ThriftyFun Crafts - October 8, 2008

Vol. 3, Num. 41, October 8, 2008 (Read It Online) What's the homemade costume that you have made for you or your children? Submit your idea here: Post a Craft Tip (You could win $25) If you have a photo of the cosutme, submit it here: Submit a Craft Project and Photo (You could win $25) Thanks for reading, Susan Send to a Friend! Submit Craft Tips (You could win $25) Submit Photos of Your Crafts (You could win $25) Submit a Craft Request New! Crafting for Fun and Money! Link to ThriftyFun.com Edit Your Subscriptions: To edit your ThriftyFun subscriptions, click the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of this newsletter. Today's newsletter contains: Photos and Projects: Craft Project: Halloween Bucket Craft: Bentwood Tables With Tile Tops Craft Project: Mini Pumpkin Maracas Craft Project: Homemade Fall Place Mats Craft: Quick Halloween Wreath Craft Project: Fall Foliage Friends Craft: Painted Halloween Gourds Tips: Framed Cosmetic Mirrors As Bathroom Art Making Wedding Invitations With Free Fonts Craft: Fabric Wrapped Flat Wood Adding Length to Curtains Easy Pumpkin Table Decorations Use Bright Clothing or Background in Outdoor Photos Do It Yourself Outdoor Christmas Decorations Pumpkins for Outdoor Vase Washable Cloth Nappies Get Rid of Pests in Fall Arrangements Requests: Making a Nelly Bag Making Peppermint Oil Calgary Flames Cross Stitch Pattern Looking For 15 in. Foam Pumpkins Crocheting a Flat Circle Decoupaging a Mug Making a Round Loom One Piece Crochet Afghan Project Distressed Look for Walls Help Drilling Glass Blocks Editing Blemishes from Photos Making Burlap Stiff Homemade Presents For Dog Lover Decorating A Column To Look Like A Tree Knifty Knitter Blanket Keeps Rolling Up Restoring Childhood Blanket Bible Character Costumes Putting Larger Bulbs in Glass Blocks Fall Crafts For Adults Articles: Frugal Halloween Costumes For Children And Adults Today's Sponsor: 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 Photos and Projects: Craft Project: Halloween Bucket This is a recycled coffee can that you could use for your Halloween candy or just for a decoration. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26138774.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Bentwood Tables With Tile Tops This was made out of bentwood. I used it as a BBQ table. It has a plywood top that is covered with broken tile. The tile can be found from a tile company. Most tile companies have scrap tile that is given away free like the one pictured.. The wood can be alder shown or other scrap wood. The pot I also re did with broken tile for they were just cheap clay pots. By Cathy from Stanwood, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55379263.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Mini Pumpkin Maracas Shake, shake, shake to the music with these cute little pumpkin themed maracas. A fun fall craft for kids. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf12225649.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Homemade Fall Place Mats The leaves are changing colors on the trees! What a perfect time to make a personalized Fall place mat for your little ones! We made these last year and the leaf colors aren't as vibrant as they had been when we first made them. We may have to sneak out and grab some new leaves and make another set this year. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf76751028.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Quick Halloween Wreath Need a quick wreath? Garbage bags cut in to strips, tied on a wire hanger. Any shape a few left over decorations with a little glitter. And all for free. Laura from Newberry, Florida Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82184746.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Fall Foliage Friends Use your imagination and some paper, glue, and a marker to turn ordinary backyard leaves into whimsical note cards. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26834180.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Painted Halloween Gourds Jack O' Lantern: Cut out leaves from puff paper, you can use color you like best. Wash the gourd good, let dry. Whitewash and let dry, then paint. When dry, spray with sealer. Pumpkin And Ghost: Wash gourd and let dry about half and hour. Whitewash whole gourd and let dry about half an hour, I do a few at a time because I give them as gifts. Paint pumpkin first, then ghost. These are so cute. By Sheri from Stockton, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37436561.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Tips: Framed Cosmetic Mirrors As Bathroom Art Save or collect cosmetic mirrors (pick them up at sales or thrift stores) and hot glue them to an acrylic or glass frame. Some are upside down. You can mat the background with a coordinating fabric of your choice (under the glass). I used a black 100% polyester here. This is a fun and interesting conversation piece that can go where ever you want to hang it! I hung mine in the guest bathroom - over the toilet! Everyone asks about it! By PJ from Omaha, NE Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53100376.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making Wedding Invitations With Free Fonts You can make your own wedding invitations look stunning (just as stunning as some letterpress stationery) by using carefully selected fonts and dingbat illustrations. Dingbats are like fonts, you just download them like fonts and then type. The illustrations just appear like letters - and best of all you can pick up loads of different types of illustrations for free. A search for 'free dingbats' will uncover loads of illustrations. You'll find borders, frames, animals, snowflakes, motifs, ornamental decorations, plants, flowers, the list goes on! All are perfect for your wedding invitations. So all you need to do is set up the layout in Word and use a little dingbat as a monogram or part of your design and you'll have stunning homemade wedding invitations that you can print out for next to nothing on your home printer. By Nicola from London http://www.wedding-invitation-ideas.com Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62374638.