Tips for Attaching Sequin to Garments and Other Objects

Arent sequin beautiful? Theyre sparkly, colorful and downright glitzy. They can add a touch of elegance to anything from clothing, to accessories to picture frames. The thing about sequin, though, is that theyre tiny, hard to hold, and even trickier to sew. Most people think they have to hand stitch sequin, and thats generally the way theyre attached, but you have a couple other choices for attaching sequin, depending upon the project.

Generally, sequin are sewn onto any cloth item by needle and thread. The thread is doubled and the needle brought up through the hole of the sequin, and across one side. The needle is then pushed back through the fabric, up through the hole once again, and the thread taken across the opposite side. When finished the sequin is held by a double thread on two opposite sides. To create the perfect look each sequin will be stitched in the exact same manner, with the threads being on the same two sides of each sequin. Its time-consuming, redundant and tedious work. The resulting creation, though, is magnificent.

When it comes to sewing on sequin its sometimes possible to use a sewing machine. The presser foot must have very little pressure so youll do most of the guiding by hand. If the pressure on the foot is too heavy youll end up with hundreds of smashed sequin. If the pressure is not enough the sequin can slide out from under the machine. Test the pressure on the foot by positioning a single sequin on a piece of fabric. Push the lever of the presser foot down and allow it to hit the sequin with all its weight. If the sequin collapses or indents, lessen the pressure slightly. To machine stitch the sequin youll have to be exact with your positioning of the sequin as well as the length of the stitches. Stitches should be set at a straight setting instead of a zig-zag or other decorative stitch. Position the first sequin to where it is at the edge of the fabric, and the machine needle is straight down, through the hole of the sequin. Walk the needle by turning the wheel and set the stitches to where the needle takes its next stitch just outside the sequin. The following stitch should hit the second sequin through its hole, and the next stitch will land just outside the second sequin. Its important to sew slow and easy while attaching sequin. Metal sequin, hit wrong by the needle, means you could bend or even break the needle. Plastic sequin accept accidents a little easier than the metal ones but still need to be perfectly stitched to create the proper look. If your stitch length doesnt allow for the needle to land inside the hole, then just beside the sequin, simply adjust the sliver of space between the two sequin. You can use some adhesives to attach sequin to certain objects. Its possible to even use adhesives to affix the sequin to fabrics. After doing so, however, you could have a few minor problems with needles and thread. After gluing sequin onto the fabric with fabric glue, and allowing the glue to dry completely, you can then cut and stitch the fabric. The adhesive absolutely will gum up the needle, and therefore, the machine unless proper steps are taken during the stitching of the sequin. Every few inches youll need to use a cotton ball, wet with rubbing alcohol, to clean the needle. Youll know when its time to do so because the gummy needle will cause the fabric to raise up slightly as you stitch. Hot glue can be used to attach sequin to any number of objects, like vases, belts, purses, chokers, barrettes or even mirror frames. The trick is to avoid pushing the sequin in place with bare hands. Hot glue will burn you and other adhesives will ooze out of the hole in the center of each sequin. Spray adhesives work well to quickly attach sequin without worrying over hot glue burns and oozing white glue. Creating beautiful, sparkly things with sequin is fun but can be somewhat of a hassle. Follow the tips here and youll have much success with anything you wish to embellish with sequin. Find sequin, fabric glue and even stencils for specific d

Frisbee Candy and Lollipop Decor

Years ago it wasnt unusual to visit a local park and see many people throwing frisbees; they were all the rage. Nowadays, you dont see as much throwing of the frisbee. Although throwing frisbees was a cool pastime in its day the sport has seemingly died out for now. Even if you dont throw frisbees anymore you might have some of them lying around your house. If so, why not use them to make cool party decor for a childs birthday or even for the holidays? Its fun to make new things from those old frisbees and youll be able to use the decor in many different ways.

If you have two frisbees which are identical or similar youre off to a good start. If the frisbees you are using for this project do not match its a good idea to first paint them. This is a helpful hint, too, since many frisbees feature a logo in the center that will need to be covered. Choose paint that is appropriate for plastic to achieve the best results. It might be necessary to paint the frisbees more than once to obtain the color and depth you want. However, you dont have to worry so much about this; the painted frisbees will be later covered with colored cellophane which will help disguise the actual appearance of the frisbee.

Decide on the color combinations youll use. For example, youll achieve one look if you paint the frisbees white and cover them with blue cellophane but a totally different look if you paint them blue and cover them with blue cellophane. Keep the color combinations in mind when painting the frisbees and choosing the cellophane wrap you want to use. Make sure the paint is completely dry before continuing. To make a large, round piece of candy, which is perfect for hanging on the wall, a mailbox, the front door or other areas, start by taping the two frisbees together. Stack two frisbees so that their concave sides face each other. Use clear tape or even glue to affix them. Now cut a piece of cellophane for wrapping the candy. The piece you cut must be at least twice as wide as the frisbee and much longer. Set the frisbees in the center of the cellophane and wrap it. Use clear tape to secure the end of the cellophane; the taped side will become the back of the candy. The tape should be positioned so that it goes across the wide area of one of the frisbees. Gather the ends of the cellophane and twist them. Wrap a piece of tape around them to secure. Or, use a rubber band to hold the cellophane in place. You can leave the candy like that or take it one step further and tie ribbon around each end of the candy. Use scissors to curl the ribbon and give it a more festive look. If youre going to make frisbee sucker candy youll first purchase a long, small-diameter wooden dowel from a craft store or home improvement retailer. Paint the stick white and allow to dry completely. At least two coats are generally needed to cover the stick. When the paint is dry, position one end of the stick on the edge of one of the frisbees, then tape it in place. Position the second frisbee on top of the first, trapping the stick between them, then tape or glue the frisbees together. Cut a large piece of cellophane and wrap the frisbees in it. Do not wrap it around the stick itself. Gather the cellophane around the top area of the stick, just below the frisbees, and secure with tape or a rubber band. Leave the sucker as-is or wrap ribbon around the top of the stick and curl it with scissors. These stick suckers look great when you stick them outside. Theyre perfect for making Christmas sucker decor or just for advertising a birthday party. Use stickers to write "Happy Birthday", "Merry Christmas" or other sayings on the sucker. Decorate walls, doors, tables, floors, porches, yard and other areas with the finished candies. They can later be stored and used again and again. Theyre really easy to make and you dont have to go spend a lot of money on the frisbees. Start looking around at yard sales, flea markets and similar places to find used ones really cheap. Since a roll of cellophane is only a few bucks you can make sever

Velcro Crib Pockets for the Nursery

Babies need a lot of things: diapers, powder, oil, wipes - the list goes on and on! If you have a large nursery its of no concern to you to find places to put all their needs, but if you have a very small nursery, it could be a real challenge! Use the closet to hang up clothing, blankets and sheets then make a set of velcro crib pockets to hold everything else. You can easily store booties, diapers, wipes and much more when you make the easy pocket organizer.

