ThriftyFun Crafts - July 22, 2009

We have more projects this week. Hope you enjoy them. Posts that are tagged "Contest Contender" are eligible for voting in this week's contest. Give a "thumbs up" to the posts that you like.

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.

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The ThriftyFun Team

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Today's newsletter contains:

Photos and Projects:

• Make Your Own Summer Skirt
• Craft: Small Pet Quilts
• Craft Project: Beaded Flip Flops
• Craft: Fabric Advent Calendar
• Craft Project: Vintage China Pin Cushions
• Craft Project: Paper Bead Jewelry
• Craft Project: Ribbon Wedding Cake Topper
• Craft Project: Recycled Mosaic Mirror

Tips:

• Leftover Yarn for Pet Projects
• Use a Cemetery as a Photo Background

Requests:

• Crafts Using Men's Neckties
• Making a Rag Quillow
• Pattern For A Granny Square Poncho
• Setting Dye in Silk Fabric
• No-Sew Rose Using Sheer Drapes
• Wooden Person Plant Holder
• Finding a Craft Email Group
• Paper Mache Projects
• Crochet Pattern for Walker Bag or Pocket
• Using Mod Podge on Glass
• Problems Applying Transfers and Tattoos
• Making a Table Out of a Tree Stump
• Making Tote Bag Handles
• Rotary Cutting Machine Reviews
• Learning to Embroider
• Craft Uses For Juice Pouches

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

Make Your Own Summer Skirt

This is a great idea for frugal living, a craft and a cool weather tip, make your own skirt! With less than 2 yards of fabric,thread, and enough elastic to go around your waist you are ready to go. Measure from your waist to the length you want the skirt to be. Add 2 inches for the top casing for the elastic and 1 inch for the hem.

Cut 2 pieces of fabric this length and the width of the fabric. Sew the 2 side seams, turn up the hem twice to make a narrow hem and sew.

Now turn down the top wide enough for the elastic to easily fit in it. Use elastic that does not fold on itself. Sew the casing on the machine, leaving open enough room to feed your elastic through with a safety pin. I use the machine to sew the elastic ends together then close the casing, either sewing on the machine or by hand.

You are done! Fabric should be prewashed so the shrinkage is done before sewing! Quick and easy. Can be made in an hour!

By Karen K from Sun City, AZ

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Craft: Small Pet Quilts

Use scraps of material to make small tied quilts. Size depends on pet, however 3x4 feet works best for most cats and small to medium sized dogs. Use fleece for the backing and quilt batting to fill.

Several positioned around the house makes perfect furniture protection. The size mentioned above is perfect to cover the seats and tuck into the sides of chairs or backs of sofa cushions. These small quilts are easy to grab and wash and very easy to train pets to use because they are so soft and familiar. Use fabric that compliments the decor.

By Marcia from Graytown, Ohio

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Craft Project: Beaded Flip Flops

Summer is here and Flip Flops to enjoy wearing are a must for comfort and style. Ever see all those beautiful embellished flip flops in all the stores that cost $10 or more and wish you could buy them but can't afford to splurge and do so? Well, here is the most simple and low cost way to make your own. You can use beads/ribbon/silk flowers/decorative buttons - any thing that has a hole in it or that you can push a needle through can serve as your beautiful embellishment for your flip flops band.

Here I will show you how to create your own embellished Flip Flops with strands of beads using clear nylon thread and needle, that will appear to float on the flip flops band and not come off like the glued ones you buy for triple the price in stores. Using this sewn on method, you will not see or feel the nylon string on the band at any point. This string back through and needle inserted method will double strengthen your strand of beads as well to hold it on in place and last, without breaking or coming off as glued on beads or embellished items do.

Before I begin, just a helpful note as to where and what items you can buy to have many choices for your embellishments.

1. Walmart has a rack of just decorative buttons in themes that are very small with 6-8 per pack that have eyes in them so you can sew them on like bugs/flowers/flip flops/fruits etc that cost like $1.99 or less per pack.

2. You can also use ribbon and just sew it on by laying it flat on top and

3. You can use beads as I did here or tiny sea shells that have holes in them. When using beads, try to form a pattern from color variation and size as I did here.

Approximate Time: 30 minutes or less

Supplies:

• Flip Flops
• clear nylon thread (sold at Walmart or craft stores) for $1.99 each
• sewing needle (thin one)
• pliers if you have trouble pushing your needle through the band(I just use a hard table surface and push it on through both ways)
• any embellishments you desire (here, I used beads like wooden seed beads/glass turquoise beads. You can use pony beads too)
• scissors

Instructions:

Steps for stringing on your beads onto your clear nylon string.

