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This is a fun craft that kids can do in minutes. These bookmarks make great gifts.
Crafting Time:
About 5 - 10 minutes each
What You Need:
Collection of old greeting cards – all occasions will work
Paper punch
Ribbon
Colorful plastic beads
Blunt tapestry needle (optional)
Directions:
1. Choose a card design you like. Cut a strip from the front of the card and then punch a hole in one end of the strip.
2. Cut 2, 10" lengths of ribbon for each bookmark. Thread both pieces of ribbon through the hole and knot the ribbon onto the end of the bookmark. This will give you four lengths of ribbon hanging from the card strip (bookmark).
3. Thread the beads onto the ribbon. This may be done with or without the assistance of a tapestry needle. Leave room at the end of each ribbon length to tie a knot, which will hold the beads in place. Continue in the same manner to add beads to all ribbon lengths.
4. These bookmarks make great, inexpensive gifts for friends and family members. If you have a special event, such as a spring birthday, or holiday in mind for the giving, choose a card front that will match that event or season.
I will never forget the joy I got when I received my first Betty Crocker Kid's Cookbook when I was a kid. It was wrapped in a pastel pink paper with a big pink bow. It was the only present under the Christmas tree I had not figured out. I spent days reading that cookbook and planning all the big events I would hold. But this was the seventies and my mom would rather I would be out in the great outdoors than in HER kitchen messing it up. Thankfully, there were my friends' moms who were not so picky. Then I had kids and decided I wanted to get them a cookbook and low and behold there was my faithful friend still in print for me to buy for my kids. Well, that was many years ago before the advent of computers and the internet.
I decided I wanted to make my grandson's and also some of my friends' children a personalized cookbook. Alas I am not a prize winning cook or cookbook author so I decided to take some help from the internet wonderful resource that it is. You can also use these instructions to make cookbooks for your school or charity or a family cookbook. To truly make this a personalized gift you could also use all of the digital pictures that you have stored on your computer and you can certainly mix it up with theme images and your own personal pictures.
Materials Needed:
Computer and some knowledge of surfing the web
Color printer
Word Processing Program can be downloaded for free on the internet if you don't already have one on your computer. Most computers come with at least one on them pre-installed.
Three Ring Binder or report folder
Time to go to the copy center
Time to complete:
Depending on your surfing the Web time this could take you a couple of hours to a couple of days. The hardest part is collecting the recipes.
This is going to be step-by-step instructions on how to make your own cookbook. You can make it as many pages as you want. I will show you how to cut and paste images and recipes into a Word document and how to and where to get it bound. This is a quick and easy craft if you have a computer and a color printer. Of course you could grey scale all of the images and print in black and white. I know these instructions will seem hard at first but I tried to make them as easy as I know how, you may want to print these out and keep them handy.
First I decided on a theme which just happened to be Winnie the Pooh but you can choose any character or theme you would like. Some ideas would be chocolate recipes, Native American Recipes or maybe Christmas Cookies or Easy Meal Ideas. After deciding what theme I would use which was Winnie the Pooh and then just general recipes; I made mental notes of what sections I wanted for my cookbook I decided to follow the basic layout of my old faithful favorite. So I made sections for Finger Foods (appetizers) Main dishes, Salads and Vegetables, Baked Goods and then a section for Craft Recipes which was not in my cookbook but I thought would be a great addition. You can find recipes on the internet for goop and glue and paint and even Easy Bake oven recipes. Just do a search for Kid's Craft recipes. I also like to add some of the charts that are found in cookbooks like a vocabulary list of cooking terms and a measuring chart. These can be found and copied off of any recipe site. Just do a search for cooking terms or measuring table.
Following my Theme idea I named each section with a Winnie the Pooh Name. Piglet's Little Food Appetizers, Owl's Gourmet Main Dishes not that Mac and Cheese is a Gourmet dish but you get the idea. Next decide how many recipes you want for each section. Now I always believe bigger is better so I usually go with about 10 recipes per section but this decision is entirely up to you. You will find I am sure that what ever you decide you will find more than you could ever use and making the decision on which to use will be the toughest part of this whole project. Remember to try and select recipes that are easy enough for all the children you are making the cookbook for.
