Bruce The Chef.

Baby buckets

These endearing pails are just theright size tokeep things organized for little darlings.

what you'll need
Off-white acrylic paint; paintbrush Peat pot (available at
garden centers) Baby-motif sticker Decoupage medium, such as
Mod Podge; small nail 12 inches of 20-gauge silver wire Wire cutters Pencil

1  Brush two coats of paint on the inside and the outside of the pot. Let the paint dry. Apply a third coat to fill any remaining dark spots. Let the paint dry.
2 Apply a sticker to the center front of the bucket. Brush several coats of clear decoupage medium over the sticker. Let dry.
3  Use a small nail to poke a hole on opposite sides of the bucket V2 inch down from the rim. Cut a 12-inch length of the wire for the handle. Wind the center of the wire around a pencil six times. Bend the straight sides of the wire down and thread them through the prepoked holes from the outside. Fold V2 inch of each wire end back up against the handle.

Rainvow Vase

Choose braid in spring-fresh colors to transform a pitcher into a vase.

what you'll need
Small glass pitcher
Thick white crafts glue; paintbrush
1 yard variegated braided cord
Scissors
18-inch-long piece of iVi-inch-wide variegated sheer ribbon

2 Wash and dry the pitcher, removing stopper if necessary.
2 Beginning just below the spout, paint glue on the center portion
of the pitcher. Wrap the cording around the pitcher over the glue.
Trim the excess cord. Apply more glue to the ends if needed to
secure. Let the glue dry.
3 Tie ribbon around the handle. To cut notches into the ribbon
ends, fold each of the ends in half lengthwise; cut diagonally.
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BOX ROBOT

a small and a large cardboard box, aluminum foil, construction paper, permanent markers)
1. To make the head, remove the flaps from a small cardboard box that fits on your shoulders. Cover the box with glue and aluminum foil. Cut out holes for the eyes and a mouth.
2. For the body, remove the flaps from a large cardboard box. Cut a hole in the bottom of the box for your head to fit through. Cut a square on each side of the box for your arms. Cover the box with glue and foil.
3. Decorate with construction paper and permanent markers. Twist together foil antennae, and tape them to the head.

YARN HAIR WIG

(one knee-high stocking, large beverage container, yarn, crochet hook)
1.  Pull a knee-high stocking, inside out, over your hair. Tie a knot close to your head in the extra stocking hanging loose. Take off the stocking and turn it right-side out. Stretch the stocking over a large beverage container.
2.  Cut pieces of yarn 16 to 20 inches long. Hold a small pinch of stocking in your fingers. Gently poke a crochet hook through the stocking. Place a piece of yarn on the hook and pull it through the hole. Tie a knot in the yarn.
3.  Continue to cover the stocking with pieces of yarn.

BEWITCHING EYES

(construction paper, brass fastener)
1.  Glue together pieces of construction paper to create the witch's face, hair, and hat.
2.  Cut two holes in the face for the eyes. Cut a small strip of paper and fold in the middle for the nose.
3.  Draw and cut out a circle of white paper, no wider than the witch's face.
4.  With the nose on top of the face and the circle behind the face, poke a brass fastener through the layers of paper to hold together.
5.  Draw a pair of eyes on the white paper circle. Turn the circle and draw another set of eyes. Give your witch different eyes with each turn.

Embroidered stationery

A few simple stitches of silk ribbon create charming notes.

what you'll need
Tracing paper; pencil
Card stock note card and matching envelope
Darning needle
4mm or 7mm silk ribbon in desired colors
Fine tapestry needle; glue, optional

1  Trace design, opposite, onto tracing paper. Place the tracing on note card on a protected work surface.
2 Use a darning needle to pierce the design into the paper and note card. Using the pattern holes, stitch diagrams, and the photo, below and opposite, as guides, stitch the design with silk ribbon, knotting on the back.
Trim the envelope and note card with running stitches or flat pieces of ribbon glued in place.

Tiny tote

Dress up a tiny canvas tote with clusters of floral and leaf beads.

what you'll need
Thread; scissors; ruler
Beading needle
Mini canvas tote bag
Beads in flower and leaf shapes
Assorted seed and other small beads
total cost
tote bag beads

1  Cut an 18-inch length of thread. Thread the needle and knot one end of the thread.
2 From the inside of the bag, push the needle through one side, centered approximately 1 Vi inches from the top. Thread on a flower bead and a seed bead. Push the needle back through the flower bead and the bag. Continue attaching bead flowers until you like the look. Sew on single seed beads and leaf beads as desired. Knot the thread on the inside of the bag.
3 Sew bead trims to the tote bag handle in the same manner.

PEBBLE PUMPKINS

(pebbles, paint, stick of wood)
1.  To make pumpkins, wash and dry small round, flat pebbles. Paint them orange and create faces.
2.  Use long, flat pebbles for the ghosts. Paint them white and create faces.
3.  Glue the pumpkins and ghosts to a small stick of wood.

GLITTERING WAND

(16-inch wooden dowel, poster paint, construction paper, felt, cotton balls, glitter)
1.  For the handle, paint a wooden dowel and let it dry. Cut small stars from white construction paper, and glue them on the handle.
2.  Cut two large identical stars from white felt. Spread glue on the edges of the stars.
3. Place a few cotton balls in the center of one star. Lay one end of the handle on top. Place the second star on top of the handle and the first star. Press the stars together at the edges.
4.  Spread a thin layer of glue on one side of the star, and sprinkle with glitter. When it has dried, do the same to the other side.

PUMPKIN CARD

(construction paper)
1. Cut a sheet of orange construction paper in half the long way. Fold in half again, as shown. Round off the corners into a pumpkin shape, being careful not to cut off the fold.
2.  On the front, cut out the features. Cut a piece of black paper a little smaller than the folded card. Paste it behind the front of the card.
3. Write a message inside. Use the card as an invitation or greeting card.

Pretty pencil holder

Artful motifs cut from decorative papers beautify this set of pencils and holder.

what you'll need
Toothbrush holder
Scissors
Scraps of decorative scrapbook or origami papers
Thick white crafts glue
Pencils
Glass paint; paintbrush

1 Wash and dry toothbrush holder.
2 Using scissors, cut out flowers or other motifs from decorative paper and glue onto the holder.
3  Cut paper to cover each pencil, allowing a slight overlap. Glue the paper around each pencil.
4  Dip the handle of a paintbrush into paint and dot the center of each flower. Place dots in groups of three between the flowers. Let the paint dry.

