the thrifty crafter

We decided to throw together a last-minute party for Halloween this year so I hit up the Dollar Store to see what I could find.  Never a big fan of anything cheesy (though my husband is all about giant blow up lawn ornaments and the like – we’ll battle that one out at Christmas, I’m sure!), I tend to look for inexpensive basics that I can dress up.  What I found on my recent trip were black serving plates, a black plastic tablecloth, some cheesecloth, the fake spiderwebs you find at most places, and some lovely rubber rats. I went to the dollar store specifically looking for black construction paper, which I unfortunately did not find, so went through my scrapbooking stash and luckily found about 4 sheets of black cardstock (which you can buy at Joann’s or Michael’s).

So, for a whopping $6, I turned my food table into a spooky serving place by layering the cheesecloth over the normally-tacky black plastic tablecloth, adding the rats for some extra creepiness.  I used the fake spiderwebs to add some festivity to the front door and the coffee table and used last year’s decor to top it off.

With the black scrapbook paper, I decided to make some bats to hang from the ceiling, after a summer road trip through Austin, TX where we watched the Congress Ave bats take flight at dusk.

To do this, I found a silhouette image of a bat on the internet, traced it onto a piece of paper (don’t yet have a printer in my new house), cut it out and copied it onto scrapbook paper. A trick for less tracing/cutting: fold your paper edge over and line the bat up so he is bisected lengthwise. This way, you don’t spend as much time cutting AND the crease makes the bat look like he’s in flight!

Use a needle and fishing line, or in my case, invisible thread which I had on hand, to hang from the ceiling with clear tape.  I love the way it turned out!

To continue with the bat theme, my husband has loved the idea of a conceptual costume ever since we donned chick magnet and deviled egg costumes a few years back. This year, we decided he would be a “dingbat”.  Easiest costume ever! Your base: black shirt, pants and shoes. Then, you need some scrap black fabric, about half a yard, for your wings, and a desk courtesy bell that you can find for cheap from your local office supply store.

All I did was cut wings from the scrap fabric by laying the shirt flat with arms stretched out at 90 degrees, lining up the corner of the fabric and scalloped the edge from wrist to hem to look like a bat wing.  When done, simply glue the wings onto the shirt seams, then hot glue the desk bell to the front of the shirt.  Hit the bell, and up go his arms! A hit with the kids, who couldn’t stop dinging him! We fashioned a quick set of bat ears with a headband and some leftover black felt, though my dear husband took the liberty of cutting them without consulting me first and he ended up looking more like a flying dingcat.  But you get the picture. And doesn’t my doggy make the cutest shark?

What to do with the leftover yarn from your Party Animals wire animal project? Pick up some cheap tin cans of varying sizes from your favorite discount store and turn them into coordinating centerpieces, that’s what! Flowers are a must for me at any type of event and when you can get them gorgeous and on the cheap from your local Trader Joe’s, this craft really is a no-brainer! We ended up using the smallest can as a utensil holder…another great way to add some texture and color to your table!

Here’s what you need:

• leftover yarn
• hot glue gun and glue sticks
• washed and dried tin cans (I went to Big Lots and bought the cheapest cans I could with the best size variation)

Here’s what you do:

1. Remove outer paper label from tin can and thoroughly wash both inside and outside of can.

   

2. Once dry, use hot glue gun to tack end of yarn to edge of can.
3. Wrap tin can 10-20 times or so, keeping some tension.

   

4. Scrunch yarn down to cover up any openings and to create the textured look.

   

5. Continue wrapping in sets of 10-20 until you reach the upper edge of can.

   

6. Cut yarn and glue down on edge.  Voila!  Gorgeous vase in less than 10 minutes!

   

Cost: Under $4 for five vases.

Here’s an easy and inexpensive way to dress up your coffee table for the holidays.  Varying sizes and sheens of paper doilies are layered together in a seemingly haphazard fashion to create a simple, festive table runner.  The Dollar Tree carries paper doilies in white, silver and a bronze-y gold in 8, 10 and 12-inch diameters that work well for this project.

What you need:

• paper doilies in varying diameters and colors
• photo mounting squares

What you do:

1. Lay out your doilies in a pattern that is pleasing to your eye.  I wanted mine looking asymmetric and almost thrown together.
2. Use photo mounting squares to delicately adhere your doilies together in their final position.

