Posted by blondie16969 on 2008-04-02 14:01:38
Post Subject: Do your part without knitting or sewing
If you don''t want to knit things to donate but you still want to do your part you could always bake treats for the dogs at your local animal shelter. There are tons of recipies online and you can get very crafty in the shapes and decorations. You could decorate leashes and collars for the dogs or cats. There are always so many thing that can be done with animals and too often they get forgotten.
If you like to paint many places that are dedicated to keeping kids off the streets (YMCA, Youth clubs, even Day Cares) are willing to let you paint designs on the windows. I don''t know what kinds of paint you would use for this but I am sure with a little research you could figure it out. You can wash the paint off every few weeks to keep the look fresh.
The elderly always enjoy homemade items. Just about anything you make would be loved. Some places will even allow you to come in and show the residents how to make it themselves.
I recently found a diaper cake that looks like it would be a blast to make. Simple too. Just the cost of a package of diapers and some ribbon and whatever you can think of to add. The local womens shelter or low income hospital would love to get this kind of gift. Or maybe a bunch of creative signs that could be placed on the patients door with a place for the babys name sex and weight. Just remember that a lot of these places have women that don''t speak english as patients so you might want to use spanish or whatever the dominate language is on some signs.
You can decorate picture frames or frame some of your art work and donate it to just about anywhere. Hospitals and other places where there is a lot of time spent waiting are great places to donate if your trying to get your name out as an artist.
Write a childrens book. It is as easy as some tag board folded in half, stapled and some basic crayon drawings and a simple story plot. Doesn''t have to be anything too fancy. Leave it in the play areas of hospitals or health and welfare buildings where many children can enjoy it. A scrapbook of a story of a local child that was sick could be your storyline idea. Kids love textures so go wild.
In all of these ideas be sure to check with the business or organization before spending too much time and money to make sure they will be allowed to accept your crafts. Just take whatever you enjoy doing and apply it to some of these places. It is very easy to do your part. I hope this helped those of you that were looking for ideas. I don''t sew but that doesn't keep me from being creative.
Posted by lindastar on 2004-11-28 22:06:47
Post Subject: Crafternoon, December 5th NYC
Just in case I missed anyone, I thought I'd post. I'm having a crafternoon this Sunday, December 5th, in my Astoria apartment. Please bring a snack to share and something to work on. I'll also have some ornaments available for you to decorate and keep, so if there are any embellishments you'd like to bring, feel free to do so.
PM me for address info, etc. I'm looking foward to seeing everyone!
Posted by CraftyChicaAZ on 2005-03-19 22:16:20
Post Subject: fake easter chocolates
i met this lady that makes fake food from "craoyla's model magic" - it was so cool, she makes donuts and all kinds of calorie free stuff.
http://www.azcentral.com/home/pics/crafty_cov.jpg
for these, you just roll out a piece of it, cut with cookie cutters anduse burnt umber paint (three coats) and then use squeeze paint to decorate! ok, you can't use them but they are still fun to pass out, decorations, etc...
Posted by Maria from Rock Camp on 2005-11-08 12:42:02
Post Subject: The Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls wants *your art*!!
Hey there!
The Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls is having our first annual Rock & Roll Auction Extravaganza on Saturday, December 3rd, 7pm, at the Knitting Factory. We are especially looking for artists to donate arty undies and t-shirts for the auction. Here’s what you can do:
*Go get a pair of cute boy or girl undies (new, please!) or a t-shirt/jersey/button-down of some sort.
*Decorate them in some interesting and unique way- screenprinting, beading, etc. are all encouraged. Feel free to make more than one!
*Donate yr awesome handicraft to us. You might want to make a little label for yr handicrafts, so that folks know how they can order more of yr fabulous unique undies and t-shirts- let ‘em know how they can contact you!
*Yr rad handiwork will hang on a clothesline at the auction, displayed for all to see, fall in love with, and bid on.
*Yr rad handiwork will hang on a clothesline at the auction, displayed for all to see, fall in love with, and bid on.
*Come to our auction to watch yr stuff get auctioned off!
All donations to rock camp are tax-deductible. To get involved in this project, contact me at maria(at)riseup.net or volunteer(at)williemaerockcamp.org. Thanks a ton!!
Love,
The Ladies of the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls
www.williemaerockcamp.org
Posted by ursonate on 2005-10-27 21:51:47
Post Subject: Austin - November Church of Craft
Learn something new at the Church of Craft! At our November 13 meeting I will demonstrate some basic embroidery stitches. Once you learn these stitches, you can combine them to create more elaborate works and decorate items of clothing, linens, etc. This mini-workshop will take place between 3pm and 4pm. If you have them, bring a small embroidery hoop, plain cotton fabric embroidery floss, needles and scissors. Extras from my stash will be available for purchase. In addition, you can bring any craft you'd like share or work on. No experience or special skill is required-just a willingness to hang out and make stuff. Bring a friend or two!
Also The Workshop is getting ready for their annual their holiday shopping event. They have a few opportunities for artists and craftspeople to sell their wares. I did this show last year and had a great time. Hope you all can make it!
More information at http://www.theworkshopaustin.com/events/giftedvendor.php
The mission of the Church of Craft is to promote making and creativity
as a means to be happier and more whole people. Meetings are held the
2nd Sunday of the month. Bring any craft you want, or if you don't
have anything in progress, there are kits and supplies for projects ranging from ceramics and mosaics to beading and beauty products available for purchase at The Workshop.
Sunday, November 13, 2pm-6pm
The Workshop Austin
1211 W. 6th St. Ste. 400
(a few blocks west of Lamar)
Posted by tinstarmerchant on 2005-03-02 14:47:26
Post Subject: To people who revamp old thrift purses- question!
I have some old purses I'd like to decorate with fabric cutouts and stuff and I
need some ideas for a good sealer. The bags are patent or vinyl material. I once used Krylon spray and it was a terrible sticky mess. What do most people use to coat the bag after they decorate it? Also, if I used paint on it, what kind of paint should I use? Do I coat the whole bag or just the decoarated parts? How do I do that?
I'm in a purse swap so I want my bag to look really nice.
Thank you!
Posted by catmorley on 2005-07-15 13:34:30
Post Subject: Sushi Pin Cushions (How To + Photos)
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/sushipin1.jpg
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/sushipin2.jpg
Make yourself some delicious sushi pin cushions. Chopsticks at the ready.
Instructions
-----------------------------
You will need:
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/youneed.jpg
- Felt (in various colours)
- Thread (in matching colours)
- Foam (for stuffing)
- Needle
- Scissors
- Paper (for templates)
- Compass or something circular to draw round.
- Pencil
To make kalamaki sushi:
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/sushi1.jpg
Draw out a circle in the size that you want your sushi to be. Draw out a long strip in the height you want your sushi to be.
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/sushi2.jpg
Cut the templates and fold the strip around the circle. Cut off any length that is not needed on the strip.
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/sushi3.jpg
Using the templates draw out two circles and one strip on to white felt.
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/sushi4.jpg
Cut out the felt shapes.
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/sushi5.jpg
Using thread that matches the colour tack one circle to the strip.
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/sushi6.jpg
Using hemming stitch sew the two pieces together.
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/sushi7.jpg
Sew up the side.
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/sushi8.jpg
Find a piece of foam that will fill the cup you have just made.
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/sushi9.jpg
Now attach the second circle and sew that to the cup.
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/sushi10.jpg
You will end up with this.
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/sushi11.jpg
Now all you need to do is decorate it.
To make this fish sushi:
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/fish1.jpg
Take a square of white felt and some pieces of foam.
