4th of July T-shirt craft

This was such a cute craft Danyelle hosted at her house ~ I was so sad to miss it! I did get the chance to see some of their finished products and they turned out great. I plan to make this next year for sure!

CRAFT MATERIALS:
Plain T-shirt
Newspaper
Glittery fabric paint
Paper plate
Pipe cleaners
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Start by placing a few sheets of newspaper inside a plain T-shirt.

2. Pour one or more colors of glittery fabric paint onto a paper plate.

3. Create a stamp (for each color paint) to print fireworks: arrange four pipe cleaners in a bunch, pinch the center, then bend all eight ends over your thumb and twist them together a few times, forming a loop. Spread apart the ends and bend up the tips, as shown.

4. To use the stamp, dip it into the paint so that it's evenly coated and press it firmly onto the fabric.

5. Once you've finished your design, allow the paint to dry thoroughly, and refer to the paint manufacturer's directions before laundering the shirt.

Video Instructions:

http://familyfun.go.com/utilities/global/feature/fftv-archive-video-player/fftv-archive-video-player.html?video=fireworks_shirt

How to make those adorable Korker Bows

Korker ribbon is actually very simple to make. It just takes a little patience and practice to get it perfect.

The first thing you need to make korker ribbons, of course, is the ribbon. You can make korker ribbon from almost any type of ribbon (satin, jacquard, etc.) with the exception of wired edge or outdoor ribbon.

For starters, I would recommend using 1/4 inch or 3/8 inch grosgrain ribbon. Next, you will need wooden dowels. You can purchase these at home improvement stores, hardware stores, or craft supply stores. I recommend using a 1/4 inch or 3/16 inch dowel. (As you get more practiced with making korker ribbon, you can use different sizes to get get the curl you want.)

In addition, you’ll need wooden clothespins. While many people use the tiny craft size clothespins, I recommend using the regular sized clothespins found in the laundry section of your local department store.

Chances are the dowels purchased are one yard in length. If so, you will need to cut these in half to fit into your oven.

Now that you have all the items needed to get started, let’s begin!

First, you will need to cut your ribbon.
For beginners, I recommend cutting your ribbon into one yard lengths (36 inches). Cut as many pieces as you would like to practice with.

Preheat your oven (making sure that it is clean to avoid getting any “leakage” on your ribbon) to 200 degrees. (If the heating of your oven is off, you can adjust this up or down as needed.)

During preheating, begin twirling your ribbon around the dowel. Begin by take one end of your ribbon and clothes-pinning it to the dowel. Then proceed downward in a spiral pattern around the dowel until you’ve reached the end of your ribbon; then clothespin this end to the dowel.

Once you’ve completed the “twirling” step with all of your ribbon, you’re ready to bake!
This is where I will differ in opinion from other korker ribbon makers because I recommend thoroughly soaking your ribbon with water.

I recommend placing your korked ribbon on a large cookie sheet. If you don’t have a cookie sheet available, then line your oven shelves with aluminum foil. Place the ribbon in the oven. Allow to bake for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes, carefully remove one dowel from the oven (it will be hot!) and allow to cool for about one minute. Then, using your hands to feel the length of the dowel, check for any remaining wetness. If there is none, remove the clothespins and, in a downward motion, slide the ribbon off the dowel. (Newer dowels will not allow ribbon to slide easily and make take a little more effort to remove, but this will change the more times the dowels are used in the oven.).

Cut the coiled ribbon in lengths of 3" and layout the pattern you desire. Taking a needle and thread (knot with 3"s of thread at the end) pierce the ribbon in the middle. Stack the ribbon on the needle till there is no more room or your satisfied with the amount, then slide the ribbon down the thread to the knot.

Go back thru the stack of ribbons with the needle, careful not to go thru the same hole (yes, I've done it so I have to say it!). Remove the needle and tie the thread in a double knot.

You know have a korker bow! You can now attach it to pony tail holders or barretts. From start to finish this project to me 30 minutes - so I know you can do it, just try it out!!!

How to make the No Sew Tutu!

Supplies:
Ruler

Scissors

3 yards of 1 1/2" wide satin ribbon

4 yards of tulle (this amount varies as to how full you want your tutu to be but this is a good start point!)

The tulle should be folded in half already, now fold in half again, and again until it looks like a long tube - make sure to not get any wrinkle in there! Cut off one end to make sure you have a straight edge. Cut in 3-4" strips. It doesn't have to be exact but its good to keep it consistant. then just keep going down the long piece until there is no more tulle left to cut.

If you are using ribbon you will need to make two knots (I was able to measure Gianna and Brooke and where the ribbon met, that is where I tied it off. If you do not have a live model you will need their waist measurements. It seems that 20" is pretty basic. Find the mid point, say their waist is 20 inches, the mid point would be 10 so you would tie the ribbon off at five inches from each side of the mid point.) You do this so the tulle stays in place. Have an additional 20"s of ribbon on each side of your measured waist knots for tieing your tutu later.

• Starting at one knot we will now tie the pieces on to the ribbon. You are going to do a basic loop knot so you should have one side of the tulle open


• Place your hand through the loop part of the tulle and grab the remaining tulle and pull through


• Pull to tighten into a knot, but don't pull too hard or you will tear the tulle


• Scrunch the tulle pieces together as tight as you would like, the tighter you scrunch them the fuller the skirt.
  

Just keep tying the tulle on until you reach the other knot. At that point if it is scrunched enough for you then you are done, if not scrunch the pieces together more and keep tying. I like to scrunch them just a little bit, that way as the girls grow the mom can undo on of the ribbon knots and unscrunch the tulle so it can grow with her.

You can add to this whatever you want.
If using elastic you will need to make it a few inches smaller than the actual waste size and just sew the ends together then start applying the tulle.

Video Instructions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7aSPMEn7S0