Sponge IdeasHere's some money saving craft sponge ideas from Syd.
Use Wallboard Joint Compound as a Dimensional Paste in CraftingHere's a way for crafters to save money. I use wallboard joint compound as a dimensional paste in crafting. You can buy it at hardware or home improvement stores. At Lowe's I bought a 3 lb. container for $2.
Making Decorative MagnetsYou can buy a package of self-adhesive magnets at an office supply store. They are usually used for business cards. You can use these to make your own fun magnets.
Beautiful Lace PlacematsBuy some beautiful lace placemats or cut some from an old lace panel or from an old curtain. Lay out a piece of clear contact paper and cut it a little larger than the lace.
Fun Things to Do with Deco Hole PunchesI have a large collection of hole punches- some have handles like scissors- others are the button type. With all the junk mail paper I have collected in so many different colors, textures, and variety I am in luck!
Game Winner CounterMy kids use to love to play card games, but by the end of the night they would always be fighting over who won the most games. Here is a solution we came up with. It can be used for any game they play over and over.
Homemade Tic Tac Toe BoardHere's a fun Tic Tac Toe board you can make.
Bed WarmersThey are telling us we are going to get our first snow tonight here in Colorado and I was thinking that I needed to do something to warm up our bed to keep us warm at night when we turn down the furnace. So here is what I am going to do.
Homemade Napkin Rings With RaffiaCut 12 inch pieces of raffia to make napkin rings. Soak the pieces in water or colored RIT dye, then wrap them around cardboard paper towel insert. When dried, they make decorative napkin rings for any occasion.
Cookie Cutters for Coloring Templates or Mobile DesignsUse cookie cutters for mobile designs and then create a mobile or use them in kids play doh. My son loves them to draw also - you draw the outside shape.
New Use For a Old LampA new view on the old lamp. We decorated the lamp with macrame and hung it from the ceiling.
Making a Memory BoxMemory boxes are a wonderful way of preserving small bits and pieces of your most treasured memories. They are easily made using thin wood or particle board and then stained or painted.
Glitter Substitute for Holiday CraftsNeed glitter for that special holiday craft and you don't have any? Chop up shiny curly ribbon to make glitter. You can even customize the size of glitter you want.
Storage Solution for Charms, Buttons, etc.I have found a cheap storage solution for charms, buttons, brads, eyelets or anything small and in multiples. I get FREE pill storage containers from the pharmacy! Then I use nail polish remover to take off the S-M-T-W-T-F-S for the days of the week.
Duct Tape Purse and ClutchMy daughter and I have gone a little crazy over duct tape :) This is a purse and clutch we made out of some, and the best part is that if one rips I can patch it up and make it look even more original!
Tongue Depressor SanderCut a piece of sandpaper to fit on the end of a tongue depressor or Popsicle stick and glue it on. Then trim off any excess sandpaper. Let the glue dry and you have a handy little sander for sanding hard-to-reach places.
Easy Yarn or Crochet Thread HolderI cut a hole out of the top of a plastic milk jug, leaving the handle intact. A ball of yarn or crochet thread easily rolls around the clean inside of the jug while you knit or crochet.
Hollow Book for Hiding ItemsNeed to hide something? Buy a hardback book at a thrift store and transform it into a hollow book. Just use a utility knife to cut out a rectangular hole in the book pages. Use a straight edge to guide the knife.
Keeping Memory Placemats and CoastersKeep a memory of a favorite restaurant or place by saving a set of decorative paper placemats to take home. Once home you can cover them with clear contact paper on both sides to preserve them and your memories. . .
Dollar Store TemplatesWhen you need templates for any kind of crafting; plastic sheets are available at most craft stores. However here's what I discovered: go to any "dollar" store and buy a pkg. of cutting board sheets.
"Small" Paper Towels for Craft CleanupI do a lot of gluing and painting when working on my crafts. It can get pretty messy at times. My solution for this is to buy inexpensive paper towels and cut them into squares or rectangles to keep on hand for quick clean-up of paint tips and glue tips.
Make Your Own "Elmers" GlueMake Your Own "Elmers" Glue. Place milk and vinegar in a double boiler. Cook on low heat and stir as curds form. Drain off liquid. . .
