ThriftyFun Crafts - October 24, 2007

Volume 2, Number 42, October 24, 2007 (Read It Online) We have some great tips and projects this week, including Rag Rug Instructions. Do you have any Christmas Crafts to share? Please submit them on one of the contest pages. 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: Decoupaged Bleach Bottle Piggies Craft: Homemade Skeleton Costume Halloween Milk Jug Treat Carrier Craft: Scrappy Knitted Throw Blanket Craft: Spider Pencil Tips: Placemats for a Lap Robe Halloween Costume: Ghostly Guise Changeable Bumper Sticker Plates A Jar Filled with Memory Cards Finger Paints with Shaving Cream Film Containers for Needles Use Sheets For Quilt Backing Mini Canvas Tote Bags Covering Ceiling Tiles With Fabric Requests: Crafts Using Old High School Jacket Lining Up Layers When Quilting Armour Etch Cream Melting and Casting PVC Products Cross Stitch Pattern Design Program Crafts Using Tin Cans How to Package Homemade Soaps Shag Rag Rug Whirly Gig from Bleach Bottles Making Lamps with Material Putting Pictures on Lighted Glass Bocks Articles: Rag Rug Instructions Organizing Craft Supplies In A Small Space Frugal Curtain Tiebacks 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: Decoupaged Bleach Bottle Piggies This is my second year of homeschooling and I wanted to show the girls how to decoupage. After several hours of thinking of what they could do that would be fun as well as useful, I went into my laundry room. And there atop of my washer sat an empty bleach bottle. The bottle was laying on its side and from the front it looked to me like a piggy. And hence, this is where I got the idea. First wash the bleach bottle out good. You can also use those gallon vinegar bottles. Then get some newspaper and rip them into strips. meanwhile make your decoupage glue. I used the basic recipe of 1 cup of flour to 2 cups of hot water. Cook over low heat until no clumps and thick. You may need to add more water. If its too watery add a bit more flour. JUST BE SURE TO LET IT COOL BEFORE USING! Dip your newspapers in the glue mixture and begin layering on your bottle. We did the top part and let it dry then the bottom. After several layers and being completely dry (we do a part each week for art class) then you can decorate. We used scrapbooking paper and tissue paper. We kept with a theme but you can use anything you would like: newspaper funnies, music pages, etc. Let dry! For the legs we used the holder from an egg carton and the ears we formed out of the paper. After the entire thing is dry you can cut a hole in the top to put your coins in and then varnish. I use a clear coat in a spray paint can. That is it! Now you have a cute little piggy bank that isn't just cute, it is also very useful. In the photos, we haven't added the tail or the eyes. The eyes will be buttons and the tail will be a curled pipe cleaner. By Melissa from Pine City NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf99733496.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Homemade Skeleton Costume Approx craft time: 1 1/2 hours or less (minus washing time) Materials one black shirt (long sleeved) black form fitting pants white material the height and width of your child spray starch black marker pencil pins white thread scissors Instructions To make a skeleton costume for pennies, use a plain black shirt or sweatshirt and black pants. You might have one or both, or be able to find them very inexpensively at a thrift store. Take the pieces and lay them out on a piece of white fabric. An old sheet works well. Pin to secure and trace around the outside to give yourself a size template. Unpin and remove clothing. Use a pencil to sketch bone shapes. When you are happy with your design, go over outline with black permanent marker. Cut the entire design out in a rough oval. If there are visible pencil marks, wash gently. Starch heavily with spray starch and iron. If you want to add glow-in-the-dark paint, you can do it at this point, and dry thoroughly. Cut on black lines. Pin to clothing, baste (if you like) and sew. If you want to get really 'fancy', you can even do finer work on black gloves By Doggy Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58325768.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Halloween Milk Jug Treat Carrier Take a white milk jug. With a craft knife, cut a small hole 2 inches across about 1 3/4 inches high (align the cut on the opposite side of the jug handle). This is for your trick or treater's collected treats. Now, after taking the milk labels off, have your child start decorating the carrier with drawings, cutouts or just just words for the holiday, like "GOT CANDY!" Or "Hungry Jug Here". I could go on to tell you exactly what my jug looks like, but then your jug wouldn't be yours. You could paint it, put glue and glitter on it, make it anyway you want . Oh, by the way, after Halloween, the candy carrier can be set anywhere in your child's room and even be reused afterwards for something else, like storage. Happy Halloween to you too By Mr. Thrifty from Shermansdale, Penna. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43341066.