   

Shopped at Trader Joe’s lately and noticed their holiday paper bags? Gorgeous white winter illustrations on brown paper bags inspired me to reuse them as a decorative band on my smaller Christmas gifts this year.  Add some simple red embroidery thread and you’ve got yourself a pretty, environmentally friendly wrapped present without lots of fuss!

Here’s what you need:

• Trader Joe’s holiday brown paper bag
• scissors
• iron and ironing board
• red embroidery thread (or some other decorative ribbon)
• tape
• gift box

Here’s what you do:

1. Cut out graphics from bag in wide columns.  Fold edge over and iron flat.

   

2. Wrap band around gift box, securing with tape.  If you box is too large, use pieces from the bag to piece together the back (no one will see it).
3. Use embroidery thread to add a bow.  Embellish with a written gift tag.

Thrifty Tip: I was able to decorate three lingerie-sized gift boxes using only one bag!

Previously, I crafted a felt rosette wreath that I absolutely adore and use as a decoration at both Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day.  I love the texture of the felt clusters and thought it would make a pretty ornament for our tree this year.  I picked through my scrap fabric bin (I always keep my leftovers!) and had both white and red felt pieces that I used for this craft.  The instructions are the same as for the wreath, except you are pinning the folded circles onto a craft foam ball instead of a wreath form.   Finish it off with a twine hanger and you have a lovely peppermint ball!

Here’s what you need:

• 2-inch diameter craft foam ball
• box of straight pins
• scrap fabric
• stamp pad (i had a green one from a previous project)
• a roughly 3-inch diameter glass/lid (really, whatever size fits your stamp pad)
• scissors
• twine for hanging

Here’s what you do:

1. Use glass to stamp circles onto felt.

   

2. Cut out circles.
3. Fold each circle in half, then in half again and insert straight pin at the corner.
4. Pin each folded circle onto foam ball, clustering tightly to create ruffle effect.
5. Fluff felt after adding a few and continue adding until all visible surfaces of ball are covered.
6. Knot a piece of twine and use straight pin to affix to foam ball.

   

Tips: Using a smaller diameter circle would give you a smaller ball, you’d just have to cut out more circles! The finished diameter here was ~ 4″ – definitely a larger ornament!

Running out of room on your fireplace mantel, or just looking for a new way to display the holiday well-wishes from your nearest and dearest? Try this frame made of only twine and push pins to create a focal point for all of your lovely greeting cards.  Shaped like a tree itself, this spirited display lends even more festivity to your holiday decor.

All you need:

• jute twine
• push pins
• scissors
• hole punch
• twine or yarn or twisty ties to fasten your cards

Here’s what you do:

1. Start with the trunk of the tree and create a loop at the free end of your twine.  Use push pin to secure in place.
2. Place another push pin to mark the apex of your tree, loop and knot twine twine, cut and secure.
3. Place third and fourth pushpins to mark the base of your tree.  Starting with a new loop at the apex, wrap around one corner, pull taut and wrap second corner, finishing at the apex.
4. Loop and knot free end of twine and secure.
5. Use a hole punch at the top of your cards and use twine, yarn or twisty ties to secure to twine tree.

   

Halloween is quickly approaching and I wanted to share some costume ideas that we used last year. After a discussion with a friend who introduced me to the idea of a “conceptual” costume, my husband and I decided we wanted to be clever in our costume undertaking.  These creative costumes are derived from popular phrases and take a relatively abstract idea and conceptualize it.  Best of all, they are easy to make from items you may already have at home and are super inexpensive and thus, very thriftycrafter friendly.

My husband was a chick magnet.

Here’s what you need:

• Black shirt and pants
• Plastic Barbie dolls from the Dollar Tree or 99 cent store
• Magazine cut outs of hot chicks (from Maxim/Stuff)
• Safety pins

Here’s what you do:

Use safety pins to attach barbies and magazine cut-outs to your man, who is dressed in black.  Voila!  Easiest costume ever! In addition, you could spray paint a shoe box black and attach it to his back so the magnet concept is more obvious, but most everyone understood and loved his costume without it!

Cost: $8 for 7 barbies and a box of safety pins at the 99 cent store

I was a deviled egg.

