Craft tips and how tos

Shrink Art Tips Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/6/1 5:36 a.m.
the proper use of shrink art. Sand with 320-400 grit sandpaper in a crosshatch design.
Apply design or background color.
You can draw your design on with colored pencil or permanent marker.
The pages are see-through, so you can even trace a favorite design.
Cut out your design with regular or decorative scissors.
Punch holes with paper punch, the holes shrink, too.
Place on medium weight cardboard, or a Teflon sheet.
Avoid baking on bare metal.

Bake in a regular oven or toaster oven at 300*-350* for approximately 3 minutes, or heat with an embossing heat tool. The design will curl up some, but will soon flatten out before removing from heat. After shrinking, most pigments become permanent. Your design will be about 45% its original size and about 1/16th inch thick. Note... Expect polyshrink to curl and move during baking. Occasionally a piece may stick to itself when it shrinks.

To separate, allow to cool and pull gently.
You'll hear a tiny "snap" as the joint comes apart.
You can now reheat the piece and finish shrinking.
Baked polyshrink is very pliable while it is hot.
It can be smoothed flat while using cardboard or shaped over a variety of objects.
Use caution while baking, don't forget the oven mitts!

decorating wine glasses
Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/5/26 8:43 a.m.
use all different kinds of (wine) glasses with stems. Clean well, then paint the outside with modge podge glue and apply small torn pieces of colored tissue paper in your favorite colors (I used different colors of green and white). Paint another layer of podge over top. Let dry, then decorate the stem with ribbon. Fill glass about 2/3 way with sand and put in a tealight candle. When lit, it will look like stained glass. Nice project but it takes a long time;

Decoupage Tips
Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/5/26 8:22 a.m.
1. The heavier the paper, the longer you must hold it down to make sure the glue sticks. Tissue paper gives the quickest grip, but also rips easily.

2. When cutting out highly detailed images, you do not have to cut precisely - wide outlines look fine. Cut from beneath the image, with your scissor tip just showing. It is easier to see what you are doing.

3. On intricate designs, move the paper you are cutting into the scissors, instead of trying to move the scissors into the paper.

4. Save your originals! Invitations, photos and announcements can be color copied and enlarged or reduced to fit your project.

Stenciling Tip
Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/5/26 8:11 a.m.
Use wax paper and spray adhesive for stencils. The wax paper is inexpensive and easy to cut. The adhesive remains tacky for you. Note: after you spray it on you have to let it set for 10 to 15 minutes.

craft tip
Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/5/19 7:43 a.m.
note on plush toy cleaning:
If you have an older toy or one with plastic faces or parts to it, throw it in a pillowcase and tie shut. Wash on the lightest wash on your machine. Air dry or put in dryer (still in pillow case) and put on a "no heat" cycle, if you have one. Another note, if you have small parts or are worried about your vacuum sucking up something off the toy, put a pair of pantyhose over the end of the vacuum hose. It will vacuum as well as always and doesn't suck up anything you don't want it to!( I use this vacuum method when I need to clean anything with small parts-- we have a few antique radios and phonographs from the early 1900's and cleaning their insides is nerve wracking at best-- sucking a piece up from them could be a disaster as replacing them is next to impossible!!) swatches of ribbon or fabric

Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/5/16 7:00 a.m.
Tape or staple swatches of ribbon or fabric to index cards.
This makes it easier to get extra supplies at the craft store. You are also sure to keep an index of the ribbons and fabrics you've used for various project in case you want to go back years later and make something matching or to make the same project for another person. Plus you can write down the project, when you made it and for whom!

Chocolate Scented Play dough
Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/5/16 6:58 a.m.
Chocolate Scented Play dough
Flour
Cocoa powder
Salt
Cream of tartar
Cooking oil
Boiling water

Mix 1 1/4 cups of flour, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, 1/2-cup salt, and 1/2 Tablespoon cream of tartar. Add 1 1/2 Tablespoons cooking oil, 1 cup boiling water. Stir quickly, mix well. Cook over low heat until dough forms a ball. When cool, mix with your hands. Store in airtight container. It smells good enough to eat but tastes awful so kids won't eat!

ideas for hat stands
posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/5/12 6:47 a.m.
looking for some unique ideas for hat stands You can easily make your own version with just a little creativity. Try using wood turnings such as egg or ball shapes or flat wooden plugs for the "head" of your hat stand and for the stem, wooden (or brass!) candlesticks, or small furniture spindles. If you need a wider base to hold larger hats, a wooden bowl flipped upside-down works great - just drill to accept your dowel or candlestick. To assemble your creation, sand any wood parts and glue with wood glue, (or use epoxy glues for metal or other materials), tape or clamp in place till dry if necessary. Allow to dry completely, then paint or stain the finished stands as desired. Hope this will inspire you!

