Hobbies and Crafts

I love making candy bouquets!

luchik — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:23:21 GMT

I enjoy making candy arrangements. It all started about 2.5 years ago. since then I haven't been able to stop:)

I posted some of my candy bouquet projects (pictures and instructions) here.

The cost of crafting

Pat — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:32:34 GMT

This year's Christmas will be low key for our family, so my son and his wife decided to make things instead of buying them, in the hopes of saving money.... but discovered that buying craft materials meant spending as much or more as buying finished products. He does woodwork and she sews and knits.

I know that you can save money on craft materials in various ways, but I'm guilty of going to the store to buy things to make things with, too.

Anyway, how do you save on craft materials? Here are a few ways I know (but don't always do).

Look for handmade sweaters at thrift shops and garage sales and reclaim the yarn.
Buy leather scraps from a leather store instead of sheets or kits
Buy (or get free) wood scraps from a cabinet shop

Also, I seldom buy patterns, since the internet has so many free ones.

What else?

Holiday crafts & cats

Cheryl — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:37:18 GMT

I hope this is the right thread for this question. Please let me know Pat, other leaders/moderators if it isn't.

I have cats, five of them, that are all shelter adopted and they are like family now. The problem is cats and holiday decor dont mix, well at least not Christmas trees. I tried many times to do a Christmas tree, even tried a small one up on the entertainment center. One of the cats is very clever and a high jumper.

Question is.. does anyone have any ideas for Christmas decor that the cats cant reach? So far all we can do inside is a pretty wreath that we add decorations on to. I used to make stuff all the time, but have no idea how to display it. Any hints or tips greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Cheryl

Craft Projects for Christmas 2009 - what are you making?

timzagain — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:34:06 GMT

As usual, I am making polymer clay ornaments for sale. I'm also planning a few other things for gift giving:-

Handpainted throw cushion/ pillow covers - I will be the sewing and the painting
Denim sling purses and journal covers - DD17 has asked me to make some for her friends for Christmas
If there's time, I'm going to make hanging jewelry organizers for the girls.

Looking for Scent Ball recipe

Edey — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:40:10 GMT

I'm looking for the recipe or directions for making a dough-like scent ball, used as an air freshener; several are placed in a pretty dish to scent a room.

I remember reading directions for this several years ago. I think the ingredients were the same as salt dough, or similar, that was mixed with powdered herbs or spices like cinnaon or cloves, or essential oils, colored with food color, then rolled into a ball and left to dry.

I've found directions for bath bombs, which sound similar, but not quite the same thing.

Anyone know what this is?

Edey

Scrapbook Cookbook Class Is Nov. 21

Virginia Needlewoman — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:08:01 GMT

My class is from 2-4 next Saturday. I'm looking forward to it.

Please cross your fingers that we won't have bad weather.

I have been told to bring a recipe or two plus scissors used to cut paper. The owner will have stuff for me to either use or to buy.

shrug pattern needed

hunnybee — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:47:54 GMT

I am in need of a shrug pattern made from 1 yard of fleece fabric. There was a lady at church working on one and she had gotten the pattern on line. I have not seen her at church since and so i have been unable to track it down. There is very little sewing involved so any help you all can give will be greatly appreciated.

Hunnybee

Christmas presents from reclaimed materials

cheap_yankee — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:04:15 GMT

Who's saving money making Christmas gifts this year by reusing base materials salvaged from items that would normally go to the dump? I've got a bunch of things I've been doing the past year listed below, and would love to hear from others what other free junk-crafts people are whipping up into beautiful gifts even a snob would love (just don't tell them where you got the materials!). With the cost of materials so high, a recession going on and people so worried about their jobs, I think it would be nice to share what gifts can be made for almost no money whatsoever.

Oopsie-feltsie - after my husband accidentally shrunk my kids colorful fair isle sweater small enough to fit our cat, I used a Sherpa Hat pattern (aka snowboarder hat) from Green Pepper pattern company to make a fashionable hat and matching wrist warmers. I used dribs and drabs of leftover yarn to blanket-stitch around the face (since the felt was too thick to bother lining) and to braid the hat-ties. My grown daughter spotted the hat before I wrapped it for her little sister and wants one in the worst possible way, as do her friends, so I'm on the lookout for another free washing machine disaster. Cost $7 for the pattern.

