ThriftyFun Crafts - February 6, 2008

We have lots of new craft requests this week. Be sure to look them over and see if you have any advice to offer. Also, if you have a craft related question that you are looking for an answer to, feel free to post it here:

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Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Today's newsletter contains:

Photos and Projects:

• Craft: Romantic Stationery
• Valentine's Button Box
• Puppy Love Valentine Cards
• You Warm My Heart Valentine Gift
• A Valentine Day Chocolate Gift Basket - How to Make Your Own for One Tenth the Cost!
• Craft: Decorative Hat
• Denim Heart Purse
• Craft: Valentine Cascade Mobile
• Bead My Valentine
• Craft: Hurricane Candle Holder Lamp

Tips:

• PatternReview.com Sewing Website
• Sponge Hearts
• Packers Doilies
• Use Clear Two Liter Bottles as Gift Wrap
• Homemade Valentine's Day Cards

Requests:

• Making a Mosaic Back Splash
• Pattern That Uses Men's Ties
• Painting with Crown Suede Paints
• Making Something with a Bumper Pad
• Daisy Kingdom Doll Armoire Pattern
• Using Empty Oatmeal Canisters
• Making 55 Easy Princess Wands
• Crocheting a Simple Granny Square
• Making Yard Art with Broken Gardening Tools
• Making a Tissue Box Holder
• Making a Padded Headboard
• Uses for Oatmeal Containers
• Bible Cover that Holds Note Pad and Pens

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

Craft: Romantic Stationery

Add a romantic touch to stationery and envelopes you already have, using paper doilies.

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Valentine's Button Box

Here's a gift I made for a friend for this Valentine's Day.

I purchased an inexpensive box from the craft store and painted it with salmon pink acrylic paint. To give it a "whitewashed" look, I lightly brushed some off-white acrylic paint over the pink and sprayed with gloss to seal it.

I glued felt on the inside bottom and shirt buttons in a heart shape on top (my friend is cute as a button after all). :)

By Laura from Long Beach, CA

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Puppy Love Valentine Cards

These cute Valentine cards are easy to make and fun to give! Even small children can put them together.

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You Warm My Heart Valentine Gift

Here is a Valentines for teachers or someone special. I saw in a magazine where they did this with a paper cup but I decided I am using a mug with paint that can be used on glass.

Take a mug red in color or pink and make a pattern of hearts/flowers (whatever the kids wanna do)

Take a packet or two of hot cocoa and make a cute heart out of card stock that says "You warm my heart!" Tie with ribbon to the mug (mugs can be bought at dollar stores). I decided I would add marshmallows and a few chocolate Hershey kisses in colorful plastic wrap and add "kisses, love your child's name."

Source: Child's Craft magazine

By Kim from Milan, Ohio

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A Valentine Day Chocolate Gift Basket - How to Make Your Own for One Tenth the Cost!

At florists shops and online, you can find a big valentine day chocolate gift basket selling for thirty to a hundred dollars or more. Here's how to make your own chocolate "bouquet" basket for a few bucks. These are the only supplies you need:

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Craft: Decorative Hat

Wall decoration from a straw hat.

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Denim Heart Purse

Recycle those old jeans into a Valentine's Day denim heart purse. Here is the link to the free pattern information.

• Recycled Denim Heart Purse

By RecycleCindy from WA

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Craft: Valentine Cascade Mobile

Fun and easy. Make these mobiles to decorate your home for a Valentine's Day party, to use as party favors, or just to decorate a kid's room. If you plan to make several, pre-cut all of the heart shapes you will need at the same time, then all you'll have to do is assemble each one.

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Bead My Valentine

Instead of cards (that too often get tossed in the "circular file") I made beaded Valentine's Day gifts last year.

Even though they are inexpensive and VERY simple, my family and friends loved them. They can be easily hung as a sun catcher from a window frame with a paper clip, attached to a mirror, used as a keychain, or simply hung on the wall.

I learned while volunteering with a native American organization to make gifts like this only when I am in a good mood and have positive feelings. These positive vibes will then be transferred on to the recipient of my gift.

By LuvMyGingerKids from Long Beach, CA

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Craft: Hurricane Candle Holder Lamp

Here is a homemade hurricane candle lamp.

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PatternReview.com Sewing Website

A wonderful web site for those who love to sew: For all you who love to sew, beginners to advanced, this web site and forum is just the ticket. You can look up any questions you may have about sewing. Plus, they have posts from professional designers and bridal gown makers that give you their tips and tricks of the trade. You can join for free (like I did) or pay a tiny bit and receive all kids of discounts and goodies. What a find! It's a wonderful and fun site for anyone who sews!

• http://sewing.patternreview.com/

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Sponge Hearts

This is a quick and easy valentine gift. I took a sponge and cut it into a heart shape (you can do any shape you like). Then I took different color acrylic paints and put them on to one side of the sponge. Next I dabbed it onto a sheet of paper. I did this many times with different colors. Let that dry. Then I took some pictures of our family and glued them on. It comes out looking really good!

