Use old jeans for quilt & pillow
pieces, even
the pockets. Pockets can be sewn
on to the squares at odd angles.
pieces, even
the pockets. Pockets can be sewn
on to the squares at odd angles.
Have a look at cross stitch chart
for ideas for filet crochet.
for ideas for filet crochet.
To prevent embroidery thread from
becoming tangled in the skein, remove
wrapper, and plait (or braid) the
threads. Threads can be removed by
pulling from the bottom without
becoming tangled.
becoming tangled in the skein, remove
wrapper, and plait (or braid) the
threads. Threads can be removed by
pulling from the bottom without
becoming tangled.
If you need to remove pencil from
fabric, take a small piece of dough from
a loaf of white bread, knead with
fingers and then rub gently over the
pencil mark, which should disappear.
fabric, take a small piece of dough from
a loaf of white bread, knead with
fingers and then rub gently over the
pencil mark, which should disappear.
When using pins, do not put them
in your mouth as this is not only
dangerous but can also mark
fabric. Sew a pin cushion on to an
elastic wrist band and use that.
in your mouth as this is not only
dangerous but can also mark
fabric. Sew a pin cushion on to an
elastic wrist band and use that.
When stitching stretch fabric on a sewing
machine always use the "zig-zag" stitch,
this will then stretch with the material and
not break.
machine always use the "zig-zag" stitch,
this will then stretch with the material and
not break.
To change the color of your shoes,
handbags, etc... use artists acrylic
paint. These can be used to change the
color completely or, alternatively, to
add design.
handbags, etc... use artists acrylic
paint. These can be used to change the
color completely or, alternatively, to
add design.
When removing buttons from clothing,
place a comb between the button and
the fabric before snipping the threads.
This will prevent any damage to the
material.
place a comb between the button and
the fabric before snipping the threads.
This will prevent any damage to the
material.
Keeping your glue gun & projects clean.
When you are finished with your glue gun,
let it cool to the touch, then take a dryer
sheet, and wipe the end down and also the
gun. You will be amazed how it cleans
everything off.
When you are finished with your glue gun,
let it cool to the touch, then take a dryer
sheet, and wipe the end down and also the
gun. You will be amazed how it cleans
everything off.
Easy way to create snow for projects.
Take a piece of styrofoam, break it into
small pieces and put into the blender to
grind up. Spray project with an adhesive
and sprinkle styrofoam on. Works great
and looks great.
Take a piece of styrofoam, break it into
small pieces and put into the blender to
grind up. Spray project with an adhesive
and sprinkle styrofoam on. Works great
and looks great.
To eleminate glue gun "spider webs"
from your project take a hair dryer on
low setting and viola! No more spider
webs.
Keep you glue sticks in the freezer
until you're ready to use them.
from your project take a hair dryer on
low setting and viola! No more spider
webs.
Keep you glue sticks in the freezer
until you're ready to use them.
To erase stray paint marks in an oil
oainting, use the chisel edge of the
dipped into turpentine to lift away
the unwanted paint. To do this in
acrylics try covering with the basecoat
color.
oainting, use the chisel edge of the
dipped into turpentine to lift away
the unwanted paint. To do this in
acrylics try covering with the basecoat
color.
Inexpensive paint mixers. Next time
you're at the grocery store, pick up a box
of plastic coffee stirrers for stirring
paint. They're inexpensive and perfect
for the job.
you're at the grocery store, pick up a box
of plastic coffee stirrers for stirring
paint. They're inexpensive and perfect
for the job.
Put mohair yarn in the freezer
before crocheting or knitting, it
will stop it from shedding so
much.
before crocheting or knitting, it
will stop it from shedding so
much.
When handknitting a garment if you knit sleeves
from shoulder to cuff (by reversing the pattern)
this will enable the sleeves to be lengthened if
required. The cast off stitches at the cuff can be
taken undone. Stitches picked upon a needle and
extra length added with either the same or
matching yarn.
from shoulder to cuff (by reversing the pattern)
this will enable the sleeves to be lengthened if
required. The cast off stitches at the cuff can be
taken undone. Stitches picked upon a needle and
extra length added with either the same or
matching yarn.
Put clear nail polish on ribbon to
keep them neat and prevent them
from fraying.
keep them neat and prevent them
from fraying.
To remove old enamel paint from items,
you can soak them in acetone, you can
get acetone inexpensively in large
containers in the automotive section.
Acetone is a strong solvent, however, so
make sure the base material of the item
will not be damaged by it. Metal, wood,
glass are all safe to use in acetone. For
other materials, test a scrap piece first.
