Seven Things You Can Make from Your Old Cloth Place Mats

Cloth place mats give your kitchen or dining room a homey touch, but when youre ready for new ones, what do you do with the old? Usually the previous ones are still in good shape but youd just like a change. Instead of throwing them away theyre often stuffed in a closet somewhere in the house. Forget hiding those old place mats like youre ashamed of them. Make something new and exciting with them instead.

If youre like many people you have four place mats on your table. Four cloth mats can be turned into two fabulous throw pillows. Although the pillows will be small they look great when you place them amongst other pillows of various shapes and sizes. Simply position two of the mats, right sides together, and stitch around three sides. Stuff the pillow and stitch closed. Add tassels or other embellishments if you wish.

Many people only have two place mats on their table. Make a special pillow for a friend or family member using only two of the mats. Use stitching, fabric paints, or even rubber stamps to create a poem or tribute to someone you love on one place mat. Allow paints or adhesives to dry well before positioning the other place mat, stuffing, and stitching closed. Instead of making a tribute pillow, forego the paints and embellishments and use the pillow for a small pet bed. Use a single place mat to create a door decoration. Good for indoors or out, write what you want on the pillow, then display it for all to see. You can create multiple door signs if you have two or more of the mats. Use paints, stamps, small craft items and other things to create just the perfect door display for holidays or any day. Tack the door plaque on and change it at will with a new design you make from another mat. Use a single cloth place mat to make a jacket-type warming blanket for a small dog. Just add snaps, velcro or another closing device and youre done. Wrap the place mat around the dogs middle and fasten. He or she will stay warmer while outside. Use the place mat to make a picture frame mat. Cut the place mat to the size needed, treat the edges of the place mat with a no-fray product found at sewing supply stores, then replace the cardboard mat with the new cloth one. The frame and picture inside will look so much classier. The no-fray product will prevent the mat from unraveling if you ever change the photo inside the frame. Make a purse for a little girl by folding a place mat in half. Lower the front half until the back side is a couple inches higher than the front. Stitch or glue the sides shut. Use an old belt, a length or rope, or regular purse handles so the girl can carry it. Add on the embellishments you want such as silk flowers, fake jewels, sequin, small plastic novelties or other enhancements. If you have two or more place mats, yet theyre all the same color or pattern, each purse will still look different according to the craft supplies you affix to each. Make a wall hanger by starting with a cloth place mat and a dowel. Choose a dowel that is a half-inch in diameter. Make a small slit at each end of the dowel using a serrated knife. Use a piece of twine to create the hanger. Tie a knot in each end of the twine. Slide the twine ends into the slits on the ends of the dowel. The knots will prevent the twine from sliding all the way off the dowel. Fold one end of a cloth place mat over the dowel and glue into place. Now use any number of craft items to create a wall plaque, poem, tribute, announcement or other decoration. You can use stitching, fabric paint, pieces of cloth, rubber stamps and other supplies to accomplish the plaque you want to create. These make wonderful gifts. Hopefully, youre now looking at your old place mats in a whole new light. If you werent thinking of getting new place mats you probably are now. Go ahead! You wont just get new place mats; youll get all new items for you, your home or your pet!

Stuffed and Stacked Baby Food Jars

Okay, you enjoy doing crafts but you just cant think of anything new to make from all those baby food jars, right? Youve likely already created the snow globe-type holiday decorations, the baby food jar paperweight and the miniature beach scene. What else is left to make? Well, dont be in a hurry to toss out the little glass jars; there is still a craft that you probably havent yet made. Its cheap, easy, beautiful and unique. Its fun for kids or adults to create. Best of all you probably already have everything you need to make it.

Wondering what "it" is? Well, it doesnt exactly fit into the normal craft categories. That is, its not a wall hanging, its not a doll, it hasnt been knitted, crocheted or sewn. It can be made in so many different ways that it can be displayed in a childs room, a bathroom or even the kitchen. Spend money making it just perfect or use things from around the house to create it. What is it? Its a baby food jar tower - or its a Beanie Baby display pole - or its...well, lets move on with the craft.

Start by washing and drying several baby food jars and lids. Place a plastic or silk flower inside each one and screw on the lids. Each flower can be exactly alike or each jar can hold a different flower. Use epoxy - or any adhesive suitable for heavy glass - to glue the jars together. To make the stack of jars more secure its helpful to create a stand. There are many different ways to make a base, or stand, for the baby food jar stack. An instant coffee jar lid, peanut butter jar lid, or something similar, will work well. The lids can be covered in fake jewels, rolled in glitter, or further decorated. Gluing on buttons, decorative rocks or other heavy items will add weight to the base. If you have a lightweight covering to the base, like cloth, you can glue pebbles underneath the lid to add weight. Or, just tape a couple of metal washers under the lid. You dont need a whole lot of weight, but will need some, to make sure the jar tower is safe. After stuffing each jar simply glue on the lids. Turn the first jar upside-down onto the stand and glue it in place. Use the epoxy to stack the next jar, and the next. Five or six jars are suitable to create the final design. As you stack the jars arrange them to where all the flowers face the same way or to where each flower is turned in a different direction than the previous. There are any number of ways to finish the project. Tie a narrow satin ribbon around each jar lid or wait and add a much larger bow to the top of the entire stack. Use gold paint markers to color each lid and give the flower tower a look of gold horizontal stripes instead of wrapping ribbons around them. An old, glass percolator handle looks fabulous when glued on top of the stack. Or, paint a wooden knob gold and glue it in place. Even a tiny ornament can be used as the "handle" or "topper" for the stack. Instead of placing a flower in each jar, you can also fill each jar with childrens Beanie Babies, and set the pole in a childs room. Fill the jars with small soaps, rose petals, bath bombs, and similar items to create a baby food jar pole for the bathroom. Even though the lids are glued shut, and the products inside cannot be used, it looks fabulous in any bathroom. If you want to be able to access the insides of the jar, like if your childs stuffed animals are inside, you dont necessarily have to glue the lids on. Screw them on, wrap a ribbon around them, then stack. Later, the lids ribbon and lids can be removed and the animals retrieved. Fill the jars with things you just have lying around the house to create a unique look all its own. Fill one jar with buttons, one with sequin, one with glitter, etc. Make a kitchen creation by filling the jars with rice, beans, dry peas and similar goods. The finished towers make fabulous gifts for friends or terrific decor pieces for your own home.

How to Make a Watermelon Baby Carriage

When throwing a baby shower there are lots of things to consider. You have to send out invitations, clean the house well, wrap gifts for the mom-to-be. You have to decorate, come up with games to play and provide food for the guests. Theres one project you can do that not only gives you a unique centerpiece for the table but also provides a cool refreshment for a hot day. Thats right; when you make a watermelon baby carriage your guests will be impressed with the centerpiece but still enjoy it as a food.

The best watermelon to use for making a baby carriage is one that is oblong. Round watermelons arent ideal for the shape of the carriage. Its also ideal if you use a seedless watermelon. Choose the watermelon for the project; clean the outside of the melon well. You might even want to oil it slightly to give it a shiny appearance. Simply rub the oil onto the clean and dry watermelon with a cloth or paper toweling. Wipe off any excess. Find a side of the watermelon that will allow it to sit still. You might have to turn the watermelon several times before finding just the right spot so that it doesnt roll. If the watermelon rolls no matter how you position it you can always surround it with other things to keep it still. Set the watermelon in the center of the table then surround it with whole fruits. Or, arrange some lettuce leaves on a platter then set the watermelon on them.

Youll need a large non-serrated knife to cut the watermelon. Begin cutting the watermelon as if you were going to cut it in half and have two long pieces. About two-thirds of the way through the watermelon stop cutting. Now, go to the top of the melon and cut downward toward the area where you left off cutting. Cut straight down until you reach the first cut. Remove the top piece of the watermelon and refrigerate it to eat later. To make the wheels for the carriage take four slices from an orange. Make the slices approximately the same size. Position each orange slice in the wheel areas of the carriage and slide a toothpick or piece of a wooden skewer through the center of the orange slices and into the watermelon. If you want, you can skewers a cherry, grape, olive or even a marshmallow first, then skewer the orange, and insert the stick into the watermelon. If you have no wooden skewers or toothpicks you can also use pieces of clean, stiff wire. Instead of orange slices you can use grapefruit slices or make different wheels. Some choices for wheels include cardboard circles wrapped in tin foil (paint the foil black), painted margarine tub lids or even tires from an old toy vehicle. You can cube the watermelon meat, if you want, then place it back in the baby carriage. Or, you can use a small melon ball maker to form small melon pieces that look attractive. By cubing or balling the watermelon you can make room for more fruit or other goodies. Place grapes, strawberries, orange slices, marshmallows or other foods in the watermelon carriage. There are other things you can do to make the carriage even more attractive. For example, use hot glue to attach lace or eyelet material along the cut portion of the carriages hood and around the carriage opening. Or, use tube paints or paint markers to write on the side of the melon. Make the centerpiece much more impressive by attaching balloons to it. Tie helium balloons to strings and tie all the strings together. Use a bent piece of wire or something similar to insert into the hood of the carriage. Position the knot so that it cannot slip out from under the wire. The watermelon baby carriage is the cutest centerpiece for just the cost of a watermelon. Having it be the centerpiece as well as a snack is even more economical. Its a unique way to serve the guests while decorating at the same time. Everyone will remember the fabulous baby shower you through and theyll especially remember that cute watermelon baby carriage!

Paper Cone Wedding Decorations and Favors

Have you ever seen a paper doily? They look similar to ordinary doilies, but are much less expensive and made from paper. Youll often find them at dollar-theme stores but you can definitely get them at any craft store. The doilies are available in various sizes and in colors of white, cream or even gold.

Paper doilies are great for certain crafts, and if youre helping to decorate at a wedding, you can take advantage of that. The doilies cost little and can be used for several different wedding projects. Sure, some people simply use the paper doilies to line plates of foods or to set under candles, but youre much more imaginative than that! Purchase the size doilies you want. Small ones, of course, make small cones and large doilies make much larger ones. Roll the paper into a cone shape and use hot glue to secure it in the front. The edge of the doily should be positioned exactly in the front with a slight overlap so you can glue it. After youve created the cones there are many different ways to embellish them and several ways to use them.