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Scrappy Knitted Throw Blanket A few weeks ago, you asked about craft projects from materials bought at thrift stores. I broke my leg in February, and then got a staph infection in the bone, so I had lots of sitting-around time to knit. This is my scrappy knitted throw. My yarn stash from the Burley, Idaho Deseret Industries was in our storage trailer and I couldn't get to it, so I sent my husband and just told him to bring pastels. I finished this last week. I had trouble with the edges curling, so I requested help from your readers. Several told me to put a couple of rows of single crochet around the edges. It worked! The second photo shows the edging. The throw adds lots of color to the living room. I enjoyed the way this came out so much that I plan to knit a simple sweater in autumn colors as soon as I finish the crocheted cardigan I'm on now. There is no special pattern. I cast on 158 stitches and knitted in k2p2 for an inch and a half. After that it was knit one row, purl one row. When I ran out of a color, even in the middle of a row, I tied another one on and kept going. It is 5 feet wide and 6 feet long. It was fun to choose colors that I thought would lead the eye to the next stripe. It was pretty much stress-free. I wasn't trying to win the House Beautiful award; just relax and get better. Thanks for all you do with the Thrifty Fun website. I read every issue and have saved many of the craft projects for later. Here's the detail of the edging. I crocheted three rows on three of the sides. The ribbing didn't curl, so I left it alone. Coreen Hart, Rupert, ID Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf92711359.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Spider Pencil Here's a quick and easy project your kids will love. Use the pencils as party favors or to make homework less of a chore. Crafting Time: approximately 30 minutes Materials Pencil - old or new Black pom-poms - 1, 1 inch and 1, 1/2 inch for each spider Two small wiggle eyes Thick craft tacky glue or a low-temp glue gun to be used with adult assistance Instructions Cut 4, 4 inch pieces of black pipe cleaner. Glue the center of each piece to the eraser of a pencil to create eight legs. Wrap the rest of the eraser end in the remaining piece of black pipe cleaner and glue the pipe cleaner into place. Glue a 1 inch black pom-pom to the top of the pencil for the spider body. Glue the 1/2 inch black pom-pom to one side of the body to make a head. Glue wiggle eyes to the head. Bend the pipe cleaner pieces to shape the legs and feet. By Marie E. Cecchini from West Dundee, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74422287.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Tips: Placemats for a Lap Robe Placemats sewn together would be a great complimentary "lap robe" for someone in a wheelchair! They could sew their own or be involved in choosing the color or design that would match their clothing, as an accessory to other items they wear! The placemats are inexpensive enough and usually thick to be warm enough that a person could have as many lap robes as they want to go with different sets of clothing! What fun! By Veronica from Sedalia, Missouri Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf35246570.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Halloween Costume: Ghostly Guise Sheer curtains over white or grey sweats make an ethereal and safe (see through) ghost costume. They're very inexpensive and much lighter than a sheet and no makeup is needed, although one could use a little clown white. For safety, put a few strips of reflective tape in spooky teardrop shapes in strategic spots on the chest, thighs, and back, if it's to be used for Trick-or-Treat. The sweatshirt should be hooded, or a stocking cap could be used. Use safety pins to tack the curtain, in folds, to the sweats. After Trick-or-Treat, the sweats are back on duty! By Doris from Harrisburg PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11694725.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Changeable Bumper Sticker Plates A changeable license plate cover lets you change your bumper stickers as you change your mind. Cut plastic cutting sheets (from dollar stores/2 in a pack) to the size of plate cover. I bought clear plates to use as support underneath and clear cover to protect stickers. It beats scraping off an old sticker and lets me change them out for different messages. Clear plates outlined by shoelaces. By Trish from Memphis TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37709025.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print A Jar Filled with Memory Cards My daughter gave me a beautiful crystal jar with a silver lid, it was filled with memory cards. Each week I was to open the jar and pick a card, it was incredible. What memories that jar holds, I couldn't wait until Friday, and she had enough in the jar to last one year. It is one of the most thoughtful, special gifts I have ever received, and reading them gave me so much joy, I love my children sooo much. By Jackie Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97907537.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Finger Paints with Shaving Cream 3-D Finger Painting! Perfect for preschoolers and elementary children. Try finger painting with equal parts of washable finger paints and shaving cream (the white, foamy, spray kind). Mix lightly together, then have your little one finger paint on paper. Dries in 24 hours with a 3-D effect. Have fun! Kerry from Flat Rock, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52242772.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Film Containers for Needles I use the containers from 35mm film to store my yarn needles in. That way they are handy and I don't lose them anymore. By Gretchen from Decatur, IN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70160001.