ThriftyFun Crafts - September 23, 2009

Vol. 4, Num. 38, September 23, 2009 (Read It Online) Well, the kids are all back to school and the stores are reminding us that Halloween is fast approaching. We have the first of our Halloween crafts this week and there are more to follow. Be sure to get your Halloween tips and photos submitted as soon as you can, to make sure we can get everything posted by the holiday. Be sure to give a "thumbs up" to any contest tips or photos that you like. We use this information to choose our contest winners each week. Thanks for reading, The ThriftyFun Team 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: Craft Project: Recovering A Footstool Craft: Halloween Mailbox Decoration Craft Project: Recycled Round Frame Straw Hat Windsock Craft: Refurbished Wedding Pen Holders Craft Project: Water Bracelet Craft Project: Pocket Tag Tips: Craft: Drying And Painting Gourds Making Personalized Gift Wrap Use Blueprint Storage Box For Fabric Rolls Requests: Clothes Patterns for 13 Inch Dolls Using Regular Crayons to Decorate Fabric "Dance as though no one is watching" Cross Stitch Pattern Uses for Shoulder Pads Tin Man Instructions Unusual Gift Wrapping Ideas Drying Flowers Small Clay Pots for Crafts Making a Peek-a-boo Slip Making a Cover For a Barstool Removing Candle From Broken Jar Costume Jewelry Christmas Tree Finding a Discontinued Kwik Sew Snowsuit Pattern Looking for 3-D Quilling Designs Choosing a Sewing Machine Making a Welcome Sign Rainbow 50th Theme Tablecloth How to Preserve Cattails Halloween Costumes for Groups Using RIT Dye in a Washing Machine Today's Sponsor: 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 Photos and Projects: Craft Project: Recovering A Footstool My cousin bought this old foot stool at an auction for $1. It was from an estate sale of an elderly lady friend of mine from church. She moved into assisted living. I wanted to refurbish it and keep it in order to remember her. All I had to do was recover it and clean the wood up. It looked brand new again. Approximate Time: 2 hours Supplies: upholstery fabric tape measure quilt batting scissors heavy duty stapler staples furniture polish marker spray adhesive Instructions: I first tore off the old cover and batting and threw away. Nothing was salvageable. The frame was in excellent condition. I measured the top and got fabric that was about 4 inches larger on all sides. Allowing for room to go up to and over the edge to be attached to the wood. I layered 5 layers of quilting low loft batting. Mark it and cut to size. Spraying adhesive on each layer. I laid down the top piece of fabric (upside down)then the batting. I put the foot stool upside down over the batting. Be sure to center it. I pulled up the fabric on one side and stapled tightly against the edge into the wood. Do one side then shift to the opposite. Then do the ends. Pulling fabric taunt as you go. Fold the corners as smoothly as possible. You may have to cut out some of the excess bulk in order to staple it at the corners. I rubbed the wood with furniture polish. It needed a little cleaning. By Little Suzy from Ohio Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf89695244.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Craft: Halloween Mailbox Decoration With a mailbox planter for a container to be seen by all who pass by or enter our home, I created this fun Halloween display. I used an artificial spider plant and painted it black, adding last year's harvest gourds and mini-pumpkins. I painted them white and, gave them personalities with a black magic marker. I used foam balls for the larger orange pumpkins. I trimmed a few small branches from my trees and painted them black as well. Then, also turned some white doves black to represent crows. Get creative! By Tmark from Stover, MO Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40941532.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Craft Project: Recycled Round Frame Recycle the lid from a margarine tub to make a round frame for a picture. Approximate Time: About half an hour, not counting drying time. Supplies: Plastic lid from one pound margarine tub Dry beans, such as navy beans Spray paint Favourite picture, at least 4 1/4 inches in diameter Scrap of string Glue gun Instructions: With lid right side up, and doing a few at a time, glue a row of beans close together just inside the rim of the lid. Make a round cardboard template that will fit inside the row of beans. Use it as a pattern to cut out the picture. Center it on the lid and glue in place. Now use the template to protect the picture while you spray paint the frame. (A good way to spray paint small items such as this is to stand a big cardboard box on its side, put the item inside and then spray inside the box so no paint gets on anything else.) When the paint is dry, remove the protective template. Make a string loop for hanging and glue it to the back of your picture. By preserver from Winnipeg MB Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf80007164.