Youll need a large piece of cloth to make the storage area for babys things. Purchase baby-theme cloth or even use a new crib sheet to make the pockets. Other fabric choices include felt, a pillowcase, towels or a nice baby blanket.

The fabric should be nearly the length of the cribs headboard but the width can be whatever you want. Cut a short width and there will be room for some pockets. Use a wide with to create a much larger organizer. Youll be making a large fold on the fabric so keep that in mind when deciding how wide to cut the material. To make the crib pockets hem the large rectangle of fabric, all the way around. If you dont sew you can use fabric glue to make the hem. The glue is found at any store that sells fabric or craft supplies. Lay the cloth so that the longest side is horizontal. At one short end of the material fold it a third to halfway up. If you fold it about a third of the way up the pockets wont be as deep as if you fold it halfway up. Stitch down the sides of the folded fabric to create one huge pocket. Now make individual sections on the large pocket by simply stitching down, here and there, to create as many pockets as you wish. Two or three seams, across the large pocket, should give you the perfect number and size of pockets. Again, if you dont sew, use fabric glue to seam the sides of the folded material. Its easiest to glue one side seam, then create additional seams as you move down the length of the large pocket, then finish with the last side seam. Youll need a really long piece of velcro to create a strap for holding the organizer against the headboard of the crib. Measure all the way around the headboard then add ten inches to the figure. Divide this figure in half and cut one half of the fuzzy velcro piece and one half from the scratchy velcro piece. Fold the velcro in half and mark the spot. Fold the crib pockets in half and align that fold with the mark on the velcro. Pin and stitch the pocket set to the velcro. The remaining velcro, at each end of the organizer, is used to hold the pockets to the crib. Wrap the velcro around the crib and overlap the pieces to secure. If you dont have that much velcro you can make a strap from cloth. At the end of the cloth attach velcro pieces which will hold the organizer to the crib. Measure around the crib and cut the fabric to that length, minus a few inches on each side to allow for the velcro. Hem the fabric and sew the velcro to the ends. This particular method works better if you stitch rather than glue. Make additional pockets on the large set by creating small, hemmed squares of fabric. These can be glued on, after the large set is made, or can be sewn on in a different manner. When sewing on additional pockets its best if they are stitched onto the large section before folding it up to form the first, large pocket. Sew on the little pockets, then fold the main piece a third or halfway up, then stitch down the sides. These extra pockets can hold many little things, like rattles, pacifiers, hairbrush and other small items. Jazz up the finished set of pockets by attaching satin bows, lace or other embellishments. The pocket organizer doesnt have to be limited to the headboard of the crib. Make a second set that goes around the footboard, or for really small babies, one that goes across the length of the crib. Theyre very handy, especially for a small nursery, and can easily hold almost everything you need for the baby. The crib pockets are also a wonderful gift to give to someone at a baby shower. The unique gift will thrill the mom-to-be an

Scrapbook Paper Designs for Your Walls

Cant afford wallpaper for your bedroom? Want a new look in the den but cant afford the investment? Look no further than your scrapbook supplies! If you do a lot of scrapbook crafts you might already have everything you need to create a new design for the walls of your bedroom, bathroom or another area of the home. Scrapbook paper is inexpensive and can be used to make thousands of patterns and designs for most any room of the house.

Have you ever seen the huge array of scrapbook paper available nowadays? There are vivid colors, unique designs, even images from around the world. These papers are generally used to enhance saved pictures and photos but can also be used to create new and interesting wall decor. Use all different sheets or purchase several papers that are exactly alike. Whether you want a black and white checkerboard design, or you want to feature various lighthouses from around the country, scrapbook papers make it easy.

Use diluted white glue to affix the scrapbook papers to the walls. You can randomly stick the various papers around the room or create an exact pattern. You can take measurements and be precise in the positioning of each paper or you can use a taping technique to "eyeball" the finished design. To do this, simply stick a piece of tape to each paper then place them on the wall. The tape allows you to reposition or even move the scrapbook paper to another location. After you have all the papers in the areas you want you can then use the glue to affix the papers to the walls. Instead of diluted white glue you can use Decoupage adhesive. Its found at department stores - in the glue section - or at craft stores. Its not expensive and one jar will cover a huge area. Apply the adhesive to the backside of the paper, position the paper on the wall, then apply a coat or two over the top of the paper. This will make it easier to wipe clean and will help protect the paper. The new scrapbook paper designs dont have to be placed on every wall. Do one wall, do two adjacent walls, or just put a few papers on each wall. The finished look is entirely up to you. There are many different looks you can create depending upon how you place the papers. One look is achieved when you align the papers around the top of the wall, then again around the bottom of the wall. Another look is done when you align the papers in a group on one large wall. The group can be four, six, eight papers or more. You can also do checkerboards with any colors by painting the wall then attaching the new papers. You dont necessarily have to use all the scrapbook papers in the size and shape that they are purchased. Cut smaller versions of the papers to create one look; combine small and large papers to make a totally different wall pattern. Smaller versions of the scrapbook paper can even be arranged to form a patchwork quilt-like effect on one wall. There are no limits to the various designs that can be created. Bring the whole room together by making coordinating pieces from the scrapbook papers. Cut small pieces and create a design on the front of a hamper or bedroom trash can. Or, decoupage many small pieces on a lamp to coincide with small pieces on the walls. Do the same with the fronts of dresser drawers, some drawer pulls, picture frames and even mirror frames. Use one large scrapbook paper to decorate the foot board of the bed or even a flat headboard. Dont overdo it, though; a few coordinating pieces is all you need. Use baby-theme scrapbook papers to create a cute, inexpensive look for a nursery. Choose bright colors and vivid patterns and let a teen go crazy in his or her room. Or, choose foil types of scrapbook paper to create a look of elegance in the bathroom or kitchen. Decorate a cabin by choosing outdoor themes, then placing the papers here and there, around one room of the cabin. Its fun to decorate entire rooms with scrapbook paper and the overall look is much more impressive than the actual cost. The only problem is, there are so many great scrapbook paper designs, youll be looking fo

Washcloth D?cor for Your Bathroom

Need a beautiful gift that costs little and is easy to make? Then grab a washcloth and lets get busy! Thats right. A washcloth is a great start to creating a beautiful gift that can surprise a friend or pamper your own guests. And the best thing about it is you dont have to be a great crafter to impress someone with this gift. Its so simple to make that youll want to make another and another.

Start with a pretty washcloth. It helps to know the colors or theme your friend has in the bathroom, if this will be a gift. If not, choose colors that will go well with your own bath d?cor. It doesnt really matter if the washcloth is thick or thin, or whether it is elegant or cheap.

