Category: General Crafts & DIY

  • Why do you blog?

    To create. And to share my ideas with the world. It’s a home I get to build and art I get to design.

  • Pinatas DIY Tutorial – Heart

    Pinatas DIY Tutorial – Heart

    A beginner friendly tutorial on how to make your own original pinata designs.

    Do you want to be the life of the party and give a gift kids AND adults will love? Then learn how to make a pinata! They are personal and customize-able to fit the interest of the person you are making it for, that includes you!

    From Hello Kitty to Mario to holiday themed pinatas; give yourself the gift that keeps on giving! Teach yourself once and have a forever skill!

    So, what do you need to begin? Well, let’s start off with the materials; you’re going to want cardboard, the thinner the better. I like to use empty food package containers from cereal, biscuits, snacks or delivery packages. You’re going to want streamers, you can buy these at your local dollar or party store, or use this link to buy some online. You’re going to want string, twine, yarn, or a thick string. For an easier process you’re going to want to use hot glue, it’s faster and sticks well, however don’t worry if you don’t have a hot glue gun you can proceed with this craft using tape, masking tape is best, but any tape works. And that’s it!

    Getting Started

    So to recap you’re going to need the following materials.

    -Streamers

    -Cardboard boxes (ex. empty cereal boxes, food packaging, delivery boxes)

    -Scissors

    -Craft Glue (Elmer’s or any liquid glue)

    -Masking Tape

    -Yarn, twine, or a thick string

    -Paper, pencil, and colored pencils or markers

    YouTube Tutorial Coming Soon!

    Directions

    1. Choose a design for the pinata. For our example we will be using a simple heart.
    2. Lay out the cardboard flat and trace the design, in our example draw a heart onto the cardboard box, do this twice. Once that is completed, freehand or use a ruler, to draw out a 2″ (5 cm) long rectangle strip. This strip will be used to give our heart pinata its height, we will use it to wrap around the bases. Depending on the size of the heart we will need a longer or shorter strip.
    3. Once you have the three shapes traced (two hearts and a rectangular strip), cut them out.
    4. Connect your glue gun and once it is warmed up, add a glue stick.
    5. Lay out your three shapes, with one heart shape as the base.
    6. Grab the strip with your hands and roll it up. This will help it curve around our base and adhere better.
    7. Unroll the strip and curve it onto the base of your heart, roughly measuring how long of a strip you will need.
    8. Afterwards, using your glue gun, make a line of glue at the edge of the heart, as if you’re tracing the heart with the glue gun. Acting quickly, grab the strip of cardboard and stick it onto the hot glue, curving it along the heart as you go.
    9. Add more hot glue if necessary and let it dry. Once the strip has been glued to the heart base, using a pencil or sharp pointed object, poke two holes at the top of your pinata. This is where the string will go.
    10. Grab a small piece of string ~4″ (10 cm) and thread both ends into the holes. Tie a knot on the inside of the pinata and pull the loop at the top, ensuring it is tightly secured.
    11. Using an X-Acto knife or scissors cut a small 1″-2″ (2.5 cm – 5 cm) at the top of your pinata, on the strip, this will be our hole where we will put our candy in!
    12. Next, you will grab the hot glue gun and use it to “trace” the top of the heart base. While the glue is still hot, lay the other heart cutout on top of it, pressing firmly so the glue adheres to the heart cutout.
    13. Next, grab the streamers, roll it up around 3-4 fingers, carefully take the streamers off your fingers without unrolling them then cut it into it from the bottom, leaving about .25″(.635 cm) at the top so when you unroll it gives you a flared out bottom design.
    14. Use some of the non-cut streamers, to create a base layer on your pinata, glue at least one layer onto your pinata box.
    15. After you have put down your first streamer layer, unroll your cut streamers and start gluing them onto your pinata starting at the bottom and working your way to the top. Don’t worry about any streamers hanging off the shape, these can be cut at the end to make the pinata look better.
    16. Once you finish layering your pinata with the cut streamer strips, cut off any excess strip pieces, to give your pinata a more finished look.

    CONGRATULATIONS! You have finished your first pinata. This is the moment where you pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

    This is also the moment where you stuff your pinata with all the candy you want!

    Optional: If you want you can add little designs to your heart by cutting out shapes or letters using your patterned paper.

  • Pinatas DIY Tutorial: Keropi

    Pinatas DIY Tutorial: Keropi

    A beginner friendly tutorial on how to make your own original pinata designs.

    Do you want to be the life of the party and give a gift kids AND adults will love? Then learn how to make a pinata! They are personal and customize-able to fit the interest of the person you are making it for.

    From Hello Kitty to Mario to holiday-themed pinatas; give yourself the gift that keeps on giving. Teach yourself once and have a forever skill!

