ThriftyFun Crafts - January 31, 2007

Volume 2, Number 5, January 31, 2007 Hello, I hope everyone is having a great week. We have been having server problems so we are now sending this newsletter using Constant Contact. One benefit is we can send it out in HTML format. If you have any problems reading the new format, please contact us. Do you have any crochet tips to share with ThriftyFun readers? Submit tips here: Submit a Craft Tip Thanks for reading, Susan Submit Craft Tips (You could win $25) Submit Photos of Your Crafts (You could win $25) Submit a Craft Request New! Crafting for Fun and Money! Link to ThriftyFun.com Today's newsletter contains: Photos and Projects: Crayon Hearts Make Beads From Junk Mail Filet Crochet Heart Decorating Clothing with Ribbon Seaside in a Bowl Homemade Bubbles Recipe Tips: Working With Glitter Storing Crochet Patterns Creating Your Craft Room Requests: A Use for Grocery Bags I Ran Out of Yarn Making a Scarf Gluing Rhinestones to Flip Flops Patchwork Quilt Instructions Selling Crafts Valentine's Day Crafts Making Pillows French Canadian Trapper's Hat Pattern Socks Bunnies Photos and Projects: Crayon Hearts Heat oven to 250 degrees F. Fill each mold with assorted colors of crayon pieces (paper removed) and bake until the crayons melt, about 10 to 15 minutes. (Tip: Place a sheet pan under the crayons to catch any drips). Once they're cool, remove the hearts from the mold and smooth any rough edges by rubbing them on a piece of scrap paper or a steak knife. Use small pieces of foam tape to stick each heart to a 3-inch circle cut from card stock and add a message. Suggested messages: You color my world Valentine, you make my heart melt Have a happy Valentine's Day, for "crayon" out loud! We made these with our children, so easy to make. It gets rid of all those broken old crayons. You can actually use any shape metal cookie or muffin tin our tins were heart shaped and about 1 1/2 inches across.but you can use any size you'd like, bigger or smaller. You can make solid colors or multi colored shapes. We not only made the valentine cards for school but also just used them as unusual shaped crayons. By IMAQT1962 from ILLINOIS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf13327788.tip.html Make Beads From Junk Mail I make beads out of junk mail and make friendship bracelets with them and they are easy to do! Use only the shinny paper that comes in the mail and cut or tear it in strips approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch by 2-3 inches. You will also need a toothpick and glue. Take the strip and rub it between your fingers with the toothpick until it is wrapped almost completely around toothpick and add a drop of craft glue to the end and continue rolling through your fingers until it forms a bead. Set aside for 10 to 15 minutes (which gives you plenty of time to make more) and allow to dry. Then take string, thread, cord or elastic and bead to desired size, and voila! You have it a homemade friendship bracelet! This is a great kids project, or if they are not around, I send them to my grandchildren! By Denise from Mcrae, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf36043398.tip.html Filet Crochet Heart By Connie Decker Brown Filet crochet is usually done with crochet thread. I chose to use yarn because I wanted more coverage than thread would allow. (I bought a green pillow that didn't match my décor as well as I thought it would.) For those of you unfamiliar with filet crochet, all stitches are either a double crochet or a chain & skipped space. View Instructions: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45544073.tip.html Decorating Clothing with Ribbon Here's a quick, cheap and easy way to jazz up some underwear or add a touch of class to a top. View Instructions: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf61426670.tip.html Seaside in a Bowl This would be fun to do with the shells, rocks and small pieces of driftwood that you can find on the beach. If you don't live near the ocean, similar rocks and wood can be found near some small creeks or streams. View Instructions: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65049687.tip.html Homemade Bubbles Recipe Ingredients: 8 oz. water 1 tablespoon sugar 2 tablespoons glycerin 2 tablespoons dish soap Directions: Mix together and blow bubbles. Have fun. By Janet E from Suring, WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf94714740.tip.html Tips: Working With Glitter When using glitter, always have a piece of paper under your project. So when you dump the extra glitter off, you can bend the paper into a funnel shape and put the extra glitter back in the bottle. This way you do not waste a bunch of glitter. By Janet E from Suring, WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf42711528.tip.html