Saturday, uh, Sunday Crafts Recycle Everything I Would Have Thrown Away

This weeks crafts are awesome recycling of crap most of us think is useless once it has served it's original purpose.

Old T shirts

Probably the coolest use of something most of us have in abundant supply, I'm dying to try out this rag rug using all of those old tan Army shirts I own once my ETS date rolls around....so close, yet so far.........  This beautiful rug idea comes from Julie Ann Art:

Recycled T shirt rug by Julie Ann Art

Sandwich Box

Milk jugs, in general, drive me nuts.....they seem so useless once they've served their original purpose.  That's why this idea from Family Fun is so awesome. 

Sandwich Box from Family fun

Cell phone/charger holder

I love this reuse of one of the most useless of all of the things that cross our recycling pile......a phone/charger holder made from a lotion bottle by Make It Love it.

Phone/charger holder from Make It Love It

Tin Can Garden

There are many tutorials out there on how to reuse tin cans, but I thought this one made the cutest use of them.  I highly recommend using a Smooth Edge Can Opener, which can be found in most local big box stores or online. 

Tin Can Garden by Kaboose

Now, I just need to find the illusive practical reuse of a toothpaste tube.....

Random Saturday Crafts

So I've spent way too much time lately on StumbleUpon.  Like way too much time.  I think I'm slightly addicted. And to add to the madness, I'm now adding (on a daily basis) to the list of crafts I want to attempt.  Here's of collection of what I've come across in just the last few days.......


SOAP!

 

Solid Bath Sugar Scrub by Teach Soap 

Directions for these beautiful solid bath sugar scrub cubes can be found at www.teachsoap.com along with a ton of recipes for making soap, bath fizzies, lip balms and lotions.  Awesome website......looks like tons of fun.


DOILY LAMPS

 

Doily Lamp by More Design Please

I grew up really poor.  Unfortunately, like my mom, I've always had this desire to make things (usually crap, but every once in a while I do pretty well), so when I was about eight or so, I discovered paper mache.....the perfect craft for the poor kid who wants to make something all of the time.  This Doily Lamp by More Design Please takes the idea of paper mache and turns it into something beautiful with very little effort.  Gone are the hours of sanding and panting.....this doily lamp is pretty much good to go from the moment it dries.....no painting skills or patience necessary.




PAPER FLOWERS

 

Paper Flower Balls by Find Inspirations

Flowerless weddings seem to be all the rage these days.....what better way to avoid the allergies and expensive of real flowers by substituting with paper flowers?  In the past when someone mentioned "paper flowers" I instantly cringed....thoughts of tissue paper in bright colors filled my head, but Find Inspiration's take on paper flowers is both beautiful and elegant.  With a bit of time and patience, these beautiful flowers can cheaply replace some or all of the floral arrangements in your wedding.

Have a great Saturday!

Two Awesome Craft Tutorials

The other day while looking into magnets for my Etsy shop, I stumbled across some awesome tutorials from a fellow blogger, Celtic Mommy.  The first is for oval cabochon necklaces, and I think you'll be impressed.....her results are beautiful and every bit as professional as I've seen for sale on many websites:

Handmade Oval Necklaces by Celtic Mommy

In addition to the broach tutorial, she has an awesome glass magnet tutorial:

 

Handmade Glass Magnets by Celtic Mommy

In addition to lots of photos and clear directions, Celtic Mommy provides links to vendors so you can hunt down supplies fairly easily.  Have a great Saturday!

10 Things to Make with Your Kid That Won't Look Like Crap: Mother's/Father's/Grandparent's Day Crafts for the Craft Challenged

Okay, so maybe it is the thought that counts....especially when it comes to kids and crafts.  I personally love seeing the things that my son creates.  But when we start moving from the things that we stick on the fridge to the things we wrap up and give, I want more.  I want a craft that will last for years....something the recipient will love and use, or at the very least keep for years.  So when macaroni necklaces and egg carton jewelry boxes just won't cut it, here are 10 adult assisted kid crafts family will love and cherish for years:


1) Photo Books
I am wretched at scrap booking....most of what I create ends up looking like the cat made it.  Fortunately that all changed with companies like Shuttefly and Snapfish.  I created my son's baby book this way (my handwriting is wretched as well).  I've also found this is a great way to create "handmade" family gifts from kids.  Currently my six year old is writing a "book."  He dictates stories to me, which I type up.  He then draws pictures to accompany the stories and I photograph him telling me the stories or drawing. Not only do the grandparents get a mini photo album of him, they get a little time capsule of sorts in his stories and drawings.

Exclusive artwork from the man child's latest book.

2) Painted picture frames.
This time of year, millions of mothers are going to find themselves the recipient of picture frames made of all kinds of materials....Popsicle sticks, round plastic lids, construction paper.....pretty much anything but real picture frames.  I know it's crazy but cheap, plain picture frames abound and can be found everywhere from IKEA to your local dollar store.  I found these at IKEA and had my son paint them:

The man child goes for coverage above all else....

I took one to Iraq with me and gave him the second with the same picture in it of the two of us.