Dainty posy box

Fill this clay-embellished box to the brim with aromatic potpourri for an irresistible display.

what you'll need
White air-dry clay, such as
Crayola Model Magic Rolling pin Small heart-shape cookie
cutter Butter knife Thick white crafts glue 31/2-inch high round cardboard box with lid approximately 6
inches in diameter Acrylic paints in desired colors Fine-point and small, flat paintbrushes White gel stain; damp, soft cloth

i Roll out clay to a thickness of approximately 3/-e inch. Cut out four small hearts with cookie cutter. Set aside to dry.
2  Shape leaves by forming a marble-size ball out of clay. Flatten it into an oval shape and press a crease into the center with the blade of a knife. Let dry.
3  Form seven or eight small balls to place in the center of the flower. To make the blue flowers around the edge, form five balls of clay for each flower. Shape tiny leaves out of clay. Let dry.
4  Glue clay shapes onto the lid and sides of the box.
5 Coil a piece of clay into a Vs-inch-thick rope to trim the edge of lid. Place a thin line of glue around the edge and adhere the rope of clay around the edge, meeting at each flower. Let the clay dry on the box.
6  Paint the entire box, inside and out, using white. Let the paint dry. Paint the box pale yellow. Slightly overlap the paint onto the flowers and rope. Let the paint dry. Paint the large flowers red, the leaves and rope green, the small flowers blue, and the flower centers bright yellow. Let the paint dry.
7  Coat the entire outside of the box and the lid using a generous amount of white gel stain. Brush the gel stain into all of the crevices of the clay design.
8 Let the gel just begin to dry and gently wipe off with the damp, soft cloth. Wipe just enough to take the top surface off, leaving the white stain in the crevices. Let the stain dry.

HANGING BATS

(construction paper, yarn)
1.  Draw and cut out three pairs of bat designs from black construction paper. Divide into two sets. Set aside one of each bat design to use later.
2. Vertically lay the three bats of the first set on a table about 2 inches apart.
3.  Cut a long piece of yarn, and lay it down the center of the bats. Glue the yarn to the bats.
4.  Spread glue around the edges of the bats, and place the matching bat from the other set on top of its mate.
5. Tie a loop in the yarn above the first bat to make a hanger.

BOO TREAT BAG

(white paper, white paper bag)
1.  Cut out two arms from white paper. Glue them to the sides of a white paper bag.
2.  Draw a face on the front of the bag.
3.  Fold down the top of the bag about an inch and trim the corners with scissors. Fill the bag with treats.

HALLOWEEN POP-OUT CARD

(construction paper, plastic-foam tray)
1.  For the card, fold a piece of construction paper in half. Fold it over in half again the other way.
2.  Decorate the front of the card with cut pieces of paper. Write a greeting on another piece of paper, and glue it to the inside of the card.
3.  Cut out a ghost from a plastic-foam tray and add paper eyes.
4.  Cut two strips of paper and fold them over each other in the direction shown to form a paper spring. Glue the spring to the card and the back of the ghost.

Dainty watering cans

Tiny enough to hold in the palm of your hand, this mini arrangement blooms with cheer.

what you'll need
Disposable plate
Acrylic enamel paints in white and
other desired color Sea sponge Miniature watering can Color photocopies of
fresh flowers Scissors
Thick white crafts glue Paintbrush
Metallic silver or gold marking pen Small plastic cup

1  Place small amounts of paints on a disposable plate. Moisten the sponge and wring out excess water.
2  Dab sponge lightly in each paint color; dab onto watering can. Continue applying color in this manner until the desired look is achieved. Let dry. Cut out photocopies of flowers. Arrange cutouts as desired on watering can. Glue cutouts in place. Let dry. Thin glue with water; coat the front of the cutouts. Let dry. Accent the edges of the watering can with tiny stripes drawn with a silver or gold marking pen. Trace the flower outline with pen. Let dry. Before placing flowers in the can, place a small plastic cup inside can. Fill with tiny flowers and water.

Pretty pansy tray

Serve guests in style with this vintage-looking serving tray lined in pansy motifs.

what you'll need
Color photocopies of vintage or new floral-motif cards
Scissors
Distressed-look serving tray
Thick white crafts glue
Paintbrush
Dried, pressed pansies and ferns

1  Trim photocopies as desired. Arrange trimmed pieces on the top of a serving tray.
2 Keeping the desired arrangement, glue the paper pieces in place. Let dry.
3 Arrange and glue on pressed pansies and ferns where desired. Let dry. Thin glue with water; coat decoupaged areas of tray. Let the glue dry.

THE SPIDER AND THE WEB

(quart-size milk carton, yarn, construction paper, rickrack, cotton ball, paper cup, poster paint)
1.  Measure 2 inches from the bottom of a quart-size milk carton, and draw a line around the outside of the carton. Cut along the line to make a small square box.
2.  To create the web, poke eight holes around the sides of the box—one in each corner and one in the middle of each side. Tie a knot at one end of a long piece of yarn, and wrap a piece of tape around the other. Thread the taped end through the holes, as shown in the diagram, tying a knot in the yarn at the last hole. Take another piece of yarn, and loop it under and over the piece woven through the holes. Glue paper to the outside of the box and add rickrack.
3.  For the body of the spider, dip a cotton ball into a small paper cup of water and poster paint. Squeeze the water out of the cotton ball and let dry. Separate a small piece of yarn into eight small strands. Glue the strands of yarn to the back of the cotton ball, letting the yarn hang down for legs. Add paper eyes and a mouth.
4.  Glue the spider to the center of the web and wrap a few legs around the web.

CAT NAPKIN HOLDER

(small cardboard tube, construction paper, napkin)
1.  Cut a 1-inch section from a small cardboard tube. Cover it with black paper.
2.  Draw a head, paws, and tail, as shown, on a piece of black construction paper and cut them out.
3.  Decorate the head with features cut from paper. Glue the head, paws, and tail to the tube. Place a rolled napkin through the center.

POMPON PUMPKIN

(lightweight cardboard, construction paper, orange yarn, poster board)
1. Cut out a pumpkin shape from a piece of lightweight cardboard, and cover it with orange construction paper.
2. To make pompons, wrap orange yarn around a piece of cardboard 4 inches square. (The more yarn you use, the fluffier the pompon will be.) Slip the yarn from the cardboard, and tie a piece of yarn tightly around the center, as shown. Cut through all the loops, and fluff up the yarn.
3. Glue the pompons on the pumpkin. Attach eyes, a nose, and a mouth made from black paper.
4. Attach the pompon pumpkin to a square piece of black poster board. Add a green paper stem. Glue a piece of yarn to the back for a hanger.

