Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Recycled Crafts Contributor, Anitra from the blog “Coffee Pot People”.

New Year’s Resolutions are so tantalizing, with their promise of a brand new year, a brand spanking new clean slate, and the opportunity to start over on a few things. I’m pretty consistent with them–every year I start over on the same things!

But this year I wanted to focus on resolutions specifically for crafters, narrow down the promise to get organized. For instance, organize those piles and shelves of craft supplies, and the jumble of ideas jotted on slips of paper or tucked into dim nooks and corners in my brain.

Hey! That’s two resolutions right there:

1. I resolve to organize my supplies, and my crafting areas.

2. I resolve to organize how I go about crafting.

Step one, for a lot of us, involves sorting, categorizing, and storing all the bits and pieces, large and small, looking at what you have in supplies, for instance, and then sorting by the type craft they’re used for. I’m getting more specific as time goes by.

For example, I have a small, plastic chest with three drawers to hold scraps of fabric, pin backs, colored craft wire, and an assortment of small buttons for making fabric flower pins. Pull that chest out, and everything needed for that craft is at my fingertips, with the exception of scissors and wire snips.

Another option is to use gallon-size resealable plastic bags. I have one right now that contains everything I need to make wrist warmers/fingerless gloves. Zipper bags are just so versatile-they hold odd shapes, can be packed in together for storage-within-storage, fold flat when they’re empty, and can be reused.

There are all sorts of storage systems you can get for things like beads. I have my eye on these, as my beads are getting completely out of hand:

Use large tins or shoe boxes for leaflets, booklets, and patterns. If you cover them with pretty paper, you can set them right out on a shelf, and add a bright touch to your crafting room. I’m liking these black ones, because they present such a nice, blank slate:

An over-the-door tie rack will let you hang strands of beads, hanks of floss, or jewelry you plan to de-construct.

Stand scissors in a pretty vase, and use a pretty dish on your sewing table to catch all those little things you want to keep handy. A decorated tin can is the classic pencil holder, and baskets are good for just about anything. Stand spools of ribbon on edge in a shallow box, or thread them onto dowels in a drawer.

For thousands more organizing tips, try Get Organized Now  and/or Fly Lady. They are wizards there!

Those are just a few ideas for the tangible stuff of crafting, but what about your time and ideas?

Start with a schedule. I’m going to try to reserve early morning for computer activity (checking email, connecting with other crafters, listing items on Etsy, etc.), mid-morning to early afternoon for housework and errands, and the afternoon to crafts. It won’t always be possible, but that is my goal. If you’re going to do something similar, try to make your appointments, play dates, shopping, and the like fall into the earlier part of your day, so you can be back in your creative space when you want to be. If you have children in school, you may find mornings work better for creating.

I love it when I spot or come up with a new idea, but I know for a fact that if I don’t write them down, they’ll just disappear. How do I know that? From looking back at my little notes and slips of paper with ideas sketched or jotted down, and thinking, Oh, that’s cool. And I’d forgotten all about that one!

Resolved: To have a pad and pencil in my purse at all times. Better yet, to carry a camera wherever I go.

I also have a file on my computer labeled “Crafts and ideas”. If I run across a great idea, I take or scan a photo, and park it in that folder, for later reference.

And for all those fabulous instructions found in magazines, there are notebooks, labeled by category-Crochet, Garden, Beading, Cooking, etc. Page protectors are our friends!

I’m reminded of the little placards that say, “A messy desk is a sign of genius.” Won’t argue that one, but a tidy desk is sure nice to work at. Now, if I can just keep it that way…

It’s just another Manic Monday…but with Free Stuff!

Last week you entered to win the Westrim Memory Album 12″ x 12″ Kit in Bohemian Comfort. This kit includes perfectly coordinated products to create several stunning pages that will fill the matching album. Acid-free 12″x 12″ Bohemian Comfort- Includes one postbound album, 10 top-loading page protectors, 12 sheets patterned paper with embossing finish, 8 sheets color paper, 2 pre-designed pages, 14 borders, 350 tags, 150 icons, 9 frames, 70 word & phrases, 30 photo corners, 30 embossed die-cuts, 33 expression stickers, 185 alphabet stickers, 143 adhesive pop-up dots, 4 yards ribbon and 1 idea booklet. Contents may vary.

Our question last week was:

Question of the Week: What is your New Year’s Resolution? 

The winning answer was from:

Kadee – My New Years Resolution is to not stress myself out over things that don’t need to be stressed about. Crafting, organizing my cook books, putting away clothes- I don’t need to stress about that. Just enjoy the day to the fullest. I’m going to do the things I enjoy when I want to do them. There’s no use in stressing about getting something done on a deadline when there isn’t a deadline to get it done!

I love that scrapbooking kit! I have a few kits to do, and that one would fit perfectly with the ones I’ve got!

Happy New Year Free Stuff Friday Fans! Let’s kick off the New Year with free craft supplies!

Every Friday we’re posting a giveaway on Think Crafts. All you have to do to enter is comment on the blog post answering the question of the week. We’ll pick the winners and contact them via email. Deadline is midnight Friday night and the winner will be announced Monday on Think Crafts. One entry per person please.

Enter to win the Westrim Memory Album 12″ x 12″ Kit in Bohemian Comfort. With Westrim Memory Album Kits, it doesn’t get any easier than this. Whether you’re new to scrapbooking and don’t know where to begin or a seasoned veteran looking for a quick way to get that designer look, Westrim Memory Album Kits are the choice for everyone. Each kit contains perfectly coordinated products to create several stunning pages that will fill the matching album. Acid-free 12″x 12″ Bohemian Comfort- Includes one postbound album, 10 top-loading page protectors, 12 sheets patterned paper with embossing finish, 8 sheets color paper, 2 pre-designed pages, 14 borders, 350 tags, 150 icons, 9 frames, 70 word & phrases, 30 photo corners, 30 embossed die-cuts, 33 expression stickers, 185 alphabet stickers, 143 adhesive pop-up dots, 4 yards ribbon and 1 idea booklet. Contents may vary.

