ThriftyFun Crafts - October 25, 2006

Hello,

Today we have a bunch of new Halloween craft projects as well as a big list of homemade costume ideas.

Thanksgiving is coming soon, if you have any Thanksgiving craft ideas, please submit them on the contest page or the Crafting for Fun and Money form.

Happy Crafting!

Susan

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Today's newsletter contains:

Photos and Projects:

• Halloween Candleholders
• Pumpkin Jar Centerpiece
• Egg Carton Spiders
• Patio Paver Scarecrow
• Pumpkin Carving Collection
• Easy Cat Nose and Ears

Tips:

• Knotting Thread
• Marking The Right Side Of Fabric
• Frugal Costume Ideas
• Using Clothing Material for Crafts
• Duplicating a Pattern without Tracing Paper

Requests:

• Coffee Can Santa
• Tablecloth with Mitered Corners
• Flower Pot Nativity
• How do you make modeling clay?
• Gift Basket Ideas
• Crafts for Preschoolers
• Paper Mache Dog
• Wand for Rhinestones
• Homemade Christmas Cards
• Where can I purchase flocked birds for crafts?
• Life of Christ Bracelet
• Cute Little Dress Patterns

Today's Sponsors Free Firefox Web Browser "The award-winning, free Web browser is better than ever. Browse the Web with confidence - Firefox protects you from viruses, spyware and pop-ups. Enjoy improvements to performance, ease of use and privacy. It's easy to import your favorites and settings and get started. Download Firefox now and get the most out of the Web." You can download Firefox with or without the Google Toolbar, both versions are free. More Information: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65884370.tip.html

Photos and Projects:

Halloween Candleholders Materials 2 glass bottles such as beer or soda, no plastic black spray paint acrylic paint ribbon candles Directions Spray paint bottles, you may need 2 coats, let dry completely. Paint on your halloween picture, paint anything you want, let dry. Tie ribbon on, put candles in. It's that simple! By Sandy from Bluff City, Tn Post Feedback: Click Here

Pumpkin Jar Centerpiece Materials needed: Big mayo jar paint and brushes ribbon glass candle holder to put in top of jar candle Directions: Paint jar with primer coat of paint, let dry. Paint again with orange paint then add features of pumpkin, let dry. Tie your choice of ribbons around top of jar. Add glass candle holder and candle. This takes about 45 minutes to complete. By Sandy from Bluff City, TN Post Feedback: Click Here

Egg Carton Spiders By Stella Rivet Supplies Empty Paper Egg Carton Black Paint Googly eyes Pipe Cleaners Hot Glue or rubber cement Instructions Cut a cup off the egg carton. Straighten all the edges so the cup lays flat when placed upside down. Paint the cup black inside and out, let dry. Take 4 pipe cleaners and line them up straight and twist them together in the middle. Glue the middle to the inside of the cup, let set. When the legs are securely glued to the inside of the cup bend the legs to make it look like a spider. Finally glue the googly eyes to the side of the cup. These can be hung or placed around the house. Post Feedback: Click Here

Patio Paver Scarecrow Materials patio paver Note: Use the pavers that are round on one end (The round part is the head). You can find them at most major hardware stores. paint felt small straw hat black craft foam raffia hot glue and gun Directions Paint patio paver as in picture, or paint as you like, just use your imagination. Let dry. Cut raffia to the length of straw hair you want, glue on, then glue on the small straw hat. Cut crow from foam, glue on hat, then cut felt to length for scarf. Glue on. By Sandy from Bluff City Tn Post Feedback: Click Here

Pumpkin Carving Collection Each year my husband adds a couple of carvings to his collection. We light the pumpkins each evening during the month of October. I really wish all of you could bring your children and grandchildren by to see them. Michaels and many other stores sell carvable pumpkins. Get one for each of your children or grandchildren. Let them carve them, have them sign and date the bottom. In a few years, you will have a fantastic collection of carvable pumpkins showing their skills. What a fantastic memory for the family! Enjoy! Happy Halloween! Tedebear Post Feedback: Click Here

