Craft Tips Galore - Add your own - Big Big Forums

Jolie Rouge · 06-04-2002, 05:28 PM

Welcome Spring indoors with this Bright Floral Tissue Box created by
Heidi Borchers of InspiredatHome.com The smooth surface of the wood
box is texturized with Heidi's embossed glue technique. And coloring
is a breeze with pastel chalks!
<a href=" http://www.myfree.com/r/ALE/ALE0101.asp ">Click here</a>

Welcome Spring indoors with this bright floral tissue box. The smooth surface of the wood box is texturized with Heidi's embossed glue technique. And coloring is a breeze with pastel chalks!

MATERIALS
Wooden tissue box cover
Sandpaper
Aleene's Tacky Glue
Fine line applicator tip (to fit glue bottle)
Rustoleum™ Matte White Spray Paint
Pastel chalks {pink, purple, green, yellow)
Cotton swabs
Clear spray sealer

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Sand tissue box cover. Referring to photo for placement, transfer flower band pattern to sides of box. Draw additional dots and wavy lines to fill in areas between bands. Draw flowers, squiggles, and dots on top of box as desired.
2. Attach applicator tip to glue bottle. Apply glue to box over all pattern lines to create design. Let dry. Spray paint box. Let dry.
3. Brush cotton swab back and forth across 1 color of chalk. Referring to photo, rub color on design. Repeat to color all design areas. Apply spray sealer to box. Let dry.

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It's seed planting time and we at InspiredatHome.com think that we
know the secret to getting your seeds to grow and grow! It's the pots.
They must be decorated! That's the key! Here's some of Heidi Borchers
ideas!
<a href=" http://www.myfree.com/r/ALE/ALE0100.asp ">Click here</a>

Here's some of our ideas.....

Buttons - - the more the better! Glue them to the brim of the rim!

A simple bow will do the job too! Drape it and tie it and watch the seeds grow!

Mosaic is one of our favorite ways to decorate clay pots! You can find some thrift store treasures to break and mosaic onto your clay pot!

Paint your clay pot white. Free-hand paint in floral "splotches". Let them dry and outline them in black permanent marking pen. Remember, you don't need to follow the lines with this technique - - the more free-hand the better!

Paint a happy garden on your clay pot to show your seeds what they'll look like when they grow up!

by Arzeena Hamir

How do you satisfy the gardening itch in early Spring? Easily! Start plants from seed. Now is a great time to get a jumpstart on the gardening season. Just a little preparation will help ensure you seed starting success. Here is some of the equipment you'll need.

Containers
Almost any type of container can be used to start your seedlings in, as long as it can hold moisture and is sturdy enough to handle a wet potting mix. Gardeners have always recycled yogurt and cottage cheese containers, milk cartons and even egg cartons. Whatever container you use, make sure that it has a hole through which excess water can drain or is porous and will eventually drain. Any sitting water at the bottom of a container can rob growing roots of oxygen and encourage fungal diseases.

Before filling your container with potting mix, wash it well to get rid of any food particles. This is especially important for containers that are reused year after year. Certain fungal diseases, such as Fusarium, can be spread through contaminated soil that is still hanging on to the sides of containers. If your seedlings succumbed to any diseases last year, make sure the containers are rinsed with a 10% solution of bleach to kill off any remaining spores.

Soil Mix
One of the most important factors when starting your seedlings is choosing your potting mix. It is often recommended to use a sterilized, soil-free starter mix to prevent diseases such as damping-off from taking hold of tender seedlings. I still recommend soil-less mixes to beginner gardeners but I, myself, have started to add compost and worm casts to my own mix.

Light
Have you ever tried starting seeds inside on a windowsill and found that they grew spindly and kept falling over? Early spring light just doesn't have the intensity and duration that young seedlings need, forcing them to stretch for more and more light. Most seedlings require 12 - 14 hours of direct light in order to keep them short and stocky and producing healthy leaves. Therefore, artificial lights are required early in the season.

Although you can purchase grow lights in your local nursery or garden center, I find a combination of warm and cool fluorescent bulbs just as effective at a fraction of the cost. Since seedlings need high light intensity, these bulbs need to be no more than 3 - 4 inches away from the top of the plant. I attach the light ballast to the underside of a shelf or even the underside of a table and place my seedling trays under the tubes. If the lights are still too far away, you can also raise the trays on boxes. As the plants grow, the boxes can be removed so that the leaves do not touch the bulbs.

