Ukrainian EggsOur kids have an amazing art program at their school. Every year they get to make Ukrainian eggs. Both of the kids have made many eggs and each year they create more complex designs.
Craft Project: Button BouquetKids will have fun combining the buttons and colored chenille stems to make these flowers.
Rainbow Soda Pop Tab BraceletThis is my latest creation! My fun bracelet is made from soda pop tabs. I used alcohol inks and stretch cord to transform this "junk" into stylish jewelry! They're super easy to make and fun for kids to wear.
Window Picture FrameUpcycle an old wood window into a wonderful outdoor picture frame.
Six Pack Tableware CarrierSurprise your host and hostess with a six pack of their favorite beverage, the surprise will be that you enjoyed their beverage while making them a carrier for tableware and napkins.
Making Grommet CurtainsIf you need new long drapes for your living room and want the trendy curtains with the grommets at the top, this is a very thrifty way of doing it. This photo only shows one of the panels. I bought two drop cloths for $10 each, using one for each panel.
Craft Project: Recycled CD JewelryBeautiful brooches and earrings made from recycled CDs.
Rounded Quilt CornersA lap quilt made with scrap strips of fabric with round corners. After piecing the quilt center, I made a 4 inch border by sewing together many small coordinating fabrics. Stitch the border to the quilt using a quarter inch seam allowance.
Refurbished ChestThis is a chest of drawers I painted and stenciled for my sewing room. First I washed the chest well and then I sanded lightly to remove the shine. I then primed the whole chest with a latex primer.
Recycled Bag From PlacematsThis is a bag made from placemats that I purchased at a garage sale. To begin, decide which placemat will be the front and embroider a design of your choice on the front. Place the 2 place mats wrong sides together and sew them on one long side and 2 short sides.
Recycled Mosaic Coffee TableI took an old closet door and a stack of plates which didn't sell at my yard sale and turned it all into a usable coffee table.
Craft Project: Tiling With Foam Craft SheetsUsing easy to cut foam craft sheets, you can make and decorate cans, boxes, lamps, etc.
Button Up for St. Patrick!If you're looking for some novel craft ideas to help celebrate St. Patrick's Day, why not try making your own polymer clay buttons.
Craft Project: Tissue Paper FlowerThis flower gives a lifelike impression and with thin paper, you can make a very elegant flower. You can arrange them on a flat plate or use as an accent to your project.
Craft Project: Recycled Crayon HolderAn easy inexpensive way to hold crayons, scissors, markers, colored pencils etc. Take the 7 water bottles, wash and remove paper labels.
Craft Project: Recycled Ribbon DispenserTry this idea for a quick, inexpensive way to organize and dispense elastic, ribbon, twine or yarn.
Craft Project: Fall Candle DisplayFall candle holder made from every day items. First, glue the clay pot upside down onto the dinner plate, then glue the butter bowl bottom side down on to clay pot then glue saucer onto butter bowl.
Craft Project: Stenciled BackpacksTurn your otherwise boring solid color backpack into a work of art using stencils to add your own touch and design to it. This was my boring rolling back pack that I love to use for traveling but was a darker color of solid blue and not very feminine looking at all.
Craft Project: Americana Door DecorThis craft is so simple, not only because of it's design, but because you can customize it any way you want.
Dad Baseball Cap Note HolderFather's Day is just around the corner. So let the kids create these cute baseball cap note holders for Dad. They would also make cute place card holders for a baseball themed birthday party.
Groovy Picture FramesGroovy frames for your groovy buddies. Cut out felt paper squares of different sizes.
Storage Box For Pressed FlowersI found this to be a great place to store and organize all my pressed flowers. When I was doing a project I would just pull the whole drawer out, place it on the table and it's all right at my fingertips. On smaller projects I'd just pull the drawers out partially.
Glue Design Paper FlowersUse rubber cement to create unusual designs on paper flowers for spring. This technique also makes unique designs for note cards and other things.
Coffee Can Marble PaintingThis is a craft my 2 year old loves to make. She loves to shake up the marble in the coffee can and then take the lid off to discover her masterpiece. She also likes to watch herself shake the can in the mirror. So cute!
Clever Ideas Using PhotoshopThis poster I did for my son for his birthday. He was on the HS football team that year and used the digital images from the teams website. I did this one in InDesign but you can use any page layout program. I then bought a real nice but inexpensive frame at Michaels.
Craft: Scarecrow LadyThis scarecrow lady is the result of my fall fever! She has gotten lots of complements from my neighbors and people just driving down the street.
Garden: Surprise ResultsBreaking the rules of photography can capture some glorious surprise results. Like shooting into the sun when photographing your garden beauties.
Bountiful CornThis is great for even preschoolers. Pre-make the magnet with pipecleaners and raffia hot glued together. Add the tri-beads in any pattern desired. Simply bend the ends when the "corn" is full.