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/fish2.jpg
Fold the felt over making sure it fits around the foam.
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/fish3.jpg
Stitch the felt in place and using a hemming stitch sew the felt up the side.
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/fish4.jpg
When you get to the edge, fold in the sides and sew it in place. Repeat this for both ends.
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/fish5.jpg
You will be left with something that looks like this.
http://www.catmorley.com/photos/crafty/sushipincushion/fish6.jpg
Decorate it with other bits of felt to make it look like sushi. I made a little fish out of pink felt
For more of my how to's please check out the crafty section at http://www.brokendoll.co.uk
Posted by kkusnier on 2007-10-04 11:13:25
Post Subject: Reconstructed maternity overalls
I have been going through the maternity stuff again !! I found overalls to make an apron out of. Tutorial link included..
I hope to decorate the apron sometime soon. i am open for any and all ideas!!
Posted by Radica Mirkovic on 2008-08-20 02:52:12
Post Subject:
It is quite different skirt and different constructing! Not easy one.
It can bee easy just to put the buttons on this skirt down the center to decorate it - it looks just like the first one!
Hope to find what are you looking for!
Posted by shelby oli on 2007-03-05 20:15:32
Post Subject: crafty ideas for art fundraiser
Hi crafty folks-
I am helping a friend of mine that works with adults with developmental disabilities come up with craft projects that her clients can sell to raise funds for their art program. So far, I have thought of bird baths created from terra cotta pots that the clients can paint and decorate, bottle cap magnets, and toad abodes (essentially a clay pot turned upside down and decorated). We are trying to do Spring like things because that is when they will be selling them. Perhaps we could also help them decorate some greeting cards to sell.
Do any of you have any great ideas? I need to keep it relatively simple as I don't know the abilities of the individuals and I believe we only have 2 hours to complete the projects. Maybe more, but I am not certain.
Posted by FeltClub on 2006-11-28 03:51:45
Post Subject: Los Angeles - FELT CLUB: XL Holiday event, DECEMBER 9
http://www.feltclub.com/blog/forum.jpg
Avoid the mall and shop handmade this holiday season!
FELT CLUB: XL Holiday
SAT, DECEMBER 9, 12-7pm
@ the Ukrainian Cultural Center
4315 Melrose Ave. (@ Heliotrope, 2 blocks off Vermont)
LA CA 90029
http://www.feltclub.com
Join 70+ independent artists, crafters, and designers from SoCal and beyond who'll show off their latest and greatest handmade goodies for your holiday-shopping pleasure!
The first 250 visitors will be treated to swag bags full of magazines, coupons, buttons, samples from our sponsors and other fun treats. Visitors will enjoy veggie-friendly treats, in addition to happy shopping tunes from our DJs Dirty Robot and Lance Rock.
PLUS killer raffle prizes from cool peeps like The Little Knittery, Libby's Vintage Home & Garden, Rhino Records, Sublime Stitching, and many more.
Last but not least, the Editors of CRAFT magazine (http://www.craftzine.com) will be running our Craft: Room, helping visitors decorate holiday stockings, make ornaments, and more. Best of all, the whole thing is free, baby, FREE!
For more info, or to check out our vendor gallery, please visit: http://www.feltclub.com
To see previews of our raffle prizes and such, check out our Flickr group (updated regularly!): http://flickr.com/groups/feltclub/pool/
Posted by anthrogirl on 2006-11-09 10:57:54
Post Subject:
You've come to the right place.
First, the kids. You might want to put white paper with crayons on their table, and let them draw on it while getting ready for dinner. That will keep them busy. You can also give them brown paper, construction paper, a stapler and safety scissors so that they can make 'hand' turkeys to decorate the table. The grandparents can assist them. Everyone's name can be written on the turkeys, so they can also serves as place holders.
For decorations- you can fill little baskets with candy corn and decorate the basket handles with curling ribbon in brown, orange and yellow. You can also put tiny pumpkins next to each place setting, or use a larger hollowed-out pumpkin with an bowl in it as an impromptu soup tureen.
If you take rounds or squares of construction paper in Thanksgiving colors, turn them into cones (you can even layer the colors and shapes) and decorate the edges with a thin line of glue and some glitter. fill each finished one with candy (candy corn, little chocolate pumpkins, and maybe even a small toy or two). Make one for each guest and put them on the plates as favors to take home.
For the main table, you can buy inexpensive fabric that's about a foot to a foot and a half wide and use it as a runner down the center of the table. If you get two pieces in different widths and colors (or textures) layer them so you get a color contrast. You can drape the chairs too- which is a good idea with children anyway.
And finally, if you want to keep the kids busy, you can hide small pumpkins somewhere in the house or in the backyard and send the kids on a pumpkin hunt. The kids who finds the most pumpkins gets a prize, or gets to be king or queen of the the table and wear a crown during dinner.
Posted by DJules on 2006-06-30 09:13:43
Post Subject:
That looks fabulous! We had a table kind of like that in the basement when I was a kid - but it didn't have the awesome paint-and-decorate job that yours does now! :)
Posted by cackalackie on 2004-09-30 09:48:40
Post Subject: Crafting with candy
I love colorful Christmas candy - especially the old-fashioned kind. But the last time I tried to decorate with it (one thing I did was place it in glass mason jars around pillar candles), it had attracted a multitude of bugs before the Christmas season was over.
I was wondering if I could shellac it. Does anyone know - or have other ideas, either for "protecting" candy or for crafting with it?
Posted by Miss M on 2004-10-21 09:06:17
Post Subject:
do you mean how to make the pages so you can slide in the photos? What about that foam stuff? I think you can buy it by the sheet at any craft store(Michaels, Hobby Lobby). Cut to size(like a frame), adhere to page leaving one side open to slide photo in, bind like a book. Actually, binding at the top so it flips open might work better. Or maybe you can just use precut mats from the framing dept, but those might be a bit costly. Maybe make your own out of heavy cardstock?
Either way, you could then write something meaningful or decorate however you wish. I'm not sure about that foam stuff - I've never used it.
Good luck!
Posted by lizzymahoney on 2005-01-20 23:58:19
Post Subject:
I've broken or snipped off the backs of screwback earrings before. There are all kinds of ways they are made, so you might be able to break at a glue line or rivet or may have to snip it off close to that point. Then you might be able to glue a pinback to it, but if it's an irregular surface, you might want to use a double stick foam tape to even it out. Some plastic ID badges will have the pinback mounted with that tape.
I've also broken off just the screw part and kept the hook that would go under the earlobe and up to the screw in back. That part on silver earrings would make a fat french wire kind of earring, also could be used as a jump ring or loop to hold a dangle of some kind.
It all depends on just what the earring looks like and how it is made.
Some would be great to hold scarves or to decorate the top of plain pumps.
Posted by msfish on 2005-11-23 10:09:09
Post Subject: Any pumpkin pie ninjas out there? Share your moves!
For one reason or another, I've become the pumpkin pie lady at our yearly T-Giv potluck with friends. My version is fairly standard - it's essentially the recipe from the back of Libby pumpkin puree (with a little tweaking in spice proportions) tucked into a graham cracker crust.
I'd like to jazz it up this year (maybe add some masala chai spice to the filling, perhaps decorate the top with some kind of sprinkle or shaving - hey, maybe throw in some cayenne for secret heat), but I don't want to go crazy and spook the pie fans. If any of you have pumpkin pie tricks up your sleeves, I'd love to hear 'em!
Posted by craftytricks on 2005-04-15 00:22:02
Post Subject:
Make your own afikomen holder out of felt and puffy paint. Make/decorate pillows for "lounging" at the table. Make flourless chocolate cupcakes. Draw pictures of various parts of the Passover story.