Remove any tags or stickers from the cloth. Lay the washcloth flat on a table or other surface. Fold two ends towards each other so that they meet in the middle of the washcloth. If the washcloth is huge it might be necessary to overlap the ends slightly. Choose a bar of soap for the craft. It can be any shape, any color and any scent. You decide if you want to leave the bar of soap wrapped or open. Either way is acceptable. Unwrapping the soap means the aroma of the soap will be noticed throughout the bathroom. Try to choose soaps that have attractive wrappers or soaps that have distinctive scents. Place the bar of soap in the center of the folded washcloth. Bring the ends up over the soap and tie them together with a rubber band or twist tie. Now there are any number of things you can do to embellish the soap and washcloth display. Since youve used a rubber band or other tie to secure the washcloth youll want to create something beautiful that will cover the rubber band. Silk flowers, silk leaves and vines are great. You can pull in other colors of the bathroom by choosing flowers that coincide with the bathroom theme. Dont want flowers? Theres really no limit to the design you create. Purchase a small cartoon character figure. It doesnt have to be expensive. Just tie the figure onto the rubber band with a piece of ribbon or even fishing twine. Fishing twine will virtually disappear so that a superhero isnt hanging on by a satin bow! The design is your own and there are many ways to make it happen. Use lace, small rope, bread ties, strands of beads, raffia, wire leaves or flowers, large theme erasers for kids, Halloween rings, pipe cleaners, and many other choices to create the perfect soap display. Depending upon what types of supplies you use to decorate, you can create the soap for a teacher, father, mother, grand parents, or friends. The soap doesnt have to be strictly for a woman. Instead of a washcloth you can also cut a piece of fabric the approximate size of a washcloth. Cut the cloth from holiday theme fabric and its easy to create a Christmas, Easter or other soap display gift. Want something a little more elaborate to give? Try a pyramid of soaps tied in a towel. Create it the same way as the washcloth soap gift, only larger. Tie the towel at the top of the pyramid with a rubber band or string. Choose larger flowers or other decorations for the top of the soap. There arent really any limits to this craft. Wrap a bottle of nice shampoo in a hand towel to create the gift. Or, wrap a shampoo and conditioner together. Any bath and body product, along with any towel, cloth or fabric that will hold it, can become part of the gift. After decorating it the way you want its a unique and impressive gift at that. The washcloth and soap gift - made in any number of ways as weve discussed - can be as elaborate or as inexpensive as you need. An ordinary bar of soap with an ordinary washcloth, or an expensive set of towel hand towel and washcloth, wrapped around something extravagant, can become the gift you give. Its all up to you. Youll like making these easy creations and the recipient will absolutely love it. Its something you can throw together at the last minute for a baby shower, bridal gift, birthday, thank you present, or other occasion. Youll never again be unprepared, with no gift. Throw one o

Safe Tanning Techniques for Pregnant Women

There are so many concerns when it comes to being pregnant. Eating the right foods, getting enough exercise, drinking plenty of fluids, getting enough rest - theyre all things pregnant women worry about. How you feel is only the tip of the iceberg. Its true that pregnant women can often feel awkward and unattractive, but if their skin is pasty as well, they can feel less than human. Many women - pregnant or not - love to have a tanned appearance all year long. There are many different methods of tanning and some of them might not be that safe for your unborn baby. If youre pregnant youll want to be on the safe side when it comes to tanning booths, beds, lotions and sprays.

Tanning lotions and creams are considered safe for mother as well as baby. There are many different types on the market and they can range from cheap to expensive. They can be gel, lotions or even creams. The applications are rubbed onto the skin to create a tanned appearance. These products are purchased then applied at home. Theyre considered safe and effective, but if your belly is now huge, it could be difficult to apply the creams properly. Bending over to reach all areas of the legs can be extremely challenging. Sit down while applying the lotions so you dont lose your balance and topple. Or, consider having hubby or a close friend apply the cream to areas you cant reach, like the legs and back.

Many people go to a salon to get the perfect fake tan. Although some physicians see no harm in getting a spray-on tan others are concerned about the breathing of the fumes. If there is any risk at all, most moms-to-be would prefer to skip it, but talk to your doctor if you have doubts. He or she may want you to limit how often you receive the spray-on tan whereas others may recommend you simply cover your nose while being sprayed. Although some experts say there is no harm in getting a tan from a tanning bed or booth others recommend against it. UV rays, whether from the sun or a tanning bed, can harm any human. Although short visits to the tanning bed pose little risk of excessive UV ray exposure, there is still a risk from the UV rays. A larger risk from tanning beds and booths is overheating. Especially true in the first trimester there can be risks when the mom overheats. When the moms body temperature goes over 102 degrees there can be a chance of spinal malformations. The rising body temperature can be established when using a hot tub, sauna, tanning bed or tanning booth. Cut the risk by staying in the bed or booth for short periods of time and having a fan pointing at you when you are tanning. If you feel lightheaded, or feel as though you are getting too hot, get out of the booth or bed immediately. Lying in the sun to tan can always be a risk to the pregnant mom as well as the baby. Theres the UV ray factor to begin with, then theres the concern for overheating. Its not difficult to get really hot, really fast, when lying in the sun. Another risk comes from lying on the back too long. Many women lie on their backs to tan, but do it too long, and the baby could be at risk. Lying on the back for long periods of time can limit the blood supply to the heart - and to the baby. If you will be lying out in the sun turn over, from back to stomach, every few minutes. Pregnant women who are exposed to UV rays from the sun or a tanning bed are at risk of chloasma, a condition where dark splotching can be seen on the face and sometimes the arms. Although this is not dangerous many pregnant women can consider it unsightly. Although limited UV rays offer vitamin D, and has been linked to the prevention of breast cancer, overexposure can leave you at risk for sunburn, melanoma and other conditions. Just because youre pregnant doesnt mean you dont want to look nice. Many pregnant women feel much better when their skin is tanned and healthy-looking. No matter what look you want you never want to risk your unborn baby by making bad decisions when it comes to tanning. Go online to learn more about ingredients in tanning suppl

Paper Purses for Little Girls

Little girls love to play dress-up, and wear things that belong to Mom, like dresses, jewelry and high heels. Its a lot of fun to be a little girl and look in the mirror at how beautiful you are when you dress like Mom. Many little girls love to receive things that are similar to Moms, such as costume jewelry or fanciful shoes. One thing any little girl would love is a nice purse. She wont care anything about dragging around Moms favorite purses if she has some of her own. You can easily make an assortment of pocketbooks for your girl and theyre disposable! Even though the purses are made of paper, they can last quite a while, and another can be made cheaply and easily whenever you want! Its important that you use very thick paper to make the purse. Scrapbook paper or similar papers work great. Visit a craft store and youll find hundreds of different paper designs. Some have a foil or metallic look others feature floral patterns and still others have dots or stripes. Choose the paper designs you want to make a purse your little girl will love.

To make the basic design for the purse lay the paper so that the longest side is vertical and the short sides of the paper are horizontal. Fold the paper, from the bottom, up, about two-thirds of the way. Now fold the top half down so that it overlaps the opposite edge by a couple of inches. This is a tri-fold design that creates a clutch purse. Now youll need to create the sides of the purse by using additional pieces of paper.

