Stocking stuffers

These are all things that I make that you get put in a stocking.

toy dolphin earrings

So many snowman so little time

 So I have not always been the biggest snow man fan. I know some people are all about the little guys but in the past  I was not as affected by the snowman craze. This year I have been bitten by a snowman bug it seems.

 I have been making a lot of snowman projects. I have created snowman earrings with polymer clay and  we be making many different snowman projects with the students in the after school program.

In the classroom while subbing I have also carried over this snowman craze of mine.

In the classroom student have been painting simple white outlines on blue construction paper to make snowman collages with.  They paint the snowman first then later glue on the button and precut construction paper hats and noses and foil paper scarfs.

We  have also been making snowman collages with students and using a template I found on Big Activities.Their is even a great step by step with visuals directions page you can print out.

The results vary and although the worksheets are identical students have unique perspectives on how their finished snow person will look.

So when you are teaching projects on snowmen you have to have some snowman earrings. These are easy to make but if you would like a pair to wear without the time it takes to make them you can order a custom made pair on my sculptresslink etsy shop.

I even made a snowman math activity for the after school program.
this is from an old curriculum guide I had. To do this first make copies of the snowmen,then cut them out color them in and write math problems on their bellies then glue sticks to them and write the answers on the bottom of the sticks. Then decorate a shallow box and put holes in the top to hold the sticks and the box will conceal the answers,

Dr. Suess week Cat in the hat earrings a tutorial

This is the steps on how to make a set of red and white "cat hat" earrings. The tell tale red and white striped large top hat.  This uses polymer clay I use the Sculpey brand I like that it is soft and does not need as much softening.However the red clay does stain your hands.

Step one

Roll a medium size ball of red clay about inch size... roll the ball on its sides and tap the edges so you get a cylinder. Also roll out two coils of red and white clay about the same size. Be sure to roll the white one first..If you roll the red first it might leave residue and turn the white roll pink.

Step 2 Slice the larger red cylinder into slices -- I got four slices from mine. It squishes when you cut so you may want to reshape with your fingers  into a circle.

Slice the red and white coils at the same time, that way they will be the same size.

Step 3 Stagger and stack the slices of clay you made that are red and white find the best fit for your new slices create a red the white striped pattern with those.



Step 4 Roll the stacked slices gently and press them together gently.

Step 5 Press the stacked red and white slices onto the larger red cylinder slice.
finger sculpt as desired.

 Step 6 Press a head pin through from the bottom of "brim" of the hat.

Step 7 Put in the oven and bake for five minutes at 275 degrees. Let cool completely
 


Step 8 Sand the polymer clay with a low grit sand paper. I like the wet dry sanding sponges the best. Smooth out all finger marks folds, miss colorings etc.

Step 9 Brush on a Sculpey glaze.

Step 10 Use needle nose pliers to bend the wire and create a loop. Thread this loop through the loop on a fish hook ear wire. I prefer to bend the wire through the ear wire rather then try to bend the ear wire of a prefabbed fish hook. I find certain brands tend to break when bent.



 
 Step 11.  Use wire cutters to cut off extra wire after loop is made. Or choose to but beads on a longer pin and make loop and let hang lower.

 to purchase a pair go to tribaltrends.etsy.com

Giveaway I am part of the RNEST network

 I am giving away one item thu the RNEST's NING page.

Win these Grill Cheese Earrings!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61275864/grilled-cheese-sandwhich-earrings



What does RNEST stand for? It's The Rochester NY Etsy Street Team!
 I am glad to be a new and recently approved member.

The giveaway will be decided on Feb 15th 2011.

It is part of the Wellspring Wednesday giveaway series.

Go to the RNEST blogger page for more info.
 wellspring wednesday
http://rochesternystreetteam.blogspot.com/2011/01/wednesday-wellspring

For more info on RNEST go to these links.
The RNEST  NINg page
http://r-nest.ning.com/