By Olivia from Boston, MA

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Packers Doilies

I love to crochet Packers doilies and coasters. I do take request for orders.

By Sheila from Fond du Lac, WI

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Use Clear Two Liter Bottles as Gift Wrap

If you have clear 2 litre plastic soda pop bottles, you can use them to hold a gift. Just cut an "H" on the side of the bottle, peel open the plastic, insert gift, be it a wrapped gift with ribbon, a teddy bear or doll, or a fresh baked treat. Once you are satisfied with the look of the bottle with gift inside, close up the "H", and seal with some clear packing tape. Use this area as the back of your bottle display. Items can even be mailed with the correct postage attached.

I had a great time at the post office mailing a few of these gift bottles. Sure makes for a fun gift and it is even better when the receiver tries to figure out how you got the gift inside.

By Karyn from Ottawa, Canada

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Homemade Valentine's Day Cards

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I have some darling, easy cards to make from just construction paper, craft glue, markers and googly eyes (optional).

Dog-ear Card: Using Brown construction paper, take one corner diagonally down to the opposite side of the paper (like making a triangle.) Cut the strip of paper below that. Now it IS a triangle. Turn the triangle paper so that the flat side is up, and the point is toward you. Hold a ruler to the flat side of the triangle and pinpoint the middle. Now, take each side of the top and fold (from the middle point) diagonally down so that now all three points of the triangle are toward you. There's your dog with it's floppy ears. Either draw eyes or glue googly eyes on, draw a nose and a mouth, then write your message on the outside of one ear, then lift it and put another message under the flap. Very fun and easy.

Cat Card: Fold a piece of construction paper the short way. Draw an outline of a cat, making sure the ears, top of the head, and tip of the tail connect with the fold. Cut it out and glue on googly eyes, nose, mouth and whiskers. Then open your cat card and put a message inside. This one is also very cute, and extremely easy. Finally, fold a piece of cardstock in half the short way and cut in half. (You can make two cards out of this one.)

Heart Card: Take a piece of aluminum foil and fold in half. Cut out a half-heart shape, so that when you open the foil, you have a heart. Using a glue-stick, carefully spread glue on the dull side of the foil and press onto the front of your card. Decorate with stickers or whatever. Then put a message inside. Very nice look with the foil heart. This Valentine's Day, make your cards rather than buy them!

By Stacey from Orem, UT

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Making a Mosaic Back Splash

I am getting ready to remodel the kitchen and want a creative back splash for behind the stove. My thought was to use old advertising magnets and broken beige tile in a mosaic. Since I am disabled and need to mostly sit, I was wondering if I can use a white waterproof backer board and do this? I would also like to say it will totally be without a pattern and just freehand. Any help would be appreciated!

Lori from Marion, AR

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Pattern That Uses Men's Ties

I am looking for a pattern to use my Dad's ties. If any one can help please let me know.

Lee from Paragould, Ar

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Painting with Crown Suede Paints

How does one paint with suede paints bought from CROWN? Please advise.

Ruchi

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Making Something with a Bumper Pad

Does anyone have ideas on what to make with a bumper pad? Since it is no longer recommended to use bumper pads in cribs, I'd like to sew something with it - at least use it. Just can't think of anything.

Nicole from Canada

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Daisy Kingdom Doll Armoire Pattern

I wish to find a doll armoire pattern that I think is by Daisy Kingdom. It is cardboard and you cover it with fabric. I don't really know how long ago it was or if it was a pattern or a kit that included the cardboard. Thanks.

Carol from Tucson, AZ

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Using Empty Oatmeal Canisters

I have a lot of oatmeal canisters. Any ideas on what I could do/make with them?

Sandy from Arkansas

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Making 55 Easy Princess Wands

I need ideas for princess wands. There must be reasonable cost in supplies. I need to have about 55 of them! I have craft supplies to draw from, but they need to be simple. I will make the basic wand and preschoolers will decorate them. They shouldn't break easily, no sharp points and shouldn't take me hours to make.

Sandy from Sheboygan, WI

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Crocheting a Simple Granny Square

Can anyone give me directions for crocheting a simple granny square?

Millie from VA

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Making Yard Art with Broken Gardening Tools

Does anyone know how to make yard art out of old broken rakes, shovels, etc?

Rolayne from Beasley, TX

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Making a Tissue Box Holder

I work for a school. I am an aide on a special needs bus and want a pattern for a school bus tissue box holder. Does anyone know of one?

Vickim from Mount Vernon, WA

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Making a Padded Headboard

I want to make a queen padded headboard using Styrofoam. How would I attach it to the wall? I want to hear from anyone who has made their own headboard.

Betty from Lubbock, TX

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Uses for Oatmeal Containers

I have a lot of round oatmeal boxes. Any ideas of what I could make or use them for? Thanks

Sandy from Mountain View, AR

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Bible Cover that Holds Note Pad and Pens

I would like to make an easy Bible cover that I can carry my Bible plus a note pad and pens. Anyone that has ideas for an amateur? Thanks in advance.

Barbara from Kingsport, Tn

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