Arts & crafts are fun and relaxing, but gathering materials, tools, and design ideas can be frustrating. Fortunately, there are kits available containing everything you will need to complete the project, while also providing opportunities to explore new crafts on a smaller scale. Let’s look at a few of the options…
Candle Making (multiple colors, shapes and scents)
Christmas Ornaments (sequins, painting, beading)
Crochet (animals, plants, dinosaurs)
Modeling Clay (anything you can imagine can be sculpted in clay)
Model Building (planes, ships, cars, action figures)
Needlepoint (pillows, wall art, ornaments)
Paint by Number (landscapes, animals, botanicals, fantasy)
Paper Crafts (wall art, origami, flowers, greeting cards)
Gingerbread Houses (try not to eat it before you’re finished)
Soap Making (variety of scents, colors, decorative additives such as petals)
Suncatchers (so easy to make and can be hung anywhere, even as ornaments)
Fingernail Art (master this skill and clients will line up in no time)
Pyrography (wood burning is a unique art form and may include painting)
A simple online search will provide craft kit options for every interest and style. Let your creative side shine through and share your new creations with family and friends. Have fun and Good Luck!
As a kid, I remember reading a book about a courting frog, which is still popular today. And who could forget the story of the Frog Prince? To this day, my mom kisses every frog figurine, ornament, or pendant, just in case it turns into a prince. Nothing so far, but she remains hopeful. This week we will be painting a frog in search of a mate. We will start with a couple of photos for inspiration:
Inspiration
This frog has great patterns, nice mixture of greens and browns, and cool eyes.
Inspiration
The spotted pattern on this frog would be easy to duplicate.
How to Paint a Resin Frog:
Original Gray Resin Frog – Front
Talk about having a case of the blahs! This cute little frog has some nice details, such as the collar, tie and the intricately carved rose. We have been using it as a doorstop for years, and we never gave it a second thought. That changes today.
Original Gray Resin Frog – Profiles
The sculptor did an amazing job defining the frog’s body from head to toe, including adorable, webbed feet. The rose has layer after layer of petals with curled edges like a living bloom.
Original Gray Resin Frog – Back
The textured straw hat has been accurately rendered and will need to be carefully painted to maintain its integrity. Be sure to apply a thin coat of paint, or those details may be lost.
Supplies
Supplies:
Resin Frog (11” high x 10” wide x 8” deep)
Acrylic Paints – white, red, yellow, blue, green, metallic gold, black, & tan
Small detail paintbrush and thicker brush for base coats
Clear Spray Paint – gloss or matte finish
Note: If you choose to blend several paints to create a special color, be sure to make enough to complete the project because it is difficult to duplicate. To keep wet paint fresh on a palette or dish for later use, cover the surface with plastic wrap.
Painted Straw Hat – Front
Paint the straw hat yellow, one rough coat to preserve texture. My mom painted the hat. And yes, she kissed the frog too! (lol)
Painted Straw Hat – Back
As you can see the straw texture is still visible.
Painted Frog – Front
Paint the frog’s entire body green.
Painted Frog – Profiles
You will need to use a fine brush in areas close to the hat to prevent green paint from marring the yellow.
Painted Frog – Back
Be sure to paint green all the way around, even in the tight curves and at the edges of the collar, tie and rose.
Painted Collar & Tie
On the first attempt, the collar was painted white. I decided the contrast between the green and white was too harsh and should be softened.
Repainted Collar & Rose
The collar was repainted tan, which has a much softer effect. Paint the tie blue and the red rose. The pupils are painted black and will be completed in the next step.
Completed Painting
Finish the eyes by outlining them with metallic gold. I experimented with a patterned iris, but he looked scary instead of cute, so I repainted the black. Add white highlights to give this little guy twinkles in his eyes. Look over the frog and touch up any areas as needed.
Frog Ready for his Close-Up
This is the close-up of our leading man. All he needs now is to find the love of his life.
Clear Coat Protection
To protect the acrylic, I recommend sealing the paint with two coats of clear spray paint. Notice how much richer the colors become after being sealed.
Frog Before & After
This froggy’s makeover is complete! He went from bland gray to fashionably colorful in a few easy steps.
Frog Royalty
If one day in your travels, you encounter a frog like this one, it might just be worth risking a kiss to find a true frog prince or princess. Good luck painting your next project, and I hope you find that special someone!
