This was my very first gift basket that I ever put together. Once again, I bought a wicker laundry basket at Wal-Mart.

I lined this basket with a tablecloth (neutral color so it would match any decor) and filled it up with small items that most people don't think about.

Large kitchen utensils
Measuring cups and spoons
Wooden spoons
Timer
Teas
Dish rags
Dish towels
Dish Soap
Hand soap
Oven mitts
Pot holders
Spoon rest
Book
Candles
Wine glasses
Small photo album

You could fill it with just about anything, but I really wanted something different. Everyone always go for the toasters, mixers, blenders, etc., and this was just something that no on would have thought to have bought for the couple.

Do you know someone who is getting married soon but don't want to get them the same old same old? Why not make a gift basket filled with odds and ends for their new bathroom?

I went to Wal-Mart and bought a pretty wicker laundry basket and filled it up. In this one, there is a set of bath towels and washcloths, a hand towel, soap, bath salts (homemade of course), lotions, body wash, a back scrubber, a jar of potpourri, a book, picture frame and some candles. I lined the basket with a bathroom rug.

It was a non-traditional gift that meant a lot the recipients.

I have made several baskets for baby showers. In fact, my daughter always come to me to make one for her friends. I go to Wal-Mart and buy a wicker laundry basket and a baby blanket to line the basket. We then fill it up with diapers, wipes, bottles, pacifiers, an outfit (I always buy 6-9 months since babies grow so fast!), a nail care kit, thermometer, baby book, photo album, stuffed animal, a child's book, socks, towels, wash rags, onsies, etc.

If you really want to get creative, you can even get a large baby blanket, or better yet, make one from a piece of fleece and blanket binding, and wrap the basket up. I use a long piece of ribbon to tie a bow at the top of the blanket covered basket.

Once they have emptied the basket and put everything away, they can use the basket for laundry, to hold the diapers, or even as a small toy box.

Once again, you are only limited by your imagination when it comes to making a gift basket.

This is for all of you who like the Tampon Angel I posted yesterday. I had a request to find a website full of craft ideas using tampons. Well, here it is! It starts out with Christmas, but has all holidays ond a few other things in it.

http://www.tamponcrafts.com/

I also left a comment on the Tampon Angel craft siting another website to make chili peppers to hang in your kitchen.

Happy crafting!! LOL

If you are like me, you have collected a lot of eyelets and brands and other small items to use in your scrapbooking and card making. I was having a hard time keeping everything together and staight. They were in lots of little packages that get lost quickly. I needed a quick and easy solution to fix this problem.

I was sorting through some of scrapbook stuff and got to thinking about the empty bead box that I just bought not long ago. Hmmm...lots of compartments for little items and semi-see though. DING DING DING!!! We have a winner!! I opened up that bead box and was able to put all my stuff into it and still had a couple of compartments left over.

Now I don't have to hunt for the perfect eyelet or brad that I need. It is all in one place and easy to see. I don't have to go digging through a suitcase, two totebags, and lots of containers to try and find those little buggers. They are all together, nice and neat.

Hope this idea will help you to keep yours together and neat as well.

Happy scrapbooking!

Tackle boxes, revolving spice racks and tool boxes are also great for storage!!

I was watching the Carol Duvall Show on DIY and she showed how to make the cutest little Flower Fairies. I know I will have to make some for my mother-in-law as she just loves fairies.

Here is the website so you can straight to it and not have to search for it.

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/shows_cds/article/0,2045,DIY_15079_3092376,00.html

Happy crafting!

Over the past few years I have collected a ton of plastic Easter eggs. I was not sure what to do with them until my mother-in-law showed me her Easter basket and then I had to make my own.

The first bunch of eggs we used Mardi Gras beads on. We cut the beads off that are "glued" together or have the little piece of wire in it. We then used hot glue to glue the beads around the eggs. You can make any design you want, a cross, multi-colored, a bunny, whatever you want to put on the egg. I even mad an "Easter basket" out of the beads and an egg.

The others have ribbon hot glued to them. You can use lace with a ribbon woven into it, or even small left over pieces of rick rack. Let you imagination go wild!

I did one of the large eggs with the clear cover as a special egg. I filled it with some Easter grass and then put in the miniature flowers from my wedding that we used as decorations. I then hot glued pearls around the base and partially up the sides (far enough to hold the tops and bottom of the egg together). Now every time I look at my Easter basket, I remember my wedding.

I love Victorian type crafts. I think that they are just so pretty and so feminine.

On www.allfreecrafts.com you can go to the recycled crafts and find this project. It is a great way to use up those odd plates and glasses that you have laying around. You can even buy them cheap at thrift stores and yard sales. It is a great way to recycle the ones with tiny chips in them because it adds to the charm.

I would have included to the instructions, but this is copyrighted material and I don't want to violate the copyright laws. I can send you to the website for them though.

Happy crafting!

First you cut a 10 inch square or circle doesn't matter which with pinking shears . Then you get a rock and bunch the cloth up around the rock and tie it pretty with ribbon. A couple of colors with narrow ribbon looks good. You can hot glue a flower to the center but it isn't necessary. Then you attach the following poem:

Prayer Rock

I'm your little prayer rock
and this is what I'll do.
Just put me on your pillow
until the day is through.
Then, turn back the covers
and climb into your bed.
And "WHACK", your little prayer rock
will hit you on the head.
Then you will remember
as the day is through.
To kneel and say your prayers
as you wanted to.
Then when you are finished
just dump me on the floor.
I'll stay there through the night
to give you help once more.
When you get up next morning
"CLUNK" I'll stub your toe.
So you will remember
morning prayers before you go.
Put me back upon your pillow
when your bed is made.
Your clever little prayer rock
will continue in you aid.
Because your Heavenly Father
cares and loves you so.
He wants you to remember
to talk to him, you know.

I reduced this on the copier and laminated it, punched a hole in the corner and attached it to the bow. And there you go with a quick inexpensive all purpose gift.

I always save all of the batting trimmings from my quilts--expecting to use them for miniatures, etc. However, last week, I discovered that they make wonderful packing materials (especially trimmings from high-loft batts) when sending gifts! Lots better than styrofoam peanuts! What else do quilters do with their "leftovers"?

