Top 5 Crafts You Should Not Do in 2012: Number 1

That's right folks, we have reached the top craft you should NOT do in 2012. So buckle yourself to your seat and enjoy!!!

Over the course of Lady Gaga's career we have seen her do many crazy things, in fact I could dedicate a whole series of things Lady Gaga does that the rest of civilization should not. But alas I have chosen this one for a reason. With the rising popularity of the new Muppets movie, some of you may look at what she's done and do the same.... that is why I'm doing this, to stop you before you start.

Please, in 2012, do not make a poncho out of America's beloved friend, Kermit. It looks like you've gone on a Kermit killing spree and made an outfit out of it.

Now some of you may be thinking, "what if I do it for my Barbie? There's no harm in that." Wrong. It is teaching your daughters at a young age that making a fool out of Kermit is okay.

Others of you may be very angry with Lady Gaga making a fool out of Kermit. In defiance you may consider making a poncho for Kermit out of Lady Gagas. But that is a juvenile choice and should not be done in most circumstances.

Merry Christmas Everybody!!!

The Ornaments That Got Framed

One of the great holiday decorating tips this season is to take your ornaments off the tree and put them in bowls, vases, etc... Well, we're going to hop on that train! Here's how:

Step 1: Get a frame, ornaments, and string.

Step 2: Tie an ornament from the top of the frame.

Step 3: Hang the rest at various heights.

Step 4: Add a bow to the top, and hang or place on a shelf!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Crafting!!!

Upscaled Ornaments

When it comes to Christmas there is a motto everyone should have in the back of your mind... Why be boring, when it can be dazzling. Here's how to apply that motto to your plain ornaments.

Step 1: Gather ornaments.

Step 2: Cut Pieces of fabric into squares.

Step 3: Place ornament in the center of the square.

Step 4: Gather fabric around the ornament.

Step 5: Tie off and cut off extra fabric.

Step 6: Cut small squares and skinny rectangles of a different fabric.

Step 7: Pinch center of fabric square

Step 8: Wrap skinny piece around the center and hot glue it into place

Step 9: Glue onto ornament and hang on tree

Merry Christmas!!

Top 5 Crafts You Should Not Do in 2012: Number 2

Many of you reading this are gifted with the wonderful skill of crocheting and knitting. I do not have that gift, but I do have this blog where I can warn all you who do that although, your ability is really cool, it can sometimes be used for terribly dreadful creations... like the following.

Example 1: Crochet/Knit Shorts

It's really cool he has a pocket to put his hand in, but that may be all he has going for him at the moment. I'm concerned that as he moves and the shorts stretch that you may be able to see between the cracks of the stitches and see a crack.

Example 2: Crochet/Knit Swimming Suit

As I see it swimming suits have two purposes: to tan in and to wear while swimming or in a hot tub.  If you tan in this swim suit you will end of with some crazy tan lines which may or may not be cool.  If you swim with it on, you will end up with parts of you being exposed that should stay hidden.

Happy Crafting!!

It's Okay to be Cheesy

Now some of you may say that today's craft is a little cheesy, which I partially agree with. BUT, a lesson we must all learn is that sometimes cheesy things can be beautiful. Here's how:

Step 1: Cut a piece of paper so that it will fit inside the frame of your choice.

Step 2: Choose something to write on the paper. It could be bible versus, song lyrics, a story, or a poem. I chose lyrics from the song I walked down the aisle to.

Step 3: A tip for you to keep your lines straight is to line up another piece of paper below your writing. Try to use your nicest handwriting and fill up the whole piece of paper.

Step 4: Put it in your frame and place it on your shelf or on the wall.

Happy Crafting!!

Top 5 Crafts You Should Not Do in 2012: Number 3

I'm sure that nearly everyone reading this either hunts, knows someone who hunts, or knows what hunting is. I, myself, do not hunt, but I have indulged in the meats of those who have hunted. I have also seen the excitement behind getting that prize animal.