Keeping Things Together While GluingKeeping Things Together While Gluing. Sometimes when you are working on a project, the pieces are difficult to keep together until the glue dries. . .
Salt Dough Ghosts and Leaf GarlandsI wanted some simple, small decorations for Halloween and fall. I had read an idea in a magazine about making these little salt dough ghosts, so I tried it out.
Canned Milk As GlueUsing canned milk instead of household glue.
Using Felt For Craft ProjectsUsing Felt For Craft Projects. I saw an old instrument case made out of felt, it made me think that we don't use that as much as people used to. And what a great material for simple crafts!
Polar Fleece Draft Guard for Your DoorWith all the frigid weather in the northern parts of the U.S. I thought I'd better get this one online. It is a draft guard for your door using polar fleece, a window shade or dowel and some velcro.
Homemade GlitterPreheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a small bowl, place salt. Add drops of any color food coloring. Mix lightly until salt is thoroughly colored. Spread salt mixture in a single layer on a baking sheet.
Re-Covered StrollerI bought a sturdy stroller at a yard sale for only $2.00! I brought it home to hear my husband say it is the ugliest stroller ever! So I soon made plans to re-cover it.
Stickers For Many UsesI collect attractive stickers when I see them at stores and use them to decorate luggage, notebooks and I have even used one design to soup up the cover of an inexpensive compact!
Rope Dresser HandlesWhen we were younger we bought our kids dresser at a garage sale, but the handles were missing. We couldn't afford to buy any. So, my husband strung rope through the holes and tied a knot inside to hold it in place.
Easy Ways To Stiffen FabricThere are many craft fabric stiffeners on the market, but some can be expensive or hard to find. One great cheap, easy alternative is to use a mixture of Elmer's glue (or other white glue) and water, and simply paint it onto your project.
Changeable Bumper Sticker PlatesA changeable license plate cover lets you change your bumper stickers as you change your mind. Cut plastic cutting sheets (from dollar stores/2 in a pack) to the size of plate cover.
Take Apart Discount Christmas Decorations for Craft SuppliesThis is a shopping tip for beaders and other crafters who use beads in their craftwork. I always try to hit the after-holidays ornament sales and stock up on beaded ornaments. You'd be surprised how many beads you can get from garlands and ornaments after taking them apart.
Algebraic System For Coloring ClayI've developed an algebraic system for creating a variety of colors for polymer and modeling clay. It's similar to the technique for mixing food coloring. What I do after conditioning the clay (I use the colors red, blue, yellow, black, and white) is form balls about 1 cm in diameter for each color.
Storage Cube Made from Foam PuzzlesChildren's foam puzzles cost a dollar here and come in a variety of scenes and cartoons. Buy a pack and instead of putting it together as it was intended, make a foam cube from it for your desk.
Creative Crafting with Cookie CuttersIf you're crazy for cookie cutters, you probably have a drawerful of all shapes and sizes just begging to be put to use. Here are some ways to have fun with your stash, without rolling out the dough.
Take Care Of Yourself When Handling Old PatternsI love to crochet and all the old pattern books/magazines excite me when I would find them at garage sales. They are musty, mildewy, who knows what has crawled over, in and through them? Some of the books you don't even want to touch, but if you're like me, you can't keep your fingers off or out of them.
Four Hearts To Draw A ShamrockSometimes things are so obvious, we don't see them. I know I miss them -- would you believe I just figured this one out?
Remedies for Hot Glue Gun BurnsHot glue gun burns can be serious burns and extremely painful. Do not be hasty and try to pull the glue off as it will take skin with it! I protect myself each time I use a glue gun by placing a bowl big enough to fit my hand with cold water and ice cubes.
Use Packaging Twist Ties For BowsI have two tips that go together. The first one is when making bows, save those plastic covered wires that are on the back of all kids toys that holds the toys in the box.
Use Contact Paper Scraps as Patchwork or InlayContact paper doesn't just have to be used in large blocks. You can use scraps to make patchwork (I did this to re-furbish a semi-sturdy shopping bag.) Or, as inspired by designsponge, use different strips of wood grain to create an inlay effect.