Seeds
Last, but not least, gather your seeds together and select what you're going to grow this year and how much of each variety. If you have left-over seeds from previous seasons and are not sure if the seed is still viable, do a quick and easy germination test between moist paper towel to see if the seed sprout. Plant any seeds that do germinate and discard any mould.

If you're really itching to do some kind of gardening now, you can start the following types of seeds indoors:

Vegetables ~ Celery ~ Celeriac ~ Leeks ~ Giant Onion

Flowers ~ Aquilegia ~ Myostosis ~ Perennial Alyssum ~ Pansies

Arzeena is an agronomist and garden writer for Organic Living Newsletter. Subscribe to this free e-newsletter at http://www.tvorganics.com

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To the mother who needs to make an Indian setting.
When I was in elementary school, I had to do the same thing. I cut
out a 1'' in diameter circle out of cardboard, cover the cardboard
with about a 1/2-inch of brown clay or playdoe if you want. Find 3 or
4 matching sticks about 8" long and as straight as you can. Tie them
at the top stick the bottoms in the clay. Cut a piece of material
that will fit around and make a teepee. Have your child draw stick
figures of Indians and animals on the cloth to depict hunts or
journeys that their fictitious Indians have been on. Then be creative
with the inside and outside perimeter. I made animals out of clay and
used little dolls I dressed as Indians, and built a fake fire.

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Make Fridge Stickers.
I cover cotton batting in an oval, & then sew shut on backside. You
take thread same color to shape faces on. I made a squaw & chief
Indian set. Put a band about head with hair of embroider thread& on
chief's put a tiny feather. So cute. Eyes are very tiny shiny black
beads. Also, make old faces & put bonnets on them. Bonnets are round
pieces of cloth & stitched to be drawn up to fit head & have white
hair of yarn on them.

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In response to the lady who wished to paint on finished porcelain, I
have found that if you lightly sand the container that you can paint
over it with Delta’s perm enamel and it will stay. I have done this
to some goose canisters and it has stayed on thru some washing too. I
clean them very delicately with luke warm water and dish soap such as
ivory or dawn. I have found that regular acrylic paints will not
adhere to the containers unless you use a glass surface medium, but
the paint did wear off. There is also out now glass paints but I have
not tried them on finished products as of yet. I hope this helps you.

Jolie Rouge · 06-04-2002, 06:17 PM

Because I don't have time to post these seperately....
if anyone wants to "re-post" this in more appropriate threads, that would be great !

It's Free Gift Day at InspiredatHome.com ! We invite you to print off
this month's special gift to you -- inspired bookmarks from the Angel
Artwork of Tiffany Windsor.
<a href=" http://www.myfree.com/r/ALE/ALE0102.asp ">Click here</a>

We invite you to print off this month's special gift to you -- inspired bookmarks from the angel artwork of Tiffany Windsor. Just click here http://www.inspiredathome.com/V2/31A.htm to go to the full-size bookmarks.

We suggest you print the full-size bookmarks on card stock, cut them to size, punch a hole in the center top and add a tassel. Have a fabulous and inspired reading day!

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With a few scraps of charming print fabric you can transform glass
containers into sweet delights! And for those recycling fans - Heidi
Borchers of InspiredatHome.com also shows you how to cover an oatmeal
container with fabric for a cute gift container!
<a href=" http://www.myfree.com/r/ALE/ALE0104.asp ">Click here</a>

With a few scraps of charming print fabric you can transform glass containers into sweet delights! How about recycling? Cover an oatmeal container with fabric for a cute gift container!

