Crafts and Things

Make Your Own Bubble Bath

2010-10-17T20:31:00.000-07:00

Materials:
1 cup mild shampoo or a mild dish washing liquid
1/3 cup Glycerin
2 Tablespoons of Water
Essential Oil (optional)
Fancy Bottle or Jar with tight fitting lid
Ribbon & tiny flowers

Directions:
Mix the shampoo, glycerin, and water.

Add 10 - 25 drops of water scent of essential oil. Optional

Mix thoroughly.

Pour mixture into a pretty bottle or jar. Close tightly.

Decorate the jar tiny flowers, ribbon, and bows.

Photo Courtesy of sevencastles.spaces.live.com

Bath Salts Recipe

2010-03-26T20:18:00.000-07:00

What you need:

1/4 cup Lavender

1/2 cup Epsom salt

4 - Chamomile Tea bags

1/4 cup Peaceful Orchid Moisturizing Bath Beads

1/4 cup Gentle Breeze Moisturizing Bath Beads

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Store in a jar with a tight fitting lid.

To use: Place 2 Tablespoons under warm running water in the tub for a soothing and relaxing bath.

The Ultimate Christmas Gift ...

2009-12-02T18:31:00.000-08:00

For the dad who loves to grill!

Outdoor Gourmet BBQ Set

At Gift Ideas Etc

Design A Holiday Container by Folgers

2009-12-01T15:20:00.000-08:00

Need a quick easy decorative container for those tasty Christmas goodies?

The Folgers^® AromaSeal^® Canister makes the perfect container for giving cookies, candies, or your favorite Folgers holiday recipes. Our festive designs make it easy to create a unique gift for friends and family.

Instructions: You need

1 Folgers 84.5-ounce or 39-ounce canister
a printer, paper
scissors
adhesive

To Design your own Holiday Container

Go to: http://folgers.com/holiday/canister/index.aspx

No-Sew Sachets

2009-12-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

These delightful potpourri sachets can be made in a variety of fabrics and colors. The ones pictured above are made with sheer organza type fabric in order to see the contents of the sachet bags.

The sachets can be used in closets, lingerie & hosiery bags, laundry bags, drawers, bathrooms, and anywhere else you want to freshen. They also make beautiful decorative accessories for any room.

You will need:

fabric
glue
ribbon
potpourri

Instructions:

1. For each sachet, place 2 matching 5-inch fabric squares back-to-back and glue the edges together on 3 sides. Spread the glue close to the edges to keep it from fraying.

2. Fill the sachet with about 1/2 cup of potpourri when the glue is dry. Then glue together the open edges and again let the glue dry.

3. Arrange the finished sachets in multicolored stacks and tie them together with a festive ribbon or yarn.

Your satchets are ready. Use them as fragrantly scented decorative accessories for your home or give them as gifts.

How to make your own potpourri!

Great Christmas Deals

2009-11-23T19:25:00.000-08:00

Toys that play with imagination...

$10 Off with Purchase of $50 or More

Sale runs through Sunday, December 20, 2009

Music Photo Memory Book

Crafts Gifts & Decor

Shop early from the comfort of your own home!

Quick Easy Beret

2009-11-19T16:48:00.000-08:00

Cooler weather brings thoughts of soft snuggly hats to keep my head warm or to protect my hair from sudden showers. This quick and easy to make beret is perfect for short trips to the mall or a casual outing. Embellish it with your favorite pin or an interesting arrangement of beads and you can wear it to church or other dressy occasions.

The simple line and classic styling of this beret suits everyone. Any fleece or velvet fabric will work. Try experimenting with different upholstery fabrics, you might like the results.

You need:
16 in. X 32 in. of fabric
Ribbing 4 ½ in X 18 in.

*Note: An eye-catching contrasting color of ribbing looks great on this beret. Neutral colors can pull an outfit together nicely.

Directions:
1. Cut 2 large circles 13 in. in diameter. Lay one of the pieces aside. Cut a smaller 7 in. circle out of the center of the second circle. This one is a donut shape.

2. Place the 2 circles right sides together, sew around the outside edge with a ¼ in. seem allowance.

3. Turn right side out. Topstitch carefully around the outer edge to keep it from rippling.

4. Cut ribbing 4 ½ in. X 18 in. Stitch the ends together. Fold in half and stitch it to the hat, being careful to catch-in both the front and back sides. Stretch the ribbing evenly to fit as you sew around the hat.

