ThriftyFun Crafts - September 3, 2008

I hope everyone had a relaxing Labor Day weekend. It's hard to believe, but most stores are already selling Halloween candy. Do you have any Halloween crafts to share with ThriftyFun community? Feel free to submit them on one of the contest pages or on the Crafts for Fun and Money page. For more information about Crafts for Fun and Money visit:

shttp://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Today's newsletter contains:

Photos and Projects:

• Craft: Hugs and Kisses Basket
• Chair Caddy
• Craft Project: Denim Locker Pockets
• Craft Project: Floral Ball Table Decoration
• Craft Project: Easy Curtains
• Recycled Gazebo

Tips:

• Bluejean Bag
• Store Craft Paints Upside Down
• Craft: Star Wars Light Sabers
• Displaying Children's Artwork and Crafts
• Decorate Paper Lunch Bags With Paper Punches
• Craft Project: Mini First Aid Kit
• Dream Jars With Paper Dolls

Requests:

• Looking For All Knifty Knitter Patterns
• Pre-Washing Quilt Squares
• Pattern For Fabric Checkbook Cover
• Iron-On Transfers Sticking To Cover
• Topsy-Turvey Doll Pattern
• Knitted Breast Prosthetics
• White Material With Chili Peppers
• Information From "Quilt In A Day" Book
• Decorating Rubber Kitchen Gloves
• Supporting A Scarecrow
• Sewing Items To Make Extra Money
• Instructional DVD For Making A Rag Rug

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: Hugs and Kisses Basket

I was wanting a small inexpensive thank you gift for the young girl who had helped me at physical therapy. So, I came up with this "hugs and kisses basket". I had the container left from buying my husband some nuts and bolts from Dollar Tree. The only thing I had to purchase was the candy. There's plenty left over for more "baskets".

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Chair Caddy

Make a chair caddy! This is a craft idea for home schoolers, or younger children who spend most of their day in the same classroom at the same desk. It will help keep them organized. You can also make a version of this for your sewing chair.

First, measure the chair back. Make a square of heavy duty fabric (denim works great) with the bottom open - similar to a square pillow case. Slip it over the back of the chair to check the fit.

While on the back of the chair, pin on pockets (good way to recycle some old jeans). Make sure you have pockets sized to hold pens, pencils, glue, erasers, rulers....You may chose to make your pockets out of the heavy duty clear vinyl (sold at Wal-mart in the fabric department). * Note: Pockets go on the backside, not where you lean your back.

Remove from chair, sew pockets on, and place back on chair and fill.

This will help keep students or seamstress organized.

Source: I made these for my preschool years ago and kind of forgot about them. But now, my family home schools, and my daughters and I are making these for the backs of our chairs. It seems the smaller school supplies always fall out of their cubbies or get on the floor and stepped on. This will put an end to that!

By April from NW Missouri

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Craft Project: Denim Locker Pockets

In just a few easy steps, your child can turn an old pair of jeans or shorts into a couple of pen and pencil holders that mount easily in a school locker.

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Craft Project: Floral Ball Table Decoration

These small and elegant decorations are perfect for throwing a formal, black-tie affair, such as wedding, prom, anniversary, graduation and the like. The small black ball holds two black flowers on black stems. Each flower contains a clear gem center and the ball is decorated with a simple white ribbon.

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Craft Project: Easy Curtains

Easy yet elegant curtains

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Recycled Gazebo

This was made out of downed trees using recycled vintage furniture, old stained glass for windows, antique hanging chandelier surround with plants outside and a copper weathervane on top.

By Cathy from Stanwood, WA

Update: Here are some more photos to show the inside and detail of the gazebo.

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Bluejean Bag

Take an old pair of bluejeans and lay them flat on a table, using some heavy scissors cut both legs off right at the crotch area.

Now turn jeans wrong side out and then take them to your sewing machine and sew across the legs closing the cut off area. When you turn it rightside out, you will see you have created a bag.

Using the cut off legs, cut enough material out to make two handles to sew onto the waistband. You can now decorate your jean bag with buttons, rhinestones or put a bandana through the waistband as if it were a belt.

Another idea is to cut off the back pockets leaving the bluejean fabric connected to the pocket. Now make two holes at the top of the pocket and string a shoestring through there to create a handy pocket to wear around their neck. Use for phone, pen and paper, whatever you need.

By MsMolly from Box Elder, South Dakota

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Store Craft Paints Upside Down

This may seem obvious and simple but I didn't think of it for sometime, so maybe others haven't thought of it either. I have a lot of bottles of craft paint. I store them in a plastic shoebox type box that has a lid. I put my paints in upside down. This helps to keep all the pigment from settling on the bottom of the bottle. You then do not have to shake it down to the opening every time you use it. It also helps to find the color you are looking for because the paint has already coated the bottom of the container. Simple but helpful.

By Artlady from Edmond, OK

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Craft: Star Wars Light Sabers

We did this along with water fun outside. We made light sabers out of pool noodles and PVC pipes. Of course we chose red, green, and blue (pink for a few girls that came). I cut the noodle into 3 pieces or 2 and then took a long PVC pipe that I bought at Lowes and cut it into 9 pieces. Stuck the pipe into the noodle and there you have it.

By Tami from Indian Trail, NC

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Displaying Children's Artwork and Crafts

Organize your child's art pictures by rotating them on a cable line screwed in to the wall, 1 cable per child. This can be 2 ft long up to 10 foot long. Add metal or plastic clips to the cable. Hang the artwork along the cable line, newest on the left moving to the right (just like reading a book.) When the line gets full, remove the oldest and move them on down for the newest to be placed at the end. Make sure to add the date to the back of every picture.

