Prima Princessa's TutuZone

How To Make A Tutu from CraftyGuides

Prima Princessa's TutuZone is thrilled to host this amazing guest post from Mariana of  CraftyGuides on "How to Make A Tutu"

 

 Making a basic tutu is a fun and easy project! Even a child can help! This project is a great rainy day activity and/or a great little girl's party activity! What's even better is that making a non-sew tutu is cheap.

 When I first started making tutus, there weren't many tutu instructions out there to help me out. I learned by looking at tutus on the internet and figuring it out, with MANY mistakes along the way. Now I would like to pass my knowledge onto you. Avoid the mistakes I made when I started. Follow the steps below for a fast introduction to making non-sew tutus.

 Material Needed:

 Tulle From The Bolt (fabric stores sell tulle by the yard from a bolt, which are mostly 54" wide) or 6" by 25 yard rolls of tulle.

 If using tulle from the bolt, you will need to get at least 5-6 yards of tulle for a baby/toddler size. Ages four and up will need at least 8-10 yards of tulle.

 If using tulle from the roll, purchase 6" by 25-yard rolls/spools of tulle. You will need 2-3 rolls for a baby/toddler size and 3-4 rolls for ages four and up. I personally love using tulle ribbon from a roll/spool. It's mostly used for wedding decorations and gift-wrap. It's better to work with and quicker to cut.

 Rotary Cutter or Fabric Scissors

 A self healing cutting mat

 1/2" "-3/4" Width Roll of Non Roll Elastic (Amount needed, all depends on waist measurement) or elastic headband for waist

 Needle and Thread

 Optional: Paper Towel Roll and Paper Towel Roll Holder 

and A lip edge ruler

 BASIC INSTRUCTIONS ON CREATING A NON-SEW TUTU:

 Waistband Construction:

• Measure child's waist and cut elastic 2" inches smaller than initial measurement. 
• Stitch both ends of elastic together by hand or with a sewing machine.
• Make sure it's secure by pulling on the elastic.

 For a 100% non-sew tutu, use a simple stretchy headband for the waistband. If you want a more exact fit, it's best to use elastic and sew the ends together using a needle and thread. No sewing is involved in the skirt portion of the tutu. Most stretchy headbands come in one size so this option may not work for all waist sizes.

 Cutting Tulle:

 If using tulle from a bolt, cut it down into six inch strips. A fast and simple way to cut it, is to roll the tulle into a tube... It should look like a tube of gift-wrap paper.

One end of the tulle will have a folded edge (it should come folded from the fabric store). Starting on that edge, measure three inches and make your first cut with a sharp pair of fabric scissors. Then measure six inches over and cut again. Repeat every 5-6" until you have cut the whole length. You might have to adjust the strip width to make the strip widths as even as possible.

 If using 6" by 25-yard rolls of tulle, you won't need need to cut six inch strips, since the roll already comes in a six inch width. You will still have to cut each strip to your chosen length.

 Let's say you would like the tutu to be 14" inches long. Double that length to 28" and add 1" to compensate for the knot you will be tying at a later step. and Cut each strip to 29" long. The length is up to you.

• Once you have the length you want to cut the strips to, unroll up to 3 rolls of tulle on top of each other (this is to save some time).
• Make sure the ends meet at the 1" mark on your mat.
• Place the quilters lip edge on top of the cutting mat where you are going to be making your cut. The lip edge ruler works like a t-square against the edge of the mat for slip free cutting and measuring
• Roll the rotary cutter across the tulle layers. Continue cutting strips. A baby/toddler tutu will need between 40-60 strips of tulle.

Some strips might not come out entirely even, but it's okay if that happens. Most mistakes can be hidden once all the strips are tied on.

 Making the Skirt:

 Tying Tulle to Elastic Using Double Knot Technique:

• Then bring your elastic over the paper towel roll.
• Take one of your precut strips and then bring it behind the elastic. Make sure both the ends of your strip are even with each other.
• Utilizing the end that's on top, bring it behind and back up thru the loop so as to form your first knot. As you tighten the knot, confirm both ends of the strip are even. Make a second knot utilizing the same strip you made your first knot with. Again make sure the ends are even.

Tying Tulle to Elastic Using Slipknot Technique:

• An alternate way to tie your strips on is utilizing the slipknot method. Fold your strip in half and bring it behind the elastic waistband to create a "U" shape loop. Make sure the ends are even. Bring the ends thru the loop that you have made and pull down to tighten. Try not to pull it too tight.
• Continue tying strips until you achieve the desired fullness; between 40-60 strips for a baby/toddler tutu.
• A good rule is to fit in at least 3 knots per inch of your waistband measurement (minus the 2").