    So, what do you need to begin? Well, let’s start off with the materials; you’re going to want cardboard, the thinner the better. I like to use empty food package containers from cereal, biscuits, snacks or delivery packages. You’re going to want streamers, you can buy these at your local dollar or party store, or use this link to buy some online. You’re going to want string, twine, yarn, or any thick string. For an easier process you’re going to want to use hot glue, it’s faster and sticks well, however don’t worry if you don’t have a hot glue gun you can proceed with this craft using tape, masking tape is best, but any tape works. And that’s it!

    Getting Started

    So to recap you’re going to need the following materials.

    -Streamers

    -Cardboard boxes (ex. empty cereal boxes, food packaging, delivery boxes)

    -Scissors

    -Craft Glue (Elmer’s or any liquid glue)

    -Masking Tape

    -Yarn, twine, or a thick string

    -Paper, pencil, and colored pencils or markers

    YouTube Tutorial Coming Soon!

    Directions

    1. Choose a design for the pinata. For this example we will be using Keropi outline.
    2. Lay out the cardboard flat and trace the design, do this twice. Once that is completed, freehand or use a ruler, to draw out a 2″ (5 cm) long rectangle strip. This strip will be used to give our pinata its height, we will use it to wrap around the bases. Depending on the size of the pinata we will need a longer or shorter strip.
    3. Once you have the three shapes traced (two keropi bases and rectangular strip), cut them out.
    4. Connect your glue gun and once it is warmed up, add a glue stick.
    5. Lay out your three shapes, with one keropi shape as the base.
    6. Grab the strip with your hands and roll it up. This will help it curve around our base and adhere better.
    7. Unroll the strip and curve it onto the base of your keropi shape, roughly measuring how long of a strip you will need.
    8. Afterwards, using your glue gun, make a line of glue at the edge of the base, as if you’re tracing the keropi with the glue gun. Acting quickly, grab the strip of cardboard and stick it onto the hot glue, curving it along the base as you go.
    9. Add more hot glue if necessary and let it dry. Once the strip has been glued to the base, using a pencil or sharp pointed object, poke two holes at the top of your pinata. This is where the string will go.
    10. Grab a small piece of string ~4″ (10 cm) and thread both ends into the holes. Tie a knot on the inside of the pinata and pull the loop at the top, ensuring it is tightly secured.
    11. Using an X-Acto knife or scissors cut a small 1″-2″ (2.5 cm-5 cm) rectangular opening at the top of your pinata, on the strip, this will be our hole where we will put our candy in!
    12. Next, you will grab the hot glue gun and use it to “trace” the top of the base. While the glue is still hot, lay the other keropi shape cutout on top of it, pressing firmly so the glue adheres to the first base cutout.
    13. Next, grab the streamers, roll it up around 3-4 fingers, carefully take the streamers off your fingers without unrolling them then cut it into it from the bottom, leaving about .25″(.635 cm) at the top so when you unroll it gives you a flared out bottom design.
    14. Use some of the non-cut streamers, to create a base layer on your pinata, glue at least one layer onto your pinata box.
    15. After you have put down your first streamer layer, unroll your cut streamers, and start gluing them onto your pinata starting at the bottom and working your way to the top. Don’t worry about any streamers hanging off the shape, these can be cut at the end to make the pinata look better.
    16. Once you finish layering your pinata with the cut streamer strips, cut off any excess strip pieces, to give your pinata a more finished look.
    17. Lastly, draw or print out the eyes for the Keropi onto a white piece of paper. Then glue them onto the front of the pinata.

    CONGRATULATIONS! You have finished your pinata. This is the moment where you pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

    This is also the moment where you stuff your pinata with all the candy you want!

  • Valentine’s Day DIY Coloring Cards

    Valentine’s Day DIY Coloring Cards

    Are you looking for a cute, easy, and one-of-a-kind Valentine card for your friends, kids, or kid’s classmates? Look no further! Here is a quick, easy, free printable Valentine PDF for all your Valentine needs.

    Choose from 6 PDF design prints to captivate and create!

    Select your design below, hit the download button and then just cut them out!

    For a nicer finish you can print out the designs on card stock. If your printer doesn’t have that option, you can print your designs on paper and then glue them onto a thicker paper like card stock, construction paper, or a patterned paper.

    Design 1: Dinosaur with Heart Scroll Coloring Page – Valentine’s Card

    Design 2: Dinosaur with Rose Coloring Page – Valentine’s Card

    Design 3: Puppy Coloring Page – Valentine’s Card

    Design 4: Heart Donut Valentine Card

    Design 5: Gudetama Valentine Card

    Design 6: Strawberries Valentine Card

    Thank you all for the support to our website! We are working hard to maintain all the resources free of charge, however, any donations would be greatly appreciated to continue to keep these services free for everyone. 🙂

  • Fake Cake Tutorial

    Fake Cake Tutorial

    So you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind craft that is fun, easy, and low cost– you’ve found it!

