Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

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

If your kids, like mine, love to play house for hours and hours, play food, you’ll know by now, figures largely into this imaginary world. My daughter loves to make tea and lunch for her babies and herself, and sometimes if I’m lucky, I’ll get a plate as well. This play pasta is easy enough to create that most kids can help out and the result will bring hours of play time fun.

If you can’t find beige felt, try soaking a few pieces of white felt in coffee or tea and allowing it to dry!

Here’s what you need

Tan or beige felt sheets
Pinking shears
Sewing Scissors
Needle and matching thread
Ruler and pencil
Batting

Tortellini

1. Cut 3-inch diameter circles from your felt.
2. Lay a quarter sized lump of batting in the center of your circle and fold over into a half-circle. Stitch a few stitches at the point to hold the shape in place.
3. Bring the two sides of the half-circle together and cross over, stitching them in place.
4. Fold the rounded edge over to finish the tortellini shape.

Ravioli

1. Cut 2 2-inch squares using your pinking shears.
2. Sand which a quarter sized piece of batting between the two layers of felt.
3. Stitch a square 1/2 inch in from the sides around the square, sealing the batting in place.

Linguini

1. Using your ruler, mark out 1/2 inch wide strips along the length of your felt.
2. Cut out the strips to make long noodles
(if you want you can also cut a wobbly shape out of red felt to make a blob of spaghetti sauce to set over the linguini!)

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

In the last few weeks, my summer flowers have begun to fade and the mums are starting to make a showing in my garden. Fall is on the way. From one of the windows of our house we have been watching tiny, bright yellow birds feast of the shriveling heads from our row of sunflowers. It’s been so much fun watching them flit and fly around the plants that I decided to spread the wealth around the house so that we had a view form every window with these sunflower head feeders.

If you don’t have sunflowers growing in your yard, you can sometimes find them through crafts stores, florists or even your local farmers market.

Here’s what you need:

Two sunflower heads per feeder
Floral wire
Ribbon
Needle-nose pliers
Wire cutters
Embroidery needle

1. Use the wire cutters to trim the stalk of the flowers back as far as you can.

2. Cut a 12 inch piece of wire and thread it through the back of one of the flowers. If the wire is bending, use the needle to make a hole in the flower before you push the wire through. Use your pliers to pull it out the front side of the flower and then thread it back through to the back about 1/4 of an inch over from where the first hole is.

3. Using the same wire, repeat the process with the other head so that the two flowers lie back to back.

4. Pull the wired tightly and twist together to secure. Trim ends.

5.  Thread the ribbon between the two heads below where the wire connects them. Bring the two ends of the ribbon up over the top of the flowers and tie a knot just at the edge of the flower heads. Tie another knot in the ribbon about 8 inches up, leaving a loop in between knots.

6. Hang from a tree near a window and watch the birds flock!

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

My youngest child is headed off to school this fall and, being the girly girl she is, she has a whole closet full of new dresses and skirts that she deemed school worthy. And since she has changed her clothing color palate from red and pale pink to Hot pink and lime green, we are in need of some new hair bobbles to go with her back to school outfits. Knitted flowers look complicated but are really fairly simple little projects that can be completed in a sitting, or carted around with you to work on here and there. They are also a great way to use up leftover yarn, that is, if you happen to have hot pink and lime green yarn just hanging around in your stash!

Here’s what you need

2 colors of worsted weight yarn
Size US 5 knitting needles
Yarn needle
Hair Clips

For Each Petal:

Cast on 4 sts
Row 1: Knit into front and back of first st, Knit 3 sts (5 sts)
Row 2: Purl into front and back of first st, purl 4 (6 sts)
Row 3: Knit first two sts together, knit two, knit last two sts together (4 sts)
Row 4: Purl first two sts together, purl last 2 sts together (2 sts)
Break Yarn, weave ends in and tie off, slid to the end of the needle

Knit five petals in this manner, casting each on to the same needle where the last petal is stored. On the fifth needle, do not break yarn, instead use it to knit across all 10 sts then thread the yarn onto the needle and run it back through the loop of each sts as you pull it off the knitting needle. Pull tightly to draw together the petals, forming a flower. Tie yarn off and weave in ends.

Thread the yarn needle with the contrasting yarn and whip stitch around the edges of each petal. Stitch a few loops up from the center of the flower to accent the core. Tie off and weave in ends. Press the flower with a hot, steam iron and sew or glue the back onto a hair clip.

By Guest Blogger, Jennifer from the blog “So Many Products, So Little Time”.