A Little Dab Will DoWhen working on craft projects, yourself or with your kids, place a small amount of glue into the bottom of a small bowl. When you need to use the glue, dip the end of a cotton swab into the glue and use it to apply the glue to your project. This will give you just the right amount of glue - no big glue blobs!
Tacky GlueWhen you need tacky glue, pour the amount of Elmer's Glue-All that you will need onto a paper plate about two hours before you will be using it. The glue will be nice and tacky for most craft projects.
Framed Door ChalkboardI spray painted an old photo frame. Traced the inside on my kitchen door. Painted the space with black chalkboard paint and attached the frame with high quality glue.
Emery Boards for SandingI always try to think of ways to use things as much as possible before tossing them out. I recently realized a great use for partially worn out fingernail emery boards. I keep them in a container and use them when I refinish antique furniture.
Save Paper Packaging for Covering Your WorkbenchI save the large (25 and 50 pound) heavy craft paper bags that wild bird seed comes in. I cut along the top and bottom of the stitching and slit one side then fold and store them on my work bench.
Homemade Yarn CanisterI have always had a problem with yarn staying put when I am knitting and crocheting. I thought it was silly to purchase the already made yarn canisters with the hole in the top, so I made my own with a large potato salad container.
How to Make a Plastic Bag Storage ContainerTake a piece of fabric, fold it over and sew side. Hem each end leaving space for the draw string. Run a draw string at the top with a string to hang the container on a nail. Run elastic around the bottom and pull together.
Doll House PillowI am hoping against hope someday to make a doll house. My scale is 1 inch to 1 foot. Today, I was cleaning and found this pillow of air for shipping. It looked so much like a pillow, I just had to share an idea.
Use Bacon Plastic Sheet for Glue Gun Work SurfaceDoes your glue gun make a mess on your work surface? I wash up the plastic sheet that comes under a pound of bacon and I place it under my glue gun and the drips will peel right off and your work surface will stay clean!
Reusing Thrift Shop Items for Candle HoldersFor homemade candle holders where the base isn't too large, just epoxy an upholstery tack upside down on the top and you have a place to secure your candle.
Turn Stuffed Animals into PuppetsIf your kids have too many stuffed animals, I have a solution to give them a new life that takes up less room. Turn them into puppets!
Use Press and Seal for Keeping Jigsaw Puzzles TogetherI was talking to a lady about table puzzles. She said she likes to shellac them on the back, once she's got a puzzle put together. She said she used to have trouble turning over a completed puzzle, but she has finally conquered that problem.
Make Magnetic FabricI found this at Spenser's Alley, a wonderful craft "mini mall" here in Salem, OR where I live.
Knifty Knitter Pom Pom MakerKnifty Knitter pom maker. This is less than 5 dollars and comes with three sizes for you to make pom poms with. I made medium ones. Also something I had fun with, I took one color and wound it around the middle, then wound another color across whole thing.
Swap Craft Items You Don't WantAlert all your crafter friends and family about a years end "craft de-stash" to clean out odds-n-end items or things you bought on sale and have no real need for. Swap the items by the bag or boxful by weight or item-for-item.
Use Leather Shoelaces To Repair BasketsMy sisters and I have been going through our parents' personal things since their deaths. One of my children found a vintage picnic basket but the caning on the back that held the top to the bottom was broken. Rather than toss the basket, I put my thinking hat on.
Cereal Box PurseDid you know you can make a purse from a cereal box? Very easy, cover box with any fabric, sew handles or straps on each side as long as you want them.
Put Polymer Clay Projects in the Refrigerator Prior to CuttingIf you work with polymer clay and use molds, you know you usually have to cut around the molded clay to get a clean edge. If you put the project in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes before you cut, the clay will be much less likely to stretch or tear.
Sibling Bubble Birth AnnouncementWith the impending birth of a new sibling, we bought a couple dozen bottles of the bubbles that can be used for weddings, etc. and decided that Tegan (3 at the time) could announce the birth of her new sister in this manner.
Reuse Sticky Residue from Credit Cards for CraftsMy tip is to save all the sticky stuff that holds a credit card on paper, that attaches the label on plastic reusable containers and where ever else you find it. I carefully pull them up and put them of a piece of plastic.
