Fiskars Craft

How to make Kids Can Stilts

I can remember my mum making these at home when I was little…..
When my kids requested to me to make some Can Stilts I thought “why not?”

You will need these supplies:

• 4 unlabeled empty cans (above I used 400g tins but the bigger cans will be better for little ones for balance)
• thin rope or garden twine
• electric glue gun and glue sticks
• Fiskars craft drill or hand drill
• Fiskars trimmer
• protective mat for your work bench – I used a heat resistant teflon sheet
• Patterned cardstock or paint/brushes to decorate cans

Step one:

cut widths of paper to the cans size with the trimmer
You could of course paint the cans but I’m impatient.

Step two:

hot glue the paper to the cans – BE CAREFULL hot glue is HOT!!!

step three:

there they are all covered. Now get someone to hold the cans still and drill holes opposite each other near the end of the can.

CAREFULL! – there maybe little bits of metal inside the cans – these can be SHARP!!!

step four:

Thread twine/thin rope through the holes.
Tip: twine is horrible at the ends so to stop it fraying I put hot glue on the end of the string so I could thread the twine through the holes.

Step Five:

Get your child to hold the string up and then tie a knot where they feel comfortable to hold it.

There they are done!

Final step:

Practice makes perfect. Keep the strings taught and walk on the stilts.
Yes there will be falls but the practice on hard ground is best.

My Daughter has it down already. I think my 4 yr old needs the wider cans to be more confident. Looks like I should buy big cans of fruit. Yum Yum!!!!

All the best and have fun!

Debbie Buckland

Christmas Accent 4

Today I am sharing with you Christmas Accent number 4.

 
I have had this gorgeous tin frame for a while now. I used my Fiskars Craft Drill and drilled two tiny holes side by side. I threaded some little tags with ribbon and tied them to the frame. Cute. All ready now to add a picture in and use on a layout or even the front of a little Christmas album.

Cheers, Dawn

Sketchbook Retreat - Lianne

Last weekend I taught a class at a great scrapbooking retreat here in Auckland NZ - Sketchbook Retreat at Motu Moana Scout Camp in Blockhouse Bay. We had the BEST time. Lots of lovely ladies who enjoyed my class too which was great.
Fiskars very kindly donated a Fiskars Drill as a prize for a lucky person in my class and here she is with her drill and canvas. Lee was thrilled to win the drill and has lots of uses in mind for it in her crafty projects.

 

TFL lianne

Stamped Bracelet

Designer: Patti Milazzo

Flowers are everywhere this Spring!  Here’s a handcrafted bracelet idea for mom or someone special in your life that incorporates all those beautiful floral stamps you have.  Fiskars Hand Drill made this project especially easy to drill small holes without the worry of breaking the small wooden discs.  And Heidi Grace’s floral stamp set added beautiful detail in creating these ceramic like discs for this classic black and white bracelet. 

Difficulty rating

Intermediate

Instructions (Print version)

1. Prepare 6+ wood discs by sanding any uneven edges or surface area and wipe clean.
Note: prepare a few extra to be safe.
2. Evenly coat wood discs on both sides and let dry thoroughly.
3. Stamp one side of discs with Heidi Grace floral stamp designs and Stamp Blocks, let dry, then stamp designs on opposite side also.

4. Use the Fiskars Hand Drill  to create 2 small holes on opposite sides of the discs – this is where the jump rings will be attached.

5. Coat discs with clear coat of acrylic or other sealer – a crackle finish gives the pieces a vintage touch.
6. Using pliers, attach jump rings to each drilled hole.
7. Connect the pieces with smaller jump rings.
8. Attach clasp pieces to end jump rings using pliers.
9. Create charms with head pins, silver filigree beads and black beads. 
10. Trim head pin length if needed with Wire Cutter and use Needle Nose Pliers to create loop on end and attach to jump ring near clasp.

Note: 6 – 1” discs with jump rings and clasp will create a 7 ½” bracelet. 

 

Supply List:
Fiskars Brands: 01-000068 Stamp Block Set
http://fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_stampblockset.aspx
Fiskars Brands: 85167097 Craft Hand Drill
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_craft-hand-drill.aspx
Fiskars Brands: 95537097 Micro Tip Pliers
http://fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_micro-tip-needle-nose-pliers.aspx
Fiskars Brands: 44174097 Flat Nose Pliers
Fiskars Brands: 44194097 Needle Nose Pliers
Fiskars Brands: 44114097 Wire Cutter

Heidi Grace Designs: Wild Daisy Road Clear Stamp Set
http://www.heidigrace.com/ProductList?ProductType=RubberStamps*

Other: 6+ 1” wood discs from craft store, white spray paint, sand paper, clear coat spray or crackle finish coating, jump rings, clasps, headpins, silver filigree beads, 5mm black beads.

