We are pleased to announce a new program we are starting to help build the Craft Projects section on ThriftyFun. 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.
Here is a picture of a table runner I made. I found the pattern on the JOANN's web site. I purchased the material from there with a 40% off coupon that comes in their flyer.
These make great Christmas gifts with just a little work.
Supplies
1 short piece of log 2 inches in diameter
3 tea lights
1 small spray of christmas greenry
Tools needed
Drill with hole saw and drill bits
1 table saw or hand saw
Cut your small log to length. With hole saw a little bigger than the diameter of your tea lights cut holes in one end of the log. This is your top. Now take the log and turn it over and run it through your table saw to take off a small slice so it will sit flat. Turn back over and put in your tealights. At the other end of your log on the top drill a hole the size of your decoration and glue in place. Add some ribbons and this card:
Light the first on Christmas Eve,
To light the way for Christ so all may see,
Light the next On Christmas Day to celebrate your joy,
That God sent us his own baby boy,
And now light the third on New Years Eve,
It will bring in good luck as the New Year leaves.
I decided to repaint my outdoor furniture this summer! They were a charcoal grey originally. I decided to go black, making matching new chair covers easier. Everything goes with black! So I went to Walmart. I used a 1/2" brush. In between the seat straps, I used a kid's paint brush. Those vary in size. It applied nicely. I used Walmart's ColorPlace exterior paint in satin black. This paint can be used on all kinds of surfaces. They mixed the satin color black in their paint dept.
The best part was the price! I paid only $6.44 + tax for a quart. I painted my table and six chairs. I still have more than half the quart left for touch up! The test will be to see this winter how it wears through our foggy winters.
Jennifer, CA
Walmart's ColorPlace Exterior Paint in satin black.
A few years ago I was looking for a way to help supplement my son's savings to pay for his 8th grade trip from San Diego to Washington , D.C. I am very fond of watching the HGTV network and finding ways to recycle everyday items into something new and useful. As luck would have it, I noticed my neighbor regularly discarding wooden wine crates in the alley.
On one of my evening walks with my dogs, I dragged one of the crates home, and the rest is history. I have probably made hundreds of these by now, and have actually done pretty well selling them at local craft fairs. It took a few trials and errors, but I am quite satisfied with the finished product I have come up with.
First I take the crate and sand it smooth, removing all staples or stickers that may be on it. Next I measure the top, and cut a piece of 5/8 inch thick plywood or wafer-board (also scavenged from the alley,) to fit neatly on top. I drill holes on the bottom at each corner and attach wooden knobs, usually scavenged from old discarded dressers etc. which act as feet on the bottom of the footstool.
After sanding the ply-wood top, I measure a piece of fabric to line both sides with, one piece about 1 1/2 inches larger on all sides, than the actual lid. Initially I used remnants from sewing projects, but it only requires 1/2 yard of fabric, so I can afford to go a little wild when fabric goes on sale. I cover one side with spray adhesive, and carefully cover it with the smaller piece of fabric. Next I cut a piece of 10 oz. quilt batting to the size of the lid. Laying the batting against the other side of the lid (the unlined side,) I cover it with the second, larger piece of fabric, turn it over , and staple it tightly around all four sides. I cover the staples with gross-grain ribbon, which matches the color of the fabric.
After the glue has dried, I place the lid on top of the box (padded side up,) and attach 1 1/2 inch hinges to the back edge about 2 inches from each end. When it's finished, it makes a great storage footstool or bench, strong enough to sit on. They make great gifts, and are a wonderful conversation piece to give as a gift to a wine collector, perhaps including a nice bottle of wine.
My son uses his to store all of his video game junk. I put casters instead of wooden feet on the bottom, so he can just roll up to the TV, sit on it while he plays, then put everything back inside, and roll it back into the corner.
You can make them to match any decor. They make especially wonderful baby gifts, which match the nursery, and can be filled with a matching quilt, or any other baby gifts you can think of. As the child grows, they make a great toy box! I think they would make a great addition to any college dorm room. When any gift giving occasion comes around, I just go down to my work room, and pick one that suites the recipient. Making these little storage footstools, has become my own personal therapy.
