Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By General Crafts Contributor Amy, from the Blog “Mod Podge Rocks!”

I’ve been doing a lot of fashion crafting lately, which is fun because I feel like I have a new wardrobe!  I really love chandeliers, and my boring orange ol’ t-shirt needed something to spice it up.  Simply Screen, a DIY screenprinting program, was just the ticket – it took only a few minutes to get this fabulous glittery chandelier.

To make, you’ll need to gather these supplies:

T-Shirt

Simply Screen Stencil Chandelier 

Simply Screen Glue 

Simply Screen Glitter Precious Metal 

T-shirt form, or something to put in between the t-shirt while crafting

Parchment Paper

Iron

Here are the goods (minus the glitter pack, which I couldn’t find when I took this photo).  I’m ready to get my craft on!

Make sure that you put something between your t-shirt and lay it down on a flat surface – smooth the stencil down firmly wherever you want the image to go (the stencil is self-adhesive).

Place a line of glue across the top of the screen.  I’ll show you why in the next step.

Using the squeegee that comes with the stencil, spread the glue down the front in smooth strokes.  I repeated several times until the glue covered the image, making sure to get it in every part of the design. You can even go side to side – just make sure not to get any on the t-shirt!

Peel off the stencil and let the glue stand for 30 seconds.  Then sprinkle glitter all over the design, making sure to cover all areas well.  You might want to do this outside, or at least in an area that be glitterized.  Don’t shake yet!

Allow the adhesive to dry for three hours, and then place parchment paper over the top. Iron for 30 seconds on the cotton setting.  Shake off the excess glitter and your design is done!

One other thing – Simply Screen also comes with some great paints, so you can combine paint and glitter to your heart’s content.  Fun, huh?

By Crafts-a lot Contributor, Mable who is an avid reader of craft blogs & magazines and has aspirations to improve her crafting skills. 

It’s June and there are blooms everywhere! I live in the Northwest where it’s green most of the year, so it’s raining most of the year… I don’t mind the rain because it makes our trees, grass, and flowers so pretty. There’s no wonder why Portland is the City of Roses.

It’s almost July and it’s still been pouring here! Since I’ve been inside away from the rain,  I made these easy flowers to decorate for summer. More importantly to decorate me! All you need to decorate yourself for summer is…

Organza fabric
Scissors 
Beacon 3-in-1 Adhesive 
Lighter
Beads or rhinestones 
Felt
 Pin back, head band, bobby pin, hair clip (anything you’d like)

I started by cutting lots of different sized circles from the organza, the largest had a 3″ diameter to the smallest at 1/2″. Since a flower isn’t a perfect circle, it’s not necessary to trace, just wing-it. I stacked the circles on top of each other, so the bottom is biggest. The next circle is a little smaller, until you get to the smallest circle on top. Each flower has about 5-6 circles of organza.

Next I lightly ran a lighter around the edges of each circle so the fabric melts and starts to curl.  Once you have curled all the edges of the circle layers, sew them together and use a bead for the center. You can accent with rhinestones or buttons or feathers…

To attach the flower onto your hair clip or pin, glue a piece of felt on the back. I attached my handmade flowers to a headband, a hair tie, a clip and a pin back. I also added a flower to card I mailed to my mom. They are so easy to make and can be used to decorate anything!

I sewed a flower onto a hair tie to accent a pony tail

A few of my favorites!

By General Crafts Contributor Amy, from the Blog “Mod Podge Rocks!”

Do you have a little princess that likes to play dress up?  I highly suggest a magic wand!  This is actually an inexpensive yard decoration that I found.  With supplies that I already had on hand, I was able to make a wand fit for a princess on a budget.  Keep in mind that because this is wood, it’s for older princesses only!  Always make sure to use with adult supervision.

To make, you’ll need to gather these supplies:

“Magic” Wand – decorative wood stick
FolkArt Acrylic Paint – Ocean Cruise, Wicker White, Perfect Purple, Kelly Green or the colors of your choice
Art Institute Glitter – Blue Hawaii (Ultrafine Opaque), Celery (Ultrafine Opaque), Angel Dust (Ultrafine Transparent)�
Mod Podge Gloss�
Flat Paint Brush and Liner Brush
Ribbon – 6 feet of your choice, I used white chiffon

Using your flat paint brush, paint your flower first.

