ThriftyFun Crafts - November 18, 2009

Have a Homemade Christmas

Some of the best Christmas decorations and gifts are those that are homemade. This year on ThriftyFun we would like to encourage our readers to have a Homemade Christmas. We would love to see what types of ideas you can come up with for homemade gifts and holiday decorations. To help encourage submissions we are raising the amount we will pay for Christmas crafts from $15 to $20. If you have a homemade gift idea or Christmas decoration to share, feel free to submit it to the Crafts for Fun and Money program. You can find more information here:

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Crafts for Fun and Money submissions require detailed instructions, if that requires more time than you have, feel free to share your ideas on the Photo Contest page. You might win a prize!

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Today's newsletter contains:

Photos and Projects:

• Craft Project: Christmas Tree Treat Cups
• Craft: Flower Pot Snowman
• Craft: Plastic Canvas Wedding Cake
• Craft Project: Patchwork Circle Mat
• Graduate Keepsake Pillow
• Craft: Wallpaper Flower Decor
• Craft Project: Tiny Bell Decoration
• Craft Project: Supersize Gingerbread Man
• Craft Project: Potted Plant Holder

Tips:

• EZ Fashion Ring Craft
• Making Wreath From Artificial Christmas Tree
• Recycle Mattress Cover for Quilt Filling

Requests:

• King Size Bed Ruffles
• Using a Brother Computerized Sewing Machine
• Unique Crafts Using Tea Cups and Saucers
• Free Antique Pineapple Crochet Patterns
• Buying Small Glass Blocks
• Recycling an Old Christmas Card into a New One
• Drilling Slot For Glass Block Bank
• Christmas Card Ideas Using My Kids
• Patterns for Plastic Canvas
• Determining Fee for Making Couch Cushion Covers
• Money Origami Instructions
• Removing Thorns from Pinecones
• Pattern for Knitted Christmas Stocking Ornaments
• Giving Fat Quarters as a Gift
• Painting Clear Glass Vases Opaque
• Making Your Own Knitwit Tool
• Crown Royal Bag Quilt
• Making a Lollipop Tree
• Homemade Gripper Socks
• Bleach Bottle Alternative for Santa Door Decoration
• Instructions for Knifty Knitter Long Loom
• Clover-Shaped Casserole Cozy
• Crocheted Barbie Furniture
• Walnut Shell Christmas Mice
• Making Baby Booties on a Loom

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:
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Craft Project: Christmas Tree Treat Cups

A quick and super cute decoration for your Christmas Tree. Especially great for any home with young children.

Approximate Time: 20-30 minutes or less

Supplies:

• Small plastic yogurt cup
• Paper or paint or fabric or glitter
• Craft glue
• Chenille stem or yarn

Instructions:

1. Empty and wash out a yogurt cup. (Other small containers such as detergent bottle lids or caps off aerosol can products will also work. You could even use small paper cups such as Dixie cups.)

2. I spray painted the yogurt cup and then glued on small designs cut from Christmas wrapping paper. The containers/cups could also be covered in glue and then sprinkled with glitter. The cups could also be covered with paper or fabric. Use your imagination to decorate.

3. Punch a small hole on two sides of the cup and insert a chenille stem handle for hanging. Yarn, ribbon or heavy thread can also be used for a handle.

4. Add a bit of tissue paper to the inside of the cup and fill with a tiny treat for the kids, tiny toys, a piece of candy/gum, stickers or anything small that is appropriate for your age children.

5. Hang these cuties high on the tree and dispense as the Christmas holiday approaches. (I suggest hanging high to prevent peeking and/or collection of the treats before time!)

6. A number could be placed on the outside of enough cups and then used as an Advent calendar. The children will get involved and will anticipate the coming of Christmas as the days pass!

By Pam from McMinnville, TN

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Craft: Flower Pot Snowman

To make this recycled snowman: paint flower pots white. Hot glue medium one on top of large one. Paint paper plate holder black, glue black flower pot on top of plate holder then to med pot. Decorate with scrap pieces for scarf, eyes and attach orange painted knob for nose.

By Gretta from Wayne, OK

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Craft: Plastic Canvas Wedding Cake

This is an original pattern, done with 7 count plastic canvas.

