Erik HOMEMADE

Gift Mug with Candy craft project

Why just fill a mug with candy, when you can decorate it, too? Perfect for the office, get-well wishes, or just about any occasion you can think of, this dollar store mug will lift many a spirit! Use tacky craft glue to attach the foam ball to the mug, so that when the candy is gone, a hot soapy wash will prepare the mug for its proper use! 

For each mug you will need

1 mug
1 foam ball (large enough to sit on top of the mug)
wrapped candy (enough to cover exposed foam base)
ball-headed straight pins, the longer kind* **
wide ribbon, for bow
cardstock, tacky craft glue, scissors

Make sure the foam ball sits on top of the mug before you begin. If it does not, choose a larger size ball. With tacky craft glue, glue the foam ball to the mug; allow to dry thoroughly. With the straight pins, begin pinning the first row of candy to the foam ball around the top of the mug, starting and ending near the handle.

Autograph Booklets craft project

Perfect for a scout project, slumber party, camp group, or grade school class, these little autographs booklets are sure to be a hit with your group! Find co-ordinating note cards and stationary at your local dollar store, or mix and match as you like! For the best results, make sure that your stapler reaches to the center of the folded card.

For each booklet you will need

1 folded note card
6 sheets of note paper
10-inch length of 1/8-inch ribbon
scrapbook alphabet stickers*
ruler, scissors, 1/8-inch round punch, stapler 

Fold the sheets of note paper in half and test-fit by inserting them into the folded card; and if necessary, use ruler and scissors to trim the paper so that all of the pages fit inside of the note card. Set aside. Along the open edge of card, center and punch a hole through both sides, 1/4-inch from the edge.

Graduation Souvenir Journal craft project

Give your grad his/her very own journal to celebrate the occasion! Find a cool book at the dollar store, then decorate the cover for a one-of-a-kind gift! Slip quotes and thoughts attached to matching accent papers in among the book pages. A pretty pen is all that is needed for friends and family to sign this personalized keepsake!

For each journal you will need

1 small book
1/4-inch grosgrain ribbon, for cover and bookmark
alphabet stickers
1 tassel, (ours was a keychain)
printed ribbon
assorted stickers, accent papers,velum quotes, scrapbook embellishments
sissors, craft glue, scrapbook glue/tape 

Using book cover design as a guide, glue printed ribbon in place, wrapping 1/2-inch to the inside cover. Add alphabet stickers to spell desired words. Glue 1/4-inch ribbon along the left side, covering raw end of the printed ribbon, and wrapping 1/2-inch to the inside cover on both ends.

Frosted Candy Cane Ornament craft project

   

It is so easy to create visions of sugar plums like these tasty looking frosty canes! All you need is some plastic candy canes found at the dollar store and some white caulk! Change the color and shape of your beads for an even sweeter temptation--but do not bite into one! They are strictly for decoration!

For each ornament you will need

1 plastic candy cane ornament
white paintable caulk, "for kitchen and bath"
glass seed beads
8-inch length of 1/4-inch ribbon
scissors, plastic knife or wooden craft sticks
heavy glass, jar, or mug
small bowl, to catch beads

With plastic knife, or wooden craft stick, carefully spread caulk over the short end and curve of the plastic candy cane as shown. Holding candy cane over a bowl, quickly sprinkle seed beads onto the wet caulk, covering as desired. Allow the beads that do not stick to fall into the bowl so that they may be used again. Continue to sprinkle beads onto the wet caulk until you are satisfied with the results. Gently press the beads into the caulk.

Knit Sock Ornaments craft project

Take advantage of the fun novelty knit socks found this festive time of year at your local dollar store! Simply cut, stitch, gather, and stretch the knit part of these socks over a styrofoam ball! Add some trims and a bow...and you have a pretty ornament in no time! You can make 1 or 2 ornaments from one sock, depending on its size.

For each ornament you will need

1 sock with a novelty design*
1 styrofoam ball**
desired trim, yarn, cording, rick-rack, etc...
wide ribbon for bow
narrow ribbon for hanging
hand quilting thread/needle
straight pins
craft glue, scissors

Cut the sock just before the toe and straight across at the heel. Turn tube inside out. With a needle and quilting thread, run a gathering stitch, about 1/4-inch from the edge, all the way around the tube. Pull up to gather and knot thread. Turn right side out. Place styrofoam ball inside of tube and force to the bottom of the gathered end, evening out the gathers. When ball is down as far as possible, the sock/tube should be tight over the ball, but loose along the the un-gathered top. Roll ball gently on a hard surface, like a table top, to lightly crush the lump formed at the bottom into a lightly rounded

Halloween Ghost Lollipop Favors craft project

 

Having made so many of these little ghosts, we had to include them in our first Halloween at Erik Homemade(R). Friends all of the world have received these little spooks! Even better, most supplies are easily found at the dollar store! Make them simple*, with painted eyes for the little ones, or sophisticaed**, with wiggle eyes, for the grown-ups!

For each ghost you will need

lollipop
paper cocktail napkin (white, colored, or appropriate motif--we used black spider webs)
narrow ribbon for tie
fine point black marker (for simple* ghost)
wiggle eyes (for sophisticated** ghost) and tacky-type craft glue

Open paper napkin and use fold lines to center lollipop. Place lollipop on the back of napkin. Fold napkin down and around, with the lollipop on the inside; smoothing and folding the napkin towards the

Little Ghost Magnets craft project

 

These little phantoms, sure to make everyone howl, are a wonderful craft project for a party or scout group activity. You only need a few basic materials and each child can have fun making endless facial expressions! If wiggle eyes are not appropriate for your age group, simply use punched paper holes or paint for the round shapes needed. It may take awhile for the glossy paint to dry, so plan ahead. Boo to you!

For each ghost magnet you will need

opaque white glass floral pebbles--round or star shaped (we found ours in the craft aisle at the dollar store)
water-based gloss enamel paint for glass and ceramic surfaces
strong button magnet
fine paint brush
small wiggle eyes, or punched paper holes*
tacky-type craft glue

Glue the wiggle eyes or punched paper holes in place as shown in the photo, for eyes. Allow to dry. With a fine paint brush, paint mouth. We painted an oval to look like our ghosts were howling. Allow to dry completely.