My husband Steve grew up a farm boy in Southwest Iowa.  A tractor originally owned by his Grandpa Stanley Hansen was passed down to  his father Robert Hansen.  When Steve was a young boy while he was driving it, the tractor rolled over on top of him.  Miraculously he wasn’t hurt.  The ground was very soft from a recent rain and they think it had just enough give that it kept him safe. The tractor was damaged after rolling over and so they stored it.  A few years ago my husband started to restore this tractor and finished it up a couple years ago.  It currently takes up his side of the garage and he likes to drive it during tractor rides at the local county fairs. I made this album of pictures with him and his tractor. I used pictures from the recent Warren County Fair, and from back in 1951.

Supplies used:

Wooden Album: Genuinely Jane Studios (4 pages – 8 sides) approx. 5 x 6 ½”
Plaid FolkArt Paint - silver, black, red
Jewels
Chipboard Circles
White Cardstock
Black Photo Corners:  Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L
Ribbon
Provo Cuttlebug Embossing Machine
American Crafts Black Paper
Label Tape/Machine

I started by painting the tractor part of the wood album red, and the side of the tires black. I used my circle Coluzzle template to determine the tire sizes and then cut them out.  Be sure when using a Coluzzle knife that you have it straight up when cutting.  If you do not have a Coluzzle or large punches, you can trace a template and cut by hand.

I ran my circles through the Cuttlebug Embossing Swiss Dots template to give them some dimension.

I made my hubcaps by using chipboard circles and used the outside ring for the large tire and the inside circle for the smaller tire.  I painted them with Plaid silver paint. After gluing down the tires and hubcaps, I added red jewels to the centers.

Next all you have to do is add your photos, photo corners and captions. I used white cardstock as a backdrop for each photo. To make the small pictures, I used the collage 4×6 print feature at Walgreens (most photo centers would have the same function).  I selected 4 pictures that were either all portrait or all landscape and for around 25 cents. I had 4 mini photos that fit perfectly as tractor windows. Their size is 1 ¾ X 2 ½”.

Lastly join all your pages together with ribbon or a binding ring.

By Crafts-a lot Contributor, Mable who is an avid reader of craft blogs & magazines and has aspirations to improve her crafting skills.

So I bet you’ve probably have been to one or thrown a bridal shower. My best friend is getting married later this month and I wanted to send her into matrimony with the best shower ever! The other bridesmaids and I were brainstorming ideas to add a little something something to the party to make it fun. That’s when it came – themed bachelorette party. More specifically a Kentucky Derby themed bridal shower party!

The most important part of the Kentucky derby (while besides the races I guess!) is the fashion. And the HATS! I started with a fun, big, bright red floppy hat. I choose some ribbon, feathers and flowers that matched my red hat.

What you need:

Wide, big brim summer hat
Ribbon
Silk Flowers
Hot glue gun and lots of glue sticks
Wire Cutter

Optional: Rhinestones, Gems, and Feathers

I wrapped a 1 ½” ribbon around the base of the hat. I choose this red and white polka-dotted ribbon because it’s obviously very cute.

Next I added a sheer white ribbon to the side; I looped and glued it 4 times to add some shape.

I arranged the flowers a few different ways before gluing to see what looked best. I glued on 2 silk hibiscus flowers after cutting off the wire stems. I liked the large hibiscus in the center, and the yellow forsythia and other branches around it. When gluing down the flowers stems, remember the glue gun is your friend!

Once you have finished gluing everything down, pat yourself on the back because you are ready for the Kentucky Derby! (The Kentucky Derby is usually the end of April beginning of May)

Check back later to see how I made a Bridal Sombrero for the “Margaritas and Senoritas” bachelorette party!

By Sewing Contributor Jessica, from the blog “Life Sew Good”.  

First off, you should know that I am under no obligation nor do I get paid to write anything for these companies, but love to give you some product review so that you can enjoy the little pleasures in life that I have discovered! 

Valori Wells is not only a fabulous fabric designer, she also creates beautiful patterns.  I ran across the Little Wallet pattern at her store in Sisters, Oregon,  Stitchin’ Post, when I was there in May.  The pattern was so simple and fit on a card the size of greeting card.  Easy to read, easy to follow directions made this pattern so fun that I decided that more people needed to know. 

Last week, I taught a class on how to make the Little Wallet to a group of 17 women, ranging in age from middle school girls to middle-aged moms.  There are literally 5 seams to be sewn, so it is a very simple project for beginners.  In fact, if you don’t own a sewing machine, it would be simple enough to sew by hand. 

One of the best things about the Little Wallet is that you can use your scraps!  Although it indicates using a main fabric and coordinating fabric, you could easily use 5-8 different fabrics and end up with a super cute product.  It’s also a short enough project that you can make quite a few on both little time.  I love that!  Finally, although it doesn’t say so on the pattern, you could embellish your Little Wallet with buttons, flowers, yo-yos , or whatever fits your fancy. 

