Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Crafts-a lot Contributor, Mable who is an avid reader of craft blogs & magazines and has aspirations to improve her crafting skills. Join Mable on Facebook to socialize and share with other crafters!

Celebrity Craft Professional Mark Montano’s latest book the Big-Ass Book of Bling is full of enough projects to cover you in bling from head to toe! This necklace is just one of the many accessory projects you can make with household items and imagination. Visit our friend Mark Montano’s website for even more crafty and DIY bling ideas!

I think this actually looks like a key to another dimension.  If you were to neatly place the smaller stones you could perhaps make your astrology sign?  Just a thought.

WHAT YOU NEED:

• 22” of small to medium gold or silver chain
• 90 1 1/2” long silver or gold safety pins
• 1 silver or gold lobster claw
• 15 silver or gold tone jump rings
• 7” of medium gauge wire
• Needle nose pliers that can also cut wire
• 1 large flat back crystal rhinestone
• Several small flat back crystal rhinestones
• E-6000 glue
• 1 ½” diameter circle of aluminum flashing

Read the Directions after the Jump…

Read the rest…

By Yarn Crafts Contributor Joselyn

Finding your dream pair of gloves, mittens, or arm warmers is very tough. With all of the patterns out there, you’d think there would be at least one that fits all of your needs. Don’t feel alone if you haven’t found the right pair or even knitting pattern yet, the same thing happened to me. I invented this pattern  to be adaptable and something I could do while watching TV without too much counting. I’ve made tons of versions of these since I wrote up the pattern, some shorter, some with different cables, but always with the stretchy ribbing on the parts without a cable.

Here’s What You Need:

• 2 skeins Red Heart Soft Yarn

• Size 8 Double Pointed Knitting Needles

• Cable Needle

• Stitch Holders or Safety Pins

Here’s the Pattern…

Read the rest…

By Crafts for Learning Contributor, Danielle from the blog Crayonbox Learning.

© Danielle Westvang – Crayonbox Learning

Materials Needed:

• Tissue Paper (different shades of blue)
• Small (clean) empty glass baby food jar
• Mod Podge (Gloss Luster)
• Paint Brush
• Scissors
• Grosgrain Ribbon (coordinating colors)
• Tea Light

Directions:

• Take a small clean (and dry) glass baby food jar and put it into your work space.
• Cut different shades of blue tissue paper into small squares.
• Using a clean paint brush, paint  a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the glass jar. Do not paint the Mod Podge onto the whole jar at one time.
• Begin adding the blue tissue paper onto the thin layer in Mod Podge.  The Mod Podge will act like a glue and hold the tissue paper in place.  Staggering the pieces of tissue onto the glass jar (see picture) gives the jar a stained glass look.

• Use your finger to smooth the edges on the tissue paper as you’re placing it onto the jar.
• Keep adding Mod Podge around the jar and add the tissue paper pieces until the jar is completely covered.
• You will want to leave a small space uncovered at the top of the jar where the lid would have screwed on.
• After the jar is covered completely, use your paint brush to apply a thin coat of Mod Podge onto the jar.
• Let the layers of Mod Podge dry before adding a new layer.
• Add one more layer of Mod Podge to create a seal on the jar.  Let dry completely.

• Add Grosgrain ribbon around the top of the jar.  Glue down to give the candle holder a finished look.
• You can add embellishments as desired, but be mindful of the fact that the tea light may warm the jar so you won’t want anything added on that may get too warm.

By Crafts for Learning Contributor, Danielle from the blog Crayonbox Learning.

As summer draws to an end, students will be heading back to school. The Bus Key ring is designed to put the important information for each student in one location in the event the student becomes lost, or forgets what bus they need to get on, or who their emergency contact is.

The Bus Key ring was designed with safety of young children in mind. Most children carry backpacks or some sort of bag to carry their books and papers back and forth. The Bus Key ring template does not put the child’s name on the outside of the key ring. The purpose of the name being placed on the inside of the key ring is so that persons coming up alongside the child will not be able to call their name. (The same principle applies to not putting the name of the child on the back of shirts/sweatshirts).

The 4 page template includes a yellow bus cover, blank bus covers with lines to write information on, and a blank bus template for you to add your own information.

Materials Needed:

• Binder Ring
• Cardstock
• Lamination film
• Felt (permanent ink) Marker
• Hole punch
• Click to Download Bus Key Ring Template

Directions:

1. Print the bus templates onto cardstock.
2. Use a permanent ink felt marker (non-bleed) to write the specific information for each child.
3. Cut out the individual bus pieces.
4. Laminate using a heat seal laminator. (Hint: cutting out the pieces before lamination provides a better seal around the individual pieces.)
5. Use a hole punch to punch out the ring hole in each bus piece. 
6. Add binder ring and secure on student’s bag or backpack.

“­Silence, silence in the room! Barbie’s head wound is critical, I will need absolute precision and concentration.”

(in whispers)… “if anyone can he do it the Magic Man can…he can fix anything, ahhh, I can’t watch”.

“And with this final touch, the procedure was successful. Barbie should be back to herself in no time!” says the Magic Man.

(crowd swooning) “I don’t know how he does it… he can do everything” “He’s hot.. real hot”

“But not too hot (wink), safety is a top priority too” 

What project will the Magic Man do next…only time will tell…

Now you too can play doctor and fix all your household repairs and make creative craft projects with the Adhesive Tech Low Temp Standard Glue Gun, currently only $1.00!!!

