ThriftyFun Crafts - April 18, 2007

This week we have some great projects as well as numerous quilting tips. I hope you find them useful. We also have a great project shared by Debra Frick about Making Your Own Cat Tree.

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Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Today's newsletter contains:

Photos and Projects:

• Making Your Own Cat Tree
• Recycling Old Boards for Home Decor
• Homemade Windsocks
• Recycled Tin Man
• Holiday Candy Wreath
• Onesie Cake
• Mother's Day Spring Switch Plate
• Recycled Chair Planters

Tips:

• Handpainted Border Decor
• Use Terry Cloth Fabric
• Use Lattice To Hide Painting Line
• Recycled Magazine Holders
• Quilting Tips and Tricks
• Designing Your Own Quilt Squares
• Signature Quilts
• Buying Needles For Quilting
• Trim and Measure as You Go
• Use Good Thread When Quilting
• Carrying and Storing Quilt Squares
• Templates for Quilt Pieces
• Saving Money on Beads for Beadwork
• Uses for Advertising Credit Cards

Requests:

• Four Trees (Seasons) Cross Stitch Pattern
• Sewing a Zipper in a Cushion
• Staining a Coffee Table
• Knifty Knitter Group In Altoona, PA
• Handy Stitch Handheld Sewing Machine Reviews
• Saving Money on Buttons
• Crocheted a Hanger For a Hand Towel
• Crafts Using Neck Ties

Articles:

• Make Your Own Natural Jewelry

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:
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Making Your Own Cat Tree
By Debra Frick

Welcome to my Kitty World! I have 4 adult Siamese cats and we always have kittens. My husband Leo and I decided one day, we were going to go out and replace the scratching post that my husband made many years ago. Boy, were we in for sticker shock; we went to our local pet store and the prices were just outrageous. For a basic scratching post, we were looking at a minimum of about $60.00 and it was even ugly to look at. In looking at their limited selection, we decided that maybe the internet would give us a better deal. Well not only was the shipping ridiculous but my hubby, being the resourceful guy that he is, said we would be better off building it ourselves.

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Recycling Old Boards for Home Decor

Here is a great way to recycle old boards into great home decor. You can paint anything any theme you want. Either stand it up or you can hang it on wall.

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Homemade Windsocks

I like to use homemade "windsocks" to decorate for a party. They last longer than balloons, and can be used over and over. For a July 4th party: Take any container that is a cylinder, like a coffee can, pringle can, or a koolaid container. Cut off top and bottom. Cover the outside with red material or red, white and blue material. Glue material in place. Cut streamers from same colors of rolled paper streamers, and glue on bottom of container. I look for colored streamers at garage sales, and find all colors. Also, you can use this idea for birthday parties, etc. Make streamers about 3 or 4 feet long.

By Margeth from Michigan

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Recycled Tin Man

Here's a cute Tin Man made from recycled food cans.

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Holiday Candy Wreath

Shape a wire hanger into a circle. Using candies wrapped in twisted paper ends, purchase appropriate colors for holiday such as white/red peppermints for Christmas. Tie string on one end of candy and then tie that end onto hanger, pushing candies in different directions and very close together to make wreath full. Tie ribbon bow on top of wreath covering hanger hook, you can use hook to hang on door. Use ribbon to tie a pair of school scissors on hook dangle from middle. Go back and snip off any string that shows on wreath. Hang from hook on door. When guests come or go during the holiday, have them snip a piece of candy off wreath for a treat. This is a great group craft as everyone arrives with different candy colors and it's more economical to share than to buy all the different colors you might like in your wreath.

By Tracey from Thomasville

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Onesie Cake

One of my best friends is expecting a little girl next month. We are throwing a surprise shower lunch for her at work and I thought that a "onesie cake" would be adorable for the table.

Instead of just diapers, I put a ring of onesies around the outside of each layer of diapers and wrapped each ring with lavender ribbon. Little Gracie's new nursery is decorated in shades of lilac and rose using a butterfly theme. I thought that this "cake" fits her theme fairly well!

By Carrie from Herkimer, New York

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Mother's Day Spring Switch Plate

Choose colors to match your decor and make beautiful switch plates for every room in your house. Make extra ones for special gifts.

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Recycled Chair Planters

Once these old chairs have the seats go bad on them, unless you can refurbish them, they're usually pretty worthless. I found a great way to salvage them as well as come up with new planters.