Bits of batting make good buffers in my drawers of fine china. I say that with pride, since I now have some, inherited from my grandmother! Probably anything that's breakable and put away for storage could use a batting buffer.

I use small scraps for quilted pins, ornaments and minature blocks. Narrow scraps I hoard in a bag to use as stuffing in pillows, stuffed animals, dolls. Hint: when using batting scraps to stuff you need to pull them apart. Other wise it makes for lumpy stuffing.

I wrap mine up in a ball, tie it a couple of times with leftover salvages and use it to shine the stainless steel sink. Works great.

My DH uses my scraps (only the polyester ones) in the filters of the fish tanks instead of buying the commercial stuff. He also uses old panyhose legs for the charcoal in the filters.

I found this while looking for Valentine's Day crafts. I nearly choked on my drink! This is just way too funny and I can think of a few people who I would love to give this to as a gag gift!

http://www.craftsayings.com/projects/gag_gifts/tampon_angel/index.shtml

I got to thinking about Mardi Gras today because my mother-in-law is from New Orleans. On the Michaels' website I found lots of craft ideas for Mardi Gras. Most of them are for masks. The other stuff looked kind of cheesy, but the masks are really cool. Rather than post an article showing each of the masks separately, I thought I'd just do one post showing you all the masks and let you choose which one you like the best. Plus, you can see all the masks at once at this website. :)

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/search?page=1&keywords=Mardi+Gras&type=4

Happy crafting!

This is a project for those of you who really get into beading. It is also a great way to use up all those Mardi Gras beads you have collected over the past years. For those of you who don't go to Mardi Gras and don't get the beads, don't fret. They are the same plastic bead necklaces you buy for kids. There are several places to order them from as well.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_home_accessories/article/0,1789,HGTV_3255_3280447,00.html

I have never bought bought beads from any of these places. My mother-in-law gets beads for me.

http://emardigrasbeads.com/

http://www.mardigrasimports.com/

http://www.mardigrasoutlet.com/

http://www.beadsbythedozen.com/

Happy crafting!

I made a wreath last year for St. Patrick's Day. I bought everything at the local dollar stores, so it didn't cost me a whole lot to make. Here are the directions for what I did.

St. Patrick's Day Wreath

Supplies:

* 1 12" wreath (I bought this at the Dollar Tree)
* Clover garland (I found this at another dollar store)
* Coins (I bought casino chips at the Dollar Tree and painted them gold)
* St. Patrick's Day picks (I bought hats, leprechans and pots of gold at the Dollar Tree)
* Green spray paint
* Gold spray paint

Directions:

Spray paint the wreath green and the coins gold. Once dried, wrap the garland around the wreath. Hot glue the coins and picks (remove the pick part) to the wreath in whatever design you choose. Once dry, it is ready to hang.

Happy crafting!

Take a Mason Jar (pint size), fill it with buttons, embellishments, beads, seed beads, star sequins, snowflake trim, etc. Cover the lid with a piece of fabric tied on with ribbon. Attach a card which says:

Quilter's Salsa
Spice up your quilting projects
For the woman who appreciates fine vintages

Materials:

* Tri-beads (the plastic, 3-lobed beads)
* Lace insertion (should be the same on both edges, and have reasonably large holes down the center - you'll see why)
* pipe cleaners
* ribbon

String the beads and lace onto the pipe cleaner. Put on a few beads, then put the pipe cleaner through two holes in the lace, folding it back on itself, then more beads, then more lace, etc.

I usually use this order: green-red-green lace green-red-green lace... the lace is folded like paper for a fan - the result will be that on one side the beads are covered by the lace, and on the other side the beads can be seen, siting in the "valleys" of the lace folds.

Once the pipe cleaner is nearly full, bend it into a circle and twist the ends together. Add a ribbon loop for hanging and a bow, if desired.

Cross-stitch on aida cloth instructions for use with every quilt I give away. Stitch the instructions and back/bind with matching material, put ties on it and pin it to the quilt. Of course, the instructions depend on the size, for baby ones put something like this:

I am 100% cotton, I will get softer the more you wash me. Wash me in cold water. Fluff me partially dry and then hang or lay out to finish. Please use me often.

Let the recipient know that the point of the ties on the instructions is to hang in the laundry area. Then anyone in the house knows how to wash it, by just the matching material.

The bigger ones obviously for adults need to know that the best way to launder them is in a front-loading machine at the Laundromat that doesn't have a center agitator, and tell them the consequences that might occur if they don't follow these instructions.

Take a tiny basket. Take a bunch of your fabric scraps, roll them into tiny little bundles, and then hot glue the end to the rest of the roll. Tuck a bunch of those tiny rolls into the tiny basket. Then tie a long ribbon around the handle of the basket (long enough to make a necklace). Voila! Quick and easy, and not even that expensive!

You could probably even hot glue a magnet to the basket instead and make a magnet.

Take six 2-inch squares of different fabrics and pink the edges (optional, but neater) and roll each one tightly into a little roll, gluing down loose edge. Glue all six together into a bundle. Tie a small piece of ribbon around the bunch, into a bow. Take a small piece of paper with pinked edges and write "Quilter's Quarters" on it. Take a small gold pin and push through paper into fabric bundle. Then glue a magnet to the back. It looks really good if a few of the squares of fabric are a little longer or shorter, so they are more realistic looking in the bunch.

Here's a yarn bug you can really play with. Bounce your spider up and down or hang him were he can bounce around by himself.

You Need:

* Black Yarn
* 2 Wiggle Eyes - 20mm
* 4 Wiggle Eyes - 10mm
* 2 1/2" Styrofoam Ball
* 5" Square of Cardboard
* 1 Yard round elastic
* Foam Brush
* Tacky Glue
* 4 Black pipe cleaners
* Hair Pin
* Dowel
* Black Paint
* Scissors

Instructions:

Ask an adult to slice off the bottom of the Styrofoam ball so it stands on end. Paint it black. Let dry.