Here’s what you need:

• white strapless dress (I used a white terry cloth beach cover-up I already had)
• large piece of yellow fabric (I used leftover felt)
• devil’s horns and tail (and a pitchfork, if you have one)
• safety pins

Here’s what you do:

1. Cut out a large oval shape from your piece of yellow felt to represent an egg yolk and use safety pins to attach to the front of your dress.
2. Wear devil’s horns, pin a tail on, wear some red patent heels and go wild with your hair.  Voila! Still kinda sexy and clever…a powerful combo!

Cost: Free! (because I used leftover scrap fabric from making my dog’s costume)

Note:  If you don’t already have devil’s horns or tail, but have red scrap fabric, pillow stuffing and a headband like I did, you can very easily fashion these items on your own.  Here’s how:

1. Draw out a horn shape on a piece of paper first, then copy to your fabric (I used leftover red felt – something less stiff would be easier to turn out but might not stand up as well) .  Cut out two. Then, flip your original shape horizontally to mirror your design, trace and cut out two more.
2. Stitch each horn along outside edge, leaving bottom portion open.  Turn out and stuff with pillow stuffing.
3. Hand sew the base of each horn closed, then spot tack one horn to your elastic headband.  Look in a mirror to check spacing and angulation, then sew the second one on.
4. For the tail, fold your fabric in half and draw a tail shape onto your fabric.  Pin and cut out two tail shapes.  Stitch tail along outside edge, leaving base open.  Turn out and stuff with pillow stuffing.
5. Hand sew the base of the tail closed and use a couple of safety pins to attach to the back of your dress.

These costumes are only two ideas, but the opportunities are endless!  Time to get creative!

I didn’t have a chance to get this post up prior to the 4th of July holiday due to lots of house and kitchen prep, but wanted to share this craft since it can be used in different colors as decoration for other holiday parties, bridal or baby showers, and even weddings.  For those who appreciate a more natural or vintage spin, using unbleached, kraft-colored coffee filters or dying the white ones with tea bags would make for a gorgeous display.

Sometimes I’ll head to the Dollar Tree or 99 cent store, just to get inspired by what I find in the aisles.  This last time around, I picked up a package of plain, white coffee filters which I ended up stapling together, then pinning to small styrofoam balls to make big frilly pomanders.  I dyed about 30 ‘bunches’ with red and blue gel paste food coloring, and while this worked to a certain extent, the end product was more remnicient of a romantic Monet painting than the spectacular display of American patriotism I was going for.  So to liven it up, I made three plain white ones, then added some smaller red and blue tissue paper pomanders that Martha made so popular a few years back.  Hung above the food spread, these are sure to bring some festivity to any get together!

Here’s what you need:

• 2 packages of plain white coffee filters
• stapler
• gel paste food coloring
• medium mixing bowls with water
• rubber gloves
• aluminum foil
• jelly roll pan (baking sheet with a rim)
• box of straight pins
• 2-inch dense styrofoam balls
• colored tissue paper
• scissors
• floral wire

Here’s what you do:

For the white coffee filter pomanders:

1. Take 3 coffee filters at their base and bunch together.  Staple.  Make about 15 of these for one ball.

   

2. Use stright pin to affix bunch to styrofoam ball.

   

3. Repeat Step 2, clustering the bunches together.  Fluff to desired shape.

   

For the dyed coffee filter pomanders:

1. Take 3 coffee filters at their base and bunch together.  Staple.  Make about 15 of these for one ball.
2. Mix 1/4 tsp gel paste food coloring into mixing bowl with water.  Adjust amount of food coloring/water depending on how vibrant you want your color to be.
3. Place coffee filter bunches in the mixing bowl and leave for a few minutes.  Do not overcrowd.

   

4. Line jelly roll pan with aluminum foil and place dyed bunches upright to dry.  Turn oven on to lowest setting and allow to dry (this takes a few hours).

   

5. (optional) If color isn’t where you want it after first drying cycle, dip and dry again.

   

6. Once dry, use straight pin to affix dyed bunch to styrofoam ball.
7. Repeat Step 2, clustering the bunches together.  Fluff to desired shape.

For the tissue paper pom poms:

1. Remove tissue paper from packaging, open and cut stack in half.

   

2. Accordion-fold each half in 1-1.5 inch width and use floral wire to wrap the center.

   

3. Use sharp scissors to cut the edges of your tissue paper – to simulate ‘fire’ I cut my ends to a sharp point.

   

4. Delicately begin to separate the layers, pulling from the base.  Fluff to desired shape.

   

Cost: $5.  While some stuff I already had, you can find everything needed for this project at Walmart for cheap, cheap!