May Day BasketsMay Day is the forgotten holiday by many, but the sentiments of the day make it a perfect holiday to remember the beautiful things we have been waiting for all winter. Who does not wait for the first flowers of spring?
Make Holes in Plastic With a Hot NailI like the recycled bird feeder idea. Here is a faster, simpler way to make holes in any plastic without using a hammer. If you have a gas stove in your kitchen, I use a pair of long handled pliers to hold a longer nail.
Leave Craft Magazines IntactDon't tear pages out of magazines! Make copies of the ideas, projects, recipes or whatever, file them as usual, then pass the intact magazines along to someone else. Your project might be the first page of someone else's pattern.
Remove Adhesive from Fingers With SandpaperRub your fingers on a sheet of sandpaper laid flat on the bench. This will get off all types of adhesives that you want to get off your hands before washing them.
Find Craft Supplies at Garage SalesGarage sales are great. There is such an endless variety, and you never know what you will find. The goldmine is the joy you feel when you see a table full of fabric, a box filled with skeins of yarn, dozens of frames and pictures, and all priced from 10 cents to a dollar.
Use Fabric Paint to Create Non-slip SurfacesUse a few dabs of fabric paint (the puff paint 3D type) for non-slip items. Let dry before use. Draw designs on the bottoms of knitted slippers so it's not slippery.
Use Egg Cartons For Craft OrganizationI save egg cartons of both kinds cardboard and Styrofoam. I use the bottom of all sizes in the Styrofoam to use when I do watercolor painting. They can be used for any painting medium and also for crafting.
Furoshiki: Japanese Wrapping ClothI have never heard of Furoshiki before and this is the absolute coolest! Not only is it a green way to wrap gifts (the cloth itself being an extra gift), but it can also be used as a purse/carrying case!
Make Your Own Glue Brush ApplicatorInstead of buying expensive paper mache glue (or any with a brush applicator), create your own! Just take an empty vitamin bottle and glue in (or your own attachment method) a paint brush of your size choice.
Use Sharpies Instead Of Marking Pens For CraftsTry using Sharpies instead of markers, they don't rub off or smudge like markers do. (I have tried markers on plastic for another craft project). Sharpies have a lot of colors.
Making EZ Stretchable Hair CombsI came up with an idea and plan to make a bunch of homemade EZ Combs for my hair. I love the EZ Combs, but hate the price. Plus, I want more colors.
Button and Ribbon BookmarkAs one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I use my Bible on a daily basis. My Bible only has 1 piece of ribbon as a place mark. During my Bible reading, I find a lot of Scriptures I would like to remember, so this is what I did.
Buy an Inexpensive Bed Pillow for FiberfillCheaper stuffing. I went to by some stuffing for some pillows I was making and was shocked at the price. Then I saw some regular bed pillows with polyester filling that were 1/2 the price of bagged stuffing.
Uses for Spanish MossHere in Florida, we have what we call Spanish moss, which is considered to be of the pineapple family. This moss can be used in flowers in potting arrangements.
Add Handles To Flat TemplatesI will be cutting and selling appliques for etsy.com very soon. However, it's hard to find shapes I love that are not flat. So, I went and found some wooden shapes very cheap, and made "handles" for them from bottle caps.
Button CrossSew 8 buttons with wire, then sew 3 buttons. Next, sew the 4th button onto the first string, then 3 more buttons.
Craft: Pink Ribbon LogSince I have breast cancer, I am always looking for pink ribbon ideas. This was a natural log I found in the wood pile. I painted the log with about 3 coats of pink and 3 coats of clear then wrote the cancer awareness message.
Colored "Stained Glass" WindowWe used to live in a century old church in southern Alberta. One summer I taught a 6 year old girl in the community how to draw, then I took her drawing and put it on one of the windows with gallery glass.
Make A Craft Tool PocketI retired and have to keep busy, so I crochet, knit, and embroider. I was always looking for my scissors, or crochet hook. I crocheted a 12 inch granny square out of leftover yard. I folded it in half, and closed the ends, forming a big pocket.
Photos to Create Business IdentityLooking for stationary for your business? If you have photos of your merchandise, crafts, and artwork, you can use them as graphics for business forms, cards, and correspondence. You can also use them for websites and even stamps.