Take two pieces of paper that are exactly the same size to make the sides of the purse. The paper should be slightly shorter than the actual side of the purse. Fold the papers into fans to make the sides. Hold each fan closed, apply adhesive to the sides and bottom of the fan, then position it in the side of the purse. Glue it directly to the inside edges of the folded purse. After the fans are in place, and the glue is dry, the purse is nearly finished. There are all sorts of things you can do to enhance the overall look of the purse. Instead of it being a clutch purse you can attach a piece of roping as a handle. Simply poke two holes in the top area of the purse, push the rope ends through the holes, then tie the ends in knots. Or, create a much longer strap by using a piece of wide ribbon. Glue or otherwise attach it to the inside of the purse sides to secure. Youll also need a closure for the purse. A velcro dot works well but you can also sew or glue on a snap or attach a button and rubber band closure. Things can be glued on to the paper purse to make it even more attractive. Buttons, fake jewels, ribbon, bows, sequin, colored or metallic tape, stickers, lace cutouts, fabric shapes, paper cutouts, adhesive paper cutouts, and beads are just some of the options for creating the purse you want. All of those items are very inexpensive and wont set you back too much money when the purse has finally seen its better days. When the purse is shot simply throw it away and make another. The purses are paper but last quite a long time. Make a variety of purses, to go with many different outfits, and your little girl will be a real fashion plate! Thin cardboard can also be used to make the unique purses. Cover the cardboard with wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, foil or other materials. Or, use the cardboard as-is, particularly if it is any color but brown. Fold and shape the purse just as you did the paper one. The cardboard must be very thin - like that which comes in a pantyhose package - and not corrugated. The finished purses are perfect for playtime, ideal as gifts for attendees at a birthday party, or can even be made into pinatas! Make an assortment of them: clutches, ones with short handles, ones with long straps, ones for little girls, nicer designs for older girls, and even ones to set on shelves as decor pieces. Make them in miniature designs, create two or three different ones, then set them on a shelf to display. They make great gifts or a perfect distraction for a bored little girl. Its fun, its cheap, its rew

Scented Kitchen Bean Bag Babies

Ah, the smells that come out of a persons kitchen! Mm, those wonderful aromas of coffee, spices, baked goods and more. Kitchens are famous for their enticing smells but what about when theres nothing in the kitchen brewing? What then? Do you tolerate a kitchen that just smells like the rest of the house? Of course not! You create aromatic decor pieces that keep your kitchen smelling fabulous even when you arent cooking.

Its easy to make scented dolls that not only look pretty but give your kitchen an aroma of cinnamon, lemon, vanilla or another scent. You dont have to have any doll-making experience to create the little shelf-sitters; use things you already have around the house, or a couple of things from a craft store, and youll soon have an entire family of the potpourri dolls.

To begin the project youll need a simple piece of cloth. The fabric should not be really thick, like denim or corduroy, and you should not be able to see through the material. Choose something decorative to make the "dress" for the doll or just use a circle of plain cloth. Although youll need a needle and thread to continue you dont have to have a lot of sewing experience to create the dolls dress. Just use the needle and thread to begin making large stitches around the outer edges of the circle. Stay about a quarter-inch away from the edge and sew all the way around. Even though youll need to make stitches all the way around the fabric you dont have to be exact with the stitching. Just do a basic baste stitch around, having a knot at one end, and leaving a few inches of thread hanging when you get back to where you started. Lay the basted fabric flat on a table. Place a handful of rice, sand, beans, pea gravel or similar items on the circle. Now place a handful of dry potpourri on top. Begin pulling at the piece of dangling thread so that the circle begins to gather around the edges. As you pull the string the circle of cloth will become more and more bowl-shaped until it finally closes all the way shut in a ball shape. Before closing it completely check to see if you need to add more filler. The rice, beans or gravel is for weighting the doll and the potpourri, of course, for creating the scent. If you have enough weight in the bag just add more potpourri if you need extra fillers. If you have no dry potpourri you can fill the bag with rice or beans then sprinkle in cinnamon, ground and dried lemon peel, pieces of scented candles, or something similar. Pull the string tight so that the fabric full of potpourri is a tight ball. Use a small rubber band to hold the bag shut for now. Place the bag - which is the body of the doll - on a flat surface. It might be necessary to drop the bag on the surface a couple of times to get the bottom flat. Reposition as often as necessary to create the flat bottom. To avoid this step, you can cut a small circle of cardboard, and glue it to the inside of the fabric before adding the fillers. Use a wooden bead to make the head of the doll. Paint the bead with markers to create a simplistic face or even use a sticker face from a craft store. Add glue to the fabric, just above the rubber band, and position the ball on top. Allow the glue to dry or set completely. Tie a ribbon around the neck of the doll to cover the rubber band. Make hair for the doll out of Spanish moss, yarn, doll hair or even cotton balls. After gluing the hair on the doll is basically finished. You can add a tiny hat, give the doll a scarf instead of a ribbon around her neck, or make other additions and changes. In fact, you can even make the doll a man. Draw on a curled moustache and a tiny amount of hair - or leave him bald by using the wooden bead as-is. Create an assortment of the dolls to sit in a window. Or, make a much larger doll and use it as a table centerpiece. The dolls are perfect for the kitchen, bathroom, a bedroom - even the laundry room! They smell great, it takes little time or money to make them, and theyre always unique. No matter where you place the finished dolls your guests will def

Butter Bowl Baby Basket

Lets face it: older kids want things. Sure, young kids do too, but when theyre so young that they have a limited vocabulary, they cant ask for all that much! At Easter, kids expect candies, toys, gift certificates and more in their baskets, but very young kids havent learned about the many goodies they could get just yet! Enjoy those young years now, because in the very near future, your young child will be asking for way too much just like every other kid on the planet. For now, your child will be happy to find a basket with goodies in it - period! The great thing about that is you already have the basket. Its in your refrigerator! Large, plastic margarine bowls are perfect for making a young childs basket. They arent too large; not too small. Yes, a butter bowl can easily be made into a fabulous Easter basket and no one will know what the basket used to be! Its really easy and fun to make so empty the butter bowl, wash and dry it well, then get started on the cute basket! The type of fabric you choose will make all the difference in how the Easter basket will look when finished. Felt is perfect for covering the inside of the bowl. Use felt that closely matches the material you use on the outside of the basket. This will make it easier to blend the outside and inside fabrics together around the rim of the bowl. Start by drawing around the bottom of the bowl, onto the felt, then cutting out the circle.

Spray adhesives make it easy to affix the fabric to the plastic bowl quickly. Position the circle of felt in the bottom of the bowl and allow to dry while you cut the piece of fabric for the inside walls of the basket. Because of the shape of the bowl its important that you cut the inside fabric slightly wider, and slightly longer, than you actually need. You can later cut off any excess material. Measure the height of the bowl and add a couple of inches. Measure around the bowl, and again, add a couple of inches to the figure.

