Handmade Wish Box

I love the beautiful Wishing Pyramids I see at the Holistic & Metaphysical Fairs. They’re very nice but a bit simple, usually with just an etched design. I wanted to design something for a friend that was a bit more specific for her personal needs. I came up with The Goddess Wish Box.

This is a simple project. Teens and older children with supervision can easily create their own wish box. All of these supplies can be found at your local craft store or online. Here’s what you’ll need…

2 part casting resin (I used Everlasting Elegance found in the floral department)

1 wood craft box

Acrylic craft paint

1 Package Polymer clay

Push molds

Pearlescent powders

1 12×12 piece scrapbook paper (I choose a whimsical design by Flavia that matched my design)

Rubber stamps

Ink

Mod Podge

Glitter

Craft Goop (not pictured)

I gently removed the closing latch from both the lid and body of the box then painted the inside and outside of the craft box with contrasting colors of purple paint. While the various layers of paint dried I cut the 12″x12″ scrapbook paper into long strips that were just shorter than the height of the body of the box (apx 12″x1 3/8″). I used various rubber stamps to add the worlds Solstice and Goddess and images of various Goddesses. Choose rubber stamps that support and compliment your theme.

I lined the strips of scrapbook paper up where I wanted them and creased the corners. I applied a light layer of Mod Podge in approximately 2″ sections and pressed the scrapbook paper to the box. I worked in 2″ sections to keep the paper aligned with the edge of the box so I wouldn’t have to trim or tuck it later. After I had gotten all the way around the box I added two light layers of Mod Podge to seal the paper to the box.

As the box dried I preheated my oven to the manufactures setting for the Polymer Clay I was using. I conditioned the clay and measured the necessary amounts to make one face and 2 word tiles. I brushed my push molds with baby powder and pushed the clay into the molds to form my pieces.

I dabbed pearlessent powders on the face and words then backed them for 15 minutes. I removed the pieces from the over and placed the baking sheet on a cooling rack and let them sit for 30 minutes.

After the box was dried I covered the top of the box and the recessed area with a medium coat of Mod Podge to seal all the cracks and crevasses. After the box was dry I applied another light coat of Mod Podge inside the recessed area and sprinkled it with various colors of glitter and mini metallic silver moons and stars. I allowed the layer with glitter to dry and glued the clay pieces down with Craft Goop and let the goop set.

After about an hour I mixed the 2 part resin to the manufacturer’s standards and gently poured the resin around the clay pieces till it was just to the top of the recessed area of the lid. I sprinkled a light dusting of glitter on the top of the casting resin for added dimension. I created a loose paper tent to prevent debis from falling onto the casting resin and I let the box sit for 48 hours.

Here's the finished box... enjoy!

Project Sock Angel

Project Sock Angel

Components
1 mans tube sock
cissors
needle & thread (can use sewing machine for some parts)
one piece 5”x12” white scrap fabric (petticoat)
one piece 4”x12” color/pattern scrap fabric (dress/robe)
one piece 12x12 brown scrap fabric (hair & teddybear)
two snap fasteners
one third of a silver pipe cleaner
one pair 6” mesh & wire angel wings ($2 online various craft/doll making sites)
one 1lb bag rice (I found them at the dollar store and one bag makes several angels)

I love to recycle! I especially enjoy adding recycled or reused items in my crafts. So when my boyfriend Dave started to clear out all his old, white tube socks that has small holes in the toe I grabbed a pair. At first I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them, so I just hung onto them.

About a month later I was reading one of my crafter magazines and saw a project idea that got me thinking about those socks. The crafter was making small angels from recycled cloth napkins and handkerchiefs. That's when my light bulb went on, I could use Dave's old socks. Even though the socks were tubes and the napkins were flat squares I knew I could make it work.

So I took the socks and turned them inside out. First, I cut straight up the middle of the foot section from the toe to a little below the heel. I pined the inside edge that I just cut. This separates the foot portion of the sock into two long tubes that will be the angels legs and feet.

The legs were thin so when I turned the sock back the right way I needed chopsticks to flip the legs back out. At this point I started adding the rice. I filled the legs about ¼ of the way up and sewed a line across the angels leg to define the foot. Then I filled the rest of the angels leg about ½ way with rice and sewed another line to define the knee. After the knees are defined I fill the rest of the angels legs with rice and sew a line across the top of the legs to define the angels hips. This helps the angel sit up straight too.

Now we'll make the angels body by adding rice into the heel of the sock. This makes a nice round ball that will be the angels body. You want the ball to be the size of a large orange or small grapefruit, depending on the size of your sock and what size you want your finished angel to be. After I fill the angels body with rice I cinch up the neck. Gather the sock tightly above the angels body and sew the neck shut. I did this by weaving my thread in and out of the sock like a belt then pulled it slowly and tightly. I tied 3 knots then proceeded to make four large stitches, two from right to left and knotted, then 2 from front to back and knotted. I don't really sew much so there is probably an easier way to cinch the neck, if you know of one please let me know!