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Handpainted Border Decor

My sister and I painted this border on her living room walls. She sponge painted several colors of green on the walls, then masked off and painted a beige border. Then, using bottled acrylic paints, we painted the flowers, leaves, and vines, freehand. The technique is similar to Donna Dewberry's style, and the trick is to keep the shapes loose and free, with some designs going above and below the solid border.

The flowers literally dance around all four walls, and it is a delight to see - more interesting than a wallpaper border. We had a blast doing this project together!

By Patty from Pennsylvania

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Use Terry Cloth Fabric

Skip ironing! Terry cloth is to be found everywhere, in all colors and patterns. Think 'outside the box' for uses for this great material, much appreciated because it requires no ironing. What began as a large checked beach towel was recycled when I made a newspaper pattern, making the unstained, unworn portions into a round tablecloth. The scraps I was left with were cut into generous squares and are useful as cleaning rags. I've seen terrycloth material used to make curtains (or valances) for a casual or summer camp's windows. Hand hemming doesn't show in the cloth's dense pile and the 'care instructions' could not be simpler, just launder and dry!

By Janet from Conway NH

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Use Lattice To Hide Painting Line

Ever messed with a painting job, especially a noticeable one? Well, I am not a painter. In my front lobby, I painted a lovely deep grey blue but when I came around one of the corners, I realized that living room wall was much too hard to paint, because of high ceilings. So this is what I did:

1 half of the wall is dark grey and the other half is eggshell so I bought a piece of lattice from the hardware store, the kind you use outside against your home or back porch. I painted it white, measured the width I wanted and secured to the wall with the appropriate long nails. I positioned the lattice to cover the centre of the two colours of paint and also decorated the lattice with dried flowers and pieces of dried leaves. I then placed one of my famous dried flowered hats onto the lattice.

It looks wonderful, creative also. This gives a look so far from the every ordinary look of front lobbies or entrances to your home. I know you're going to love it. Good luck

By Janet from Toronto

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Recycled Magazine Holders

Make your own magazine holders from empty cereal or cracker boxes. Measure up 4 inches from the bottom. Place a mark at 4 inches. Draw a line from the 4 inch mark to the top of the box. (Will be at an angle.) Do this to both sides. Cut off marked part. Presto, you have a magazine holder, paper organizer, etc. You can cover with wrapping paper, unused wallpaper to coordinate with a room decor or your kids can decorate kraft paper. It is a simple craft and fun to decorate.

By Rockinr from Pittsburgh, PA

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Quilting Tips and Tricks

Quilters are all fabricaholics. I don't even throw tiny scraps away. The tiniest scraps go into a jar labeled "quilt jelly". Larger pieces about the size of the palm of a baby's hand come in handy when you're doing applique. I thought I was out of black fabric. All I needed was tiny shoes for my Sunbonnet Sue quilt. Sure enough I had saved a very small piece that worked out just right.

Make a weekly trip to the thrift stores. You'll always find new fabrics. I prefer cottons, but I have a friend that uses polyester.

COLORS: Keep stocked up on the basic colors like black, white, red and blue. Paper piecing has made quilting possible for everyone, even kids. Muslin is a real basic need, especially for the back of the small wall quilts.

Before you get started, get out your book that came with your sewing machine. Sit at your machine and go through all the exercises. Know your machine or forget it. I'm hooked on quilting, and I love it.

By Ardis Barnes

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Designing Your Own Quilt Squares

If you have grid paper, it's fun to design your own quilt squares. Keep it simple, but make sure you have lots of colorful fabric, and you'll be sure to have a great quilt. I like to use a color wheel. I have huge doubts about my tastes in color combinations, but I'm getting better. You need light, medium and dark colors. However two-color quilts are great too.

By Ardis Barnes

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Signature Quilts

Quilts for children and teens can be designed with light colored strips where friends and family can sign their names. It's called a signature quilt. I made one for my daughter in-law for Christmas, now she already considers it an heirloom, as some of the relatives have passed on.

My grandmother kept my little play clothes and made a baby quilt for my hope chest. Now I'm going to be a great grandmother, and will continue to use it for every child when they are born in the family. I hope my children keep this tradition after I'm gone.

By Ardis Barnes

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Buying Needles For Quilting

Always buy the best quality of needles to sew your quilt with and use a nice sharp one each time you sew as a sharp needle forms the best stitches for your quilt.

By Twila

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Trim and Measure as You Go

As you're making your quilt squares, press each time you finish a seam in a pile of squares. If you trim and measure as you are building your seams, your quilt will be much more accurate.

