Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

This technique (adapted from quilt piecing) involves tracing and cutting shapes
from various papers and assembling the “pieces” into a picture, pattern or design.

Supplies Needed

Variety of Papers (coordinate colors with pattern)
Sharp Scissors or Craft Knife
Saral Transfer Paper or Light Box
Pencil
Glue
Purchased Pattern or Design
Your Own Pattern or Design

Step-by-Step

1. Review pattern and select colors and papers that are needed for each piece of the pattern.
2. If your paper has a right side, you should trace the pattern onto the wrong side of the paper unless you are using the Saral transfer paper method. Saral’s transfer color is completely erasable. You can also ink or paint over it.
3. Trace piece patterns onto paper using Saral transfer paper. Use a light color of transfer paper for dark colored papers and a dark color of transfer paper for light colored papers. OR Place piece patterns onto light box. Place paper on top of the pattern and using the light source trace piece pattern onto paper.
4. Cut out all your pieces. Arrange as the pattern. Glue pieces onto your background paper.

Tips

• You can enlarge or reduced on a copier or computer.
• Using transfer paper takes away the light box step of paper pieces.
• Make your own patterns from clip art, coloring books or greeting cards
• Remember that most patterns or designs can be used in the reverse for 2 page spreads.
• If just starting, use simple patterns and designs that don’t have dozens of small pieces.
• Don’t cut out all the pattern pieces. Keep the pattern whole and you won’t lose any pieces to your pattern.
• Use a variety of papers: tissue, mesh, plastic, cardstock, fabric, handmade, vellum, textured, patterned, decorative, heavy weight, lightweight, brights, pastels and scraps!

Handmade paper adds a special touch to any paper project.
Especially when you add a flower or leaf from your own yard.

Supplies Needed

Paper: Almost any paper you can tear easily and recycle including: envelopes, copier paper, and mail order catalogs.
Blender: Filled 3/4 full of water
Paper Making Pour Mold: This is a 2-part mold made up of a wood frame and ultra fine screen.
Couch Sheets: Highly absorbent paper used to remove excess water from hand made paper. You can substitute plain newsprint, but you’ll need a lot of it.
Sponge: Again, to absorb excess water.
Fine Screening: An optional supply, but can help with removing excess water from newly made paper so not as many couch sheets are needed.
Large Tub or Kitchen Sink: The paper making pour mold is placed into this with water reaching about 1/3 of the mold.
Ironing Board and Iron

Step-by-Step

1. You’ll need the equivalent of 1 sheet of copier paper to make one 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 sheet of handmade paper. After making your first sheet of handmade paper, if you find your paper too thick then use less recycled paper and if you find it too thin to work with add a touch more recycled paper.
2. Tear up recycled paper and place in blender. Blend at medium speed for at least 20-30 seconds. You want all the paper to be pulp.
3. Pour pulp into pour mold that is in tub or sink. With hand mix the pulp for even distribution. Lift pour mold straight up out of the water allowing excess water to dip off.
4. Remove wood frame from pour mold. Place fine screening over handmade paper and use sponge to remove more excess water. Remove fine screen when done.
5. Place couch sheet over top of handmade paper. Lightly press down and remove more excess water. Flip over and gently remove ultra fine screen. Place second couch sheet on top . Flip over and remove the first couch sheet. An additional couch sheet may or may not be needed to remove more excess water.
6. Place handmade paper onto an ironing board and iron on medium heat until dry.
7. Place handmade paper between two couch sheets and place heavy object over it for a few hours. Your handmade sheet of paper is ready to use!

Paper casting is the technique of taking paper pulp and casting it into a mold. Much like wax or metal casting, but without the heat! Paper pulp can be made of cotton linter or recycling used paper like envelopes. If you want an archival casting, however, you should use only cotton linter with an acid-removing additive.

Supplies Needed

Blender: Filled 3/4 full of water
Paper: Anything from typewriting paper to tissue paper. For best quality results and archival quality use cotton linter
Molds: Several mold options including paper-casting molds, candy or cookie molds
Acid Removing Additive: Powder that removes all acids from pulp
Small Strainer, Cloth & Paper Towels, Sponges: To remove excess water from mold
Sink or Large Tub: To work over

Step-by-Step

1. Tear or cut paper into small pieces. Place in blender and allow to soak for about one minute. Add your acid-removing additive.
2. Turn blender on high for 1-3 minutes. Paper pulp should look like mush with no detectable pieces of paper left.
3. Pour some pulp in strainer. Using small amount of pulp, start filling in the mold with pulp. You should not be able to see any of the mold and if using plastic molds hold the mold to the light to see if any area needs more pulp.
4. Use sponge and towels to remove excess water from pulp in mold. Press firmly down on the while removing water so you will get all the details of the mold image.
5. Allow mold to dry 24 hours before removing paper from mold. To cut drying time place mold in front of a fan. Some paper casting molds are microwave safe. If you mold is microwave safe you can place mold into microwave and on medium heat in 15-30 intervals “cook” your casting until dry.
6. Paper casts are beautiful as is, but you can also use chalks, colored pencils, stencil paints to add color to your casting.

• Wash fabric (or clothing blank) before painting but don’t add fabric softener. Iron fabric or garment to remove any wrinkles. Sizing must be removed (with washing) or paint may not adhere to fabric.
• Many paint manufacturers make fabric medium, which you combine with your paint to allow the paint to bond with the fibers as opposed to laying on top. You may also choose to use a fabric paint, which already has the fabric medium added to it.
• Outline pattern with disappearing ink pen or free hand the design. Allow the finished piece to air dry at least 48-72 hours before heat setting. Heat setting is done by ironing the fabric with a ironing sheet (never iron directly onto the painted surface) or by turning the item inside out and tumbling in a dryer for 20 minutes.
• Use mild fabric detergent when washing any textiles. Never add fabric softener to anything hand painted or the paints will fade or peel off. It is best to air dry garments rather than using conventional clothes dryer.