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Fabric Wrapped Flat Wood When I submitted my wrapped bed frame, a kind lady said she wanted to do it to her bed, but it was flat. I promised her I would submit a sample of wrapped flat wood. This is, of course, only a small craft project, but I think with a little work, it can still come out great.I would try it without gluing it first, and make sure you don't get frustrated and want to quit but are committed. And, for those who would like to try this, these little boxes are at Michael's and I have seen them at the dollar stores, too. Good luck! By Sandra from Salem, OR Editor's Note: Here is Sandra's original post about a fabric wrapped headboard: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73175338.tip.html Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf22707941.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Adding Length to Curtains Here is a tip to add a little pretty length to curtains so you don't have to spend to replace them if you move and they no longer fit. Add ribbon or trim or how many ever rows of yo yo's needed to make them the right length. You could even add width to them the same way. By melody_yesterday from Sedalia, MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf21508202.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Easy Pumpkin Table Decorations Take a roll of toilet paper, set it in the center of a 20 inch circle of orange fabric or tissue paper. Bring the fabric or tissue paper up around the sides of the toilet paper roll and tuck ends into the roll hole on top. Cut a stem out of brown felt or tissue paper, 3 inches wide by 4 inches long. Roll the stem into a 4 inch long tube, glue if desired, and stick stem into the hole on top of the pumpkin. Source: Saw this cute and easy decoration at a fish boil at our school. By Sandy from Stoughton, WI Editor's Note: This is a cute idea and similar to a craft project we published recently. You can see a photo to it here: Craft Project: Pumpkin Rolls http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34442197.tip.html Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf47164501.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Use Bright Clothing or Background in Outdoor Photos When picture taking outside, I noticed the pics looked really dull. So I always get the kids to dress up in bright colored clothes or use bright back grounds. I also like using the sky as a background by letting the kids climb a tree, monkey bars or swing set take the picture looking up at them. The pics come out bright and beautiful. My photo books are filled with bright pics of the kids. They make great gifts for great grandpa too. By Stephanie from Porter, Texas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78914004.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Do It Yourself Outdoor Christmas Decorations Our do-it-yourself outdoor Christmas decoration began as a way to recycle things that our college age children had left at home. With three teenagers away at college, you can imagine all of the items that I had been stuck with. The do-it-yourself projects began as a way for me to actually use some of the items they had "forgotten" for years. As a seasoned parent, I knew that some things could not be donated to the Goodwill store, for fear they would be a treasured part of their childhood and want back some day. Yet, it was very tempting to give the twelve foot poster of Boys2Men away. Each of our three daughters had left their exercise balls in their rooms. They are the three foot high air filled balls, that they were going to die if they didn't have. I am pretty sure, two have never been used. Covering each ball in paper mache, spray painting them white, and hot glue them together became the first step in our nine foot tall snowman. A top hat from the magic faze in 1994, with a matching scarf and mitten set from the Hello Kitty era, glued on red covered rock buttons from the 90's, and our snowman was dressed. His face was made of various felt scraps found in the scrapbook box. Yes, the same scrapbook box that they just had to have, and I have yet to see a single scrapbook page. Our snowman sits under the four oak trees in our front yard. He looks welcoming and festive. Our next project came from the thirty four pairs of drum sticks that we found in a closet. How did she ever get on the honor roll, if she went to that many concerts in high school? Okay, she played the drums, but does she really need that many? Phil Collins probably doesn't have that many sets. Taking the drumsticks and spray painting them green was the first step to the recycling project. Hot gluing three together in the center to make a snowflake design was the largest use of hot glue I have ever seen. Each drumstick snowflake was then wrapped in small white twinkle outdoor Christmas lights. The snowflakes are suspended from our four oak trees by fishing line we had in the garage. My mate went deep sea fishing once in the 80's, and we still have the line. No, I don't know why we still have it. Nor, do I know why we still have napkins from our wedding stored in a box. The extension cords are all black, and not seen at night, that are attached to each snowflake. The eleven twinkling snowflakes have such a beautiful effect in the