Category Archives: Crafts & Hobbies

Windy Wednesday (windsocks)

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There’s been some super windy days here lately. The winds reminded me of a windsock project I’ve been thinking about since last year when we bought a couple of windsocks for the garden. I was surprised at how little there is to a windsock. It occurred to me that a windsock could be made out of plastic soda pop bottle or a plastic milk jug and plastic grocery bags.

The above photo is the result of my attempts. Not bad, they fly pretty well. I wish I had of had some more different colors of plastic bags. I can imagine a windsock made out of a rainbow of colors blowing in the wind.

I think the windsocks are kind of a neat way to recycle a little bit of trash into something a bit fun.

You’re welcome to click on either of the images below to get an idea of how I created the windsocks.
These aren’t tutorials, so if you want more info, just ask and I’ll try and explain how or what I did.
4-7-2014-winsox01……..4-9-2014-milkjug01

Here’s wishing for all your winds to be warm & to my snowed
in frozen friends I wish for your winds to be warm & thawing.

🙂

3-spcbg

March Wreath

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Happy March 1st!  Goodness the first couple months of 2014 went by swiftly. Now on into the new month we go and you know what that means… it’s time for my new Wreath-of-the-Month.

I wanted to make something in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, but couldn’t get into the leprechaun theme for a wreath. Not that I have anything against leprechauns, matters-a-fact I could talk a blue-streak about them and other nature folks if the situation arises.
However, since leprechauns are just one of the many symbols of the celebration, I chose a simpler theme. After weeks of thinking about it, yesterday it all came together in my mind and on my kitchen table. The main trouble was all the greens seemed to clash. My final wreath is the fourth try and fourth style I’ve tried. Yep, my wits were almost at end before I finally got a handle on how I wanted to make it.

Okay, here’s the highlights…
I apologize for the photo. I tried 3 different cameras and 2 different editing programs but couldn’t get a good photo of it, The greens of the shamrocks wanted to dark out and the green stripe in the fabric would come out blue. This was the best version I could get. It’s not perfect, but maybe you’ll appreciate that I tried really hard to get a good photo. 😉

Since it’s March and Spring-cleaning comes to mind, that means throwing out old papers, magazines, newspapers and such as that. I decided to share my favorite wreath making secret with you to help make some use of them instead of trashing them or wasting gas taking them to a recycling center.
Use the papers to make wreath forms. It takes some work to get a nice firm wreath base, but it’s worth it.
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I discovered this wreath base making trick a few years ago. I wanted to make some wreaths, but I didn’t have a desire to spend a lot of money on wreath bases. So I put on my thinking cap, went into my craft room and didn’t come out until I discovered a way to make a wreath base inexpensively and more eco friendly too.
IMG_7768It takes lots of old paper to make a wreath base and it’s a good way to recycle paper too.

After this month’s base was made, I added a layer of paper towels and lastly a fabric covering. The fabric is some I had from over a decade ago.

Feel free to physically laugh-out-loud at my wonky shamrocks. My husband tried to get me to go to the store and buy some decorating accents like ribbons and plants for my wreath. I thanked him and told him no. I wanted to use stuff I have on hand like I did with the wreath base and could recycle if possible.
I had crocheted some shamrocks last month, but they didn’t look right on the wreath. So, I went in my craft room and thought and thought until my thinker was sore and then I sat and thought some more. Upon going through buttons and bows and ribbons and lace and boxes of things I’d forgotten I had, I came across some old silk ivy. Mmm, I wished it were shamrocks instead of ivy… and then it occurred to me that in fact I could try and make the ivy leaves into shamrocks. My first few tries were not a great success and then I remembered that some folks draw 3 hearts together for shamrocks, so I started cutting the ivy leaves into triple leaf heart-like shapes. They’re far from perfect and wouldn’t win any prizes, but they are recycled silk ivy and that’s a good thing.  Plus in real life they look quite well on my March wreath. All-in-all I’m fairly satisfied with them.
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I sculpted the lady bugs out of polymer clay. I thought the wreath needed a splash of color.

And that’s all there is to this months wreaths and my wreathy thoughts.
Now I must go and start planning on how I want to make April’s wreath… wish me luck. 🙂

Wishing you all a month of good luck,
good friends & good weather.

