Fourth of July Flip Flops

Materials:

A pair of inexpensive flip-flops. I found them at Old Navy for $2.50.

3/8 inch Red, White and Blue Ribbon curled. one 3 yd spool of shoe color and 2 spools of the other 2 colors.

Glue Dots "Craft Dot n Go"

Instructions:

1. Wrap one 3/8 spool of red, white and blue ribbon around a dowel and cook them in the oven. I used one dowel per one roll of ribbon. Do not mix the colors on the dowel. There can be fading. I used Loew Cornell 5/16 dowels and I cooked them in a per heated oven at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Let cool completely while you do step 2. I used tape to secure the end of the ribbons.

2. Cut the two 3/8 inch ribbon into 4-18-inch lengths. Tie one of each color together and put Craft Dot N' Go onto one side on the ribbon. Pull knot into the back edge of the flop flop and wrap the ribbons as if braiding them around the flop flop. Make sure the glue side is the one next to the shoe. Tie them to the center strip of the flip-flops. Make sure you tie a square knot so the knot does not come undone. (Left over right and then right over left) Repeat this step on the other side of the flip flop. Repeat this step for the other flip flop.

3. Unwind the curled ribbon and cut them onto four inch strips (measure the ribbon curled not pulled out straight.)

4. Using the ribbon ends from step 1 tie 3 of each color of curled ribbon onto the center of the flip flops. Trim off the ends of the ribbons into a circle.You can use any extra curled ribbon to make the Firework Side Winders or to add to a hair clip. For more Fourth of July projects visit http://www.mom-stuff.com/public/301.cfm

Summer Take-A-Long Blanket

Perfect for the Fourth of July parade and fireworks

Individual Blanket Backpack This is not a kid craft. Mom's you will have to make this for your children. This will give them a blanket to take to all of their summer activities.

Materials:

One yard of Fun Fleece fabric

One plastic tablecloth that matches your fleece color

A separating jacket zipper

Straight pins

Scissors

Sewing machine

Thread that matches

Instructions:

Take your tablecloth and lay it out on a flat table with the plastic side up. Lay the fleece on the top of the tablecloth. Make sure to leave 1/2inch edge of tablecloth on each edge. Pin together. Cut the tablecloth 1/2inch larger than the fleece. Fold over the tablecloth edge over the fleece pin the edge with strait pins. Sew along the edge of the tablecloth, sewing the two together Fold in the sides. Blanket will be divided into thirds. (Length wise) Fold the top and bottom into the middle of the blanker and then in half. Blanket will be divided into fourths. (Width wise) Mark along the edges of the folds for the zipper placement. Pin the zipper there. Sew on the zipper Fold the blanket and zip it. Mark the back and front. Out of the extra tablecloth cut out two stripes for stapes. Make the stripes twice as wide as you want the stapes and fold them in half and sew the edges. Cut out a pocket the size you want. Mark the blanket placement for these. Mark the corners on the back for the Straps. Mark the center on the front for the pocket. Un fold blanket and sew the straps onto the corners of the back. Sew the pocket onto the front. Center it in the width. Put it lower than center in the length.

Fourth of July Rockin Bobbie Pins

Make your own Rockin Bobbie Pins. All you need are bobbie pins and your imagination. Use mini bobbie pins for infants and toddlers hair. These are so much fun. You can make some for every holiday or even every outfit. Instruction http://www.mom-stuff.com/public/245.cfm For girls hair styles visit the wright hair blog http://thewrighthair.blogspot.com/

Funky Flip Flops

Materials:

A pair of inexpensive flip-flops. I have found them at Old Navy for $2.50.

Ribbon or fabric stripes. (Fabric strips will give a frayed look)

Instructions:

Cut the ribbon into 5-inch lengths and tie them to the stapes of the flip-flops. Make sure you tie a square knot so the knot does not come undone. (Left over right and then right over left) We found that this project gives a fuller, funky look if you alternate the way you tie the knots. We like this way on decorating your summer flip-flops because they last through the summer. You do not need to worry about any glue melting. The girls loved their funky flip-flops. I made some in red white and blue for the 4th of July. I will post the pic for you when I find it.