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Straw Hat Windsock Cute straw hat windsock made from an empty bleach bottle and fabric strips.Plant with real or silk flowers. Approximate Time: 1 hour Supplies: empty bleach bottle scissors craft knife hot glue straw hat fabric scraps colored pencils black marker artificial flowers or real tape measure fishing line white fabric for face Instructions: Wash bleach bottle thoroughly. Cut off lower 5 1/2 inches of bottle using a knife to start then scissors to finish. Discard the top. Cut enough fabric strips 1 1/2 inches wide and 18 inches long to go around the bottle. Use bright spring colors. You could use ribbon also. Glue these strips to the bottom of bottle all around about 1inch from the bottom. Glue a hem in the white face fabric or just turn under for a finished look. This will cover up where you glued the strips on. Cut it to fit the face going all around and ending in the back. Glue it in place in the back. Make sure it is a smooth fit with no wrinkles. Makes it easier to draw the face. Draw the mouth and nose with black marker. Color the cheeks with pink colored pencil. Draw the eyes with blue pencil. Or do all with markers. Cut the top of the hat off or if you do not want to put a real planter in just push it down. Punch a hole in the top of the bottle on both sides and tie the fish line in the holes. Then string the line thru the hat. Push the hat down over the bottle snugly. Cut a long piece of ribbon or another fabric scrap and tie around the hat. Tie in a bow in the front of the face for her sash. You can put a planter inside (if your fish line is strong enough) or use artificial flowers poking the stems thru the hat as I did. Hang on a porch or patio and enjoy that cute little face blowing in the breeze. By Little Suzy from Millbury, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45767900.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Craft: Refurbished Wedding Pen Holders While hunting for items for my wedding in November, I came across two pen holders at a garage sale. They were both dirty and one was ripped. I bought them both for $.75. I chose the worse one and removed the pen holder (it unscrewed). I then took off the bottom fabric which released the fabric covering on the top. I found some yellow silk I had at home leftover from another resale find. I cut a new piece of thin cardboard and covered it for the bottom by using hot glue. I then covered the top again, using hot glue and stretching it section by section so it would be smooth. When I had all that tight, I hot-glued the bottom on and screwed the pen holder in place. I added the flower and some hot-fix crystals from my ever-present craft kit. Ta-Da! Now all I have to do is find the pen. The picture is a before and after, so you can see how it was transformed. I priced these new for between $15.95 and $29.95 for the plain white one. By Dingybat from Vermilion, Ohio Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88293667.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Craft Project: Water Bracelet Clear plastic tubes filled with water, beads and glitter to add sparkle. Move it back and forth and see them move. Approximate Time: 1/2 hour Supplies: clear tubing. 2 sizes tooth pick seed beads glitter water Krazy glue Instructions: You need 2 sizes of tubing. The smaller one fits inside the larger one (which you use for the bracelet) in order to seal the water from coming out. Or you could use a small wood dowel to block the water from coming out. The clear tubing looks better. Cut the larger sized tubing to fit the size of the child's wrist and big enough to fit over the hand. It will be glued together and not able to come apart. Cut a piece of the smaller tubing about an inch long. Put Krazy glue around the outside of the smaller tubing and push it 1/2 way into the larger tubing on one end. Put the seed beads into the tube. You may want to use a toothpick. They must be small in order to move freely. Now put a small amount of glitter. Maybe a pinch. Use several colors if you wish. Place your finger over one end and fill with water leaving about an inch on each end. In order words, do not fill completely full. Now put Krazy glue on the last 1/2 of the smaller tube and push all the way in the larger one until they meet. Stand it up and allow to dry. After it drys, shake it hard and watch the beads move back and forth. By Little Suzy from Millbury, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85041513.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Craft Project: Pocket Tag This is a homemade tag to add to your scrapbook. Approximate Time: 30 minutes Supplies: black fine point pen blue paper pink paper green paper ribbon flower button letter stamps black ink fingernail file eyelet eyelet setter Instructions: I cut a blue piece of paper at about 3x4 inches, then tore around the edges. I took a piece of paper about 2x3 inches and folded bottom to a "V" then folded down top like a hem, then the sides. I glued it to 3x4 inch paper but don't glue middle, you want to have a pocket. Take your fine point pen and draw broken line all around so looks like stitching, double line across the top. Take your letter stamps and stamp "love" across the pocket, or whatever your want. Here is where you can change things up. You can put whatever you want into your pocket, maybe a little piece of paper with your journaling on it. I took thin strips of green paper for the stems,I stamped hearts onto pink paper then cut them out and pasted to stems and then put a dab of glue onto bottom of stem and inserting into pocket. I cut the back of of a flower button and glue it to the pocket. Then I put a hole at the top and set a black eyelet into the background paper, then threaded through ribbon. I am adding some more tags that I did for you to look through. By micksgirl from Paducah, KY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf10349920.