trees, falling down on our snowman. It looked so awesome that we ended up making twenty more out of dowel rods. This year we added five dancing children around the snowman. Holding hands with their faces towards the snowman makes for a winter wonderland atmosphere. The children are just stuffed clothing left by the girls. Unless high waist jeans make a comeback, I am safe on this one. Sweatshirts with Mickey Mouse, Dance troupe member 1995, Aspen 1997, Where's the beef?, and the Backstreet boys keep our outdoor children warm. Matching gloves, hats, scarves hide their lack of facial features. Shoes that the girls have not worn in a decade, make the playing children complete. Dowels rods have been used to secure them in the ground. It doesn't sound politically correct, but I stapled their gloves to each other so the appear to be hand in hand as they dance around the snowman. The candle collection of one our children, has been used to light the luminaries that line our driveway for Christmas. When ask if she wanted the candle collection for her apartment, she laughed and ask if they had me on medication. I took that to mean, I was free to use them as I saw fit. So, each evening during the twelve days of Christmas I place rainbows, frogs, and cheerleader candles into the paper sacks that line our drive. Do it yourself outdoor Christmas decorations can be a useful way to recycle and a wonderful way to use your own unique flair. If anyone has a suggestion on how to decorate for Valentine's day with 217 sports trophies, please let me know. Merry Christmas. By Crystal from Branson, MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf69302295.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Pumpkins for Outdoor Vase When it's pumpkin time and you have flowers in your yard, why not use your pumpkin to display a bouquet of flowers on your porch or doorstep? I had a lot of marigolds which were still blooming so I arranged them in the hollowed out pumpkin. You can place a jar of water into the pumpkin so your arrangement will last a lot longer. By sewingmamma from Pittsburgh PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf35975473.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Washable Cloth Nappies I made all my daughters nappies from old t shirts, towels or off cuts of flannel fabric. They all close with Velcro. As she's is now potty trained, I'm making training pants from fleece fabric. I'm sorry I have no pictures to post. I just drew out the pattern and I'm now selling them to friends and by word of mouth. As a single parent of 2, this was my best money saving thing I have done By Ruth from UK Editor's Note: Ruth posted this a while back but has just sent us a photo so we thought we would update the post. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27904532.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Get Rid of Pests in Fall Arrangements If you wish to use pine cones, seed pods and the like in your fall arrangements, spread them on a foil covered cookie sheet and put them in the oven to about at hour at 200 degrees F. That will kill any critters that might be hiding inside. The last thing you want is a few critters to come out to join you for Thanksgiving dinner! By Linda from Vista CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf98980884.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Contests: Tip Contest Submit a Tip or Recipe! Photo Contest Submit a tip with photo! The above contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners, 2 photo winners (1 photo and 1 pet photo) and 1 recipe winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! New Requests: Making a Nelly Bag My daughter purchased a Nelly bag at a craft fair. It is filled with herbs and is to be microwaved. She uses it for her sinus and it has helped alot. I would like to make some if someone has the recipe I would love to have it. Thanks, Sandy from Middletown, Ohio Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf38458972.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making Peppermint Oil Does anyone know what the process is for making Peppermint oil? I have a whole lot of it growing wild. Thanks. Marcia from Spokane, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf35372423.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Calgary Flames Cross Stitch Pattern I am looking for either a cross stitch or plastic canvas pattern for the hockey team Calgary Flames. Pico from St. Paul, Alberta Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20816191.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Looking For 15 in. Foam Pumpkins I saw the web page on carving foam pumpkins which is something I have been doing, too. I have gotten my craft pumpkins at Michael's too but this year they seem to be selling fewer and are not even selling the 15 inch tall pumpkins at all this year. Have you been able to locate any of the 15 inch pumpkins? habedank Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf33198237.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Crocheting a Flat Circle I have just started to learn to crochet. I have tried to learn from a book although a friend started me off. I can crochet a circle but it does not lie flat - it's like a bowl made out of crochet instead of being flat like a mat. What am I doing wrong and what can I do to put this right please? Mary from UK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf29692543.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Decoupaging a Mug I want to put decoupage onto a plain drinking mug and would like some help and advice. I need to know the mug will be both heatproof and waterproof. I am sure that somewhere on the ThriftyFun site or someone that reads it may be able to help. Many thanks, Lilian Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37979472.