By Cardmaking & Scrapbook Layout Contributor, Peg from the blog Peg’s Crafting Corner.

Q1. How do you adhere intricate die cuts?

A1. There are several useful things that can be used to glue them onto your projects. The Quickie Glue Pen allows you to run a small line of glue onto your piece. It can create a temporary bond to allow you to lift your project up again if needed or you can use it for a permanent bond. A wide sized double sided tape is another good thing to use. Apply it on the back of your paper before running it through your die cut machine and then just peel the back away. The Xyron machines allow you to run your project through them and it applies the adhesive for you. All you have to do is peel and stick.

Q2. Do I need any special lighting to do scrapbooking or card making?

A2. Good lighting is a must. It not only helps you take good pictures, but allows you to see the correct colors of papers and embellishments for matching. It, also, helps prevent eye strain on those late crafting nights.

Q3. Do I need a brayer?

Q3. It is something that is handy to have and I recommend. It can be used for more than just applying paint. It can be rolled on an ink pad and rolled across paper to create your own patterns and textures. Use it to help you apply your die cuts by laying the piece on your project after applying the adhesive and run the brayer over it to adhere it down. This keeps finger prints from getting on your pieces which can sometimes cause a residue and it helps from getting your fingers sticky. It helps to push the glue towards the edges which helps to glue them down, too! There are many ways to use a brayer and it will soon become a very handy tool in your craft line up.

Q4. What can I use to “sponge ink” on my project?

A4. You can use a regular sponge such as a sea sponge or daubers are also handy to give an airbrushed look on your projects. All you do is tap the sponge or dauber on the ink pad you are using and dab the ink onto the paper. It’s as easy as that and a great thing about either choice is they can be used over and over again.

Q5. What projects can I use Washi Tape on?

Q5. You can use Washi Tape on all of your projects. If you have a layout that you’ve used both cardstock and patterned paper on it, use the tape to transition from the edge of the cardstock to the edge of the patterned paper for another depth and design in your creation. Use a piece of twine and wrap the tape around it at various levels and trim to a triangle shape to create a flag or banner. If you are a person who likes to work with canvas, such as the Paper Accents Canvas Fabric Sheet, attach the tape to it and cut out the shape you want. Run a piece of it across your layout or card and attach charms or embellishments to it using decorated safety pins. It can be used to cover chipboard pieces, too! The possibilities are endless.

By Kid’s Crafts Contributor Stephanie, from the Blog Geek with Glasses.

My daughter is an Irish Step Dancer and March is a crazy month for us. We have two St. Patrick Day parades to partake in, so I needed something festive to wear. I love the mini top hats and thought I’d share this tutorial on how to make your own at home.

Mini Top hats are also popular for Steampunk costumes too, it’s all in how you decorate the basic shape.

Today, we are going Leprechaun!

Supplies:

Toilet paper or Paper Towel Roll
Cereal Box
Ribbon
Headband
Glitter
Felt
White Paint / Green Paint
Thread

Optional:

Stickers
Crystals
Other Decorations

Tools:

Pen
Craft Knife
Scissors
Brush
Glue
Hot Glue Gun
Needle

The first thing to do is cut open the cereal box to get a flat side. On the inside (non printed side) of the cereal box trace around the paper roll. This will make the center of the brim of the hat. Next measure 5/8″ all the way around and draw that circle. Cut out the outside circle, then using the craft knife cut the cross marks on the inside circle. This makes tabs to glue the brim to the tube.

Next trace the roll again, this time measure about 1/4″ and make another circle. Cut along the outside line, then cut tabs to fold. This makes the top of the hat, the tabs insert into the tube to hold the top on.

Now, determine how tall the Top Hat should be. This hat is 1 1/2″ tall, carefully use the craft knife to cut the tube so not to smash the roll.

Using the Hot Glue Gun, attach the brim by folding the tabs up and placing the tube over top. Glue the tabs in place. This can be done with craft glue but  then the tabs should be clipped until the glue dries. The Hot Glue makes the project go quicker without drying time. After the brim is in place, fold the tabs on the top of the hat and glue the it in place.  

Once the hat is assembled paint the entire piece white or green. I painted mine white, then after the glitter I went in and painted the edge of the brim and bottom green. It wasn’t necessary, but I did not like the white edge. If the entire hat was painted green to start that would not be an issue, but the glitter will show up different with a dark background verses a white background. It’s up to the crafter to decide.

When the paint is dry, cover the hat with craft glue and sprinkle the glitter on. Let the hat dry completely, once dry tap off the extra glitter.

I decorated the hat by gluing a ribbon around the base of the hat. Then using stick vinyl, I cut 3 hearts out using a heart shaped punch. I stuck the hearts on the hat in the shape of a shamrock and glued a crystal in the center. I added another shamrock to the hat in the same way. This is where it can become any type of hat that you want.

Next,  cut a circle of felt and glued it to the bottom to make attaching it to the headband easier.

I made 2 ribbon bows and glued them together, then hot glued the hat on top of them. 

To attach the hat to the headband, first hot glue the ribbon/hat to the headband. Then make a couple of stitches around the headband making sure to catch the felt on the hat, secure the thread with a good knot.

Now - put the beautifully crafted hat on your head, drink some kind of ale and eat Bangers and Mash Or follow the rainbow to your pot of gold! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!