Search results matching tag 'crafts'

Re: Christmas Tree Decor for Toddlers

Cristy-lou-who — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:17:54 GMT

Two years ago, when I had a just 1-yr old son and a 3-yr old daughter, I found a bag of old 4-cup coffee maker filters (left over from college, I'm a pack rat), some red yarn, and bought a cylinder of snowman foamie stickers from one of the local craft stores. My daughter and I sat on the floor making cute kid-friendly snowman ornaments for the tree. We turned the filter so the narrow end was at the top, and it gave us plenty of room to create. Then, I threaded the red yarn through the top, making a loop to hang the ornaments. She LOVED the stickers, the quality time we spent together making them, and being allowed to decorate the tree herself. It was very nice not having to worry about any of the "good" ornaments beng broken. Plus, the tree looked so cute being kid-made, and having one type of decoration made it look very "Martha"...but not quite.

The "good" ornaments were placed on garland I had strung across our windows and mantel, waaay out of reach from andy curious hands. I did this when my dog and cat were young, too.

The cool thing about the coffee filter ornaments is that when it's time to take the tree down, you only have to keep a few of the ornaments, if you want to, and they store nice and flat! We have several on our tree this year from '06!

Crafty Christmas Gifts - what are you making this year?

timzagain — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:27:12 GMT

I am trying to keep my Christmas gift giving costs down, while utilizing my God-given skills and available resources. Here are a few ideas that I have come up with:-

Christmas T-shirts - buy plain T's in red, green, white and decorate with applique. I have quite a few remants of Christmas prints as well as solids in traditional Christmas colours. May also do a few of these for sale at upcoming craft fairs! Could be done with sweatshirts too, but that's not too practical for us in the tropics
Christmas Bibs - I will buy plain white washcloths (or buy terry fabric) and decorate with applique as described above. The trim/ neckties will be made from seam binding. Another possible sale item
Book ends - using scrap wood from my Dad's workshop! Will jazz up the basic book ends with dollar store figurines, small stuffed toys and or wooden alphabet blocks, either screwed/ glued in place. I suppose I could use other inexpensive toys like cars, planes to decorate as well! I had originally intended to use this idea for kids, but I'm thinking I could use small potted silk plants etc to make it more appropriate for adults!
Jewellry/ accessory organizers - another piece of scrap wood, decorated with recipient's name , and a few small c-hooks for hanging necklaces. For the younger boys, I will substitute inexpensive drawer pulls - they can use their for hanging baseball caps, clothes etc.
Earrings - I have quite a few beads and jewellry findings in my craft stash.

Any other ideas?

Plarn!

Michigander Fan — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:18:32 GMT

You know how sometimes you have an idea and then you find out others have the same idea? Well, I have been saying for years (every time a palstic shopping bag ripped and my food fell all over the street) "You know, these bags, woven together, would actually be pretty strong!"

It turns out that lots of people have come up with lots of creative ideas for the bags. (I have some reusable string bags which I use most of the time, but even so I often end up with plastic bags.)

You cut the plastic bag into strips, and put the strips together to make a very long strand, and then you can knit with it or crochet with it. The material is called plarn. (Plastic yarn.) People are making bags of all sizes, raincoats, hats, door mats (which remind me of the door mats made from old tires that everyone in my Detroit neighborhood had in the 70s.) and other fun stuff - tissue cozies, etc.

I actually searched on Youtube, and there are instructions for making plarn, samples of things other people made, and a video of women in Africa who make really beautiful bags from the plarn. There is also a woman who has figured out that if you iron plastic bags (using waxed paper) you fuse it together, and then can sew with it. They made a messenger bag with the material.

Of course, it's better to not have all the plastic bags around, but it's a neat concept, putting them to use (kind of like fleece, which is used plastic, right?)

My problem is that I don't know how to knit or crochet. Well, I know how to knit and purl, cast on and off (my German cousin taught me in the 80s) and I know how to crochet (but I can only crochet 1 line that goes on forever; I don't know how to turn the stitch around) . I just can't read a pattern. I checked a couple of books out of the library with a determined Rosie the Riveter attitude ("I can do this!") but I can't. My brain does not work that way. I wonder if Youtube has instructional knitting or crocheting videos as well? If someone showed me, I would get it. Eventually.

Anyone out there making plarn products?

Michigander Fan

The Christmas Club

Brandy — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 18:37:56 GMT

Yes, Santa is real! His elves are at The Dollar Stretcher and they are already hard at work on preparations to make next Christmas warm, memorable and affordable.

For all of you who work hard all year long to make Christmas a special time in the lives of your loved ones, The Dollar Stretcher community now offers you The Christmas Club. This isn't like the kind of club the banks offer to help you tuck away funds. This club is for us to share frugal gift ideas, cheap decorating tips, affordable menus, sales and projects.

