Category Archives: Home Decor

Miniature Flower Quilt Sampler Box & Brooch

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Cross-stich this beautiful flower quilt sampler box or a quick-and-easy brooch as a unique gift for Mom or Grandma this Mother’s Day.

Materials

  • Zweigart 32-count White Lugana (box)
  • DMC 18-count White Aida (brooch)
  • Wooden box of choice, 6”x6”
  • Dritz Flat Button Form, 1-1/8”, Size 45
  • DMC 6-strand Embroidery Floss
  • White lace, 1/2” wide
  • Pin back

Tools

  • Needle
  • Craft glue

Stitch Type

  • Backstitch: 1 strand
  • Cross-stitch: 2 strands
  • French Knot: 1 strand (wrapped two times)

Basic Supplies

scissors

Directions

Size / Stitch Count

Approximate finished size: box, 4”x4”; brooch, 1”x1”. Stitch Count: box, 63 w x 63 h; brooch, 15 w x 15 h

Box

1. Print cross-stitch chart and key. (Note: The blue words “chart” and “key” are links. To access these, select the link, then download and print items.)

2. Stitch design centered on fabric over two threads.

3. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to place project in box opening.

Brooch

1. Using only heart design from chart, stitch design on 18-count Aida.

2. Following manufacturer’s instructions for button form, cut fabric to size and form.

3. Sew gathering stitch along long edge of lace. Adhere gathered edge of lace to back edges of finished button

4. Adhere pin back to button form.

Tip

  • Sudberry House (www.sudberry.com) offers a complete line of products to display your cross-stitch creations. Instead of a box, try this design on a small tray, a trivet, or even a stylish key rack.

by Gail Bussi

Wedding Box

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Capture wedding day memories when you place keepsakes from your special day inside this beautiful personalized wedding box.

Materials

  • Walnut Hollow Large Lancaster Wooden Trunk, 9”x5”x5-1/2” (38219)
  • Plaid FolkArt Acrylic Paints: Wicker White, Licorice, Ivory White, Metallic Silver Sterling, Metallic Copper
  • Darice Wooden Ball Knobs, 1”, four
  • Color copy of wedding photo

Tools

  • Plaid FolkArt Down Home Brown Antiquing Medium
  • Plaid FolkArt Satin Artists’ Varnish
  • Paintbrushes: round, #5; flat, #12
  • Plaid Bottle Top Tip Writers (30728)
  • Plaid Mod Podge Découpage Medium
  • Wood glue

Basic Supplies

paper trimmer, ruler, sandpaper, pencil, transfer paper, soft cloth, newspaper (to cover work surface)

Directions

STEP 1

Basecoat box Wicker White; sand lightly. Wipe clean with soft cloth.

STEP 2

Print pattern. Transfer heart pattern around sides of box bottom.

STEP 3

Paint the following: lid, wooden knobs, and top box section Metallic Copper; base and bottom of pattern Silver Sterling; hearts Ivory White. Let dry. Adhere wooden knobs to each corner of box bottom.

STEP 4

Transfer lettering to lid and names and wedding date to underside of lid. Use bottle top tip set and Licorice to add pattern details and write lettering. Spatter paint box and lid Licorice; let dry.

STEP 5

Trim photo to desired size. Following manufacturer’s instructions, use découpage medium to apply photo to lid. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to antique lid and box. Apply varnish.

Tip

  • To create a bridal bouquet keepsake display, adhere floral foam inside box, then arrange dried flowers and ribbon from the bridal bouquet as desired. The wedding couple’s name and date on the lid are the perfect background for this floral display.

by Kirsten Jones

Dog and Cat Pots

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Not only is this the cat’s meow, but it’s perfectly fine that this project has gone to the dogs. Create the perfect treat container to reflect your special pet’s personality.

Materials

  • Terra cotta pots: 2”, 3”
  • Polymer clay: dark brown, brown, grey, white, pale pink

Tools

  • Acrylic paint: dark orange, grey
  • Paintbrush
  • Glue gun and glue sticks

Basic Supplies

toothpick, baking dish, oven

Directions

 

General

(Note: Adult supervision is needed when using a glue gun and oven.)

1. Preheat oven to 275° F. (Note: When assembling clay pieces, be sure all pieces are pressed and stuck together.)

Dog

1. Paint dark orange on outside and inside top half of 3” pot. Let dry.

2. To make body pieces, use photo as guide. For head, roll brown clay into 1”x1-1/4” oval. See Figure 1. To shape head, use thumb and first finger to slightly squeeze one end of oval. For ears, roll two 1”-long teardrop shapes from brown. For nose, roll dark brown clay into 1/4”x3/8” oval; press nose onto front of head. Press ears onto sides of head. For eyes, use toothpick to poke two small holes into head above nose. For muzzle, use toothpick to mark slit below nose. For feet, roll four 5/8”-wide balls from brown; flatten one end of each ball for bottom of feet. Place bottom of feet on work surface, spacing feet so bottom of pot rests on top of each foot; press bottom of pot onto feet. Use toothpick to cut toe slits into each foot as shown. Remove pot. For tail, roll brown 1-1/8”-long tube. Bend tail as desired.

