Bruce the Chef

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.

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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

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.

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.

(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.

(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.

(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.