Mums Day key ring mini album

I have been hanging on to this tiny little tin for a couple of years now, you know just waiting for the day that i needed it for something, i know sad hey, lol!! Anyway it used to house mints and i actually went looking for them the other day but couldn't find them. However there are lots of other mini tins on the market that you could base this idea around, i'm sure.

 

Firstly I used my Fiskars craft drill to drill 2 holes side by side in the back to attach the key chain to. I then painted the tin with a couple of coats of Heidi Swap paint, when that was dry i stamped using black Stazon ink on the lid and on the bottom. I also grubbied it up a bit by putting some stazon on a makeup remover swab and wiping it over.  When this was dry i applied the Heidi Grace Rubons and then over the whole lot i sealed with some Liquitex gloss medium varnish.

For me it was a challenge to get everyone together for a photo, so one by one as they arrived home i snapped a photo of each of the kids to go inside on the little concertina mini album....

 

I popped into office works where you can print little photos, which were ideal. I have spoilt myself and made this tin for me for mothers day, just haven't managed to get a photo of me and my other half, but i still have a spot to put that inside on the lid, so I shall endeavour to do it.

I made a little concertina piece to fit inside, the new flip and twist corner punch was perfect for doing the corners.

 

I doodled my borders (as usual, lol!!)  and added some colour by scribbling my tombow pen onto a tile and lifting the colour off with a water brush, so in effect using them as watercolours.

Heres a few closeups of the finished tin...

 

For this project i used

fiskars craft drill

Fiskars Flip and Twist corner rounder

Heidi Grace Sweetest Bug Rub-ons (LOVE LOVE LOOOOOVE THESE!!)

Kimberly Poloson Natures Flora - Tapestry clear stamps

Thanks for stopping by.

Annette :0)

 

New furry flocked flower paper !!

This is the cutest paper!! Those little flowers have furry little flocked petals on each and every one :0)

Very girlie (for big girls too!!)

The paper that i have used on the stem is also more paper you just HAVE to touch, all the little elements have a beautiful glittery finish.

Both were perfect for this door hanger made for a birthday gift for one of Maddisons friends, Becca.

 

For the "B" we painted it with a couple of layers of Heidi Swapp "betty" acrylic paint and when that was dry i stamped over it in black stazon using the paisley stamp from the new "Reagan's Closet" clear stamps from Heidi Grace. I must say if you are a lover of stamps, you are going to LOVE these!! I have acquired 3 new sets over the last week!!

Reagans's Closet, Heidi Grace

Sweetest Bug Icons, Heidi Grace

Mission, Ink By Steph

All available at Spotlight, picked them up in Cairns last week, check them out you won't be sorry ;0)

Anyway, where were we? After i stamped the black stazon and it was dry i put a wash of white over the top cause the pink was just a bit too heavy, when that was dry i coloured little bits with a white gel pen and added a bit of bling.

Then i decided to drill a hole with the Fiskars drill, now ideally this would probably be better done before you painted, but you know you just make it up as you go along;0)

 

My trusty assistant, Christopher was close by to hold the B, well actually we had a little tiff about who was going to drill, i won this time!!(usually its him!) Remember to drill into something thick as you can see you will drill right through the other side and into the table, craft mat or anything else that might be underneath...yes speaking from experience ;0) All ready to thread a piece of ribbon through to attach to the door hanger.

  

See the furry bits on the flowers, cute hey?

Well thanks for stopping by, will be back later to share my photo of the day for yesterday and today.

Annette :0) 

The Monthly challenge for March is..........

HERE!!!

and this month we would love for you to think outside the square and show us how you can use your tools in ways that aren't necessarily what they were intended for.

Recently when i was visiting a neighbour i spied some lovely beachy driftwood mobiles hanging from her balcony. They were lovely shapes of driftwood, holes drilled and threaded with beads inbetween and they looked fabulous!!

So as we were heading back down to our caravan over christmas, i decided to throw my Fiskars drill in the car as well. we had just had huge seas down there  with the backlash from a cyclone so there was all sorts of treasures washed up on the beach, this is what the kids came back with......

