™
www.YouCanDoItMag.com De La Paz
YouCanD It! FALL 2011
CREATE IT. BUILD IT. LOVE IT. MAGAZINE
FALLfun
AND FUNCTION Projects For The Changing Season Ready For RAIN? Simple Ways To Keep Your Rain Gutters Clear
Carmen’s Tool Belt Not All Sandpaper Is Created Equal!
EASY LANDSCAPING PROJECTS Get Your Garden Ready For Spring!
Halloween is in the FAST & EASY DECORATIONS TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS
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De La Paz
YouCanD It! FALL 2011
CREATE IT. BUILD IT. LOVE IT. MAGAZINE
FALLfun
AND FUNCTION Projects For The Changing Season
CARMEN’S TOOL BELT:
All Sandpaper Is NOT Created Equal!
12 CARMEN’S KIDS CORNER:
Halloween Is In The Bag!
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SEASONAL MAINTENANCE:
Ready For RAIN?
CARMEN’S BITS:
Fall Into Autumn With Easy Landscaping Projects
PUBLISHER Jerri Hemsworth jerrih@hmhmedia.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Carmen De La Paz carmend@hmhmedia.com EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS Bennett Root, Jr. benr@hmhmedia.com CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Brian Hemsworth brianh@hmhmedia.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Michelle Hurlbut CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Steve Higginson and Benjamin Raices EDITOR IAL /A DVE RTIS I N G O FFIC E S Carmen De La Paz’s You Can Do It! Magazine 6133 Fallbrook Avenue Woodland Hills, CA 91364 P: 818/713/1678 www.youcandoitmag.com
RAIN CHAINS:
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Elegant Downspouts
Carmen De La Paz’s You Can Do It! Magazine™ is published by HMH Media Inc., 6133 Fallbrook Avenue, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. Volume 1, No. 1 Copyright ©2011 by CDLP Enterprises Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Acceptance of advertising or sponsorship in Carmen De La Paz’s You Can Do it! Magazine in no way constitutes approval or endorsement by HMH Media Inc. of products or services advertised. Carmen De La Paz’s You Can Do it! Magazine and HMH Media Inc. reserve the right to reject any advertising. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and not necessarily those of Carmen De La Paz’s You Can Do it! Magazine or HMH Media Inc. Carmen De La Paz’s You Can Do it! Magazine reserves the right to edit all contributions for clarity and length, as well as to reject any material submitted. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. This periodical’s name and logo along with the various titles and headings therein, are trademarks of CDLP Enterprises Inc. and HMH Media Inc. PRODUCED IN U.S.A.
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carmen’s bits
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all is one of the seasons where we often chose inactivity versus activity. For some reason, the hints of Spring and Summer inspire an aggressive “to-do” list, yet Fall barely allows for an acknowledgment of the leaves laying in the yard. With the transition of seasons there is drama and color—from the landscape to the weather, even the wardrobe calls for a change or at least some transition. Fall has always been one of my favorite seasons, especially growing up in Wisconsin. As I was thinking about DIY projects for the season, I had an amazing trip down sense-memory lane. Beginning a new school year. Getting new Fall clothes with plaids and high boots with new navy socks. Bundling up to get warm and going out to see the amazing colors. Taking the trip to the farm to pick out my first pumpkin, cutting it right off the vine, carving it, and toasting homemade pumpkin seeds in the oven. Picking apples. Scooping up piles and piles of leaves to run and dive into, like nature’s crash pad. There is something about the sun setting earlier that makes you want to snuggle up in a big sweater. And I’ll always love the change in the way the air smells with fireplaces burning. There’s a time for snuggling by the fire, but I’m telling you that there are things to be done this Fall, before we kick back for the Winter chill and the occasional ride on the snow blower. The things you do now for your yard can greatly impact your home and garden next year. Plant a tree for next year: Did you know planting a tree in the early Fall will help it have a jump start next spring? Be sure to protect it from harsh winds, and
FALL 2011
Fall into Autumn With Easy Landscaping Projects
remember that if the ground is not frozen, it still needs water about once a week. Do some research and determine the best choices for your planting zone. Plant bulbs now for color next Spring: Planting bulbs in the Fall gives you a higher return in the bulbs actually blooming come Spring. If you don’t get them in the ground this Fall, be sure to store your bulbs in a dark and cool spot, preferably in a brown paper bag to allow for moisture to flow in and out slowly. Falling leaves—Mother Nature’s mulch: You don’t have to kick your leaves to the curb! You don’t have to pile them up and burn them. Instead, spread out the leaves evenly over your grass and then mow the lawn like you always would. Yup, mow right over the leaves. When raking back the clippings, use the shredded leaves as mulch in your plant beds. Nutrients from leaves decompose back into the ground and also serve as mulch while they break down. Your garbage man will appreciate it and Mother Nature gets back what she gave. Protecting plants from chill: Not all plants require protection from the harsh cold and freezing temperatures. Educate yourself on the planting zone you live in and which of your plants may be exposed to risk. Plan now for what you’ll need on those days of extreme weather, either burlap or plastic, and have it on hand at the beginning of the season. Trust me, the gardening you do in the Fall will make your Spring and Summer more delightful.
