Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

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

Ah, summer. Picnics, farmers’ markets, concerts in the park, camping, and festivals abound, and all the world wants to be outside.

Of course, with temperatures in the 80’s, 90’s, and even 100’s, we’re also looking for shade, and canopies are becoming very popular ways to take your shade with you. They’re getting better all the time, too, with pop-up types springing up in a matter of minutes, and collapsing into a bundle smaller than a kitchen stool.

The downside? If the wind comes up, a canopy can behave like a parachute with wanderlust, and go tumbling willy-nilly away from your set-up.

The solution, of course, is to weight it down. One way is to fill empty milk jugs with water, tying from two to four to each canopy leg, but jugs can be hard to lug, and I’m one of those people who find it all too easy to trip even on something as obvious as  Big Jugs O’ Water In The Corner.

As someone who does art/craft shows, I also wanted something that looked professional, without spending a bundle. My son and daughter-in-law had the solution.

You’ll need:

• Four 4′ lengths of 3″ diameter PVC pipe
• 8 end caps that fit your pipe
• PVC primer and glue (It will be in the plumbing supplies area at the hardware store.)
• Sand
• Optional: 4 short lengths of chain with S-hooks on each end, and 4 sturdy eye bolts

Start by gluing an end cap to one end of each of the four pipes. You need to use the primer first, and then the glue, according to the instructions on the cans. Protect your work surface! My dear husband spilled some on our linoleum, and the purple stains don’t look like they’ll ever come out! (No worries for me—I’ve already painted polka dots on my floor; this is an excuse to do more!)

Let the glue dry thoroughly, and then fill each of the pipes with sand, then glue the other end caps to the open ends of the pipes.

You now have four good weights that are ready to use by just standing them next to the canopy legs and bungee-jumping in place.

Or you can finish up with just one more step: Drill a guide hole in one end cap of each weight that’s just a bit smaller than your eye bolts’ diameter. Screw the eye bolt in securely. Now you can use those short lengths of chain to hang the weights from each corner.

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

It probably won’t be a surprise to anyone that my favorite art/craft shows  to be in or to attend are those where the art is constructed primarily from recycled materials. 

This past weekend was the Vancouver Recycled Arts Festival, and I was pleased and honored to be one of their vendors. Now, the hardest thing about that is being stuck in my booth. I want to see to all the other art! So, the second morning of the show, I made sure I was there early enough to cruise the show myself, camera in hand, and I had a mission: Photograph art that you might not see anywhere else. 

People are amazingly creative and talented. This is just a sample of what the show had to offer:

In the slideshow, you see:

• Pendants from broken china, by Tanya Meyer  of CuteGirl Creations
• Soft toys and wearable art from reclaimed materials, by Dawn Grunwald
• Blue & white stamped domino tray, by MouseHouse Designs
• Colorful garden whirligigs from vinyl records, by Christine Claringbold of EyePop Art
• Rings made from bicycle innertubes & beads, by Julia Garretson
• Fused glass cat faces and ladybugs from scrap glass,  by Brenda Lee Calvert of Halfmoon Farm
• Folding baskets and a handbag from reclaimed & sanitized chopsticks, by Kwytza Chopstick Art
• Playing card holders from reclaimed fibers, by Lyle and Arlene Gowing
• Musical instruments from cigar boxes and license plates, by Alan Matta
• Garden shrines from scrap wood & found objects, by Mike and Barbara Meyer, of Earth Tones
• Mosaic art from reclaimed windows and scrap glass, by Missy Lambert
• Crocheted bags, placemats, accessories, etc., from plastic shopping bags, by Molly J Walter
• Purses and wallets woven from candy, snack, & coffee packaging, by Rock Candy Art
• Creepy babies from baby dolls and found objects, by Jason Pickering
• Rustic  jewelry and accessories from sardine cans, smashed bottle caps, etc., by Chris Reitmaier
• Garden Tiki Monster & Fork Man from scrap metal & flatware, by Schell & Son Metalwerks
• A giant blossom for the garden from reclaimed glassware & tableware, by Anitra Cameron
• Marble-covered garden art, by Megan Klepp, of Ta-Dah
• Refrigerator magnets from small toys, by the sons of Megan Klepp, of Ta-Dah
• A 3-D collage from reclaimed painting and stuffed bird, by Casey Boketzian, of Therapy Bettye
• Painted polka dot tableware & radio, by Davell Seversen, of Zany Art

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

If you’re a crafter, or a blogger, or both, you’ve probably run into times when people have asked about something you’ve made and how they can get one. It’s one of those moments when you think “hmm, I wish I had a business card!” except, it’s hard to justify a whole box of business cards when you just need one here and there. And what if what you’re crafting changes, as it does with most crafty people. Do you order a whole new set of cards? Maybe you just want to have your contact information handy for meeting other moms. What’s a crafty gal to do?

