Crown of Thorns Craft

I wish I could remember all the clever crafts I did in Sunday School during the 70's and early 80's. I had some really creative teachers. I vaguely remember a Play-Doh crown of thorns. My version is made with Model Magic. Affiliate links below. 

Crown of Thorns Craft

Materials: 

• Folk Art acrylic paint (brown)
• round toothpicks (approx. 18)
• wire cutters
• 1 oz. Model Magic (brown)

Steps: 

Begin by making a 'stain' for the toothpicks. Place a small amount of brown paint into an empty container. Add a few drops of water and stir until it is well-mixed. It should be thin, but heavily pigmented. Cut the toothpicks in half with the wire cutters and drop them into the stain. Swish them around so they're all covered. Set them aside. 

Knead the Model Magic. When it is soft, use about 1/8 to make a thin rope. Lay it in a circle on your work surface. Make another similarly-sized rope and wrap it around the first one. Continue to make ropes and add them to the previous ones. You're not going for a neat braid - you're aiming for a messy crown of thorns. 

When you are happy with the crown, remove the toothpicks from the paint and dry them with a paper towel. Insert them into the crown at different angles. 

I chose to display my finished crown with a Bible verse that references it: 

Matthew 27:29 ... and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

Model Magic Name Art

I'm back to crafting and excited to share my latest name art project! It was a lot of fun to make and is easy to do in the classroom or with other groups. Affiliate links below. 

Model Magic Name Art

Materials:

• white Model Magic
• parchment paper
• Folk Art paint
• Folk Art Extreme Glitter
• white cardstock
• craft glue

Steps:

Decide how large you want the finished name to be. Mine is about 5" x 1", which required a half-ounce of Model Magic. For longer names (or if you want a larger version, regardless of name length), add more Model Magic accordingly. 

Open your clay onto a piece of parchment paper. I used a cutting board because I had it out for another project, but parchment paper is a better choice, because you'll be able to paint your artwork directly on it. Divide the Model Magic into X pieces, based on the number of letters in your name. Some letters, like the I in my name, will need less clay. Add it to letters (like the N) that need more. 

Roll each ball into a snake, then shape it into the correct letters. 

Let the Model Magic dry completely, then turn it over to let the other side dry. Plan for a total of at least 24 hours of drying time. 

When it is completely dry, arrange your name on a piece of cardstock, then mark it and cut it to the desired size. Set the cardstock aside, then pick a paint palette.

Paint each letter with one of the colors. Let the paint dry. 

 

Select colors of Extreme Glitter to compliment your palette. Add a coat (or two!) to add a ton of sparkle. 

Use a small amount of glue to adhere each letter to the cardstock. 

I've been a fan of Extreme Glitter for many years and Plaid has just come out with a palette of pastels. I can't wait to give them a try! Any suggestions for what I should make?

Clay Rose Wreath for Valentine's Day

I made this rose wreath using air-dry clay and acrylic paint, with Valentine's Day in mind. Now that I'm seeing it on the screen, I'm wondering if I could have used bread dough to make an edible version. I may have to try that! Affiliate links below. 

Clay Rose Wreath for Valentine's Day

Materials:

• Model Magic
• rolling pin
• acrylic paint (tan, pink, green)
• ink (brown, pink, green)
• tacky glue

Steps: 

I used four 1-ounce packets of Model Magic for my project. You can obviously use more or less clay to make a larger or smaller wreath. I used a blend of colors of Model Magic because that's what I had on hand; painting would have been easier if I'd started with colors closer to what I wanted the finished wreath to be. 

Knead the clay to condition it, then divide it into fourths. Set one portion aside; you'll use it for roses and leaves. Roll the other pieces into long ropes. They should be approximately the same size and thickness. Press them together at one end.

Braid the ropes. When you reach the end, form the braid into a circle and gently press the ends together to make a wreath. Set it aside to dry. 

Divide the remaining clay into four equal pieces. Three will become roses and one will be leaves. For each rose, you'll have four petals. Divide the clay into four balls and roll each flat. Pick up one petal, then roll it up to form the inside of the rose. Pick up the next petal and roll it around the center of the rose. Do the same with the next two petals. If you don't like your rose, smoosh it and start over! 

To make the petals, roll the clay into tiny balls. Smoosh them with your thumb, then gently drag your thumb. This will curl the edges and make a point. 

 

Let the finished shapes sit overnight. Turn them upside down and let them side until they are completely dry.

Paint the wreath brown, the roses pink, and the leaves green. When the paint is dry, ink the edges of each piece. It's a small touch, but it makes a big difference. Finally, glue the roses and leaves to the wreath. 

