Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Craft Trends Contributor, Gillian from the blog Dried Figs and Wooden Spools. Check out our Craft Trends board on Pinterest!

Chevron! It’s everywhere! Have you noticed? From DIY painted rugs to trays to clothes, the classic chevron print is back in a big way. And there are so many places to use it! Clothing, furniture, accessories, it’s crisp lines and classic style make it adaptable to so many applications, and because of its simplicity, it’s perfect for the DIY diva.

I love the color pop that this chevron coat hook brings to the wall.

Click photo for the Chevron Wall Hook Tutorial

And this chair cushion couldn’t be easier. This look is easily achieved by using the friendship bracelet knot technique.

Click photo for the Chevron Chair Cushion Tutorial

Check out more Chevron Style on our Craft Trends Pinboard. How would you use it?

Guest Blogger Typhanie, from the blog Shoebox Decor.

I’ve wanted to do this Tea Lamp project for awhile now, ever since I saw this lamp at Anthropology but I didn’t want to drill through anything. Then I remembered seeing a no drill option in one of my magazines. So I went through my magazine drawer and sure enough I found it in the April 2009 issue of Country Living. It’s an easy three step process that uses clay instead of drilling. I had lots of fun making this lamp and I hope you guys try it. Please email me if you have any questions and send me pictures of your lamp if you do try it….Happy Crafting Everyone!

Total Cost: $21

Materials needed: Tea pot, tea cups, saucers, lamp kit, Amaco self-hardening clay, Super Glue Gel.

Step One: Gather the materials you would like to use.

Step Two: Arrange the tea cups and dishware in the way you would like your lamp to look. I suggest using a steady heavy bowl for your base.

Step Three: Fill the top tea cup with clay and set the already assembled lamp kit about an inch deep inside. Leave room so you are able to remove the harp if you want to. Let it set for 24 hours.

Step Four: Glue the remaining elements together with a thin line of Super Glue Gel. This glue is no joke so make sure you have the placement right before you set the dishware down. Let the glue dry for a minute before gluing on the next one.

Step Five: Glue on the top tea cup in 24 hour then wait a day for the lamp to set before adding a lamp shade….That’s it…Enjoy!

By Craft Celebrity Mark Montano, from the blog Mark Montano’s Big Ass Blog.

Ok, raise your hands if there is a table in your house that your can’t look at for another minute. Every time you pass by it sitting there is just stares at you and says, “I’m ugly, but you’re too afraid to get rid of me!” and then it says something else, “you don’t have the nerve to get rid of me because where would you pile up your junk mail!”. Well, it’s time to shut that annoying table up once and for all and give it a face lift. Trust me, it will make you happy and the only thing your table will say when you pass it by will be “thank you!” so go grab your glue gun!

YOU’LL NEED:

• 2 woven Chinese mats
• 1 roll of 3/8″ grosgrain ribbon that matches (I used olive green)
• Elmer’s wood glue
• 2″ wide soft bristle brush
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun and glue
• Minwax Polycrylic coating (best stuff on earth!)

HERE’S HOW:

STEP 1: GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES!

STEP 2: Measure your table top and cut out the same size from the woven mat.

STEP 5: When the entire table is covered in mat, take the hot glue gun and start applying the grosgrain ribbon around all of the edges. Take your time and make sure that you are covering the rough edges of the mat with the ribbon.

STEP 6:  Coat the entire table (even the ribbon!) with the Minwax Polycrylic coating and let dry.

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

One of the “in” and fun thing is to use a sketch to create your layouts.   They’re  helpful when you aren’t sure just where to begin or need a little inspiration for a page. This is a simple sketch and layout I created.  The one fun thing about using sketches is that your embellishments don’t have to match the ones on the sketch the butterflies here are 2 flowers and 1 butterfly on my layout.  You can turn the elements in any direction you’d like. Card makers use sketches, too! 

