Keepsake Crafts for Special Occasions
By Brenda Hyde
The birth of a baby, weddings, or anniversaries
are special days that deserve keepsake gifts
that your loved ones can treasure. When you
craft them yourself they mean even more!
These two simple craft projects are easy, but will
send a special message to those you give them
to. Be sure to use your imagination and creativity
when choosing colors and materials. This will make
your project unique.
Special Moments Frame
You will need:
5x7 inch wooden frame
acrylic paints, white plus chosen colors
kitchen sponge
acrylic sealer
miniature decorations
tacky craft glue
sharp scissors
Choosing Your Colors
This frame is perfect for wedding, anniversary,
prom or any special occasion photo. Choose your
colors based on the theme of that occasion. If it's
a photo for a wedding where the colors used were
rose, white and pink, then buy acrylic paint in those
colors.
To paint frame:
Gently remove glass from the frame and set aside. Then,
base coat the wooden frame with two coats of white
acrylic. Let the first coat dry before applying the second.
Let dry completely.
Cut a kitchen sponge into small pieces. Slightly dampen the
pieces with water. Lightly dip a sponge into one of your colors.
Pat the color onto the frame, back and front, in a random
pattern. Let dry. Repeat with your other colors; dry each color.
Spray the frame when dry and painting is completed with an
acrylic sealer; front and back.
Final Touch
The extra touch to this frame is the miniature decorations. There
are many you can choose from. Crafts stores have many choices
of decorative extras in plastic, resin or other materials. You may
choose tiny roses to cluster at the top of the frame, or two small
wedding rings which are available near the wedding craft supplies.
Keeping your theme in mind, you will see many choices. Be sure
to glue your decoration to the top, or the four corners of your frame,
and insert your special photo when completed.
Memory Wreath
A Memory Wreath is a wonderful gift for any occasion, and can be
as simple or as elaborate as you have time for.
You will need:
A grapevine wreath in desired size
hot glue gun, and glue
bits of lace, old jewelry, etc. (see instructions)
Gold and Ivory wired ribbon or premade bow (thickness to match size of
wreath)
Choosing your wreath
Grapevine wreaths come in all sizes. This could be a very small
wreath or a medium size about 10-12 inches across. I would
suggest no bigger than that if possible. You may also use a
heart shaped wreath in these sizes or possibly a rustic square
twig wreath would also work well.
The Wreath Theme
The theme should center around a romantic memory of the
person you are giving the wreath too, such a wedding. You
could also adapt this craft for a Baby Memory Wreath, or
simply choose romance in general in a Victorian theme.
Your wreath is like an empty canvas, but instead of painting
you are using items with texture and substance to create an
image. Here are some suggestions for items you could use:
Bits of cream, antique lace
Pearl, gold, or ivory colored buttons
old costume jewelry, may even be broken; earrings, pins, necklaces
Silk or clay roses in muted colors (or the wedding colors)
Victorian look cut outs from old postcards, greeting cards etc.
Assembling Your Wreath
Place the wreath in front of you, with all of your items also laid
out on a counter top or table with room to work. Before gluing,
place your items on the wreath. You want to space the items
over the entire wreath, but it's also pretty to overlap if you
have enough to fill the wreath. Tuck the lace bits in the grapevine.
You can also glue buttons or jewelry on top of the lace. Start
gluing each piece on after you have a good idea of where you want
to place your items. Your bow can be placed at the top or bottom
in the center of the wreath. I find the wire edged ribbon is especially
pretty for wreaths. After the wreath is completed, simply check to
see that everything is secure in it's place and you have a beautiful
keepsake gift for someone you care about.
Note: If you would like to turn this into a Victorian Baby Keepsake,
simply add baby themed cutouts, small baby booties, etc. to change
the look of the wreath.