Nap-time notice

Make an endearing sign to let everyone know when baby's asleep.

what you II need
Tracing paper; pencil
Scissors
Heavy cardboard
Fiberfill sheet
Fabric glue
Vi yard of light blue silk shantung
Sewing machine; thread
Dressmaker's carbon
2-3 yards of small pearls on a string
Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
3/4 yard of thick decorative cord
Small rhinestones

1  Enlarge and trace the heart pattern, above right. Cut out the shape and trace twice onto cardboard and once onto fiberfill. Cut out the heart shapes. Spot-glue the fiberfill heart to the top of one of the cardboard hearts using fabric glue.
2 Trace the heart pattern twice onto fabric. Machine-stitch on the lines. Cut out both fabric hearts V2 inch from the stitching.
3  Use the dressmaker's carbon to transfer the letters onto one of the hearts.
4  Lay the heart with words over the top of the cardboard heart with fiberfill. Line up stitching to edges of cardboard. Pull fabric over edge of cardboard; hot-glue to back, clipping as needed.
5 Cover the second cardboard heart with the second fabric heart in the same manner for the backing. Set aside.
6 Working one letter at a time, hot-glue the string of pearls over the transferred letters, cutting the length of pearls as needed.
7  For the hanger, cut a 10-inch length of pearls and hot-glue the ends to the back side of the heart. Hot-glue the backing to the heart.
8 Begin at the dip of the heart and hot-glue cord around the outside edge of the heart. Finish with a knot to cover the raw edge of
the cord.
9 Randomly glue the small rhinestones across the front of the heart.

Teacup Napkin

Grace a cloth napkin with vintage flair by transferring on blue work in a classic teacup design.

what you'll need
100-percent cotton napkin with
eyelet-hemmed edge; iron Iron-on blue-work teacup design
(available in fabric stores) Scissors
Press cloth; tapestry needle 3 yards of 4mm blue silk ribbon

1  Prewash the napkin without using bleach. Let the napkin dry. Press the napkin. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to transfer the teacup design to one corner of the napkin.
2 Cut away the excess of the textured velour past the edge of the design. To iron on the design, heat a dry iron to the wool setting.
3 Thread the ribbon in a tapestry needle. Weave the ribbon through the eyelet hem. Knot ends together and trim away the excess ribbon.

GHOST WIND SOCK

(sock, newspaper, ice-cream stick, black permanent marker)
1.  Cut several slits in the leg section of an old white sock.
2. Wad up a sheet of newspaper, and stuff it into the foot of the sock. Place an ice-cream stick crosswise in the sock. Then stuff more newspaper in the sock to hold the ice-cream stick in place. Continue to stuff in more newspaper until you have filled the entire foot of the sock.
3.  Make a face with a black permanent marker. With a pencil, poke two holes at the top of the ghost's head and pull a piece of yarn through them. Tie the ends together, and hang the ghost in a breezy place.

GLITTERY BRACELETS

(plastic or cardboard food containers, ribbon, aluminum foil, buttons, glitter, sequins)
1.  From plastic or cardboard food containers, cut rings that will fit around your wrist as bracelets.
2.  Decorate the rings with ribbon, aluminum foil, buttons, glitter, and sequins.

PAPER OWL

(construction paper)
1.  Fold a 3-inch-by-6-inch piece of construction paper in half lengthwise.
2.  Starting on the fold, cut 1-inch slits—about 1/2 inch apart—the entire length of the paper. Open and glue the ends together to form the body.
3.  Cut eyes, ears, and a beak from paper. Glue them in place.
4.  Cut a strip of paper for a handle, and glue the ends to opposite sides of the owl body. Hang the owl on a branch or use it to decorate a table.

Silk scarf pillow

Choose a scarf to match your decor instead of your outfit and sew a beautiful quilted pillow.

what you'll need
Silk scarf at least 15 inches square
Vi yard of coordinating cotton fabric for lining and back
16-inch square of quilt batting
Metallic gold sewing machine thread
Sewing machine; ruler or measuring tape; scissors
2 yards of beaded sew-in fringe
Pillow form; 5mm accent beads; needle

1  Line the scarf with cotton fabric and batting. Machine-quilt around scarf design using metallic gold thread.
2 Trim quilted scarf to measure 15 inches square.
3  Using '/2-inch seam allowances, sew the beaded fringe around the outside edge. Cut backing fabric the same as the front.
4 Stitch the back to the front, right sides facing, leaving an opening for turning. Trim the corners. Turn to the right side. Insert the pillow form. Stitch opening closed.
5 Sew on accent beads to detail the pillow.

Strawberry sachets

Speckled with clear seed beads, these sweetly scented strawberries are always in season.

what you'll need
White pencil Cereal bowl Va yard crinkle red
cotton lame Scissors Needle Thread in red
and green Sheet of felt Strawberry-scented oil Fiberfill
Thin needle to fit through beads Clear seed beads Ve yard green cotton lame 22-gauge floral wire; ruler

1  Use a white pencil to trace around the edge of a cereal bowl on the red fabric. Remove the bowl and cut out the traced circle.
2  Use a needle threaded with red thread to stitch a running stitch around the edge of the fabric circle. Pull both the beginning and end of the thread to gather the fabric circle into a berry shape.
3 Cut a 1-inch-thick strip across the width of the felt. Dab a drop of scented oil onto one end of the felt strip. Starting with the oiled end, roll up the felt strip and then place it in the center of the gathered fabric. Stuff pinches of fiberfill around the felt to widen the top of the strawberry. When the shape is formed as desired, pull both ends of the thread tightly over the stuffing and knot them together.
4 Thread a thin needle with red thread to begin stitching the white beads on the outside of the strawberry. Avoid piercing the rolled felt in the center of the strawberry with the needle to prevent the scented oil from spreading and leaking onto the red fabric.
5  Draw a circle on green lame to cover top of a strawberry; trim the edge in a zigzag fashion. Snip a small slit in the center of the leaf. Cut a 3-inch length of floral wire and then fold the wire in half. Coil the two wire ends into small circles. Thread the folded end of the floral wire stem through the slit in the leaf. Position the leaf on top of the beaded strawberry with the wire ends down. Stitch the leaf and stem in place with a needle and green thread.

NOISY GOBLIN

(one-pint milk carton, dried beans, construction paper, yarn, ice-cream stick)
1. Place some dried beans inside a one-pint milk carton, then staple the top closed.
2.  Spread glue on the carton, and cover it with construction paper.
3.  Draw a scary face on one side. Staple on yarn at the top for hair.
4. Poke a small hole in the bottom of the carton, and glue an icecream stick in the hole for the handle.

