Recycle: Kitchen Sink Patty Pan Station

So super cute!

Make a Light Box

. . . cheap and out of three sheets of paper and four binder clips!

Mostly Color Blog -- cheap green difuse paper binder clip

Make a Coffee Cozy

Real simple and easy to do with scraps.
A fast gift to make -- maybe for a teacher???

Coffee Cozy Tutorial

Doll House Free Printables

Free printables for your dolls or doll house or diorama!
You can print out cards, newspapers, boxes, food labels, cereal boxes, maps, books, wallpaper, rugs, and lots more. Also, helpful doll house tips that can be applied to diorama building.

The link is to items of "playscale" or 1/6 size -- like Blythe, Barbie, Tammy, Bratz, or GI-Joe.
I suggest you print some of these items on card stock for sturdiness.
To find other sizes, look on the left hand navigation bar.

Jim's Printable Mini Pages

Free Amigirumi and Crochet Patterns

Lots of free amigirumi and crochet patterns here.
Many types of animals. Check out the links at the top of the page to other patterns for cats, bears, and butterflies.

The main page to the site (Crochet Pattern Central) has tons of other types of free crochet patterns also including free doll clothing patterns.

Fourth of July

I can remember town parades, picnics and neighborhood fun on the Fourth celebrating America.

These days, all of that around here is gone.

I found this article on how to get creative with some old fashioned crafty fun of yesteryear on the cheap. Looks like a great family project!

Old Fashioned July 4th Crafts at Country Living

Beaded Eyeglass Holder

I would like to try this myself.
These were the best instructions as there were some diagrams, otherwise do a search and quite a few instruction pages come up.

A few notes about them from reading all the instructions:
1. It will take an hour of diligent work to make one.
2. Length is 26-32 or 36 inches long.
3. It will take quite a few vials of seed beads to create one.
4. The eyeglass holders -- coated elastic ones are better than the rubber ones.
If you can't find these at the craft store, then get a cheap eyeglass holder at WalMart and use the holders of that.
5. A bead tray to lay out your bead pattern might be a good idea or work on a towel so that your beads don't roll away.
6. If you plan on using some higher quality beads that are more expensive, use a discount coupon to get those.

Beaded Eyeglass Holder

Detailed pictorial instructions on how to crimp your wires

If you don't want to take the time to make one, try eBay or Etsy to purchase one.
They make nice gifts.

Papercraft Houses

Here are some printable little houses that you cut, fold and glue.
You can add little trinkets inside them to create a gift box for someone special.

allatseawithabucketandspade at Flickr

Easy Halloween Costumes

A few links to share for easy costumes that do not take a long time to create.
Although some are for children, you can adapt these for an adult too.

Woman's Day -- has quite a few easy ones. There are also a many printable masks.
The masks can be used as templates to create your own unique mask.

Martha Stewart -- has something for everyone, from very simple and basic to elaborate (meaning more time or money than you wish to spend).

Family Circle -- has group and family costumes directions plus a section on costumes created by Moms.

Coolest Halloween Costumes -- lots to choose from, some have instructions but there is enough there to get lots of ideas. Start early and go all out!

Family Fun -- has quite a selection to choose from, most are simple to put together.

Disney Family site -- has an enormous photo gallery with costumes broken down into easy, family, and unique.

Better Homes and Gardens -- has a section for adults and children.

365 Halloween -- plenty of ideas for adults.

Craftzine -- six quickie outfits for kids but can be adaptable for adults.

Threadbanger -- has many video instructions to make many types of costumes. The link leads to the search for Halloween costumes.

Instructables -- lots here with step by step instructions. Non-members view steps page by page and can only see one image. If there are other images, you can see them but cannot enlarge them.

And if you don't have lots of time -- check out these silly but simple, quick and cheap costumes that would only take a few minutes to throw together.

Gingerbread House Printable

Don't want to make a real Gingerbread House?

