My Favorite Crafts

Here are a couple samples...


HANGING FAUX FLOWER GLOBE
What you'll need:
  • Faux Flowers of your choice
  • Styrofoam ball (your choice of size, 8" pictured)
  • Ribbon (24")
  • Hot glue/glue gun
  • Floral pins

Start by tying ribbon in a knot at the end to form a big loop.  Insert a floral pin at the knot and insert it into the styrofoam ball.  Yoy may want to use hot glue to secure it, but it should stay pretty good.  Next, cut flowers off leaving about 1/2" of stem.  Once you have a bunch cut, push one into the styrofoam.  Pull it out and put hot glue in the hole.  Push flower back in.  Continue doing this until you have all the styrofoam covered.  You may want to plan this out before you start gluing to achieve the look you want.  Feel free to add leaves or baby's breath.  It is totally up to you.  You're all done!  Hang it up!  (I have mine above my kitchen sink.)  This makes a great gift!

MAKE YOUR OWN ENVELOPES / EMBELLISH ENVELOPES

Example A:  Embelished Envelopes 

Make a template

Trace onto magazine paper & cut out

Slide into plain envelope & glue flap down

Example B: Make Your Own Envelopes
Trace template onto magazine paper & cut out

Finished Envelope:

I've been doing this since I was little with used gift wrapping paper.  Make a plain envelope special with a little glue and old magazines!

For Example A:
  Take apart a plain envelope, cut off side & bottom flaps and glued edge.  Cut off about 1/16" more on each side so it will slide in easily. Trace this onto any pretty or interesting magazine page (looks best without words) and cut it out.  Insert this into a new envelope and fold at the crease.  Lightly glue top flap of magazine paper to envelope.  Be careful!  If you use too much glue it will get ripply.  Let dry and voila!  A special surprise for the recipient!  Good tips: If you are giving a gift, use the same gift wrapping paper to wrap the gift and for lining the envelope of the card!  Or, cut out a picture from the leftovers of the magazine page & glue it to the front of the envelope!

For Example B:  Take apart a plain envelope. Trace onto magazine page with a pretty picture on it. (Other ideas: Use gift wrapping paper, homemade paper, parchment paper, etc.) The thicker the paper the better, so even a magazine cover or back would work well.  Trace the envelope onto the backside of the magazine page.  Cut out. Fold at creases.  Glue side flaps & bottom flap together will craft glue or glue stick.  For extra security, you can scotch tape the inside of the joints.  Now, when you are ready to mail a letter in it, you can seal it with tape, glue, or if you are really adventurous, you can make homemade envelope glue (Recipes below)!  To address it, you can write with marker on the front, if the paper is a light color.  If the envelope is dark, use a white paint pen, or print out a mailing label from your computer to stick on the front.  Now, you can just stick on a return address label on it and voila!  Fancy, homemade envelope!


Homemade Envelope Glue Recipe
(also good for Homemade stickers):

RECIPE #1 Ingredients:
1 tsp Elmer's Glue
1/2 tsp. vinegar
2 drops mint flavoring
Mix ingredients together, paint with brush onto envelope flap, let dry, moisten to seal.

RECIPE #2 Ingredients:
6 tablespoons white vinegar
4- 1 oz. packets unflavored gelatin
1 tablespoon vanilla extract (or any flavor that you like) Directions:
Bring vinegar to a boil in a small pan. Add gelatin and stir until dissolved. Add extract and stir until mixed. Brush on thin layer onto back of an envelope flap. Let dry. Moisten to apply. Store excess glue in a sealed container and melt again for future use by putting in a pan of warm water.

 


FRAMED DRIED LEAVES ARTWORK

What you'll need:

  • Any nice shape leaves
  • An old piece of art (or new frame)
  • Poster board/Paper of your choice
  • Craft glue
  • Spray Paint (if needed)
Start by finding a piece of art you don't like anymore from around your house, or go to your thrift store and buy a cheap piece of art with a decent frame, with our without a mat.  Next, disassemble the artwork.  If you don't like the color of the frame or if it has scratches or defects, you will want to spray paint it the color of your choice.  Then go out and find some leaves!  Take a walk and find some nice leaves.  Put them in a heavy book for a few days to dry them out flat, or use as is (that's what I did with the ones pictured).  Measure a piece of poster board to fit your frame.  Arrange your leaves on the poster board until you achieve the look you are going for.  Then put a few dots of glue behind each leaf.  Reassemble your frame and voila!  Free/Cheap Art! 

Note regarding project pictured:  I found 3 coordinating pieces of baby's room art at a thrift store.  I sprayed the frames silver and mounted 2 leaves in one, 3 in another, and 4 in the last one.  So they are all different, but go together.

HOW TO FUSE PLASTIC BAGS 

This is a fun project from Etsy Labs.  Click here for the tutorial and to see more pictures.  You basically iron plastic bags together.  They melt or "fuse" together and the result is a waterproof fabric that you can sew.  Great for making tote bags!

What you'll need:

  • Plastic bags (thin, flimsy ones work best)
  • Parchment paper, freezer paper or plain old copier paper
  • Iron (and your favorite ironing surface)

WOVEN HEADBANDS 

ALTER T-SHIRTS WITH A STAPLER 

Okay, this isn't really a craft, but I had to share this tip I found from Etsy Labs.   

"Taking in a huge teeshirt? Hate pinning? Turn it inside out and have a friend staple around the edges until it fits. Sew 1/2" INSIDE the staples and then trim off excess. Fast!"

HOW TO MAKE A DRESS FORM OF YOUR OWN BODY 

This is great for anyone who likes to experiment with making their own clothes.  Real dress forms are expensive and may not fit your exact shape.  By making this homemade dress form from an old t-shirt and duct tape. This will ensure that you will have the right fit.  It might be fun to make this and then cover it with papier mache and paint it!  Anther idea from Etsy Labs.  Click here for the tutorial.

 
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