Fancy Flip Flops

Materials:

A pair of plain flip flops  

Felt in (colors in your choice) 

Pattern                                                                                                                        

Buttons   

Sewing needle and thread

                        

Instructions:

Cut out the patterns form the felt.                                                                                                                                         

Put the pieces of felt together with the button in the center. Sew them together using the button holes. Do not glue felt together this makes it hard to sew through. If you are adding leaves glue then on to the felt flower after you have sown them together.                                                                  

Sew the felt on to the flip flops by sewing a stitch in the felt and wrapping the tread around the flip flop and then sewing a stitch on the other side of the felt. Repeat until you have secured the felt to the flip flop.  Repeat on the other flip flop.

These are so much fun to customize to match your girls outfit.

Get the patterns at Mom-Stuff  http://www.mom-stuff.com/public/273.cfm

Father's Day Dragon

Materials:

Craft clay or home made clay (recipe below)

Acrylic paint

Cookie sheet

Tin foil

Paper plate

Silk flower

Picture of a dragon

Hot glue gun

Instructions:
I gave the clay and the picture of the dragon to my son and told him to mold a dragon. I set the oven at 350 degrees. I place a layer of tinfoil on to the cookie sheet. My son needed help placing the head, tail, arms and legs on. He was able to put the spicks on the back of the dragon. I helped him put holes in the dragons back with a toothpick for the wings. The wings are added after the dragon has been painted. Then we place the dragon on to the cookie sheet and into the oven to bake. Cook until dough is hard and cool completely. While the dragon is cooling I placed a plastic tablecloth on the table. I assembled the paints and brushes. I let my son pick out the acrylic paints that he wanted to use. We placed the paint on to the paper plate one color at a time. As he painted the dragon I took a petal off of a silk flower and cut the end of the petal in half for the two wings. After the paint dries glue each half of the flower petal in the holes you made for the wings. My son is barely 4 and he loved doing this craft. Kids of any age will have fun making and giving this to their Dads and Grandpas for Father's Day. Parental Supervision is required.



Recipe for Home Made Clay Mix together 1/2 cup flour,1/4 cup salt and ¼ cup water. Dough (clay) should not be sticky. Add small amounts of more flour until you can work it in your hands and not have it stick to your hands. Use as Craft Clay. This takes more time but saves money.



The kids will love making any of these fun gifts and giving them to Dad on Father's Day.
I made this craft for Mom-Stuff.com. Come and join us fro everything Moms are interested in.

My Dad Rocks

Is your Dad a rock star? Make him his own rock to show him he is a rock star to you.


Materials:


Smooth round or oval rock


White, black and colors of choice


Acrylic matte sealer spray


Tacky glue


Instructions:


Clean rocks and dry completely. If you are doing this project for a group, base coat clean rocks with Jesso sealer to save time. Paint your rock the desired color. Let each coat of paint dry before adding another coat. Light colors with take more coats than dark colors. If you paint over wet paint the brush will pick up the wet paint. Paint the head on the rock in a different color acrylic craft paint. There is no pattern for this. Make the head as big as you want, do not exceed ¼ of your rock. Decorate the body as you desire. You can use different color paint, small stickers or sharpie markers. Make sure to use tacky glue on stickers and jewels to bond to the rough surface of the rock. The glue that comes on them will not be enough. Eyes-dip the end of a pencil eraser in white acrylic paint, Dot on the eye. Clean off the eraser and repeat for the other eye. Let these dry completely before doing the next step. If you want to use google eyes attach them with tacky glue. Dip the pencil, lead end into black acrylic paint and dot on the white of each eye. Put both dots in the same place on both eyes so the pat is looking in the same direction. If you put the black dots at the top of the white dot your pet will be looking up. After the paint is dry, spray your rock with acrylic sealer spray. Allow sealer to dry. Tip: after spraying sealer hold the can upside down and spray until air comes out. This will prevent the nozzle from clogging between uses.

Have a Happy Father's Day