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Hello,
This week we have craft ideas using playing cards, dollhouse furniture made with everyday objects and more. Hope you enjoy. As always, if you have any craft ideas, tips or questions, feel free to submit them.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Projects
| Memory Garden Stepping Stones
I save and collect broken glass and other little findings. Then I put 2" of cement in the bottom of a 5 or 3 gallon bucket then I press the pieces of glass and things on top. I will be making these for Christmas gifts this year. I am going to New Orleans next month to help rebuild. I plan to bring home or mail myself as many shards as I can. I will make memory stepping stones out of them and maybe even a wall plaque. My tip is, if you break something, don't throw it out! Recycle it! By April from Buffalo, NY
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| Dick Larson's Walking Sticks
I visited with Dick Larson recently. He makes walking sticks, hot dog sticks, and weeders to sell, and he does quite well with them. He gets a branch with either a really straight length or an interesting curve at the top end, depending on the kind of walking stick he is making. Short lengths make handles for copper-coated hot dog roasting sticks or weeders. The weeders are fascinating. He makes a handle by whittling off first the outer bark, and then some of the inner bark, leaving patches of wood showing in spots. Then he sands it down very smooth and may or may not add a stain. Varnish comes last. For the blade, he uses a foot of bandsaw blade. He forms it into a loop and screws it down tight. You can get in between onions or perennials without damaging their roots. At his last sale, he sold 23 of these for $5 each. By Coreen from Rupert, ID
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Tips
| Giving Themed Gift Baskets
I am going to save money this year by giving themed baskets as gifts. The "yum-yum" basket consists of : 1 loaf of banana bread, one jar of homemade cocoa, homemade fudge, homemade cashew brittle, and chocolate dipped pretzel rods. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Uses for Playing Cards
Below are some ideas for reusing playing cards. Feel free to post your own ideas in the feedback forum. BookmarksIf you have an incomplete deck of playing cards, don't throw them away! Use them as bookmarks! You will never again have to buy those expensive bookmarks at the bookstore!By Kimberly DecoupageI read somewhere to decoupage them onto a card table and the backs of the chairs. It looks cute.By Liz Decorating Ideas and MoreI recently saw an interior designer do a game room and they placed cards around the edges of a square card table making a border and polyurethane over them to make a game table. You could add to this by using Liz's idea of putting them on the backs of chairs as well.You could buy a package of those jewelry rings that you connect lockets to necklaces, etc. and make mobiles, a curtain similar to the bead curtains of the 70's, or a window covering for kids rooms or game rooms. Use larger rings for the top row to slide onto curtain hangers. You could even arrange them for a framed picture for the walls. You could glue them together to make little fans for kids to use in church or on a hot day. If they have a cute design on the backs, glue them to a piece of card-stock and make it a 3-D picture for a greeting card. By Tawnda Card HousesKids can build card houses out of them.By kijay Refrigerator MagnetsLet the kids cut cool designs out of them, and tape a small picture to the back (card value side) then affix a magnet for a cute refrigerator decoration.By kijay Playing Card OrnamentsI just found this. I think it would still be cool with regular playing cards (either the face or the back if it's got a neat pattern).Crystal Card Game Ornaments:
By calnorth Card PeopleI saw in a cute valentine man made from a queen or king of hearts card. They used pipe cleaners for the arms and legs and had the arm holding a sucker. Sort of looked like the deck of cards from the movie Alice in Wonderland.By Brandy Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Dollhouse Furniture With Everyday Objects
Tips for making dollhouse furniture and decorations out of everyday items. Pizza Box Support as a TableIf you have a Valentino's pizza near you, they used to put little white plastic things in the center of the pizza to keep the top of the box from getting stuck to the toppings. They look a lot like little tables and when I was younger, my Grandma would save them for me and we'd use them as tables for my dollhouse. They worked especially well for the smaller Kelly dolls.Sink and a Trash CanThe plastic protectors on roll up deodorant are clear and oval shaped. Could be used as a sink. Hairspray tops could be used as trash cans.By Sue Braun Decorating a RoomSmall school pictures work well as gigantic artwork on the walls. Also, the "after eight" mints have tiny ornate clocks on the front of their wrappers which dress up a room nicely. I used to use wrapping paper as wall paper in the room and scrap fabric for curtains. If your child has a barbie play-set many times items can be used from it in the doll house. Also, a tiny drum set can be made with enough dixie cups!By Kelly Dollhouse Furniture With Everyday Objects
By Debra in Colorado . Strawberry Container TableWhen I was a little girl, we used the green plastic containers that strawberries come in. We turned them upside down, and placed a washrag or scrap fabric over the top. It could be a bed or a table, depending on the size of the doll. (11/01/2004)By Jill Iannetti Found ObjectsI love making things for my dollhouse from found objects!