I love Passover, I think because of the tasty festive meal!
Posted by PamTheQueen on 2004-09-20 16:55:32
Post Subject: Brag (again!): New Job #2!
How dare I post two brags within one week! :)
After volunteering my DJ services to the Boys and Girls Club for over 8 years, I was hired today to teach arts and crafts after school. What is weird about this is that I just had a dream this weekend that I had a craft show at their new gym annex!!!!!! *start Twilight Zone music*
It doesn't pay much and I plan to just put the money back into the club for the supplies I will need. They have the regular types of supplies like schools get(glue, construction paper, crayons, markers, etc), but I plan to turn the place upside down with more fun, hip crafts. My biggest thrill is that I get to have a bulletin board or two to decorate!!!! I haven't done that since I taught preschool! Title of my first bulletin board design: "Get Crafty!!!"
So I have my new coffee house job 3 hours a day 3 times a week or so and then from 3-6 I teach arts and crafts! Oh, and let me not forget my DJ gigs on the weekends! Haha! I'll never complain I am bored off my butt again!
I start Wednesday, so I need to come up with projects for this week and then Friday I need to turn in my plan for the next week.
Posted by girlsavage on 2005-09-29 10:41:34
Post Subject:
My mom used to cut the egg cartons in half and glue them together to make catapillars for us to paint and decorate. We aslo cut and re-glued them in shorter sections to make snowmen to decorate! We used to have lots of craft time!:)
Posted by CraftinFool on 2004-07-23 10:21:25
Post Subject:
What about making "grow-your-own herbs" kits that people can use to make mini herb gardens in their kitchen? She could get pots and soil in bulk and make baggies of soil, and include seed packets, and then paint or otherwise decorate the pots. She could even make little stakes to identify the pots of hers - I handpainted some one year using those little wooden things that look like the hoodsie cup sticks. The only thing is you would want fresh seeds b/c old seeds would then be super old by xmas.
Another idea is decorated photo frames.
Or if she sews, scented eye pillows are always popular. There are tons of pattens out there - most use lavender and hops for the herbs.
Posted by E. Bess on 2004-12-15 17:19:31
Post Subject: Cigar box decor
Picked up a cigar box at a tobacco store and would love to decorate it for my boyfriend for Christmas. Any ideas? Has anyone ever decoupaged a cigar box before?
Posted by sknobel00 on 2007-11-19 19:47:51
Post Subject: In desperate need of an amazing 28th bday party idea
Ok
So my lovely BF is turning 28th and her style is very anthropolgie meets the english countryside and I have no idea how to decorate/ create a theme for a bday right up her alley....
Posted by elle oh elle on 2006-07-01 15:41:11
Post Subject: nontoxic glue?
i am trying to decorate my mouthguard (made of plastic). (i just made the roller derby team here in memphis!) and i want it to be a "fake grill" of sorts. i need to know if there is some sort of way that i can "glue" or attach some stones of some sort to this mouthguard? are there any types of glue out there which are strong enough, but also non-toxic? i don't wanna poison myself, nor do i want the stones to come off into my mouth.
Posted by acebeader on 2005-02-01 15:15:34
Post Subject:
One thing I am doing for my fiance is decorating one of those brown, paper mache, heart shape boxes. I'll probably paint it red, and just decorate it like crazy. I am thinking she might like something like that better than a shoe box.
Posted by craftfetish on 2007-11-27 13:59:06
Post Subject:
Completed craft gift ideas:
Knit cap (toboggan caps are nice if he will have chemo, or just because teenage boys seem to wear them about)
Hot water bottle cover (or a heating pad cover - whatever is appropriate for whatever may be sore) - along that line, since it is his knee - you might be able to make a sock type thing that he could use to hold an ice pack or a heat pack in place
A lap blanket/afghan/regular blanket
You could use freezer paper stencils or an iron on transfer or something to decorate a tshirt - you could look for Celtic or Egyptian or Asian (or whatever moves you) symbols of healing or protection?
On a similar note, you could decorate a tote bag to house magazines/comics books/and various distractions when he goes for treatment or has limited mobility. You could use healing images or go with something snarky (a la "cancer sucks")
A journal (I think that documenting his experience can be healing and beneficial, but "journaling" may be a tough sell for a teenage boy. I'd go with a more tongue in cheek "long list of reasons my oncologist is evil" type design)
Ideas for crafts for him to do:
If he has ongoing treatments or needs to recover from surgery or something, he may be looking for things to keep him occupied.
Knitting or crochet could be a good option if you can find some manly yarns and patterns. I'm picturing hemp bags, amigurumi monsters and skully caps.
If he has patience for fine details, a how-to book, an exacto knife and some papers to get him started on Chinese Cut-Paper designs or making his own pop-up books.
Origami would be a good one too.
If he embraces the "it could be worse" philospohy, he might like making hats or blankets or prayer flags or other items for a charity or other sick kids.
That's all I can think of at the moment - let us know what you decide. And best of luck to your cousin.
Posted by lilyblue on 2004-10-04 01:49:08
Post Subject:
I saw this magazine today and it may appeal to anyone who remembers and loved Living Room magazine. That is because it was also a Better Homes & Gardens production and it has the same feel.
As for being competition for Budget Living, I don't think so. It was heavily focused on decorating with a single article on entertaining. I liked it and may pick it up in the coming weeks, but I just hope it sticks around. I have to say that I liked some of the projects and articles. One of the articles was on what you could pick up at the hardware store to decorate your place. Things like hemp rope and drop cloths.
There was also an article about how someone spent $1000 dollars to fix up their home.
This was all on a cursory look today. When I pick it up from the bookstore, I will give a further review.
Posted by craftslady on 2007-01-24 01:24:48
Post Subject: I am a new member and wanted to say hi
Hello everyone,
My name is Debbie. I just joined the forum, and have been having the best time reading all the posts. Crafts are my passion. I have loved making things since I was a little girl. I am also a home biz entrepreneur. I love the thought of being creative and making things that others would want to buy. These days I have taken my love of crafts and have created a crafts home-small biz community to perhaps be of service to crafters who have crafts biz websites.
I love crochet, and other needlecrafts, and making things to decorate my home. I have in the past sold what I made on consignment, in local boutiques. I am so excited to be in a community of crafters.
Posted by KittenHasAWhip on 2004-06-02 01:13:42
Post Subject:
What I used to do as graduation gifts for my friends was to buy a photo album, you know the kind with the plastic pages that would hold two or three photos each in their own little slot? They're available pretty much everywhere, they should be at all generic craft stores & also places like Wal-Mart & Target. Anyways, since I never had enough photos to fill a whole album I'd scatter the pictures throughout the album then in the empty spots I'd use index cards and decorate them & write interesting quotes or bits of poetry on them & then if they were good friends I'd include a disposable camera with the album so that maybe one day they will have enough photos to fill the album with :) Just a thought. Or you could buy a plain wooden picture frame & paint it & decorate it with a graduation theme or some other them your brother likes.
Posted by telelinda on 2004-08-19 14:41:52
Post Subject: help me
i have an old, sanded-down nightstand that I'd really like to decorate with a collage of pictures. my question is, what should i seal the photos with that will be long lasting and wont damage them? please help!