Your beret is ready to wear and enjoy!

Sewing Modest Clothing has photos, directions, and a pattern if you need further help.

Great Gifts for the Kids on Your Christmas List

2009-11-18T15:19:00.000-08:00

Shop early from the comfort of home. Find a great selection of toys for kids of all ages at KazooToys.

These are toys even grown-ups will love!

Every little boy loves trucks.

Shop for Toys for your boys at Trend Times Toys

Watch his eyes light up!

FREE Diamond Pendant

2009-11-11T12:41:00.000-08:00

This Weekend Only Diamond Pendant with any Purchase!

Ultra Diamonds is giving away a free diamond pendant,

normally $69,

with every purchase this weekend Only

Nov 14, 2009 & Nov 15, 2009

No minimum purchase amount! Take advantage of this limited time sale.

Get yours now while supplies last!

Aroma Therapy Dream Kit

2009-11-04T13:44:00.000-08:00

Looking for just the right gift?

Why not say Thank You in style with this elegant -

Aroma Therapy Dream Kit

Don't wait for Christmas, get it today.

Make that someone special smile!

Halloween Costumes

2009-10-07T18:16:00.000-07:00

Denim Clutch Bag

2009-10-01T21:27:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, I needed a tiny clutch purse only large enough to hold my driver's license, a couple of credit cards, and folded money. I didn't have one, let alone one to match my out fit.

Not to be outdone, I searched my sewing scraps and found the perfect blue denim fabric. Then I cut and sewed this neat little clutch bag, which measures 5 inches wide by 2 3/4 inches deep to hold the few items above. The purse can be made to any measurement you want.

This little clutch purse is very quick and easy to make. I wanted to share it so I searched the internet and found directions and illustrations. Here is the clutch bag and the directions I found at Threads - For People Who Love to Sew.
You're going to love this clutch so much you'll want it in several sizes, fabrics, and colors. I know I did.

Let us hear back if you decide to try it. We'd love to know how it turns out.

Kitchen Crafts for Your Home or Give as Gifts

2009-09-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

Dishtowel Angel

Here is a great way to spruce up an ordinary gift and make it extra special. Instead of simply wrapping dishtowels and pot holders make them into pretty kitchen decorations. The recipient can then use them as decorations or take them apart and use them for their original purpose, washing dishes.

What you'll need:
1 dishtowel

1 washcloth

1 Pot holder

Ribbon

Directions

1. Fold the dishtowel lengthwise into a fan, then fold the strip in half. Tie it off 2 or 3 inches from fold with ribbon, to make the head. Set this aside.

2. Fold the washcloth into a fan for the arms. Set this aside.

3. Now Fanfold the potholder with the loop on the top for the wings.

4. Place the washcloth on top of the potholder and tie in the center with a ribbon. Lay this (unit) on the table with the potholder down and the washcloth facing up.

5. Lay dishtowel on top of potholder and washcloth.

6. Bring the arms (washcloth) around front and tie together 1 inch from ends, for the hands.

How-to Photos and directions can be found at Family Corner.com

Blowing Bubbles – An End of Summer Bash!

2009-09-01T15:19:00.000-07:00

School has started in most places, kids are settling into their new routines, and some parents are experiencing the bitter-sweetness of the event. Why not usher summer out with a “Giant- POP”, blow bubbles together!

Laughing and running through the grass blowing bubbles is magical fun for most kids. It is not widely known but, for many indigenous children it is also a way of preventing debilitating ear infections. The act of blowing bubbles helps with this.

For a fun change of pace this Labor Day try blowing bubbles with the kids during these last actual days before the school year gets into full swing. Take photos of you and the kids blowing bubbles. You’ll have these to savor the memory on cold or rainy winter days.

Try "throwing" bubbles instead of blowing bubbles. Make it even more fun, sing the song, "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" while you romp and frolic enjoying the last days of summer.

You can use standard bubble blowing wands or you can make your own. The standard bubble blowing wands can usually be purchased with commercial bubble mixture but again you can create your own bubble blowing tools. You can also make your own bubble solution using a very easy basic recipe. (*SEE below) You can find other recipes for making variations of your own bubbles online, just “google.bubbles”. (or make your own bubbles, etc.)