Create many different types of wedding favors by using the paper cones. Use tulle circles - or circles of lace - to line the cones. You can also use tissue paper, muslin, or other fabrics to line the cones. Push the center of the tulle or lace down into the point of the cone. Fill the cones with wrapped mints or candies, rice, pictures and trinkets - any number of things. If youre filling the cones with something loose, like rice, put it in a small zipper-lock bag first. The tiny bags are sold at any craft store. Glue your choice of embellishments to the front of the cones before filling them. Tie a satin bow and let the ends hang long. Glue on silk leaves and small rose buds to create a Victorian look. Or, glue on gold plastic hearts, painted wooden shapes, a large fake jewel, or other choices. Youll find zillions of miniatures at any craft store making it easy for you to create most any theme. Instead of filling the cones with wedding favors you can use them to display flowers at the wedding. Add the embellishments to the front of the cone then use double-sided tape to stick the cones to corners, tables and more. Use lightweight items to fill the cones when hanging them with the tape. The rolled doily cones look lovely and will grab attention at your wedding. If you want a particular theme for the cones try purchasing scrapbook paper instead of paper doilies. Cut the papers into circles for the cones. If you want you can scallop the edges of the paper circles. Craft stores sell literally hundreds and hundreds of different paper designs. Cones can then be foil creations, pastels, bright colors and patterns, or Victorian prints. The choice is yours. Its possible to also make the cones from fabric. Choose the theme of fabric you want then cut it into the circles. Use fabric stiffener to help keep the cones shaped. The stiffener is found at any fabric store. Follow the instructions on the label for using the product. Make sure it is completely dry before folding it into the cone shape. The cloth doilies can be used like the paper ones to hold wedding favors or even flowers. Make a beautiful gift for the bride-to-be by creating a large cloth cone. Use the stiffener as stated, line it with fabric or lace, then fill the cone with any number of gifts for the bride. The cone will hold everything from rolled up towels to kitchen wares or lingerie. It makes a unique gift thats rarely seen. Create the cones for other occasions, too. Using scrapbook paper you can make the cones for graduation gifts, Easter baskets, birthday treats and much more. They are perfect for most any occasion! Ordinary printer paper makes wonderful little cones that can be embellished in many different ways. You dont have to have a lot of money to create the cones but, when theyre finished, they look like you spared no expense!

Cheap and Easy Stocking Stuffers You Make for Kids

Kids really look forward to the ton of goodies they find in their stockings every year, but if youre feeling the financial pinch, that could be more than you can afford. Make some of the stocking stuffers yourself and youll not only save money but youll thrill your child with your creations.

Really young kids will love a set of maracas you make in no time. Use bathroom tissue rolls to make the maracas. Cut four cardboard circles the size of the open end of a bathroom tissue roll. Cut four pieces of fake fur to cover the cardboard circles. Glue one fur-covered disk over one open end of the tube then fill (half full) with rice, bells, beads or other noisemakers. Glue the other fur-covered disk in place. Now wrap the entire tube in the fake fur and glue in place. The fur hides the seams well and feels good to the child. The child can shake the homemade maracas to create his or her own music.

If your child is crazy about Hannah Montana, Batman or even High School Musical he or she will love an easy puzzle you can make. Purchase one piece of magnetic sheeting at a craft store or craft department. The sheeting has a peel-away piece that exposes the adhesive underneath. Cut a picture of your childs favorite star from a magazine, poster or other source. Place the picture on the adhesive side of the sheeting. Use scissors to cut the picture into pieces for a puzzle. The pieces can be cut like a jigsaw puzzle or can be cut into simple squares. Your child can put the puzzle together, over and over, on the fridge. Place the puzzle pieces in a Christmas zipper bag and drop in the stocking. Its a fun gift thats very easy to make. If the stocking youre stuffing is for a teen that now drives you can make a cool key chain with Scrabble tiles. Use the tiles to create the childs name, astrological sign or other word. Dont go over 5 or 6 letters or the key chain will be entirely too long. Choose the letters to spell the word twice. Lay the letters of the word, face down, on a table. The letters should spell the particular word, from top to bottom. Fold a piece of cord in half and pass it through a key ring you purchase at a craft store. Let the ring lay on the table but glue the strands from it down the length of the Scrabble letters. Take the second set of letters and place them, face up, on top of the other letters, trapping the cord pieces in between. The cord you use should not be bulky. Fishing twine works great. Ordinary white glue or hot glue will work great for this project. If you dont have enough letters to spell the name twice simply turn the second set of letters upside down so that you can only see the backs of the tiles. That way, the name or word is spelled out on the front, but the back is blank, and you can use any letters you have. Make a cute gift for a babys stocking by starting with a small piece of fabric. Stitch several small jingle bells onto a piece of fabric that will wrap around the babys wrist. Two or three bells is sufficient. Stitch a piece of velcro onto the bracelet to fasten it to babys wrist. When baby moves his or her arm the bells will jingle. This is a fun gift thats simple to make. Youll find the tiny jingle bells at any craft store. Make blow bubbles yourself in no time. Take a vitamin bottle or medicine bottle and wrap it with a nice sticker to cover the label. Use a metal pipe cleaner and shape it into the blower. Bend the end of the pipe cleaner piece and glue it to the inside lid of the bottle. Hot glue is not appropriate for this craft. Mix two parts water with one part liquid dish soap to create the bubble mixture. Any child will love to find the blowing bubbles in his or her stocking. Stocking stuffers can get quite expensive, but this year, youll be making your own. Your kids will love the surprises they find on Christmas morning and youll love knowing youre not broke the day after Christmas!

Easy Bridal Veils Anyone Can Make

Your wedding has to be perfect but, contrary to popular belief, perfection doesnt have to cost a lot of money. You can make some of the wedding things yourself and save a fortune, but best of all, no one will know you didnt dig deep to pay for it all! The bridal veil, in particular, will grab attention when you make it yourself. There are several different ways to do so and all are easy enough for anyone to accomplish.

Start with a white headband to create one particular veil thats inexpensive and easy. The headband can be hard plastic or even padded fabric. Purchase enough netting or tulle to make a veil that will be short or very long - according to your own preferences. Open the fabric and lay it on a table with wrong side facing upwards. There should only be one layer and the length of the material should run horizontally.

Lay a tape measure on the headband from one end to the other. Use this measurement to decide how wide to make the veil. Begin gathering the fabric, vertically, down the center. Loosely tie a ribbon around the center of the gathered veil so that it will be the length of the measurement you took. Use hot glue to glue the gathered part of the veil to the headband. After attaching it you can sew or glue on narrow lace around the edges. Cover the gathered area with silk flowers, strands of beads and other embellishments. If you want the veil to be long in back, and shorter in the front, simply gather the veil material off-center to accommodate the design. The veil - short or long - has no sides, only a front and back. To create sides gather a piece of lace and glue it to the end of the headband. Make one for each side. The pieces shouldnt be as wide as the front and back pieces. Instead, just gather a narrow piece for each side, and glue them in place. Make a completely different design by starting with a brass ring. Youll find them in various sizes at any craft store. Purchase a 12-inch ring and several yards of lace, tulle or netting. Cut each piece twice the length of what you actually need. Cut enough to reach the floor or just to hang to the waist. Add five inches to the figure. Take the first length of lace and fold it in half. Lay one edge of the ring on the lace, just below the fold. This will leave a loop of lace above the ring. Take the ends of the lace piece and bring them up and over the ring. Slide the ends through the loop of fabric. Pull the ends all the way through as the fabric tightens around the ring. Adjust the "knot" so that it is on the outside of the ring. When youre finished with that piece do the same with another piece. Continue adding the separate pieces in the above-mentioned manner. Push the lace pieces closely together so that you can squeeze even more pieces onto the ring. When the ring is completely full youre finished. If you want, you can go a step further and sew or glue (fabric glue) the long edges of the lace pieces together so that the veil is one piece. Add narrow lace trim or other embellishments as you wish. Glue or otherwise attach several small hair clips under the lace, around the ring, to keep the veil in place. The above veil can be altered to become a half-veil if you dont want it to cover your face. Tie the lengths of lace onto the ring and scrunch them together until they cover half of the ring. Glue or otherwise fasten silk flowers, leaves and strands of beads to the remainder of the ring. As above, glue or attach small hair clips under the flowers and lace, right next to the ring. Veils are very expensive but they can be really easy to make yourself. Add your choice of ribbons and other embellishments in your wedding colors to match. Sequin, fake jewels and glitter paint are only some of the craft supplies you can use to make the veil uniquely your own. Since none of the veils take very long to make youll have lots of time left over to make the decorations!

Tips for Laying Vinyl Floor Tiles

Time for new floor covering? Dont like the prices of carpet and linoleum? Press-on vinyl floor tiles can be a little less expensive than floor covering sold on a roll but many people forego the tiles since they can give the installer a little trouble. If you follow a few basic tips, though, your vinyl floor tile job can look just like a professionals! Vinyl floor tiles are sold in boxes of 12 tiles which are each 12" x 12". They have an adhesive backing which is peeled away before positioning the tiles on the floor. Its pretty simple to peel and stick the tiles, but if you want the finished floor to look perfect youll take a few particular steps to that end.

Some people just peel and press the tiles in place. That works for the time being, but if not properly installed, the tiles can have lumps under them or even peel up in the near future. If not perfectly aligned one can stand back and see each individual square in the room. The goal is to butt them so closely together that youre hard-pressed to see the perimeters of each tile.