The following products can be found at CreateForLess:

• K & Co. Spring Blossom Paper Pad
• K & Co Abrianna Chipboard Chipbox
• Paper Accents Variety Pack Cardstock
• Fiskars Punch Everywhere Starter  Set
• Marvy Uchida Clever Lever Spring Flower Punch
• Paper Trimmer
• Green Brad
• Favorite Marker
• Favorite Taper Runner
• Click to Download Fun with Sketches PDF
  

  Fun with Sketches

Once  you have the paper and embellishments to create the layout,  you will want to print out the sketch and the pictures.  First trim the pictures according to the sizes listed on the Fun with Sketches PDF.   Next, trim the background  paper (yellow Paper Accents Cardstock) to be a little larger than the pictures.  Here I left those measurements up to you because you may have a piece of patterned paper that doesn’t have a large pattern  such as the tulips in the right corner.   My background papers measured 6 ½” x 4 ¼”  for the large photo and 1 ½” x 1 ½” for the smaller ones.  Adhere to photos and the background paper to the layout using your favorite tape runner.  Be sure to keep the sketch design in mind. 

Punch 2 flowers using the Spring Flower Punch and the yellow cardstock and 1 flower from the green cardstock.  Layer the green and one yellow flower on top of the last yellow one and put the green brad through the center.  Attach the flower on the layout where you’d like it.  Remember the fun thing about using a sketch is it’s ok to put things in different places. 

Trim a piece of yellow cardstock for your “title” square that measures 2 ½” x 3″ and lay it aside.  Trim a piece of green cardstock that measures the same size.  Center it in the Fiskars Punch Everywhere as shown in the picture.

The punch is made to punch once to set the pins and then you will have to push down a second time a little harder to make the cut.

You will now have a piece that looks like this.

Place some adhesive on the back of the frame and attach it to the yellow cardstock you trimmed. 

Adhere it onto the layout and write in your message.  Notice on my layout, I turned my frame sideways.  That’s ok because I’ve still used the element of the sketch and made it my own.  Add the flower and butterfly to the layout where you’d like them and your layout is now finished. 

Be sure to use the sketch and create your own layouts!  For even more fun join the CreateForLessFacebook page and share with everyone what you have created. 

By Guest Bloggers Melissa + Kellie, from the blog Icing Designs.

Washi tape….love it!! We are sure you have heard of this fabulous Japanese, decorative tape that has taken over the craft world! It comes in so many amazing patterns and colors…some is even glittered! There are so many ways that it can be used from cupcake flags, to cake buntings to making packages pretty!!

Have you used it, if so what have you done with it? We just ordered a bunch of it…can’t wait to start using it!

Washi Tape is made from Washi Paper. The word Washi literally means WA (Japanese) and SHI (paper), Japanese paper, and is used in many traditional Japanese arts, such as origami paper folding. Tougher than wood pulp paper, Washi is commonly made from the bark of the gampi tree, mitsumata shrub, or paper mulberry, but also can be made using bamboo, hemp, rice, and wheat. Washi was originally developed from the traditional Chinese paper-making process.

By Craft Trends Contributor, Gillian from the blog Dried Figs and Wooden Spools. Check out our Craft Trends board on Pinterest!

Washi tape. Have you tried it? Have you tried it? Well if you haven’t you should because frankly, it’s pretty awesome. These vibrantly printed Japanese masking tapes have been making the rounds for a while now and as the availability and range of prints has grown their craft applications have exploded.

Mix solid colored or craft paper and washi tape to create uniquely wrapped gifts.

Boring clips? A few inches of tape and a minute or two can transform them into something beautiful.

Or perhaps you’d like to give your computer a washi makeover?

The possibilities are endless. Check out our Craft Trends Board on Pinterest for more Washi Tape ideas.

 What will you washi?

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!

May 13^th is Mother’s Day, and moms love handmade gifts. Moms deserve more than one day a year to know how much they are loved. Make your mom something special this year with these quick and easy DIY Mother’s Day gift ideas.

Looking for something to do with all of your Instagram photos? Size down your favorite photos and make Tiny Polaroid Magnets for your lovely mom.

Tiny Polaroid Magnets

Is your mom a coffee drinker? Make these yummy flavored syrups and your mom will think of you while making her morning cup of Joe. Find the instructions for this tutorial here.

Make Your Own Coffee Syrup

If jewelry is something your fashionable mom likes, try these Easy Button Rings. This tutorial only has 3 steps. The hardest part is picking out which buttons to use.  

Easy Button Rings

How about a spring flower pin? This quick tutorial makes a nice silk flower that will add color to any outfit.

Make your own Silk Flower Brooches