Crafts?

[midjd]

I poked around a bit but couldn't find another thread on this topic. Are any of you into crafts? What are some of your favorite projects?

My craft projects have kind of fallen by the wayside during the last few years. I'm a dabbler - I do a little sewing, a little knitting, a little beadwork, and a little painting, but I wouldn't call myself particularly proficient at any of it DH, on the other hand, has been going nuts with his new woodworking equipment. This summer he's built about 10 planter boxes, a wishing well, an Adirondack chair, a firewood box, and quite a few birdhouses/bat-houses (which he's sold). He is putting me to shame!

So lately, I've been looking for some new projects. Over the weekend I collected about 30 buckeyes from our tree, and also made some walnut stain. I've been trimming lavender from one of the plants outside but have no clue what to do with it.

Anyway, I'm rambling. Just thought I'd post a thread to share craft ideas and projects

[Deleted]

What about stenciling them? You can then just use a roller brush to apply the paint over the stencils.

[Martivir]

I sew for the most part. Around the holidays I make my own cards and sometimes do a little painting but that's it. I actually just made DS some little potholders and a dishtowel to go with the play kitchen he's getting for his birthday.

[reeneejune]

I sew, mostly, but I also knit, crochet, cross stitch, scrapbook, and do a few home decor projects as the mood strikes. I also work for a fabric and crafts chain which will remain nameless.

lonewolf - When you get ready to stencil, so into the fabric/craft store of your choice and go down the aisle with fabric paints. In addition to the "puffy" paints that many of us are used to, you can also get fabric paint in a spray paint format. It's pretty cool stuff. I've also used regular spray paint on fabric before with decent results, though I'm not sure I'd want to do that on a project for kids. And if you want to use your airbrush on the project, you can always mix regular acrylic paints with fabric media (should come in a little bottle next to the acrylic paints) and have at it. HTH ;D

midwestern - As a dabbler myself, I'd challenge you to pick one or two people off your Christmas list and craft a project for them rather than buying something. Now's a great time to get started so that you've got plenty of time to finish before the holidays. I started doing it many years ago. As an example, last Christmas I gathered all of my Grandma's photos from her birth through young married life and scrapbooked them for her, then made copies of the album for my Mom and two aunts. Huge investment in time, but I think the project cost me about $75 total for 4 gifts. Not too shabby.

[reeneejune]

You're welcome lonewolf! At work I'm the go-to girl for those "unusual" projects because I can usually come up with some kind of solution.

ETA - I'd love to see a photo when you get done, especially if you end up airbrushing... I can see that turning out really awesome.

[sarcasticgirl]

photography has always been a hobby, it was my minor in college. But I was getting out of college when digital becoming more popular (in the early 2000s) so I got away from photography because it's just not the same to me as 35mm (processing and printing everything yourself has a certain "purity" in my mind)
But I've recently gotten a decent camera and have taken some nice shots that I've enlarged and am using to decorate the guest room. I'm pretty excited about them.

otherwise, i do a little crocheting (nothing fancy at all), I make bracelets from time to time, make some things like lipbalm and sugar scrubs.

I did purchase fabric and have my friend sew them into curtains in exchange for a free pedicure. that's crafty... right?

[midjd]

That sounds awesome, Lonewolf! You should post a pic when you're done. I have many fond memories of driving little racecars around our grandma's braided rug with my cousins... ;D

Renee, that's a good idea. It would be nice to make personalized Christmas ornaments for my family and in-laws. And I forgot about photography... I have some great pics of my nephews, I know MIL and SIL would love blown-up versions in a nice frame. (Need to get DH to make me some picture frames... )

For the last couple of Christmases, my sister has made these for everyone - DH and I both use ours, they're really cozy: www.craftelf.com/Craft_elf_general_no_sew_fleece_blanket.htm

I did purchase fabric and have my friend sew them into curtains in exchange for a free pedicure. that's crafty... right?

Crafty AND frugal, you win YM

[dragon2008]

have you tried canvas as the, well, canvas for your road map project, lone wolf? I've seen canvas rugs for playing that just roll up at the end of the day.

[MN-Investor]

I love doing counted cross stitch and Hardanger needlework, but it's been a long time since I've taken the time to do it. I really should dig out my threads and make something. If I start now, I might be able to get something done for Christmas.

My 15-year old niece has learned how to do chain mail jewelry and that is so very cool looking. I've been reading up on it. It doesn't take much money to make some nice looking bracelets.

[reeneejune]

lonewolf - for backing, I'd consider putting strips of the no slip shelf liner or the footie-pajama-feet material so that the mat doesn't slip while it's on the floor. Or heck, you can buy rug liner 54" wide at the fabric store, it's like the shelf liner only more a more open pattern, it comes on the roll, usually with home decor fabrics.

midwestern - While I have nothing against the no-sew fleece throw in theory, in practice it drives me bonkers. Because 75% of the time customers asking about making them don't listen to a word we say when we answer their questions. LOL. I really wish they'd go out of style so I didn't have to stare at fleece all day long.

