How to Make a Stuffed Doll Pillow Mate

Isnt it cute to watch a litter of sleeping puppies? They lie all over each other; one resting his head on anothers foot, another one with his legs hung over his sisters back. Its so adorable! People have similar habits when they sleep. Mates often throw their legs or arms over each other and further entangle as they sleep. It feels good to cuddle with someone as you sleep, but when that someone isnt there, it can be a lonely night, indeed. Whether your mates gone out of town and wont be back for a week, or youve recently gotten divorced and feel lonesome in that empty bed, theres an easy pillow you can create that can give you someone - albeit a fake someone - to snuggle.

Does your mate have an old pair of pajamas that he doesnt wear anymore? Those are perfect for starting the stuffed doll pillow. You can choose other outfits instead, like jogging pants and a sweatshirt, or another similar outfit. Whatever type of clothes you choose you will need a long pair of pants and a long shirt. In addition to the outfit youll need a knee-hi stocking and some stuffing. The stuffing can be foam, cotton or even pieces of old sheets.

Start by deciding on the design of the doll. The doll can have slippers, socks or there can be no feet whatsoever. If youre going with a design that has no feet use hot glue to close the ankles of the pajama bottoms. If youre going to add slippers simply tape the ankles of the pajama bottoms closed temporarily. If youll be giving your doll socks use the chosen material to go ahead and stuff the socks first. Glue the ankles of the pajama bottoms over the stuffed socks. Begin stuffing the pajama pants with the chosen filler. If you want the dolls legs to be bendable insert a wire down each pajama leg then add the stuffing around it. If you want the doll to be able to stand in a closet when not in use slide a small-diameter wooden dowel into each leg then add the stuffing. No matter what design youre making fill the pajama bottoms with stuffing so that its nice and tight. It might be necessary to work with the stuffing a little so that you can get the shape of the person more accurate. Stop stuffing the pajama bottoms when you get near the top. At this point you can go ahead and glue on the slippers. Lay the pants on a flat surface and arrange the chosen shirt so that it either overlaps the pants or tucks inside. If it tucks inside, go ahead and tuck it in, gluing the waist of the pants to the shirt after its tucked in. If the shirt will stay outside of the pants, position it, then glue the shirt to the pants. Now, reach inside the neck of the shirt to begin stuffing it. Add stuffing to finish filling the waist of the pants as well as the shirt itself. If youre making a woman doll, and you dont want it to be flat-chested like a guy, you can cut a Styrofoam ball in half and glue the halves inside the shirt. If youll be giving the doll no hands simply hot glue the cuffs of the shirt shut. If youll be giving the doll glove hands, choose the gloves, stuff them, then glue them to the cuff area of the shirt. Hands can also be made from ends cut off tube socks. Fill the socks and shape them in balls, position them in the cuffs of the shirt sleeves, then glue in place. Continue stuffing the shirt until its full. Add stuffing to a knee-hi stocking until its about the size of a human head. Work with the stuffing, shaping it, until it has a good shape. Tie a rubber band around the end of the stocking to hold the stuffing in place. Cut off excess stocking then glue the collar or neckline of the shirt to the knee-hi. Its not necessary to make a face for the doll. You can make a head covering, if you want, by gluing on a Gilligan-type hat to the knee-hi. Or, glue on doll wig hair to finish. A stuffed doll wont take the place of your mate but it will fill the bed and keep it from seeming so empty. Although the doll doesnt hug and cuddle back it will give you some comfort to roll over and throw your leg over it or lay your head on its shoulder. You might want to hide it

Simple Golf Ball Crafts

Are you a golf nut? Do you know someone who is? If so, there are some fun golf ball projects you can create, and all of them are very inexpensive. Make some of these golf ball crafts and give them to the golf nut. He or she will be thrilled to receive the whimsical and unique gifts. All you will need is a few golf balls and a few cheap craft items.

One quick and easy golf ball project is made for jazzing up plants. Glue an ordinary golf ball onto a golf tee. Draw a smiley face on the ball and stick it in a plant or flower pot. You can glue on fake hair, a moustache or even a top hat. Find miniature embellishments for the plant ball at any craft store. Dont want the balls to be white? Paint them with paint markers which dry quickly and dont run. The markers resemble magic markers but contain paint rather than ink. Theyre inexpensive, come in a variety of colors, and last a long time.

Make a golf ball decoration for various holidays by starting with a Styrofoam block. Paint the block or leave it white. Glue golf balls onto golf tees and use them to spell out a holiday word or phrase. For example, align four balls in a row, equally spaced, across the Styrofoam block. Use paint markers to write a letter on each ball to spell "Noel". The ball arrangement doesnt necessarily have to be for Christmas only. Make a similar arrangement for a graduation party by writing the graduation year on four balls. Use more balls and spell out "Easter" or other words. These can be made with any theme. Embellish the golf ball design by adding silk flowers, miniature bunnies, wooden shapes or other craft items to the Styrofoam block. Another option for spelling out the word or phrase is to use stickers. Because of the shape of the balls, youll have trouble using large stickers, but can easily use small stickers. Spell out the word or phrase by attaching one letter to each golf ball. Other options include ink stamping the letters or numbers or even using fabric paints which stick to most any surface. Instead of using Styrofoam you can make something similar by using a piece of wood. The wood must be fairly long - depending upon the word youll spell - but doesnt have to be very thick. It can be a flat piece of wood or a block of wood. Glue golf balls in a row, across the wood, and spell out anything from "Dad" to "America". These look great on a desk, a mantle or a shelf. They make a fabulous gift for Fathers Day, a birthday, or just because... Glue wiggly eyes onto a golf ball and draw a red smile. Use hot glue to attach a button magnet or square magnet piece to the back of the ball. Glue on a miniature craft top hat and bow tie. Stick the whimsical golf ball guy to the refrigerator or another metal surface. You can make other characters by using other craft miniatures. Glue on a clown hat, red pom-pom nose and silly tie. There are any number of people you can create. Make a different type of character by starting with a flat, heart-shaped wooden piece. Paint the face on the golf ball guy. Glue on hair, wiggly eyes, hat, tie or other accessories. Now glue the golf ball to the wooden shape. The rounded part of the heart should face the front of the ball with the point of the heart is around back. The two rounded parts of the heart make the feet of the character and make it easy to stand the ball. These cute characters are easy to make and very adorable. For fun, make the above characters to resemble people in your own family. Instead of gluing the ball to the heart shape try gluing one to a skateboard, to miniature craft skates, or even to toy skis. Make one with a receded hairline by using a marker. Or, create one with pigtails by gluing on craft hair. Align the family golf balls on a shelf or mantle. Theyre whimsical, fun to create, and make great conversation pieces. If youre a golf nut youll enjoy these crafts. If youre not a golf nut, but you know one, wait until you see his or her face when you give them the golf crafts. Make one of each and theyll have a desk name plaque, golf-theme plants, and even

Gifts You Make by Stacking Things

Does anyone on your Christmas list have a computer desk? An organized kitchen? Then he or she will absolutely love any number of containers and holders that youll make especially for them. Each of these projects are easy enough for anyone to do and use things you might already have at home. When youre finished, though, you - and the recipient - will be thrilled with the results.

Make a really quick pencil and pen holder by using an old plastic Slinky. Glue the Slinky layers together so it is one solid piece. Make a bottom for the holder from a piece of cardboard. Cover it in cloth or decorative paper, then glue it to the bottom. Embellish the simple pencil holder by gluing on a painted wooden shape, a plastic letter or number, or even a flat ceramic design. There are any number of ways to make the Slinky look like something totally different.

A metal Slinky can be used in the same manner. As a matter of fact you really dont even have to glue the circles of plastic or metal together. The weight of the Slinky will keep it in position, and with the cardboard piece glued to the bottom, it will keep the Slinky sitting level. Plastic or metal Slinky desk accessories can hold writing instruments, silk flowers, paper clips and much more. Stack and glue two or more plastic Slinkies together to make a taller version of the pencil holder. This container can hold implements - or even tall flowers - and perk up the kitchen. Create the cardboard bottom and set the creation on a counter or shelf. Place it in the center of a table to hold flowers. Its a unique and easy way to organize and decorate the kitchen at the same time. People wont even notice its a Slinky by the time youve added the embellishments which could include a pipe cleaner border around the top and/or bottom, beads, bark pieces or any number of craft supplies. The creation is all your own. Use things around the house to decorate it or spend money on miniatures or other embellishments. Many different things, besides Slinkies, can be stacked to create unique holders and accessories. Solid cuff bracelets, for example, can be stacked to make lovely "vases" for artificial flowers and plants. Glue several of the bracelets together and use them in the bedroom, bathroom, living room and other places. Cuff bracelets are generally wide, but you can use narrower versions of bracelets, simply by stacking more of them together. Picture frames are another good example of things that can be stacked and made into other things. Frames with no backing or glass are perfect. The frames must be all the same size, though. Glue the frames in a stack that can surround a potted plant. Glue only a couple frames together, glue a flat mirror or glass piece to the bottom, and you have a fantastic beauty supply holder for the bathroom or bedroom. The mirrored frames can hold perfumes, jewelry, powder, lotions and more. Stack old cds to make a unique coffee or drink coaster for your desk. Stack two or three high then cut a piece of felt for the top. Stack even more cds to create pillars for a table. Glue the cds together to make several different size pillars. Place dishes of candies, cookies and other goodies on the pillars. The metallic look of the pillars add glitz to any holiday table. Stack cds, several high, then place a dowel rod through the center. The rod doesnt have to be a tight fit but fit well enough to where the stick doesnt lean severely. If the dowel doesnt fit well, though, just push a piece of Styrofoam into the hole, made by the stacked cds, and push the stick into it. Glue miniature clothes pins onto the rod and you have an instant photo display for a desk or other area. Simply clip pictures, postcards, tickets, Christmas cards, and similar items onto the pole. Paint the dowel with holiday stripes or leave it plain and natural. Look around for other things you can stack and decorate with. Youll be really surprised at what all you find! These crafts are oh, so easy yet look great when theyre finished. Let the kids get in on the fun and

No-Stringing, Beautiful Beaded Pictures

Creating beautiful beaded decor can be very challenging. When working with tiny beads you can count on hours and hours of eye-straining, tedious work to produce even the smallest of decor pieces. However, there is one technique, when it comes to doing beadwork, that is so simple anyone can do it. You wont need a needle or twine to create gorgeous beaded pictures for nearly any room of your house.