After forming the body I measure the amout of rice I want to fill the angels head with and mark a line on the sock just above that. I empty out the rice and cut across the sock on the line I just made. Keep the rest of the sock, it will be used to make the angels arms. After this I fill the angels head with rice. This time instead of cinching the closure I used more of a “gift wrap” action to close the head. I puled the sock flat on the front and back and tucked the sides in between, pulled taunt and sewed the front and back together with the sides sandwiched in between. This made a small ridge from left to right across the top of the top back of the angels head. This will be camouflaged by the angels hair and it will keep the angels face flat which makes easier placement of the eyes and smile easier.

Now I take what's left of the sock and cut a piece at least 2.5”x10” long and flat. From this I sewed along the longest side to make a long tube. I tucked the ends in and hand sewed four lines to form the angels fingers/hand. Then I filled the tube 75% of the way with rice and proceeded to sew the other end closed in the same manner. I divide the rice evenly on each arm and take the middle with no rice and wrap it around the back of the angels neck. I placed the center of the wings on the back of the arms and I sewed the wings and arms to the neck.

Now it's time to decorate and dress our angel. I used pinking shears to cut each of the fabric strips that I was using to save time from having to hem them (remember I don't sew much). Layer the two pieces of fabric so the petticoat can peak out from under the robe. Take one pair of the snaps and sew one to the top corner of the robe. After you've tied off the snap you can weave your thread in and out of the fabric like a belt to cinch the dress tight around the dolls neck. Measure to make sure the robe isn't too loose or too tight then knot the thread twice before adding the other side of the snap. Double check to make sure you have the snap attached to the correct side of the fabric! (it was late when I was finishing and I learned this lesson the hard way hehe).

I took some brown scrap fabric that I had and cut a 5” by 3” out with my pinking shears. I folded the fabric in half then pulled one side back to off set the ends. I pined the hair and sewed a line along the back to hold it off set. Then I took my pinking shears and cut small strips into the hair from the raw edge to just before the seam I sewed. Then I took the portion of pipe cleaner and made a circle for the halo on one end then bent a 'foot' on the other to tuck under the hair. To attach the hair I used a line of hot glue just over the ridge where I sewed the angels head closed. I sewed two 4mm seed beads on her face for eyes and painted a big red smile with fabric paint.

On the leftover brown fabric I penciled a teddy bead body then cut it out. I hand sew it closed and added a little batting to make it dimensional. I drew eyes, noes and mouth on it's face with fabric paint. Now our angel has an doll.

Take the second snap fastener and sew it onto the palms of the angels hands. This does double duty as it keeps the angels hands together for prayer and to hug her doll.

Now just put your angels robe on, place her doll in her arms and your done!

After this first one I created for my mom I made other dresses and accessories to match various seasons through out the year!

It's a pretty simple project and it was a lot of fun to make. I'd love to hear from you if you've made a sock angel! Don't forget to send a picture of your angel too!

Have fun making your angel!
Christina

www.ChristinaLucido.com

A crafty holiday gift

Every year for the holidays I always make my friends special handmade gifts. I often try to match the gift I make to a hobby or something else they enjoy in life. This year I decided to put together a Christmas Craft Bag for a few of my girlfriends. I found a bunch of cool embellishments like clear acrylic frames and wire words. I found a bunch of clear acrylic stamps in the dollar bin at JoAnn's. They were just too cute to pass up so I grabbed a few general sets and mini stamp blocks too. When I got home I knew that I had a few things from my own personal collection that I wanted to share.

I love using fibers and ribbons on my scrapbook pages and cards and over the years I've collected over 100 different kinds of ribbon, ric-rac, yarn and fibers. Some were special seasonal prints, some were vintage ribbons and fibers, like me it's a very eclectic mix. I cut a yard each of dozens of fibers and ribbons to share with them. I also have a Sizzix Die Cut system and a bunch of cool dies. I have alphabets, basic shapes, dog tags, buttons, buckles, tickets and mini people. I punched a bunch of die cuts in different solid and patterned papers and added them to the bags. Each of my friends that received these gifts has kids so I used my alphabet die cuts to cut the names of each of their kids. I love using die cut letters. Their so easy, clean and slick looking. I wanted to share this time saver!

I know because of their kids they get busy and often their scrapbooks are put on a back burner. I just wanted to share a little inspiration and some new embellishments that they might not have worked with before. I really hope they like their gifts and I hope their inspired to work on their books a little more too!

Blessed be,

Christina