ThriftyFun Crafts - August 22, 2007

We have lots of tips from readers this week including Uses for Mint Tins, more Cross Stitch Sayings and ideas for Saving Money on Buttons.

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Happy Crafting!

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Today's newsletter contains:

Photos and Projects:

• Daughter's Birthday Quilt
• Wrapping Paper Stockings
• Homemade Oil Diffuser/Warmer
• Grapevine Wreath Cross Stitch Gift
• Bear Candleholders
• Garden Mushroom Cap
• Bridal Shower Gift - Make a Kitchen Maid or Mate
• Walden Acorn Bracelet and Bark Wall Hang

Tips:

• Make a Handbag from Chenille Bedspreads
• Trash To Treasure Painting
• Use Plastic Bedding Bags For Craft Supplies
• Making Pillowcases for Gifts
• Easy Ways To Stiffen Fabric
• Decoupaged Tissue Boxes
• Add Vanilla Extract To Salt Dough
• Use Fabric Dye For Staining Wood
• Uses for Mint Tins
• Saving Money on Buttons
• Cross Stitch Sayings

Requests:

• Don't Waste Your Yarn
• X-Large Mans Thong Pattern
• Printable Homemade Bread Tags
• Good Quality Fabric Scissors
• Homemade Crib Bumper Pads
• Baby Shower "Cake"

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

Daughter's Birthday Quilt

I made a special quilt for my daughter birthday. I made this quilt design myself.

I cut 8x8 inch squares, 88 squares in all, to fit a twin size bed. I sew 1/4 inch to each square to make 8 rows across. I made 12 rows in all. Then I added the rows together.

I then made pinwheel applique and added the yo-yo from a flower in the middle of the pinwheel. I then made the outside border from scrap left over from the quilt. I cut 3 inch strips, sewed them together and attached to quilt.

I cut the backing of the quilt much larger from the top quilt, about 1 inch more.

Finally I added the twin size quilt batting between the top layer and bottom layer of the quilt, forming a sandwich. I pinned all of the quilt top (or baste) and then I rolled the edge of the quilt, pinned and sewed 1/4 inch on all four areas of the quilt.

I finally finished adding the yo-yo's to the pinwheels. The pillow case is reversible as well and I added a bed skirt with the same blocks. I measured all corners of her bed and voila!, this is her birthday quilt set from Mom.

By Maria from Somerville, MA

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Wrapping Paper Stockings

This is something my sister and I used to do as kids.

Materials

• Christmas wrapping paper
• scissors
• glue, tape or staples (which ever you prefer)
• batting or cotton balls
• Small lightweight gifts for inside

Instructions

It's really quite simple to make.

Cut out a stocking pattern from the wrapping paper, so that you have both sides. Glue, staple or tape JUST the edges of the stocking but leaving the top open (you'll need to be able to put gifts in there, remember?) If gluing, be sure to let the glue dry before going on to the next step. Next, glue the cotton balls or batting around the top, stockings have to have that fluffy top! After it's all dried and completed, fill it gently with little gifts (pencils, pens, book marks, erasers, candy, ornaments - depending on the size of the stocking). Get creative but be sure that the stocking won't rip.

Since the stocking won't be hung up anywhere and you can just hand it to the person your giving it too you won't have to worry too much about weight, just be sure that what ever you place in there won't rip the paper before you give your gift.

By AJ from Westmoreland, NY

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Homemade Oil Diffuser/Warmer

I made my own oil diffuser/warmer. I recycled all of the items I used. This is really cool. Here is a list of the items used.

• an old glass light shade
• an old shot glass
• a child's round plastic mirror that I was about to throw out
• a rope light leftover from Christmas
• a part leftover from a discarded ceiling fan
• a few drops of orange essential oil - my favorite scent ;)
• optional: a couple of pieces of a new sponge

By Igmommy from Sweetwater, TN

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Grapevine Wreath Cross Stitch Gift

Tired of just framing your cross stitch project or turning them into pillows for gifts? Here's a unique way to display your work or create a special gift. Glue your project to a piece of round cardboard and glue the cardboard to the back of a grapevine wreath. Embellish the wreath and hang it on the wall or give it as a gift.

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Bear Candleholders

Bears painted on clay pots to use as candleholders.

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Garden Mushroom Cap

Make a mushroom cap out of concrete poured into a small plastic bowl, dried and cover it will broken plate "tiles" and grout! Pour concrete into a plastic ice tea cup and make the stem. Let dry, remove plastic cup, seal with glue and water, cover with tiles. Wait a day and grout. Place mushroom cap on top of the base. You''ll have Here's an inexpensive and whimsical garden decoration! The picture is just of the completed top.

By Kim from Walnut Hill, Florida

Editor's Note: Also a good way to use up your favorite broken pottery and dishes.