Using an Old Window FrameI was given this old frame, and decided to make it look realistic. I put a cut up poster behind the places where the panes were, and it looks like I am gazing out into a serene waterfall in the woods.
Fabric Envelopes for a "Cash Only" Budget SystemWe started the "cash only" budget system last year. I didn't like using plain envelopes for cash - so I made my own.
Craft Project: Patriotic Wind ChimesHere is an inexpensive, easy craft for kids to make to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Fourth of July T-ShirtsMy boys and I love this time of year because we love to make things for July 4th. This is what we did last year. We made stars and stripes shirts.
Quick Flowers In A BasketThis fun floral craft is perfect for a centerpiece on the table, a small decoration, or a beautiful kid's craft. You just take some floral Styrofoam and arrange some fake flowers in it.
Craft: Easy Pleated Tote BagThey are easy to make and loads of fun creating your own design. I modified the original one by making straps wider and adding them to the top of the bag at the pleats instead of at the band.
Craft Project: Photo Wallet CardThis compact collage serves as a portable photo album and keeps Dad's favorite faces all in one neat place.
Use Fabric Scraps to Make BedspreadI have been using old scraps of fabric to make the yo yos for this king size bedspread. It was a pastime while traveling and while watching TV in the evening.
Craft Project: Berry Basket Gift BasketA great way to recycle plastic berry baskets is to transform them into festive containers for treats. Look for the baskets in a variety of bright colors at supermarkets. Fill with dad's favorite treats for a "sweet" Father's Day gift.
Craft Project: Roman Warrior Shield For KidsThis fun cardboard shield is created to look like a soldier's shield from ancient Rome. It stays on the simple side, to really look authentic.
Paper Flower WreathUse circle template to cut a ring from cardstock. Trace big and small flowers onto decorative papers. Cut out. Punch a hole on center, and insert brad. Curl up the edges of each layer with your fingers.
Recycled Flower Pot with Coffee Filter FlowersThis bright, pretty flower pot is easy enough for kids to make and perfect for holding coffee filter flowers. Or, you could plant a real flower in the pot by adding some potting soil and some seeds.
No Soliciting Door HangerI grew tired of being constantly disturbed by door-to-door salesmen, so I composed this poem and cross stitched it onto a sampler. I hung it on the inside of my outer glass door, and happily, most of the salesman now either bypass my house, or quietly leave literature.
Craft Project: Popsicle Kids?Heat up the glue gun, grab those fabric scraps and make some "kids".
Cat and Mouse PadMouse pad smudged and dirty? Recycle it! The hungry cats on this one are ready and waiting for the mouse to come and play!
Craft: Blarney Stone PinHere is a teenage craft for St. Patrick's Day craft that is quick and easy and does not take a whole lot of time. It could even be adapted to younger kids by using larger stones that could be used as paperweights.
Decoupaged PaperweightsThese are so simple and easy and fast. I find pretty pictures from just about every where (copy to size you need) and then just glue on stones, glass stones, sea shells, etc. I always coat with several coats of water resistant varnish.
Fire Department Symbol With Perler BeadsThe Maltese Cross is the Fire Departments symbol. There was no description or directions on how to make it. So I took a large circle peg board for the Perler beads and started to make one on my own. I made the circle for the middle of the Maltese Cross. Then I made the cross part. Then I made the 3D ax, ladder, fire hydrant. Finally I made the F. D. and the 22 for Fire Department and what number it was.
Easy Knit Glasses CaseHere's an easy-to-create craft that can be made in an evening. The cases are fun and inexpensive to make for gifts, too. I keep one in my car for my sunglasses.
Wood Shelf with Copper TrimUsing a 50% off one item coupon, I purchased a pine shelf for less than $10.
Using Old Barn WoodThis is how I've used old wood from a blown down barn. The old wood is given to me by friends. I made the sunflower sign and make children's chairs of them and sell them. Now some adults buy them to put on walls and use as shelves.
Salvage Chair and TV TrayThese two items were being tossed by a friend. So, of course I had to bring them home. The legs on the TV tray were tarnished and the top was pretty beat up. Some paint, some decoupage and a new tray.
Quick and Easy Homemade Gift BoxFor a quick and easy gift box for a small item, why not make your own. There are a number of templates on the internet that can give you an idea of dimensions, or you can take apart a box you have and figure it yourself.
Dottie's Food BowlsThis is a bowl server my husband made for our Dalmatian Dottie. I've seen the server in magazines and stores for up to $40.00. Out if scrap materials, my husband made this bowl server for about $5.00 dollars.
Fall Themed Shower CurtainI made one for every holiday using seasonal fabric. I hand sew mine but of course you can use a sewing machine. (This is the outside curtain NOT the actual shower curtain.)
Sunflower HatsSince everyone's sunflowers are in bloom now, I thought I would share this craft. Take the straw hats any size you want and paint the center or top of hat brown as in picture, let dry.
