Kids Craft: Sea Shell Frames

We had the opportunity to visit the beach while on vacation to Pennsylvania.  We visited the Island Beach State Park in New Jersey.  After Grandpa brought them over some nice sea shells they started collecting any and every little piece of a shell they found around our beach blanket.

Then today while visiting my sister at her In-laws house my daughter pointed out to me a picture frame that had little turritella shells lined around it and so we decided to use their shells from our trip (plus the leftovers that I had from another project) to decorate old frames we found at the DI (local thrift store).  The purple one was $0.50 and the brown one was $0.75.

I armed my kiddos with paintbrushes and some cream acrylic paint.  TIP:  Dad’s old short sleeved dress shirts make for great painting aprons.

I helped some to make sure all the frame was covered.

Then we glued on the sea shells.  I had the kids arrange the larger shells where they wanted them and then I used the hot glue gun to attach them.  Then I spread Elmer's glue in the open places and the kids put the little one’s on wherever they wanted.

 (They really were enjoying themselves they just didn’t like the picture taking)

I then removed the inner picture and we covered a cardboard square with fabric using Mod Podge.  I let the kids spread the glue out and then we smoothed the fabric together.  After the mod podge dried I then ironed the appliqué starfish and ship using Wonder Under.

I used my Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot to do the vinyl saying “Remember what you were born to become.”   This is located between the front door and living room window so as we leave the house we remember we were all born to become Kings or Queens and to act accordingly.

With the help of my kids I think this is our first decorating success, YEA!!!

Hair Bow Holder

My friend Tana and I have been going a little crazy with making hair bows for our daughters and so my daughter’s  hair bow holder was over flowing.  It was just a quick one I made by covering up a piece of cardboard with some fabric and two lines of ribbons.  So I took this old frame I had and attached the ribbons to the inner layer of the frame and then covered the back up with some fabric (not the cutest fabric but it will work).

I first used hot glue to attach the ribbon, then I put a staple through it and then topped it with more hot glue.  Using the hot glue helped hold the ribbon tight and will hopefully prevent the ribbon from tearing.

I then stapled the fabric down and then covered each stable with hot glue and around the edges on the fabric.

Almost done….

Then I added another ribbon on the bottom so her headbands could hang with the bows.  I stapled one end down and then used Velcro to hold the other end.

Here it is!!!  Back in it’s home!!!

Collage Fabric Picture

I was inspired by Care over at Obsessively Stitching for this design.  She did an I-Spy Fabric Swap which I participated in and she sent me one of her I-Spy cards with my fabric squares.  So as I was doing some rearranging of my office again I found two frames that needed a purpose.  So I decided to use her I-Spy idea to whip up a couple of fabric collages to go inside the frames.  I used fabrics that I’ve used for projects for my two kiddos in the past and then some new ones that I plan to use in the quilts I’m going to make them for Christmas. 

 

Start off by drawing a square the size of the inside of the frame.  Then cut about an inch from that line.   You will use the line as a guide to where the fabric needs to cover.

Then just cut out random pieces of scrap fabric and arrange them so they fill the entire square area.

Pin the pieces down and then sew away.  I first sewed along the border and then just did random squiggles and loops all over.

Close-up of the stitching

Now cut out a piece of cardboard so it will fit in the back of your frame.  I then just used a little tap at each corner to attach the back of the collage to the cardboard.  You could also use a glue and permanently attach it.

  

I then trimmed the excess off.

 

Pop it into the frame and hang it on the wall.  Tada!!!!  It took me maybe 2 hours to do 2.

 

Front Computer Panel Recycled

My husband saved these front panels from a couple of old computers.  He thought maybe I could use them for something and well I decided to turn them into picture frames. (Please disregard the little papers all over the floor as my son decided it would be fun to spread the shredded paper on the floor and I was to lazy to vacuum it up.)

Before:

After:

DVD Case Picture Collage

I've been collecting DVD cases for a while to do this project and I finally printed pictures and put it together last night. All I did was mount 4x6 pictures to some consturction paper (7 1/4x 4 7/8) and then slide it under the slip cover of the DVD case. I then (with the DVD case open) put a push pin through the plastic and closed the case. This made it really easy to hang them up so they would lay flat. If that doesn't make sense let me know and I'll try to explain it better or do detail pictures.
I'm very proud of how well it turned out. It's probably the only wall in my house that looks well put together.

*I did not create this idea I found it in a magazine somewhere*