Kipper slippers - I came across a hopelessly out-of-date beautiful emerald green thick wool coat at the dump Swap Shop, took it home, ripped it apart, than shrunk/felted it until very thick. I downloaded the free slipper pattern from Martha Stewart's website, sized up the pattern as recommended, and made 3 pairs of beautiful warm felt slippers for an aunt and cousins. I used odd lots of crewel wool I picked up at a thrift shop for $.10 cents per skein (total cost $.60 cents) to embroider flowers on them. Cost $.60 for the thrift-shop crewel wool.

Fat hats - A midsummer trip to the dumps Swap Shop yielded 7 extremely heavy weight hand knit sweaters in good condition with out-of-date patterns typical of the 1980's (it was 98 degrees that day ... people sure looked at me funny hauling out a double-armful of heavy sweaters). It took around a week per sweater sitting in front of the television to mindlessly pick apart and carefully unravel the bulky weight yarn. Some portions of some of the sweaters had felted a bit, so I had to use a needle to "unknit" them in a few places, but the yarn was so beautiful (angora blend) that I hated to waste even a yard of it! All autumn, I have been re-knitting the salvaged sweaters into fancy hat, mitten and scarf sets for my extended family using pattern books I already had (Nicky Epsteins knitted flowers book gives fertile ideas for embellishments). Cost for 7 hat/mitten/scarf sets - $0.

More kipper slippers - not wanting to donate several beautiful handknit wool sweaters I had made for my kids when babies to any old person, I felted them and made 3 pairs of slippers for my kids using a Burda slipper pattern. The "Sand Man" always leaves a gift on Christmas eve ... Cost for the pattern $6.95, elastic $.50 cents.

Leather slippers - using the aforementioned Burda pattern and a seam ripper, I ripped apart some hopelessly out-of-date dress leather knee boots (with Dynasty-era cockroach-killer long pointy toes) down to the soles, cut out a pair of mocassin style slippers, and used a friends heavy-duty sewing machine to sew them together. Cost for elastic $.50 cents (plus pumpkin bread and tea for my friend).

Dude duds - not one to forget the guys, I used the aforementioned free Martha Stewart downloadable pattern and an ugly old navy wool jacket that had developed wormholes in a couple of spots to cut out the worm and worn parts, cut apart, felt, and make similar slippers for the guys in the family (3 pairs). Since I was certain the guys wouldn't appreciate pretty embroidered flowers, I simply used leftover ordinary contrasting wool to embroider around the opening (though I did do a New England Patriots logo on hubbys' version). Cost - $0.

Doll carrying purse - cut a cardboard oatmeal tub in half lengthwise. Make a reinforced "hinge" using duct tape so it opens and shuts. Using craft glue, glue pretty fabric reclaimed from an out-of-fashion piece of clothing on the outside, a contrasting piece of salvaged fabric from another piece on the inside for a liner. Cut (piece if necessary) a 4-5" wide strip of contrasting fabric long enough to wrap back and forth across the outside of the "purse" to make a purse handle. Use a ribbon or small strips of contrasting fabric to make a place to tie in a thrift-shop dolly on one side, clothing on the other. Also use leftover ribbon and an odd button to make a catch-clasp on the outside to keep the purse closed. If the doll is really small or for a beanie baby, you can use a round salt container instead of an oatmeal tub. Cost for the glue $.99, thrift shop dolly $1.

Doll bassinette - using an oatmeal tub (or salt box), cut out a square approximately 1/3 of the way from the top, 1/3 of the way around. Use craft glue to cover the container inside and out (as above) with pretty fabric salvaged from clothing destined for the landfill. Use the leftover cardboard to fashion a rocker and glue it on the bottom, or use scrap cardboard (paint or cover with fabric). Using leftover scrips and scraps of fabric, make a doll pillow, doll quilt, and layette for the dolly. Cost for the glue $.99.

Shoebox scrapbook/whatnot kits - I've put together a half dozen or so "craft kits" for crafty friends by gluing salvaged fabric to an empty heavy-duty shoe or boot box inside and out to make a pretty storage box. I then fill it with thrift-shop notions related to their favorite crafty hobby (i.e., a couple of barely-started cross-stitch kits and some odd cross-stitch notions in one, gently used quilt magazines with a bunch of little scrips and scraps of quilt fabric in another, partially used spools of thrift-shop thread, zippers, bias tape, and sewing notions in another, etc.). Cost - around $2 per kit for thrift shop goodies.

