Thrifty Scissors

Monday, January 27, 2014

Murals Painted by Students, Young and Old

This mural is one of dozens located in
a elementary school where I once worked.

A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture. Read more . . .
A mural can be temporary as well as permanent. Sometimes teachers are a bit hesitant about letting their students paint directly on the walls. Some schools have policy that prohibits this type of artwork from being used in the school building. However, teachers do not need to go to such extreme measures to instruct their students in mural painting projects. Students can first paint on canvas or butcher paper and then mount these creations onto the wall with a staple gun. By these means, teachers can alter their school surroundings dramatically without offending property managers or breaking school policy.
I will link to fun and interesting mural projects below for teachers to gain inspiration:

Murals By Elementary Students:

Murals By Older Students:

Andee Rudloff - Mural Artist / Facilitator www.chicnhair.com
300+ Kindergarten through 5th Graders - Painting and Mural Elements
Special thanks to Ms. Denton and the Faculty and Staff of Millersville Elementary http://mes.sumnerschools.org
Josh Woodward - Music: "Coffee" and "Violet Wants It Her Way" www.joshwoodward.com
Stacey Irvin - Time Lapse Video and Still Photography www.staceyirvin.com

A Conversational Heart Bulletin Board

This bulletin board hung in the front hall corridor of the school I worked in during 2012 - 13. I love finding ways to incorporate ordinary things into life long lessons. Conversation heart shaped candies have been produced by Necco since 1866 and sold in drug stores and grocery stores all over America during the month of February for Valentine's Day. This teacher took an ordinary cultural artifact and used it in her classroom to teach character. Get it, character lessons based upon conversational hearts? Oh, well, maybe her students will remember the ideas taught with this little object lesson whenever they pick up a box of conversational hearts.

More Lessons Taught with Conversational Heart Shaped Candy:

Teaching Kids About Character:

I love this Valentine door decoration! It was hung on the door of our teacher's lounge at the school where I work.
The teachers posted their pictures inside of the cupcake liners in order to fill the giant box of chocolates.

Many More Links to Additional Valentine Bulletin Board Ideas:

These big and beautifully painted Valentines were created by first graders in our school.
Their teacher decorated a large bulletin board hanging just outside her classroom with them.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

"You're Sodalicious Valentine!"

The phrase used on the ice cream Valentine above, ""You're the cream
of the crop," My little cherry on top!"

Fourth and fifth grade students will be sure to delight in these ice cream treats! I've included a few of my free patterns below for teachers to download, print, trace and craft these valentine cards.

Teachers may adapt the processes in producing these cards according to the abilities of their students and the availability of supplies. For example: the waffle pattern on the cones may be colored by hand, as I have done, or students could find a similar surface pattern and do crayon rubbings on top of construction paper in order to mimic the cone's surface. Students could also use combs or brayers to apply dark brown paint to a lighter shade of tan paper in order to create an interesting 'waffle' design as well.

I chose to hand color some of my the ice cream but it would look just as nice with layered and torn papers. Perhaps even glitter would lend a nice effect for the final finish to these fun ice cream cone Valentines? Use your imagination and have fun!

These ice cream, waffle cones are hand colored to look
like actual waffle patterns.

Additional Sodas and Ice Cream Valentine Cards:

More Ice Cream Heart Cards for Kids To Make:

This ice cream valentine reads, "You Melt My Heart, Valentine." Both Valentines open up to reveal large, bright red hearts.

Two variations of patterns for ice cream cone Valentines. Cut multiple scoops of ice cream according to tastes
and two hearts per student: one in brown paper, the second in red or pink. The dashed line indicates a "fold"
on the heart shaped waffles. Look to the photos above for assembly.

The above ice cream looks as though it has come from a pump, unlike the ice cream above that has been
scooped. Some folks prefer 'soft served' ice cream and some prefer their ice cream hard. No matter which
you desire, these little ice cream patterns are sure to please!

Sodas and Ice Cream Valentine Treats:

Vintage Soda Fountain Themed Valentines:

"Mmm - You're 'Sweet' Be My Valentine Please!" ice cream cone
Valentine card

"Need a Valentine? Soda" card

"Gee Whiz Valentine You 'Melt' Me, Please Be Mine" ice cream cone card

"To My Valentine, Oh You 'Smoothie' Let's Be 'Sundae Dates!" ice cream in a dish Valentine.

"Valentine It Will Be The Last Straw - If You Don't Say Yes!" card

"You're the Sweetest Thing I Know! Be Mine" Valentine Card.

"Meaning No 'Monkey-Shines," Valentine! I offer you choice of peach or vanilla and
that oughta prove I ain't no "Gorilla"!" Valentine.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Craft a Welsh Corgi Valentine Mailbox

One of my favorite breeds inspired this Valentine mail box. Download the pattern below, print it out, trace it onto construction paper and start crafting! I used a wrapped cereal box for this version. Add layers of shredded brown, black, and white paper to make the hair. I also cut a slit into the side of the box to insert the tail. Both the mask and tail were backed with corrugated cardboard before the dog's body was assembled. The tongue was cut from pink paper and shaped by hand after I shaded it's center with a red and pink pencils.