If youve had to replace the floor, and now youre laying the vinyl floor tiles, you need to know that sawdust is everywhere! Even if you think youve swept well you could still have trouble getting the tiles to stick. Clean floor as well as possible then follow steps below to ensure there is no more dust on the floor. Many people start by placing the first tile in a corner of the room. Thats the wrong thing to do. Find the center of the room by first measuring the width, then the length, and placing a mark where they cross in the middle. Start the first tile, at the cross, aligning one corner of the tile with one corner of the cross. After youve positioned the first tile its up to you in which direction you go. Place the second tile above, to the side or below the first one. Make sure the floor is perfectly clean and dust-free. Using a blow dryer or heat gun will help you tremendously. Not only can you blow dust from the area before laying each tile, to ensure the tile will stick, but warm tiles stick much better than cold ones. Working in a cold room means the floor is cold. Youll have little luck sticking cold tiles to a cold floor. When possible make sure the room itself is nice and warm. Theres no need to turn the heat up but having the room at about 70 degrees will be helpful. Even still use the blow dryer or heat gun to warm up the area before placing each tile. After placing each tile use the blow dryer to warm up the tile itself. Dont hold heat guns too close or you could damage the tiles. Go around the perimeter of each tile, with the blow dryer, smoothing the edges down. Dont hold your hand directly under a heat gun and be sure to wear gloves while smoothing down the tiles. Tiles can be hot after a blow dryer has been used on them and gloves will protect your hands from hot tiles. Some manufacturers of vinyl floor tiles recommend using a rolling pin to smooth the tiles. The rolling pin will help you put pressure on each tile to secure it. Using heat along with the rolling pin will give you excellent results. If possible, avoid cheap tiles sold in discount stores. Often, these tiles have deficiencies like weak adhesive or faded patterns. If the cheaper tiles are all you can afford, but the adhesive is not all it should be, use spray-on adhesive on each tile before placement. Turn the tile upside down, place it on plastic, and spray. Do not get the adhesive on the patterned side of the tile. If you do try using rubbing alcohol to remove the gummy residue from the adhesive. You dont have to be expert at remodeling to lay your own vinyl floor tiles. Anyone can do it themselves if they follow the above tips and suggestions. Hint: place knees on a pillow or piece of foam to protect them. Laying vinyl floor tiles can take some time and you will be surprised at how hard it is on the knees!

Pockets, Bows and Other Girls Outfit Embellishments

The thing about a paper pattern is that, even though its a little costly, it can be used again and again. The problem with that? If you make something over and over you end up with many garments that look alike. If you enjoy sewing shirts, dresses and other garments for your daughter or other little girl in your life you can use one pattern to make zillions of different outfits! All you need to do is learn how to make assorted embellishments. That way, each thing you make looks completely different! An outfit can look much different than another just by the pockets it has. You can cut squares, fold down all the sides, and sew it on like a regular pocket on a t-shirt - but much smaller. Or, you can make the pockets like weve all seen which have the point at the bottom. But, if you make other pockets, the next outfit you make will have a completely different look. Try making pockets shaped like hearts, for example. Look in coloring books and similar things for an animal shape that might work as a pocket. Its fun to find uniquely-shaped things and use them as patterns for pockets.

Use wide ribbon and you can make gorgeous bows in seconds. Cut a length of the ribbon, scrunch it together in the middle, then tie a piece of thread tightly around it. Use a few machine or hand stitches to tack the bow to the dress, shirt or other garment. Make just one large bow and add it to the neckline of a garment or make many tiny bows and attach them, here and there, on the outfit. Cut the ends straight for one look, with pinking shears for a different appearance, or cut them at a point on the ends to create yet another design.

You can quickly create designs on outfits when you use buttons and fabric paint. Apply a small mound of paint to one area then push the button into the paint until the paint oozes through the holes in the button as well as out from around the button. Using glitter paint, pearl types and other fabric paints you can use this technique to make flowers, letters, words and numbers or other images. Take a t-shirt and find the center line down the front. Make tiny dots with a pen on each side of the top of the line. Go down a couple of inches and make a dot on each side of the line again. Do this several times to straddle the line, all the way down the front, with dots. Cut a small hole at each dot. Now cut rectangles of cloth with pinking shears and use the pieces to embellish the shirt. Slide one end of the fabric through both holes then tie the material in one knot. With this technique you can change the look of the shirt in a couple of minutes simply by cutting more squares and trading them out for the existing ones. With the above shirt you have many other options. Instead of fabric pieces you can thread strips of leather, braided yarn or other materials through the holes. The strips, if they hang long, create a fringe effect down the front of the shirt. Its easy to change the look of an ordinary tank top or sleeveless shirt or dress, too. Tie a bow onto each strap, right where the front of the strap turns into the shirt, and the outfit will instantly look different. Tie long leather or other cords to it and you create another design entirely. Narrow lace, often used as trim for shirts and dresses, can be used in several ways to make an outfit look different than the pattern intended. Gather the lace and you create a frilly look around the collar, a pocket, wrist bands and hemlines. Sew the lace on flat and smooth, though, and you create a finished look thats tasteful and easy to accomplish. Use lace the same color as the garment to get one effect; lace of a different color to create another look for the garment. You dont need a whole bunch of patterns to keep that little girl looking nice. You just need to use more embellishments! And theyre much cheaper than patterns - especially when you make the embellishments yourself!

Christmas Decor Items You Make from a Coffee Can

Make yourself a nice, hot pot of coffee, then sit down and make something from the coffee can. At Christmastime there are many things you can make from a coffee can that will create a festive look in your home. Decorate the cans and use them to decorate your house during the holidays.

A quick and easy decoration you can make will show off your Christmas cards youve received. Wrap yarn round and round the can, from top to bottom, until the entire can is covered in yarn. The wrapped can will now display all your Christmas cards. Slide a card behind a single strand of yarn aligning the fold of the card with the yarn piece. The cards will fan out around the can and create a colorful display that looks great on a coffee table or mantle. Any size coffee can will work for this craft.

Remove the lid off a coffee can to create another decor piece for your home. Cover the can with velvet, foil or decorative paper. Set the can, open side down, on your Christmas goodies table. Set pies, plates of snacks or trays of food on the covered cans. These pillars will give a unique look to your table. Some foods are raised higher, by placing them on the cans, allowing you a more festive appearance. Tie bows around the cans to add flair. Use different size cans to add variety. Stack coffee cans in a pyramid shape to make a completely different Christmas accent for your home. Cover the cans - without lids - with cloth or decorative paper. Lay out a long, wide piece of velvet ribbon. Lay three cans, side-by-side, on the ribbon. Stack two more covered cans on top of the original three, then one more on top of the two. Although the cans can be glued together tying them together means you can disassemble later. Bring the ribbon up and tie it around the cans. All the openings of the cans should be facing you. The arrangement can be displayed in the bathroom, a childs room or even the kitchen and can hold towels, toys or even utensils. If you want you can wrap the openings of the cans with lengths of garland or even tinsel. The stacked coffee cans are easy to make and are very handy. Cover a coffee can with white faux fur and use it as a tree stand for your miniature Christmas tree. The furry stand will make any small tree come to life. With the can you dont even need a tree skirt. If you dont have any fur the can could also be covered in velvet or other cloth. A single coffee can, covered in velvet or fur, can be used in many different ways at Christmas. Use them for plant stands in any room of the house or set one in the kitchen to hold spatulas and other utensils. In the bathroom they can hold curling irons, brushes and more. Use a large coffee can to make a unique table centerpiece. Cover the can in velvet or Christmas cloth. Set the can on the table with open side facing up. Fill the can halfway with newspapers or other fillers. Now arrange small toys, stuffed animals and other novelties in the can. Allow some of the items to stick up and out of the opening. Place a ring of garland around the bottom of the can. Tie a large red bow around the top of the can. These centerpieces are made from things you already have around your house but they look great. Other things you can place in the can include a small rubber ball, candy canes, a ruler, suckers, and small candies. Use a stencil to make an image on a covered coffee can. Instead of drawing the image onto the cloth or paper use a nail to make holes around the image. Now you can set the can anywhere, containing a single tea light, and your coffee can creation will be illuminated. These cans can line sidewalks, sit on mantles or highlight the food table. Who doesnt drink coffee? Well, some people might not, but if they get a look at the things youve created from the cans they just might take up the habit! Never throw away an empty coffee can; there are just so many things you can make out of them!

Five Ways to Dress Up an Ordinary Gift Bag

Hold up a cheap gift bag, and compare it to an expensive one, and youll see the difference right away. Ordinary gift bags can be printed and colorful but they just dont hold a candle to the more expensive ones. High end gift bags have embellishments and features that plain bags dont offer. Select from various techniques for decorating plain bags, though, and the recipient will think you spent a fortune on the bag alone! Its easy to add your own enhancements, and its even easy to change the entire look of the bag, without spending much money.

One way you can change a gift bag without spending any money at all is to add a picture window. Actually, you can add as many windows as you want. They can be put in a particular order or can be added, here and there, randomly. Draw a square, circle or other shape on the bag. Place a piece of thick cardboard under the drawing. Use a craft knife to cut out the shape. The tiniest dot of hot glue, on the four front corners of the picture, will secure it inside the window. If you want you can use a piece of cling wrap to cover the picture before placing it in the window. For pennies more you can cover the photo with clear laminate paper. The pictures can be of family, pets or just images cut from magazines, like lighthouses, flowers or pyramids. This technique allows you to make any theme you want on the gift bag.

