Craft projects?

[Happy prose]

Does anyone have a good craft project they're working on? With the cooler weather coming, I'm home more and get antsy. I just finished my fall wreath, and I want to start something else. I've been browsing Pinterest (addicted), but a lot of what's on there is harder than it looks. Give me some ideas please!

[mmhmm]

That's lovely, lonewolf.  Obviously, a lot of work and creativity went into it.  You're very talented. 

[Happy prose]

Lonewolf...that's beautiful! Do you have a collection? Is this sold as a kit?

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Lone, you did a beautiful job on that.

I have far too many craft or art projects on the go at one time to list.

One of my favorite pastimes besides the art/sketching/painting, is counted cross-stitch. I've done several more intricate pics that I've had framed either for myself or for gifts.

I crochet a lot too - and make afghans, sweaters, baby/children's clothing and toys, and also do knitting (I have a knitting machine).

And machine sewing as well - though I've been slacking on that. I make slacks, blouses, dresses, shorts, etc. It's nice to be able to pick my own fabrics and colors for each piece I make.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

ETA: We have a "Hobbies" section here. There's not a lot in it right now, but you might get some ideas there - or PLEASE share any suggestions for crafts/hobbies you might have in that section too! I'd like to see more ideas of what some of you are doing for crafting/hobbies.

I'm always looking for something new to try out - as if I don't have enough on the go now.





notmsnmoney.proboards.com/board/22/hobbies

[Artemis Windsong]

SL - OMG, you do all of that and put up with US, also? 
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Lone:  Are your photo albums caught up?  I have some friends who are into photography and make those online books.  They are sooo nice.  I cannot seem to get that working for me.
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A friend gets canvases on sale then uses markers to make a picture then spritzes it with water to make the colors run.  It's a good adult/child project.  I have not tried it.

My artsy has not been nurtured the past several years.

I have a stamped, cross stitch quilt top that I work on.  I have a large quilt that has stumped me.  I am now in a group called Get R Done.  I would be embarrassed to take it to that group.  I have quilt blocks made that need the strips done and finished.

I also belong to a jewelry making group that has a monthly project in the winter.  That can get spendy, and a person gets over involved in buying and stock piling.
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The library probably has magazines on every kind of craft you can think of.  Walmart has a craft area; but you need to have an idea on how to assemble the stuff.  Hobby Lobby has a lot of kits.

[Apple]

I just started doing stamped cards.  I'm on another board where every now and then they'll do an "image swap", so I just need to come up with enough to trade (usually 5 or 6) and then will get 25+ images in return.  Some are hand stamped, some are digital stamps (if that person didn't have enough stamps), but they are all different than ones I have.  I'm hoping to get Christmas cards made for all of the family this year, and then next year I'd like to get more done for birthdays and things.  I'll also be making some of my own envelopes.

It's not a "craft", but I've also started canning.  So far I have done tomatoes, salsa and chicken.  Nice way to spend an afternoon, and my pantry gets some more stock when I'm done.

I also just started learning to crochet and have made some dish rags.  Eventually I want to get good enough to make afghans.

Photography is one of my latest hobbies, don't get to share the pictures with a lot of people, but I think I'm going to join a club and just have fun with it.

[Happy prose]

I don't knit or crochet, but I would like to try cross stitching. I love the way it looks. Do you think that's something I could teach myself? I tend to cook a lot as a hobby, but I really need new projects.

[Tiny]

I'll soon be making a 'holiday wreath' using up old christmas cards that I've saved. I found the picture and holly leaf pattern online (maybe pinterest?) you can google (old christmas card wreath) to find examples.

I also saw alot of 'paper chains' kinda things. the 'wreath' and the "chains' are more adult skilled variations of the projects kids do.

There where also "ornament balls" that can be made from old christmas cards (basically, you cut circles out of the cards and then fold and staple or glue them into ball shapes).

I can't seem to get any links to work. but googling Recycle Christmas cards works...

[Happy prose]

That sounds like fun. I love wreaths.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Occassionally I cross stich/embroider.  I have a print somewhere I wanted to do for my grandma for Christmas, I should probably locate it.

Otherwise I have taken to "upcycling" clothing.  It started with me wanting an autumn orange jean jacket on etsy but I didn't want to pay $40.  I emailed her questions about the process and decided it wasn't that hard.  I already had a jean jacket I barely wore to test it out on.