What a cherished gift. Although it looks good enough to eat, I wouldn't recommend it.

By addictedtoplasticcanvas from Pahrump,NV

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Craft Project: Patchwork Circle Mat

Mat sewn from denim jean scraps and colorful scraps of cotton.

Supplies:

• 12 circles of denim, 8 inches in diameter
• 12 circles of printed strong cotton, 8 inches in diameter
• Cardboard template cut 6 inches square
• Sewing machine
• Sharp scissors
• Thread
• Iron

Instructions:

1. Center the cardboard template on a print circle and mark the point where each of the four corners touches the outside edge of the circle.

2. Use these marks as a guide, and stitch the print circle to a denim circle diagonally, wrong sides together.

3. Repeat for each of the twelve circles.

4. Fold the edges of the circles over between the diagonal stitching and press to make flaps.

5. Sew the flaps to each other to assemble the mat. (See diagram)

6. Stitch the flaps flat to each circle, excluding the very outside edges.

7. Sew a double line of stitching around the outside edges of the mat.

8. Snip the edges about every 1/4 inch up to the stitching lines.

9. Washing and drying the mat will then rag the edges.

By Preserver from Manitoba

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Graduate Keepsake Pillow

For special occasions I always try to give something that will be kind of a keepsake. Several years ago when my nephew was graduating from high school I went to a place that puts anything you want on t-shirts. I had the name of his school and team put on the front side, and his last name with his football number on the back side. I bought the t-shirt in one of the school colors, and had the lettering done in the other color.

Then I made it into a large size throw pillow. I did this by sewing the ends of the sleeves and the bottom shut. Then I stuffed it with a lot of fiberfill stuffing, and then hand sewed the neckline shut.

Source: I guess it came out of my own head, because I didn't remember seeing how to do it anyplace else.

By redhatterb from Sioux Falls, SD

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Craft: Wallpaper Flower Decor

Deco hole punches are especially nice to have a whole set of in varying sizes. Here, I punched out flowers from both scrap wallpaper and from another roll I picked up at either a thrift shop or rummage sale for $1 each.

Squeeze glue onto the back of one flower and with one the same size spread the glue around so both backs are gluey. Place first a glued side onto a twig of a branch brought indoors from the yard and then the other flower, gluey sides touching. You might have to work them a little between your fingers and thumb to get them to align one covering the other. Work rather quickly or the glue will dry out before you're done!

This whole piece is propped up in a clear glass jar of metal buttons, but you could prop yours in stones or glass pebbles or dried beans or rice or even scented balls to make it work out for your decor!

Source: This idea was probably first seen in MAKE magazine. The idea was first presented to me using circles also cut with punches and glued likewise.

By Melody_yesterday from Otterville, MO

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Craft Project: Tiny Bell Decoration

Bells made from coffee creamers.

Approximate Time: About one half hour or less

Supplies:

• 2 empty coffee creamers
• 2 beads for bell clappers
• Strong thread
• Needle with large eye
• Spray paint
• Scrap of ribbon
• Glue gun
• 2 tiny bows

Instructions:

1. Spray paint creamers inside and out with gold, silver or bronze paint. Let dry.

2. Double a piece of thread and put the cut ends through the eye of the needle. Insert into a coffee creamer from the bottom, go up through the top of the creamer, and back down about a fraction of an inch away. Bring the cut ends of the thread back through the loop at the other end and snug up against the inside top of the creamer. Now bring the needle and thread through the hole in the clapper bead.

3. Slide the bead up inside the bell temporarily and remove needle. Using the height of the bell as a guide, tie a double or triple knot in the thread a little below the lower rim. Slide clapper bead down as far as knot and cut thread ends.

4. Glue ends of ribbon or cord to top of bell and tie in a bow. Stick tiny bows on top of bell.

By preserver from Manitoba

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Craft Project: Supersize Gingerbread Man

Have fun creating a giant gingerbread man to play with or use for decoration. This is my grandson with the one we created.

Approximate Time: 45 minutes

Supplies:

• side of a large cardboard box
• marker
• scissors
• paint and brushes
• large wiggle/google eyes
• buttons
• glue
• Optional: red pom pom for the nose

Instructions:

1. Draw a large gingerbread man shape on your piece of cardboard. Cut it out.

2. Paint the gingerbread man any way you choose.

3. Glue on wiggle/google eyes, possibly a pom pom for a nose, if you didn't already paint one, and buttons for his shirt, and possibly for his mouth, if you didn't paint one.

