Think Crafts Blog - Craft Ideas and Projects - CreateForLess

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

Once upon a time I wore jewelry. Long, beady necklaces, dangly earrings, funky retro brooches. Then I had kids. Kids who wanted to be carried all the time and who loved to pull on earring (yowser!) strangle me with my necklace (gasp) or jab themselves with my brooch (Band-Aids anyone?) So these days I stick to bracelets and flower pins. Because, really, it’s hard to poke anyone’s eye out with a corduroy flower. 

And flower pins are easy to make. Which means that if I get bored of the one I’m currently sporting, or, say, someone small decides to repurpose it into a dollhouse decoration, another one is just a few snips away. 

The newest addition to my flower pin collection accomplishes two things, both of which needed to happen in my house. First, it finally puts to good use one of the (many) wool sweaters that I have accidentally washed in hot water but can’t bring myself to throw away. And second, being made of wool, make a nice, wintry compliment to my wardrobe, just in time for the cool weather to hit. 

If you don’t have a felted sweater handy (lucky you!) grab one at your favorite thrift shop next time you are passing. The size, shape and really condition don’t matter as long as you like the color. Bring it home and wash it on the hottest setting your machine has a few times until you can’t see the individual stitches anymore. Once it’s dry, your ready to start.

First, cut out a cardstock circle roughly the size you want the finished flower to be. Sketch petals inside the circle until you have a pattern that you like and carefully cut them out. Using the paper flower as a guide cut three (or more!) layers from your sweater.

If the sweater has a pattern, make sure you take that into consideration. The sweater I used had stripes that gradually darkened so I chose to cut the flowers out along the gradient so I would have different hued layers.

Because of the nature of the felted wool, the fabric won’t fray so you can cut very fine petals without the need for hemming. It also means that, other than a few stitches to tie the whole thing together, this is a no-sew project, always great in my book.

Stack the layers, adjusting their position to your preference and tack them together at the center with a few stitches. You can also put a few stitches into the backs of the top layer of petals to give the flower some extra dimension. Add a button on the top and a pin on the back and your set for winter. 

Welcome Guest Blogger Jennifer Pebbles from the blog “Making Memories”.

Since its 1997 inception, Making Memories has become one of the nation’s fastest growing manufacturers of craft and scrapbooking supplies. Jennifer Pebbles is a paper crafts deisgner, to read more of her blog entries click here.

Flower Patch Bouquet

If you check out your favorite scrapbook magazines, you will see this project featured in Making Memories print advertisements. This beautiful Making Memories Flower Patch bouquet was created by the talented Jennifer Pebbles.
 
To create this paper craft, follow these steps.

1. Cover a Styrofoam cone with Making Memories’ Flower Patch paper (Jennifer used the die-cut scallop paper).

 2. Attach a ribbon loop, using your favorite Making Memories ribbon, to the back of the cone.

 3. Cut various sizes of craft wire (approximately 6″ to 8″).

 4. Adhere a Flower Patch Layered Flowers and/or Flower Patch Dimensional Flowers to one side of the craft wire. Jennifer added two flower stickers on each piece of wire (front and back).

 5. Stick craft wire (with Flower Patch flowers) in Styrofoam cone.

TIP: You may want to use an additional adhesive (besides the self-adhesive that comes with each flower sticker) when adhering flowers to ribbon to ensure the flowers are secure.

To read more from the blog “Making Memories”, click here.

I answered a question from a crafter who dropped me a line at our Ask A Question page and I thought I’d share my response with everyone.  The crafter wanted to know how to clean seashells picked up along the beach while on vacation.  Shells are a great keepsake from the beach, but can end up stinking up the house if not cleaned properly.  The first step is to remember never take a live shell from any beach.  Check for life, including small hermit crabs that often use stray shells for new homes. It’s not worth the headache to clean a shell that still has a “body” in it so leave the little animal where it belongs.

To clean sea shells grab a bucket and fill it with one-cup bleach and at least 4-8 cups of water.  Drop your shells into the mixture to soak overnight or for at least 12 hours.  Remove and rinse (take care with your hands and wear a glove or use a large spoon to remove shells).  You can use this mixture several times if you have lots of shells, but do not store.  Pour the mixture down a drain. Bleach will remove algae and barnacles. You may have to use a brush to scrub too.

Some shells are naturally very shiny while others are not.  If you want to add some shine to your shells you can do so with a few light coats of clear finishing spray.  My favorite clear finishing spray is Krylon Crystal Clear Spray Gloss. Lay dry shells on newspaper and lightly spray.  Allow to dry completely and keep repeating the light coat of finish until happy with the shine.  I’ve also used spray furnish polish to shine shells, but this is only temporary.  Some experts also use mineral or baby oil to add some shine. You can brush on a clear sealer, but it’s harder to get an even coat.

Found shells are great to include on wreaths, in potpourri, centerpieces, and so many crafting projects.  We often find tiny shells on our diving trips and I’ve made several pendants that I hang on simple chain necklaces.  If you aren’t lucky enough to live near a beach or vacation near the shore, you can always buy seashells (often I prefer purchased sea shells because of the abilities to match up sizes and keep informality).  I also love to buy shell assortments since I will get a variety of shells in different sizes without having to find them in nature.

I have displays of seashells all over my house including a shore themed guest bedroom and our patio. I’m not sure if my love of seashells comes from living in Florida or my overall love of everything ocean! We get to visit our cousins Frank and Jean every year in Sanibel Island, one of the most famous shelling beaches in the world.  Each year is unique as to what shells you find and Frank is the expert when it comes to shelling and shell crafts. It’s kind of fun to talk shell crafts with a man who has been making shell gifts for his friends for over 15 years!  Here are some of my sea shell finds:

This platter serves up a nice display of my sea shell finds!

Simple terra cotta pots and glass are perfect to show-off sea shells. Shells in pretty bowls add height to this bookcase.

A large shell adds the perfect touch to this display.