Saturday, December 17, 2016

Fabric Holiday Cards

Fabric Holiday Cards
As a wrap up to 2016 and another chance to make gifts for loved ones, we hosted a Fabric Holiday Cards program with the fabulous Tetyana Buchholz, lovingly known as Tat.  We discussed offering this simple project to give students a chance to craft a gift, while learning valuable sewing skills.
The Lesson Begins
Tat started the class showing the basics.  Everyone needed a square of cardstock, a piece of fabric cut to the same size, and the same size sheet of Heat and Bond fusible fabric.  The process involved sandwiching the fusible fabric between the cardstock and fabric, then ironing them to bond the three as one.
Heat and Bond was a new experience for these crafters
After fusing the paper and fabric, Tat instructed everyone to cut out two different fabric patterns in half moon shapes with a template.  Once that step was complete, she showed the students how to roll and fold the fabrics to create a tree shape.  This tutorial from Life After Laundry provides clear instructions to create a different version of the tree.
Simple Folds make a Tree!
Once this step was covered, the projects started taking on individual appeal.  Each artist had their own vision and were on a mission to make their's perfect before class ended.  The tree needed a straight stitch running down the center to hold it onto the fused fabric square.
Stitch down the Center
When the tree was stitched to the fused fabric square, then individual designs stared to pop up.
"Gift Boxes" were placed under the "Tree"
Rhinestones, pom poms and more stitches

A border accent frames this card
Craft supplies were flying at all angles, but these students worked until the final seconds to finish.
Hot glue goes a long way
Each card was unique and made with love and care.  Projects like these are wonderful for creative outlet, as well as utilizing important skills like sewing.  The success of this simple project will lead to more of these classes in the new year.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Thank you for visiting and staying awhile.  Check back in January for the next installment of Fashion Club with Tat, where we start the process of designing fashion from trash for the Recycled Runway Fashion Show.  You don't want to miss it!
Taking Trash to the Catwalk

Wishing a Happy and Healthy New Year to you and yours' in interweb land and beyond!

xoxo,
erica



Thursday, December 8, 2016

Make & Bake Gifts 2k16




Each year in December, we combine First Friday Art Club and Teen Cooking Club into one BIG CRAFTING EVENT called Make and Bake Gifts.  This is the chance to cook and create handmade gifts for the holiday season.  There are no fees for participants.  Pre-registered attendees encounter a variety of crafts to make then take away.

Fabric Covered Coaster Tiles
The first station for creating was Fabric Covered Tile Coasters.  This was an easy project that could be quick or intricate, depending upon the details put into it.  Painting Mod-Podge glue onto a ceramic tile, then adding a square of fabric cut slightly smaller than the tile and burnishing that fabric onto the tile is the main process of this craft.  Coating the fabric covered tile in more Mod-Podge to seal in the fabric finishes off the coaster.  To save table surfaces, it is recommended to glue felt onto the bottom of the ceramic tile.  As you can see, these tiles got fancy!  Details were trimmed and secured and each tile had an individual flare.
Detailed adornment
The next project was soda can basket weaving, led by Kimberly Canale.  This video tutorial is extremely helpful and recommended to anyone who wants to make one at home.  This video is part 1 of a 3 video series.



Kimberly showed the First Friday Art Club how to make these in August, but that class focused on soda can flowers.  This event allowed students the time to focus on the weaving process.  It turns out the soda cans are gnarly when cut.  Students really liked learning to weave, but kept getting caught on the soda can, which limited their enjoyment.
Gnarly snags are no fun.  WEAVING IS AMAZING!
With a little bit of patience and focus, each person created an adorable woven can.
Woven Soda Can Baskets
This fun Snowman pin craft kept people busy and intent for a long time.  Putting tiny beads in a specific order on safety pins is a test of eye sight and patience.
"These pins take patience!"
This project was donated by a generous community partner.  There were dozens made for family members.  I was even able to donate more to a Homeschool Arts & Crafts group.
Frosty!
The edible portion of this event hit a rough spot.  The intended recipe was Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Reindeer.  It is sad to note that I burned the chocolate for this recipe.  Ugh!!!  The smell of scorched chocolate wafted through the Union Hall within moments of placing the melting wafers in the electric skillet.  This melted chocolate thing is still a learning curve for me, especially when I'm multi-tasking. My intention was to have a pot of melted chocolate ready to dip, so there were less steps to making these cute creatures. In hindsight,  I suggest melting chocolate in the microwave, like the recipe states, or using a crock pot to maintain a low temperature for the chocolate to temper, providing a smooth appearance and dry solid on the marshmallow.
Rudolph's nose is falling off!
Since the chocolate was scorched, the cocoa butter crystallized and it would not harden.  The facial details could not stick, and the whole project was becomming a mess.  Luckily, these kids are quick to create a work-around.  Albino reindeer, snowmen, and even tarantulas were designed at this station.

Tarantula, Olaf, White Deer
Snowlady, Red-Nosed Puppymallow
The final cooking craft was a treat to most of the group.  Funfetti Shortbread Bites  are a quick and plentiful recipe, creating dozens of treats in one 13 x 9" pan.  I had older teen volunteers set up the recipe and prepare the ingredients.  When another teen finished their projects, they were welcome to help this group finish the recipe for everyone to enjoy.  These bites were packaged in a holiday box and taken away quicker than I had a chance to taste test.
Funfetti is always FUN!
This wraps up another fantastic teen Make and Bake Gifts for Southeast Steuben County Library.  Our teens had a busy year with school and library programs.  Just one more crafting session is held this week.  Join us for Fabric Holiday Cards on December 9, 2016.  Our favorite fashionista, Tetyana Buchholz will lead the group on sewing and appliqueing fabric cards for the holiday season.
Last teen craft for 2016
If you miss the program, stop back for a recap of the event.
Thanks for visiting.
I'll check ya on the flip side!

xo, erica