Quote Book

     Here is a craft that can be as simple or complex as you would like to make it.  It can make a great keepsake, or is can serve as a wonderful gift for a friend.

Materials:

*Miniature scrapbook album

*Photos or images

*Quotations

*Adhesive (e.g. mounting squares, acid-free glue)

*Embellishments (e.g. stickers, paper scraps, glitter, markers, etc)

Directions:

*Select quotes for your quotation book.  For months I have been jotting down silly things said by friends and family members, so I decided to use these quotes in my quote book.  However, you can also find tons of quotes online

*Find or make pictures to go along with your quotes.  I chose to use silly images of the people I was quoting, but there are so many other choices you can make

*Format your quote book.  Find some way to arrange images and quotations in a manner you find pleasing, then adhere the images and quotes to the pages of the album

*Add embellishments to decorate your album

Magnetic calendar

     Instead of buying a paper calendar that lasts for only one year, why not make a calendar that you can reuse each year?

Materials:

*Printable magnetic sheets (3-4 sheets should be fine)

*Printer

*Scissors

Directions:

*On your computer, design at least 31 2”x2” squares (you may want to design additional squares for holidays, birthdays, etc.) that will form the basis of your calendar.  Overlay numbers on top of the images for the squares, labeling the squares from 1-31. 

*Design 7 days of the week headings that are slightly wider than your calendar squares.

*Design 12 month headings

*Print all of these images onto the printable magnetic sheets (it may be easiest to import all of the images into a word document and print from there)

*Arrange squares on your refrigerator or other magnetic surface.

Creepy Doll Halloween Decoration

     Halloween is just around the corner.  Here’s a decoration that will make any house seem spookier.

Materials:

*Old doll

*Red acrylic paint

*Brown or black acrylic paint

*Fine paintbrush

Directions:

*Using red acrylic paint, paint the doll’s eyes red

*Mix the red and brown (or black) paints together until you get a crimson color

*Use the crimson paint to paint “blood” onto the doll’s face, hands, and clothing

Note: if you don’t have a doll you would be willing to convert into a Halloween decoration, thrift shops can be great places to find inexpensive dolls.

Fuse Bead Halloween Magnets

     I have fond memories from my childhood of making fuse bead creations with my mom and siblings and I think this craft can be a great activity if you have children and you’re looking for Halloween crafts you can make with them.

Materials:

*Fuse Beads kit

*Magnetic backing

*Adhesive (if your magnetic backing does not have an adhesive backing)

*Scissors

*Iron

Directions:

*Design your fuse bead creations by arranging beads on a peg board, then cover with a sheet of waxed paper and iron the first side.  Remove the fuse bead project from its peg board, cover with waxed paper, and iron the other side.  For more detailed instructions, visit http://www.eksuccessbrands.com/perlerbeads/creative/4-easy-steps.htm. 

*Cut a small section of the magnetic backing for each fuse bead critter you have made. 

*If magnetic backing has a built-in adhesive, affix the backing to the fuse bead creatures.  Some of the built-in adhesives on such magnetic backings can be rather weak, so you may need some all purpose glue to get it to stick properly

*If your magnetic backing does not have a built-in adhesive, or if the built-in adhesive does not work well, dab a small amount of all purpose adhesive on the back of the magnet, then adhere to the fuse bead creation.  Let dry.  Once the glue has dried, you can decorate your refrigerator with these fuse bead creatures.