Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

Decorating the table is one of the best things about throwing a picnic (other than eating of course). Rather than throwing all the napkins and utensils into their own respective holders, make it a bit more decorative by making a place setting for each person. It’s inexpensive and you can personalize it any way you wish, including writing the person’s name on the outside of it.

What you’ll need:

• Gingham scrapbook paper
• Toilet paper tube
• Embellishments
• Mod Podge
• Utensils and napkins

Step 1. Measure your gingham scrapbook paper to the size of the toilet paper tube.

Step 2. Apply Mod Podge over the outside of the tube (I used a foam brush), then wrap the paper around it. Press tight, especially around the edges so it doesn’t curl up when guests use it.

Step 3. I left my picnic utensils holder plain so you can see how it looks before you add anything onto it. You can leave it plain, but some ways you can decorate it include putting a red ribbon around the center or using a black marker to write the person’s name. An extra cute option is to purchase paper ants and glue them along the utensils holder.

Step 4. Purchase matching utensils and napkins, then place them in the utensils holder.

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 Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

One of the best parts of being outdoors is seeing birds fly overhead. Bring some of that beauty indoors by making paper birds to hang around your home. You don’t have to stick to standard colors; you can use any colors you wish or even any patterns. It requires very little time and money to put the project together.

What you’l need:

• Colored paper
• Glitter glue
• Card stock
• Ribbon
• Small hole punch
• Mod Podge
• Black marker
• Scissors
• Pencil 

Step 1. Cut a basic bird shape from a piece of colored paper, then make two separate wings out of the same paper. On the very tip of the wings, leave a tiny rectangle shape which you’ll use to attach the wings.

Step 2. Bend the rectangle inward so you don’t see it, then glue it onto each side of the bird so the wings stick outward.

Step 3. From the cardstock, cut a curved piece for the bird’s stomach and another piece for the beak, then glue it on using the Mod Podge.

Step 4. Use glitter glue to outline the wings and belly, then make detailed lines on the tail and wings.

Step 5. Using the marker, draw on the eye and the mouth.

Step 6. Make a small hole at the top of the bird, then put a ribbon through and tie it into a loop.

Step 7. If possible, hang a bunch of the birds in front of the top of a window.

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

Roses are one of my favorite flowers and there’s something truly beautiful about wearing them in your hair whether they’re real or fake. When you make your own rose clip, you can customize it in any color you wish – red, blue, yellow, purple – so you can have one in every color or pattern possible. It may look complicated, but it’s pretty easy to do, especially once you get the hang of it.

What you’ll need:

•  Red cardstock
•  Pen
•  Paper
•  Red tissue paper
•  Scissors
•  Mod Podge
•  Clip

Step 1. Cut out a small square from the red cardstock, then trim it so it creates four adjacent petals connected by a tiny square in the center.

Step 2. Cut a small triangle from the red cardstock, then trim it so it forms three petals in the shape of a triangle that are connected by a tiny circle in the center.

Step 3. Bend both pieces so the petals face upward, then use scissors to carefully curl the ends.

Step 4. Make the center of the rose by cutting a small rectangle from the red cardstock and rolling it tightly. Use the Mod Podge to hold it together.

Step 5. Glue the second piece inside the first, then the center piece directly in the middle.

Step 6. Make several singular petals from the red tissue paper. Use your fingers to slightly bend the edges.

Step 7. Dip the very tips of the tissue paper petals in Mod Podge, then carefully slide them in the flower to fill it out.

Step 8. After the flower dries, lightly pinch it in between your thumb and pointer finger to expand the flower a bit.

Step 9. Glue it to the edge of your clip, then let it dry thoroughly before moving it. 

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

On St. Patrick’s Day, many have corned beef and cabbage for dinner or green eggs for breakfast. In some cases, people will give small gifts in honor of the holiday such as chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil. One way to make this even more fun is to make a good luck name plate just for the occasion. All you’ll need is a few items to put the project together.