To prevent gumming up your scissors with adhesives spray the glue onto the fabric but leave several inches at the end, that has no glue. Position the cloth inside the bowl, smooth the adhesive side of the felt against the bowl, then trim anything left over at the end. When the material is cut to the proper length use the spray adhesive to secure the end of the felt. You should have a couple of inches of felt sticking up above the bowl. Fold it over the bowl and glue to the outside rim. If the felt is difficult to fold over, make a few cuts around the top, then fold it over. The cuts should not go all the way to the rim. After the glue has dried you can create the outside of the basket. Covering the outside of the bowl with fur will help you easily hide any mistakes. Youll find fur in baby colors of pink or blue, or in animal prints and other shades at most stores that sell fabric. First, cut a circle of felt and glue it to the outside bottom of the bowl. As you did with the felt, cut the fur slightly longer than the actual measurement. For the height - or width - of the fur cut an exact measurement of how tall the bowl is. If you want to allow an extra inch for security, and cut off the excess later, you can do so. A womans headband makes a great handle. Since theyre available in many colors, widths and types, youll be able to find one for a girls or a boys theme. You have many other options for a handle including a piece of hard plastic covered in fabric, a wide ribbon, or even a piece of a narrow belt. Staples work great to hold most handles in place but you can also use adhesives or other methods to secure. When the handle is in place simply wrap the fur around the bowl. Spray adhesive over a small area, from top to bottom of bowl, then press the fur into place. It can be helpful to place the bowl on its side, on a towel, to keep it from rolling. The fur will go over the area where the handles are attached so make sure the handles are positioned very close to the top. Trim any excess fur and the Easter basket is complete. Fill it with goodies and I can p

Simple Sewing Project: Make Your Own Backpacks

Nowadays, many people have had to put restrictions on things they love simply because the prices of everything are through the roof. What used to be a big to-do on a Friday or Saturday night is now a night at home in front of the tv for most people. One thing that has always cost little money, though, is camping or hiking. Its a lot of fun and many people bring things from home to use during the trip. Things related to hiking and camping can be quite expensive, however. Camping gear can cost hundreds of dollars and leave you little money for anything else. But, there are many camping things you can make yourself and save all that money.

There are things you have at home that can help you create the perfect backpacks for your family. One of these things is an ordinary towel. They can be fancy for the ladies in the group or can be plain and solid-colored for the guys. Large, thick towels are perfect for making the backpacks. Place the towel on a table so that the length runs vertically in front of you. Take the short end of the towel which is facing you and fold it up towards the other short end. Stop when you have the towel about two-thirds of the way up. The folded towel area forms the backpack and the excess towel creates a flap to cover it.

Before doing any sewing decide on the pockets and other accessories you want on the backpack. You can make pockets from wash cloths or you can stitch on pockets from old garments. You might even want to add some loops of cloth for carrying other items. Wide ribbon pieces or even pieces of shoestrings work great. Fold the ribbon or string in half, then place the ends between the two towel edges. Make sure that the loop is facing the right side of the towel. Pin and stitch loops and pockets before continuing. Stitch the towel down the sides, turn it right-side out, and youre almost done! Use wide ribbon or wide binding to make the backpack straps. Many people will find it easier to sew these on as well, before stitching the side seams. Cut the straps to the length you need then pin them in place on the backpack. Fold the ends of each strap over once, hiding the raw edge, before stitching the straps onto the backpack. Sew on a velcro square, in the center of the towel "flap", so you can fold it over and secure the backpack. Instead of velcro you can use a button and buttonhole or button and piece of elastic. You dont have to be great at sewing to make a backpack out of a pillowcase. Lay the case on a table so that the opening is facing you. Cut off a piece of the top area of the front of the pillowcase. Start by placing the scissors a couple inches away from the side seam. Cut down several inches, cut to a few inches away from the other side seam, then cut straight up. This cutout will allow room to stuff the bag and the uncut edge of the opening will become the flap for the backpack. Use 3/4" ribbon, lace or other trim to cover the cut area of the pillowcase. Start by folding a piece of the ribbon over the cut bottom area. Leave the side areas alone for now. Stitch the ribbon across the edge then remove and trim threads. Now fold the ribbon over one side edge of the cutout and stitch down. Do the same to the opposite side. These three ribbon pieces will hide the cut edge and give a finished look to the backpack. Since you cant lay the pillowcase backpack flat to sew on pockets youll have to pin them and sew them onto the pillowcase as a whole. Position pockets, velcro for the flap, and straps for the back, then pin them in place. Stitch them on the front, sides and other areas of the backpack. The straps for the back should be folded on the ends, then sewn, to hide the raw edges and give the straps more strength. Make a stronger backpack by placing one pillowcase inside another. Stitch them together, all the way around the top, then create your rectangular cutout. Finish with ribbon, then add the straps and pockets. Embellish by adding monograms done with fabric paint, sewing on tassels, or adding similar enhancements. The finished backpacks are very ea

Picture Frame Easter Basket Centerpiece

Its really hard for me to throw away picture frames even if the glass is broken or the frame is marred. Thats because I happen to know that there are literally dozens and dozens of crafts and decor projects you can make from picture frames. If youve been saving frames, thinking youll have the glass replaced one day, never mind that. Get out the frames and make an impressive basket centerpiece for Easter. Youll love how easy it is to create, how inexpensive it is, and how beautiful it will look on your table.

Frames that are all the same, particularly plain wooden ones, work perfectly for this project. As long as the frames can be easily stacked, though, they will work. If you have many of the frames, you can make one particular type of basket but if you have only a few frames, you can make a completely different creation. No matter which design youll be creating youll first paint the frames or just use them as-is.