On a scale of 1-10, who is the cutest – an Alpaca or an Ewok?
My apologies to all the Star Wars fans, but this week our craft project is all about Alpacas.
This baby alpaca looks so soft and cuddly like a stuffed animal.
Adults have long shaggy fur, which is used to make yarn for blankets, sweaters and other garments.
Some have monochromatic fur, such as the one pictured above.
Alpaca fur tends to be thick and plush in a variety of shades and a few fashion-forward combinations. Whatever your preferences, you can’t go wrong applying those creative choices to this fun project.
How to Paint a Wooden Alpaca:
Raw Wood Alpaca
Thick wood has been cut out in the shape of an alpaca. Both sides and all the edges will need to be painted. Due to the raw nature of the wood, it may require a little sanding, especially along the edges.
Supplies
Supplies: Wooden Alpaca (6-1/4” high x 4-1/2” wide x 1-1/2” thick) Acrylic Paints – gray, white, black Bottles Fabric Paint – brown, white, black Paintbrushes Sandpaper Black Sharpie Marker or pencil
Paint Base Color
Using acrylic gray paint and a brush, paint both sides of the body and all the edges.
Paint Accent Colors & Draw Eye Detail
Apply white acrylic paint with a brush on the head, neck, lower legs and tail. With a pencil or marker, draw the eyes.
Define Facial Details
Using a combination of acrylic and fabric paints, add the eyes, nose and mouth.
Textured Fur Detail
Creating thick, three-dimensional fur is easy with fabric paint. You must start at the BOTTOM and work your way up using short downward strokes. Keep the placement and stroke size random, layering new fur over the previous sections as you work your way to the top. Allow the paint to dry overnight because it shrinks as it dries. Repeat this process until you achieve the desired appearance.
Paint White Textured Fur
This photo shows the completed white fur on the legs and tail. Repeat this process on the other side.
Note: To achieve a very thick fur coat, you may need several bottles of fabric paint.
Paint Brown Textured Fur
Apply brown fabric paint on the torso, and upper legs, using the same textured process described above.
Paint Additional Layers of Textured Fur
Repeat the painted fur process as many times as needed to create a thick fur coat.
Paint White Textured Fur
Once again using the white fabric paint, start creating the fur at the bottom of the neck and work upward.
Paint Additional Layers of White Textured Fur
Repeat the process to achieve desired thickness. Remember to thoroughly cover the edges too. You may also want to add more fur on the tail as well for a bushy effect. Allow time for the paint to dry between coats so that you can see which areas need more work.
Finished Alpaca
Congratulations! You are now the proud parent of an adorable alpaca!
Finished Details
As you can see in this photo, the fur continues up over the top of the head, including bangs on forehead.
Alpaca – Before & After
We started with a plain wood figure, and with little effort and patience during drying times, this cute alpaca is ready to adorn your home or be given as a gift. Either way, smiles are sure to follow.
Ever wonder how many spots a cheetah has? I wish I could tell you, but I lost count during this week’s project. a painted wooden cheetah.
Inspirations: Resting in the Shade
Look at that gorgeous coat! It’s beautiful but also serves as camouflage. The black tear-like markings help these stealthy predators by cutting the sun’s glare.
Mother & Cubs
Their long muscular legs and bodies make cheetahs the fastest land animals. They often stand on trees and rocks for better views of their hunting grounds.
Keeping a Lookout
It’s important to stay alert. You never know when the next meal might come along.
Supplies: Raw Wood Cheetah
Closeup – Raw Wood Cheetah’s Feet
Do you notice the problem with his front feet? If you are familiar with music from the 1970’s, you’ll know the rock group Kiss. Their costumes always included platform boots and apparently this cheetah is a fan! lol This odd design choice will be corrected in a later step.
Acrylic Paints
How to Paint a Wooden Cheetah: Paint Base Coats on Cheetah & Stand – Front View
Be sure to paint all surfaces, including the edges.
Paint Base Coats on Cheetah & Stand – Back View
Draw Details on the Body and Face
Defining the legs on the front and back is a bit of a challenge. You’ll notice there is extra wood at the edges, which should have been trimmed off. Instead, we will paint it brown in a later step so that it is less noticeable. Add the facial details too.
