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Hello,
We have more projects, tips and requests this week. If you have a craft project or tip to share, please submit at the links below.
Post a Craft Tip (You could win $25):
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http://www.thriftyfun.com/contact.ldml?email_subject=Blog_Beta
Thanks for reading,
Susan
Today's newsletter contains:
Projects:
Tips:
Requests:
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Projects
| July Birthday Decorations
I enjoy decorating for the month of July because my son and husband's birthdays are in July (5th and 27th). I decorate my table by putting a white lace tablecloth as the bottom layer, a red checked tablecloth as the next layer, an American Flag scarf in the center; the centerpiece is:
The Breakfast bar has whimsical 4th of July placemats with a 4th of July ice cream sundae bouquet on it. These decorations will remain until the end of July.
By WandaJo from Collierville, Tennessee Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Tissue Paper Pot
By Rebecca Lanham When you want to make those dull, red clay pots into something for display, all you need is some tissue paper, glue and water mixture and clear varnish.
Needed:
Instructions:Step 1: Lay newspaper out on a flat surface. Step 2: Put clay pot upside down in the center of the newspaper. Step 3: Make a glue/water mixture in the plastic cup. (About 2 parts glue, 1 part water.) Step 4: Use the paint brush to spread the glue mixture all over the clay pot. Step 5: Stick tissue paper to the pot in any design you wish. Completely cover the clay surface. Step 6: Cover the tissue paper with additional glue. Step 7: Allow the pot to dry totally. Step 8: Once dry, cover the entire pot with a clear varnish. Step 9: Allow the pot to dry totally again. Step 10: Fill with potting soil, your favorite plant or some seeds, and enjoy. This project is quite easy, and can be done by the youngest child. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Duct Tape Picture Frame
Even if you don't have a frame, you can make your pictures look decorative with colored duct tape! Add a magnet to the back and you can display it on your refrigerator with pride!
Items Needed:
Instructions:
This is a rather simple craft that kids in elementary school should be able to do. However, make the frames really fancy and it would be perfect for a 30 minute adult craft workshop. Post Feedback: Click Here |
Wrap Around Rainbow Twine Bottle
Supplies
DirectionsI used an old bottle, went to Home Depot and bought Rainbow Twine. It comes in about 4 or 5 other (solid) colors. Rainbow was more colorful and interesting to me. I put decoupage glue on the bottle and wrapped around the bottle 5 times and pushed it up into place and held there till I was sure it was stuck tight. It gets easier as you go down the bottle. After it was all wrapped, I put on 2 more coats of decoupage glue letting each coat dry in between coats. Then I used Clear Acrylic Craft Paint on it to give some protection to the bottle. Put a cork in the top and it was finished. Decoupage is the POOR MANS ART!
By Sherry (hamp2468) from Valdosta, Ga. Post Feedback: Click Here |
Tips
| Craft Ideas for Socks
Here are some craft ideas for socks. Beanbags or PuppetsMake odd socks into beanbags for the kids.By fats82439 Uses Them for or Make a Heat PackFill with rice and heat in microwave or freeze in freezer and use as a hot/cold pack.Use for cleaning small messes or for dusting. Slide on a yard stick and secure with a rubberband to dust under fridges, freezers, washers, dryers, beds, etc. By Barbie Barbie Tube TopsThe top part of old childrens socks can be used to make Barbie clothes. My daughter and I recently spent the evening making several items. You can make tube tops, dresses and skirts, etc. for the dolls. They look great, it saves money, and you child will enjoy doing it.By kathy_ph1976 Extend the Life of PajamasSave the top part and sew them onto the arms and legs of children's pajamas to extend the usage of the pj's. I did this for many years. Kids didn't care at all.By Mary For Freezing JarsNot really a craft, but if you freeze in jars instead of bags you can put a jar in each sock. Then if they break or leak it will contain the mess.By johnsonya Dusting MittensPut one on each hand and dust the whole house in no time!By suzi homemaker Dog Ear CleanerI use them turned inside out and use like a glove for cleaning our Dog's ears.By mom2mcar Sock Puppets!You can use markers to make faces which is fast and easy. Or you can sew or glue on buttons for eyes, use felt for a tongue and yarn for hair. These are very fun and inexpensive!By Stella Holiday SnowmenYou can make Holiday snowmen! They