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Use Sheets For Quilt Backing I just recently learned to quilt and for the backing of the quilt, I used a king size sheet for my queen sized bed. I wanted a solid color and didn't want to spend $4 a yard when I could get a sheet at Walmart for $5 and get the color I wanted. I then tied it and put a binding on it and my quilt was done. My DD did a twin quilt the same way with a double sheet. I think the only way you would have to use actual "bolt material" is if you did a quilt larger than a King, because a King flat sheet has a little over an inch of folded over material. By Dahart from Durango, CO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23458512.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Mini Canvas Tote Bags Buy mini canvas tote bags (or larger). Next decorate them with any embellishments you like. (lace, fringe, beaded trim, pom-poms, fancy ribbons). Your choices are only limited by your imagination. Hope you like them! By Judy in Alabama Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15002938.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Covering Ceiling Tiles With Fabric I searched everywhere on the web to find a solution for the ugly drop ceiling panels on my ceiling when I decided to move our bedroom to the basement. Replacement panels in metal and wood are beautiful, but very costly. I tried standard wallpaper which was beautiful, but realized it wasn't long enough for all the panels and would require commercial grade to get the lengths I needed which is costly. I tried painting them. YUCK!. To spray texture would have also been expensive. So, I purchased flannel backed, vinyl fabric that is extra wide from the long bolts at Hobby Lobby with my 40% off coupon. They sold me what they had and ordered the rest to make 21 yards, which is what I figured I needed for a 12 X 18 room. The fabric I chose has a white on white damask floral print. I removed the panels and painted the gray metal supports to match the fabric. I cut the fabric into the standard squares using the same pattern, since most of the squares in the middle were the same size. The ones around the edges had to be premeasured and fitted. I used spray adhesive to secure the fabric to the panels. I ironed each panel using the low acrylic setting and a double sheet to protect it from burning and got beautiful results. The total cost of my endeavors was $50 for the fabric on sale, $8 for 2 cans of spray adhesive. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and did it by myself. The only negative is that it is very messy, but it's also a good time to check the wiring and spray for spiders and other bugs that like getting into your basement ceiling. By Cherith from Concord, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf47075363.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: Crafts Using Old High School Jacket Does anyone have any creative craft ideas for using an old satin high school jacket? My brother no longer wants his old high school jacket, but his son is named after him (XXX, Jr.). I thought it might be nice to make something out of his father's old high school jacket, which has his name on it. Nicole from OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf93078185.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Lining Up Layers When Quilting In have recently started to quilt and I am having a hard time with getting the 3 layers to lay right. It always seems to tug or sag and not line up correctly. Does any one know of any tricks or ideas on how to do it correctly short of buying a rack? Linda from NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf92685107.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Armour Etch Cream Looking for info on using Etch cream for large area-octagon glass dining room table top. I bought Armour Etch Cream and the bottle says not to be used for large areas. What am I suppose to use? Tisch from Dayton, Oh Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf98868797.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Melting and Casting PVC Products Looking for information and resource materials on how to melt and cast PVC products? Loloy from Philippines Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62810977.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cross Stitch Pattern Design Program I want to buy a program that will enable me to design my own cross-stitch patterns. I wonder if anyone out there has tried any of those available, and if they have any advice for me. Many thanks. Ann M. from Rhode Island Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf81829244.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Crafts Using Tin Cans I'm looking for patterns and instructions for tin can crafts. My mother use to make mini furniture out of tin cans, also people (like robots) and all sorts of things. Of course, as a kid, I didn't pay any attention on how she did it. I do know that she would cut the cans in strips and then curled them. They looked like wrought iron furniture. Please help. Thanks in advance. Jodi from Yukon, OK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf67552251.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print How to Package Homemade Soaps What's the best way to package/wrap homemade soap? I've made some really nice soap, but not sure how to package it. Thanks! Patti from Levittown, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82596550.