By Kristine DoiliesI have found that small doilies work fantastic as rugs, tablecloths, bedspreads etc.By Alina Popsicle Stick FurnitureYou can make small (or large) furniture from craft sticks or popsicle sticks by cutting them to the right length and gluing them together. Most public libraries also have books on this topic.By Alina Doll LampI've covered those little medicine cups that come with NyQuil with pretty fabric. Hot glue a bead on top for a finial, attach a lollipop stick to the inside center, and a large heavy button to the bottom for a base. Makes a nice sized lamp for 11" dolls.By Chris Russell Stover BedRussell Stover candy boxes make an ideal sized bed. Glue wooden beads at the four corners for feet. Cover with fabric.By Chris Balsa WoodMy mom used the strawberry plastic containers for the shelves in the fridge and stove which she made from balsa wood, she made them many years ago and the are still in my proud dollhouse today! Balsa wood is great for carving things for your doll house!By pakjc Matchbox DrawersWhen I was a kid, we had a book called "Things to Make and Do". It had instructions for a six-drawer desk in it made from matchboxes. You make two stacks of three matchboxes, with a matchbox-width space between them. Cover with a piece of cardboard long enough to fit up, over, and across the stacks. I didn't have the brass prong paper-fasteners for drawer-pulls, so I used thumbtacks. I think tiny buttons would also be cute. I covered mine in denim Contact Paper (it was all I had), but I guess you could paint it. Contact Paper also comes in woodgrain. Thanks for asking for tips--I'm warm and fuzzy remembering how I loved my creation!By LizCar Barbie TubCut the bottom of a detergent bottle to make a tub for Barbie. Thick foam works well to make the sofa, just hot glue fabric on it.By hibbardg Fancy Barbie BedMe and my sister Kayley are beginner collectors with 8 barbie Dolls. Here's how to make a luxury bed for a single barbie or a few more at a time. You may use replacement materials.First, you find velvet, or another attractive fabric, In thin or regulation size. Find a small mini shelf. Sit that anywhere around the pillow to make it look like a headboard. Put a dumbbell at least 10 pounds behind the (quote)Headboard(/quote), parallel. Now get an upside-down pompom, or any other long stick, or two, Put them in the space between the dumbbell and headboard. Pack clothes and stuff between, too, to keep your "canopy posts" up. Now, get veil material or any other see through fabric on the "canopy posts", use rubber bands to secure canopy. Great! now you got your own luxury bed with a princess canopy! Feel free to furnish it with Pretend sheets and pillows. It's your bed now! By Kristen Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Plastic Lime Containers Christmas Tree Ornament
Yep, those plastic limes which I got so many glasses of lime water Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Uses for Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces
Don't throw away that jigsaw puzzle with pieces missing. Paint a few pieces, stamp or write a letter on each one and use them to make a title on a scrapbook page. Then use the corner pieces on the corners of your photos. (Cover the backs with acid free paint or paper if you are unable to determine if the puzzle is acid free.) Post Feedback: Click Here |
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New Requests
| What's in your kid's homeschooling craft box?
I have started a box of throw away JUNK for crafts for when I start homeschooling. We have TONS of stuff in there. But I'm sure I am missing things. So, what's in YOUR craft junk box? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Cleaning Foam Stamps
How do you clean foam stamps during a stamping party for reuse? Baby wipes? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Footstool from Large Juice Cans
Do you have instructions for a juice can footstool? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Crafts Made With Small Mirrors
What kids crafts can I make from small rectangular mirrors? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Making Paper Mache Plaques
Does anyone know how to make paper mache plaques for painting? They are usually used for welcome signs and such, and the wooden plaques can be very expensive. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Printing Letters on Ribbons
I would Like to learn how to print letters on my ribbons using my computer. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Diagonal Holes in My Knifty Knitter Hat
I have a diagonal holes that go up my knifty knitter hat. what am I doing wrong? The rest is fine. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Paper and Fabric Rose Patterns
Do you have a pattern for paper or fabric roses? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Keeping Rotary Rules from Slipping
My rotary rulers slip when I am cutting a quilt patch. I cannot afford to buy the new non-slip rulers. A friend said to glue small squares of very fine sandpaper on the bottom of the rulers. Where do I glue the small squares of sandpaper and what glue do I use? Is there another method for making the rulers non-sliping? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Indiana Jones Theme Float
I am in charge of my junior float at MVHS and the theme is Indiana Jones. We have a some good ideas, but I need help on how to make a paper mache ball roll on a track. Do I use a pulley system? Any suggestion? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Making a Piñata
I would like to make a pinata (or a few) for my son's second birthday. Has anyone done this? Thank you! Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Making a Bassinet Cover
I am looking for directions on how to make bassinet cover. Post Feedback: Click Here |
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Articles
| Re-Using Old Picture Frames
By Rachel Paxton It's fun taking something apart and putting it back together again in a new creative way. I work in an office where we had a lot of old promotional type posters that were very expensively matted and framed. Now that we're moving to a new office we wanted something new, but didn't want to spend a lot of money decorating. We decided to disassemble the old frames and re-use the mats to frame new prints. Read More: Click Here |
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