Delicate Baskets Made from Lace Doilies

These little baskets are easy to make with lace doilies and can be used year-round. You can use these delicate lace doily baskets to hold pretty little soaps, decorative rocks, or even use them to hold flower petals. You can use these for the Easter holiday season to hold decorated eggs and small goodies for the little ones. These baskets would also make great little favors for an added shabby chic or vintage feel. They would also make great gifts for that special someone.
Things you need:
Lace Doily (of your choice; cotton doily not paper)
Stiffy Fabric Stiffener
Dish (of your choice to shape your basket)

Things to do:
1. Find a dish that you would like use to form the shape of your basket. Flip the dish upside and cover with plastic wrap.
2. Pour a small amount of the Stiffy Fabric Stiffener into another bowl and soak your lace doily until it is completely saturated. Be sure that it is completely saturated and wring out any excess stiffener.
3. Place your saturated lace doily over the plastic wrapped bowl (you can also place the doily along the inside of the bowl if you so desire). Smooth the doily across the bottom of the bowl and along its sides. You may need to shape the sides of the lace doily to be sure that it form curves. Try overlapping the excess doily over itself if your doily does not form perfectly around the dish.
4. Let the lace dry completely, then slowly peel the plastic wrap and doily from the dish. Then you can finally the plastic wrap away from the doily basket.

Project Ideas:
You can try interlacing different types of ribbons through the spaces of lace to add some color and uniqueness to your lace baskets. Use different colors and material of ribbon to dress up your baskets for different events.

These delicate baskets would make great gifts for Mothers day with a few little soaps or candles, teas and other special little treats.

You can also use this as an one of a kind flower girl basket – fresh and stylish for any wedding! Just simply add ribbon from the colors of the wedding and create a handle. To add to the classic vintage feel of the basket, just simply add a string of pearls for the handle.

Project Tips:
These basket are very delicate and should only be made to hold very few items or very light weight items, especially if they are being carried around. Heavy things may be ok if the basket are used to sit around.

Photo Credits:
Top Image: Martha Stewart
Middle Images: Amy Perl
Final Images: Country Living (Left) and Brass Paper Clip (right)

Easter Craft: Eggshell Votive Candles

Here is a new spin on an old tradition. Easter eggs are seen everywhere to celebrate the Easter holiday and signify that springtime is just around the corner. Eggs are often a symbol of rebirth and a start of a new life. Start your season off with these beautiful eggshell votive candles!
Things you need:
2lb Candle Wax
4″ Pre-tabbed Candle Wicks
Unfinished Wood Egg Holders
Food Coloring or Egg Coloring Kit
Egg Cartoon
Funnel

Things to do:
1. To make the holes in your eggs, gently and carefully tap a sharp serrated knife around the narrow egg of the egg. Lift and twist the small portion of egg shell to remove it from the egg body. Empty the out the yolk and clean the egg carefully.
2. Dye your eggs in the colors you desire. Follow the food coloring or egg coloring kit instructions for dying directions.
3. Paint or Mod Podge your own egg holders for a unique fun look. Set aside and let dry.
4. Place your egg shells into an egg cartoon for safety. Hot glue the wick tabs to the inside bottom portion of your eggs. This way your wicks will not float when the hot wax is being pour in. Be sure that your eggs are dry inside before applying the hot glue.
5. Melt your candle making wax by purchasing a double broiler or you can also combine a smaller pan within a larger pan, to make your own type of double broiler. Be sure that you place water in the larger pan and be on the watch that the water doesn’t evaporate. Heating the candle wax up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit is fine generally. I suggest adding the color and additives to your wax right around 190 degrees F. Stir the wax it for several minutes, this will make certain that the wax has an even temperature throughout and the mix is blended thoroughly.
6. Using your funnel, carefully pour the hot wax in each egg shell until desired amount. Cut any excess wick. Place your eggs on your egg holders and you’re ready to light!