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Tips: Craft: Drying And Painting Gourds Purchase small gourds to use this year and then allow them to dry for next year. Small gourds take several months to dry so better get started now. Mold on the gourds is a natural part of the drying. Store in a cool place with plenty of room to rotate them often. Use rubber gloves as the mold on some may irritate some people. Check with your local produce departments in the supermarket to see if they have any left over after Thanksgiving or Halloween they would like to get rid of. Once dry they will be very light in weight and you will be able to shake them and hear the seeds. Now that they are dry, use rubber gloves to wash with a bit of clorox and dish soap. It takes some elbow grease to get them clean. Allow them to dry. Once dry, paint with Acrylic paints. When dry and painted to your liking, spray well with several coats of poly. Spray either matte finish or satin. They will last for years to come. Mine are about 10 years old. Store and make sure no critters like Mice can gnaw on them to get to the seeds inside. By cmcmamo from Ballwin Missouri Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52564372.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Making Personalized Gift Wrap To make personalized gift wrap for Mom's, Dad's and grandparents use a common brown grocery bag. Cut along one side in the corner crease to the bottom of the bag, then turn and finish cutting out the bottom of the bag leaving a nice rectangle sheet of paper. Take the paper and wad into a ball and keep working the paper opening it and re-wadding it until it becomes soft and pliable. Lay the paper out with the plain side up. Use newspapers to cover the table or counter for ease in cleaning up. Using tempera paints or any paint with water clean up. Mix colors into saved kool whip bowls, pie tins or any container that you prefer. If the container is too small use a foam paint brush and paint the palms and fingers with the colors you desire. Using your painted hands start using them as a stamp and let them go wild making hand prints all over the softened grocery bag. If you are daring you can do their little feet too! but make sure you have a bucket of water to clean them up or the floors will be painted as well. After the paper has dried, wad it up again a few times then proceed to wrap your gift! Tie it off with ribbon scraps, yarn or raffia. This make a great gift for the new parents or grandparents especially if Grandma and Grandpa live a distance and do not get to see the family often as this makes a great keep-sake as well. This can be done in colors to match the holiday as well. A great gift idea is to wrap a picture frame to hold a cutting of the same paper as a mat and put a picture of the child on it framed. Two gift's in one! Using the paper plain and tied with raffia and a pine cone or two tied into the raffia makes a great wrap for men also! Source: I came up with this when I was broke and needed to give a gift but no money to buy one. By Beau D from Vancouver, WA Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf000439.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Use Blueprint Storage Box For Fabric Rolls Most of the fabric I purchase is on bolts that are 54 inches long and difficult to store. I found a cardboard blueprint storage box at Staples and now all my bolts are stored on end. They stay neat, don't fall all over the place and I can easily view the fabrics. By Gon2oahu from Victoria, B.C. Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf68391779.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | 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, 2 photo winners (1 photo and 1 pet photo) and 1 recipe winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! New Requests: Clothes Patterns for 13 Inch Dolls I dress Goodfellow dolls every year. They are 13 inch dolls. It is hard to find patterns to sew or crochet. I would like to know if any one has any ideas for patterns they could share? By oesforme from St. Clair Shores, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf49320209.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Using Regular Crayons to Decorate Fabric How do you color with regular crayons on t-shirts? By multicrafterk from Panama, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf63928358.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | "Dance as though no one is watching" Cross Stitch Pattern Does anyone have a cross stitch pattern with the following saying: Dance as though no one is watching you. Love as though you have never been hurt. Sing as though no one can hear you. Live as though Heaven is on earth. Thanks. By BarbaraM 1975 from San Jose del Cabo, BCS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53159206.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Uses for Shoulder Pads Would anyone have any ideas for alternative uses for shoulder pads? I have quite a collection. I can't find anything on the Web. Thanks. By Cindyluhu from Melbourne, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf001236.