First, pull out a long piece of your clear nylon string about 20-24 inches long and run it through your needle then match up both ends and tie it off in 2-3 knots.

Now run your beads on the string with your needle in a matching pattern you like, using the same design on each half (here I used a variation of small beads then my largest in the center which will be in the center of my band when completed).

After your strand is complete, take your needle to one side of the end of the band on the flip flop (I'm right handed so I began on the left side of the band). Now insert your needle down through the band and pull the strand of beads until it is flush with the band and then push your needle back up through the band right beside of where you just came down through it and again pull taut. Then take your needle and go back through the beads as though you are stranding them. Stop halfway up the strand and come out thorugh the beads. Again go back down through the band with your needle, pull the string taut and come back up again right beside where you just brought your needle through. Here you will overloop your strand of beads that are laying on your flip flops band. As you over loop it, go back down with your needle into the band again as before and come back up again and insert your needle into your beads in that section again as though you are restringing them.

Continue through until you reach the center point of the band (where your toes are split at the bands center) and here you will just repeat that same process of going up and down through your band with the needle and restringing it through your strand of beads until you reach the other end of your band on your flip flops. There you will go down the last time with your needle and cut your string there, leaving a long tail so you can tie it off in knots about 3-4 tight. Cut your string tail closer to your tied knot.

Your finished item will result in your string beads floating on top of the band that are double stringed by the method you took and no nylon string will be visible anywhere nor will you feel it on the under side of the band against your foot. And this method will result in beads not falling off from glue when your flip flops become wet.

Once you create your first pair and see how easy it was with beautiful results you will be hooked and look for more ideas to create.

NOTE* Flip Flops are just $1 at the Dollar Tree and $2 at Walmart. They come in lots of colors so you can really add colors with different embellishments and create one of a kind designs that others will think you payed lots of money for. You can make the cutest ones for your kids too and match up to their theme clothes, like lady bugs or watermelon for girls, or firetrucks or bugs for boys.

I tried to also give you a written diagram (below) of how to insert your needle through your band as well as tell you. It seems as though it sounds difficult but its not and goes really fast. You simply want to pass in and out through your band to achieve two things. One is to hold it on and two is to secure your beads again by restringing through them while on the band and going in and out through your band at separate intervals so it stays in place at even points.

The funnest part is creating your strand the way you like which I did by laying my beads first in a tray lined up the way I wanted then began the procedure. Have fun with it and Enjoy!

By Julie from Tenn

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Craft: Fabric Advent Calendar

This advent calendar was made by stretching and stapling a spare piece of fabric over an old paint canvas. The pouches were made from felt using a simple whip stitch and secured to the canvas with hot glue. The numbered dates were stitched. A variety of old buttons were hot glued on the pouches for decorative purposes.

A small gift can be placed into each pouch. A simple and thrifty alternative to more expensive advent calendars out there.

By April from Albany, GA

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Craft Project: Vintage China Pin Cushions

I have an annoying habit of picking up orphaned sugar bowls, creamers, and little teapots that have no lids, as well as old planters too small for plants and vintage fabric scraps too small for anything. in hopes of finding creative uses for them.

Lately I've been making pin cushions. Wouldn't these make cute table decorations? You could give as door prizes for a wedding or baby shower, mother-daughter banquet, red hat tea party, or any gathering of ladies? You can pick these up for as little as 25 cents, but if you need lots or are looking for a certain color or style, start collecting them well in advance of your event!

Approximate Time: 15 minutes

Supplies:

• old sugar bowls, small pitchers, teacups, teapots, tiny pottery planters, etc.
• styrofoam ball, cut to fill the hole (or use tightly packed Fiberbill)
• coordinating fabric scraps - vintage is best!
• ribbon, beads, bows, tiny flowers, etc.
• hot glue or tacky glue
• fancy straight pins

Instructions:

1. Wash and dry your sugar bowl and sand off any chipped edges with an emery board.

2. Touch up chipped paint if desired and seal with light coating of varnish. (Dishes with missing lids are best because there is a "lip" around the hole where you can attach the Styrofoam ball. They're also really cheap!)

3. Cut Styrofoam ball to fit (or use Fiberfill).

4. Cover ball with fabric scrap and glue raw edges to back. Stretchy fabric works best.

5. Add ball to sugar bowl and glue in place.

6. Add trims as desired, strategically hiding cracks and chips with embellishments.

7. Small tags used by Scrapbookers may be tied on handles and used as place cards with the person's name.

8. Add pins.

By Cindy from Waynesburg, PA

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Craft Project: Paper Bead Jewelry

Craft lovely jewelry from beads you hand make using paper or fabric!