Easter Craft: Felt Bunny Ears

Turn your little one into an Easter bunny! Kids love to play dress up, so why not dress up as a bunny for Easter. These ears are easy to make, and are tons of fun to wear. You can make these bunny ears together for family time or create them to put in Easter baskets. You can also use these as party favors, and costumes. You can easily adjust the elastic size to make the bunny ears suitable for adults, children and pets alike! Let your imagination go wild and customize your bunny ears with glitter, ribbon and other fun embellishments.

Things you need:
2 – Gray Felt Squares
1 – Pink Felt Square
Scissors
Paintbrush
Hot Glue Gun and Hot Glue Sticks
Fabric Stiffener
Felt Bunny Ear Template
Elastic

Things to do:
1. Print out your Felt Bunny Ear Template Cut two of the larger bunny ear shapes from the gray felt.
2. Cut two of the smaller bunny ear shapes from the pink felt.
3. Cut the 3″ circle from the gray felt.
4. Pour a small amount of the fabric stiffener on a paper plate and carefully brush on the fabric stiffener onto the gray felt bunny ears. Be sure to cover both sides of the gray felt ears. Set aside and let dry.
5. Next, attach the pink felt pieces centered on the gray felt bunny ears with a bit of hot glue.
6. The slit on the bottom of each gray felt ear will form two tabs. Fold the tabs towards the pink inner ear. Place a small amount of hot glue on top of the left tab and press the bottom of the right tab onto the glue until it is secure. You should now have a 90 degree corner at the bottom of each bunny ear.
7. Carefully place and glue the ears onto the gray felt circle (attach the ears by the 90 degree corners). Finally, attach the elastic under the gray felt circle with a small amount of hot glue.

Easter Craft: Pipe Cleaner and Pom Pom Finger Puppets

This is such a fun and easy project for the kids. The creative possibilities are endless when using simple craft supplies such as pipe cleaners and pom poms. Pipe cleaners are easy to shape and forgiving if there is a mistake made. Using other classic craft supplies such as googly eyes, pom poms, feathers and other embellishments one can create any finger puppet critter one can think of!

Things you need:
Pipe Cleaners (colors of your choice)
Pom Poms (colors of your choice; 1″ pom poms are a good size for the head)
Googly Eyes
Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

Things to do:

1. To begin you should create the finger puppet base, then the creativity of the actual critters will come natural. Take a full length pipe cleaner (again color of your choice) and wrap it rather tightly around the tip of your finger. Once you take the base off of your finger you are then able to stretch it out to your liking. Be sure that you coil the tip of the base tightly as pictured. This will make gluing the pom poms easier and cut your chances down of getting hot glue on your fingers (there is nothing like getting hot oozing glue on bare skin **sarcasm** haha So let’s lessen those chances!) Hot glue works perfect for these little finger puppets but if you are more comfortable using a “cool” glue, try using Aleene’s Craft and School glue. This may take longer to complete your finished project though.
2. After you have created the spring base, your kids (or even your own) creativity is free to play and experiment! Basically glue the 1″ pom pom on top of the spring base as a head. Glue on googly eyes. Then play!

To make wings, take a 4″ pipe cleaner and bend into the shape shown in the picture above. There is no need to glue the wings onto the body, just simply slip the wings between the coils and they will be fine.

To make a beak, simply cut a small piece of orange (or other desired color) pipe cleaner and bend into a “V” shape and glue just below the googly eyes.

To make ears, follow the instructions for the beak but cut two pieces of desired length and glue on top of the critter’s head.

Photo Credits:
Craft Jr.

Easter Craft: Pipe Cleaner Easter Basket

You can’t celebrate Easter without an Easter basket and these little baskets are easy to make with pipe cleaners. Pipe cleaners are fun and easy to work with, and they are great for kids. These mini pipe cleaner baskets make great gifts, or favors and the kids will enjoying making them!