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Shag Rag Rug I need instructions for Shag Rag Rug,(not Braided or sewn). Mary from St Clair, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26997682.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Whirly Gig from Bleach Bottles Looking for pattern to make Whirley Gig from bleach bottles. Faye from Nova Scotia, Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf98824477.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making Lamps with Material I'm looking for some help on making lamps from material. I recently saw them at a craft show. I thought I had it figured out but I'm wrong. They used an electric candle light. like the welcome lights you see in the windows of houses. I know they attached the candle base on a block, wrapped material around the bottom about half way up the candle. I thought they used fiber fill to make the material look puffy. I tried fiber fill but it made it look lop sided so that didn't work for me. Does any one have any idea how they're made? Connie from Windsor, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf84195115.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Putting Pictures on Lighted Glass Bocks I have 300+ glass blocks in my yard and have seen the posts for the beautiful lit blocks for Christmas and other holidays. I understand how to drill the hole but how do I get graphics (pictures) on the front? Can you print something from the computer and glue it on? Paint it on? Can anyone help? Thanks! Carol from Huntington Beach, CA Editor's Note: There is a great deal of information in the following article, including attaching pictures to the blocks. Glass Block Christmas Decoration Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70777158.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 Curtain Tiebacks Advice for making frugal curtain tiebacks from the ThriftyFun community. Post your own tips here. Ribbon, Bandannas And Barrettes In my living room I use 2" wide ribbon that matches my decor, the curtains are made out of sheets. In my son's room, I use bandannas. When I really need to pull the curtains back so they don't get caught in the window fans, I hold them with binder clips. I have used large hair barrettes from the flea market, some are very decorative. It depends on how thick the curtain is. By QueenBeeCrafts Neckties, Scarves And Other Ideas Long neck scarves, cheap at thrift stores, are great to use. You can also buy cheap men's neckties at thrift stores too, they'd make pretty funky tie-backs! If the curtains are long enough, you can also trim some fabric from the bottom to make matching tie-backs. Or how about being really thrifty and plaiting the legs of old stockings or tights and using those! :) That'd be a conversation piece! By Jojo Braided Yarn I took 3 pieces (equal length) of yarn (any color) and braided them together and used them to tie back my curtains. I do however like the idea of the neck scarves and ties posted on here earlier. By Imaqt1962 Use Cup Hooks And Braided Cord I just recently purchased tiny brass cup hooks (from the hardware section at Walmart) and some delicate braided cord from their sewing section to use with my sheers in the living room. Works perfectly. The total cost was about $2.00. By Bonnie Old Necklaces Old necklaces make good tiebacks for curtains. I'd prefer pearls, but use whatever you have. By Carol in PA Cheap Necklaces I've used cheap necklace for kids at the dollar store, they do look great as curtains holder. By NeeNoon Silk Vines I have used silk plant vines, like ivy, as tiebacks on my white sheers in my bedroom. They matched the print on my comforter, and I held them to the window frame with a thumbtack. I think they came from the Dollar Store, and I got two tiebacks out of each one. For three windows, it cost me $3.00! By Mrsmutt Fishing Line I use monofilament or fishing line. By Kladybug Wide Ribbon I also use 2" wide satin ribbon. By Jantoo Use A Jumprope A colorful child's jump rope cut into lengths you need or just regular rope you can buy according to length at the hardware store and eye hooks to hood it all. By Paula Jo Carr from Mebane, NC Match Your Tiebacks To Your Room You can use almost anything for a tie-back. In the kitchen, drill a little hole into the handle end of silverware and then bend them backwards into a U shape. Screw it to the window frame and it looks really nice with the curtain in it. In the bathroom, take old shower curtain hoops and link them together like a little kid's chain around the curtain and hook it onto a cup hook screwed into the window frame. You can use a piece of the bendable hotwheels track in a boy's bedroom (or a girl who likes cars). Just punch a hole into both ends of the track, bend it around the curtain, and onto a cup hook in the wall. Girls room, how about a piece of ribbon with Barbie clothes sewed to it? Or little toys from Happy meals? Or just string a bunch of buttons (kids can do this part). At Christmastime, use garland or that plastic candy-looking garland. This can be done for any holiday or time of year. By Joy Feel free to post your ideas below! Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88972974.