MATERIALS (for 1 lid and 1 container with lid)
For each:
Cardboard
Designer Tacky Glue
Red acrylic paint
Paintbrush

For fabric-covered lid:
Glass jar with screw-on lid
Lightweight batting
Fabric to cover lid
4 (1") wooden hearts
2" wooden heart
30" (1/4") red grosgrain ribbon
Optional: clothespins

For container:
Empty cardboard oatmeal container
1/2 yard fabric
4" x 20" lightweight batting
1/2" wooden ball
1" wooden heart
24" (3/8" wide) red grosgrain ribbon

INSTRUCTIONS
1. To make fabric-covered lid, trace top of lid onto cardboard and cut out. Using cardboard circle as guide, cut a piece of batting to match. Glue batting circle to one side of cardboard circle and let dry. Place cardboard (batting side down) on wrong side of fabric and trace, adding 1/2" all around. Cut out fabric. Glue fabric to batting, gluing excess fabric to cardboard and clipping curves. If needed, use clothespins to hold fabric in place while glue dries.
2. Measure depth of lid lip and add 3/4{. measure around lid and add 1/2". Cut a strip of fabric to these measurements. Folding 1/2" of strip to top of lid and 1/4" to inside of lid, glue strip around lid lip, overlapping ends. Let dry. Glue fabric-covered cardboard to lid top and let dry.
3. Paint all hearts red and let dry. Center and glue large heart to top of lid and let dry. Glue 2 small hearts to 1 end of ribbon, sandwiching 1/2" of ribbon end between hearts. Repeat with remaining small hearts on other end of ribbon. Let dry. Tie ribbon in a bow around jar.
4. To make container, draw a line around oatmeal container 4" from bottom. Cut off and discard top part of container. Cut a 4" x 14" piece of batting. Wrap batting around container and glue, trimming excess. Let dry.
5. Cut a 7" x 14" piece of fabric. Centering fabric, wrap around container, overlap ends, turn under 1/4", and glue. Fold excess fabric to bottom and inside of container and glue, clipping curves. Let dry. Cut a circle of fabric to fit bottom of container and glue in place. Let dry. To line container, cut a 4-1/2" x 13" piece of fabric. Turn long edges under 1/4" and glue strip inside container, overlapping ends. Let dry.
6. Cut a circle of cardboard to fit inside bottom of container. Cover cardboard circle with fabric as described in step 1, omitting batting. With fabric side up, glue circle inside bottom of container and let dry.
7. To make container lid, trace around top of container on cardboard and cut out. Refer to step 1 to cover one side of cardboard circle with batting and fabric. Cut a circle of fabric to fit wrong side of lid and glue in place. Let dry. Paint ball and heart red and let dry. Center and glue ball on top of lid and let dry. Glue heart to front of container and let dry. Tie ribbon in a bow around container.

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Setting and cleaning cross-stitch projects. I have used this with all my cross-stitch projects and it works great!
Mix: 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4-cup vinegar, into 1-gallon cool water.
Soak your cross-stitch project in this solution for 1/2 hour.
After soaking, wash project in mild liquid dish detergent or liquid soap for delicates (like Woolite).
Rinse well with cool water.
Lie flat on a dry towel and gently roll it up in towel to remove moisture.
Let dry totally.
Press with iron on wrong side of project (with NO steam on)to remove
wrinkles. Happy stitching!

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I have made bath salts this way ... it only takes little drops.
I discovered it is easier to mix by hand than 'utensil' and that the basic red, green, and yellow will do just about everything!

Red and blue = purple
Yellow and Red = orange
Yellow and Blue = green

For variations just use a little less color ... mixing it with the white salts will make your red - pink, your orange - peach, and so on and so on!

I also grate glycerin soap into my bath salts for a little extra bubbly! A good place to buy supplies is http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com I have had good success ordering from them ... I do recommend the DELUXE glycerin soap over the cheaper though ... the Deluxe is WONDERFUL with a better lather than the plain!

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I was just reading about a craft tip on painting fingernails. I, too, use my crafting abilities for painting nails. I found one day that you can wash acrylic paint off your skin once dry, but it sticks like glue to my polished nails. HMMM, I thought. I tried it and it works.
Now I paint nails for people for July 4, Christmas--whenever.
For July 4, I polish nails with a coat of clear nail polish.
Let it dry.
Then, Using a very fine liner brush, I paint the entire nail to look like a flag with acrylic paint.
I use the butt end of a brush for the stars-- I'm not THAT good.
At Christmas, I polish the nails red nail polish, then add a Christmas tree with green acrylic paint, and ornaments with the butt end of brush or toothpick.
If I can't find the right color polish for a background, I use clear
polish first then two coats of acrylic paint in the color of choice. When the paint is completely dry, top with a topcoat of clear polish or topcoat. Works great and the possibilities are endless.