Now here is a shortcut -- If you wish to have a gingerbread house and don't want to bake one, stop on over at Jan Brett's site and print one out. There are several under G that go with her book "Gingerbread Baby", which makes a great gift also.
There are plenty of other Christmas Crafts and educational tools that you can keep your little ones busy with! Look over that massive list of make and dos plus printable games and flashcards! Heck, if you have NO money but a printer and some little ones, make up one, print it out, and cut out the pieces for them then wrap it up.

Jan Brett Printables

This was the most darlingest thing I have ever ever seen and what talent that lady has (free cute crochet patterns on the sidebar)!

So cute! Her post inspires me to write about a giraffe I know.

I found a book called "Brave Little Pete of Geranium Street" by Rose Lagercrantz, Samuel Lagercrantz, translated by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Eva Eriksson at a yardsale.
What a find! What a treasure!
It is about a four year old red headed boy named Pete who has a toy pet fish and a giraffe he loves. He also wears a band aid on his forehead because he likes too. His conflict in the book is that he is being bullied and how he handles it with the help of Grandma. By the end of the story, Pete is grown and has children of his own who have a beloved pet fish toy and a giraffe toy. The pictures are adorable with detail and the story is in rhyme.

At the time I was expecting #2 child.
Two months before the big event, we were out shopping at TJMaxx and I spied a small giraffe (label: Russ and tag name Jiffy) and laughed.
It was only $5.00 and I still remember so vividly the moment I saw it, it was just so magical.
I was buying this for the baby. (I had suspected it was a boy only because I had so much gas and my feet were sweating heavily all along! Those were my signs.)
My husband and daughter (age 4.5) thought I was crazy but yes, I was and I had an excellent excuse, hormones.
So I bought "Diaper Dolittle", our nickname for the child to be, a toy.

We delivered a red headed son, named him Peter (aka "Pip"), like Pete in the book and his favorite thing to this day, is "JJ", the first thing I ever bought him before he came into this world. "JJ", the first word he said for his giraffe and the first word he kept on repeating because it was the only word he knew. Whenever he said it, he smiled so proudly.

Someday, JJ will be put away, I don't think we can throw him out.
I can only image the wonderful memories my son will have when something forgotten in time and place is found again for a few moments of fond memories.

Free Doll Clothing Patterns

Note to myself -- and you the reader.

Free patterns for Madeline coat and dress!

The 15" cloth doll version of Madeline is no longer available.
You can find her at yardsales, thrift shops or better still, eBay where naked ones sell cheap.

My daughter LOVED her Madeline doll, a gift from my school staff. Hours of fun.
I scoop them up and have my own Madeline cloth doll orphanage.
I give the dolls away with a few outfits each from time to time.

This free pattern can be used for Raggedy Anne also.
There are many more free doll clothing pattens there also. Good luck!

Mob of Waldos

For all Waldo fanatics and aficionados -- all things Waldo: learn how to make a Waldo costume/outfit, find Waldo, people who dress like Waldo, etc. Harmless fun.

Mob of Waldos

Hello Kitty Party Ideas

I laughed when I saw someone came to my blog from a search of Hello Kitty.
As far as I know, this has not been a topic but I will turn it into one because that theme song is spinning in my head, "Hello Kitty, How are you today?" from the short lived TV series.

Hello Kitty -- so cute, and so sweet, and little girls love her and her little friends. Steve Carell who plays Michael Scott on NBC's The Office, said on The Tonight Show, that he should own stock in Hello Kitty since his young daughter seems to have every Hello Kitty item ever made.

Hello Kitty -- although animated, is a good role model for goodness, kindness, politeness, cooperation, and doing the right thing.

So let's plan an easy Hello Kitty party here with all Hello Kitty party paper ware available at your party store, WalMart, Target, KMart or online at Birthday Expressions (lots of themed stuff there and you can buy in preset packages).
Your party should be 2-3 hours long depending on age and activities planned.
Naturally -- any theme could work with just these simple general directions.

