Category Archives: Crafts for Kids

Halloween Decor – Ghastly Pen

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I saw this project in a magazine a few years ago. I wish I could remember which one so I could give them credit. I modified it a bit to conform to IA’s mission, but here it is.

Materials:

  • white clay
  • toothpick
  • plastic fingernail (a true IA devotee would use a fake fingernail that had fallen off and was too damaged to be re-glued on)
  • glue
  • dark fingernail polish

I do not like those pens that businesses give away. They’re unattractive and they don’t write that well. This project is a good way to make use of those pens. Ghastly Pens make great party favors or a fun take-along for school during the month of October.

For each Ghastly Pen, cover a ballpoint pen with approximately a ¼-inch thick layer of white clay or similar material, leaving the tip of the pen exposed. Use your hands to mold the clay into the shape of a finger, using your own finger or a willing hand as a model. Use a toothpick to make wrinkles and creases for the knuckles.

Glue a plastic fingernail near the pen tip making sure to leave enough room to be able to write with the pen. Trim the nail so that it’s a bit ragged. Use the toothpick to form lines for the cuticle area. Paint the nail with a ghastly shade such as green or black. Let clay dry completely before using.

Glamour Pen – use flesh colored clay instead of white clay. Don’t trim the fingernail to make it look ragged. Paint the fingernail a bright red, or do a French manicure on it.

Teen Scene – use flesh colored clay. Paint the nail a cool color such as light blue or bright orange. While polish is still wet carefully place a decal, sticker or charm on the nail. When polish is dry cover entire nail with a couple coats of clear polish.

New Uses For Old Carpet

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The Irish Attic book has a subsection under each main section called Make Life Easier. These ideas are from that section under Carpet.

Indoors

Use squares of old carpet to wash textured walls. A carpet square will get into all the crevices and won’t scratch your walls like a brush would. Use the carpet side, not the backing side.

Glue a piece of carpet to a scrap piece of wood to make a cat scratch post or use a piece of carpet to recover an existing cat scratch post.

Cut carpet into small pieces to place under the feet of heavy furniture or appliances. These carpet pads will make it easy to move the piece around as well as protect your floors.

Scrap pieces of carpet can be used to redecorate a doll house.

Line a pet bed with carpet.

Carpet in good condition can be glued to one or more walls in a child’s or teen’s bedroom. Not only does this add a decorative element, but more importantly it helps to deaden sound (especially helpful in a teen’s room!).

Carpet can be used as extra insulation in an attic, dog house, tree house,  even your compost heap.

Place a large piece of carpet in your garage. You can use it to define an area and to make walking barefoot in your garage more pleasant.

Outdoors

Place a piece of carpet in the back of an enclosed truck or van to protect the bed from scratches and make it easier to slide large items across the bed. You can place it carpet side up or carpet side down, whichever you prefer.

Use scrap pieces of carpet as temporary car mats when doing messy activities like the beach or hiking.

Take scrap carpet pieces with you when camping to use as mats to keep the dirt or snow out of your vacation home.

Take larger pieces of carpet to line the inside of your tent for a more pleasant walking surface.

Place carpet in your garden to suppress weeds. Cover with fresh dirt or mulch.

Carpet placed under gravel or bark can be used to create a weed-free path or patio.

Cut a rectangle for a kneeling pad you can use when gardening.

Small pieces of carpet make a great scrubbing tool that you can throw away when it gets too yucky. These are great for cleaning a barbecue.