DIY Craft: Button Monogram Art
Ella is an individual, so why not create some artwork for her bedroom to express that? We decided to try buttons in the the shape of an “E”. Buttons are one of those ubiquitous items you find at a flea market, thrift or antique shop. Jars and tins of them in every color, size, material and shape; they can be old and new. If you don’t have buttons and want to try this project, then take a trip to a fabric shop and you’ll discover an ample assortment and supply. Let your daughter choose the ones she likes best and together you can explore your crafty side.
Buttons are essential for this project and so is a good frame. Again, you may choose a frame in the vintage or modern style your daughter likes best. Bring new life to an old frame with spray paint and gloss. We chose something subtle and traditional to suit Ella’s taste. We printed an “E” in the scale and style we liked, then used it as a template to trace and cut for our monogram art. You can get quite fancy and elaborate with art papers beneath the buttons, but it’s not necessary, just a personal choice.
The final steps involve arranging, re-arranging and layering your buttons with hot glue. Let the glue harden, remove your glue “webs”, and there it is! Once it’s dry and solid you can complete the framing and hang it somewhere in full view. An “E” for Ella and which letter is special to you?
Source: youngamerica.com
DIY Craft Projects: Pennant Banner, Dry Erase Message Board
Three Cheers for the Home Team! A banner of handmade paper pennants is an easy-to-make decoration that uniquely personalizes your child’s room. These simple triangular shapes are signs of honor and victory; traditional as souvenirs from a favorite team or special place.
How to Make a Pennant Banner:
1. Pick Your Paper or Fabric: Choices at a fabric or craft store are wonderfully endless—just make sure you’re choosing papers in a heavy weight (ie: poster board or card stock) and fabrics that are relatively thick (ie: felt, fleece or canvas). Choose a single solid color, color theme, patterns, or a mix of solids and prints.
2. Cut Your Shapes: Use scissors, X-acto knife or utility blade to cut your materials into uniform pennant-shaped triangles in the size of your choice with at least an 1” tab of extra material on the straight base of the triangle for wrapping around your line.
Pennant Tip: For extra sturdy pennants that may be suspended and viewed from both sides, cut out two (2) matching triangles. Use a fabric or white glue to adhere the backsides together. Some of you may prefer the hot glue gun, but the extra globs and stringiness can get messy.
3. Build Your Banner
To build a garland (or banner), lay each pennant along a piece of strong ribbon, yarn, twine, clear fishing line (heavy filament) or string, point them down, then fold or wrap the top +1” tab of the pennant end over the line and staple (or hot glue gun) it in place. Alternatively, you can avoid messy glue by punching small holes in the top corners of each, then threading the line through the holes.
4. Decorate with Pennant Banners
When your pennant banner is ready, hang it front and center in a child’s bedroom, play room or other living space. Hang it on a wall or across a room for a festive cruise ship or sporting event-type effect. For an outdoor party, hang them from a tree, trellis, fence, porch or doorway.
Experiment with pennant sizes small to very large. Your child(ren) will LOVE them! They are fun gift ideas too. Shown below in a Young America room featuring our Harbor Town collection.
The other project shown here is the DIY Dry Erase Message Board (above and to the right of the hutch). This is great way to recycle old picture frames. You can use a frame as is, or if you want a fresh, new look, spray paint frame(s) in the color of your choice - white, black or a fun color to coordinate with or complement the room. Insert various scrapbook paper into photo frames and mix patterns, colors for a fun look. Once the glass is put in place you can use the glass surface for writing with dry-erase markers. Write homework reminders or fun weekend plans with friends.
Print versions of our DIYs can be found in Young America Design Guides.
image: Classroom DIY!
Source: youngamerica.com
DIY Art Project: Paper Wall Medallions
Follow these 5 steps to create colorfully playful paper medallions that look like big flower blooms. It’s a fun and easy way to bring color and texture into a child’s living space. Hang the paper medallions individually or arrange different-sized medallions into a collage. To make medallions:
1. Cut a strip of decorative paper; the wider the strip, the larger a medallion will be. Strips may range from 2-3/4 to 5”W and 20”L.
2. Score the strip every 1/4” to 1/2” inch. Use scissors and punches - decorative or regular - to trim one of the long edges that will become the outside edge of the medallion. To punch up the designs try varying the edges with scallops, points, or a fringe created by holes punched into the edge.
3. Accordion-fold the scored lines. Glue the short ends together, forming a tube. For best results, use fast-drying glue, such as ZipDry. Gently flatten the tube onto your work surface to form the medallion, gluing in the center to keep it from coming undone.
4. Embellish the center of the medallion with paper circles. Use a circle punch, or cut circles with scissors using a drinking glass, cookie cutter, or other round object as a template.
5. Punch a small hole in the top of the medallion. Thread string, ribbon, hemp or fishing line through the hole to hang your work of art. Another option is to collage several medallions together with hot gun glue and balsa wood strips on the backs to connect clusters of several medallions or more.
Have fun! Share pictures of your creations with us when you’re finished.
SOURCE: 2012 Young America Mix Collection Design Guide - available at Young America Signature Shops and Young America retailers nationwide.
Source: youngamerica.com