Paint the Details – Front View
The tail, belly, inner side of each leg, and areas on chest and face are white with black spots. The rest of the coat is tan or golden with black spots. The facial details bring this figure to life.
Closeup – Legs
As noted previously, the excess wood on the legs is painted brown to blend into the background.
Paint the Details – Back View
Paint the Spotted Coat – Front View
The tip of the tail is solid black with a few stripes above it. Spots cover the remainder of the body.
Paint the Spotted Coat – Back View
Completed Cheetah – Front View
Glue stones to the base, beneath the front feet, to correct the issue noted in the sixth photo and to create the illusion the cheetah is scoping out his surroundings.
Completed Cheetah – Back View
I hope you enjoyed this post and are inspired to begin your next creative project.
It’s that time of year again when we look back at the highest-ranking posts of last year, as voted by you, the readers. Below is a list of the Top Six posts of 2025, in ascending order:
Number 6: Gift Wrap – Thinking Outside the Box
Wrapping gifts can be fun or stressful depending upon how many presents and how much time you have. I thought it would be nice to see several “outside the box” ideas. To read more, please click here.
Number 5: Celebrating Spring with Wreaths
Nothing says spring has arrived like colorful buds, blooms and leaves. Why not bring nature indoors by making a new wreath. You will have a few decisions to make before you begin…To read more, please click here.
Number 4: Recovering at the Art Studio – Blog Paws
Those of you who follow my blog will recognize one of our art studio mascots, Smokey. Two weeks ago, he had to be rushed to the veterinary clinic for emergency surgery. As you can imagine, it was such a shock. To read more, please click here.
Number 3: The Art of Cupcake Decorating II
In part 1, we reviewed cupcake flavors and decoration options. Now we have arrived at the fun part, decorating. Each cupcake is a blank canvas, ready for your creativity to come to life. Let your inner artist come out to play. To read more, please click here.
Number 2: The Art of Cupcake Decorating I
Cupcakes are the perfect choice to satisfy your sweet tooth. They’re quick to make, fun to decorate, easily portable, and the quantity allows experimentation with multiple designs. We will begin with flavors, followed by decorating options. To read more, please click here.
Number 1: Forest Dragon
The mysterious legends of dragons have been a fascination for centuries. appearing in ancient and modern texts, maps, as well as artwork and architecture around the world. Some may say dragons are pure fantasy but … To read more, please click here.
And there we have it – the top 6 posts of 2025. We have a new year to explore the world of creativity. There are always new ideas, and I’ll be sure to include more of your favorites. Your opinions are greatly appreciated, and I look forward to so much more this year. If you have any suggestions for future posts, please let me know.
Thanks for Reading, Happy New Year & Happy Crafting!
What I miss the most during the colder months are the beautiful colors in nature. The winter sky is so gray, the trees are dormant, and the flowers temporarily disappear for a long winter’s nap. Evergreens defiantly retain their glorious shades of green regardless of the weather. To brighten your home decor, you can add a little evergreen and it will never need to be watered.
How to Paint Wooden Pine Trees
This painted craft is very easy to complete in a short amount of time and it’s great for beginners too!
Raw Wood Trees
As with all raw wood, a little sanding may be required, especially along the edges. The pre-drilled holes are for lights in a later step.
Supplies Supplies:
Wooden Pine Tree (17” high x 9” wide x 1/2” thick) (Base is 9” wide x 2” deep)
Acrylic Paints – green, white
Paintbrushes
Sandpaper
String of 20 lights
Apply Green Paint
Paint each tree green, ensuring both sides, all the edges and the base are painted.
Define the Branches with Snow
In nature, snow gathers on the branches. To give these trees a more three-dimensional appearance, add patches of white paint to imitate Mother Nature.
Tree Lighting
Those pre-drilled holes were made to hold a strand of twenty white lights. The lights can only be pushed through from one side of the wood frame. You may need to secure the last light at the bottom with a piece of tape to keep it from pulling out from the weight of the electrical cord.
Finished Trees (with and without camera flash)
All you need to do now is choose a spot to display your handiwork and plug in those lights. I place my trees in the living room windows to enhance the rest of the outdoor decorations. When the holidays are over, they can remain on display throughout the winter.
Pom Pom Alternative
As an alternative to lights, you can turn a simple pine tree into a Christmas tree by gluing on multi-color pom poms as ornaments.
