Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

Please welcome experienced crafter and guest blogger Amy, from the blog “Mod Podge Rocks”.

I like clipboards yes I do, I like clipboards how ’bout you?

I’ve had several people tell me recently that they are working on clipboard projects, either for themselves or for gifts. I decided that I wanted to do one too, so I took a dive into the stash and this is what I came up with.

A little research reveal that clipboards are hot for back-to-school this year – but not the typical brown slab with a silver clip.  This year’s clipboards are fun and funky . . . and easy to personalize.  They are also way easier than you might think.  Just follow this tutorial for fabulous results!

"Hi, I'm a boring brown clipboard. To fix me up, gather the following supplies."

Supplies:

Clipboard
Scrapbook paper – 2 coordinating pieces
Acrylic paint – coordinating color (I used Sky Blue)
Spray paint – coordinating color (I used Apple Green)
Craft Glue
Chipboard letters and/or coordinating embellishments
Ribbon – all from my stash
Mod Podge Gloss, 8oz.
Flat paint brush
Ruler
Craft Knife and Mat
Pencil

Start by removing the clip at the top and set it aside.  Time to paint the board.  Paint one side, allow to dry, flip over and paint the other.  Do this at least twice depending on your paint color – I did mine three times because my paint was a little lighter and I wanted great coverage.  Set aside to dry.

While you are waiting for the paint to dry on the clipboard, spray the clip.  I had this extra paint laying around which happened to coordinate.  Lucky me, right?  Either buy spray paint (there are baby sizes now), or use outdoor paint such as this.  You can also use regular acrylic paint, but you’ll need to seal it with acrylic sealer so that it doesn’t scrape off.

While both the board and clip are drying, measure and cut your paper.  My clipboard is 9″ x 12″, and I decided I wanted two pieces of paper that met in the middle.  Therefore, I measured out two pieces of paper, 9″ wide x 6″ tall.

Cut both sheets of paper with your craft knife.  Lay them out on the clipboard (which should now be painted and dry) and make sure that they fit.

You laid out the papers on the board – remove the top piece and cover the board with Mod Podge.  Put on a medium coat, and make sure to get the corners well.  You’re probably going to put on more than you think.  Lay the top piece of paper down and smooth out with your fingers.

 Okay, so the top piece is down.  Repeat the process with the bottom piece.

Now that both pieces are down, you can use either your fingers or a brayer (like I am above) to smooth both sheets down thoroughly.  If any Mod Podge comes out the sides, wipe it away with your paint brush.  Allow these sheets to dry for 15 – 20 minutes, and then Mod Podge over the top of them.  Allow to dry, flip over and then Mod Podge the back of the clipboard to seal the paint.  Allow to dry for at least an hour.

This is always the fun part for me!  You’ll notice that when the Mod Podge dried, I replaced the clip.  I also laid out some ribbon that I had in my stash, a large brown piece and a thinner orange piece.  I had some chipboard letters to make the “Notes” saying down at the bottom, and I had a sticker to adhere to the clip.  I glued everything down with craft glue and allowed to dry for 24 hours.

Here’s the finished clipboard again.  Notice that I tied some ribbon at the top too – they were about 10″ pieces that I just knotted through the hole.  I call the ribbon the “piece de’la resistance.”  That’s French for something really cool!  Enjoy your clipboard, and as always I encourage you to use papers, colors and embellishments that fit your style.  Don’t forget, above all else, have fun!

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

Every crafter knows October is not too early to start thinking that. Come to think of it, a lot of us know even January isn’t too early. It’s my favorite holiday, my favorite time of year, and puts me into a virtual crafting, cooking, wrapping frenzy, all of which I consider huge fun.

A SEASON OF JOY, a collection of heartfelt creations for the holidays, is my newest boatload of inspiration between book covers treasure. I knew it was going to be good the minute I saw the cover. I needed to make the things in it.

And the book is spiral bound! It lies flat, so you can manipulate materials with both hands, while checking what you’re supposed to do next. I’m not a huge fan of holding books open with whatever heavy object is handy, so that was a big plus for me.

Another Plus: It’s a very attractive book. Each project is beautifully photographed,  the paper the publisher has chosen has a lovely texture, and leafing through, the pages make a rather lovely “scrrtching” noise against the wire spiral.