Posted by Nutmeg on 2005-03-01 11:39:40
Post Subject:
A diamond drill bit works best - you might be able to find them at HD or another home improvement store. (around $10) They are also available thru Harbor Freight tho I've heard a lot of people are frustrated with their shipping time and rates. The bit should be at least 1" dia and as you're drilling you need to keep the bit and the glass block lubricated (water is fine) to keep the drill and glass from getting too hot and breaking. I have used a masonry bit but it took a long time that way. There's a variery of ways to decorate them. Some use a Xyron and run their graphics thru on the 1-sided adhesive cartridge and adhere that way. Some paint their designs on (wish I had that type of talent, but alas, not in this lifetime!!) Some use stickers, I use rub-ons (those things are miracle materials for me Heh heh). I also sponge a coat of acrylic paint all over the block to help cover up the sight of the light cord inside the block. If you can find lights with the white cord, you might not have to do this. Depending on the size of the block, 20 or 35 count light strings are fine and don't get too hot. As a finish, I spray an acrylic sealer - several coats. If you want to decorate both sides of the block, you can drill the hole in one side and use those flat glass marbles (used in floral arranging) as feet on the bottom so the cord doesn't get pinched by the weight of the block. You can also add a ribbon around the edges (or raffia) and tie a bow on the top or add other embellishments. I used grape bunches for a wine themed block, or a rattle and "B-A-B-Y" blocks for a babies room nightlight.
HTH If there's anything else I can help with let me know.
Nutmeg
Posted by pinguino on 2005-11-17 12:59:57
Post Subject:
youre probably fine cutting those up.
most comic book stores have dollar bins and even 50cent sales so if you want to use comic art to decorate with, id go in and check those out. in the late 90s a lot of publishers were experimenting with different printing types so theres a lot of foily covers in there too.
Posted by craftfetish on 2006-09-29 14:23:52
Post Subject:
For holiday favors, you could make decorative candle wraps. Buy cheapo votive cups and tea lights at the craft store. You can decorate them however you want.
I have used a decorative holiday hole punch through some vellum secured with wire before.
You could also decoupage. Or I've seen some cool things with beads and wire knitting.
Posted by sylviee on 2006-04-05 14:33:36
Post Subject: Baby Shower Help!
I am planning a craft activity for my bfs mellow coed baby shower-she is not into cutsey. I was thinking of buying a bunch of bibs and having people use stamps to decorate them with. Any other suggestions would be great and any ideas of where to order or get low cost bibs-I live in brooklyn-Thank you!
Posted by TeriH on 2006-09-29 12:06:34
Post Subject:
Hi,
Have you thought about 'altered books'? You can buy either a second hand book or use an old empty journal.
Paste 5 to 10 pages together at a time. Add collage pictures, photographs, magazine cutouts. Use watercolor paint washes, ink washes, computer printed words, fabrics, fibres.
I guess it's a bit like scrapbooking but all you need are scissors, ink or paints, and a stash of bits and pieces.
Here's a few links
http://www.littlebit.com/ab/alteredmain.htm
http://www.creativity-portal.com/howto/artscrafts/altered.books.html
As for party favors, could you do something foody like ginger sugar cookies in christmas shapes and decorate with red, green and white ready to use icing.
Or what about these two glittery ornaments
http://joann.com/content/projects/projectsDisplay.jhtml?articlePath=%2Fcontent%2Fprojects%2Fstatic%2Fmaking_spirits%2Fsnowflake_ornaments.jhtml&CATID=25284
http://joann.com/content/projects/projectsDisplay.jhtml?articlePath=%2Fcontent%2Fprojects%2Fstatic%2Fmaking_spirits%2Fjeweled_fruit.jhtml&CATID=25284
Posted by actiongirl on 2004-09-17 05:15:04
Post Subject: Evil landlords
I had a similar problem with a landlady who withheld part of a deposit because she said she needed the money to decorate - we hadn't agreed to decorate or anything, she just felt like spending our money on it instead of hers. Having had a problem with a landlord not returning any deposit for no reason (and threatening my then partner physically for asking for it) I got very depressed and didn't want to get any worse by chasing it up. Technically you can chase landlords through the Small Claims Court so if you have the time and energy it may be worth seeing your local Citizens' Advice Bureau for free advice about this.
The good news is that the UK govt is bringing in a new system whereby deposits will be held centrally and there will be a body to appeal to in cases of disputes. This can't come soon enough for me! Unfortunately they don't seem to be in any hurry.
At the moment I am just avoiding moving because I can't face being ripped off with impunity any more and the longer you live in one place the less of a loss your deposit is (ie if you live somewhere for 6 months and end up paying 7 months' rent it's proportionally worse than living there for 18 and paying 19 months' rent!)
Posted by canary on 2005-06-07 10:31:46
Post Subject:
2 years is wonderful, jay! You could craft something that has meaning to both of you; for instance if you met at a ballgame you could create a memorabilia with a football and a photo. If you share a passion for music or wine you could decorate wine glasses with song notes (depending on your craft talents) If you're short on time, and you have the $$ you could find something he'd like and personalize it with initals. A throw blanket, a key chain, a frisbee! why not??
Posted by red.harbinger on 2007-10-08 02:09:09
Post Subject:
I don't know of anything to try. I wish I did.
If you don't find a way to do that, may I suggest taking a really good photo of the sand, as has already been mentioned, and enlarge it, frame it. Then pour the sand in a pretty jar and decorate the jar...after all, it's now *sacred* sand...you could make a shrine of sorts.
Posted by Anitas_Stuff on 2007-01-19 06:07:48
Post Subject:
What a wonderful space to work with! If you could replace the sink counter, I don't think you would notice the tile accents as much and you could down play the mauve with other colors. Honestly you could do most of the counter work yourselves. Check out classes at your local home stores.
I would go with a green either a light Mint or a Sage green which ever one you like. I agree about the Chocolate brown if you did want to go with browns go with more of a taupe or tan. Since you already have such lush plants, I would decorate with tropcial print fabrics and wall decorations. Either Rattan, Bamboo or Wicker shelves and such. Use lots of different colors as accents then the mauve would just become a color accent instead of one of the main colors.
Good luck and I hope you share a picture when you have completed decorating!
Posted by thompsonjulie on 2004-08-26 21:50:33
Post Subject: sheet curtains
For real drama and to hide the thriftiness of white sheets-buy a roll of colored ribbon (if you like color) or a roll of clear fishing line...
hang the sheet from the ceiling with s-hooks (by tying the ribbon or line from the s-hook to the top of the sheet) and with a needle run the ribbon or fishing line in verticle stripes down the sheet using loose gather stitches. This will create a gather in the fabric and make the sheet slightly poofy as to disguise its original purpose...it also makes any length you need...decorate as desired...
Posted by anthrogirl on 2006-11-02 13:48:35
Post Subject: Making the ordinary beautiful
You might call this a continuation of several threads that have been going on.
I thought about why the ' this ain't your grandma's ____' statement bothers me. And I finally figured it out.
My husband and I were both collectors. He loved old electrical equipment. I love old kitchen items. However, I kept most of my collecting to a minimum. Every once in a while though, we'd be in upstate NY, and I'd see wonderfully embroidered items. What I loved about them is that even though they were kitschy, they were useful. They reminded me of a quilt I own that was made by my paternal great-great grandmother, in that some anonymous woman had tried to make her world a little bit more pretty.
The other day I was on line looking up infor for the Charity Project here, and saw a site that sells dishcloth embroidery pattern- several were for 'mammy' stuff. Now, a few years ago, I would have gotten offended. But a few years ago I wasn't trying to decorate my kitchen 1930s style, I wasn't channelling my dead maternal grandmother who had tons of those kitschy kitchen items, and I wasn't as appreciative of both the irony and reclamation of black history by having these items. And as I was figuring out which pattern I had to have, the whole thing came together in my head. On both sides of my family I come from crafters. Both my mother and father are handy. My grandparents, great grandparents, and who knows how many generations back were handy. Unlike many members of the new craft revolution, I didn't grow up on frozen dinners and ready-made items. I also didn't grow up with badly made craft items like the ones associated with thrift shops. No one in my family ever made tie-dyed vests during the 60s- they were all busy putting food on the table and going to marches.
