ThriftyFun Crafts - May 14, 2008

Summer is coming! Do you have any craft ideas to help keep kids occupied this summer? Feel free to post them one of the contest pages.

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Today's newsletter contains:

Photos and Projects:

• Craft Project: Mini Birdhouse
• Craft: Little Gourd Farmers
• Hair Bows for little Princesses!
• Recycled Frames and Shadowboxes From Cardboard
• Craft Project: Cell Phone/Purse Pocket
• Little Dress Clothespin Bag
• Craft Project: Quilting By Strips
• Gardening: Vertical Planting Pouches
• Craft Project: Paper Flower Wreath
• Craft: Dollar Bill Rose

Tips:

• Toilet Paper Roll Favor Boxes
• Be Patient And Prepared For Photo Opportunities
• Use X-Rays For Doll Clothing Patterns
• Molding Candy Melt Suckers and Favors
• Frog Themed Baby Shower
• A Mother's Day Card for Kids To Make

Requests:

• Painting Liquor Bottles So They Look Full
• Fixing Shrunken Sheets
• Making A Hat From A Bra
• Where Can I Find Macrame Cord?
• Removing Fused Interfacing
• Toilet Tissue Holder
• Making A Purse Out Of A Dog Food Bag
• Attaching Mirror Pieces To Bowling Ball
• Looking For Easy, Plus Size Clothing Patterns
• Making Your Own Colored Elastic
• Make Your Own Car Air Freshener

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:
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Craft Project: Mini Birdhouse

I made these mini birdhouses for my daughter's shower as gifts. I made 25 different houses and they were a hit in the beginning of Spring.

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Craft: Little Gourd Farmers

The little farmers are gourds, painted in the colors you want you can get both straw hats or you can crochet them, which ever you like. The hay bale is styrofoam covered with raffia and I put craft wire for looks. I used the balls that fall out of oak trees, painted them to look like pumpkins, got a couple black birds and glued them on and came out with a pretty neat set.

By Sheri from Stockton, CA

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Hair Bows for little Princesses!

Expensive to buy - Easy to make! Hair Bows for little Princesses!

My granddaughter, now three years old, is getting hair long enough to wear up and, I must admit, I dearly love to fix it when I babysit while Mommy works. I priced the nice big bows in stores and they are really expensive to buy. How much better it would be to make my own and get more for the money spent.

I purchased 1 1/2 yards each of two kinds of Grosgrain ribbon. It has a nice stiffness and makes prettier bows than satin ribbon.

To begin, I cut two 8 inch strips for the bottom loops on a double bow. Bring the ends of the strip to the center to make two loops. If it is printed, make sure you fold it printed side up. With a needle and thread, begin sewing the ribbon in the center of the loops, from the underneath part of the ribbon (STRAIGHT UP!). Once your thread is through the ribbon, secure the loops by catching the side of the loop and taking your needle back up through the middle pulling tightly so that it gathers the loop to make it thin in the center. Then go to the opposite side of the loop and wrap your thread around BOTH SIDES tightly and take the needle DOWN through the MIDDLE. I suggest doing this at least 3-4 times to make your loops for the bow. Remember, the tighter the thread is wrapped and sewn the prettier bow they will make. Make TWO of these. Once they are made, hold the sewn loop strips side by side in your hand, to make what looks like an "X" shape. Now JOIN the two together by wrapping the thread around them both and sewing through the middle to secure them.

For the SECOND row of loops, repeat the same process BUT cut your loop strips you are going to make 6 inches long so that they will make smaller sized loops. Once these are made, lay them on top of the BOTTOM part of the bow. REPEAT the thread wrapping, securing all 4 together. Once this is assembled, sew down through the layers to secure your bow. To finish, cut a strip long enough to wrap around the completed bow. It looks better if you fold it in half so it will be thinner before sewing to the back of the bow.

These hair bows can be hotglued on a FLAT hair clip or sewn on a clip if glue is not available. Most department stores sell the two-pronged hair clips you squeeze.

I hope my directions are clear enough. This is a little difficult to explain. I was so excited about my new accomplishment that I couldn't wait to share the news!

By Sharon from Ravenna, KY

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Recycled Frames and Shadowboxes From Cardboard

This idea came to me when I was reading about laminated wood products. I decided to try it out using cardboard and craft glue and came up with a very strong but very light wood substitute. All you do is cut cardboard boxes (cereal, cookies, crackers, etc.) into strips and glue the strips together one on top the other. To make the round frames, tape the ends of the first strip to form a circle that can be built up. To make square frames all you do is make each side separately and glue them together to form the frame. Let the frames dry overnight and then cover them in decorative paper.

Source: I've uploaded new photos of my frames and shadowboxes and they can be viewed on Picasa. The link is:

• Frames And Shadowboxes

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Craft Project: Cell Phone/Purse Pocket

This idea came from a previous post.

• Jean Pocket Purse

I thought I'd give it a try.

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Little Dress Clothespin Bag

I found this in a very old magazine that I bought at the Goodwill store and made a cardboard pattern out of the pattern in the book. I made lots of these clothespin bags which I gave to friends and family as gifts. These were made from fabric scraps, lace, etc. that I had from leftover projects but you can use whatever you like to make them.

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Craft Project: Quilting By Strips

A quicker way to quilt! Use strips instead of blocks.

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Gardening: Vertical Planting Pouches

Have you seen the pouches at the gardening centers that have small opening in them and appear to be made from heavy plastic? You plant flowers in the openings and when it gets filled out you have a virtual waterfall of plants.