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Organizing Craft Supplies In A Small Space Ideas on how to organize craft supplies in a small space as posted from the ThriftyFun community. Clear Containers For Different Crafts I have one worktable, and some shelves, and I do very very different crafts. My sewing machine stays on or under the table, and I keep my sewing and paper suppplies in plastic storage tubs, clear so I can see them. I just pull down whatever tub I need for that project. The tubs are about the size of a shoebox, and stack on the shelves. I also label the ends. If you are like me, you can crochet anywhere. If you have a tube or something for your crochet hooks and good storage for your yarn, that would be good. Pattern books as well as sewing patterns can go on a shelf, or in a file cabinet. I keep my paper for scrapbooking and making cards in those plastic scrapping envelopes and on the bookcase also. By QueenBeeCrafts Tins And Baskets I keep all my sewing and crafting supplies in candy tins which people give me. Sometimes I find them at garage sales for 50 cents or less. If you tell family and friends ave them for you. Different sizes of baskets, also to be found at garage sales, are good though they won't stack like the tins will. The HGTV web site might have some info on creative storage. By MartyD Use Recycled Cans Clean tuna cans make excellent small item storage when placed in a drawer. Good for paper clips, buttons etc. Discarded cans (green beans, etc) make good storage for markers, scissors, rulers. Hot glue a heavy duty magnet on one side, They can then be attached to a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan which can be attached to the wall. This makes for easy removal when in use and can be put back with no fuss whatsoever. If you are really picky about how things look, you can decorate the cans. By MartyD Get Old Patterns At This Website I get a lot of old patterns which are no longer in print from this site. There's no need for copy right worries. http://sewfunpatterns.com By MartyD Pegboards I have 2 pegboards on the wall and it's amazing what they will hold. A pegboard sheet is 24x48 inches. At Home Depot they will cut into 2 halves. One could be for all your sewing supplies: scissors, thread, measuring tape, quilt rulers. The other half for all your craft equipment: pliers, wire cutters, scissors for fancy cuts, hammer, and embossing tools. Your imagination will take over. Home Depot has a package with 60-70 different shape hooks and bars to put a basket on for the small stuff. The pegboard is $6.00 and the hooks are $6.50. It's amazing how much I cleared off the shelves. I have 2 five drawer storage containers with wheels. This is where I keep my stamps, paper, inks, material, pins, needles, You get the drift. I love my craft space. Oops, I forgot to say you need four, 2 foot pieces of wood to put up on the wall and then nail the peg board to the wood. That way there is room for the hook to go into. If you don't do that the hook would only hit the wall. Cost of the cheapest wood for 48" is under $2.00 They will also cut it for you in 2 foot sizes. By jkl Magnetic Wall Organizer At Lowe's, there is a flat white metal sheet that you can nail to the wall. Then there are 12 containers with see through tops and magnet on the bottom that you can put all small things into and attach them on the sheet on the wall with the magnet. Really handy. Also can be used in kitchen as spice holders. They sprinkle or spoon out. By jkl Studio Apartment Crafter Shares Her Tips I have a few ideas since I live in a tiny studio apartment. If you have a computer, scan as many of the one page printed patterns or copied patterns and store them in there. You can always reprint them if you need them, and they're really messy to keep around. Don't forget the space above your head. One of my best friends had a genius idea, hang her stickers on racks. Here's a link to her blog where she has the instructions: http://mugsyboo.blogspot.com/2007/07/getting-organized.html Use all kinds of plastic tubs. I like to use the round flat sprinkles containers for brads, small stickers and knickknacks. I use butter containers to hold my glues (so if any of the glue opens, it stays contained and doesn't ruin anything). My knitting/crocheting yarn goes into hat boxes so they stack nicely and I have them sorted by type (furry, RH, novelty). Put your crochet hooks in hook rolls or buy one of those 97 cent school boxes at Walmart and put them in something like that to keep them in one spot. The key to managing a small spot is making sure everything has its place AND you put them away. You'll never have to worry about it if you put everything away when you're done. My desk gets covered with paper envelopes, small bins and stuff while I'm scrapbooking, but when I'm done, the bins go back and I can play games on my desk again! By cfbandit Post your ideas below! Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf39740627.