Carmen
S e a S o n a l
M a i n t e n a n c e :
Ready For
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ave you ever walked out the front door during a rainstorm and been met by a cold sheet of water coming off the roof? The cold splash of rain is a reminder that rain gutters are a “must-have.” Your roof’s rain gutters are a critical part of roofs, but what exactly do they do? Rain gutters guide hundreds of pounds of water from the edge of the roof and to a downward spout or exit for two main reasons: to guide water away from your home’s foundation in order to prevent an interior moisture or mold problem and/or to guide the water to one location for collection or dispersal. Cleaning and maintaining rain gutters with the change of the seasons is a “to-do” that most people don’t consider on a regular basis. To help your rain gutter system function and achieve its maximum life expectancy, homeowners should ensure that their rain gutters remain clean and free of any debris that may block the flow of water. This includes loose
A safe rain gutter inspection of your home is a “must do” that should NOT be overlooked
debris removed from both flat and sloped roof areas. With safety playing a huge role in the process, rain gutters can be cleaned by hand and rinsed with water to insure each downspout is flushed thoroughly. Here are a few things to consider when checking your rain gutters from ground level to assure proper flow and determine if there are any trouble areas or repairs required. YOU CAN DO IT! MAGAZINE |
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Ready For 1
Downspouts and gutters should be cleaned about twice a year, spring and autumn. Plan for rain gutter maintenance in the spring just before heavy rains arrive, and then again in the fall when leaves, tree limbs and other debris might cause problems.
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If you find your gutters seem to catch too much debris due to a location near a tree, you may choose to install metal meshing screen or a “leaf catching system.” I highly recommend you select a style that you can easily remove and replace during the cleaning of the gutters.
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Be sure to check downspouts for rust, peeling paint and leaks. Beyond the actual gutters, be sure to inspect the fasteners holding the gutters to insure that they are tightly affixed to the fascia boards. Check each section to make sure that all fittings are snug and tight. This is also a time to check the fascia boards themselves for dry rot or other damage. If needed, replace them with lumber treated with wood preservative that is finished to match the other boards.
Be Mindful of the Slope! People think gutters are merely attached to a fascia and that is the end of it. The fact is the slope at which the gutters are attached can either hinder or improve the flow of water. You may find the slope of your gutter may need to be adjusted from time to time where a fastener may have loosened or a piece of wood could have bloated and pushed the 8
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angle off. To determine water flow, do a water test by running water through your rain gutter system. If you find the water drains slowly, inspect and reposition to insure the gutter slopes toward the downspouts at a rate of 1/4 inch for every 10 feet. So, if the length is 20 feet, the drop of the rain gutter from end to end should to 1/2 inch.
basement, check the downspout on the outside. It may be a huge factor to your moisture problem. If necessary, add downspout extenders to carry the water away from the home. You may also consider concrete or plastic “splash blocks” that are slightly sloped and extend away from the house at least four feet.
