Posts Tagged "vases"
Etched Glass Canisters
This is one of my favorite crafts to do even as an adult! Etched Glass Canisters are a lovely gift or organizational container, and are super simple. Even younger girls can make these with supervision. Older girls may get a kick out of this craft since it is a more functional craft that can be used in many ways at home, in school lockers, etc. Etched glass is completely dishwasher safe and the etching is permanent, so these items can be used for years. Feel free to experiment with other glassware like drinking glasses, vases, and candle holders.
A word to the wise – I have not had good luck with frosted or colored glass, so for best results stick to the clear glass. This tutorial will tell you how to do basic knock-out style lettering, but stencil kits can also be purchased from most craft stores for around $12 for a few pages worth of rub-on single use stencils.
Materials Needed:
- Armour Etch Glass Etching Cream
- Glass canisters
- ¾” vinyl letters
- Masking tape
- Disposable gloves
- Paint brush
Directions:
- Using the masking tape (or blue painters tape, both work fine) to make a rectangle about half an inch larger than the encased lettering. Spell out the desired contents of the canister inside the taped rectangle (canisters can be used for all kinds of things in the kitchen, like rice, sugar, beans, etc, or for smaller craft items like buttons, safety pins, needles, etc.).
- Put on the plastic gloves for protection and apply a thick layer of the etching cream, within the masked off area. Spread the cream evenly over the entire stenciled area, being careful not to extend outside the lines. You should overlap the making tape boundary a little, but not over the outside edge.
- Follow the directions on the etching cream for how long to keep it on the glass. Usually it ranges between 30 seconds and 5 minutes, depending on desired results.
- Without removing the stencil, wash off all of the etching cream with tap water. Remove the tape and letters, then thoroughly clean the glass with dish soap or window cleaner.
Safety Tips!
- Adult supervision is required when using the etching cream.
- Adults can allow younger girls to apply the desired stencils and take care of applying and removing the etching cream themselves.
Colored Carnations
This is a perfect craft around any holiday or any time of year. The colors you choose to transform the carnations into can be themed to match holidays, events, ceremonies, or seasons. Darker colors will work best to color the carnations, but any color is worth a try! It’s simple and creative. It’s also a great science experiment for younger girls. This craft can be combined with other crafts, like making a plastic bottle vase or recycled glass vase.
Materials Needed:
- White carnations
- Liquid food coloring
- Flower vases
- Water
Directions:
- Fill vase ¼ of water.
- Add about 15 drops of food coloring to the water in the vase (more if the vase is large and the shade looks too light).
- Trim about 1″ off of the stems at the bottom at an angular cut.
- Put a flower in the vase and let it sit for 24 hours.
Safety Tips!
- Always have an adult cut the flower stems.
- Use non-toxic food coloring.
The best way to go about this, since it does take about 24 hours for the flowers to change color, is to set up the experiment during the meeting and have the girls take them home. Tell them to watch them and ask parents to take photos of the flowers the next day. At the following meeting, the girls can bring their flowers back if they’re still alive or bring in the photos to share their results.
This is a great craft when working on science badges or as a prelude to a scientific outing. The process of the water moving up the stem into the petals is known as cohesion. The process gets its name because water is considered a very cohesive or sticky substance, which means that water pulled up through the stem takes on a magnetic-like effect, pulling the water up. The tubes in the plant (also known as capillaries) are very small and thin.
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