But as I looked at the 'mammyware', I fell in love, but not for the simple kitsch value. My favorite towel pattern was one marked 'Sunday', in which the woman was resting by reading. Except for the bandanna, she was me.
Now I happen to be a great lover of art, but I also know art is where you find it. Art can be found in an artisanship of craft that tries to make everyday objects more beautiful, particularly ina bleak world. Up until a few days ago I didn't really undeerstand why my grandmother, the descendent of slaves, would have wanted mammy and pappy spice shakers, but now I know that in her world, they were the only portraits of herself and the people she knew that were real. When she was born on a remote farm, there was no radio, no tv, no anything- even Jesus was white. but happy, smiling black people? She could relate to them. On my father's side, there was nothing kitschy about making a quilt. It was real, and it was the only inheritance a woman had to give. These things weren't sleepaway camp projects, or items made for a jumble sale, or a way of recycling junk. They encapsulated a world, a world in which poor people with very little made do, but also made what they had into decorative objects within a relatively small vernacular. The real question isn't whether making a handbag out of popcicle sticks is ironic or not (and what is the irony, anyway, since women have been crafting bags out of such objects for quite a while); for me, the question is how I can use crafting as a way of channelling my ancestors and honoring them, while at the same time, making something beautiful and potentially lasting. If I can use old techniques to make new things but still, in a tiny way, address the ways in which women's work is often deemed irrelevent even when it is sometimes the only way to leave behind an historical and cultural record that matters, then I don't have to feel superior to my grandmothers. Instead of making something to please my momentary whim for the hip, the quaint, the unusual, and the bizarre, I can create gifts for my virtual granddaughters and grandsons that will show how my generation defined itself. The real irony will be when the mammy dishtowel kit arrives and I start sewing it, but imbue those pictures with a different meaning because the woman doing it will be a well-educated granddaughter of black tenant farmers on one side, and of black people who somehow came to own property in South Carolina in the 1910s, on the other. Why? Because on that Sunday dish towel, Mammy will be reading a book with an embroidered title by Zora Neale Hurston, the first black anthropologist.
So my question is, what have you made, or will you make, to create a more beautiful and lasting world for yourself?
Posted by Miss M on 2005-03-02 08:28:48
Post Subject:
you can use that tulip brand paint that is normally used for tshirts to decorate plastic frames and, I would imagine plexi as well. I used to use it for those cheapie frames all the time. It's the kind that you cut off the tip and the squeeze out the paint. Remember puffy paint? Same concept. They have about a million different kinds now - pearlized, etc. and it gives a nice 3D effect without being too hard to use. here's a link-> http://www.munrocrafts.com/tulip.html
hope this helps!
Posted by storyhabit on 2004-09-12 20:06:05
Post Subject:
Hi, Libby!
Welcome! I'm kind of new myself. I used to post on Get Crafty's old forum, Glitter, but took a break for a long while and now I'm BACK with a new name. :) I can tell you right now that this is so fun. I used to stay up late in my dormroom reading threads instead of doing my homework! The people here are so funny and inspiring.
So, Florida, bless your heart - have you had to evacuate now for, what, the 3rd time? Or was Orlando safe? If you ever need to flee west, Austin TX (my town) makes for a divine hideaway...
I am trying to gain a green thumb myself. Something on a small scale though, like potted herbs I can keep in the windowsill. In the meantime I write and relentlessly decorate the apartment.
Hope I get to read more of your posts in the future. Ciao!
Posted by kitchensqueen on 2006-09-08 09:23:22
Post Subject:
What about decoupage plaques? You could do them in any theme-- I saw some neat ones in Ready Made magazine (I think) that were decoupaged with pictures of deer and forests and such and used to decorate a cabin-themed room.
Posted by smudgy_cat on 2006-11-23 02:11:34
Post Subject:
you could fill them with parafin wax and sawdust/rolled up cardboard and make fire starters. You could decorate the outside with tissue paper to look like the christmas crackers.
you could also glue a bottom to them, then do some sort of fabric/paper wrap and use it as a box for a present.
depending on how sturdy they are, you could drill holes in the tube and crochet through the holes and make....something....
Posted by brdgt on 2005-06-01 08:12:19
Post Subject:
I have been totally spring cleaning and "nesting" lately. We moved here last fall and I started grad school right away. I never had time to decorate or even fully unpack, and now I'm having a blast making curtains, figuring out storage ideas, and doing little touches.
I'm going room by room, first the front porch, which had become like a closet, is now the "music room" with a bookshelf with all of our music related books, our record collection, our extra stereo and some comfy chairs.
I just finished up the bathroom by making some new curtains and a skirt for the sink (it's one of those with exposed pipes underneath rather than a cupboard) and found a great little shelf/basket contraption to put underneath now.
Next is the bedroom, I need to find a thrift store low bureau, a side table for the rocking chair and put up the quilt rack over the bed.
Handily I have the deadline of late June to get stuff done because my mother and father-in-law will be staying with us then!
*ETA* Damn you! After posting this I got the cleaning bug and have been going through each room top to bottom!
Posted by Anonymous on 2005-09-20 20:01:50
Post Subject:
I have 2 staples for quick and easy/inexpensive gifts:
1. I decoupage something like personalized bookmarks
2. No-sew lavender sachets:
Cut out 2 5X5 squares of fabric. Use pinking shears on the edges so they don't fray. Glue 3 sides together with fabric glue and fill the open side with lavender. Seal the 4th side. Then you can decorate them with beads, ribbon, or whatever.
My favorite place to order lavender is www.save-on-crafts.com
Posted by canary on 2005-11-06 17:29:22
Post Subject: country crafts gone Middle Earth
feedback or comments on my etsy shop?
http://wildwood.etsy.com
the concept is to find unfinished wood crafts from thrift stores, etc. and decorate them or create something new with wood burning and painting. Ive only been doing this craft for a few months, and it's not the traditional woodburning with realistic images of wolf, indian, etc. I was quite surprised to find out that those custom woodburnings can cost about $60 - 100.
I also paint animals on rocks, seems to appeal to alot of people.
My family and friends have been giving me their advice; but now I'm starting to doubt if this is worthwhile. Should I give in to the woodburning market and create portraits in the traditional style and format???
Posted by h_pets360 on 2005-02-18 05:52:06
Post Subject:
thanks.
yeah, i'm interested to see how it'll turn out too ;)
i've got a million ways in my head to decorate it, but to make it hella sturdy is another story.
thanks!
Posted by rissaroo on 2005-06-30 18:43:24
Post Subject:
i would say it's never too late. you could have some sort of craft activity that revolves around health/thankfulness. Let her know you are thankful she is in your life. Take polariods and decorate picture frames, make lots of yummy soups, fruit, fresh bread. Make or buy some girly comforting things like soaps, candles, cool coffee mugs, fancy tea, etc. Have them as prizes that you award for games or skits reenacting a favorite moment in your friendship, or just do one of those pick a present, pass it around type of gift exchange things.
if thats too sentimental, then the snowball nipples mentioned above sound like wicked campy fun!!
Posted by CraftyChicaAZ on 2004-08-03 01:28:35
Post Subject:
I've always wanted to do a painted toilet seat cover for my craft column, but I'm afraid our newspaper readers would freak out!! In the meantime I want to decorate the ones in my house!
