Pinterest Specials Part One

Each summer I look forward to a return visit with some teacher friends (we all once worked together). They come to the lake for relaxation, good eats, fine conversations and making crafts. We rotate taking turns coming up with a craft and making sure everyone has the right supplies. Thrift stores are one of our most valuable resources. Some of our previous creative endeavors from years past include:(left to right front of picture)
cake stand (plate glued on a wine glass for a base), wine glass (decorative wire and beads glued on), spoon (decorative wire and beads glued on), writing original poems (typing on decorative paper and framing the work), and napkin note cards. 

Then there were the addictive paper gift boxes (made from cardstock) which we couldn't seem to stop making once we got the hang of it. 

 And let's not forget the wine bags made from jean pant legs and khaki pants. 

And last year we went for a fall theme. We decorated Styrofoam pumpkins starting with our favorite quote and then letting our imagination take its course with glitter, Derwent Watercolor Pens and Pitt Artist Pens.  

You'd think we'd run out of ideas but NEVER. This year we decorated plain color gift bags from the Dollar Store using our extensive scrap-booking supplies and made marbleized paper using shaving cream. 

Perhaps your imagination maybe fueled by some of these finished bags. 

We thought this bag would be perfect for the preschool/kindergarten teacher for review of letter recognition.  Objects that begin with each letter could be added to the inside.  

How to Marbleize Paper

This was a labor intensive project that needs to be done outside (messy) but produces great results. The marbleized paper can be turned into a variety of projects including notecards and scrap-booking paper to decorate bags. 

You will need a day with some sun (for drying), a hose nearby, bucket. squeegee,  cardstock paper, plastic tray same size of paper, a couple cans of shaving cream, acrylic pints, a long skewer or bamboo toothpick. Oh, yes imagination! 

This youtube video is quite helpful with clear steps and more detail and some of my photos showing DIY steps.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6dfkTIqCqo

JoAnne (on left) was our craft instructor.

Some finished items using this method.

The shape of Minnesota was made with a cookie cutter but any shapes can be created with cookie cutter. 

First glue old postage stamps in a random fashion on cardstock. Using a cookie cutter the shape was traced, cut out,transferred and glued on notepaper. 

Check back tomorrow for Part Two with fun, easy DIY Pinterest Christmas ideas.