There are any number of things you can glue around the top edge of a gift bag to add flair and glamour. Check your local dollar-theme stores for things like boas, leis or fur pieces. Sewing supply stores also carry fake fur, in all sorts of colors and designs, as well as roping, ribbon or ruffled lace. Use hot glue to attach any of these embellishments around the top edge of the bag. Bows or roping can be cut to where the ends hang low in front. Small novelties can be attached to the ends of the roping. There are lots of ways to apply this technique. Whether the gift bag youre using is plain or printed you can use stickers to change the look. Lots of stores carry a wide variety of stickers, but at a craft store, youll literally find thousands. Choose one huge sticker, like Cinderella or Barbie, and place it on the front of the bag. Or, select smaller stickers, and randomly decorate the bag with them. The stickers can be holographic, glittery or just colorful. Stickers dont have to be cartoon characters or child themes. Look in the scrapbook section of your local craft store to find sticker stripes, borders and more. If you dont have stickers you can punch or cut out foil pieces, wrapping paper or even colored paper. Glue the shapes onto the gift bag to jazz up the bag. Cookie cutters make it possible to create all kinds of fabulous looks on ordinary gift bags. The cutters can be found in literally thousands of different shapes and will help you create any number of patterns. Cut out stars, circles, numbers, letters, or even holiday shapes. Place colored cling wrap behind the designs to create one look. For a different design place photos or magazine cutouts inside the shapes. If you dont have cookie cutters you can do something similar by just cutting out simplistic pictures, like from a coloring book. Trace around the images onto the gift bag. Cut the shape out and place colored cling wrap or other embellishments behind the bag. Instead of cling wrap you can place a piece of colored paper behind the shape, on a patterned bag, or a piece of patterned paper behind the shape in a solid-colored bag. Giving someone a gift feels great but youll really be feeling good when you see how much appreciation the bag itself gets. Choose to let others know you made it or keep that secret to yourself. Either way the bag will be impressive and unique. Youll have so much fun making the bags that youll never purchase an expensive bag again. Even so, yours will be the nicest one received!

Fun Silhouette Project for Kids

Rainy day? Bored kids? No problem! Get out some cardboard and your kids will have loads of fun while you spend no money at all! Whats better than a craft project that costs nothing? If you have cardboard that is at least as tall as your child youre in business! The cardboard can be used to make fun silhouettes that kids can use to decorate their room or other places in the house.

The key to making great silhouettes is, of course the lighting. Silhouettes are black images on white paper or white images on black paper. Instead of making silhouettes on paper, though, your kids will make them on cardboard. When theyre finished youll love the cute images that can be used to create a new theme in their rooms.

Tape a large piece of cardboard to a wall in the home. Have the child stand, sit, lean or otherwise pose against the cardboard. Bright light should be in front of the child and you should easily be able to see the childs shadow against the cardboard. While one child poses an adult or another child will trace around his or her image. Its important that the child stay still while another person traces around the shadow. Use a marker, chalk or even a pen to trace the image. Afterward, an adult or an older child can cut around the drawing. Having a parent use a craft knife will result in much smoother edges than if scissors are used. Spray paint the cardboard black and the silhouette is finished. Kids will have fun coming up with different poses and outfits to create the silhouettes. They can put on a cowboy hat and spurs then turn sideways to create the silhouette. Or, little girls can get dressed up in their tutus and have someone draw around them as they pose ballerina-style. There are no limits to the different creations you can make. Although cardboard works perfectly for this craft its possible to create the silhouettes with white paper. The paper should be one continuous piece. Tape the paper to the wall, create the silhouette, color it with black crayons or markers, then cut out around the image. Even though the cardboard silhouettes have more depth the paper ones are much easier for children to cut. If youve made a paper silhouette its easy to tape it to the wall. Roll small pieces of Scotch tape and place them on the back of the paper. Position the silhouette on the wall. If youve made a cardboard silhouette use double-sided tape to stick it to the wall. Use more than one silhouette to create a childrens theme in a bedroom. One silhouette can peek from behind a desk while another resides on the closet door. Theres lots of different ways to use the silhouettes for decorating. Its fun to use some real objects to embellish the silhouette. Give the black and white image a jolt of color by gluing on a real hat band, a fake jewel for a ring or bracelet, a real buckle at the waistline, and similar enhancements. People who see the silhouettes will do a double-take! Out of the corner of your eye the silhouettes look like real kids! The kids can add other images to the original silhouette by simply holding something. A child can hold a beach ball, umbrella, puppy, doll, fake dumbbells, or other prop. Draw around the object, while drawing around the child, to make an interesting single silhouette. The silhouettes dont necessarily have to be made indoors. Trace around your image outside, leaning against a post, or even pulling a wagon. Just use a bright light, at night, to help you make the design you really want. These outdoor images can be placed on a front porch or even in a garage. You and your children will have loads of fun creating crazy silhouettes. The silhouettes can be kids, parents, animals, and objects of any kind. Once youve made one youll want to make more! Its a blast watching kids get creative with different poses and its so much fun to see the looks on the faces of others when they see them!

Interchangeable, Magnetic Hat Bands You Make in Minutes

Love wearing cowboy hats? Dont love the price on new hat bands? Dont worry about it! Make your own hat bands and youll save money and have the exact design you want. No more paying big bucks yet settling for certain designs because theyre all thats available. Your homemade hat bands can have any theme you want and will cost next to nothing! Find leather sinew, in various colors, at most any craft store. The strips of leather are just what you need to create the initial hatband. After that, you can easily create many different designs that are interchangeable. A few items from a craft store, or even a hardware store, and youll have an assortment of hat bands for the price of one purchased at a retailer.

There are other things you can use besides strips of leather. Hardware stores and home improvement places carry many different cord types which will work well for creating hat bands. Some thick string is also appropriate. You can even cut strips of fabric and braid them together.

To start the hatband cut three strips of leather which will be braided together. The strips can be different colors or all the same. Allow extra length since youll lose some as you braid. When finished braiding youll decide how you want to close the braid. There are different methods and youll choose the one thats right for you. One way is to allow lengths of leather to hang off the beginning of the braid. Braid the cording, and when finished, leave lengths hanging off the ends as well. Use the extra lengths to tie the beginnings and ends of the braid together. Trim closely. A different way is to use small safety pins to hold the ends together. It doesnt matter which you choose because the embellishments you use will hide the ends. If you have tied the ends together its necessary to glue a button magnet to the knot. If youve used safety pins instead all you have to do is stick the button magnet to the safety pins. The magnet will allow you to easily change the design of the hat in a few seconds. Any metal object will stick to the button magnet to create a different look for the day. Use any number of metallic embellishments from a craft store, or even a metal piece youve purchased from a hardware store. There are many from which to choose: metallic letters, small wrought iron designs, even flat, metal squares. Stick the square to the button magnet then add another magnet as the embellishment. Using the metal squares or other shapes makes it easy to print on magnetic sheeting before attaching it to the square. Print assorted magnets then change the look of your hat any time you want. You can use other embellishments besides metal pieces. Simply affix a piece of magnetic sheeting to the back of most any lightweight object and stick it to the button magnet. This allows you to interchange the design with plastic pieces, ceramic shapes and even a silk flower. Youll find novelties galore, which are perfect for men or women, at any craft store. The novelties can be found in plastic, cardboard, metal, ceramic, cloth, and other materials. You dont necessarily have to go to a craft store to get what you need, though. Look at yard sales and flea markets for jewelry pieces you can use instead. With magnets you can give your hat any look you want. The safety pin method works best because you can easily change the hatband itself, anytime you want. Create several different bands and attach the one you want to your hat with the pins. Stick on the button magnet and youre ready to create your quick design. Any time you want simply take off that design and replace it with something else. Changing your hatband can completely change the look of your hat. Others will think you own a huge collection of hats but youll know you simply own a huge collection of hat bands! Youll have fun making them because theyre inexpensive and easy enough to create.

Holiday Gift Cans for Anyone on Your List

No money for new stockings this year? Just feel like giving something different? If you have empty paint cans, coffee cans, or ordinary tin cans you have presents galore for everyone on your list! The gifts are unique, easy to make, and will be appreciated by the recipient.

Give a gift can to anyone by decorating the can and filling it with goodies. Cover the can in Christmas cloth, decorative paper, or even foil wrap. Cut a Christmas picture from cloth or paper and glue it to the top of the lid. Be as simplistic or as elaborate as you wish when it comes to the contents of the can. Fill it with candy, stuffed animals and small novelties for a child. Fill it with fishing or hunting supplies for a man. A woman will love one filled with chocolates, cocoa, candy canes and similar items.

There are many different themes you can make using the cans. Create a can for someone who loves sewing, someone that loves cooking, or someone who loves movies. Other possible themes include sports, bath and body, lingerie or clothing, traveling or even pets. Make an entirely different gift can by starting with a small coffee can. Place a strong rubber band around the center of the can. Use wrapped candy canes to create the Christmas theme for the can. Place the candy canes, one at a time, under the rubber band. Turn the candy canes to where the bent side sticks out away from the can. Continue adding the candy canes until the entire can is surrounded with them. You may have to readjust some of them so that theyre facing the right way. Tie a ribbon around the rubber band to hide it. Fill the can with a potted plant, an artificial poinsettia or other items. Make a sparkly pencil holder for someones desk by using an ordinary tin can. Cut metallic pipe cleaners to be slightly taller than the can. Glue the pipe cleaners, side-by-side, around the can. Bend the top part of the pipe cleaner over the top of the can and glue in place. Although this craft is very simplistic you can add embellishments that really enhance the finished project. Glue on fake jewels, a wooden monogram or even a flat, ceramic novelty. Craft stores are full of choices when it comes to embellishments for your can. Fill the can with pens, pencils - or even candy canes - before giving it as a gift. Use a can with smooth sides to make something totally different. Paint the can white and allow to dry. The paint you use should be specially made for metal painting. Nowadays you can purchase metallic colors of tape which dispense just like Scotch tape. Purchase the red metallic tape and make candy stripes on the can. Fill the can with anything you want. Use the cans to make organizers, too. Stack the cans into a pyramid shape after painting them or covering them with cloth. Paint the inside of the cans a light color. The cans should have the lids removed before being glued together in the pyramid shape. Tie the pyramid up with a nice, wide Christmas ribbon or other ribbon choice. The pyramid should be arranged to where the can openings face towards you. The recipient can stack the unique pyramid in the bathroom to hold towels, soaps and other bath items or can put them in the office to hold paperwork, documents and similar things. Make smaller versions, stand them on their bottoms, then use them to hold kitchen utensils or desk needs. The cans can range in size - depending on need - from a soup can to a gallon-size paint can. There are many unique things you can make using the empty cans, and best of all, the projects are very easy. Just about everyone has cans they can spare to create gift cans and Christmas decor pieces. Get the kids in on the fun and let them make a special can for Mom, Grandma or even little sis. Fill with a few things from a dollar theme store or go all-out and cram it full of jewelry, gift certificates, tickets and similar goods. Any recipient will love it!

