Fair Trade Handmade Cards - Rebuilding Lives!

Sanctuary Spring Cards & Cards from Africa!

Fair Trade - Environmentally Sustainable - Rebuilding Lives 

Sanctuary Springs is a fair trade greeting card line that employs women in the Philippines who have been victims of the sex trade. Every card purchased helps create a sustainable employment for these women, who are now able to provide for their children and build a new life. You can make a difference, one card at a time.

Cards from Africa are handcrafted by young men and women in Rwanda who have lost their parents to AIDS or the 1994 genocide. They make their own recycled papers by hand and practice fair trade principles. Each purchase helps these families rebuild their lives with dignity. 

Each card is hand singed by the person who made it! =)

Available at C.C Lowell

258 Park Ave

Worcester, MA

508-757-7713

13 DIY Halloween Crafts!

Happy October!

Here are 13 awesome DIY Halloween crafts for kids & adults!

1. Paint a pumpkin with chalk board paint to create a fun Halloween countdown! 

 2. Spooky candles! 

- You'll need toilet paper rolls or paper towels rolls for this project.

- Use a hot glue gun to make drippy "wax" on the rolls.

- Once dry, paint with acrylic black or orange paint!

- Get some battery powered tea lights and you'll have some DIY spooky safe candles!

3. Trace leaves onto colored card stock paper and use them to make a festive wreath!

4. Gold or silver leaf pumpkins for beautiful center pieces and fall decorations!

1)2)3)

5. Or pick up some gold or silver spray paint for fun metallic pumpkins!

6. Make cute little ghost lanterns by painting mason jars white and gluing on some googly eyes!

7. Recycle your wine bottles & make them into candy corn decorations!

8. Mini Frankenstein!

Paint a tin can green, add screws, glue on some googly eyes and felt for hair!

9. And how cool is this!?

10. Drape plaster wrap over toilet paper rolls to make mini ghosts!

11. Witches Potions!

- Empty old bottles & spray paint them black.

- Cut out labels from brown paper bags and write down your potions!

- Use wine corks to top off the bottles!

12. Get large sheets of black paper & cut out spooky silhouettes for your windows!

13. Fairy Jars!

Resin Pendant Tutorial!

Resin Pendant Tutorial!

Simple and Fun!

Step 1: You will need to purchase resin, catalyst, metal pendants, glue, a paint brush, mixing container & mixing stick, and whatever little goodies you want to put inside your pendant (flowers, bugs, glitter, sprinkles, trinkets, etc)!

Step 2: Prepare your work space! Make sure to open all the windows, or better yet do this outside. Resin gives off some pretty intense fumes so ventilation is a must for this project.

Step 3: Take your image and press it into the pendant, making creases. This way you will know where to cut the paper.

Step 4: Paint a layer of white glue on the pendant, then place the picture inside & paint another layer of glue on top of the image.

Step 5: Now you can glue in any tiny goodies you want to personalize your pendant.

Step 6: Now its time to measure your resin. Use a cheap mixing cup and stick because you will need to throw them out after this project. Resin is created by the mixing of two solutions. Follow the instructions on the back of the resin to figure out how much resin and catalyst to use. This step will vary depending on how many pendants you are making. Its really important not to rush during this step, if you mix incorrectly the resin will not set. Keep in mind the container will get warm and the mix will look cloudy, don't worry just keep mixing!

Step 7: Pour mixture into the pendants. Before this step it might be a good idea to tape around the edges of the pendant to prevent over flow! Or just be super careful not to pour too much! If there are bubbles in the pendant, just blow on them lightly and they should come out!

Step 8: Let dry for 24-48 hours! The resin will set in about 3-8 hours but will stay tacky for over 24 hours until completely hardened! Don't touch! =)

Here are some pictures of resin pendants for ideas and inspiration!

Fall Fun - Art Projects for Kids!

Fall is right around the corner!

Here is a fun art project that is kid friendly!

Paint & Leaf Press!

Materials:

-Leaves

-Acrylic paints

-Brushes

-Pallete or paper plate

-Paper

-Pencil with eraser on the end

Step 1 -

 Go outside and find a bunch of leaves that you find interesting.

Step 2- 

Prep a work space for painting (cover table with brown bags).

Step 3-

Squeeze out some fall color paints onto a pallete for paper plate.

Step 4-

Use paint brushes to apply the paint to leaves (moderate this step, if there is too much paint applied the image will end up looking smudged).

Step 5- 

Press the leaf onto the paper to create the image of the tree.

Step 6-

Dip the eraser on the end of your pencil in the paint & press onto the paper to create little fallen leaves under the trees.

