Take a small mailing envelope and carefully pull the glued edges apart so you have a pattern.
- Trace the envelope on a piece of cardboard (cereal boxes work good) so that you have a durable pattern.
- Place your cardboard pattern on the wallpaper and trace.
- Cut out, fold and glue.

Weekly Reusable Calendar

Materials
- Calendar printout (see below)
- Self Adhesive magnetic strips
- Laminate or Con-Tact paper
- Dry Erase Markers, thin tips
Directions
- Print out both pages of the weekly calendar:
- Print out for the PC (90dpi) page one and page two..
  Print out for the Mac (72 dpi) page one and page two.
- Trim calendar near lines, unless you would like to hole punch and insert in a 3 ring binder.
- Take the calendar pages to the office supply store and ask the copy center to laminate in a heavy laminate.
- Cut magnetic strips to fit to back of paper in two places, either horizontally or vertically.
  - Since this project will be heavily used, it would be a good idea to go to your office supply store and paying to get a heavy laminate adhered to the paper.

Decorative Light Switch Cover

Materials
- Fimo or Sculpey clay in desired colors
- Rolling pin or dowel rod or plastic pipe
- Wax paper
- Cutting surface
- Craft knife
- Metal light switch plate

Directions
- knead clay per manufacturer's instructions to make it smooth and pliable.
- Tear off a sheet of wax paper and lay out on craft area.
- Roll out clay on wax paper until thin. Check size needed for height and diameter of switch plate.
- Place wax paper with clay on cutting surface.
- Using straight edge and craft knife, cut top and bottom edges to fit switch plate.
- Carefully pick up clay and lay over, smoothing as you go, the switch plate.
- Use craft knife to trim side edges to fit switch plate.
- Use craft knife to cut the openings on the switch plate.
- Knead and roll out any additional colors to create designs for the switch plate. Cut out using the craft knife.
- Press lightly into place on the clay covered switch plate.
- Bake according to manufacturer instructions. Let cool.
- Install the light plate and enjoy.
  - Do not use a rolling pin that you use with CLAY again with FOOD. There are chemicals in the CLAY and it is unadvisable to use it again with food.

Computer Monitor Frame

Materials
- 2 Craft foam sheets for the frame
- Craft foam scraps to decorate the frame
- Glue (school or tacky)
- Scissors
- Self-Adhesive Velcro
- Yard stick or measuring tape
- Ruler (optional for helping draw lines)
- Paper (to make patterns)
- Pen
- Glitter paint or craft paint, optional
- Paint markers, optional
- Pencil box, recommended for storage
Directions
- Measure the outside dimension of monitor screen. Write this down.
- Measure the monitor from the outside to the inside of the screen on EACH side. Write this down.
- Cut a "frame" out of a craft foam sheet using the following measurements. Note: You may need to use more than one sheet of craft foam.
- a) Cut the outside of the monitor according to the first measurements you wrote down.
- b) Mark the inside lines. (for example: My monitor screen is 16" wide and the sides are 1 1/2" deep. I will measure 1 1/2" in from the sides and draw lines using a ruler. Be sure to check if your top and bottom measurements are the same!)
- c) Cut on the lines you just drew. Use the inside (leftover) craft foam for either decorating the frame or for other craft projects.
- Make a mini frame out of craft foam, cutting it to be about 1" larger on all sides than your small school photo. Cut the inside out so your photo shows through. (Hint: You may want to make a paper pattern first)
- Using the other craft foam colors, cut out decorations for the frame.
- Attach the frame on 3 sides (leave the top open so you can slide the picture in and out) to one corner of the monitor. Add more frames if you have siblings. Decorate the frame with either cut out flowers or other items from the craft foam sheets. You can also use glitter paint or paint markers.
- Create scenes for the frame. Maybe you would like to create seasonal pictures that can be changed: a snow scene, Valentines Day, 4th of July, Birthday, Christmas, beach scene. (Hint: Make the pieces able to fit in a pencil box for easy storage!)
- Cut small pieces of Velcro and attach to the back of each decoration.
- Important: You will want to make sure that you put the rough side of the Velcro attached to the frame and the soft pieces attached to the decorations. This will make it easy to store and won't scuff up the pieces when they are stored.
- Cut about 1" long strips and attach to the back of the frame and to the monitor.

Custom Coasters

Materials
- Graphics software
- Color printer
- Photos, optional
- Scanner, digital camera, or other means to import a photo into graphics software, optional
- Con-Tact Paper
- Cardboard
- Scissors or craft knife

Directions
- Open the graphics software and choose Avery Kids #03111 Square Stickers as the format.
- Design the coaster to match the celebration that you are having.
- Add photos to the coasters if you would like a personalized coaster for each guest.
- Print out the stickers, and let dry.
- Peel off stickers, and apply to cardboard.
- Cut around stickers.
- Apply Con-Tact paper on the top and the bottom of the coasters. Be sure to leave enough Con-Tact paper around the coaster to seal it from spills.
- Set out and enjoy the compliments.