Instead of weighing your desk down with a big box of cards, grab some shipping labels and a stamp kit and have an ever changeable business card making set always at your fingertips! These tags are also handy for gift wrapping, organizing and a myriad of other things, so don’t be afraid to buy in bulk!

Here’s what you need

Letter stamp kit
Fun stamps
 Box of Shipping Labels
Stamp Pad 

Before you break out the tweezers and teeny letters, figure out what you want your card to say. Do you want a phone number or just an email address? Do you have a website or a blog? How do you want your name to look? Do you have a tagline? Write it all down so you can lay out your stamp easily, then pull out those tweezers and start arranging letters. I found my custom stamp kit with the small letters at a business supply store.

Once you have your words ready to go, look through your collection of fun stamps (come on, I know you have some!) and try out a few on your card. Or try cutting the end off the card with pinking sheers, you can even glue small strips of ribbon to the card or play around with embossing. Try out several combinations until you have a few you love and stamp away. Remove the wire from the tag and tuck a few in your bag. The next time someone stops you at the park and asks “where did you get that?” you can come back with “Why, I made it, here’s my card!” And a small business is born

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

If you’re a crafter, and you must be, since you’re here, there’s a good chance you sell what you produce. Some of us sell to our friends, some online, some in stores, and some at shows and sales throughout the year. And some us do all of the above!

January, for me, is a time to regroup. Like a lot of other people, I’m using the first few weeks of the year to get organized, and one of the things I’ve done is look over my list of things I take to shows. It might seem like a long list, but a lot of what’s on it takes up very little space, and having these items with me helps me feel like I can handle just about anything that comes up.

This is my list. Alter it at will to suit your art and venue.

• Canopy
• Canopy weights
• Table(s)
• Table cover(s)
• Carpet squares
• Perforated round wire table
• Snacks & water
• Signage
• Wire display racks
• Coffee Pot People banner
• Stool to sit on
• Paper for wrapping
• Bags
• Coffee Pot People Album
• Email signup list & clipboard
• Credit card slider & clipboard
• Small sledge hammer for pounding stems into ground
• Coffee Pot People, and Tea Kettle Characters
• China & Mega Blossoms
• ALL China Blossom Stems
• Tub for cooling my feet
• Sweater, clean shirt
• $100 change
• Fanny pack for cash/checks/credit slips
• Camera
• Project to work on
• TV tray

SMALL PLASTIC THREE-DRAWER CHEST TO HOLD:

• Paper & pens
• Deodorant
• Make-up
• Receipt books
• E-6000 (because people always ask what I use)
• Credit card slips
• Business cards
• Masking tape
• Scissors
• Gardening gloves
• Pliers, screwdrivers, glue
• Packet of moist towelettes, because you Will get your hands dirty
• Cellophane tape
• Clothes pins
• Safety pins
• Extra tags, string, labels

You, of course, would take your merchandise, and not my Coffee Pot People, Tea Kettle Characters, or China and Mega Blossoms! There are other things on the list you won’t need, and things I don’t take that you’ll want.

The three-drawer chest has become indispensable for me. It holds all the little stuff in one place. Putting it on the TV tray means, usually, that I can tuck it behind my big table, out of the way, but still accessible.

The small tub is worth its weight in gold on hot days. I put cool water in it, put it on the ground behind my big table, slip off my shoes and stand in it. It’s a real life saver.

Always have something to do, a project, preferably something to make that you’re selling.  It keeps you from being bored during slow times, and draws onlookers. Never, ever read in your booth. It sends the wrong message to your shoppers.

Always take your camera. Photograph your booth, so you can work on the layout later, or remember what you did that was great.

One thing not to worry about: Taking something you don’t need.

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

Are we in full scurry mode yet? I know I am, gatherings to attend, and Arts & Crafts shows to prepare for. Honestly, there are times when I have so much to do, I just come to a full stop, not knowing what task to do next.

Efficiency becomes more important at this time of year than at any other, and I look for shortcuts.

I’d like to share a speed wire wrap hint: Do as much as you can assembly line style.

For instance, a simple wrapped loop has a number of steps. Fully described, they are:

1. Pick up spool of wire and wire cutters.
2. Measure out the length you need, and cut.
3. Put down the wire cutters, pick up the round nose pliers, and make a wrapped loop.
4. Put down the round nose pliers, pick up the wire cutters, and cut off the excess.
5. Put down the wire cutters, pick up the flat nose pliers, and squish the end of the wrap flat.
6. String on a bead.

That’s six steps, with six tool changes, per bead. Multiply that by the number of beads you need, say seven, and that’s 42 steps, with 42 tool changes.