I found the grogeous photo above while perusing the web for Cinco de Mayo decorative inspiration – doesn’t the vibrant mix of colors just make you want to grab a margarita and host a festive get together?  Fiesta time is just around the corner, so stop by your nearest dollar store for some brightly colored crepe paper streamers and get busy creating these easy and colorful flowers. I used single colored rosettes to create a twine-strung garland and dual-colored flowers to create festive napkin rings for setting the table.

Napkin Rings

Here’s what you need:

• multiple colors of brightly colored crepe paper streamers
• needle & scissors
• dental floss
• floral tape
• floral wire
• plain napkin rings (mine are green glass and are from my decorating stash – a clearance find at Ross)

Here’s what you do:

1. Take two colors of streamer and pinch together at bottom.  Using your free hand, feed more streamer to the  pinched end, creating the center of your rosette.
2. Use needle and floss to secure first few folds.
3. Continue adding streamer around the base and use floss to secure after every few additions.

   

4. When flower is the size you want, tie off floss and snip ends.
5. Bend the end of your floral wire over a few times to create a decorative knot.

   

6. Thread the floral wire through the center of the flower, inserting from the top.

   

7. Wrap floral tape around base of flower to secure to wire.
8. Place flower in desired position on napkin ring and wrap wire around to secure.

Rosette Garland

Here’s what you need:

• multiple colors of brightly colored crepe paper streamers
• needle & scissors
• dental floss
• jute twine or some other type of string/yarn/ribbon

Here’s what you do:

1. Using the same technique as above, bunch together one edge of a single streamer to create the center of your flower.
2. Knot end of floss and thread through end to secure.  Add more folds to the pinched edge and secure with floss.  Repeat until flower is the desired size.
3. Tie off end, leaving a 1 1/2 inch tail of floss.
4. Tie rosettes onto jute twine with equal spacing (with my hand outstretched, I used the length from the tip of my index finger to the tip of my thumb for spacing – about 6 1/2 inches)
5. Hang and admire your handiwork!

Cost: $8 for both projects, with plenty of left over streamers for another use!

Tips: Brown floral tape and coordinating brown cloth covered wire were purchased at Joann’s for $4.  Streamers were purchased at the 99 cent store for a buck per color.  You could also use thread to secure your rosettes, but I prefer the strength of floss, as well as the fact that it doesn’t tear the delicate crepe paper.

While perusing the web for crafting inspiration, I saw this gorgeous wreath on Domestifluff and HAD to try it.  And with St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, I thought a kelly green felt wreath would be the perfect decoration, not only for this March holiday, but reusable for Christmas later this year.  It is definitely a project that takes a bit of time, but what a lovely finished product!

Here’s what you need:

• 12-inch green wreath form
• box of straight pins
• 2 yards of green felt
• stamp pad (i bought a green one so it would blend in)
• a roughly 3-inch diameter lid (really, whatever size fits your stamp pad)
• scissors
• ribbon for hanging

Here’s what you do:

1. Use lid to stamp circles onto felt.
2. Cut out circles.
3. Fold each circle in half, then in half again and insert straight pin at the corner.
4. Pin each folded circle onto wreath form, clustering tightly to create ruffle effect.
5. Fluff felt after adding a few and continue adding until all visible surfaces of wreath are covered (everything but the backside).
6. Flip wreath over and use straight pins to affix your ribbon hanger.

Discussion: I am a dentist by day and cutting out ~130 felt circles the first day was a bit daunting for my hands.  It is important to spread this project out a bit so you don’t develop a repetitive strain injury, since you end up cutting out 300+ circles! What I did was stamp 16-30 circles at a time, cut them out, then pin and repeat the process.  Take a break to check out your favorite blog, have lunch, or walk your dog and your hands will thank you!

Cost: $12!

Wreath form was purchased at Michael’s with a 40% off coupon for $4, Eco-fi felt (made from 100% post consumer recycled plastic bottles) was purchased at Joann’s with a 40% off coupon for $6. Straight pins were purchased at WalMart for $1 and I found the green stamp pad at the Dollar Tree for $1.

…tied up with strings, these ARE one of my favorite things.

Found vintage shelving paper finds another use as a decorative band, while remnants from a white canvas curtain are used to make a fabric ribbon and a whimsical rosette.  Finish it off with contrasting jute twine and you have one fabulous gift to give.