Special Mothers Day Soaps Kids Can Make

Mom loves beautiful, decorative soaps, doesnt she? Dont have much money? Thats okay. You wont need much - maybe you wont need any at all - depending upon the things you already have at home. That is, if you have a brand new bar of soap at your house, it wont cost you a dime to make Mom a special soap thats one-of-a-kind. Dont get your feelings hurt if she never uses the soap, though. Shell love it so much shell want to save it forever! Start with most any bar of soap. The color and size doesnt matter but soaps with raised letters arent ideal. If you have more than one new soap around the house you can make your mom a set of them. Do so by cutting pictures out of magazines or cards. Cut the images so that they are the general size of the soap. The picture can be somewhat smaller than the actual soap but not larger. Heavy paper will work much better than thin types. Choose wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, comics, magazine covers, or even a photo.

Decoupage glue works great for attaching the pictures to the soaps. Its sold in craft stores and is used for putting paper or cloth onto most any other surface. If you cant get the adhesive just use watered-down white glue. Use two parts glue and one part water to make the liquid adhesive. Use a paintbrush to apply the glue to the soap. Position the picture on the face of the soap and paint on another coat of the adhesive. Allow to dry. Speed drying by using a small fan.

After the glue has dried apply another coat. Continue allowing each coat to dry and apply another and another coat. After three coats you can stop whenever you want, but the more coats of glue you add, the longer the image will stay on the soap. If the glue looks cloudy dont worry. It will dry clear. If cloudiness remains after all drying is complete a small piece of low-gauge steel wool will help you buff it to a clean shine. Pictures of flowers, pets, oceans, lighthouses or other things your mom likes will make the perfect soaps for her. Find great images on old calendars, greeting cards, product boxes, leftover wallpaper, or just create a unique design with stickers. Spell out a tribute to your mom or just write "Mom" with the stickers. After youve glued the stickers on follow the above instructions for layering the glue over the picture. If you dont have stickers you can still spell out a tribute to Mom on the soaps. Just cut letters out of magazines, calendars and similar items. Combine pictures and letters to create something even more impressive. Arrange the letters you want then decorate around the word or phrase with tiny pictures of flowers or other images. There are some unusual types of paper that you can use to make extremely unique soaps. One such paper is a wrapper from a candy bar. These can be used to make "candy soaps" that Mom will love. One design is to use a Hersheys Cookies n Cream wrapper on a white bar of soap. If the soap is green try a Peppermint Pattie wrapper. These soaps are so different but so cute and easy to make! Youll have as much creating them as Mom will receiving them. Make a cute gift basket to present the soaps by starting with two or three small wooden or plastic picture frames. Whatever frames you use they should be identical and flat on the front. Remove glass and backing until all your left with is just the frames. Glue the frames on top of each other then glue a piece of cardboard to the bottom. Fill with shredded paper and arrange the soaps. The special soaps arent specifically for Mothers Day. Theyre great for Moms birthday, Christmas, or even Valentines Day. If the soaps are ever used the paper will disintegrate into tiny pieces over a period of time. The project isnt just for children, either. Women can make theme soaps for friends and family as gifts for various occasions. Get started right away; Mothers Day is right around the corner!

Mini Shish Kebab Appetizers, Snacks, Meals and Desserts

Traditionally, when you think of shish kebabs you think of meats, peppers, onions and similar foods grilled on a stick. Those are delicious, thats true, but you wont please too many kids with that menu! However, shish kebabs can please everyone from family members to guests when you make them in less than traditional ways. If its on a stick, well call it a shish kebab, and you wont believe how many different ones you can make! Its easy to create shish kebabs that are full of goodies for the kids or serve as an appetizer for your guests.

Okay, shish kebabs are generally grilled but they dont have to be when you make them how you want them. Use toothpicks to create a wide assortment of mini shish kebabs or even cut wooden skewers to make them. Toothpicks makes all the foods the same length; skewers can be cut to any length you want - or used at the length they already are. Slide any combination of foods onto the skewer to make everything from appetizers to snacks to meals.

Make a shish kebab salad by laying some lettuce on a small plate. Use toothpicks to slide on tiny tomatoes, cubes of cheese, pieces of ham, olives, pepper pieces, cucumbers, celery, croutons(put these on the end), and similar items. Serve with a side dip or dressing. Or, make it a fruit salad by combining pieces of pineapple, oranges, apples, raisins, bananas, mini marshmallows and other goodies. Serve on a bed of shredded coconut - colored or white. Kids will goggle em up and guests will absolutely love them! It will be much easier for guests to eat sandwiches when you make them into mini shish kebabs. Cut cubes of bread, cheese, ham, wieners, olives, tomatoes, pickles and other sandwich items then align them on a toothpick or skewer. Even make peanut butter and jelly ones by making it first into a sandwich then cutting it into cubes you can slide onto the stick. Try a chunk of banana then two cubes of smashed bread with mayonnaise or peanut butter. Add another banana then another cubed bread sandwich. These are unique as well as delicious. Breakfast can be pieces of waffles and pieces of sausages. Serve with syrup to dip. Or, breakfast can be ringed cereal alternated with chunks of fruit. Another choice is to spread peanut butter on one waffle square, sandwich it with a second square, then slide them onto the skewers. Lunches can be any combination of breads, meats, cheeses, veggies and other goodies on a stick. Create a huge assortment of supper choices for kids by sliding goodies onto a stick. Use crescent rolls to roll up a hot dog and a piece of cheese. After baking, slice the pigs-in-a-blanket, and slide them onto the skewers. Dip like mayonnaise, mustard or ketchup work well for this delicious treat. Grilled cheese, grilled ham and cheese, grilled pepperoni and cheese are all other choices for dinner shish kebabs. Make dessert ones that will please the crowd, too. Slide soft cookies, brownie chunks, slices of fruit, mini marshmallows, snack cake pieces and similar items to make desserts. Alternate brownies with cherries or brownies with mini marshmallows to create two different treats. Take turns sliding on a fruit chunk, then a marshmallow, then another piece of fruit and marshmallow. There are hundreds of combinations you can make and eat. You dont absolutely have to make mini shish kebabs; you can use skewers to make much longer versions which will hold much more food. Although the miniature shish kebabs are great for party foods and kids the larger versions are much more filling if youre making lunch or supper. Serve them on beds of rice, lettuce, coconut or whatever fits the bill for the foods youre serving. They look attractive, are unique and interesting, and everyone will agree theyre delicious. Since there are so many different foods you can skewer youll be able to have a new shish kebab recipe for every night of the week.

Refrigerator Magnet Books and Other Gifts for Young Kids

Magnetic gifts are a great choice for small kids. Children can spend hours playing with magnetic games and other gifts that you can easily make yourself. Purchase a roll of magnetic sheeting at a craft store and youll have enough magnet to make several nice gifts for your kids or kids on your Christmas list. The sheeting costs about ten dollars a roll but youll be able to make many gifts with one roll.

Purchase childrens books at yard sales and use the pages to give your child hours of fun. Tear the pages from the book and affix each page to the magnetic sheeting. The sheeting has a peel-away top that exposes an adhesive underneath. Simply place each page on a piece of sheeting then cut out the words. Cut each individual word or cut the pages into phrases or sentences. Kids will have lots of fun arranging the words or phrases into their own story.

Use large letters or numbers to help teach young kids. Cut letters from magazines - or even use large stickers - and affix them to the magnetic sheeting. Kids can then arrange the alphabet on the fridge or learn their numbers in this manner. Cut pictures of your childs favorite star - like Hannah Montana - from a product box, magazine or other source. The picture you choose should be fairly large. Affix the picture to the magnetic sheeting then cut the picture into several pieces. This homemade jigsaw puzzle will thrill your child. He or she can arrange the pieces then display the finished puzzle on the fridge. There are any number of pictures you can use including school pictures of friends or family members, pictures cut from a calendar, or even images torn from a coloring book. Create a complete set of images that children can use to make their own scene on the refrigerator. Cut out pictures of children, trees, cars, flowers, rainbows, suns, swing sets and other items. Place the magnetic sheeting on the backs of each picture. Now kids can set up their own scene of a town, a bedroom, a park or other displays. Get the pictures from magazines, old books, calendars or other sources. Young kids can learn a lot about weather while they play with the magnets. Type phrases like "Today it is..." then affix the phrase to the magnetic sheeting, and place the partial phrase on the fridge. Kids can choose magnetic words youve made, like "sunny", to fill in the blanks. You can make accompanying images, like a sun, a rainbow or a water puddle, to stick along side the phrase. These phrases dont necessarily have to be about weather. Make ones that describe how the child is feeling that day. Kids will enjoy choosing the words and accompanying images to express themselves. Magnetic games you make dont absolutely have to be done on the refrigerator. Cut a piece of the magnetic sheeting and stick it to a piece of cardboard. With cardboard side down, and magnetic side up, you can create many different game boards. Purchase cheap checkers at a dollar theme store, for instance, then put a small piece of the magnetic sheeting on the bottom of each checker. The cardboard piece keeps the magnetic sheeting from rolling and makes a great travel game. The checkers wont slide, while riding in the car, ensuring hours of fun for all. The travel game doesnt necessarily have to be a board game. Use magnetic sheeting to create a set of people, scenes and objects, then kids can set their own scenes while traveling. These are great because the cutting and magnetizing of the images can be ongoing. Present the child with a magnetic board and a playground scene, then later, give them another scene youve made. Kids can carry the board and pieces in an ordinary gift box. Sometimes it seems that the toys kids love most are the ones that didnt cost much. Young kids, in particular, have hours of fun playing with magnets. These magnetic games and puzzles are cheap, easy to create, and make fabulous gifts!

Popsicle Stick Mail Holder for Your Desk

Whether you buy popsicles, and wash the sticks yourself, or you purchase popsicle sticks from a craft store there are literally hundreds of crafts you can create. One such craft will help you clear the clutter from your desk and keep your mail organized. Its not hard to make the letter holder but youll be glad you did. Now youll have a place to store mail until you can file it or otherwise tend to it. Dont have a desk? The letter holder is perfect for a shelf, dresser or other area in the home.

