Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

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

I don’t know about you, but where I live, it’s full on farmer’s market season. Something new seems to come into season every few days and the stalls, and my garden, are overflowing with produce. Between the peaches and blackberries and beans and corn, we’re entering into the busy season for preserving. Our pantry is beginning to look like we’re preparing for Y2K.

But rather than prepping for disaster, I like to stock up on homemade goodies every summer  in part to have a ready supply of gifts to give come winter. When the snow is falling and the temperature has dropped below freezing, there’s nothing better than a jar of homemade strawberry jam to cheer everyone up. And to help get my self jam-giving ready, this year I’m making ready to go jam covers so that when the time comes, I don’t even have to wrap. One of the styles of covers I’m working on this summer is this simple, stamped burlap cover. And you can make some too in less time than it takes to sterilize your jars.

Here’s what you need:

Burlap
Fabric Scissors
Foam Letter Stamps
Craft Paint
Foam Brush
Newsprint or scrap paper

1.Using one of the rings from your jars as a guide, cut a circle two inches wider all around out of the burlap.

2. Set the circle onto the scrap paper to catch any paint that seeps through the fabric.

3. Brush a light coat of paint onto each letter and, centering the word on the circle, stamp your letters firmly.

4. Allow the paint to dry before tying on with a colorful string of bulky piece of yarn.

Presto! Gift ready!

Welcome our General Crafts Contributor, Shelly from the blog “Pickwick & Plum”.  

Hats are nice, but crowns are better! Could there be a better way to herald spring than to proclaim yourself Queen for a Day? I think not. I’m going to show you how, with a little imagination and elbow grease, you can build yourself a ‘one-of-a-kind’ crown, worthy of any Palace!

For this project, the most challenging part will be to find a base on which to build. I find that the stainless & silver plate aisle at Goodwill is a good bet. For my example, I am using a re purposed casserole holder. You could also build a base using fabric, cardboard, wire – or any number of things but I like the built-in filigree of casserole holders.

Other materials might include:

10 – 12 gauge wire
Vintage buttons or millinery
Ribbons or rhinestones 
Glitter stems
Ball chain
Fabric (about 20″ square)
Old belt
Vintage Christmas trim
Pearl or beaded strand�

You will also need:

Hot glue gun
 Hole punch or drill
Metallic Paint 
Paint (reddish brown & black)
Needle nose pliers
 Scissors

I’m going to explain how I built this example, but there are many variations on what I’m going to show you. I wanted an antique looking crown, so the first thing I did was paint over the metal with a watered down mixture of (mostly) reddish brown and (a little bit of) black paint. If you find that your paint does not want to stick to the metal surface of your frame, you can either heat the metal, or sand it lightly.

Because I was going for something a little rustic, I punched holes a bit randomly around the top of the frame and used rusted bailing wire for my braces. These wire braces can be in a variety of shapes. I wanted the top of my crown to have a traditional shape, so I went with an ogee silhouette. I bound them together in the center and left them at odd lengths – entwined.

At this point you will need to choose a fabric that will make up the inner top part of the crown. Cut a square about 20″ wide and holding the crown upside down, set the fabric inside the frame – creating a bowl of sorts. Stuff newspaper into the bowl and adjust fabric as needed. Cut the excess off and hot glue the edges to the inside of the frame. Keep the newspaper inside the crown until you are completely done. It provides structure while you are building.

Next I ripped 3/4″ strips of a complimentary fabric and set them behind my wire bracing. I used gold glitter stems and a short length of pearl trim to create little ‘buttons’. I hot-glued these onto the fabric with the wire sandwiched in the middle. (Both the glitter stems and the pearl trim were antiqued using the same reddish brown & black paint.)

Once each wire has a strip of fabric and your ‘buttons’ are attached, you can begin to work on the outside of the crown frame. I used a combination of ripped silk, vintage christmas tinsel and antique millinery trim for the upper band and then along the bottom I used an old belt and a ball chain. I painted the belt with metallic gold paint and stuck a strip of vintage christmas ribbon behind it. You can just see it peeking up behind the ball chain.

To finish it off, I wrapped the top with an antiqued string of plastic pearls!�
Et Viola – vous etre une reine du jour!

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

Don’t you just love garlands? Here’s one I put together in about fifteen minutes today. It’s only about four feet long, so I’m thinking an eight-footer would take about twice that, and if you had an hour…

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Old sheet music
• Ledger paper, graph paper, or any other patterned paper you like
• Scraps of fabric
• Fancy-edged scissors, such as pinking shears, scalloping scissors, etc.

