Little Dipper Constellation Ornament

There is only one state which has named an official state constellation. Do you know which state it is? Here's a hint. The constellation they selected is the Little Dipper, to honor their nickname as the North Star State. Read here to discover which state it is, then learn how to make an ornament inspired by this constellation. Affiliate links below. 

Little Dipper Constellation Ornament

Materials: 

• wood slice ornament
• acrylic paint (Navy Blue)
• sponge
• 0.7 white Posca marker
• rhinestones
• craft glue
• silver cord

Steps: 

Mix a drop or two of paint with water to make a wash. Use a sponge to stain the wooden ornament. You should still be able to see the rings of the wood. 

While the paint dries, draw the constellation on a piece of scratch paper, cut to fit onto the ornament. Select rhinestones for each star of the constellation. It's a nice touch to use larger rhinestones for the larger stars.  

Set the rhinestones aside and turn your constellation upside down. Use the pencil scribble transfer technique to make a pattern on the wood ornament. 

Trace the pencil lines with the white Posca. Add tiny white dots randomly on the ornament, then glue the rhinestones where they belong on the constellation. Tie a loop with the silver cord and your ornament is done. 

While I made the Little Dipper because it's the state constellation of Minnesota, this project can easily be adapted to make any constellation. Try zodiac signs for especially nice ornaments; they make a wonderful gift.

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While researching constellations, I came across an absolutely fascinating blog post called Visualizing cities as constellations in the night sky. Check it out!

Published in Scrapbook & Cards Today

It was a dream come true when my 2-page layout about my favorite and least favorite things was published in what turned out to be the final issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today. This is the layout I made to document it. 

Published in Scrapbook & Cards Today (affiliate link)

I included a picture of the cover of the magazine, the page where my layout appears, and a notecard from the founder and publisher of Scrapbook & Cards Today. I'm happy with how the completed layout looks and am so glad to have it in the album. 

Pipe Cleaner Lollipop

Did you know that the lollipop (originally Lolly Pop) was invented in Connecticut? This beloved treat was first produced in 1908 by George Smith of the Bradley Smith Company of New Haven. Connecticut named the lollipop its official state candy in 2024. Celebrate this sweet treat with a quick and easy pipe cleaner craft. Affiliate links below. 

Pipe Cleaner Lollipop

Materials:

• pipe cleaners (orange, yellow, green, blue)
• 4" lollipop stick
• glue gun

Steps: 

Stack the four pipe cleaners and begin to twist them together. You can twist them loosely at first and then go back and tighten them, or twist them tightly from the beginning. Either way, you want a tight twist. 

When you've twisted the pipe cleaners together all the way to the end, begin coiling the twist. Keep the coil tight as you twist. It should hold on its own, but you can also add a drop of hot glue occasionally to keep it totally secure. 

Use hot glue to attach the lollipop stick to the finished coil. 

Quick and easy! Now go enjoy a lollipop in honor of George Smith, the Bradley Smith Company, and the great state of Connecticut. 

Pop Art Hockey Craft

I was looking through my Sports Crafts for Kids page recently. I have tutorials for 30 crafts representing 14 different sports. None of those is hockey, so it was time to add a hockey craft to the collection. I decided to do my twist on a popular project inspired by the pop art movement of the 50's to 70's. Affiliate links below. 

 

 

Pop Art Hockey Craft

Materials: 

• printed image or photograph of a hockey player
• microtip scissors
• colored cardstock
• binder clips
• craft glue

Steps: 

Carefully cut out the image of the hockey player. Layer three colors of cardstock together and use a binder clip to secure them together. 

Turn the hockey player upside down and clip it to the cardstock. Trace around the shape, then cut out all three layers at once. 

Arrange the cut images onto a piece of cardstock, with the hockey player in the foreground. Each piece should be evenly spaced and should be lined up with the direction that the athlete is moving. Glue everything in place. 

Mini Keepsake Quilt #3

I've finished my third mini keepsake quilt, using (most of) the fabric from Quilt #3. I love how the three mini quilts look hanging on the line together!

 

Since I give away all the quilts I make, these mini keepsakes are the best record I have of the fabrics I used for each. Unfortunately, there were absolutely no scraps of my favorite fabric from Quilt #3 (the leaf green) so I wasn't able to include it in the mini. It's disappointing, but it is what it is. 

Not only are these mini quilts a fun keepsake, but they're good practice for me.... and I still need a LOT of sewing practice. I was exceptionally careful when I cut out my 2" squares and tried my best to maintain the 1/4" seam allowance as I sewed them together. The top looked pretty good - the corners (mostly) matched and the lines were (mostly) straight. After I sewed the completed front to the back and turned it inside out, the mini quilt was (mostly) square. (Well, rectangular.) But when I actually quilted it, things got distorted a bit. I didn't think I needed to pin the layers with such a small project, but apparently I do. I'll try that next time and see if it makes a difference. Always learning = always improving!