ThriftyFun Crafts - June 6, 2007

We have lots of new projects and tips this week. Summer is upon us, do have any ideas for crafts that kids can do outside? Post your ideas here:

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Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Today's newsletter contains:

Photos and Projects:

• Recycled Envelopes and Note Cards
• Wine Glass Charms
• Nature Stick Ornament
• Soap Holder Purse
• Father's Day Photo Gift Bag

Tips:

• Patriotic Summer Centerpiece
• Organizing Craft Supplies With Recycled Containers
• Q-Tips For Cooling Hot Glue
• Buying Scrapbooking Supplies on Ebay
• Color Palettes
• Save Hardware From Old Purses
• Make a Jersey Quilt - For Parents With Kids In Sports!
• Craft Box For Kids
• Stained Glass Patterns For Coloring
• Turn the Collar for a New-Looking Shirt
• Using Styrofoam For Doll House Furniture

Requests:

• Acid Free Tissue Paper
• Crocheted Bag Made From Grocery Bags
• Uses for Plastic Protein Powder Jugs
• Queen Sized Bedskirt Pattern
• Bernat Crochet Book - Light N' Lacy #530127
• Lined Bootie Bag
• Homemade Parrot Toys

Articles:

• 10 Tips for Peaceful Crafting with the Kids
• "Sewing Room Salvage - Save and Sew!"
• Do It Yourself Sewing Machine Repair
• Sewing With Leather and Suede

Recycled Envelopes and Note Cards

Here's a great way to recycle paper by making your own envelopes and note cards.

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Wine Glass Charms

To make a beaded wineglass charm, you will need medium sized earring hoops, decorative beads and charms, and pliers. Thread the beads and charms on the hoops in a neat, decorative pattern. Do not overload the hoop with beads.

When you have finished adding your beads, use the pliers to create a 90 degree bend in the end of the hoop to hold the beads on and to attach in the ring at the other end. Voila! All of your party guests can tell their glasses apart!

By Tara Lee from Tampa, FL

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Nature Stick Ornament

Approximate Time: 30 minutes after collecting sticks

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Soap Holder Purse

I made these decorative soap holder for my daughter's shower. Kind of resembles a purse.

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Father's Day Photo Gift Bag

Most dads have a hobby. With this in mind and a photo of dad, you can turn any old gift bag into a work of art to use as wrapping for his Father's Day gift.

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Patriotic Summer Centerpiece

I needed a cute centerpiece for my dining room table to last me through the summer. I was looking for something with the red, white and blue theme so I could leave it out from May to September! I went to the dollar store and bought this cute pot, two bouquets of flowers, some foam, the placemat and the two candles. For $6, I have a cute centerpiece to use for years to come!

By Kathy from Saint Charles, Missouri

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Organizing Craft Supplies With Recycled Containers

The best way that I have found to organize craft items is to reuse things I already have. Why bother going to the craft store and buying expensive containers when you may have something similar at home? Glass jars from store bought sauces or baby food hold a multitude of odds and ends, an old spice carousal works great for beads and buttons, and clean empty childproof pill bottles are great for keeping young kids away from needles and other small items. Crystal Light canisters, coffee cans, oatmeal containers, and ice cream buckets are all great containers with lids that keep craft items neat and out of sight. All of these items can even look pretty set out on a craft table with the addition of some paint or decorative paper to cover up any store labels.

By Tracey from Duluth, MN

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Q-Tips For Cooling Hot Glue

When working with small projects and a glue gun, I usually keep a jar of water and some Q tips on my table. When I need to cool the glue down fast, I just dab the glue with the wet Q tip. It makes it cool and harden really fast. Makes the job go faster and you don't burn your fingers while it cools.

By Barbara from Rothbury, MI

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Buying Scrapbooking Supplies on Ebay

Ebay is also an inexpensive way to stock up on paper and supplies for scrapbooking. I bought several packs of paper with 200 sheets for under $10.00, with shipping it was still cheaper than the Dollar Store or Dollar Tree. Just don't get carried away and think you have to have that item. Often you will see it up for sale again as soon as the auction is over. I also buy embellishments from ebay for cheaper than in the stores, including shipping.

There are frequently mystery boxes that have a little of everything in them. I have gotten scissors, embellishments, papers, scrapbooking magazines and books all in the mystery boxes. The best suggestion I can make is to decide what the item is worth to you, with the cost of shipping and don't go over that figure.

By Duckie43 from Tell City, IN

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Color Palettes

Look up a favorite picture, for example: star wars, here: http://images.google.com/images

and once you choose one, enter the url into the box at the following link! http://www.degraeve.com/color-palette/

You will have custom colors!

By Veronica from Sedalia, MO

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Save Hardware From Old Purses

Before you throw out your worn or dated purse, remove and save the handles, zippers, leather and other hardware to use again on a home made purse. These parts are expensive to buy new. I search yard sales and second hand stores for cheap purses with really great handles and the nice hardware that comes with it, for about $2.00 per purse.