Storing Crochet Patterns I always store my crochet patterns in a binder and I put them in sheet protectors. That way they don't get dirty at all and it helps me keep them organized. By Daffy Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf663498.tip.html Creating Your Craft Room All of us crafters would love to have a craft room. Some of us are lucky and we have an extra room we can use. Some of us don't and if you are anything like me, I bet your crafts are spread out. But just as a home office is important now a days so is a place for us to be able to relax and craft. Here is my tip. Go to your local Salvage company and get yourself some big shutters or some old bi-fold doors. Get some big hinges to hinge them together. Paint the doors or shutters a color that will compliment your room. You now have a screen to section off your craft area. Now clean out that clutter corner. Find a small table, the size depending on your space. Try to make it large enough for a comfy chair if you can. Crocheters and knitters will appreciate having a chair. Above your table install a few hanging cork bulletin boards. These are to hang directions on. If you have room, hang a magnetic tool holder or you can get a magnetic knife holder on the net. These will hold scissors, crochet hooks, beading tools, or any thing with a metal base. Now find yourself 3 fruit boxes that are the same size. You can get these when the produce man re-stocks at the local grocery. You want the tops to the boxes. Put the top on the bottom of the box so that you have a double strength box. With double sided carpet tape, tape all three boxes together. Cover with Contact paper or Spray Paint. Make as many of these as you will need to store your supplies. These can be stacked or put under your table, they also could be used next to your chair for a handy table. Depending on wall space you could hang some shelves. Now decorate your little space. Pictures can be hung on your screen as long as they are not too heavy. Throw a pillow in your chair and don't forget get a radio or boom box for some mood music. And if you have kids make a cute "Keep out" or "Only girls allowed" sign. Have fun. It's your space. By Debra in Colorado Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf749457.tip.html Contests: Tip Contest Submit a Tip or Recipe! Photo Contest Submit a tip with photo! The above contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! New Requests: A Use for Grocery Bags Any ideas for crafts that use large quantities of plastic shopping bags? I can't stand to throw them away, but have run out of uses for them! Heather Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf000579.tip.html I Ran Out of Yarn Making a Scarf If you could help me with my scarf, I would appreciate it. I started my scarf and I have ran out of yarn. How do I attach more yarn to the end? Erica from NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14001825.tip.html Gluing Rhinestones to Flip Flops What glue do I use to glue crystal rhinestones to havaianas flip flops? Jodelle from Gilbert, AS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17085512.tip.html Patchwork Quilt Instructions I love the tip submitted about making a quilt out of old clothing. I would love to make a quilt for my daughter out of some of her baby clothes. I know nothing about quilting though. Does anyone know of any websites that have easy to follow instructions on how to make a simple patchwork quilt? Lindsie from Avoca, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17355160.tip.html Selling Crafts What's the best way to sell my handmade crafts? Sandy from Bluff City, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf25887581.tip.html Valentine's Day Crafts I need craft ideas for Valentine's Day. Sandy from Indio, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26101495.tip.html Making Pillows I'm looking for ideas and patterns for making pillows. Starr from Atlanta, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf67331992.tip.html French Canadian Trapper's Hat Pattern I am looking for a pattern (to use with a knifty knitter loom) to make a french canadian trapper's hat. It resembles an upside down ice cream cone with a long tail that hangs over the shoulder. I am sorry but that is the only way I know how to describe it! -:) Sydney from Shelton Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf84969305.tip.html Socks Bunnies I am looking for directions for making stuffed animal bunnies out of infant/toddler Children's socks. I lost the directions. They are so cute. Thank you so much for your help. Debbie from RPB, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97821948.tip.html Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here