Whimsical Clay Narwhal

This is not a narwhal. I'm calling it a narwhal, but it's a narwhal in the same sense that Mickey is a mouse and Bugs is a bunny. I've taken some anatomical liberties, to say the least.

A narwhal is an Arctic whale related to the beluga. The body is torpedo-shaped, not round like a ball. A narwhal is not blue; it is white, mottled with brownish-black markings on the dorsal side. Like other whales, its eyes are on the sides of its head, not toward the front. Its most distinguishing characteristic (usually only present in males) is its long, spiral left canine tooth that can grow to be 10 feet long. Since it is a tooth, it protrudes from the mouth, not from the top of the head.
 
If you are looking for a realistic craft about narwhals, this is not the tutorial for you. This whimiscal version plays on the narwhal's nickname, "the unicorn of the sea." Affiliate links below. 

 

Whimsical Clay Narwhal

Materials:

• Model Magic 
• toothpick
• embroidery floss
• craft glue
• black Sharpie
• googly eyes

Steps:

Use the Model Magic to shape the rounded body of the narwhal. Its tail fin should be gently forked. Form two small triangular pectoral fins. Set all three pieces aside to air dry.  

Coat a toothpick with craft glue and twist a piece of embroidery floss around it to form the narwhal's tooth. Set it aside to dry completely. 

Paint the narwhal's tooth an off-white so that the toothpick and the embroidery floss are the same color. Let the paint dry. As you can see, I didn't paint the one end - that's the end I was holding and that would be hidden once I inserted the tooth. 

When everything is dry, assemble the narwhal by gently pushing the toothpick into the narwhal's forehead (again, we're going to "unicorn of the sea," not realism). Glue the eyes in place and give the narwhal a Sharpie smile. Glue the fins to the body. 

If you're looking for other narwhal ideas, check out my ideas for a narwhal-themed party and a Twinkie narwhal. And then look at this fabulous tea infuser - so much fun! 

Bunny by the Craft Stick Fence (Bunny Week 2021, Day 3)

It's Day 3 of Bunny Week 2021 and I have another craft for you. Not only is it adorable (if I do say so myself), but this project uses up the craft sticks that have knots and other flaws that kids (and craft bloggers) usually reject. Affiliate links below. 

Bunny by the Craft Stick Fence

Materials:

• craft sticks
• nutmeg brown paint
• green cardstock
• microtip scissors
• craft glue
• painted Model Magic bunny

Steps:

Dig through the craft sticks and find the 14 worst ones you can - knots, uneven, visible grain, etc. 

Mix a small amount of nutmeg brown paint with water to make a stain. Brush it over the craft sticks and let them dry. 

Meanwhile, prepare the cardstock grass. The three steps are show in the photo below:

1. Cut cardstock pieces approximately 1" x 3", then snip to create fringe. (I don't have any, but fringe scissors will speed up this process.) 
2. Snip the ends of the fringe on an angle at random heights. 
3. Bend the fringe to mimic the look of grass, then fold a tab at the bottom. 

Glue the dry craft sticks together to make the fence, then glue the tabs of the grass onto the bottom of the fence. Glue an extra strip of green cardstock to the back of the fence, just peeking out below the grass tufts. Finally, glue the bunny in place.

Sparkly Valentine Heart Note Holder

Marbled Model Magic hearts + clothespins + a jumbo craft stick + glittery paint = a sparkly Valentine note holder for February! Affiliate links below.

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Sparkly Valentine Heart Note Holder

Materials:

• 'Gigantic' craft stick
• clothespins
• Folk Art acrylic paint - Licorice 
• Extreme Glitter - Black
• centering ruler
• Model Magic hearts
• Supertite glue
• black cord

Steps: 

Paint the craft stick and the clothespins black. When they are dry, add a coat of Extreme Glitter for sparkle. When that is dry, use Supertite glue to attach one heart to each clothespin. 

Use the centering ruler to determine where to put your clothespins so they are evenly spaced. I used three because there are three of us in the family, but you can add more or fewer so that each family member has their own. 

Lift one clothespin at a time, add glue, and carefully replace it. Let the glue dry completely. 

Glue a length of cord to the back to act as a holder. The centering ruler is helpful for this, too. Honestly, I use my centering ruler all the time. It's so handy.

If hearts aren't your thing, you can easily switch them out for any other shapes. You can use different shapes, or different colors, for different people. There are so many possibilities.

Bunny Love Wall Art

Although we only have the one rabbit, there's no question that I'm a Crazy Bunny Lady. (That's an affiliate link for a shirt I NEED. There are more links throughout this post. That means I get a commission if you make a purchase through a link, at no extra cost to you.) This was the first thing I made with the Model Magic shapes I cut with cookie cutters. You did know that you can paint Model Magic, right? 