If your child makes crafts, 0place a long shelf on top of the cable line. Add their crafts just like the pictures with newest to oldest removing the oldest and moving down to make room for the newest ones.

These are best hung in a hallway, dining room, den or the child's room.

By Lisa from Ada, Oklahoma

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Decorate Paper Lunch Bags With Paper Punches

Use decorative paper punches to make regular paper lunch bags into one of a kind favor/treat bags. If they are for a child's party have him or her decorate the bags with markers, etc., to make them even more special!

By Dominique from Kalamazoo, MI

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Craft Project: Mini First Aid Kit

Tucked in a backpack or locker, this box of supplies stored in a travel soap dish will ensure that your child is well prepared for life's little emergencies.

Approximate Time: About 30 minutes

Supplies:

• travel soap dish
• white craft foam or felt
• 3-D fabric paint
• wiggly eyes
• small pom pom
• first aid supplies
• scissors
• craft glue

Instructions:

Cut a piece of fun foam or felt to resemble a band aid. Using the tube of paint, draw a decorative bandage on the fun foam or felt. Glue on the wiggly eyes and pom pom nose, and paint on a mouth, as shown. When paint has dried, glue the bandage to the soap dish cover. Print your child's contact numbers on a piece of paper cut to fit inside the cover and glue it in place. Finally, fill the box with items your child may need, such as an alcohol wipe, band aids, cough drops, chap stick, dental floss, and a prepaid phone card.

By Mom of 1 from Wilkesboro, NC

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Dream Jars With Paper Dolls

Cut out a paper doll you printed on card stock from this site.

• http://www.100megsfree4.com:80/gogators4/Index.html

I am using the Mrs. Santa paperdoll for several for Christmas gifts.

Source: I have seen decorated jars with things in them, I just thought this one up.

By Virginia from Bridge City, TX

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Looking For All Knifty Knitter Patterns

Where can I find all the patterns for the Knifty Knitter? Thanks.

Loretta

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Pre-Washing Quilt Squares

I have done a lot of sewing, crochet and embroidery, so I have experience with materials. I recently picked up a lot of quilt quarters at a yard sale for almost nothing. I've always wanted to try a quilt. I've picked out a fairly simple pattern and plan to modify it to my wants. Most of the quilting websites say that if you plan to hang the quilt, just use the materials as is, but if you plan to use the quilt, you should pre-shrink the squares, then iron them flat before doing any cutting.

I understand this and agree, but I've never pre-washed any thing as small as this and I worry about strings from ragged edges. Should I baste the edges first, or use pinking shears or is there a secret to pre-washing quilt squares? Or, should I actually pre-shrink them at all? I do plan to begin a quilting class at my local senior center, but I'd like to have my squares and appliques cut before I go. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

Di from Wilsonville, OR

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Pattern For Fabric Checkbook Cover

I am trying to locate a fabric checkbook cover pattern. I found one at about.com/sewing, but I have tried to download and for some reason it won't download all the pages. Thank you for any help.

scooter'smom from Debeque, CO

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Iron-On Transfers Sticking To Cover

How do I keep iron-on transfers from sticking to the protective cover? We used waxed paper and then a cotton tablecloth when they stuck to the waxed paper. Is my iron too hot?

Ann from Lee's Summit, MO

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Topsy-Turvey Doll Pattern

I need a topsy-turvey doll pattern for a swap I am about to do. Thank you.

Brenda from Ontario, Canada

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Knitted Breast Prosthetics

A friend was telling me about a "breast prosthetics" that are knitted. Is there any one that knows of a pattern? I use a knitting loom.

Judy from Traverse

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White Material With Chili Peppers

I have been searching high and low for chili pepper curtains or chili pepper material and can't find but one. They are black with chili peppers on them. I'm looking for white with chili peppers on them. Can anyone tell me where to buy them? Or what web site to go on? Thank you much.

Linda from Canton, OH

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Information From "Quilt In A Day" Book

I had a quilting book by Eleanor Burns from her Quilt in a Day series that was all about the Log Cabin quilt. In our latest move I lost (or can't find) my book. Could someone please tell me how much fabric is needed to make a king size quilt. I can't remember if there are different measurements for different styles. Help me out if you can please.

Judi from Elgin, Oregon

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Decorating Rubber Kitchen Gloves

Can anyone offer suggestions on decorating some rubber kitchen sink gloves? I would like to decorate with Malibu feathers and other things (similar to the gloves the BBC channel program English Cleaning women use). They would be gag gifts. Any ideas on materials and how to attach them? I would love to add a "diamond" to the ring finger. Thanks for any help.

Janet from Brant Rock, MA

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Supporting A Scarecrow

How do I support a scarecrow? I know many of you have made up scarecrows for Fall seasons. What are some of the ways you have supported them? I'd like to make it so I can re-position him every few days. I would love photos and/or ideas. Thanks so much.

Susan from Scottsville, VA

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Sewing Items To Make Extra Money

I would like to start sewing again and would like any ideas on items to sew to sell on E-Bay or at flea markets, etc. to make some extra money. Any tips would be appreciated.

Linda from Alabama

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Instructional DVD For Making A Rag Rug

I want to make a braided Rag Rug and have no one to show me the basics. Are there any good books or DVD's? I like the tee shirt idea but do not exactly know how to connect them. Thanks

Elizabeth from Brandenburg

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