I hope you enjoy this project and have fun decorating your home for the holidays.
We deal with so many details every day. I thought it would be fun to take a look at some craft photos to demonstrate how small changes can make such a dramatic difference. Let’s go!
Acrylic Painted Rabbit
This cute rabbit has blended fur colors, but a rather blank expression.
Acrylic Painted Rabbit with 3D Details
The 3D paint creates facial depth, and provides a twinkle in eyes filled with personality.
Acrylic Painted Flamingo
Flamingos are so colorful and unusual. The color scheme captures the essence of the bird but lacks the textured feathers.
Acrylic Painted Flamingo Layered with 3D Texture
Now he appears to be staring back at you while he proudly shows off his brightly colored plumage.
Two-Tone Green Man
Mother Nature’s counterpart doesn’t look very happy, does he?
Two-Tone Green Man with Metallic Gold Highlights
After brightening the whites of his eyes, he had his “hair” highlighted and now he looks rather pleased with himself. lol
Black & White Photo vs. Colorized Photo
The black and white portrait is nice, but look how soft, warm and romantic the second photo is thanks to the addition of color and dreamy special effects.
Metallic Silver Octopus
Metallic silver is an odd choice for such a fluid sculpture of a living animal.
Full Color Octopus with 3D Details
A vibrant new color scheme brings this blue ringed octopus to life, and the three-dimensional suction cups add texture as well as a more realistic approach to this wriggling octopus.
Gnome House vs. Bamboo Tropical Hut
Originally this little house was part of a collection of gnomes. A bamboo pattern combined with a few brightly colored silk flowers transformed it into a tropical hut for an ocean-themed centerpiece.
3D Painted Celtic Cross
Celtic designs are famous for their knot work. The three-dimensional green paint contrasts nicely with the black background and textures the entire surface.
3D Painted Celtic Cross with Metallic Gold Accents
The introduction of three-dimensional gold accents brings a bit of sparkle and opulence to the design.
Acrylic Painted Seahorse with 3D Accents
Seahorses are known for their brilliant colors and textured bodies. The 3D paint adds a bit of texture along the contours of the body and upon the spiny back.
3D Painted Seahorse
By using only 3D paints, the entire seahorse springs to life in glorious color and texture.
Fashionable Snowman
No snowman is complete without a few knitted accessories.
Fashionable Snowman with Lights
The addition of lights not only adds sparkle, but also enables him to shine at night in any window to complement your exterior decorations.
Halloween Witch vs. Christmas Elf
How can a Halloween decoration become one of Santa’s helpers? The answer lies in accessories! Cover the hat and tuck in the hair, add a scarf and candy cane and voila you have a Christmas elf.
Instructions for most of these items can be found on the “How To Projects” page.
It is said: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Little details have a strong influence over our perceptions, but sometimes we become so accustomed to our surroundings that we barely notice. Look at your home from a new perspective. Check out those little details to see if something could use a touch of color, a bit of whimsy and a little tender loving care. You’ll be glad you did!
Eerie & Otherworldly
No Halloween display would be complete without a skeleton or two. Each one has its own personality.
Unexpectedly Playful
Culturally Festive
Bone-Chilling & Terrifying
Every year manufacturers introduce new items to thrill, amuse or frighten avid Halloween fans. With a few easy steps, you can personalize store-bought skeletons to express whatever style or attitude you desire for your Halloween décor. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Fierce Makeover:
Deep Sea Fish Skeleton
This skeleton is based upon a real life deep-sea fish called an Anglerfish. To attract prey, a bioluminescent fishing lure is cast in front of its head and in no time, those strong jaws snap shut as vicious teeth make short work of consuming the meal. Check out the illuminated photo below.
Illuminated Deep Sea Fish Skeleton
As a Halloween decoration, it certainly is more unique than the usual offerings. When lit, the lure is bold yellow and the stomach has an eerie purple glow. While he does have a menacing appearance, I think we can do better! I really like the purple glow but when the lights are turned off, the bones are a neutral color without any contrast. In other words, he needs an upgrade!
Fish Skeleton Paints Supplies:
Deep Sea Fish Skeleton (8” high x 17” long x 5” wide)
Acrylic Paints – linen, metallic periwinkle blue, & black (not shown)
Paintbrushes
Fish Tail – Before
Fish Tail – After
Paint the tail and tips of the spine with metallic periwinkle blue. Notice how the bones stand out against the metallic blue. The reflective quality of metallic paint contrasts well with matte finish bones.