A close up of a paper dog valentine mailbox.

I used a cereal box to make this sample mail box. I colored the feet of my dog directly
onto the white paper wrapped around the cereal box.

I curled and fringed brown, black and white papers to make the fake fur.

This paper dog has a curled, 3D tongue.

A side view of the valentine mailbox.

Layer the paper fringe down the front of the wrapped cereal box.

The dog's tail was backed with corrugated cardboard and then wrapped with
construction paper. I then glued more fringe to the outside part of his tail.

My free Welsh Corgi pattern for a Valentine Mail Box.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Craft a Paper Candy Posy for Your Valentine

Make a variety of chocolate candy posies with these pretty little paper valentine blooms. All you need is:

white glue
a variety of decorative papers
chocolate candy kisses and chocolate candy hearts
green markers and green construction paper for the leaves
scissors
patterns for cutting and tracing

Cut these patterns, and trace around them onto red, pink, and white papers. Then paste them together in layers to make the blooms. Glue the blossoms to wooden dowels. Use the green markers to color the dowels and then cut and paste on green paper leaves.

These little paper flowers with chocolate candy kisses were made from a variety of cut paper designs. Layer one on top
of the other and paste them together!

Posy patterns for the project; click on the image to
download the largest version.

The chocolates were pasted to the paper hearts. The stems are made separately from corrugated cardboard hearts and
wooden dowels that were glued inside of the ditches of the corrugated shapes. I can slip these Valentines on and off
of the stems if I choose, instead of giving away the entire floral stem.

Far left, chocolate hearts pasted on Valentines and mounted on 'stems.' Middle, stems for posies before these were painted
and the leafs applied. Right, some of the chocolate hearts can be removed from their stems, some of them can be taken
along with the stems.

Finished candy kiss flowers with decorative stems.

More Paper Posy Valentines:

More Floral Valentines Project Ideas:

"Apple Of My Eye" Valentines

The "Apple of My Eye Valentine" card.

On top you see three white apple shaped interior pages and two red
exterior apple shaped pages. Below, left, half of the apple is glued on
to the other, leaving a section open to insert the interior white apple
pages that have been previously folded.

This little tutorial for Valentine's Day was created for those of you who still like to handcraft your own cards and letters. If you are looking for a special Valentine pattern for your classroom teacher, this is a classic prototype. I have also included here the origins of the first "apple of my eye" references as well. Also view a few vintage versions of similar cards (below) from American publishers over fifty years ago.

Materials You Will Need:

white glue
scissors
red, brown, green, and white construction paper
black pen (preferably permanent ink)
pattern
heavy cardboard
a stapler
googly eyes (tiny)

Step-by-step Directions for the Apple of My Eye Valentine Card:

Download and print the pattern for the "Apple of My Eye Valentine."
Cut the pattern shapes out and trace these onto heavy cardboard.
Trace around the smaller apple shape three times. Cut out at least three white pages for the interior of the card. Fold these in half and set them aside.
Cut two larger apple shapes in red, yellow, or green for the exterior of the apple card.
Glue the two red shapes front to back on only one half of the apple. see picture, right.
Now take the folded white interior apple pages and staple these together along their outside edge to form a kind of a pamphlet.
Then glue the outside pages of this little pamphlet into the open leaves of the red apple card. You may like to write a message on these. I have chosen to write mine on the outside of the card.
Now trace and cut out the worm shapes from green paper.
Glue the worm's head on the outside of the front part of your Valentine. Glue the backside of the paper worm to the lower outside, back half of the Valentine card.
Now look carefully at the interior white pages and approximate where it would be best for the worm's body to be threaded through in order for both ends to appear as though they are attached. Cut a hole through all of your Valentine's white interior pages at this point.
Now you will need to weave together to strips of paper that are cut to an approximate width similar to the that of the worm pattern. You will only need about five inch lengths of two colors. One strip should be green and the other white or pale pink.
This art teacher, Mr. Lundgren, demonstrates the accordion ribbon fold technique in his video, that I used in my card. He has made several excellent videos for art students and visitors may access them here.
Now glue the accordion folded ribbon into place after threading it through the hole. Hold the two ends firmly in place until the white glue becomes a bit tacky.
I have also drawn on the pattern sheet a stem and an apple leaf for you to trace and cut. Glue these onto the outside of your card at it's top.
Add details to the worm, leaves, and stem with a thin tipped, black permanent ink marker along with an expression: "You are the apple of my eye," or "An apple for the teacher," or a scripture, all of which are listed below. I also glued tiny googly eyes to my worm for character.


I have cut a hole, left, large enough to insert my accordion folded ribbon. I will "guesstimate" where to glue this in order to make the interior ribbon look as though it is a natural extension of the worm's body.