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For medium to large ribbon bows that you make yourself and want to
attach to clothes, you can dip your ribbon in fabric stiffener, such
as stiffy, and then fashion a bow. You will have to squeeze the
ribbon through your fingers or something to get all the excess
stiffener off. Too much stiffener will make your ribbon too heavy to
shape into a bow. When the bow dries, it will be stiff and hold it's
shape. You can also use pins and cardboard or Styrofoam to force the
ribbon into a shape it wouldn't usually hold. Then, when it is dry,
remove it from the cardboard or take out the pins and it will hold
it's shape. You should be able to buy fabric stiffener at any
Wal-mart, Michaels, etc... or if there isn't one close to you, try their websites!!

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I find a great way to recycle candles that have melted away in a jar
or other container, is to place the jar or container in the freezer for about a half hour, sometimes longer depending on the size of the project, and when you remove it from the freezer the old wax comes right out. Freezing shrinks, the wax making it easy to remove from jar or container the old candle was in. But keep a close eye on putting glass in your freezer, leaving it in to long could cause it
to break.

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Someone wanted to know how to do a "towel wedding cake" well I finally
found the directions at www.craftideas.com

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Idea for 1 Quart canning jars:
Materials: Quart Jar, string of miniature lights, stuffed bear or any
animal (get at yard sales) felt, ribbon, hot glue.
Instructions:
Take animal apart, Head, arms, & legs are all you need.
With Jar opening at the top, put in your lights.
Cut apiece of felt a little larger than the hole.
Pull out the plug end of the lights & notch the felt, so the cord can come thru, glue felt to rim of jar.
Turn jar so bottom is at the top.
Glue head onto bottom, glue arms on each side of jar, legs, feet to the bottom front of jar.
Put a ribbon & bow in front on neck.
You can decorate as you wish.
Plug in lights & use as a night light.
Makes a cute baby or child's gift.
You can use material from the` body for the opening in the bottom instead of felt.

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Jolie Rouge · 06-14-2002, 02:00 AM

Here is the recipe that someone requested for pinecones to give off
colors in the fireplace. Soak pinecones in any of the following
solutions. When the pinecones are thrown into your fireplace fire,
they will burn different colors.

1/2 lb. soda to 1/2 gallon water ~ or ~
1/2 lb. borax to 1/2 gallon water ~ or ~
1/2 lb. salt to 1/2 gallon water

After soaking pinecones in any of the above solutions overnight,
remove from solution and place in mesh bags to dry thoroughly.

Jolie Rouge · 06-24-2002, 02:07 AM

To the lady who is trying to re-create the rose shaped birdseed
holders.

Cut your fabric of choice into 4-inch squares. [Your fabric should be
crisp enough to hold its shape. I used light upholstery fabric. Heavy
drapery fabric would also work well.] Fold - wrong sides together and
sew a very narrow seam. Turn right side out. With needle nose pliers,
loop one end of long green heavy gauge wire stems (from the flower
arranging section of your favorite Wal-mart or other craft supply
store. They come packaged in 12 to 18 " lengths ... maybe even
longer, but I wouldn't recommend the longer lengths as your filled
roses would be rather floppy) Insert the looped end of the wire into
the fabric tube and gather the fabric around the wire. Secure tightly
with thread. Using a length of green tape (also found in the flower
arranging section of your craft supply store) surround the bunched
fabric and continue down the stem. Add artificial rose leaves as you
wind down the stem, if desired.

Put birdseed into the fabric cup and fold 1/2 of the fabric to the
inside, covering the seed. To distribute, glue green floral "sponge"
into a decorated basket. Cover the sponge with moss or other
decorative artificial mulch and stick the roses into it. Select 2
members of the wedding party to stand near the exit doors. Have them
hand a rose to each guest, as they are about to leave and instruct
them on its use (flick the rose in the direction of the Bride and
Groom as they leave, as if you were trying to flick water from the
rose petals onto them. We had great success with this and many
approving comments. Before the service, we used the baskets to
decorate the entrance.