Always Consider Safety Alls Well That Ends Well Now that the rain gutters are working and flowing well, another thing to take into consideration is where all of this water is going to end up. To prevent soggy ground and extra moisture around the foundation line of your home, be sure your downspouts expel water well away from your house. Often, downspouts are left to flow water right at the corner of a home. This forces the water to rush down into the foundation right along the base of the home. If you are experiencing moisture in your
One of the biggest reasons people hire a company to clean out their rain gutters (or don’t clean them out at all!) is because of the height and the safety required to handle an appropriate-sized ladder. The bottom line for me with safety is this: if I don’t feel comfortable, I don’t do it. The DIY ends when I simply don’t have a good feeling about a project. Whenever working with a ladder on the exterior of a home, ALWAYS have someone with you to serve as a spotter and to help with anything required with balancing or handling the ladder.
consider installing a rain chain in place of the typical gutter downspout. they’re easy, functional and downright pretty.
DOWNSPOUTS
elegant YOU CAN DO IT! MAGAZINE |
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Copper, brass or stainless steel chains make great rain chains.
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hat the heck is a rain chain? It is an innovative and decorative chain made from a series of loops or funnels joined together and hung from the end of your rain gutter. It takes the place of a downspout. Rain chains can also be attached to the eaves of your house with no gutter, wherever the rain runs off your roof. The rain chain originated in Japan many years ago. It was traditionally used to guide rain water to large pots and containers that was then used for cooking and laundry. Today, in Japan, homeowners also channel the rain 10
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I placed small rocks in the bottom of the buckets to help weigh them down and make them wind-safe.
water into their rain gardens, where the gently falling water produces a soothing, rhythmic sound. There is a wide variety of rain chain styles. Single or double strands of round-, oval-, or square-linked chain can accent modern and contemporary styles, as well as rustic, country or Asian styles. Small buckets, terra cotta pots, flared cups, fluted shaped funnels and embossed cups with designs of flowers, butterflies and/or leaves can also be used to accent these styles. There are some very simple and very creative materials that can be used to make rain chains. You can use lengths of chain from the hardware store,
shower curtain hooks, large sized metal key rings and even PVC pipe cut into rings. Copper (the most popular material), and brass (also very popular) can all be used. Copper, like all metals, oxidizes as it weathers, turning to a greenish-gray color known as a Verdigris patina. Brass as it oxidizes darkens with age, while aluminum or stainless steel usually retains its color.
How To Make A Rain Chain Your rain chain can be hung from the gutter by using an aluminum or stainless steel rod horizontally placed across the gutter hole (allowing it to extend 3 inches into the gutter on
Rain chains are hung from the gutter by using a horizontally placed rod and an S-hook.
both sides of the hole). Then hang an S-hook on the rod, securing the hook at the top with a “u” shaped fastener. A v-shaped gutter hanger may also be used. To anchor the chain to the ground, a metal stake may be used, or a something with considerable weight like a rock may be tied to the bottom of the chain. I would suggest something visually pleasing and complimentary to the esthetics of your yard. I’ve used a small anchor in the shape of a fish on one of mine. Traditionally, a rain chain is placed into a whole or half rain barrel, or a decorative terra cotta pot, to catch the water as it comes down the chain in order
Run hose water through your gutter to ensure that the water splashes where you want.
to recycle the rainwater. I like to place mine directly into a potted plant.
make minor adjustments, if needed, to ensure you rain chain doesn’t splash and the water flows where you want it.
Safety Tip This is something you need to watch out for with any downward spout of water. To prevent excess moisture build up at the foundation of your home, be it from a standard rain gutter or a rain chain, be sure to guide the water away from the foundation of your home with a down spout splash block. Once you have completed the installation of your rain chain, be sure to give it a trial run by running water from a hose through the path where the rain would flow. By doing this, you will be able to
Relax and Enjoy! Your rain chain can provide relaxing background sounds near your patio or other outside seating areas. It’s fun to hang them from tree limbs or hooks throughout your garden. Placed near or over fountains and ponds, they are pleasing to the eye and can be functional. If your rain chain is made of chain link, it will tend to splash more than those made of cups or funnels. So be sure to place your rain chain so that garden paths and walls will not be splashed. YOU CAN DO IT! MAGAZINE |
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ALL SANDPA Is Not Created Equal! Which sandpaper should you use? Does it matter how you use it? Can you use one kind for all your projects? Here are the answers to these great questions!
