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Recycled Winter Crafts

Recycled Winter Crafts

Looking for a fun and environmentally-friendly way to spend winter evenings or weekends? Check out these unique winter crafts that you can make from items commonly found in the recycling bin! Unleash your creativity and reduce your household waste at the same time. Boom! Keep reading for a few ideas to get you started.

 #1: Tin Can Luminaries

All you need for this project are some clean, empty, tin cans, tea light candles, a hammer, a nail, and artificial foliage or other decorations around the house. Start by washing the tin cans and removing any labels. Once the cans are clean, use the hammer and nail to punch evenly-spaced holes around the top rim. (Kids will obviously need help with this part). Place a tea candle inside each can, and decorate the exterior of the can with leaves, flowers, or whatever strikes your fancy!

#2: Recycled Paper Bowls

This is a great project to do with kids, as it’s simple and doesn’t require any sharp tools. You’ll need some recycled paper, glue, wax paper, and a plastic bowl or plate to use as a mold. Begin by tearing the paper into small pieces and arrange the wax paper on the inside of the bowl or plate. Next, glue the pieces to the inside of the bowl or plate (over the wax paper), working in a circular motion from the center out. Once the entire surface is covered, allow the glue to dry. Carefully peel the paper bowl or plate off of your mold and voila! You can use these bowls for snacks, jewelry, or trinkets. To see a helpful tutorial on this craft, check out this video from Sophie’s World.

Winter Craft #3: Bird Feeder

Last but not least, you can used recycled materials to make a beautiful bird feeder! Find an empty plastic soda bottle, some bird seed, string, and a pair of scissors. Then carefully cut the soda bottle in half using the scissors. Take the top half of the bottle and make two small holes near the top. Thread some string through the holes and tie it off. Pour bird seed into the bottom half of the bottle, and then screw on the top half. Hang your new bird feeder from a tree branch or a fence, and enjoy watching the birds feast! Check out this alternative DIY recycled bird feeder from the Audubon Society.

So there you have it! Three simple craft ideas that you can make with materials that would otherwise be trashed! Give them a try and let us know how it goes. For more ideas, check out frostedflamingo.com And if you have any other great ideas for recycling crafts, feel free to share in the comments below! Happy crafting!

-Becca

Get Ready for Thanksgiving with These Easy DIY Decorations!

Get Ready for Thanksgiving with These Easy DIY Decorations!

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, which means it’s time to start thinking about decorations! Of course, you could run to Target and buy everything, but imagine how impressed your friends and family will be if you make everything yourself! From centerpieces, to place-settings, to wreaths, we’ve gathered some of our favorite Thanksgiving decoration ideas to get you started.

Thanksgiving Centerpieces

Candle Holder with Greenery

This first Thanksgiving decoration idea is simple, elegant, and only requires a few supplies that you may already have at home. All you need for this project is a candle holder, some fake greenery (we used eucalyptus leaves), and a hot glue gun. Start by adding a layer of hot glue to the inside of your candle holder, and then attach the leaves around the circumference. That’s it! We love how this centerpiece looks on a Thanksgiving table (or for every-day decor)!

Cranberry Vase

Cranberry vases are a beautiful and natural way to add a festive touch to your Thanksgiving table. Best of all, they’re easy to make! All you need is a clear glass vase, cranberries, and water. Start by adding cranberries to the bottom of the vase. Then, fill the vase with water, making sure that the cranberries are completely submerged. The cranberries will gradually sink to the bottom of the vase, creating a lovely cranberry-filled centerpiece.

Fall Leaf Bowl

Fall leaf bowls are another way to use natural materials, and they’ll literally allow you to capture the fleeting autumn colors! Did I mention that they’re easy to make? With just a few supplies and a little bit of time, you can create a stunning fall leaf bowl that will be the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving feast. You’ll need: a clear glass bowl, a handful of real fall leaves, Mod Podge, a paintbrush, and a piece of wax paper or parchment paper. To start, gather your supplies and lay out your work area. Then, brush a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the back of each maple leaf. Next, arrange the leaves around the outside of the glass bowl, overlapping them slightly as you go. Once you’re happy with the arrangement, brush another layer of Mod Podge over the top of the leaves to seal them in place. Make sure to let the bowl dry overnight before adding any food items!