More To Love: Not only did I find myself wanting, planning, to make all kinds of things in this book, I soon realized that every single one of them was so simple it took only a few lines of text to explain.

The Book Sections: Ornaments, Wreaths & Garlands, Cards & Cardholders, Home Decor, Homemade Gifts, Tags & Wrapping, Children’s Projects, Activities & Parties, Scrapbook Pages.

Several Favorites Projects:

Welcome Returning Guest Blogger, Annie Authier, from the blog “Thriftfulness”.

Charming and wallet-friendly gift: the knit collar. Bulky scarves are so last December. And with this fun, easy to make collar, your friends can celebrate fall without worrying about frostbite.

I made this on my Knifty Knitter, a knitting loom and a wise investment (under $20) for the needle-impaired. You just wrap the yarn around the pegs for an hour or two while you’re watching your favorite medical drama or reality television competition. The yarn I chose has some fun bright colors in it so that it feels warmer-weathery. You could also unravel an old sweater and use that yarn.

Aah. A warm neck on a blustery day. Looks good pulled up around your chin or folded over (see top pic). Haven’t figured out who I’ll give this to yet. I’ll have to keep my eye out for acquaintences with chin hair or unsightly Adam’s apples so I can be sure this gift gets put to use all year round.

Cost: $1.75 ($20-$25 with new knitting loom and new yarn)

Time: 1 and a half hours.

To read more of Annie’s blog, click here.

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?

Blog Contributor, Crafty Mom and Writer, Gillian, from the Blog “Dried Figs and Wooden Spools”.

I have a three year old girl. A three year old girl who gives Fancy Nancy a run for her money in the dressing up department. Which means I have hairclips. Lots of hairclips. Or at least it means I buy, make and inherit lots of hairclips, keeping them together and in a handy place for our hair taming sessions however, is another story. I’ve tried boxes and baskets but somehow they get tipped, or raided or dumped out into the sink and the clips begin to disappear into couch cushions, car seats and, although I’ve never seen it myself, into the toilet I imagine.

Now that fall is upon us and I’m preparing to restock her wardrobe, both for the body and for the head. I am determined to hang onto more of the sweet hairclips that she insists on wearing each day. Which means I need to get organized. After perusing all of the hairclip holding options out there, I settled on a wall mounted system. It displays what you have (so you dont forget about that oh so sweet clip you couldn’t resist that is now crammed in the back of your makeup drawer, admit it, it happens!) without leaving them out where little hands can carry them off without your knowledge. And since I could a) not find anything that was going to match the bathroom where the bulk of our hairdressing happens and b) I’m too cheap and too into crafts anyway to buy one, I set about making my own version of a hairclip holder.

You can hang the hairclip holder anywhere!

If you look around the house (check that basement!) you’ll probably find most of what you need. An empty frame, a piece of plywood, a staple gun, paint that matches wherever you intend to hang the finished product and ribbon to match.

Remove all glass, backing and art from your frame and lightly sand the surface with a fine grit sandpaper then wipe it down carefully to remove all the dust and dirt. Coat the front, sides and interior edge with the paint of your choice, for my project, I used a black semigloss paint that was close to the color of the frames already hanging in my bathroom.

Next, cut the plywood to fit into the back of the frame. If your frame had a sturdy backer board, this will work too. Here you have two options, you can either paint the backer board with a craft paint that matches your walls or decor or you can wrap the board in a coordinating fabric. Personally I wanted a delicate but graphic look so I chose to paint the board the color of my walls and used patterned ribbon, but a patterned fabric and solid ribbons would be a great combination as well.

Select your ribbon

Cut several lengths of ribbon that are longer by several inches than the backer board and try out a few arrangements, pushing the board into place to check the effect until you are pleased with the look you have created.

Staple the ribbon down

Once the ribbon is where you want it, secure one end to the back of the frame then pull the other end tight before stapling the other end. If your staples are long enough you can staples directly through the board and ribbon and into the setting edge of the frame, securing the ribbon and the plywood all in one go. As you work be sure to check the positioning of the ribbons before you staple each one. This means a lot of flipping but is much better than ending up with crooked ribbons!

Line the back with craft paper

When all the ribbons are secure, cover the back with craft paper and attach a picture hanger to the top and your ready to go! If your daughter is into cloth headbands these can be woven through the ribbons or you can screw a few small cup hooks into the bottom of the frame and hang them from there, keeping all your hair accessories in one lovely spot. Now I just have to figure out how to keep all those stripy tights organized!