Approximate Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour

Supplies:

• Paper
• Glue
• Scissors or rotary cutter
• Ruler
• Bead roller tool or toothpick
• Cording/thread or elastic to string beads
• Clearcoat

Instructions:

1. Select the paper you want to use for your beads. Almost any paper will work; newspaper, magazines, road maps, sales flyers, brochures, scrapbook paper etc. (Strips of fabric may be used in place of the paper if preferred.)

2. Using scissors or your rotary cutter/mat cut paper strips into long triangle shapes. Vary the width and length of the strips to see what size strip produces the size and shape beads that you like (or simply make a variety of sizes and shapes).

3. Once the paper strip has been cut, place a bit of glue down the length on the WRONG side (the side you do not want to see on the outside of your bead) of the strip being sure to leave the wider end of the paper strip glue free for the first inch or so.

4. Then begin rolling the paper strip (from the wide end to the narrow). I use a bead roller tool purchased online. The tool makes rolling the bead very easy and a bit faster. A toothpick or plastic coffee stirrer can also be used.

5. Roll the paper strip up being careful to adjust the paper as you roll to get the shape bead you prefer.

6. Once the bead has been rolled, gently remove the paper bead from the bead roller tool or toothpick. Just slide it right off.

7. The bead can then be coated with varnish, clear nail polish, mod-podge or even a glue/water mixture to provide a shiny, protective coating.

8. After applying the clearcoat, I usually insert a toothpick into one end of the bead and stick the toothpick/bead into a styrofoam block while the bead drys.

9. Allow the beads to dry fully before stringing onto heavy thread, elastic or wire to make a variety of necklaces, bracelets and earrings!

Try it. Soon you will have jewelry to match every outfit. The beaded jewelry makes great Christmas gifts as well.

By Pam from McMinnville, TN

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Craft Project: Ribbon Wedding Cake Topper

This fun and thrifty decoration is perfect as a topper to a plain wedding cake or as a wedding decoration. It uses Styrofoam, ribbon, paint, and a clay pot to make a mini-faux wedding cake. You can dress it up however you want, using colors that match your wedding.

Approximate Time: 40 minutes without drying time

Supplies:

• 2 inch Styrofoam Disks (5 x 1 inch)
• Super Glue
• Foam Finish (Plaster of Paris, Plaster, Grout, anything you can smooth over the foam to make it smooth)
• Very Fine Sandpaper
• Rag
• White Paint
• Curly Gift Ribbon, Large (purple, blue and pink)
• Light Pink Paint
• Clay Pot (2 inch)

Instructions:

1. Glue the two disks together using the superglue, in a cake fashion, one on top of the other. Let dry.

2. Cover the "cakes" with foam finish. Let dry.

3. Sand cakes lightly until the finish is smooth. Wipe off dust with rag.

4. Paint "cakes" white, as shown in picture. Let dry.

5. Glue the ribbon to the top of the cakes, as shown in picture. Let dry.

6. Paint clay pot light pink to match ribbon, as shown in the picture and let dry.

7. Glue cake on top of clay pot and let dry.

By Aysha from Boise, Idaho

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Craft Project: Recycled Mosaic Mirror

Mosaic mirror without the messy grout. This is a great use of recycled cut up credit and gift cards. Plastic cards are cut up and glued onto a painted wood frame that give it a whole new look with dimension, color, and without the messy grout. Sometimes even the back of the gift cards are more interesting to display than the front.

Approximate Time: After paint dries, about 1 hour.

Supplies:

• flat surface wood framed mirror (like mine from Ikea discount section- $1)
• paint of color choice to paint frame.
• glue (I like Beacon multi grip glue)
• assorted used gift cards and credit cards
• scissors
• sponge paint brush

Instructions:

After painting the frame in color of choice and it is nice and dry. Cut up various plastic gift cards and credit cards into an assortment of color and texture to display on the frame. I cut each piece about the same size, 1/2 by 1 inch, by eyeballing it. With a good pair of scissors, they are easy to cut.

Before gluing, lay out the various pieces and play with color, numbers and even the back of the cards add a fun look. I used Beacon multi grip glue, good to pick up with a store coupon. Once all glued, it's done! Very fun project.

By Kat from Long Beach, CA

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Leftover Yarn for Pet Projects

Dogs and cats always enjoy getting something new, whether it's a blanket or toy.

I crochet quilts and always have yarn left over. Each time there is yarn left over, even a piece 10 inches long, it is tied to the end of another leftover. This is wound into a ball. This hodge-podge of colors is used to make my dogs crocheted blankets, sweaters, and toys. They don't mind if the colors don't match.