    Fake cakes are one of my favorite crafts to do because it is a low-effort high-reward craft meaning that this craft looks great with low effort. When I first discovered fake cakes I was immediately obsessed and luckily as a baker I had some extra piping bags ready for this craft.

    So, what do you need to begin? Well, let’s start off with the materials; you’re going to need a jewelry box or small cardboard box, plaster, plaster knife(you can use a popsicle stick in a jam), piping bag and tip, air dry clay, acrylic paint and a bowl.

    Getting Started

    So to recap you’re going to need the following materials.

    -Wooden Jewelry Box or Cardboard Box (I recommend buying these, but if you can’t find them or want to make your own ,check out this tutorial).

    -Offset Spatula (or as a last resort, large popsicle stick, although I highly recommend the offset spatula)

    -Plaster (I recommend these)

    -Plaster/Clay crafting tool(s)

    -Piping Bags and Tips

    -Acrylic Paint

    -Air Dry Clay (To make cherries, strawberries, etc.)

    -Bowl (to mix acrylic paint with plaster)

    -Charms (Optional)

    TBD: URL to YouTube Tutorial

    Directions

    1. Set up a location where you will be doing your craft, prepare all materials, and put down a newspaper, plastic sheet, etc where you will set aside your cake to dry.
    2. Once you have your craft station ready, this can be anywhere, there is no pressure to have an amazing picture perfect setup, all you need is a small space where you can lay out your materials, scoop out some of your plaster from the container and put about 4 oz (~63 g) into a bowl.
    3. This plaster bowl mix will become your cake’s base layer. So once you have some plaster in the bowl, add small increments (0.2 ounces,~1.5 g) of acrylic paint of your choice to the plaster. Please note that once the paint mixes with the white plaster the color will automatically lighten, so if you want a darker finish, use a darker shade of the acrylic paint.
    4. Once you have your base mixed, grab your cake box and start adding small increments of your base mix (plaster and acrylic paint) onto the exterior of the box, smoothing it out with the plaster knife as you go.
    5. Once you have finished the exterior sides of the box, move onto the bottom part of the box, this will allow you to place the box upside down to dry, without damaging your finished base. When you finish with the bottom base layer, place the box to the side to dry.
    6. Using the same base mix, you are now going to do the top part of your cake box. Applying the same method as before, add more of the base mix to the top part of your cake box and smooth it out with the plaster knife. Once the base is smoothed to your liking, keep in mind that it won’t be perfectly smooth and that’s okay, set aside the top to dry.
    7. Optional: While your plaster cake box dries, I recommend using air-dry clay to create some fun cake toppings such as: strawberries, cherries, blueberries, etc.
      • Creating air-dry clay cherries is a straightforward task. You’re going to grab a small ball of clay, around 0.5 ounces (~15 g), roll it in the palms of your hands, and then make a slight indent on one end of it, you can use your nail, pencil, or plaster knife, this is where we will put the cherry stem.
      • Once you have created an indentation on your cherry, put in the cherry stem, this will ensure that the stem stays when the clay dries. For my cherry stems I cut some red paperclips into small pieces and then bent it slightly to give it a more realistic look.
      • I recommend setting aside the cherries to dry before painting them, but you are welcome to paint them even though the clay isn’t dry.
      • Use this time to create as many other toppings as you would like, including strawberries, blueberries, kiwis, etc.

    8. Once your plaster is done drying (check your plaster container for specific times and details), the really fun part begins. Grab your plastic piping bags and a piping tip, preferably an open or closed star, you will be using this for the cake “frosting” so we want to make sure it looks cute.

    9. Open up your piping bag and insert the piping tip into it, pushing it down to the bottom. Once it fits snugly use scissors to cut a small opening where the tip will come out of.

    10. Using your plaster knife, (please clean off the base mix, if you haven’t already), add some plaster into the piping bag. Using your plaster knife or hands push the “plaster frosting” down to the bottom of the bag and then seal the bag with a rubber band or string.

    11. Now for the fun part, using your piping bag, add frosting onto your dried plaster cake! The “wet” plaster frosting automatically sticks to your cake, no glue needed. Add as much “frosting” as you would like, I recommend putting frosting on the top, middle and bottom part of your cake. If you’re going to put clay cherries on your cake, make sure you take the dried clay cherries and use them to make an indentation onto the wet plaster (this will make it easier to glue them onto our “frosting” once it dries). If you are adding charms to your frosting, do so now as the wet plaster will act as an adhesive for the charms.

    • Optional: Add acrylic paint to your frosting plaster to change the color of your frosting.