Posted by annieduncan on 2004-06-18 16:22:36
Post Subject: not very pretty, but
where in mass. are you moving? i'm in the pioneer vally and there are tons of tag sales and a flea market every sunday.
my mom use to have a desk that was just a piece of plywood between 2 file cabinets. or you could use crates (on their sides for storage) for the supports. you can paint and decorate teh plyood so it's not so drab. maybe a nice pompom fringe.
Posted by cherriesontop on 2004-10-10 14:34:29
Post Subject: crash and burned
o man have i ever crashed AND burned this time...
i am very sensitive about my weight and watch it most of the time. well this whole week i have been eating horruibly but i didnt gain much but THEN on friday while helping my cousin decorate the place where her recepition was being held we ordered chinese food. i blew and ate about 3 platefuls. then on saturday (wedding day) i ate SO much at her potluck reception. then today at her buffet brunch i ate liken there was no tommorow. aih yi yi.
what should i do? im sure i gained alot. i can just see my self esteem plumeting....
Posted by soapandwater on 2004-07-05 09:40:31
Post Subject:
When these things are done right, they're so cool! I've never done that, but I have a lot of friends in photography, and they've done just about the coolest stuff with it. What's good is being able to decorate the picture how you want after you do the lift. I have a friend who was heavy into feathers/sparkles/sequines/glitter. It was just great.
Posted by Chloe01383 on 2005-10-22 22:03:51
Post Subject: Office cubicle
I just started a new job last week and I have a nice sized office cubicle I just wanted any funky and cool ideas of how i could decorate it and put my personal touch on it. So any ideas would be great!!
Posted by PamTheQueen on 2004-08-03 14:21:47
Post Subject:
I've always wanted to do a painted toilet seat cover for my craft column, but I'm afraid our newspaper readers would freak out!! In the meantime I want to decorate the ones in my house!
That would be awesome! Why would others freak out? Is it taboo to put a toilet seat cover in the newspaper? I think anything you could to do spiffy up a seat cover would far outweigh the prudes who will get all wrinkly over it!
Paint the toilet seat while you are at it! Your funky colorful designs would be perfect for our toilet seats used (and peed on) by three boys. White just sucks with kids with bad aim!
Posted by shmoodlemyster on 2004-06-08 18:12:19
Post Subject: glittery computers
hi,
I'm new here. I was wondering if anybody knew how to stick rhinestones onto things other then fabric. things like plastic and metal. I want to decorate my cell phone's faceplate, like the ones on www.jennyzny.com. if that works out, then i'd also like to try doing it on my comp. should i just use the regular fabric-y glue?
Posted by kindarana on 2006-12-09 20:35:04
Post Subject: Pens they can't steal...
Putting giant flowers on pens and then wrapping them in floral tape is great for Girl Scouts. I teach Earth Science and Life Science to middle schoolers and have been losing pens by the fistful; the hope is that with a giant flower on top the kids might not steal them.
Any ideas on what else I could use to make my pens obviously mine? I was thinking of using the really light Crayola foam clay to make fake rock toppers.
I also have some rotate-the-bottom mechanical pencils that I'd want to decorate too, but I want to keep the eraser top accessible. Maybe fringe?
Posted by pinkangel on 2007-05-09 08:02:26
Post Subject: Decorate your bra contest!
Hello crafty peeps!
Take a bra, any bra, everyone’s got one lurking in the back of their underwear drawer that they never wear any more. Then decorate it any which way you wish- dye it, cover it in flowers, ribbons, sequins or whatever you can think of. Be inventive & imaginative.
Later this month I'm taking part in the London Playtex MoonWalk which is in aid of breast cancer charities. The 15,000 participants wear decorated bras as they walk 26.2 miles through the night. This gave me the idea to run the contest on my blog. Full entry details can be seen here.
I'm putting together a box of handmade goodies as the prize so if you'd like to donate anything, let me know. Send me a message, reply here or leave a comment on my blog if you have any questions.
Posted by Static on 2006-09-02 20:16:27
Post Subject:
I really like those boards with ribbons on them to use as a really mobile cork-board or to display pictures, recently I read about a DIY project with plexiglass. They just took a 2ft. x 2ft. sheet of plexiglass in whatever color (or you could paint or decorate the back of a clear sheet) and then took those easel rubber bands that artists use and just stretch the rubber bands around the glass in a criss-crossing pattern. It's nice because the design is so mobile so you can easily arrange the bands so that they will hold lots of little cards or bigger pieces of paper without having to make a permanent decision on which it should accomplish... and it hangs nicely over a craft table.
Posted by Momto2boyz on 2007-11-18 18:56:20
Post Subject:
I wanted to say kudos to craftfetish's birthday candle idea. I had a handmade birthday candle until I was 25. I wish I had a picture of it, but it is "burned up" now, and my parents have all of my young birthday pictures!
Anyhoo, my aunt made it for me and it was great! Basically, all you need is a tall pillar candle (light color works best), black paint, paintbrush and a ruler. Use the ruler to make "notches" on the candle at intervals that suit you (basically, decide how old you want the candle to go up to), and put lines at intervals with paint and add numbers. Start at 2 and go down for each year. Don't spread them apart too far, becuase you want it to burn down somewhat quickly.
Each year, about a week before my birthday, my parents brought out my birthday candle and we would light it in the center of the dinner table each night at dinnertime. When I was little, it really got me excited when I saw it come out onto the table, because I knew my birthday was coming soon.
My aunt was very artsy, so my candle was painted with butterflies and girly things, so you could add decor on the opposite side of the numbers if you wanted to, or just do the numbers and leave it! And the nice thing is, you'll have it for years to come.
As for cakes, I would say make him a sweet potato cake! If you don't care if it is edible, make up some batches of mashed sweet potatoes, add lots of water and freeze them in different sized containers, then make a tiered cake out of frozen sweet potatoes. It'll be more like an "ice sculpture" cake than an actual cake, but it would be something to remember in pictures one day! Then decorate with the suckers & smarties & you could even pipe on some mashed sweet potato frosting edges, if you wanted to!
Posted by RobertaN on 2006-10-26 18:50:04
Post Subject:
They had Halloween party at my son's school couple of days ago and they did two crafts. My son will be 4 in a month.
1. They made a spider from pipe cleaners, black yarn, and eyes that you buy from the craft store. The pipe cleaners were purple and orange, cut about 6"-7" long. You cut 10-12 pieces of black yarn little bit shorter than the pipe cleaners, for hair. Then you put the four pipe cleaners together, you line up the yarn next to them and tie them in the middle with a longer piece of yarn, long enough so you can make a loop and hang it from somewhere. Make sure that the legs (pipe cleaners) are on bottom, and the hair (yarn) is on the top. Then you fold the legs, 8 of them. They were using heat gun for gluing the eyes, because they stay put immediatelly. If you put regular glue you will have to wait some time for the glue to dry, otherwise the eyes will come off. The little ones can pick up their own color for the spider, help hold the pipe cleaners and the yarn together while you tie them together, and fold the legs. Then you can send them to scare someone.
2. Then they made wreath out of paper plates and fall leaves made of construction paper. They had the paper plates ready, with the circle removed from the middle, so it looks like an O. They had the fall leaves ready too, made of black and orange construction paper (different shapes of leaves). The little ones have to glue the leaves on the wreath. My son enjoyed doing this.
When we went home, I punched a hole on one side of the wreath and put the yarn from the spider through the hole, made a loop, and now the spider is in the middle of the wreath. Looks pretty cool.