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Tin Man Instructions How do I make a Tin Man out of cans for a Wizard of Oz themed children's party? By coppekat from Arlington, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf471530.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Unusual Gift Wrapping Ideas I love to do crafts for Christmas, and normally I will make some presents. Does anyone have any unique and cute ways to make bags, boxes or anything to wrap gifts? By bnw1447 from NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf440692.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Drying Flowers We have beautiful flowers in our country like roses and carnations. I would like to dry them without changing their color. Any ideas how I can do it? Thanks. By Dorothy Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf892287.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Small Clay Pots for Crafts Where can I buy 2 inch and 1 1/2 inch clay pots for the Clay Pot Nativity? By Harveyshirley Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf38189890.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Making a Peek-a-boo Slip Does anyone knows how to make a peek-a-boo slip like the ones at David's Bridal? My sister told me she changes the look of her black dress just by adding the slip and a ribbon around the waist. Thanks for your help! By Jpdoughgrl from Waukesha, WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55031479.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Making a Cover For a Barstool I need ideas for covering a bar stool using boning on the edges. By poppet08 from Wildomar, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91157298.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Removing Candle From Broken Jar Just bought a really nice candle and before I could get in the house with it (in the sack) I dropped it and the whole side and corner of the jar shattered. Can anyone please suggest the best way to save my candle without ruining it. Please help. By shrooms69 from TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45317245.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Costume Jewelry Christmas Tree I want a pattern to make a cone shaped Christmas tree out of old costume jewelry. I saw one at "The Best of Everything" in Naples, Florida. By PatD.S. from Cincinnati, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86588978.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Finding a Discontinued Kwik Sew Snowsuit Pattern I need to find a specific pattern for a one piece toddler snowsuit. It is a Kwik Sew pattern from the 1994-96 winter book. It has raglan sleeves, two font zippers and a cute pointed attached hood. I can't find it anywhere. I made it for my new born son in 1996 lost both the snowsuit and pattern during many subsequent moves, but I need the pattern to make a snowsuit for my grandson. If anyone has it I will buy it, if anyone knows where to find it I'll pay for the information. By revbelle from Calgary, AB Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf81331965.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Looking for 3-D Quilling Designs I saw a picture somewhere of a quilled patio set. Was I dreaming? I am also looking for 3-D quilling designs. By Clarabell from Century, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf32975394.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Choosing a Sewing Machine Which is better sewing machine, Bernina, Elna, or Pfaff? By hurlfordlass from Centurion, ZA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf31613067.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Making a Welcome Sign Are there any web sites or can you give me ideas on how to make a "Welcome Friends" sign. Thanks. By mnvieau from Traverse City, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf81120991.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Rainbow 50th Theme Tablecloth I have a query, can you offer me some ideas on decorating a table cloth? I am having it as a Rainbow 50th theme. Thanks. Michelle. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34830773.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | How to Preserve Cattails Does anyone know how to preserve cattails so they last longer? Thank you. By pinkrose345 from Otis, OR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf456468.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Halloween Costumes for Groups I'm on the drumline in Marching Band at school. Every year the band does Halloween parades and we are instructed that each section needs to think of Halloween costumes and dress up. We need to think of a group Halloween costume. There's about 26 people on the drumline, I am one of 2 girls. Any ideas on what we can be? By xdthatsrockin from PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf89006784.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Using RIT Dye in a Washing Machine Can I dye a sweatshirt with RIT dye in a front loading washing machine? By Glen1Co from Lafayette, IN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf261823.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here