3) Iron On Tote Bags
From the mistress of perfection comes an idea that is both practical, inexpensive, and will immortalize a few of those million drawings papering the fridge...Iron On Tote Bag

4) Hand Prints
What better way to remember just how little your little ones were than with hand prints.  There are numerous ways to use hand prints in pretty, useful crafts.  Two cute, useful gifts:  Hand Print Mug& Hand Print Apron

5)  Casts
With a little help from Mom or Dad, kids can make this cool and useful paperweight/catch all perfect for that special someone's desk:  Casts

6) Shrinky Dink Pendants
Silly name, but lots of fun, Shrinky Dinks provide another cool way to use a child's art work.  Pictures can be shrunk down into pendants, rings or charms for an easy jewelry project that won't attract the bugs:  Shrinky Dink Pendants

7) Magnets
Always useful and appropriate for both male and female relatives, kids can create magnets and recycle all at the same time:  Magnets

8) Coasters
This craft requires a little more help from mom or dad, but produces great results.  Use kid's drawings in place of napkins for a personal touch:  Coasters

9) Bath Fizzies
Perfect for mom, grandma or aunts, these bath fizzies from Martha Stewart are colorful and fun.  Have kids help combining ingredients and decorating containers for the special ladies in their life:  Bath Fizzies

10)  Cookie Mix in a Jar
And finally......what could be easier and more appreciated than food?  Cookie Mix in a Jar

Flat Teddy Bear

While I was deployed to Iraq, mommy guilt was at an all time high, thus my little velociraptor was the recipient of many many things I would not have bought otherwise.  And when I wasn't buying stuff for the the rug rat,  I soon found myself falling into the trap of  buying things just to get mail.  While I love my family dearly, they SUCKED at sending me anything in the way of packages, letters or cards (fortunately I have some really cool friends who picked up the slack).  This, however, gave me ample opportunity to add to my stash, which would have been fine, had I not been sharing a metal shipping container with a roommate.  (She was very understanding, fortunately, about the whole yarn thing).  With very little to distract me after my long shifts, I found myself with a lot of time to crochet.  Here's one of the first things I made--Flat Teddy.  Cheap (the one pictured was made with scrap yarn and cotton balls because that's what I had at the time), safe for all ages and easy to ship.....this would be a good project for charity.  It's been months since I've one of these guys, so please let me know if you run into any errors or typos.

FLAT TEDDY BEAR

Teddy Bear Front (make 2)

Head

Chain 6

1Turn, sc across (5sc)

2Turn, 2sc in 1^st st, 1sc in ea of next 3st, 2sc in last st (7sc)

3Turn, sc across (7sc)

4Turn, 2sc in 1^st st, 1sc in ea of next 5sc, 2sc in last st (9sc)

5Turn, sc across (9sc)

6Turn, 2sc in 1^st st, 1sc in ea of next 7, 2sc in last st (11sc)

7-9Turn, sc across (11sc)

10Turn, sc dec over 1^st 2sc, 1sc in ea of next 7sc, sc dec over last 2st (9sc)

11Turn, sc in ea st across (9sc)

12Turn, sc dec over 1^st 2sc, 1sc in ea of next 5, sc dec over last 2sc (7sc)

13Turn, sc across (7sc), tie off

Begin Arms

14Ch7, with 7^th chain still on hook, connect (with a sc) to 1^st sc of row 13 and sc across (7sc). Chain 7.

15Turn, sc in each ch and sc across (19sc)

16Turn, sc across (19sc)

17Turn, 2sc in 1^st st, 1sc in ea of next 17, 2sc in last st (21sc)

18-19Turn, sc across (21sc)

20Turn, sc dec across 1^st 2sc, 17sc across, sc dec across last 2st (19sc)

21Turn, sc across. Tie off (19sc)

Begin Body

22Turn, join yarn in 4^th sc with sc, 1sc in ea of next 12sc (13sc)

23Turn, sc across (13sc)

24Turn, 2sc in 1^st st, 1sc in ea of next 11sc, 2sc in last sc (15sc)

25Turn, 15sc across (15sc)

26Turn, 2sc in 1^st sc, 1sc in ea of next 13sc, 2sc in last sc (17sc)

27-28SC across (17sc)

29Turn, sc dec over 1^st 2sc, 1sc in ea of next 13sc, sc dec over last 2sc (15sc)

30Turn, sc dec over 1^st 2sc, 1sc in ea of next 11sc, sc dec over last 2sc (13sc)

31Turn, sc dec over 1^st 2sc, 1sc in each of next 9sc, sc dec over last 2sc (11sc)

Begin Leg One

32Turn, 2sc in 1^st sc, sc in ea of next 4sc (6sc)

33Turn, sc dec over 1^st 2sc, sc in ea of next 3sc, 2sc in final sc (6sc)

34Turn, 2sc in 1^st sc, sc in ea of next 3sc, sc dec over next 2sc (6sc)

35-36 Repeat rows 33-34

37-38 Repeat rows 33-34. Tie off.

Begin Leg Two

32Attach yarn with sc in 7^th sc of row 31 with sc, sc in ea of next 3, 2sc in last sc (6sc)

33Turn 2sc in 1^st sc, sc in ea of next 3sc, sc dec over next 2 st (6sc)

34Turn, sc dec over 1^st 2sc, sc in each of next 3sc, 2sc in final sc (6sc)

35-36Repeat rows 33-34

37-38Repeat rows 33-34. Tie off.

Begin Ears

In 1st st of row 2, hdc 5.  Sl st across top of head (5sc).  In last st of row 2, hdc 5.  Tie off.

Place the two teddy bear fronts, one on top of the other, right sides out, and stitch together (I single crocheted them together, but any method of sewing together should work), stuffing as you go. Using a yarn needle, create the bear's face.