Create a Potato Necklace

Did you play games with potatoes when you were a kid—tossing the hot potato or that one where you and your friends stood in two lines and you had to pass a potato from under one chin to another?

We aren’t going to play those games today. :0)

Super Simple with Terri OI have a necklace project that is simple for you to help your child make. It’s also perfect for a young Girl Scout Troop to create.

Potato Necklace

Materials Needed:

2 potatoes
Yarn, string or fish line
Beads
Acrylic paint
Paintbrush
Paper plates (for paint)
Darning needle
Toothpicks

Step 1:

Peel potatoes and chop into 1/2-inch pieces. This next step takes quite a bit of time: you want to dry out the potatoes so they will shrink and shrivel. You can do this one of two ways. Use a darning needle and thread the pieces through the middle onto a string of yarn, or place a toothpick in the middle of each piece and place in the oven (on a cookie sheet) for 6 hours at 200 degrees. The end result: you want them to be hard and blackened.

Step 2:

Once pieces have properly dried, they’re ready to paint. Use any color you’d like — turquoise paint actually makes the pieces look similar to real turquoise! Let dry.

Step 3:

Now you’re ready to string your painted pieces. potato pieces and beads on fishing line, yarn or string, for a beautiful necklace. Tie off the end with a knot.

Helpful Hints: Two potatoes yield approximately 20 pieces.

 

Rockin’ Pop Art Plate and Cup

I’ll be helping you rock St. Paddy’s Day with super simple projects in my March 2012 newsletter. Here is a craft project  to get you and your kids started in the meantime. If you don’t know what music they love already, you will by the time you are done crafting this plate and cup.

Put a CD on and let the fun begin!

Super Simple with Terri OCraft Supplies Needed:

·    12 x 12 heavy cardstock for placemat

·    a glue stick or Xyron Create A Sticker #510

·    CollagePauge Sparkle instant decoupage by Duncan Crafts

·    Sponge brush

·    Favorite pictures from magazines, candy wrappers, clip art or photos.

·    Clear glass plates

·    Plastic cups

·    Paint pens

Tip: If you use photos I suggest making copies on regular paper and using the copies. Otherwise the photo paper is too thick.

Project Instructions for the Plate:

Clean back of plate with soap and water to remove oils from your hands.

Cut up your favorite pictures and lay them out. Set your plate on top to see if that is how you like your design.

Tip: Remember you are working backwards. In other words, the image you lay down first will be on top. Start with your smaller cut outs first and work your way up to the bigger ones.

Paint the back of your plate with CollagePauge and lay your images on the plate face down. You have to work fast because the glue dries fast. If it dries just use more. Keep layering your paper until you cover your plate and keep layering with CollagePauge too. Let dry.

Instructions for the Placemat and Cups:

Run your images thru your sticker maker. I use the permanent adhesive roller. If you don’t have a Xyron you can use a glue stick.

Write and draw messages all over your placemat and cup. Get your friends to sign it and write fun messages. If you want to keep your placemat forever you can laminate it.

Tip: Even though the CollagePauge says it is water resistant I recommend that you wash your plate and cup by hand. Do not put in the dishwasher.