Keiki Gifts, Crafts & Activities

I borrowed these Japanese bead books and created a few beaded charm project.

The directions for the flower charms are taken from the book and they were very easy to make.  I used recycled glass beads from a broken necklace and pearly charms for the center.  The hanging ball charms are also made with glass beads and the design “inspiration” is from the bead book. 

Designs for beaded bracelets, necklaces, charms, rings, hair accessories and more are found in these books.  The instructions are in Japanese but the diagrams are easy to follow. 

Technorati Tags: beads, Craft Books, japanese

I love the acrylic letter beads that I purchased from the Best Craft Supply on Etsy!

I purchased the beads on January 19 and received it today on January 23.  Now that is fast service!  I have already made a few bracelets/anklets to give away as fun little gifts. 

The bracelet will come along with a card explaining it’s “wishing powers”.  When the cord breaks, the wearer can make a wish.  If the bracelet is lost and  then returned, the person who returns it is able to make a wish.  Maybe the real reward from this bracelet will be friendship and honesty.
 

Technorati Tags: alphabet beads, friendship bracelets, wishes

I borrowed this book from the school library - I don’t know what the title is but it’s an instructional book on how to make cute Japanese charms. The school librarian took a trip to Japan and purchased some fun Japanese books for the children. She was gracious enough to lend me this craft book and I am so enamoured with it that I don’t want to return it!

This 56 page book has colorful images and instructions on how to make many different kinds of charms using ribbons, beads or both. The instructions are all in Japanese, of course, but I followed the photo directions and was able to make a few charms.

The projects are pretty simple and some require a little crochet knowledge. Many projects are similar to lei making so if you’re familiar with ribbon lei crafts, just miniature your lei and make it into a charm.

I haven’t been able to find this particular book online but you can find more Japanese craft books at http://www.boutique-sha.com.jp. I’ve been able to find a few beaded and origami crafts books such as these at Marukai’s 99 cents shop. I’ll post photos of my completed project later.

Technorati Tags: Craft Books, Japanese charms

Here is my “Crystal” choker necklace.  I like the clean look of the clear bead and the luster of the pearly beads.

To make this I used 3 strands of twine, rondelles crystals and acrylic pearl beads.

• I started with a pearl bead that went through the 3 strands of twine.
• Follow  up with a crystal on each one of the individual strands.
• Thread a crystal through all three strands.
• Add 3 more crystals - one on each strand again.
• Start the stringing pattern again until you reach the length you want.

Experiment with the beads you have and see what you can make.  It took me about 4 tries to come up with this choker necklace.

Here is craft tutorial with pictures to make a beaded necklace.  It is not the necklace I made but it demonstrates how to crimp and finish off your necklace.

Technorati Tags: beads, craft tutorial, necklace

Here are superhero note cards that I made from my child’s drawings. No need to spend a lot of time on making these. The images come from your child’s imagination and you can embellish it just a bit. These multi-purpose cards come in handy. It’s also a fun way to share your child’s work.

These are the materials I used: Superhero Drawing by KAT * Card Stock * Decorative Paper * Colored Pencils * Glue Stick * Glitter Glue * Fun and Imagination

Technorati Tags: handmade note cards, kids craft, paper crafts

When I need a lei, I don’t have one to give and I would prefer not to go the store to purchase one especially when I know I could have made one myself. I wanted to learn how to make leis in different styles so I purchased a book called Making Ribbon Leis & Other Gifts of Aloha by Coryn Tanaka and May Masaki.

The book provides clear directions, stitching instructions, a list of supplies with photos so you clearly know what you need before you start the project and very nice images that allow you to follow along.

There are instructions to make several different type of leis including Lantern Ilima, Lehua Choker, Plumeria, Stephanotis, Naupaka, White Ginger and many more. You can also learn to make a basic bow, money rose and fairy. This book is chock full of information!

Here is my “liberated” version of the Lehua Choker. Using the materials I had at home that were similar to the supplies recommended by the book, I came up with this purple adaptation of the Lehua Choker. I am happy with the result and will keep this lei, that will never wilt, for a future gift giving opportunity. Now that I know that I can accomplish making a Lehua Choker, I will pick up the “real” supplies and materials to make more pretty leis.

