Crochet Barbie Mermaid Tail

Today, I will demonstrate how to crochet a mermaid tail for barbies. It is really easy and good for beginners (it's my own design). I finished it in less than two days, with school etc. so its a quick one! 

To start, you will need a crochet hook, yarn, and a yarn needle. I also recommend having a barbie with you so that you can make sure it is the right size while you're in the process of making it. 

First, make a slip knot. You can do this by making a loop with your yarn. With the side that went under the other, pull through the middle of the loop like a knot, but without pulling the end through. It should look like this.

After that, slide the slip knot over the crochet hook and pull the end to tighten. Then we are going to start crocheting. Take the long end of yarn, connected to the ball, and take it around the back and over the hook. Hold it tight, and pull the slip knot over it. Then repeat, take the yarn around the back of the hook and pull it around, then take the last loop over and off of the hook. We are making a chain. Continue that until it is a little longer than the distance from your barbie's waist to her feet. (CROCHETING SHRINKS AS YOU CONTINUE IT, SO MAKE IT LONGER) I learned that the hard way, but it still fits. Just a little short.

Then, we will turn around and make it wider. What ever side your work is on, pull it towards the back, and stick your hook through the middle of the stitch that is closest to you. Then, take the yarn and go around the back and over your hook like we did before, but only pull the chain off of the hook, so now you should have two loops on your hook. Continue that all the way down your chain, until you reach the end.

It will look like this ^

After that, just flip your work up and go back doing the same steps as before, except this time (and all the times after this) do not stick the hook in the middle, stick it in the work you did most recently, on  the side closest to the hook. Go all the way down, turn around, go back, and continue that until it is wide enough to wrap around your barbie's legs. I did about 13-15 rows, and it fits all of my barbies.

Once it is large enough, it should look like a washcloth. Tie off the ends by cutting it from the ball of yarn and just keep knotting it regularly. Then take your yarn needle and cut off a long piece of matching yarn. Thread it through your needle and tie the long end, so it won't undo. Weave the both sides together by folding in half, and going through both sides. Go back and forth to close off the bottom and the side. Then tie the other end.

Then you need to make the fins. Start the same way. My chain was probably 9 stitches and make 9 rows, except instead of turning around like we did before, just keep going around the perimeter to make it round. I kept one side flat though, so once you get back around, turn around and go around the perimeter the other way, so it looks like the shape of a cave. Sort of like this:   Ū
Make two of those.

Then we will weave those to the tail with the yarn needle, but only weave it through the top layer so that her feet can get all the way in. Do it in a slanted angle.

If the tail is too short like mine, just poke a hole through the bottom behind the fins with her feet.

I did the mermaid top by just doing as many stitches you want for the top ( like 8) and doing four rows of that (unless you want it longer). Then I cut the yarn really long and instead of cutting it off after I tie it, I threaded it through the other side with the yarn needle to make it like a halter top. I used the end that I started with and the end that I weaved through the top to tie around the back.

That's all to it! Enjoy your mermaid!

Triple Full Braid

Today, I will show you how to make a triple full braid. I call it that because it uses three separate braids and it makes the braid look fuller. It's so simple. Here we go!

 To start, separate the hair into three sections. Have the one in the middle have a little bit more hair. Divide one on the outer sections into three sections and braid it regularly. Braid the other outer section also. 

After that, divide the middle section, so that there is a little bit of hair left over on each side, then braid the middle. Once you have three braids and one section in between each braid (two plain sections, and three braided in all), take a plain one and stick your fingers through a stitch at the top of the braid next to it. Then pull the plain strand through. After that, take it and pull it through a stitch of the braid on the other side. Do that all the way down the two braids then secure them both with an elastic. Do the same thing on the other side.

 Once you have all the braids connected, undo the elastics and separate them into three sections (they do not need to be the same sections as before). Then just do one normal braid to keep them all together and to make it look more natural. Secure it with an elastic and you're done! By the way, the braid also looks really cool when you pull it apart.

Minnie Mouse Disney Ears

I will be teaching you how to make these beautiful Minnie Mouse Ears, and save a bunch of money doing it! I made these for my sister for her birthday, because while we were at Disney World, all she wanted was a pair of ears.

The materials you will need are two styrofoam circles (I got mine in a package of two for a dollar at the Dollar Tree), a plastic headband also from the Dollar Tree (it doesn't matter the color because we will be wrapping it in ribbon), red ribbon (from the Dollar Tree but they sell it everywhere), black cotton fabric (about a yard from Joann's Fabric and Crafts), a hot glue gun, fabric scissors, black thread, and a sewing needle.

To start fold your fabric in half and gently place your styrofoam circles on top. Then, circle them with a white crayon or colored pencil, but leave some edge around it. After that, cut them out. Because we folded it before, we should have four circles, the same size. Put two directly on top of each other, and the other two also. Then thread your thread through the needle and tie the ends. Put the styrofoam centered in between two fabric pieces, and begin to sew the edges around them. A basic 'in out' stitch will be fine. Sew all the way around closing up any holes. Repeat on the other ear.