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Rag Rug Instructions Instructions on how to make a rag rug out of strips of materials as suggested by the ThriftyFun community. Post your own advice here. Make A Braid My mother taught me how to make rag rugs when I was a child. You take scraps of material that you want to use and make three separate, very long strips. Each strip would be a piece of material tied together at the end by a knot. The three strip lengths should be equal in length, and the length would be determined by how large you want the rug to be. You could always add at the end if it is too short. You can also add as you go as long as they are equal in length to make it easier. Now that you have the three pieces, you start braiding like you would braid hair. Form braids in a circle and when you are through, you would tack them together with a heavier thread or yarn, etc. You can also use masking tape to hold it until you get it tied. Have fun! By Agatrel Crochet Together I love rag rugs! I learned the simplest crochet chain stitch from a friend, and I crocheted 2 rag rugs out of old tee-shirts. I cut a long strip of cloth out of each tee-shirt to use as yarn, about 1/2 inch wide, and on a spiral from the bottom of the shirt to the top, all in one continuous long "thread". Then I roll that up for a "ball of yarn" to crochet with. I have made a circle rag rug and a rectangle rag rug this way. They are multi-colors (no patterns) and all from tee-shirts. They are sturdy and wash up easily in the washing machine. I highly recommend the person who wants to start with rag rugs try making one like this...it's easy and looks nice when finished. (10/05/2001) By Ness Rag Rug Out Of Sweaters For rag rugs that absorb water well (best for bathrooms and in front of the kitchen sink), try using stripes of old sweaters. This does need a little prep work with the sewing machine. Cut the strips about 2 in wide and zig-zag around the outside of the strips (this prevents any runs that will develop. Braid the strips together. When you get near the end of the strip (I recommend 2-3 inches from the end), take another strip and encorporate it into the rug. When you reach the desired length (I believe about 5 feet), stay stitch the ends to prevent them from coming appart (this step is not required but if it is your first one, it helps). Begin to turn the one end of the braid to create a spiral. When the spiral is completed, stay stich in frequent intervals. I personly prefer to zig-zag stitch it on the machine, it stays in place and withstands frequent washing. By the_mouse_2b Cross stitch On Latch Hook Material You can use strips of cloth as "thread" and do counted cross stitch on latch hook rug "fabric". Nearly any cross stitch pattern would work, but one with large sections would be best. Perhaps a large heart in the middle of a simple geometric background. Draw it out on graph paper if you'd like to design your own pattern. (07/02/2005) By Leigh Ann Grandmother's Crochet Technique My husband's grandmother used to tear strips of fabric into strips approximately an inch or less wide. Then she would roll the fabric into balls. She would crochet this "yarn" into an oval or circular rug. To add to the rug, she would stitch the new strip on to the just finished strip of cloth and continue crocheting. For the outer border, she would use the "Pineapple stitch" to make it pretty. These rugs need to be washed by hand and hung out to dry, for best results. (12/15/2006) By AnnMel Use Fabrics With Similar Washing Instructions The rags needs to belong to the same washing instructions or you might have shrinkage and color transfer problems later. Been there, done that. :( By cookwie Sew Strips And Crochet My mom and I made rugs by sewing strips together and crocheting them. By bobbiejean Free Online Instructions Hi everybody, I found complete FREE instructions for toothbrush rugs, plus traditional hooked rugs and many many other homemade rugs on the website for Rugmakers Homestead. This is a wonderful site, with a "tour" of all the kinds of rugs thrifty women have made for centuries. If you need instructions, this is the place to go! http://www.rugmakershomestead.com/contents.html By Mary Yarn Lovers Room Pattern Go to the website called yarnloversroom (http://www.knitting-crochet.com/pattern.html) I got my pattern from there and it's brilliant. I've used it so many times. so quick and easy. By Cett Advice About Techniques, Fabric and More First thing you must do is decide what type of rag rugs you want to make. There are ones that are woven on traditional looms, ones woven on a basic flat homemade loom, hooked rag rugs, braided rugs, crocheted rugs (in several different stitches and shapes), ones made on a rug canvas (kind of like a needlepoint backing), old spool-like looms that make circular yo-yo circles that are stitched together (NOT like the yo-yo quilts), and some that are pieces stitched to a cloth backing. I'm sure there are others that I've not mentioned here. Look through books, flea markets, etc, to see what type you like, then look for instructions. It's kind of hard to explain how to make them when one is not sure of the type you're wanting to make. Some need special equipment (looms, hooks, needles, etc). Also, the best type of fabric to use depends on the type of rug you want to make -- hooked rugs are best made from old woolens, ones woven on looms are great made with cottons, crocheted rugs work nicely when made from old t-shirts or knits, braided rugs made out of wools last forever, and so on. Also, I've found that ones made from cottons or sheets last longest when the strips are sewn together end-to-end rather than pulled through loops/slits or tied -- they seem to hold up through more washings. I absolutely love rag rugs and have used them for almost 50 years. They are a fantastic way to recycle outgrown, unstylish, stained, or ruined clothing and get something usable. A lot of work goes into them, so make sure you make a style that will work both for you and the fabric you have on hand. (01/02/2007) By Susanmajp Feel free to post your ideas below! Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf001084.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print