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ave you always thought sandpaper was just sandpaper? Or maybe wondered if sandpaper came in different varieties? I used to think this way about every tool out there! But there is always an opportunity for comparing and learning. Ultimately, you want your buying power to reflect how much you are willing to spend and what you are ultimately going to do with your purchase.
APER
carmen’s tool belt tools and gadgets that you should keep on hand for most DIY projects
There are many categories to my tool belt and toolbox. I always have my “go-to” things in stock and plenty of it. Sandpaper is always one of those things. I never hesitate to buy more, because I know I will always have a use for it and won’t allow it to go to waste. It’s important to know what each type of sandpaper to use and when. I will start by saying “All sandpapers are not made equally” or rather “All sandpapers will not perform equally.” By sharing my experience, my goal is to empower you with knowledge and to inspire you to flex your creative muscle. The way I see it, by sharing my pitfalls and successes (‘cause I’ve had many), I will hope-
ng i d n a S s ’ n Carme Safety Tip
Marry The Paper! Say What?
Numbers And Letters And Color, Oh My!
The next time you pull a piece of sandpaper out of a drawer, take a good look at it. Does it have a paper, Velcro or mesh backing? Is it circular or square? What color is the abrasive side? Does it have numbers and letters printed on it? The answers to all of these questions follow a code of colors, letters and numbers, making it easier to determine the abrasive you have and what it is for. Better yet, the next time you are walking down the sandpaper and abrasives aisle of your local hardware, paint, or home & garden store, stop and look at all the options. You will see different sandpaper for wet/dry sanding, furniture finishes, drywall and stripping paint. You will also see liquid sandpaper, which is used to remove the thin top surface layers of glossy painted items. But determining the right sandpaper for a project is mostly determined by color. With that being said: Marry the paper to the material and the project! There are two kinds of sandpaper out there: commercial and industrial. You will find commercial sandpaper in your average hardware store. I am mostly concentrating on commercial sandpaper in this article. But it’s important to know that the industrial kind is more often considered an “abrasive.” Although sometimes it looks like regular sandpaper, it’s made from different particles and usually backed with a thin fabric of cotton or polyester to give it longer life. Needless to say, they are more expensive.
One thing to understand about sandpaper is the importance of the number on the backing. This number refers to the grit or roughness of sandpaper. The grit is a universal gage determined by the number of particles applied on each square inch of the paper at the time of manufacturing. The higher the number, the more tiny particles there are on a square inch. Look at it this way: a piece of sandpaper with 100-gage grit has 100 particles per square inch of paper. A piece of sandpaper with 400 grit has 400 particles per square inch, and so on. Sandpaper can go as high as 2000 particles per square inch and even higher. Now you know about the number, let’s talk about the letter. This can get really confusing. You may feel that there are too many letter combinations. However, the letter refers to the weight of the backing material on the sheet of sandpaper. Generally, “P” refers to Paper backing—in other words P220 means—Paper 220 grit. “P” is most common among papers found in the United States. Another important difference is the color of the abrasive. You will find sandpaper with black, red, yellow, purple or just plain brown paper-bag color. With modern technologies, many companies like 3M are now presenting new products with synthetic minerals, strong resins, and even special longer-lasting ceramics. Traditionally, sandpapers for woodworking have been made of Aluminum Oxide, Garnet, Silicon Carbide, and Ceramic. Up until recently, the two used most often by woodworkers are Aluminum Oxide and Garnet (identified by the red coloring.) Keep in mind the color usually does refer to something—from brand to manufacturing and it will impact your final purchasing decision so read the labels carefully.
king with r o w n e Wh y r, be it b e p a p d n sa nding a s a h t i hand, w with a block, or er, use d n a s e l portab ses and s a l g y t e your saf ask. a dust m
fully prevent you from experiencing common roadblocks that will hinder you from an enjoyable “do-ityourself” experience. 14
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150
60
Runnin’ Thru The Grit 80
120
50
220 GRIT
COMMON NAME
USES
40-60
Coarse
Heavy sanding and stripping, roughing up the surface.
