Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Crafts-a lot Contributor, Mable who is an avid reader of craft blogs & magazines and is always looking to improve her crafting skills. Join Mable on Facebook to socialize and share with other crafters!

I hate shopping for wedding wrapping paper. Finding great wedding wrapping means handing over a lot of money for fancy glitter or foil accents and I can never settle for not-so-great wedding wrapping. When I was getting ready for my friends Mike and Laura’s wedding, I knew that I wanted to do something special and personal. I love the idea of monogrammed wrapping paper so that you don’t have to use gift tags, and I wanted to add a little something extra for Mike and Laura’s big day. This idea would be great for Christmas too. A little monogrammed letter in the corner in lieu of gift tags will add a special personal touch to all of your gifts!

Here’s What You Need:

• Craft Paper or Thick Wrapping Paper
• Embroidery Floss 
• Tapestry Needle
• Printed Template or a Pencil and Good Handwriting
• Painter’s Tape
• Optional: A Piece of Styrofoam or Corrugated Cardboard the size of your template (It makes a much better, sturdier base when poking holes through the template, but carpet works okay as well and is what I used)

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By Card Making & Scrapbooking Contributor

Peg Rounds from:

Peg’s Crafting Corner

 Create this cute little photo album for Mom this Mother’s Day or change the theme and make a gift for Dad.  No matter how you decorate it, it will surely be enjoyed and used every day to keep those special photo memories in.  It’s so easy to make that with a little help, a child can enjoy making one to give.

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By Kid’s Crafts Contributor Stephanie, from the blog A Geek In Glasses.

I’m always looking for new ideas for gift tags. This year I came up with using wooden craft sticks and rubber stamps. I don’t like power tools, so these can be made with a skinny nail and a hammer instead of a drill.

Supplies:

Wooden Craft Sticks in Jumbo

Alphabet Rubber Stamps

Stamp Pad

String

Nail & Hammer

First thing to do is to punch the hole. If you are a power tool user – a drill will make simple work of this task, but I do not like power tools so I tapped a skinny nail into the end and pulled it out to make the hole.  Next I thread the string or twine through the hole. I recommend making the hole and attaching the string first, in case the stick splits or cracks. 

Once the tag is ready, then I stamped the message on with the rubber stamps. I used black ink and gold for  the “mom” on the one tag.
Another idea is to make holes on both ends of the craft stick and run string through both ends and tie it around a package like a bracelet. For decorating ideas, you could hand write the message on the stick with a skinny tip marker too.

By Guest Blogger Tracey, from the blog We Made That.

When I decided to make these I wanted to try several different ways to actually make the stepping stones, so I used a reusable circle mold, a round cake pan, and a flower mold. I also put wax paper in the two round molds and did not use the wax paper in the flower mold to see if that made it easier to remove the stones.

My findings are that all three molds worked great and the wax paper did make it a little easier to remove the stone but not a ton easier. Although I think if I did not use the wax paper with the cake pan I would not have gotten the mold out so if you use a cake pan or anything that is NOT made for this, line it with the wax paper so it is easier to remove the stone once dry.

We used the stepping stone mix you can buy at the craft store, but I think you can do this with cement if you have it too.

Supplies

• Stepping Stone Mix (or cement)
• Stick to mix the cement
• Mold (reusable mold or cake pan)
• Was paper (to line mold)
• Pretty stones (optional to decorate your stone)

Directions

Line your molds with some wax paper.

Mix your cement or stepping stone mix, then pour into molds.

If doing foot and hand prints make those, you can also use a Popsicle stick to write something in the cement if you choose.

If you choose use some pretty stones or other items to decorate your stepping stones (make sure to press in about half way so they stay in place).

After it is all decorated leave it to dry (we let them dry overnight but you don’t have to wait that long) then just pull the wax paper out and you have a beautiful homemade stepping stone that would make a great handmade gift.

By Cardmaking & Scrapbook Layout Contributor, Peg from the blog Peg’s Crafting Corner.

When I ask my husband what he’d like as a gift, he always tells me that he’d love a handmade card.  Handmade cards can be one of the most special gifts given or received so with Father’s Day quickly approaching; be sure to make a card for that special father and husband in your life and give him the gift of love! 

The first step is to cut a piece of white cardstock that measures 4 1/8″ wide x 5 ¾” long.  This is the size of a standard Cuttlebug folder. The card frame was made using the Grace’s Frames Cuttlebug Embossing Folder.    In the center of the frame, place strips of Painters Tape to keep that area from getting ink on it.  Using the Colorbox Mudslide Ink Pad, ink the backside of the folder.  This is the side that is on top when the folder is backwards as seen in the photo.  Remove the painters tape. 