are very easy to make and great for childern and the elderly. Take a sock and fill it with Birdseed. Then using a rubberband, string, etc (Or you can twist it a few times and it will just stay, but be careful, if you move it, it may come undone-so pick it up from the bottom) make your three "snowballs". Use something to close the top of the head and then you can fold the top part of the sock down and can color it black for a hat. Use any other items you'd like for eyes, nose, etc. It can be things from a craft store or simply a permanant Sharpie marker, whatever you'd like. Puff paint seems to be the best, it looks great and you don't have to deal with glue!Beverage SweatersNot exactly "crafty", but useful. I cut some tube socks to use as beverage "sweaters" for some glasses I have that sweat profusely. They also keep your fingers from getting cold. I'm considering decorating each "redneck koozy" differently for parties - similar to the wine glass trinkets used to identify which drink belongs to whom. (Be sure they are open on both ends to prevent tipping). Another advantage to using socks - they STRETCH to fit different sized beverage glasses and can be washed.By Tamara Protecting Small ItemsWe also stuffed small glass items inside whole socks to keep the items from bumping during a short distance move (not sure how well it would work for shipping).By Tamara A Sock QuiltOld socks make the warmest quilts you'll ever have. Use clean, stain free socks to make a patchwork quilt. Just cut out useable portions and sew together until you get the size you want.This is a wonderful "as you grow" project. Start with your childrens baby socks (or clothes) and each birthday take time (together) to add that years collection to the quilt. Be sure to date each sock with the year. By the time they go off to college or move out on their own, they have a warm quilt and a lifetime of wonderful memories of time spent with just you. Add your own socks too, just mark whose is whose. Add socks from special occasions when possible (even if still brand new) Easy, Easy, Easy, even for people who can not sew. By Becky3501 Grass Head!If you put grass seed in first and then soil and close it up with a rubberband then turn it over and water it you can make a grass head. The kids can put eyes on with a permanent marker, we did it, it was a lot of fun.By gail2656 Puppets and Doll ClothesYou could use them to make sock puppets with your kids, neighborhood kids, nieces and/or nephews. I always made Barbie and baby doll clothes with old socks.By Myra Use Your Imagination
Use your imagination! Kids can come up with the most fun ideas - ask THEM! My children, when very small, would love to play like she was folding laundry by playing in the mismatched sock basket. By smcarney Deodorize Your ClosetYou can fill the sock with soap flakes (which you can make yourself by grating a soap bar), tie it with a nice ribbon and use to deodorize your closet.By Sigal Sock Baseball and Other IdeasI have used socks as hand warmers in the winter. I couldn't find my gloves one very cold morning and use a pair of socks on my hands until my heater got warm.When I was a youngin long ago a friend of mine's mother made a old sock baseball. It wouldn't go as far as a Wiffle ball but we sure had many great games. The sock balls were all socks. The last sock tied tight around the other socks. People have been known to stash their extra money in a sock in a sock drawer. I remember breaking Brazil nuts in clean old socks with the handle of a butter knife. And if you feel the need to sock someone in the eye. Well please use clean soft socks. To Sock Or Not To Sock Is it a DeFEETING QUESTION. Sock It To Me. By Mr. Thrifty Sock Pot HoldersUse to make pot holders by cutting rings and using one of the loop looms. You can buy one at walmart really cheap in the craft section.Reinforce Other SocksReinforce the toe before you start wearing the socks. Get inexpensive "boring" socks, cut the toe off and sew it to the novilty sock. Then use the boring sock for the other terrific ideas here.Lap Robe or QuiltIf you have knee length, cut them off at the ankle, cut a seam up the back so they lay in flat "squares" and sew them together for a lap robe or a quilt.By Carla Bledsoe Heating PadMake heating pads to give as gifts. Fill them with rice then sew the top closed and reinforce the bottom seam. Instruct your giftees to heat them in the microwave for 1 minute.By Mart Arm WarmersIf they're long socks, like knee socks, cut the toe off (or right above the ankle if they have that weird heel) and cut a small thumbhole to make arm warmers. Sew a small stitch around the thumbhole and the top so it doesn't fray. Shorter socks can be bunched to make a sachel thing to put those smelly dried flowers in.By Marissa CoziesCut off the foot part, leaving just the part that covers your ankle or calf (I don't know what style of socks you wear!). Use this "tube" you have left, with all the cute kitties, etc (my favorites have frogs on them) as "cozies" for bottles and glasses -- keeps your cold drinks cold and your hot drinks hot!By Becki in Indiana Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Jean Pocket Craft
