Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

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

If you’re like me, it’s tough to toss jars when you’re creative because you know they will come in handy for something! Last year I wrote an article for Hamptons Magazine and thought I’d share with you the project I made especially for them.

YOU’LL NEED:

• Jars in different sizes
• Yarn
• Masking tape
• White Krylon spray paint
• Fabric cut on the bias 1 1/2″ wide by 10″ per jar
• Tea lights

HERE’S HOW:

1. After your jars are sparkly clean, tightly wrap them with yarn in a crisscross pattern and tape the ends on the underside or the inside so they stay in place. Don’t place the tape on the outside of the jar where you will be painting.

2. Cover an area in newspaper and give the jars 3 light coats of white Krylon spray paint (waiting 5-10 minutes in between coats) and let dry.

3. Remove the yarn and wrap the tops with the bias fabric securing them with a knot. You could also use ribbon for the tops, it’s up to you.

4. Add your tea lights and set your table.

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

Two of the best things about knowing how to make your own earrings, is that you can customize them any way you wish and you can save yourself money in the process. A great way to make new earrings is to create them from items you already have in your home. Since spring is coming, you can make a pair of flower shaped earrings to celebrate the season.

What you’ll need:

• Jump rings
• Earring hooks
• Cardboard
• Patterned paper
• Needle nose pliers
• Mod Podge
• Pen
• Small hole punch
• Marker
• Scissors

Step 1. Use Mod Podge to attach patterned paper onto a piece of cardboard. Flatten it out to eliminate the air bubbles, then give it ample time to dry before moving onto the next step.

Step 2. Draw two flowers onto the back of the cardboard, then use the scissors to cut them out.

Step 3. Use a small hole punch to make a hole on the edge of one petal.

Step 4. Choose any size jump rings you wish; I opted for the larger ones. To pry open the jump rings, use needle nose pliers.

Step 5. Hook the open jump ring through the hole in the petal. Before closing the ring, attach an earring hook to the jump ring, then use the pliers to choose the ring.

Step 6. Use any color marker you wish to color in the center of the flowers.

By DCWV Diary

Today I want to share a tutorial from the DCWV & Blue Moon Beads CHA booth. Remember this gorgeous tree covered in butterflies, beads & jewelry? There were some gorgeous beaded butterflies mixed into the tree. I think these would be so fun and easy to make and mix into your spring & Easter decorations. You could use any color paper and really customize them to your space.

 Supplies & Tools:

• DCWV Brights Cardstock Stack
• DWC Butterfly Template
• Blue Moon Beads – Glass Beads
• Papercrafting adhesive
• Craft wire
• Bead Pliers
• Scissors
• Pencil

Directions:

1. Print and cut out the Butterfly template. Trace desired sizes onto your chosen shades of cardstock and cut them out. *Note: For every small butterfly, you will need a large one (and vise versa).

2. Adhere the body of one small butterfly onto the body of a larger one; repeat until you’ve glued your butterflies together.

3. String beads onto your craft wire and attach them to the body of the butterfly. Repeat until finished.

I know the template doesn’t include the intricate butterfly piece on the top layer. You could use a electronic cutting machine for that, use your Xacto knife to make your own pattern or simply just use a full wing piece on top. Or use a butterfly punch. It is still a beautiful, creative element!

By General Crafts Contributor Melissa, from the blog MeloMomma.

My creative ideas are on overload now as we approach spring break. The kid’s are going to need lots of entertainment and if the weather here doesn’t cooperate we will be stuck inside! Therefore, I present to you the Awesome Toilet Paper Roll Car! It’s honestly a hoot to make!

We spend about 30 minutes making this and it kept my 5 and 2 year old entertained for quite some time! Not too shabby for a creation using supplies from the bathroom and cupboard! Enjoy your spring break!

What you will need:

• Toilet paper roll
• Glue
• Tape
• Scissors
• Construction paper
• Cardboard (use a cereal box) or chipboard
• Smarties (optional)
• Necco candy (optional)
• Little toy man (optional)
• Diorama trees for scenery (optional)

Directions:

Cover the toilet paper roll with construction paper. Use tape to secure it. Cut out two circles to cover the front and back of the tp roll. I made the back circle a little bigger.

Cut out a rectangle shaped hole in the top. Cut out four round circles for the wheels. It works best to fold the card board in half so the wheels are the same size. Using a glue stick secure the wheels.

Glue on two smarties for the head lights. Glue on a piece of Necco candy for the steering wheel (A cardboard circle would work as well). Decorate it if you wish.

Place a toy guy in and go for a ride.

By Kid’s Crafts Contributor Stephanie, from the Blog Geek with Glasses.

My daughter is an Irish Step Dancer and March is a crazy month for us. We have two St. Patrick Day parades to partake in, so I needed something festive to wear. I love the mini top hats and thought I’d share this tutorial on how to make your own at home.

Mini Top hats are also popular for Steampunk costumes too, it’s all in how you decorate the basic shape.

Today, we are going Leprechaun!

Supplies:

Toilet paper or Paper Towel Roll
Cereal Box
Ribbon
Headband
Glitter
Felt
White Paint / Green Paint
Thread

Optional:

Stickers
Crystals
Other Decorations

Tools:

Pen
Craft Knife
Scissors
Brush
Glue
Hot Glue Gun
Needle

The first thing to do is cut open the cereal box to get a flat side. On the inside (non printed side) of the cereal box trace around the paper roll. This will make the center of the brim of the hat. Next measure 5/8″ all the way around and draw that circle. Cut out the outside circle, then using the craft knife cut the cross marks on the inside circle. This makes tabs to glue the brim to the tube.

