The craft project I just finished is a tile mosaic table top.  It was something I’d wanted to do for a long time and finally had the opportunity when this particular table was given to me by a cousin.  The green color scheme on the table didn’t work with anything else we had so I decided to try my hand at doing the tile work. 

I browsed through the idea books that I could find at the library and got the basic tips I needed to make my ideas workable.  Here is the list of equipment that you will need for this project. 

MATERIALS NEEDED 

Table or other flat surface
Sharpie marker
Design idea
Wall tiles in your choice of colors
Hammer
Newspapers
Mastic (tile adhesive)
Grout mix kit in your choice of color
Rubber grouting trowel
Tile nippers 

First give the surface you will be covering a good cleaning and allow to dry completely.  Take your marker and draw the design you want to make.  Since this was my first project, I chose to go with only two colors and a bold/large design.  For this design, I took a small salad plate upside down on the table and drew around it in four places.  I then took the marker and drew wavy lines going from edge to edge to make it look like loops of ribbon.

The tile will need to be broken and that is why you must choose the thinner wall tiles versus the thicker floor tiles.  I was surprised by the lack of color choices available at my local Lowe’s and Home Depot stores, just the white, black and cream/natural colors were carried.  I already had the blue tiles as we removed them from the counter backsplash in the kitchen during a recent remodel project in there.  The amount of tiles you will need will be determined by the size of the surface you plan to cover.  Since most tiles measure 4” x 4”, you can take a measurement of your table and see about how many would cover it if you left them intact.  You may end up with a few more than you need, but that’s better than not enough.  Begin by laying the tile in-between several layers of newspapers then smack with a hammer a few times to get it broken then dump them into a box that is large enough to easily sort through the pieces.  Use one box for each color tile.

Start with the main design by merely laying the tiles on the table until you like the way they fit together.  Leave small gaps between the tiles for the grout, then adhere these pieces first using the mastic and some sort of spatula; I used a large popsicle/craft stick.  After you get the main part done, start with the remaining ones.  I started with the tiles in the middle of the circles the worked around them like I was outlining them.  After you are happy with so many, adhere them with mastic and keep working with the rest.  After doing the outline then I started around the edge of the table.  Once all the tile was used that had been broken with the hammer you’ll need to use the tile nippers to get the pieces in just the right size and shape to fill in all the little gaps.

Let all this dry for about 24 hours or whatever it says on the mastic container.  Look over the tile and make sure no mastic is sticking up over the tiles and not mastic is smeared on the tops of any.  It’s easy to clean up and easier when it is totally dry.  Mix up the grout according to the manufactures directions, the kit should come with everything you need except for the rubber trowel.  I actually forgot to buy that trowel and used the fake credit cards that come in the junk mail and they worked wonderfully and just tossed when finished.  Do this in a well ventilated place, and wear the gloves that come in the kit.  Also, since the tile is now in smaller pieces, plan on using about 3 times the amount of grout the container says you will need for a wall the same size.  After you’ve applied the grout, let set for 20 to 30 minutes then using the kit’s sponge, and a bucket of water mixed with a splash of vinegar, use some elbow grease and get the grout off the top of the tiles before it dries hard as cement. 

That’s it, you now have a finished mosaic tile table top that you did yourself!   

My name is Dianna and we’ve been homeschooling for 4 years and we have 3 wonderful children.  You can check out my blog at www.homeschoolblogger.com/maxwellacademy.  Leave me a message and let me know what you think of this craft project.  I promise to post some that are not as labor intensive, but I’m actually pretty proud of this project and wanted to share it with you.

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This is my first submission as the new Craft Writer for HomeschoolBlogger.  I'm very excited and so thrilled I was chosen.  I hope the crafts I submit are for things others would enjoy doing as much as I did.  Looking over previous Craft Writer submissions, I realize this is more time-consuming than the others.  I will be submitting this sort of craft along with others geared more for children. 