Here you can see that I have inserted an accordion woven ribbon through the worm hole and glued it in place. The worm now looks as though it has eaten through the pages of my Valentine apple card. Below it a link to an art teacher who demonstrates this simple accordion paper folding technique in a video.

Pattern for the "Apple of My Eye" Valentine Card.
Click on image to download the largest file.

Where does the expression "Apple of My Eye" come from? The phrase "Apple of My Eye" comes from the Bible. It is first mentioned in Deut. 32:10 “He found him in a desert land and in the waste howling wilderness; He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye,"and then Psalm 17:8 "Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings. . . Proverbs 7:2 also includes the expression, "Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye," and lastly in Zech. 2:8 "For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye."

More Apple Inspired Valentines:

Vintage Apple Themed Valentines:

"Of Core-se You Know You're the Apple of My Eye!"

"You're the "Apple" of my eye Dear Valentine!"

"You're the APPLE of my eye . . . Please be my Valentine! card

Craft a Pennant Styled Valentine Banner

My eldest designed this simple Valentine's banner for our Welsh Cupboard. She used a discarded old book for the pennant shapes and tore handmade papers into the shapes of hearts. Then she sewed the hearts onto the paper pennants and strung these together with a rustic looking twine.

More Pennant Styled Valentine Banners:

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Assemble Hershey Kiss Bouquets for Valentine's Day

Assembled Hershey kiss bouquets for Valentines Day. These are both simple and beautiful.

Hershey rose bud wrap process.

A Hershey Kiss Rose Bouquet for Your Special Valentine

Who wouldn't love to receive one of these lovely Hershey Kiss bouquets? The first one shown on the left is a bit more complicated to assemble than the second pink one.

My red rose bud bouquet is assembled with eight bright red kisses, red cellophane, squares, red masking tape and four green wire stems. You could use green chenille stems for the project if you'd like but I prefer the wrapped thick wire stems because these are much sturdier. Gently mask together two candy kisses with their flat sides together. Then use a second piece of tape to wrap the tip of a wire stem to the 'rose bud'. Bend this slightly so that the rose stem is beneath the tip of the kiss bud. Then wrap the cellophane over the top and down on all sides of the entire rose bud. Tape this in place by wrapping the thin piece of red masking tape around the end pieces of cellophane. (see photo on right)

I then wrapped a few stray green silk leaves around the rosebuds together with a green chenille stem. Then I folded a single piece of green tissue paper, corner to corner for the finished looking bouquet, just as I would do for a real bunch of long stem roses. Tie off the final product with some natural looking twine. Add a few touches; like a fancy tag or a Valentine card to your chocolate candy kiss bouquet.

More versions of this craft may be found:

A short video showing the process

More Hershey kiss crafts and treats:

More faux rose bouquets for a special Valentine:

The finished chocolate rose bouquet wrapped with natural twine.

A closer look at the candy kiss buds.

Try wrapping the candy kisses with different colors of cellophane too.

I chose pale pink carnations for this assembled candy bouquet.

Craft A Candy Kiss Carnation Bouquet for Valentines Day

This Valentine bouquet is even simpler to assemble. All you will need for this craft is a few stems of silk carnations, craft tape, tissue paper, a 'cool' glue gun, twine or ribbon and a candy kiss for each silk flower's center. Glue the candy kisses at the center of each silk carnation. Then wrap the stems together with a bit of tape. Fold a piece of pink tissue corner to corner and wrap this around the floral stems attractively. Add the twin and a card or tag to finish this quick and simple Valentine gift.

This project took me less than five minutes to assemble!

Craft a Valentine Cracker or Two

These valentine crackers are made with clean, recycled cardboard tubes, tissue papers, lace, tags and a bit of imagination.

These Valentine crackers are easy to make and also inexpensive, creative wrappings for Valentine sweets. Most folks wrap fancy paper around a tube, in this case I used a clean recycled toilet paper tube, tie off one end and then remove the tube before stuffing the wrapping with treats. Then they gently tie the opposite end shut. I sometimes leave the tube inside the wrapping in order to give the items inside a bit more protection from handling. These are usually set at a dinner party table, one per guest. At the end of the meal, the recipient pulls either end of the cracker to open the gift of small toys and or candy. Crackers originated in England and are most usually crafted during the Christmas holiday.

One of the two Valentine crackers up close.

See More Cracker Crafts: the Christmas cracker link has a video demonstration.

Craft a Little Valentine Garden

Your little ones will love designing Valentine gardens while waiting for a party or even in the middle of one. All it takes is a bit of imagination!
Craft your little 'valentine gardens' with just a few materials:

green, blue and pink construction papers
green crepe paper
an assortment of magic markers
white glue
scissors
cup cake liners
both chocolate kisses and heart shaped chocolate candies

Food the cup cake liner in half and then in half a second time. draw flower petals,
cut these out and then cut out the center of the cupcake liner to create ruffled flower petals.

More Simple Valentine Gardens:

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Monday, January 27, 2014

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Wednesday, January 15, 2014