Magic Wands

 

Everyone needs a little magic.  I made these out of paint swatches and wooden skewers.  If you would like to see how, click here: http://www.happyfamilyart.com/Magic-Wands-Craft.html

Awesome Sparkly Felt Crowns

It was cold around here last few weeks. REALLY COLD!!! So cold, in fact, that we had to stay inside for quite a few days. Since we were home I took out some crafts for me to play with. Crafts that were too girly for my boys to even look at. Lots of sparkles, sequins and other shiny things. I decided that I NEED to make a felt crown. You know, so that I could wear it around the house whilst doing dishes and such. Wait, but I didn't only make one crown, I went ahead and made FIVE! See what happens when I stay home for too long: I start playing with scissors and glue, and sequins. 

To see how I made them look here: http://www.happyfamilyart.com/Felt-Crown-Craft.html

I have been busy

Past few months I have been very busy building my site: www.happyfamilyart.com 
There are so many new projects on there, and yet more to come. 
Here are a few of the most recent ones:

Learn how to draw this wonderful Landscape in Colored Pencil:

 

 

http://www.happyfamilyart.com/Landscape-In-Colored-Pencil.html

 

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Or you could make a few notebooks as stocking stuffers:

 

 

http://www.happyfamilyart.com/Handmade-Notebook.html

 

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Or you could check out my awesome list of kids books that includes our favorites through the kids ages:

 

 

http://www.happyfamilyart.com/Great-Books-For-Children.html

 

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You could also read the Tips For Nurturing Creative Kids that I wrote over here:

 

http://www.happyfamilyart.com/Tips-For-Creative-Kids.html

 

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There is also a few new art works, and mosaics:

 

 

I hope you enjoy it all!!!

Tissue Paper Collage

After I made the piñata for my son's birthday I had a lot of tissue paper left over. It is all colorful and pretty, and my hands were just itching to do something with it. Tissue paper collage was the first thing that came to mind. I love all the colors, and how tissue paper is transparent. I also absolutely love Eric Carle's illustrations, you can find them on his website here: http://www.eric-carle.com/home.html I think they are great! While I am not used to working with tissue paper, and this is a first for me, I wanted to give it a try.

Actually, I made two of them, but I liked the second one better.  The first one was more of a learning experience.  I put both of them on the website, just in case.

 

To see the step by step instructions please visit my website here:

http://www.happyfamilyart.com/Tissue-Paper-Collage.html

Beach Themed Candleholders.

Every time I am at the beach with my kids, I always pick up pretty shells and pieces of sea glass. Frankly, I don't know why, I never have any specific purpose for them in mind, it has just become a habit for me. At the end of summer, my purse pockets are filled with little rocks, seashells and pieces of sea glass.

After the super storm Sandy knocked our power out for eight long days, I found myself in a desperate need for candleholders. Not usually one to use candles for fun, I didn't have any around the house. We made do with jars and lids at the time, but now I found myself on the kick to make candleholders. The ones with the seashells turned out to be one of my favorites.

They are all easy to make and produce a beautiful result. 

 

 

To see the instruction, please visit my website here:

http://www.happyfamilyart.com/Seashell-Candleholders.html

Simple Beaded Earrings

These earrings are simple to make and fun to wear.  There are endless possibilities as to which kind you can make.  I made a batch of them for my kids' craft market day.  There are some with beads, some with wire, some with feathers.  Quick, easy, fun and inexpensive. 

 

To see the instructions on how to make them, please look at my website right here: http://www.happyfamilyart.com/Simple-Bead-Earrings.html
Enjoy!

 

Saving Summer!

I love summer and usually get sad when it is over.  Last year the kids and I made these just before it got cold:

 

 

I got large clear Christmas glass balls in ACMoore and then we put a bit of ground in them and carefully arranged a few small plants from our backyard in them with chopsticks.  A few broke in the process, so please be careful with glass pieces!  Otherwise they came out great.  You do have to make sure to spary some water into them, and occasionally check to make sure they are not to dry!  They lasted quite a bit!  All the way until spring brought new plants.

 

Don't forget to like us on facebook: www.facebook.com/happyfamilyart

Please visit our website: www.happyfamilyart.com

 

Playing with scissors

 

Research shows that our brains and bodies need a vacation here and there.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200305/why-your-brain-needs-break

 

A break to recharge. Here is what happens when my brain takes a siesta: my hands start playing with scissors, needles and matches, and make things like this:

Beaded Felt Pins

Check out these beautiful beaded felt pins that I made!

 

I also wrote up instructions with photographs to show how to make these.  You can find the instructions on my website here: http://www.happyfamilyart.com/Beaded-Felt-Pins.html

 

Also, the pins that I have finished can be bought in my Etsy store, right here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HappyFamilyArt

Candleholders

I made some candleholders as gifts this year for the Holidays. I love the colors on them.
My big kid made one also, which we will keep for us.
I also made a few extra, which will go up on Etsy soon!
They were fun to make, but a bit of work:

 

Bead and Flower Necklaces

Some of the bead and flower necklaces that I made recently.  They can already be found in my Etsy store here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/HappyFamilyArt

They are made with glass, pearl and crystal beads and flowers that I have handmade out of recycled fabric. I hope you like them!

 

 

Knitting Penguins

Made these for the kids a while back. It took me almost 2 months. They love them. The blue one is the youngest one's, his name is Spider. The red one is oldest, named Simon. In case it isn't clear and you're wondering they are penguins. Knitting isn't my best skill, takes me forever, and I am never sure what it will look like at the end. It was a pattern in a book I got at a library sale, and my second pattern to date.  The pattern was clear and easy to follow, and as much as I would love to recommend this book and the author, I can't find it right about now,  but will post the name as soon as I do!