This craft was actually very easy, however it does take some advance planning.  It is a memory quilt and I've made one for each of my three children.  The one in the pictures belongs to my oldest son and was the only one not currently on a bed.  

Materials needed:

35-70 pieces of your childrens outgrown clothes

1 book measuring about 7.75" x 9" (or you can make a cardboard template about this size)

1 Sharpie marker - black or other dark color

Sewing machine and thread

Quilt batting for full size quilt

Flat sheet, full size, white cotton or flannel

Yarn, one skein, your choice of color

Large needle for sewing with yarn 

First, collect your child's most loved and/or memorable clothing as they outgrow it.  I did this by keeping a small basket in my closet and as I'd do laundy I'd just toss the items I wanted to save into it.  After enough was saved then I grabbed the clothes and spread them out on the table, and using the storybook and a Sharpie marker, I drew a rectangle on each article of clothing - fronts and backs.  The book I used measures 7.75 in. x 9 in., but anything near that size will work, I just liked the book as it was sturdy and a good size to use in baby sleepers.  Cut them all out.  Don't worry about the marks still on the fabric as those edges will be in the seems and won't show when it's finished.

Fo the quilt shown, I used 70 squares of fabric for a finished quilt of 10 squares across by 7 squares down.  Okay, rectangles NOT squares but you know what I mean!  Arrange the pieces so that no matching pieces are touching and begin sewing them in rows either long edges together or short ones.  If doing long edges, sew 10 together - if doing short then just 7.  After the rows are sewn together, then sew the strips together.  This basic quilt-top goes together fairly quickly.  NOTE - if you want to add some embellishments, such as a pair of the teeny infant socks, do it on a contrasting piece of plain fabric (like from back of a shirt) and do it before sewing the squares together.  Remember to give yourself some room for the seam allowances.

On a large flat surface lay out the flat sheet - right side down.  Layer on it the quilt batting, smoothing as you work.  On top of that lay the quilt top - right side up.  Thread the large needle with several feet of yarn and begin in the center of the quilt top and working out, make a running stitch in the center of each square and in all the corners where the meet.  Make sure you are going through all three layers as you stitch.  As you run out of yarn, just reload the needle and keep working until all squares and corners are done.  Go back with your scissors and snip the yarn in the middles and then knot them all.  So now all the layers are secured.

Trim just the quilt batting so that its edges match up with the quilt-top's edges.  On the backing, trim it so that you leave about 2 inches more all around than the top, this will be your binding.  After all the trimming is finished, the binding is made very simply by taking the raw edge, folding it in half then folding it again around the front of the quilt, being careful not to make it pucker.  Sew it all around with your sewing machine and you have just make a beautiful memory quilt for your child.

I hope you enjoyed this craft idea and if you decide to make one yourself, please visit my Maxwell Academy blog (or here!) and leave me a comment, I'd love hearing from you.  Leave me a comment even if you don't plan on making this, I just go crazy for comments!! 

About me:  I'm Dianna Maxwell, of West Virginia.  Married to my wonderful hubby for 16 years and we have three beautiful children together - Chance - 14 yob, Spencer - 9 yob, and Lindsey - 7 yog.  I've been crafting for as long as I can remember with both my mom and my grandmother.  My mom taught me the discipline of following directions in a pattern and my grandmother taught me to throw the directions out the window and go with my heart and my insight.  So I do a little of both and most of my stuff comes out pretty well if I do say so myself.  I've been homeschooling for 4 years and have helped with Vacation Bible Schools, Sunday Schools, Cub Scouts, and Keepers and Contenders, and arts and craft are always a big part of each of these things.

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Photo puzzles

1. Photo copy a photo to a pc. of paper.
2. I purchased these puzzle pcs. through
oriental trading company.
3. Cut the photo to fit the size of the puzzle.
4. With your puzzle facing down. You will
decoupage the photo to the back of the
puzzle. (just is easier when cutting them out)
5. Allow to dry
6. Use and exacto knife to cut out the pcs.
make sure you cut from the opposite side
of the photo.