Handy bags - our dumps Swap Shop always has discarded drapes with nice heavy fabric that is currently unfashionable for home decorating, but wonderful to make nice sturdy reusable shopping bags. Simply cut out a big rectangle, cut two 4" strips to fold over and sew on for handles, sew the bag together (folding the top 2" over to make a sturdy top), and wallah ... free environmentally friendly Xmas gifts for everybody. So.....what other free crafty ideas are floating around out there???

Tis the season to decorate, how can i make my own?

TiffanyJohnson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:47:35 GMT

I want to make my own decorations and gifts, but have one small drawback...(not problem, she is never a problem) the onl time i get to craft is on weekends, when I am babysitting AGES 4-7 mostly, i dont want exclude her by doing crafts she cant do, nor do i want to cram all my crafting into the weekdays (homework) what are some things i can do with her, or things that are easy that dont take much time and wont take away too much afterschool time?

I like cinnamin ornaments but idk many others

Knitting Class Update

Virginia Needlewoman — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:46:51 GMT

I will be taking the class when it is offered the next time at the arts school. The past 3 Fridays have been impossible for me......1)I killed a Copperhead snake in the house, 2)I had a blinding headache, and 3)I had a crisis with Mom.

I will, however, be taking the Cookbook Scrapbook class this month at the local crafts store.

Looking for amigurumi knit patterns

Pat — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:19:03 GMT

I'd like to try making a batch of those small figures to tie onto Christmas packages, but almost all the patterns I can find are for crochet. I came across a knitted pattern for a turtle and a spider and something Lion Brand has a couple of patterns for a snowman (which really doesn't need a pattern) and a Santa Claus. Other than that, I can't seem to find any.

Any ideas?

Pine Cone Question

mommatothree — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:45:03 GMT

Does anyone know how to make pine cones "open" more once they fall off the tree? We had a huge storm eariler in the week and the neighbor's tree dropped TONS of pinecones. However they are either completely closed or barely starting to open. Is there a way to make them open up more? I thought that somewhere I heard you could bake them or expose them to heat, but curious if anyone has done this. Thanks!

Glass etching as a craft and hobby.

crafting09 — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:16:13 GMT

Does anyone here do glass etching like this? Its a process of etching with a sandblaster instead of what most people do with hobby cream. I think it looks much better. You can etch glass mugs and car windows. Some people call it engraving also. Kinda cool. Has anyone done this before? Let me know what you think about this as a hobby.

Creative Uses For Large Cans

Toni B. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:00:19 GMT

I've been saving the containers from powdered drink mixes. They are the cans that are either 6 inches or 9 inches tall and the opening is 4 1/2 inches across. They have the round plastic lids that go on top. I used one to hold additional kitchen gadgets and it works great but I'm at a loss to how to use the rest of them. I've been using glass to hold food items ( I have to see what's inside ). I'd rather repurpose these cans than throw them away. Any Ideas?

Is sewing frugal?

cfisher2008 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:30:40 GMT

I want to start sewing- I feel it is a useful skill to learn. I know sewing used to be very cost-effective. But I am wondering if it is still frugal. The cost of fabric seems really high, and I feel that I might be able to find used clothing cheaper than sewing. Any thoughts?

Favecrafts.com free ebooks sewing..holiday home and more

MarthaMFI — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:26:28 GMT

I was at the living on a dime blog today and she had links to free craft ebooks with patterns from Favecrafts.com. Looks like an interesting site.

http://www.favecrafts.com/Sewing/Sewing-for-Beginners-eBook

http://www.favecrafts.com/Holiday-Craft/Holiday-Home-eBook-from-Creative-Home-Arts-Club

http://www.favecrafts.com/Wearable-Crafts/Fun-with-Fabric-Dye-eBook-from-Tulip

So excited - embroidery sewing machine arrives tomorrow !!

Dorrie — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:15:27 GMT

I'm so jumpy today ! Last week, Beloved Hubby had a windfall, and we took care of a lot of stuff. And we still had funds left over for fun ! I sew doll clothes for a hobby, and go to yard sales and thrift stores for thrills, and as a result, my 'Lab' (combined doll studio and sewing room) is packed with inspiration, so I couldn't think of anything to want. Seriously.

But Beloved, he knows me, and whispered those three words I didn't think I'd hear for another few years - 'Embroidery Sewing Machine' ! He gave me a budget and some project ideas he'd like the machine to do, and the hunt was on ! I found a great machine that wasn't too dear, and it's on the way. UPS says it'll be here tomorrow - wheeeee !