Hello Kitty Party Planning Ideas -- Think Pink!

1. Send out invites a few weeks in advance using the Hello Kitty invitations. Have an RSVP number and cut off date to respond. Call anyone who has not responded and get a reply.

2. Decorate your house Hello Kitty style and with pink and white, maybe some red streamers and balloons. If you are doing a party in good weather, you can create a May Pole with the streamers.

3. Bake a 9 x 13 inch boxed cake, freeze it, create a Hello Kitty template (can enlarge a picture at the copy shop) then cut out a Hello Kitty shaped cake while frozen to prevent crumbling and decorate appropriately. You can "color" the bow with pink or multicolored sprinkles or jimmies. Use black jelly beans for eyes, a yellow jelly bean for the nose, and black licorice for the whiskers.

4. When guests arrive, have them sign their names in the Hello Kitty Guest book and take an individual picture of the guest. Just make a book and put a picture, an extra invitation picture, on the cover which is pink.

5. After all guests arrive, take a few group pictures. You might even like to take a picture of your child and each guest also.

6. Play Hello Kitty Bingo -- Make a bingo board with only six blocks. Have kids make their own bingo cards with stickers of Hello Kitty and her friends.

7. Play Musical Kitty. You will need a plush Hello Kitty toy or pillow. Kids sit/stand in a circle (or the like) with their backs facing toward the center of the circle. The music starts (play the Hello Kitty Theme) and the passing begins. When the music stops, the person holding the plush Kitty is out. The game continues till one person is left and they are the winner.

8. Sing Happy Birthday to the honoree, blow out the Hello Kitty candles. Serve pink raspberry ginger ale (or small bottles of water) and strawberry ice cream with the cake. For easier serving before the party -- scoop the ice cream into foil cupcake liners in a cupcake pan, wrap with clear wrap and put in the freezer. You just need to pop out the liner with the serving of ice cream.

9. The birthday child opens presents. You may want to decorate a chair as a "birthday throne".

10. Have the children go on a treasure hunt for their Hello Kitty treat bags or purses. Once they find a bag, they must sit down or help another child find one. One per child.

11. After the party, have your child write thank-you notes (Hello Kitty stationary) to those who brought presents and mail them out next mailing day. Include a picture of the group.
You can also make your own thank yous by printing your sentiment onto a full sheet of card stock, cutting it in half and folding over then adding the group portrait to the front of the card.

Options:
1. Have a Hello Kitty pinata. Fill with candy and trinkets. Pull on the ribbons to release the candy.

2. Play pin the bow on Hello Kitty's head. Create a huge Hello Kitty head, color and cover with clear contact paper. Create several bows with tape on the back.

3. Balance a pink balloon on a spoon race for a set distance, can be an individual race or a team race.

4. Try a balloon alley volley -- two people facing each other but going sideways down a set distance and a set distance apart, hitting the balloon to keep it air born between them till they get to the finish line.
If it is dropped or hits the ground, they must start over. Best time wins.

5. Balloon Hop -- this can be done individually or as a team. Balloon is placed between knees and the person hops their way to the finish line. First team or best time wins.

6. Find Hello Kitty -- You will need a small Hello Kitty object. A selected person leaves the room.
You can play two ways --
1. The object is held by one person and the person outside the room comes back in and must guess who has it.
OR
2. The object is hidden somewhere in the room and the person is directed by the words hot or cold to find it.

For younger kids, try coloring sheets as an activity.Check here for a variety of themed coloring sheets to choose from.

Enjoy!

Antiquing Fabric with Coffee

Antiquing Fabric with Brewed Coffee
Creating that grunge looking fabric for needlework or making folk dolls or their clothing.

What you need:
Muslin or white fabric
Instant Coffee (not brewed)
Vanilla

Make a cup of very strong coffee using instant coffee not brewed. The stronger the coffee, the darker your antiquing will come out. (You can use instant tea if you desire also.)