Do you know what seed beads are? Sometimes shaped like tiny, elongated seeds, sometimes not, seed beads are simply tiny beads. You can purchase the really small beads in assorted colors, shapes and sizes at most any craft store. The seed beads can be used to make any number of pictures and designs with ease. Decide on the particular picture you want to do before selecting the assorted beads for the project.

There are lots of different things you can use as the pattern for your new beaded picture. Coloring book pages work really well because the detail is usually not real intricate. Other choices might be a calendar photo, a picture from a magazine or even a section cut from a poster. For best results choose a picture that does not have intricate detail that will be challenging to bead. Start by gluing the selected picture to a piece of thick cardboard. Trim the cardboard to fit the picture. Now you can proceed to do the outlining and beading. Select the roping or twine you will use for the outlining. Glue lengths of the small-diameter twine to the areas which are outlined on a coloring book page. If youre using a calendar picture or other image you can use the roping to outline the main items in the picture. Although black twine or roping will give you a very distinct outline you can actually use any color you want. However, youll find the picture will turn out best if you use only one color of roping for the outlining. Roping can also be used to highlight things like an animals eyes or nose or even to make tiny birds in the sky. Use a small paintbrush to apply white glue to the areas which will receive the beads. Start with one section, apply the glue, then sprinkle on the selected beads. You can do some highlighting by using a second color of beads. For example, use white beads down one side of a lighthouse picture, then fill in the rest of the lighthouse image with blue beads. The white beads will give the illusion that the sun is shining on that area of the lighthouse. Continue doing one section after another, starting with images in the center of the picture, and ending with the complete background of the picture. Take care to cover the whole section with a thick coat of glue without actually getting the adhesive on the roping. So, for each section you do, add the glue, sprinkle on the beads, press the beads into the glue with the palm of your hand or a flat object, then turn the picture over to dump off the excess beads. Dont worry if there are areas where there are no beads; you can fix that later. However, its helpful to try to get the glue to cover the entire section so that rework is kept to a minimum. Complete each section before moving on to the next area. If youve applied the beads, and there are still areas of the picture that are showing through, add a little extra glue by using a toothpick or tiny paintbrush. Apply the glue to these bare areas, add extra beads, pat them down, then turn the picture over to dump off the excess. The finished picture can then be placed in a picture frame or can be hung as-is. Its really easy to make beaded pictures when you already have the picture to use as a pattern. Simplistic pictures work best for easy beading but even those simplistic pictures will turn out beautiful when you use the simple beading technique. The smaller the beads, the better the picture will look, since its difficult to see the holes of the beads when theyre really small. The same beading technique can be used to make designs on lampshades and other things in your home, too. Carbon paper is helpful to transfer the paper image to the desired surface. Try your hand at doing a

Early Pregnancy Symptom Checklist

Some women occasionally miss a period, but it turns out theyre not pregnant, so a missed period for them doesnt necessarily spell pregnancy. On the other hand, some pregnant women have slight periods, so theyre not aware theyre pregnant either. There are other signs that you might be pregnant besides a missed period. For some women these signs might be noticed before recognizing missed periods.

By the second trimester most women are definitely aware of the fact that they are pregnant. During the first trimester, however, some women remain unawares. Thats because some early pregnancy signs mimic signs of approaching menstruation or even illness. One such example is aching or tenderness of the breasts. This is a common ailment for many menstruating women and might not be recognized as a sign of pregnancy. However, if the breasts are tender or feeling heavier, and youve experienced a missed period, it could be time to take a pregnancy test.

Many women are said to be emotional before, during or after menstruation. The same can be said of some women who are pregnant. Surging hormones can spell mood swings for many women who dont yet know theyre pregnant. This is only one of several signs that can be connected with menstruation as well as pregnancy. "Morning sickness" is a term known by most adults whether theyve had children or not. Morning sickness can definitely point to pregnancy but is an ailment not commonly connected to menstruation. If you suddenly start having morning sickness you might have an inkling of whats going on, but if the nausea and vomiting occurs other than in the morning, you might not recognize it as a sign of early pregnancy. Consider other symptoms before leaning towards a pregnancy diagnosis. If you have a high fever, for instance, its more likely that youre ill rather than pregnant. If you suddenly realize that certain smells make you sick, whether the smell is a perfume or meat frying in a skillet, this could point to pregnancy. If you wake up in the morning feeling nauseated, and you nibble crackers while sipping soda, this can help calm morning sickness for some women. If this works for you it could be youre pregnant and just didnt know it! Morning sickness generally hits women between a month and six weeks but can last for weeks - or months! Feeling run-down and tired lately? In early pregnancy rising levels of progesterone are thought to cause some women to feel unusually tired or sleepy. If you know youre getting your usual amount of sleep, but you feel very tired everyday, you could be pregnant. This is particularly true if you are experiencing no other signs of illness, fever or ailments. If you have any other symptom of early pregnancy, and youve noticed that youve gained a pound or two, this could be another indicator. Women who are only a month into their pregnancies can easily gain a pound or two. If youre a woman who generally stays at the same weight, and youve suddenly gained a pound, this could be the first sign you notice that you might be expecting. There are many different things that can change after being pregnant only a month. Some women report heartburn, lightheadedness, constipation, stiffness in the back, more frequent urinating or even the changing of the color of the nipples. Some symptoms youve experienced in one pregnancy may not be pregnant in a subsequent pregnancy. Having different symptoms between two pregnancies does not establish the gender of the baby. Just because you have different symptoms with a current pregnancy, that you didnt have when carrying your first son or daughter, doesnt mean the opposite sex will be had this time around. Symptoms can be varied no matter what the gender or how many pregnancies youve experienced. Although pregnancy tests can be very accurate they often dont detect a really early pregnancy. Nothing beats a doctors diagnosis of a pregnancy no matter how far along you are. If youre experiencing any of the above symptoms, with or without a missed period, it could be time to take a pre

Look to Your Driveway for Your Next Craft Project

Did you know that if you have a gravel driveway you have tons of craft supplies? Small rocks and gravel are perfect for making all sorts of cheap or unsightly things around the house look so much better. Take, for instance, an old plastic or glass bud vase. Women who receive flowers once or twice a year could be swamped with these ordinary vases. Some of us throw them away; some hang on to them for no reason. Unless, that is, they always knew a craft would come along to create something fantastic from those useless vases.

Gluing rocks onto all sorts of items lets you create themes that look expensive but are ultra-cheap. Its important that the rocks be somewhat small, very clean, and extremely dry. Place rocks in knee-his to wash them in the dishwasher. Lay rocks out on a towel to dry. Rocks can retain water so make sure the rocks are not damp whatsoever.

Regular hot glue will work great for attaching the rocks to most surfaces. Even if hot glue wont hold the rocks for a long time its only necessary to hold them temporarily. After the rocks have been hot glued onto the object you can then coat the entire project with clear lacquer. The lacquer will provide additional adhesive qualities that will keep the glued rocks in place. If you dont happen to have a gravel driveway you can purchase decorative rocks at craft stores. You can also get bags of small rocks at a home improvement store. Theyre not expensive and a small bag of rocks goes a long way towards giving a make-over to many different things in your home. The rocks are available in many different colors, types and sizes so you can do small projects, like picture frames and bud vases, or larger projects like windowsills and range hoods. Create unusual artwork by starting with the small rocks. Purchase plastic canvas to use as the canvas for your creation. The plastic canvas can be found at most any craft store. It resembles a screen with larger holes and comes in molded colors. The flat canvas is bendable yet sturdy. Glue rocks all over the canvas or create a particular pattern or image. Its easy to do this if you start with a coloring book page. Glue the page to the canvas then glue the rocks in place on the picture. Hang the finished rock artwork on any wall. Use rocks and plastic canvas to make other things, too. Cut a square, rectangle, circle or oval from plastic canvas then glue on the rocks. This makes a fabulous table centerpiece that can hold a basket of fruit or a napkin holder and condiments. Make smaller versions to create unique coasters as well. The plastic canvas can be cut in small shapes like a quarter-moon or even a banana, to make unusual art pieces that can hang on a wall. Use glue dots, double-sided tape or even tiny nails to hold the rock-covered canvas to the walls. Cut small squares of canvas, cover them in rocks, then attach them to the corners of your door facings. This gives any doorway an instant facelift. Arrange the small rocks into monograms or initials for a fireplace mantle or a window cornice. The same can be done on the front of a lamp, a basket or an old trunk. There are no limits to the many things you can make for your home and family by using the tiny rocks to create art and decor pieces. Get the kids in on the fun! Theyll love being able to make all kinds of cool things with the small rocks. In the kitchen cover utensil holders, window sills, the hood of the range, or a table centerpiece. In the bathroom cover toothbrush holders, soap dishes and light switch covers. In a childs room make unique pencil holders for a desk or a wall hanging from a coloring book page. Glue the rocks to an old wooden fireplace mantle, in the den or living room, and create a rustic look for little money. Whether or not you have rocks or gravel in your driveway shouldnt stop you from creating some really great rock decor and gifts. Since the rocks are so inexpensive, and a small bag goes a long way, make rock-covered gifts for all your friends and family members. Theyll never know you made the gifts yourself; the

Unusual Cartoon Character Jack-O-Lanterns

Have you ever seen some of the faces people carve into pumpkins for Halloween? Some of them are frightening and disturbing even to grownups! Image the horror some young children experience when they see the gruesome, glowing jack-o-lanterns of tradition. This year, do something a little different. Make cartoon character jack-o-lanterns that young kids will absolutely love. Theyre very easy to make, and once you try it, the project will likely become a Halloween tradition.