Another idea. Two of the moms were getting ready today to make another Halloween party at the same school for whoever wasn't able to attend the first one, and they had pumpkins made of orange construction paper and eyes, noses (triangles), and mouths (crescents) made of black constraction paper. So the little ones will have to glue and decorate their "pumpkins".
Posted by tosha on 2005-06-08 14:51:51
Post Subject:
Thank you, insistal. I'm crazy about that cowboy boot cookie cutter! Do you decorate your cookies with smooth royal icing (like Martha Stewart)? I think its called "flooding", or something like that. In any case, I've been meaning to try it . . . the cookies always look so beautiful . . .
Posted by brdgt on 2007-03-10 08:20:46
Post Subject: Spring Project for your home?
I recently read an interest book called House Thinking and it's inspired me to do some new decorating projects around the apartment. The book isn't a how-to book or even an idea book, but it's about how and why we feel the way about certain aspects of our home - so there is a lot of psychology in it.
So, this Spring I'm finally getting around to decorating my bathroom. Our friends and family often send us postcards from other countries with kitties on them - kitties at the eiffel tower, kitties in spain, etc. - so I'm framing them up and putting them on the long, difficult to decorate wall in our bathroom. We already have a shower curtain that works with it and I finally got around to a bath mat that matches. Next up - the entry way!
Posted by TheRehn on 2006-07-13 15:43:27
Post Subject:
What about recording some (free audio) books from librivox.org onto cd for her.
Also if you make her an easy craft kit, it is more approachable than big projects try
a cd clock kit, with stickers, clock findings and old cd
a mask kit - cut her out a card eye mask thing and send it with things to decorate it with.
lego could be fun.
perhaps this will help you think of other things :)
also perhaps after she has recovered, she might like to think about people who are bedbound for a long-time - eg with ME and how to help , some of these people are bedbound for years and i'll bet your cousins daughter will feel sympathy for them after just a short time.
Posted by canary on 2005-05-18 15:24:21
Post Subject:
Does your friend like to wear flip-flops?? You could take the dollar store variety and embellish it to suit her tastes. If you get lucky to find a small handbag you could decorate it to match the flops...
Sandals seem pretty popular with teens right now.
Posted by emilyundone on 2004-05-17 11:08:09
Post Subject: decorating cigarette tins?
hi! i'm new here. : )
a lot of my friends are smokers, and when they buy the fancy tins i like to hold onto them. they're magnetic, and fun to keep things in.
i want to decorate them and make little gifts...was worried that if i cover them in paper or fabric that they might not close well. i could paint them, but i don't know how well paint would adhere to the metal. wondered if anyone had suggestions, or if you've done anything like this before. when i finish i'll put some pictures up!
Posted by stella on 2007-09-06 15:42:14
Post Subject:
ooh! i love the idea of providing horribly embarrassing costumes for spoilsports who show up in their regular clothes! that is so awesome. maybe you could get those orange garbage bags that look like pumpkins and make people wear them... or ratty-ass thrift store wigs and sport coats. i'm not sadistic, but i hate it when people are too lazy to wear a costume to a costume-party.
i tend to like kind of esoteric or weird themes that people can interpret more broadly, so i prefer "fallen angels" to "angels and devils".
Martha Stewart usually has good Halloween recipes for treats, so it might be fun to whip up some of those. i like making weird cakes, so i would probably make a sheet cake and decorate it like hell.
Posted by soapandwater on 2004-06-13 08:16:22
Post Subject:
Whenever I get in moods like this and can't write or something, I either play lots of freecell (ugh, bad bad me) or hearts (I'm not helping the situation), or I do something very productive like cleaning.
Sometimes, though, you do really have to just force yourself to do something. In my case, I would keep journals so that I'd have to get something down.
But as far as artsy/crafty stuff, maybe you could keep some sort of journal about your plans to do somethign or other. I know that if I write something down that I'm going to do, I get so excited about it like it's the best thing to ever happen to my life.
It could be a list like:
*Buy boxes to decorate to hold craft supplies in: buttons, confetti, markers, altoid tins
And then on the next page, doodle. Or draw a sketch of some change in your house you want. You know, get all INSPIRED! Make yourself be inspired. I've done it tons of times. It's sort of like going swimming even though you're too lazy to but finding out you're glad you went, anyway.
Posted by lu-lu-gee on 2005-12-06 11:10:14
Post Subject:
I live in Tucson, AZ, and my hubby and I pick up the Fri. edition of the Az Republic (Phoenix newspaper). What did I see last Fri. but an article written by Crafty Chica about how to decorate with glitter.
Not only did I go out and buy a ton of glitter glue pens for my daughters and decorated a ton of ornaments, but I ran around my house with the article shouting "I know who this is! She is soooo awesome!"
Posted by ZoeStar7 on 2005-07-19 09:54:36
Post Subject: leather or vinyl applique
I'm trying to decorate some old purses I got at Goodwill but I've never really worked with leather or vinyl without sewing before.
Does anyone know the best way to applique (or somehow attach?) a fabric cutout to leather or vinyl without sewing? Can I do a heat transfer? Should I just glue it?
Also. Does anyone know a good way to paint on leather or vinyl?
Posted by Erin Rose on 2006-07-12 11:27:52
Post Subject: Wanted: Child crafts with a littering and recycle theme
Hi there. I'm new here. (First post!)
I teach the preschool religious education class at my local Unitarian church and this summer we've been doing lessons dealing with social action.
Soon, we will be talking about littering and recycling. I was hoping there would be people here with great ideas for crafts to do for these lessons. I have found many ideas online, but I wanted to actually interact with people and discuss their ideas.
When we discuss littering, I was thinking of making litter bags for them to pick up trash with. Now while I love this idea, the problem I see with this is that it seems a shame for them to decorate a (paper) bag all nicely and then just have it not reusable once trash is put inside of it. I can't think of any other material to use, however, that would still be functional and cost effective. Anyone have any ideas?
I have a ton of ideas about recycling crafts. (Making rainsticks and kazoos out of paper rolls .... simple things that will allow most of the children to do them without having complete assistance all the time since it IS a class.) I always must keep in mind that these children range from 3 to 5 years old. Their capabilities range a great deal.
If anyone has ideas, maybe something you've done yourself with or without children, I would love it! The thought of discussing these things excites me. I am not as crafty as I am sure all of you are, but I try very hard to find things that will be fun for my kids to do. And actually, teaching this class has made me become more crafty and excited about making things.
Okay -- I think I am done! Sorry for the length of this! And thank you for any help you can give me. Oh, and for having this great website. :)
Posted by Scardigans on 2005-04-01 19:33:23
Post Subject: "i'm new" post & [age-old?]question
my name is scarlett, i'm new, i live near detroit, and it is impossible for me to make myself sound interesting. i have a cat and a box of paints. my favorite person besides myself is david bowie. the end.
now.
i want to decorate a t-shirt for my ... boyfriend-thingish-guy. we always say, "OHMIGOD! LET'S PUT THAT ON A SHIRT," but now that the time has come... i can't put out.
i just need ideas. and i don't need specifics, even. just direct me to quotes, stupid pictures, song lyrics, funny stories, or anything that could potentially inspire a design.
Posted by deborahthecraft on 2004-05-20 13:58:22
Post Subject:
I used to bring home chairs without leggs,tables missing corners or bases etc.
Now I only bring those peices if I already have something that will resolve it(a different base or a cool spindle for oposing leggs etc) or if I don't have any huge looming projects.
I got rid of alot of my 'i'll do someday' pile this year because I had all the same items in the 'fixit and decorate it' pile as I did in the 'new stuff/projects' pile.