🙂

~*~
Here’s why I’m making a ‘Wreath of the Month’ for every month of 2014.
~*~
3-spcbg

Just Hanging Around (clippy hanger hints)

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1-hngrYesterday I gathered ingredients together to make a loaf of strawberry bread.  I set my recipe & stuff up like I always do and then it occurred to me that I wanted to make a post about a few of my favorite hints for re-using/recycling clippy hangers or pant hangers.

These are not my ideas and they’re not new ideas. You may have seen them or read of them before. I still want to share them since they’ve been a help to me.

I’m very grateful to clever folks who shared these hanger ideas on the web. I surfed around and tried to find the earliest posting of these hints on the web. I posted the links and dates with the hints. (If you know of an older posting, let me know and I’ll edit it in.)

Now without further ado, here’s a few clippy hanger hints.
~*~

Use the clippy hanger as a recipe book holder. Just clip it on the book and hang it from your cabinet door.
It keeps the book off the counter and helps to allow more counter space to use for making foods.
I really enjoy this hint. I use it alot.
2-hngrThe hanger cookbook holder – February 06,2009
~*~

Cut the clips off the hangers and use them for bag clips or like clothes pins, paper clips, chip clips or clips to help hold things together in crafts, such.
I tried and failed miserably to cut the clips off with huge industrial scissors and with a wire cutter. My compliments to whoever designed the hangers, they are super sturdy and hard as the heck to cut. I didn’t have a saw, so I used my craft drill to cut the clips off with it.
I really like having these inexpensive clips, they’re super handy to clasp on to a bag or hold a craft together or papers together. There’s so many uses for them.
3-hngrUnexpected chip clip – August 19, 2009
~*~

Cutting the clips off the hanger came from a forum and as I read further down the thread, someone suggested putting magnets on the back of the clips for refrigerator clips. There was mention of how to decorate them, but I chose to wing-it and do it my own way.
flwrlmI got out my flower loom and made a flower. I intended on having one simple flower on the clip… well seeings how it’s the unwritten duty of a crafter to over embellish, whenever the opportunity is there, and I take my crafter duties seriously, I made a couple more flowers and crocheted 4 leaves. I’d of added more, but I ran out of room on the clip. lol It’s quite cheerful looking and I’m surprised happy with the gawdy fun results. (I may decorate my recipe book hanger too. )
flwrs01  Refrigerator clips – August 19, 2009
~*~

I think those hints are clever ways to recycle and reuse clippy hangers. I used the leftover part of the hangers to hang up a couple plastic bags of craft supplies in the closet. Storage space is dear in my craft room and I’m always happy to figure out new ways to hoard store supplies.
I’m fortunate to have dozens several of these hangers on hand from buying clothes for my grandson over the years.
I’ve given several away while passing on the hanging recipe book hint. My grandson really got a kick out of that idea and even took a couple hangers home to his Mom to show and give to her. I love that he enjoys sharing fun helpful ideas. He’s such a sweetie.

Next time you have some extra clippy hangers laying around, I hope you’ll consider giving one of these hints a try.

Do you know any helpful for re-using or recycling hangers? You’re welcome to share them, if you want.
Here’s hoping that you’ll have an enjoyable rest of the week hanging out waiting for warm weather.

🙂
spcr1

misc thoughts & hints for yarnies & loomers

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t6027t6028

This blog post is a few miscellaneous thoughts and hints for yarnies like me. I hope one of them  may help make your yarn crafting adventures more enjoyable.