 After completing steps above, you will have a completed non-sew tutu!!

Visit Mariana's TutuGuides.com for great tutumaking e-books!

Description: Learn the Secret Techniques of Well Known Boutiques and Start To Make Your Very Own Tutus! Make Tutus for Friends, Family... or Start Your Own Business Selling Your Handmade Creations!

Title: Learn How To Make A Tutu

Mariana Patrick loves teaching others how to make tutus. She has written two top selling ebooks on how to make non-sew tutus and how to sew a tutu. Visit her website for more info at www.CraftyGuides.com. You can also visit her blog for other free craft tutorials at www.craftyguides.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Fancy Feather Hair Accessories Craft

Feather hair accessories are all the rage!  Feather hair accessories craft is fun and easy to do, not to mention lots cheaper than buying them. Great craft for girls. It is exciting for kids to suddenly be able to make something they have seen in the stores. 

Collect Materials: First you need to collect your materials. Shopping for the materials with your daughter is half the fun. Go to the fabric or craft store for feathers. At the hardware store you can purchase very thin and flexible brass wire for not a lot of money or bead stores often have colored wire. At the drug store pick up some cute clips. At the bead store or craft store get a handful of fun beads for the hair ornaments. Make sure to get beads whose holes are not too big or too small. You will be putting the beads onto silk or leather cording so you want to make sure the holes are just bit bigger than the cording. This cording can be found at bead or craft stores as well.

Material below:

Steps to Make Feather Hair Accessories:

1. Cut a piece of cord about 12''. Using the brass wire attach the cord to the feather. You will do so by wrapping the wire around top part of feather and about a 1 inch of cord. Keep wrapping and wrapping so brass is nice and thick and looks intentional and apart of design. When done cut with scissors and push end flat onto clump.

2. Next play with you beads. About 4-6 is a good number. Try and have ones with the tightest hole towards top and bottom. Tie a know on top of last bead.

3. Next you will attach hair clip. I leave about 3 inches of plain cord, but you can leave as much longer or shorter depending on how your daughter likes to wear her hair feather. Loop cord through hair clip at closed end and wrap about 1/4 inch of the overlapping cord to secure. Again wrap and wrap with brass so looks like an intentional part of design. When done trim excess. Now enjoy!

So cute!!!!

Fast & Festive (and affordable) Holiday Table Center Piece

Every year I like to fill crystal bowls with the standard colorful glass Christmas tree balls. They make great centerpieces and take about 1 minute to put together. Kids and adults love this sparkly decoration. You can get these Christmas balls all over the place, and they are not at all expensive.

I let my daughter very carefully place the ornaments in the bowl. She loves to help me decorate.

Enjoy this easy holiday centerpiece!

Easy Christmas Tree Ornament Projects for Kids

Tutuzone's Family Fun Zone - Christmas Tree Ornament Making with Kids

Popsicle Stick Snowman - Christmas Tree Ornament - Use a hammer and nail to make the hole at the top of the stick. Let children decorate the popscilce stick to make their snowman with a felt scarf of their color choice and an orange carot nose and painted hat and face. Finish off with a little ribbon to tie it to the tree.

Card-stock Photo Snowman -  Christmas Tree Ornament - This makes a great present for mom, dad or the grandparents. Cut three circles out of white card stock. Cut a photo to fit the smallest circle and glue that on. Glue rest of pieces together. Decorate with winter flourishes. The little snowman broom can be found at craft stores, but you can also cut one out of paper for your child to decorate and use on their ornament.  These snowman ornaments are great crafts ideas for kids & great crafts for girls

 

Pipe-Cleaner Beaded Ball - Christmas Tree Ornament 

This is really easy to do. Join 2 pipe-cleaners together into an x. Place beads on all four sizes in equal amounts. Fix pipe cleaner together at the top. Leave enough extra to make a little hoop to hang the ornament to a tree branch. These beaded ball ornaments are great crafts ideas for kids & great crafts for girls. Make sure to take your child shopping with you for special beads to make the ornaments with.

 

Handprint Turkey - Easy and Fun Kids Thanksgiving Craft

Children love to trace their hands. How exciting to see a simple hand print turn into a Thanksgiving turkey.

After coloring it in, add a googley eye and sequins to dress up that turkey. Cut it out and put it on a popscicle stick and you have an instant puppet! 

This is a great craft for preschoolers through elementary school. It is a great craft for girls and boys alike!