I used to have a cat and she was always getting a new toy of some sort to play with. A single crocheted chain attached to a crocheted ball made a mouse, as far as she was concerned. Sometimes I sprayed it with catnip spray.

Source: As a depression baby, mother taught me to never throw anything away. All scraps could be used in some way. That has stuck with me, and saved me money.

By Clynnaltemus from Inglis, FL

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Use a Cemetery as a Photo Background

Photography is something I want to do in the near future. This is a picture of me at a cemetery. I had a tripod so it came out right. I was thinking of the old fashioned, vintage things, and just fell in love with the clothing. I hope to become big one day.

Oh and yes, I put my own copyright on it.

By AlexisVH39 from East Mckeesport, PA

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Crafts Using Men's Neckties

I am looking for ideas with using neckties. Making angels, etc.

By JUNKYMUNKY from Canyon Lake, TX

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Making a Rag Quillow

There is a rag quilt and there is a quillow. I'd like directions for a rag quillow. I have looked for directions/pattern for rag quillow, but I can't find one. If anyone has directions or pattern for a rag quillow I'd sure appreciate it. Thanks.

By Lallens from IN

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Pattern For A Granny Square Poncho

I'm looking for a child's poncho pattern that is just one big granny square with a hole in the middle. A friend described it to me, but she lost her pattern years ago and I'm itching to try it. Thanks all.

By e2h from Denver, CO

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Setting Dye in Silk Fabric

How do you set dye in a silk garment? I would like to use old thin silk blouses to make a quilt. Some of them just run and run every time I wash them. What kind of dye does the manufacturers use for these silks? I have tried white vinegar, but it didn't work. Will the dryer or ironing help set it?

By Gorius from Gilroy, CA

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No-Sew Rose Using Sheer Drapes

I need instructions on how to make a rose from twisting and knotting sheer drapery without sewing and cutting. Please help.

By Audrey2

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Wooden Person Plant Holder

A few weeks ago I saw this cute little planter, but I cannot find a pattern for it now, maybe someone out there knows what I am talking about. It has plywood cutout feet painted with flip flops for shoes and dowels for legs (I think) with real pants on. I forget how the upper part was but the arm area came around and held a plant.

By Judece from Bucks Co., PA

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Finding a Craft Email Group

How do you go about finding a craft e-mail group?

By LINDAGAYLE from McKinney, TX

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Paper Mache Projects

I would like to find paper mache projects.

By guerrero from Raymondville, TX

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Crochet Pattern for Walker Bag or Pocket

I am looking for a free crochet pattern for a Walker Bag/Pocket. I found one, but its made of plastic, I want to make it with yarn, thanks.

By jean220 from NC

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Using Mod Podge on Glass

I am trying to put fabric onto the back of glass plates using mod podge but when it dries I get streaks across the glass. How do I stop this streaking? Thank you.

By gamma13 from Belleville, Ontario

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Problems Applying Transfers and Tattoos

I have some iron-on transfers or very colorful fake tattoos, I don't know which. I tried applying them to some bare wood trinket boxes first by rubbing them like you would a window transfer, then by ironing. They stuck moderately well, but the backing won't come off. When I tug at it the picture comes up from the wood surface.

I just pulled one off. It's a very detailed Chinese dragon. It is a little tacky, as though there's some sort of gum on the surface and it left a little residue on the box. If it's supposed to be peeled off first and applied that way, I can't seem to start an edge.

There are streaming cloud trails, whiskers, ears and other delicate parts to it that would be easily damaged if I am not careful. Has anyone worked with these things before? How do I get them free of their backing, which is a stiff white cardstock?

By nekocat from OR

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Making a Table Out of a Tree Stump

I have a Black Walnut stump around which my deck is built. The stump is cut to table-top height and we'd like to seal it and make an outdoor eating area. Any suggestions on products that will seal the stump and withstand the outdoor elements?

By portland41 from Portland, OR

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Making Tote Bag Handles

I am very good at making tote bags, but not very good at the handles. Any tips or instructions?

By peaceloveparise from MO

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Rotary Cutting Machine Reviews

I'm looking to research rotary cutting machines used to cut strips of fabric for quilting. Does anyone know where to look?

By leskoeb from Belle Vernon, PA

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Learning to Embroider

Does anyone know of a site that I can go to for embroidery stitches? I would like to learn to embroider. I have wanted to do this for many years. Thank you.

By mizz_rosa01 from Reservoir, Australia

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Craft Uses For Juice Pouches

I am looking for instructions for how to make Capri Sun pencil pouches.

By twins2

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