To my embarrassment and dismay, God’s Eyes are one of those craft projects that everyone on the planet seems to know, but me. I’m not sure why that is. My summer camp craft skills can roll with the best of them, but for some reason, these never crossed my path. Within the last month, I have made them my couch craft of choice and I have probably made a hundred, if not more. Why? Because they are more addictive than black tar heroin I LOVE THEM. And they look great on my yarntastic granny tree!
Don’t let the weird name fool you – these babies are easy, they use up odd yarn bits and drinking straws, and they are the perfect canvas for pompom embellishment. What is not to like?!
This is normally the part where I include a step-by-step instruction guide, but I’m not going to because 1. Apparently everyone knows how to make them but me, and 2. When I was trying to learn the process myself, I found it very difficult to learn from photos and pictures. High fivem Youtube!
Tips
-Fix your sticks. As the video explains, start with popsicle sticks that are GLUED together. Dry glue. If the glue is wet or you try setting the cross by typing yarn, it won’t be stable and then your tension will be off and you won’t want to make anymore (<<first hand experience right there). After I made 20 or so from popsicle sticks I moved on to paper straws. The stripy kind. Lord knows I need an excuse to use up all these striped straws I have been hoarding.
-Source your sticks. You can buy a pack of popsicle sticks from any craft store, but I found that the wooden coffee stirers (<<spell check is saying that’s not a real word but I know it is. Isn’t it?)…anyway…wooden coffee stir sticks are longer and thinner. You can buy a box at most office supply stores, or just ask the guy at the coffee shop. He probably won’t mind if you grab a few extras.
-Yarn. Bigger, bulkier yarn will make the process much faster! Or better yet, combine two yarns and wrap at the same time.
-Direction. Most right handed people will want to spin the God’s Eye clockwise, but, halfway through, if you make a loop and switch to counter-clockwise, you’ll get a nifty variation in pattern.
And while we are talking about easy crafts…here are 15 more amazing Craft Lightning ideas!
If you want even more quick and easy holiday crafts, don’t miss these ideas from our blog partners for Craft Lightning. Kicking things off today is Cyn with these quick and easy felt ornaments!
Laura Kelly is joining us with a fun sock monkey themed felt garland.
Albion Gould is showing us how to make this adorable holiday hoop art.
365 Days of Crafts is showing us how to make a quick and easy gift box.
Carla Schauer Designs has a great tutorial on how to make these 5 minute folding German stars.
Turn clothes pins into fun gift tags with this tutorial from Frugelegance.
I love this quick and easy holiday tree idea from Dragonflies and Lilypads.
My partner for this series, 30 Minute Crafts, is at it again with the quick and easy jewelry. Click here to make these simple wreath earrings.
These are so much fun! Love them!
Loving all the ornament ideas, but OMG your tree is gorgeous. I’m loving all the colour and all the different things on it, I love interesting Christmas trees.
You are NOT alone – I never learned (or I did and promptly forgot) how to make these either. So I am now rooting through my hoarded supplies to start getting my God’s Eye on. . .
So cute! As always!
I am feeling so spoiled!!!! New Aunt Peaches each and every day!!!!!
Awww. I wish I could post everyday too!!
I’m with Alice–this has been a great week of daily projects! I’m getting all inspired to tear into my winter craft projects now.
As a child of the 70’s, God’s Eyes were standard Girl Scout meeting and library summer-craft-camp activities, but we used wooden dowels and no glue to start. I like your method much better–it requires less agility or bodily contortions to hold everything together.
It really does! You would not think that little bit of glue would make a difference, but man. To quote another 70s favorite, “A dab will do ya!”
Aunt Peaches,
Thank you for co-hosting Craft Lightning Holiday Edition. I have learned a lot of fun new crafts to add to my holiday decor.
Happy Creating,
Karen Marie
God’s Eyes! I was thinking about these the other day, and yes, I know how to make them- but only the 4 pronged ones. I never thought about doing 6! Love! I like the look of those so much better! Way to reinvent or reintroduce something- thanks so much for sharing!
I loved making these as a kid! Heck, I’ve got some yarn (and I’m fresh out of heroin) think I’ll go make some.
Also, it’s “stirrers”.
Your treeeeee!! *insert eye sparkles*
I’ve made mini gods eyes with toothpicks and thread. They are SO cute!