Fun Crafts for Scouts

Flower Pot Crafts

Are you getting ready for spring planting? Here are a couple of craft ideas to spruce up those terra cotta flower pots.

Decoupage

In the Victorian era, decoupage was a popular way to spruce up plain objects. Everything from jewelry boxes to furniture was fair game. This technique works well with terra cotta pots, but try it on anything!

• Start by cutting out pictures from magazines. Animals, children and angels are favorite subjects.
• Mix Elmer's glue about 50/50 with warm water.
• Using a paintbrush, apply some of the glue mixture to the back of the picture. Apply the picture to the pot (or anything else) and work out any air bubbles.
• Continue applying pictures in this fashion, overlapping slightly, until the whole pot is covered.
• Now brush a coat of the glue mixture over the entire surface covered by the pictures. This creates an air-tight seal and ads gloss. Repeat this step after the first coat is dry. The more layers you apply, the glossier it will look. (Victorians were known to apply 50-100 coats! Talk about Fussy!)

Stenciling

• Stenciling also works well with terra cotta pots. Try to find stencils of leaves or flowers. Remember, always work from the outside edge of the stencil towards the middle! This will help keep your edges sharp and clear. For a country craft look, try the milk paint recipe listed further down the page.

Flower Pot Scarecrow

Supplies:

• Five clay pots of equal size
• Blue, Brown, Black, and Flesh colored acrylic paints
• 5" square of Brown Felt
• Natural Raffia or Straw
• 1 Spray can of High Gloss Varnish
• Clear Silicone Adhesive (Glue)
• Paint Brushes
  

Start by painting the pots. Remember to leave the rims unpainted.

• 2 pots blue for the pants
• 1 pot brown for the shirt
• 1 pot flesh for the face
• 1 pot black for the hat
  

After the paint has dried, glue the two blue pots and black pot together (with the silicon adhesive) following the diagram above. Let dry 24 hours.

Next paint the rims of these three pots black. Let Dry.

Spray the three glued pots with varnish.

Paint face on flesh colored pot with black paint.

Glue raffia or straw around the neck of the scarecrow

Glue face pot to body, small side down.

Glue more raffia or straw to top of face for hair. Glue the felt square on top of hair to form the rim of the hat.

Push some raffia through the drain hole of the hat pot and glue on the inside. Then glue hat to the top of the head.

Spray face and hat pots with varnish.

Milk Paint

Are you fed up with the unbelievable cost of milk paint at craft and hobby stores? This recipe will create a glossy, semi-opaque paint that beats the pants off those expensive craft store brands. This paint works well to give that antiqued look to wooden craft projects.

Supplies:

• 1/2 Cup Nonfat Powdered Milk
• 1/2 Cup Water
• Powdered Paint Pigment in Color(s) of Your Choice.
  

Mix powdered milk and water. Stir until all milk is dissolved.

Gradually stir in pigment until desired color is achieved. Apply with a regular paint brush.

Store unused paint in the refrigerator in an airtight jar for up to a week.

Homemade Envelopes

Are you tired of making homemade cards or Valentines and never having an envelope that fits your creation? Fret no more! With this quick and easy process you can create any size envelope you want. This is perfect to use with the torn watercolor cards further down the page.

Supplies:

• Paper for Envelopes (heavier paper holds up better)
• 6 Tbps White Vinegar
• 4 Packets (1oz. each) of Unflavored Gelatin
• 1 Tbsp Peppermint or Spearmint Extract (preservative for sealing gum)
• White Glue
  

Start by enlarging the template above to a size that will fit your card or Valentine.

Trace the template onto the paper you will use for your envelope. Carefully cut out the traced design. Fold along the dotted lines starting with the side flaps, then the bottom flap, and finally the top flap. Use a few drops of white glue to secure the bottom flap to the side flaps along the edge.

In a small pan bring vinegar to a boil and mix in gelatin packets. When dissolved remove from heat and stir in peppermint extract. Use an old paintbrush to apply a thin layer along the edge of the top flap. When dry you can moisten the edge to seal your envelope whenever you want! Keep extra sealing gum in an air-tight container and it will last for several months. To reuse leftover sealing gum heat container in warm water until it becomes a liquid again.

You can make your own template by carefully slicing the seems of an existing envelope, open it flat, and trace around the outside edge.

Flower Drying

This is a recipe for a homemade drying agent that will preserve fresh cut flowers for a variety of crafts. This powder will help retain the natural color and shape of most flowers. For best results, choose fresh flowers that have a light color. Dark reds, blues and purples tend to dry black.

Supplies:

• 1 Quart White Cornmeal
• 1 Quart Borax
• 3 Tbsp. Salt
• Large Plastic Tub With Lid
  

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl (not metal), and mix well.

Cover the bottom of the plastic tub with a thin layer of the drying mixture.

Place the flowers you wish to dry in the tub, spacing them so they do not touch.

Gently shake the remaining mixture over the flowers until they are completely covered.

Cover the container with the lid and store in a warm, dry place away from sunlight.