 

we had shells, drift wood, pumas stone and burnie beans (just in case you were wondering,burnie beans are seeds off a tree that are very smooth and when you rub them on the cement the friction makes them heat up and when you put it on something, or rather someone - it burns!! its a kid thing ;0).)

Anyway all of the above bits, even the shells were drilled using the Fiskars drill. You will need 2 people for this, and my 8 and 10 year olds managed it quite nicely, simply drill holes through the centres and thread onto fishing line.

  

My husband even got into the action (above) and i caught Maddison holding a piece of pumas stone between her big toe and second toe while she drilled!! thought it best not to photograph that ;0) (I did think it was very clever, though didn't encourage it, lol!!)

  

this is the finished product, we ended up with 6!! Needless to say the kids had an absolute ball and now on the to do list is a trip to the bead shop to make some more with driftwood and beads this time.

SO my challenge to you is:-

think outside the square and show me what you can do to use your tools in a manner other than the obvious. Just inspire us to get the most out of our tools. Use ANY tool in your stash and email photos to us at [email protected] . Can't wait to see what creations you come up with, and you have the entire month of March to get your entries in. 

Have fun!!

Annette :0) 

 

 

Christmas Table Setting from the Garden

How about creating a Christmas Table Centre Piece this year by using "greenery" from the Garden!

It's now 12 Days until Christmas so you have got time to play around and have -a-go at one of these!

I have been playing around using some cyprus,holly leaves,some small pine cones and a few other bits and pieces from around our garden!

I used a large round tray about 2" deep x about 10" and placed a soaked block of floral foam into the centre. It's important that you soak the foam block(usually green or fawn in colour) until it has aborbed the water......so throw it into a bucket of water for an hour or so first while you go picking your greenery from around the garden.

I used my NEW FISKARS Secateurs (thanks Nic).......had to hide these from my garden loving hubby......LOL! We now have a "HIS" and "HERS" pair........so it's hands off Rod.....ROTFL!

Then you will need to trim the block so that you have some foam all around the inside of the tray.....so perhaps cut it in half and then trim up smaller pieces and place around the inside of the tray.....I used a sharp bread knife for this......sh...sh....don't tell my family.....LOL!

Next I drilled.....yes drillled 3 holes into the bottom of the candle with my Fiskars Hand Drill in a triangle shape so that I could poke some bamboo sticks into the bottom. You'll have to trim the bamboo sticks to the desired height....then insert them into the three holes......and then push the candle into the foam......centering it !

Start arranging your greenery around the candle and then add some bent sticks or you could use long straws if you have some. I then added some little gold baubles that I had in my Christmas stash already.

I'm going to create another one soon for my brother to use on Christmas Day.......so I'll share that also when it's completed. You could always add a bow or some ribbon near or around the candle for a little variation.

It's just so nice to be able to bring some of the garden inside for Christmas!

Happy Crafting!

xoxo

Lyn Dwyer

A photo a day - album

I recently purchased a small Kaiser wooden basket, and when i got it out the other day, i realised it didn't have the slots to slot it all together, and as the shop was an hour away i certainly wasn't heading back.

Instead i have altered it into a little album for my photograph a day!!

Perfect size for 1 page of journalling and the opposite the photo.  I have it all ready to go so that as i post each day i can journal as well, and at the end i will get the corresponding photos printed off and they just need to be added to the page.

The little handles i have made into a window by adhereing acetate under the paper, as well as adding a little welcoming window it will help to protect the pages.

I have made a little neighbourhood that reminds me of ours, our home is a highset Queenslander, not pink though lol!! The golf course is in the background with the little white golf ball and the putting green, with the trees and some raindots at the front as flowers.

White Bazzill pages inside already to go.

I have journalled in my own handwriting as well as adding borders with a thin black pen and colouring with tombow pens.

I have included the date on each journalled page and the opposite page is waiting for the photos to be added.

  Hope you have been enjoying this as much as I - thanks for a great challenge Lesley :0)

For this project i used Heidi Grace A Little Birds Tale range of papers and some cloud 9 design raindot pink eyelets, Heidi Grace Clear Stamps Tags and Words, the Fiskars craft drill and fingertip control craft knife, hole punch and eyelet setter.

Enjoy your weekend

Annette :0)

Video of Fiskars Craft Drill

I hand some spare time up my sleeve this week so made a quick video of the use of the Fiskars Craft Drill since its the tool of the Month at www.fiskarscrafts.com

Its just over a minute long.

Enjoy