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making a Round Loom How do you make round looms? Shirley from Mariposa, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf480663.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print One Piece Crochet Afghan Project I am looking for a winter time crochet afghan one piece project to do in front of the TV. Karen from Tri Cities Washington Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf79681030.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Distressed Look for Walls Any ideas on how to do a distressed look on wall panels from the 70's? I wanted to do a nautical type look in my living room. Sheena from Greenville, AL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf63632095.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Help Drilling Glass Blocks Is there a way to drill holes or cut holes large enough to fit night light bulbs in the glass lit blocks? I have seen some for sale on the internet that say they are lit by 7 watt night light bulbs. Kathy from Starkville, MS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf99940470.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Editing Blemishes from Photos I will be taking my son's senior pictures and am looking for suggestions for a photo editing software. Most importantly, I need to be able to edit out some acne that he is going through. I currently have a software that does some editing, but I can't edit out blemishes. My son is kind of shy and says he would rather have me do the pics than a professional because he feels more comfortable. I do take nice pictures, so I don't mind, but unless I get a good software editing program, my pics won't be as good as they should because his acne won't be as toned down as a professional could do. If anyone out there has used a photo editing software that has the capability of editing out blemishes, I would appreciate the recommendation. Thanks. Tina from Ashland, OR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf38786940.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making Burlap Stiff I am making a plant hanger out of burlap. Can someone tell me how to make the burlap stiff? Like they do when they make straw hats made into planters. Thanks for any help I may get. Janet Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17344241.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Homemade Presents For Dog Lover Does anyone have ideas for homemade presents for the dog lover? I have seen the frames from doggy bones and the dog biscuits are also great, but does anyone have other crafty ideas for the pooch and its owner? fab4mom from Walker, LA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55249721.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Decorating A Column To Look Like A Tree I have a column right in the middle of a classroom and I would like to make use of it. I would like to create a tree symbolizing the tree of knowledge, using the column as the trunk. Do you have any ideas on how to create it? Cynthia from Jersey City, NJ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf80047230.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Knifty Knitter Blanket Keeps Rolling Up I have a large rectangle Knifty Knitter. I am trying to make a blanket but it keeps rolling up. Any ideas on how to stop this or how to make it lay down eventually? Rika Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26369611.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Restoring Childhood Blanket I have a pink and white old fashioned design twin size blanket that I've had since age of eight in 1963. Guess you could call her a sort of baby blanket ;-) Anyway, she is threadbare now with a few holes (one large and the other handful are small). The binding came off years and years ago. I just can't bring myself to dispose of her because of all the memories she brings. Yet am afraid to use her anymore even just to snuggle on the sofa because she's become so delicate that she just sits on the shelf in the closet. Any ideas what to do with her or how to possibly restore so she's not closet bound anymore? Deeli from Richland, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf50770064.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Bible Character Costumes I need a costume for a female Bible character. Any ideas? Do you know of any patterns or websites where I can get some good ideas? Jenny from Springfield, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58329106.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Putting Larger Bulbs in Glass Blocks I would like to know if there is a way of making bigger holes in the glass blocks to accommodate putting in a night light size bulb rather than an string of lights. There was a sight I was on that sold the glass blocks with the 7 watt night size bulb. Kathy from Starkville, MS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf10348292.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Fall Crafts For Adults I would like fall craft ideas that are not for kids! Jann from Union, Oregon Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16457726.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here Articles: Frugal Halloween Costumes For Children And Adults Halloween is fast approaching! Here are some easy and inexpensive Halloween costumes for adults and children alike, using sweat suits and stuff you have laying around the house. Our family has dressed in these costumes over the years with great success, winning contests and receiving many compliments! Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf176315.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print