I stuck it in a bucket with dye remover/bleach, washed it and then stuck it back in the bucket with a package of Tangerine RIT dye.   Came out fantastic.

Second one I did didn't come out as expected, I didn't use bleach.  I wanted fushia/pink but instead it came out more of a tye-dye wash with pink and purple.  People thought I did it on purpose and complimented it so I rolled with it.

I just did a red one that came out much better.  I find the jackets at the Salvation army for $3 a piece or so.

I also made a "galaxy jacket" from an old plum-ish colored blazer I had after seeing the trend online and then reading a blog on how to DIY it.   Looks great and is a piece that is unique to me.

It's driving my DH insane how many jackets I have in the closet but it's a cheap hobby.  He'd rather I have a "new" jacket at about $6 rather than buy a more expensive one elsewhere.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

I'll try to get some photos of some of my framed crsos-stitched pictures - it *might* be difficult since there's glass over them, but I'll give it a try this afternoon.

I have one that was done on linen - Very difficult and intricate work since the the weave of the fabric is so much smaller than standard Aida cloth - and the stitches are also much more difficult to do on linen.

I have three here that are already framed and on the walls. I also have maybe a dozen that have yet to be framed... those ones might be easier to get pics of, since there won't be any reflection.

[cael]

Oh jeez, I knit, so at any given moment I have too much yarn, too many UFOs (unfinished objects) and too many projects planned that I'll never get done right now I have a scarf to finish, sweater for my mother to finish, fingerless gloves for me to finish, Olympics hat to finish, ugh and all these Christmas gift projects lined up: vest for DH, socks for brother, shirt for my niece, various cowls/hats or whatever for friends. So much knitting, so little time. oh and when I come home w/ more yarn today for a small shrug I'm making for myself to wear to a wedding next month my DH will shoot me in the face for bringing home more yarn!

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Here's one of my crochet afghans - it looks delicate in the pics, but it's actually bigger,thicker/snugglier than it looks (made with worsted Sayelle) - and it's also washable - this one fits a double bed. I keep it draped over the back of a sofa - so I can snuggle under it while watching TV on cold winter nights. The Peach color is also a bit washed out in these pics:

[Happy prose]

SL..very pretty. Can someone suggest a cross stitch to start with for beginner? I really know nothing about it.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I like the packages of iron on patterns.  I buy the cheap tea towels/hankerchiefs and go to town.  I screw up I get a new towel and start over.  Make easy gifts too.

[Iggy aka IG]

You gals are so talented!

This thread is timely, because I perused the WW crafts/scrap booking sections over the weekend with the goal of finding thank you gifts I can craft.  I subsequently called my sister and lamented how those store sections give me hives. 

But!  I do know how to knit, embroider, etc.  I've been working on a latch hook rug for oh, IDK, 15+ years?!  I swear I'll finish it this winter!  Really I will.    It's a snowman scene, and can eventually be made into a pillow or wall hanging.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I do it for gifts nowadays.  After stabbing my fingers a bazillion times I remember why I don't do embroidery on a regular basis. 

I have two pieces I did back in 4th grade framed and hanging on Gwen's bedroom wall.  I saved them all this time for my future baby.  Hobby Lobby did an excellent job with the frames.

My grandma was REALLY good at it she could make the back look just like the front.  My mom's pretty talented at it too.  I'm not near as good at it as they are.

[Happy prose]

What's the difference between cross stitch, needlepoint, and embroidery? (I thought they were the same)

[rubyslippers]

I mainly post on the Grocery Challenge but it's kind of slow there these days so the topic of crafts interested me.  My sis and I did LOTS of crafts years ago and counted cross-stitch was my favorite.  As a matter-of-fact, a friend and her little girl were over visiting tonight and I got out some of the pieces I had saved to show them.

Lonewolf, here are a few of the things I made from my projects:
    1) Samplers that were made, framed and hung in a group
    2) Pillows
    3) Bread basket liners
    4) Little jar toppers for mason jars and filled with candy appropriate for the current holiday.  I still use the button one for all the buttons
            I've saved over the years.
    5) Tea towels
    6) Trim to put around a basket
    7) Book marks
    8) Several pieces made into a quilt.  (I did this when I taught jr. high.  Each student made their own design on a denim square and then
            embroidered it.  A grandmother volunteered to quilt it and then we raffled it off at a school fundraiser.  The boys at first weren't too             keen on doing this but once they learned the different stitches, I had to make them put it away during other classes.  Another class
            designed their own personal coat-of-arms and then framed them.)