Things you need:
6 – Pipe Cleaners (color of your choice)
1 – 3″ Styrofoam Egg
1 – Floral U Pin
Scissors
Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

Things to do:
1. Begin by cutting four pipe cleaners in half. Hold the pipe cleaners together in a small bundle and twist them together in the middle. Spread out the pipe cleaners; creating a star shape with eight points. Be sure that you keep them twisted together in the middle. Add a ninth point by attaching another pipe cleaner to the center of the star shape. You will want this ninth point to be the same size as the others, so be sure to trim all points so that they all the same length.
2. Space out each point so that they are evenly spaced between each other.
3. Hook a full length (12″) pipe cleaner and twist one end around the center of the star.
4. Center the bottom of your styrofoam egg in the center of your pipe cleaner star shape and pin it down using a floral u pin. Slowly and carefully bend the pipe cleaner points up around the styrofoam egg to form a cup shape.
5. Carefully begin weaving the full length pipe cleaner over and under the points of the star shape in a circle formation. When your full length pipe cleaner runs out, simply twist another at its end and continue weaving. Remember to weave tightly so that your basket will hold its shape. You may stop once you have reached the end of the points. Delicately take the styrofoam egg out of your basket. You can wrap the end of the pipe cleaner around itself and cut off any excess to secure the edge of your pipe cleaner basket. Lock in the weave by hooking the end of each point over the last weave.
6. Twist two pipe cleaners together to create the handle of your little pipe cleaner basket. You may cut down to desired length if needed. To attach the handle, just simply hook to the lip of your basket.
7. Finally, to create the base of your basket twist two pipe cleaners together and create an appropriate circle big enough to fit on the bottom of your basket. Trim any excess and glue the base to the bottom of your basket. You have now completed your little pipe cleaner basket! Now it’s time to fill with Easter grass and little treats!

Project Notes:
To make your pipe cleaner basket stronger and more secure add dabs of hot glue along the inside edges as you weave.

The instructions above are to make a basket about 2-1/2″ in diameter. To create a larger basket use the same instructions but use full length pipe cleaners when forming your star shape instead of the halves.

Photo Credits:
Martha Stewart

Easter Craft: Easy Pom Pom Bunnies

These lovely little pom pom bunnies are easy to make, even the little ones can help assemble a bunch of these fuzzy friends. You can use these pom pom bunnies in Easter baskets or even for baby shower baskets! This pom pom bunny would be a great project for the classroom or an evening at home with the family.

Things you need: (To make one bunny)
1 – 1″ White Pom Pom
1 – 3/4″ White Pom Pom
1 – 1/4″ White Pom Pom
1 – White Craft Felt Square
1 – Pink Craft Felt Square
1 – 1/8″ Pink Double Satin Ribbon Spool
2 – 5mm Googly Eyes
Aleene’s Craft and School Glue or Hot Glue*

Things to do:
1. Glue your 3/4″ pom pom onto your 1″ pom pom. Set aside. Let the glue cool or dry (depending on which glue you went with).
2. Cut two – 1-1/4″ tear drop shapes from your pink craft felt.
3. Cut one – 1″ shape for the bunny’s feet from the white craft felt square.
4. On each end of the two pink felt teardrop ears add a dab of glue and pinch the ends together. Set aside and let dry.
5. Cut two – 3/8″ pieces of ribbon and glue them together in a X shape. This will become your bunny’s nose.
6. Finally, glue your felt feet to the bottom of the 1″ pom pom. Glue your googly eyes, ribbon nose, and pink felt ears to the 3/4″ pom pom to make your bunny’s face. Then glue on the 1/4″ white pom pom for the bushy bunny tail.

Project Notes:
*Aleene’s craft glue works well on craft foam and pom poms. It is also safer for little hands but it will take longer to dry and for the project to be finished. Hot glue is a lot faster but we advise strict adult supervision.

Baby Loopy Chenille Lamb

Check out this loopy chenille lamb! This loopy chenille lamb is super simple and quick to make. Loopy chenille has been used to make a variety of craft projects to add a soft and fuzzy texture. Loopy chenille is flexible and can be bent to hold any shape you desire. This loopy chenille lamb can be made for an Easter decoration or even a centerpiece for a special occasion, such as a baby shower!

