Craft Project: Vintage Fridgie Diet Reminder Elephant

Vintage Fridgie Diet Reminder Elephant

This was one of my most popular crafts to sell in the 60's. The foam is not the same now as back then, but it is more dense and easier to work with. A great little tuck-in gift for secret pals, friends, and loved ones.

Approximate Time:

Supplies

Magnet strips
Sheet of Pink Foam
Black Sharpie
1/4 inch ribbon
Tacky White Glue
Wiggly eye 12mm
Spoke Sequin
Alphabet Macaroni

Instructions

Print out the templates on page 2 and cut out. Lay on foam with wrong side up and draw around the pieces with the sharpie. Cut out the pieces and turn the pieces right side up. Glue the tail piece over the head piece. Draw in the details on the ear, the trunk and the toes. Tie the ribbon into two little bows and glue one to the ear and one to the base of the tail.

Glue a couple magnet strips (about an inch long) to the back of the elephant. I placed mine one behind the ear and one about where the tail is.

Other Options

You can cut a small piece for the tail as the photo shows, or you can draw it on as the template shows. You can draw the eye on or you can use the wiggly eye and half a sequin. Also, if you can find alphabet macaroni, you can glue it on in place of the sign, spelling out "I'LL START MY DIET TOMORROW."

The instructions are also in a PDF file for which you may need Acrobat Reader to view. Download Acrobat Reader

Click Here to download the Elephant Diet Reminder Instructions in PDF format.

By Harlean from Hot Springs, Arkansas

By Harlean from Arkansas

About The Author: Harlean Greathouse is a mother of three who has been married for 45 years. Long time readers of ThriftyFun will probably recognize her as Harlean from Arkansas, the name she has posted under as a valuable member of the ThriftyFun community. She specializes in wood crafts and enjoys designing crafts using recyclable materials, knitting, crochet and has been an arts and crafts vendor for over 35 years. Harlean has a CD available with 11 unique crafts designs for only $5.00 (including shipping). For more information visit:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/columnists/harlean.html

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Cow Diet Reminder Fridgie

Clever fridge magnet, with diet message.

Here is another vintage Diet Reminder Fridgie. This cute little cow is easy and fun to make. Something the kids can help with, and it makes a nice little gift with a humorous message.

Supplies:

brown foam
scrap of white or grey foam
scrap of pink foam
black Sharpie
6MM wiggly eyes
red and black sequin
1/4 inch ribbon
Tacky white glue
magnetic strip (cut with scissors)
alphabet macaroni

Instructions:

Print out the template (make 2 of the cow). I prefer card stock because it is easier trace around.

Lay patterns right side down on the foam and trace around them with a black Sharpie. The reason for this is so that if any of the line remains when you cut them out, the lines will not be visible to your finished craft. Cut out the pieces and turn the pieces right side up.

Position the udder in the proper place between the 2 cow pieces and glue in place.

Matching the edges of cow pieces, glue them together.

Match up the tips of the horns, and glue the horn piece in place.

Make a bow with the ribbon, and glue it to the horns as shown in the photo.

Glue eyes, nose and mouth in place.

Using a toothpick, place a small dot of white glue where you want to start the text. Position the "H", and continue with all the alphabet macaroni letters to spell out "Holy Cow, Are You Eating Again". If you are unable to find the alphabet macaroni, just print the words on paper or poster board and glue to the cow.