ThriftyFun Crafts - May 7, 2008

Vol. 3, Num. 19, May 7, 2008 (Read It Online) We have more craft projects this week. If you are looking for Mother's day tips and ideas, be sure to check out our Mother's Day site here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/Mothers%20Day_658.html 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: Sugar Scrub For Mother's Day A Mother's Day Memory Box Craft Project: Recycled Flower Pot with Coffee Filter Flowers Craft Project: Butterfly Note Cards Craft Project: Scrap Fabric Pencil Holder Craft Project: Flowered Hat Craft Project: Scrap Paper Bookmarks Craft Project: Tile Trivets Craft Project: Updating A Promotional Clock Craft Project: Cabbage Patch Sweater Tips: Mother's Day Picture Frame Microwave CD's For A Crackle Effect Rice Warming Plllow For Earaches And Relaxation Make Mother's Day Cards On A Dime and In No Time! Use Ceramic Tile to Protect Work Surface When Soldering Craft: Cupcake-Paper Flowers Using a Swinging Cradle as a Toy Box Recycled Frames And Shadowboxes From Cardboard Cedar Rocking Chair for Mom Craft Project: Festive Flowers Perfumed Handmade Card Requests: Craft Ideas For Mission Trip Decorating A Straw Hat For Mother's Day Special Craft Ideas For Baby Gift Making Party Favors Using Candles Making A Cactus Out Of Chicken Wire Looking For Discount Effusion Lamp Supplies Elastic That Stretches Horizontally Instructions For Love And Money Looms Looking For Kwik Sew Pattern #3558 Decorating Old Wooden Windows Pattern For Crocheted John Deere Slippers Instructions For Beaded Plant Hanger Making A May Day Basket How to Make Papier-Mache Mountains Toddler Mother's Day Craft 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: Sugar Scrub For Mother's Day For Mother's Day, I am making my Mom and Mother in law a homemade sugar scrub as part of their gifts. They are easy to make, economical, and much healthier than store bought scrubs. Here is the recipe: View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf93181281.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print A Mother's Day Memory Box This is a great gift for the new mom or grandma or to start a new tradition. A Mother's Day Box is a wooden box that will store all the Mother's Day cards, pictures, dried flowers, etc., every year from the child (ren). Include a small journal for the mom/grandmother to put her special thoughts into. Take a wooden box 12x8x8 in size, with a hinged top, On the lid write "MOTHER'S DAY MEMORIES" (or "GRANDMA'S MEMORIES") then the child's (ren) name. If possible, save room on lid for the child's handprints or you can put them on the front side of box. Have the child decorate the box anyway he/she would like. On the inside, place a small journal or diary so mom can write what they did that day, thoughts, etc. Every year mom can add the cards, pics, etc she received. Everything is kept in one place and it is nice enough to keep out on the coffee table. As soon as I get mine done, I will post a pic. By Christy from Fulton, MS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40440493.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Recycled Flower Pot with Coffee Filter Flowers This bright, pretty flower pot is easy enough for kids to make and perfect for holding coffee filter flowers. Or, you could plant a real flower in the pot by adding some potting soil and some seeds. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf22220686.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Butterfly Note Cards Shaped note cards are fun and easy to create. They are great for gift-giving. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15848666.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Scrap Fabric Pencil Holder Don't throw out those small pieces of fabric that are leftover from other projects. Save them for new projects, such as this cute pencil holder made from a tin can. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf51508623.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Flowered Hat This is a simple, very inexpensive project that you can make for your own front door, but also makes a great Mother's Day gift for a mom or grandmother. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82622679.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Scrap Paper Bookmarks Make your own bookmarks as inexpensive gifts using things found around the house. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf24010962.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Tile Trivets Trivets or small hot pads made from tiles. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf77045152.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Updating A Promotional Clock By Debra Frick A Dog Gone Good Time (Or how to redo a Doctor's Clock) We have all seen them a million times hanging in the doctor's office, some pharmaceutical company wanting to promote their latest drug gave our doctor a free clock. Now our wonderful doctor, not wanting to be rude, hangs it in the waiting room for a couple of months until some lawyer files a suit against that drug and the clock ends up in the thrift store. Lucky us because the thrift store will sell us that clock really cheap because it has advertising on it. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf87174569.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Cabbage Patch Sweater This can be made for a Cabbage Patch Doll, or a newborn baby. It is a ripple style sweater, very quick to make. It is short sleeved. And great over a long sleeved shirt. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf76094923.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Tips: Mother's Day Picture Frame Make a square frame using four popsicle sticks. Glue construction paper to the back of them. Have the child draw a picture of themselves or them and their mommy. Decorate it as you'd like using glitter, stickers, whatever you'd like. You can even put a magnet on the back to hang on the refrigerator. This will remind mom how much she means to you. By Tammy from Fort Mccoy, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf93657703.