Craft Test Dummies

So I’ve mentally committed to doing RAKs…Random Acts of Kindness for my CPS Yahoo group sisters. So far I’ve made bookmarks, altered bobbins, felt needle cases, and now I’m on to charm-y thingies. I just mailed out my April goodies, which consist of a hand-made paper bead w/ Chinese characters on them, Chinese coins, and red beads for good luck. I’m not sure what the recipients might do with them, but I figure they would be fun on an art quilt, shrine or assemblage. I was in my paper-bead making frenzy, and I thought they would be fun.

I’ve also started my May ones, and now I’m on to bottle caps! (Of course, I’m testing some ideas out for a new class, and I needed to play a little.) Here’s what I got so far, but I intend to poke some holes and hang some danglies. Ohhh, they are so fun!

I’m really loving these, and for this batch I just used Paper Glaze…. but I’m beta-testing liquid polymer clay for a jewelry application.

But back to the RAKs…. maybe I should mount these onto tags, or 3X3’s, or maybe make them into little dolly people. Anyone have an idea? I’m up for comments!

Ok, here’s a great way to both recycled chipped or orphaned teacups and old candles: recycled teacup candles.  Just in time for Mothers’ Day, the idea is simple and elegant.

To recap, you’ll gather some wonky candles from around your home. You know you have them- ones that got dinged up, ones that are burned 1/2 way down and look goofy, ones that have faded from the sun. Gather them up and pull out the wicks, and then melt them in a double boiler. (Jenny’s bootleg double boiler is a coffee can in a pan of water!) Melt the wax, and then add a few drops of oil fragrance or coloring made for candles. (Easy to find at your local craft store.)

Dip your new wick (also at the craft store) in the wax to make it stiff. Then cut lengths for your teacup, allowing for enough to wrap around a skewer or pencil. Pour in your wax, and let it set up. (See all of the details on Martha’s site.)

What a great gift for a mom, aunt, grandma, or teacher! I also love the idea of taking those “orphaned” teacups - ones that come from somewhere, but are too pretty to throw away, but maybe are stained inside or have a little chip. (Or go nuts at the thrift store!) Sweet, pretty and recycling. Love it!

Ahh, spring is here and it’s time to put those sweaters away. Or is it?

Maybe it’s seen it’s better days. Or your weight has changed, and it doesn’t fit like it used to. Or you’re just itching to go thrifting and engage in some Earth Day craftiness.

Well, I’ve found an idea for you! Over at Erica Makes Stuff, she’s posted a step-by-step tutorial on refashioning your old sweater into a spiffy new cardigan. According to her, you only need about 1/2 yard of quilters cotton, 1/2 yard of interfacing, some buttons and thread, and about 2.5 hours. (Heck, I probably have enough fabric and notions in my stash to convert every sweater in North America!)

It really looks like this would be a do-able project for beginning sewers… the toughest part is making the collar template, since she doesn’t provide a pattern. But don’t be afraid… you could make a tracing of a collar you already have. (Here’s a little help for drafting a collar pattern, too.) Or, if you’re not ready, just skip the collar altogether.

Anyway, just coordinate your sweater color(s) with fabric for the button placket, and go for it. I think this could be done in a super-funky retro 50’s style (and how about adding that gi-normous monogram to the left shoulder!!!) or use a sweet 30’s print and add some (here it comes…) cute yo-yo’s to dress up the neckline! (You knew it had to have a yo-yo, right?)

There’s no doubt that recycling/refashioning clothes is a hot trend right now - and with Earth Day approaching, give it a shot and earn yourself some bragging rights!

PS… Fellow crafty blogger Woof Nanny sent me a link to this photo, of her repurposed sweater. She added the cool zips. Funky!

So I spent this morning raking out beds, uncovering little shoots of spring. My crocus are blooming, and the tulips and daffys are over 1/2 up. It won’t be long until they bloom, too. So with all of this spring springing up around me, my thoughts have turned to garden crafts and yard art. First up: we need a birdbath!

