ThriftyFun Crafts - May 30, 2007

Today we have some more tips about making durable patterns, organizing sewing supplies and some new craft projects to share. How do you organize your craft supplies? Submit your ideas here:

http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_contest.ldml

Thanks for reading,

Susan

• Send to a Friend!
• 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

Edit Your Subscriptions: To edit your ThriftyFun subscriptions, click the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of this newsletter.

Today's newsletter contains:

Photos and Projects:

• Decorative Mirror
• Decorating Paper Lunch Sacks
• Sea Shell Centerpiece
• Pizza Box Wall Art
• Handprint Fish
• Home Sweet Home Frame
• Tin Pail of Apples Decoration
• Chicken Wreath

Tips:

• Frame A Favorite T-Shirt
• Use A Projector to Make a Mural in a Child's Room
• Knitted Espadrilles
• Storing Large Quilting Pattern Pieces
• Using Small Fabric Scraps For Quilt Tops
• Making a Durable Stencil
• Organizing Sewing Notions
• Durable Sewing Patterns
• Raising the Table for Fabric Cutting
• Coffee Filters as a Tearaway Stabilizer
• Problems Threading a Needle?

Requests:

• Sock Pattern for Knifty Knitter
• Sports Card Coasters
• Personalizing a Tie Dyed T-Shirt
• Knifty Knitter Doily Pattern

Articles:

• Photo Art Using Your Scanner

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

Decorative Mirror

This craft shows you how to change a simple mirror into a decorative one. Using different paint colors and different beads, you can make a mirror to match any decor.

View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf81040448.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Decorating Paper Lunch Sacks

These bags make great inexpensive gift bags or you can use them for parties.

View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97046993.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Sea Shell Centerpiece

Here is a perfect way to use those seashells you picked up at the beach.

View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96331364.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Pizza Box Wall Art

I was given a few smaller sized pizza boxes and wasn't sure what to do with them, but I did save them. This morning, I had a great idea to make wall hangings with them.

First, I covered the edges with tape to make sure it was smooth. Then I covered the front and sides of the box with a beautiful japanese-type printed fabric. I secured it on the back with staples and some tape. Finally, I poked a hole in the back and hung it on the wall. I think they look awesome!

They work out great with my living room re-vamp! Much cheaper than buying a pretty picture, and if I get sick of the fabric, I can just change it. I'm going to make one more to hang directly under this one.

By Amber from Albuquerque, NM

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf56802666.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Handprint Fish

Materials

• foam sheet
• black marker
• google eye
• tube glue

Instructions

Take foam sheet of any colour and draw your hand on it. Open your pinkie and thumb and keep together your three fingers on your foam sheet and draw the outline with black marker. Paste a google eye on the foam sheet and your handprint fish is ready.

By Suffah from Karachi

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18429980.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Home Sweet Home Frame

View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf94864788.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Tin Pail of Apples Decoration

Take metal bucket, hot glue foam to bottom. Take spanish moss and adhere with floral pins (the ones that look like a U shape). Next hot glue apples into place. Finally, fill in all areas with ivy, you can just poke these into the foam no need to glue if you don't want to.

View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf93414020.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Chicken Wreath

If you have a friend who likes chickens, here's a perfect gift.

View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf29771475.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Frame A Favorite T-Shirt

When your or your significant other's favorite T-shirt or sweatshirt is just plain worn out, but the logo or picture is still ok, do this: Cut it out and take it to your local Goodwill store and find a frame to fit it. You end up with a nice framed 'picture' that looks as if you bought it! My bf loves the Beatles and would be very sad to throw away those old shirts hes loved so long!

By Lily from South Bend, Indiana

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11889492.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Use A Projector to Make a Mural in a Child's Room

Run out of ideas to decorate your child's room? Here's my tip. Find out what is their favorite show or book and paint a mural on the wall in their room. Super easy. Buy a inexpensive projector from Michaels ($75 dollars) and project their favorite picture on the wall. Trace the outline of the picture, detailing everything that you want to paint. You don't have to be experienced painter either, it's like color by number. After you traced the image on the wall, paint with acrylic paints. Simple and original. We have Star Wars, Thomas the Train, Barnyard animals and Spongebob Squarepants. Great details can be done in one day. You'll have the most original bedroom in the neighborhood!

By Kerry from Flat Rock, MI

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf63552305.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Knitted Espadrilles

This was posted on another list as a great example of "green knitting". It uses inexpensive yarn and old flip flops to create an awesome new pair of Espadrilles! Very cool!

• http://floofle.blogspot.com/2007/04/yay-recycling.html

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf77761675.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Storing Large Quilting Pattern Pieces

Paper Towel Tubes

To store larger pattern pieces for appliqué, I just roll them up and put them in a empty paper towel cardboard tube. I store them in a box large enough that if the pattern is longer than the tube it won't bend or tear I usually just use a shirt box just mark the outside, especially if you have a lot of projects going on a one time.

By Karen

Artist Portfolio

I store all my large quilting patterns and stencils in an artist portfolio. It has sturdy handles and works well for flat storage with the two sides and zippered closings.