Make sure you have good ventilation
anywhere you're using acetone, and keep
it out of the reach of kids and pets.
you can soak them in acetone, you can
get acetone inexpensively in large
containers in the automotive section.
Acetone is a strong solvent, however, so
make sure the base material of the item
will not be damaged by it. Metal, wood,
glass are all safe to use in acetone. For
other materials, test a scrap piece first.
Make sure you have good ventilation
anywhere you're using acetone, and keep
it out of the reach of kids and pets.
Transfer of designs. Tape the traced design in the appropriate place, slip
transfer paper underneath and transfer
the design with a stylus. Get in the habit
of always starting in the same place and
proceeding from that point. Do not press
hard into the wood as this could cause
indentation. If the transfer is too harsh,
use masking tape to remove some of the
transfer.
transfer paper underneath and transfer
the design with a stylus. Get in the habit
of always starting in the same place and
proceeding from that point. Do not press
hard into the wood as this could cause
indentation. If the transfer is too harsh,
use masking tape to remove some of the
transfer.
To make your own cross stitch or tapestry
charts, choose an appropriate picture and
put this over some graph paper with carbon
paper in between, staple together along the
top edge. Trace the outlines, including places
where places where it changes color, you can
lift the image and carbon paper to see what it looks like. When this is done, outline the
picture parts to its closest square, then add
the colors with colored pencils or use
different codes for each color making sure
you can still see each square underneath the
pattern or color. Choose yarns to match as
closely as possible, making modifications as
and when required. Now start stitching.
charts, choose an appropriate picture and
put this over some graph paper with carbon
paper in between, staple together along the
top edge. Trace the outlines, including places
where places where it changes color, you can
lift the image and carbon paper to see what it looks like. When this is done, outline the
picture parts to its closest square, then add
the colors with colored pencils or use
different codes for each color making sure
you can still see each square underneath the
pattern or color. Choose yarns to match as
closely as possible, making modifications as
and when required. Now start stitching.
Pine Cone Christmas Trees
Supplies For One Ornament:
-Fully opened, dried pinecone
-Assorted beads, small silk flowers or other small embellishments
-Soda Bottle cap or metal bottle cap
-Green acrylic craft paint and a paint brush, or green spray paint
-Craft glue
-Tweezers
-Optional; Glitter or glitter glue
Project Instructions:
1. Paint the pinecone completely green. If desired, you can add sparkle by
dusting the pinecone with glitter while the paint is still wet. Alternatively,
wait until the paint is dry, then randomly add glitter glue to the tips of the
pinecone.
2. Glue the bottle cap to the bottom of the pinecone.
3. To add beads, small silk flowers or other christmas embellishments, use
tweezers to dip each piece into a small puddle of craft glue, then into a
space on the pinecone. Make sure that you push each bead or embellishment
firmly into place.
Supplies For One Ornament:
-Fully opened, dried pinecone
-Assorted beads, small silk flowers or other small embellishments
-Soda Bottle cap or metal bottle cap
-Green acrylic craft paint and a paint brush, or green spray paint
-Craft glue
-Tweezers
-Optional; Glitter or glitter glue
Project Instructions:
1. Paint the pinecone completely green. If desired, you can add sparkle by
dusting the pinecone with glitter while the paint is still wet. Alternatively,
wait until the paint is dry, then randomly add glitter glue to the tips of the
pinecone.
2. Glue the bottle cap to the bottom of the pinecone.
3. To add beads, small silk flowers or other christmas embellishments, use
tweezers to dip each piece into a small puddle of craft glue, then into a
space on the pinecone. Make sure that you push each bead or embellishment
firmly into place.
To stiffen crochet work you can mix white glue and water. Saturate the item in the solution and sqeeze out the excess. Stretch to the proper shape, and pin to a piece of styroform or cardboard. Allow to dry 24 hours.
To stiffen crochet work, lightly spray your item with hair spray and shape on your prepared work surface. Pin in place but make sure you use rust proof pins, and let dry. This results in a non-permanent semi hard finish that works great for Christmas snowflakes.
To keep all cross stitch projects together, put all the threa and pattern into a baggie. It is so much easier to find everything when you're ready to finish the project.
Use plastic party table cover for messy crafts. They protect better than newspaper and can be used more than once.
Mix equal amounts of acrylic color paint and wood sealer for one-step painting on wood.
Rub a fabric softener sheet all over your hands before using paint or glue to make clean up easier.
Think of items you have around the house to use when faux finishing... a feather duster makes a beautiful pattern, and crumbled up cellophane can creat a marble effect. Aluminum foil also works great.