4. Allow the paint and glue to dry and your supersize gingerbread man is ready for action!

By Marie from West Dundee, IL

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Craft Project: Potted Plant Holder

Recycle greeting cards make a colorful holder for a potted plant.

Approximate Time: 1/2 hour

Supplies:

• Recycled greeting cards
• Scissors that cut a fancy edge, such as pinking shears
• Stapler

Instructions:

1. For a flower pot that is approx. 4 inches in diameter, cut 14 pieces of pattern A from the fronts of cards and 7 pieces from the backs for "fillers".

2. Stack them into 7 groups, with patterns showing at the front and the back and a filler in the middle.

3. Fold each of the 7 groups to the inside down the middle. Staple sides as shown and slip flower pot inside.

By preserver from Manitoba

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EZ Fashion Ring Craft

I am crazy about the trend for fashion rings and have bought a few and dug up some more old ones. But do you know you can also MAKE ones out of the unlikely combination of silicone/plastic/rubber rings plus a single orphan stud earring. Just stick the wire end of the stud into the soft plastic of the ring and voila!, a modern jeweled ring.

On one ring I put the opal stud through the silicone and bent back the gold wire of the stud underneath on the other side to keep it in. It's a nice contrast of the pink of the silicone ring and the opal. On another ring, I used a black Halloween ring, took off the spider, and trimmed the top and then put in an amethyst stud (closing up the open back with black tape). And now I have a trendy black fashion pinkie ring!

They won't last forever, but probably as long as the trend! The studs came from a friend. The silicone ring was a giveaway and the black ring cost practically nothing at a yard sale. So, the cost = only my ingenuity! (which is a good deal when plastic rings at the mall are $7-10!)

Source: My own knack for EZ crafts

By Pam from L.A. CA

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Making Wreath From Artificial Christmas Tree

Save your old artificial Christmas trees to make a wreath.

Cut 1/2 inch plywood into a donut shape, the size will vary according to how big you want it. Paint it green.

Using a staple gun, securely fasten the branches from an old artificial tree onto the painted plywood to make a wreath.

Decorate as desired, adding lights, garlands of holly, pine cones, etc.

Drill a hole in the top and run a strong wire through. Twist and secure tightly to make it safe and sound.

Source: My brother.

By mkymlp from NE PA

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Recycle Mattress Cover for Quilt Filling

When making quilts, I use old (clean) mattress covers for the fill. Cut to the size that you need.

By dna53 from Mid Michigan

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King Size Bed Ruffles

I was wondering if anyone had an idea on how to make a bedskirt for a king size bed.

By Cindy from New Creek, WV

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Using a Brother Computerized Sewing Machine

I am a novice sewer but I just bought a Brother computerized machine on Ebay. I have read the manual numerous times but it really is like a foreign language. I need help with threading and proper placement of threads. My thread gets tangled and it isn't creating a stitch at all. Any advice? I have looked at sew.org and tons of other sites, but to be honest the pictures are not close enough and instruction not clear enough for me.

By Melissa from NY

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Unique Crafts Using Tea Cups and Saucers

I have several old tea cups and saucers and want to make something with them. Any ideas? I know about using them as candle holders or flower holders. I was looking at doing something a bit more dramatic. Glue several together maybe for a center piece to hold flowers? or something different. Any good ideas?

By Jean from Sonoma, CA

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Free Antique Pineapple Crochet Patterns

I was looking for free crochet patterns for pineapple doilies. Does anyone have them?

Thank you

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Buying Small Glass Blocks

Where can you buy the glass blocks for the crafts? I know that Lowe's carries them, but I was wanting to buy several. Thanks.

By Lynne from Buchanan, VA

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Recycling an Old Christmas Card into a New One

How can I turn an old used Christmas card into a newer Christmas card, that is also cheap, creative, fun, and that several people can enjoy?

By Nikki from Bedford, PA

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Drilling Slot For Glass Block Bank

I want to make a glass block bank. How do I drill the slot?

