Cowboy Kimono Blog

Tag: family fun

Activities and DIY projects that can be enjoyed by all ages — perfect for bonding and creativity.

  • Patriotic Scavenger Hunt

    Patriotic Scavenger Hunt

    Social distancing keeping you close to home this Memorial Day? Taking daily walks to to stay fit (and sane)? Celebrate Memorial Day during Covid-19 with a game that combines walking with a scavenger hunt. Locate patriotic symbols in your neighborhood and, at the same time, honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Simply view the checklist below on your phone and play! Play it solo or as a competition between friends, family members, or neighbors.

    Did you know? Each year on Memorial Day a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time.

  • Jumbo Milagros for Mother’s Day

    Jumbo Milagros for Mother’s Day

    Celebrate Mom on her day by crafting, loud and proud Milagro charms that screams to the world, “This is MY Mom and I LOVE HER! ” This simple craft can be made by small or big hands. Milagros strung on ribbon magically transform into a stunning necklace that any Mom would wear with pride.

    What are Milagros?

    Alternatives Global Market Place: “Milagros, meaning “miracle” in Spanish, are religious folk charms found in many areas of Latin America and Southern United States. They are used by people to petition for help or protection. These small metal charms are attached to altars, shrines or sacred objects. Milagro Charms can also be carried for protection and good luck. They are made in a variety of shapes, representing body parts, animals and many other objects. They are used to assist in focusing attention towards a specific ailment or need, based on the type of charm used. A milagro’s symbolism is not uniform and can take on individual meanings. ” Milagro Symbolism

    sacred heart milagroHen Milagrogoat milagroarm milagroJumbo Milagros

    Supplies

    • Milagro Templates
    • Glue Stick
    • Tag Board or Cardboard (tag board is used to package cereal, crackers, frozen pizza etc..)
    • School Glue, Hot Glue, or 3D Fabric Paint
    • Aluminum Foil
    • Sharpies in a Variety of Colors
    • 1/8-inch wide (or close) Ribbon, cut into 6-inch segments for each Milagro
    • 1/2-inch wide (or close) Ribbon, cut into 20-inch length for necklace
    • Hole Punch
    • Scissors
    • Scotch Tape

    Directions

    1. Print Milagro templates.
    2. Cut out each Milagro 1/2-inch away from outer edges. Put written descriptions aside to put on the back of milagros later.
    3. Coat the back of each Milagro template with glue stick.
    4. Adhere Milagro templates to cardboard/tag board and smooth out with your hand.
    5. Using school glue, hot glue or 3D fabric paint, draw over all the lines to create a raised areas. Allow plenty of time to dry and harden.
    6. Cut out cardboard/tag board shapes close to the edges.
    7. Lay Milagro shapes face down on foil. *Note: if you want the shiny side of the foil to show, put the shape face down on the dull side.
    8. Cut the foil 1/4-inch away from the edge of the shape.
    9. Wrap the foil around the edges of the shape and press onto the back. Clip into corners or along curves as needed to make the foil follow the edges.
    10. Tape edges on the back side
    11. Rub the foil side with your finger to make the raised areas stand out.
    12. Color with Sharpies and allow to dry.
    13. Adhere the written description of the Milagro to the non-foil side.
    14. Punch a hole inside each semi-circle “loop” with a hole punch.
    15. Thread the thinner ribbon through this “loop” and tie a knot on the end. Repeat for each Milagro.
    16. String the Milagros onto the longer length of ribbon for a colorful, blingy, charm necklace.
  • Grocery Bag Bird Ornaments

    Grocery Bag Bird Ornaments

    A Two-for-One Craft: Celebrate Earth Day by painting paper pollinators and honor the earth by upcycling waste found around the house. This simple craft can be made and ready to hang before Mother Earth finishes her rotation.