3. Place clay pieces on baking dish. Bake 1/2 hour. Remove from oven. Let cool.

4. Adhere back of head onto one side of rim. Adhere tail on back top of rim. Adhere feet onto bottom of pot.

Cat

1. Adhere back of head onto one side of rim. Adhere tail on back top of rim. Adhere feet onto bottom of pot.

2. To make body pieces, use photo as guide. For head, roll ball approximately 1” wide from grey clay. See Figure 2. Shape ball so head comes to slight point. See Figure 3. For muzzle, roll two 1/4” balls from white clay and slightly flatten. For bottom lip, roll tiny white oval. For nose, roll tiny pink ball. Press muzzle, bottom lip, and nose onto front of head. For ears, form two 1/4” triangles from grey. Press tiny ball of pink onto front of each ear. Press ears onto top of head. For eyes, use toothpick to poke two holes into head above nose. For feet, press white and grey clays together; roll four 1/2” balls; flatten one end of each ball for bottom of feet. Place bottom of feet on work surface, spacing feet so bottom of pot rests on top of each foot; press bottom of pot onto feet. Use toothpick to cut toe slits into each foot as shown. Remove pot. For tail, roll grey 1/8”x3/4”-long tube; flatten one end. Bend down tail.

3. Place clay pieces on baking dish. Bake 1/2 hour. Remove from oven. Let cool.

4. Adhere back of head onto one side of rim. Adhere tail on back top of rim. Adhere feet onto bottom of pot.

by Billie Ciancio

T-Shirt Pillow

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Rescue a favorite old t-shirt from the garage sale stack, then cleverly restyle it into a custom lounge pillow for your kid’s room.

 

Materials

  • T-shirt
  • Pillow insert, 14”x18”

Tools

  • Sewing machine and coordinating thread
  • Air-soluble fabric marker
  • Hook-and-loop tape (optional)
  • Beacon Adhesives Liquid Thread (optional)

Basic Supplies

scissors, ruler or yardstick, straight pins

Directions

STEP 1

Place shirt flat on table, right side up. Use scissors to split side seams and to remove sleeves along seams. Cut across top of shirt just below neck, separating it into front and back sections.

STEP 2

Decide which way you want your artwork oriented, horizontally or vertically. Use fabric marker to draw a 19-1⁄4”x14-1⁄4” rectangle on front of shirt, encompassing artwork; cut for pillowcase front.

STEP 3

Draw 20”x15” rectangle on back section of shirt; cut for pillowcase back. Cut rectangle in half, creating two 15”x10” pieces.

STEP 4

Place pillowcase front on table, right side up. Place two pillowcase back sections on top of front section, right side down, lining up outside edges and overlapping edges at center. Pin fabric to secure.

STEP 5

Sew, or glue, layers together 5⁄8” from outside edge of rectangles. If necessary, let glue dry. Turn pillowcase inside out through center opening. Insert pillow. If desired, sew or glue small piece of hook-and-loop tape to opening to help keep it closed; follow package directions.

Tips

  • Sew a bunch of t-shirt designs together to make a comforter cover.
  • Use size L or XL t-shirts with center artwork for best results.

by Aimee Dolby

Upscale Your Dollar Store Finds

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If you’re like me, the clearance aisle and the dollar aisle at any department or craft store is like being let loose in a candy store. I always manage to find something that takes my fancy and that I believe I can “do something with.” It’s typically a piece that I describe as having “good bones” – meaning it is smartly designed, robust, and useful but typically in need of a special “something extra.”

This frame is just that. It is a well-made plastic frame that takes three 2″x2″ photos. It stands up well and it has a certain charm – but that soccer ball at one end just didn’t do it for me. I don’t have kids who play soccer and I’m not a soccer player anymore – though I did play in school – so this frame needed a touch of magic to make it mine.

The photos are easy – whenever I do a photo project I always end up with lots more photos printed than I will actually use so I keep a stash of photos in my craft cabinet. These small images of my cat Molly are leftovers from recent projects so I chose three that would look good together – they have similar color schemes and they are varied in zoom – I find a mix of close-ups and longer shots usually works well in multi-photo frames like this.

Next up was some text to break up the very black area of the frame. I didn’t know if rub-ons would work on plastic but there are lots of things I don’t know will work until I try them. Turns out that rub-ons work really well!