Your first step is to cut circles from the sheet music, using whatever scissors you’d like. They should be about 3″ in diameter, but don’t worry about measuring, or drawing them perfectly. Small imperfections will add a homey, old-fashioned touch. Since there’ll be about four circles per foot, just multiply the length garland you’d like by four to get the number of circles you need.

Now cut the same number of circles from the patterned paper, but make them smaller, about two inches in diameter.

Third step is to cut circles from the fabric scraps, about an inch to an inch and a half in diameter. You can make them all the same fabric, or use a variety, your choice.

Next, lay the music paper circles out on a flat surface and stack a circle of patterned paper and one of fabric atop each. I suggest this because if you’re cutting freehand, some circles will “fit” together better than others.

Stack your circle stacks up, carry them to the sewing machine, and sew them all together in a line. Don’t break the thread between stacks, and again, don’t worry about precision. Random is good!

You are finished! Go hang up your garland!

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

Happy Holidays!  This is Amy from Mod Podge Rocks, bringing you a great kids’ craft for the Christmas season.  Children and Mod Podge go so well together that I wanted to show you a way to incorporate the two AND decorate for your holiday parties.  This was so fun for me – your kids are going to have a blast!

First gather these supplies:

Fabric Scraps – I used about thirteen 12 – 20″ strips

FloraCraft® Styrofoam® Wreath Bulk 9″ White

Mod Podge – Gold Glitter Hologram

Kunin Rainbow Classic Felt 9″x 12″ – Apple Green and Kelly Green

Offray Ribbon Grosgrain 5/8″ Red – 12 inches

Beacon Craft Glue

Buttons – 6 coordinating

Flat Paint Brush

Scissors

This could be one of the easiest Mod Podge projects you’ll ever do, which is why it’s so great for children.  Simply grab your fabric strips (you can use squares or random shapes too) and spread a medium layer of Mod Podge onto the back (fabric face down).

Wrap the strips tightly around the Styrofoam wreath.  Make sure to cover all of the white.  If you have squares or shapes, simply glue them randomly down to the wreath form.  Keep going until you’ve covered the entire wreath.

Once the wreath is completely covered, coat the entire project with Mod Podge.  If you want the glitter to really sparkle, let dry and then give the wreath a second coat.

Take your felt and draw some holly leaves.  Cut out and then attach to the wreath with craft glue.  Accent with some buttons and then a strip of ribbon to hang on the back.

I don’t know that I’ve ever done an easier craft, or one that was more fun!  Your children are going to thoroughly enjoy their participation in your holiday decorating.  Have a great holiday season!

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

I’m really getting into the holiday spirit, and I decided it was time to throw something festive up on the ol’ fireplace.  I like the patchwork look, and so I employed that basic idea when making this banner – getting things together that coordinate but are not necessarily the same.  Try it with your holiday decorations.  It’s very fun and you get to use a lot of colors.  It’s easier to match your décor than you think. 

Gather These Supplies:

Mod Podge Sparkle

Letters spelling the holiday saying of your choice – mine came with the screws and ribbon.  If yours don’t, you can purchase the hooks and ribbon.

Christmas scrapbook paper – 3 coordinating sheets

Christmas embellishments and stickers – multiple coordinating

Rhinestones, adhesive – at least 10 coordinating

FolkArt Acrylic paint – 3 coordinating colors (I used Bright Green, Engine Red and Hot Pink)

Craft Glue

Flat Paint Brush

Scissors

Pencil or Pen

Take your letter and lay it down on the scrapbook paper face up.  Trace the shape – repeat with the other letters.  Use a different sheet of paper for each letter.

Use your scissors to cut the letter shapes out of the paper.  Set aside.

Paint your letters with coordinating acrylic colors.  Paint the entire back, but you’ll only have to paint the sides and the edges of the front.  You don’t need to paint the entire front because the paper will be covering.  Isn’t that delightful?

Grab those pieces of scrapbook paper that are shaped like your letters.  Paint a medium layer of Mod Podge down on your letters and make sure to get the corners well.

Place paper down and either smooth with your fingers or roll with a brayer.  Smooth, smooth, smooth!  Until all of the air bubbles are gone.  Do the other letters and then set them all aside for 15 – 20 minutes.

When your letters are dry, spread Mod Podge over the top of the paper on the letters.  Again, spread a medium coat.  Allow to dry for 15 – 20 minutes, then spread another coat.  Don’t forget to coat the back of your letters as well!  Allow to dry.

At this time, replace the hooks in your letters, or if you had to purchase, screw into the top of your letters.  You shouldn’t need to drill.  Simply push down and screw into the top.