Make a pompom by wrapping yarn around a 5" square of cardboard at least 100 times. Cut a 6 " piece of yarn and slide it under wrapped yarn. Tie tightly into a double knot. Turn floppy over and cut completely through yarn on this side. Turn yarn blob sideways and smooth down strands.

Cover the top of and sides of painted Styrofoam ball with tacky glue. Separate the strands of the pompom to fit the Styrofoam ball up inside. Press pompom into place. Arrange yarn. Trim.

Tie a piece of round elastic to the middle of the hairpin. Coat the ends of the hairpin with tacky glue. Push it down into the top of the Styrofoam ball. Tie the other end to the end of a dowel.

Cut pipe cleaners in half. Bend to shape legs and push them into the spider body. Glue on wiggle eyes.

http://www.makingfriends.com/bug/bug_spider.htm

Christmas Spider Legend

Instructions to make a Christmas Spider Christmas tree ornament and the story behind it.

On Christmas Eve, a long time ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year... Christmas day, the day on which the little Christ child came to bless the house. Not a speck of dust was left. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner on the ceiling. They had fled to the farthest corner of the attic.

The Christmas tree was beautifully decorated. The poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the little Christ child's visit. Then the oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could wait until everyone went to bed and then get a closer look.

When the house was dark and silent, the spiders crept out of their hiding place. When they neared the Christmas tree, they were delighted with the beauty of it. The spiders crept all over the tree, up and down, over the branches and twigs and saw every one of the pretty things.

The spiders loved the Christmas tree. All night long they danced in the branches, leaving them covered with spider webs. In the morning, when the little Christ child came to bless the house, he was dismayed! He loved the little spiders for they were God's creatures, but he knew the mother, who had worked so hard to make everything perfect, would not be pleased when she saw what the spiders had done.

With love in his heart and a smile on his lips, the little Christ child reached out and gently touched the spider webs. The spider webs started to sparkle and shine! They had all turned into sparkling, shimmering silver and gold.

According to legend, ever since this happened, people have hung tinsel on their Christmas trees. It has also become a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the Christmas tree.

Materials Needed:

12 mm faceted crystal bead
10 mm faceted crystal bead
32 small crystal bugle beads
26 gauge wire
Metallic thread
Hot Glue Gun

Instructions:

Hot glue the 12 mm. and a 10-mm. faceted crystal bead together hole to hole. Cut 4 wires, approximately 3-4 inches long, and string each wire with 8 small crystal bugle

beads. Leave about a 1/2 inch gap between the first 4 beads and the last 4 beads. Bend the ends of the wire so the beads won't fall off. Twist the 4 wires together at the 1/2 inch gap, forming 8 legs. Hot glue the twisted section of the legs to the underside of the crystal beads, right where the 2 crystal beads join together. Take approximately 10" of silver metallic thread and tie it around the middle of the spider , and tie the ends together to make a loop for hanging. Bend legs to look like a spider.

This is adorable and very simple!

I found the directions for this cute Santa at http://www.victoriana.com/christmas/craft1-99.htm There is a picture of the Santa at the website.

A Victorian Santa Claus

From Harper's Bazaar, December 1867

Directions for Making Santa Claus

* Take five large pine cones, two for the Santa Claus arms, two for the legs, and one for the body; glue them together, and wind them round with wire.
* Cut the Santa Claus boots out of wood, set them on a block, sharpen the upper ends, and insert them in holes bored in the legs.
* Glue the Santa Claus head and arms of an ordinary jointed doll on the body and arms; make the beard and hair of flax, and fit a fur cap on the Santa Claus head.
* Put a girdle of dried moss round the Santa Claus waist, to conceal the wire, and knit tippet on the neck.
* Fasten a paste-board basket, filled with candies and toys, on the Santa Claus back; throw a netted bag with nuts and lady-apples, over one shoulder; and put a miniature Christmas tree in one hand, and a nutcracker and switch in the other.

Select a cup, saucer, and florals to suit your individual tast, then embellish with personal touches to creat a one-of-a-kind accent lamp for bathroom, den, kitchen or any room of the house!

Design by Paulette Sims

Project Notes: Inexpensive teacups and saucers may be found at flea markets, garage sales, or thrift stores. A mismatched cup and saucer as well as tiny nicks and cracks only add charm to this design.

Choose a cup with an opening larger on the inside of the cup than the base of the candle lamp.

A cup with flat edges around the outside rim is best suited for adhering to saucer.

Test candle lamp to ensure it is in proper working order before permanently adhering to inside of cup.

For assorted embellishments, look through Grandma's button box and sewing basket for thread spools, old buttons, appliques, etc.

A package of assorted mini thread spools may also be purchased at many discount stores.

A small bird perched on the cup handle with some Spanish moss and a couple of bird eggs tucked in the floral arrangement would also be a nice touch.

If you are feeling especially creative, you may enjoy stenciling or painting a floral design on the lamp shade, or adding dried, pressed flowers.

Crafting Time: Approximately 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hours or less, depending on skill level.

Materials:

* Teacup and saucer
* Electric candle lamp
* Candle lamp shade
* Fiberfill
* 1/4 yard tulle netting in desired coordinating color
* 5 -6 varied silk/paper floral and berry picks
* Lacy hankerchief, doily or 1/4 yard wide lace
* Assorted Embellishments
* Wire cutters
* Hot-glue gun

Instructions:

1. Wash teacup in warm, soapy water to remove aged soil/residue, especially from bottom of cup rim, inside bottom of cup, top of saucer where surfaces will be glued; rinse and dry thoroughly.
2. Glue bottom of cup in center of saucer with handle on right-hand side.
3. Remove covering and any residue on bottom of candle lamp; glue bottom of candle lamp to center bottom inside cup, making sure cord is center in back. Apply a generous amount of glue around top of candle base inside cup to reinforce. NOTE: Use caution when working around cord, and do not glue cord to cup.
4. Place fiberfill in cup around lamp to 1" from top, adhering to sides and bottom of cup with glue.
5. Cut four 5" squares of tulle netting. Find center of each square and twist; glue twisted tulle squares evenly spaced around inside of cup, allowing tulle to extend approximately 1 1/2" - 2" above top of cup.
6. Tack hankerchief, lace or doily to saucer with glue, beginning at right-hand side below cup handle and draping over edge of saucer on front.
7. Cut apart and arrange silk/paper floral and berry sprays over hankerchief and inside teacup around candle lamp, reserving some for lamp shade. Glue in place.
8. Cut a 10" x 1" strip of tulle netting; tie in a bow around cup handle, trimming ends as desired. Arrange assorted embellishments and glue as desired.
9. For lampshade, cut another 5: square of tulle netting; twist center of square as in step 5. Arrange remaing silk/paper flowers and berries in a cluster to complement arrangements on cup and saucer; glue to shade with twisted tulle square. Place shade on lamp.