You dont have to be a master carver to create fabulous jack-o-lanterns that are fun and silly. You can draw images onto the pumpkin, then cut them out, or you can use patterns to make the perfect cartoon character pumpkin for your kids. Its helpful to have a picture of the character to use as reference when drawing it. It can be a little more difficult -and expensive - to find stencils which will give you the large cartoon character shapes.

Another way to easily transfer a cartoon design to the pumpkin is to simply use a coloring book page. If you have a piece of transfer paper that will help considerably. Tape the transfer paper, then the coloring book page, to the pumpkin. Trace over each and every line to transfer the image to the pumpkin. Remove the papers and you have your pattern for cutting. If the coloring book page is too small, or too large for the pumpkin, use your home computer print shop to adjust the design to the proper size needed. A partial list of the intriguing designs you can make for kids include Dora, Tinkerbell, Tigger, Eeyore, Casper, Spongebob and Scooby-Doo. Children will absolutely love the unique jack-o-lanterns which can be used indoors or out. Set the finished jack-o-lantern on porches, mantles, goodies tables and other areas of the home. To create the unique jack-o-lanterns simply transfer the pattern onto the pumpkin the carve with tools you normally use. Sharp knives, ice picks, hammered nails and similar techniques will make it easy for you to create the main design. Embellishments for the main design, like stars in the "sky" or grass nearby, can be carved to enhance the main image. As with any Halloween pumpkin, you can carve out the inside, create the design that you carve, then place a candle or light inside. With these unique childrens designs the glowing image will be that of a friendly cartoon rather than a menacing ghoul. Create something completely different, using the coloring book page, by using a hammer and nails to make the entire design. Tape the desired image onto the pumpkin then use a hammer to poke holes in the pumpkin with a nail. Space the nails so that they are evenly apart. Its helpful to draw dots on the outline of the paper image so that you will know where to position each and every nail. The finished nail hole images are beautiful when lit. Kids can make easy cartoon character pumpkins without even damaging the pumpkin at all. The images can be transferred, using transfer paper, or you can try a different technique. Use paints that dispense from a bottle, such as fabric paints, to make outline the image on the coloring book page. Work fast so the paint doesnt have time to dry. Immediately turn the page over and push it, gently, up against the pumpkin. The image will transfer onto the pumpkin with ease. If you need to, go back and touch up any missing sections of outline by dispensing the tube paints directly onto the pumpkin. Use paint markers to color in the center of the images or just leave the designs in outline form. There are many different embellishments you an use to make the pumpkin even more spectacular. Use paint markers to add clothing, hair color or other accents to the design. Glue on fake jewels, buttons, sequin, pom-poms or any number of other craft supplies. This is an easy way that kids can help create Halloween decorations without the use of knives. This year, dont be known for having the most frightening of jack-o-lanterns; have everyone talking about the unique cartoon character designs you and your family have created. Everyone will want t

How to Create a Slit Pocket

As a sewing beginner you might have already tried to make pockets that are stitched onto shirts or jackets. After all, outside pockets arent that hard to create. After cutting, folding and pressing the pocket shape you simply sew around it to attach it to the garment. Slit pockets, however, seem a little more intimidating to most beginners. You know the type of pocket to which I refer, dont you? Theyre the type that look like a simple slit in the garment but the pocket itself is hidden on the backside. These pockets might be slightly more challenging but are easy enough for even beginners to create.

Choose the material you will use to create the pockets. The fabric should be lightweight, like muslin or similar cloth. Youll only need a small piece to make each pocket. Theres no particular size to cut the pockets; youll want to cut them smaller for childrens clothes and larger for adult clothes. If you have large hands you might want large pockets. If youre a petite person you might not want the pockets to be extra-large. Youll decide on the size you want them to be. A good rule of thumb is to cut the pocket so that it is slightly larger than the width of the hand, nearly as long as the hand.

At risk of stating the obvious, choose light colored fabric for pants that are light in color although you can often use light colored cloth on dark clothing as well. To make each pocket cut two rectangles of the cloth. One rectangle should be about two inches longer than the other but they should both be the same width. Set the fabric pieces aside while you create the slit for the pocket access. Cut the slit in the pants so that it is slightly shorter than the top of the pocket youve cut. The top of the pocket will be one of the short ends of the fabric rectangles. Stitch one of the short ends of the longest pocket to the top of the slit. To do this youll need to place the wrong side of the pocket to the wrong side of the slit. Align it so that the edge of the pocket is matched up with the edge of the top of the slit. The length of the pocket should be pointing towards the waist of the pants, and not down, over the lower slit. Stitch straight across. Place the second, smaller pocket piece against the underside of the lower slit. Align it so that the top edge of the pocket piece is against the edge of the slit. The length of the fabric should be pointing away from the top slit. Stitch straight across. Now pull the to pocket piece down and over the smaller pocket piece. Align them and stitch the two of them together on the two sides and bottom. If one piece happens to be shorter than the other simply trim it so that both are the same before stitching. Your pocket is now formed and attached to the two sides of the slit. The slit, however, has raw edges still showing. To hide these use seam tape. Purchase it in the same color as the pants themselves. Cut the exact length you need to go across the top and bottom slit. Cut the seam tape so that it is a half-inch longer than the needed amount. Fold the seam tape and position the ends so that they are on top of each other and right sides are together. Stitch the tiny seam. Now stitch the seam tape around the pocket making sure half the folded tape is on the outer side of the slits and the other half is underneath the slits. This overlapping of the slits will give a finished look to the pocket. You dont necessarily have to make all slit pockets rectangular. They can be rounded or even paisley-shaped. The thing to remember, though, is to make one side of the pocket straight so that it can be easily sewn to the slit. Beginners may find it easiest to sew the two pocket pieces together around three sides, then pin the pocket opening to the slit in the pants. For side pockets cut a slit in the side seam then stitch the pocket to the slit. The slit pockets are great for the backs of pants as well as jackets, too. If youre a little intimidated to make your first slit pocket practice on a piece of cloth. Cut a slit in the cloth, sew in the pocket, then finish

Cheap, Fake Crown Molding for Any Room of the House

Dont you love the look of that fancy crown molding you see in nice homes? Not just wooden, painted molding but gold-embellished molding that looks elegant and expensive? Actually, it is elegant and expensive! Nice molding is not cheap and is not easy to hang. You have to get out saw horses, assorted saws, measuring devices, hammer and nails and other tools. Forget all that! Save lots of money and make things easy on yourself by making crown molding in a completely different way. Believe it or not, you can make gorgeous and impressive molding by starting with slabs of Styrofoam.

Order Styrofoam online or visit your local craft store to find it. The type of Styrofoam you need is the white kind - not the green. The green is used for floral arrangements. Purchase Styrofoam by the slab and in the thickness you want for your "molding". Youll find very sizes of Styrofoam, in various thicknesses, to make it easy for you to find just the right thickness for the project you want to do. Its easy for you to cut the Styrofoam slab down to the different sections youll need to create the molding.

Its much easier to cut Styrofoam if you use a serrated knife. Cut an old piece of candle a couple of times, to transfer the wax to the knife, and youll have an even easier time cutting and scoring the Styrofoam. Use an ordinary yardstick to measure how wide you want the molding to be. Cut the slab into "planks" that will be individual sections of the new molding. Now youll create the designs you want on the Styrofoam molding. Its helpful to lay the molding, end-to-end, in a long row. That way, as you create the design, you can make it align exactly with the next "plank". If you dont have the room for all of that just do one plank, lay it beside the next one, and used the first one as a pattern to repeat the design on the other planks. Designs can be very simplistic or more elaborate. Keep in mind that, whatever designs you create on the first plank, youll have to also recreate them on each and every plank that follows. A design on the molding can be a simple line scored into the Styrofoam. Use a yard stick to draw a line across the top of the Styrofoam plank, a few inches from the top, then create a matching line a few inches from the bottom. Simply hold the yardstick in the area you want to score and run the knife across that line a couple of times. Barely score the line to create one look; cut a deep gouge to create a different appearance. Make several lines that are equally separated or three horizontal sections - one large and two much more narrow. There are no limits to the designs you can create on the molding. Styrofoam can be easily painted if you choose the right paint. Some paints can actually melt Styrofoam so check the label before selecting the paint. The white color of the Styrofoam gives you another option: use it as-is. Use the white background as the "painted" part of the wood, then create the golden designs you want on each plank. You can choose from various techniques, colors and designs to create just the right molding for your home. After preparing the Styrofoam as you want it (with or without paint) you can then begin creating the golden designs. You can use stencils and gold paint that you apply with a brush or you can use tube paints that dispense from a small squeeze bottle. Or, use ordinary paint markers instead. The stencil paints or paint markers will create a flat look to the golden accents; the tube paints will give the paints more of a dimensional appearance. Make stripes, lines, dots, squiggles, zig-zags or other patterns on the Styrofoam to create the look you want. You can combine other things to make the molding you want. For example, you can glue a strip of wallpaper, horizontally, down the middle of the Styrofoam. Above and below that, you can use the golden paints to create additional designs and patterns. When youre finished simply use double-sided tape, peel-and-stick picture hangers, or even glue strips to attach the Styrofoam - no hammer and nails needed. Youll lo

Milk Jug Cleaning Supply Caddy

If youre like most families in America you go through jug after jug of milk. Can you imagine how many gallon-size plastic jugs hit the landfill every year? Of course, you can only do a minor part in going green but each little thing you do helps in the overall goal of most Americans to help save the planet. On a small scale, though, you can recycle those plastic jugs into a handy caddy that holds all your cleaning supplies. Since its portable youll have everything you need nearby whenever its cleaning day. And, if you dont need a cleaning caddy you can use the jugs to make an artists caddy or another cool helpful organizer.

After washing the jugs well cut the top half off. Use scissors or a craft knife, just below the handle, to cut cleanly all the way around. Although its not absolutely mandatory that the jug be cut just perfectly it will produce a nicer-looking caddy if the jug is cut evenly. Use a ruler and marker, if needed, to accomplish this. Since the caddies can be built to your liking you will decide how many jugs you need to cut. You must use an even number, though, so cut up two, four or even six of the jugs. Make a smaller caddy by using half-gallon jugs; a larger caddy by using gallon-size containers.