CLOTHESPIN CRITTER

(two spring-type clothespins, construction paper, white paint)
1.  From construction paper, cut four leg shapes long enough to cover a spring-type clothespin. Glue the legs on each side of two clothespins, with the feet at the open end.
2. On a piece of paper, draw shapes for the cat's body, tail, and head. Cut out the shapes, and glue them together. Add features with white paint.
3.  Clip the clothespin legs to the cat's body. Position the legs so the cat will stand.

WITCH MOBILE

(brown paper bag, newspaper, paint, black crepe paper, yarn)
1. Paint a witch's face on the front of a paper bag. Stuff the bag with crumpled newspaper. Fold over the top and glue it shut.
2.  For hair, glue strips of black crepe paper on the top of the bag. Attach a long piece of black yarn to the head with staples. Tie a knot in the yarn about 2 inches above the head.
3.  Cut a circle of black paper for the brim of the hat. Make a hole in the center, and pull the yarn through, letting the brim rest on the knot.
4. To make the top of the hat, roll a piece of black paper in a cone shape. Thread the yarn through the top of the hat and tape the cone shape to the brim.
5. Glue yarn on the hat for a hatband.

Heart pins

Create miniature pieces of art to give with love. These colorful resin hearts are simply luminous.

what you'll need
Black art board
Scissors
Adhesive-back papers, such as foil, metallic, and hologram papers
Decorative-edge scissors
Pencil
Waxed paper
Liquid plastic casting resin and hardener
Crafts stick
Gems
Metallic gold glitter fabric paint
Fine wire; colored beads
Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
Pin backs

1  To make several pins at one time, start with a piece of black art board in desired size.
2 Cut the papers into small, irregular shapes. Use decorative-edge scissors to cut long strips of paper. Remove backing after cutting.
3 Arrange papers in a random pattern to cover black art board, allowing small black borders to show between the pieces.
4  Draw heart shapes on paper-covered board as many times as possible. Cut out.
5  In a well-ventilated work area, place waxed paper on work surface and arrange heart shapes. Mix the resin and hardener following the manufacturer's instructions. Use a crafts stick to spread a thick coat of resin on each heart. Before it begins to set, press in gems. Let hearts set overnight.
6  Outline hearts and gems with glitter paint. Let dry. String beads onto fine wire. Loop ends of wire around first and last beads and back into strand of beads. Hot-glue onto back of heart. Curl and shape wired beads. Repeat for each heart. Hot-glue one pin back to back of each heart.

Battenberg mantel

Drape a shelf with a lace edge made from a tablecioth embellished with colorful stitches and buttons.

what you'll need
Purchased 36-inch Battenberg lace tablecloth
Assorted machine embroidery threads in rayon and
gold metallic Assorted crafts buttons Sewing needle and thread

1  Following the edge of the tablecloth design, stitch rows of embroidery threads, using different colors and stitches.
2 Sew on buttons where appropriate to enhance the Battenberg design on the tablecloth.

ON-OFF PUMPKIN

(construction paper)
1. Fold a 1-foot strip of orange construction paper into three even sections. Trim the sides of the paper to form a pumpkin, but do not cut the folds.
2. Unfold the paper and cut out eyes, nose, and a mouth in the center section, making a pumpkin face
3.  Cover the top section with yellow construction paper and the bottom section with black.
4.  Fold again, with the pumpkin facing you. Glue on a paper stem. Add lines with a marker or crayon to outline the pumpkin.
5. Fold so that the yellow paper shows through the pumpkin face when it is "on" and the black shows through when it is "off."

WITCH FINGER-PUPPET

(construction paper, felt, yarn, self-adhesive stars)
1.  Roll and glue together a wide piece of construction paper so your middle finger will fit inside it.
2. Decorate one side of the paper roll with pieces of felt and yarn.
3. Place self-adhesive stars on the witch's dress and hat.

Star napkin rings

Give a rustic theme to a Hanukkah table setting with star napkin rings formed from sticks.

what you'll need
Pliable twigs approximately % inch in diameter
Twig cutter; sharp knife
34-gauge wire; 18-gauge wire; ruler
Wire cutters
Needle-nose pliers

1  Beginning at the end of one twig, bend it four times at 2'/?-inch intervals. Cut it at the fourth bend.
2 Whittle the sides for the first and last sections so they lie flat against each other when they overlap.
3  Using 34-gauge wire and needle-nose pliers, fasten the overlapping twig sections to each other, forming an equilateral triangle.
4  Cut a second twig to the same length and bend at the same 21/2-inch intervals. Whittle as in Step 2, above. Weave the second twig into the first triangle, centering the points of the second triangle on the sides of the first. Wire the overlapping sides together as before.
5 To make a wire loop for the napkin ring, use a piece of 18-gauge wire about 3V? inches long. Use needle-nose pliers to squeeze one end of the wire around the star where the triangles cross; repeat on the opposite side, shaping the wire into a half circle.

Festive floss trims

Vivid embroidery floss enhances the shapes of purchased wood or plastic ornaments. In an evening make a set for your tree or to give as a much-appreciated gift.

what you'll need
Thick white crafts glue
Paintbrush
Wood or plastic ornament in
desired shape or curtain ring with
screw eye Embroidery floss in desired colors Scissors
1-inch-wide sheer wire-edge ribbon Large marking pen or dowel

1  Paint on a thin layer of glue at one end of the ornament. Begin winding the desired color of floss around the glued area. Continue gluing and wrapping floss around ornament, changing colors as you wish. The floss ends should be glued down securely. Let dry.
2 Tie a ribbon bow to the ornament top. Smooth out the ribbon tails. Wrap the tails around a large marking pen or dowel to create curls on the ends.

ROCK CRAWLER

(small rock, poster paint, construction paper, cotton, chenille stick)
1.  Cover a small rock with poster paint and let dry. Cut and glue pieces of construction paper for eyes.
2.  Place a piece of cotton soaked in glue in the middle of the rock. (This keeps the legs from falling off when they are dry.)
3.  Cut pieces of a chenille stick, and glue them across the cotton to make three legs on each side of the body. Let dry thoroughly.
4. Turn the stone over and slightly bend the chenille sticks at the ends so the "rocky crawler" can stand more easily.