Youll only need four popsicle sticks to create the mail holder. Take those four sticks and make two "x" shapes. Start by making an "x" with two of the sticks. Where they meet in the center, glue them together, then set aside to dry. Make an "x" from the second set of sticks, glue them, then set them aside. Its important that both "xs" be exactly the same. Lay one set on top of the other to make sure theyre both the same. Do this before the glue dries on the second set. Make any adjustments then set aside to dry completely.

Use four wooden dowels to connect the two "x" shapes together. The length of the dowels should be slightly longer than a legal-size envelope. You will be gluing the dowels between the two "x" shapes. If the "xs" were standing up, and the flat sides were facing each other, the dowels would go from the top two pieces of one side, to the top two sides of the opposite "x". Two more dowels will go between the bottom two legs of one "x" to the bottom two legs of the other. When finished, the flat sides should be facing right and left, and the dowels should be facing you. One dowel is positioned across the top back area, and one across the top front area. One more dowel runs between the bottom back legs, and another, the bottom front legs. Hot glue works great to keep the dowels in place. When the glue has completely set you can move on to the next step. Youll now cut fabric that will actually hold the mail. The popsicle sticks become the stand and the fabric will become the cradle that holds your letters. Measure from the back dowel, down to the table, then up to the front dowel. Add five inches to that measurement. Measure the length of the dowel to decide the width of the cradle. Cut two pieces of fabric. One side should be cut to equal the length of the dowels youve used. The other side should be the measurement you took plus the extra five inches. Cut the two pieces and lay them on a table with the wrong sides together. Cut a piece of cardboard that is the width of the fabric times a length of three inches. Position it in the center of the two fabric pieces. You can stitch the fabric together, if you want, or you can just use fabric glue to attach them. When the glue is dry its time to attach the cradle to the letter stand. Fold one end of the fabric over the back dowel, and glue in place. The fabric should be on the outside of the stand, come up and over the back dowel, then be glued across the edge. The cardboard piece between the fabric should be almost lying on the table. The next end of the fabric should come under and over the front dowel, then glued across the end. When finished, the stand should be holding the cradle that will hold the mail. Make a smaller version to hold notes or a much larger version to hold rolled documents. You can make a complete desk set that will help you organize everything there. To make a larger set try using rulers instead of popsicle sticks. The concept is the same, with the dowels between them, and the fabric cradle hanging down. The little letter holders and bill organizers make great gifts or will just look fabulous sitting on your own desk. Its a great project for kids to do. They can present the finished letter holder to a teacher, a parent or one of their own friends. The organizer is easy to make, costs very little, and will grab attention right away!

Rope Lampshade Decor

Lamps are made to last for many years - even decades - but what about those lampshades? It can get pretty boring looking at those same lampshades year after year, thats for sure! But why should you leave the lampshade looking the same when its so easy to change it? There are lots of fabulous designs you can create using roping, string, cord or similar items.

You dont have to be any kind of an artist to create logos, borders and other designs with roping or string. Your lampshades will look completely different when youve finished the transformation. Everyone will think you got new lampshades and only youll know the truth! One way to attach the string or rope to the lampshade is to use hot glue. It dries easily and grabs the rope in a hurry. Hot glue works much better for roping or twine than for narrow embellishments like yarn or string. For these types ordinary white glue works much better. Remove the lampshade, nestle it in a wadded towel, then arrange the string or yarn with white glue.

Another way to quickly attach the roping to the lampshade is to use glue dots or glue strips. Theyre available at most any craft store and make it a breeze to apply the roping, yarn or other material to the lampshades. Simply peel the glue strips away from the adhesive backing then place the strips along one side of the roping. Now you can just press the roping, into the design you want, right on the lampshade. There are so many different creations you can do by using roping or twine for the lampshades. Make a border of two or three rows of twine, around the top, then do the same to the bottom. Or, create a different design using stencils. Draw the design onto the shade then cover the markings by gluing on the twine or rope. Ordinary roping or twine can give your lampshades a country or rustic look, but with rope in different colors, you can achieve any look you want. Craft stores arent the only places to find colored twine and rope. Look around at a home improvement store and youll find rope in many colors, sizes and styles. The rope is generally sold by the foot, off of a reel, so theres no need to purchase more than what you need. And, their selection makes it easy to choose a large roping or twine for a huge lampshade or smaller versions for small shades. Simplistic patterns are, obviously, easier to accomplish than detailed designs. Use the rope to make "V" shapes around the lampshade, for example. But, if youd like to create something a little more impressive try using a coloring book page. Tape the drawing to the underside of the shade, trace the image onto the front side, then glue the rope or twine to the shade to finish the design. You dont necessarily have to use the same color of twine for the entire design. Use different colors - even different diameters of twine - to create various looks. With the coloring page technique you can make a lampshade that displays an antique bicycle, a crawling baby, a field of flowers or even a cartoon character - all from twine or rope. Theres no need to stop at the lampshade when redesigning the lamp. Use the roping to make matching accents on certain lamps. You can wrap a ceramic lamp all the way around and it will look like a totally different lamp. For this procedure its best to use twine or rope rather than yarn or string. Since the roping used on the shade will match the roping on the lamp itself no one will know it wasnt purchased that way. Whether the purse straps are a little tight right now and you dont have the money to redecorate, or you simply have a ball of twine youd like to use, try revamping one of your lampshades - or lamps. Youll have a lot of fun thinking of the different designs you can make and then actually creating them. Everyone who sees the finished lamp will be very impressed at your talent; youll be the only one who knows how easy it was!

Table Runner Craft and Decor Projects

Table runners definitely add class to any kitchen or dining room table but did you know they can also be used to make many other decorative things for your home? Its true. From a simple table runner you can make a closet organizer, a pocketbook, a pillow and even a pocketbook! Make a useful closet organizer by starting with a table runner and some cardboard boxes. Set one box on a flat surface, place a bowl on top, then stack the next box. The open side of the box should be facing outward, towards yourself. The bowl is used as a spacer between the boxes. You can use another object, instead of the bowl, to create a small space between each box.

Stack the boxes as high as you want; they can hang from the dowel rod to the floor if you wish. Keep in mind that the table runner should reach from the bottom of the first box, up the sides of all the boxes, across the top, then back down the opposite sides of the boxes. You should only stack enough boxes so that the table runner will cover all of them.

Position the center of the table runner with the center of the top box. Poke two holes in the top of the top box as well as the table runner itself. Thread a pipe cleaner, or another wire, through the holes, from the underside. Twist the ends onto a coat hanger so you can hang the organizer. Now use glue to attach the runner down one side of the stack of boxes, then down the other side. The organizer is perfect for holding sweaters, towels, shirts, shoes and more. Make something totally different by starting with a table runner and a small brass ring. Fold the table runner in half, positioning the two ends together, and mark the center of the fold. Use a needle and thread to stitch on a small brass ring. This will help you hang your creation. Now you can make various things from the folded, hanging cloth. Use cloth letters and numbers to spell out the family name on the cloth. Stitch the letters onto it and hang anywhere. If you dont sew you can also use fabric glue to affix the lettering to the table runner. Instead of the family name you can make this banner as a Christmas greeting, your physical address, or just a cheery "Hello" to your visitors. Hang it on the front door or elsewhere inside the house. Instead of spelling out a greeting you can create any number of scenes. Purchase cloth and cut out the images to attach to the table runner wall hanger. The images can be of lighthouses, pets, houses, or any other image. Place a little batting behind the image then stitch into place on the table runner. The batting will make the images stand out more. You can create any theme you want using this technique. Hang the finished design in a babys room with baby images, a living room with an outdoor theme, or even in the kitchen with images of veggies or cookware. Fold the table runner like an accordion, starting with the end of the runner facing downward on a table. Fold up, then down, then up, then down until both ends of the table runner are facing downward. This design will form several sections which can quickly become a pocketbook. Stitch the runner together at the side, then do the same to the opposite side. Use needle and thread to attach snaps between the sections to secure your items inside. Purchase a handle for the purse or make your own from scrap fabric or ribbon. The purse is easy yet unusual. Make a body pillow by splitting the stitches on one side of the runner. This only works for table runners that have a separate piece of fabric for the front and back. Add the pillow stuffing then stitch the sides shut again. This body pillow can be a decorative touch for any bed and is very simple to make. Its nice to get new things but that doesnt always mean you have to get rid of the old. Use your imagination to create all sorts of things for your home when you recycle. Now, lets talk about those old place mats...

Safe and Unsafe Finger Foods for Your Baby

At about seven months old many babies start becoming very interested in finger foods. They like to sit in their high chairs and practice their pincer grasp by picking up small foods and feeding them to themselves. The problem with that is many foods which are small enough for babys fingers are small enough to be choking hazards. Besides choking there are other risks associated with babies and food. Honey, for example, can host clostridium botulinum spores which can be dangerous to babies. Although adults intestinal tracts can prevent the growth of the spores babies intestines cannot. The spores can grow and cause toxic poisoning.

Peanut butter is another example of a food which is safe for most adults but can be dangerous for young children. The consistency of peanut butter makes it very hard to swallow for some babies. Babies can easily choke on peanut butter or things containing peanut butter. The same is true for things which contain softened cheese. Cheese crackers or pieces of grilled cheese sandwiches are not suitable for babies. Marshmallows and jelly candy fit into this category as well.