Now, instead of that, try this:

1. Pick up spool of wire and wire cutters.

2. Measure out the length you need, and cut as many pieces of wire as you’ll need. (Say, seven.)

3. Put down the wire cutters, pick up the round nose pliers, and make all the wrapped loops.

4. Put down the round nose pliers, pick up the wire cutters, and cut off the excess on each of the seven pieces.

5. Put down the wire cutters, pick up the flat nose pliers, and squish all the ends flat.

6. String a bead on each of the wrapped loop eye pins you’ve created.

That’s still six steps, and six tool changes, but you’ve done all the beads.  You just saved yourself 36, count ‘em, thirty-six, tool changes. That’s a time saver, even if you’re making just one thing. If you’ve got multiple items to make, it really does add up.  It also has the advantage of being something you can do ahead of time, even when you don’t have the time or inclination to attempt an entire jewelry piece.

You can continue similarly with the rest of the piece you’re creating. 

If you’re making a bracelet, or other item that ends with a clasp, you’ll need to leave both loops unfinished on the end bead, one to attach to the chain of beads you’ve created, and the other to accept the clasp.

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

It’s fall. The kids are back in school. Inside the house is breathing in, outside the still-warm breezes are sighing over the last roses. The silence can practically ring in your ears, can’t it?

Ringing…ears? Oooh. Let’s turn it around and make earrings! And since the squiggly-squirmy folk are elsewhere, why don’t we remind ourselves of them with a style I call “Squiggly-Wiggly”?

Here’s what you’ll need:

Pick out your beads

22 or 24 gauge wire

Two teal beads 7mm-8mm

Two matte Capri blue beads 10mm-12mm

Seed beads in matching or coordinating colors

One pair earring wires

Your tools

First cut a length of wire about 3″ long. On one end, bend a very small spiral of about 1 ½ to 2 rounds. Use protected tips on your round nose pliers to prevent little gouges. I personally let the gouges happen, to add an interesting textured look.

Now is a good time to play with the color sequence a bit. You might like to put the blue seed beads next to the Capri blue bead, and the teal seed beads next to the teal bead, or the other way ’round might appeal to you more. Just string the beads onto your 3″ wire and take a look. When you’ve decided, take the beads off the wire, and you’re ready to start.

I opted to match the seed beads to the beads, so I’ll give the directions that way.

The next thing you’re going to do is string on a blue seed bead, the Capri blue bead, and another blue seed bead. Make a wire-wrapped loop at the top, ending with a sharp bend up and then a gentler bend down.

Now bend the wire straight out, away from your bead.

At about the ½” point, bend the wire back in, then back out again, and then back toward the bead another time, decreasing the length of your “squiggle” as you go.

Cut the wire off to the point at about ¼” beyond the last outer loop. You want to have enough left to make a round loop at the bottom. Play with this; yours do not have to look exactly like mine. Use your fingers to mash things this way and that to get the look you want.

Okay! Time for the next part!

With about 3 ½” of wire, begin a wire-wrapped loop, but before you complete it, thread it through the top loop on the Capri blue bead assembly.

Finish the wrap, then string on the teal seed bead, teal round bead, and teal seed bead. Make a wire-wrapped loop at the top, then “squiggle” the wire down the side of the bead. Your bends are going to be much gentler this time. I’ll let the photo speak for itself.

Now repeat what you just did, all those steps above, unless you want only one earring. (Just kidding-I know you know!)

Open the bottom loop of your earring wires, and hang your bead assemblies on them. Be sure to hang them “facing” opposite directions, to make a left and a right.

Finished set:

To show what a difference another choice of beads might make, here’s another set (I did make a whole pair, but couldn’t get the two of them to play nicely together for their portrait).

You’ll notice I finished off the top bead differently, too, by using a tad more wire and wrapping it completely around the bead, to end in a tiny loop against the glass. Use your imagination, and may the Force be with you!   

 Are the kids home yet?

More and more artists and crafters are using the web to sell their items. There are online auction sites, online craft fairs, and opportunities to create online shops. A key element of selling on such sites is to have crisp, clean photographs of your work.  You can find a list of photography tips here on ThinkCrafts.com.

Most online artists and crafters offer these tips to get the perfect shots:

• Take your photos outside to get the best light on your items.  Cloudy days are best as the filtered light helps bring pop to the photo.
• Display your item in an interesting way, but don’t let the background or display become too busy. You want your item to be the main attraction.
• Contrast your background and item. Light items on dark backgrounds and dark items on light backgrounds.
• Take photos from many different angles and select the one that gives the best view of your item.
• Use a tripod. Shaky hands led to unfocused images. Practice and get comfortable with your camera.