"cheerful" ribbon cans tutorial

These ribbon-embellished containers made cheerful, beautiful centerpieces

at our tea party...

Here's how to make them:

Materials:  

• metal rim key tags- ours were 1 1/4 in.
• ribbon (see photo collage below for widths- all purchased at Michael's in 2010)
• stretchy cord (we used silver from Michael's)
• double-sided tape
• empty cans (15 oz.) **use a can opener which leaves a smooth, safe rim (Pampered Chef has a great one)
• glue (we used Tacky Glue)

click on collage for larger view

prep work/set-up:

1. collect cans: we asked moms to bring in pre-washed cans
2. pre-cut ribbons: as many as desired to fit around can, plus one ribbon per can to span from top to bottom (I used a rotary cutter- you could ask a mom to help with this)
3. placing double-sided tape on seam of can is a time-saver, otherwise, pre-cut those and put them on the edge of a table or tray so the girls can place the tape quickly without having to wait for tape.
4. pre-cut stretchy cord, and thread through blank tags. Tie the ends so the girls merely slip the corded tag around the can.
5. pre-cut tags (if your girls are good cutters, you could let them cut out their circles- don't forget to add scissors to your materials list!).  I had a handy Creative Memories circle cutter that made quick work of the tags.

Place double-sided tape along seam of can

( if you are using no-seam cans: just place tape from top to bottom anywhere on the can)

Line up edge of ribbon on seam...

Apply glue- use 2-3 small dots, either on the ribbon, or directly on the can.

Repeat with each ribbon.

Here is the back with all the ribbons lined up...
we'll cover that unfinished seam in a sec.

If desired, layer ribbons using same technique.

The tape will be covered, so use small dots of glue on the ends.

*A handy hint: to be sure each girl holds the ribbon down long enough for the glue to set, remind them to count to ten ("silently, in your head"),
or better yet, pray a Hail Mary!

Use one ribbon to cover the unfinished seam- apply glue and press gently.

(Sorry- no picture here...we used brown grosgrain)
----

Our girls created tags from key tags and stretchy silver cord. 

A little glue on the back of each image, then applied gently to the key tag...

Our Lady on the front,

and St. Therese on the back...

Just slip the stretchy cord over the can, and...

Aren't those cheerful?

They sure make me happy :-).

This project could be adapted

and used for orderliness as well.

Below are some printable tags for you to use- 

note that the St. Therese tag is a different image than the one on the can above. 

Just click on the "cloud" with the down arrow to download.

*A printing tip- choose to print "page 1 of 1"-

there are 2 blank pages on each document.

Our Lady Tags

Our Lady of the Rosary Tags

Our Lady of Guadalupe Tags

St Therese Tags

Immaculate Conception Tags

felt pouches

Charlotte's Fancy has a tutorial for sweet, budget-friendly felt pouches.
She uses hot glue, but these could be created by girls using fabric glue and some patience (or a mama with a hot-glue station for adding buttons and other notions).

Ideas:

• Pouch for holy cards or Little Flower memory cards
• Rosary pouch
• create a felt image of a saint or flower as the cover
• print an image on fabric and glue or stitch onto pouch

Other ideas?

more paper flowers

There's no tutorial at Girl Paper Scissors, but the image gives another design idea for paper flowers...
How about a spiritual bouquet?

ribbon flower bracelet

Check out Phar-Ma's precious ribbon bracelet tutorial. 
To tweak for a group craft:

• Pre- singe ribbon edges to avoid fraying (if you want to do that step)
• Allow girls to add velcro
• Pre cut one flower (instead of two as in the tutorial)
• glue on with fabric glue or...
• teach the girls to stitch on the flower, or pin it on?

For Little Flowers themes: 
ribbons: find patterns of ivy, hearts, sunflowers, etc.
center felt design: hearts (add a cross on top for Love of God), ivy, a cut out of your current flower, symbols of the saint or virtue (could even stitch on a saint medal).

stitched fabric flowers

Martha's stitched flowers could be used to create various flowers.

Sweet and simple (but likely would need mama helpers for tying off, etc.)

Ideas:

• stitch onto a totebag
• hot glue (with adult assistance) onto headbands
• attach to a wire "stem"

How might you use these pretty little flowers?

beaded keychain tutorial

Just as St. Monica prayed fervently for her son,

St. Augustine, mothers can use these keychains

to whisper prayers or tuck written prayers inside.

In our group, each girl made two of these-

one to give to her own mother,

and another to give to a mother at a local pregnancy center

(appropriately named the "Hope Center" ).

Here is how we made ours:

Materials needed:

beading wire

prayer box charms (found ours on ebay for $1 each)

beads

keyrings

crimp beads

beading pliers or needle nose pliers/wire cutter

*optional: wire protectors

**also optional, but helpful- crimping tool

Set up ideas:

Precut the wire.

We set up each girl's "bead plate":

Foam plate with double-sided tape to keep beads from rolling around.

*Since we had 12 girls and 3 moms to assist, we prepared the prayer box with wire and a crimp bead (see first few steps below)

Wire protectors are nifty little loops that protect the wire from wear and tear

that might occur with a keychain.  If you are using them, here's how they work:

Thread wire through one hole like this, then...

thread through second hole to finish the loop.

Again, these are optional!

Place charm on wire, and pull wire, leaving about a 1-1 1/2 in tail.

Thread crimp bead over both wires, squeeze with crimping tool or pliers until snug,
 then add one small bead.

Add beads as desired, finishing with one small bead, and a crimp bead.

Be sure to thread the beads over both wires until the tail is covered.

Loop wire over keyring, then thread the wire back through the crimp bead.

Use pliers or better yet,
a crimping tool to secure the wire.
Cut excess wire, and tuck remaining
wire into beads.

Watch this expert video for a better explanation...

photo luminaries

Martha shows you the how-to...
Imagine these with sacred art, images of saints, Divine Mercy...
Use with a battery-powered votive candle.