80-120
Medium
Smoothing of the surface, removing smaller imperfections and marks.
150-180
Fine
Final sanding pass before finishing the wood
220-240
Very Fine
Sanding between coats of stain or sealer.
280-320
Extra Fine
Removing dust spots or marks between finish coats
360-600
Super Fine
Fine sanding of the finish to remove some luster or surface blemishes and scratches.
Don’t be pushed away by the new ceramic sandpapers. Ceramic is the hardest of all of the abrasives commonly available. It is also one of the most expensive materials available, but with new technology, you will see it more and more. I encourage you to try it sometime: the sandpaper DOES last longer.
Let’s get to the sanding. As you look at your project you will be determining the finish you want to end up with before you start. This will be a huge factor to determine the sandpaper that you purchase. Generally speaking, you are safe to always have on hand a variety of grits from 150 to 400, usually a 150, 240, 320 and 400.
These are standard U.S. grits. Grits outside of this run usually indicate a foreign-made brand.
Why Do You Need So Many Numbers? In the carpentry world, you will often hear the phrase, “Be sure to run through all the grits.” This means you YOU CAN DO IT! MAGAZINE |
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Backings vary on different kinds of sandpaper. Usually, sandpaper is backed with paper or a thin fabric of cotton or polyester. You will also find mesh, selfadhesive and Velcro backings. I prefer using 3M’s No-Slip Grip Backing whenever I can.
sa ve y our knuc kle s! No-Slip Grip™ Backing On Sandpaper Keeps My Hands From Getting Tired! When I’m doing a lot of handsanding, my fingers get pretty tired and then my knuckles begin to ache. I like using 3M’s sandpaper because it has a No-Slip Grip™ Backing. It helps me sand longer without my fingers getting so sore. I can cover more surface and it makes for easier work. When I fold the sandpaper to fit my hand, I make sure the backing is in contact with itself. The sandpaper doesn’t slip and I don’t have to grip it so tight. If I’m using a sanding block, the sandpaper stays put longer without slipping. And the best thing is that when the paper gets dusty, I just rinse the sheet and the backing gets restored! Check it out!
should work your way toward your finished piece by progressively moving up in grit with the sandpaper. For example, if I start sanding a piece with 150 grit, I have to progress to 240 before I hit it with 320. Skipping a gage of grit will leave scratches behind. The grits are designed to progressively work the piece to an even, smooth finish with each level breaking down the one before. I usually sand to 320 before I start staining or 16
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sealing a piece. Depending on the wood I am working with, I don’t want to “over” sand. This is when the pores of the wood become clogged and prevent the stain from penetrating the grains evenly. I usually use 400 grit in between coats of water-based polyurethane. I use 600 to 1500 grit mainly on Venetian plaster. I leave you with the one cardinal rule in the DIY process of sanding: Always sand with the grain of the
wood, not across it. After trying it on a scrap piece of wood you will see how the scratches are visible across the wood, so it won’t make for a very nice finish. I really hope that by bringing a little insight into sandpaper, more people will see it as a necessary step toward the success of a professional-looking finish. Whether your project is working on a wall, a piece of outdoor furniture or a floor, using the right abrasive will make or break your project.
The Keys To Successful Sanding The next time you consider using or buying sandpaper, take these things into consideration: n Marry the abrasive to the material. Sandpapers and abrasives are made specifically for different surfaces— wood, metal, etc. n “Follow the grit through” n ALWAYS go with the grain n As a safety reminder when working with sandpaper, be it by hand, with a sanding block, or with a portable sander, use your safety glasses and a dust mask.
HALLOW Crunched For Time & Cash This Halloween? Never Fear When A Paper Bag Is Near!
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any people take Halloween seriously. They spend the whole year designing, planning and crafting incredible decorations and costumes dedicated to this incredibly popular holiday. Every year, I spend hours helping friends make outlandish and traditional Halloween Costumes. In the last few years, I have become make-up and wardrobe central for many— doing make-up through the day and getting everyone ready for their parties. But for me personally, I usually choose to stay home and give away candy. I absolutely love to see how much the little kids faces light up once they pronounce that age-old mantra, “Trick Or Treat!” That is better than any Halloween party I can think of! 18
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is in the
WEEN
e bag!