Paint the handle and the leaves next.  If your wand has black print on it like mine, it will take several coats.  I used the smaller liner brush on the petals and to get around the edges of my flower.  Allow to dry.

Using the end of your brush handle, dot white polka dots on the main body of the flower.  Allow to dry.

It’s time to apply glitter in the areas of interest – I’ll show you an example with the center of the flower.  Paint Mod Podge in the area that you want glittered.

Using your glitter (I have one of these cool dispensers), spread the glitter all over the Mod Podge.  Allow to dry and then tap on the side of something (like a table) to get ride of the excess.  You can see that I did it on the leaves as well – I also went back and added some on the white polka dots.  It’s very sparkly!

Allow your wand to dry completely overnight before giving it to your princess.  I highly recommend adding some ribbon tied around the handle for some extra flair.

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

I’ve been helping my mom move, and in the process have helped her decide where to hang the numerous photos, prints, and paintings. One little set of butterflies reminded me of the hours we’d spent indulging in the craft that produced them. They were worth reproducing, as well as introducing to others, so I went home and made a pair for myself.

You’ll need very little to make your own:

• Two wooden drapery rings 
• Paper with a repeating pattern 
• Silicone adhesive/sealer 
• Clear stiff plastic, or a background paper you like
• A snippet of ribbon in a coordinating color

What you’re going to do is create shaped layers that will simulate a 3-dimensional object, so first choose a picture you have at least three copies of that will fit inside a drapery ring. Wrapping paper is great for that, or you can use three identical note cards. 

Cut one image out in its entirety. It’s the bottommost picture you’ll use. Figure out what’s going to stick out farther than the first picture and cut that out. Your last picture, you’ll cut so that only the parts that stick out the most remain.

(I cheated. I wanted to my butterfly to be a little bigger, so I used an extra set of wings. You can ignore that step, or copy it, your choice!)

Trace a circle that’s a little smaller than the outside dimension of your drapery ring on a sheet of clear plastic, and cut out. (The lid from a box of greeting cards works well for this.) I like the clear plastic because when the butterflies are on the wall, their background will automatically match the room, but you can use a pretty paper as your background if you prefer. If you do that, you’ll want to use a fairly heavy paper so it won’t be flimsy.

Now glue your first, largest, layer to the circle. I glued down my extra pair of wings and then glued the full butterfly atop that. This layer is flat.

Take the middle sized layer, and shape it a bit, curving the wings, and making a crease along the body where the wings join.

The silicone adhesive is what you’ll use to hold the shape of the layers. Put a little blob of it where it will support an upward curve. Toothpicks work well for getting good placement. The advantage of the silicone is that it’s both malleable and sticky. If you think the layer looks like it sticks out too much, just squish down on it a little, or you can pull up a bit on the paper if you want more depth. The silicone holds its shape while acting as glue, too.

You won’t be using much silicone, but do work in a well-ventilated area.

Do the same thing for the remaining layers.

Let dry. Flip over and glue to the back of the drapery ring. Carefully twist the metal loop at the top of the drapery ring so that it faces you. Tie a bow at the base of the drapery ring’s hanging loop.

By General Crafts Contributor Amy, from the Blog “Mod Podge Rocks!”

Are you interested in decoupage, but don’t know where to begin?  Have I got the project for you!  Coasters are great for home décor and gifts, and are the perfect project to start with if you have never used Mod Podge.  I got mine from the dollar bin, but these are easy to find.  There is always a set needing a little love.  Set aside a few hours one afternoon, grab your Mod Podge and you’re ready to go.

To make, you’ll need to gather these supplies:

Coasters  

K & Company Scrapbook paper  – 3 sheets coordinating

Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink Set Cottage Path  (I used Meadow)

Mod Podge Outdoor 

Flat Paint Brush 

Scissors  or Craft Knife 

Ruler 

Pencil or Pen

Cotton cloth or facial round – something disposable for alcohol ink application

Sandpaper  (optional)

Here are the coasters I started with.  They were only $1 for six!

I sanded my coasters lightly because the paper on top had a coating, and I wanted to rough it up so that the Mod Podge would stick well.

Place one coaster down on the paper and trace – repeat for as many coasters as you have.  I used three different sheets of coordinating papers, two coasters came out of each sheet.  When you are done tracing, cut out the coaster shapes with your craft knife or scissors.

