Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

If you’re one of the many who dry their clothes outside on a clothesline in summer, forget using boring clothespins. Celebrate the beautiful season with butterfly clothespins that can make even hanging wet clothes look pretty. You’ll only need a handful of inexpensive items to put them together.

What you’ll need:

• Clothespins
• Pastel scrapbook paper
• Butterfly embellishments
• Mod Podge
• Scissors
• Flat back rhinestones

Step 1. Choose the right amount of scrapbook paper compared to the amount of clothespins you want to decorate.

Step 2. Cut the paper into strips that a little bit larger than the clothespin.

Step 3. Put the glue on one side of a clothespin and press it firmly to the paper. Flip the clothespin over and do the same for the other side. Repeat the process for all the other clothespins. You don’t have to cover all of them with the same paper. Switch it up!

Step 4. Trim off the excess paper so it’s completely even with no ragged edges.

Step 5. Use Mod Podge to attach a single butterfly embellishment onto each clothespin. Place it towards the front so you’re not pressing on it when you squeeze the ends of the clothespin together.

Step 6. If the embellishments are plain, use Mod Podge to attach flat black rhinestones to give them a little more sparkle.

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

Flowers are adorable to put around the home for summer, but hang them on doorknobs and they’ll fall apart and wilt. The next best option is to make paper flowers which will last all season long. It’s a quick and easy way to add a lot of color around your home for very little money.

What you’ll need:

• Colorful paper
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Pipe cleaner
• Mod Podge
• Glitter glue

Step 1. Draw a circle on a piece of colored paper, then cut it out and use it as the center of the flower.

Step 2. Draw petals on colored paper, whether it’s one color or a mix of a few, then cut the petals out.

Step 3. Attach the edge of the petals onto the back of the center to form the flower.

Step 4. Use Mod Podge to glue one edge of the pipe cleaner onto the center back of the flower, form it into an arch, then glue the other end down next to the first.

Step 5. Put glitter glue all over the center of the flower, then give it ample time to dry before hanging it up.

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

Empty oatmeal canisters are fantastic to reuse. They’re large, seal tight, help you keep an organized space and allow you create interesting decor for your kitchen. Other than an empty canister, you’ll only need a few additional items to help get you started.

What you’ll need:

• Scrapbook paper
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Kitchen-themed picture
• Mod Podge

Step 1. Choose a piece of scrapbook paper that complements your kitchen décor.

Step 2. Coat the entire outside of the canister with Mod Podge, line the scrapbook paper flush along the edge, then wrap it around and flatten it out. Don’t worry if the ends don’t match up.

Step 3. Trim off the excess scrapbook paper.

Step 4. From the excess scrapbook paper, cut a piece that’s large enough to cover the space of the canister that’s still showing through. It’ll serve double-duty by also adding some contrast to the design.

Step 5. Flip the strip of paper over so the white side is showing, adhere it over the space, then flatten it down to remove air bubbles.

Step 6. Choose a kitchen-themed picture, then glue it down perpendicular over the strip of paper.

Optional: Adhere ribbon along the top and bottom edges of the canister.

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

When you can’t think of gifts to give the reading fans in your life other than more books, consider making beautiful book-inspired magnets. They’re not only useful but also look lovely up on a boring fridge. The effort and thought you put into making them will go over well with almost any recipient. You only need a few items to put each of them together and they’re easy to make even for the most craft-challenged.

What you’ll need:

• Two book pages
• Scissors
• Paper embellishment
• Self adhesive magnet
• Mod Podge

Step 1. Trim the edges of two book pages so only the block of words remain.

Step 2. Fold each page accordion style so you’ll end up with two folded strips, then when you get all the way to the end, fold each piece in half.

Step 3. Take one of the folded pieces, then use Mod Podge to glue the two ends to each other. Do the same with the other folded piece.

Step 4. Open up the pages so they fan out into two half circles.

Step 5. Glue the two half circles to each other so they form one circular piece.

Step 6. Adhere a paper embellishment to the center of the circular piece. You’re better off using one that’s round so the two pieces complement each other.

Step 7. Attach a self-adhesive magnet onto the back.

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.