After the paint has dried youll stack and glue the frames. If you have many identical picture frames youll simply stack and glue them. Lay the first one on the table then glue on a piece of thick cardboard. You can cover the cardboard with fabric, if you wish, before gluing it to the picture frame. Now glue the second frame on top of the cardboard. Continue gluing on another and another frame. Youll make the basket as deep as you wish, depending upon how many frames you have, but five or six inches deep is sufficient for the centerpiece. If you only have a few of the picture frames youll still stack and glue them, but with this particular design, youll use "spacers". The spacers allow you to glue the frames together but to leave spaces between each frame. The spacers can be flat beads, strips of thick cardboard, or even pencil erasers! The only requirement of the spacer is that it have a flat surface and be no wider than the picture frame. Lay one frame on a flat surface and glue the cardboard piece on top. Position the spacers on the frame. If using beads as the spacers, for instance, glue one on each corner of the frame. Now glue the second frame on top of the spacers. Glue on four more spacers then add another frame. Continue this until the basket is as deep as you wish. When youve finished gluing your frames together you can then begin adding the items that will make the centerpiece itself. Glue a square of Styrofoam to the cardboard bottom of the basket. Make the Styrofoam somewhat smaller than the size of the picture frames. This will allow you a space between the Styrofoam and the sides of the basket so that you can add Easter grass or shredded paper. This is only necessary for the picture frame basket that uses spacers. For either design cover the top of the Styrofoam with the grass or paper. Place a stuffed Easter bunny or other novelty at the back of the basket, in the middle of the frame. This will be the main focus of the centerpiece. Now tape peanut butter eggs, wrapped chocolates and other candies on skewers, and push the opposite ends into the Styrofoam. All the candies dont have to be on long skewers; attach some of them to toothpicks instead. Besides candies you can attach small novelties to the skewers, or even curled ribbon pieces. Position plastic eggs amongst the Easter grass. Jelly beans and other candies can be sprinkled in the grass, too. Craft stores are full of items you can glue to the front of the basket to give it an Easter theme. Painted wooden shapes, flat plastic bunnies, and similar items can be found by the hundreds. Make similar baskets for other holidays or make them for everyday use. Large frames make a great basket for a bathroom. Tiny picture frames can be used to make cute potted plants. Make tall stacks of the frames to hold kitchen utensils. Make squat creations, turn them upside-down, and use them as plant stands. This craft has so many possibilities that it would be a shame to only use it for an Easter creation. Watch out, though! Youll get so addicted to this project that you might find yourself removing relatives pictures

Paper Mache Box Turtle Craft

If youve ever visited a craft store youve likely seen a huge selection of paper mache boxes. Even if youve never been to a craft store its still probable that youve seen the small boxes. Similar to a wooden box the paper mache types are lightweight, need no sanding, come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are ready to use the minute you purchase them.

Paper mache boxes, like wooden boxes, can be used to create all sorts of different craft and decor items. One difference between working with wooden boxes, and working with the paper mache boxes, is that you dont need heavy tools and implements to create something great with paper mache. With wooden boxes you often need drills, screwdrivers, sandpaper and similar implements. With paper mache all you usually need is a glue gun! Theres a cute little turtle box you can make for your child - or for someone you know who loves turtles - and youll spend little money or effort creating it. Simply purchase a round paper mache box with lid and youll have almost everything you need to complete the project. The box can be any size you want it to be depending upon the size turtle you want to make. The boxes costs a mere dollar for a small size but can continue on in price for the larger ones. Besides the box youll need a piece of dark green craft foam and some green paint.

Paint the paper mache box a light green color. The exact shade you use is up to you. Another choice you have is whether or not to paint the inside of the box. If you do, paint it first, and paint it the same color as the outside. When the box is completely painted and dry youll be ready to turn it into a turtle. It could take two to three coats of paint to completely cover the box. For the head, tail and feet of the turtles choose a very dark green color of craft foam. The color should be much darker than the color you chose to paint the box. Youll find the craft foam available in single sheets that are available in many different colors. The foam is cheap and much stiffer than felt although felt can be used instead of the foam. Cut a circle of foam to represent the turtles head. Cut four more circles, slightly smaller than the first circle, to create the turtles feet. Cut one more piece of foam, shaped something like a tiny pyramid, to use for the turtles tail. Use hot glue to quickly add the head and legs, or use ordinary white glue which takes much longer to dry, but holds well. Glue one half of the large circle to the underside of the box, leaving the other half of the circle protruding from under the box. When you do this, the turtles head (at least the part you can see), becomes a half-circle. Do the same thing with the other circles, gluing half to the underside, and allowing half of the circle to stick out. These smaller circles will become the turtles feet so glue two of them to each side. Position the tail, wide side of the pyramid glued under the box, and the point sticking out. Glue on tiny wiggly eyes to the turtles head, close to the edge of the circle. Cut squares, circles or other shapes from the dark green foam and glue them to the turtles back. The shapes you decide on are up to you. Instead of using foam for this project, you can use felt instead, as mentioned above. Another choice for the head, legs, tail and back pieces are wooden shapes. Youll find the assorted wooden shapes at a craft store but it will be necessary for you to paint them dark green. Use a circle for the head, four smaller circles for feet, and your choice of shapes for the tail. You can use a small star, but only let one arm of the star show in the tail area, gluing the remainder of the star under the box and out of sight. Or, break off a piece of toothpick and glue it in the tail area. When the box is finished it can be used to hold any number of things - depending on the size of the box. Small boxes can hold candy, coins, jewelry and small collectibles. Larger boxes can hold documents, craft supplies and more. The decorative turtle is perfect for a child but you can also just

Unusual Cookie Flower Gift

Is there someone in your life who absolutely deserves a huge bouquet of flowers for being such a special person? Does that person happen to be allergic? Does it happen to be a guy? Whether the person is a guy who wouldnt exactly appreciate flowers, or a woman who is allergic to any plant or flower, you can still give them a bouquet. No, Im not thinking silk flowers; Im thinking cookies! Its easy to make a cookie bouquet and its doubtful that your intended recipient has ever had such a gift. You dont have to bake to make the bouquet, but if you do bake, thats cool too! There are several different ways to make the bouquet of cookies. Bake the cookies yourself, and use them to make the bouquet, or purchase cookies you know the recipient loves. The best cookies for the project are any which are large (not huge), flat and round. They can be chocolate chip, peanut butter or even sugar cookies.

You can purchase silk leaves on a stem or you can make the stem yourself. To make the stems use floral wire and cover it with floral tape. As youre wrapping the tape round and round the wire place a couple of leaves next to the wire and trap them with the tape. Continue wrapping the tape, and adding leaves, until youve covered the wire completely with the tape. Add as many or as few leaves as you wish. Make the flower cookies on a short stem or extra long stem. Cookies with long stems will tend to weigh down the wire so theyll need to be held by supporting the wire just below the cookie. If you purchase silk leaves on a stem clip any leaves away that are really close to the end of the wire. Do not trap the leaves between the cookies; just trap the wire.

To attach the cookies to the floral stems simply use frosting like glue. Spread frosting on a cookie, place the wire in the frosting, then apply the other cookie. Trap the wire by placing it completely across the width of the cookie. This will help support the weight of the cookies. Keep in mind that the frosting between the cookies will show so choose a color that will go well with the type of cookies youre using. Sandwich cookies can also be used to make the bouquets but the wire is attached a little differently. Twist the cookies apart, add a little fresh frosting, then lay the wire on one cookie. Attach the other cookie and press them together. Some other cookies, besides round ones, can also be used. Oval and square cookies can be made into bouquets but wont have the round appearance of some other cookies. You dont necessarily have to make each cookie the same. Use some sandwich cookies, some large, round cookies and some oval cookies. Make them varied in colors and flavors to make a really unique bouquet. Mix some of the cookie flowers with some silk flowers to create a completely different arrangement. Although some foods can be made into bouquets, and placed in vases to present, the cookies are heavy and are best presented wrapped in colorful tissue paper. Wrap a ribbon around the paper or place the wrapped cookies in a box, with bow, if desired. If you want to make cookies that will stand up in a vase eliminate the wire and use skewers instead. Wrap floral wire around the stick and add leaves. Frost the cookies and trap the skewer between them. Make candy reeds and other embellishments by sliding Hersheys Kisses and similar candies onto a bare wire. Wrap the remainder of the wire with floral tape and add leaves. Place these candy reeds amongst the cookie flowers for an interesting creation that looks great and tastes delicious. Some candies that work well include Starburst Fruit Chews, mini candy bars or even pieces of fudge you made yourself. Dried raisins, fruits and similar foods also work well. Most people think of women when they think of giving bouquets of flowers, but with the cookie bouquet, youre giving a gift appropriate for any gender. The bouquets are perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, or just to let someone know youre thinking of them. Theyre much cheaper than a bouquet of real or silk flowers and even more delicious!