Then, hot glue the ears to the headband. Try to put the glue on the actual styrofoam and a flat part of the fabric on the ear. It's more of a 'do whatever to make the ears stand up' situation. Glue it to the headband. Nows the easy part. Tie two little bows and one regular bow out of the red ribbon. Hot glue the big one to the middle of the headband in between the ears. Glue the other two on top of each ear for more decoration. Then, put a dab of glue on the tip of the headband and wrap the red ribbon all around it on both sides of the headband, so that the entire thing is red. Mine hid my yellow headband wonderfully. There you go! Have fun making these cute and inexpensive Disney ears. Everyone will be wondering how you got them!

LOVE Canvas

Today, I will teach you how to make a beautiful LOVE Canvas for Valentines Day, or just for fun. I made mine for my sister.

To start, you will need a canvas or heavyweight paper. The canvas I used was 7"x5". You will also need pink, red and blue shimmer shine acrylic paints, painting tape, and a "fan" style of paint brush.

First, you need to make your colors. If you have all of those colors, then skip this step. I didn't have purple. Squirt some pink paint onto a paper plate, some red paint, and a separate pile of red paint. Then, squirt blue paint into one of the red piles and mix with a toothpick to make purple. Once you have pink, purple and red, all your paints are ready.

Then, you will need to make the love sign on the canvas. Take your painting tape and scissors and cut your letters. For example, use the scissors to cut straight lines, and cut one piece of tape, then cut it in half long ways, put one's corner on top of the other's corner and there you have an L. Just do it whatever way you want until it looks how you like it. Also, I made my O into a heart, so be creative and do whatever you want.

Once you have all of your letters cut out and stuck on the canvas, you may start painting. Dip your fan brush into one of the colors, then paint over the corner of the canvas so that the color is more natural coming onto the words. Keep changing colors often. Also, be sure to go over the letters with paint, so when you take the tape off, it will have a cooler effect on it. Once I like the amount of decoration on the canvas, stop and let it dry for like a half hour while you can clean up.

Then take the tape off, and you have a beautiful LOVE canvas. If you make a love canvas, tag it with the #creativitylovecanvas
Happy crafting!

Snowglobe

Today, I will show you how to make a snowglobe. No water is needed, because I'm sending it to my sister through the mail.

The materials you will need are a jar with lid, a little christmas tree or toy (mine are from the Dollar Tree), glitter, hot glue, and optional pipe cleaners.

To start, take off the lid and hot glue your toys to the the lid. Then put the actual jar on its side and sprinkle a good amount of glitter (I used three different colors and just put a little of all) 

and then turn the jar on its other sides while adding more glitter to each side to shake it all around.
It's very easy and perfect for gifts. Hope you have fun!                

No Gravity Hairstyle

Today I will be showing you how to do my No Gravity Hairstyle. It is so easy! I love it.

First you'll need wire. Since my hair is brown, I got brown wire. I think it's actually some sort of floral decorating tool, but wire should work fine. Also, for a better hold, use two strands of wire and just act as if they're one. Or you could use three strands and put one in each section.

To begin, take one piece of wire or the floral thing and cut it longer than your hair, but not too long. (Like 5 inches longer). Then, fold the end over and twist it, so that it won't poke you. 

Now to the braiding. Divide your hair into 3 sections, but put your wire in the middle strand with the top of the wire by your ear. Then do a regular braid all the way down and secure it with an elastic. 

Then fold the excess of the wire in half and stick the top in the elastic so it stays, after that, twist the hair through the hole we made with the fold.

Then all you do is take the braid and bend it up! There are so many things you could do with this. I think it looks like the Wendy's restaurant logo. Here are some things you could do with it. Of course, you'd need to use bobby pins or something where I was holding.

Bow Bookmarks

Sorry I haven't posted for a while. 

Today, I'll teach you how to make Bow Bookmarks. They're super cute, good for school, and so easy and quick!

First, you'll need ribbon or rickrack (about a hand length), a paper clip, and a pipe cleaner, wire, twist tie, or something of that nature.

To begin, take your ribbon and  form it into sort of an upsidedown triangle shape.

Then, scrunch down the center to make a bow shape. After that, use the pipe cleaner, etc. to secure the shape by folding it around a few times, leaving tails pointing down. Slide the paper clip up in between the tails of the pipe cleaner, then twist the tails with each other, then as one, wrap around the middle of the bow to make sure the paper clip won't fall off. 

Since I like how my bookmark looks with the pipe cleaner, I left it alone, finished. If you don't like the look of the wire you used, cut another piece of ribbon about 5 cm long, wrap it over the center, and use a dab of hot glue on the back.

And you're done! Have fun reading!