Things you need:
1 Hank – White Loopy Chenille
1 – 4-3/4″ Styrofoam Egg
1 – 3-3/4″ Styrofoam Egg
1 – Craft Stick
1 – 1/2″ Pink Pom Pom
2 – 2″ Styrofoam Eggs
2 – 3/8″ Dowel Rods
2 – 25mm Googly Eyes
Black Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint
Paint Brush and Accessories
Floral U Pins
Hot Glue Gun
Glue Gun Sticks
Ribbon and Flowers as Desired

Things to do:
1. To start your loopy chenille lamb, take your two 2″ styrofoam eggs and cut them in half. These will later become the little feet of your loopy chenille lamb. Paint all four halves with the Black Apple Barrel acrylic paint. Set aside and let dry.
2. Take your 3-3/4″ styrofoam egg and paint half of the egg black (starting from the smaller point and go half way down). Set aside and let dry.
3. Once your half painted styrofoam egg has dried, press the craft stick half way into one side of the white (unpainted) section of the styrofoam egg.
4. Cut about 15″ of white loopy chenille from your hank. Begin wrapping the entire white (unpainted) section of the half painted styrofoam egg with the white loopy chenille. Secure the loopy chenille with floral u pins and hot glue. This will be the head of your lamb. Be sure to leave the black painted half uncovered. This will be its face.
5. Cut two – 6″ strips of white loopy chenille and bend each strip in half. These will be your lamb’s ears. Pin the ears loopy chenille halves onto the top of your lamb’s head, just behind where the white loopy chenille meets the black styrofoam egg using floral u pins and hot glue. See photo for placement.
6. Wrap the 4-3/4″ styrofoam egg with the white loopy chenille until completely covered. Secure with floral u pins and hot glue as needed.
7. Press the remaining half of the craft stick into the larger styrofoam egg, just behind the smaller end of the egg. Secure the craft stick to the styrofoam egg with a dab of hot glue. Your lamb’s head should now be attached to your lamb’s body.
8. Cut your dowel rods in half, making each rod 6″ in length. Place each half into the four “corners” of your lamb’s loopy chenille covered body. See picture for placement if needed. Secure the dowels with hot glue. Be sure as you add the dowel rods that you are placing them just right, so that your lamb will be sure to stand on its own.
9. Take your small 2″ egg halves that you painted earlier and place them flat side down. Gently press the ends of your dowel rods into the top of your egg halves. Be sure that you do not press to far, or you might ruin the egg halves. Add a dab of hot glue to insure that the little black feet stay in place.
10. Cut four – 7″ strips of white loopy chenille. Wrap each loopy chenille strip along the exposed dowel rod legs. Secure with hot glue as you wrap the loopy chenille.
11. Cut one – 4″ strip of white loopy chenille and bend in half. This will become the lamb’s tail. Secure with floral u pins and hot glue at the end of your lamb’s body. For specific placement refer to photo.
12. Glue on your googly eyes and pink pom pom onto the black section of your lamb’s face. Finally, adorn your lamb with ribbon or flowers of your choice.

Craft Project – Loopy Chenille Bunny Wreath

This is a simple project using loopy chenille. Loopy chenille is a soft, flexible material used for a variety of projects. Loopy chenille is perfect when you want to create an illusion of animal fur or hair because of its rich texture. This loopy chenille bunny wreath is really easy to make and would be the perfect addition to your Easter decor. You could even use this loopy chenille wreath for a baby shower and use it as part of the theme, coordinating the colors as needed.

Things you need:
1 Hank – Mint Green Loopy Chenille
1 Hank – White Loopy Chenille
1 – 12″ Full Round Extruded Styrofoam Wreath
1 – 3″ Styrofoam Ball
1 – 4-3/4″ Styrofoam Egg
2 – 1-1/2″ White Pom Poms
1 – 1/2″ Blue Pom Pom or color desired
1 – Craft Stick
2 – 25mm Googly Eyes
2 – Light Blue Craft Felt Squares
Floral U Pins
Hot Glue Gun
Hot Glue Sticks
Ribbon and Flowers as Desired