Place the cardstock in the folder and run it through the Cuttlebug.  Tip:  I find the ink transfers the best when the Cuttlebug sandwich is placed together with the A Pad  first, then a B Pad, the embossing folder ink side up, the cardstock inside the folder which is closed and then another B Pad as it is run through the machine and I run it through a couple of times.  Once this step is done wash the folder off using soap and cold water and dry thoroughly.  The ink may stain a little, but that’s ok. The folder is just discolored. To be safe that all of the ink has been removed, simply run the folder through the Cuttlebug with paper in it a couple of times to remove any excess and it will be ready to use the next time. 

Now, to create the opening in the frame, use a craft knife and carefully trim around the swirls in the four corners of the design to open them up.  Do not cut all of the white background  out as it will hold the piece of vellum in place.  Next, trim a piece of Neapolitan Dear Lizzy Silver Lining Vellum by  American Crafts to 2 ¾”  wide x 4 ¼” long and round the corners using the ¼” side of the We R Memory Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper.   Fit the corners of the vellum into the frame where it was trimmed making sure the vellum lays flat in the frame. 

Trim a piece of brown cardstock to 7′ wide x 10″ long using a paper trimmer and fold it in half.  Also, trim a dark green piece of Tim Holtz Idea-ology  Retro  Grunge Paper  Stash to be 4 5/8″ wide x 6″ long.  Adhere it to the card base using your favorite tape runner.    Adhere the frame to the card using the tape runner, also. 

Using a Cricut Die Cutting Machine and the Heritage Cartridge, cut the airplane twice at 1″ and the word, “Father” at ½”.  Adhere the word and one airplane to the card using your favorite glue.   Trim only the wings off the second plane using a small pair of scissors.  When I trimmed the wings, I trimmed so that the top and bottom sections stayed connected with the small upright pieces between the wing sections.  Adhere them on top of the first plane using a 3-d adhesive so that it gives it a 3 dimensional look like the plane is flying.   

Now you, too, can give dad the gift of love with a handmade card this Father’s Day! 

By Crafts-a lot Contributor, Mable who is an avid reader of craft blogs & magazines and has aspirations to improve her crafting skills. Join Mable on Facebook to socialize and share with other crafters!

Father’s Day is next week, and I know you want to give your dad something so he feels special. There is still time to make these projects and a card for your dad. Each year I like to send my Grandpa a card too. He’s spoiled me enough over the years and the least I can do is send him a card with a reminder that I wish I could be there to give him a hug.

Click the photos to get the project steps.

How cute is this wine label? It’s an ode to your pops on a his favorite bottle of wine. Just print the label on a sticker sheet and stick on a bottle. The label reads: Classic and Distinctive, A Toast to you Dad! 2012 Fine Vintage. Charming and well-balance. A heritage blend from a fine lineage.

Printable Father's Day Labels

I saw this project and thought of my dad. We camped a few weekends every summer while growing up in Oregon. These customized roasting sticks are perfect for the outdoor dad. That way he won’t be stuck cleaning up leftover burnt marshmallows! There are cute tags attached with twine.

Personalized Roasting Sticks Project for Father's Day

I really liked this mustache stuff tray. It’s cute, it helps keeps dad organized, and it’s a quick project. This tray was decorated with acrylic paint and alphabet stickers.

Father's Day Mustache Tray

I giggled when I saw these Father’s Day cards so I knew my dad would like it. And this one in particular we can relate to.

Father's Day Cards

By Crafts for Learning Contributor, Danielle from the blog Crayonbox Learning.

Father’s Day is June 17th this year. In honor of Father’s everywhere, this special Creel Card was designed. This project can be used as a class project, or at home. This tutorial has a Father’s Day Creel Card Template with fish shapes that can be easily downloaded and printed.

Materials Needed:

• Cardstock
• Scissors
• Velcro Dots
• Colored Pencils / Crayons
• Hole Punch
• String
• Glue
• Pen
• Click to download Father’s Day Creel Card Template

Directions:

1. Print Father’s Day Creel Card Template, fish and closure piece. (A colored creel piece was also included in case you’d like the authentic look as in the example)

2. After the card template is printed, color the pieces with colored pencils or crayons.

3. Cut out the card, fish, and closure piece.

4. Fold the card where indicated in 2 places. (See example) The opening of the card points upward, and the flap comes over the top.

5. Children can write reasons they love their Father, or what their father means to them on the backside of each fish. (optional)

6. Punch a hole in the tails of the fish and tie together with string.

8. Punch a hole in the top corner of the card, carefully lacing string with the fish on it through the hole and securing it.

8. Fold the flap over and glue half of the clasp piece onto the flap. You want half to be on the flap, and half to be onto the card portion.

9. After the glue dries, affix the remaining half of the closure piece using a velcro dot onto the card. The velcro dots will secure the flap of the card, and can easily be opened so that the sentiment can be written inside. The center of the card was left blank so that something could be written there, or young children could draw a picture.