Craft Project Week 1: Glass Magnets

Our crafting day did happen this weekend, I am just a wee bit behind on posting the results...imagine that. Let me just begin by saying that it is VERY IMPORTANT to make sure, especially if you live in a small town, that the craft stores carry all of the supplies that you need. But you probably already know that 'cause you plan ahead...... Needless to say I wanted to use the larger two inch glass half marbles, but the stores in my area only had a multicolored package which only contain about 6 clear marbles, so needless to say before we began the craft I was a little disappointed, but the kids didn't know any difference and they had a BLAST!

Danika, a friend from Oklahoma, had surprised me with a wonderful Yarn & Loops knitting bag and a variety of knitting related glass marbles (above) this summer when we went down to visit family. So I had been anticipating a time when I might be able to try making these magnets myself! We began by covering the table with newspaper and getting all of our supplies ready.

I had used a number of sources, while researching the best way to recreate this project with kids. There were many recommendations here and Not Martha ,but I opted for using Mod Podge like it suggests in the Micheal's Craft book, because I thought it would be the safest substance. Here's the list of supplies we used:

*Flat Paint brushes

*Mod Podge
*Small 1 inch half glass marbles
*Larger 1 1/2 to 2 inch half glass marbles
*Newspaper
*Paper Towels
*Pictures of the kids
*Used holiday/birthday Cards
*Kid scissors
*scrapbooking papers
*Altoid tins or other metal tins (found here or really fancy ones here)
*Window cleaner
*E6000 glue(I used this to glue the magnets in place)

Even the smallest hands can manage this craft, as long as an adult puts the magnets on with the E600 glue. Benjamin enjoyed using the flat brush to paint on mod podge.

We found that one of the best sources were the used cards I collected over the years. Of course I didn't use any of my beautifully scrapped cards, but I have a stash of notecards and greeting cards that I have been saving......just waiting for the perfect way to recycle them. They were the preferred choice for Jake because he discovered he could make magnet sets easily by cutting out the scenes. Isn't that snowman set ideal to adorn the fridge this winter! So I thought I would send this set to a special someone, along with some of the kids art work they created this fall at school!

You probably noticed that one of the snowmen has some extra paper around it. We discovered that it was much easier for little hands to put the mod podge on the back of the half marble and then stick it on the chosen picture....let it dry and then cut the excess off, 'cause sometimes it was hard to cut out a picture to the right size. All in all it was a very successful crafting day. Wouldn't you say?

6 Weeks to a Handmade Christmas

Change, it seems to be the sentiment of the country right now....and in my life....well adding new things and constantly learning and growing are some of the things that I embrace hole heartily, for myself and my family. Yesterday I realized that in order to reach the lofty goal of hand making gifts for everyone on our Christmas list, I was going to have to streamline my schedule.

Where do we find time to do it all in this fast pace world?.... go green, eat local, buy organic, tend a garden, chop enough fire wood for the winter, find musical outlets for your children, work with real art mediums, make sure they are getting enough sleep, reading intriguing literature, having family dinner and chatting about our day, paying the mortgage, watching your budget, saving to send 3 to college, yikes.....then there is what life is all about...... sharing time with friends and family. After all isn't that why we do all we do....our quest to come home, spend time with family, relish the special moments with friends, have me time.

This bring us back to the planning, I realized that there were roughly 6 weeks until Christmas and although I usually work at B & N on Saturdays I have the afternoons off, that leaves time for the kids and I to make 6 different crafts. Plus they get out of school early on the last three days before their Christmas break....what a perfect time for baking all of the goodies we will share with teachers, staff, friends, and family! If you are looking for craft ideas check back every Sunday, 'cause I hope to be posting our projects......ssshhhh but not too much.... somethings we might just have to keep hush, hush, you can't ALL know what we're makin' ya!

Yesterday I had some time to check out a special knitting book and get a little knitting done. One of the books that I think I might pick up is Knitting for Peace. I have decided that even though I am going to make many gifts, I might also have fudge purchase a few books too! After all who can resist BOOKS....not this bookseller(D says I am only working for books....which is kinda true, but still worth it).


This hardback has such wonderfully creative ways to give back, which is something that I think is on our minds as the "giving" season approaches(with our Nation in a recession)...... that it made me cry. Maybe it was just because I was reading the section about two high school friends who became reacquainted because they were both cancer survivors and it's also the time of year when I miss my mom the most. The friends came up with an idea to start a yarn shop, devoting the proceeds to cancer research, victims and the like. This book is filled with delightful heartfelt stories and easy patterns along with the Knitting for Peace logos which can be transferred onto your work for that extra special touch.


After some tearful reading, I was actually able to finish up one of the projects that I have been working on Maine Morning Mitts from The Book of Yarn, another great book,.....I don't even want to tell you how long it's been on the needles and now I just have to make the other one! So I guess I better get to knitting!