My husband made a clock out of one of our old records. It's pretty cool! (01/16/2001)
By Diane
Make a Record Bowl
A 50's theme restaraunt up town has turned albums into large chip serving bowls. the small albums hold sugar packs. Their shape looks like taco salad bowls. They were warmed up over the center of the bottom of a pot. (01/18/2001)
By Kelly
I have an idea for old records scratched a little or whatever; I remember years ago when we put the records in the oven at a very, very low heat, not enough to melt, but just barely enough to make the record bend; if you have another easier way to warm the record. Bend the sides upwards to form a basket shape; then you could put a decal or design in the middle & paint as desired. (01/18/2001)
By Beulah
I saw a craft project on "Donna's Day" about a year ago using old records. She sat the record in a bowl approximately the same size as the record and warmed it in the oven until it was soft and pliable. It would sink down into the bowl, creating a ruffled edge. She then trimmed snapshots of her children to fit in the center round section of the record. (01/18/2001)
You can break some into pieces and decorate some frames for the person in your life that loves to dance or that loves music. You can even splatter the pieces with some paint before you glue them to your frame. (01/23/2001)
By Deb in Canada
Bake Sale Plates
I cover mine with foil and use them to put bakery items on for our school/church bake sales. (02/01/2001)
By Jan
Table Decorations
The high school graduating class of 2004 used old records on the tables, one for each graduate. They had been spray painted silver. Each grad was given a black marking pen and boy did they have fun going around the room getting other grads to sign their record. Their name was written on what looked like the thing they snap down in front of the camera when making a movie to tell which scene is next. The theme of the grad was Hollywood. A few antique cars were also brought into the room to be used in the background when taking pictures. (11/25/2004)
If you sew, a great way to find cheap fabric is to look at garage sales for tablecloths. Even if they have a stain or two, there will be plenty of good fabric for you to use for other projects. Tablecloths come in a variety of thicknesses, sizes and patterns so you can find fabric for a variety of projects.
I hate spending too much money on curtains. So, I'm going to buy 4 cloth tablecloths 84" length each and straight-sew to make a pocket rod hole. This should serve well as panels. I'm then going to buy 2 cloth tablecloths at 120" length. I'm going to sew these together at the widths edge. This will be then be used as a valance.
All these tablecloths are purchased at a bargain price. I'm buying the fancy loop things (sorry I don't know what they're called!) that you place on each corner and one for the center. I'm hoping the center one will hide the joining seam. This is a northern faced window so I won't have to worry about fading so I'm not going to line these curtains. I already have the pocket rod from the previous curtains. Can anyone offer me advice on anything that I may be overlooking?
A fun craft and garden decor idea is to take old light bulbs and paint them. Glass paint is the best option but you can use spray paint as well. Once painted in a design or color of your choice take a high gage wire, I use 20 gauge copper, and wrap around the base. You can wrap some around the bulb as well, if wanted. Then you can hot glue glass stones or little trinkets on the wire. Attach to your average garden stake with wire and a bit of hot glue and plant!
I make mine with wire leaves to look like flowers and even bugs. Its really just what ever you want. Beware of children though or you may have one trying to smell your table lamps!
Since Halloween is just around the corner I thought I would share this tip. When making an animal costume with paws for hands,(great if its cold on halloween like it is here) take a glove in the size you need and cut it apart.
Once apart pin it to the fabric you want to use for your paw and mark out edges. make sure to pin or mark where your sewing allowance will be. (you can leave the glove in when sewing if you want it to be more comfortable for your hands. You will just need to leave more allowance so that they don't get too tight.) Then just sew them up.
One thing to remember with fur is that you need to brush the fur in the opposite direction than its natural flow pattern when you cut. Otherwise you will cut the hair and have odd shapes. You will lose some little bits of hair in the cut, it's just inevitable.
I always use different colors for the pads of the paws and those are easy to sew in before sewing the gloves together. Just make little circles out of the different fabric and after trimming the fur in the area you want to place it down sew them on top.
I need your help again. I want to make faux logs to place beside my gel fireplace that uses gel fuel. I am trying rolled up newspapers and am going to paint them a wood color. What color should i paint them (spray paint) and any other ideas other than newspapers? Not sure how this idea will work out. I want them to look as real as possible
Does anyone know where to find pecan resin statues? My mother and I used to paint beautiful santa clauses. She recently died and I cannot find these pecan resin forms. Thanks.
I received a serging sewing machine for mothers day and I finally took it out to use. The tension is all goofed up and the instruction book's tips are not helping. The stiches are all loopy like is was crocheted instead of serged. Has anyone else found a solution to adjusting tension on a serger?
I'm looking for a cross-stitch pattern with an exasperated looking woman, a fairy godmother, and the saying "I've had it with reality, where's my fairy godmother?"
Each year I am in charge of our department's christmas party. And each year I have done little table favors for each person attending (generally around 100). One year I did candy canes wrapped with a napkin around the silverware, last year I did candy canes decorated to look like reindeer. Our theme this year is Christmas Around the World. Anyone have any cute and frugal ideas?
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