Regarding worn out jeans: Several years ago at a craft fair, I saw a unique way to use worn out jeans. The crafty person turned the tops of the jeans into a vest. Remove the zipper and open the seam of the jeans front to the crotch and down the inside seams. The legs of the jeans become the shoulder of the vest. The waistband of the jeans is the bottom of the vest. The side seams of the pants stay in tact, for the length from the waist to the under arm, and then the side seam opens up down the leg. You will have to measure how far from the waist to the shoulder you need, and then cut off the remaining leg length and sew the back leg to the front leg at the shoulders. You will need to finish off around the arm opening and do some finishing around the front and neck openings. Turned into an interesting vest. [ You may have to take the patch pockets off and turn them around though.)

Jolie Rouge · 06-26-2002, 12:59 AM

We just finished our Cub Scout Day Camp and we made bug zoos with Pringle cans and mesh screen material. We cut the sides out of the cans beforehand and supervised the use of hot glue guns to glue the mesh around the inside edges.

We made neckerchief slides out of PVC slices and hot-glued waterfall stones to the slice and wrapped plastic bead lace around the stone while still hot and then boys added beads and feathers of their choice.

We made terrariums out of 2-two liter soft drink bottles. Cut the bottom quarter off one and snip the top off the other beforehand. Add potting soil to the bottom quarter and seeds or small plants, take the larger portion of bottle, and fit inside or outside of smaller. Instant terrarium!

Take tree branches about 2" diameter and slice diagonally for name tags or slice straight across for smaller version of wooden nickels and hot glue to PVC for slides.

Jolie Rouge · 06-27-2002, 11:59 PM

A good craft for younger children involves cookie cutters and fun
foam. Just press a cookie cutter into the foam and trace around it.
Then have the children cut out the shapes, add a magnet to the back,
and decorate the front with anything that they like.

A big hit at Christmas time with Christmas cookie cutters and fabric paint on the front.

But don't stop there ....

Hearts in Febuary
Shamrocks in March
Flowers in May
Easter in April
Beach toys in June
Stars in July
Books/School themes in August
Fall (or FOOTBALL) in September
Fall or Halloween in October
Thanksgiving turkeys, Cornocopia's ect in November

Kelsey1224 · 07-09-2002, 07:01 PM

This is a copy of my very first post here over a year ago....

This is a recipe for "sticker glue" which I got from Carol Duvall.

Combine two parts white craft glue with one part vinegar and mix thoroughly. Use a paint brush to apply to surfaces and allow to dry for 6-10 seconds. Activate the glue by applying water to it.

My daughter teaches kindergarden. She created a page of several pictures and images and made copies of it, adding the individual children's name to each sheet. For example, one image was of a heart and the child's name was written in the heart. Another image was a first place ribbon, again with the child's name added to the picture. The children were then given "their" sheet to color. After they were done, the glue was "painted" onto the back and allowed to dry. Then the kids could cut out their own personalized stickers.

Hope people have a use for this. I think it makes a great rainy day activity!

Jolie Rouge · 07-10-2002, 06:48 PM

Professional Gift Baskets:

First you use something like packing peanuts in the bottom to lift and separate your items. Next Pick a Theme: Mother's Day, Easter, and Christmas etc. Lets say it a Back to School Basket for a kid going back to college:

Plastic Basket Medium Size
Shampoo & Conditioner
Deodorant
Men (shave cream, plastic razors and after shave lotion)/ Women (moisturizing lotion, plastic razors)
Shower gel or soap
Shower cap and nylon scrunchies for bathing
A scented candle
Bath oil or bath salts or bubble bath. (Try to choose scents that
are alike not clashing)(Men spicy things ladies floral or--)
Use shreds or Easter Grass, Foil Shreds, or paper in a nice complimentary color and use matching ribbon.

Cover with cellophane (cheap from a florist in a grocery store or use veil type material from the fabric store. Tie with a matching ribbon to the shreds. I use either Wire edged ribbon or lots of curling ribbon, some shredded curling ribbon (metallic) attached to the centers and all curled and it make a lovely presentation. You can add figurines, flowers, etc. to the baskets and the bows.

When covering your basket make sure the covering material is about 6"
above the basket on either side of the top of the handle or top of the basket and once you have it tied trim the top off evenly or make large upside-down V shaped cuts in the cellophane or veil material. Try several colors of cellophane together or veil materials in colors.