Experts recommend pea-size finger foods to keep baby safe. Round foods should always be cut into fourths. Such foods include grapes, cherry tomatoes and melon balls. Leaving them whole, or even cutting them in half, can be very dangerous for a young child. Foods cut into round shapes, like chunks of carrots, should also be quartered. Foods like green beans should be cut into pea-size pieces. Foods to avoid entirely, when it comes to choosing finger foods for the baby, include nuts, popcorn, hard candy and cough drops. As your baby becomes old enough to feed himself its important to offer a large variety, over time, of different textures, shapes, smells and tastes. Its also important to consider the childs age when choosing finger foods as well as how many teeth he has - or doesnt have. A baby with a couple of teeth in the front can have many more foods than a baby with no teeth. Cereal which is round and has a hole in the center is a good choice for your babys finger food snack. Choose cereals which are low in sugar to keep the snack healthy. Cereal can be chewed by a baby with teeth or sucked on, until soft, by a baby with no teeth. Very lightly toasted bread, cut into small shapes, is another good choice for babies with or without teeth. Fresh bread can be dangerous to a baby, though. It can stick to the roof of his mouth or even lodge in his throat. Toast bread before serving to a small child. Fruits are a real favorite amongst babies but make sure the fruit is very ripe. Cut it into shapes rather than balls. Good fruit choices include bananas, plums, pears, peaches, cantaloupe or seedless watermelon. If you cut the fruit into balls or slices quarter them before serving. If you choose pasta for your babys finger food snack make it some of the larger types. Spirals are good, cut into smaller sections, but avoid types like spaghetti. The pasta choice should always be well cooked and soft. Elbow noodles are okay but can be difficult for baby to pick up. Cooked vegetables, even though soft, should still be cut before serving. Carrots, peas, potatoes, sweet potatoes and even zucchini are good finger food choices. When serving meats make sure they are cut into small pieces that are cooked until soft. Something like chicken or even beef is okay but flat objects, like pieces of bologna, are not ideal. Pieces of all-beef hot dogs are fine but quarter them for safety. The foods you feed your baby are very important, nutritiously, but theres much more to selecting a babys food than nutrition. Although some of the listed foods are more safe than others its always recommended that you stay in the room while baby is eating and check on him frequently. Even foods which are cut properly can sometimes still choke a child!

Beginners Sewing Project: Steering Wheel Cover

Learning to sew can be somewhat challenging, but once you make the effort, youll be surprised at how quickly you progress. Once youve learned the basics of sewing you can make yourself some simple outfits or even a few decorative things for around the house. After youve gotten even better the skys the limit! When people think about learning to sew they usually dream of new outfits and decor but rarely about the improvements they can make on their vehicle! Youre not most people, though, right? You must know, then, that after youve learned a few basics you can make a new steering wheel cover thats cool and easy to make.

You dont have to be an expert at sewing to create a simple steering wheel cover. Set your machine to run a straight stitch and youre good to go! Set the stitch length to be somewhat long so that you can accommodate a slightly stretchy material. Thread the machine and wind a bobbin that match the color of the new steering wheel material. An ordinary foot works fine.

Choosing the material youll use can be tricky. Thin, slick material is totally unsuitable. Thicker materials are perfect but might not work with your machine. In addition, the material needs to be somewhat stretchy so that you can get it over the steering wheel. Fabrics which have a foam backing work well if the foam is not really thick. Thin vinyl works well to make a decent steering wheel cover, and if you want, you can later add a foam backing. Vinyl stretches, comes in a variety of colors, and is not all that expensive. Measure around the steering wheel, and add a couple of inches, to get an idea of how much material to purchase. To begin creating the steering wheel cover simply measure around the steering wheel and add an inch and a half. This will give you the length to cut the material. To determine the width measure around the steering wheel. Cut the cover to this exact measurement. After youve cut the strip of material that will become the new cover you can begin to sew it together. If youre using vinyl to make the cover you dont necessarily have to have a foam backing. Just take the length of material, fold it in half, and position it so that the right sides are together. Stitch across the ends taking a half-inch stitch. Back-tack when you first start sewing, stitch across the material, then back-tack once again. Trim away excess thread then trim the seam down close to the stitches. Can you believe the steering wheel cover is already finished? If you want something more substantial you can first add a foam backing. You have a couple of choices when it comes to the foam and affixing it. Youll find thin foam at some fabric stores but you can also find it at a home improvement store. Air conditioner filters that are made of thin foam work well, too. Cut the foam to be a quarter-inch smaller, all the way around, than the actual steering wheel cover. Using fabric glue you can attach the foam piece to the backside of the cover before you stitch the ends of the strip closed. Allow the glue to dry completely before sewing the ends closed and placing the new steering wheel cover on the wheel. If you prefer to sew the foam to the cover place it on the back of the vinyl and use clothes pins to hold it in place while you stitch. Go around the perimeter, stitching the foam to the material, removing the clothes pins as you go along. After adding the foam stitch the ends together. When youre finished making the cover youll simply stretch it over the steering wheel. If theres already a cover over the original steering wheel remove it before adding the new one. Youll be surprised at just now easy it is to make a new steering wheel cover for your vehicle. Youll enjoy creating it so much youll definitely want to make more! Consider this easy sewing project when it comes to gift-giving this year. The recipients will love em!

Hairy Character Grass-Planting Project for Kids

Spring is in the air and what better way to celebrate that than by letting kids get creative with planting? No, were not going to take them out and make them plow the fields! But, it would be nice if they could learn a little about planting while they do just that - plant! Its easy and fun for kids to make a plant that is not only a living thing but is also part of a whimsical character for your home. The finished plant character can be displayed on shelves or other areas.

Use Styrofoam cups to create the main character. The size of the cup is unimportant. Use various craft supplies, or things you already have around the house, to create the face for the character. Simply draw the face on with a marker or pen, or use any number of craft supplies to make the face. Glue on wiggly craft eyes and a felt mouth. Use coloring pencils to make rosy cheeks. There are many different looks you can give the character by using pom-poms instead of wiggly eyes, a mouth sticker instead of felt.

When kids are finished creating the face they can then plant the grass seed which will become the characters hair. First put in a few pebbles so that the water can drain. Add soil to the cup then sprinkle in the seeds. Water the seeds and set the character somewhere. Soon the kids will see the grass plants growing. The grass will look like hair standing straight up on the characters head. There are any number of different grass types that you can use for the hairy characters. In fact, you can plant other things instead of grass, like clover, or even flowers. When the flowers grow the character then looks like he or she has on a floral hat. Check pictures of flowers and plants on the front of the seed packets to find other appropriate choices. Types that grow straight up, or stay squat but full, are perfect. Instead of making the Styrofoam cups into people characters kids can make cute animals. Cut strips of foam or twine to use for whiskers. Cut ear shapes and glue them to the sides of the cup, near the top. Glue lace or other materials around the bottom of the cup to create the appearance of an outfit or collar. This can be done for the people or the animal characters. No matter if youre making pets or people you can make the ordinary Styrofoam cups look much better by first covering the with flesh-colored felt, paper or cloth. Glue the embellishments directly onto the material or use markers directly on it. Either way, the characters are so cute when theyre finished. Create a huge variety of plant people and animals by using assorted pots. Instead of Styrofoam cups, for example, create the face on a solid-colored cereal bowl. The bowl can be filled with soil and the seeds put in the dirt. These characters look much different than the cup characters. You dont have to use cereal bowls from your own cabinet; purchase the plastic disposable type instead. Other great containers include plastic frosting cups, single-serve cereal bowls, empty vitamin bottles, or even plastic drinking cups. Make some characters with freckles, others with sleepy eyes. Some with a bow on the ridge of the cup, some with a bandana tied around the top edge. When you combine different containers, assorted embellishments, and choices of plants the designs are endless! The hairy character project is perfect as a school project, a Bible school project or just to keep the kids busy on a rainy day. Its inexpensive, easy for most any age child, and will yield cute characters that contain real growing things! Children will love learning to plant and watching the grass grow taller and taller every week. Kids can cut the "hair" of the characters as it grows too long or can later plant the flowers or grass outside. They will learn a lot from the planting experience whether its in a cup or outside. By the way, dont hold back - you know you want to make some, too!

Easy Sun Screen for Sliding Glass Doors

All of us are looking for ways to cut back, save a little on the bills, and lessen the strain on our wallets. One major concern for some people is that ever-increasing electric bill! If youre hoping to pay a little less this year why not give your sliding glass doors a make-over? Itll cost you little, youll create a new and beautiful look for the doors, and youll block out some of that sunlight streaming in. It wont take too long to create the new look, and when youre finished, youll definitely notice a difference! A lot of people cover sliding glass doors with drapes or curtains but whats the point of that? Sure, you block some of the sunlight coming in but you lose the view that you would have without the curtains. If you need the curtains for privacy, thats fine, but in the daytime why not pull the curtains open and view see your yard in all its splendor? Dont worry about the sunlight pouring in and heating up the room; youll be making a cool new design for the doors and blocking the heat as well.

Purchase adhesive tinting on a roll to make the designs. The tint is sold at automobile supply stores and home improvement stores. You wont be simply unrolling the tint and placing it on the doors; youll be doing something a little more spectacular. Cut designs to put on the door and create your own choice of patterns. Later, if you want to remove the designs, rubbing alcohol will help you strip the adhesive.

The designs you cut can be anything from circles to flower shapes. Cut triangles, squares or other shapes to create the pattern you want. Circles and circular shapes look great when attached to the window. They leave small gaps, between the circles, which create an interesting pattern that allows a little light to come in. Align the circles - or other shapes - across the bottom and work your way up or go in the opposite direction. Make sure the doors are very clean and dust-free. Clean and dry the glass just before adding the adhesive designs. Peel and stick the many shapes to the sliding glass doors. All the shapes can be the same size or you can make some larger or smaller than the others. The pattern you decide on is all your own but keep in mind that the smaller you cut the designs the longer it will take to affix them all to the glass. The great thing about the adhesive tint is that you can still see through it. If you leave spaces between each stick-on design youll also be able to see outside through the spaces. If blocking sunlight isnt a concern, but you still want to make-over the sliding doors, use the tinted adhesive shapes to make a perimeter around each door or make a different design. Arrange the squares, circles or other shapes to create a large "x" on each door. Or, place the designs only halfway up to give the glass a different look. There are hundreds of different designs you can create with ease. There are other things you can use, instead of the tint, to make the designs on the doors. Use lacy bathroom window adhesive covering, shelf liner shapes, or even window clings. Dampen the glass to cause the clings to stick. Make your own clings by purchasing the thin vinyl at a craft store and cutting your own shapes. One way to make really unique shapes for the doors is to use cookie cutters. The cutters can be traced around, onto the adhesive paper, to create unusual accents for the glass. Combine the shapes with metallic tape and you can then design even more patterns. The tape dispenses like Scotch tape and is found at most craft stores. Use it to create a perimeter then use the adhesive shapes to make the main design. Youll be surprised at how easy it is to create a spectacular look for your old sliding glass doors and you wont believe how much heat the new doors will block. Youll still be able to see outside and wont have to live with the curtains constantly pulled shut!