Fish Head & Fins – Before
Fish Head & Fins – After
Paint the eyes black. Paint the webbing of the fins and crevices around the eyes with periwinkle blue. The fleshy, darker contrast makes the eyes look meaner in a zombie-like fashion. Linen paint can be used to touch up unwanted marks on the head.
Finished Fish
The individual bones in the tail and fins really show up now, resembling creepy skeletal hands for seizing prey or curious trick-or-treaters. See fish 2025 updated version below.
Illuminated Finished Fish
Portraits – Before & After
The first photo is the original fish and the second is the finished makeover. The purple glow now extends across the entire body. With a ferocious expression and intimidating attitude, this Anglerfish is ready to strike, perfect for a Halloween scare.
Fish Update 2025
Sometimes I like to live with a finished craft for a while to ensure I’m satisfied. I decided this fish needed a meaner look, which required additional painting. I think I accomplished my mission. What do you think?
Fantasy Fashion Makeover:
Spider Skeleton
Spiders often have a very creepy aura and you could certainly go in that direction. This lucky lady prefers a haute couture makeover and we know just how to bring it!
Spider Skeleton Paints Supplies:
Spider Skeleton (6” high x 8” long x 13” wide)
Acrylic Paints – metallic blue sapphire, metallic copper, & pure black
Paintbrushes
Spider Head & Feet
Darken the eyes with black paint, and paint the facial details and feet with metallic copper. Feel free to experiment with the colors.
Spider Joints & Spine
Turquoise and brown are a very fashionable color combination, making metallic blue the perfect complement to the copper. This bejeweled spider is ready to make her debut on the fashion runway! lol!
Finished Spider Pulling Wagon
Why not show off her new look by participating in a Halloween parade with a few friends?
Fairy Tale Makeover:
Frog Skeleton – Before
This little guy has a heartwarming smile. I believe we can add a little more charm.
Frog Skeleton Paints Supplies:
Frog Skeleton (3-1/2” high x 5” long x 4-1/2” wide)
Acrylic Paints – metallic peridot green & pure black
Paintbrushes
Frog Skeleton – After
Sporting his new color, he’s bound to win hearts and maybe even garner a few kisses for luck. Who knows – maybe he will turn into a prince?
I hope you enjoy these fanciful skeletons and apply these ideas to your Halloween décor..
Thanks for Reading! Happy Halloween & Happy Crafting!
Mushrooms have been trending this year in everything from apparel to home décor. Nature is filled with magical wonders and what better time to tap into that magic than Halloween? This fun project is fun and easy for everyone.
Original Mushroom Decoration
I purchased this cute figurine at Wegmans. The shape of the mushroom cap lends itself perfectly to becoming a witch’s hat.
Supplies
For this project you will need acrylic paints, brushes, a black sharpie marker, and a toothpick for tiny touch-ups. You will also need a stuffed animal eye. (You’ll see why below.)
Paint Jack-O-Lantern Faces
Painted faces give these pumpkins personality. I didn’t like the low placement of the faces, so I repainted them to start over.
Repaint Pumpkins
The new orange paint creates a new blank canvas.
Paint Yellow Jack-O-Lantern Face Details
Yellow paint creates the inner glow typically found in Jack-O-Lanterns.
Outline Face Details in Black
Using a black Sharpie marker, outline the face details for a carved appearance.
Add a Purple Eye
The addition of a purple eye is both cute and creepy.
Create Eye Socket with Packing Peanut
Instead of a human eyeball, I decided to give this magical creature a tube-shaped eye socket using flattened packing peanuts.
Side View of Eye Socket
The packing peanut texture coordinates well with the mushroom stem.
Side View of Eye Socket
Finished Bewitching Mushroom
The eye socket was painted beige to blend with the stem.
Side View of Finished Mushroom
Side View of Finished Mushroom
I hope you enjoyed seeing this bewitching mushroom. It makes a great addition to your Halloween décor and creates an element of the unexpected. As you know, I love Halloween and would love to hear about any of your Halloween-themed projects.
Thanks for Reading! Happy Halloween & Happy Crafting!
Crafts Inspire Me 