What you’ll need:

• Gold cardstock
• Green Cardstock
• Gold glitter glue
• Clean lid
• Green scrapbook paper
• Mod Podge
• Scissors

Step 1. Cover the lid in gold cardstock. Wrap it all the way around the outside and on the inside bottom of the lid, then glue it down with Mod Podge.

Step 2. Draw large four leaf clovers on green cardstock, then carefully cut them out.

Step 3. Cut two strips of green cardstock that wrap all the way around the inside of the lid. Use the scissors to make vertical cuts halfway into the strip so you’ll end up with two green strips that resemble grass.

Step 4. Use the Mod Podge to adhere the uncut part of one strip onto the inside of the lid. Use more of the glue to adhere the second strip onto the first; it creates the illusion of thicker grass.

Step 5. Use Mod Podge to adhere the four leaf clovers on the second strip so they poke out from the grass.

Step 6. Dab some gold glitter glue on your finger, then lightly rub it along the edge each clover so you only leave a touch of gold on each one.

Step 7. Use a thin black marker to write the person’s name on the front of the name plate.

Step 8. Give the project plenty of time to dry before putting anything inside the lid.

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

There are so many uses for clothes pins from displaying greeting cards and Valentines to hanging up clothes. The only problem is that they’re boring. Decorating them is a great way to bring a little more pizazz into the home and you can even make them themed depending on what you’re using them for. It only takes a few materials and a little time to make any type of themed clothes pins you wish.

What you’ll need:

• Clothes pins
• Decorative paper
• Mod Podge
• Scissors
• Embellishments

Step 1. Cut two strips of paper that are slightly larger than each side of the clothes pin.

Step 2. Put Mod Podge on one side of the clothes pin, then press it down to the paper. Do the same for the other side. Let it dry for at least a couple of hours before moving onto the next step.

Step 3. Use the scissors to carefully trim off the excess paper. Make sure not to cut the clothespin itself.

Step 4. Choose embellishments that match the paper you used. I chose red bows because I loved how it looked combined with the black and white polka dot paper.

Step 5. Use Mod Podge to attach each embellishment to one or both sides. Don’t attach it near the ends of the clothes pin; opt for the center. Press each embellishment down for a few seconds to ensure it sticks, then let it dry for a few hours without moving it.

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

Valentine’s Day flowers are lovely, but they’re also expensive and they die shortly after you buy them. A better option is to make paper flowers for yourself or to give as a gift. However, make small centerpieces instead of making a bouquet. It may sound complicated, but all you need is a little patience and a handful of inexpensive items.

What you’ll need:

• Tissue paper
• Mod Podge
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Short glass jar candle

Step 1. Cut tissue paper into squares. The smaller the squares the smaller the flowers. I cut each square into 5 inch pieces and alternated between using red tissue paper and one that’s heart-patterned.

Step 2. Take each square and fold it into a triangle. Follow that up by folding each triangle in half, then in half again.

Step 3. Hold each triangle so the fold faces to the left, then cut off the top of the triangle so you form a curve at the top.

Step 4. Next, cut off the lower point at a curve.

Step 5. Open up the triangles; each piece should look like a flower that’s missing the center.

Step 6. Make a cut in each piece from the top of the petal to the center so they are no longer solid pieces.

Step 7. You’ll notice the pieces have creased sections which is going to help with gluing the flowers together. Take one section and overlap the two ends until it’s the size you want for the outer layer. Don’t glue the ends down; instead, glue down the second or third section in.

Step 8. Repeat Step 7 for each layer until you get to the center. As you go along, make the layers smaller and put a small drop of glue on the bottom of each layer so they stick together.

Step 9. To make the center piece, roll one of the layers into a cone shape. Put a small drop of glue on the sides of the point, then stick it through the center of the flower layers. Pinch the layers around the point so they curve in.

Step 10. After the flower dries, place it on top of a glass candle holder. Opt for a candle whose coloring complements the colors of the flower.