Use a Doily to Frame Your Picture and some ACEO's!

  

Today, I thought I would give you some simple but pretty little pictures to paint or colour-in and then frame with a doily.

I have given you two pictures to download and print, but you can use anything you might already have. Here are my two pictures

Old greeting cards are also a good source of pictures, that you can cut out and stick onto your doily.

I printed my pictures on a "black and white" printer and then got out the watercolours and painted parts of the pictures. 

If you would like to see more of my watercolours (i paint ACEO's which are 3.5 x 2.5 inches in size) here is my link - ACEO

For those who have never heard of ACEO's!! ... They are highly collectible miniature pieces of art! Browse on eBay to see thousands of ACEO's on offer!

Here are three of mine!

 

We made a Wall Mural - Olympics 2012 - at Mencap Braintree

Olympic Games Mural - London 2012

With Shaun at the helm, we made a wall mural to celebrate the fast approaching Olympic Games 2012.

Shaun sketched the layout and then the Mencap Art group glued on layers of tissue paper, representing the sky, the Thames, the athletic track and the swimming pool.

Cut-outs of athletes and swimmers were then stuck on and some flowers placed, representing Summer!

Shaun then painted in the London skyline (with a little artistic licence in play, as regards the order of same!) in black acrylic paint.

Tissue clouds completed the picture - it does rain in London, in Summer!

The Olympic Rings were then placed at the top - made by Thomas (see here)

10 days to go to the Opening...!

Make your own Olympic Rings!



Thomas (6yo Grandson) with his Olympic Rings

It is really easy to make your own Olympic Rings...

You will need...

5 Paper plates

Paint or other colouring medium in Blue, Black, Red, Yellow and Green.

Double-sided sticky pads

How to make...

Cut the centre out of each plate

Paint or colour the rings and leave to dry

Cut through the Yellow and Green rings (as above)

Link the Olympic Rings (as above) and join the cuts made in the Yellow and Green Rings with the double-sided sticky pads.

Using more pads, stick the rings together, so they stay in the formation (as above)

Hang them up and let's all celebrate

 the world coming together

in London

for the Olympic Games 2012...

First Sweet Peas...!

Billy's Sweet Peas

This morning here in Essex (UK) we had soft early morning rain. When it lifted, the sun came out and we picked our first Sweet Peas...

Can you smell their sweet fragrance??

Will be back with more craft soon...!

Diamond Jubilee Placemats - Printable templates - 3 in colour + 3 for you to colour-in...!

Placemat

Placemat

The days are flying by - only two weeks to the Diamond Jubilee week-end (2,3,4,5 June)...

So time now to print out your Jubilee placemats for your local street-party, picnic or lunch with friends and family...

I have put six together for you - three are in full colour, ready to print and use. The other three are to print and colour-in with your groups.

All are printable on A4 computer paper.

Here they are - Six Diamond Jubilee Placemats

(When you click on the Print icon, a screen will appear which will allow you to choose what to print and how many copies you want to print)

Use the SEARCH THIS BLOG box (top right) to find more Diamond Jubilee printables...

Enjoy the celebrations wherever you are...God Save the Queen!



Diamond Jubilee - Bunting! Three printable templates!

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee is only a month away...



To mark 60 years of The Queen's reign, the Diamond Jubilee celebrations will centre around an extended weekend on 2, 3, 4 and 5 June, 2012

(Use the SEARCH THIS BLOG box (top right) to find more Diamond Jubilee printables...)

So time to prepare your Bunting, hung it up where you will - and celebrate!!!

Here are three different options for you to choose from...


1. Ready to print in colour on white paper



2. Ready to print on white paper and colour-in yourselves 

3. Using coloured (red white and blue) paper or thin card, cut from the Bunting Pattern

Here are the templates - just click on the one you want to download and print...

1. Ready to print in colour on white paper


2. Ready to print on white paper and colour-in yourselves 


3. Using coloured (red white and blue) paper or thin card, cut from the Bunting Pattern

Once you have your bunting ready, take a length of string or thin cord and stretch it across a table (weigh the ends down with a couple of books to keep it taut) 

Then lay the triangles face-down tucking the wide end under the string about 1cm from the top edge. Leave about 1cm between each piece of bunting.

Tear off strips of sticky-tape and attach the cord to the bunting.

Make it as long as you want and hang it up...let the party begin!

New eBook available - 41 x 10 Easy Quizzes with Answers

You asked for more quizzes and so here they are....!

I have put together 41 x 10 Easy Quizzes for you in an eBook -

Great fun for Seniors and in fact for anyone - most are General Knowledge but also have compiled others with specific themes - Flowers, Girls Names, Colours, Movies, Books and more.
Easy to use - after saving the eBook on your computer (in a PDF file) you will be able to print off individual quizzes (in any quantity you choose) as you require them.

So have a look and order your copy - only £2.75 - ready to 

DOWNLOAD immediately...

Three New Printable Bookmarks!

 

Mine!!


So many of you have asked for more bookmarks, so here are three new ones...

Best printed directly onto card, but can be printed onto paper and then stuck onto card.

Colour them in, punch a hole centre top, thread a ribbon and you have a bookmark...makes a lovely personal handmade gift!

For long-lasting bookmarks - laminate them (big stationery stores will do this for you) Laminating is "sealing an item in a plastic sleeve" If you can laminate, then you won't need card - paper will be fine.

