Showing posts with label Christmas crafts for dolls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas crafts for dolls. Show all posts

Monday, November 26, 2018

Craft a Yule Log Cake Candy Container

November 26, 2018 0 Comments
This chocolate Yule log cake isn't really a cake! It's a candy container made to order for our family's play room.
Above you can see that the painted, plastic lid is on the tray and the peppermint candies are falling out from the
inside of my candy container on the right.
        When my children were little, we often baked a special Christmas birthday cake for Jesus. Sometimes it would be fashioned into a tree or a yule log. One year, the birthday cake even resembled an entire forest of pines, dusted with powdered sugar.
       Parents and/or Teachers can help their young ones shape a candy container made to look like a chocolate yule log cake with the following supplies. Stuff it with candy treats and scriptures from the Nativity story if you'd like to start a new family tradition similar to our own.
       Natalie, my eldest, will be posting a lesson plan and contest giving away a lovely set of Christmas books about Jesus' birthday celebration, for little ones, in a few days. I will link to her here as soon as she publishes it. Below is the first of the two books she is giving away, read aloud at YouTube.
Yule Log Candy Container Supply List:
Run your fingertips across the ends of a toothbrush dipped in
white paint to create a snowy mist of powdered sugar on the
surface of your faux, chocolate yule log cake. 
  • recycled cylindrical oatmeal can and potato chip can
  • masking tape
  • paper mache pulp
  • plastic fork, scissors
  • nail for poking holes and hammer
  • acrylic paints in brown and white
  • transparent glitter
  • white school glue
  • paint brushes
  • old, clean toothbrush (no longer in use)
  • wooden tooth picks
  • markers to color the printable pictures 
  • dollar store silver cake platter
Step-by-Step Instructions:
  1. Select a large recycled oatmeal can to be the primary yule log shape. Cut a second smaller potato chip can or juice can to cut down and tape to the larger part of the faux log as a cut branch. 
  2. Glue and tape the cut branches into place.
  3. Cover the entire outside of the faux yule log with masking tape. 
  4. Leave the opening and plastic lid for the larger oatmeal can in tact so that the yule log may be used as a box for surprise presents/candy.
  5. Mix together the paper mache pulp according to the directions on the package.
  6. Apply the paper pulp to every outside surface approximately 1/2 inch in thickness.
  7. Drag the prongs of a plastic fork through the covered surface to create a ''ribbed'' rough looking chocolate icing.
  8. Let the paper pulp application dry. Depending on the weather this could take two days or a week.
  9. Cover the entire outside surface of the dried yule log candy container with brown paint and let it dry.
  10. Mix a bit of white into the brown paint and brush another layer on the raised surfaces only. Let the log dry.
  11. Add the inside swirl of white vanilla cream to the ends of the log where it would normally show after someone would cut the jelly role cake in half. (see photos)
  12. Now water down a bit of white paint in a separate dish. 
  13. Dip the toothbrush into thick white paint and thin dip it into the watery white paint.
  14. Face the tips of the toothbrush away from yourself, pointing to the areas of the faux Yule log cake where you wish to lightly apply white sprinkles of paint. Move your fingers up and down the bristles of the toothbrush in order to wisp on a white mist of light paint. This should look just like the powdered sugar that is normally applied through a sifter onto the surface of a chocolate yule cake to mimic snow. Let the paint dry.
  15. Apply a bit of white school glue to the areas of the faux cake that you want to sprinkle the transparent glitter.
  16. Let the cake dry completely before gently pressing a nail or the sharp end tip of a pair of scissors through the top of the yule log. These tiny holes will be where you can insert the decorative picks after you have colored them.
  17. I've included a sheet of tiny pictures below for children to color, cut out, and glue toothpicks to the backside of in order to decorate the top of their yule log cake, candy container. (see photos)
  18. Don't forget to paint the lid of the candy container as well. Paint it to match the other ends of the yule log, with a vanilla swirl in the middle.
Left, select a large recycled oatmeal can to be the primary yule log shape. Center, cover the
 entire outside of the faux yule log with masking tape. Right, drag the prongs of a plastic fork through the
covered surface to create a ''ribbed'' rough looking chocolate icing.
Left, cover the entire outside surface of the dried yule log candy container with brown paint
and let it dry. Center, Add the inside swirl of white vanilla cream to the ends of the log where
 it would normally show after someone would cut the jelly role cake in half.  I also glued on
a real pine cone for detail. Right, the paper mache pulp texture looks like chocolate icing to me!
Left, Move your fingers up and down the bristles of the toothbrush in order to wisp on a
white mist of light paint. This should look just like the powdered sugar. Center, I also painted
 white snow on my faux chocolate pine cone. Right, the glitter gives the log even
more snowy appeal.
left, let the cake dry completely before gently pressing a nail or the sharp end tip of a pair of
scissors through the top of the yule log. These tiny holes will be where you can insert the
decorative picks after you have colored them. Center, The decorative picks are made from
 the printable below and toothpicks. Right, now it's time to fill the Yule log candy container
 up with Christmas candy!
Don't forget to paint the lid of the candy container as well. Paint it to match the other ends of the
yule log, with a vanilla swirl in the middle.
Above is a sheet of Christmas Clip Art for you to decorate a Yule Log Cake with.
Mount the pictures to the tips of wooden toothpicks with school glue. Poke them
through either a faux cake like ours or a real cake top to decorate for the holidays.
    More Yule Logs and Christmas Cake Crafts:

    Friday, November 9, 2018

    Simple Chenille Stem Christmas Wreaths

    November 09, 2018 0 Comments
           Nothing says welcome to our home like a cheerful, festive wreath wired to the front door of your dollhouse! Wreaths are so simple to make, you'll want to make more than one.
           Take time and care to attach a tiny hook permanently to your dollhouse door so that you can change out the decorations according to the season or holiday.