Cleaning a Thermos
Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/5/12 6:39 a.m.
Fill the stained thermos with hot water, add a dental tablet, or baking soda, or dishwasher soap and leave to soak for a short while. Rinse thoroughly.

using coffee grounds
Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/5/12 6:33 a.m.
using coffee grounds! Remove the coffee filter and grounds from the coffee maker, flatten the filter as much as possible but leave the grounds in the middle and place on a surface where air can circulate underneath - I just use my dish drainer - and let dry thoroughly. The liquid in the grounds will "bleed" to the edges. When completely dry, dump the grounds and brush the filter well with a dry paper towel. You now can use this to make "paper flowers" for a fall wreath. Gather the top and scrunch the bottom into a point. Fluff out the top and wire to a wreath pick. Wrap pick with brown floral tape, if desired. I inserted dried seed pods for "stamens". They are 7 years old and still good as new. Experiment and have fun!

craft recipe Corn Syrup Finger-paint
Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/5/12 6:31 a.m.
Corn Syrup Finger-paint -
Corn Syrup
Food Coloring
Mix corn syrup and a couple drops of food coloring into a container and mix well. Let child paint and then dry flat for a couple of days until no longer sticky. Makes nice shiny pictures when dry!

De-Scent a Candle Jar
Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/6/1 5:39 a.m.
to get the smell out of jars after the candle has burned away - put crumbled newspaper in the jar, put a lid on it & let stand couple weeks. eliminate odors this way in plastic and glass jars.

Re: De-Scent a Candle Jar
Posted By: Michigan Froggy
Date: 2004/6/2 1:08 p.m.
In Response To: (linda glenn)
Great tip Linda, thanks. I like to reuse these jars for scented bath salts, and you don't want the leftover scent from the candle in there.

craft idea: put photos on tote bags
Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/5/3 5:49 a.m.
There are several different ways this can be done:
1. You can buy iron-on transfer paper for the photocopier at fabric or craft stores. Take your photo and the transfer paper to a copy shop and use a color photocopier to copy the photo on to the transfer paper, inserting a sheet of the transfer paper through the bypass tray (follow the instructions on the package of transfer paper). Then you can just iron the photos on to the tote bags, again following the instructions on the package of transfer paper.

2. If you have an inkjet printer, and your photo is digital (or you get it scanned into a computer), you can get iron-on transfer paper for inkjet printers at a fabric or craft store. Simply print your photo on the transfer paper and iron it on (again following instructions on the package).

3. You can also get fabric sheets for inkjet printers at fabric or craft stores. These are special sheets of plain fabric that can be run through an inkjet printer. You just print your photo on it (check the package instructions for how to insert it into your printer), and then you have your photo on fabric and can attach it to the tote bag however you like. Fusible webbing is good for this. Hope this helps.

Making Quick & Easy Angel Arms: crochet
Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/4/27 12:06 a.m.
One of the older books suggests crocheting a cover for the pipe cleaner arms - a simple 6 rows of sc the length of your pipe cleaner. Just fold the rectangle of crochet around the pipe cleaner and stitch it up. It makes a very nice finish for the arms. I've used it for your little angel without the arms looking too heavy.

Safety pins, contrasting yarn etc:
Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/4/26 7:06 a.m.
These are ideal for marking the foundation chain or row count. Place them every few chains or rows to keep tabs. No more counting from the beginning to see which chain number or row you're on. Just count the markers instead.

did you know - Safety Pins are good for
Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/4/26 7:04 a.m.
When making a long foundation chain, place a safety pin in after a designated number of stitches to keep count easily. When crocheting in a spiral (or where rounds are not joined), place a saftey pin at the beginning of the new round to keep track. Move the safety pin to each new round as you work. When working afghans or similiar patterns, place a safety pin after a designated number of rows to keep track easily. Use safety pins to mark where corner increases are made to avoid mistakes. When through working, place a safety pin in the last stitch worked to keep stitches intact.

make a picture place mat
Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/3/12 6:27 p.m.
use artwork your kids do. have them laminated and use them as place mats.. also, take photos to a copy center enlarge and make place mats as well..

Re: crochet marking your spot
Posted By: Sue L.
Date: 2004/7/3 10:29 p.m.
In Response To: crochet marking your spot (luci ritchie (canada)) Another good marker I read the other day are those tiny clothes pins crafters use. Some people also use bobby pins and I read one girl used "sticky arrows" like sticky notes.

crochet Hook Storage
Posted By: linda glenn
Date: 2004/6/8 7:01 a.m.
suggestion for keeping up with your crochet hooks and for taking them with you when you move about. The new Lays or Pringles snack containers. Wash thoroughly, the first are especially good for crocheting in the car on trips as they fit nicely in a drink holder. The latter just for general storage.

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