Thank you so much for allowing me to
write on the Company Porch. At this time
I will no longer be doing the craft corner.
I hope you enjoyed all the crafts I presented.
Please stop by my blog to see more of our
craft in the future. :)

www.homeschoolblogger.com/Angelheart/

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Here are some fun butterfly
crafts you can create with your toddlers
this spring season.

1. Cut the shape of a butterfly and add
pasta noodles for fun.

2. Watercolor or paint 2 coffee filters.
Then clip them together with a clothes pin or pipe cleaner
 for a cute butterfly.

www.homeschoolblogger.com/Angelheart/

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Today is Link Day on Craft Corner!!

I am sending you off to check out some fun links
for some neat sewing projects.

First is a
Pillow Case Dress
Wont your little one look adorable in one of these.

You may also need a new spring handbag
why not check out this
Tote Bag Tutorial

Lastly if you are planning to teach sewing try
stopping by squidoo and checking out Lilliput Stations
links and ideas for a sewing Lapbook.
Sewing Lapbook

www.homeschoolblogger.com/Angelheart/

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Supplies needed:
Clothes pin
Flower
Yarn
fine tip marker
hot glue


1. Cut a slit in the flower petal

2. Wrap it around the clothes pin and glue it into place.
Adding as many flower petals as you like for  thickness
of dolls dress.

3. Draw on eyes, nose etc..

4. Cut yarn for hair and glue into place.

Note flower petals can be bought in craft stores
with out stems or you can do as I did and buy
flowers at a dollar store and cut them.

www.homeschoolblogger.com/Angelheart/

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Making paper pin wheels aren't
just for kids. Check out the great ideas for
adults to use them for decorating  and for kids for fun.
The directions are included as well. Have fun.

Pin Wheels

www.homeschoolblogger.com/Angelheart/

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I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter. We did this
craft before Easter but I was thinking this
Might be a great follow up for some even after the
holiday. A final project maybe.

I cut the crosses ahead of time from craft foam.
I gave the cross to the children and told them
to write with sharpie what Easter means to them.
I gave them some flowers to glue on as well.
Then we taped a dowel rod to the back.
(the ones pictured above are from youth group)

That evening in youth I took the children outside
and we stuck them in the ground. This was a
very profound moment and the children were quiet.
We prayed around the crosses and some jumped in
with their own prayer.

I did take the cross out because they were calling
For a big rain storm and was concerned they wouldnt
stay together. So to display them for Easter . I put
a few rocks in the bottom of the flower pot and some
easter grass. Then stuck the crosses in the pots.

The children talked about this even  the following week
as well. I really enjoyed this and hope to make this
a tradition in our home.

www.homeschoolblogger.com/Angelheart/

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Try making these Cute funny fuzzy Bunnies.



Supplies needed:

Fun fuzzy yarn color of your choice
Wiggle eyes or fabric paint
pom pom
Tongue depressor stick
Felt White and pink
Krinkle shred

1. Use a tongue depressor and wrap
the yarn all the way around from top to bottom.



2. Cut oval from pink felt for feet
and ovals for ears.

3. Cut whites for ear and glue
to pink felt.

4. Glue ear to top of tongue depressor.

5. Glue feet to bottom.

6. Add pom pom for nose.

7. shredded krinkle paper for whisker

8. use fabric paint for eyes or wiggle eyes

www.homeschoolblogger.com/Angelheart/

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Hi everyone! Spring is getting so near I can hardly stand it.
Every now and then here in PA we have a semi warm
day and that just gets me wanting to plant something or craft
something springy. I have a couple of neat things to show you today.

First a paper craft for your preschooler.
Paper Chick

What you will need
Orange construction paper
Yellow construction paper
Mommies buttons
Feathers
scissors and Glue


1. Mom will need to cut out the shape of the chick
and the beak. If you can't draw the shape that
I drew, simply draw an egg shape pattern and the
beak can be a triangle.

