DIY Stencil Template Lettering

So you're working on some great paper-craft idea you've got going on in your brain, and you're all ready to do the lettering when you stop. Wait a minute. There is nooooo way you are going to try to free-hand that baby, because ummm... yeah. So, stenciling it is! But wait... you don't have any lettering stencils. Phooey (or more... adult version of phooey). Sometimes a trip to your home away from home is not going to happen for one reason or another. Like, say, you've run out of money from your three other trips there just this year month week. Never fear, you CAN create some cheap, simple stencils from scratch that will do in a pinch to get your job done. We all know what happens when you set aside a project 'to be finished later'.
What you need is:
Some card stock- even just scraps of it
Small pair of scissors (think nail or embroidery) or pins
Lettering/Words printed out from the computer in the size and font of choice
Tape

First, cut out the letters/words from the computer paper, leaving a large margin around the edges.

How it should appear after being cut out from the computer paper

Then, tape the computer cut out to the piece(s) of card stock, making sure that the tape is not touching the lettering/words directly.

Like so

Then take your pin, and punch through around the outline of each letter.

Continue around until all the letters have been punched through. At this point, you can either gently press out the letters by hand, or (for a smoother outline) you can cut the lettering through the punched holes using your super tiny scissors.

At that point simply remove the paper and tape, trace onto your project using the newly had stencil, and voila!

Darken or color as needed. :)

Egg Carton Critters

I'm a huge fan of recyclable materials, and one of the great benefits to using them in this economy is that they really are a cost saver. Egg cartons are especially great because chances are you always have one on hand, and they make fantastic childrens crafts. Egg Carton Critters are a classic, and there are so many variations- you simply cannot do them wrong! Here is what I used-
1 egg carton, with the bottoms cut out and trimmed for uniform length
Pipe cleaner (s) depending on how many you plan to do

Paint (we used watercolors )
Glue
String (optional)
Googly Eyes OR paper circles from hole-punch
Craft Scissors

We spread out some paper ( we used left over paper bags ) to catch any spilling, and got to work painting the bodies, and when they were dry I punched 3 holes on each side for the legs. Cut 1 pipe cleaner into 3 equal sections, pushed through and pressed the inside part up and against the side. Glued on eyes, punched a hole through the top, added string, knotted on the bottom, and Voila! Critter who could be held from above while he scuttled along on the ground.

We also did some 'winged' critters. First step was to color the bodies, and set aside to dry. While they were drying we took another egg carton bottom painted it in the desired color and pattern, and when it was dry- cut it in half (or fourths depending on the type of wing). Glue heavily along the side you are going to place on the body, prop, and let dry. Add eyes, legs, or antennas, string- and go have fun!

The picture above is the variations my four year old did! They include spider, lady bug, moth, and just 'bug'. A great easy craft with materials you already have on hand! And a great opportunity to craft something fun together.

Quilting, Love, And Ketchup

I have been working on the quilt for my four year old, from just before my one year old was born. It's been a journey, let me tell you! Excitement ran rampant when I picked out the fabric, and I had wonderful visions of  a truly stunning master piece bedecking his bed in no time. I had that whole 'Quilt In A Day' book and everything.

Ha Ha.

Finally, after cutting strips, and then putting it away, and piecing it together, and putting it away- it actually became time to put it all together! Even more excitement ran rampant. My son very anxiously sat watching me, run each strip through the machine. This quilt means a lot to me. Like all the things I make, especially for my boys, I try to make with all the love I have in my heart. I thought it would be fun to explain that to him. Love is a very important secret ingredient to put in all things, even for little boys. It's important that they know it, too.
     My meaningful conversation went something like this:
Me: Do you know what we put in to everything we make?
4 year old: In E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G?
Me: Yes, everything. Food, quilts, paintings- everything!
4 year old: No, what?
Me: Love
4 year old: Love?
Me: Yes love! Like this!
And I began chanting lovelovelovelovelove while I pressed the foot to my sewing machine. My son was very intrigued, so I told him it was totally and completely important to get as much love into his quilt as possible. I told him that he should help. He held out his hands towards the quilt 'Darth Vader' style, squinted his eyes up tight and went 'LoveloveloveloveloveloveloveloveloveLOOOOOVVVVVVE!'. I smiled, he smiled, and I carried it on.
'What other wonderful thing can we put into it?'
'Hugs and kisses!' came the reply.
'Hugsnkisseshugsnkisseshugsnkisses' we laughed as we verbally added them to the quilt. I loved it. I basked in his smile, his excitement, his love. I had to ask again, I had to carry it further...
'That's good! That's good! What other wonderful thing can we add to your blanket!'
'KETCHUP!' shouted out his little voice.

Yes, ketchup. So, we squinted up our eyes, held out our hands, and chanted 'Ketchupketchupketchup'. Apparently, and it's good to know, that's his secret ingredient.

Cowboy Boot Wall Decor

Mission: Find a craft that involves my 4 year old, that uses paper bags, and can somehow be tied into the 4 year old's future room.

That was my general layout when asking for help from other crafty people. The result was a bunch of unattractive, cheap looking crafty items that... while they might be fun to do or have around for a little bit.... didn't have the staying power that I was looking for. Instead of over thinking, I went for simplistic, fun, the first thing that popped into my mind- wall decor.

We have a tentative plan to do a 'Western' themed room, but I feel that the idea of doing a stenciled cut-out of an item can be universally tied to ANY themed room, as long as you have a good idea of what you are looking for. Choose a theme, pick an item from it, and make a cut-out to fit an 8x10 or 8.5x11 in. frame.

It was important to me to use materials we had on hand, for us that was construction paper, and a lot a lot of paper bags. We did the background with our color choice of construction paper, but I think doing a watercolor wash over a cut piece of paper bag could look great as well. We used the paper bag material to do for the cut-out. Simply take the pattern/stencil, trace, cut out, and hand to child!

We used watercolor paints for the boot decorations. The important thing for me, was child involvement, so my 4 year old got to do that part all by himself. It adds a great personal touch to the piece. When the boot painting was dry, we did an outline around the boot with black sharpie. My son got to pick a stencil design for the star cut-out at the top of the boot, and we picked contrasting colors of paper to highlight the same design on the construction background.

Simple crafting glue was used to attach the boot to the construction paper. Make sure to play around with the layout ahead of time! Once you glue it, you can never go back (Que dramatic music here). After the glue dried, I picked out some stenciled lettering that fit the feel of the theme and penciled in his name. The piece was finished when the last letter was inked in. Can't wait to frame it and hang it!

There are a lot of different variations I would like to try out. I think using different types of papers would be fun, as would different mediums (paints) to decorate with. I know that this is a craft we will definitely be doing again!

Have you ever done any wall decorations for your childrens room? What was it and how did it turn out?