Bath Salts

Materials
- Large glass or metal mixing bowl
- 2 cups Epsom's salts
- 1 cup Sea salt, rock salt or coarse salt
- Food coloring
- 1/4 teaspoon Glycerin
- Essential oil for fragrance such as vanilla, citrus or peppermint, optional
- Clean, dry jars with cork stoppers or metal screw-on lid

Directions
- Try and do this on a day with low humidity, the salt will absorb moisture from the air.
- Combine salts in bowl and mix well. Add a couple drops of food coloring and mix well.
- Add glycerin and essential oil (4 or 5 drops) and mix well.
- Spoon salts into the jars and close them.
- Make a gift tag with the scent (if you used one) and suggesting using 1/3 to 1/2 cup in the bath.
- Makes 3 cups of bath salts.

Bead and Button Teacup

Materials
- Solid colored teacup with saucer
- Assorted decorative buttons and beads of different shapes, sizes, and colors.
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks.
- Tweezers

Directions
- Make sure the teacup is clean before beginning.
- Use the hot glue and glue all of the buttons and beads onto the surface of the teacup. You can just do the top half or the whole cup if desired.
- Continue to glue buttons and beads to the saucer as well.
- Use the tweezers to help you place the beads and buttons on the cup. This will prevent you from getting burned, and will make it much easier.
  - This teacup is for decorative purpose only.

This project is rated AVERAGE to do.

Materials
- 1 Clay pot (any size will do)
- Matching spray paint and fabric (floral looks good)
- Modge Podge
- Gesso (available at Michael's Craft Store and most art supply stores)
- Newspapers
- Thinner side of brown paper bag
- Pencil
- Fine black felt-tip pen
- Scissors
- Paintbrushes

How To Make It
- Paint the pots thoroughly with Gesso. Wait about 1 to 1 1/2 hours for it to dry.
- Take your spray paint and carefully spray entire inside and to just below the lip on the outside. Do not spray heavily. Spray with downward strokes. Don't drip.
- Now to make the pattern for your fabric on the brown paper bag... Mark a little mark on the upper edge of your pot. Place the pot on it's side on the bag. Now start turning the pot, all the way tracing against the upper edge with a pencil. Line up the top of the pot with the line just drawn in it's starting position, and mark another line on the bottom edge. Again turn the pot, tracing with a pencil, until you have gone around once and have come back around to the mark. Join the two lines to form a rainbow shape, and cut out the pattern.
- With a fine black pen, trace around the pattern on fabric, making sure your design on the fabric points upward. If you turn the pattern to look like a rainbow, the upper side is the top for these pots. Cut the fabric piece out with scissors.
- Layer a hard surface with 2-3 layers of newspaper.
- Here's where it gets very tricky. With the Modge Podge, little by little, bit by bit, glue the fabric onto the pot.
- There should be (when you finish Modge Podge) material sticking up off the bottom. Cut that into maybe 1 inch pieces (don't cut the fabric off the bottom). One by one, (being careful not to get any wrinkles) glue the fringe into place. You may have to cut out the hole at the bottom with scissors when it dries.
- Admire your fantastic work!

CD Clock

Materials
- Old CD or internet CD (ask your parents first!)
- "Painters" paint markers
- Clock works
- Metal washer (hardware stores carry these individually)

Directions
- Paint the CD with paint markers in any design you want. Let dry.
- Write the numbers around the edge of the CD. Make sure you space them evenly. (Ask a parent for help on this)
- Assemble the clock works onto the CD. You will need to get a bigger washer than what is included in most clock works and place this on the top of the CD to keep the clock together.
- Give as a present or keep for yourself.

Decorate your Notebook

Materials
- Any color of construction paper for the background that is large enough to fit the cover of your notebook (smooth paper is best)
- Stencils
- Various colors of construction paper
- Markers or gel pens
- Clear Con-Tact paper
- Scissors
- Pencil to trace designs
- Double stick tape

How To Make It
- Cut the piece of construction paper for the background of your cover and attach it to the front of your notebook with double stick tape.
- Pick a stencil for the front of the notebook.
- Trace the stencil onto the different colors of construction paper with the pencil.
- Cut them out and arrange them on your notebook however desired. Attach them with double stick tape.
- Decorate the stencils with markers or gel pens.
- Cover the whole front of the notebook with the clear Con-Tact paper.
- You can use this same idea to cover the back of the notebook, too.

Doily Bowls

What You Need
- Glass bowl or other type of bowl that will fit the doily
- Lace Doily
- Liquid Starch
- Small bowl (extra)
- Large Rubber bands
- Wax paper
- Drying rack or cooling rack

How To Make It
- Tear off a sheet of wax paper to cover the outside of the glass bowl. Turn bowl upside down and place wax paper over it (you will have to scrunch it). Place on cooling or drying rack. Set aside.
- Pour a small amount of liquid starch in extra bowl.
- Place the lace doily in the starch. Using your fingers make sure the doily gets thoroughly saturated with the starch. Squish the doily around in the starch and then squeeze all the starch out.
- Spread the doily over the outside of the bowl that has the wax paper covering it. Carefully position the doily over the bowl.
- Place rubber bands around the bowl to hold in place. Only place the rubber bands as high up on the bowl as you want the sides to be. Take the edges and form to be a rippled edge if desired.
- Let dry. The drying process could take from about 1 to 3 days depending on the humidity, thickness of the doily, and amount of airflow in the area.
- After doily is completely dry, remove from bowl.
- Wash and dry bowl. Discard wax paper.
- Place bowl back inside the doily.
- Fill with candies and place on a table. Enjoy