Ribbon Purse

Just the right size for holding a small surprise, this bag is woven from scraps of holiday ribbons.

what you'll need
Scissors; ruler; Vi yard of lightweight
fusible interfacing; pins Corrugated cardboard Approximately 9 yards of'/»- to
lV2-inch-wide ribbons Fusible hem tape; iron; 7x9-inch lining
fabric; thread; sewing machine Needle; snap; button; tassel

1  Cut a 6'/2x221/2-inch piece of
interfacing. Pin it fusible side up to the cardboard. Cut enough 221/2-inch-long ribbons to cover the interfacing. Pin the ribbons side by side atop the interfacing.
2 Cut several ribbons to a length of 6V2 inches. Pin hem tape to the ribbon backs. Begin weaving short ribbons with those pinned to cardboard. Pin ribbon ends as woven. Using an iron, fuse ribbons to interfacing, removing pins as you go. Trim edges.
3  Place the lining onto the woven piece, right sides facing. Stitch together using a 1/i-inch seam allowance and leaving one short end open. Trim seams and turn. Measure 4'/2 inches from stitched short end. Fold the woven piece at this point with right sides facing. Hand-stitch both side seams. Turn right side out.
4 To make the flap point, measure 2Vz inches from open end on each side. Fold the corners together and stitch from sides to center of flap. Turn right side out. Sew on a snap where flap point meets bag. Sew a button and tassel to point of flap.

Rose corsage

Any lady feels as pretty as a princess wearing this elegant corsage.

what you'll need
2 yards of lV2-inch-wide red felt wire-edge ribbon
Yardstick
Scissors
Needle and matching thread
10 inches each of 1'/2-inch-wide felt wire-edge ribbon in two
shades of green 4-inch length of 1 Vi-inch-wide wire-edge ribbon for back Two 4-inch-long sprays of vintage artificial corsage leaves with
fruit trim

1  Cut red ribbon into 1-yard lengths for each rose. Pull out the wire along one edge of each piece.
2 With wireless edge at the bottom, fold down one end of ribbon to extend V2 inch below the bottom edge.
3  For flower center, wind ribbon from end that is folded down clockwise several times and hand-stitch to secure.
4  Fold back length of ribbon close to flower center and wind several times. Fold back ribbon again and wind again. Use running stitches to gather the remaining length of ribbon and
wind around center. Taper and secure ribbon end with hand stitches. Make two roses.
5 For leaves, remove wire from one edge of a 10-inch length of green ribbon. Fold ribbon in half crosswise. Make a running stitch from the folded edge with wire curving down to unwired edge and curving back up to wired edge. Trim away corners of bottom edge.
6 Gather leaf and secure thread. Open leaf and shape along wired edge. Make two leaves. 7 Assemble roses and leaves and hand-stitch to 4-inch ribbon piece. Using the photo, left, as a guide, hand-stitch artificial corsage leaves with fruit trim in place.

GHOSTLY GOGGLES

(construction paper)
1.  Draw two ghost shapes, as shown, about the size of your hand. Cut out two circles in the body large enough to see through. Draw on faces with a marker.
2.  Cut a 2-inch-wide headband long enough to go around your head.
3.  Glue the ghosts' heads to the headband with the body hanging below so you can see through the holes. Tape the ends of the headband together.

Pretty pasta tree

With as many colors as a rainbow, this ornamental table tree is made from oodles of noodles.

what you'll need
Waxed paper
Assorted pasta in interesting shapes
Thick white crafts glue
Wood skewer
Plastic cone approximately 12 inches tall
Sponge or standard brush for glue
Newspapers; black spray paint
Acrylic gloss paints in desired colors
Paintbrush

1  Create the treetop star first. Lay shell pasta on waxed paper and arrange in a star shape, gluing generously between shells. Glue a skewer in between two shells for inserting into the cone.
2 To make the tendrils, partially boil long strands of pasta. Boil just long enough so they are flexible. Pat dry. Shape noodles and lay flat until dry. Generously glue onto the star, inserting the ends between shells. Let dry. Glue shells to the back side of star so it looks the same from both sides. Insert end of skewer into top of cone.
3  Use a sponge or regular brush to apply a very thick coat of crafts glue onto surfaces of cone, working on one section at a time. (It is important to cover the entire foam surface with glue to prevent the spray paint from eating into the foam.) Begin covering the cone with pasta. Arrange pasta in rows, using a variety of textures and shapes. Let dry.
4  In a well-ventilated work area, cover work surface with newspapers. Spray entire tree with black spray paint. Let dry. Repeat if necessary to get paint into all the deep crevices. Let the paint dry.
5 Paint rows of pasta different colors, allowing the black crevices to show. If desired, layer some of the paint colors, such as yellow over orange, lime green over blue, or red over purple. Allow the first layer of paint to dry; then paint the second color over the first, letting some of the first color show.

Pinecone place cards

Dinner guests feel ever so welcome with these natural place cards by their plates.

what you'll need
Metallic acrylic paints in blue, purple,
gold, copper, green, or other
desired colors Paintbrush Pinecones; acorns Medium-weight paper scrap Ruler Gold metallic marking pen

i Paint the pinecones the desired color. Paint the tops and bottoms of the acorns different colors. Let the paint dry.
2 For each place card, tear a 11/?x3-inch piece of paper. Wet the edges with water. Paint the edges of the paper, allowing the paint to bleed. Let dry. Write a name in the center of the paper using a gold metallic marking pen.
3 For each place card, set the pinecone in a position on a table to avoid rolling. Insert the paper place card in the top of the pinecone. Arrange the acorns around the pinecone.

BONE NECKLACE

(2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup cold water, bowl, spoon, waxed paper, plastic drinking straw, cookie tray, oven mits, shoestring)
1.  In a bowl, stir together the flour, salt, and water. Knead, or work the mixture together with your hands, until it forms a smooth dough.
2. Place a small amount of flour on a piece of waxed paper. Roll some of the dough into small balls. Press to flatten them slightly. Use a plastic drinking straw to poke a hole in the center of each shape. Shape larger dough pieces, poking holes in some of them.
3. Have an adult help you dry the dough pieces in a 325°F oven for one to two hours or until they feel hard to the touch. Remove from the tray, and place them on a wire rack to cool.
4. Tie a large-shaped bone in the middle of the shoestring, and string smaller ones on each side of it. Tie a bow at the ends.

TRICK-OR-TREAT BUCKET

(round plastic jug, brass fasteners, construction paper)
1.  Soak the plastic jug in warm water to help soften it. Then cut away the top portion.
2.  From the top portion, cut off a long strip about 1/2 inch wide for the handle.
3. Attach the handle to each side with a brass fastener.
4. Cut Halloween decorations from construction paper, and glue them around the bucket.

