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!

Easy Easter Chick Table Centerpiece

Aw, your Easter table decorations are going to look so cute and adorable! Everyone will love your food and the guests will giggle when they see the Easter chick centerpiece you make for the table. Its whimsical, its easy to make and youll spend very little money creating the decor that you can set out year after year. Make the centerpiece gigantic or really small depending upon the craft items you purchase. The large ones not only make great centerpieces but they look fabulous on a deck or even on the back of the commode. Smaller versions make cool place markers, mantle pieces or as a surprise in a childs Easter basket.

Since youll be able to choose the size of the chick you want to make there are no set sizes of Styrofoam pieces to purchase. Choose a Styrofoam cone to make the body of the chick and a Styrofoam ball to make the head. Compare the cone and the ball to determine whether they will be proportionate. Although a large ball wont look right with a small cone you can use a medium or large ball on a large cone. The cone will make the body of the chick and the ball, of course, will be used to create the head of the animal. Purchase only white Styrofoam; the green type is for floral arrangements and is not ideal for this project.

Its really easy to assemble the Easter table chick. Use a pencil, screwdriver or other implement to make a hole in the bottom of the ball. Add some hot glue to the hole then set the point of the cone in the hole. Allow the glue to dry or set completely before moving on. If you have no Styrofoam pieces you can also make the chick from a paper cone and a lightweight ball, like a ping-pong ball. Paint the ball and the cone yellow to continue. After painting the Styrofoam pieces yellow, and allowing them to dry, you can then use the embellishments you want to finish the project. (Check to see that the paint you use is Styrofoam-friendly!) Use wiggly eyes from a craft store or make eyes from small, black beads. The eyes can even be drawn on with a marker. A beak can be made from a diamond-shaped piece of foam, felt or paper. Fold the shape in half then glue the fold to the mouth area of the chick. The orange paper or felt makes the perfect beak. Give the chick rosy cheeks by applying a little bit of blush or rouge. Cut two wing shapes and one tail shape from yellow felt, paper or craft foam. Glue these to their proper places on the bird. The wings and tail can be distinguished from the body by spreading on a little glitter glue. Or, glue on tiny, clear, fake jewels to add a little glitz. Attach a few yellow feathers to add even more interest to the Easter chick. A few feather sprigs on top of the head can really enhance the look of the finished piece. Another nice touch is to tie a pretty ribbon around the birds neck. Use painted wooden dowels to make legs for the silly chick. Since the flat part of the cone will be the birds rear glue the legs so they stick straight out from the cone, towards the bottom. Paint the skinny dowels orange and stick them into the Styrofoam. For feet use orange felt, foam or paper. Cut the pieces in foot shapes and glue them to the ends of the dowels. Although this finishes the bird you can do other things to further enhance a centerpiece. Glue Easter grass to the bottom of the cone to give the appearance that the chick is sitting in grass. You can even glue some tiny eggs or baby craft chicks to the grass. Make the chicks yourself or help your kids with the project. The finished pieces can be used as table decorations or even a gift in an Easter basket. They can be made for any area of the house and can be tiny or huge. Store them after the holiday and you can use the adorable chick decoration year after year. Youll have lots of fun making the cute chick that will add just a little more excitement and cuteness to an already perfect Easter!

How to Prevent and Treat Canker Sores

Have you ever experienced the pain and agony brought on by a canker sore? What causes them? Can you prevent them? How do you treat them? If you dont know the answers to those questions join the club. Many people who suffer from canker sores have no idea what causes them or what to do about them. For most people its a repeated pattern of pain, pain and more pain. People who get canker sores often have them several times a year. Canker sores can appear on the tongue, tonsils, inside the lip or between the teeth and gums.

Canker sores are not the same thing as cold sores, or herpes. Canker sores are completely inside the mouth and do not occur on the lips. Cold sores appear on and around the lips. Although there is no cure for herpes or canker sores there are some ways you can treat both. When it comes to canker sores there is no actual cure but there are ways to help prevent and treat the painful sores.