General supplies needed to make leis from this book comprise of needles, thread, wooden clothespin, marking pens, double sided tape, scissors, measuring tape, table clamps, ribbons, beads and a marking grid contained in the book. There are specific suggestions to make each type of lei. You’ll also need a little time to complete a project - with all the interruptions with my keiki, it took me a few days to complete one lei but it was simple to make and I love the end result.

Technorati Tags: arts and crafts, crafts book, lei making

I found a quick and easy way to make raffia flowers with this Provo Craft flower loom. In 13 steps you can create your way to pretty flowers that can be used as colorful accessories and decoration. 13 steps sounds like a lot but you are basically doing the same step over and over like winding and wrapping.

This loom set is meant to make raffia flowers but following the same directions I also made flowers out of ribbon. The set comes with a plastic loom with removable pegs, a hook and yarn needle.

With a little guidance and by marking my loom pegs with numbers, my keiki was also able to make flowers.

Product information here:Knifty Knitter Flower Loom

Technorati Tags: craft, craft supplies, flower loom, flowers, knit, provo craft, raffia, ribbon

I hope I can write this post in a coherent manner…the little one is pounding on the piano that is already off key and asking me questions at the same time. The radio is blaring with the BeeGees. The bigger of the little ones is groaning about not feeling well. The house is so hot which reminds me that I should check on the status of Hurricane Felicia’s approach to our islands.

Last night I worked on an origami butterfly and an “elephant in pajamas”. The instructions came from the book The Joy of Origami by Margaret Van Sicklen. This book describes origami as a “brainteaser on paper” and has 57 models and includes 100 sheets of paper printed specifically for the projects. The paper measure 8″ x 8″ so you get a nice sized finished model.

I like this book because with each model is background information on the designer or origin. For example, the butterfly was designed by Micheal LaFosse as a gift to an entomologist, Alice Gray from the American Museum of Natural History.

The butterfly is rated with a difficultly level of 3 on a scale of 1 through 4 with 4 being the most difficult. It helps to have a bone folder or a something to help you make crisp creases on the paper. This butterfly can be used as a pin for a cheery fashion accessory.

This next project is an “elephant in pajamas”. It is made with 2 separate pieces of paper and is rated 1 (easy). I also used a tool to help me with the folds and glue to attach the head to the body. This project comes out pretty big but you can use it to decorate a composition book or gift bag.

Because you will probably use up the paper supply provided in the book, you can always buy more origami paper in different sizes and colors. Your model sizes and colors can be adapted to decorate greeting cards, scrapbooks, etc.

It’s amazing what you can create with origami and it is fun for both adults and youngsters.

Technorati Tags: book, butterfly, elephant, keiki activity, origami, paper crafts, The Joy of Origami

I agree with you 100%! These guys are very ugly little creatures but the thing is…they are adored and loved and pampered as if they are the most beautiful dolls in the world. I call them “therapy dolls” and it was created because my little keiki has recently developed a fear of natural disasters that she feels may wipe away our island. She decided she needed a buddy to go to bed with her and keep her company at night. She wanted to create something ugly but soft to sleep with and thus “Bobby” was made. Bobby is the big guy in the photo and she calls him her nightmare doll.

I think my daughter dotes on her doll so much because she “designed” it herself. She picked out the fabric, drew the face, made the limbs and stuffed the doll. I did the sewing although she did try to help.

After Bobby was made, another doll was created (not shown) and she is temporarily named “Miss Marge”. Miss Marge is the guidance counselor and she hangs around in my daughter’s bag for day trips and she helps with an assortment of woes.

My keiki are enamored with these dolls and are creating more as I write. They love the “design” process. If my children know your children, then it’s likely you will receive one of these as long as the production line continues. So sorry…I know they’re ugly but they can’t all live here.

The small doll above has no name but it’s called the Confession Therapy Doll - “the devil made do it!” The recipient can confess all his/her naughtiness to this doll.

Excuse me now but apparently Miss Marge is unhappy with the expression she has on her face so I need to do face replacement surgery. A perfect face is hard to come by…

Technorati Tags: dolls, Keiki Crafts

Here’s an easy way to make a child’s necklace using recycled t-shirts as the necklace cord.

1. First I cut horizontal strips (about 1 inch wide) from the t-shirt.

2. Stretched it by tugging on it.

3. Cut it at the seams.

4. Accessorized with beads/charms.

5. Ended it by tying a knot on the loose ends to make a necklace.

Take a look at a terrific tutorial at Cucumbersom.com!

Technorati Tags: craft tutorial, How To, recycled t-shirt necklace