Things to do:
1. Begin by wrapping the styrofoam wreath with the mint green loopy chenille. As you wrap the loopy chenille around the styrofoam wreath, be sure to add dabs of hot glue every once in a while to secure the loopy chenille.
2. Wrap the styrofoam ball with the white loopy chenille until covered, secure with hot glue and floral pins for the bunny’s body. Push the craft stick half way through the top of the styrofoam ball and secure with hot glue.
3. Wrap the styrofoam egg with the white loopy chenille, this will be the bunny’s head. Secure the white loopy chenille with floral pins and hot glue. Place a dap of hot glue onto the bottom of the bunny’s head and push the head on the other end of the craft stick. Let cool.
4. To make the bunny’s ears, cut two – 9″ strips of white loopy chenille. Fold each loopy chenille strip in half and glue on top of the bunny’s head.
5. Cut two tear drop shapes out of the light blue craft felt, big enough for the middle of each loopy chenille ear. Glue the tear drops on each loopy chenille ear with hot glue.
6. Cut two – 32″ strips of white loopy chenille for the bunny’s arms. Fold the two loopy chenille strips in half and twist slightly. Glue the loopy chenille arms to the back of the neck with hot glue.
7. Cut two – 32″ strips of white loopy chenille for the bunny’s legs and fold in half. Twist each loopy chenille strip slightly. Glue the loopy chenille legs on the bottom of the bunny and secure with floral pins. Bend the ends slightly to create feet.
8. Cut two hearts from the light blue craft felt, big enough to cover the bottom of the bunny’s feet and glue onto the bottom of the feet with hot glue.
9. To make the bunny’s vest, fold one light blue square in half. Hold the felt square vertically and measure 3″ down and cut a hole in the middle. Finally, cut about 1″ off of the top.
10. Place the vest on the bunny and fold down the top to create a collar.
11. Glue on the googly eyes, the two white pom poms for the muzzle, and the blue pom pom for the nose with hot glue.
12. Place the bunny’s bottom in the wreath and glue with hot glue. Glue the arms, legs, and the back of the bunny’s head for added security.
13. Add and glue on desired ribbons and flowers. To hang your wreath add a ribbon at the top. Voila!

Juggling Loopy Chenille Easter Bunny

Things you need:
1 Hank – White Loopy Chenille
1 Hank – Pink Loopy Chenille
1 Hank – Yellow Loopy Chenille (optional)
1 – 6″ Styrofoam Ball
1 – 3″ Styrofoam Ball
7 – 2″ Styrofoam Eggs
1 – 1/2″ Pink Pom Pom
1 – 5″ Black Felt Top Hat
1 – Craft Stick
2 – 25mm Googly Eyes
2 – 1-1/2″ White Pom Poms
22 gauge White Paddle Floral Wire
Pastel Colored Apple Acrylic Paints
Floral U Pins
Hot Glue Gun
Hot Glue Sticks
Ribbon and Flowers as Desired