Did you ever wonder how many different knots could be made in macramé? Have you found yourself pondering exactly what the ingredients of salt dough are? Ever see a really cool technique in decorative painting and want to learn how to do it? Part of the joy of crafting is learning more than just how to knit and pearl, but finding out what kinds of yarns are available and what new patterns can be found. Crafting means so much more when you can advance past the beginner stage and dive into the medium or technique that has caught your fancy!

There are plenty of creative and crafty ways to discover more about the crafts you enjoy. There are very traditional ways of advancing your knowledge of craft, which includes magazines (you found this article in a great craft magazine didn’t you?) and taking a class. Yet, there are so many more opportunities available today. From the high tech world of the Internet to the cozy quiet world of a library, you can learn as much as you want about any craft that you want!

So Many Books, So Little Time…

Books are a great way to learn. Hopefully, you have a well-stocked public library and good local bookstore in your community. A library may seem overwhelming at first, but most libraries have a reference department and reference librarian. You can call or stop in your library and start your treasure hunt with the card catalog. This area will list all the books by subject, title and author that your library has access to. In small communities, books can often be requested from larger library systems for a short-term book loan. If you can’t find a book on your topic of choice, then request a search by the reference librarian. You may not find the book at your library, but with author, title and publisher information you may be able to order the book from the publisher or a book distributor. Sadly, some of the best and most interesting books maybe out of print, but publishers can refer you to a business that can track down a copy of an out of print book.

Bookstores can order books for you too. Half the fun can be browsing the art and craft bookshelves for gems. But don’t stop there. Browse the children’s area too. There are wonderful books designed just for children, but that can provide you with excellent information and craft ideas. Be sure to check out the exciting clip art and coloring books. These types of books can inspire you with interesting motifs, line drawings and color combinations. Dover is one of the leading publishers in this area.

The web has really broadened our reach by providing intricate search engines that can track down books on almost any craft subject. Books are often auctioned at sites where you can find a book at a bargain price. Many small publishers and writers who self publish have created their own web sites for promotion and book sales. I placed the term ‘tea bag folding’ into my favorite search engine (www.mamma.com) and found three great books on the subject. These same books (actually, no books were found) could not be found at the most recognized book selling web site, Amazon.com.

I Want My Craft TV And Creative Video

The world may want to be a millionaire, but I’ll settle for watching some crafting fun on my TV. PBS offers some of the finest programs on a variety of craft topics. The Public Broadcast Service has a website (www.pbs.org) which has a site search engine to find a specific topic or find your local PBS station with program schedules. You can find the programs you like and in many cases the program will offer for purchase a series video or workbook.

1. Friendly Plastic takes on a different look when “baked” vs. using hot water to manipulate the product.
2. Toaster ovens work best set at 200 degrees. Ovens vary so watch the Friendly Plastic and adjust temperature if needed.
3. Line toaster oven pan with aluminum foil. Do not place plastic directly on pan if you want to continue using pan for food. Lightly spray foil with non-stick cooking spray.
4. Cut out your design and lay flat on foil.
5. Place foiled pan in toaster oven. Watch the plastic carefully. When the sharp edges of the plastic melt over, the design is done. The plastic becomes dull/shiny.
6. Fill a large bowl with ice water and place foil into the water to cool plastic quickly. Never touch hot plastic; it will burn your fingers. Use a hot pad when removing pan from toaster oven.
7. If you cut Friendly Plastic into square, heat, remove from oven, and stamp with a rubber stamp or the AMACO stamps, the impression will stay and can be clearly seen.
8. You can re-cut a design and re-heat for smooth edges.
9. Keep your Friendly Plastic scraps. Place your scraps on foil. Overlap pieces of plastic in several places. Heat and remove from oven. Allow plastic to cool. Now you can cutout shapes from the large mass of scraps. Re-heat to smooth edges.
10. You can use the foil to make shapes that the plastic will melt onto.
11. AMACO, makers of Friendly Plastic are very consumer oriented. If you have questions, just contact the company at: 4717 W. 16th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46222 or visit AMACO’s web site: www.amaco.com

Also called glass globs, this fun embellishment
magnifies what is under it for a funky look.

Supplies Needed

Flat Marbles or Glass Glob: This is glass and usually found in the stain glass, mosaic or floral department. There are two sizes and a variety of colors available.
Pebbles: This is plastic and comes in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some pebbles are pre-done and packaged for your convenience.
Adhesive: A glue that dries clear should be used or a clear liquid laminate.

Step-by-Step

1. Place a glass or plastic marble over the photo, word, letter or embellishment you want to accentuate and lightly trace around it with a pencil.
2. Cut the item to size and erase any pencil marks.
3. Apply a small dot of clear drying glue to the flat side of the marble. Firmly press the marble down onto the photo, word or embellishment. Hold for 30-60 seconds to make sure you have an even bond.
4. Allow to dry for a few hours and then adhere to your scrapbook page, collage or card.

Tips

• Use fun alphabets or letters from computer fonts, peel-ons or rubberstamps.
• Use aged newspaper or magazine text.
• Fun to cover mini stamped images or mini photos.
• Cover a dried or pressed flower or leaf.
• Mix and match sizes.
• Embellish bookmarks, refrigerator magnets or thumbtacks.