**I bought the doily at the Dollar Tree and the necklace was a cheap one I found at a yard sale. I also found the lamp shade at the Dollar Tree. The little tiny flowers came from Wal-Mart and were left over from my wedding. I also used a couple of old buttons from my grandma's button box!

found this idea to recycle old Christmas ornaments at http://www.celebrating-christmas.com/crafts/recycle_ornaments.shtml

RECYCLE OLD ORNAMENTS
EXERCISE CAUTION

Materials needed:

Old Christmas Ornaments
Large Bowl
Dishwashing Liquid
Paper Towels
Small Scrap of Fabric
Bleach

Directions:

1.To remove the color from the outside of the ornament, immerse it in some warm soapy water. Let the ornament stand several minutes and then rub it with your fingers or a paper towel. Rinse thoroughly.

2.To remove the silver from the inside of the ornament, place a small scrap of fabric inside the ornament and add a small amount of bleach and agitate until clear. Rinse the ornaments with clean water and allow to dry. The bleach can be reused for all ornaments necessary.

After the Ornaments are Clean
Some great ideas for decorating the old ornaments when they are clean.

** Fill the ornament with sparkling box stuffing or potpourri.

** Use a gold, silver, red, or green paint pin to write on the ornament. Designs can also be made on the outside of the ornament with the special paint point paint.

** Pour some paint inside the ornament and roll it around until the ornament is coated. Turn the ornament upside down and let the extra paint drain into a container for reuse. Several colors give a rainbow effect or layers can be made by letting a paint dry before adding another color.

** "Metallic-Look" or "Stone-Look" paints make a beautiful ornament. The paint inside leaves the ornament always shiny. These ornaments are beautiful when grouped together in several colors in a basket or a large bowl. Let the paint dry completely before reinserting the top of the ornament.

** A glitter glue gun stick can be used to decorate the outside of the ornament.

** Cut .05 weight circles of acetate that will fit into the ornaments. Use markers to draw on the circles or use a color or black and white copy of a photograph and glue it to the acetate circle with a glue stick. Insert the circle into the ornament by rolling it around a pencil to get it into the ornament and then use the pencil to adjust the circle once it is inside the ornament.

** Use a glue gun or a heavy regular glue to attach jewels, strings of beads or pearls, ribbon roses and bows, or anything you can come up with to the outside of the ornament.

Note: New ornaments can also be bought when they are on sale and used to make these ideas.

Balloon Ornaments

What you need:

To make (6) snowballs:

6 small round balloons

Household string

Scissors

Bowl or plate

Foil, newspaper or waxed paper (for drippings);

Plastic wrap

Spoon

Ribbon or wire hangers

Frosting:

3 egg whites

2 3/4 cups unsifted powdered sugar

What to do:

1. Blow up balloons to about 3" in diameter and knot the ends off. You can make the balloons any size you want but the frosting will vary accordingly.

2. Tie each balloon with a piece of string about 6-7" long and snip off the short ends close to the knot.

3. Hang balloons so that they do not touch each other. Hangers or an oven rack will work for suspending. Be sure to place foil or newspaper below the suspended balls for drippings.

4. Mix the egg whites with the sugar and blend thoroughly until mixture has no lumps and is a thick but still liquid texture that you will be able to pour but not drippy. The consistency of the mixture is important and you may have to experiment with it until it is just right for the project. If necessary you may add up to 1/4 cup more of the sugar.

5. Holding a bowl or plate beneath the balloon, coat each with the icing. Do not cover the knot with icing. You may reuse the drippings from the bowl before they harden. There may be a droplet that forms at the base of the balloon, carefully pat it with a spoon for smoothness if desired.

6. Allow the icing on the balloons to dry for about 2 hours or as long as necessary, then repeat the process three more times. Note: Between coats, keep the unused frosting covered with clear plastic wrap at room temperature. Be careful applying additional coats as the first coat will still be fragile. Allow balls to completely dry after final process for about 24 hours at room temperature.

7. When steps above are completed, you may use any additional mixture for decorative purposes. Simply add some food coloring to mixture until desired color is achieved and pour small amounts around top of ornament and allow to drip down the sides. You may also sprinkle granulated sugar over still damp balls to give a frosty effect if desired, or paint them with holiday scenes when dry.

8. When firm to the touch, gently untie the string and balloon knots. Pierce the balloons in several places near the knot and carefully remove the balloons once deflated.

9. Glue ribbons into the hole for hanging or use wire ornament hangers.

Let's face it: we all have ornaments that rarely make it out of the box, but that we don't have the heart to toss. Here are some ideas so that we can can continue to use them.

1. Place the scratched, dingy, dinged, and even those tacky ornaments in a bowl on the table. They will look great!

2. Hide scratches on ornaments with velvet ribbon. Apply a line of hot glue to the ornament, starting at the top and going all the way around the ball. Adhere a strip of ribbon to the ball. Repeat so you have six evenly spaced ribbon lines running down the ball. Glue ribbon loops to the top to the ball so they drape over the ball. Tor the topper,, fold over some ribbon three times, going back and forth, so it looks like as if you laid three bows on top of each other. Make a final loop around the center of the layered ribbon, and tie or glue to the top.

Christmas Craft Projects - Yarn Doll Ornaments

What you need: Scrap yarn in green and red; cotton balls.

What to do:

1. Cut yarn into 16 pieces each of red and green yarn about 14" long each.

2. Make two bunches of each color and placed them lengthwise in pile. Tie each bunch in the center with yarn of same color.