At a craft store youll find many different wooden pieces. A thin, flat wooden piece works well to make a base for the caddy. To choose the proper size of wood measure the bottom of one milk jug and decide how many jugs you will be using. The jugs will be aligned in two rows so youll figure the measurements across the bottom of half the jugs youre using in order to decide on the length. For example, if youre going to make a caddy that has three jugs on one side, and three on the other, add the measurements of three of the jugs together to find the length you need. The width should be purchased according to the measurement of two jugs side-by-side. Buy a piece of wood thats an inch or so longer and wider than the actual jugs. Another option you have for making a base is a thick piece of cardboard. The cardboard must be very thick and sturdy to hold the cleaning supplies. Layers of cardboard can be glued together to make it thick enough. Or, make something totally different by using an old cookie sheet as the base. The cookie sheet works well if youre using half-gallon jugs. A piece of paneling or even Styrofoam are other choices for a base. Youll need a handle for the caddy and it, too, can be made from different things. You can purchase a piece of wood at a craft store, with an oval cut out for a handle, or you can make the handle from something else. A thick piece of cardboard works well; just cut an oval or rectangle shape out near the top. A piece of thick foam works well, too. The foam should be the type that you often see made into colorful squares for kids. The foam pieces slide together via built-in tabs and are often used as floor mats. Cut a handle shape out near the top. No matter what type of handle you decide on it should be at least half as long as the base youve chosen. It should also be tall enough so that it rises above the milk jugs. To assemble the caddy start by gluing the handle to the base. Glue strips, found at home improvement or craft stores, work well on most surfaces and hold quite a lot of weight. Hot glue is a good choice for a cardboard or foam handle. Attach the handle so that it runs down the middle of the length of the base. Now glue the cut jugs to the base and to each other. Align them so that they run down one side of the base, and down the opposite side, with the handle trapped between the two rows. Any jugs that touch the handle can be glued to the base as well as the handle to add strength to the finished caddy. Colored tape or stickers make it easy to decorate the jugs. Or, you can use markers to draw or write on them. Each milk jug can hold many different things. Use it to hold cleaning supplies, art supplies, tools and more. With the built-in handle you can easily cart it around with you anywhere you go. Its a handy item that help

Tomato Characters for Parties or Kids

Whether youre looking for a new appetizer or cool food for a future party, or you have finicky kids who dont even want to try certain foods, you might want to consider the tomato. Lots of adults eat whole tomatoes just like a regular fruit - well, they are a regular fruit - but kids might not be as apt to grab a tomato and pig out. If you want them to, though, or you want to impress some party guests with your unusual foods, tomato characters will thrill em all! The cute fruit people are made with a tomato as the body and selected vegetables as the characters features.

Start with a small tomato and use a serrated knife to cut the top off of it. This piece, although it wont be eaten, will be saved as the hat for the character. Spoon out the inside of the tomato using a spoon. Drain the juice then proceed to filling the inside of the tomato. There are many different foods you could use to fill it. Make or buy potato salad and stuff the tomato with it. Cole slaw, cottage cheese, chicken salad or tuna salad are other options. You can even make a tiny salad inside the tomato. Or, fill it with peas to create something totally different. Whatever you use to fill the tomato, over fill it, so that the inner goodies can be viewed without lifting the top off of the tomato.

Replace the top that you cut off of the tomatoes. The slaw, chicken salad or other food should be easily seen, all the way around, after the top is replaced. You can enhance the "brim" of the hat by sticking peas, raisins or other small foods into the stuffed food, if you want. Stick these against the stuffed food, just below the top tomato section, all the way around. Olive pieces, sunflower seeds and similar foods can be easily stuck to potato salad, cottage cheese, chicken salad and some other foods. You can make a different version by setting a dried onion ring around the lid of the tomato. If you dont feel comfortable putting the tomato lid back on, and since it will not be eaten anyway, consider using other foods to make different hats and discard the tomato lid altogether. Some hats can be made from a whole green or black olive, a stack of pickles, a cucumber slice with an olive on top (use a toothpick to hold in place), a section cut from a carrot or even a piece of lettuce. . Make eyes by using a dab of cream cheese to hold the selected foods to the proper areas. Pieces of olives, raisins, nuts and seeds make really great eyes. You can even use black beans or peas as eyes. Cream cheese can also be used to attach the noses and mouths of the tomato characters. Noses can be made from pepper pieces, olive pieces, nuts or seeds, a pea or bean and similar foods. Mouths can be made from celery, carrot slivers, raisins, or even a line of cream cheese. The tomato people will stand much easier if you make feet - or a base - for them. Use the cream cheese, once again, as paste. Position a cucumber slice on a plate, cut some toe shapes at the end, and make one piece which looks like two feet. Glue the tomato character to the cucumber with cream cheese and he or she will stand gracefully. Make a different stand by using slices of tiny tomatoes. Cut the inner part of the tomato slice away and leave only a ring. Position the tomato people on these to stand. Other choices for creating stands, bases or feet include a carrot slice, a dried onion ring, a cracker or even a pickle. Make arms for the characters by using shoestring potatoes, pretzel sticks , thin carrot slices, or even raisins on a stick. If you use a base to set the tomato on you can then create legs which stick straight out from the bottom front or side areas of the tomato. Arms and legs can be made of matching foods like pretzels or carrot slices. Feet and hands can be made of raisins, olive pieces or pepper pieces. Youve never seen anything like the cute tomato people that crack up the guests as well as fill them up! Theyre delicious, but theyre so cute, its almost a shame to eat them! You will, though, and so will your kids, your guests - well, everyone! Theyll be the

Rolling Oatmeal Canister Toy for Babies

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day and that cant be truer than if youre having oatmeal for breakfast. Sure, oatmeal is nutritious but it also comes in that great cylindrical canister! Those canisters can be used to make all sorts of new things for your home, yourself and your family. Use empty oatmeal containers to make kitchen canisters, bathroom tissue storage and many other things. If oatmeal is a staple in your house you likely go through dozens and dozens of those containers. Take the next one you empty and use it to make a cool toy for a crawling baby. He or she will absolutely love it and play with it for hours on end.

To make the baby toy youll actually need one empty oatmeal container plus the lid from a second container. The size oatmeal container you use is up to you but the second lid must be from a canister of the same size. You can use a damp washcloth to wipe out the inside of the canister as well as the inside of both lids. The next order of business is to choose what you want to use for covering the canister. Use decorative paper, fabric, felt or something similar.

Youll be making a see-thru, rolling toy for a crawling baby, and since you cant see through an oatmeal canister youll have to do something about that. Purchase acetate sheets at a craft store to make windows for the rolling toy. Or, use acetate pieces from product boxes you have at home. Acetate is a see-through material found on many boxes. It is used to create a window so that you can see inside the box. Acetate sheets are perfect for making windows in the new toy. Remove the lid from the canister and set it aside with the second lid. Wrap the oatmeal container in the cloth or paper youve selected. The lid will not fit on the canister after you wrap it so be sure to keep the cloth or paper below the line where the lid fits onto the canister. Just place the lid on the container, draw around the edge of it, then use that line as a measure for where to stop with the cloth or paper. Do the same thing to the bottom: place the lid on the bottom, draw around it, and use that line to guide you. Completely glue the covering on the canister by covering the container with white glue before wrapping the paper or cloth around it. Make sure the glue is completely dry before proceeding. Decide how large you want the windows to be. The best toy is made when several windows are cut all the way around the canister. The windows should stretch from the top of the canister to near the bottom and should be several inches wide. Its easiest to cut the windows if you first make a pattern thats a long, wide rectangle. Cut the paper pattern, place it against the canister, and draw around it. Do this several times to make the windows that encircle the oatmeal canister. Upon cutting the windows into the new toy, youll have cut away most of the canister but will have left a cardboard strip, here and there, all the way around. Use a craft knife to cut the windows after the fabric or paper has been attached. On the inside, use tape to position the acetate sheets over the openings youve cut. Now your windows are in place. Decorate the lids to match the canister by cutting a circle of fabric or paper and gluing it to each lid. To do the sides of the lid you can use a simple piece of wide ribbon. After the lids and canister have been covered you can begin adding small items to the inside of the canister. Drop in lightweight, colorful balls, small bells, lengths of colored ribbon, beads, buttons or similar items. Dont make the canister heavy with these objects; just put in enough to look colorful through the windows and to make some noise as it rolls. After youve added all the objects glue the top and bottom lid onto the canister. This toy will thrill any crawling child who will chase it for hours. He or she will love peering in the windows, and seeing the objects roll around, while rolling, shaking or just holding the toy. Make these for a friends baby, a young niece or nephew, or for your own child. Theyre easy t

When Yard Grass Becomes Hazardous

Long before cars were invented people walked footpaths or rode animals down those same paths. After vehicles came along roads were made by the cars driving through tall grass or across fields to get where they wanted. They traveled these paths so many times that they became dirt roads a driver could easily follow. Later came gravel poured over the roads to help prevent the wearing of huge holes in the old dirt road. Of course, times have really changed and old footpaths are now highways and roads are all marked with signs to show you where youre going, marks on the roads that tell you whether or not you can pass another car and even lines drawn on the sides of the road to guide you and help keep you from running off the road. Those lines are really important. Without those lines people would be in peril. Drivers couldnt see, especially at night, where the road ends and the ground begins.

In a modern society most people are considerate of one another. Although there are always those who will play their music too loud, late into the night, the majority of people do care about how they treat others. Although most of us try not to impose on others it is possible that some people dont know they are. That is, you could be doing something to harm someone and never even know it! Of course, if you did know it you definitely wouldnt do that anymore, right? When it comes to yard work there are two main reasons to mow. One is that society calls for you to keep your lawn mowed and you do it begrudgingly. Its hot outside and you really dont want to mow but you know you have to, and you break down and do it. Another reason people mow their yards is because they like having nicely groomed lawns. Whether its a chore or not they mow because they enjoy knowing their landscaping - even if its just a lawn - looks great as others pass by.