Use a damp sea sponge to apply multiple base coats of paint. The paint dries faster and the coverage is more even. You can also use this method to make some interesting designs and textures.
Here is an easy Christmas project for kids. The painting is all done with a toothpick and cotton swab. It's a good idea to wipe your bulb with little white vinegar to remove any oils that may be on the surface. Have the kids wash their hands before handling the lightbulb.
Materials:
Small Globe Lightbulb (bulb area almost the same size as a standard bulb)
Glass or Metal Paint (acrylics), Blue, Red, Black and White
Black Felt
Christmas Ornamental Scraps
6 inches of Black Ribbon
Cotton Swab (Q-Tips)
Toothpick
How to:
You will need a circle of black felt, that is between 2-1/2 and 3 inches across. This circle can be a little crooked, in fact it looks much sweeter with little jagged hat. Cut a small circle in the center of your felt circle, a litle smaller than the socket of the lightbulb. The felt will stretch when you pull it over the light socket.
Paint the scoket of the bulb with black paint, using a cotton swab. Allow this paint to dry completely. Using a cotton swab, dipped in blue paint, add one dot for each eye, another cotton swab dipped in black paint for the nose and then wet a clean cotton swab, dip the wet swab in red paint, then in white and mix together on the swab. Gently dab a few dots to create the cheeks.
Using a toothpick dipped in red paint, paint a mouth and another toothpick dipped in black paint to add a few scribbled lines above the eyes.
Glue your strip of black ribbon, to the sides of the socket (the ribbon ends will be hidden under the hat), gluing all the way up the socket and at the top of the socket (see photo), pinch the ribbon together at the top of the socket. You need this extra secure for your hanger to remain in place. Allow the glue to dry completely before you continue.
Add a little ring of tacky glue around the socket edge, where it meets the bulb and pull the hat over the socket, down to the bulb. press the felt hat trim against the tacky glue and allow to dry.
Once the glue is dry, using tacky glue add a few embellishments to the front of the hat. This not only looks pretty, it disguises the socket of the lightbulb. Everything is secured to the bulb using tacky glue only and it works perfectly.
Materials:
Small Globe Lightbulb (bulb area almost the same size as a standard bulb)
Glass or Metal Paint (acrylics), Blue, Red, Black and White
Black Felt
Christmas Ornamental Scraps
6 inches of Black Ribbon
Cotton Swab (Q-Tips)
Toothpick
How to:
You will need a circle of black felt, that is between 2-1/2 and 3 inches across. This circle can be a little crooked, in fact it looks much sweeter with little jagged hat. Cut a small circle in the center of your felt circle, a litle smaller than the socket of the lightbulb. The felt will stretch when you pull it over the light socket.
Paint the scoket of the bulb with black paint, using a cotton swab. Allow this paint to dry completely. Using a cotton swab, dipped in blue paint, add one dot for each eye, another cotton swab dipped in black paint for the nose and then wet a clean cotton swab, dip the wet swab in red paint, then in white and mix together on the swab. Gently dab a few dots to create the cheeks.
Using a toothpick dipped in red paint, paint a mouth and another toothpick dipped in black paint to add a few scribbled lines above the eyes.
Glue your strip of black ribbon, to the sides of the socket (the ribbon ends will be hidden under the hat), gluing all the way up the socket and at the top of the socket (see photo), pinch the ribbon together at the top of the socket. You need this extra secure for your hanger to remain in place. Allow the glue to dry completely before you continue.
Add a little ring of tacky glue around the socket edge, where it meets the bulb and pull the hat over the socket, down to the bulb. press the felt hat trim against the tacky glue and allow to dry.
Once the glue is dry, using tacky glue add a few embellishments to the front of the hat. This not only looks pretty, it disguises the socket of the lightbulb. Everything is secured to the bulb using tacky glue only and it works perfectly.
Makeup sponges are great for stenciling.
Use a plastic shoe tree to store your craft items (scissors, rulers, etc...)
When Shaking off embossing powder from your card, use a coffee filter to catch the unused powder. Now you can simply return this powder to the original container.
Alcohol will remove dried paint from most fabrics. Just soak the area, let sit for 15-20 minutes, and then wash out. Repeat if necessary (this works with almost any paint, both acrylic and based).
A short walk in a local park can yield seedpods and pinecones as inexpensive decorations; just paint, or leave natural and add ribbons to hang on the Christmas tree.