Add a few drops of vanilla to it for a nice scent.

Ways to dye your fabric:

1. Make sure you have enough coffee to cover all your fabric. It is best to stain just the fabric you will be using vs yards at a time. So if your project says 1/4 yard, antique 1/4 yard. Soak your fabric in the coffee, wring out excess (will leave neat marks from twisting) if desired and let it air dry.

2. Create your work, then antique the entire project. You can do this by spritzing the coffee onto the fabric. Let it air dry.

Air drying in the sun on something metal to absorb the heat is the best drying method so plan on doing this on a nice day for great deeply grunged results.

Other drying methods: Let the item dry only for a few minutes in a low temp oven. Make sure you watch it carefully and only for a few minutes. This will result in deep antiquing.

Poor Results will happen if --

You use brewed coffee vs instant.

You put it in the dryer or you iron it dry. Your iron could get stained and then all your clothing you iron afterwards will have staining on them.

Snowman Preserves

Snowman Preserves Instructions/Directions/Tutorial --
This is a very cute idea.

Save an empty glass jar with a lid. Clean it thoroughly with vinegar and water first and then sudsy soap rinsing thoroughly.

Now add to this dry jar, marshmellows and fill it all the way up.

Put the lid back on.

You can add a square of fabric with ribbon or raffia.

You can add a snowman stamped tag hanging off the ribbon or raffia saying "Snowman Preserves".

You could even create a label on the jar saying the same thing.

Candy Bouquets

Candy Bouquets Instructions/Directions/Tutorials

Quick Easy Cheap and a big hit to make and give.
You will not just make one.

What you need:

A container: Coffee mug or decorated coffee can, paint can (clean ones at hardware store) even a flower pot! Get creative! Use what suits the occasion.

Styrofoam brick for your base (stick inside the container)

BBQ Sticks/skewers

Green floral tape (for the skewers)

low temp glue gun and other glue

Snack size candy (comes 10 in a pack, not the Fun Size ones)

Cellophane (craft shop/stationary/giftwrap aisle, party shop)

Ribbon (curly q ribbon is great!)

Small note card (stamped!)


Instructions:

Wrap showing skewer with green floral tape to create a "stem".

Lift up the wrapper flap overlap on the back and glue skewer there. Do not poke skewer into candy!

Arrange in the container by sticking them in the foam base. You may need to adjust the heights of skewers by clipping off the ends.

Wrap the container with cellophane to create a package.

Add festive ribbon and stamped card.


Tips:

Look for items such as coffee mugs or containers, cellophane, at the dollar store.

Containers can also be found in good or new condition at yardsales or thrift shops.

You can also tape the skewer to the back of the candy bar wrapper with packing tape. Be neat.

If you don't want to use too much candy, add silk flowers as a filler.

Need some more help? Try the tips here:
Savoncrafts under "how to's/florist design

Save On Crafts

Bath Salt Recipes

Fragrances/essential oils, cocoa butter, citric acid, sea salt, vitamin oils, can be found in Health Food Stores.
Basics such as baking soda, cornstarch, salts (Epsom, Kosher, regular) can be found in your grocery store.

Tub Truffles

8 oz cocoa butter
1 to 1 1/4 teaspoons fragrance or essential oil
1 1/2 cups baking soda
1 cup citric acid
1/3 cup corn starch

Melt cocoa butter in small saucepan, add fragrance and mix well. Remove from heat. Add baking soda, corn starch and citric acid. Blend together well. Mixture will be a somewhat soupy. Using a teaspoon, spoon into chocolate molds. Let stand at room temperature until they begin to set/harden. Place in the freezer for 30 to 45 minutes. To remove from molds, place face down on wax paper and hold your hand over the back til they release. If they don't release, return to the freezer for a while and try again. Add one tub truffle to an already poured bath. If you use a large mold it will make bath "slimey or sludge-y" so use smaller molds.
Makes about 5 dozen truffles depending on size of molds.