 Question of the Week: What is your New Year’s Resolution? 

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By Kid’s Craft Contributor, Gillian from the blog “Dried Figs and Wooden Spools”.

In the ever evolving drama that is the renovation of our house, my husband and I recently installed a set of six lockers in one wall to act as a pantry. Once the lockers were in and stocked with food, I realized they afforded an excellent opportunity for eeking out a little more space by using magnets.

Magnetized spice sets have been around a while and I have always admired them but have never been willing to fork out a ton of money for my spice storage when the cans they came in worked just fine. 

However, now that I have a kitchen full of magnet-happy spaces (fridge, hood, lockers - I’m awash in metal!) I decided it was time to find a way to store, at the very least, my most used spices and in the process, free up some precious drawer space. But still unwilling to spend the big bucks, I set about making them myself.

Last year, Ball (one of the main canning jar suppliers) introduced the “Elite” line of jars. They have a more modern look, a squatter shape and platinum colored lids. The low profile means that they sit closer to the surface they are clinging too, which means there is less chance of them getting in the way. The 250 ml size is also just right to hold the contents of a full sized jar of spices.

Simply superglue three strong magnets to the lid, create a label (lable makers and stick on labels are perfect for this) fill and stick.

Hang on the side or front of the fridge, the edge of your hood or inside the door of the lockers you happen to have hanging around your kitchen. Having them out in the open makes keeps them handy and helps you keep track of what needs refilling and what you already have. And since canning season has officially passed and jars are on sale these days, making enough for all the spices in your cupboard will cost a fraction of what you’d pay for a store bought set. (Makes a great gift too!)

By General Crafts Contributor Amy, from the Blog “Mod Podge Rocks!”

Although Christmas is over, the crafting season isn’t.  In fact, winter crafting has just begun!  These sparkly snowmen magnets are shown on my fridge, and are great because they can be accomplished in a few hours.  Use fun papers like I did for a childlike look – these don’t take much paper to cover, and are great for using up spare scraps.

All you need is:

• Wood snowman shape (3)
• Scrapbook paper – I used K & Company Rough and Tumble
• FolkArt paint in coordinating colors (I used Tangerine, Kelly Green and Calypso Sky)
• Mod Podge Sparkle
• Buttons – nine coordinating
• The Magnet Source^TM Magnet Ceramic Disc 1/2″   (3)
• Beacon 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue
• Pen or pencil
• Scissors

You will first need to trace the snowmen shapes on the paper.  Place face down on the BACK of the paper and outline with your pen or pencil.

Cut out the shapes and set aside for later.

Paint all of your wood snowmen using colors that coordinate with your papers.  I only painted the edges of the front because the paper was going over the shape – you can’t see it.  I painted the entire backside.  Don’t leave your snowman naked!  Allow to dry.

Grab your Sparkle Mod Podge and coat the front of your snowman with a medium layer.

Since the snowmen were so small, I adhered the paper to the front where I had Mod Podged, then I turned the snowmen over and pressed down hard with my hand to flatten out the air bubbles.  Wipe away any excess Mod Podge on the edges; allow to dry for 15 – 20 minutes.

Completely coat the outside of your snowmen with Mod Podge and allow to dry.  Add as many coats as you like – more coats equals more sparkle.

Finish your snowmen by gluing buttons to the front and then magnets to the back.  Let dry completely and then display on your fridge or other metal surface.

By Recycled Crafts Contributor, Anitra from the blog “Coffee Pot People”.

Okay, admit it. You were so sure there’d be a way to use those spiffy metal tins you used to get in the mail from AOL, the ones that held a CD, that you saved every one of them. Do you still have them? Because I fnally found a way to use mine, and I’m so excited about it that I’m going to show you what I did!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• CD tin
• Gesso
• Fabric
• Cut outs from old magazines
• Alphabet stickers, or the word “Recipe” cut from a magazine or book
• Small adornments–lace, buttons, string, etc.
• Glue
• Every pair of scissors you own (Just kidding, but you’ll be cutting paper and cloth a variety of ways.)
• Sheet of paper or plastic for template

First, protect your work surface, then paint your tin on all sides with the Gesso. You don’t need to paint the inside.

Let that dry. If you have a second tin you haven’t painted, you can go ahead and trace around it to make a template/pattern. (Or you could do this step before doing the painting.) There’s a bit of a bead around the rim of the tin where the top goes over the bottom, so be sure you don’t use that edge to draw around, or your pattern will be too big.

Choose the fabric you’re going to use for the background, if you haven’t already, and lightly trace around you pattern. (Placement is easier if you’ve used something transparent for the pattern–the lid from a take-out box works well, or a sheet protector.) Use pinking shears to cut fabric out.

You could glue the fabric to your tin now, or do what I did, which was to cut an identical piece from an old book and sew all the way around. I find it’s easier to glue the paper down flat than fabric, to tell the truth, but I also liked the look of the stitching.

Now the real fun begins. Go through your old magazines and/or cookbooks, and find images and slogans you like. If you can’t bear to cut the actual book, you can make copies to use.

Arrange the pictures and words you’ve found on the fabric-covered tin lid. Leave room for “Recipes” if you want to include that. Glue everything down securely.

Last, use your paper pattern to cut a piece for the back of the tin from the index of an old cookbook.

Put recipe cards inside to finish. I made my own, but store-bought works just fine.

These are like potato chips for me. I just can’t stop, and I’m thanking my lucky stars these are no-calorie treats!