First and foremost, we all know about dental hygiene, or should by now. Brushing and flossing on a daily basis are a must for taking care of teeth and gums. Even still, some people will suffer from recurring canker sores, no matter how much care they take to have the best dental hygiene. Swishing your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash can help somewhat. Products that are proven to kill germs can help prevent canker sores as frequently. Swish your mouth at least twice a day to help deter bacteria that may cause the sores. If you already have a canker sore any type of mouthwash can burn and cause tremendous pain to the area. Some people say that certain foods you eat could cause tiny injuries to the mouth, allowing bacteria to enter, and causing the cankers. Crunchy foods, foods with sharp edges, and even spicy foods could contribute to the occurrence of the sore as well as the severity. Some experts even say stress could be one cause of frequent canker sores. Studies show that some sufferers from cankers could be at a higher risk if they use toothpastes with SLS, or sodium lauryl sulfate. The ingredient, found in many types of toothpaste, helps to create a foaming action inside the mouth. Studies show that canker sore sufferers are up to 80% less likely to have the sores if they avoid products which contain sodium lauryl sulfate. Some allergy medications have been shown to give a little relief to the actual canker sore pain. Swish the liquid allergy medicine on the sores for a minute or so then spit out the medicine. Do this every four hours to relief pain inside the mouth. Taking the medicine orally, as you do for allergies, is not sufficient to help with canker sore pain. The medication must be applied directly to the sores. There are products on the market which are specifically for canker sore pain. Look for products which offer to ease the pain while coating the sore. These products will help diminish the pain when used as according to package directions and usually contain benzocaine. Nowadays you can even buy toothpastes which brag that they help prevent canker sores. Use these regularly to diminish or prevent the onset of the sores. According to some experts sufferers can find some help by eating yogurt containing a bacteria called lactobacillus. Be sure you look for yogurt labels which plainly state the presence of the specified bacteria. Another preventive measure can be found in zinc lozenges. Known as a natural antibiotic zinc is said to help prevent the frequency of canker sores. Although there is no proven cause of canker sores, and there is absolutely no certain cure, the painful sores can be coated and soothed, and the frequency can be diminished, by following the steps above. Canker sore pain is a horrible agony; take steps to prevent them as much as possible and to treat them should they occur. Sores that dont seem to go away, or slowly become larger, should be examined by a doctor.

Stained Glass Craft for Kids

No fake stained glass project is ever going to look as good as the real thing. Nothing quite compares to the beauty of a stained glass window. Craft stores sell products now that help you make stained glass windows for your own home but theyre expensive and nearly impossible for a child to do. Kids enjoy the look of stained glass, too, though, so why not let them have some fun making fake ones? They can make most any image of their choosing with a stained glass effect thats not too shabby! Since the project doesnt require any real glass, or any real paints, you dont have to worry about glass getting broken or paints being spilled.

In addition to being a very easy and non-messy craft making fake stained glass is also very inexpensive. In fact, its downright cheap! Start with an ordinary coffee filter to create the design you want. Kids can draw and color on the filter with washable markers. Its important that you use washable markers so that the stained glass will turn out right. Youll have to make the colors bleed and run, and to do so, you need a washable type of marker.

Kids can simply scribble on the coffee filters or they can make deliberate designs. They can use many different colors or use just one or two. After the coffee filters are colored spray them with water. Using a squirt bottle is the easiest way to do this. Spread newspaper or plastic bags on a table, lay the colored filters out, and spray each one with water. Lifting the filter up and allowing the water to drip off helps the colors bleed and run. Kids can create a tie-dye effect for their new stained glass creations by mixing different colors of powdered drink mix, like Kool-Aid, and squirt it onto the coffee filters. Kids will have a lot of fun squirting the colored liquid onto the filters and creating various designs. After the coloring is finished allow the coffee filters to dry completely. It doesnt take long for them to dry but its important that they are completely dry - not even damp. Cut the shapes you want to use from thick paper, thin plastic or even really thin cardboard. You can cut a cross, geometric shapes, animals, or even window shapes. There are no rules for the shapes you cut except to use simplistic designs rather than intricate ones and make sure the image isnt larger than the coffee filter. You can use pictures cut from coloring books or magazines or you can draw simple shapes and cut them out. Cut the coffee filter to the shape of the paper or cardboard. Glue it on one side. Use clear contact paper to laminate the coffee filter pictures. Lay the sticky side up and position the picture on it. Cut out around the sticky paper to finish. The above designs are one-sided. If you want a design on both sides cut two pictures - mirror images - of the shapes you want. Glue the two coffee filter shapes to opposite sides of the plastic, paper or cardboard shape. Cut two pieces of the contact paper and position the coffee filter on one of them. Cover the opposite side with the second piece of contact paper. Another way to finish the pictures is to first laminate the pictures and then attach them to the paper or cardboard picture. You can hang the finished stained glass piece on a wall with double-sided tape or even poke a hole in the top, add a piece of stretch cord, and hang it on a rearview mirror. Eliminate the paper or cardboard between the two coffee filters and just laminate the two coffee filter shapes. This design makes a beautiful bookmark. Kids will have lots of fun making assorted stained glass pieces that really turn out quite nice. Since it only takes a few minutes to grab a filter and some markers you can keep bored kids occupied and entertained anytime. Keep a roll of clear contact paper around and you wont have to run out and buy supplies every time your child is in the mood to make another picture!