Welcome  Young and Old,
Here you will find crafting projects for all ages. We will share ideas for recycling and new material projects. We hope you will  enjoy and expand your creative energy.
Recycling will bring you happiness for years to come. Christmas villages may never again be the same. Milk jugs, pop bottles, juice jars, strawberry baskets, styrofoam and frozen plastic juice containers, can with some glue, scissors, paint and a little imagination become .....your Christmas village.
how to's
Basic house: three milk jugs are needed per house. glue gun, tacky glue, scissors, fir garland, batting or angel hair for roof snow and small trims(berries, bows, bead for door handle)                                
Church: three milk jugs and a one litre pop bottle. glue gun, tacky glue, scissors, garland, batting, and trims, and paint (i used spray first then acrylic for stone, wood, brick affect)
Christmas tree: one glass ocean spray bottle, about 2 yds of 1/2 inch lace,  e-6000 glue, small bows, and beads for ornaments, fine bead chain for garland, and spray paint.
Family Fun
 
This project is something the whole family can participate in. Make it something you can share for years!
Children will love showing it off!
Village how to's:
Basic house: -cut one milk jug cut it all the way around                
                      just below the handle
                     -jug 2 cut two end peeks for your roof angle
                     (triangle to fit in end of jug for front and back
                       about 5 1/2 inches wide at base 5 inches base to
                      peek) glue to inside of house base with tacky
                      and hot glue or e-6000 for best hold but not
                      fast to dry doubles work time.
                    -cut strip 1 inch wide x 10 inches long glue inside
                      peek ends for roof support.
                    -cut several shingles about 1inch x2 inches glue
                     them into 2 5inchx 8inch rectangles laying them
                      like you would roofing shingles.
                    -glue the 2 roof pieces on one at a time ensuring
                      they are firmly attached(little tabs along edges
                      give some extra support) once they are in place
                     glue a row of shingles over the top to cover the
                     seam.
                    -for the door frame cut the top half of the handle
                     on the seam line to make to halves the same
                     when glued together they will form a peek at the      
                      top and glued on the house front form the door
                     frame.  A bead will be the handle.
                    -the bottom half of the handle will form the
                      chimney, the angle will glue easily to the house
                     roof, steps are folded plastic glued together.
                    -windows are formed by cutting stipr 1/4 inch
                      wide and folding in half and glued onto house.
                    -for round windows cut out circle one side of jug
                     and glue on bubble side out.
                    -porches can be added and strawberry baskets
                      make nice lattice work.
                    -paint and decorate to your liking.                    
The Church: -follow same house basic steps
                    -for steeple use litre bottle cut to about 5 inches
                     from the bottom of the bottle. Cut front and back
                     angles for roof peek  and under each nub on
                      bottle bottom cot out a window for the steeple
                      hang a bell inside and glue to the roof.
                    -make door arch bigger because church has two
                      doors. Play with steps to make them larger use
                     wider pieces of plastic.
The Tree: -punch four holes in the lid and with two 4 inch                      
                 pieces of 16 gauge wire, feed it through the holes
               making an x inside twist together to make tree point
               -retun lid to jar
                -with e-6000 glue 1/4 inch gathered lace to jar
                 starting at the bottom let dry, spray paint with
                green or use green lace. Put ornaments and bows
                on,add trim, place miniature angel on top.
 
HAPPY CRAFTING AND WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS PROJECT AS MUCH AS WE HAVE. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
 
For more detailed instructions email me at rodcross@telusplanet.net