Easy Cat Nose and Ears Easy Cat Nose and Ears Supplies Paper Egg Carton Paint Brushes Sharpie permanent marker Black Pipe Cleaners Plastic Head Band Felt to match color of nose Tack, safety pin, or paper clip Hot Glue or rubber cement Two pieces of yarn Directions Nose Cut one of the cups off the egg carton, make edges straight. Paint cup in your desired color (not black), let dry. Once dried use a sharpie permanent marker to draw the tip of the nose onto the end of the egg carton cup. Use tack, safety pin or paper clip to poke holes into the side of the cup for the whiskers. Poke three holes into each side and thread a pipe cleaner through one hole and out another on the other side. Press the pipe cleaner down into the cup so it will not interfere with the nose. Do the same with two more pipe cleaners cut the ends off to make the whiskers the length you desire. Create one more hole on each side feed a piece of yarn through the each hole and tie a large knot on the inside end. You will use these two strings to tie the nose onto your head. Ears Cut two squares out of the felt so it can be folded in half to make one triangle shaped ear. Fold the square diagonally over the head band and glue together and in place on the headband. Do the same with the second square of felt. Now you have the ears for your cat. You could also use polar fleece or fake fur for these. Post Feedback: Click Here

Tips

Knotting Thread To knot thread... hold your thumb on the thread as it lays across a needle facing you, cut end to the right, then with your left hand wrap the thread around the needle two or three times (depending on how large a knot you want) then hold the thread that you wrapped around in your left hand and slide down the needle and down the thread until the knot is formed. Cut off excess thread beneath knot. It's a slick fast way to knot your thread for hand sewing! By wiseinhimmer Post Feedback: Click Here

Marking The Right Side Of Fabric I use safety pins to mark the right side of material when it's hard to tell because straight pins will fall out. This saves time and I know at a glance which side is which! By wiseinhimmer Post Feedback: Click Here