Here’s what you need:

• Kraft packaging paper
• decorative paper (I used vintage shelving paper that I found at a thrift store)
• textural fabric scraps
• jute twine
• ruler and scissors
• tape
• hot glue gun and glue stick
• mason jar lid (or anything with a roughly 3-inch circular shape, like a glass or round cookie cutter)
• pencil
• needle and thread

Here’s what you do:

1. Wrap your package in kraft paper.
2. Measure and cut a band of decorative paper to wrap around your box.  I used a 7-inch wide band for a shirt box.  Tape to box.
3. Measure and cut a band of fabric to wrap around your box.  I used a 3-inch wide piece of heavy-weight home decorator cotton for the ribbon.  Snipping, then ripping the length of fabric creates the rough, feathery edge.  Use hot glue to secure ends of fabric band to decorative paper.
4. Cut a long piece of jute twine and wrap around the box a few times and tie in a knot at the center front of the package. Snip ends.
5. Use mason jar lid to trace 15 or so circles onto remaining cotton fabric. Cut out circles.
6. Fold circles first in half, then in half again.  Use needle and thread to string folded pieces together tightly at the bottom corner, alternating direction of open edge with each addition to add dimension.
7. Spread out and “fluff” rosette.  Use needle and thread to reinforce the final position by sewing through the bottom edge.  Use hot glue gun or safety pin to secure rosette to package.

Need a cute, easy and inexpensive way to say thanks to your shower guests?  Generic brown paper lunch sacks transform into chic favor bags with the help of a little ribbon, rubber stamping and decorative cutting.  You could build on these in a number of ways – using white paper sacks with jute twine, or yarn for ribbon would also be cute.  Get creative!

Here’s what you need:

• 1 package brown paper lunch bags
• pinking shears or other decorative scissors
• ruler and scissors (or a Fiskars Paper trimmer)
• hole punch
• decorative ribbon
• rubber stamps and stamp pad
• gel pen
• decorative ribbon

Here’s what you do:

1. Trim bags to 7 inches tall.
2. Measure 5 inches up from bottom and fold over flap to make a 5×5 square.
3. Use pinking shears to trim cut edge.
4. Use hole punch to create holes for ribbon.  To create uniform placement, I placed the hole punch midway between the cut edge and the fold, and moved it inward until it stopped.
5. Thread ribbon through holes.
6. Write “thank you” near bottom edge of sack with your gel pen.
7. Rubber stamp your image onto bag.

Tips: I purchased my paper sacks at the 99 cent store and the decorative ribbon at Michael’s for 3 spools for $1.  I had my hole punch, decorative scissors, and gel pen in my armamentarium already, but look for these items in the office supply section at the dollar stores, as well. Use your Michael’s coupons or make sure you shop the sales for the more expensive materials like the rubber stamp and stamp pad.  Each was purchased for 40% off retail.

Have leftover scraps from your bunting project?  Check out this thrifty way to make your fabrics do double duty as a festive background for signs you might need at your party.  Without the letters, these textured fabric “pictures” would make beautifully simple wall decorations in your own home. Craft on!

Here’s what you need:

• inexpensive frames
• exacto knife
• coordinating cardstock
• omnigrid and rotary cutting mat (or a basic ruler and scissors)
• glue stick
• leftover fabric
• tape or some type of adhesive
• decorative, dimensional stickers

Here’s what you do:

1. Flip over your frame and use your exacto knife to remove the kraft paper backing from frame.

2. Remove everything from frame and separate into individual parts – glass, matting, picture, frame and backing.

3. Remove original picture and use tape to secure fabric piece to mat, as shown.

4. Measure and cut a piece of cardstock to cover original matting.  I used a Olfa rotary cutter and mat and an Omingrid because I have them on hand, but a ruler and scissors would also work well.

5. Glue cardstock mat to original mat.

6. Put your frame back together, omitting the glass plate.

7. Use letter stickers to create your signs.

I have a square motif going with the baby shower and wanted to continue that with my signage. I found my inexpensive frames at the 99 cent store, colorful cardstock from my local Joann’s and my dimensional stickers (called “thickers” – how cute is that?) from Tuesday Morning (my inexpensive craft supply mecca!).

Total cost of the project: $4 for two, coordinating signs!