I found a super simple version on FamilyCrafts.com:

Patricia’s Pots also has a how-to, with a slightly different design:

She recommends using liquid nails to hold the whole thing together, and to make sure to seal your pots & saucers before you do your decorative painting. She also uses an oil-based varnish for the insides. Who knew?

Now, if you’re an advanced crafter (ie, SooperCrafty) then you can try the ramped-up version using mosaics. I found some nice step-by-steps at Michaels.com. I’m new to mosaics, so I might wait a spell for this one. But look at the sample- really nice!

Here’s a simple mosaic version. You only have to mosaic the inside, and you use a tomato cage for the base. (Ah, recycling!) However, I wonder how the mosaic will stand up to being underwater all summer. (?) I really like the idea that you can then plant little seedlings at the base, and have some viney flowers adorning your birdbath too! Maybe morning glories?

Finally, I found some instructions on making a cement birdbath on HGTV. This would take a little work and preparation, but really it would be fun embedding rocks, shells, china bits and like in the rim. There are good step-by-step directions with pictures. Yea! This version calls for 2 different sized bowls to act as the molds, but I read somewhere else you could also use the lid of an outdoor garbage can and a bucket to create the well. (And, they also recommended lining the concrete with some metal mesh for added support. Just a thought.)

Well, I think Casa CTD is going to try a simple version with terra cotta pots, and get the kiddos to do the base painting. I have this nice spot in the middle of the yard where the cherry tree used to be, and I need to hide the stump!

Ahhh, Spring! (PS: this would be a nice Earth Day activity, too!)

I was checking out Martha Stewart’s Craft of the Day, and today she was showing off oil cloth lunch bags. Since I’m all for reusable lunch bags, I thought I’d share it here with you.

The only problem? Martha doesn’t give a pattern. But Jumilla Bugs did! This is her version:

i made a cardboard template that is a little ragged but still works. the bag is a very simple 6 pieces:
back / flap - about 61/2 by 14 inches
front - 6 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches
sides - 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches
bottom - 6 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches
it is stitched wrong sides together. starting with attaching the front and back pieces to the bottom piece; then the sides to the bottom; then joining these to the front and back, starting the stitching at the bottom.
i put a strip of velcro (hook) horizontal, about 2 inches from the top edge of the back piece, on the wrong side
i put two shorter strips (loop) vertically on the right side of the front piece (to attach to the piece on the back, which folds over to the front when the bag is “closed”.
i also add a little pocket to one side, which you can kind of see here with the bag on the far left. i also add a strap at the top.

If you follow her link to the finished ones, you’ll find some super-cute monkey lunch bags… just great for wee ones or hip chicks! I really couldn’t tell you which ones I liked better.

Now, a few words on oilcloth: if you haven’t used it before, here’s the low-down. It’s really a cotton fabric that has been embedded in vinyl. It’s pretty durable, not too crunchy, and wipes clean. Please don’t throw it in the washing machine, or try to iron it. Bad news. But the fabric doesn’t fray or  stretch, and you can make a cute edge by using your pinking shears or scalloped rotary blade. You can even leave your seams to the outside for a fun look. Use a denim needle on your sewing machine & regular thread. For more tips, visit Sew,Mama,Sew.

Who thought a boring old sack lunch could be so cute?!

When I first got on my “yo-yo” kick, my mom commented to me that when she was a young teenager, she made a clown doll out of yo-yo’s for her first nephew. (She says all she can remember is cutting out zillions of circles!) Anyway, I did a little research and found the pattern at Sunshine’s Creations. There are great step-by-step instructions. It’s a great “retro” craft, and a fabulous way to use up some fabric scraps.

Since I’m also into crafts that serve as mementos, this would be a lovely way to utilized a loved one’s clothing after a passing. It would be like saving a little bit of them to pass on through the generations. I know, I’m just sentimental that way.