Frugal Costume Ideas Halloween is Coming! Here are some inexpensive costume ideas and a recipe for face paint. Hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween. Ghost: This is always an inexpensive costume. Just cut holes in an old sheet. If you don't have an old one, I found a twin size one at a discount store for $3.00. We cut holes in it, drew on some chains, spider web, etc. with a permanent marker. Angel: Use a sheet like for the ghost, spray it lightly with some clear spray paint and toss glitter on it before the paint has a chance to dry. Make a halo and the wings out of clothes hangers covered with aluminum foil. Nerd: My son won first place last year with this costume. Too small pants, shirt buttoned up wrong, hair slicked back, old pair of glasses with tape, white socks, BIG book to carry under his arm. Cost was ZERO. Bum or Hobo: Old clothes, dad's garden or old work clothes are great, old hat, use watercolor paint to put beard on him. Clown: Use mismatched oversized or too small clothes from everyone's closet. To escape the cost of a wig, make a hat from construction paper or use an old one, decorate it outlandishly with flowers, pins, etc. Ninja: Black clothes, Make a ninja mask out of a small scrap of black cloth. Instead of buying make believe weapons, make them out of cardboard and color and cover with aluminum foil: easy to make Ninja stars or knife. Use long stick or old broom handle for a bo, take two paper towel rolls, connect with piece of twine, cover them with black construction paper and you have num-chucks. Tourist: Loud clothes, camera, hat, maps sticking out of every pocket, use your imagination. Princess: Use one of mom's old slips, hem and take up enough to fit little girl. You can get sparkley netting at a discount store for between 75 cents and $1 a yard, 2 or 3 yards attached to the bottom half of the slip will make a billowy skirt. Use a long length of it doubled and wrap around the shoulders, clasp it with a pretty pin. Mom's jewelry and makeup add the finishing touch. Soldier or Hunter: Everyone we know has camouflage clothing, just piece together what ever combination you want, apply some paint to the face. We borrowed a canteen, compass and backpack from a friend we was a boy scout. Rock Star: Torn clothes, spike their hair using hair spray. Make jewelry with safety pins, clip on earrings, the dog's collar paint their face with makeup. Only thing we bought was some spray-on hair coloring. Hippie: Old clothes, sandals. We dyed our own shirt by using some old fabric paint that would not squeeze out of the bottle good, cut the top off and mixed it with water and dipped the shirt in then drew symbols on it with a permanent marker. Top off the outfit with a bandanna, sun glasses and a pack of cigarettes (deck of cards) rolled up in the sleeve. Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz: I scoured the local thrift shops for a blue and white dress, took two lengths of doll hair for hair extensions, emptied the yarn out of my knitting basket and stuck a stuffed dog toy in it. Not authentic, but it suggested the character enough that everyone knew who I supposed to be Sea Urchin: Green Army T shirt and rummaged old green material. I tore the material in strips, and either tied the strips on or attached them with safety pins. I smeared green make-up on my face and arms, put my hair in little pigtails, and I was a sea urchin. The Energizer Bunny: I borrowed my roommate's huge Tupperware cake holder for a drum, and used my cat's harness and leash to hold the harness. I made drumsticks using two pencils and two wooden beads. My only purchase was the bunny ears. Skeleton: They wore black sweatsuits and white gloves. I cut bones out of white contact paper, peeled the back paper off and just stuck them on. Painted their faces white and black, and off they went! When they were done, I peeled the "bones" off the sweatsuit and they wore the suits all winter! I also used the same "bone" pattern to cut bones from paper plates (the cheap, 100 plates for 99 cents kind) and taped them to our front door to make a skeleton. I "laminated" them with clear contact paper just because I don't like to cut them out every year, but they are so inexpensive, you can consider them disposable. A Present: The easiest costume (and cheapest) I ever made was when my daughter was about seven. I got a big box, took off the bottom, cut holes for arms and head, and wrapped in in gift wrap. Then I taped ribbon around it, and tied lots of curly ribbons in her hair. She went as a present. Everyone raved about how cute and clever the costume was. I was thrilled that, after years of sewing, one with so little effort got such a result! Witch: Here's a quick and easy tip for a cheap Halloween costume that I learned years ago. To create a witch: Mix a drop or two of green food coloring with any light to medium shade of base makeup and mix. Apply to face. This also works well when creating an alien face. To finish the witch cheaply, you can use a black plastic garbage bag with a hole cut for arms and legs and cinched at the waist. Add your own witch's hat, a broom, some black boots and you're ready. Alien: Add any glittery shirt to leggings or use a one piece jumpsuit. Add alien ears of your choice. Dr. Seuss: We got a "Cat in the Hat" hat from a local carnival (friends may have these laying around), used a black sweat suit as a base, add white gloves and a white piece of felt attached to the neck