Homemade Barbie Doll HatsThis is a project that requires supervision for the first step. Decorating will keep the little girl's occupied without much help. Preheat the oven at 400 degrees F. Set cups on baking sheet, leaving plenty of room for the shaping.
Crochet Project PhotosHere are some crochet projects that I made.
Patriotic PinThis cute little pin is easy to make and fun to wear in celebration of the holiday. Trace the heart pattern on both the blue craft foam and blue felt. Trace the star pattern on the white craft foam. Cut these three shapes out.
Making A "Boppy" Style Pillow For BabiesBoppy pillows are so handy for nursing moms or simply for baby to lay on while we Grandmothers rock them to sleep. At the baby stores, they are around $25 but, with the following instructions, you can make your own for half the price.
St. Patrick's Day WreathNeed a wreath for St. Patrick's Day? Here's a quick and easy craft to brighten your door.
Fabric-fun Pillows Made from Children's ArtworkChildren should first think of a shape and pencil it onto their fabric. Now, they can fabric paint to make their picture (a car, a train, a person) come alive.
The Money Will FollowThey say that if you "stick with what makes you happy, the money will follow". I don't know about that, but if you have a talent at something, and love doing it, go for it! You never know.
Keeping Your Camera with YouAlways keep your camera with you on walking or bicycling trips. The point and click automatic digital cameras over five megapixels, create near professional quality photographs.
Seaside in a BowlSeaside In A Bowl
Kids' Cut and Paste CookbookI will never forget the joy I got when I received my first Betty Crocker Kid's Cookbook when I was a kid. It was wrapped in a pastel pink paper with a big pink bow. It was the only present under the Christmas tree I had not figured out. I spent days reading that cookbook and planning all the big events I would hold.
Nature TapeNature Tape Photo. Layer flowers and tiny plants and leaves from your yard or from a nature walk in between strips of clear tape (my example shows a narrower size but wide shipping tape works well, too. . .
Fine Art from Ordinary ObjectsMake fine art from the most mundane objects! Here I photographed a common cheese grater, on a counter top in my kitchen. I can see this on a gallery wall.
Haircut Scrapbook PageHere is a scrapbook page I created about my son's misdeed. My son was really into scissors. He'd cut his clothes, pants pockets, and he cut his sister's hair.
Soap AngelHere is a picture of the soap angel I carve for birthdays and Christmas for my Friends, Neighbors and Children. I learned this from a Girl Scout leader over 60 years ago.
Artificial Flower FramingThis craft can be a lot of fun and very complementing to a rooms décor. You can make simple country kitchen designs or something more contemporary and modern.
Fruit PrintingThis article shows you how to make fruit printed tea towels, but there are a lot of different crafts you make using this printing method. This is a simple craft and has such beautiful and elegant results. I was able to finish it within an hour. Most of that time was spent sewing.
Use Auto FocusMy tip is to use a digital camera with a 256 mega-byte card and click away using auto focus, at anything that catches your fancy...then load the pictures into your computer. Now, fix them one by one. Those that are blurry, delete. Those that you decide are not worthy of keeping, delete.
Tips for Photographing FlowersPhotography can be as fun and rewarding of a hobby as gardening. Your flowers may fade, but photographs of them will last forever. Even though today's point and shoot cameras make it easy to take brilliant pictures, it's still the photographer, and not the camera, who makes the shot.
Halloween Planter from Detergent LidI made this planter out of an empty detergent lid. Just paint it and plant. You could use spray paint or I like to use model paint.
I used a sharpie to make the face of the jack-o-lantern.
Happy Halloween!
Taking Pictures In FlowersWhy spend alot of $ at the photo studio when you can take pictures like this with your own camera! This is my 13 month old daughter Maggie Mildred. She loved sitting amongst all the wonderful flowers in this park. She really is the happiest baby I know!
Decorative Bean BottleStart by layering the beans in various colors to the top of the jar. Then Tap lightly to settle down the beans and then keep adding more beans till it is full.
Beaded Game Night ShirtAn eye-catching shirt to wear to your next family or neighborhood game night.
Paint to RelaxIf you are painting exterior items outside such as a porch, you need to use oil-based paint. It takes longer to dry, but it lasts years through any weather.
Homemade Winter ScarvesWith only one yard of fabric, you can make a gorgeous and warm winter scarf! Just buy one yard of your chosen flannel fabric and get an inexpensive scarf pattern.
Revamping Old Photo Frames for Baby Shower...Revamp old photo frames for new uses. Even baby shower gifts! I revamped a garage sale find. I used what was suppose to be an old wedding bells procelain picture frame into a baby shower frame.
Fish Theme BathroomI decorated my bathroom "fish theme" spent less than $5 on paints by using the basic colors red, blue and yellow and mixing them up to get secondary colors.