First things first go to My Documents on your computer and make two new folders. One for your images and one for your recipe file. Name them appropriately for each. (i.e. Your theme) and Kid's Cookbook recipes. Now you have a place to save things. Now connect to the Internet and go to the Google Web search Page. I have this saved to my favorites. Next hit Google Image search... This is on top of the search bar and looks like the tab on a file folder... Type in your search word (i.e.: Winnie the Pooh) Then hit search this gave me many images to choose from. I went to each site and right clicked and then hit the Save This Picture As: button for each image. When you do this a save box will come down, In the box type a name for your picture and make sure that you click on the drop down menu and click My Documents and then the "image" file folder so you can save it to your "image" file. Do this for each image. You will need one image for each section and maybe four more to decorate recipe pages with. Try to have at least 10 different images so that you don't have to repeat them very often.
Then I did a Google search for Children's Recipes and Kid's recipes. I opened a WordPad document (Word pad is found under Accessories on most computers. Hit start, All Programs, Accessories, and then WordPad) and as I found interesting recipes I just copied them and pasted them into it. If you want you could just search for each section. I, being always in a rush just copied all the recipes to one file to be sorted later. When you are done finding the recipes, Save your work, you should get a pop down screen it will ask you to name your WordPad document and be sure you save it to your "recipe" file in my documents. Now you should have enough images and recipes to get started putting together your cookbook. You are now about 1/2 way there.
Now here is where your own creativity comes in, I always rename my recipes to go along with my theme. Ants on a log are one thing but when it is named Rabbit's Rescue Boat it just gives something to it.
Open any Word processing program such as Microsoft Word or Works. Any Word processing program should accept Images so here we go.
First open your word processing program and name your document. (i.e.: Jane's Cookbook or whatever) Then go to File and hit Page Setup. I set all of my margins at .05 which still gives me enough room to bind the page and lets me use my space more efficiently.
Now start with your first section. On the blank page insert one image. Go to the File that you have your images in which is in My Documents and double click on the picture and make a copy of the picture. After you double click it should either go to a Microsoft program for opening pictures or Paint. Go to the editing section. Go to Edit and select Select all and then hit copy. Note: if you are going to be printing this is black and white you will need to grey scale your images which is easy, don't panic. Go to view and hit grey scale. Now go back to your Document Go to Edit and hit paste. Now you have your image in your document. Yeah! If your picture is too small double click on it and grab one of the little black dots at the corner and holding down your mouse button pull on it to enlarge the picture. Now click on the right hand side of the bottom of your image and it would take you back to the line cursor. Go back up to the toolbar at the top and hit the center align button and then it Enter. You should now have the line cursor in the middle of the bottom of your picture.
Name your Front page (i.e.: Pooh and Jane's Wonderful Cookbook) and then hit the enter button till you have reached the end of the page and are on Page number 2. This is were you might want to add your charts but you can just make two extra pages at the end for your charts it is up to you.
Repeat your image instruction on Page two and name the section (i.e.: Owl's Gourmet Dishes) and hit enter until you are at the top of Page 3. Now you need to go to my documents and open the WordPad file with your recipes in it. Now there are two different ways to do this. You can copy your recipes out of your file or you can cut them out of your file. I suggest you only copy as this leaves your WordPad file intact. In case of any problems you then can just go back and recopy that recipe. If you have cut the recipe from the WordPad file and your computer clipboard ate it you might find yourself searching for another recipe to replace it. But you can for clarities sake cut each recipe out.
Pick your first recipe and highlight and copy it. You can now drop it in your document. Do this with each recipe. You might want to type a line under each for a spacer or if you have a lot of recipes you can go to the top tool bar and make columns. If you do use columns please use your enter bar often so that your recipes are not chopped in half by the columns. Is half a page empty? Go to your image file as you did before and drop in an image to fill the page. When you are done with one section go onto the next. For printing and assembling it is always easier to have your sections as the first page of each that way when you print it is in the order it should be for assembly.