 

 

Fun Ghost Decorations for Halloween

Giant Halloween Ghost - crafts for girls

My daughter made this adorable giant ghost several years ago in school. We take it out every Halloween and hang up to enjoy. If you want to make it at home, get a roll of white paper. Cut out 2 sides of the ghost. Sew together with fun thick yearn. For the bottom alternate streamers. Draw on face. Put yarn at top to hang it. This does take some time and does require help from a parent. I would suggest cutting out the ghost shapes ahead of time and making the holes ahead of time. Kids really love the sewing part of this craft.

Lollipop Ghost - crafts for girls

This fun lollipop ghost is a Halloween staple in our house. Simple cover a lollipop with a paper towel. Tape the neck and draw on a face. Kids will enjoy making bunches of these to give out to friends.

  

Outside Halloween Decorations

Every year we dig through spots in garage, attic and basement to find out Halloween decorations. Of course we also always buy pumpkins. Looks like someone has been snacking on one of our pumpkins!

Prima Princessa- fun dance along preschool activity DVDs for only $6.99  featuring a combination of ballet lessons, real ballets on stage and crafts for girls

Family Fun Zone - Halloween Crafts for Kids - Fancy Ghosties

FANCY GHOSTIES - kids Halloween crafts and crafts for girls 

Every year we make ghosties. This year my daughter and I decided to up our game and make glamorous fancy ghosties! Who says ghosts have to be white when you can find all sorts of fun fabric and ribbon at the local fabric store. My daughter loves to shop at our local fabric store with its rolls of exotic fabrics and shimmering ribbons. For these ghosties we settled on sparkling silver, hot pink and of course basic white fabric. We got a selection of silver and pink ribbon. This is a really fun craft for girls to make and play with afterwards.

Directions:

1. Cut a square of fabric.

2. Make ball about the size of a hand out of pillow stuffing.

3. Place ball of stuffing in middle of square and tie with a ribbon.

4. Now for the face: with permanent marker draw to big dark eyes colored in with fancy eyelashes of course. For the mouth draw a big circle, but don't color it in. My daughter decided her ghosts needed to be both fancy and scary so she drew in sharp teeth and beards! Try writing "Boo" on the ribbon.

Tip: You can also make these ghosts using just plain tissue paper. One year me made so many of these out of tissue paper that we ended up connecting them in a long ghostie chain.

Tututzone's Picks - 3 Top Halloween Crafts For Kids Online

 
 1. Salt Dough Ghosts at Family Fun These are really cute and kids will love working with the dough. They bake quickly in the microwave. Great halloween craft for kids.

 

 
2. Pumpkin Flower Arrangement at Flower Showers Craft Blog  This is so gorgeous! Not all Halloween decorations need to be scary, especially if your kids are really little. This is project to have your child help you with. Kids really enjoy helping out, especially when it comes to decorating for a holiday. Fabulous Halloween craft for kids to do with a parent!

3. Paper Plate Pumpkins at Kabboose There is always something magical, especial for kids, about turning everyday objects into art. Super easy Halloween craft for kids.

 

Prima Princessa- fun dance along preschool activity DVDs for only $6.99  featuring a combination of ballet lessons, real ballets on stage and crafts for girls

Family Fun Zone - Easy Duct Tape Crafts For Girls

Crafts for Girls- Colorful Duct Tape Crafts

 
Have you been to the hardware store lately? Well drop by and you'll see displays featuring duct tapein an array of bright colors and patterns. My daughter went bonkers picking out her rolls.

There are so many fun things kids can make out of duct tape. They love unrolling the tape, ripping it and sticking it to the paper base.

 

All of these duct tape projects feature a card stock base and are designed for little kids to be able to do without getting frustrated.  

 

Crafts for Girls- Fancy Duct Tape Bracelets 

Instructions

 1. Cut out some stips of card stock paper. Test on your wrist to make sure you get the right length and leave a few extra inches for overlapping. Cut to desired width of the bracelet. 

2. Lay flat and decorate with strips of duct tape. There is no right or wront way to decorate. Just make sure you cover it on the back and front. Layers are fine

3. Shape into circle and make sure it can slide on and off the wrist. Join the ends with more strips of duct tape.

 

Crafts for Girls - Sleek Duct Tape Pouches

My daughter made this pouch for me to hold my passport and the other for my lipstick!

Instructions

 1. Cut a piece of card stock to the size you want your pouch to be.

2. Cover with long strips of duct tape. Make a fun pattern or stick to one color for a sleek look.

3. When the entire piece is covered with duct tape on both front and back, fold about 2/3 of the top of the paper over. This is the bottom.