area: all done at a reasonable price and we can reuse most of it. The Little Ghost: Another cute costume I made to fit a toddler. I took a white piece of cloth, cut a neck hole and used fabric Halloween appliques and fabric paint to make a friendly ghost. The costume fit over a winter coat, a plus in the unpredictable mid-west, and fit for several years Evita Peron: Blonde hair slicked back into a tight bun, twin set sweater, simple skirt, high heels and make-up. Feign a Spanish accent. Fidel Casto: Army fatigue, salt-n-pepper beard, cigar, army boots, green cap. A copy of an appropriate book by Marx or Mao is helpful. Crayon: Dress in matching leotard and tights. Get a piece of poster paper and create the paper "wrapper". Spray paint a flower pot as the crayon "point" to wear as a hat. The only down side of this outfit is that you can't sit down in the crayon once you put on the wrapper!!! Unicorn: I am making a yarn "mane", "tail" and a fabric horn to wear on her head (kind of like a skinny party hat!) Total cost: $5 for yarn and remnant for horn, and a new pair of tights. Three Blind Mice: Got some old gray sweats? How about baseball caps? Sew long tails on the sweatpants, glue a couple of ears on each cap and get 3 pair of cheapo dimestore plastic sunglasses, and voila! Three blind mice! If you do any hiking, you can use your staff for a "cane". Tony the Tiger: Two years ago when my son was three, he said he wanted to be a tiger. I went to the local consignment store and bought a yellow shirt with hood about 5 sizes too big (it went past his knees). I sewed ears on the hood and made a yellow tail which I stuffed and attached in the logical place. I also sewed on a white muslin piece on his chest. I took black permanent marker and made tiger markings over the whole thing. He wore a black turtle neck under it and black sweat pants and was too cute! Batman: Use either a black or blue sweat shirt and add Batman insignia and a blue or black cape Parrot: I am starting with a yellow sweatshirt and will sew on "feathers". A Snowman: I bought a white sweatshirt and pants. We painted his face white, black around eyes and an orange nose.He wore mittens and a matching knit hat. For "coal" buttons, I cut circles of sticky backed black felt that could be removed easily off of his sweat shirt after Halloween. This costume worked well because he stayed warm all night while trick or treating and then we were able to use everything all winter. The Baby New Year: All you need is a diaper and a banner with the current year. A Baby: A pair of footie pajamas, a baby bottle and a pacifer on some ribbon around the neck. The Ace Of Spades Or Dice: Two pieces of poster board held together by a piece of String. Draw on and color in the Ace or a pair of Dice. Underneath, you can wear a white sweat-suit. The Tin Man: Some cardboad tubes to fit around legs and arms. A tube large enough to fit around the body, all of these should be painted silver. A funnel for a hat and some silver face paint and there you go. Don't forget his heart, paint it right on the front of the body tube. Mad Scientist: Old lab coat, pocket protector, hair that is teased untill it stands on end, calculator. The effect is better is you wear a dress shirt and tie and dress pants. Also mis-match socks and dress shoes. Hula Dancer: Take an old sheet and dye it green or if you have a green sheet, even better. Cut the old sheet in strips and tie strips onto a piece of rope. If this costume is to be used for a child, make sure that the strips are only long enough to cover the ankle. A tie-dyed tee shirt and a flower lei complete the outfit. Graduate: Shop your local thrift store or talk to your latest graduate and get their cap and gown. Add your own tassel if you are an adult or make one out of yarn for a youngster. A scroll made out of a piece of paper rolled up and tied with a ribbon completes this costume. Pirate: A cut off pair of jeans a bandana or bandana type fabric to tie around the head, A white long sleeve shirt (girl tied up, boy tucked in), a pair of high topped boots, a piece of fabric to put through belt loops to use as a sash. A sword cut out of cardboad and painted silver and brown. Leotards Use leotards for girls as a costume base. Black: cats, cow, dogs, panther White: cat, horse, unicorn Brown: puppy, rabbit, butterfly or moth, caterpillar Face Paint 2 Tbsp. white shortening 5 Tbsp. cornstarch 1 Tbsp. white flour 3-4 drops of glycerin (see note below) a few drops of food coloring Use a rubber spatula to blend the first 3 ingredients on a plate to form a smooth paste. Add 3-4 drops of glycerin to make a creamy consistency. Divide mixture into batches to color as needed. For dark beards, moustaches, etc. add 2 1/2 tsp. of cocoa to above mixture. Heat is an enemy for this type of face paint as it will melt if child gets sweaty, but it *is* fast, easy and cheap. Remove with a little soap and water. NOTE: Glycerin is available in pharmacy departments. It's in a small brown bottle, often located in the first aid section. It's quite inexpensive and can be used to make a very good homemade bubble solution. *** I checked with Poison Control about the "lickability" of the glycerin in this recipe and they say that though glycerin has a laxative effect in quantity, a few drops wouldn't hurt a child even if he/she eat the entire batch! It's smart, however, to avoid the area around eyes and mouth. By Debra from Colorado Springs, CO Post Feedback: Click Here