If someone told you that your lawn mowing could be hazardous to others you might think of the rare occasion when a lawnmower has shot a rock or stick out from underneath it and injured someone standing nearby. Its true, that does happen every once in awhile but there are other ways your lawn mowing can be dangerous. Have you ever turned around and looked at the road next to where youve just mown? Do you see the grass slung out in the road and covering the markings on the road? As stated before, you might not be aware youre doing this, but many Americans are creating hazards for drivers because they throw grass out in the road with their lawnmowers. Grass in the road can be hazardous particularly for drivers in the country. If its nighttime when you mow the danger is even greater. If the wind is blowing the grass can be whisked away in no time, but when there is no breeze, the grass can stay there much longer. Of course, when cars speed by the grass can be blown away but those few drivers who encounter the grass-covered roads are still at risk. If it rains just after you mow, and there is still quite a lot of grass on the road, the grass can actually stick to the road for some time. If you allow your lawnmower to throw grass out in the street, you might only risk one or two drivers, but the risk is unnecessary. Just keep the road in mind as you mow and point your lawnmower the other way. It doesnt take a lot of effort to shoot the grass into your own yard rather than out in the road. Or, use a detachable bag on your lawnmower and catch the clippings instead. Most any lawnmower -push or riding - can be fitted with the bags that, once theyre full, can simply be dumped into the trash can. In the city there are curbs and such which can keep drivers aware of the edges of the street, but on country roads, sliding off the side of the road can cause a major disaster - even death! Of course, your neighborhood will always look much nicer if the streets are neat and clean, and there arent dozens of clumps of mown grass lining the road but cosmetic issues arent nearly as important as the danger that can be had by covering road markings up with grass. Make the small effort to poin

Ruffled Frisbee Table Centerpiece, Wall Hanging and More

This year, while youre cleaning out the garage, put those old Frisbees aside rather than throwing them in the trash. Frisbees have many more uses than just tossing them around with your dog at the park. You can turn them into impressive new decor pieces for your house. It wont take much money to make the old Frisbees look like something completely different. And, when youre finished no one will ever notice that Frisbees were used to make it! Make a cute centerpiece by starting with a single Frisbee. Spray paint it the color you want and allow to dry. You might have to give it more than one layer of paint. Choosing paints that are made especially for plastics are ideal. Although other paints can be used the paint will generally scratch and mar easily if not made especially for plastic. You can paint the Frisbee one color and leave it at that or you can give it a base coat then add colored stripes or other designs. After the Frisbee is painted you can continue with the craft.

Ruffled cloth or lace can help you finish the look for the unique centerpiece. Set the Frisbee so that the open side of it is facing downward on the table. Use hot glue to attach the ruffles around the edge of the Frisbee thats touching the table. Glue it all the way around. The simple centerpiece can be used to hold a pillar candle, a mini Christmas tree - any number of things.

Make something similar but slightly different by using two Frisbees. Glue the ruffled lace around the inside perimeter of one of the Frisbees. Glue it so that the top of the ruffles is inside the Frisbee but the edge of the ruffles protrudes away from the Frisbee. Now glue the second Frisbee over the top, with their concave sides facing, and with the ruffle edge trapped between them. This centerpiece is a little different but works in the same manner, as a stand, to hold your choice of decor items on the table. Use the same technique to make any number of wall hangings. Use one Frisbee, with the ruffles around it, or put two together. After painting the Frisbee(s) choose a picture to glue to the front of one Frisbee. The picture can be cut from a magazine, a calendar or from another source. Decoupage adhesive works well to affix the picture; its made especially for attaching paper to most any other surface. Cut the picture in a circular shape and set it in the center of the Frisbee. Follow the decoupage directions for the glue. If you want, you can then glue a brass ring from a craft store around the picture. Instead of a picture you can use other things to decorate the Frisbee wall hanging. Some choices include painted wooden shapes, a wrought iron piece, a shape cut from wallpaper or cloth, a plastic novelty or even a piece of decorative scrapbook paper. If youre using one Frisbee to make the wall hanging it will easily hang on a nail or tack. If youre using two Frisbees together you can use double-sided tape to hold the wall hanging. Or, you can create a hanger for it from a piece of ribbon. Cut a length of ribbon and position the ends of it just over the lip of the concave side of one of the Frisbees. Now add the ruffle and glue on the second Frisbee, trapping the ribbon and top lace edge between them. Make a hanging planter from a Frisbee when you use a nail to create the holes for the hanger. Hold a nail with pliers and hold the pliers with a pot holder. Heat the nail on a burner or other heat source. Use it to poke a hole in areas around the edge of the Frisbee. Measure around the Frisbee first so you can see how to space the holes equally. Push the twine pieces through the holes and tie in a knot. Gather the three pieces together at the other end and tie. Arrange fake flowers, leaves, vines and other floral pieces in the Frisbee and hang on an "s" or "c" hook. You used to think that Frisbees were just for tossing around outside but now you know that they have many more uses. If you have a Frisbee or two lying around unused take a few minutes to make a new centerpiece, wall hanging or other decor item. Youll be impressed with how well

Tiered Medication Stand Anyone Could Make

If you require lots of medications youve probably got them clustered on your night stand or a counter top. Dont you get tired of looking at every bottle to find which ones you take in the morning and which ones at night? Do you get tired of knocking them over and clustering them all back together again? You can put an end to all that madness by making a tiered stand that will hold everything neatly. The organizer is easy to make and can be set in the bedroom, kitchen or other area of the home.

Tiered stands are generally found on food tables. The stands are made to hold candies, cookies or other foods, one plate full on top of another. Usually the bottom tray is the largest, the middle tray slightly smaller and the top tray is the smallest of all. These tiered stands can make any occasion seem like a royal event. You dont have to go out and buy those types of stands, though, just because you want to organize your medicines. Make one yourself, similar to those, and youll be able to have everything neatly where you want it.

When you buy tiered stands youll notice that they generally have a slightly concave look to them. That is, the individual tiers are not perfectly flat; they are kind of bowl-like. Thats not ideal for holding medications. Instead, youll need something flat to begin making a tier set yourself - something like a picture frame. Yes, picture frames work great to help you build your medicine stand. The glass in the frame makes the tray flat and picture frames are inexpensive. You dont need costly frames to make a medicine stand. Start with 5"x7" frames to build the tiers. If you have more than a dozen medicine bottles you might want to consider a larger build, like an 8"x10" set. You can build the tiers with two or three levels - thats up to you. The frames you use should have no prop to hold the picture and no hanging hardware that might prevent it from lying flat. The back, however, should remain in place. Set one frame, glass side up, on a flat surface. Before you add the next tier youll need to find something you can use for a lift or separator. The lift will be placed in the center of the frame and the second frame will balance on the center of it. The item you use could be a tall, plastic glass, a plastic vase or even a strong cardboard tube. Glue dots or glue strips can help you build the tiers and hold them tightly. Youll find these special adhesives at a craft store, discount department store, or even a home improvement retailer. Position the glue so that it covers the bottom of the glass. Press the glass into the center of the picture frame. Now add the adhesive to the opposite end of the drinking glass and press the next frame, glass side up, onto the glue. Continue this until you have the amount of tiers you want. The final frame doesnt need a lift or separator. Need a cheaper version of the same tier set? Use colored, plastic plates which are generally disposable. Instead of a plastic glass or vase you can use bathroom tissue rolls. The plastic plates are very lightweight and can easily be held by the cardboard tubes. If you dont have glue dots use hot glue - but not too much - you dont want to melt the plate. Place the glue on the tube, then press the tube in the center of the plate, to have the best outcome. Really thick paper plates can also be used. After youve finished building your tier set you can start setting your medicine bottles on the various levels. Its helpful to put morning meds on the top shelf, afternoon doses on the second level and nighttime medicine bottles on the bottom. Or, if you only built two tiers, daytime on top and nighttime on the bottom. You wont have to search through each and every medication looking for the ones that are needed for the particular time of day. Its really easy to build the tiered shelf that can help you organize all your medications. Set the finished shelves on the night stand, a kitchen counter or even in the bathroom. All your medicines will be in the same location and neatly arranged. Now all you have

Unique Wreath You can Make for Any Season or Occasion

Remember all those peel-and-stick package bows you used at Christmas? Remember how many were on the gifts you and your family received? Well, I sure hope you didnt throw them away! In fact, I hope you begged the bows from all your friends and family! If you did, kudos! Now you have everything you need to create a beautiful door wreath. No, not a Christmas wreath! Well, it could be a Christmas wreath. The bows can also be used to make an Easter wreath, Fourth of July wreath - or a wreath for any other occasion.

It doesnt matter if you have zillions of tiny bows, bags full of medium-sized bows, or a whole bunch of extra-large bows. They can all be used to create the unique and easy wreaths that can be customized for any occasion. When youre finished creating the wreath, youll marvel at just how easy it was to make, but what will really impress you is the simplistic beauty of the wreath itself. You need absolutely no talent to create the fun arrangements. Even a child can easily design a bow wreath that will equal any creation made by an adult.