What would I do if I were you?  Get a pattern for yourself, make a bunch to give away as gifts, and get a bunch of the pattern cards to stick in birthday cards!  I also think it would make a unique and functional gift card holder. 

I would love to see links to wallets you make!

By Sewing Contributor Jessica, from the blog “Life Sew Good”.  

My daughter Bee’s friend Em turned 4 years old last week and it was time to pony up and make a gift!  Her mom informed me that she loved cooking, so an apron would be perfect.  Although I made this apron for a 4 yr. old, you could add 1 more fat quarter, adjust the waist measurement, and have one made for yourself easily!

Here’s what you need:

2 coordinating Fat Quarters
Thread
Scissors
Measuring tape or ruler
Fabric pen

1). First, measure how wide & long you want your apron.  While I was making mine for a little 4 year old, I wanted it to be something she could wear for years to come, so I made it fairly long, with the waist band coming around the sides of her waist.  Measure the front of your waist, wrapping a little around the sides to come up with your finished apron width  measurement.

I decided I wanted the finished apron—after gathering the waist–to be 12″ x 15″.  I added ½” seam allowances to the top and bottom, so I cut my fabric 22″ (normal width of the fat quarter that we will be gathering) x 16″ (length). 

2). Once you decide your measurements, mark & cut your fabric:

Main Fabric:      

22″ x length        [CUT 1 for main apron]

22″ x at least 2″  [CUT 1 for binding bottom]

Coodinating Fabric:

Finished apron width + 2″ (seam allowance) x 4″ [CUT 1 for waistband]

22″ x 4″ for ties  [CUT 2 for ties]

22″ x 5 ¾” for pockets [CUT 1 for pockets]

3). We’re going to work with your coordinating fabric first.  Take your 22” x 5 ¾” piece.  Fold the long side ¼” and press.  Fold again ½” then press again.  Sew seam.

4). Sew seam.

5). Take your main piece of fabric and lay your pocket piece on top as shown.  Make sure that your finished seam is on the top side of the pocket piece.  Don’t worry!  So far, it should be your only finished edge!  Pin pieces together as shown.  Note that both right sides are facing UP. 

6). Baste bottom edge, so your pocket and main piece are attached.  This will make your life easier!

7). Now, take your apron and fold in half, wrong sides together, & press.  Open.   Fold your right edge so that it meets the center fold.  Press the fold.  Open and repeat on left side.  Your fabric should have 3 folds, so your fabric is separated by creases in 4 equal sections.  Use picture below as a reference for what I mean! 

8). Your creases now serve as guides for where to sew seams for the pockets.  Sew seams along each crease only on pocket fabric (ie, in pic, floral fabric).  Make sure to back-tack.  Set that piece aside.

9). Make the binding for the bottom of your apron.  Simply fold & press the piece in half, lengthwise.  Open.  Then, fold both ends in toward center crease.  Press.

10). Attach binding to skirt.  Take  your binding, middle crease open,  just like the picture above.  Line up the center crease with the bottom of the apron, wrapping the folded creases around the bottom of the apron, enclosing the raw edges and pin.  See picture below.

11). Sew binding on close to the top edge. 

12). Take waistband piece and prepare it following the directions from step 9. 

13). Gather your waistband by basting (use a long stitch) 1 seam ¼” from top of apron and 1 seam ½” from top of apron.  Pull bottom  threads, gathering the fabric until it measures your finished apron width + 2” (seam allowance). 

14). Just like you did with the bottom binding, pin your waistband binding to the top of apron. Sew waistband onto apron.  Sew seam close to the bottom of the waistband.             

15). Make the ties.  Again, prepare ties the same you made your bottom binding and waistband binding, following instructions in step #9. 

16). For each tie, we want to make sure one end looks nice. The other end will be sewn into the apron, so the raw edge is okay.  

17). Fold over  one end ½”. 

18). Fold corners in to make end pointed, like picture below.

19). Fold tie in ½ length-wise.

20). Sew ties closed, starting from point all the way to your raw edge.

21). Prepare side seam by folding side of apron over ½”.  Lay the raw end of your tie on top of the first fold, lining up with the waistband like photo below.

22). Fold side of apron again another ½”, this time folding the tie in with the waistband like photo below.  Pin & Repeat other side.

23). Sew side seams, reinforcing waistband and ties by sewing a square where ties and waistband meet.

24). Top stitch all along from the end of ties and the top of the waist band. 

Viola!  You’re done!