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Bunny Love Wall Art

Materials:

• Model Magic shapes - I, heart, bunny
• Folk Art paint - Gray (or whatever color your bunny is)
• embroidery hoop
• fabric (I used denim from jeans with holes in the knees)
• scissors
• Supertite glue
• ribbon
• hay (two flavors from Trouble's "Hay Buffet")

Steps:

Paint the embroidery hoop, the letter I, and the bunny gray. When the paint is dry, put the fabric in the hoop. 

Trim away the excess fabric, then use the Supertite to glue the edges down against the hoop. 

Glue the Model Magic pieces to the front of the fabric. 

Gather a bundle of hay and tie it with ribbon. Glue it to the top of the embroidery hoop, then add a second piece of ribbon as a hanger. 

I really do love bunnies. So much personality in such a small package!

Model Magic + Cookie Cutters = So Many Possibilities

When I made my King Cake necklace, I had some extra white Model Magic left. While opened Model Magic will stay soft if carefully wrapped properly, I'm not a 'carefully wrapped properly' type of person. I'd much rather play with the extra clay to see what I can make now than risk coming back to it later and finding that it wasn't wrapped as well as I'd thought.

First, I made bunnies.

I got a new bunny cookie cutter for Christmas (affiliate link here and throughout the post) and this was the perfect chance to give it a test run. I rolled out the leftover Model Magic on a sheet of wax paper, then started cutting out rabbit after rabbit. 

When I had a fluffle of bunnies, I set them aside on a piece of wax paper to dry overnight. Then I made hearts. 

I combined bits of white and red Model Magic, kneading until they were marbled. Then I rolled out each piece and cut out hearts. Obviously, you could use any shape you want. I did a quick search and discovered that there so many adorable cookie cutters out there! Check out these dinosaurs! This woodland set is awesome. Look, California! And tools! Oooh, llamas and cacti! And fruit! I hear lemons are trending. 

(I can't stop looking at cookie cutters. Send help.)

ANYWAY, I mixed all the scraps together with the last bits of red and used them to make a rose. It's really easy. 

Start by rolling a bunch of little balls. Flatten them with your thumb. They don't need to be the same size; in fact, your rose is more realistic if they aren't. 

Take one petal and roll it to make the center of the rose. Then wrap another petal around the outside. Keep adding petals on opposite sides until the rose is the size you want. Rest the finished rose on loosely balled foil. This will allow it to keep its shape as it dries. If you just set it down on the table, it will slump. 

I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do with my rose, but I have plans for the bunnies and hearts. I'll show you those soon.

King Cake Mardi Gras Necklace

The inspiration for today's craft is no mystery! I loved our time in New Orleans and couldn't wait to design something inspired by the colors and glitz of Mardi Gras. I'm really happy with my new necklace. It's super lightweight and comfy to wear. Can you tell what I used to make it? Affiliate links below. 

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King Cake Mardi Gras Necklace

Materials:

• Model Magic
• Folk Art Camel and Harvest Gold acrylic paint
• white gesso
• Stickles - yellow, green, and purple
• jewelry bail
• Ninja Supergrip glue

Steps:

Create three ropes of white Model Magic and place them side by side. 

Twist the bundle of ropes several times, then join the ends together to form a rough circle. If you're not happy with it, try again! Don't aim for perfection though - the irregularities make it look more authentic. 

Set your King Cake aside and let it dry for at least 24 hours. Flip it upside down and let it dry another 24 hours. 

Paint the King Cake with the Camel paint, then add highlights of Harvest Gold in the twists and on top to mimic the look of baked goods. When the paint is dry, use a Q-tip to glob white gesso on the top. Be sure to leave plenty of the 'cake' exposed beneath the 'frosting.'

When the gesso is dry, add Stickles. Alternate between green, yellow, and purple. Make the sections  different sizes like they’d be if you were dropping colored sugar on a real King Cake. 

Let the Stickles dry overnight. Glue the bail onto the back of the King Cake. When it is dry, add a chain and your King Cake is ready to wear!

If you want the real thing, you can make it yourself from scratch. Or, use a handy box mix that comes with everything you need, including the filling, frosting, and baby. This year, Mardi Gras falls on February 25, so you have plenty of time to prepare!

Bunny Week: Clay Bunny Figurine

I'm wrapping up Bunny Week with a wee little bun. Affiliate links below. 

Clay Bunny Figurine

Materials: 

• Model Magic (black and white)
• a toothpick
• fishing line
• scissors 

Steps: 

Start by mixing a small bit of black into a pack of white Model Magic.