Finally it was time to deal with the soccer ball – I wanted something big enough to cover it and to make the frame work- the answer was a huge fabric flower. I pulled it apart to remove the bit that pokes through all the pieces which is used to connect it to the flower stalk. I did this because I needed a relatively flat back to glue to the frame. Of course as soon as you pull a fabric flower apart like this, it is now in lots of pieces! I used Fabri-Tac  glue to glue the flower back together. Fabri-Tac is thick and grabs fast so it is ideal for gluing flowers.

Once the glue was set, I used E6000 to glue the plastic back on the flower to the frame – although Fabri-Tac would have done just as well.

So, an inexpensive frame now has place of pride in my home and I have a couple more of these frames ready for re-purposing when I’m in need of a fast, unique gift.

So now, what have you found recently that was inexpensive but had “good bones?” What did you do to make it your own?

  by Helen Bradley (www.craftinggoodness.com)

Mini-Light Lanterns

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Slip these little lantern covers over ordinary mini-lights – they’re quick-to-make, inexpensive, and can be customized to fit any occasion!

Materials

  • Mini-light strand
  • Pastel vellum, assorted colors

Tools

  • Hot glue gun and sticks

Basic Supplies

scissors, ruler

Directions

STEP 1

Cut 2-1/2”x4” rectangle from paper for each light bulb. Fold in half to measure 1-1/4”x4”. Cut evenly spaced slits, 1/4” to 1/2” apart, along folded edge, stopping 1/8” from open edge (See Fig. 1).

STEP 2

Open rectangle. Use hot glue gun to glue short edges together, forming cylinder.

STEP 3

Cut small strip for handle. Adhere one handle end inside upper lantern edge. Position lantern over light bulb and adhere remaining handle in place.

Other Options

  • Try ultra-thin metal sheets for more durable outdoor lanterns.
  • Seasonal options might include: alternating red and green lanterns; orange pumpkins with green handles and black triangle eyes; red, white, and blue lanterns with streaming ribbons. Get creative!

by Rebecca Ortinau

Spring Welcome Mat

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

What better way to greet guests than with a smile? This easy-to-paint, smiling flower welcome mat is a great way to add a touch of spring to your outdoor décor.

Materials

  • Green doormat, 18”x24”
  • DecoArt Patio Paints: Cloud White, Sprout Green, Petunia Purple, Wrought Iron Black, Citrus Green, Fuchsia, Pansy Purple

Tools

  • Round scrubber paintbrushes: sizes #0, #4, #6, #14
  • Poster board, 18”x24”

Basic Supplies

scissors

Directions

STEP 1

For stencil, print and cut out patterns. (Note: The blue word “patterns” is a link. To access these patterns, select the link, then download and print patterns.) Fold poster board in half. Trace patterns onto poster board; cut out.

STEP 2

For flower, center stencil on mat, aligning bottom edges. Use #6 to stencil petal edges Petunia Purple. Use circular scrubbing motion to force paint into grooves in mat. Remove template. Use #14 to fill in petals with Petunia Purple. While still wet, use #14 to paint Cloud White along petal edges and Pansy Purple along flower head edges. Use #6 to paint flower head Fuchsia. While still wet, use #6 to paint flower head edges Cloud White.

STEP 3

Use #14 to paint cheeks and nose Pansy Purple and to add Cloud White highlights. Use #0 to paint eyes, smile, and border Wrought Iron Black.

STEP 4

For border, position leaf stencil as desired. Use #4 to stencil edges Citrus Green. Paint leaves Sprout Green and veins Wrought Iron Black. Add Fuchsia and Petunia Purple mini-flowers and dots around border as desired.

by Annie Lang

Boutique Knock Off Yo-Yo Display and Prize Winner!!

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When I stumbled across a similar version of this adorable way of displaying handmade yo-yos, I was immediately inspired. It was a recent new product offered by a pricey upscale boutique, and the price was way out of my league. Fast forward two or three months later. I had just received my Summer issue of Crafts n Things magazine and ran across an ad for this innovative display frame, I immediately remembered the pricey yo-yo shadow box display frame. I set about making my own version of this pricey Boutique Knock Off Yo-Yo Display.

These boxes from Amos Advantage are perfect for displaying memorabilia such as ticket stubs, vintage photographs, collected seashells, and any other treasured items you would like to proudly mount and display. The special feature of these frames are two transparent, flexible silicone membranes which surround your exhibition items softly. In doing so, it gives the impression of your collection levitating inside the frame. In addition, you get both the front and back view of your collection. The frames are completely open with one side hinged. You place the object on the silicone membrane and close the frame. It is securely closed by a magnetic flap. The frames come in three sizes: 9-1/16″x7-3/32″x63/64″, a slender 12-7/32″x2-3/8″x63/64″, and a small 2-3/4″x2-3/4″x63/64″.