SCARY BLACK CAT

(poster board, cardboard egg carton, yam, paper, brass fasteners)
1.  Cut a large cat's head, body, and a tail from black poster board.
2.  Cut three cup sections from a cardboard egg carton. Glue two in place for the eyes and one for the nose-mouth area. Add paper whiskers and a nose. Draw pupils on the eyes.
3. Attach a brass fastener at the neck and tail. Change the cat's position anytime you like.

Seashell tree topper

A fun and unexpected departure, this shell tree topper glistens with color and texture.

what you'll need
Sharp knife; foam cone, such as Styrofoam, in desired size
Assortment of shells, including a starfish
Newspapers; metallic gold spray paint
Transparent glass paints, in desired colors; paintbrush
Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
1 yard of wide ribbon; scissors; quilting pins

1  Using a sharp knife, cut the foam cone in half lengthwise. Each topper will use one half of the cone.
2  Wash and dry shells. In a well-ventilated work area, place shells on newspapers. Spray the shells with gold paint. Let dry and spray again if needed. Let dry.
3  Using the photograph, above, as a guide, determine shell pattern and placement, planning smaller shells for the top of the cone. Paint the shells with glass paints. Let dry.
4 Starting at the bottom, hot-glue the shells to the rounded side of the foam cone.
5  Cut three strips of ribbon, each approximately 12 inches long. Centering the ribbons in horizontal rows on the back of the foam, pin the ribbons securely across the foam.
6  Use the ribbon ends to secure the topper to the tree.

Frontdoor frosty

This friendly fellow loves hanging out at your front door to melt your heart with a smile all winter long.

what you'll need
Metal snowman-shape cake pan
Newspapers
White spray primer for metal
Acrylic paints for metal in white, black, and pink
Paintbrush; artificial snow flecks
Ve yard red and green plaid flannel fabric; scissors; ruler
Thick white crafts glue
1-inch red pom-pom; two 1-inch black buttons; braid
Two %-inch black shank buttons
4-inch-square piece of green felt
Scrap of red felt

1  Wash and dry the cake pan. In a well-ventilated work area, cover surface with newspapers. Spray-paint the outside of the pan with primer. Let the primer dry. Spray on a second coat of primer. Let dry.
2  Mix some white acrylic paint with artificial snow flecks. Using the photo, opposite, as a guide, paint the snowman body with the paint. Let the paint dry. Paint the details on the snowman. Let the paint dry.
3  Cut two strips of fabric, approximately 4 inches long and
3 inches wide. Fold and shape the fabric into a scarf and glue it in place. Glue the pom-pom, buttons, and braid in place.
4  From green felt, cut two holly leaf shapes. Cut three circles from red felt for berries. Glue the felt pieces on the hat. Let dry.

CORNY PLACE CARD

(white poster board)
1. On a piece of white poster board, draw and cut out the shape shown in the diagram.
2.  Color the cutout to look like a giant piece of candy corn. Add a guest's name with a marker.
3.  Fold as shown in the picture and glue together. Make one for each of your guests.

PAPIER-MACHE PUMPKIN

(flour and water, white paper towels, round balloon, poster paint, heavy cardboard, construction paper)
1.  To make papier-mache, mix flour and water together until it is the consistency of ketchup. Tear small strips of white paper towel and dip them into the flour mixture. Place a layer of strips on an inflated round balloon and let dry. Add another layer and let dry.
2.  To make the pumpkin, cut a section from the bottom of the round papier-mache shape so it will sit level and not roll away. Cover with poster paint and let dry.
3.  To make the base, cut a rectangular piece of heavy cardboard. Cut various leaf shapes and glue on top. Glue the pumpkin to the center.
4.  Add a paper stem, leaves, and vines to the pumpkin decoration.

YARN-COVERED WITCH

(small box, orange yarn, black construction paper)
1.  Cover the outside of the box with glue, except the bottom
2.  Press orange yarn into the glue to completely cover the top and sides of the box. Leave some yarn hanging down in loops at the bottom before starting back up the box, as shown.
3.  For the hat brim, cut a circle of black construction paper. Cut another circle twice as big as the first one, and cut it in half.
4.  Roll one of the halves into a cone shape, tape the ends together, and glue it to the brim.
5.  Cut and glue on paper eyes and a mouth.

Friendly Fellas

Topped with hats made from socks, these smiling snowmen warm hearts all winter long.

what you'll need
Sock; scissors
Round white glass ornament
Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
Pom-poms in green, red, or silver
Fishing line or thread; yarn needle; yarn
Pink makeup blush; wire cutters
Black permanent marking pen
Orange plastic-coated wire; sharpened pencil

1 Cut off the cuff portion of the sock, approximately 5 inches from the top. Stretch the cuff piece over the glass ornament, covering the hook. Fold back a '/2-inch cuff. Hot-glue the sock in place, allowing enough room for the snowman face. To trim the hat, hot-glue pompoms on it as desired.
2 For a hanging loop, cut and tie fishing line through the loop on the ornament. Knot the ends to secure.
3 To finish cap, gather 1 to 2 inches from the top with yarn. Pull snug and knot the yarn ends. If desired, fringe the top cap piece.
4 Draw a face on ornament with marking pen. Apply blush for cheeks.
5 For nose, wrap orange wire around pencil tip, allowing the tip to gradually get smaller. Cut with wire cutters. Hot-glue nose in place.

Jingle-jangle trims

A twist on the traditional red and white, jingle bells make these trims sparkle with silver and golden tones.

what you'll need
Crafts wire; ruler; wire cutters; needle-nose pliers Assorted sizes of jingle bells in gold and silver Beaded wire; Vi-inch-wide ribbon in gold and silver

1  Measure crafts wire to the desired length for ornament and cut with wire cutters. Using needle-nose pliers, pinch one end of the wire and twist to create a small loop.
2 Thread different sizes and colors of bells onto the wire until approximately 1/4 inch of the wire is left at the end. Use pliers to shape a small loop in the wire end.
3 Bend one end of the ornament so the shape resembles a candy cane. Measure approximately 6 inches of beaded wire and loop it around the top curve of the ornament. Secure it with needle-nose pliers.
4 Tie a ribbon bow around the middle of the cane.

HALLOWEEN PUZZLE

(plastic-foam tray, construction paper)
1.  Cut a large square from the flat part of a plastic-foam tray.
2.  Draw a picture on a piece of paper the same size as the plastic square. Glue the picture to the square.
3.  When the picture is dry, cut through both the picture and the tray to make the puzzle pieces.