Use your craft glue to add embellishments to the letters.  I added chipboard shapes, rhinestones and stickers.  Decorate however your little heart desires!  When you are done, allow to dry for 24 hours and then string the ribbon.  Mine came with ribbon, but if your letters don’t, then purchase about 1 foot of ribbon per letter for your saying.  Hang and admire!

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

When I was a kid, December was my favorite month of the year for one reason alone. Sure there was the tree and the gifts and the snow and the days off of school. Those were all great. Bonuses, in fact. But the real reason I loved december was that every morning I was allowed, even ENCOURAGED, to eat a piece of chocolate, a piece of chocolate from my advent calendar.

The thrill of opening another little door never wore off, even though I knew what was behind each and every one. And my brother and I would check all the opened doors each morning, just in case we had somehow missed one.

When my son was younger I made a felt Christmas tree with little ornament pockets. An old, vintage, crystal button traveled form pocket to pocket as the days got closer and closer to Christmas. Pretty, glittery, calorie free. He didn’t know what he was missing. And then one year my mother bought him the “real” kind of advent calendar, and it was curtains for the poor old felt tree.

This year I’m sure we’ll have the chocolate behind the door variety, in fact, I believe there are two arriving in the mail tomorrow. But, because I remember the thrill of getting a special treat every December morning (and because you can never have enough chocolate around the house) my kids will also get to open a box on our advent garland this year.

Besides the chocolate (or what ever you choose for a treat inside) this garland comes together with only three items (or groups of) total.

You will need:

1 piece of ribbon (not wired) – determine how long you want the garland and then add a third more and cut the ribbon to length

24 mini take-out boxes (alternating colors are fun but one solid color works great too!)

Holiday stickers (letters that spell out a greeting are nice, numbers to count down the days would be great to)

Find the center of your ribbon and tie a box about one inch on either side of that point. Continue to tie the boxes, knotting at each handle, an even distance apart, until you have all 24 (or 25 if you want one for Christmas morning, but really, who opens a teeny little advent box when you have presents to open?) tied on.  Decorate the front of the boxes with stickers, fill each box with a treat and string it up. It makes a great decoration over the fireplace or along the banister and could be wrapped around a fir garland for an extra festive look. Either way, your kids will love you for giving them one more little treat this December.

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

The holidays are finally here!  With so many parties and so many gifts required, I decided to come up with a little something special that I could mass-produce – but it was important to me that the gift would be something useful that I wouldn’t mind receiving myself.  What resulted was these little holiday votives: make a few or make a lot, they are easy on the budget!

Gather These Supplies:

• Mod Podge Gloss
• Mod Podge Silver Glitter Hologram (optional)
• Votive holders – glass with candles included
• Christmas scrapbook paper – 1 sheet
• Martha Stewart Punches – Medium Glacial Snowflake
• Offray Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, 3/8″ – 12 inches
• Buttons – nine coordinating
• Rhinestones – 4 coordinating
• Beacon Craft Glue
• Flat Paint Brush
• Ruler
• Craft Knife and Mat

Measure your votive holder – mine was about 1 ¾” not including the lip at the bottom.  Grab your sheet of scrapbook paper and cut a strip that will fit around the votive. 

Using your punch, make snowflake cutouts evenly spaced across the strip of paper. 

Take your votive and spread Mod Podge around the center with your brush.  Take your strip of paper and roll around the center, smoothing with your fingers as you go.  Take care not to rip the parts that are fragile around the snowflake branches.  Continue spreading Mod Podge around the votive, smoothing the paper as you go.  When you reach the seam, place Mod Podge down and join the paper together.  Allow to dry for 15 – 20 minutes.

Pick up your second votive and the snowflake “chads” that you punched out of the other strip (I also punched out a few additional from the remaining paper).  You can use Mod Podge Gloss to place the snowflakes down on the second votive – I decided to dress it up with Mod Podge Silver Glitter!  Simply paint Mod Podge on the glass, place the snowflake and then Mod Podge over the top.  Allow to dry and then go back and paint over the snowflakes with a second layer.  Set aside to dry.

At this time, go back to the first votive and paint a second coat of Mod Podge Gloss over the paper.  Allow to dry.

When everything is dry, start gluing your embellishments down with the craft glue.  I placed four rhinestones on the striped votive and nine buttons on the snowflake cutout votive.  I decided that I needed something additional, so I cut some pink ribbon and placed glue around the bottom of the votive.

This gift idea is so great because you can customize every votive for each person. Happy Gifting!