Safe Ways to Store Your Precious Ornaments

When the holidays are over a sad feeling can often overtake us because the decorating, celebrating and visiting is over for another year. You know whats sadder than that? Getting your decorations out next year only to find your very best ornaments broken or cracked. No matter how carefully you pack ornaments theres still a chance that some will be ruined. Maybe you drop the box while youre getting it down from the shelf, or other boxes have been haphazardly shoved onto the shelf with the ornaments, damage can occur.

There are a few things you can do to make absolutely sure that your ornaments will be the same next year as last year. The way you pack the ornaments, and the things you pack them in, will make all the difference. Its not hard to protect your ornaments without spending a lot of time packing them.

If you own a paper shredder use it to shred all the wrapping paper you received this year. The shredded paper can serve as a cushion for boxes of ornaments and other things. Of course, you can shred newspaper, old magazines and similar things, and create even more fluff for your packaging. Place a thick layer of the shredded paper at the bottom of the ornament box. Place each ornament into the shredded paper, like eggs into a nest. Space the ornaments at least a couple inches apart. Avoid placing any of the ornaments up against the sides of the box. After youve created one layer of ornaments cover with foam or cardboard and start the next layer. Again, place a thick layer of the shredded paper on top of the foam or cardboard, then nestle each ornament. Fill the box all the way to the top, but it you dont have enough ornaments to do that, stuff the remainder of the box with shredded paper, newspaper, an unused quilt or something similar. This top buffer is very important and should create a tight fit when the lid of the box is closed. Easily create a personal pillow for each ornament. Use zipper lock bags to hold each individual ornament. Zip almost all the way shut but leave a small opening. Quickly blow a breath or two into the bag to fill it with air. Close the zipper the rest of the way and rest assured your ornament is protected. More like a balloon than a pillow, the air surrounding the ornament will protect it should it receive any type of trauma. Place the ornament pillow bags, side-by-side, in a box. You can place cardboard between the layers, if so desired, or just stack the little pillows up in a box. Did you have chocolate covered cherries over the holidays? Of course you did! Eat up then save the empty trays to hold mini ornaments. Depending upon the brand of cherries you purchase, you can fit 5, 6, 12 or more, in one tray. The trays generally come with a cardboard cover that is perfect for covering the mini ornaments. Fill the trays with the ornaments then place the trays back in the original box. This is a simple and cheap way to store your favorite minis. Ornaments which are long and delicate create a unique storage problem. Save Pringles cans to store these. Cardboard curly-qs, icicles and similarly shaped ornaments can be easily slipped into the lidded cans for storing. If you need to, first wrap the ornament in paper towels or newspaper, before placing it in the can. Empty egg cartons can be helpful when it comes to storing ball or egg shaped ornaments. Each ornament gets its own little compartment that will insulate it. Depending upon the size of egg carton you have you could store 12, 18 or more in each carton. Cartons which have the attached lid, rather than ones which slide in and out of a sleeve, work best. Dont risk damage to your favorite Christmas ornaments and small decorative items. Use one of the above techniques to ensure your cherished ornaments are protected. When you get your ornaments out next Christmas youll be amazed that each and every one is still intact!

Things to Save for Next Years Holidays

If you love to craft, you could be like many of us who run out and try to purchase all of our craft supplies before the holidays. Thats okay; youll need new craft supplies to do all the projects you want to accomplish, but throughout the year you can also be saving supplies. Not purchased supplies, but things you normally have around your home, and things you generally throw out with the garbage.

For example, did you know that there are many decor projects, gifts and stocking stuffers that you can make with a toilet paper roll? Stuff them with potpourri, wrap in decorative paper, then tie the ends shut. Throw these in the fireplace and have the aroma fill the room. Stack them in a basket and give them as a gift. Stuff bathroom tissue rolls with candy and small novelties, wrap in paper, then place in a stocking. The rolls can hold lingerie, money, poems or letters, incense sticks and much more. Cut the toilet paper rolls lengthwise, following the groove in the cardboard, and create magnificent curly-q ornaments. Paint the roll with glitter paint, add a hanger and a bow, and no one will know the glittery ornament is mere cardboard! Glue a wooden peg to a wooden base then cut a penny-size hole on one side of a toilet paper roll. Cover the roll with black velvet then glue the roll to the wooden peg. Now youve created a fabulous bracelet holder that any teen would want. There are many other bathroom tissue roll projects that are fun and easy.

Never, ever throw away an odd saucer, coffee cup or dinner plate. Turn a coffee cup upside down and glue a saucer to it. The saucer serves as a candle holder and the handle of the cup gives you a way to carry the candle. Create small shelves in the kitchen by placing two cups apart and covering them with a board. Add another cup on each end, then another board, to make a small shelf for spices and other things. Dinner plates can easily be made into fantastic centerpieces. Glue on garland then glue in small ornaments, fake candies, beads, trinkets and more. Place a candle in the center, if you want, or just add a strand of Christmas lights. Put a white trash bag or two back, throughout the year, and youll have wonderful Christmas window clings. Draw or trace the patterns onto the bag, cut them out, and stick them to windows all over the house. The clings also work on slick items like vases and glasses. You may have to slightly dampen the cutout before clinging it. White trash bags also allow you to create a unique door cover during the holidays. Cut the bag open to form a large rectangle. Tape it to the front door. Go around the perimeter with red velvet ribbon, use the ribbon to create a "t" on the bag, then stick on a red bow. The giant present looks great on any door. Make any number of door covers by using adhesive lettering, metallic tape, markers and other supplies along with the trash bags. Put back a few lids from 20 oz soda bottles, instant coffee jars and spice jars. These lids make beautiful ornaments worthy of giving as gifts. Glue a piece of Christmas cloth onto the flat side of the lids, outline the picture with glitter glue, wrap the sides of the lids with red velvet ribbon and use glitter glue to fill in concave side of the lid. Glue on a loop of stretch cord for a hanger then conceal the ends of the hanger with a small bow. These cute little ornaments are easy and sparkly. Cut Christmas theme pictures out of magazines, books and product boxes. These pictures - big or small - can be used to make coasters, place mats and even wall hangings. The pictures can be laminated to make ornaments, door greetings and much more. Creating crafts and decor projects during the holidays is a lot of fun but save on craft supplies where you can. There are many things you use, or throw away, which can be implemented into next years creations. Save now and youll save then!

No-Sew Growth Chart You Make in Minutes

If you dont sew, but you know people who do, youve already seen that there are all kinds of things they can make that you cant. Dont you hate that? Just because you never learned to sew doesnt mean you cant still have cute, homemade things for your kids and your home. I love sewing but I also love crafts that can be done in minutes without having to drag out the machine. One such project is a growth chart for kids that is unique and easy.

You have many choices for the chart background. Felt works great but you can also use fabric or even paper. Felt can be cut to the needed size and hung. Fabric will need to be hemmed or treated for fraying. You can hem fabric by using fabric glue or you can use a no-fray product to treat the edges. The solution is found at stores that sell fabric and is simply brushed onto the edges. Allow to dry thoroughly before moving on with the project.

Lay the cloth onto a flat surface. The cloth should be at least four to five feet long. The width of the fabric is unimportant. Now youll use an ordinary tape measure to create the growth chart. Fabric glue works great for attaching the tape measure to the cloth or felt. If the tape measure is too long simply cut it to the length you want. If the tape measure has metal ends cut those off before gluing it onto the cloth. Keep in mind where you will be hanging the chart. If the felt or cloth wont be placed flush against the floor the tape measure might need an adjustment. For example, if the room where the chart will be hung has baseboards that are five inches tall youll need to cut the tape measure to where "5" is the starting number. If the felt will go all the way to the floor simply glue the tape measure end to the bottom of the felt. Cut the tape measure off instead of going all the way to the top of the chart with it. Youll need some spare fabric at the top to create the hanger. Use a dowel rod thats slightly longer than the width of the growth chart. Fold the top down a couple of inches and glue it in place. When its dry slide the dowel through the rod pocket. Cut a slit in both ends of the dowel rod to create the hanger. Cut a length of twine and tie knots in each end of the twine. Slide the twine into the slits in the ends of the dowel. The knot will keep the twine from sliding out of the slit. Use the twine to hang the chart on a nail or screw. Hang the charts in bedrooms, dens, living rooms or even the laundry room. Later, remove the chart and save it to give to the child when grown. There are lots of different ways you can embellish the chart. If you used paper to create the chart you can simply use stickers, stencils and markers, colored tape, or cutouts to decorate. If you used cloth you can use fabric glue to attach fabric cutouts, painted wooden shapes or similar embellishments. Felt charts give you more options still. Pieces of velcro on the backs of embellishments allow you to change the theme when you want. Velcro makes it easy to stick other felt shapes, cloth shapes, lightweight plastics and other things to the chart. Fabric stores sell all sorts of cloth that feature themes like cartoon characters or little kids. Felt is sold at the same stores in many different colors. It will be easy to match existing decor or create new themes with the growth charts. The growth charts are great for your kids but make excellent gifts as well. Present to a new mother at a baby shower. Or, give one to new neighbors that move in. Youll enjoy making them and they will soon become a treasured heirloom. Make a separate one for each of your children or track their growth by using different colored markers. Cut pieces of cloth into rectangles to glue to the chart. Use light colors and you can write information on the cloth pieces, like which child, the date, and so forth. The growth charts are cute, easy and lots of fun!