Let's keep the holiday bells ringing and work on a very Merry Christmas together!

make it from scratch blog carnival

My Family's Interests — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 02:16:23 GMT

http://apennycloser.com/2007/10/29/make-it-from-scratch-37-the-frugal-edition/

It’s time for Make It From Scratch #37! This carnival features the efforts and ideas of those who like to cook, craft, and create things from scratch.

I have a few blogs I have been reading. I like the blog carnivals they do because they lead me to new places and ideas. I came here from this blog http://beingfrugal.net/. Very interesting! Also like her reducipes! good recipes made cheaperhttp://apennycloser.com/category/reducipes/

Re: Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

My Family's Interests — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 20:03:05 GMT

Actually, you can do a lot with double and triple crochet stitches! If you look at most patterns, that is what they are made of (plus the single stitch of course) Its the yarn that usually gives the interest. All filet crochet is dble stitch and chain stitch. To get the pattern, you just fill the square in where is says to fill in. It is the counting and keeping track of which line you are on that you have to really watch. I have a xmas pattern of santa and his reindeer in red thread, I have been doing for years. Actually I put it away and forget about it and work on it maybe once a year lol! Reminds me I should dig it out and finish it for xmas!

Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

Jasminzbox — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 04:11:16 GMT

I accidentally hijacked a thread applauding Hobby Lobby. I really really enjoy going there. To the point that my internal financial adviser often forgoes going to that store to avoid temptation. The reason I hijacked it is because I was really happy with the deals at Smiley's Yarn. Pat mentioned that she has nice yarn stash. It got me wondering who else here enjoys knitting and crocheting. What sorts of benefits does it bring you?

My grandmother crocheted. She made afghans, scarves, even skirts and purses. She tried to teach me several times as a child, but I never quite understood. For my last birthday I got myself a how to crochet set to try out my grandmothers beloved craft. I never set the time aside to actually enjoy the gift to myself. Recently I made a concious effort to have hobbies. I was finding myself stressed and always thinking about work/housework/finances. So far I have only made a couple of scarves and a pouch. I really enjoy it! I take the bus to work everyday, which gives me about 2 hours a day in commute. It relaxes me and by the time I get home I am calm and happy. So I took the plunge and decided to stock up on some yarn. I am planning on making scarves and and an afghan as Christmas presents this year. I figure this would be a dual purpose hobby. Toasty family in winter and a happier me!

Re: Re-Fashioning Fashion

dianneph — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 01:17:49 GMT

Hi Pat!

It's Dianne Hadaway (former About Guide to Single Parents)! I'm glad to find you here! I was hoping to find a way to email you. I hope all is well with you. I have been very busy and happy since leaving About and have switched gears and opened my own online boutique where I sell the items I design and sew. I kinda jumped in here before reading rules so I don't know if it's ok to post a link to my site, but I would love to share with the readers here that I also have a free pattern with full color pictures and easy to follow instructions for making a very nice lined and even reversible totebag.

Please let me know if it's ok to post a link to it. And I'd love to chat with you through email sometime!

Blessings

Dianne

The Good Thing About Making Our Own Stuff

Brandy — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 01:39:46 GMT

Today, I found myself thankful that I have stocked up on supplies for mixing things together. I ran out of commercial diaper wipes, I had no wash cloths. I had a moment of panic and then pulled myself together.

I made some wipes out of paper towel, a bit of water, body wash and oil. Whew.

And since I am there, why bother picking up more wipes, eh?

Yarn and homecrafts

dontdreamitsover — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:54:10 GMT

I've been recently doing a lot of home decorating crafts - things we need like rugs and right now, I'm crocheting pot holders, since our old ones are now useless. :) I'm finding that apparently this is a trend for less frugal people, and the big craft stores have caught on and raised their fabric and yarn prices. If making things I need instead of buying them was just a hobby, it wouldn't be a big deal. But like many frugal people, I'm trying to be more self-sufficient and stretch those dollars!

So I'm curious to know what are some tips our wonderful DS members have for finding new yarn dirt cheap and/or using scraps of...well, that's what I'm wondering. Scraps of what? What works? What are some things you have made for around the house? What tips do you have in general for those of us trying to supply our home with our own two hands? Thanks!

Some of mine would be: Thrift stores often have unsalable clothing that you can get by the bag; you can get 100% cotton and wool clothing for rugs and dishclothes.

Often the flea market is a great place to pick up craft supplies, especially spring and early summer when people are cleaning out their homes and getting rid of stuff.

Estate sales seem like they would be good, but I have yet to see more than a couple advertised where I live now - apparently they aren't big in my city.

I have gotten a little yarn off Freecycle.org, but not enough to make it worth the drive. It would be good for someone, though!

Any others?