ThriftyFun Crafts - April 2, 2008

Do you have any good crafts for kids to make during spring break? Submit them on the Contest or Crafts for Fun and Money page! For more information about Crafts for Fun and Money visit:

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Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Today's newsletter contains:

Photos and Projects:

• Craft: Watercolor Bob The Builder
• Craft Project: Pin Pal Pincushion
• Fancy Non-Sew Tulle Dress-Up Tutu
• Craft Project: Happy Flower Face Magnets
• Recycled Crafts With Cigarette Packs
• Perky Bra Purses
• Craft: Chair Pad For School
• Craft Project: Faux Birthday Cake
• Craft: Painted Glass Bottles

Tips:

• Using Soda Bottle for Yarn
• Reuse Packing Trays For Paint Or Beads
• Decorated Messenger Bag

Requests:

• Crochet Pattern For Infant's Cowboy Hat
• Record Album Purse
• Looking For Quilt Pattern: Indian Head Dress
• Instructions for a Beaded Angel
• Where Can I Find Liquid Starch?

Crafting for Fun and Money!

If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish.

More Information:
Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml

Craft: Watercolor Bob The Builder

I created these very cool pictures for my son's Christmas present. I used his favorite books, tracing paper, watercolor paper, watercolor pencils and a paint brush. Most of the craft supplies can be purchased at your local Walmart. My husband used scrap wood and scrap glass to create the frames, while I finished them with some leftover stain from a previous project. It was a cheap and fun project for all as my son got to help in the assembly of the frames

By Lisa from Halifax, NS

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Craft Project: Pin Pal Pincushion

Place this pincushion miss on your dresser for a pin keeper or top her off with ornamental hat pins. These would be great to make for Mother's Day or birthdays.

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Fancy Non-Sew Tulle Dress-Up Tutu

For under $4 you can make your little ballerina a super easy dress-up tutu. Here's how:

In the wedding area of your local craft store you can buy 6 inch x 25 yard rolls of tulle in various colors for $2.99 each and a 10 yard spool of 1/4 inch satin ribbon for under 50 cents. (I bought both in purple). You have a choice of either using elastic for a stretch waistband or having the tutu tie-on with a ribbon waistband. Measure the length from the child's waist to their knees and double that measurement. This is how long you'll want to cut the tulle. I used a box that fit that measurement and wrapped the tulle around and around the box until ALL the tulle was used up, then I cut it all at once (like making a pompom) I ended up with 28 - 30 pieces of Tulle.

Next, fold each piece of tulle in half so you know where the center is. Then tie the center of each piece on to your elastic or ribbon waistband with either a square or larks-head knot. After you have each piece of tulle on the waistband, cut your ribbon the same length as the tulle by wrapping the ribbon around the same box (as before) Then divide the amount of tulle pieces you have by the amount of ribbon pieces you have. Then tie one ribbon on the waistband every 2 or 3 tulles. Lastly: Tie the ribbon waistband into a bow and sew together or safety-pin an elastic waistband. Now you're done!

OPTIONAL IDEAS: I bought a 79 cent bouquet of bright pink flowers that had tiny blossoms. I took each blossom off, then cut the bottoms of the flowers flat and hot-glued each blossom (and a few smaller leaves) on to a ribbon here and there. Glitter-Glue or can also be added to the bottom of the tulle for a wonderful sparkling effect and sparkling "gems" can also be glued on. Iridescent ribbon can replace the satin ribbon for a "translucent-fairy" look!

COST: I bought the tulle with a coupon for $1.60, The 10 yard spool of ribbon on sale for 25 cents. The silk flowers for $79 cents. (I already had the elastic) So that's a grand total of $2.64 for a wonderful looking, fluffy tutu that would have cost over $20 in a Children's Store and it only took me half an hour to make! I made it last night and wish I had a picture to show, as it's MUCH prettier than I can describe! My 5 year old granddaughter is already having the time of her life playing fairy-ballerina and dancing all around the house in it!

By Cyinda from Seattle

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Craft Project: Happy Flower Face Magnets

These joyfully smiling flower faced magnets are adorable in the kitchen, not to mention easy and fun for kids to create.