I made some of these that look exactly like them. They are made from tarps. I sewed them on my sewing machine. I used the grommet to attach my handle but you could sew it on as well. They are approximately 17 inches high and 7 inches across. You can square off the bottom if you wish (like it is on a brown paper bag). By making your own, you can make it the size you want and put in as many plants as you wish. These are shown with no cuts because I am trying to decide what plants to put in. But to make the openings, just take a utility knife and make an X for the openings.

By Elaine from Iowa

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Craft Project: Paper Flower Wreath

Make beautiful flower wreath from decorative papers.

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Craft: Dollar Bill Rose

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Toilet Paper Roll Favor Boxes

Favor boxes were made from toilet paper rolls. We cut them in half and folded in the bottom, creating a cup. Then we painted them all white inside and out so the card board would harden. Then I glued fake rose petals on the outside two on each side. Then I glued a fake one inside the roll in the bottom. They turned out pretty nice. We are placing pre-wrapped mints in them at each place setting.

By Kim from Chatham, Ontario

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Be Patient And Prepared For Photo Opportunities

Keep a camera near the door and use a lot of patience to get shots of your feathered friends. This little fella posed for me for about ten minutes. He even turned for a profile shot when I asked him to. Certainly made my day.

By Travis from Columbus, OH

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Use X-Rays For Doll Clothing Patterns

As I am a dressmaker, I always make my own patterns for dolls clothing. To have my patterns last forever, I use all my old X-rays. Put on a white sticker to write on so you can easily find it's back.

By Sara from Australia

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Molding Candy Melt Suckers and Favors

For Easter, I molded candy melt suckers for my grandchildren. It was very simple and I painted the details on them by mixing food colors to the melted candy and painted them on with a fine tipped art brush.

Candy Melt is made by Wilton and the molds are sold by them as well. Melt in a saucepan over boiling water. Fill molds using a spoon. Put the mold in your freezer for 5 minutes or so until firm. Invert on waxed paper and paint on details. These are VERY simple to do and so cute. I put them in a sandwich bag and tied them with pink and green curling ribbon.I 'd love to know what a candy shop would sell them for. Cost me about $3.00 for 5.

By Sharon from Ravenna, KY

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Frog Themed Baby Shower

I made this diaper cake in a frog theme for my boyfriend's sister's baby shower. It was fun and filled with all kinds of goodies for the new baby.

I also made a flower centerpiece out of a frog planter and filled with flowers made from baby socks to look like little roses. I floral taped them on a stem and added "It's a boy" ribbon and a few silk flowers.

By Diana from Highland, Michigan

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A Mother's Day Card for Kids To Make

Supplies

• One full piece of construction paper (color coordinate with the handkerchief)
• Crayolas, Markers, etc.
• A pretty handkerchief
• tape

Instructions

By PeggyLee from Cecil, OH

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Painting Liquor Bottles So They Look Full

How do I paint empty liquor bottles so that they look full, and transparent? Is there a special paint ? And where do I get it?

Martin from Santa Fe, NM

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Fixing Shrunken Sheets

My queen size sheets have shrunk. Is it possible to put a gusset in each side to make them a tad bigger? Has anyone done this and how did it work out? Were you satisfied with the results? Can some one suggest another option for fixing this problem?

Helen from Central Illinois

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Making A Hat From A Bra

How do I make a hat from a bra?

Janice from Jacksonville, NC

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Where Can I Find Macrame Cord?

Where can I find macrame cord in Australia or someplace online that will ship to Australia?

Pam from Brisbane, Australia

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Removing Fused Interfacing

Need sewing advise. I added Pellon fusible non-woven interfacing to the front and back of an evening bolero jacket (per the pattern instructions) and I do not like the stiffness. Does anyone know how to remove the fused interfacing?

Rose from Malvern, PA

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Toilet Tissue Holder

I am looking for a knitted pattern for a toilet tissue holder. Just the other day, I saw a handmade toilet tissue holder at a flea market but it was already sold. I tried to take a picture so that I could attempt to make one when I got home, but thought that would be tacky.

It was really nice, hung on wall, was knitted I believe, held 4 rolls, with lace around edges. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I don't know how to crochet so it would have to be knitted or sewn. Thanks you guys.

Linda

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Making A Purse Out Of A Dog Food Bag

How do you make a purse out of a dog food bag?

Tammy from Crescent Springs, KY

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Attaching Mirror Pieces To Bowling Ball

I'm decorating old bowling balls with old mirror parts. What is the best way to break an old thick mirror and the best way to attach it to the bowling ball? Thanks.

Hardiness Zone: 7b

Bonnie from Lascassas

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Looking For Easy, Plus Size Clothing Patterns

I am new at sewing and would love to find easy, PLUS size clothes patterns. Any help would be very much appreciated.Thanks and God Bless!

Debra from Hampton, TENN

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Making Your Own Colored Elastic

Hi, I am making a necklace out of wooden beads that are light in color but have a wooden tone to them. How would I color the elastic I am using? I do not want white or black elastic to show so would prefer a brown or tannish color. Thought of using tea but did not know if the acid in the tea would effect the elastic. Afraid that marking pens might rub off on the wearer. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Linda from Washington

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Make Your Own Car Air Freshener

Did anyone ever get the recipe for the gel looking, cookie cutter shaped air fresheners being sold at craft fairs for 4.95 each with rope tied through top for hanging? I would like to make my own instead of buying and looking for them elsewhere. Hard to find.

Wendy

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