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Microwave CD's For A Crackle Effect If you like a nice effect with a CD for card making or any thing, I put the CD in the microwave (old Microwave) shiny site up, close the door turn it on and off within a second, that give you a nice crackle on the shiny part of the CD, the longer you have the microwave on the nicer it becomes, I use that for Christmas cards. I hope you have Fun By Sara from Australia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72121696.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Rice Warming Plllow For Earaches And Relaxation If you have children with frequent earaches, here is a great tip: Get a clean sock and fill with 1/2 cup or so of regular white rice. Make a knot just above the rice leaving a bit of "wiggle room". Just put in the microwave for about 30 - 40 seconds at med-high, testing periodically for comfort. Your child can hold this on their ear or even sleep on it for a soothing treatment until oral meds take effect. I even sew 2 x's for eyes and a smile at the top and call it their ear buddy. Of course this works for adults too! Just use a larger sock fill and sew closed and you have a soothing pack for lower back pain, cramps, headaches, etc. I like to add a couple of drops of lavender oil to mine. Believe it or not these rice packs make the most soothing moist (natural) heat you will find and can be used over and over again! I have made some with fleece sewn into a rectangle and pretty fabrics to give as gifts. People love 'em! By Carol from Lancaster, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf31535952.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Make Mother's Day Cards On A Dime and In No Time! Kids of all ages love making Mother's Day cards. Even if you're working with a large group of kids, this activity costs next to nothing and is lots of fun. Step 1: Gather all the address labels you've received in fund-appeal mailings from nonprofits. Step 2: Make stickers by cutting the labels so the graphics are separated from the text. Step 3: Gather all the greeting cards you've received in fund-appeal mailings from nonprofits. Step 4: Hand out the stickers, greeting cards and envelopes (along with pencils, pens and markers) to kids and let them make Mother's Day cards. Participating kids' enthusiasm for making their cards just right will wow you. Mothers' delight at receiving the cards will surely be equally awesome. Want to see a visual demonstration of this tip? Check out the photos of La Roca kids making Mother's Day cards: http://picasaweb.google.com/dariadster/LaRocaKidsMakeMotherSDayCardsApril2008 Source: Actually, I just made the activity up, because often I need a craft activity for a large number of kids and because I was looking for something to do with all the address labels and greeting cards that nonprofits keep sending me. By Daria from San Diego, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82240990.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Use Ceramic Tile to Protect Work Surface When Soldering Protect your work table from heat damage with large ceramic tiles. When I'm soldering or using my heat gun, I use a 12 or 18 inch ceramic tile to help protect my work surface from the heat. These large ceramic tiles are resistant to heat, and can be found for under $2 at any Home Depot or hardware store in the flooring area. By CDR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf69503408.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Cupcake-Paper Flowers Great for Mother's Day. Use up to a dozen liners for each flower. This is from Martha Stewart. http://www.marthastewart.com/cupcake-paper-carnations By Melanie from NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf83825449.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using a Swinging Cradle as a Toy Box I made this swinging cradle for one of my granddaughters. Now it doubles as her toy box. By Karen from Thomasville, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26059032.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Recycled Frames And Shadowboxes From Cardboard I urge you to check out the frames and shadow boxes I uploaded onto my Picasa account. I made them by laminating strips of cardboard packaging using a non-toxic, low-odour craft glue. They're surprisingly strong and durable yet lighter than wooden frames. I'm submitting the instructions for them in a future project, so keep your eyes peeled! Source: The link to my e-portfolio is: Frames And Shadowboxes By Angela from Sault Ste Marie, ON Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf89874972.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cedar Rocking Chair for Mom I made this rocker from red Carolina cedar for my mom's birthday. By Karen from Thomasville, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58435286.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Festive Flowers Brighten someone's day with a bouquet of these everlasting blooms. Approximate Time: Less than 1 hour Supplies: 3-inch fabric squares rubber bands green chenille stems scissors Instructions: Stack four 3-inch fabric squares so that all the edges match up. Starting from one end, fan fold the stack to create 1/2 inch wide pleats. Tightly wrap a rubber band around the center. Sandwich the pleated stack between the bend of a folded chenille stem. Twist the ends together just below flower to form a stem. Separate the fabric layers to form a ruffled flower. Using scissors, trim any unwanted strings from the cut edges. Create several of these to form a bouquet. By Mom of 1 from Wilkesboro, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17741625.