The nostalgic look and feel of an antique is a timeless trend in art and craft. We enjoy the warm, friendly touch that something old brings to our homes. However, antiques can be scarce and expensive. There are ways to take garage sale finds and make the modern objects age in minutes.

The easiest way I’ve found is to use an antiquing gel or rub like Rub N Buff  from Amaco. Make sure your object is sealed (nonporous).  If you need to seal the item just brush or spray on a sealer or finish and allow it to dry.

Add an antique look to your home décor by using Rub N Buff on your frames, hardware, furniture, light fixtures, cabinets and much more. It can be applied to any clean, dry surface as well as over previously painted surfaces. Use for crafts, home decor, frame finishing, stenciling, faux finishing and restoration.

Using a rag, buff on the antiquing medium and allow to sit 1 minute before you buff off the excess antiquing medium with a clean rag. The antiquing medium will stay in the nooks and crannies of your object and leave an aged look.  You can repeat this process one or two more times depending on how old you want your item to look.  Allow the object to dry completely before placing in your home. You can add a coat of sealer if you like, but it’s not a must-do step.

Recycled Sweater Vest Bag

I love felting wool sweaters and making them into stuff.  I’ve made tote bags, purses and patchwork blankets and jackets. Here’s a quick project that you can make out of a man’s sweater vest in about an hour!  One of the neat things about felting your own wool is that you can control the density of the fabric by the amount of time it spends in the hot wash cycle.  For this project, you want dense, substantial felted wool. 

I used the “Whitest White” setting on my washing machine (about 60 min.)   After a quick trip in the dryer, my sweater was the perfect weight to make an unlined bag.  It’s important to start with the largest sweater you can find, because they shrink A LOT.  My size large sweater shrunk to a small child size!

Here’s what you’ll need

•  A wool sweater vest (I like lambswool or merino wool)
•  A pair of sharp scissors
•  Rotary cutter
•  Small square ruler (I like Creative Grids because they don’t slip)
•  YLI Jean Stitch Thread (or other heavy weight topstitching thread)
•  All purpose thread to match fabric
•  Sewing machine
•  4 decorative buttons

Step 1

Start by cutting off the binding around the neckline – I save all this stuff for some future project that might need a little black edging.

Step 2

Using chalk, draw an enlarged neck opening that is squared off at the bottom.  The bottom edge of the opening should be level with the bottom of the armholes.  With the sweater laying flat on a cutting board, cut along the chalk line through both layers.  -The opening, together with the armholes, form the handle of the bag.

Step 3

Lay sweater flat, with the side seams centered.  The side seams are now the center front and back of the bag.

Step 4

Create a box bottom. Using a small square ruler draw a 2 ½” square in each lower corner.

Step 5

Cut the squares out.  Pin the bottom edges together. 

Sew bottom edges using a ½” seam allowance.  Press seam allowance open and use a triple zig-zag to topstitch over the seam.  This will reinforce the bottom of the bag and hold the seam allowances open.

Step 6

The stitching sinks into the nap of the felted wool to make it virtually invisible.

“Pinch” the square opening closed so that the bottom seam is centered.  Sew across the diagonal opening using a ½” seam allowance. Press seam allowances open and topstitch like you did the bottom seam.

Step 7

Define the bottom of the bag by folding the bag and topstitching between the seams sewn in step 7.  Using chalk, draw a line across the front and back of the bag connecting the ends of the seam created in step 7.  Fold along the line and topstitch 1/8″ away from the fold.  The fold is the very base of the bag and the fabric between the two folds forms the bottom of the bag.

Step 8

Give the bag a unique shape.  Form a box pleat centered on both sides of the bag between the armhole openings. The width of the pleat should be about 1 ½” and take up all the space between the armholes. The pleats should be facing inside the bag.  Use Jean Stitch or other heavy topstitching thread to hand sew the pleat in place.  I whip stitched over the top edge.  Sew a decorative button at the center of the pleat.

Step 9

To finish the shaping of the bag, form a smaller pleat at the center front and back of the bag.

Step 10

Whip stitch the pleat in place.  Add a decorative button to the center front and back. 

Finished!

Click here to read more of Jennifer’s Blog.