Pincushion Image: sxc.hu

 I’ve saved a number of these and find the memories joyful.  ONe is a pincushion my daughter made by herself and gave me as a surprise Christmas gift when she was about eight years old. Even though she’s grown with a daughter in college, I still use this and treasure it.

My daughter has Christmas ornaments her son and daughter made in art class in elementary school.  Each year she puts them out for display.

There are other items children make, some large and some small, some at school and others at home, that parents and grandparents treasure. Sometimes these gifts have no use at all…other than  bringing  back fond memories.

What are some of small treasures and memories?

Post from: Blisstree

Children’s Small Treasures Appreciated

I have been crafting for some years now and I’d like to share some of the things that I’ve made over the years. I love to give home made gifts to people at Christmas, but my crafting projects are great all year. If you’re interested in taking some unique ideas and turning them into a finished craft like me, follow me on this blog. I will have a new and exciting project every week for you to try. Please leave comments before and after you try you hand at my crafty ideas. If you have a better way of completing a project you see here, please share!

The first project I will share with you is a candy cake. It’s not a conventional cake, it’s made with mini Hershey bars. Here is a four tier candy cake that I have made.

Image: Kathy Zengolewicz

You will need:

• Approximately 90 mini-Hershey bars. You can buy a big bag at Costco’s or Sam’s Club.
  • 12 bars for the 4 inch disc
  • 19 bars for the 6 inch disc
  • 25 bars for the 8 inch disc
  • 31 bars for the 10 inch disc
• A large bag of Hershey kisses
• Four styrofoam discs – from any craft store
  • One-4 inch disc
  • One 6 inch disc
  • One 8 inch disc, and
  • One 10 inch disc
• A glue gun
• Double sided tape – if you are personalizing the candy bars, to tape the wrappers to the bars.
• Wooden skewers – available at any craft store
• Spool type spacers – also available at any craft store
• A graphics program if you want to personalized the candy bars, which I did.
• Heavy medium sized rubber bands
• Cardboard cake rounds

The first step that I take is to cover the discs with pretty paper. Just get scraps of paper, place the discs on the paper and trace and cut out. Next, glue the paper to the discs and let dry. If you are going to personalize the candy bars, you will need to print and cut that paper to fit your bars. If you don’t have an application to print the candy wrappers, don’t worry they looks just as nice with just the Hershey paper showing. Okay, here goes.

Take your candy bars and start gluing them around the sides of the 4 inch disc. If you want, you can place the bars around the disc and hold them in place with a large rubber band and glue them one at a time. That’s the way I do it. Make sure that the candy bars are tightly together. Repeat this step with the other discs and let them dry completely.

Once the candy is secure take a spool and glue it to the center of each disc except the 4 inch disc. In turn, glue the 8 inch disc, with candy, to the spool on the 10 inch disc. Then glue the 6 inch disc to the 8 inch disc, and lastly the 4 inch disc to the 6 inch disc. When you have the four tiers assembled, be careful it is fragile, take your skewers and run them through the four tiers to stabilize the cake. Place the skewers toward the middle of the cake. Glue the cake onto a 10 or 12 inch cardboard cake round.

There will be a slight space between the tiers, just enough room to put some kisses in there. Decorate the top with a bow and you’re all set. You have a candy cake to give as a gift or to enjoy yourself.

Kathy Zengolewicz is an author, ghostwriter, editor and proofreader. To learn more about Kathy and her services, visit her website at kathyzengolewicz.com.

Post from: Blisstree

How to Make a Candy Cake

Photo: SXC

More of a DIYer? No problem. Head to Handmade News to find out how to make snow globes or check out the many handmade gift ideas that the many talented folks right here at Blisstree have posted, like Chloe’s embroidered card ideas.

Do you plan to go handmade for the holidays this year?

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Christmas in July at ArtFire

The iWreath

It may be getting a bit late to launch into major gift projects at this point, but really, if it’s for someone you love, it’s never too late to start! Here are some projects from our archives, some that are very quick and easy, some that will take a bit more time. Hopefully all will inspire!

15 Minute snowglobes

Making books with children

Teacup candles

Free paper toys

Ric-rac roses

Vinyl wall art (for your teen?)

An adorable little gift tag

Quick and easy holiday ornaments

Pinecone ornaments

Fabric heart ornaments

Wrapping paper decorations

Love letters book

Making a mobile of your travels

Make an iWreath

Decoupaged ornaments

Twelve days of Christmas ornaments

Lazy Girl tote bag

Beanies, ponchos, and mittens from old sweaters

Binary knitting

Knitting the Moebius strip

Add an embossed layer to your winter photos

Improve a winter sky in your photos

Image: TeamDroid.com

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Winter project round-up from our archives

Post from: Blisstree

Gifts for the mixed media art lover