In 5 - 10 days flowers will be completely dried. Test by feeling a petal. If the petal is dry and firm to the touch you may remove flowers from mixture and gently shake off excess powder. An old toothbrush or makeup brush will clean them completely.

Jigsaw Puzzle Wreath

This is a beautiful yet easy craft for all ages, and the perfect way to dispose of all those puzzles you have yet to throw away, even though they are missing pieces. Feel vindicated, they are good for something after all!

Supplies

• 20-30 jigsaw puzzle pieces per wreath
• Poster board or stiff paper
• Craft glue
• Green acrylic paint
• Red craft gem stones or small red pom poms
• 1/4" ribbon for hanging loop (not shown)
• Paintbrush
  

Start by tracing circles approx. 3" (or the size of a coffee cup) on the paper for each wreath. In the middle of each circle trace a second circle about 1 1/2" wide (or the size of a small juice glass). Cut out each circle and remove the center. You should now have a bunch of white circles that look like donuts.

Glue the puzzle pieces around the circle so that they overhang the edges slightly. When the glue has dried, add a second layer of puzzle pieces over the first following the same procedure. NOTE* The puzzle pieces do not need to touch on the bottom layer, but they should touch slightly on the top layer, or your wreath will look like it has holes in it.

When the top layer dries, turn the wreath over and repeat step 2 on the back side.

Paint one side of the wreath green and allow to dry for at least 1/2hr. When paint feels dry to the touch turn wreath over and paint the other side green. Again, let dry

Glue three gemstones or pom poms on the front along the bottom edge.

Cut a 4" piece of ribbon. Loop the ribbon and glue it to the back of the wreath. (hot glue is stronger, but not necessary)

Watercolor Note Card

These wonderful cards add a personal touch to any occasion.

Supplies:

• Watercolor Paper
• 8 1/2" x 11" Writing Paper
• Stencil of the design you wish to create.
• Watercolor Paints (Children's School Watercolors Work Fine)
• Watercolor Brush
• Glue
  

Start by tracing your stencil or design onto the watercolor paper.

Paint your design with bright, distinct colors, and allow to dry.

Carefully tear out each section of your design.

Fold the 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper in half to create the note card.

Glue the pieces of your design onto the front of the card following the original design.

African Maracas

A great project for kids that will also teach them about music.

Supplies:

• Small Balloon
• 3Sheets of Newspaper - torn into 1" x 6" strips
• 5" length of dowel rod (or scrap wood) for handle
• White Elmer's Glue
• Masking Tape
• Small Beads or Dried Beans for Rattle
• Acrylic Paints
  

Inflate balloon to desired size for maraca.

Securely tape dowel rod to bottom of the balloon with masking tape.

In a medium sized bowl thin about 4oz. of Elmer's glue with water until it reaches the consistency of cream.

Dip a strip of newspaper into the glue and water mixture and apply it to the balloon. Repeat this process from the top of the balloon to the bottom of the handle until the whole maraca is covered with at least two layers of newspaper. Be sure to leave a small area of the balloon exposed so you can add the beads. When the paper is dry, use a pin to deflate the balloon. Remove the balloon through the opening and place the beads inside. Cover opening with paper strips dipped in glue mixture. When the paper is dry you can paint desired textures or designs on maraca with acrylic paint.

Cinnamon Scented Dough

This recipe makes a wonderfully scented dough that can be shaped by hand or rolled flat and cut with cookie cutters to make ornaments that everyone will love.

Supplies:

• 3/4 Cup non self rising flour
• 1/2 Cup Salt
• 1 1/2 tsp Cream of Tarter
• 2 tsp Vegetable Oil
• 1/2 Cup Hot Water
• 1/4 Cup Cinnamon
• Narrow Red or Gold Ribbon
  

Combine 1/2 cup flour, salt, cream of tarter and cinnamon in mixing bowl. Add oil and hot water. Stir until well blended. Add remaining flour and mix and knead thoroughly. If dough is too sticky, add small amounts of flour and knead until it forms a ball.

Roll out dough on wax paper to about 1/4" thickness. Cut desired shapes with cookie cutters. Use a drinking straw to form a hole for the ribbon if you wish to hang your ornament.

Use a spatula to remove ornaments from wax and place them on a cookie sheet to dry. Turn them once or twice to insure even drying. For faster drying place ornaments in an oven heated to 200 degrees or less.

Orange or Lemon Scented Dough

This recipe is a variation on the cinnamon scented dough above.

Supplies:

• 1 1/4 Cups non self rising flour
• 1/2 Cup Salt
• 1 1/2 tsp Cream of Tarter
• 2 tsp Vegetable Oil
• 1/2 Cup Hot Water
• Yellow or Orange Food Coloring
• 3 Tbsp Lemon or Orange Extract

1. Combine flour, salt and cream of tarter in mixing bowl. Add oil, extract, food coloring and hot water. Mix and knead thoroughly. This dough will be softer than the cinnamon dough.
2. Follow steps 2 and 3 from the cinnamon dough recipe above.

You can try other extracts in place of lemon or orange to create you favorite scent.