Start with a Styrofoam wreath shape or a circular piece of cardboard with the center cut out. The cardboard should be fairly thick and corrugated. Another choice is craft foam pieces. Its necessary to glue several different rings together to create the depth needed for the bow wreath. Your cardboard or foam ring should be at least an inch thick. Just because youre using Christmas bows doesnt mean the finished wreath will look at all like a Christmas wreath; it wont unless you want it to. When making one for Easter or other occasions just choose bows in the colors you wish to create the look you want. For example, ordinary Christmas bows, in colors of green, blue, purple and white, make a fabulous Easter arrangement. Choose bow colors of red, white and blue to make a wreath for the Fourth of July. Although you can easily peel and stick the bows to the Styrofoam or cardboard shape its much better if you somehow secure them. Add a dab of glue to the back of each bow before affixing it to the wreath shape. Or, use a straight pin to push through each bow and secure it. Hot glue is perfect because it dries quickly and is much cheaper than the pinning method. Start creating the wreath by placing the bows inside the inner ring. Alternate bow colors and butt the bows tightly together. You should not be able to see the Styrofoam or cardboard form at all. When the inner ring is completely covered begin sticking the bows to the front of the wreath. Use any mixture of colors you want but choose bows which are all basically the same size. Stick-on bows have a small square of paper underneath the bow itself. Youll be able to cram many more bows onto the surface of the wreath shape if you lift the bows up slightly and scoot the next bow close to the paper square of the previous one. This technique also gives the finished wreath a fluffier look. Create many different looks by using small bows on a large wreath, medium bows on a small wreath, or even by using different shapes. Styrofoam is available in shapes like ovals and hearts. You can also fashion cardboard and foam to these same shapes. There are other embellishment tricks you can do to make the wreath a one-of-a-kind creation that only you have. Styrofoam and cardboard shapes make it easy to stick novelties and trinkets in between the bows. Apply a dab of glue to a toothpick or craft stick piece then glue on the embellishment. Stick the opposite end into the cardboard or Styrofoam shape. With foam wreaths its necessary to apply a dab of glue to the end of the stick before pushing it down between the bows. Youll find thousands of tiny craft items you can use to enhance or even personalize the wreath. Make the wreath of all blue and white bows, then glue letters on craft sticks to write "Its A Boy" amongst the bows. Or, glue on tiny flags for the Fourth of July, number charms for a graduation, or even tiny toys stuffed animals for Easter or Christmas. There are no limits to the different designs you can c

Easy Sewing Project: Doily Purse

Whether you crochet your own doilies, or you purchase them from a dollar-theme store, they sure are cute when you make them into a purse. Use small doilies to make the purse for a young girl or large doilies to make a womans shoulder bag. Either way, the darling purse is an asset to any wardrobe. Youll need very little sewing experience to complete this project.

Use two of the same size round doilies. Purchase the fabric youll use for the inside lining. The fabric should be lightweight and something similar in color to the doilies. If you choose bright prints or dark colors the lining could show through the outside of the purse.

Most doilies are sold in colors of white, cream or beige. You can, however, dye them the color you desire. If youre crocheting your own doilies, of course, you can make them any color or pattern you want. If you want embellishments on one or both sides of the purse theyll generally be added before stitching the doilies together. Cut two circles of the lining fabric. The circles should be the same size as the doilies with one exception: doilies often have scalloped or other decorative edges. Its okay that the circle is broken by the design on the edges. Cut the fabric circle as large as possible and still be able to catch the edges of the doily. Place a circle of fabric on each doily with wrong sides together. Stitch almost all the way around them Leave a small area unstitched so you can turn the doily right-side out. Before turning, trim away any excess doily edges. Turn right-side out, stitch shut, then press. If you will be stitching on a design now is the time to do that. Cut out a design from a piece of fabric and stitch it onto the purse. Put an image on both sides or only one side of the bag. Or, create your own stitched design by taking advantage of different patterns your sewing machine makes. Either way, finish any stitching design before sewing the two doilies together. Place one doily in front of you with the right side against the table. Fold the top one-fourth down so that there is a flat edge across the top. Stitch this area down staying low so that the stitching isnt against the fold. This piece will be the front of the purse. After stitching the flap down turn the doily over to where the right side is facing upward. Position the second doily on top of that one so that right sides are together. Position the strap on the purse at this time. The strap can be a piece of roping or a rolled fabric piece that matches the purse lining. Place one end on each side of the purse, trapping them between the front and back of the purse. Pin together to keep the straps in place while you stitch. Sew the two doilies together with the folded doily on top. Begin stitching from the side of the folded piece, then stitch all the way around, and stop at the corner of the folded doily. When starting and stopping, back-tack the stitches, to give extra strength at the strap areas. The larger doily is the back of the purse, and the extra fabric that hasnt been folded down, will be the purse flap. Fold it over and stitch on a snap, a velcro piece, or even two ribbons you can tie. If you use snaps or velcro you can then add a decorative touch to the flap so that it covers the stitching on the outside. Sew on a large button, glue on a flat wooden piece, or add a floral touch. The embellishments are up to you. If the doilies youve chosen have especially nice edging you can use an alternative method to create the purse. Place the lining circles on the underside of each doily. Turn the edges of the linings under as you top-stitch. Fold one doily down and stitch across as above. Place the two doilies together with lining sides facing each other. Top stitch around the two hiding the stitches in the crocheted doilies as much as possible. Continue with the purse as stated above. The doily purses look great with casual wear or dresses. Theyre perfect for little girls and women alike. Theyre so easy to make that you wont want to stop creating them! Just choose different images

Fun Straw Flower Projects for Kids

Its nice when kids can express their creativity, but at the same time, it doesnt cost you much! Theres a really fun project theyll enjoy as a springtime craft that will cost little but produce beautiful, colorful flowers for vases and for decorating. If you have drinking straws around the house you probably have everything you need to start the kids making a huge assortment of the flowers.

There are several different ways to make the stems for the flowers. If you happen to have green floral tape thats ideal. If not cover the straws in green felt or fabric. You can glue the fabric on or just use tape. Or, use green spray paint (suitable for plastics) to create the stems. After the straw has been covered cut it into several pieces. Various lengths of the straw work best rather than cutting them all the same length. Each straw piece will become the stem for one flower.

Now youll decide on what types of things youll use to make the flowers. Your house is probably full of things you can use. If you want no-cost flowers cut up plastic grocery bags. If you want flowers that cost little use pieces of wrapping paper, foil, paper towels, or even coffee filters. Each one will create flowers that look much different than the others. Mix and match them or create a vase of flowers that all look alike. Just as you cut the straws to different lengths, so that the flowers arent all the exact same height, youll cut the plastic bags in different manners so that the flowers look different from each other. Cut circles, squares or even diamond shapes. Cut small ones and even larger ones. Combine different papers, shapes and sizes to create a multitude of flowers. Push the straw pieces into a Styrofoam shape then begin attaching the heads of the flowers. Search for an implement around the house that you can use to stuff the plastic or paper into the top opening of the straw. A dull pencil is perfect but you can also use a craft stick, small twig or something similar. Position the center of the circle over the opening of the straw and push it into the hole. The more of the circle you push into the straw the smaller the flower will become. Cut small circles and push them in deep to create tiny flowers. Cut small circles but dont push them in deep and youll have somewhat larger flowers. Cut large circles, push them in deep, and create even larger flowers. Cut felt leaves to glue to the stems. Or, use silk leaves from an old fake plant you used to display. Use scissors that add decorative edges and youll create an even larger variety of the flowers. Childrens varieties of these scissors can often be purchased at dollar-theme stores. Try the different edges with circular and square plastic or paper pieces. When using diamond shapes stack two together, one vertically and one horizontally, then push them into the straw. Make really unique flowers by using unique papers. For example, you can make fabulous flowers by cutting circles from candy bar wrappers. Other unique materials include plastic wrap, cellophane, pieces from gift bags, or even scraps of fabric. Glue buttons or other embellishments to the centers of the flowers. Shank buttons are perfect. The shank is generally small enough so that it can easily be pushed into the center. Put some hot glue on the back of the button and push the shank into the hole, on top of the paper. Or, glue on a fake jewel, bead, marble, or sequin. Create a totally glitzy look by spraying glue in the center of the flower then sprinkling on some glitter. Use what you have around the house to decorate the flowers or go all-out and let kids choose from dozens of embellishments. Arrange the flowers in vases, place them in with other potted plants or just glue the handmade flowers onto hair bows, picture frames and more. Surprise the kids today by laying out everything they need to start making the flowers. Theyll have hours of creative fun and youll love displaying the flowers theyve made. In fact, youll love displaying the flowers youve made; you wont be able to resist th

Tape Your Way to a New Shirt

Oh no! A stain on your favorite tee shirt? Well, obviously you cant wear it like that, but how can you bear to part with your favorite t? Dont worry you wont have to! Just create a new look for the shirt and no one will ever know about the stain. Its easy to make the shirt look completely different yet still give you the comfort its always given you. Get out a roll of tape and itll be over in no time! Ordinary masking tape can help you create any number of designs that will help you hide the stain. Use the tape to make letters, numbers, geometric designs and more. Easily make pin stripes, wide stripes, dots and images by applying the tape in various places on the shirt. Paint the exposed places, wait for it to dry, then remove the tape to see the finished design.

Some of the tape techniques are so easy a child can do them. Lay the shirt out flat on a table. Randomly place pieces of tape, from the top of the shirt to the bottom, to create stripes that are all different widths. Or, precisely measure where you want the stripes, tape off the rest of the shirt, then paint. Whichever method you choose do the sleeves separately. The sleeve will have to be turned several times to complete the design.