Place Settings

Pilgrim Hats

Pilgrim hats are a quintessential part of thanksgiving decorations, and what better way to show them off than by making your own pilgrim hat table runner. This DIY project is easy to make and can be done in an an hour. Plus, it’s a great way to add a whimsical touch to your Thanksgiving table. Here’s what you’ll need: a piece of black felt, scissors, hot glue, and a pencil. First, traced the outline of a pilgrim hat onto the black felt. Then, cut out the pilgrim hat shape. Next, use hot glue to attach the pilgrim hat to the center of the table runner. And that’s it! You’ve now made your very own pilgrim hat table runner that will be sure to impress your guests.

Harvest Corn

Making your own harvest corn Thanksgiving place settings is a creative and budget-friendly way to add a personal touch to your holiday table. While you can find many ready-made options at your local party store, take some time to DIY and you’ll end up with truly unique decor. The best part is, it’s easy to do! All you need are some pipe cleaners and pony beads in harvest-themed colors. Simply twist the pipe cleaners together to create cornhusks, and then string on the beads to form the kernels. Arrange the corn on each plate, and you’re all set! Your guests will be impressed by your creativity, and you’ll have saved yourself some money in the process.

“Gather” Place-Settings

These rustic place-settings perfectly sum up what the holiday is all about—gathering with friends and family to give thanks. To make these place-settings, you’ll need some acorns and leaves (artificial or real), and small pieces of wood—one for each guest at the table. Begin by hot gluing the acorns and leaves around the borders of each piece of wood. We distressed our wood by sanding down the edges, but you can leave yours as-is for a more polished look. Once you’re happy with the arrangement of your pumpkins and leaves, use a permanent marker to write out the word “gather” on each piece.

Thanksgiving Wreaths

This last decoration we love is classic—a burlap wreath adorned with fall flowers! This wreath is super easy to make, and you can customize it however you like. To get started, wrap a wire wreath frame with burlap ribbon. Then, using hot glue or wire ties, attach artificial flowers around the wreath. We used mums and baby’s breath for our wreath, but feel free to use whatever flowers you like best. We love how these wreaths look, and they are a perfect welcome decoration.

Growing up, my mom always loved to make Thanksgiving wreaths with me and my sister. Every year, we would spend hours crafting the perfect one, using real grapevines from a bush in our yard. We would add dried leaves, berries, and flowers to create beautiful wreaths that would brighten up our home. I still remember how excited my sister and I would get every time Thanksgiving rolled around.

Even though I don’t always get to spend Thanksgiving with my side of the family, I like to keep the tradition alive by making my own DIY Thanksgiving wreath each year. I always use artificial flowers and leaves, since they last a lot longer than real ones and unfortunately, I don’t have wild grapevines in my yard! This year, I’m using mums and baby’s breath in my wreath, but you can use whatever flowers you like best.

We hope you enjoyed these easy DIY Thanksgiving decoration ideas! To purchase a Thanksgiving Craft Kits, be sure to visit The Frosted Flamingo online shop. Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below. Happy crafting!

Easy DIY Halloween Costumes for Kids

Easy DIY Halloween Costumes for Kids

Easy DIY Halloween Costumes for Kids

Why DIY?