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Bridal Shower Gift - Make a Kitchen Maid or Mate

This is adorable! If the bride is a good friend, you will know what household items to use in creating your custom-made Kitchen Maid. And today, some couples have joint wedding showers, so you can also build a Kitchen Mate for the husband-to-be. Here's how:

• Begin with an ironing board to be the body of the Maid or Mate.
• Tie an apron with pockets around the middle to make a waist. Fill them with smaller kitchen items, utensils or tools.
• Attach a plunger on one side of the back of the ironing board as an arm and a toilet bowl brush or feather duster as the other arm.
• Add a dustpan at the wide end of the ironing board for feet or set the ironing board on top of a vacuum and bind with several elastic cords under the apron (as we did in the photo).
• Secure a string mop as the head of hair to the back of the ironing board with the mop portion flopped over the top narrow end of the ironing board.
• Create a face with nylon net scrubbies for the eyes, a small sponge for the nose and a nailbrush for the mouth.

By Momof1 from Wilkesboro, NC

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Walden Acorn Bracelet and Bark Wall Hang

After a long drive (sadly enough it wasn't within reasonable biking distance) to Walden Pond and back, I created a hemp strung bracelet using acorns along with a piece of bark accented with blue jay feathers and the carving of "BE". BEing at Walden was a phenomenal experience; to stand in the same woods where Thoreau once lived, laughed, saw, ate, and of course, wrote. I hope you enjoy the crafts.

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Make a Handbag from Chenille Bedspreads

If you have any of those old chenille bedspreads around, put it to good use and make a handbag. I made this one to show off the pink center in the daisy. That part is the flap of the bag. Then on the other side I put on a pocket to hold my sunglasses and phone.

By Elaine from Iowa

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Trash To Treasure Painting

I had several items in my yard that I was using as yard art; wear and tear of these items in the weather elements caused rust and corrosion. I changed these items; painted them and they are again a nice addition to my yard art collection.

I had an old milk can that the bottom had rusted out; it was painted black a few years ago and had been placed in a flower bed among the day lilies and irises; it had no top on it so i used it as a vase to put fresh flowers in; i painted it and used a spatter technique to finish it; i put a flower pot in it and placed a peace lily in it; i will change the flowers now according to season or holiday. It sits at the entrance of my back door on my backyard deck.

I also had an old tea kettle that was bent and had rusted; I painted it and used the spatter technique on it; it sits on an old rusted small pot bellied stove that sits on our backyard deck; I punched holes in the bottom of the tea kettle; this fall it will have pansies in it and will bring lots of color to that area of our deck. The rusted pot bellied stove is inoperable and is used as a garden ornament; I like the rusty color so I will not paint it.

By WandaJo from Tennessee

Editor's Note: Here's is WandaJo's earlier post with the tea kettle on the old, rusted stove:

• Tea Kettle Yard Art

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Use Plastic Bedding Bags For Craft Supplies

The plastic zipper bags that bedding comes in are wonderful in the craft room!
I have filled a couple of these already just from junk mail papers I have gone through, sorted and trimmed of text. I have an awesome collection of paper all neatly tucked away and can be stacked :) Ya never know...

By Veronica from Sedalia, Missouri

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Making Pillowcases for Gifts

Are you looking for a fun, inexpensive and easy craft to make as gifts for the Holidays?

Try making pillowcases. There are many simple patterns online (the link below is one of a few different ones that I have used and has good illustrations) and since it takes such a little bit of fabric, you can really stretch your dollars and give everyone a nice gift. I have 19 nieces and nephews, and last year EVERYONE got pillowcases - I was able to pick out fun colors or themes that matched their personalities, hobbies or interests - and since I bought the fabrics a little at a time when they were on sale or I had a coupon, each one cost me around $3 to make, so I was able to stay within a very tight budget. The kids love them, and some of the parents even asked if they were getting ones this year.

• Instructions for Pillow Case

By Regina from Rochester, NY

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Easy Ways To Stiffen Fabric

When crafting with fabric, there may be times when you need to stiffen your project after you create it; such as when you make a witch hat, or perhaps a fabric basket. There are many craft fabric stiffeners on the market, but some can be expensive or hard to find. One great cheap, easy alternative is to use a mixture of Elmer's glue (or other white glue) and water, and simply paint it onto your project. It will dry clear and stiff; and you can apply more than one coat depending on how stiff you'd like your fabric.

For a different and even easier option, try Krylon clear acrylic spray paint. Start with a small amount and test it on a scrap piece of fabric first. The Krylon will not discolor your fabric.

If you want to stiffen your fabric before making your item, use regular fabric starch that you find in the clothes washing isle. The powder or liquid works great!