3. Fold bunches in half at center.

4. For the dolls head, insert a cotton ball (1" in diameter) below the center fold of one bunch. Place the other bunch over it to cover other side of cotton ball. Tie all yarn together just below the cotton ball, adjust the yarn if necessary to cover cotton ball head.

5. Divide yarn below head into separate sections for man's arms and legs and tie off the ends at wrist and ankles. For woman, tie off at center for a waistline effect in contrasting colors.

This is a great project for gift baskets for new moms. It is also great just to have around for your own kid's boo-boos. It is very easy and quick to make.

Boo-Boo Bunny

These Bunnies are great for soothing little scrapes and knocks. The Bunny's back makes a great place for an ice cube to hold on a bump. Children enjoy holding the bunny to help take their boo-boo's away!

**Please note: Boo-Boo Bunny contains small parts that can pose a choking hazard to small children**

Materials Required:

* 1 (one) light-weight wash cloth
* 1 (one) rubber elastic band
* Ribbon - width of your choice
* 4 (four) pompoms 10mm
* 2 (two) sew-on eyes 10mm
* Embroidery thread for whiskers (optional)

Assembly:

1. Lay washcloth on table with one corner facing you. Remove any manufacturer's labels.

2. Roll the corner facing you in towards the center of the washcloth making a tunnel like roll. Stop at the center. This will be side "A". Holding side "A" in place, repeat with the opposite corner. Roll the second corner towards the center until it meets roll "A".

3. Holding the two rolls of washcloth firmly in place, fold in half placing the rolls of the fold to the inside. You will now have what looks like an upside down "U" with the folds INSIDE. The folded end will form the body of the bunny while the loose ends will be its ears.

4. Lay the "U" down with roll "A" lying flat against the table. Fold the tips of the ears up and back until they meet the end of the body.

Now let's finish the head and ears.

5. Pick up Bunny, holding firmly around the middle. Place the elastic tightly around the middle about 1" from the "nose". You should now have the back of Bunny, the head, and two ends of the wash cloth sticking up which makes the ears (if this didn't work either start again at #1 or make a new original creation!).

6. To make Bunny's nose, position one of the pompoms in the lower center of the "face" -- hand-stitch in place. Position and hand-stitch two pompoms to make the eyes.

7. Hand-stitch the last pompom at the back of Bunny; this is his tail

8. Position eyes on bunny's face and hand-stitch securely in place. If desired, using embroidery thread to make whiskers coming from the bunny's mouth area.

9. Tie a ribbon in a bow around Bunny's neck to cover the elastic.

Enjoy!! Bunny is done!

Okay, okay. I know I keep my Patriotic Wreath up most of the year, so I thought I'd better change it. Since it is becoming cooler, I didn't have a wreath for fall. Needless to say, I had to make one. Here are the directions.

Autumn Wreath

1 12" grapevine wreath (I bought mine at Dollar Tree so it only cost $1)

1 - 2 picks of autumn colored leaves(Dollar Tree $1 each)

Ribbon for bow (yard sale - whole box for $1)

I just pulled off the leaves from one of the picks (it will depend on how full you want your wreath), and hot glued them where I wanted them. I then made a bow and wired it on to the bottom of my wreath and hung it up.

I have a total of $3 in this wreath, much cheaper than a store bought wreath.

If you are like me, you adore Christmas ornaments and look for new ones every year even though you have a ton of them already. But I bet I have some you have never seen before. They are salt and pepper shakers.

Salt and Pepper Shaker Christmas Ornaments

You will need:
1 set of salt and pepper shakers (I bought mine at a local dollar store)
Ribbon of your choice
Sissors
Needlenosed Pliers

Directions:
Cut a length of ribbon to fit inside salt and pepper shakers through holes. Pull out plug on bottom. Push ribbon into two holes of each shaker. Use pliers if necessary to pull ribbon out of the bottom of the shakers. Tie a large knot (several if needed) and stuff ribbon back inside shakers. Pull ribbon up from top of shakers and replace plug in bottom.

Pretty simple, huh? They are really pretty cute. I made a set of Santas and a set of Snowmen last year.

Who doesn't like to decorate their front door during the holidays? I have a wreath for just about every holiday there is. I have only 2 store bought. The rest I have made.

Holiday Wreath

This project is easy all you need is:

12" or 14" styrofoam wreath (or other wreath that you can stick fabric into)

3 yards of fabric

a pencil or screwdriver

pinking shears

bow (optional)

Cut the fabric into 3" squares. Wrap the fabric around the tip of the pencil or screwdriver with the decorated side NOT showing then you you just (with the fabric on the pencil) poke the pencil into the foam wreath so that the fabric is firmly in the wreath then you take the pencil out. You continue this until the entire wreath is full with fabric sticking out. Then just simply add the bow and you're done.

I found this pattern on one of the craft websites that I like to visit. The website is http://rubyglen.com/craftsholiday.htm

Check it out for more ideas.

Make a Santa from a Bath Towel!

By Susan Dunn

It's so much fun getting ready for Christmas and Christmas guests. Want a last minute idea that will delight your houseguests, or be a great conversation-start for your party?

Here's a quick and clever thing you can do for the guest bath, or to place in the bedroom of a child or adult visiting for the holidays for an extra suprise. It's something you can't buy in a store that will delight your visitors. It's a Santa made from a bath towel!

To make it, you need a full size towel, a wash cloth, and a Santa hat!

Lay the full size towel out flat and roll up both ends of the towel toward the center using the shorter edge, the top and botttom, not the sides. Make the rolls tight andf even. Then fold the ends up together making sure the center seam is on the outside.

Next, gently pull out the end of each roll. Then pinch the two rolls together and pull them apart. You'll see it begin to look like arms and legs with the stomach in the middle! Hold the top and bottom firml.y together. Now you have the body.

To make the head, fold a face cloth in half. Then fold it in half again. Then fold back the first layer of the face cloth. Place this head on top of the body, add the Santa hat, a pair of spectacles if you have them, and there you have your Santa!