Now you are ready to print. Print each page. To save paper and to make your cookbook look more professional Set up your printer to print on both sides of the paper. To do this go to Printer Setup and Click on the box that says Two sided printing. If your printer has an instruction page like my does for two sided printing print it out also.
On my computer the instruction page is just a big arrow to remind you how to reinsert the paper so that half the printing is not upside down on your page. Now you have a choice if you are making this for more than one family you might decide to make all the copies on your own computer especially if you have used colored images. This is the cheapest way since most color copies cost a dollar or more at a copy center. Or you can take it to the copy center and have as many copies as you need made.
Now to binding your cookbook together, The cheapest way is to buy a three ring hole punch and mount your pages into a report folder if you are not like me with 30 pages of cookbook. If you are like me and could not resist all the cute recipes you can also mount your pages into a three ring binder. Going along with the Three Ring Binder idea you could put each page in a page protector and that way each page would be cleanable. My favorite way to bind my cookbooks together is to take my pages to the copy center and have them bind them with a clear sheet in the front and a comb binding attached. This makes my cookbooks wipe able at least the front anyway and with the comb binding the cookbook will lay flat. It also only costs me about a dollar per book to have them bound if I already have the pages printed out myself. You can also add Page tabs to make finding the chapters easier also.
6 mm bicone Swarovski crystals in birthstone colors
Beadalon or Accuflex 49 strand .7 mm wire
Heart and Arrow Toggle
Big Sister, Middle Sister, Little Sister silver charms
6 mm silver beads
6 mm gold beads
bali style spacers
2 crimp beads
Instructions:
These instructions will make a bracelet that measures 7 inches.
1. I leave my beading wire on the spool as it seems easier for me to not have to worry about having enough or the beads falling off, etc.
2. Put on Heart end of toggle.
3. Follow this with the Sister Charm
4. Follow this with the bali type spacer bead
5. Follow this with a silver ball, then a gold ball then a silver ball and another spacer.
6. Next the first birthstone bead and a spacer.
7. Repeat steps 5 & 6 with the second birthstone.
8. Repeat steps 5 & 6 with the third birthstone.
9. Repeat steps 5, 6, 7 & 8
10. Put on crimp bead then Arrow portion of toggle; crimp this end of the bracelet.
11. Go to other end of bracelet, measure out a little extra and snip off the roll.
12. Remove heart toggle, replace with crimp bead, then add heart toggle. Crimp off that end of the bracelet and you are done!
When I make my sisters bracelets, I try to place the beads in the big, middle, little order; however, in the case where big and middle have the same birth month (for example), I will separate them with the little.
These bracelets cost very little to make, are extremely easy to make and can be sold for a good profit! There is a website that charges about $150 for this exact bracelet, plus shipping and handling!
This is the cutest purse. To prepare the juice pouches I removed the glue and cleaned the packs. I slice the bottoms, fill the sink with warm soapy water. Rinse and set in bucket to dry over night. I set them outdoors.
Then I take the desired colors and line the edges about one half inch. Zig zag stitch the middle and continue to the other side. Make 2 of these. The bottom is 3 packs and zig zag stitched as well. Leave about a inch of each corner open. This will help to get the corners correct at the end.
Sides get added to the front and back. I now straight stitch this part. The handle are made of 2 packs cut in half. Then edges sewn to make 4 panels of handle. Zig zag stitch the handles to the bag, add your favorite boa and you're done.
6mm straight needles or size needed to get required tension
Darning needle
Tension: 20 sts x 10 rows = 9cm x 5cm
Pattern:
CO 40sts
K2 P2 across for 15 rows
Next row: P2tog P2tog *K2 P2* rep from * to * until 4 sts remain, K2tog K2tog
P2 K2 across for 10 rows
Next row: K2tog K2tog *P2 K2* rep from * to * until 4 sts remain, P2tog P2tog
K2 P2 across for 10 rows
Next row: P2tog P2tog *K2 P2* rep from * to * until 4 sts remain, K2tog K2tog
P2 K2 across for 10 rows
Shape thumbhole
*P2 K2* rep from * to * for 14 sts, place remaining 14 sts on holder
First row: K2 P2 to end
Second row: P2 K2 to end
Repeat these two rows once more, place sts on holder and break yarn
Transfer sts from first holder onto needle, K2 P2 to end
First row: P2 K2 to end
Second row: K2 P2 to end
Repeat these two rows one more
P2 K2 across all sts, including those on the holder.