By Karen from SW FL

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Decoupaged Tissue Boxes

I bought plain, plastic tissue holder covers at the Euro shop decoupaged them using paper and also fabric. I think they turned out quite nicely. I painted up to 5 coats of varnish on these as they get a lot of use. I also glued on elastic bands to the bottoms to hold the tissue box in the holder.

By Lisa from Thessaloniki, Greece

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Add Vanilla Extract To Salt Dough

When making your salt dough for crafts, add a drop of vanilla, it not only makes your creation smell good, but helps prevent mold. Peppermint works well too, but I prefer vanilla.

By Karen from SW Florida

Editor's Note: Here is a recipe for Salt Dough on ThriftyFun:

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Use Fabric Dye For Staining Wood

I used a off white throw rug and dyed it 3 different colors. I did strips in blue, brown and green. While doing this, I used a piece of wood that was natural to make my lines. I found out that the brown dye worked well for staining the wood. It turned out better than using a stain plus there where no fumes with it. I think this is a real cool find. The dye works wonderful and looks real nice.

By Beth from Cambridge, New York

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Uses for Mint Tins

Craft ideas for the empty metal mint or candy tins with hinged lids. These ideas were posted from the ThriftyFun community.

Sewing Kit

A great use for these is as a travel sewing kit. Base paint with a couple of coats of craft paint in a neutral shade, Decoupage a theme-base picture like antique sewing machine, needles and spool of thread or if you draw or paint well, do in by hand. Inside put mini spools of thread, packet of assorted needles, assorted pins (both straight and safety) stuck in a piece of felt. Also makes a good mini first aid kit if you add bandaids, healing salve, antiseptic wipes and the like and you could paint it white with the traditional red cross for that use.

By Thriftmeg

Containers for Small Items

Why not paint them and glue little jewels on them for pill boxes. Also you could paint flowers on them. Maybe for little earrings holder, extra change, small candy or hair pins.

By Grandma Bess

Quilting Pins

I use my mint tins,and Sucret tins to keep my various sizes of straight pins in. I label them with my Dymo label maker. On the ones for quilt pins I glued a pin on top for identification. I also use them when I travel to keep my jewelry safe.

I like the idea of decorating them too. I think I will try that.

By Judy

For Sewing Pins

I like to stick a few pieces of magnetic tape to the bottom and use them to hold sewing pins.

By Allison

Travel Toiletries

I use them to carry medicine, fingernail clippers, safety pins, and a band-aid or two. It keeps all of those items from getting lost in your purse and keeps you from being without them in a pinch.

By gapeachinseale

Polymer Clay

I have saved a lot of these and made some pretty nice looking containers covering them with polymer clay. Cover the bottom and top, allowing room around the rim of the box for the lid to snap on. Make roses and secure them on the lid, add pearl for embellishment. You could decorate them to give as gifts, using the recipients favorite things/idea.

For example: if the person you are giving it to likes cats, make polymer clay cats/kittens and add other little items to decorate. Possibilities are endless, and ageless. Then use the tin to hold a gift like jewelry, gift certificate/gift card, candy, etc.

Or make them into little travel checker sets.

By Shirley

Fabric Gift Card Box

I spray painted the bottom, glued a piece of wall paper border to the top, trimmed around the side of the top with ribbon (to hold down the edges of the wall paper border) and put a bow on the top. I then took a tiny scrap of shiny fabric folded around a piece of batting the for the inside to use the tin as a gift card holder.

By Lynn Beth

Gift Card Box

If you do any paper crafting, you could cover them with pretty paper and embellishments and then use them to give with gift cards, small items, etc. inside. I've also seen them used as cards for birthdays, etc. with a little note tucked inside.

By Threegetts

Tiny Scrapbook

They make great holders for tiny scrapbook albums! Just cut your paper a little smaller than the tin is tall and much longer. Fold the paper up accordion style and embellish it any way you wish. It's great for holding wallet size school photos.

By Natalie

Website With Ideas

I like Make magazine, but you can get a more direct link to the projects they feature on another website. http://www.instructables.com. Great projects like usb drives out of Altoids tins and legos.

By Designersheets

Fishing Flies

I use one for the safety pins for quilting, and I save them for my son-in-law for fishing flys and lures.

By Siris

Repair Kit

I have made sewing kits from them & kept pins in them, kept my repair kit for my glasses in them. You can decorate them or just mark them. (Oh, I also have kept loose antacid tablets in my purse in them, as they are too big for regular pill boxes.)

By Pamphyila

Feel free to post your ideas below.

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Saving Money on Buttons

Tips for saving money on buttons from the ThriftyFun community. Post your ideas.