Step 7-

 Let dry!

Snazaroo Face Paint Party!

Face painting is always a big hit at any event or party, for children and adults alike. Transforming you into anyone or anything you want to be, it’s great fun and enables you to let go and be truly imaginative!

Birthday Party Tips!  

 Make your party magical with Snazaroo! Unshackle imaginations and transform your birthday party guests into a pack of terrifying tigers, a group of fairy princesses, a cluster of space-faring astronauts,  a pack of ferocious lions or a family of cheeky monkeys! 

Face Painting Tips for a birthday party   

1. Keep a good supply of water for washing brushes and sponges between faces.  
2. Use hair bands and clips to keep long hair away from the face  
3. Cut sponges into wedges to give you a fine edge as well as a broad surface  
4. Rest one hand on the head of the model, to keep their head steady  
5. Apply lighter colours first and allow the first colour to dry before applying the next  
6. Keep designs simple, remembering that small children don’t like to sit still for long!  
7. Keep strokes even and continuous (avoid the temptation to sketch!)  
8. Use stencils if you’re not confident at painting freehand  
9. Snazaroo paint is mixable! Mix different paints to create your own colours!  
10. Describe what you are doing to help reassure a child who is nervous about face painting  
11. Add glitter to give your designs that finishing touch!  
12. Keep a mirror nearby so your model can admire their finished creation  
13. PRO TIP: Face paint can also be used elsewhere on the body! Use Snazaroo to paint on royal jewels and tiaras, tattoos or hand puppets!  
14. Face painting is not just for kids! Paint yourself and your family and see how much fun it can be!    

Important information

Before you start face painting check that the child/children have no skin allergies or infections. Although Snazaroo professional water based face paint is non-toxic and highly tested, never paint someone's face if any kind of skin problem is suspected. If in doubt, try a little on the inside of his or her wrist and leave it for approximately 60 minutes to see if a reaction develops.

Preparation

Make sure your face paints are presented on a clean towel and that you have a good supply of water for washing brushes and sponges between faces.

There is no need to put any cream or moisturizer on the skin before you begin. Water based face paint is best applied directly onto clean, dry skin.

You may wish to keep the hair away from the face with a hair band or clips.

Always apply the base colour first, using a damp sponge. Make sure that the sponge is not too wet by squeezing out excessive water or the finished result may be streaky.

To achieve a deeper colour, allow the first coat to dry and then apply a second coat.

On designs that have a variety of light and dark colours, apply the lighter colour first, if possible.

When applying colour with a brush, keep strokes even and work in continuous lines. Avoid the temptation to sketch. Confidence will come with practice.

Note: Water based face paint is also great for body painting! Use brushes to paint rings on fingers, wrist watches and bracelets on arms, or a huge tattoo - the effects can be stunning. 

Maintaining your face painting kit

In order to get the best results, we recommend these basic tips.

1. When storing or using the kit, keep it in a cool place out of sunlight. Always make sure your materials and face paint containers are cleaned at the end of every session. Store your materials in a dry clean state with lids on all containers.
2. When finishing a session, wipe any excess moisture from the surface of the paints and store with the lids on.
3. Brushes should be rinsed well in hot water and left to dry before putting away.
4. Sponges should be washed well in hot soapy water and left to dry before putting away.
5. Face paint which has been used for more than eighteen months should be discarded.
6. Discard badly stained or damaged brushes and sponges.

Come see our huge selection of Snazaroo face paint!

CC Lowell

258 Park Ave

Worcester, MA

01609

508-757-7713

Fathers Day Craft Ideas!

Stumped on what to do for Dad this Fathers Day!? 

Here are some great Fathers Day craft ideas to make his day very special! 

1.

Collect & recycle old bottle caps, keys, buttons, etc.....then browse our decorative paper section for fun papers to create mixed media art for Dad! We can help you find the best glue to use for the project!

2.

Use kids paint and markers to make an adorable hand print tree that Dad will cherish forever! This Thursday-Saturday get a free fitting, $5 mat board, and 40% off ready made frames!

3.

Use glass paint to make Dad his very own mug or beer stein!

We have a large selection of Pebeo glass paints & supplies to choose from!

4.

Press your hands into air dry clay to make a one of a kind art piece for Dad!

We sell multiple colors of air dry clay and wall hanging hardware for this project!

5.

Melt crayons onto rocks to make Dad some colorful paper weights for his desk at work!

Need help finding supplies for these crafty gift ideas? Come on down and we will gladly help you find everything you need!

CC Lowell

258 Park Ave

Worcester MA

01609

508-757-7713