Things to do:
1. Paint the 2″ styrofoam eggs each with a pastel Apple Barrel paint. Set them aside and let dry.
2. Gently press the 6″ styrofoam ball against the surface of a table to create a flattened bottom. Place the craft stick halfway down into the top of the styrofoam ball. Press the remaining of the craft stick into the bottom of your 3″ styrofoam ball.
3. Begin wrapping the white loopy chenille around the styrofoam body form. You may want to start from the head down to the body. Be sure that you secure the loopy chenille as you go with floral u pins and hot glue.
4. Cut a 9″ strip of white loopy chenille and curl each end into towards each other, creating the muzzle of the loopy chenille bunny. Secure the loopy chenille muzzle to the bunny’s head with floral u pins and hot glue. You can also try using two – 1-1/2″ white pom poms. Either way would be fine (we used pom poms).
5. Glue on googly eyes and pink pom pom nose above the muzzle with hot glue. Hot glue the felt top hat onto the top of the bunny’s head.
6. Cut two – 12″ strips of the white loopy chenille and two – 9″ strips of pink loopy chenille. Hold one white loopy chenille strip and one pink loopy chenille strip in one hand and line them up. Fold the white loopy chenille strip in half over the pink loopy chenille strip. Repeat this process for the remaining strips. Hot glue each strip together and glue each ear onto the hat. See photo for placement.
7. Cut two – 12″ strips of white loopy chenille to make the bunny’s arms. Fold each white loopy chenille strip in half and attach the arms onto the side of the bunny’s body. Secure with floral pins and hot glue.
8. Cut two – 15″ strips of white loopy chenille to make the bunny’s legs. Fold each loopy chenille strip in half and attach to the bottom sides of the bunny’s body. Secure with floral pins and hot glue. To create feet, slightly twist the ends and fold upward. Here is where you can add the yellow loopy chenille for a little color. Cut two -4″ strips of the yellow loopy chenille and glue inside the feet. This will show as the bunny’s foot padding when sitting upright.
9. Slip each of your painted styrofoam eggs onto the wire, leaving about 2″ of space in between each egg. To make sure the eggs do not slide around. add a dab of hot glue on each end of the egg where the wire meets the egg. Bend the wire so that it creates an arch and attach the ends of the wire to the ends of the bunny’s arms. You may need to add a little hot glue where the eggs or wire meet the ears to add a little more security. Bend the bunny’s paws to hold the wire arch.
10. Finally, adorn your bunny with ribbons and flowers of your choice. Now your bunny is ready to impress with its juggling skills!

Craft Project – Loopy Chenille Bunny Basket

Here is a super cute bunny basket made from loopy chenille! Loopy chenille is super soft and you can bend it however you would like. This loopy chenille bunny basket is easy to make and would be perfect for an Easter basket! You could even use this loopy chenille basket for a baby shower gift basket and fill it up with baby power, baby oil, shampoo and more!

Things you will need:
An Easter Basket of your Choice ( we used this basket and made the handle with paper twist)
1 Hank – White Loopy Chenille
1 Hank – Pink Loopy Chenille
1 – 4″ Styrofoam Ball
1 – 1″ Pink Pom Pom
2 – 20mm Googly Eyes
1 – Craft Stick
Lavender Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint (Optional – We painted our basket)
Floral U Pins
Hot Glue Gun
Hot Glue Sticks
Ribbon of Your Choice

Things to Do:
1. Paint your basket with the lavender Apple Barrel acrylic paint. Set aside and let dry. To make the the basket’s handle, cut about 19″ of paper twist and braid together. *** This is what we did for our basket. If you have your own basket, skip this step.
2. To begin your loopy chenille bunny basket, work the craft stick through the weave of your basket on one side of the basket and secure with hot glue.
3. Take your styrofoam ball and push onto the other end of the craft stick. Secure with some hot glue.
4. Wrap the styrofoam ball with the white loopy chenille until covered. Secure the loopy chenille with floral pins and hot glue.
5. Cut two-5″ strips from the white loopy chenille. Wind the two strips into two balls and glue to the face for the bunny’s muzzle. Glue on googly eyes and let cool.
6. To make the bunny’s ears, cut two – 12″ strips of white loopy chenille and fold each of the loopy chenille strips in half. Glue the white loopy chenille ears to the top of the bunny’s head.
7. Cut two-5″ strips of pink loopy chenille and place a strip in the middle of each white loopy chenille ear. Secure with hot glue.
8. To create the bunny’s arms, cut two-22″ strips of white loopy chenille and fold each strip of loopy chenille in half. Glue the loopy chenille arms from the back of the head and wrap around the sides of the basket so that is looks like the bunny is holding onto the basket. ***You may need less loopy, depending on the size of your basket.
9. To make the bunny’s feet, cut two-12″ strips of the white loopy and fold into thirds. Glue the loopy chenille feet to the opposite end of the basket.
10. Cut a 10″ strip of pink loopy chenille and roll into a ball for the bunny’s tail. Glue the loopy chenille tail under the back of head and arms outside of the basket.
11. Finally, adorn your basket with desired ribbons or flowers and fill the basket with your treats!

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