Spread your Mod Podge down on the surface of the coaster in a medium layer.  Apply the paper and SMOOTH thoroughly until the air bubbles are removed.  Wipe away any Mod Podge that comes out the edges with your brush.  Repeat with the other coasters and then allow them to dry for 15 – 20 minutes.

DO NOT Mod Podge over the top yet.

The alcohol ink adds a little extra color and distressing effect around the edges.  I grabbed a bowl and mixed some Meadow ink with water.

Using your cloth or facial round, apply the ink to the edges.  Add more ink for a stronger color effect.  Allow to dry.

Once they are dry, seal them with at least two more coats your Mod Podge.  I used the Outdoor to seal (even though my Gloss is sitting nearby) – this is the most water resistant!

Your coasters are finished, but before you use them, I HIGHLY recommend spraying with an outdoor sealer to make them waterproof.

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

We are a t-shirt nation, and I’m a t-shirt girl. Also sweat shirts. And sweaters. Anything that’s casually attractive, comfortable, and easy to throw on for a day’s work around the house or studio, or running errands.

The problem is the crew necks they put on most sweat shirts, and many tees, too. They really are not very flattering on most of us. I tend to compensate with a layer that has either a shirt collar or turtleneck, which both look good on practically everybody.

The other day I pulled out this turtleneck tee, which was a favorite until its 100% cotton self shrank the sleeves to an uncomfortable not-quite-three-quarter-length. I bought it as part of an outfit, to go under another favorite, a lime green sweatshirt. What to do?

The rescue, a dickey, was as close as my scissors , and not only saved the shirt, but gave me a cooler way to layer up, with Spring here, and Summer literally hot on its heels.

First, I cut off the sleeves, cutting close to the serged seam, but leaving that seam with the garment. Then I slipped the now-sleevelesss shirt on, and decided how far down I wanted the dickey I was making to go. Since that green sweat shirt has a zippered neck, I made the dickey fairly long; you may decide to go shorter.

Taking the shirt off again, I cut straight across, from armhole to armhole, still leaving the underarm sleeve seam intact. That nice serged seam they use on this sort of garment was staying, to become underarm loops that would keep the dickey from skewing as I moved around.

Then I did the same thing in back, but I made the back shorter.

That’s all there is to it—a shrunken turtleneck rescued, and turned into a dickey, no sewing at all involved, since that lovely jersey knit fabric doesn’t fray and doesn’t need hemming, especially if the edge won’t show anyway.

Best of all? You’ve used the collar and upper shirt, but you still have the sleeves and lower body left, ready to become arm warmers (cut thumb holes and sew a bit narrower, to fit) and a “skirt” to layer under a tee, with nothing more than an elastic casing  at the top.

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

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” (Marcel Proust – French Novelist and Author, 1871-1922)

I spent some time today helping a friend with her mother’s estate sale. I love estate sales, especially this kind, where the estate belongs to someone who’s still alive, but has moved. I spent my time almost exclusively standing in the basement, answering questions, and making sure nobody stuffed something in his or her pocket and walked out with it.

While I performed the task of “basement sitter”, I vividly remembered a trip to a thrift store with my Mama and two aunts. I was busily filling my cart with bits of this and that when I heard Aunt Charlotte say, “I’m just going to follow Anitra around and see what she puts in her cart.” I laughed and said, “But if you do that, I’ll get all the good stuff before you can get to it!” Aunt Charlotte told me it would be okay, because I was seeing possibilities she didn’t, and she wanted to learn how I did that.

It occurred to me that my Aunt Charlotte might not be the only one who’d appreciate a lesson in “seeing with new eyes”, so during those moments when I was alone in the basement, I turned on my camera, and took a “voyage of discovery”. What would “new eyes” see? Junk? Or art supplies?

The first photo is easy. It’s a pile of actual art supplies, proving estate sales are art supply stores, too. But do you see the bag o’ bottles? Those went to someone who planned to use them as bud vases. I see them on a window sill, with a single daisy in each.

Look it’s sputnik! No, it’s an octopus! No, it’s the framework for a solar system!

Just what I need-a wire-bending jig for heavier gauge wire:

Hmmm…these tiny figures of a king and queen would be the perfect start to a handmade chess set:

And what have we here? The world’s ugliest necklace?

Or some really cool brass beads?

Are these napkins?

Or the start of a pair of gauntlets?

These were just some of the hidden art materials I found in a single room. Now I wonder: What will you rescue and turn into art, the next time you look at something and see, not what it is, but what it could be? I’d love to know!