How to display your little Santa? Use a clothes pin to hook this Santa (by the arms) to a coat hangar, for a bedroom closet, or to the shower rod in the bathroom. hyou can also prop him on the bathroom counter, or on the guest bed. Or hang him off the oven door. Be creative; you'll think of lots of places and your guests will enjoy this wonderful conversation piece.

Last year I ended up with a ton of felt. In fact, I still have a ton of felt. I don't even remember where I got it all. I think my one or two bags that I bought at A.C. Moore got together in the middle of the night and reproduced themselves! HA HA!!

Anyways, I sat trying to figure out what in the world I was going to do with all this felt. Since I like to start looking a Christmas ornaments at Wal-Mart about this time every year, I saw some felt ornaments there, and I couldn't help but think, "I can do that!" Needless to say, I did.

I simply too the colors of felt that I wanted to use, i.e. green for a tree, and cut out two pieces alike. I used embroidery floss to sew around the egdes until I got near the end. I then put some stuffing inside and finished sewing it closed. I even took some of my seed beads and made garland that I sewed to the edges of the tree (I only did one side so the branches of the tree wouldn't tear off the beads). I sewed a star bead to the top of the tree and a few other round beads to the tree. I took a longer piece of floss at the top and looped it into the ornament and tied it off to make the hangar. It turned out really cute.

You could make stars, angels, Santas, reindeer, anything you want. You are only limited by your imagination.

Here is a cute gift idea for those who are stumped as to what to give someone. It is also perfect for those who say they want nothing.

A Jar of Nothing

Materials: Empty jar, sticky label paper or paper and clear glue

Instructions: For this project all you need is an empty jar.

You can print this saying out onto some adhesive label paper suitable for your printer or print in onto normal plain paper. Use some clear craft glue to adhere it to the jar.

If you want to go all out, you can add some ribbon to the jar and even box it up for a great gag gift.

The Saying: Did you say nothing? When you were asked what you wanted for your Birthday, Anniversary, Graduation, or Christmas. Don't you remember saying, "NOTHING"? Well, this time someone heard you, searched high and low and found this perfect gift for you.

Note: These are great for Christmas fundraising stalls.

**Warning!! - This idea is not for people who could get their feelings hurt. This is only meant to be a gag gift.

This is so easy to make, the kids can make it up in 5 minutes!

You will need:
8" Styrofoam wreath
2 2" strips of orange fabric 44" long
1 2" strip of black fabric 12" long
Metallic trim (optional)
1 yucky rubber spider
Craft glue

Do not worry about the type of fabric you are using. It is the color effect we are after, anything that is orange and black will work. Wool, felt, satin, cotton, anything.

METHOD:

Wrap the orange strips around the wreath to cover the base entirely. Glue ends down in the back. Do not worry about raw edges showing.

Wrap metallic trim around the wreath in the same manner and bring ends to the back and glue down. This step is optional but I think it gives some extra "snap" to the end result.

Tie black strip in a bow and attach at the top with glue.

Tie black thread around the body of your yucky spider and hang down from the middle of the wreath. Glue the thread ends in the back of the wreath as well. Let the spider hang free. This is the spider's web.

It is so simple and the kids will have fun hanging all sorts of yuckies from the wreath. It also costs next to nothing if you use odd and ends from around the house. Enjoy!

SPARKLING VINTAGE WREATH

What color says Christmas more than beautiful Christmas red? A little metallic spray paint and traditional tree tinsel combine with knick-knacks to make this elegantly red holiday statement.

What You'll Need:
Small Christmas items such as acrylic fruit, Santas, reindeer, ornaments, etc.
Newspapers
Primer (such as Kilz) and red metallic spray paint (available at hobby or crafts stores)
10-inch plastic foam wreath form (such as Styrofoam)
Packages of red tinsel garland
Scissors
Short-length straight pins
Hot glue and glue sticks
1/4-inch wide red satin ribbon
1-inch red muffin cup liners
3-inch wide red wire edge
Ribbon for bow

What You Do:
Choose the items you want to put on the wreath. Lay them on the newspaper and paint with primer. Allow to dry. Paint the items with the metallic red paint. Turn the objects and paint again if necessary. Allow to dry. Set aside.

Cut the tinsel into 3-foot lengths to make it easier to wrap the form. Starting anywhere on the backside of the wreath, pin one end of the tinsel. Start wrapping the wreath until that length of tinsel is used. Add another length and continue until the wreath is entirely wrapped. Pin the end of the tinsel on the back.

Hot-glue the painted Christmas items to the tinsel. Make tiny fans by cutting a section from the muffin liners. Poke a hole in the corner and add a ribbon. Hot glue onto wreath. Tie a bow with the wire-edged ribbon and glue to center of wreath.

All women love to soak in a tub once in a while. Or they want that spare bathroom to be frilly and feminine. (Or maybe that is just me if I had a spare bathroom! LOL) Anyways, several years ago I came across an article in one of my Creative Home Arts magazines (Feb/March 2005 to be exact) for a Bath Spa Rack. I thought I would share with you my version of it.

Bath Spa Rack

You will need:
One two-shelf spice rack (victorian/shabby chic if you can find it)
Six glass spice jars
Art Nouveau Initials
Scissors
Computer
Mod Podge matte sealer
¼" flat brush
Acrylic rhinestones
Thick craft glue
Images for bottles and soaps
One sheet of 8 x 10: double sided adhesive
Cutting mat
Craft knife
Ruler
Straight pin
Six small flowers, your choice
Long-nosed pliers with wire cutters

Step 1: A number of companies make ready-to-photocopy lettering that can be used in a variety of projects. (i.e. Beauty in ornate letters at top, and print two appropriate phrases for shelves.)

Glue sentiments to shelf, and then coat them with two coats of Mod Podge, letting the material dry between applications.

Step 2: Use several decorative vintage images to decorate spice jars. Apply double-stick adhesive to backs of images, and then cut them out with scissors. Apply each image to spice jars, smoothing down in the center and working outward. (Tip: Use a straight pin to start the release paper.)

Step 3: Using a good quality craft glue, glue acrylic rhinestones on the front of the spice rack where you like. Let dry.