I took a quickie home ec sewing class my senior year in high school and the only thing that saved my denim jumper from getting a B was the embroidery I did around the top of the jumper.  I ended up with an A- but I still can't sew worth a darn today.

[Tiny]

[pepperdoo]

I make all of my own Christmas ornaments. I also refurbish old ornaments, all done in glitter. I only use Martha Stewart glitter. I wish I knew how to post a pic, they look wonderful. 

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Rubyslippers:

I've also done cross-stitch border designs on guest towels (you can buy guest towels at craft places like Michael's) that have a strip of the aida cloth along each edge of the towel.

I've done the jar toppers too - also Christmas tree ornaments, etc.

I use waste canvas as well to do cross-stitch designs on sweatshirts, denim shirts, and also have done a few more intricate table cloths & place mats.

I also did a pretty cool tree skirt for my Christmas tree in cross-stitch. Took me MONTHS to complete it though. But once I get started on a cross-stitch, there's no stopping me. I tried to get pics of a couple of my pieces yesterday, but I was getting some glare from the flash on the framed pics. I'll try to take some pics of unframed pieces in the next few days to share.

[Blonde Granny]

I am a quilter.   Since our house sold, my machine has been in storage until new house is finished.  I have a great Bernina dealer, so I have bought some Xmas fabric and will do all the sewing and quilting starting tomorrow at my local Bernina store.

I can't wait!

[chiver78]

Sept 16, 2013 13:56:29 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

SL..very pretty. Can someone suggest a cross stitch to start with for beginner? I really know nothing about it.

I would suggest a stamped pattern. get the hang of making the stitches, then worry about counting on later projects.

I've got a couple unfinished cross stitch pieces stashed in closets. one should be pretty easy to finish, the other is waiting on me to do a whole mess of French Knots (I hate, HATE French Knots) for a flower garden. that second one is almost 10 years old, it's the one I was working on when my Nana went into the hospital for the last time. something tells me I'm never going to finish it.

[pepperdoo]

Herrschners.com has cross stitch table cloths, runners, embroidery thread and everything. I get all of my linens there if I don't stamp them myself.

[pepperdoo]

chiver78 is right. I'd do the simple stuff first

[chiver78]

I just pulled out the smaller unfinished cross stitch. I think I'm going to work on it tonight

here's the pattern - link

[rubyslippers]

Scottish Lassie: The tree skirt sounds lovely.  I bought a quilted tree skirt from an acquaintance years ago and it is still beautiful.  Alas, my eyes gave out doing all the cross stitching through the years so I haven't done any projects in a long time.

My sister gets stuff at the thrift store or garage sales and makes me beautiful wreaths and centerpieces.  I have an autumn one hanging up on my front porch and she filled in a centerpiece I had with some of her filler items.  The Christmas one she made me last year when we got a lot of stuff half off at the stores.  It's amazing how beautiful it looks.  I told her she should sell a few on Ebay.   

A friend helped me make hypertufusses (?) this spring.  She had all the messy stuff and I just had to get some cheap baskets at the thrift store.  My succulents look nice in them and they are a nice addition to my flower beds.

[raeoflyte]

We did melt and pour soap a couple years ago and decided to do that again. The soap just got here today. comes out to $1 a bar and is a great

Last year I decoupaged a picture of the kids on 2x2 tiles, glued on a ribbon, and voila! Ornaments!

This year I'd like to do:
1) soap

2) circle ornaments tiny speck talked about, but instead of using Christmas cards, using the bajillion old and duplicate printed pictures I have.

3) homemade vanilla.

4) decoupage a tile mosaic to retop an end table that the damn dog ate the corners off of (10+ years ago).

5) at least my 2012 photo album, ideally, 2011, 2012, and most of 2013. I steal everyones pictures, and do a big album for us, then copy it and customize one for my parents and another one for the in laws. Snapfish always does like a 65% off on black Friday, so I just have to get them done and that's our typical Christmas gift to the grandparents.

Guess I better get on that...