There are things you can use to assist you with the new design of the shirt. Cut numbers or letters from magazines, place them on the shirt, then surround the area with tape. Remove the paper letters then paint. The tape will cover the areas where you dont want any paint. Create a completely different look by doing just the opposite. Use double-sided tape to hold the pattern in place then paint around the area. Use tape to mask off an area of the front of the shirt. For large areas you can lay newspaper down and tape around it rather than use extreme amounts of tape. Mask off a section that will become like a billboard on the shirt. Spray the rectangle, square or other shape and allow to dry completely. Now use stencils to create the picture or words on the shirt billboard. Use paint markers to write letters, numbers or words. Use ordinary stencils to create images of flowers, pets or other designs. You dont have to create a perfect square or rectangle by measuring and masking. Use a paper or cardboard picture fame mat, taped to the shirt, to make the outline. Or, use the front of a product box which has a see-thru acetate window. Tape the window part to the shirt, paint and remove. Use the window again and again to make several different designs on this shirt or designs on other shirts. You dont necessarily have to paint the whole shirt with the above technique. Tape the pattern down, then create a perimeter with tape, to create a bubble, square, rectangle or circle around the pattern. Paint within the perimeter, then remove the tape and pattern, to make an area thats colored different than the rest of the shirt, but displays the pattern in the shirts color. If you want to change the look of the shirt, but you dont want to bother with patterns, perimeters and measurements, simply start placing pieces of tape all over the shirt. Let the tape overlap in certain areas but leave random places showing on the shirt. The places can have distinct shapes, like triangles, or they can just be different shapes. First place the tape and paint the front of the shirt, then the back of the shirt, then each side. Allow paint to thoroughly dry before moving to the next side. The amount of tape youll need to create each design will depend upon the type of paint youre using. Paint markers will require little paint but its difficult to color an entire shirt with them. Spray paints cover larger areas quickly but will require much more tape. Other paint choices include brush-on paints or spritz-on types. Kids will have an afternoon of fun and giggles when you let them stick tape all over one of their shirts. Allow them to brush or spray paints onto the shirts to create their own designs. Its a fun way to change the look of a shirt - whether its stained or not - without having to measure and draw. The tape des

How to Make a Sheep Pin

When Easter rolls around there is lots to do. Food purchase and preparation, decorating the house - and those ever-popular baskets you have to fill. Some things for the basket youll purchase at the store but other fillers can be made. You can make a really cute pin to place in a childs Easter basket, or the kids can make the pins and give them to friends. Its really easy to make your own pins since the hardware is sold at most any craft store. They come in a bag of several for a buck or two so why not invite some kids over and have a pin-making party? Or, use the collection of hardware pieces to make a sheep pin for every kid you know! Theres more than one way to make a sheep or lamb pin. It can be really helpful to find a picture of a sheep and use it as the backing for your pin. Coloring books or childrens magazines are good places to find sheep pictures. If you dont have a sheep picture you can download a template online or you can draw a simple sheep shape on brown or black foam. The shape should be the side view of the animal. The foam is sold by the sheet, and in assorted colors, at any craft store. Its very inexpensive and is the perfect start to making the sheep pins. If you dont have any foam you can use thick brown paper or even thin cardboard.

The sheep will need only one eye. It can be a wiggly eye from a craft store or it can be a very small, black bead. Even a tiny rhinestone can become the sheeps eye. If you have none of those things simply draw the eye on with a black marker. If you want, you can also use the marker to color in black hooves on the feet of the sheep. Now youll decide what you want the sheep to look like.

There are several different materials you can use to create the wool of the sheep. One way is to take a very long piece of white yarn and begin wrapping it around the sheep. Wrap everything except the hoof, tail and face area. When youve got the sheep looking very wooly open the pin and position it so that the flat side is against the sheep. Wrap the yarn a couple of more times until the pin is secure. Use a dot of glue to secure the end of the yarn to the back of the pin. Instead of using one long piece of yarn you can also cut it into small pieces and glue each one in place. A totally different-looking sheep can be made by gluing on tiny white pom-poms. You can choose from several different sizes at a craft store. Glue them all over the sheep, except for the head, tail and hooves, to make a furry sheep. Instead of pom-poms you can also use cotton balls or even the cotton pulled off the ends of cotton swabs. Pieces of white tissue wrap or even white paper towels are other options. Make a similar sheep that stands on a shelf by starting with a flat, wooden sheep shape. Youll find one at a local craft store. Some stores feature them already painted and others sell them only as unfinished. If you buy an unfinished one simply paint the whole thing, front and back, with brown or black paint. You might need to give each side more than one coat to achieve the proper color and coverage. For this project, the sheep can be as large or small as you want. Glue the eye onto the sheep then begin attaching the yarn, cotton balls or other material. Cover the front and the back side of the sheep. When youre finished glue the sheep to a base. The base can be a block of wood or even a colorful hair spray cap. A piece of Styrofoam is another choice. This sheep can be set on a mantle, a night stand or in another area of the home. You can embellish this piece by gluing tiny barnyard animals (from a craft store or department store) to the base so that the sheep stands amongst them. The sheep you make dont absolutely have to be black or brown with white fur. The foam or paper piece from which you cut the sheep shape can be any wild color you want - from pink to purple to blue. The finished pin is perfect for a little girls Easter basket or just to wear for church. The sheep, whether the pin or the one that stands, makes a great project for a child or for an adult to give

How to Make a Styrofoam Baby Tub Float

Its nearly impossible to hold onto a squirming baby while trying to wash him at the same time. If he cant sit on his own you have to get that killer grasp from the back, under the arm, to hold onto him. While doing that how are you supposed to apply the soap to the washcloth? Its a challenge that can have serious consequences if he or she slips away from you. Forget all that! Make baby much safer and give yourself a break by making a simple floatation device for the tub. Place baby on the float and youll have both hands free to bathe him.

Youll need a piece of Styrofoam to start the project. Find assorted sizes at most any craft store and choose one thats at least three inches thick. The slab you select doesnt have to be huge but craft stores often have limited selections of large Styrofoam pieces. Another option is to save Styrofoam from packages. Often, these are large and thick enough to be suitable for a baby tub float.

Cut the Styrofoam to a shape thats rectangular and an appropriate width and length for the child. The width should be at least as wide as the babys shoulders or hips but a little wider than that is nice. The length of the Styrofoam should be approximately 20" for a newborn and a little longer for a slightly older baby. Youll find the Styrofoam much easier to cut if you use a serrated knife. Cut an old candle with the knife a few times and it will pass right through the Styrofoam. This is the best way to get a nice, smooth edge. There are lots of things you can use to create a rounded edge at the end where the babys head will go. Use a large bowl, a round fan cover, a hula hoop or similar object to draw an arch on one end of the board. Use the wax-coated, serrated knife to cut the rounded shape. Leave the opposite end with its squared corners. At this point, the flat is finished, but you can take it a step or two further to make a more elaborate tub float for your baby. Styrofoam can be painted in any number of vivid or subdued colors for the baby. Check the label to see that the paint is suitable for Styrofoam. Some paints actually melt Styrofoam. Also, check that the paint is non-toxic. A small-diameter pool noodle or even a large-diameter pipe insulation tube works great to create a ridge around the float. Use waterproof adhesive (youll find it at a home improvement store) to attach the tubular piece up the side, around the arch, and down the opposite side. Do not place any across the squared end of the float where the babys feet will go. This ridge gives the float color and creates a protective guard against the baby rolling. Instead of tubular foam pieces you can also glue on Styrofoam balls or blocks that are placed side-by-side or evenly spaced around the three sides. Another option is to purchase several rubber duckies or similar toys and attach them around the edges of the float. These dont have to be side-by-side; you can leave gaps between the toys. If you dont make a ridge around the float you have the option of creating a fabric cover for the float. Choose a thin material and cut it to the size and shape of the float but an inch or so larger, all the way around. Now cut an arch shape and a squared shape that are partially the size of the ends of the float. Sew these shapes to their counterparts and turn them right-side-out. These work somewhat like a pillow sham. Place the main part of the fabric over the float then tuck the ends of the float into the pockets made from these additional fabric pieces. Styrofoam doesnt give like a pillow does, though, so make these pockets much shorter so that they do not meet on the back. The cover should be removed after ever bath, wrung out, and hung to dry. It should also be laundered regularly. Making a bathtub float for your baby is a wise idea. The child will be much safer and youll easily be able to bathe him and shampoo his hair. Styrofoam dries very quickly so you can just leave it standing in the tub for awhile and the next person to shower can simply set it out of the way. The entire project takes a shor

What You Need to Know About Resigning from Your Job

Whether youve recently landed a better job, or youre just sick of your bosss antics, theres a right and a wrong way to resign. Its important that you resign in a positive and professional manner no matter what the reason for your departure. How you resign speaks volumes of your character and can even impact your future. Although many people think about giving the soon-to-be ex-boss a piece of their minds before leaving its wise to keep those comments to yourself.

Many companies have requirements when it comes to resigning. Some require two weeks notice before leaving, others require you to actually mail in your resignation. Make sure you check any existing manuals for company policy concerning your leaving. Do it properly to prevent negative feedback from your old boss to your new company. When applying for jobs, former bosses are usually called, and you could have trouble finding work if your old boss doesnt like the manner in which you left.

A resignation should always be in written form. If you work for a very small company it could be acceptable to hand write the letter, but for most resignations, the letter should be typewritten. Make sure its properly dated and signed. Do not list grievances youve had with the company or with the boss in particular. Instead, write in a positive and professional manner throughout the letter. Be sure to add your signature at the bottom. The letter should be preferably one page, but no more than two. How you phrase the resignation letter is of the utmost importance. For example, its okay to say "Ive enjoyed working here for 2 years but I feel we have too many creative differences between us." Its not alright to say "I hate the decisions you make" or "We cant get along and thats why Im leaving." Keep a professional and polite manner throughout the letter. State a general reason of why youre leaving, positive things youve gained from working there, and the exact date youll be leaving. Theres no reason to get lengthy about why youre resigning. Simply state that you are without being negative about it. Make sure you understand the terminology in the written policy on resignation. For some companies, two weeks notice means ten working days. For others, two weeks means fourteen working days. Read any manuals or otherwise check policy to see whats acceptable. Having your boss tell someone in the future that you didnt work your notice will not look good. No matter what your relationship has been with your boss he or she could still give you a good reference if you leave in a professional manner. If office policy requires you to mail in your resignation its a good idea to send it via registered mail. This method gives you a receipt and ensures the letter will make it to the boss desk in a timely manner. Make sure youve allowed for mailing the letter when figuring your exact departure date. Resigning isnt all about letting the boss know. Take the time to thank employees who have worked with you. Send personal notes to those who have helped you along the way or have been important to you while there. If you want to give out parting gifts to some, but not all of your associates, do so in a private manner so others dont feel left out. Its important that you finish up any projects or work that is still left pending. Although some projects or assignments might be passed down to others after your departure you should do your best to leave the company in the best shape you can. Dont steal anything on your way out and be sure to shake the boss hand before clocking out for the last time. Leave your work station neat and clean before moving on to your next job. Resigning isnt the easiest thing to do especially if there has been some friction between you and the boss or co-workers. When trying to move on to bigger and better things, though, youll have much better luck if you leave each previous job with dignity. Each step along the way was and is important. Leave a lasting impression of professionalism, keep the respect of your associates, and

Easy Spray Can Lid Decor Projects

Spray can painting is so easy, and when youre done painting, theres still more the can has to offer. Well, actually, theres more the lid can offer. There are lots of things you can easily make from a spray can lid, and if you want, you can make the lids into matching decor pieces for your newly painted surfaces! The projects listed here are so easy even a child can make them so be sure and get the kids involved in the fun.