You will find that you can purchase several combined stems of plaster flowers in the wedding section of your local craft store very inexpensively. Use wire cutters to cut individual flowers from the bunches leaving a 1" stem on each one. Curl the stems. Screw the lids down on the jars, and then glue a single flower to each lid facing the front of the jar. Let dry.

Step 4: To finish your spa shelf, add a variety of special bath salts, oils, or creams to the spice jars. Finish the lower shelf with a few tied washcloths tucked inside. You can also purchase inexpensive bath soaps, wrap them in white tissue paper, and apply matching images from the spice jars to the soap for an extra gift. (To make it extra special, make your own bath products for the jars and shelves.)

Note: If you cannot find a victorian/shabby chic spice rack, you can use a regular rack. Just purchase a pretty scoll piece to attach to the rack.

Have you ever seen anyone selling just a drawer and wondered why? If you are like me, you have tons of knick-knacks packed away and no place to display them. Here is a great project that I found in my Crative Home Arts Club Magazine (and no, I don't remember the issue or year), that would be so much fun to do. You could actually change this around to fit the size of your items that you want to display. Just imagine what you could do with an old drawer. How about displaying your vintage kitchen tools, or some vintage hankies? Do you collect a certain type of item? You could display it in this drawer. You are only limited by your imagination.

Drawer Shadow Box

You will need:
1 medium to large drawer
Tape measure
Craft boards
Handsaw
Spray paint primer
150-grit sandpaper
Wood stain
Decorative papers or wallpaper scraps
Soft cloth
Paper cutter or scissors
Spray adhesive
Thick craft glue
Four buttons
1 dried floral swag
1 large silk flower

Step 1: Measure the length and width of your drawer to find the size needed for each shelf to be placed inside.

Cut the thin craft wood to create five dividers (one large horizontal, and two small vertical) to fit inside the drawer.

Step 2: Spray two coats of primer on the tops, bottoms and front edges of all dividers, leaving the back edges unpainted. Let dry between coats.

Sand the dividers lightly, concentrating on the front edges to create a worn look. Lightly wipe stain over the dividers to age them, if desired. (TIP: If the stain becomes too dark, you can lighten it by wiping over again with mineral spirits.)

Step 3: Lay the drawer flat, insert the dividers, and mark the dimensions on each section to determine the size of decorative paper you'll need as a background for each. (Mix and match patterns for each of the sections.) Set the dividers aside and cut the decorative papers to size. (You may need to piece together paper to fit the larger top section.)

Spray the backsides of papers with spray adhesive, place on the bottom of the drawer, and smooth down. (If you like, you can also lightly sand and stain the papers to create a worn look.)

Run a bead of thick craft glue along the unpainted edges of the largest divider and place inside drawer over paper where the different patterns meet. Repeat with the remaining dividers, ending with the smallest one.

Glue a button on top of the intersection of each shelf.

This project was found in another one of my old Creative Home Arts Magazines.

Dressed-Up Dresser

You will need:
Old dresser
Screwdriver
220-grit sandpaper
Primer (Zinsser 1-2-3)
Drill & drill bit (size will depend on hardware)
Duct tape
Wood filler & spatula
Semigloss paint
Paintbrush & small roller
Measuring tape or ruler
Scissors or self-healing mat & rotary cutter
FabriCraft adhesive fabric
Wood molding
Paint
Miter box
Hot-glue gun & glue

Getting started:
Remove hardware from drawers and set aside. Lightly sand and prime the entire dresser

Step 1: Note: FabriCraft adhesive-backed fabric comes in 18" widths. If you want the hardware to appear inside the fabric area, you might have to drill new holes for hardware. If it doesn't apply to you, skip to Step 3.

Measure and drill new holes for hardware placement on drawer fronts: TIP: The drawer pull is a great measurement tool to use for placing the new holes.

Step 2: Place duct tape behind the previously holes in the dresser that need to be filled. Fill the holes with wood filler. Allow wood filler to dry and then sand. (You may need to repeat this step, since wood filler shrinks when it dries.) TIP: Touch up the filled area with primer before painting the dresser.

Paint the dresser and drawers with two coats of semigloss paint.

Step 3: Measure the drawer front to determine the placement of the FabriCraft. Leave some space around the edges for the decorative trim.

Lightly mark the placement of the fabric on the drawer front using a sharp pencil and ruler. (The pencil marks will be covered later with wood trim. Cut pieces of FabriCraft equal to these measurements for each drawer.)

Peel off about 4" of backing paper and line up fabric with marked measurements. Once this starter edge is positioned, gently peel back the remainder of the paper, smoothing as you go. (It can be repositioned if needed.) TIP: Rolling up the FabriCraft makes it easier to position on the drawer front.

Step 4: Clip fabric using small scissors to create an opening for the drawer hardware. TIP: used the closed tip of the scissors to flatten the fabric inside the holes.

Step 5: Cut trim to fit around the fabric edges of the drawer front. Cut corners at a 45-degree angle using a miter box. Hot-glue trim in place starting along the top edge. TIP: Use the edge of the fabric as a gluing guide. It also helps to have a small square to ensure that the side trim pieces are kept straight.

I am in the process of painting a small shadowbox that I bought a month or so ago. I wanted the background color to be black and the foreground to be white.

I first removed the doors and magnetic closure. Then I covered the glass doors with paper and painter's tape. (I took extra care on the glass because it is the old glass that is very fragile.) I sanded down the shadowbox to remove any shiny surfaces, inside and out. I made sure to get all the dust off the box and have put the first two coats of black paint on. It is drying now.

In a couple days, I will take a candle and run it over the surfaces that I want to have the black showing through, such as around the handles, corners, where ever normal wear would be found. Then I will put on two coats of white paint. Once the white paint is dry, I will take some medium grain steel wool and "wipe" down the entire piece.

This will distress the piece even further than just the candle wax itself. I can't wait to see the final results, because I have a ton of minature items that I want to display in it.

This small wreath is one of the cutest things I've ever done. It only takes about an hour. Going through old projects, I found the bare wreath and just kind of got carried away with my bottle of glue.