Using Clothing Material for Crafts If you end up with a clothing item you would never wear but like the pattern, think about using the material for pillows, quilts, etc. You can also stock up on material from clothes for quilts at bag sales from thrift stores or yard sales. By Melanie Post Feedback: Click Here

Duplicating a Pattern without Tracing Paper If you would like to trace off a craft pattern and don't have any tracing paper, just take a pencil and shade the back side of the paper with the pattern below it, and then trace around the pattern. The pattern will be duplicated. This may not work on everything, but you can trace onto another paper or a piece of wood with this method. By Harlean Post Feedback: Click Here

Contest! 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 Contest Started! Frugal Travel Guides Submit a Frugal Travel Guide

New Requests

Coffee Can Santa I am looking for a cute pattern to make the coffee can santas and snowmen. Thank you so much for your help! Bonnie from Pittsburgh Post Feedback: Click Here

Tablecloth with Mitered Corners How do you make a tablecloth with a square in the middle and a contrasting fabric border with mitered corners? Tomme from Sulvania, GA Post Feedback: Click Here

Flower Pot Nativity Some years ago I made a nativity which was in a flowerpot and had Mary, Joseph and Jesus made out of wooden spoons. Would anyone have the pattern for it. I've lost it. Thanks, Dianne from Norco, CA Post Feedback: Click Here

How do you make modeling clay? How do you make modeling clay? Peggy from Ottawa Ontario Post Feedback: Click Here

Gift Basket Ideas I want to make some gift baskets (not gift in a jars, I have lots of recipes for them) Any ideas? What have others used? Sheri from Modesto, CA Post Feedback: Click Here

Crafts for Preschoolers I need ideas for crafts: Theme: Puerto Rico Ages: Preschoolers Thanks, Sonia from Puerto Rico Post Feedback: Click Here

Paper Mache Dog I wondering how to make a paper mache dog? Kelsey from Lincolnton, NC Post Feedback: Click Here

Wand for Rhinestones I was watching some craft making on TV at creativefestival.ca and they were showing an instrument called a wand used to stick rhinestones on crafts very easily. I would like to know where I could purchase this wand. The web site didn't say where, would you be able to help me out? Thank you, MaryLynn Post Feedback: Click Here

Homemade Christmas Cards I want to make some homemade Christmas cards this year. Does anyone have any patterns and/or ideas? Sheri from Modesto CA Post Feedback: Click Here

Where can I purchase flocked birds for crafts? Does anyone know where I can purchase, 2 1/2 - 3 inch flocked birds to use in a craft project. I have searched many places to no avail. Thank you. I love this site and the craft photos shown., and the many ideas offered. Joyce from Sumter, SC Post Feedback: Click Here

Life of Christ Bracelet I am looking for instructions for a bracelet. I'm not sure what it's called but each bead represents something in the life of Christ. It's not the colored beads like the "Wordless Book" bracelet. Thanks for your help. Brenda from Burrton, KS Post Feedback: Click Here

Cute Little Dress Patterns We just found out we are going to have another granddaughter in March 2007! I am looking for sewing patterns for cute little dresses. Can anyone help? Thanks, Dar from Texas, Luling Post Feedback: Click Here

Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here

Today's Sponsors Free Firefox Web Browser "The award-winning, free Web browser is better than ever. Browse the Web with confidence - Firefox protects you from viruses, spyware and pop-ups. Enjoy improvements to performance, ease of use and privacy. It's easy to import your favorites and settings and get started. Download Firefox now and get the most out of the Web." You can download Firefox with or without the Google Toolbar, both versions are free. More Information: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65884370.tip.html

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