PHOTOS BY CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Beaded butterflies are another potential craft project for kids. Call Creations by You for how-to advice.
Boredom sets in when kids have too much time on their hands. Arts-and-crafts projects are one way to keep keiki busy while looking ahead to the holiday gift-giving season. The projects provide a period of quality time but also compel children to take a seat, calm down and focus.
By Nancy Arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.comVal Hirata, owner of Creations by You, suggests making useful things. "Many of the craft projects kids make end up getting thrown away," she said. "We went camping and made shell necklaces. All of the kids loved it, even the boys."
A shell project is relatively low-priced. If you break apart some simple shell leis and add assorted beads and trinkets, they turn out quite nice, she added. "And it gives the kids a chance to be creative."
Here are a few similar projects to consider:
Shell bracelet or necklace
Supplies: Soldered clasp, soldered jump ring, soft flex wire .014, small crimp bead, open jump ring, charm, shells from shell leis, assorted beads, flat nose pliers, scissors.Instructions: Cut the wire to wrist or neck size, and add 2 inches. String a crimp bead and soldered clasp onto the wire, then push the wire back through the crimp and flatten the crimp bead with pliers to secure it to the wire. The crimp bead takes the place of a knot. String any combination of shells, charms and beads, leaving about 1 1/2 inches of wire. String a crimp bead and a soldered jump ring against the last bead. Put the wire back through and flatten the crimp bead. Cut off excess wire.
Nylon flowers
Supplies: Japan paper wire, stretchy nylon fabric, fabric glue, 18-gauge stem wire, 18-gauge cloth wire, floral tape, 35 mm film canister.
Instructions: To create petals, cut wire into 5 1/2-inch pieces. Wrap it around the film canister, and twist at the bottom to get an even, round shape. Remove canister. Stretch nylon over the wire loop, forming petal. Glue to secure. Repeat four more times. Stack all the petals on top of each other.
To create stem, wrap the petal base with cloth wire. Add 3 to 4 inches of stem wire, and wrap with floral tape. Open the petals and shape the flower. Glue a rhinestone in the center.
Wired ribbon flowers
Supplies: 20- to 30-gauge cloth-covered wire, fabric glue, 1 1/2-inch-wide two-tone wired ribbon, floral tape, 18-gauge stem wire, film canister.Instructions: Wrap wire around the film canister, and twist at the bottom. Shape each piece into an oval petal shape. Dip wire loop into glue. Place the ribbon over the wire. When dry, cut out wire from ribbon. Stack the petals, three facing forward and two facing backward. Wrap another piece of wire at the petal base to secure the petals. Add a 3- to 4-inch piece of stem wire to the flower, and wrap with floral tape. Shape flower.
Key chains
Supplies: Small crimp beads, key ring, assorted beads, a bell, Acculou wire .018, flat-nose pliers.Instructions: Cut wire into 6-inch pieces. String one crimp bead and bell. Push the end of the wire back through the crimp bead, and flatten the crimp bead, using pliers. String assorted beads. String another crimp bead, and loop the wire over the key ring, then put the wire back through the crimp bead and flatten with pliers. Cut off the excess wire with scissors.
Making a beaded gecko
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hillary Hirata strung colorful beads together to make a gecko at the craft shop Creations by You.
Supplies
Four different-colored beads as follows: (Color A) 42 9-by-6 mm barrel pony beads for the body; (color B) 12 9-by-6 mm barrel pony beads for the feet; (color C) two 9-by-6 mm barrel pony beads for the eyes; (color D) one 9-by-6 mm barrel pony beads for nose.Also: 1-inch swivel-eye lanyard hook, 48 inches of 1/16 waxed cotton cord, ruler, scissors and glue.
Instructions
Cut a 48-inch piece of cord. For easier stringing, apply glue, and twist each end to a point and allow to dry. Fold cord in half, and make a knot to attach to eye of lanyard hook. (Follow sketch at left.)
Step 1, head: String a pony bead (color D) onto one cord end. Thread other end of cord through the same bead in the opposite direction. Pull cord ends to hold bead against the knot. On one cord end, string two beads (color A).
Thread other cord end through the same two beads in the opposite direction.
Pull cord ends to hold beads against the first bead. Repeat to make a third row of beads, using one color C bead, one color A bead and another color C. Repeat to make a fourth row, using two color A beads.
Step 2, front feet: On one cord end, string two color A beads and three color B beads. Bring the cord back through the two color A beads, and pull to hold together. Repeat to make a second foot with the other cord.
Step 3, body: As in the head, use all color A beads to make one row of two beads, one row of three beads, three rows of four beads and one row of three.
Step 4, back feet: Repeat step two.
Step 5, tail: Use all color A beads to make one row of two beads and seven rows of one bead each. Make sure all beads are nested together, then tie cords in an overhand knot, close to the last bead. Apply glue to the knot and trim off any excess cord.
PHOTOS BY CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hillary Hirata holds a beaded gecko of her own creation.
Creations by You: Val Hirata assists customers with projects in her store at 1801 Liliha St. Call 536-5255 for more ideas or detailed information on the projects described here. How-to
Ben Franklin stores: Free Keiki Club classes take place10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Call individual stores for details. A series of Halloween classes begin this week.
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