JINGLE GHOSTS

(one-gallon plastic milk jug, thread, bells)
1.  Wash and dry an empty one-gallon plastic milk jug. Cut ghost shapes from the sides of the jug.
2.  Using a paper punch, make eye holes in each ghost. With a pen, punch a hole in the top of each ghost, and tie a thread loop for a hanger.
3.  Poke a small hole with a pen at the bottom of each ghost. Place a small bell on a piece of thread, and tie it to the bottom of each ghost.
4.  Hang the ghosts where the wind will make them flutter and the bells jingle.

RUB-A-DESIGN

(poster board, colored chalk, construction paper, paper towel, hair spray)
1.  Draw and cut out a Halloween shape from a piece of poster board. On one side of the shape rub some colored chalk.
2.  Place the shape with the chalk side faceup on the top of a folded sheet of construction paper.
3.  With a small piece of paper towel, rub from the center of the chalky shape onto the paper. Lift the shape and see the design on the paper.
4.  To keep the picture from smudging, spray it lightly with hair spray. Use the design to decorate a Halloween card.

Beautifull Vintage

Vintage linens find their place during the holidays transforming into lovely Christmas stockings. Dainty laceand satin ribbons drape from each cuff's edge.

what you'll need
Tracing paper; pencil
Scissors
18x28-inch vintage or new tea towel for stocking
Ruler
Vintage or new fabric napkin or tea towel for cuff
Sewing machine
30 inches of lace; sewing needle and thread
36 inches of Vs- or Vi-inch-wide ribbon

1  Enlarge and trace the pattern, below left, and cut out. Use the pattern to cut two stocking shapes from the tea towel. Cut a 1x5-inch piece of fabric for a hanging loop. Cut two corners from napkin or tea towel, each equal to the width of the stocking top and approximately half the stocking height.
2  Stitch the stocking pieces with the right sides together using 1/i-inch seams. Leave the top open. Clip and trim the seam. Turn the stocking to the right side.
3  For the hanging loop, press in Vi inch along two long edges. Press in half lengthwise and topstitch. Fold the loop in half crosswise and baste the raw edge at the back seam. Seam the cuff in a continuous loop.
4 Stitch lace along the bottom edge of cuff. Weave ribbon through the lace if desired and tie into a bow.
5  Match the side seams with the right side of the cuff to the wrong side of stocking. Stitch around the top edge. Fold the cuff to the right side.

Trailing stars

Suspend graduated sizes of stars from beaded wire to make striking tree ornaments.

what you'll need
Electric drill and Vi6-inch bit
Purchased unfinished wood stars in
small, medium, and large sizes
Metallic gold crafts wire Wire cutters; seed beads
Assorted large beads
Thick white crafts glue; paintbrush G
litter in red or silver

1 Drill a small hole in the top and bottom of each of the stars.
2 To make the hanging loop, cut a piece of wire 5 inches in length and thread approximately 1 inch through top of large star. Twist to secure next to hole.
3 Thread several seed beads on the other end of the wire. Place the open end of wire between thumb and index finger, pinch, and twist several times into a circle to make a curly loop.
4 Cut a 2-inch length of wire; thread one end through bottom hole of large star. Thread on several seed beads and thread the other end into the top hole of the medium star. Twist and secure. Repeat process to attach medium and small stars. Wire on one or two larger beads to bottom of small star.
5 Thin glue with water; coat stars. While wet, sprinkle with glitter. Let dry.

SPOOKY PICTURE

(construction paper, yarn)
1.  Draw the outline of a spooky picture on a piece of construction paper.
2.  Spread glue over one area of the picture at a time. Press strands of different-colored yarn into the glue.

TRICK-OR-TREAT REFLECTIVE BAG

(brown paper bag, aluminum foil, yarn)
1.  Fold over the top of a paper bag several times to make a cuff. Decorate the bag with jack-o'-lanterns cut from foil.
2.  To make the braided handle, cut three pieces of yarn the same length. Line up the pieces, and tie them together into a knot about 1 inch from one end. Braid by folding A over B and then C over A. Continue until the yarn is braided. Tie the ends into a knot again about 1 inch from the end.
3.  Staple the handle ends to the sides of the bag.

PLASTIC-FOAM NECKLACE

       

(plastic-foam tray, permanent marker, self-adhesive reinforcement rings, yarn) 1. Draw and cut out ghosts from a white plastic-foam tray. Add facial features with a marker.       
2. Place a self-adhesive reinforcement ring at the top, on the front and back of each ghost, so the holes are lined up.       
3. Thread a long piece of yarn through each hole and tie a knot. Do this for each ghost.       
4. Tie the ends into a bow.       

Berried Candles

Create holiday magic by wrapping candlelight in the colors of the season.

what you'll need
Tall clear glass candleholders; clear glass tumblers
Adhesive for glass
Wired artificial greenery with berries
Wire cutters; 1 1/2-inch-wide sheer ribbon; scissors
Votive candles

1  Glue a tumbler to the top of each candleholder. Let the adhesive dry.
2 Wrap the tumbler bases with greenery, twisting the wire ends to secure. Cut off any excess greenery.
3 Tie a ribbon bow to one side of greenery. Trim ribbon ends. Insert votive candle.

Simiply beautiful ornaments

Make dancing stars in minutes using ordinary ball ornaments and metallic paint pens.

what you'll need
Soft cloth
Matte-finish glass ornaments in desired color
Small-mouth drinking glass
Metallic paint marking pen

1  Using a soft cloth, gently wipe any dust from the ornaments. If using glass balls, handle them with care as some glass ornaments are fragile and break easily. While working, place each ball in a drinking glass to prevent rolling.
2 Draw a design on the balls using a paint pen. Draw stars, scallops, small dots, zigzags, words, or curlicues. Work on one side at a time. Let dry.
3 Turn the balls over in the glasses and finish the other sides. Let dry.

HALLOWEEN STICK PUPPET

(construction paper, wooden tongue depressor)
1.  To make the body of the witch, cut pieces of construction paper, and glue them to a wooden tongue depressor. Add hands, feet, hair, and facial features cut from paper.
2.  Hold the tongue depressor in your hand and soar your witch through the air.

ROCKY PUMPKIN

(rock, yarn, felt)
1.  Find the best sitting position for the rock you have chosen.
2.  Starting at the bottom, squeeze glue on the rock and wrap yarn around it. Add more glue and yarn until the entire rock is covered. Let dry.
3.  Cut the eyes, nose, and mouth from felt and glue them to the rock to make the jack-o'-lantern's face. Add a stem to the top.