It can be a pricey hobby ! The machines come pre-set with designs, and there's lots of free downloads... but the ones you fall in love with can run $25 bucks. Each. There's also specialty thread, and stabilizers - at least a double-dozen types for various applications - and various other goodies like bigger hoops and tools available. Of course, I'm interested in having fun for little funds. I've downloaded some I'd like to try, I already have a box of stabilizer I used for doll applications, most folks would call it a box of used dryer sheets. And some scraps of other stabilizers I've picked up in grab-bags at Hancock Fabrics. I know I have to pick up Solvy, and there's a 50% off notions sale Thursday that I'm waiting for, rather impatiently.

Any other tips or tricks I should consider ? Good brands often overlooked ? I've already downloaded the manual, and I've been reading it - I can't wait to dig in. So I'd appreciate any tips you'd care to share with this machine embroidery beginner with an entry-level machine ! I'd especially like to hear any experiences with various digitizers like PeDesign, Embird, etc. That's gonna be the summer's big purchase, since Dearest wants to design !

Thanks !

Crafting Chair

Toni B. — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:27:59 GMT

For those who knit, crochet or stitch, what kind of chair do you sit in? What do you look for when you go to buy a new chair? Do you take your craft with you to the store and test it out? What other accessories do you add to your chair?

Cornmeal Playdough

mommatothree — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:09:42 GMT

Made this today at our bi-weekly playgroup. It's a super easy, no cook dough and it has a great texture.

2.5 C flour

1 C cornmeal

1T oil

1C water

food coloring if desired

Combine all, knead well before using. Store in airtight container or ziploc bag.

Do You Have a Favorite Knitting Book - or Author?

Edey — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:06:36 GMT

Do you? Let us know and share what projects you liked from the book, or any other appropriate comments.

Subjects might be: mittens, gloves, sweater, socks, purses, bags. Or it could be on technique, like cables, stranded knitting, colorworks, lace. Or any subject not mentioned here.

What is your style of knitting? Continental, English, Combination, Portuguese, Peruvian, or?

With steel needles, plastic, cables, double points, large needles, small needles

With natural organic yarns, or man made fibers?

Edey

Have You Made Sock Mocassins - Or Mukluks?

Edey — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:46:06 GMT

When we were kids we had slippers that were like a combination of knee socks and mocassins and we called them mukluks. The leg portion and instep were knitted or crocheted, but the sole was leather stitched to the sock portion, with short sides on the sole wrapping around the foot.

Has anyone here made these from scratch, knitting the tops and then attaching the sock to the sole?

I'm curious about how you did it, what materials you used for the sole and how you attached it to the sock. Also was the sock a full footed sock, or just the leg/instep portion?

Edey

Using what you have

Pat — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:59:51 GMT

The article "Crafting Without Spending Money" on this week's Dollar Stretcher reminded me of the quilt I made from clothing outgrown by my daughter and then baby son (he's 29 now!). I used some of my maternity clothes in it, too, an old blanket for batting and a sheet that I already had for backing. The only thing it cost was some thread.

I used to buy hand made sweaters from garage sales and thrift stores then recycle the yarn the way she did. Doing things like that makes me feel very frugal and domestic!

Are there other ways you've recycled things to make things that were "free?"

Being Frugal with Machine Embroidering?

chrlblvns — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:43:18 GMT

Hi y'all!

One of my favorite things to do is embroider designs on my daughter's jeans and shirts. It feels awsome to take that inexpensive pair of jeans or that plain t-shirt and turn it into something that looks greater than it really is. Very rewarding!

It nice to know that there are places to find free embroidery designs (what a resource!) online, it turns making those embroidered jeans into an even more rewarding project knowing that I saved so much.

So, what are some of your favorite ways to save with machine embroidering? Or, favorite way to making inexpensive clothes look greater than they are?

Thanks - Cheryl

button jars

gayla50 — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:40:28 GMT

Do you have a button jar ..

my DIl need a button for a shirt I went to sewing box and got out a jar of buttons ,

surprizing she didnt know about a button jar..

Am I just old fashioned or do you have a button jar ?

Fleece Snuggies

Virginia Needlewoman — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:04:46 GMT

I bought one of the pink ones that supports breast cancer research. They cost $14.99. My friend who works at Dillard's says that the ones sold at Dillard's cost over $38.00 and the fleece is much thicker than the $14.99 ones sold elsewhere. The Dilllard ones fo not come in pink.

It kinda makes me wish that they'd been available back in the days when Mom used to sew. Mom would've been busy making the family an assortment of them in different colors.

I bought a second pink Snuggie for Mom.

I do not sew very well. They look as though they would not be hard to make.