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HALLOWEEN is in the bag!
I also see Halloween as a great time to be creative with children. Inspiring and participating in creative projects can be rewarding for both the child and the adult. This is what I hope to do by sharing these very easy Halloween projects with you! We can all make awesome Halloween decorations and spend very little money with only a huge investment in creativity. I also love that the same materials we use to make Halloween crafts for kids also work with crafts for adults. It’s all about how you present the projects. With a child, it can be whimsy or with an adult, holiday flair. Not only that, these projects are all about creating Halloween with recycled and cost effective materials!
Making A GREEN And Inexpensive Halloween On A Time Crunch I am huge into re-purpose, re-use or recycle. I am hard pressed to throw anything away. I see value and creative inspiration in just about everything. Don’t get me wrong—I am not a pack rat. On the contrary, I am a bit obsessive about organization. I know WHAT I have and WHERE it is. You will often hear me say “I fit 10 lbs. of carrots into a 5 lbs. bag. Ok…maybe I didn’t say carrots but you get the picture (LOL). I also really enjoy making projects out of the things I already have on hand. This concept eliminates buzzkill things such as: 1. I don’t have to go to the store. 2. I won’t spend money 3. Waste time getting “set-up” to do a project (like running to a store) and then lose the motivation due to a 20
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Here are a couple more tips and tricks to inspire your Halloween creativity:
Suggested Color Palette Orange, black, white, brown and green and feel free to play with grey tones.
price tag attached. You will often hear me say, “Limited only by creativity.” This applies to materials and controlling your financial output. This is where recycling comes in. Do a scavenger hunt around your house and think, “How
Suggested Materials Acrylic paints, pipe cleaners, wood scraps, styrofoam packaging, cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, newspapers, magazines and on and on—nothing is off limits!
Tips and Tricks COLOR COUNTS With any holiday, color is a priority. It is the color code that announces the holiday. Use orange, black and feel free to play with grey tones and white. Adding an element of red can also be fun. PLAY WITH AND INVERT COLORS When making multiples of the same crafting project, play with the selected Halloween color palette by inverting the placement of color. Also play with grouping things in like colors—all black bats, or who says pumpkins have to be orange—if you make them all black it could be a modern spin on the traditional. There are no rules!
Conduct a scavenger hunt around your house to find creative materials. many products can we recycle when creating or thinking about the whole Halloween theme?” The kids really love this part! I pulled out a bunch of paper lunch bags I’ve had sitting in the kitchen for a couple of years. Then I went out to the workshop and pulled together some paints, pipe cleaners, old newspaper, felt, silk leaves from a once-forgotten flower arrangement, etc. It was amazing what I cobbled together by just opening my eyes. After a couple of hours, I created ALL of the projects you see here. Each one only took about 45 minutes to complete. Just let your imagination fly….
HoliDaYS
HALLOWEEN
™
TIME: about 20 mins. SKILL: easy
Paper Bag Luminarias NOTE: I drew all the faces on the paper bags freehand, but you can pull generic clip art from the Internet and trace them. Also, don’t feel limited by only drawing faces. Try drawing leaves or other fun images.
Materials Paper lunch bags Battery operated votive candles
Tools Pencil Ruler or straight edge Artist’s knife, scissors or cutter
1. Using a pencil draw or trace out the image you want to cut out. 2. With an artist’s knife and a piece of scrap wood underneath (so you don’t damage the table), cut out the images following the lines. You may have to press hard in areas as the paper bags have layers and you want to cut through all of them at the same time. PLEASE supervise children with any artist’s knife or scissors. If creating these with small children, the cutting should be done by an adult.
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3. I placed battery-operated votive candles in the bottom of the bag. You can find at a local craft store. I bought 6 for about $5 If you like, you can paint the outside of them. I like the “Fall” feel the natural brown paper bags bring.
along p u m e th e n li to n I pla treaters. r o k ic tr e th t e e r g my front wal k to —Carmen
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HoliDaYS
HALLOWEEN
™
TIME: about 45 mins. SKILL: easy
De La Paz
YouCanD It!