When you have a grey you like, form an oval body, oval head, and two cylindrical ears. (Yes, this bunny is brown, not grey. I made a brown version first to test some things and photographed as I went. Apparently I did not photograph the same steps with the grey bunny.)

Use the toothpick to flatten and elongate the ears slightly by pressing it flat against each ear. It will form an indentation. You can choose to leave the ears flat, or prop them up a bit. Rabbit ears go all sorts of directions. 

Add a small, oval tail. Rabbit tails aren't spheres. 

With the tip of the toothpick, poke a tiny hole for each eye. Then poke three little holes on each side of the nose for the whiskers. 

Cut the fishing line into itty bitty pieces and insert a piece in each of the whisker holes. (Poof! Back to grey!) Let the Model Magic air dry for at least two days.

To wrap up Bunny Week, I wanted to share some of my favorite posts about owning a bunny as a pet. Rabbits are wonderful pets, but they are a big responsibility and a long-term commitment. Like a dog or cat, rabbits should have freedom to move around the house and be near people and not be confined to a cage for the majority of the time. They need to be fed the correct foods, taken to the vet for checkups, and given plenty of love and attention. Do not get a rabbit unless you are educated and prepared to give it a good home for many years. To read more about our life with a house rabbit, click on the photos and/or links.

  

                Day in the Life- Trouble deRosier           Owning a House Rabbit                     Rabbits are Great Pets

A Hidden Money Surprise Inside an Ice Cream Sundae

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know how giddy I get about creating gifts for my nephew, Timothy. When he was around 12, I stopped buying him gifts and instead came up with clever ways to give him money. I'm always trying to dream up new ideas. For his 15th birthday, I gave him this:

Look at his grin. He knows there is money hidden inside, but it's not readily apparent where it is. Allison, age 2, is licking her lips. She hasn't caught on yet that it's not actually an ice cream sundae. 

Timothy gently pulled the 'whipped cream' off the top and looked under it. Nothing. Then he gently tore it apart. A quarter! And some more! Each part of the sundae, including the 'chocolate sauce', had coins hidden inside. The straw was the big ticket item, as it had a $20 curled up inside it. 

So how did I make a money-filled faux sundae? Crayola's Model Magic! Affiliate link here and below. 

If you're not familiar with it, you should rush out and buy some. It's lightweight, air-dry clay that is really easy to mix and shape. I've been a fan for years, though I think this is the first time I've blogged about it. I'll have to show you more of how you can use Model Magic in a future post, because it really is super cool. 

Incidentally, this post is not sponsored by Crayola, nor did I receive anything for free. I bought the Model Magic and am gushing about it since it is a great product. I'm totally open to working with Crayola and receiving free Model Magic and other Crayola products and blogging about them though. (Hint, hint, Crayola marketing team...)

Anyway, here's how I made the sundae.

Hidden Money Inside an Ice Cream Sundae

Materials: 

• Model Magic (white, green, brown, black and red)
• waxed paper 
• one bendy straw 
• Twisteezwire (green and brown)
• money

Steps: 

I began by mixing several packets of white with one packet of green to create a minty color. I pressed it out flat on a paper plate, then put some coins inside and gathered it into a ball. That's when I discovered that working on a paper plate is not ideal. So don't do that. Use waxed paper or a craft mat instead.

 

Continue until you have three scoops of ice cream. Mix some black and brown Model Magic to create a brown that looks like dark chocolate. Use a fingernail to pull tiny, irregular bits of clay, then roll the green scoop over the bits. They'll stick immediately. 

 

Take the remaining dark brown clay and flatten it to make freeform globs of hot fudge. There's space to embed a few coins in it.  

Use plain white Model Magic to form a ball with coins inside, then gently twist it to form the whipped cream. Press it down carefully on the waxed paper to flatten the bottom and give it a realistic look. Set it aside. 

Next, use red Model Magic to make a cherry. I didn't have any red on hand, so I used some of the brown and painted it red after it dried. I would have preferred not to have the extra dry-time, but not enough to make a special trip to the store when I had red paint and brown clay on hand. Cut a 2" piece of green Twisteezwire and a 1" piece of brown. Twist the brown tightly around one end of the green to make a cherry stem. Poke it into the clay cherry.

Roll up paper money and push it into the straw, leaving enough sticking out so that it can easily be removed.

 

Let all the pieces air-dry at least one day. The larger ice cream scoops and the whipped cream will take much longer to dry than the chocolate sauce. Here are all the components of my sundae (including the not-yet-painted cherry).

When all the pieces are dry, layer them in a glass sundae jar. The gift is ready!