Thursday, April 30, 2009

KNITTED DISH CLOTH

My Dish Cloth pattern.
This can also double as a face cloth.

Materials needed are #8 knitting needles and 2 oz. 4 Ply Worsted Weight Peaches & Cream Cotton.
Cast on 34 Sts.
Row 1: (right side) K1, P1, K1 * slip 1 as if to purl, K1, YO, PSSO both the knit st. and the YO,
repeat from * across to last three sts. K1, P1, K1.
Row 2: K1, P1, K1, purl across to last three sts. K1, P1, K1.
Repeat rows 1&2 for pattern.

Knit to desired size. Approx. 7 or 8 inch square.
The size can be increased by adding 4 sts.
This makes for the basic pattern.



DECORATIVE PLATE STAND

Here is a cute recycle project that I think you will enjoy. This is made from a round oatmeal box. I have provided some drawings that you can follow to create this stand. The first step is to take your empty oatmeal box and measure the distance around the outside of the box and divid that distance in half. The diameter of the box I used was 12.5 inches, so half of that was 6.25 inches. On the first drawing you will see line A to B is 6 1/4" long. The rest of the pattern can be laid out as shown, or adjusted to fit other size oatmeal boxes. Cut out around the lines, this will give you half the pattern you need.


Next take a sheet of legal size paper or any paper large enough to be folded in half and form a 6.5 inch by 6 inch double section. Lay your 1/2 patern on the folded sheet with the 6 inch side lined up with the fold of the sheet. Trace around your 1/2 pattern and cut out the traced section leaving the folded section un-cut. Unfold the traced section, you should have a pattern that looks like the 2nd drawing provided. Wrap the new pattern around the bottom section of your oatmeal box as shown in the 3rd drawing. Bring the small ends together and tape them, secure the pattern to the box with tape if desired. Trace around the pattern and remove. Cut the box on the lines of the pattern, you should come out with a rough plate stand as seen in photo below















































































Cut the box on the lines of the pattern, you should come out with a rough form of the plate stand as seen in the photo below. Decorate your new stand to your own taste. In the 2nd photo below I lined the inside of the stand with sparkly blue felt, wrapped the outside with wall paper, and lined the edges with a decorative cord. Note; You can also use the pattern you just created to layout your outside covering. If you use the pattern for your inside covering just remember the inside will be slightly smaller. Hope you enjoy the project and have fun!!




















Wednesday, April 29, 2009

FRIENDSHIP MAGNET




I am always looking for small craft items that I can make for friends and I saw this one at a craft fair 4 or 5 years ago. It is made by printing this friendship verse onto an Avery Business Card sheet. I attached the business card to a peel and stick business card magnet and hot glued a small spool of thread to the upper right hand corner of the card. Be sure that when you print the verse you setup the card to leave a space for the spool of thread.

Monday, April 27, 2009

CRAFTING WITH DOMINOS

There are lots of things you can do with dominos, I made a few items as shown in the first picture in this post. I found some clip art that I liked and printed it on clear address labels. The labels where then stuck to the dominos and sprayed with a coat of polyurethane. I made some into necklaces, key chains, lapel pins, and magnets. For the necklaces simply drill a 3/32" hole from side to side about 1/4" from the end of the domino, then cut a piece of decorative cord to string through the hole and knot ends together(could be put on a chain as well). The keychain is made by taking the domino drill a 1/16" hole in the center of the top end of it. Then screw a small eyelet into the hole (eyelets can be purchased at hardware in chrome or brass) and attach keyring. The pin is made by simply glueing a jewelery pin to one side of the domino. The magnet is made simply by glueing a magnetic strip to one side of the domino. Dominos can also be decorated by stamping designs onto them. I am sure you will come up with many other ways to use these handy items. Email me and let me know some of your ideas, I would love to hear them.


































This domino clock is an item my husband and I made for my craft room. When I started this post I searched the net for domino clocks and found a site called dominoclocks.com that sells clocks at $25.00 to $35.00 each. You can made one yourself for alot less. All you need is a clock kit from Hobby Lobby or some other craft store, a round, square, or what ever shape piece of material, and 12 dominos from 1 to 12. We used a piece of Purple Heart wood to make our clock. You will need to drill a hole in the center of your clock base to match the shaft of the clock works. Finish your base with paint or polyurethane glue the dominos in the proper order at spaces of 30 degrees around the clock face. Insert the shaft of the clock works through the hole in the base from the back of the clock. Screw the supplied nut onto the clock works shaft and tighten down, then attach the hands. On the back of the clock we glued a frame around the works and attached a wall hanging bracket because of the weight of the clock (purple heart is a hard heavy wood). Some clock kits have a wall hanging bracket attached to the clock works. Now put the proper size battery in your new clock and find a spot to hang it.


















