DYI Party Pillows!

I've been crazy this week planning my daughter's 11th birthday party. She wanted to have a slumber party and it hasn't been easy coming up with ideas for that tween age. I saw some really cute sleepover autograph pillow cases, but the price was a little more than I wanted to spend for an activity or party favor. So, since I've been so inspired lately by all you creative women out there, here's what I came up with..... DYI Party Pillows! We will be making these as one of our activities at the sleep over this weekend. I hope they have as much fun with them as I did making up the test sample.

Supplies: Pillow cases (I got the white pillow protectors with the zipper from Target for 2 for $3.99 --they were so much more less expensive than standard pillow cases), black permanent marker, assortment of other color permanent markets, and Pentel Fabric Fun Pastel Dye Sticks.

First I drew up some templates for tracing. I placed the template inside the pillow case and traced my design with a permanent black Sharpie marker. Next, I colored in the design with the fabric pastel dye sticks. When I finished, I placed a piece of paper over the design and ironed it on high. This set the Pastel Dye making it permanent and washable. I've never used these dye sticks before, but they worked really well-even washed up nicely. The only problem I had with them was that they do smudge easily. I'll have to post some pics next week of the ones they make at the party this weekend--wish me luck!

New Product-Fall Leaves Project

I wanted to show you a new product that I tried and loved the results. I ordered ArtEmboss Aluminum Sheets from DickBlick. They are 9-1/4' x 12" and come in a pack of 12. I didn't know what to do with them at first, but got inspired last week when all the leaves started turning, and decided to use it in a lesson to teach about warm and cool colors, and also using lines in drawing. All you need is a good selection of warm and cool colored Sharpie markers, a soft pencil (we used Ebony pencils), a piece of soft cardboard, assortment of fall leaves, and the aluminum sheets.

I collected a bunch of leaves in different shapes and colors and had the students trace the leaves on the "back" of their sheet. It will emboss better if you place a piece of cardboard under your work space.Then turn it over and begin to color, giving instructions to use warm colors for the leaves and cool colors for the background. Also make sure students are careful not to color over the "raised" portions so that they will have the silver lines define their shapes. I did this project with 2nd and 3rd graders and it took about an hour. Stunning results! Reminded me of stained glass windows.