P2 K2 for 9 more rows
BO all sts.
To finish:
Edge thumbhole using buttonhole stitch
With right sides together, sew along long sides of glove
Weave in all ends
Notes:
It is best to use a fairly stretchy method of casting-on and off
A neater edge to the piece is formed if you sl the first st of every row p-wise instead of knitting/purling it, but do not do this for the thumb-hole.
The perfect accessory for a little girl's room is a pink dress lampshade. Wrap a baby girl's dress around a lampshade, tuck it underneath and then glue it onto the bottom. A little pink trim and some beads add the finishing touch.
Make a chair seat from old belts! I used as many leather belts as I got after my mom died a couple years ago and wove them onto where the seat was missing from this chair. I secured each end of the belt onto the wood with upholstery tacks.
Save lint from dryer, "cardboard" egg cartons (not the styrofoam ones) and old candle pieces or crayons. Put lint in each egg cup. Melt the candle pieces in an old coffee can. Pour melted wax into egg cups. Let dry, break apart and use to start your fires!
If you have a camera, you can save lots of money by taking your own portraits. Here's one of my son when he turned 6 months. We didn't have the money to get professional photos taken, so I did my own session! This particular photo looked better black and white (a quick fix with Photoshop).
For his next photo shoot, I'm going to play around with different backdrops or just go outside! The trick is to take a LOT of photos to get that one perfect shot. Try different angles (this one is from above) and work with the child's personality to get a smile or look to capture. Good luck!
For any craft that has a "paper" pattern that has to be pinned/taped down (especially sewing patterns), transfer/cut them out onto contact paper. You can write on the side with the lines (arrows for the grain, etc.). They retain their shape and are durable.
This tip helps you get craft projects out of the way while you are not working on them. Put all the patterns and other supplies for a craft craft project in a plastic grocery bag with handles. Then slip each handle of the grocery bag over a clothes hanger and hang it a closet. You can cross the handles so the bag won't slip off the hanger. If the handles still have a tendency to slip, secure them with clothespins.
I seem to go through many tablecloths throughout the year. From stains to seasonal changes to holiday fashions, I've found that if I take a simple Dollar Store shower curtain, I can decorate them to fit different themes. I have actually glued on assorted items on the trim of my new table decor and have even let the children use permanent markers for making a "Birthday" table cloth. The best part is when I take it out of the storage box for the next reason, it's already decorated and the memories are fun!
I would like to make some homemade heat packs, but I would like to use felted wool. Does anyone know if this would pose a fire problem in the microwave? Also, I would like a lighter material than rice to use as a filling. Any suggestions? Perhaps millet?
I want to find patterns for rag rugs. Specifically; rugs made by sewing small squares of fabric to a base and then the back is finished by sewing round after round of rick rack to the back.
I am interested in any rag rug pattern that uses old fabric; sewing such to a base. Please do not send info about braided or crocheted rugs.
I am on a very limited budget so I want to make these rugs from materials that I can find at the local DAV, Salvation Army, or possibly the Good Will stores.
I am 70 Years old; and I need projects that I can do on my limited income.
I need to divide a big room using tulle. One side will be for the reception and the other for the ceremony. Can anyone tell me how would be the best way to hang a bolt of tulle?
Square knitting needles (the tips are still round) - has anyone tried them? Do they work better than round ones? The ad claims they're easier on the hands and wrist and the stitches are more even. Are square crochet hooks next?
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Giving your cat toys doesn't have to be expensive. My cat likes to play with things such as ping pong balls, empty spools, milk jug rings and bouncy balls. He likes to take his catnip mouse or a ball, and bat it around in the empty tub and chase it.