Make sure you have enough items to snuggly fit in basket without having to use tape. Arrange so all items can be seen [small items on top of large items.]Make sure items do not hang over edges of basket. Measure amount of shrink-wrap needed by placing basket on wrap, and then cut to size [pull up sides of wrap, leave 2-3 "on top]. Trim excess amount off. Lay wrap flat again, pull up 1 side at a time. Secure each side with min. amount of CLEAR tape. When all sides are up, rearrange slightly so creases/seams are onsides. Wrap tape or ribbon tightly around top. Fan out top excess [can trim down].
Proceed to shrink-wrap [use the kind that works with hairdryers].
Decorate with bow or curls. Sounds hard but gets easy after practice!

[b]I know how to make the puffs. Remember how we used to make flowers out of tissues? You need 1/4 yard of nylon net, fold it over to make an 8-inch wide strip. Remember, netting is very wide, so you will have enough. Now fold it in a fan pleat until all is folded up into it. Tie it first with strong string and then wrap the cord you want to use to hang it. Now take your scissors and start to cut through all the folds on the sides. Be sure to get the all. Then start and pull the layers apart and make a flower. Work from the top and the bottom to make a complete ball. When you are done, trim the edges to make the even. And voila! you have a new puff. Takes about 10 minutes. These puffs are the greatest to wash dishes with, scrub a bathtub, car tires, etc.

-OR-

I don't know if you crochet; I do very little of it, so am no expert.
I have made numerous scrubbers, though.

Start with nylon net. I make my pieces about 6" wide; any narrower strips, and you don't get enough bulk to do the 'job'.

I begin with about 5 chain stitches; then just join the ends, and continue with a double crochet in each one. You have to use your own judgment; sometimes if the 'circle' starts to 'pull in' to the center, you need to add a chain stitch to 'ease' it out.

Just continue to crochet round and round until you get it to the size you want, then what I do is to tie a knot, leaving a good 5" or so of the strip of net. Just take your crochet hook and weave this extra strip in and out- you won't have any 'loose ends' when done.

These pads seem to never wear out! When the pad becomes soiled, you can put it in your washing machine; or if it is extra dirty, just put a little bleach and water in a cereal bowl and let the pad soak a few minutes. You'll end up with a white pad, but it's still useable.

Easy Decal Gift Soaps:

Materials needed :
purchased bar soap with flat surface,
package of paraffin wax,
cutout pattern or picture from wrapping paper,
a double boiler.

Wet surface of pattern and soap with a drop or so of water.
Rub soap with your finger. Place cut out on soap and smooth down. Melt wax in double boiler.
Dip soap, decal side down into melted wax.
(Careful not to dip your fingers. )

Place face up on paper towel.
The wax will dry almost instantly.
Beautiful Custom Soaps for pennies!

Jolie Rouge · 07-11-2002, 02:21 AM

A box made from decorative paper is an easy way to present a small gift - - and a great way to use those leftover pieces of scrapbooking paper or gift wrap.

These boxes are light-as-a-feather and would make really cute ornaments for a tree or a wreath too.

MATERIALS
2 (6-1/2" x 8-1/8" squares of gift-wrap paper)
Tacky glue
Ribbon or yarn
Package toppers - charms, silk flowers, pom poms
Ribbon or yarn (Adornaments™ are our choice!)

INSTRUCTIONS
1. For small box top, center and draw a 2-1/2" square on wrong side of 6-1/2" gift-wrap square, as shown in Diagram 1 - click for diagrams. For larger box top, center and draw a 2-7/8" square on wrong side of 8-1/8" gift wrap square.

2.Referring to Diagram 1, label corners A, B, C, and D and center square E as shown. Fold each corner in to meet at center of E (see Diagram 2). Crease all folds for a crisp edge. Fold top and bottom edges in to meet at center (see Diagram 3). Fold side edges in to meet at center. Unfold paper. Referring to Diagram 1, cut along broken lines only. Do not cut into center square E. Label flaps f, g, h, and i as shown.

3. Refold corners A and C to center. Fold each edge up, forming 2 sides of box and overlapping flaps f and g (see Diagram 4). Use a dab of glue to hold flaps together. Fold in flaps h and i and use a drop of glue to secure (see Diagram 5). Refold corners B and D to center to complete box top (see Diagram 6). Use a dab of glue to hold.