Click here for 3 Bookmarks

In spite of all the new technology, I think books will be with us for many more years to come...so get your bookmarks made!

Felt Easter Bunny and Flowers Bunting - Printable Templates!

Felt Easter Bunny and Flowers Bunting

Still a few weeks to Easter, so have popped in another Easter craft which is fun and easy to do...

You will need... (for one Bunny)

Felt (185 x 105mm for Bunny and 85 x 85mm for Flower)

Either same colour felt for all your Bunnies, with contrasting Flowers, or make them all different - your choice!

One Button

Googly eyes (or small round pieces of contrasting felt)

 

A length of ribbon or tape (length depends on number of Bunnies!)

How to make it...

Print out the patterns

Easter Bunny

Felt Flower

Cut out the Bunny and the Flower (use the smaller size)

Stitch the Flower onto the Bunny, with a button in the centre. (The yellow flower in the picture is one I die-cut with my Big Shot, but you can just use the template I've given you, for all your flowers)

Attach the Googly Eyes. (you can just use small circles of a contrasting colour of felt if you want)

Attach the Bunnies to the ribbon or tape, using double-sided sticky pads.

Enjoy making your Easter Bunny Bunting and have a Happy Easter holiday!

British Royal Family - Quiz!

2012 is a very exciting and busy year here in Great Britain...

We have the Queen's Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne) which will be celebrated with various events, pageantry and parades in June and then we host the Olympics in July and Paralympics in August.

So to start the ball rolling (on this Blog!), I have put together a small quiz about the British Royal Family - maybe you will learn something new about our Queen and her family!

Enjoy this with your groups - I have put the answers on a separate page...

Click here for the British Royal Family Quiz

NOTE: (Ref Question 3) In 2012 Prince Andrew was fourth in line of succession to the throne

in 2022 it is now Princess Charlotte - Prince Williams daughter

An Easy Animal Quiz to start 2012 - Printable!

Animal Quiz

I have put together an easy Animal Quiz for you to get your groups going with in the New Year - ready for you to print out.

(Just in case, I have given you the answers on a separate page...!)

Pairs or teams work well in quizzes - not everyone has the confidence to go it alone or maybe have difficulty with reading.

Enjoy the fun and as you go through the questions, encourage reminiscing and additional airing of knowledge...

All mentally stimulating for our seniors!

Click here for the Animal Quiz

If you want more easy quizzes ready to download and print have a look at my 

41 x 10 Easy Quizzes especially designed with senior citizens in mind...

More Christmas Placemats - Printable to Colour-In!

You wanted more Christmas Placemats and so here they are...!

Click here for Christmas Placemats

The Nativity Scene by Gustav Dore (in Public Domain) is shaded, so just lightly colour it in, so the shading comes through - or you can leave it as is and just colour in the lettering!

The Poinsettia flower in the second Placemat is known here, in the UK, as the Christmas flower. As it is a plant that grows in warmer climates (common in Zimbabwe and South Africa) it has to be grown here in heated greenhouses, ready for the Christmas season.

Poinsettia Greenhouse

Have fun preparing for the Christmas Season!

Christmas Placemats - Ready to Print and Colour-in!

These are 2 x A4 Christmas Placemats for you to Print

and then colour-in.

Click here for the Christmas Tree Placemat

Click here for the Christmas Candy Placemat

Extra Ideas...

Cut around the edge with pinking shears for an attractive finish.

Stick on sparkly stars or stickers to give them a bit of bling!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE CHRISTMAS PLACEMATS!

Christmas Stocking Decorations - Printable Pattern



Christmas Stocking

 

Here are are two ideas, for you to make with your groups for Christmas!

Above, using the larger pattern, you can make a small Christmas Stocking to hang on the tree or on the mantlepiece. 

Either just as a decoration or fill with chocs and candy or any other small gifts. If making more than one, attach a little gift tag to identify them - or cut out an initial and stick it on the stocking!

And here with the smaller pattern - I used pinking shears to cut out the felt and little gold pegs and ribbon to make Christmas Bunting!

(You can also use card, instead of felt, for your bunting)

Here is the Printable Pattern for the Christmas Stockings and Bunting

To make the Christmas Stocking you will need...

Felt

Embroidery thread and needle

Polyester Wadding (about 1inch x 9inches) ( 2.5cms x 22cms) to stick around the top as "fur" or any other suitable trimming.

Double sided tape to attach the "fur" (or use double sided pads)

Decorations (I used buttons, foil stars and a flower)

Fabric Glue to stick on the decorations if not self-adhesive

Ribbon - about 8inches (20cms)

To make...

Print out the pattern (link above) and cut out 2 of the larger stockings from your felt.

Leaving the top open, join the two pieces together with blanket stitch or just use a running stitch if you prefer. Before you finish off, slip in the looped ribbon and attach the ends inside the stocking at the top back edge.

Attach your "fur" around the top, with double sided tape.

Stick on your decorations and hang it up!

Merry Christmas to you all!

Calendar December 2011 - Printable Template!

English Country Church - December Calendar 2011

Here is your printable calendar template - December 2011 - the last month of this year! Hope you have enjoyed having a monthly calendar to print and paint...

Do let me know if you want me to continue in 2012!