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Recycled Crafts With Cigarette Packs

This is a before/after photo showing a recycle craft from cigarette packs, a couple hole punches, a little ribbon and some imagination. I made tags from cigarette boxes which contained lots of the color green (and some blue) and made small pine trees with my hole punch. I also used a star punch to thread ribbon through.

The silver foil is also from my cig pack - so it is all second life materials except for the ribbon (I couldn't take the time to find it). I save a lot of my little pieces in the cellophane from off the cig pack as well taping closed.

By melody_yesterday from Sedalia, Missouri

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Perky Bra Purses
By Claire Bush

Most of us have a not-quite-right bra or two loitering in our lingerie drawer. Now you can turn that scrap of fabric and lace into a fun purse that's sure to be an attention-getter!

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Craft: Chair Pad For School

My daughter complained about how hard the chairs were at school and requested I make a cushion for her. I warned her she might get picked on for having a seat cushion. She said she didn't care. She picked the fabric and I made it. Now her classmates fight over it when she's not in the room.

By Ellen from Ontario

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Craft Project: Faux Birthday Cake

At Sunday School, we recognize the kids' birthdays, but it seemed sort of boring without a cake and candles, so I made a pretend one. Schoolteachers could also use it in their classrooms. Or use it as a table decoration for your child's party, especially if you are serving cupcakes or cookies instead of a big cake. This idea would work for a wedding cake as well.

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Craft: Painted Glass Bottles

These used to be glass water bottles but after some easy decoupage they now are some little flower vases that you can use anywhere!

By Orquidea from Porto, Portugal

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Using Soda Bottle for Yarn

If you knit or crochet, an empty 2-liter soda bottle is useful. Cut off the bottom and place a skein of yarn into it, after you've started the skein from the middle, and feed the yarn through the bottle neck. This will keep the yarn from getting tangled up. You can use the bottle cap to keep the end of the yarn from falling back inside, when you take a break.

Source: I got this from the newsletter from the Taste of Home Menusaver Newsletter. It has yummy recipes and money saving tips.

By Monica from O'Fallon, MO

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Reuse Packing Trays For Paint Or Beads

Use the trays that come inside of individual serving size condiment boxes for paint trays or beading trays. Restaurants throw these away when empty and many would be more than happy to save a few for you! These work especially great for thick children's tempera paint. Using these makes clean up-easy and they are free!

By Dominique S. from Kalamazoo, MI

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Decorated Messenger Bag

This cool messenger bag was made with unbleached cotton canvas. Some iron on transfers from Fabricland were applied for decoration. My girl loves it.

By Ellen from Ontario

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Crochet Pattern For Infant's Cowboy Hat

Does anyone know where I can find a crochet pattern for an infant/child's cowboy hat?

Sandra from Goldendale, WA

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Record Album Purse

Can anyone give me the instructions on how to make a record album purse with the actual vinyl album?

Teresa from Amarillo, TX

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Looking For Quilt Pattern: Indian Head Dress

I am looking for a quilt pattern called Indian Head Dress. I lost the pattern. I have all the material for the quilt but it is useless without the pattern. The pattern is of an Indian chief's bonnet. It is very colorful. Hope I hear from someone with pattern and instructions.

Pat from Alberta, Canada

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Instructions for a Beaded Angel

I'm hoping someone can help me find instructions for an angel. It is made from beads and bangles on wire shaped into an angel. I was wondering if someone may have the pattern or where I may be able to get it? The angel had a bead for the head and wire was shaped into wings and had beads/bangles on it for body. It was aprox. 8-10 inches tall. This was shown on a craft/hobby shown on TV and I didn't get the email for the pattern. Thank you for any help. Susan

Susan from Kenton, OH

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Where Can I Find Liquid Starch?

Where can I find this liquid starch I keep hearing about on here? I've been to several of my local craft shops (Hobby Lobby, JoAnns, and AC Moore), they did not have it, let alone know what I was talking about. Please let me know where I can get it. I found several neat ideas on here that require the starch.

Laura from Spring Lake

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