But, I don't stop there! If I have a favorite but older purse that is on it's way out, I take a photo, then take it apart and use the parts to make pattern pieces, I tend to like the same comfy shape in a bag.

The handles will work on any bag, felted, crochet, fabric, or plastic, and I add embellishments in coordinating colors to tie it all together, you get the idea! :-)

Hope this helps you get started on your first purse or helps you to add something new to your next purse.

I'm not just fickle, I'm thrifty too!

By ficklephonebug from Bakersfield, CA

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Make a Jersey Quilt - For Parents With Kids In Sports!

Take the jerseys you have accumulated and make them into quilt squares. This is a neat keepsake. My son is in hockey and has a lot of jerseys and I am saving them and making squares out of them as he goes on. Each year could be a square (including practice, game and camp jerseys). It is such a neat idea.

By Crystal

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Craft Box For Kids

I took a fishing tackle box (discarded by dad) and turned it into a craft box for my boys. I put in crayons, colored pencils, tape, glue, regular pencils. and some glitter, etc. Now when the boys want to be creative they can go get the craft box and have fun.

By Reta

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Stained Glass Patterns For Coloring

Are the kids bored? Print out stained glass patterns for coloring! They really are fantastic for coloring for children of all ages. Some are good for preschoolers, others are good enough for high school!

Beth

Here are places to find patterns:

• Alpine Stained Glass and Door
  A big batch of free patterns, great for coloring, or making stained glass projects. Most appear to be in PDF format.

• Misty's Online Coloring Book
  Lots of wonderful printable coloring pages here.

• Chantal's Stained Glass
  Link to free pattern sites can be found here.

• Art-ery: a Stained Glass Patter Co-op
  Some cost money but many are free.

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Turn the Collar for a New-Looking Shirt

Betty's tip about cutting her husband's frayed cuffs off and making long sleeves into short reminds me of how I have extended the life of some of my husband's nicer shirts that have frayed collars.

Use a seam ripper to open the seam the collar is sandwiched between. Then pull out the collar and flip it over to the opposite side (which will look brand new); then set it in the opened collar seam, match the thread as well as you can, and stitch the seam back up. The frayed side will be turned down now and hidden, and your favorite shirt can be used a lot longer!

By Paula W

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Using Styrofoam For Doll House Furniture

We have all these great styrofoam pieces left over from Christmas packages. We made some "blocky" doll house furniture from them. We carved out a couch and two "stuffed" chairs. covered them with some old quilts by cutting the pieces to size and gluing them into place. We covered raw edges with cording. We even made a refrigerator, with some buttons and cording.

By RoseS

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Acid Free Tissue Paper

Does anyone know where I can get acid free tissue paper? This is the kind that won't discolor clothing. I've tried craft stores, bridal and prom shops, fabric stores, stationery stores -- no one has it. A mail order source would be fine.

Joan from Chesapeake VA

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Crocheted Bag Made From Grocery Bags

I saw a clip on the news about a lady that crocheted carrying bags for groceries etc. from used plastic Safeway bags. Would anyone know how this is done.

Jane from Richmond, B.C.

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Uses for Plastic Protein Powder Jugs

My son goes through two 1 gallon jugs of protein powder per week and I hate to toss the jugs. I know there should be some creative way to reuse them. I had thought about decorating them like stone cannisters but I don't have a clue how to do it. Any suggestions? I have a pic of the plain jane jug.

De from Springhill, LA

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Queen Sized Bedskirt Pattern

I would like to make my own bedskirt for a Queen-size bed and am looking for a pattern. Can anyone help me?

LParker from Olathe, KS

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Bernat Crochet Book - Light N' Lacy #530127

I am looking for the Bernat crochet book Light N' Lacy #530127. It has a crochet poncho in it made from bernat matrix yarn.

Norma from Cedaredge, CO

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Lined Bootie Bag

Does anyone know how to make a lined bootie bag? I have managed to make the outside (jeans portion) but can't figure out how to line it?

Sandy from Lufkin,TX

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Homemade Parrot Toys

How can I make Parrot Toys?

Carol Sun City, AZ

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Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here

Do It Yourself Sewing Machine Repair
By Reuben O. Doyle

Your sewing machine is a wonderfully useful machine when working properly, a frustrating, confusing monster when it's not. Oddly, a vast majority of machines sent to repair shops for repairs, could be repaired at home with little or no technical knowledge.

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"Sewing Room Salvage - Save and Sew!"
By Sarah J. Doyle

A collection of sewing room salvage items should be an organized part of your sewing room. Fabric scraps, buttons, zippers, ribbons, yarn and trimmings should be systematically saved so you don't waste time searching for them, nor spend extra money replacing something you have but cannot find.

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Sewing With Leather and Suede
By S. Denise Hoyle

Once you've decided to sew with real or fake leather or suede, the next step is knowing how to choose the correct leather or suede for your project.

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10 Tips for Peaceful Crafting with the Kids
By Angela Billings

Are you looking for ways to keep craft time with your children simple and fun? If so, I hope you will put some of the following suggestions to use.

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