Paper Bag Frankenstein Materials Paper lunch bags Paint brush Acrylic or poster paints in black, white, silver and green Colored foam sheets Pipe cleaners or rubberbands Plastic bottle caps and straw (to create the bolts on the side of his head) Black crafting felt Pre-made googly eyes
Tools Basic set of student or artist brushes Pencil Artist’s glue or hot-glue gun Artist’s knife, scissors or cutter
1. Using a paper lunch bag, stuff it with crumpled newspaper or magazine sheets to create the Frankenstein head shape. Note: I use the square bottom of the bag to help replicate Frank’s square head. Secure the bottom of the bag with a rubber band or pipe cleaner. 2. Paint the head in a “Frankenstein green.” 3. Attach the pre-made “googly” eyes (you can always make your own eyes) with a bit if glue (I used a hot-glue gun because it is quick but, you can use regular glue and wait for it to dry. If using a hot-glue gun—PLEASE supervise children as they should not be using one without adult supervision). 4. Cut out half-moon shaped eyelids from the green foam paper and attach with glue. 5. Paint on the nose and mouth and scar along the side of the head with black paint. I actually mixed a bit of white into the black paint so it wasn’t so stark and a little softer gray color. SAFETY FIRST! Always assist young artists with a hot glue gun.
CREATE IT. BUILD IT. LOVE IT. MAGAZINE
6. Using scissors and black felt, cut out pieces to cover the head with hair. I cut 4 separate pieces for the hair—one for the top, one for the back and two for the sides. I had a ton of fun cutting out the hair in a zig-zag pattern and making it look Frank-ish. 7. For the bolts: Cut about an inch off of a plastic straw and glue it to the bottom of the plastic cap—then paint it silver. I used spray paint but you can also brush it on with a silver craft paint or silver paint marker. 8. Glue the bolts to the side of Frank’s head, lining them up with the eyes for nice placement. 9. Place the head in basket or in a bowl with candy. Be creative! Frank can sit just about anywhere!
Cut half-moon eyes
HoliDaYS
HALLOWEEN / THANKSGIVING TIME: about 45 mins. SKILL: easy
Paper Bag Pumpkins Materials Paper lunch bags Old newspapers or magazines Acrylic or poster paints in two shades of orange Pipe cleaners Rubber bands Old silk or paper leaves (or make leaves out of construction paper) Basket, bucket or container
Tools Basic set of student or artist brushes Watered down school glue
5.
1. Using a paper lunch bag, twist up the whole bag to create wrinkles. Then un-twist. 2. Stuff the bag with crumpled up newspaper or magazine sheets to create the pumpkin shape, mushing in the corners to keep it rounded. Note: I twisted the top of the bag to create the pumpkin stalk coming out the top. Secure the bottom of the bag with a rubber band or pipe cleaner. 3. To create the shape of the stalk: water down school crafting glue with a bit of water—then brush it on and shape the stalk by twisting it into place, creating the hook you want. Once it dries it will stay in the shape you created. 4. Once the glue has dried, paint the base of the pumpkin. I painted the bag in a light orange. Once the base coat dries (about 10 minutes), lightly wisk on a darker orange to hit the highs on the wrinkles of the
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De La Paz
YouCanD It!
CREATE IT. BUILD IT. LOVE IT. MAGAZINE
paper bag. The secret here is that less paint is more. I dab paint on a brush and then wipe most of it off on a napkin before applying. This is called a “dry brush method.” Using a green pipe cleaner, twirl it on at the base of the stalk. Glue a leaf onto each pipe cleaner and twirl onto the stalk base. For the twirled vine effect, twirl a pipe cleaner around your finger and tuck it into the other stems. You can add a dab of glue to hold it all in place but I simply tucked and secured it using the wire in the stem. Place in a basket with silk flowers or just sitting on a table. Whatever feels and looks good to YOU!
These will also work extremely well for Thanksgiving decorations!