[nasagreen]

I like quilting, but also painting, sewing, and making unusual crafts. I also started selling baby shoes that I make on etsy. It has been fun, but I haven't sold many yet. I need to get more items to sell

I like the chain mail jewelry a lot!

[Honeylioness]

Another crafty woman here ....

* Started with knitting when I was about 7
* Moved onto to cross stitch, floss embroidery then crewel work through junior high and high school
* Made my own prom dresses and Orchestra ensemble
* Embellished thrift store clothes
* Tried drawing and painting, but my Astigmatism has left me with almost NO depth perception
* Made candles for a while
* Stumbled onto quilting in 1985 and have remained there primarily. I now am branching out a bit and doing intensely embellished wall hangings and re-interpretations of classic art - my last being Whistler's Mother.

I must confess however that in the past six months my inspiration, motivation and therefore my productivity has plummeted and I just can't seem to get into that "space" where I can finish some items ... which frankly .. really NEED to be completed.

[dragon2008]

In response to earlier message, I don't think you need to back the fabric to stop paint bleed thru, only so it remains in place. On the show I was watching, the artist either shellaqed or polyurethaned her finished rug to protect it, but she wasn't using cute puffy paint and was expecting the rug to be walked on.

Your rug sounds really cute! I'm sure those kids are really going to have fun driving their cars around (I know I would - vroom, no stop signs for me!!).

I, unfortunately, have very few crafty bones in my body. I do, however, put together lovely notebooks for work!

[reeneejune]

lonewolf - did you end up using a rug or canvas for your project? I suspect that the puffy paint simply won't stick to a rug, I don't think it's got enough to adhere to, and I can't think of anything that would seal it. You may have to stick to the more flat paints.

[Poppet]

I maintain a craft blog. Mostly crochet and cooking.

[reeneejune]

it's weird that they're plugging up while you're applying the paint. I could see it if you were using say glitter paint or maybe if you were using some you've had on hand for a long while, but otherwise I can't think of any good reason for it to plug up.

Current projects: I'd like to finish these this weekend, but I doubt I'll get to all of it...
- Wool trench coat, just need to finish the hem (It's a really pretty burgundy color with a zebra print lining just for fun)
- Mending work pants, because it's a constant battle
- Cross stitch poetry: I was inspired by an article I read about how the poppy program was started to help support veteran's rehabilitation programs. I took the poem 'In Flanders Fields' and a cross stitch alphabet pattern and designed my own pattern. When I'm done, I'll set the completed piece in a wall hanging and donate it to the American Legion Auxiliary (I'm a member). This one probably won't get done this weekend, but I'd like to get through the second stanza of the poem. It takes me about an hour per line. If you're interested, the article that inspired me is here: www.alaforveterans.org/what_we_do/mission_outreach_programs/Pages/PoppyStory.aspx
- And I just completed today a really cool countdown calendar that will help keep me encouraged through the last two months of payments on my student loan.

[reeneejune]

I think I've found a new addiction: www.spoonflower.com

Seriously... a whole new world of fabric prints. and if I possessed any talent at all in drawing, I would totally be creating my own fabrics all night long. The prices are a little but I can see spending that much for a special piece. Like fabric to finish my poetry/cross stitch project.

[Apple]

If anyone is interested in crafts for kids to do, there is a thread on SS with some ideas

I love crafts but don't have time to do many. I love woodworking and plan on building my own furniture in time (mostly log and weathered wood). I'm turning old tools and things into light fixtures (ice tongs and one big pair of logging tongs) for the new house. I hope to weld a fence together for the front side of my property using salvaged metal, making flowers, bugs, etc in it. I love metal yard art (smaller stuff although I do have an old boiler I want to turn into a horse). I adore "gnome-be-gones" and will make some of my own, maybe incorporate them into the fence as well.



I'm also thinking of making a light fixture and soap dispenser using mason jars for the house, I think my mom still has some of the blue jars and hopefully she'll let me take some.

I do the no-sew blankets too. I never learned how to sew even though my mom, my aunts and my grandma are/were all excellent seamstresses. Two of my cousins also sew incredibly well, they used to always win awards in 4H (the brother sewed his own tuxedo for his wedding!) I'd love to learn how to make afgans.

I've also had fun making DS's cakes over the years, much cheaper than store bought. Here's a pic of a castle where I used stacked ding-dongs for the towers, with straws topped with "flags" holding them together (that's him in his retina-burning orange soccer shirt )



ETA: Another birthday, another cake. This time it was Batman!

[busymom]

I used to dabble in quite a few things: photography, counted cross stitch, etc.