ELEPHANT

(four rectangular facial tissue boxes, masking tape,plastic gloves, white and black shoe polish,cloth,paper, paint stir-stick)
1.  Measure 1 inch up from the bottom of three rectangular facial tissue boxes and draw a line. Cut on the line. Discard the tops.
2.  Glue two boxes at right angles to one box to form the head. Cut and glue a trunk from the remaining box in place.
3.  Cut the side boxes in the shape of ears. Cover the head and the ears with pieces of torn masking tape.
4.  Cover your work space and wear plastic gloves. Mix black and white shoe polish together to make a gray color. Wipe the polish on the tape with a cloth.
5.  Glue on large paper eyes. Cut out eyeholes. Glue on a paint stir-stick.

Copper tree

Hanging from a bag or on a chain around your neck, this copper tree makes a bold contemporary statement.

what you'll need
Needle-nose pliers Copper wire; hammer 2 metal beads Ribbon or chain

1  Using needle-nose pliers, bend wire back and forth in graduated widths to form a tree shape. Leave a 2-inch straight piece of wire at the top. Twist the end at the bottom into a curl.
2  Place the tree on a hard, flat work surface, such as a metal vise or anvil. Hammer the wire flat except for the 2-inch length at the top.
3 Slip beads on the end of the wire at the top. Bend the end of the wire to form a hanging loop.
4  Tie a ribbon to the top of the wire or slip a chain through the loop to wear as a necklace.

Bejeweled trees

Nest flea market jewelry in glass tree jars for an inviting holiday accent.

what you'll need
Candle, optional Clear glass tree jar Flea market jewelry

1  If using a candle in the jar, center it in the bottom. Stabilize the candle by placing jewelry around it, avoiding the wick area.
2 If using the jar lid, fill the bottom of the jar with jewelry and place a few pieces in the lid so the tree is decorated to the top. Carefully place the lid on the jar.

CATERPILLAR

(heavy paper plates, poster paint, poster board, yarn)
1. Paint the bottoms of heavy paper plates with poster paint and let dry.
2. Make a face on one plate with pieces of poster board and glue. Cut out holes for the eyes, draw eyelashes, and staple on antennae.
3.  Cut legs from poster board and staple them opposite each other on the plates. Add dots cut from poster board.
4. To connect the body, punch two holes, about 1 inch apart, at the edge of the plate where the neck would be. Punch two holes in another plate so the holes will line up. Place the holes over each other and tie with a piece of yarn. Do the same with the rest of the plates.
5. Cut a 1 1/2-inch section from the center of a plate. Cut in half, overlap, and staple together. Attach the handle over the neck area on the underside.

PANDA

(heavy paper plate, construction paper, lightweight cardboard, poster paint, paper towel tube)
1. Draw a panda face on the bottom of a heavy white paper plate. Cut out holes for eyes and a small mouth. Glue a red tongue cut from construction paper near the mouth.
2. Cut ears from lightweight cardboard and paint them black. Staple them to the plate with the smooth section of the staple inside.
3. Cover a paper towel tube with black construction paper and fasten with tape. Staple the tube to one side of the panda face for a handle.

TROPICAL BIRD

(corrugated cardboard, tempera paint, paper, two tongue depressors, yarn)
1. Ask an adult to help you cut out the mask shape and holes for eyes, as shown in the diagram, from corrugated cardboard. Paint one side of the mask, making a beak with a different color.
2.  Cut feather-shaped pieces of paper, and glue them around the mask. Roll strips of paper, and glue them around the eyes.
3.  Glue two tongue depressors together, overlapping two ends, and let dry. Glue one end to the back of the mask for a handle. Criss-cross yarn from one end of the handle to the other and glue in place, leaving the ends hanging down.

Colorful Candle Tin

Decorate your kitchen by intermixing cherries and votive candies in a muffin tin.

what you'll need
Votive candles
Miniature-muffin pan
Artificial cherries 1 yard of 1/4-inch-wide ribbon

1  Place votive candles as desired into the muffin pan. Arrange artificial cherries between the candles. Be careful to space fruit safely away from candlewicks.
2 Tie a bow with ribbon ends. Arrange the ribbon around the pan.

Knite-to-fit mittens

Like the little kittens that were smitten with their mittens, these kid-size duplicate-stitch versions are purr-fectiy suited to your iittle ones.

what you'll need
Sizes 3 and 5 double-pointed knitting
needles (dpn) Lamb's Pride Superwash Bulky
(100-gram or 110-yard skein) in
desired color Scissors; yarn needle 2 small stitch holders; stitch marker 10 yards of white yarn in a bulky weight Gauge: Working in rounds of stockinette stitch (st st) and with larger dpns,
5 sts and 7 rnds = 1 inch. Skill level: Intermediate

1  For mittens (make two): With smaller dpns and main color, cast on 28 (32, 36) sts. Arrange the sts onto 3 dpns; join and place a marker to indicate the beginning of rnd. Work around in k 1, p 1 ribbing for 2 (2V2, 2'/2) inches.
2 Change to the larger dpns. Knit every rnd for st st until the piece measures 2% (3V2, 3V2) inches from beginning.
3  For thumb, slip 6 sts onto holder; cast on 6 sts; k around = 28 (32, 36) sts. Work even to 4% (6, 6V2) inches from beginning.
4 For shaping, Rnd 1: (K 2, k 2 tog) around. Rnd 2: K 21 (24, 27) sts. Rnd 3: (K 1, k 2 tog) around. Rnd 4: K 14 (16,18) sts. Rnd 5: (K 2 tog) around = 7 (8, 9) sts.
5 Cut yarn leaving 8-inch tail. Thread tail into needle and back through remaining sts. Pull up to gather; close top opening. Secure.
6 To complete thumb, k 6 sts from holder, pick up and k 6 more sts around opening. Arrange the 12 sts onto three dpns; join. Work around in st st until thumb measures 11A (IV2, 1%) inches from beginning. K 2 tog around. Leaving a 6-inch tail, cut yarn. Thread tail into yarn needle and back through remaining sts.
7 Using the duplicate stitch chart, left, count stitches on mitten top to center pattern and embroider backs with white yarn. Weave loose ends on wrong side of knitting.

CAT MASK

(platter, poster board, paper, paint stir-stick)
1.  Cut out a platter shape from a piece of black poster board. Cut a slit to the center, as shown. Pull one edge of the slit over the top of the other to raise the center slightly. Glue to hold it in place.
2.  To make the eyes, cut shapes from paper. Glue one on top of the other, and then glue in place on the mask. Cut holes in the center of each paper eye. Add ears, whiskers, and a mouth made from paper. Add a paper bow tie.
3.  Glue a paint stir-stick to the inside of the mask for a handle.