The Knifty Knitter cord loom is a fun little gadget. It makes a nice cord with 5 pegs, but if you want a smaller cord you can use 3 pegs.
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Jute or grass twine makes a lovely cord for trivets or even little baskets.
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I find that alot of times my Martha Stewart loom pegs don’t want to stay put. It’s a major irritation.
I first tried yarn stuffed in the holes, then tried bits of paper, then masking tape, they worked but I wasn’t happy with them. Then I tried painter’s tape and I haven’t looked back.
I use a layer(or 2) of painter’s tape over the loom holes.
I use a toothpick to break the tape over the hole and then push the peg in.
This method works really well for me.
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I had My first experience at rolling a ball of yarn that wasn’t end fed like the 4 ply skeins I usually use.
t0473I got frustrated at first with the skein tumbling and capturing everything including the attention of (our dog) Sheli. He and I got into a bit of a kerfuffle for a few seconds.
I stuffed the skein into a plastic grocery bag and hung it on my arm. I quickly discovered that not only was it protected from Sheli, but it fed easy and rolled beautifully.
I do love accidental discoveries. 🙂
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I bought my first couple skeins ever of bulky yarn. It’s Lion Brand Hometown USA
It’s a bulky yarn and is 81 yards long
I wanted to see how big a square made with 81 yards would be, so I crocheted a solid granny square. I used a size N crochet hook. The square came out to be about 12 inches x 12 inches
I decided to try a regular granny square and was amazed that it too came out to be about 12 inches x 12 inches… I would’ve thought that it would have been bigger. :/
lb81yardsAnyway, this was a pretty good experiment because now if I want to make an blanket of granny squares out of bulky yarn, I can better guess how much yarn I need.
I’m envisioning a big bulky blanket of 12 inch squares. I think it would be fun to try. I may make one sometime.

This is all my thoughts and hints for the moment.
I hope they’ll help make your yarn crafting more enjoyable.

You’re welcome to share your hints if you want too.

Here’s wishing you happy
adventures in crafting!
t6027t6028
🙂
spcr1

Needle Punch Embroidery

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IMG_7061Through happenstance or what a person might call surfing pinterest, I came upon a needle-craft called Needle Punch Embroidery. 0-IMG_6928You use a special-made punch needle that feeds the thread/yarn through the fabric and leaves a loop. When you’ve done several stitches, it resembles carpet. I don’t recall seeing or hearing of it before.  Needle Punch embroidery seemed like something that I might be able to learn in short span of time and would probably enjoy doing. Plus, I always like to learn a new craft.

I surfed for awhile in various online craft stores and after a day of thinking about it, I finally ordered a punch embroidery kit and a set of punch needles.
When my order come in, I was dismayed to discovered that I hadn’t ordered the right size punch needles to do the kit with. I went back online and ordered the right size puncher and it should be here in the next couple days.
*I know puncher isn’t what folks call the punch needle, but it’s easier than typing out ‘punch needle’ every time. 😉

Anyway…
I was not to be deterred from trying the punch embroidery.
I improvised. I got some white cotton fabric, put it in a hoop,
drew a heart in the middle
and began learning to use a puncher.IMG_6928I think my heart turned out fairly well.
I immediately put silicon on the back of the heart and
let it dry for a few hours so the yarn wouldn’t pull out.

I decided to go a bit further with my punch heart piece and do regular needle embroidery around it. After I finished the embroidery, I couldn’t just stop with mounting it on cardboard. It looked so plain. I made a crochet chain and glued it around the edge and then made some loom flowers and put on it. I hung my heart-work on the wall. It was okay, but still had the look of an unfinished thought.
I left it hanging and went about my day. Every now and then I look at it and think it needs something else.IMG_7054

IMG_7096Shelibean has been playing with the test cords I’ve been knitting on my beanpot loom. I watched him prancing around with a gold one wrapped around his belly and it occurred to me that perhaps, I could use a loomed cord to outline my heart-work. Sheli must’ve read my thoughts because he suddenly pounced on my feet with a green loom cord in his mouth.IMG_7091

I took the green cord and glued it around the heart-work and it looked good, but still the piece needed something… mmm.. of course, leaves for the flowers. I crocheted the leaves and glued them on and finally my piece of heart-work was finished.
I’m really pleased with the finished piece.It has so many textures. I enjoyed using alot of different techniques in creating it.
needle punch embroidery
regular embroidery
flower loom
crochet
knitting cord loom
And it only about 7 inches tall.

Unfortunately I’m not sure how these photos look. I’m running a msert file on our desktop and can’t use it to edit the photos. I used my laptop to edit them… so they might be a bit yucky. Later on when I can check my blog on our desktop, if these photos look too yucky, I’ll upload new ones.

Have you ever tired Needle Punch Embroidery?
Do you enjoy learning to do new crafts?

I wish you all a warm week of sunshine.
🙂

spcr1