By Jill

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf146363.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Using Small Fabric Scraps For Quilt Tops

Everyone who sews has lots of small scraps. I use mine to make quilt tops. Cut muslin or light color fabric into strips 4" wide and as long as you want the quilt (maybe 3 yards). Or you can cut squares about 10"-12". Use the sew and flip method to sew the scraps onto the muslin, not trying to match colors.

If using squares you probably want to sew the first scrap diagonally across the center. Turn the muslin side up and trim the scrap edges to match. Sew the strips together. Scraps that are too small for this quilt go to a friend who paper-pieces.

By Bettie

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf387291.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Making a Durable Stencil

Thick Plastic from Bacon Packages

To make a permanent, strong stencil, save the hard clear plastic that comes out of bacon. Wash it, and draw your design on it and use an exact-o knife to cut it out. It is very durable and holds up well.

By Mary

Milk Jugs

Plastic milk jugs work well for making durable stencils. Be careful when cutting the plastic.

By Diamondee

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf798885.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Organizing Sewing Notions

Cardboard in a Clear Plastic Bag

Keep ribbons, lace, ric rac, seam binding, etc. on a piece of cardboard and place in a snack bag to keep neat. I prefer to use the generic snack bags since they do not have a colored zip strip. I keep mine filed neatly in the bottom of my sewing box.

By C. A. McWilliams

Seam Binding

I sew a lot and have found out by wrapping seam binding on small cardboard and then putting them in a shoe box by color you never have a problem finding what you need.

By Sharon

RE: Organizing Sewing Notions

I store notions in clear plastic boxes. This is a little more costly but you can see what you have immediately before pulling out the boxes.

By PatsAZ

Fishing Tackle Box

You may giggle on this one, but I went shopping at Walmart and found a pretty teal fishing tackle box that was on sale for $5 and I use that to organize even the smallest sewing needs. I also have spaces for my crochet hooks and the bottom for knitting needles and odds n' ends. It wasn't as pretty as the tapestry covered sewing box that I wanted, but it's much more useful and handy than that one!

By Kate

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf102641.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Durable Sewing Patterns

If your going to use a sewing pattern more than once (that's why we buy them) iron on interfacing/fusible web and you will be sure not to tear the pattern pieces when pinning and cutting out fabric. However, you will not be able to fold the pattern to fit back into the envelope (can you ever get it back in anyway?) I get the fusible web by the bolt when its on sale.

By Dee

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf288766.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Raising the Table for Fabric Cutting

Flower Pots

I placed 5 8-inch plastic flower pots on top of my table and put a piece of plywood on top of the flowerpots. You don't have to lift the table and the plywood is light and easy to handle. I store the plywood on the tabletop covered with a tablecloth when not in use. Buy the height of pot you need. Use 5 instead of 4 to keep the plywood from sagging.

By Marianne

Raising a Craft Table

If you must use your dining room table as a cutting table when you are sewing, you probably get a back ache from leaning over the table. My mother did a lot of sewing, and she found a solution for this problem. Go to your pantry and gather up 4 cans of vegetables of the same size. Set one under each table leg. This raises the table to a more comfortable level.

By Harlean from Arkansas

Building a Raised Craft Table

Get two kitchen cabinets from Lowes, Home Depot or used. You will the tall ones that create a table that is a height that is easy on your back. Then put an old flat door on top of them. You can leave it set up or you can take the door off and take it out only when you need to use it.

By Cindi

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf171204.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Coffee Filters as a Tearaway Stabilizer

Coffee filters can make a wonderful substitution for tearaway stabilizer when doing a small hand or machine embroidery project.

By Patti

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf420893.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Problems Threading a Needle?

Do you have trouble threading a needle? Try holding the needle & thread against a contrasting background-a dark color if you're threading a light-colored thread, and a light -colored surface if you're threading a dark-colored thread. It really helps your depth perception.

By Joesgirl

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf804110.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Sock Pattern for Knifty Knitter

I am looking for an easy adult Sock pattern made with Knifty Knitter.

Judy

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf84892688.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Sports Card Coasters

I have some hockey cards that I would like to "stick" onto cork coasters. Any suggestions on how to do this? They need to be water proof. Any other suggestions for using hockey cards in a craft for a sports bar?

Radiate from Windsor, ON

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48353139.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Personalizing a Tie Dyed T-Shirt

I am thinking about tie dyeing my dad a t-shirt for Fathers Day and would like to put World's Best Dad on the front of it in black lettering. I am at a loss of how to do this safely without wrecking it. Please people I need some serious help! Thank you in advance.

Lori from Marion, AR

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86252187.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Knifty Knitter Doily Pattern

I am looking for Knifty Knitter patterns for doilies. Anyone know where I can find one

Judy from Traverse City

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf35699856.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

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

Photo Art Using Your Scanner
By J Black

Photo or Scanner Art is a simple way to capture still life images that can be turned into creative pieces of art to decorate your home.

Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf671251.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print