Campfire Craft for Kids

Ah, those were the days, werent they? Off to camp with a bunch of your friends to swim, hike and explore nature. Camping days are always great memories, arent they? Millions of kids go to a summer camp for a few days, a week - maybe longer. Its a lot of fun that you wish would never end. Although the camping days will eventually come to an end for the year kids can preserve the memory of the great times by making a cute miniature campfire they can display on a shelf or other flat surface.

Who doesnt have a cd at home that has scratches and no longer plays? One of these old cds is perfect to use as the base for the campfire. Glue a piece of brown, black or tan felt to one side of the cd, or use it as-is. The felt can serve as a bottom for the campfire craft but is not absolutely necessary. The felt can cover the writing or logos of a cd, should someone turn the finished craft over and look at the bottom, but the craft will still look great without the felt buffer.

Spread glue all over the top of the cd and make sure its well-covered. Leave a small strip of the cd showing, all the way around, without glue or sand. Sprinkle sand or dirt into the glue. Press down slightly, allow to dry somewhat, then turn the cd over and tap off the excess. This will be the dirt floor of the miniature campfire. Choose rocks which will go all the way around the edge of the cd. The rocks can be the size of a nickel or even a quarter. Although some of the rocks can be larger or wider than others, they should all be approximate in size. They can be jutted, smooth, solid in color or can even be pieces of gravel. These rocks will represent the perimeter of the campfire. Use hot glue or even ordinary white glue to attach the rocks to the cd. The rocks should be butted together so that you cant see well in between them. After the glue for the rocks has dried you can then begin building the campfire. Use toothpicks, pieces of wooden skewers, or even tiny twigs to make the fake fire. Cut the wooden pieces into four inch sections and glue them together. Place a dot of glue on one end of each stick, set it in the sand, then create a tepee shape with the collection of sticks. Add glue to the top and bottom of each stick to attach it to the dirt on one end, the other sticks at the opposite end. The short tepee will become the actual campfire. Tear pieces of yellow, orange or red tissue paper. Tuck the tiny pieces between the sticks, here and there, to give the illusion of flames. Its a good idea to apply a small dot of glue to each piece of paper to keep the in place. Instead of tissue paper you can also use pieces of cloth. Since cloth doesnt ball up the same way that tissue paper does cut it into small circles. Now cut jagged edges around the circle, find the center of the circle, then tuck it into the pile of sticks. The jagged edges will represent the flickering flames. There are substitutions you can use depending upon what kinds of things you have at home. For example, instead of using sand or dirt you can simply paint the cd brown or black. Instead of a cd you can even use a round piece of cardboard or wood. The base you choose instead of a cd doesnt necessarily have to be the exact same size as a regular cd. In place of the rocks you can use wadded pieces of black tissue paper or painted Styrofoam ball halves. The finished craft can be set on a desk, a shelf or another flat surface. It can be saved as a camping memory or can be given as a gift to a fellow camper. You can make the craft even more personal by creating a sign that states the name of the camp the child attended. Use stickers on thin cardboard, or use a piece of thin wood, and create the sign you want. Glue or otherwise attach it to the rocks on one side of the campfire. Kids love going to camp and theyll treasure the miniature campfire craft that represents the fun they had while camping. With many crafts you have to get a list of supplies together before starting, but with the mini campfire, you likely have everything you need to get started!

Make an Exercise Mat from Old Blinds

Its probably been awhile since youve seen those old pull-down window blinds because nearly everyone in the world has updated to the slat-type blinds that are much more attractive. Although the newer blind types feature vertical or horizontal slats the old blinds were each one long plastic or vinyl piece that covered the window as you pulled it down. These old blinds are perfect for creating an inexpensive exercise mat for Mom or a napping pad for junior.

Old window blinds are one continuous piece of material that can be cut into two equal pieces needed for the mat. Five and a half feet to six feet is good for most adult mats. Three feet, or a little less, is a good size for children. You can cut a general measurement or you can measure your child to decide the appropriate size for the mat.

The width of the finished mat is not as important as the length. Making sure the length will be appropriate for the person using it is a priority but the width can truly vary. Its easiest if you use the blind in the size that it is but you can also cut it down if the blind is especially wide. Cut off the excess before moving to the next step of the project. There are several different things you can use to pad the mat. Bubble wrap is especially cheap and appropriate. Bubble wrap with very small, tight bubbles works the best because it is difficult - if not impossible - to pop the bubbles while lying or exercising on the mat. Cut two or three identical sheets of the bubble wrap to make the mat. Stack the sheets and place them on the wrong side of one of the blind pieces. If the bubble wrap you have is not long you can use it in a different manner. Stack short pieces in several stacks of two or three sheets each. Set one stack towards the end of the blind, a stack in the center, and another stack at the end. Or, make two stacks, four stacks - or the amount of stacks needed to cover the blind. Other things you can use include stacks of crafting foam, a folded sheet or thin blanket, or a couple of stacked towels. After you have the padding positioned on the blind cover it with the second blind. The second blind should be placed where the right side of the blind is facing upwards. Stitch around the perimeter of the mat or use adhesives to secure. Spray-on adhesive works well for this project. Use it to glue the edges of the blinds together, all the way around. Trim away any excess. If youve used short stacks of padding its helpful to stitch or glue between the stacks. This will prevent the smaller pieces from sliding down into other areas of the mat. When this happens, you could have four sheets of padding in the center and only two at the head area. Stitch straight across the sections, between the stacks of padding, or use glue. To use glue youll first glue the ends of the blinds together. Now position the first stack of padding. Glue down the sides of the blinds, then across the end of the padding. Position the next stack of padding, glue down the sides, then across the end of the padding. Continue this method until the mat is finished. The blinds used to create the exercise mat or napping pad makes it easy to clean it. Simply wipe clean with a damp cloth. If the mat was made to where it has sewn or glued sections it can be folded and stored. Mats made with one long piece of stuffing can simply be rolled up then placed in a closet. You can secure either mat by cutting a long ribbon, folding or rolling the mat, then tying the ribbon around it. Glue the ribbon to one place on the backside of the mat so it will stay. The next time you go to put the mat away the ribbon will already be hanging on the mat to help you tie it shut. If you dont have any old window blinds you can also use a rectangular plastic tablecloth instead. Cut the cloth in to two equal sections then follow the steps above to make the mat. Use two smaller, different tablecloth pieces to make a two-sided mat that features a different design on each side. The mats are easy to make, cost next to nothing and will last for a long, long time.

