Archive for the ‘Misc. Crafts’ Category
Recycle Your Christmas Cards!
Christmas Card Class and Tote Tutorial
Every year the same question: What do I do with these Christmas Cards? I have always hated throwing them away, so what did I do with them? Here are some of the ideas I have come up with over the years.
Jigsaw Puzzles
For those of us living in the winter climate of the north, we know that children become “antsy” (only word I could think of), and on our nerves during the times they cannot go outside. So years ago when faced with three very active boys, I started making jigsaw puzzles for them out of the cards. My daughter often helped as she was older and it kept her from murdering her brothers, so it was a win-win.
We would cut up several of the leftover cards, lay them on a flat surface, usually a floor and let the boys try and figure out how to put them back together. It kept them occupied for a little while and gave me a little peace. When they became bored we stored them in a shoebox until the next “antsy” time.
Tree Ornaments:
There are many ideas on the internet for making Christmas tree ornaments out of used Christmas cards. This one I found several years ago.
Wrap a small bundle, I use about 4 sticks, of cinnamon sticks with a bow. The with a small dab of glue attach your Christmas card cutout. Sometimes I attach it right to the loop on the ribbon other times to the sticks themselves. It depends on the size of the cutout.
Rudesheim-Overlooking the Rhine
I have been very busy with my scrapbooking as you can see. I have a lot more pictures but unfortunately I cannot post them all here..sorry Cindi.
Getting busy now making some scrapbook recipe cards for family and friends, incorporating some polymer clay ornaments to give as gifts. Making Christmas cards is another holiday plan, so I will be busy.
I hope you have enjoyed my few endeavors with my pages.
Holiday Gift Ideas
I have been putting some thought into what I want to give family and friends for Christmas. Since we are retired and money is not something I have a lot of they can forget about the electronic toys they want!
So how can I combine my love for crafting (digital scrapbooking by far my favorite) and cooking? I have an idea to make recipe cards using as a background pictures of family, favorite vacation spots and whatever I can find that would make a nice background for the card, print some of my favorite recipes, then put them in a box that would be decorated by me again with family photos or favorite pictures.
Not only would this be a inexpensive gift but one that is truly given from the heart. Below is an example of what I am talking about. See if you can come up with some ideas of your own using digital scrapbooking, favorite recipes and a plain cardboard box purchased at your favorite craft store.
Here is one simple idea I came up with…it will be printed on 4×6 cardstock..remember this is just an idea of what you can do with digital scrapbooking.
Happy Holidays
Gift Jars
Gift jars are gifts that are not only fun to make but fun to give. They are inexpensive to make but given with a lot of love and care.
So to start the holiday season off right I am offering a free giveaway. All you have to do is click on the link below and download ideas for different gift jars. Over the coming weeks I will be looking for other gift ideas for you to make this holiday season and will be sure to pass them on.
Happy Holidays!
Candles for the Holidays
Nothing warms up a home during the holidays than candles. Something about the warm glow and fragrance that makes one feel relaxed and content after a busy day of shopping or getting home from work.
Using small winter squash as molds creates graceful shapes for these candles, and they can be made at home quite easily. Choose various colors of tablets to represent the range of harvest tones.
Materials and Tools:
- acorn and hubbard squash (and others, if available)
- beeswax or regular paraffin candle wax (allow about 1/2 lb. for each candle)
- yellow, orange, coral and/or purple wax color tablets
- candle wicks
- wick tips
- melon baller
- double boiler
Steps:
1. Cut off the tops of the squash and hollow out the insides. (For hubbard squash, scrape out the seeds with a large spoon. For acorn squash, use the melon baller to scoop out the flesh, following the natural grooves of the squash, making the grooves as deep as possible, and smoothing them with the back of a spoon.)
2. Melt the wax in the top part of the double boiler over–not in–boiling water.
3. As the wax melts, add color tablets. If you want to make different colored candles, melt the wax in batches, adding various color tablets each time.
4. Meanwhile, cut lengths of wick a few inches longer than the squash are tall. Attach the wick tabs to the wicks.
Easy Ideas For A Creepy House Halloween night Decorating Options
Easy Ideas For A Creepy House Halloween night Decorating OptioAuthor: Carla Wise
Haunted houses, bats, spirits and goblins everywhere! Halloween is an enjoyable time of year for young children and grown ups alike. Do you want some ideas for decorating your house for all hallows eve? Try these simple and fun and economical Halloween decor ideas.
Entryway: The entryway to your house is the first impression people get of your residence. All too often we forget about how much impact this can have when decorating for the seasons.
Halloween Display. Make the most of it by creating a simple display of Halloween statuary set on a small table covered with a black or orange tablecloth. The 4 to six inch collectible figurines are affordable enough to even use outdoors if you have enough room for a compact table by your door. Indoors, you can go with this same strategy, even adding scary lights and garlands readily available at dollar and discount stores.
Animated Items. Animated Halloween figures can add immediate festivity to a dull entry table. These objects can move, have sound, and some are even motion activated. A smart way to make your entry one to remember! With growing popularity, these items are now showing up in dollar and discount stores.
Living Room/Family Room: To dress up the rooms where your family spends the most time, use most of your Halloween decor ideas in these rooms.
Digital Scrapbook Pages
A Day In The Life Of Gizmo
Once making a scrapbook was confined to paper, pen, pencils, and any scraps of paper you found that related to the picture. Now there is a whole new world out there for those of us who like to embellish our pictures.
Scrapbook stores have popped up around the country to instruct people in the different materials and methods you can use to make a page. Ideas are shared and clubs are formed.
The problem I have, and many others like me, is that I don’t have the time to go to a store and sit for a couple of hours. Not that I don’t enjoy people, I do, but to cart my scrapbook “stuff” around in the car is not making the best use of my time. Not only that but the expense can be a killer! And I am on a fixed income.
So how did I remedy my problem? I love scrapbooks but I don’t have room for all the papers, embellishments and all other materials needed to make a good page. A couple of years ago an online friend at one the many forums I belong to mentioned digital scrapbooks.
All you really need is a good photo editor program such as Photoshop, Paint or in my case Microsoft PicturePlus, a scanner and a good digital camera. All of which I already had.
Recycling Old Toys
Ever wonder what to do with those left over blocks? The ones that show up and you have no idea which building set they belong to? Or how about the little matchbox cars that no one wants to play with anymore? Doll accessories? Puzzle pieces? I can think of a hundred uses for this simple craft projects.
The size of the magnet is going to be determined by the size and weight of the toy. For instance a matchbox car/truck will take more than one magnet, it might take two or three to hold it up. Whereas the Lego blocks should only take a small amount.
The end result is limited only by your or your child’s imagination. Make Christmas gifts for the grandparents out of leftover toys. As a would be grandparent I can safely say that anything made especially for me by one of my grandchildren would be cherished.
So have fun with your creativity!
Materials and Tools:
small plastic toys
strong, quick-setting glue
disc magnets
Steps:
1. Gather small items to turn into magnets. Building blocks (shown) work great as do any lightweight toys such as dice, plastic figurines or puzzle pieces. Other options are sea shells, smooth river rocks or glass gems.
2. Add a blob of glue to magnet and attach item. Press firmly until the two pieces begin to bond then set aside and allow glue to fully cure.