Kids always want something cool and different when it comes to decorating their rooms. Spray can lids can give them lots of options for decorating and most of the projects cost pennies. Attach the can lids to bedroom walls then use stickers to spell the childs name. The can lids can be different colors or you can spray paint them all one color. Spray paint comes in fabulous types like metallic, glossy or even pearl types.

The lids can spell out more than just childrens names. Hang the lids on the front door to spell "Merry Christmas" or your family name. Add any number of embellishments to one, several or all of the lids, like silk flowers and vines, miniature novelties or even wrap the sides of the lids with wallpaper remnants. Other craft items you can use include faux jewels, glitter, velvet ribbon, roping or even buttons. Instead of using stickers to make the spray can lid decor try cutting small pictures from glossy magazines. If you want, you can laminate them, then glue them on the lids. Display a series of lighthouse pictures, wildlife or another theme. For a childs room cut pictures of a beloved cartoon character. The lids can be hung vertically or horizontally. Make an interesting shelf by aligning the lids and gluing them to a narrow piece of board. Butt the lids together and glue them to each other. Now glue the set of lids to the shelf piece. Hang the shelf with shelf hangers which will be hidden behind the lids. The shelf is great for displaying photos, miniatures and other collectibles. Make a pyramid of lids by gluing the lids together. Now glue a wide ribbon around the pyramid. The various sections can hold makeup, jewelry, coins, craft supplies, small tools and much more. Stand the pyramid up, and place items in through the front, or lay it on its back and have the openings facing upward. Its a great organizer that can be built small or huge. It doesnt necessarily have to be shaped in as a pyramid. Build rectangular or organizers, too. Large units that will be standing should be fastened to a wall or otherwise secured. When you arrange the lids, and lay the unit down, it makes a great ribbon dispenser. When ribbon unwinds while youre using it theres a terrible mess. Keep the ribbon organized with the lid arrangement. Theyre also helpful in a sewing area. Use them to hold tape measure, ribbon, pins and more. Create a secret hiding place for jewelry and more by starting with a spray can lid. Spray the lid black. Glue tiny strips of velcro all the way around the opening of the can lid. The black lid helps conceal the velcro. Cut a circle of felt and a slightly smaller circle of cardboard. Glue the cardboard to the felt. Stick the felt to the velcro. Now place the lid on a flat surface with the felt side facing down. Glue a small novelty in the center of the lid. The lid becomes a stand for the dolphin, lighthouse or other novelty. The cardboard helps support heavier items like jewelry. Pull the felt back, add or take away items, then smooth the felt back over the velcro. Make a cute ornament in a flash with a spray can lid. Paint the inside and glue in a tiny tree, mouse, puppy, wagon or other miniature novelty. The novelty can be glass, plastic, metal, wooden or ceramic. Use a not nail to poke a hole in the top of the lid so you can add a ribbon hanger. Make many different ornaments with this technique. Add glitter or other embellishments as you see fit. Spray can lids are just one more thing that doesnt have to end up in a landfill. There are many great craft and decor projects you can make with them. Look around to see if you have any paint can

Triangular Insert for Too-Small Dresses

Dont you hate it? You put on your favorite dress, look in the mirror, and horror of horrors, you can see the outline of your panty elastic through the too-tight dress. How did it get so tight? You must have accidentally shrunk it in the laundry! No matter, the task at hand is to fix it so that it will fit again, and thats no easy task, right? Wrong! Its actually quite easy to fix many dresses so that theyll now fit perfectly without a lot of sewing hassles. Whether youre a beginner or a pro you can use this technique to easily fix those tight dresses and create a whole new look for them at the same time! Although some dresses are ideal for this particular make-over some are not. Dresses which are ideal would be ones that are plain in the front without plackets or lots of embellishments. Dresses with empire waistlines can get the make-over but outfits with lace or other decorative pieces which go straight down the front arent the best choices. Decide on the outfit you want to enlarge then select the fabric you want to do so.

Its a good idea to choose fabric most like the material which the dress is already made of. For example, if the dress youre making over is a t-shirt type of material, use another t-shirt material, even if its a different color or pattern. Colors and designs dont have to match; the triangular insert piece youll be sewing can be of a coordinating color or pattern. Heavy material isnt suitable but lightweight types are perfect.

Lay the dress out on a flat surface. Remove the stitches from the hem, in the front, from close to one side seam to a few inches from the other side seam. Find the centerline of the dress by folding it in half and creasing. Begin cutting at the hemline and cut straight up the center of the dress. Cut all the way up to the neckline of the dress to enlarge it across the bust, or just to an empire-waist area to make the dress roomier in the hips and waist. After cutting the dress use it as a pattern to create the new triangular piece which will be inserted. Cut the triangle piece large, to give yourself plenty of extra room, or cut it much more narrow at the base to add a little extra room but omit the "tent" effect. Decide how much larger to make the dress, say six inches, then cut a triangle that is six inches wide, across its base. Use the slit that you cut into the dress to decide how tall to make the triangle. Cut the triangle a couple of inches taller than the slit to allow room for mistakes. You can later trim this piece down to size. There are two different ways to add the new piece to the old dress. One is to hem the cut sides of the dress first. Use seam tape or hem tape to stitch around the slice. Now pin the tape to the backside of the slit and stitch. When you get to the point of the cut be sure to use caution to keep the presser foot right next to the edge so the finished slit has a smooth look at the point of the slit. When the sides are hemmed, pin the triangular piece into the slit of the dress, then stitch the piece into the opening. When finished, hem the entire front of the dress. If needed, trim the point of the triangle down to a quarter-inch. With this method you can then add lace or other embellishments, if you want, down the new seams. Another way to add the triangular piece is to simply sew it to the existing dress. Pin the triangular piece to the two sides of the slit, with right sides together. Stitch around the entire piece, turn, press the seams, and sew the hem back in place. Be sure to press the hem when finished. With this method you can add a colorful insert that changes the entire look of the dress while giving you more breathing room. Either method above will also work to enlarge simple shirts. Many people try on dresses only to find out theyre way too small but these outfits usually just get pushed to the back of the closet. Sometime in the future, theyre often given away or thrown away, and there goes another of your favorite outfits! Dont let that happen to you. Get out those too-small dresses and shirts

Canister Characters for Kids

If youre a crafter, hopefully, you save just about everything in case you can later recycle it into something really cool. If youre not a crafter save everything anyway! Your kids can have all kinds of fun, and leave you lots of time to yourself, when you give them trash to play with! Well, not really trash, but things other people might consider trash. One good example is an oatmeal container. Similar containers, like empty salt canisters, toilet paper tubes, or even film canisters can be turned into any number of robots, animals, aliens or interesting people.

Use things you have around the house, or a few inexpensive craft supplies, to make a huge collection of characters. Have one theme, like animals, or create a parade of attention-getters. Use an oatmeal canister to make a cool robot. Wrap the canister and lid in foil and replace the lid. Glue on wiggly eyes, button eyes or even beads. Use a pom-pom for a nose or glue on a black spool. Stick springs in the top for hair or use yarn. There are so many different robots you can create. Use cans, lids, caps and similar items to embellish the robots. Paint the items black, gold, silver or other colors. Cover toilet paper rolls in foil to make arms or use springs for arms. Attach metal pieces, like broken jewelry or drawer pulls, with hidden magnets. Reach inside the canister and place a button or square magnet in the position it need be to hold the item in place. The finished robots are unique and look great on a boys shelf.

A potato chip can is easily made into a robot, too, or you can do something else with it. Turn it on its side and glue on four small spools, bottle lids or spice jar caps. Wrap the tube in fake fur to make any number of animals. Create a face for the pet with a Styrofoam ball, foam disk or similar object. The potato chip can could become an unusually long cat, dog, tiger or other creature. Embellishments you can use include wiggly eyes, pom-pom ears, foam triangles for noses, felt or ribbon for collars, doll boas for tails - the list is endless! Make a much smaller animal by using a bathroom tissue roll. Cover it in fur, paper or cloth. Or, just paint the roll with black and white stripes or other designs. Glue on embellishments to create a zebra or other animal. They can be silly-looking, with spring tails and huge foam ears, or you can try to make them look as realistic as possible. The final design is all your own. Whether youre using a potato chip can, an oatmeal canister, or something similar they can each be made into robots, animals, people and more. The oatmeal canister can be an animal as well as a robot. The potato chip can is easily turned into a robot instead of an animal. If the body is canister shaped it can be used to make most any creature - human or otherwise. Things you can use for facial features include colored tape, buttons, pieces of pipe cleaners, and even paint. Things that can help you create arms and legs include lids, popsicle sticks, clothes pins, painted cans, small boxes or cardboard tubes. Crete the body by using craft foam, felt, fur, decorative paper or cloth. Hair can be made from yarn, pipe cleaners, springs, twine, thread, roping or fake fur. Some of the characters you make might be so lightweight that theyre easy to tip over. Cure this by partially filling the canister or tube with rice, beans, pea gravel, marbles, sand or similar items. For tubes, seal one or both ends with a cardboard disc to keep the weights inside. Weight the canister or tube before continuing to create the creature or silly person. It may not be necessary to weight characters that are made with the canister or tube on its side. You and the kids can sit down and make crazy, kooky characters one day or you can start saving supplies for a birthday party project. Your child can invite friends over to have a character-making party. To get started towards that end, begin saving any small metal objects, paper and fabric scraps, boxes and lids, beads buttons and similar items. When you have a nice collection of canister