    Supplies

    • Paper Grocery Bags
    • Crayons, Paint, Markers or Paint Pens
    • Stapler
    • Shredder Paper
    • Scissors
    • Rubber Bands, String, Yarn or Ribbon
    • Bird Template

    Directions

    1. Download and print bird templates
    2. Cut grocery bags down the center side folds.
    3. Turn bags inside-out so non-printed sides are showing.
    4. Layer a template on top of the bag. Bag should be folded so there are two layers.
    5. Hold the bird template in place (or lightly tape) and cut leaving a 1/2 inch margin around the outer edge of the bird. Repeat for each ornament. Keep bird shapes that were cut together, paired together.
    6. Decorate one side of each pair with crayons, paint, markers, or paint pens.
    7. Lay the decorated piece on top of the undecorated piece and staple half way around the edge of the bird. (It will look like metal stitches) Do not staple all the way around.
    8. Stuff the bird with paper from your shredder. Tuck away any wayward pieces.
    9. Place a rubber band, knotted piece of string/yarn/ribbon near the neck on the interior. Let the loop side hang out of the bird to use as a hanger. Staple in place.
    10. Finish stapling the edge of the bird.
    11. Take a photo and Tweet your handiwork!
  • Cactus Patch Mail Art

    Cactus Patch Mail Art

    A finished Cactus Patch Mail Art. Displaying a vibrant hand drawn cactus plant.
    Cactus Patch Mail Art

    What You’ll need to create this Cactus Patch Mail Art Masterpiece for Yourself:

    Supplies

    • Envelope
    • Studio Series Alcohol Dual-Tip Marker Set (available at Pennysmiths Paper)
    • Uniball Signo White Pen, Broad (available at Pennysmiths Paper)
    • 1 sheet heavyweight paper, cut to fit inside the envelope
    • 1 sheet heavyweight paper, to protect the surface where you are working
    • Post-it Notes
    • Mailing Label (optional)

    Cactus Patch Art How-To:

    Steps

    1. Start by placing post-it notes on the front of the envelope over the address area to keep it the same color as the envelope.
    2. Insert a cut sheet of heavyweight paper inside the envelope to keep the markers from bleeding onto the backside.
    3. Select 3-4 harmonious colors (these would be next to each other on the color wheel or all the same color family). Blues or greens work well. Go a bit wilder by using orange, yellow and red or purple, red and blue.
      • Using the brush end of the pen, make an inverted “U” that flares out a bit at the bottom.
      • Grab another color and draw a stripe just to the right of your first line. The stripes can touch or overlap on the edge. Let the stripe get wider as you move towards the bottom.
      • Repeat until the “U” shape is filled with stripes of color. 
      • Using the fine tip in the same color as your original U-shape, dot the outside to create needles.
      • Repeat the above steps next to your original U-shape, but make this one smaller in size and overlap it a bit. This will create the illusion of depth. 
      • Continue making different sizes and overlapping until the bottom 2/3 of the envelope is covered.
    4. Pick two harmonious colors for the blossoms. Using the fine tip, make clusters of upside-down teardrop shapes along the top each cactus.
    5. Select one of the lightest markers and use the fine tip to draw lines for the sky.
    6. Use your white Signo pen and marker’s fine tips to draw different patterns lining the cactus stripes. If you need some pattern ideas, check out the black and white handout (below). 
    7. With the white Signo pen, add needles to the edges.
    8. Finally, draw concentric teardrop lines inside the cactus blossoms using the white Signo pen.
    9. Remove post-it masks. Cover address area with a mailing label for cleaner edges (optional)
    10. You can play with the design even more by:
      • Mixing-in different types of cactus – add a barrel cactus or prickly pear.
      • Create a sea life version with coral, starfish, and seaweed. 
      • Finish the envelope by lining it with colorful paper. Envelope liner templates are available at Pennysmiths Paper.

    Black and White Handout

    Looking for more inspiration?

    1. Pinterest: Search Mail Art or Envelope Art
    2. Zentangles : https://craftwhack.com/how-to-zentangle
    3. YouTube: Search Alcohol Marker videos
    4. Link to the time-lapse video (below) of this technique: Cactus Mail Art

  • Mail Art

    Mail Art

    Bambino Mail Art

    My Mom was a mail magician. She would make letters appear a few days into my week of summer camp. I’m not sure if she wrote them the moment after she dropped me off or if she had them written before I left. Even though I was only away from home for seven days, the letters usually hit when my homesickness kicked in. Her distinctive cursive and stories about all that was going on at home included weather reports, updates on my five siblings, Dad’s doings and tales about the family dog.

    In this season of summer camp adventures and family travels, my mother’s letters are a springboard for this elevated envelope project. Hopefully, the writer will enjoy marking and coloring as much as the recipient digs the arty envelope!

    One colorful cactus-themed envelope in timelapse appears below. (ta-da!)