Bath Cookies

2 cups finely ground sea salt
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 Tablespoons light oil, as corn or canola oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon fragrance oil or vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly beat eggs then mix in the light oil and vanilla. Set aside. In separate bowl stir together salt, baking soda and cornstarch. Add dry mixture to egg mixture and combine to cookie dough consistency. Roll the dough gently into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for about 5-7 minutes. They do not need to brown, just spread and well set.
Allow to cool completely before storing. Yields about 30 cookies.


Bath salts

1 cup epsom salts
1 cup kosher salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
6-10 drops food coloring
6 drops essential oil

Combine ingredients in Ziplock bag and mix well.
To use: Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons into a warm bath.


Bath Fizzies

2 tablespoons citric acid
2 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon essential oil
powder coloring
2 tablespoons almond or hazelnut oil

Blend well and press into candy molds or roll into small marble size balls. Let dry and harden for 1-2 weeks.
To use: Place one or two into warm running bath water.

(moved from my Geocities site)

Painting on Jars

Painting on Jars Instructions/Directions/Tutorial

I recently saw this and found them interesting so I tried it and here is what I have learned or concluded as a novice jar painter.

You can recycle mayonaise/mustard/jelly glass jars or buy them at the craft shop. Smooth finishes are best not embossed with logos (like Snapple bottles).

Here is the simple low down on creating these for gift giving. As stated above, wash the jar thoroughly and dry it by placing it upside down in a dish drainer.

If you have to remove labels, fill with hot water, and then set the filled jar of hot water in hot water. Your label should peel off.

You can use acrylic paint and do three coats of it using a foam brush. This is to prevent the paint from lifting if you use one or two coats. Important: Apply even coats and let dry for a day between coats. You can use a hairdryer to aid in the drying process.

You can also use WalMart white spray paint (whooping 97 cents) as primer and then use 2 coats of acrylic paint over that.

Next, free hand paint designs or use stencils using acrylics.

Seal your design.

Fill with anything you desire. You can even make them as candle holders.

More Ideas and some free patterns:
Painting On Jars

Bottles of Hope

What are these? They sound so intriguing.

Who would have guessed that empty prescription bottles could be recycled and made up with polymer clay to create a "Bottle of Hope*" for donated for hospital patients by pc crafters.

Each bottle is made unique (use up your scraps!) and may or may not contain a hopeful message. Sometimes the patience write the messages themselves and place them in the bottle for inspiration.

You can use other small glass bottles found at the craft shop also but recycling Rx pill bottles is best. Collect them from your friends and family.

Another idea is to ask at the treatment centers in hospitals, for Heparin Lock Flush (safe to use) bottles (used for treatments) which are glass and about 2-3 inches big. They will glady give them to you for recycling and a good cause too!

Now get your pc friends together and have a pc creating party.

After you complete your bottles, put them in ziplock bags with the label (on official website). To distribute in a hospital, visit the oncology floor and talk to the nurses there, they will help you out.

(* aka "Bottles of Caring" by hospice patience, and sometimes called "Bottles of or for wishes" or "Wishing Bottles")

To find out more information on this very unique and fun project, please visit the links below.

Official Bottle of Hope Site

More Information and Ideas

---

Another idea is to create "Vial of Life". The amber pill bottles are decorated simply with a label saying, "Vial of Life". These are given to senior citizens who reside in their own homes. Inside each vial is a slip of paper with vital information on it about them: name, birth, contact person/next of kin, short medical history, current doctor and medicines.

There is also a sticker on the front door so that EMTs are notified that it exists. On the sticker, the location of the "Vial of Life" is listed.
It is a good idea for any regular visiting relative or neighbor to be notified about this also so they can give the EMTs it when they arrive.