With growing boys, I have had my share of well-used blue jeans. Here are a few things I did to get one more use out of them: Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Using Garden Fence to Organize My Craft Desk
I used a small old garden fence to organize my craft desk. I attached hooks and used wires to attach items. I also used small flower pots to store tiny tid bits. I strung my ribbons on a strip of leather and hung that above the fence.
By wyoKrista from Laramie, WY Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Natural Heating Pad
Take a tube sock of whatever size you would like and fill 3/4 full of instant rice. Put in microwave for 1 to 2 minutes. You will have a natural heating pad. Have kids or anyone decorated it with stamps or clothing paint. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Baby Wipe Container Toy Building Blocks
What do you do with all those baby wipes boxes that you go through while raising your children? By using the same brand, but choosing different color packages you can make quite a collection. Then when they are empty, wash them out really clean and take the label off with "Goo-Gone" (a liquid orange product) and you have a ready-made, colorful, easy, set of BIG building blocks for your children to play with. Because they are clean inside, they make great little keeper boxes for kids little collections, too. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Contest!
The above contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25!
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New Requests
| Homemade Hat Pins
I wear hats a lot in the summer and was wondering how to make simple hat pins to hold the hats in place. If that is not possible, does anyone know where I can get hat pins at a reasonable price. Or if not hat pans, then what does one use? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Homemade Diaper for a Female Dog
Does anyone know how to make a diaper for a female dog in heat. She's real little (Chihuahua). Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Doll Chair Made With Popsicle Sticks
I am looking for instructions for making a doll chair or miniature chair with popsicle sticks. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Selling Crafts Online
Does any one have any ideas or suggestions about how to sell my crafts online? I don't want to use ebay. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Can I Use Baby Food Jars For Candles?
I was wondering if anyone knows if you can use baby food jars for candles? I want to do a project similar to sand art, using candles. I want to shred different color candles, put in a wick, and layer the shaved candles into baby food jars. Will this work or will the jars get too hot and break? Has anyone tried this before? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Craft Uses for Leather Furniture Samples
Craft Uses for Leather Furniture Samples. Does anyone have any use for about 80 pieces of leather samples from furniture store that could be used for craft projects? I would like to sell for $1 each plus shipping. They are about 15" x 13" big. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Homemade Electric Broom Filter
My electric broom has a filter that is small and shaped like a hair bun cover, made of filter cloth and secured with sewn in elastic. I could make one, but I don't know where to find the cloth. Any suggestions? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Attaching Seashells to Plywood
How do I prepare plywood to attach seashells to it and what type of adhesive (glue) can I use? Also, what kind of glue should I use to attach shells to shells? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Can you add fragrance oils to used candle wax?
Can you add fragrance oils to used candle wax? I am looking for something or some way to get my home to smell like a candle shop around the clock. Or, where can I buy candles that will maintain their scent until they burn out? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Framing a Newspaper Article
How would I smooth out a newspaper article I want to frame? Post Feedback: Click Here |
Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here
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