DIY Halloween costumes are a fun way to get the whole family involved. And with a little creativity, they can be just as stylish and impressive as any store-bought costume. For kids, DIY costumes offer the opportunity to be anyone or anything they want to be. So whether they’re dreaming of being Bob Ross or a martian, there’s a DIY costume that will let them bring their vision to life. For adults, making your own costume provides an opportunity to unleash creativity, and you’ll be sure to get way more compliments! Here are some of my favorite DIY Halloween costumes for kids:

Princess

With a little help from an adult, even the littlest princess can transform into royalty with a DIY costume. A simple white dress can be embellished with lace, sequins, and feathers to create a stunning gown fit for a princess. Add a tiara and some sparkly shoes, and your little one will be ready to trick-or-treat in style. Click here for some great ideas for DIY princess costumes from Country Living.

Superhero

Every kid wants to feel like a superhero on Halloween, and with a DIY costume, they can! Start with a basic bodysuit in their favorite color, then add some felt or fabric details to create a unique costume that’s all their own. Add some face paint or a mask, and they’ll be ready to take on any villain that comes their way. Click here to see examples of DIY Superhero costumes from The Spruce Crafts.

Dinosaur

Roar! Your little one can become their favorite prehistoric creature with this easy DIY costume. Start with a green bodysuit, then add some scale details using felt or fabric. Don’t forget the tail! To really bring the costume to life, add some face paint or props like cardboard dinosaur claws. Check out these adorable DIY dinosaur costumes from Good Housekeeping.

Star Wars

Kids love dressing up as their favorite characters from the movies, and there’s no shortage of options when it comes to Star Wars costumes. Choose their favorite character, then add some DIY details to create a unique and impressive costume. Add a lightsaber or blaster for an authentic touch, and your kid will be ready. Check out this post from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls for tutorials on DIY Star Wars Costumes.

These are just a few of the many great DIY costumes that you and your family can enjoy on Halloween. And when your costume is done, check out our Halloween projects like this Spooky Lantern and Mask. With a little creativity, the possibilities are endless! So get creative and have fun! Happy Halloween!

What are your favorite DIY Halloween costumes? Share in the comments below!

3 Creative Ways to Repurpose Old Clothes

3 Creative Ways to Repurpose Old Clothes

When the temperature starts to drop, it might be time for a wardrobe switch. Summer clothes get pushed aside and our closets fill with sweaters, scarves, and cozier options. In the midst of this transition, consider setting aside a couple items that you no longer wear, and using them for craft projects! Sure, you can always donate clothes, but you can’t beat the satisfaction of turning something old into something new. Here are 3 ideas for repurposing old clothes:

1). Monster Gloves or Finger Puppets: snip off the fingers, then glue or attach yarn, beads, buttons, or any other decorations you’d like! You can also use the snipped fingers to create finger puppets.

2). Patchwork Fabric Bowl: Create a beautiful decorative bowl using pieces of fabric. This is a simple project with gorgeous results, and works best with a range of patterns and colors.

3). Sharpie Tie-Dye: Avoid the mess of traditional tie-dye, and use sharpies and rubbing alcohol instead! Brighten up socks, t-shirts, or any other white piece of clothing.

5 Ideas for Bachelorette Parties

5 Ideas for Bachelorette Parties

Looking for ideas for bachelorette parties in Summit County? Here are a few alternatives to the standard bar-hopping routine:

1). Book The Frosted Flamingo for a customized crafting session. Get crafty with your ladies and choose 1 or 2 DIY projects from our pre-set menu, or contact us for special requests! We will also travel with our mobile art studio to your party!

2). Studio B Dance Center’s Bachelorette parties are a great way to spoil the bride-to-be in a fun, sassy and interactive way! The party is an hour long and consists of learning a sexy combination which can be done to the music of choice in either pole dance, burlesque, lap dance & striptease style, or any style the bride-to-be prefers!

3). Book a pontoon for a booze cruise on lake Dillon. It’s a gorgeous way to spend an afternoon.

4). Hike to one of the most beautiful spots in Summit County: The Spruce Creek trail to Mohawk Lakes. 

5). Get physical at Mountain Axe in Breckenridge!

Take this tips and your bachelorette party weekend will be one for the books!