Then I had kids & I had to say good-bye to most of my free time.

But, I do admit I like to be one of the "craft room ladies" at our local Vacation Bible School. I love helping the little ones do crafts, and occasionally learn a new craft or two in the process!

[Apple]

Lonewolf--yes, the turtle shell is a helmet. Those aren't actually mine, but mine will look similar. The guy who designs those also does some other stuff, the venus fly trap is pretty cool.

I love woodworking but haven't done much in years. I did help DS build an outdoor chair this spring for his school project though. Plasma cutting is pretty cool--I work with some guys who do amazing work.

I like your rug idea for the kids. Sometimes there are days I wish DS was younger so I could do more creative stuff with/for him, but right now he's a moody teenager.

(for posting pictures I use www.imageshack.us, download the picture from my computer and then copy the "forum code" they provide--if you just do one picture it will show up right under the picture, if you do several pictures at once you have to click on the picture and then "embed picture" on the right of the photo, under an ad) You have to erase everything before the [ IMG] and after [ /IMG] (there will not be a space when you really want to post but if I leave the space out I can't show you...) Hope that helps!

[Apple]

When you hit "upload now" it should take you to a new page where you can see the picture and will say "upload successful". If you just did one picture the links should show up below the picture. Click on the code listed as the forum code then right-click and select "copy". Then paste that link onto your post, then erase the extra stuff, everything before and after [ IMG] nameofyourpicture.jpg or something will be here [ /IMG] (so you'll want to erase anything that says "url")

This is what my link looked like before...

[ URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/163/batmancake.jpg/ ] img163.imageshack.us/img163/7349/batmancake.jpg[ /IMG][ /URL]

Uploaded with [ URL=http://imageshack.us]ImageShack.us[ /URL]

and after I erased the extra stuff

[ IMG]http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/7349/batmancake.jpg[ /IMG] (you won't have spaces between the "[" and the next letter or symbol)

ETA: you actually have to click on the code itself

[midjd]

So does anyone sell on Etsy? I'm thinking of it, I have some pillows, walnut ink, and walnuts/buckeyes. I'm intimidated by some of the stuff being sold on there, though, those people are real artists!

I did a lot of DIY stuff for my wedding (made the flowergirl baskets and ringbearer pillow, plus the bouquets and parts of the centerpieces). I let the flowergirls keep the baskets and they have used them in 2 weddings since then, so they must be OK-looking (I know I'm biased)

[reeneejune]

selling on Etsy - I tried selling on Etsy, I made some cute purses that are also insulated lunch bags, but because of the sheer volume of items being posted in the category and the fact that I couldn't afford to re-post items every day, I wasn't very successful. The key seems to be to post in Etsy, but promote your items elsewhere, like in a blog.

[midjd]

Yeah, the fees seemed reasonable but I'm still hesitant for some reason. I see similar things listed, but have no idea if they're selling, so it's hard to know the market...

This is something I made today, I'm proud of it if only for the cost The decanter was $1 at an antique shop, the oil was $2.40, and the lavender and dahlia petals were free from the garden. It smells really good!





(PS - thanks Apple for the uploading tips!)

[Epiphany]

Love to see all the craftiness! I'd call myself somewhat crafty. I enjoy it but am not always best at execution and I can't sew to save my life. Ever since I was little my sister, my mom, and I would make a christmas craft. Now that we are grown my sister and I started the tradition again and made some great stuff last year. I'll try to post a pic. She is an artist and crafter by trade. She has a blog, writes for magazines, etc. and I just try to keep up.

But what I really wanted to post about was our projects this summer. She is getting married in October and I've spent the summer crafting for her wedding. It's a shabby chic vintage theme so I've hit garage sales and thrift stores all summer. I'm now spray painting frames and making chalk boards and other misc. things to decorate the reception. It's brought my craftiness to a whole new level!

[Epiphany]

here are the ornaments me and my sister made for last christmas

[ambellamy]

I tend to change crafts with the season.

Right now i'm gardening and cleaning and purging and doing stuff with our house...

Soon i'll start sewing and crochetting again as the weather cools off and I feel the need to do something with my hands that requires focus...

Come spring i'll paint, draw, or doodle for creativity purposes... I may even begin to write again... who knows.

[dragon2008]

You all have inspired me! I want to be crafty too! So I'm signing up for a Japanese embroidery course in October. If I like it, there is room to grow. And if I don't, well at least I tried.

[oreo]

I tend to buy stuff to make crafts, then I just store it in my craft room!

[midjd]

Our roller derby captain is planning a craft night! Woohoo! One of my teammates makes these really professional looking pendants, the idea is ostensibly to make them derby-themed and sell them.

We will probably just end up getting drunk and painting genitals on t-shirts with puffy paint, that's how we usually roll