    Supply List:
    • furry chenille stems in green or red
    • Mardi-Gras beads or any beads
    • ribbon 
    • wire for a hook attachment
    • hot glue gun and hot glue
    Step-by-Step Directions:
    1. Twist the chenille stem into a wreath shape. Hold the initial shape up to the door or wall that you would like to decorate it with. Then you can reshape the wreath larger or smaller if need be.
    2. Twist the Mardi-Gras beads around the wreaths and hot glue these to the chenille stems as needed.
    3. Shape the ribbons into bows and hot glue these onto the top of each wreath.
    4. Shape and hook a small wire to the back of the ribbon for hanging.
    More Ways To Craft Christmas Wreaths for Your Doll's House:

    Thursday, August 2, 2018

    Retro Tinsel Trees For a Doll's Christmas

    August 02, 2018 0 Comments
    Right, I trimmed my retro Christmas trees with old Mardi Gras beads. Right, The silver tree is trimmed in purple,
    pink and silver Mardi Gras beads and the gold tree is trimmed in red, green and gold beads. These beads add a
    professional looking, decorative touch to finish off this DIY Christmas project for Barbie's house.

           Adding both sparkle and glamour to your doll's surroundings for the holiday season doesn't need to cost much. You can create these retro metallic Christmas trees from cast off supplies that you can find in your home.
           I purchased the silver and gold stems from a dollar store and made my cone forms from a recycled cereal box!
           Finish them off by upcycling Mardi Gras bead necklaces and the caps from the empty spray paint cans.

     Supply List:
    • silver and gold metallic chenille stems (one full bag each)
    • large discarded, clean cereal box
    • masking tape
    • silver and gold metallic spray paint
    • hot glue and hot glue gun (recommended use for adults only)
    • plastic Mardi Gras beads
    Step-by-Step Directions:
    1. Cut triangles from the cardboard cereal box. I cut one triangle lengthwise and the other across the width of my box in order to shape two different tree sizes.
    2. Roll these shapes into cone shapes and tape them firmly into place with the masking tape
    3. Draw around the bottom of each cone to transfer an accurate shaped circle onto the remaining cardboard scraps.
    4. Cut out a bottom circle for each cone from these measurements and glue them to the bases of your cardboard tree shapes.
    5. Spray paint each cone with silver or gold paint.
    6. Snip of the very tips of your cone shapes at the top so that you can insert a chenille, metallic stem into the whole before twisting it round the cone shape.
    7. As you twist the stems around the cones you will need to twist new stems to each end in order to create a continuous wrap. 
    8. Push the stems gently up the cones as you proceed so that there will be a nice thick layer of metallic branches around your retro Christmas trees.
    9. When you get to the base of each tree and all the surfaces have been covered, hot glue the final twists so that the wrap stays firmly in place.
    10. I hot-glued the caps of my silver and gold spray paint cans to the bottoms of each little retro tree to create metallic finished tree stand.
    11. Now cut the plastic Mardi Gras chains open and proceed to hot glue these around the retro trees as you twist them round each form.
    Right, Cut triangles from the cardboard cereal box. I cut one triangle lengthwise and the other across the width of my box in order to shape two different tree sizes. Center, Here is what your cones should look like. Right, Spray paint each cone with silver or gold paint.
    Left, I hot-glued the caps of my silver and gold spray paint cans to the bottoms of each little retro tree to create metallic finished tree stand. Center, Snip of the very tips of your cone shapes at the top so that you can insert a chenille, metallic stem into the whole before twisting it round the cone shape. If you get tired of twisting the stems and need to take a break, you can tape a piece of masking tape to the stem and cone to hold your place.

    Wednesday, August 1, 2018

    Christmas Yard Art for Your Doll House

    August 01, 2018 0 Comments
           Wire frames like these are easy to find in thrift shops. I paid less than a dollar for each of mine. These are just the right size for standard sized 12 inch fashion dolls. Some of my packages have removable lids so that little ones can fill them with real gifts come Christmas!
    We don't have any snow on the ground here in Missouri right now, so my garden evergreens will need to suggest the season.
    Supply List:
    • wire sleigh and wire reindeer forms (found at resale shop)
    • Christmas wrapping paper or Christmas scrapbook paper
    • cherry red spray paint
    • red wire
    • gold beads
    • small cardboard boxes
    • Christmas Washi Tape
    Step-by-Step Instructions:
    1. Wash the wire shapes, the sleigh and reindeer, with warm soap and water. Let them dry completely in the sunshine.
    2. Place both in a scrap cardboard box to keep your work place clean.
    3. I spray paint in the outdoors only. Read the directions on the spray paint can and follow them carefully.
    4. Spray an even coat of paint. Let it dry for twenty minutes and repeat several times. Turn the objects between paint applications in order to cover all the surfaces bright cherry red.
    5. Now you can wrap tiny boxes with Christmas paper and then decorate them with Christmas Washi tape.
    6. I also used a red wire and gold beads to randomly wrap the figure of the reindeer.
    7. Display this miniature yard art on the front lawn of your doll house whenever you'd like your dolls to celebrate Christmas.
    Left, green wire sleigh. Center, spray painting the wire elements. Right, small, Christmas wrapped packages.
    Left, a wire frame in the shape of a reindeer. Center, spray painting the reindeer. Right, the reindeer dry and on display.

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