Creating my little yo-yo display frame was super easy. First I gathered some coordinating fabric fat quarters and buttons and set about sewing my yo-yos.  If you have never created yo-yos, there couldn’t be anything easier. Simply trace a circle to use as a template. The rule is to trace a circle that is twice the size of your finished yo-yo.

Thread a sewing needle and sew a long running stitch 1/4” from the edge of the circle. Pull threads together and form yo-yo with fingers. Pull the thread to the back of the center of the yo-yo and knot off. If desired, sew a button to the center of the yo-yo.

I used a dry adhesive such as foam squares to attach my yo-yos to the frame.

Here are a few more ideas for using these frames in your craft projects:

1. Create a Unique Wedding Gift- Save the invitation and mount it along with a painted monogram and some dried flowers or favors from the wedding reception. This will delight any bride to be.

2. Display your Garden- Gather flowers from your Spring Garden and press flowers using a handmade flower press. Display them in the frame in a pleasing manner to enjoy your flowers all year long.

3. Showcase Vintage Documents- Timeworn and treasured vintage documents such as marriage certificates, old photographs, well-worn award certificates, etc. are increasingly being proudly displayed as part of home décor. Show off your family history by mounting these treasured keepsakes in one of these frames.

“Nimbus Frames” can be ordered from Amos Advantage by clicking here.

WINNER ANNOUNCED

Several weeks ago, we announced that we were giving away a prize package containing Rit Dyes, a basswood box from Walnut Hollow, and more goodies that can be used to create this gorgeous Spring box filled with hand dyed and stamped ribbons.

The winner of the prize package sponsored by Rit Dye as selected by Random.org is Becky Garrison of Becky Garrison Paper Crafts! Thanks for your comments and I hope you check back here often for more exciting giveaways.

Until Then…

Live Life Creatively,

Melony Bradley (www.mel-designs.typepad.com)

Beaded Woven Ribbon Pillow

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Invite spring into your home! Weave soft pink and chartreuse ribbons into an accent pillow to add a splash of color to your dècor, then highlight with a few beads for a bit of sparkle.

Materials

  • White cotton fabric (pillow back), 14” square
  • Offray Grosgrain Ribbon, 7/8”, 18 ft. spool: Chartreuse, Light Pink
  • Opal-lined E beads, 39

Tools

  • Pellon Fusible interfacing, 15” square
  • Fairfield Poly-fil polyester fiberfill
  • Sewing machine
  • Sewing needle and matching thread
  • Iron and pressing board

Basic Supplies

scissors, ruler, straight pins

Directions

Size

13-1/2″ square

Pillow

1. Cut fourteen 14” lengths from each ribbon color.

2. Place interfacing, fusible side up, on pressing board. (Note: Cut interfacing larger to allow for ribbons shifting.)

3. Place Light Pink ribbons horizontally across interfacing. Pin ribbon ends to interfacing.

4. Weave Chartreuse ribbons vertically through Light Pink ribbons, keeping rows straight. Pin ends to interfacing to secure.

5. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to fuse ribbons onto interfacing. Remove pins; trim to 14” square.

6. Hand stitch beads across center of pillow front.

7. With right sides together, machine sew pillow front to back with 1/4” seam allowance, leaving 5” opening at bottom for turning. Trim corners; turn right side out and stuff. Hand stitch opening closed.

by Lisa Bychowski

French Vintage Birdhouse

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This project reminds me of spring, which is nice since the weather hasn’t been very spring-like where I live. Alice Golden with you today to revisit one of my favorite projects. This French Vintage Birdhouse was featured in the Crafts ‘n things March 2012 newsletter. (Have you subscribed to the weekly newsletter yet? If not, you can sign up for free HERE).

Many of the papers and elements on this birdhouse are actually digital images that I printed onto matte photo paper. Because the papers weren’t the exact size I needed, I decided to cut them into random sized squares, ink the edges, and adhere them to the roof like they were shingles. Some of them were also sprayed with a glitter spray.

I love the extra bit of shimmer the glitter adds.

This was also the first time I ever used iCraft adhesive. I had been given a prototype to try out and in fact, it was so new that when I submitted this project, the adhesive didn’t even have a name. Here iCraft was cut into a scalloped design and trimmed to fit the edges of the roof and then sprinkled with glitter.

 Another one of my favorite products was employed to create the “straw” – Scrapper’s Floss. Some is poking out of the doorway

and also tucked in around the edges. When my husband and I bought our fixer-upper almost 20 years ago, there was on old pear tree in the backyard that had a similar shaped birdhouse hanging from one of its branches. Unfortunately, a few years after we moved in the tree had to be taken down, but I salvaged the old birdhouse and it still has wisps of straw poking out in similar spots.

This is the view of the back.

Thanks for letting me share this project again. You can find the supply list and complete instructions HERE.

Happy Crafting!

Alice Golden from Golden Moments (www.alicegolden.com)