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Hello,
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. We have lots of new craft requests this week, please look them over and see if you have any advice to offer.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
Today's newsletter contains:
Photos and Projects:
Tips:
Requests:
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Photos and Projects:
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Mr. Tom Turkey
By Amanda Formaro & Heidi Ott
View Full Instructions: Click Here |
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Purse from an Underwire Bra
This is an old underwire bra. I got the idea from another site and made my own. By Julie Tassin from Colbert, Ga Post Feedback: Click Here |
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Paper Bag Santa Puppet
By Stella Rivet
View Full Instructions: Click Here |
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A Child's Thanksgiving Tree
By Amanda Formaro
To make your own Thanksgiving Tree you will need the following: View Full Instructions: Click Here |
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Candy Cane Christmas Sleigh
This would make a nice, inexpensive craft for kids in the higher elementary grades to make at a party. Ask them to bring a photo that they are allowed to cut, or let them take digital photos at the party and print out on card stock with your computer. Also makes a great grandparent gift! View Full Instructions: Click Here |
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Cat Tea Cozy
By Stella Rivet
View Full Instructions: Click Here |
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Clay Pot Canisters
View Full Instructions: Click Here |
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Terra Cotta Lighthouse
These would be especially pretty lining a drive way. These would also be pretty on a table using smaller terracotta pots that can be found at most craft stores. For the light on top use a baby food jar with a glow stick that should glow until your party is ove By Debra from Colorado Springs, Co View Full Instructions: Click Here |
Tips
| New Use for a Hard Shell Eyeglass Case
When I got my last pair of eye glasses I was given a hard shell case with them. As I wear my glasses all the time I didn't think I had a use for it. Voila! It is perfect for a couple of Crochet Hooks, Small Scissors, Yarn Needle and Threader. I keep it in my "Project on the Go" that I take along with me to appointments. Waiting is so much more productive and you don't have to stop when you have to change colours or need to sew in an end! Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Recycled Sweater Kids Pants
Thought this was such a cute idea and wanted to share. http://www.greenkitchen.com/blog/2006/02/recycled-sweater-kid-pants.html By bellesmom from florida Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Recycled Clothing Crafts
Looking for recycled clothing crafts? Here are some crafts that you can make with old clothing. Feel free to post your ideas in the feedback forum. MaterialWith my Family, I have a lot of clothes passed around. We don't throw anything away. Cut off all the buttons, zippers and belt loops, save.I cut all the material off and the seams that are left I sew together to make Braided Rugs. Iron all the pieces of good material and store in a box (flat.) I have some really nice pieces for quilts. When the children are bored I have them cut material. Then sew it together. No matter how bad they do they are having fun. I give something special to the one that finishes their sewing first. I sort material by color and then also one box with just about every color in it. This is for crazy quilts. Stick to the basic color red, blue, green. etc. I put all white and black in another box and use this for the trim or binding. So you really have some nice quilts and didn't cost you much. By Marlyne Jeane Gift Jars and Doll ClothingDon't forget to save some small-patterned, nice colored pieces to place over jar lids if you're canning for "Gifts From Your Kitchen". Almost any pretty fabric works great.When my daughters were young, I made enough Barbie clothes to dress every Barbie in existence. I still love to make and dress dolls, but today, I make my own cloth dolls, dress them in "Tea Party" dresses (recycling old clothing), and give them to my lady friends who are also 70 or more years old. (My age) Girls never lose their love for pretty dolls. If you're lucky enough to still have your mother or grandmother, make them a doll for their birthday or for Christmas and watch their eyes light up. They will cherish your thoughtfulness. Hot pads made with leftover or recycled clothing fabric are always good to have, as well as pot holders. Line with pieces of old quilted bed pads to make them thick and protective for hands and table surface. You will be limited only by your own imagination, so don't ever be afraid to ask for advice and more ideas. All the best to you fellow-crafters. By Julia in Orlando, FL For CleaningIf the clothes are totally faded or full of holes, they still make good scrub rags or grease rags. We use a lot of these. A friend said he used to fold old tee shirts into a pad and scrub the grill with it. If you have the right kind of mop, you can put old clothes in the clamp for a new (free) mop head. I've used tee shirts, sweat shirts, and old boot socks for those. Parts of tee shirts cut to size and sewed together in a double layer if you're ambitious make good dish rags. We even use one to wash our cow before and after milking. (09/25/2005)By Coreen Jeans PurseI once saw a handbag made from a pair of jeans. Cut off the legs and sew them shut, then add a zipper to the waist area, and 2 straps.By bulrush ShirtsT-shirts: I use old t-shirts to cover my dog's pillows sometimes. I also cover my pillow with a t-shirt if I take a nap with wet hair - then the pillowcase / pillow stays dry. In a pinch, cotton t-shirts are good as a towel or drying hair if you are out of clean towels (I know - lazy). And old T-shirts are good for drying the dog after her bath.Soccer shirts: The boy I took care of made a neat pillow out of his outgrown soccer shirts. He sewed them up on his mother's sewing machine and stuffed with fiberfill or rags. They were bright colors. They ended up in the "fort" one summer, then later to decorate his room. By TJDumplin Rag RugsFabric scraps from old clothing can torn into strips and braided or crocheted to make rag rugs. I also heard of a quilt that was made from old ties. Has anyone ever heard of this or know where to find instructions?By AnnMel Uses for SweatersI have seen old sweaters used several ways:1. quilts
By wyoKrista Clothespin Bag, QuiltsRecycle a small baby dress into a clothespin bag by adding a hanger and leaving the back open. Then sew up the hemmed tail.Recycle Jeans legs to make a quilt. Add your own special touches. Save them and make a special quilt with some of your children's favorite clothes, you can always cut pieces of their favorite shirts and add on top of their jeans when you piece it together. By seamstress Recycled Clothing CraftsCut clothing into squares and sew them together to make a baby quilt, a couch or chair cover up or even a quilt for the bed or couch. You can even use these for windows coverings or for a window valance. Use your imagination and see what you come up with. Cover a toy box, a picture frame etc. Have fun with it. I also use buttons from the clothes I discard to decorate picture frames, small mirrors, etc.By Sandi G Post Feedback: Click Here |
