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.

Handmade Tulle Tutu Tutorial

Make an adorable tulle tutu—perfect for dress-up, costume, or a special occasion. What little girl doesn’t like to play princess for a day?! These lovely tulle tutus would also be super cute for a flower girl in an upcoming wedding! This technique allows you to quickly create an adorable tulle tutu for your favorite person or pet, using a few simple supplies. Be careful—tulle tutus are addictive! You may find yourself with one in every color!

Things you need (Makes 1 tutu for a baby, child, or pet):
2 Spools of Tulle Netting in your favorite color
1” thick Waistband (non curling) Elastic
Scissors
Needle and Thread or Sewing Machine
Tape measure

Things to do:
1. Measure the waist of the person (or beloved pet) who will be wearing the tutu. Add one inch to this measurement.
2. Cut a piece of elastic to match this measurement.
3. Overlap the ends of the elastic, forming a waistband, and sew to secure. You can do this by hand or machine. Instead of using elastic for the waistline, you can tie the strips around a long piece of ribbon and then use the ends to tie it up and make a bow. What girl doesn’t love to be even more of a princess with ribbons?
4. Decide how long you want your tutu to be. 12” is a good length for small children. Crawling babies and pets may need shorter lengths—about 8” would work.
5. Double the length measurement you want—so if you want 12” in finished length, you will need to cut 24” strips of tulle.
6. Use scissors to cut strips of tulle from the roll in your desired length.
7. Use a lark’s head knot* to attach each strip to the tulle tutu. Place strips all the way around the waistband. The more strips you use, the fuller your tutu will be. Your tulle tutu is finished and ready to wear when you are happy with the look

Project Notes:
Don’t limit yourself to a single color—you can use multiple colors to create a unique tutu for any occasion.
Decorate the waistband of your tulle tutu with silk flowers or pretty ribbon for a fresh new look.

*Larks Head Knot: This is a very easy knot to make—chance are, you already know how to make one, but didn’t know the name of it!
1. Fold the strip of tulle in half, forming a loop at the top, and letting the ends dangle.
2. Place the loop behind the elastic waistband, and pass the tulle ends through the loop.
3. Pull the ends to secure.

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.

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!

Handmade Soap – Fish in a Bag Soap

Making handmade soap is a hobby for many people and is often argued to be healthier than industrial soaps. Making your own handmade soaps can leave your skin soft and healthier since the glycerin is kept in its natural form. Handmade soaps can be fun to make and the final product can also be fun for all ages. Remember the old games at the carnivals and county fairs where you could win a pet fish in a bag?! Well we are here to create those memories for you to make and share with your loved ones. These handmade soap fish in a bag make a perfect stocking stuffer, favor, or just to make for fun. This handmade soap will be sure to make bath time fun for the little ones… the more you shower and bathe the closer you get to your pet fish!

Things you need:
1lb Clear Glycerin Soap (this will make about 2 bags)
Plastic Fish
Poly Bag
Soap Expressions Fragrance Oil (optional- this may actually discolor your soap)
Funnel
Spray Bottle of Rubbing Alcohol
Microwaveable Safe Container ( A measuring cup would be best because it has a pour spout and this will come in handy later)
Ribbon or Twist Ties

Things to do:
1. To begin making your handmade soap, cut your glycerin soap in half. Take one half of the soap and cut it into small chunks then place in your microwaveable container.
2. Microwave the clear soap in increments of 30 seconds until the soap is completely melted. Be sure to check for any remaining chunks of soap, if there are any stir and place in the microwave for another few seconds. If you wish to scent your soap, do so after the soap is all melted. Remember, we do not recommend this, as it may discolor your soap. But feel free to play around and experiment.
3. Here comes the tricky part… you should start pouring your liquid soap mixture into your poly bag, but be sure to not let the soap run down the sides of the poly bag. If the soap gets on the sides of the poly bag it will dry and harden that way, making it look less realistic. This is where a funnel can come in handy! Just simply place the funnel over the poly bag and carry pour your soap mixture into the bag. Try to fill your bag 1/4 of the way full with the soap mixture.
4. Take your spray bottle of rubbing alcohol and spray lightly into your poly bag of soap. This will remove any air bubbles in the soap. You can also skip this step if you prefer bubbles for your fishy in a bag. Place your bag between two objects so that your bag will stay upright while it cools down. To quicken the cooling process, you could try dipping your poly bag into a bowl full of ice water.
5. Once your soap has cooled down and has become more of a solid form. Gently place and position your plastic fish into the bag.
6. By this time the rest of your soap mixture in your microwaveable container has probably cooled and become a solid. So you will have to reheat in the microwave until it is a liquid again. Then pour the soap mixture into the poly bag another 1/4 of the way, making sure you cover your little fishy all the way. Be sure whatever you are using to hold the bag upright and steady is not pressing dents into your bag as it cools. Let the soap cool and become a solid.
7. Your soap is now ready to be closed up with a ribbon or twist tie of your choice. You could also think about making your own personalized tags to write a special message for your fish winner!

Project Notes:
The little ones are now ready to play with their fish in a bag. How do you use the soap? Just simply cut a small slit and tear the poly bag off of the soap. Now the little hands will be eager to play with the soap – asking to take a bath until they have reached their beloved pet fish!

This project does contain small a small toy and is a potential choking hazard. It is recommended that children under the age of 4 years old or any child that tends to put objects in their mouth should not use the soap.

DIY Primitive Decor – Grungy Cinnamon Hearts with Pipe Cleaners

These pipe cleaners hearts are super simple and easy to make that they can be made into a family project, where even the littlest hands can help. These hearts are made to be grungy; making them perfect for any primitive decor. They can be used as a primitive decor bowl filler or even be hung by their homespun ribbon.

Things you need:
Candy Cane Pipe Cleaners
Candle Wax
Liquid Gel Dye (optional)
Cinnamon Bun Oil Scent (or any scent of your choice)
Antiquing Medium
Glamour Dust
Homespun Ribbon (or ribbon of your liking)

Things to do:
1. Begin by using a soft cloth or paper towel, and antique as many pipe cleaners as you have in mind for your hearts (one pipe cleaner makes one heart) by using the antiquing medium. Set aside and let dry.
2. Once your pipe cleaners are dry, start bending and forming them into your hearts. Twisting the ends together to form the inner point of the heart. You may cut off any excess pipe cleaner at this point. You can also play with the sizes of your pipe cleaners hearts, creating larger and smaller ones as you wish.
3. Start melting 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. Once the candle making wax has melted you may add the liquid gel dye (optional), and cinnamon oil scent (or scent of your choice).
4. Before you start waxing your pipe cleaner hearts you may want to line a cookie sheet with wax paper so that your hearts do not stick. Now dip or pour the melted wax over the pipe cleaner hearts and let cool. While the hearts are cooling you can had the Glamour Dust if you wish for a little added sparkle. Once your hearts have cooled, you can then add any embellishments such as your homespun ribbon tying a few or several hearts together.

Next Page »