By Jaime from Alberta, Canada

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Christmas Card Ideas Using My Kids

Does anyone have any ideas for Christmas cards that would include my 4 kids? I have a step daughter 15, step son 10, a 9 year old son, and 5 year old son. Not sure what I am looking for, but any ideas would be great. Thanks.

By Brandi from VA

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Patterns for Plastic Canvas

Does anyone have patterns or magazines with patterns for plastic canvas? This is a pass time for my elderly mother and she is running out of things to make. She likes making things that she gives to people at her church for birthday gifts. I would appreciate any ideas for finding some.

By Suntydt from Tazewell, TN

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Determining Fee for Making Couch Cushion Covers

I am sewing new cushion covers for a rather large couch. There are 16 cushions. This question is for any professional sewers out there. How much should I charge per cushion? A few are rather large. I am making all the piping and replacing all the zippers as well.

By Rose from Malvern, PA

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Money Origami Instructions

Does anyone have instructions for money folding crafts?

By Barbara from Southgate, MI

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Removing Thorns from Pinecones

Is there an easy way to remove the thorns from pine cones so children will not hurt themselves while making crafts?

By Rachel from MS

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Pattern for Knitted Christmas Stocking Ornaments

I am looking for an easy pattern for knitted Christmas stocking ornaments.

By Linnea from Topeka, KS

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Giving Fat Quarters as a Gift

I want to buy a mix of fat quarters for a quilting friend for Christmas. I have no idea what I'm doing. How many fat quarters should I buy in the same pattern to make the gift useful? I don't want to buy just 2 in one pattern and 2 in another, etc., if that won't be useful. How much can I mix and match? Thanks.

By Sue from Houston, TX

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Painting Clear Glass Vases Opaque

I apply mosaic pieces to the outside of glass vases. I would like suggestions as to how to paint the interiors, so they are opaque and you don't see the glue.

By Sybil from NYC

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Making Your Own Knitwit Tool

I wanted to make a project using the Knit Wit tool, however, everywhere I look they are sold out (wonder if it is because the project is featured in the December Martha Stewart magazine? hmm). Anyway I am looking at it online and it seems as though I should be able to make one. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

By Carol from Landisville, PA

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Crown Royal Bag Quilt

I am looking for a pattern for making a quilt using Crown Royal bags and fabric.

By Lou from Baton Rouge, LA

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Making a Lollipop Tree

I am trying to find instructions for make the "tree" used in a lollipop tree (where you pick a sucker with the colored end and win a prize). It will be used everyday for 2 weeks so it needs to be durable, sturdy and small enough to sit on a table. I was thinking of using hole-board but am not sure it would work.

In checking to buy one, they seem to all be cardboard or styrofoam and I don't think they would hold up for long. If it could be easily taken apart and laid flat for storage until next year, that would be an added bonus. Any suggestions or plans would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

By Melody from Oak Ridge, TN

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Homemade Gripper Socks

How can I make home-made "gripper" socks? The non-slip socks like hospital ones. What could be applied to the soles of regular socks to make that sticky stuff?

By Rosemary from Annapolis, MD

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Bleach Bottle Alternative for Santa Door Decoration

I an from Scotland U.K. I printed the "Bleach Bottle Santa Door Decoration", but unfortunately I have been unable to find any gallon bleach containers. Please has anyone got any solutions or suggestions, please? Thank you.

By Gillian from Scotland U.K

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Instructions for Knifty Knitter Long Loom

I am looking for video instructions on how to use the Knifty Knitter long loom series. Thank you.

By Susan from Las Vegas, NV

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Clover-Shaped Casserole Cozy

I am looking for a pattern for a casserole cozy that is quilted and in the shape of a clover with 4 sections that meet in the center with a velcro or button/loop closure.

By Susan from Albany, NY

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Crocheted Barbie Furniture

I am looking for patterns for crocheted Barbie furniture.

By Diane from Tiverton, Ont, Canada

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Walnut Shell Christmas Mice

Does anyone know how to make Christmas mice using walnut shells? Thanks.

By Sheila from Nova Scotia, Canada

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Making Baby Booties on a Loom

I need some help making a heel for baby booties. I am making them on a loom. Thanks.

By Rony from San Diego

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