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Perfumed Handmade Card This is a Perfumed Handmade Card. Yes you read it right! This card smell like perfume!! How did I get it? Well do you see the white paper?! Not long ago it was a perfume sample ;-) By Orquidea from Porto, Portugal Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53008844.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 and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! New Requests: Craft Ideas For Mission Trip In July I will be going on a mission trip to the Ensenada area of Mexico with Azusa Pacific U on a Family Mission trip. The groups are split up and do construction work for the church they are assigned to and a VBS for children. They also do crafts with the ladies. I am trying to figure out useful crafts for the ladies that they would be able to really use and enjoy. They have to be relatively short in length. So far I have only come up with a pot scrubber made of nylon netting. Any suggestions would be most welcome. Harriet from Lakewood, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17035815.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Decorating A Straw Hat For Mother's Day I need ideas for how to decorate a straw hat for a mother's day banquet. Ruth from Russell Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf21889548.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Special Craft Ideas For Baby Gift Hi everyone! I just found out I'm going to be an Aunt for the first time. Woohoo! We live in Indiana and my brother and sister-in-law live in California. I want to make sure we are close to our niece/nephew despite the distance. Does anyone have any suggestions on neat crafts or anything like that we can share that will help our family feel closer? Thanks a lot! Lisa from Kouts, IN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71746948.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making Party Favors Using Candles I am trying to come up with an idea for favors for a women's retreat using a 2 inch candle. Any suggestions? I thought about wrapping it in netting, but can't think of a cute saying for it. Dana from NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf25427132.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making A Cactus Out Of Chicken Wire I need to make a Cactus out of chicken wire or something for VBS. HELP! Linda from TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf44977769.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Looking For Discount Effusion Lamp Supplies I have been making my own fragrances for my effusion lamp and want to make some of my own lamps. I have my own ceramic shop but am not having much luck in finding the supplies for the top of the effusion lamp that's a price within reason as I'm looking to sell these at local craft fairs. All the sites I'm finding don't offer discount or wholesale pricing so I was wondering if anyone has a source for effusion lamp wicks/crowns/caps etc. that are less that $8-9.00 each? Ricky from Kernersville, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58591184.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Elastic That Stretches Horizontally I'm looking for elastic for sewing that stretches horizontally instead of vertically. I really need black in a strip about 22 inches long. Does anyone know where I can get something like this? hbathke from Ellwood City, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71982462.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Instructions For Love And Money Looms I recently purchased a set of Love and Money Looms at a yard sale but they came with no directions. I searched the web but the links that I did find are no longer there. I was hoping someone could tell me a website or have the directions. I have already tried Ebay. Any help would be appreciated. Michelle from Tennessee Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34140777.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Looking For Kwik Sew Pattern #3558 I am looking for the pattern Kwik Sew 3558. Does anyone know where I can find it and the price? I have asked JoAnn Fabric in Grand Island, NE and they do not care the Kwik Sew patterns. Michaela Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73114028.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Decorating Old Wooden Windows I need some ideas on decorating old wooden windows. I would like to put some outside as well. Thanks. bcj01 Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14700111.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Pattern For Crocheted John Deere Slippers I know I saw somewhere a pair of crochet John Deere like slippers. Would anyone happen to have that pattern? I have a cousin that loves to ride on the JD with his Grandpa, and I know he'd love these. Susan from Attica, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62995607.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Instructions For Beaded Plant Hanger I am looking for instructions for a beaded plant hanger. I have many many craft books and have searched everywhere without any luck at all. Would appreciate if anyone may have or know of where to obtain these directions. TIA Elaine from Michigan Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf98211673.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making A May Day Basket Do you have directions to make a May day basket? Pat from Central, MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70421164.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print How to Make Papier-Mache Mountains How do you make papier-mache mountains? Debbie from Chino Hills, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72652268.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Toddler Mother's Day Craft I am looking for a Mother's Day craft project to do with my cousin's 18 month old. Does anyone have any ideas? Christy from Fulton, MS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf59936496.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