If you’re interested, you can also read my review of the Clover yo-yo maker that will make this craft easier, or my post about heart yo-yo crafts. If you’re on a kick, like me!  And if you are an uber-fan, join the Yo Yo Ga Ga/Fuxico Ga Ga group on Flikr. You won’t believe the yo-yo goodness you’ll see!

I was doing my regular surfing, and ran across this GORGEOUS paper bead necklace from Mazel Tov Jewelry. Really transcends paper beads into high art. Tell me it’s not fabulous and I’ll call you a liar!

Well, I’ve been working on a new set of classes, this time covering old Altoid-style tins with polymer clay.  I also was playing with a new cane, and came up with these. I think they look like orange poppies!

Well, here we are, Easter is over, and now we have copious amounts of those annoying plastic Easter eggs. (Well, actually we’re down a few because Ginger the cock-a-poo has discovered their charms!) But anyway, even if you don’t have scads on hand, they’re on sale everywhere for cheap, cheap, cheap! So here’s a coupla good reasons to get crafty with ‘em….

Make your own Egg Rattle Snake complete with rattler! If you’ve got a dremel or drill handy, this is made only with eggs and some stretchy cording. This site has full step-by-step instructions. What little tyke wouldn’t enjoy this? (My cute nephew Ben would!)

Here’s a great idea using your eggs as molds - making your own egg-shaped sidewalk chalk. You simply mix powdered tempera, water, and plaster of paris and then pour in into the eggs. Wait till it sets up, and voila! Egg-shaped chalk. And now that spring is springing, it’ll be time soon to get out there and decorate the driveway.

My personal favorite is making Rhythm Egg Shakers. I’ve made these in my career as a music therapist with folks ages 3 years to 90. Really. If found a nice link for explaining how to decoupage with Mod Podge, if you’d like a refresher, but really the process is simple.

Pick a “fill” material for your eggs. I like to put out bowls of rice, sand, lentils, popcorn, cheap plastic beads, paperclips, wood beads, etc. Part of the fun is seeing what things sound like inside the eggs. Have a sonic experiment! What sounds high? What has a “chunky” sound? Which fill is louder/softer? After you figure out what sounds best to you, close up your egg. You can give it a temporary seal with some masking tape.

Then you do your decoupage. Rip up 1-2 inch bits of tissue paper, wrapping paper, printed paper napkins, etc. (I use lots of leftover Christmas tissue.) Smear a thin layer of glue or Mod Podge over the plastic, and start laying down pieces of your tissue. Cover the whole egg, using a brush or your fingers to smooth the layers down. Make sure the tissue overlaps, and I recommend 2 layers to make sure the egg won’t break open if dropped. I like to put the eggs in a plastic egg carton to dry. About 2 hours later, flip the eggs over to make sure they dry on all sides.

Lastly, I like to do some surface decoration. I’ve used glitter paints, sequins, beads, micro beads (the ones with no holes) and glow-in-the dark fabric paints. I especially like glitter/fabric paints in the squeeze bottles. They make it easy to decorate! Make swirls, flowers, or other designs of your choice. Roll them in beads. Tap in sequins or rhinestones. Go crazy! I have a basket of egg shakers on the piano, and my kids love them for the different sounds, textures, and colors. (I kept the bead-y ones away from the toddlers- they like to bite them!)

You can decorate your eggs for different holidays, or make a rainbow of them and use them in different music games. Too much fun! Here’s a pic of mine:

Oh, my mailman has been busy! Among the many goodies that came yesterday was a package from CPS swap hostess Rachel, containing tie bag purses from Diane and Cindy. Whoo-hoo!

I really love how everyone put their own spin on them. Diane constructed hers using the long skinny end on the back as a pen holder, and included a little composition notebook.

Cindy used the middle section of the tie as a handle, and beaded it up with these cute pressed-glass flower beads. How fun!

To see my tiebags for the swap, click here.

To see the post with the original instructions from Sulky, click here.

And for another site of great inspiration, check out the Artful Ties blog. She has some great links there, too, and eye-candy. FUN!