Candy Mold Campfire Starters for Kids

Young kids have no business playing with fire; no one will argue that. But, as they reach a certain age you begin to feel confident enough to let a child start, say, a campfire. Who knows what age that is? Some kids mature faster than others. If your child is growing up, and has been camping many times, perhaps its time to let him or her learn to start a fire outdoors. Of course, youll need to discuss fire safety first, and be right by your childs side as he or she learns to build his first fire.

Fire starters are an easy way to get a campfire going quickly. Instead of gathering dry leaves, limbs and twigs to build a fire, you can simply light a fire starter with one match then build the campfire from there. Stores that sell camping equipment often sell fire starters but theres no reason for you to purchase them from a store. Its really easy to make your own fire starters from things you have around the house. Best of all, the homemade fire starters are shaped to excite camp-loving kids.

When it comes to melting wax parents should always be in charge. Its no longer necessary to break out pans of water, pans of wax, and stove top burners to melt wax. Now you can quickly melt it in a microwave. Do not use a plastic bowl to melt wax even if the bowl is microwaveable. Use a glass or ceramic bowl instead. Place small chunks of paraffin or old candles in the bowl to melt. This is a good way to use old candles that arent burnt down to the bottom. Be sure and remove the wick before placing the old candles in the bowl. Dont worry if the candle pieces are all different colors; you can later tint the melted wax. After the wax is completely melted carefully remove it from the microwave and set it on a table. Placing a towel under the bowl can be helpful to prevent any damage to the table from dripping wax. Add candle tint or broken crayons to the wax. Broken crayons allow you to color the fire starters most any color you want. Stir until the crayon pieces are completely melted. The will melt quicker if you break them into tiny pieces. Sawdust is perfect for creating the fire starters with the melted wax. Stir in the sawdust (from untreated wood) until the mixture is very thick. The perfect mixture of wax and sawdust is one part wax and one part sawdust. After the mixture is thick place it in shaped candy molds. Youll find candy molds in a multitude of shapes when you visit your nearest craft store. Dont have candy molds? Use soap molds or things you have around your house. Some suggestions would be lids from empty spice jars, medicine jars or other product lids, a piece of shaped foil, a mini foil pan, a cardboard egg carton section, or even a large spoon cradled on a towel. Place the mixture into the mold, allow to set up, then pop them out. Theyll set much faster if you place them in the refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes. The new fire starters can then be wrapped in foil, plastic wrap, or simply placed in a zipper-lock bag. If you dont have sawdust there are other ways to make the fire starters. Tear cardboard - or cardboard egg cartons - into very tiny pieces and stir them into the melted wax. Or, take wads of dryer lint and place them in with the wax. After making and wrapping the molded fire starters they are ready for the next camping trip. Its really easy for kids to build a fire when they start with the homemade fire starters. All the need to do is clear an area for the fire, set the fire starter shape in the middle, then strike and lay a match on it. The fire will start immediately and can then be enhanced by adding twigs and limbs to the small flames. Kids feel really special and grown up when they are allowed to build their first fire. Theyll love it even more with their fire starters shaped like stars, animals, flowers or other images. The fire starters arent just for kids, though. Any adult will find it easy to start a fire - even in damp conditions - when they start with the homemade fire starters. Place several of them in every backpack. They really come in handy!

Turn Your Childs Picture into a Refrigerator Angel

Your child is an angel, right? Of course! All of our children are angels - lets dont even start on the grand children! Let everyone know what an angel you have by making a cute craft where your child becomes a refrigerator magnet. Let the kids get in on the fun, too. Theyll enjoy making angels out of their dogs pictures or out of their friends photos.

The fun part of the project is coloring the coffee filters. There are many different ways to do so. One method will let kids interact by making the designs on the filters then turning them into tie-dye designs. Use washable markers to draw, write, make dots or scribble on the filter. Use more than one color if desired. After the design has been created on both filters use a squirt bottle to make the colors run. Give one good squirt to the center of the coffee filter. The colors will run over the next five minutes. If the colors havent bled enough squirt it once again. Allow the filters to dry completely before moving on with the craft.

A different way to color the filters is with ordinary markers. Kids can color the edges of the filters with yellow colored pencils, markers or crayons. Or, use paint markers to add gold accents to the coffee filters, and therefore, the robe and wings of the finished angel. Take one of the filters and gather it straight down the center until it is very small in the middle. Use a piece of tape to hold the gathers in place. This will form the wings for the angel. Set this aside for the moment. You will later attach the wings to the body of the angel. There are two methods for making the body - or robe - of the angel. For the first design simply fold the filter in half. Crease the fold. Take the ends of the coffee filter and fold them backwards. Tape them in place. The front of the filter forms the gown of the angel. Tape the wings to the backside of the gown. The second design for the robe is created by making a couple of cuts in the coffee filter. Fold the filter in half and crease the fold. Lay the filter on a table so that the fold is facing away from you. Go to the right side of the filter. Go down a couple of inches from the fold and cut inward. Go back to the edge, go down a few inches, then cut straight upwards. Remove this triangle. You should see the shape of a sleeve and half a robe. Fold the filter over, cut an identical triangle, then open up the robe. You should see distinct sleeves and a robe. Trim the sleeve area, if needed, to create the exact shape you want. Fold the sleeves forward, onto the robe front area, then tape in place. Glue the wings onto the robe. Now cut a picture of your childs face to attach to the angel. Cut a circle out, around the head of your childs picture, and glue it to the angel. If you want, you can make a copy of the picture on your home printer, then use it instead of the real picture. Purchase magnetic sheeting at any craft store. Cut strips of the sheeting to place on the back of the coffee filter angel. The sheeting has a removable adhesive strip that allows you to stick the magnet directly to the backside of the angel. Embellishments can be added to the finished angel before sticking it to the fridge. Decorate the angel with glitter, sequin, tiny buttons, bows, ribbon, or even fake jewels. Kids can even use markers or stickers to spell their names out on the front of the angels robe. If you dont have any coffee filters you can make something similar from fabric. Lightweight fabrics will work best. Use a bowl or other object to make two identical circles from the cloth. Arrange the cloth so that the wrong side of the fabric has the magnetic sheeting attached to it. That way, the right side of the material will show on the finished angel. Instead of magnetic sheeting you can also glue a miniature clothespin to the back of the angel. Now you can clip it onto lampshades, curtain tie-backs, and more. You know your kids and grand kids are angels now you can let all the visitors to your house know. The project is very inexpensive and fun for adults and kids alike.