Making a kumihimo disk braider

 I learned this from a fantastic fibers artist Mimi Smith. Mimi is fantastic with all things fiber!
I often do this with my after school kids and they love it. I also use the seven strand braids in making my silk flower and shells hair falls that I sell on my tribaltrends etsy page.

Step 1 Is finding a cardboard box to make your disk from. I have found that Macaroni and cheese boxes are just the right size for this. Cut out a square about 4 inches by 4 inches. Its about half the size of the large box panel if using the mac and cheese box.

Step 2 Cut a trianglar wedge out of the corners of the box. You should be left with a octagon or "stop sign" shape.

Step 3 Cut a small slit about a 1/2 inch long on each side of the disk.Carefully point your scissors through the middle of the disk and cut a small hole(slightly less then an inch)

Step 4 Cut seven long lengths of yarn. Keep in mind that the braid will but slightly shorter then the lengths of yarn your cut.

Step 4 Tie the yarn lengths together in a knot about 1-2 inches away from the yarn ends. Put the knot through the center hole and thread the yarn through all but one of the slots you cut.Turn the open slot facing up. Count down to the third string away from the open slot. Pull that length of yarn out and flip it over to the now open slot. 

Step5 Turn the disk to the right so that the new open slot is facing up. Count down to the thrid string from that open slot again and flip it over to the now open slot. Continue this until your braid reaches a desired length and knot the end off. The braid comes down through the middle of the disk.

These braids will make great tassel cords, bracelets,hanging cords, etc.kids can walk while they do this, You can watch a movie while you do this, great for a kids to do on a car trip or I am sure you can think of many other great ways to use this!Suitable for all ages!

Pumpkin prints

With Halloween and Thanksgiving upon us I am getting inspired by all things pumpkin!
This is a simple paint printing project using the caps of a gallon or half gallon milk jug.

You will need:
 White or other light colored paper
Orange paint or red and yellow to mix
 A  tray or other surface to put the paint on
Markers or colored pencils in green, black, orange and brown.

Step 1 Dip the cap slightly into the orange paint and print an arrangement or circles on the paper.Let the printed circles dry.

Step 3 Go into the dry circles with marker of pencils and either draw Jack o lantern faces or pumpkin ribs.

                                                                   

Step 4 If you want to make the project more elborate cut the pumpkins out and make an scene with them on another sheet of paper.

Contour line hand drawing

This was a sub assignment I was given to do last Friday with groups of Third  and fourth graders.To start you trace your hands in pencil.Then you start at the left side of the pages and make parallel lines. When the lines touch the hands they curve. Be careful to hold your sharpie marker upright so that the lines don't get to thick and accidentally touch.You can also do this with just one hand traced.

Apple tree collage

This a quickie mixed media  collage project. You need brown construction paper, red construction paper, light use paper, pencil, green crayon or marker and, a glue stick.Trace your hand with the pencil into the brown paper. Then cut out brown paper"tree" glue down with a glue stick and draw the green leaves in. To cut several apples at once fold the red construction paper into fours and cut through the multiple layers at once. Making the apple shape is similar to cutting a heart shape and then cutting off the bottom.