Next trace the roll again, this time measure about 1/4″ and make another circle. Cut along the outside line, then cut tabs to fold. This makes the top of the hat, the tabs insert into the tube to hold the top on.

Now, determine how tall the Top Hat should be. This hat is 1 1/2″ tall, carefully use the craft knife to cut the tube so not to smash the roll.

Using the Hot Glue Gun, attach the brim by folding the tabs up and placing the tube over top. Glue the tabs in place. This can be done with craft glue but  then the tabs should be clipped until the glue dries. The Hot Glue makes the project go quicker without drying time. After the brim is in place, fold the tabs on the top of the hat and glue the it in place.  

Once the hat is assembled paint the entire piece white or green. I painted mine white, then after the glitter I went in and painted the edge of the brim and bottom green. It wasn’t necessary, but I did not like the white edge. If the entire hat was painted green to start that would not be an issue, but the glitter will show up different with a dark background verses a white background. It’s up to the crafter to decide.

When the paint is dry, cover the hat with craft glue and sprinkle the glitter on. Let the hat dry completely, once dry tap off the extra glitter.

I decorated the hat by gluing a ribbon around the base of the hat. Then using stick vinyl, I cut 3 hearts out using a heart shaped punch. I stuck the hearts on the hat in the shape of a shamrock and glued a crystal in the center. I added another shamrock to the hat in the same way. This is where it can become any type of hat that you want.

Next,  cut a circle of felt and glued it to the bottom to make attaching it to the headband easier.

I made 2 ribbon bows and glued them together, then hot glued the hat on top of them. 

To attach the hat to the headband, first hot glue the ribbon/hat to the headband. Then make a couple of stitches around the headband making sure to catch the felt on the hat, secure the thread with a good knot.

Now - put the beautifully crafted hat on your head, drink some kind of ale and eat Bangers and Mash Or follow the rainbow to your pot of gold! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!

By General Crafts Contributor Mina, from the blog Mina’s Journal.

Make these wee night light lanterns for the wee ones you know to help settle them to sleep, or to set a mood!

Craft Materials:

• Small boxes – lightbulbs or food packaging for example
• Marker or pencil
• Craft knife
• Cellophane or clear plastic
• White glue
• LED lights
• Craft Paint

How to Make the Night light Lanterns

Carefully pull the the packaging apart, so it is still in one piece, but will lie flat.

Draw your designs onto the packaging. I used the inside of the box so the paint would cover better.

Simple shapes are cool. You can see here I’ve used hearts, stars and small square and rectangle shapes like a building at night time.

Cut your designs with the craft knife and paint the surface of the box.

Cut cellophane to cover the cut out spaces and glue to the inside of the box.

Note about Lining the Boxes

For large designs, the spaces look better if they are lined with something like cellophane. For small designs, there is no need to line the boxes.

You could line the window spaces with colored cellophane.  Bend the existing folds of the box the opposite way than they were intended, so your box will keep its shape. Glue the side edges together. Fold the ends of the box back in.

Pop your lights in when you are ready!

A Note about LED Lights

The LED lights I used here are childrens’ finger laser lights. They are safe, small and have a switch – all enclosed in plastic housing. They are cheap – there are four in the set I got in colors white, blue, red and green.

Ideas for the Night light Lanterns

For little ones:

• Stack on top of each other for buildings.
• Change the nightlight Lanterns and / or the colored lights around each night as a pre-sleep activity.

There are more sophisticated uses for these things for grown ups.

• Set the scene for romantic dinners
• Use in the bathroom to have your bath with (Don’t forget the bubble bath!)
• Use in ‘your space’ for quiet contemplation or relaxation

Have fun with these and create your own ambiance! Happy crafting!

Drum roll please….

The winner of the 2012 Crafties Drawing and the $100 CreateForLess shopping spree is Shannon Keele!

 Shannon’s vote for her favorite craft supplies was:

• Best All Around Craft Tool – Mod Podge (quite possibly found flowing in this crafter’s veins)
• Best Quilting Supply – Olfa Rotary Cutters / Mats / Acrylic Rulers (would not give up for a million bucks…well, maybe for a million)
• Best Organizer – Art Bin Super Satchel system (makes even slobs look organized and professional)
• Best Adhesive – Aleene’s Tacky Glue (LOVE THIS STUFF)
• Best Scrapbooking Supply – Martha Stewart Simple Circle Cutter (finally – cutting circles made easy)
• Best New Craft Supply – Imaginisce Tool i-Magicut Ribbon Cutter & Sealer (yay!! – no more dragging the wood burning tool out)
• Best Scissors – Fiskars 8″ Spring Action Razor Edged Bent Scissor (I keep mine under lock and key from my family – no joke)
• Best Needlework Supply – Clover Soft Touch Steel Crochet Hooks (hours of crochet without hand pain)

Thanks to everyone who voted! Your votes will determine which supplies will be awarded our prestigious Golden Glue Gun trophy and will be on sale later this month! 

Check back to see if what you voted for is awarded a Craftie from CreateForLess!