Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

Congratulations to Sherry Lykins, Marsha, Andrea, Ren & Jacklynn Grimm who were randomly selected as our Free Stuff Friday winners and will receive a Random Bag of Craft!

Prize package could contain but not limited to: Elmer’s glue, Offray ribbon, Blue Moon Beads, DMC Floss, Sculpey Clay, Diamond Glaze and more!

FIVE winners will be selected and each will receive a Random Bag of Craft! Each person will receive a CreateForLess Mable Crafts-a lot tote and the rest of the prize will be random!

CreateForLess Mable Crafts-a lot Tote Bag is not only cute, but can be used to carry anything! This tote bag is large enough to carry your craft supplies, and sturdy enough to use while grocery shopping.

 Their winning answers for “What have you reused or repurposed for a craft project?” were…

“I use everything! I have a three year old so we do lots of crafts with egg cartons, t.p. rolls, jars, just about anything!!” Sherry Lykins 

“I used some old candle holders and glued a flat plate on top to make a cake plate for the nieces and nephews birthdays. I usually paint the candle holder a pale pink for the girls. They like their own cake plate and use it from one birthday to the next.” Marsha

 ”I like to use The small boullion jarsor any jar that size to make water globes.” Andrea

“Recently I used an old glass doorknob and a used magnet to make a very pretty refridgerator magnet.” Ren

 ”Lots of things can be used as embellishments on homemade cards, but my first thought is buttons.” Jacklynn Grimm

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

My daughter is to the age where she has a couple of friends that she wants to exchange presents with. We are making our own cards and as an alternative to sugary treats we made little charms to give to her friends. I was wandering through the craft store and came across the Shrinkable plastic. A blast from the past, I had to make 100 swaps for a scouting event out of shrinkable plastic. The thrill of watching the large plastic cutout shrink down to mini size was fun for me then, it should be fun for the kiddo now. I was right, she was amazed at the process and enjoyed making these zipper pulls.

Supplies:

• Shrinkable Plastic Material
• Permanent Markers
• Color Pencils
• Image to Trace
• Lobster Clasp
• Jump Rings

Tools:

• Scissors
• Hole Punch
• Pliers
• Cookie Sheet
• Oven

If the plastic you are using is clear plastic and you want to use colored pencils, I suggest ruffing up the surface with a scotch brite pad or fine sandpaper. This gives the plastic a texture that will hold the color of the pencils. If you are using a permanent marker, then you don’t have to ruff it up.

To begin this project you need an image to trace or if you want to free hand draw the image that’s fine too. The image will shrink about 42%, if you design or print an image it will have to be about 3″ x 3″ to shrink down to a 1″ x 1″ finished piece. If you are using an image to trace, print it out and place it behind the shrinkable plastic. I trace the image with a permanent marker to create the outline for the little one to color in.

We used colored pencils for some and permanent markers for others. The thing with the markers are that they turn out so dark, so if you want something brown, try and use a tan.

Next cut out the image, I leave an 1/8″ to 1/4″ boarder then at the top where I want the hole I leave more space. Once the image is cut out I punch a hole using a scrapbooking punch it’s 1/4″ hole.

Now we’re off to the oven. Preheat the oven according to the instructions on the package and place the cutouts on a piece of parchment paper on the cookie sheet. Place in the oven and keep an eye on them, this is the fun part! They will shrink down, they may curl up a little if that happens use a toothpick to make them flat. In the instructions of the plastic it will advise you on all troubleshooting.

Once the cutouts have cooled, take a pair of pliers open a jump ring and insert it into the hole of the cutout. Then into the hole of the lobster clasp. Close the jump ring and you’re done.

This is neat project that the little ones can help with, by coloring them. Then they get the enjoyment of watching them shrink up. A useful gift, instead of sugary treats, and they can be clipped to book bags, jackets or even shoelaces. Have fun creating yours!