I used to love chewing bubblegum and blowing bubbles. I’ve heard about blowing bubbles inside of bubbles but I’ve never managed to succeed at it. Can you blow bubbles inside bubbles? Let us know.

Let’s get started.

Bubble Recipe

You will need:
1 Tbsp glycerin

2 Tbsp dishwashing liquid

9 oz water

Directions:
It is best to mix up the recipe a day ahead and store it in the refrigerator overnight, you’ll get better results. Be gentle, you don’t want to make “too many bubbles” while mixing the ingredients. If your mix is too thick you can add a little water.

NOTE --Glycerin is very inexpensive you can get it at most drug stores. Glycerin makes a noticable difference in the quality of the bubbles. Kids will love the bubbles so much more. That makes it worth keeping a small bottle of glycerin on hand.

Have fun, enjoy your kids and the last days of summer!

Scrapbooking Fun

2009-08-25T16:13:00.000-07:00

Scrapbooking gives us a way to artistically express our experiences in life and preserve them to tell the story of our life for generations to come. It is a labor of love. Scrapbooking is a fun craft for all ages and genders and it has become a hot market on the internet. Ideas for scrapbooking vary and can range from everyday candid shots to special occasions to lifetime accomplishments.

Scrapbooking ideas are only limited by our time, imagination, and resources. Scrapbooking ideas include recipes, recipe book ideas, making recipe albums, scrapbooking with kids, projects for children, ideas for baby, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, re-unions, graduation and more.

Have you thought of scrapbooking? Try it for yourself, you might like it and go on to become a real scrapbooking enthusiast.

This post is aimed at helping you find the best ideas there are for scrapbooking. Whether you are just starting as a hobbyist or are experienced and are interested in finding new and interesting ways to hone your skills with the craft, there is something here for you. There are many scrapbooking ideas, tips, free scrapbooking layouts, and techniques that will make your scrapbooks shine and allow you to provide lasting memories of your family and friends to share for years to come.

Sometimes it’s difficult to come up with good scrapbooking ideas, whether you have become burned out because you have been doing it so much or because you consider yourself one of the less artistically-minded creative people on this earth.

If you’re like me, you have mountains of photos and I am always wondering what to do with them. So, today I went searching for new scrapbooking ideas. I am excited to share with you Scrapbooking Ideas Centre, a wonderful site full of ideas and inspiration.

I hope you find something interesting and useful here.

Until next time,
Happy scrapbooking

Paper Crafts: How-To-Make an Origami Bracelet

2009-08-17T18:26:00.000-07:00

Need a bracelet and don't "have-a-thing-to-wear" with a particular outfit? Here is a quick fix that is also fun to make by Lorain Blanken, at About.com.

Start with scrap book paper, gift wrap paper, stationary, or any decorative paper to match your outfit. Scrap book paper is really good because it comes in a variety of patterns and textures. I especially like gift wrapping paper because it comes in so many colors and patterns you can quickly and easily find one to match any outfit.

First, cut the paper into a square, 6 inches for small or 8 inches for larger wrists. Lay the paper on a flat surface with the wrong-side facing up. Then fold one corner all the way to the top to the opposite corner. Flatten the folded edge well.

Fold up again, this time rolling up the bottom. Keep folding up and flattening the paper until it is folded all the way to the top. Then tape around the middle of the bracelet with clear tape. Wrap the whole strip in tape to preserve it and make it last longer.

Slip one pointed end of the bracelet into one of the slots on the other side, add a small piece of tape to keep it from coming loose. How-to-fold photos and complete directions.

If you like bangles, you'll love these quick easy bracelets. Let us know what you think if you try them. Do you have any quick crafts to share? We'd love to hear them, we love crafts here.

Craft Ideas & Crafts to Make

2009-08-09T20:03:00.000-07:00

Arts & Crafts

Do you get frustrated searching endlessly for arts & craft projects and supplies? If you’re looking for a place where everything is in one spot, then I have found just what you need.

It’s Buzzle.com, the Arts and Crafts super-dome. In their own words, it is the place to find amazing and unique arts and crafts. Buzzle.com is a comprehensive guide on different types of arts and crafts with information on interesting crafts to make; art and craft supplies, simple and easy craft ideas for kids, and tips on various other art activities for kids, artists, parents, teachers and craft enthusiasts.