By Karen from Big Rapids, MI
Prescription Bottle
Don't buy expensive cat toys! Put a marble, a couple paper clips or some dried beans in an empty prescription bottle, put the lid back on, and roll it across the floor. My cat plays with these for hours!
By Becki in Indiana
Foil or Paper
My cats have as much fun playing with a rolled up ball of old foil or paper as they do with those expensive cat toys.
By Ness from Lakeview, NY
Plastic Easter Egg
Putting something that makes noise inside a plastic easter egg works for a cat toy.
By Marti
I put a plastic egg shell on the ground for entertainment of my cat.
By Mea
Dowel and Ribbon
You can get a dowel rod and tie ribbon and bells to the end of it (or feathers) and shake it around for kitty to bat at. It is long enough that you don't get accidentally scratched while kitty plays.
By Tawnda
Grocery Bags
Plastic grocery sacks that make crackle noises are my cat's favorite. I put a few bags into a tiny pillow case, sew it up and he plays with his toy for hours and carries it from place to place!
Roll a whole walnut (in shell) on hard floors. Or any other large, round and hard nut. My two cats love them. Christmas is their favorite time because of all the holiday nuts (not my family... lol) in the house.
By Barb
Spray Catnip and More
A pencil on a hard floor amuses my cats.
Cardboard boxes with little "peep" holes cut out around the box. My two cats love spying at each other through these.
A flashlight in a dark room (laser pointers are good too! Do not point at eyes!).
A simple bright colored shoe lace.
Hint: Spray catnip (available at pet stores) can bring life back to any cat toy.
By Anna
Baby Mittens
I made my little cats some toys out of old baby mittens. I took some stuffing, stuffed the mitten and put a bit of catnip in it and sewed the top of it. I gave it to my cats and they loved it.
By Jerica
My cats love bubbles...
Pet stores have catnip flavored bubble solutions. I have yet to try that, cause it's a little expensive but I have 2 cats and they enjoy bubbles severely. It took them a while to warm up to it, but when they did, they don't stop. If you have a child, its a plus! You keep them all occupied!
By Mich
Fishing Bobber
My husband plays fishing with the kitties, he takes a smaller fishing pole and ties a bobber to the end of the line and then casts down the hallway and has them chase it, the cats could do this for hours.
My kitty can't resist a catnip mousey. Just a bit of catnip and some cotton balls in a piece of felt (a wool sweater that got washed and dried) bundled together with a rubber band. lasts for a LONG time!
By Lynn G
Lupe's Toys
I splurged on Lupe during Christmas (with the big toys) but here are her all time favorites:
Soda/Beer cases (she would crawl through the handles, even though she was fat!)
The white plastic seal off orange juice frozen concentrate (minute maid)
plastic bottle caps
Her own food, and she'd eat it with her paws!
Mini rawhide chew sticks (like for toy dogs)
My robe belt (I'd hold it in my toes and walk around!)
Someone gave me a dollar store toy, a weasel attached to a ball that moved, and she ripped off the weasel and carried it around (much to disgust of DH).
And of course, anything sprinkled with Alaskan catnip.
The best bouncy ball, though a little more expensive, is the "molecule". It's like a bunch of little balls, or the one with 16-18 sides. They move like prey! (05/21/2006)
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This is a fun craft that kids can do in minutes. These bookmarks make great gifts.
I will never forget the joy I got when I received my first Betty Crocker Kid's Cookbook when I was a kid. It was wrapped in a pastel pink paper with a big pink bow. It was the only present under the Christmas tree I had not figured out. I spent days reading that cookbook and planning all the big events I would hold. But this was the seventies and my mom would rather I would be out in the great outdoors than in HER kitchen messing it up. Thankfully, there were my friends' moms who were not so picky. Then I had kids and decided I wanted to get them a cookbook and low and behold there was my faithful friend still in print for me to buy for my kids. Well, that was many years ago before the advent of computers and the internet.
Homemade Clothing Craft
Make a chair seat from old belts! I used as many leather belts as I got after my mom died a couple years ago and wove them onto where the seat was missing from this chair. I secured each end of the belt onto the wood with upholstery tacks.