You can reduce color copies of your child's artwork and create art minitures tied with ribbon for your Christmas tree. Your child's favorite stuffed animals can climb the branches of the tree, or stand guard among the packages.
Recycle your crafts: Take an old lamp shade, paint, stencil it, cover it with fabric and lace, or stamp it. This will breath new life into that old lamp and you can match any decor.
Coat burned out lightbulbs with a water-based varnish, add tissue paper and metallic paints. Then you can add a colorful yarn string or ribbon to create a holiday ornament (and it's safe- if the bulb breaks, the varnish and tissue stay intact).
RECYCLED LIGHTBULB CHRISTMAS SANTA
You will need:
~One burned out lightbulb
~Acrylic craft paints in white, red, flesh toned, black and blue (or you can use paint markers or
even plain markers for the blue eyes and black eye shape and beard highlights)
~Paint brushes
~Rubbing alcohol
~1 white chenille stem or pipe cleaner for the hanger
~Scrap of red fabric for hat
~Jingle bell trim or pom pom
~Scrap of white hat trim (quilt batting, felt, fleece or similar)
~Hot glue or craft glue
What You Do:
1. Clean the lightbulb thoroughly with rubbing alcohol to help the paint adhere to the glass.
2. Paint the bulb in a base coat of white, let dry, and repeat.
3. When dry, copy the facial features from the photo above. Paint an oval for the face area in flesh
toned.
4. When dry, add white whiskers around the face, creating a fairly large moustache.
5. In red, add a thin line for the lips below the moustache.Add two red ciecular shapes for the red
cheeks.
6. When dry, dab white onto the red cheeks to make them reddish-pink.Add white eyebrows.
7. In black, with a small, fine tipped brush-or a black paint marker, outline the eye shapes. Add
very faint black irregular lines on the moustache and beard to provide definition and shape.
8. When dry, dot on blue paint or paint marker for eye color.
9. For the hat, create a cone shape from a square of red felt or other red fabric and use hot glue to
retain the shape you want, making sure it will fit over the metal part of the bulb. Cut the
bottom of the hat in a straight line and a hot glue strip of white trim around the brim.
10. Bend the top of the hat to one side, and hot glue in place. Add a bell trim or pom pom at the end
either stitiching in place or using a small amount of hot glue.
11. Twist the chenille stem around the bottom of the metal base, above the face, and twist the two
ends together in an oval shape to create a hanger. Push the oval down untill the hat is in place.
Alternatively, you could use some thin wire, or strong thread as a hanger.
12. Place the hat over the metal base and the chenille stem, pushing it upward to act as the hanger
Hang it on the tree.
You will need:
~One burned out lightbulb
~Acrylic craft paints in white, red, flesh toned, black and blue (or you can use paint markers or
even plain markers for the blue eyes and black eye shape and beard highlights)
~Paint brushes
~Rubbing alcohol
~1 white chenille stem or pipe cleaner for the hanger
~Scrap of red fabric for hat
~Jingle bell trim or pom pom
~Scrap of white hat trim (quilt batting, felt, fleece or similar)
~Hot glue or craft glue
What You Do:
1. Clean the lightbulb thoroughly with rubbing alcohol to help the paint adhere to the glass.
2. Paint the bulb in a base coat of white, let dry, and repeat.
3. When dry, copy the facial features from the photo above. Paint an oval for the face area in flesh
toned.
4. When dry, add white whiskers around the face, creating a fairly large moustache.
5. In red, add a thin line for the lips below the moustache.Add two red ciecular shapes for the red
cheeks.
6. When dry, dab white onto the red cheeks to make them reddish-pink.Add white eyebrows.
7. In black, with a small, fine tipped brush-or a black paint marker, outline the eye shapes. Add
very faint black irregular lines on the moustache and beard to provide definition and shape.
8. When dry, dot on blue paint or paint marker for eye color.
9. For the hat, create a cone shape from a square of red felt or other red fabric and use hot glue to
retain the shape you want, making sure it will fit over the metal part of the bulb. Cut the
bottom of the hat in a straight line and a hot glue strip of white trim around the brim.
10. Bend the top of the hat to one side, and hot glue in place. Add a bell trim or pom pom at the end
either stitiching in place or using a small amount of hot glue.
11. Twist the chenille stem around the bottom of the metal base, above the face, and twist the two
ends together in an oval shape to create a hanger. Push the oval down untill the hat is in place.
Alternatively, you could use some thin wire, or strong thread as a hanger.
12. Place the hat over the metal base and the chenille stem, pushing it upward to act as the hanger
Hang it on the tree.
SHORT CUTS & TIPS