On Buzzle.com I found Arts and Crafts for Kids, Craft Books and Paper Crafts, Fiber Crafts and Needlework, and much more. You can also find Craft Stores and Craft Supplies Online at Buzzle.com.

Why not visit them today? Spend some time searching their arts and crafts projects and, you'll be pleasantly surprised. You will also love the layout, everything is easy to access.

Be sure to come back and let us know what you think. Refer your friends.

Brown Paper Bag Crafts

2009-08-07T16:29:00.000-07:00

There are hundreds of different kinds of paper crafts. Brown paper Bag Crafts is just one of the many. Crafts of all kinds are both fun and they are therapeutic too. Many crafts use materials found around the house, like grocery bags, cardboard, paper, boxes, string, crayons, paint, glue, etc. Paper crafts include valentine crafts for preschoolers, christmas crafts for young children, as well as many other seasonal and non-seasonal crafts. All crafts are also suited to adolescents and adults from beginners to advanced skills levels.

Some of you have probably been working on arts and crafts projects with your children. I’ve included several arts and crafts projects for children to craft with brown paper bags and grocery bags. You can make such cool crafts such as paper bag puppets, hats, a cat condo, tote bags, trees, and more.

For starters, Enchanted Learning has many Brown Grocery Bag Crafts projects for preschool, kindergarten and elementary school children.

Talking Child.com is a wonderful site where you can find ideas for making great Paper Bag Crafts: They suggest “Using these craft ideas to work on building speech and language with your child. These crafts are wonderful for eliciting sounds and words as well as working on repetition. Please note some of the pages may take a few seconds to load. It's worth the wait! Resource information provided by artistshelpingchildren.org”.

Artists Helping Children.org is a Children's site dedicated to comforting children by empowering artists and others to donate artwork, donated murals, donated art supplies, donated toys and a lot of love to sick and needy children. Artists Helping Children also helps artists by giving them information on how they can help the sick and poor children by volunteering to paint murals and other art for hospitals, shelters, clinics, etc.

I hope you enjoy these. Let me know how your projects turn out, I'd love to hear.

Happy Crafting...

Until next time

Crafts by DellGirl

2009-08-05T18:26:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love crafts? I do. Crafts is one of my passions. Given the opportunity and time, I could lose myself for days on a craft project.

Did you know that crafts practiced by independent artists working alone or in small groups are often referred to as studio craft? Crafts is one of the best ways to make use of our free time it is also a form letting out that inert talent which gets buried down somewhere in the midst this fast-paced life we live today.

Crafts deal with artifacts and sculptures, studio crafts, pottery metal work amd much more. Crafts include everything from making boxes and bags, jewelry making, flowers and medallions, games, and holiday projects. These are just the tip-of-the-iceberg.

Each year a great deal of attention is focused on crafts for camps, Vacation Bible School, girl and boy scouts meetings and, many other group setings. For years crafts have been offered in hospitals in therapy and rehab, and the list goes on.

There are many arts and crafts websites on the Internet and they contain craft projects of all kinds ranging from beginner to advanced. A good number of the crafts are printable and if they are not, it is because they are very easy to create, and have readily available materials.

Crafts from the garden enhance many homes and provide us with unique gift giving ideas. Crafts are a great hands-on activity that inspires the creativity. Crafts are an excellent way to keep yourself busy and keep your mind active as well. Crafts also work well for keeping little ones occupied while teaching them a useful skill. There is no greater feeling than giving new life to old things with simple, stylish craft projects.

Craft supplies and materials are easy to find, they’re everywhere. You can find crafts items at low prices on eBay, at discount stores, and at specialty craft stores. Or, you can simply Google "craft supplies" and you’re likely to find hundreds of sources.

I hope you enjoy the site. If you love crafts also, please take a moment to comment. Tell us what your favorite craft is. How did you get started doing it? What do you do with your crafts?

Until next time,

Happy Crafting

Here are a few things I have done over the years.

Flower Writing Pens:

makes writing so much fun!

Mini-Jewelry Bags:

carry your jewelry in style
without the fear of losing it
in your purse or luggage.

Friendship Door Wreath