Remove Buttons From Thrift Store Finds

To save money when I need to replace buttons, I go to our Goodwill bargain room and search for a garment with the same size and type button as the ones I need instead of buying them at a regular store which can be expensive. Most items in the bargain room are only 50 cents. I also look for items with pretty, cute or unique buttons, no matter what the garment itself looks like. These can be used to make a suit or dress or top you already own look fresh and new just by changing the buttons. By Diane

By ThriftyFun

Save Buttons Before Discarding Clothing

This post brings back memories of my mother who would never retire a piece of clothing to the "rag bag" without first removing the buttons. She always had an endless supply of buttons. I can remember as a child, it was such fun for me to "sew" together the matching buttons from a garment after it had seen its better days.

By Ruthie

Be On The Lookout For Buttons Everywhere

Like my mother before me, I have a button box and a button jar. I put stray buttons in it and take buttons off clothing I trash. One could almost buy a thrift shop piece for the buttons! I saw a jacket with fabulous ones and I kick myself that I left it behind, as those buttons on it cost something like $10 each!

By Pamphyila

While You Are At The Thrift Store...

Have you priced patterns recently? Unless on sale, they can cost over $10.00 plus. When in the thrift stores, look for an item: dress, blouse, skirt that appeals to you and use that as your pattern for a new garment.

By Sewingmamma

Modify Or Make Your Own Buttons

Two ideas:

You can dye plastic buttons, as long as they're white or quite light in color. Use a small glass container. Start with food coloring, mixing colors to get just the right hue. Add some vinegar and warm water (just as you would for Easter eggs) and put your buttons in. Leave the buttons in until the right shade is achieved - this will likely take several hours or longer. Let them dry and sew them on. The color may wash out slightly in the washing machine, but you can recolor if that is much of a problem. I came up with this when I couldn't find the proper color of buttons for a dress, despite checking numerous fabric stores!

You can make buttons from polymer clay. They can also be painted, if desired. These are wonderful for crocheted or knitted items and "crafty looking" clothes, purses, etc. It's easiest when you need fairly large buttons and just a few of them!

By Liz

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Cross Stitch Sayings

Here are more cross stitch sayings that have been submitted from our creative ThriftyFun community. Post your own favorites here.

This is new to me but I love the thought....

"Don't stress about birthdays...
More candles just make life brighter!"

Just had a b-day with a big # and that is the advice my sis-in-law shared, brightened my day!

By Donna

I made one for the lady who cuts my hair:

"I'm a beautician...not a magician!"

For my daughter-in-law who is a worry wart:

"I know worrying must help because everything I worry about never happens!"

And for fishing friends:

"Work is for people who don't know how to fish"

My Dad's favorite was:

"Definition of a boat: A hole in the water that you throw money into!"

These are just a few.

By Harlean from Arkansas

By thriftmeg

By Sharon

By Margeth

"I could do the work of two men... but I would have to slow down"

Here are a few goodies to go with all the other wonderful sayings and a site you can go to with tons of great sayings :

"I Kiss Better Then I Cook!"

"Yesterdays's the past...
Tomorrow's the future...
Today is a gift from God...
That's why we call it the Present!"

"Life is what happens, when you have something else planned!"

And here is the site I was telling you about:

• http://www.craftsayings.com/

By Laura from Lakeland, Louisisana

"My home is clean enough to be healthy and messy enough to be happy."

By susanmajp

Post your favorite cross stitch sayings below.

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Don't Waste Your Yarn

I just now read this article from www.crochetme.com about saving your yarn:

Don't waste your yarn - use it!

You think that you don't have enough - not enough of the same colour or the same yarn to make anything. Mix your odds and ends, and you'll realize that you have more than enough for a new project.

It might not seem very straightforward at first, when you pull out your bag/box of various odd balls and leftovers. But it will be a lot of fun, I promise.

Please take some time to think about this and please DON'T WASTE YOUR YARN! Thank you so much!

Mackenzie from Millington, TN

Editor's Note: If you would like to read the whole article, here it is.

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X-Large Mans Thong Pattern

I need a paper pattern for a x-large man's thong.

Diana

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Printable Homemade Bread Tags

I am looking for printable homemade bread gift tags to attach to the twist tie on my homemade bread I give to my family and friends.

Jose from Tennessee

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Good Quality Fabric Scissors

Good scissors for cutting through multiple layers of thick fabric. Any suggestions?
I just dulled out two pairs and they cost between $20 and $30 each.

The more expensive one was re-sharpened and I am not impressed. A friend told me that the quality of the re-sharpening has more to do with the steel content than the skill of the operator.

Holly from Richardson, TX

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Homemade Crib Bumper Pads

I have 2 pregnant nieces, and they both want bumper pads for a crib. Does anyone have directions to make a bumper pad? Please help, and FAST! Thank you!

Marie

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Baby Shower "Cake"

My cousin made me a shower towel cake for my shower. Sadly she has passed away and I never knew how she made it. Does anyone know how? I need directions. She even had the plastic bride and groom statue on the very top. Thanks so much.

Chris from Buffalo, NY

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