Keep Scissors Straight When Cutting PaperWhen cutting paper with scissors, always turn the paper and keep your scissors straight for a much more controlled and smoother cut.
Old Costume Jewelry for Greeting Card EmbellishmentsAs I went through my boxes (I'm a pack rat), I stumbled upon some of my old costume jewelry. Unfortunately, maybe fortunately, I found stud earrings with one missing.
Unclogging a Hot Glue Gun While CraftingIs your hot glue heated, working one minute, but then not coming out, "stuck" in the glue gun? Rotate the glue stick from the solid, sticking-out end a couple times for the hot glue gun to continue working again.
Keep Super Glue From Drying OutIf you are using super glue, before replacing the cap, gently squeeze the tube on the sides and the glue will be "sucked" back down into the tube.
Sitting While Sewing and IroningWhen sewing bags and crazy quilt purses, I am sitting a lot of the time. I have had 2 back surgeries, and can't stand for long periods of time, so what I did was set up my ironing board at a right angle to my sewing machine and lowered it to a comfortable height.
Use Shot Glass to Store GlueBecause of the width and depth of the shot glass, a glue bottle placed upside down will sit on the rim of the glass and the tip of the glue bottle will not touch the bottom of the glass.
Rewind Yarn So it Pulls From CenterIt's always easiest to use yarn which pulls from the center. If you have some that does not pull from the center of the skein, here's a simple solution. Holding the end of the yarn in the heel of your hand, wrap the yarn around your thumb 12 or 15 times.
Use Elastic Hairband for Button ClosureWhen making coffee cozies, I needed something for a closure that would work with a big button I was using for the design. Since I didn't want to make a large button hole, I discovered the perfect thing for it was a thin elastic hair band.
Beetles In Grapevine Wreaths And BasketsI've made about 6-7 wreaths with no problem. I'm trying to get back to being creative, so I'm not a well experienced crafter at all. You probably know about what I'm going to write about already, but I didn't.
Secure Button on End of YarnWhen making a ball of yarn, secure a button (with a shank) or some other similar item to the end of yarn at the beginning and hold on to it while continuing to wrap the yarn.
Check Hardware Store for Craft SuppliesI was making over 200 tiny angels for a ladies' retreat and needed something affordable for halos. The hardware store provided a wonderful solution. I used washer rings! They were just the right size. A hardware store is a great source for craft supplies.
Transfer Patterns with Vinyl TableclothUse dollar store plastic or vinyl tablecloths to transfer sewing or craft patterns onto. They last a lot longer by doing this.
Dimensional Paint RecipeTo make dimensional paint, you'll need 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup flour, 1/4-1/2 cup water and food coloring. In a small bowl, mix the salt and flour. Start out by adding 1/4 c. water and stir well.
Use Bird Stand for Craft TableWhen sewing or crafting, use your bird stand for a roll-around table, to hold your supplies. You can easily wheel it around from place to place where you are working, without having to transfer all your supplies from one place to the other.
Freeze Glue SticksGet tired of the stringies when using your glue gun? I keep my glue sticks in a plastic shoe box in the freezer. This really reduces the stringies when working on a project.
Put Lotion on Hands Before Using Super GlueApply lotion to your skin before using super glue. It will peel off easily if you get any on you.
Storing Rotary CutterA handy holder for a rotary cutter is an old glasses case that is closed on one end and open on the other. Insert cutter into case, roller edge first, and it keeps your cutter out of the way of small hands.
Plastic Paper Clips as Alternative to Straight PinsThis, as with most of my tips was born of necessity. I am too old to be crawling around on the floor with a flashlight trying to retrieve straight pins that I have dropped. I laid the tee shirt dress I was making for my granddaughter on my folding cutting board.
Use Lint Brush To Clean Cutting MatI do a lot of quilting. When I square up my blocks, I always have a lot of lint and little fabric pieces left on my cutting mat. I use a lint brush to get the mat fuzz free again. I also use both sides of my cutting mat.
Medical Gloves to Protect Delicate FabricWear fingers of medical gloves to keep from snagging delicate fabrics with rough fingertips when sewing or crafting.