I LOVE to do over furniture but it was becoming a burden.One piece at a time and no regret(well mostly) for not picking up pieces I saw on a past trip because they are not piling up taking up my air!
In Short:If its been left undone for a year,time to let it go...unless it is such as the cross stitch and you can work on it for years without 'unfinished' angst.
Posted by stella on 2005-08-24 23:11:00
Post Subject:
i've managed to avoid the whole "dorm" situation, which is good because i'm a crabby hermit (a hermit crab?) and i need major personal space.
but i worked at Jo-Ann over the summer, and a lot of girls (no guys, strangely) bought things there to decorate their dorms.
polar fleece blankets or bedspeads were popular, sometimes in the school colors. two and a half yards of fleece will make a nice bedspead, and a yard and a half makes a fringed throw.
a few people bought sheer fabric to drape from the ceiling with tacks. i imagine this is probably against the rules, but it's an easy project to put up and take down if you need to.
Posted by i_heart_art on 2005-08-19 11:52:22
Post Subject:
you could take an old tin cigarette case...like that have during holidays for the special blends....and paint it a decorate it with glitter or decopauge...that would be cute!!!
Posted by glitterlisa on 2005-02-10 08:22:00
Post Subject:
Here's what I did - I got 40 % off the big thing, which I couldn't find before class... I think they restocked after I was in class... so I got the $20 kit @ 40% as well... plus I had to buy almost everything to bake, transport, and decorate a cake... I spent a total of $120 last night. :(
Posted by BeautifulUnusual on 2004-04-22 12:32:20
Post Subject: place mats
I got 4 some dark pink vinyl place mats at Wal-Mart for about $1 a piece. I'm going to cut them into different sized strips to use as wrist cuffs. I can use grommets so I can lace them up or use velcro. Then I can decorate them with beads, buttons, rhinestones, etc. or use my Xacto knife to cut out a design.
Posted by thinklong on 2004-12-08 16:55:04
Post Subject: Christmas Baubles
Ok, I need some help!
I bought some plain glass baubles, and I am clueless as to what I could/should decorate them with. My only creative idea so far has been to take some sparkle modge-podge and try to make it look like snow (a million layers later, it's still drying clear).
I'm thinking ribbon and whatnot, but I don't want them to look too hokey - more unique, alas I don't have the talent/creativity. Thanks for your time!
Posted by ktangerine on 2004-07-14 13:12:53
Post Subject: Creative Couch and Chair Coverings?
I am moving into my first apartment and want to decorate beautifully but inexpensively. Any ideas on how to cover chairs and sofas (fabric/embellishments) for less?
Posted by CraftyChicaAZ on 2004-11-29 21:28:28
Post Subject: Does it feel like Christmas yet?
Here in AZ, it is finally 55 degrees, yay!
A few people have put up their lights, by this weekend probably everyone will have. Every year I want to go all crazy and decorate but the days go by so fast. I wish we could all have the month of December off just to craft, shop, decorate and eat!
I don't feel "it" yet, am I alone? I want to feel it so bad! Maybe I need to go a house lights tour or something...
Edited to add: Ok, instead of complaining before it's even December 1st, I'm going to list things to help get in the mood.
- Wear a thick scarf stand outside and drink hot cocoa.
- Go to a holiday craft show (a cool one).
- Buy a couple poinsettias and put them in the entry way so I can see them as soon as I come in.
- Start thinking about my Christmas cards.
- Put up the tree!
- Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas.
- Put money in the Salvation Army tin.
Posted by sashafaith on 2005-01-26 12:51:49
Post Subject: Where I hang my hats
I put small hooks around the window frame in my craft room. They hold my hats well enough and decorate the window frame. They are small white painted hooks I got at the Home Depot.
Posted by annieduncan on 2004-06-13 07:36:33
Post Subject: postcards
if you want to keep them together, you could decorate the side of a bookshelf (or the inside) or maybe even do a small wall in a bathroom or something. i once had a border of food related postcards over my kitchen cabinets.
Posted by cherriesontop on 2004-08-29 19:12:37
Post Subject:
do you have any old pairs of jeans? if so i have an awesome purse that you can make...
Step 1: Cut an old pair of jeans on the left side of the fly(make sure you get the button too) and one third of the way down the right leg of jeans.
Step 2: You should now have something relativley easy to sew into a purse. Turn inside out. Sew the sides(dont sew the top part!) of the purse( I recommend hand-stitching- if you hand sew repeat a couple of times) and turn inside out.
Step 3- Get an old belt or some really cute ribbon and thread throught the belt loops and then create a strap (use your imagination!).
Step 4- If you did it right (I know the instructions arent all that clear and there are no pictures- thats my fault-) you should have (on the back) a back pocket and (on front) have a fly to undo and reach hand in to get stuff, a button to undo if desired, and another pocket at the front.
Step 5: Decorate! I brought out my Sharpies and wrote all whole bunch of stuff: quotes,random words, adjectives to describe me, and drew stars, canadian flags etc. Add patches, pins, whatever! Do as your imagination tells you to.
I hope the instructions were clear, post back if you need any help.:)
Posted by lilian on 2005-01-04 21:33:14
Post Subject:
how about those jars of ingredients that are already mixed up but just need water added and some heat? i'm thinking something like the cocoa mix jars or cookie jars (just add 2 eggs and a cup of milk, stuff like that), then if they didn't feel like cooking they could just open up the cabinet and have something that's not exactly canned...do you know what i mean? except maybe stuff like chili, or even homemade jam! (even though that's not what i was along the line of before, haha)
or like a breakfast-in-bed kit, with a tray that you decorate and packets of oatmeal and tea or coffee or sometihng like that?
hmm...personalized/embroidered terry-cloth bathrobes? orrr a time capsule for them to put memorabilia from their wedding day on? or a nice picture album that they can put their wedding pictures in? i'm out of ideas, good luck!!
Posted by aubrigail on 2004-12-06 10:49:24
Post Subject:
my planner is like my right arm ;) so I'll try to think of planner-using advice...
get a planner you love (I hate the boring leatherbound ones...I've had a Sierra Club planner every year for the past three years, and I love the beautiful pictures they have for every week, bookstores have lots of awesome planners)
make sure there's enough room to write down everything you need to do
use colored/fancy pens to write in it or decorate it if that helps
write inspirational quotes on the pages =)
go through and write down fun stuff like birthdays, pay days, etc...
write in regular meetings, activities
start each day by writing down the things you need/want to do for that day
use the top part of the page (above the sections for each day) to write in things you want to get done that week that don't need to be done on a certain day or to remind yourself of things you need to start working on for upcoming weeks
mark a line through things once you've completed them
write other important information in your planner (addresses, phone #s) so you're more likely to take it with you/use it
I'm kind of an organization dork ;) but having things written in my planner really helps me get them done (especially if they're things I don't really want to do) because if I don't get it done and mark it off, it'll still be there the next day and the next day just "looking" at me, and I feel good every time I mark something off (even if it's as little as "call sally" or whatever)
Posted by mel_stormer on 2006-01-14 10:18:08
Post Subject:
Congrats on the new home!!! Its always fun to move and get to DECORATE!! I CAN"T believe your house sold so fast i have never heard of a house going that quick! again congrats and have fun turning your new house into your home!!
Posted by canary on 2006-01-11 15:15:51
Post Subject:
I used last years leftover paper to decorate...I 'wrap' my framed pictures/mirrors in the living room and hallway to make them look like gifts---and re-hang it!
But not the family photos, just print art and mirrors.