4. For box bottom, trim 1/8" from each edge of gift-wrap square and repeat steps 1 and 2.

5. And, if you have any energy left after following these instructions -- [just kidding!] -- decorate box as desired!

Jolie Rouge · 07-11-2002, 12:47 PM

A cute ornament:

Empty film canister 35 mm
Large green pom pom.

Glue into top of canister.
Glue lid loosely to top of pom pom and back edge of canister.
Glue moving eyes and small red pom pom to front of green pom pom. You now have an Oscar the Grouch put a magnet on it and use if for a fridge decorations

Make Your Family the Star ~~ by Uchida
This easy project will make your family pictures the envy of everyone
who sees them. http://www.myfree.com/r/UCH/UCH0030.asp

SHINING STARS

Designed by: Debby Carter
Crafting time for place mat: 1 Hour
Skill level: Easy

MATERIALS:
Square terra cotta pot with bottom
MARVY® Garde'n'Craft Markers - item #410 red, white and blue
MARVY® Giga Craft Punch - item #GCP 2
MARVY® Mega Craft Punch - item #MGCP 2
MARVY® Super Jumbo Craft Punch - item #SCP 2
MARVY® Extra Jumbo Craft Punch - item #EJCP 2
MARVY® Super Jumbo Craft Punch - item #SJCP 59
Floral sticks
Floral tape
Star ornaments
Red, white and blue archival construction paper.
Moss
Square foam

TOOLS:
Scissors
Craft Glue
Pencil
Ruler

HERE'S HOW . . .
Cover work area with plastic or news paper.
First draw even stripes with a pencil on the sides of the terra cotta pot.
Paint in the stripes with red and white Garde'n Craft® markers, making sure each color applied is dry before adding the next color.
Paint the rim blue.
If terra cotta pot has a bottom tray, paint this red, white and blue also.
While pot is drying, punch out various stars in various colors. Also, position your picture and punch it out.
Punch out 2 leaves for each color.
Glue stars according to size (i.e. small to large). Glue picture in center of star. Let glue dry.
Measure floral sticks according to the level you want the stars to be. If your floral stick is a little short, put another stick next to it and adjust the height. Wrap floral sticks with floral tape.
Assemble the stars by gluing each one to each stick. You can make as many as you wish.
Glue the leaves on to the stem. For variation, you can draw veins on the leaves before you glue them. Let glue dry.
While glue is drying, put together the pot by placing foam in side and the moss on top.
Arrange and insert the stems with stars into the pot. Adjust height if needed.
Add star ornament to front to finish pot.

For variations:
- Shift position of stars when gluing to get a flower look.
- Use different color schemes.
- Make it into a center piece for a special occasion.

http://www.uchida.com/projects/crafts/stars1.htm

Jolie Rouge · 07-16-2002, 05:10 PM

I know a craft to make bookmarks in the form of a cross that involves plastic canvas, 1/8" ribbon, big-eyed needles (big enough for the ribbon) and beads. Each bookmark will require 6 feet of ribbon, and the plastic is cut 15 squares wide by 22 squares long. The x's here are the shape of the cross, the letters identify the spaces below.

abcdefghijklmno
A x
B xxx
C xxxxx
D x
E x
F x x x
G xx x xx
H xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I xx x xx
J x x x
K x
L x
M x
N x
O x
P x
Q x
R x
S x
T xxxxx
U xxx
V x

Work is done in a wrapping way, so that when it is complete, except
for the outer edges, no plastic canvas can be seen.

Start at Fh, go to Mh, then to Hh, to secure the ribbon.

Then go in this order, wrapping as you go: Fc, Jm, Gb, In, Ha, Ho, Ib,
Gn, Jc, Fm.

Then go to Hh, then Tj, Cf, Ui, Bg, Vh, Ah, Ug, Bi, Tf, Cj.

To finish, bring the ribbon to space Ig, pass it in back to space Gi,
across to Gg, to Ii.

Then slip the ribbon under the horizontal ribbon at Gh, come up
through Ah.

Slip a bead on the end of the ribbon; tie a knot to secure the bead,
trim the ribbon and you're done. Enjoy!