2. Then allow the little ones to add eyes.
(buttons), draw feet, and glue on feathers.



Next I have for you from another craft site
is a recycled Watering Can
I cant wait to make one with my children.


Last I'd like to send you to a new
site for me that I came across a bit ago.
I just love the new ideas for this site
Craft Ideas



Enjoy! Please stop by my blog this week
we are having a blog party hosted by 5 minutes for moms.
I decided to display some of our art work that the children
and I have created.

www.homeschoolblogger.com/Angelheart/

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Penguin Felt Critter



The children and I are working on a lapbook on
penguins. I made these adorable penguins for my son
for Christmas. They were very simple to make. I drew the
pattern myself. As you can see beside my finished pengins
I drew the shape of my penguins body. Then I cut
it out of felt and sewed the sides together with a bright
colored embroidery theard. I dont sew well so figured that
I might as well go bold. Before sewing the bodies together
you will want to sew the white oval shape in place. You
also want to sew his triangle orange beak. You can add 
eyes by sewing them in . I dont have the term for the
stitch as this isnt something I am good at but just kept looping
the yarn around to fill in an eye shape.  Then you can
add some stuffing to your penguin and sew him shut.
I then sewed together two triangles for feet and attached
them to the penguin. The wings are felt cut into a half oval
shape and sewed on. My son really enjoys playing with these.

www.homeschoolblogger.com/Angelheart/

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Hi everyone! Welcome again this week to Craft Corner.
This week I will show you how to teach your
child to make mono prints. This is also a fun way
to learn about the process of printing.

The process is very simple to do. Now you have
something to do with those old cookie sheets.
Have your child paint a picture onto the cookie
sheet. Then lay a piece of paper over the painting and
press. Voila you have a print. Children of all ages
should enjoy this.



This is my sons zebra. Again then you just lay the paper
on top of the painting and peel it off.



This is the end result.



He enjoyed it so much he made several more prints.
In the end we ended up making a zoo book.
I snuck writing in there too. A really fun project.

www.homeschoolblogger.com/Angelheart/

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Create some puzzle art. Do you happen to have
some puzzles with pc. missing. Why not recycle them
into this cute craft.

What you will need:
puzzle pcs.
glue
spray paint
ribbon
decoration

1. On a white pc. of paper draw desired shape.
For this example I used a heart.

2. Lay puzzle pcs. flat around the drawed lines.

3. Put glue on top of the flat pc and place puzzle pc on
top like a brick layer effect.


4. Allow glue to dry. Then spray paint the desired
color


5. Add any decorations you may desire.
Add a pin back or string for hanging.


*I apologize for fuzzy photos. No matter which
direction I tried they came out that way.
I hope that you can get the idea from them anyway

www.homeschoolblogger.com/Angelheart/

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Valentine Kids craft ideas

Secret messages

Cut some paper hearts from white paper.
With a white crayon mom or dad can
write a word on the heart such as hugs,
Love , luv U, Jesus, Bible etc..
Then the child uses water color paints to
paint the heart. The white words appear.


Valentine Rings


What you need:
Craft foam, Glue, sequins, ribbon, pipe cleaner
hole punch

1. Cut hearts for Craft foam.
2. hole punch 2 holes into the foam
3. Loop around pipe cleaners for ring. Twist to
secure
4. Decorate with ribbons, sequins , flowers, etc...

www.homeschoolblogger.com/Angelheart/

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Welcome to this weeks Craft corner.

This week I would like to take you out
on the web to get ready for Valentine's day.
So get out your coffee, get comfy and lets
search the net to see what my favorite
crafty sites are doing for Valentine's
day. Have fun.

Kids Craft Weekly Lots of hearts to make and
create and a few links as well.

Family Fun for Valentines - Always full of fun

DLTK - Lots of Valentine printables

Daniellesplace- must be a memeber to printe
but not to view.


HGTV - Cute Valentine flower pot and dog valentine.


I'll be back next week with some of my own Valentine
Ideas.

www.homeschoolblogger.com/Angelheart/

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