    Final Step (Optional): Decorate your cake with clay sprinkles, cherries, strawberries, beads, jewels, etc to get a cuter finished look.

    CONGRATULATIONS! You have finished your first fake cake. This is the moment where you pat yourself on the back for a job well done!

    *Please make sure you are reading the instructions and information on your materials, this will ensure that you use the product accurately and safely. It is important to note that you should be closing your air dry clay and plaster containers after use as leaving them unsealed may cause them to dry out.

  • Pinatas DIY Tutorial – Hello Kitty

    Pinatas DIY Tutorial – Hello Kitty

    A beginner friendly tutorial on how to make your own original pinata designs.

    Do you want to be the life of the party and give a gift kids AND adults will love? Then learn how to make a pinata! They are personal and customize-able to fit the interest of the person you are making it for, that includes you!

    From Hello Kitty to Mario to holiday themed pinatas; give yourself the gift that keeps on giving! Teach yourself once and have a forever skill!

    So, what do you need to begin? Well, let’s start off with the materials; you’re going to want cardboard, the thinner the better. I like to use empty food package containers from cereal, biscuits, snacks or delivery packages. You’re going to want streamers, you can buy these at your local dollar or party store, or use this link to buy some online. You’re going to want string, twine, yarn, or a thick string. For an easier process you’re going to want to use hot glue, it’s faster and sticks well, however don’t worry if you don’t have a hot glue gun you can proceed with this craft using tape, masking tape is best, but any tape works. And that’s it!

    Getting Started

    So to recap you’re going to need the following materials.

    -Streamers

    -Cardboard boxes (ex. empty cereal boxes, food packaging, delivery boxes)

    -Scissors

    -Craft Glue (Elmer’s or any liquid glue)

    -Masking Tape

    -Yarn, twine, or a thick string

    -Paper, pencil, and colored pencils or markers

    YouTube Tutorial Coming Soon!

    Directions

    1. Choose a design for the pinata. For our example we will be using a Hello Kitty outline.
    2. Lay out the cardboard flat and trace the design, in our example draw a heart onto the cardboard box, do this twice. Once that is completed, freehand or use a ruler, to draw out a 2″ (5 cm) long rectangle strip. This strip will be used to give our heart pinata its height, we will use it to wrap around the bases. Depending on the size of the heart we will need a longer or shorter strip.
    3. Once you have the three shapes traced (two Hello Kitty cardboard cutouts and a rectangular strip), cut them out.
    4. Connect your glue gun and once it is warmed up, add a glue stick.
    5. Lay out your three shapes, with one Hello Kitty cardboard cutout as the base.
    6. Grab the strip with your hands and roll it up. This will help it curve around our base and adhere better.
    7. Unroll the strip and curve it onto the outline of your Hello Kitty cutout, roughly measuring how long of a strip you will need.
    8. Afterwards, using your glue gun, make a line of glue at the edge of the base, as if you’re tracing the Hello Kitty outline with the glue gun. Acting quickly, grab the strip of cardboard and stick it onto the hot glue, curving it along the base as you go.
    9. Add more hot glue if necessary and let it dry. Once the strip has been glued to the base, using a pencil or sharp pointed object, poke two holes at the top of your pinata. This is where the string will go.
    10. Grab a small piece of string ~4″ (10 cm) and thread both ends into the holes. Tie a knot on the inside of the pinata and pull the loop at the top, ensuring it is tightly secured.
    11. Using an X-Acto knife or scissors cut a small 1″-2″ (2.5 cm – 5 cm) at the top of your pinata, on the strip, this will be our hole where we will put our candy in!
    12. Next, you will grab the hot glue gun and use it to “trace” the top of the base. While the glue is still hot, lay the second Hello Kitty cutout on top of it, pressing firmly so the glue adheres to the first Hello Kitty cutout.
    13. Next, grab the streamers, roll it up around 3-4 fingers, carefully take the streamers off your fingers without unrolling them then cut it into it from the bottom, leaving about .25″(.635 cm) at the top so when you unroll it gives you a flared out bottom design.
    14. Use some of the non-cut streamers, to create a base layer on your pinata, glue at least one layer onto your pinata box.
    15. After you have put down your first streamer layer, unroll your cut streamers and start gluing them onto your pinata starting at the bottom and working your way to the top. Don’t worry about any streamers hanging off the shape, these can be cut at the end to make the pinata look better.
    16. Once you finish layering your pinata with the cut streamer strips, cut off any excess strip pieces, to give your pinata a more finished look.
    17. Lastly, draw or print out the eyes, whiskers, nose, and bow for the Hello Kitty onto a white piece of paper. Then glue them onto the front of the pinata.

    CONGRATULATIONS! You have finished your pinata. This is the moment where you pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

    This is also the moment where you stuff your pinata with all the candy you want!