Once you've gotten this trophy kill it is often presumed that you would want to show this off, which I have no problem with when it is done in an appropriate manner. Being someone who enjoys creating things, I also understand the desire to do something unique, but lets face it... when it comes to your collection of hunted animals it is best to stick with letting the taxidermist mount them. Do not test your creativity when it comes to dead animals.

Please refrain from doing the following:

I see the functionality behind these two things. One keeps your feet warm on a cold winter day, while the keeps your bottle cold. Know this, they may be functional, but that does not make them okay.

Happy Crafting in 2012!!

Candy Cane Wreath

One of my favorite things about Christmas is the overabundance of Candy Canes. No, I do not like sucking on them, if you have not learned by now, doing that is sticky, messy, and disastrous. The greatest thing you can do with them is melt them in your Hot Cocoa. It is nearly heaven in a mug. That being said I was very hesitant to do this craft. Take note, you can unwrap your candy canes before making your wreath, but if your like me leave them in the wrapper so that you can eat it after Christmas is over.

Step 1: Gather around 20 candy canes.

Step 2: Just like Noah did at Christmas time, gather your candy canes two-by-two. Hot glue the sides together.

Step 3: Tie some yarn or ribbon around the two candy canes.

Step 4: Hot Glue the two ends of a candy cane to another, making something similar to a heart. (you'll notice in the next picture there is no yarn on there yet... I learned from my own mistakes that it is important to tie the yarn on before doing this step)

Step 5: Keep going till you've made it around the entire circle.

Step 6: Take note in step 5's picture how there is a center design. This is not done merely for aesthetics, it is done to help hold the candy canes in place. If you don't want your wreath to fall apart, then you must do the same.

Merry Christmas!!

Fork Bows

In our childhood we are taught that forks are used for two things:

As a eating utensil

And as a dinglehopper.

I'm here to tell you that there are more ways to use your fork, including the one I'm going to show you today. So here we have it, how to make a bow using a fork.

Step 1: Go in your kitchen and get a fork. While your in there you can also grab something to snack on.

Step 2: Take your yarn, string, hemp, or whatever else and begin wrapping it around your fork.

Step 3: After wrapping it about 5-7 times around your fork bring it through the center and wrap 2-3 times.

Step 4: Take your hemp/yarn/cord/etc.. and either tie it off or hot glue the end and cut off whatever remains. Slide your bow off the fork.

Step 5: Find ways to add it to your home decor!

Happy Crafting!!

Top 5 Crafts You Should Not Do in 2012: Number 4

I'm sure that all of my female readers can agree with me that during childhood our dolls were one of the top priorities in our lives. Personally I could have spent countless hours with my Barbie dolls on any given day.  Now as we are adults one should hope that this obsession has dissipated, unfortunately for some it has not. The worst problem for these obsessors is when they combine their love for dolls with a hot glue gun. Here are some examples of doll crafts you MUST abstain from in 2012:

Example One: If you are facing a leaky sink, there are multiple ways to try to fix it. Please do not attempt the following, it could scare your children from washing their hands.

Example Two: Christmas is a great time to put gifts together for you loved ones. If you plan on doing that, please note that creating jewelry out of amputated doll parts is more frightening than it is beautiful.

Example Three: I love you Jennifer, but you will not be finding this sister broach in your stocking.

Example Four: I completely understand the need to find ways to get extra storage and hanging space in your home, but what I do not understand is when it was a good idea to this:

Craft wisely!!

Top 5 Crafts You Should Not Do in 2012: Number 5

It's time to bring out the hot cocoa and candy canes (if you haven't already), because December is finally here! A time of celebration with friends and family and also, a time to prepare for the new year. To do my best at helping prepare you for 2012 I am going to provide you with a five part series featuring five crafts you should NOT do in 2012, all to appear randomly at my choosing.

So here you have it, Number Five:

Now some of you Anne Geddes fanatics may argue with my choice to put this at number five, but think about what will happen after you make this, stuff your baby inside, and your crazy uncle accidentally carves this instead of your real turkey. That's right, you will have an expensive lawsuit on your hands, a dead baby, and Thanksgivings that will never be the same again.

The choice is simple: don't dress your babies up as food, they may get eaten.

Happy December!!