Join the sides with duct tape where the paper meets. The un-joined part becomes the flap for your pouch. 

 

Crafts for Girls - Easy Duct Tape Place-mats and  Wish Tablets

My daughter made tons of these. Some are place-mats and some are dream tablets where she wrote her top 10 wishes on the back. 

Really they are just a very easy, satisfying craft for kids and a good way to get used to working with duct tape before moving on to more complicated projects. Great activity for developing those hand muscles which will help kids with writing in school.

Instructions

 1. Take a 8 1/2" x 11" piece of card-stock.

2. Cover the front and back with completely with strips of duct tape. You can do all one color or mix and match all different patterns and colors of duct tape.

3. You can decorate with permanent markers, write you wishes on them or just leave as they are.

 

Crafts for Girls - More Duct Tape Projects On-line

For more complicated duct tape projects, check out these e super cool duct tape craft projects from Ductivity.

 

 

 
 Or check out this cool book for more great ideas for duct tape projects kids will love.

 

Prima Princessa- fun dance along preschool activity DVDs for only $6.99  featuring a combination of ballet lessons, real ballets on stage and crafts for girls

Family Fun Zone - Bead Key-Chain Crafts for Girls

Crafts For Girls - Beaded Key Chains

Bead key-chains can be made in several different ways, using metal wire, waxed linen, leather cord or even a pipe-cleaner. It is a great craft for girls to spend lots of time on making several different key-chains.

 

1. Enjoy a trip to the bead store with your daughter to pick out large, distinctive beads. Try mixing beads from different countries as well of different materials and sizes. Make sure to pick beads with holes big enough for whatever material you choose to string on.

 

2. Take a long piece of waxed linen and bend in half. Hang key-ring in middle. Tip: you can also use metal wire from the hardware store, leather cord or even a pipe-cleaner. Pipe-cleaners are especially easy for young kids to work with and can also be easily undone if kids want to try out new designs.

3. String beads one by one on to the double strands of cord. For straight line of beads tie big knot at the end. For circle of beads tie knot onto top where started once you have made your loop. If adding charm, tie knot over top of charm.

4. Dab with clear fingernail polish to hold the knot tight. Wait until dries to trim extra cord off the knot.

5. These key-chains make great teacher gifts or gifts for relatives. Get some card stock and cut into 4 pieces. Describe all the distinctive beads used in the key-chain. This is will make the gift even more special as people will love learning about their key-chain.

 

Crafts for Girls - Key Coloring Book Pages

From Printable4Kids  Print out and color.

 
Visit Great Inventions Online Coloring Pages to actually color this fun Lock & Key drawing live right online!

 

Prima Princessa- fun dance along preschool activity DVDs for only $6.99  featuring a combination of ballet lessons, real ballets on stage and crafts for girls

Family Fun Zone - Paper Dress Up Crafts for Girls

Crafts for Girls - Mix and Match Paper Dress Up Craft 

You and your daughter will love making all these princess dress up pieces with paper and then mixing and matching them up into different styles of princess dresses. This is a super easy kids craft.

1. Cut a bunch of triangles, circles and half circles out of assorted colors of construction paper. Each type of shape should be about the same size like in the photo.

2. Decorate as fancy as possible with crayons, markers, sequins, glitter glue. The more the better.

3. Mix and match these pieces creating lots of gorgeous princess dresses. 

The half dome is the skirt. Place it with the curve arch on top. Place onto of it one of the upside down triangles. Choose two circles and place them on the top 2 points of the triangle. There you have your first dress combination. Keep on mixing it up. 

 

 

 

 

Crafts for Girls - Turn a favorite dress sketch turn into reality!

If you like to sew, why not choose one of your daughter's most favorite princess drawing's and turn it into a real outfit just like costume designer Heather MacCrimmon did with these 3 fabulous children's drawings for the New York Times. She was inspired by how creative children's drawings are and felt compelled to translate them into reality. This is one of those crafts for girls that will become a real family keepsake.

 

Crafts for Girls - Favorite Fashion Sketch Books & Sticker Books  

My daughter loves this Rosie Flo's coloring book! We have a few from this very cretive coloring book series.

 

 

This is another of my daughter's favorite crafts for girls sticker books. We got a bunch of these Usborne sticker books as well and always eagerly await the new ones that come out regularly.

 

Crafts for Girls - Princess Coloring Pages

Love these fancy princess dresses at the DLTK site. Lots of fun free princess coloring pages.

 

       

 

Prima Princessa- fun dance along preschool activity DVDs for only $6.99  featuring a combination of ballet lessons, real ballets on stage and crafts for girls