By Ardis Barnes

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Use Good Thread When Quilting

People who quilt or sew learn very quickly that cheap thread isn't worth taking home from the store. Going to a quilt store or a fabric shop is very educational when you ask the right questions. There are threads for a multitude of projects. I choose to use a thread called Sews All because it can be used on anything from satin to denim.

By Ardis Barnes

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Carrying and Storing Quilt Squares

When you are working on quilt squares, a perfect carrying case for all your stuff you need is a PIZZA BOX. The squares stay nice and flat and all your tools and thread fits just fine.

By Ardis Barnes

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Templates for Quilt Pieces

For drawing quilting paper-pieced blocks, I take a piece of template plastic (available at Joann's very cheap), and then cut small grooves using an exacto knife and a cutting mat, corresponding to the lines of the pattern. Instead of making copies on a copy machine, I use any type of paper (I have even used newspaper), and a pen or sharpie, and draw the lines! Not only do I have unlimited copies this way, but I can keep the template for future projects of the same pattern.

By Levada

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Saving Money on Beads for Beadwork

Tips for saving money on beads for doing beadwork.

Look For Beads In Thrift Stores

If you make costume jewelry using beads, consider shopping in thrift stores. Some of the best quality beads, such as crystal, can be found that way for restringing. All are much less costly than in craft stores.

By Sandra McArdle

Garage Sales

Garage sales have been a great way to find beads for crafts.

By valleyrimgirl

Salvage From Other Projects

I will often buy craft projects at garage sales/thrift stores that are not my taste. Then I take them home and salvage the beads that they contain. Clothing, purses and wall hangings will often have beads used in them.

By It's Me

Craft Supplies

If you are a crafter, people often will actually want someone to buy them that will use them. Ask at garage sales if they have any craft supplies or beads. Also look through the jewelry for broken pieces or inexpensive beaded necklaces. Sometimes you find the best things in little boxes of miscellaneous stuff.

Let people know you are doing bead work and you will be surprised how many people have a few beads put away that they may be willing to give you.

Ebay is another good place to find beads. They are usually pretty cheap to ship so can be a good deal.

Susan from ThriftyFun

Do you have any tips for saving money on beads? Post them below.

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Uses for Advertising Credit Cards

Uses for "fake" credit cards that come with credit card offers. Post your own ideas.

Glue Spreader

The fake charge card cards that are sent attached to a credit application are great for use in spreading glue, particularly with wood projects. It also help scrape clean the excess glue squeezed out when putting two pieces of wood together. Not to mention they make a handy dandy emergency window scraper conveniently thrown in the glove compartment of your car.

By Suzanne B. I've been getting quite a few credit card application junk mail which come with a copy cat credit card which is not really a legitimate credit card. Some of them have magnetic backs, so I've been making magnet stickers out of them. They're fun to make and you can put whatever you want on them!

By Las Vegas Angel

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Four Trees (Seasons) Cross Stitch Pattern

I'm looking for a set of four trees depicting the four seasons to cross stitch. Does anyone have patterns they'd be willing to share. I had no idea something as "every day" as trees would be so hard to find.

Thanks in advance.

By Marian

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Sewing a Zipper in a Cushion

How do you sew a zipper in a cushion?

Msry from Athens, GA

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Staining a Coffee Table

Just purchased a used coffee table that needs help. The stain on the wood was done poorly. Do I need to strip it to re-stain or can I stain over the old stain.

Rose from Malvern, PA

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Knifty Knitter Group In Altoona, PA

I am looking for a knifty knitter group in my area, Altoona, PA.

Drenda from Altoona, PA

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Handy Stitch Handheld Sewing Machine Reviews

Has anyone purchased a Handy Stitch Sewing Machine and had good results? I only do a little mending and I didn't want to spend the money on a regular sewing machine. I also don't have the space so I thought the handheld one would be better.

Caramel1 from NJ

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Saving Money on Buttons

Tips for saving money on buttons. Post your ideas.

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Crocheted a Hanger For a Hand Towel

I am looking for a pattern to crochet a "hanger" onto a cotton hand towel which I have cut in half.

Thanks,
Jan from Richland Center, WI

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Crafts Using Neck Ties

My father just passed and I am left with his necktie collection. Do any of you know of patterns or ideas in how to use these? I have four adult children that might like to inherit an object of art from their grandpa's ties.

Darlene from Reno, NV

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Make Your Own Natural Jewelry

Au Natural Jewelry is all about using natural material like wood, natural fibers and shells where possible. The look is relaxed. Rather informal. Very spontaneous.

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