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Simple Craft Ideas
Craft/Vendor sales are perfect times to encourage those who have never sold before to try it! Or, create a craft as a class project to sell in the School Store or as an auction item. Here are a few simple craft projects that anyone could do.
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DECORATIVE UMBRELLAS
Design decorative umbrellas using solid-colored umbrellas, acrylic paints, and paint brushes. Decorate the umbrellas with your favorite designs:
- Starry sky, moons, planets, spaceship
- April showers, May flowers
- Frogs, ladybugs, mushrooms
- Under the sea scene, fish, submarines
- Airplanes, clouds
- Mountains, trees, mooose
- Jungle scene, trees, snakes, lizards, alligators
- Beach scene, ocean, sand, beach umbrella, buckets
- Halloween, pumpkins, witches hat, skeletons
- American flag, fireworks
- Valentine hearts
- Back to school, books, rulers, pencils, chalkboard
- Sports - baseball, basketball, football, hockey, etc.
- Horses, fence, cowboy hats
- Cars, trucks, trains, planes, boats
- Or, whatever your imagination can dream up!
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GIRL'S PONCHO
Purchase 1-1/4 yards of fleece (plain or printed) at a fabric store. Price is approximately $7.99/yard. Yield is 2 ponchos per 1-1/4 yards of fleece.
Divide fabric into two equal parts measuring of 18" x 36" (you will use the scrap fabric you've trimmed off to make fringe later). Take 1 section and fold in half to make an 18" square. Hold fabric so that the fold is now at the top. From the top, left corner measure in 6" across the top and 6" down the left side. Cut a semi-circle from point to point to create the neck hole. Place common pins down the left side to hold fabric in place. Turn the fabric inside-out and sew (by hand or machine) along the side that has the pins. Turn the fabric outside-in and hold so that the neck hole is again in the top, left corner. To add fringe, cut 1/2" holes along the bottom-front and the bottom-back of the fabric. Space the holes 1" apart. Take the leftover scrap fabric and cut it into 8" x 1/2" strips. Take one or two strips and tie them through each hole in a simple loop. Continue to create fringe across the entire bottom (front & back) sections. Poncho size fits girls approximately size 4 to size 12. Modify size for infants and adults. Cost per poncho is approximately $4.50 (includes fleece & thread). Suggested sale price is $10.00-$12.00 each.
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COOKIES IN A JAR
Layer dry cookie ingredients in a jar. Tie with a colorful fabric, ribbon, and a tag printed with ingredients and preparation instructions. Following is a Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip cookie recipe or this can be adapted to your own recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 3/4 cup granulated (white) sugar
- 1 cup chopped nuts
- 2 cups (12-ounce package) Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet chocolate chips
Directions
- Combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a 1 quart wide mouth canning jar, layer dark brown sugar, white sugar, chopped nuts, and chocolate chips. Press firmly after each layer.
- Attach a tag with the following instructions: Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix in a Jar: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 2. Empty cookie mix into large bowl. Thoroughly blend mixture with hands. Mix in 1 cup softened butter or margarine, 2 eggs, slightly beaten, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Enjoy!
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WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE MIX IN A JAR
Layer dry ingredients in a jar or decorative plastic bag. Tie with a colorful ribbon and a tag printed with ingredients and preparation instructions.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon vanilla powder
- 1 teaspoon dried orange peel
- 1/2 cup grated white chocolate or white chocolate chips
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and place in an airtight jar or decorative plastic bag.
- Attach a tag with the following instructions: In a small saucepan, heat 1-1/2 cups milk until bubbles form around the outside. Add 1/4 cup White Hot Chocolate Mix (from jar) and whisk until the chocolate is melted. Continue to whisk until the mixture is hot. Enjoy!
Run a Google search for 'recipes in a jar' for several more ideas and recipe mixes. If you have a suggestion for a simple craft that anyone can do, we'd love to hear about it.
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ILLUSTRATED NOTE CARDS
Create packs of note cards from illustrations created by the students. The cards can be any size (i.e. 3"x4" or 5"x7") as long as you have invitation quality envelopes to match (in size & color). The cards will be printed on one side and be blank on the inside. If there are 15 students in the class, the packs will be made up of one card illustrated by each student. Pick a theme (nature, animals, birds, flowers, etc.). Have the students draw illustrations related to the theme on an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper. It's best if you can provide prints or photographs for them to copy. Purchase invitation envelopes at an office supply store like
Office Depot. Work with a local printer to have the images printed onto card stock paper. The printer can cut, score, and fold the card stock to fit in your invitation envelope. You will save money if you offer to fold the cards, but we recommend having them cut and scored by the printer. Assemble the cards in packs (i.e. 15 unique illustrations per pack). Tie with a silk ribbon. Sell them in your School Store or use as an Auction item.
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PAINTED FRAMED MIRROR
Purchase mirrors with a wide wooden frame. If the frame is stained, sand & prime before painting. Paint the frame with a favorite theme (see 'Decorative Umbrellas'above). A single large mirror painted by all of the students in a class makes a great auction item.
Helpful hint: Target offers a large selection of mirrors, many of which are at a great sale or clearance price.
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PAINTED BOOKCASE OR DESK
Purchase 2-shelf bookcases or a desk and paint these with a favorite theme (see 'Decorative Umbrellas' above) or paint the with all of the children's handprints from a class for an auction item. Go to Target Furniture and type in desk or bookcase. Shop by price and check out their Clearance section for great deals.
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TABLE RUNNER
If you're able to sew, then a table runner is incredibly easy to make. Choose two coodinating fabrics in the same color scheme but in different patterns (perhaps a check and a floral). A bolt of fabric is approx. 55" wide so purchase a half yard (55"L x 18"W) of each. Place right sides together and sew along 2 sides. Turn inside out so right sides are showing and seams are now hidden inside. Add trim to the two ends (optional). Hand-sew ends. Older children may be able to sew complete runner by hand.
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HOMEMADE SOUP IN A JAR
Layer dry ingredients in a wide-mouthed jar or decorative plastic bag. Tie with a colorful ribbon and a tag printed with ingredients and preparation instructions.
1 cup barley
1/2 cup dried split peas
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
2 tablespoons dried parsley
2 tablespoons dried minced onion
1 teaspoon celery salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons beef boullion
1 & 1/2 cups uncooked pasta (soup mac, alphabet, or pastina)
Layer ingredients in the jar.
Attach a tag with the following instructions: In a soup-pan, add jar contents and 3 quarts of water, 2 stalks of celery (sliced), and 2 carrots (peeled & sliced). Also add beef (cut into small bite-sized cubes) if desired. Simmer over medium-low heat for about 1 hour (until vegetables are tender and meat is cooked through). Enjoy!
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