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New Requests
| Uses for Prescription Bottles
Does anyone have tips or craft ideas for using empty prescription bottles? I have many, and I hate to throw them away if they can be used or made into something. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Keeping a Crochet Project from Rolling Up
I am crocheting a coat using afghan hook. How do I stop the project from rolling up? Or, how can I flatten it out? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Making Textured Candles
Has anyone ever heard of "whipped candles"? When I was 14, my friend's mom used to use a large mixture to make these "textured" candles. She would sell them to make money for the holidays. I remember them like it was last week. Except I don't remember how she got it so "textured". Any info would be great! Thanks Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Making a Soap Swan
I need directions for making a soap swan. I use to make these but its been a long time ago. I know you use a dove shape soap, netting with some bangles attached, but I can't remember how to make the swan's head or the final directions to put it together. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Sand Art Boards
I'm looking for a way to make my own sand art boards, using clear self-adhesive paper(?). Has anyone done this? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Preventing Material From Sliding When Sewing
I can't get my bags to stop sliding when sewing. I line them up and the machine pulls them. What am I doing wrong? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Bobbin Problems
Why does my bobbin keeps filling up all raggedy? I keep having to waste thread. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Removing Wonder Under From Clothing
I took off some things I had appliqued to a shirt using Wonder Under. The appliques were old so they just peeled right off. Now, I am having trouble removing what's left of the Wonder Under that is on the shirt. I have tried Goo Gone, but that did not work. Any suggestions? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| What is a Knifty Knitter?
What is a Knifty Knitter? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Christmas Bulb Teddy Bear Ornament
Does anyone know how to make a teddy bear ornament out of a christmas bulb using it for the belly? It's made with pom poms. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Sewing Velcro
Why does velcro keep jamming in my sewing machine? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| A Storybook Christmas" Float Ideas
I need help with an idea for a cub scout christmas parade float. The theme is "A Storybook Christmas". I had thought of taking a line out of "The Night Before Christmas" and changing it to "The children were nestled all snug in their beds while the values of scouting danced in their heads". I was going to have children in bed dreaming and have big elaborate presents wrapped with the 12 values of scouting in letters on the outside: courage, faith, honesty, etc.. My questions is how do I make it look like a dream? I want to have some presents "floating" over the bed and maybe some under a tree or by a fireplace. Any suggestions on how to exactly make this work? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Removing Hot Glue
I came across a quilted memory wall hanging. It had cloth family pictures hot glued on it. I scraped most of the glue off. Does anyone know how I can get the rest off? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Making a Shirt Purse
Where can I find directions for a shirt purse? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Preparing Juice Pouches for Crafts
Do you cut the backs off you koolaid packs? I have the patterns for a whole bunch of creations. The problem is the time it takes to cut the backs off the packs. I have made purses with backs and without. What is your thought on cutting it. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Painting An Area Rug
Recently watching Sensible Chic on HGTV, I saw where they "painted" a beige area rug with red paint to form a checkerboard pattern. They didn't say how it was done, but the rug looked great on the TV. Is this really doable and if so, what kind of paint would be used? Their rug was at least 5 x 8 and they indicated they used spray paint. Has anyone ever tried this --if so, I would like to know how it was done. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Single Knit Stitch on a Rectangle Knifty Knitter
How do I do a single knit stitch on the rectangle knifty knitter loom? If you have an illustration, that would be nice. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Making a Paper Cube
Does anyone have a pattern for making a cube out of paper? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Making a Sweater With a Round Knifty Knitter
I have just started using the knifty knitter and I want to make a sweater. Does anybody know how to make a sweater out of the round looms? If you know of a site or anything that will really help. I am looking for an adult sweater pattern and a children's pattern. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Homemade Christmas Costume Ideas
Does anyone have home made Christmas costume ideas? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Soda Tab Belt Pattern
I am looking for a soda can tab belt pattern. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| French Beaded Flower Projects
Do you know where I can find french beaded flowers projects like in the picture? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Dyeing Seashells
What can I use to dye seashells? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Uses for Wallpaper Books
Does anyone have any ideas for using discarded wallpaper books? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Message in a Bottle Gift Idea
I am making a message in a bottle for an anniversary gift, how can I decorate it? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Sources for Plastic Drink Rings
Where can I buy plastic drink holders to do the snowflake? Len from Howell, NJ Editor's Note: Here's the link for the snowflake.
Post Feedback: Click Here |
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This plump little turkey will be the center of attention on your table this year! Make one for your table or as a gift for your host & hostess.
This paper bag Santa Puppet is a simple craft. It's great to do with kids.
Just mentioning the word "Thanksgiving" often conjures up memories for many. Traditions are relived and new ones are born on this joyous family holiday. Why not start a new one with your children with this fun and simple activity.
This cat tea cozy is a great gift to make for cat lovers who also like tea.
Here is a cute set of cannisters made from clay pots and trays.