1. First I chose 3 coloured ribbons, each about 2 yds. long.

2. Taking all 3 lengths in one hand, wind them around the wreath and tie a bow at the top.

3. Now comes the fun part. Search around your sewing space for odd buttons and notions. Glue these on the wreath with your favourite craft glue. The more the better.

4. I glued ribbon roses on top of old, large coat buttons. There is also a bodkin, a thimble, a bobbin, some 1" fabric swatches, odd coloured buttons and sewing charms. Anything you can find.

4. Cover the wreath with these small notions until it suits your taste. Leave overnight until the glue is completely dry.

This is a cute little wreath to hang over your machine or on your door and just the gift for someone who sews or quilts.

You will need:
Empty tin with a hinged lid
Spray paint (metallic paints coat better than glossy shades)
20-30 buttons
4-5 special buttons, jewelry pieces, or coins
Decorative 3/8" ribbon (cut this 15 ¼" long for a standard small metal tin)
Glue gun and hot-melt glue
Fabric glue (or other white glue)

Optional:
Scrap velvet (about 5 x 12" for a standard metal tin)
Double sided tape
8 ½ x 11" sheets of card stock
Small mirrors (found at craft stores)
X-Acto knife

Directions:
Step 1: Remove paper insert and any mint crumbs from inside tin. Place tin on newspaper and lightly coat with spray paint. Allow to dry completely, an follow with additional light coats of spray paint, turning tin as necessary to ensure all sides of exterior are painted. (Several light coats will cover better than a single heavy coat.)

Step 2: Optional: To create a lining for your box, place the tin bottom side down on a heavy piece of card stock paper. Trace outline of tin with a pencil. To line the top lid, repeat, tracing the top lid. Cut out form on the inside edge of your pencil line. (This will create a form that is slightly smaller than drawn for an easy fit.)

Place card forms on back of a piece of velvet fabric and glue in place using fabric glue. Cut fabric about ½" wider than the paper form. Place a piece of double stick tape along the length of one side of the unfinished fabric edge and fold over bottom of the card stock. Repeat until all sides are folded down.

Step 3: Cut a length of decorative ¼" ribbon to fit around the rim of the tin lid. Attach the ribbon using fabric glue by applying a thin line of glue around the rim of the lid. Glue one side of ribbon at a time, placing ribbon along the way.

Using hot-melt glue and a glue gun, start attaching the first layer of large buttons to the top of the lid. Start with plain buttons and add more decorative buttons at the top layer. Don't worry about perfect placement of the buttons. The charm of the finished boxes is in the random placement of buttons and baubles. Small pieces of decorative ribbon can also be used on the lid to create an interesting design.

INGREDIENTS:
3 Cinnamon Sticks
3 Bay Leaves
1/4 Cup Whole Cloves
1/2 Lemon, halved
1/2 Orange, halved
1 Quart of Water

DIRECTIONS:
Combine all ingredients in saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer as long as desired (may use crock pot). Check often and add additional water if needed. Mixture may be stored in refrigerator several days and reused. This will make your house smell GREAT :)

Pilgrim Hat Place Cards

Hats off to your holiday table!
3-inch terra-cotta flowerpots
Acrylic paints in black, white, red, and blue
Paintbrush
Crafting foam in black, yellow, green, and purple
Scissors
Thick white crafts glue
Black fabric paint pen

Decorate the pots. Paint each pot black and allow it to dry.

Choose a color to paint the band around the top of each pot. Let it dry. Make white dots on the rest of each pot by dipping the handle end of a paintbrush in white paint and dotting onto the surface. Add brims. Trace a circle from black foam about 1/2 inch wider all around than the pot opening, using an appropriate size dish, cup, or lid. Cut out. Make the buckles. For each pot, measure the width of the band (the portion painted a different color). Cut a rectangle from foam that measures about 1/8 inch deeper than the band. Cut out a smaller rectangle from the center. Glue the buckle to the band. Let the glue dry.

Personalize for each guest. Use a black paint pen to write a name on each colored band. Allow the paint to dry before using.

Borrowed from: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SEASONSandHOLIDAYSatHOME/

This is from the whole avocado itself.

Avocado Moisturizing Recipe #1

Avocado is a naturally rich moisturizer. Mash the meat of the avocado into a creamy texture. Massage into the face and neck. Leave on for 15 minutes and gently rinse off.

Avocado Moisturizing Recipe #2

1/4 cup Avocado Butter, which is a soft-solid butter, made from pressing the avocado.

Rub it into your face and neck, leave it on as long as you'd like - you'll know by the feel of your skin. Lots of it will sink in and stay there. Gently rinse off whatever doesn't.

*The second one can be used as part of a gift package, with other handmade things, as it's a natural butter, fill a jar with some, put the directions on it and label. Tie a ribbon around the jar and a soft washcloth.

This is a great project for kids of any age. A simple, but sweet photo frame lined with buttons.

What You Will Need:

Buttons of all shapes, colors and varieties. The more the better!
Glue. (We used washable Elmer's glue)
Cardstock or an old Manila folder
A pencil
Scissors
Ruler or some object to trace as an outline for the frame.

How To Make It:

Take your ruler and draw a template the size and shape you desire. Or, alternately you can trace books, or other frames for size and shape.

Set out your child's button supply and glue. If child is old enough and able, allow them to glue and place the buttons on their own. If they need assistance, help as needed. Instruct your child to leave the middle blank and to decorate the outer edges only.

Once the edges are filled with buttons you may either cut out the center and tape a photo to the backside of the frame, or tape the photo to the middle of the frame.

Your child might wish to color the spaces between the buttons with paint, markers or crayons for extra appeal.

If you wish this to be a magnet for the fridge, you may purchase a self-stick magnetic sheet. Simply stick a large piece of magnet to the back and you are set. (If you feel the need you may also stick the full sheet to the back of the frame. Some of these frames are a bit hefty in weight when finished.)

These are really simple and a lot of fun for the kids to make. Best of all these require no fancy or costly materials, and most of this you should already have around the house.

These also could make a cute scrapbook addition that your child(ren) can contribute to.