Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

We’ve seen photo after photo of all your craft spaces, and it was hard to make the decision but it’s time to announce the BEST and WORST craft rooms! The winners will each receive a $100 CreateForLess gift certificate, so you can buy all the craft organizing supplies you like!

The BEST craft room Award goes to Shawna W. from Newport News, VA.

Thanks to my husband who has a knack for building things, I have a great room. He built my table, counter height, which I love since I’m a standing crafter. I feel really lucky to have my own space with lots of room and storage. I don’t know if you think so but I think it is the best! I have lots more photos also!

The WORST craft room Award goes to Janis M. from Texarkana, AR.

My craft room is very small with no room for storage. I have tried to use shelves and storage bins, but still am tripping over supplies on the floor and tucked away in inconvenient places. I don’t think anyone would want to work in my craft room. I do, somehow, manage to get some projects done. I still have a lot on the shelf that I just put away because I got frustrated looking for supplies I don’t have room to store.

We received many impressive entries, as well as many messy entries! Check out some of our favorites.

I could say that my crafting space is the worst, since it’s in our cold, unfinished basement, but I think it’s the best because of what went into it. I designed the shelf/peg board system, and my wonderful man built it all for me for Mother’s Day. It’s organized just how I want it, and I have plenty of space to spread out with my sewing machine, ironing board, etc. And the best part about it being in the basement? No one else ever goes down there, so I only have to clean up if I want to!

Submitted By Jill D. from Brandon, VT

My craft area is a complete disaster! I have stuff in cardboard boxes and shoe boxes because I don’t have a good storage system. There is barely any room to sit at my sewing machine. The hardest part of doing any kind of craft project is usually finding the things I need and clearing space to do it. My craft area needs help!

Submitted By Wendy S. from Hagerstown, MD.

I used to be frustrated leaving most of my supplies behind when I went to a friend’s house to scrap. I turned a travel trailer into a mobile scrapbooking studio. Now when I want to go to a friend’s house to scrap I take it all with me.

Submitted By Terri M from Kennewick, WA.

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

There’s not a lot to like about smoking, given its effect on a person’s health, but when my friend Buddy gifted me with his empty cigar boxes, I was selfish enough to be glad he’d been a cigar smoker! They’ve been so much fun to work with I thought I’d share my techniques and ideas for turning a cigar box into a purse.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• A cigar box, either the oval or rectangular kind
• Scraps of fabric
• Braid, lace, bits of trim, ribbon, old jewelry, etc.
• 4 washers (mine are black plastic, but metal is fine)
• About a yard of heavy cord 
• Adhesives, glue gun, etc.

The first thing you’ll want to do is take off any labels that won’t be covered by fabric. Take a blow dryer, and blast that stream of hot air at the label, then gently peel the label off. It’s pretty easy to do, but be careful not to burn your fingers!

Measure the circumference and width of the cigar box and cut a piece of fabric about 1” (2.5cm) longer than the circumference and about 1/4” (.6cm) narrower than the width. Turn a very narrow hem on each end, and either glue or sew it. No need to hem the sides, as they’re going to be covered by trim. Wrap the box, gluing along the edges, and across the indentation where the lid is hinged, and turning the ends of the fabric piece to the inside of the box.

Cut two pieces of trim just the length of the box’s circumference. (You’ll want something like braid or velvet ribbon so that no glue shows through.) If you’re using a trim that will fray, run a line of glue across the underside of each end.

Glue the trim to the edges of the box, covering the edges of the fabric wrap completely.

It’s time now to do the handles. With the oval boxes, the lid hinge will be at the top of the purse; with the rectangular style, the hinge is at the bottom. Measure about an inch down from the top of the purse on each uncovered side, and drill or punch a hole large enough for the handle cord to pass through.

Cut a piece of cord about 36” (1m) long, and tape each end to keep it from unraveling while you work. Tie a knot as close to one end as you can, and thread on the first washer. From the inside of the cigar box, push the unknotted end through the hole you made, and pull through. Put a bit of glue all around the edges of the hole, inside and out, and thread on another washer, pulling the knot and both washers tight against the box. Thread on another washer, and run the other end of the cord through the other hole. Thread on the last washer. Knot the cord, put glue around the edges of the hole, and pull the knot and both washers flush. Trim off the taped ends of the cord close to the knots. Wipe off any excess glue, and hang the bag from a doorknob, to keep pressure on the knots and washers while the glue dries.

When the glue is dry, decorate your purse with lace, old jewelry, etc., covering any glue boo-boos. The oval boxes have a magnetic clasp built in; for a “regular” box, affix the clasp of your choice—a button and elastic loop will work well.

Front of the cigar purses

...and the back!