Saturday, April 25, 2009

CROCHET HOOK & SCISSOR HOLDER

This item is one I find handy when I am crocheting. I came up with the idea and my husband made one for me in his shop. The design is very simple and can be made with a hand saw and a cordless drill. The pictures are self explanitor, but all you need for materials is a piece of wood 1 1/2" x 1 7/8" x 5 1/2" . Drill a 1/2" hole and four 3/16" hole in one end in pattern shown in the attached drawing. Cut the opposite end off at a 45 degree angle and glue the small piece to the short side of the main piece as shown. Sand the resulting glued piece and paint or finish. Glue a magnetic strip to the front of the smaller section(this makes a handy place to keep a sewing needle), stick four felt pads on the bottom and start using your new holder.
















Friday, April 24, 2009

MINI PHOTO ALBUM TIN

PHOTO TIN
I am not big on photos but family members are. I am big on recycling. Small Altoids tins make for nice photo boxes for grandma to carry in her purse or MOM. If you don’t have Altoids there are round decorative tins used for pills you can buy at any drug store .You will need to remove the divided section from one of these tins.

SUPPLIES NEEDED: Scissors, felt, double stick tape, Cardstock, ribbon, and a tin of your choice.















1. Cut a piece of ribbon about 20” long.
2. Cut two pieces of felt to cover the bottom and top insides of the tin. ( note the ribbon will be glued under the felt for the bottom)
3. Measure and cut an equal number of card stock pieces the shape of the inside bottom of the tin you will be using.
4. Glue half the pieces to one side of the ribbon spaced in a manner that will allow you to fold them accordion style. Turn it over and glue and additional piece of cardstock overtop of the existing piece .You will now have a two sided area where you will be able to glue photos to.
5. Pick photos cut and paste them to the cardstock.





























CROSS STITCH NOTEBOOK COVER

This is more an idea for you to work from than a pattern.

This note book cover is made with vinyl cross stitch material.
I like this because you do not have to hem it you simply cut it to the size needed to fit the book you want to cover. I took the book measured it top to bottom and cut the material. I then opened it Measured the front, spine, and back totaled them added a couple inches for the fold on the front and back. Chose a pattern I liked did the design on the front. Centered it on the book folded the sides over and blanket stitched or whip stitched the flaps for the front and back which makes a simple book cover. There are many applications for this basic idea and I am sure you will find many, send me a note and let me know what you come up with.







Tuesday, April 21, 2009

FLOSS ORGANIZER

Back a few yrs. ago while doing my cross stitch I hated the little floss holders. They would have folds in the floss where it wrapped around the cardboard. If I left the floss loose they would get tangled so I needed something that fit my way of doing things. That is when this floss holder/organizer came to be.
There are benefits with this organizer that you don’t have with spools, boxes, pockets, or cardboard holders. These sheets hold 11 skeins of floss. You need not rewind the floss. Simply hook each end of the skein as is on the tabs tuck the tabs in it is secured. Floss can be stored with or without the name and # labels. I find working without the labels is easier. I simply write the floss # about the floss in pencil. Lengths of floss can be removed without removing the floss from the organizer sheet. When you take off a length of floss you simply place it in the hole provided below the floss. By placing the sheets in a zippered notebook you can effectively organize all DMC floss colors in two to three notebooks. This makes them dust free, fade free from exposure to light, and able to see at a glance, the floss, its number and when new skeins are needed.
I have all my floss in two notebooks which not only serves as my organizers but my work space as well. When I am finished I only have to zip up the book and put it back on the shelf.
To make it into a travel size you simply cut one sheet in half punch holes in the side and place them into a small notebook.
I have had my books for over ten yrs. I’ve replaced a few pages in that time but must say it has been one of my better craft ideas.
I sent the idea to DMC back in 2001, they weren’t interested.






























The pages can be made from card stock or Mylar plastic stencil sheets bought at most hobby shops. If you copy the design sheet make sure to have a finished sheet that measures 8 ½” x 11”. You can then punch holes in areas provided and cut tabs with an Exacto knif. When you print this pattern it will print about 10% smaller than the original.


Sheet Pattern






DECORATIVE GIFT BOX


This decorative box can be used to give a small gift or just as a decoration. Attached below is the pattern to make the box with complete directions on the sheet. This box was made by putting a sample wallpaper sheet sized to 81/2" x 11" and placed in my printer so that the pattern would print on the back side of the wallpaper. Back a few years ago I aquired some outdated wallpaper sample books from a store. I just asked the manager to let me know when he was updating his old sample books. So please print out the pattern and follow the directions.
Highlight pattern and print.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

MAGNETIC BOOK MARK


Would you like a page marker that will stay in place? For this book mark you will need
Card stock cut about 1½” wide by 5½” long. Place a picture of your choice at the bottom front, this can be printed or glued. Fold in
half. Attach a thin magnet to the back at the top & bottom.

When placed in the book the magnets keep the bookmark in place. See photos.
The marker can be decorated to your taste.



Saturday, April 18, 2009

A BOOK MARK IN LESS THAN A MINUTE



How many envelops a week do you throw away ?? Take one minute and make some decorative book marks for your family and friend. Just follow the picture, take a left over envelop and cut the edge off at a 45 degree angle with scrap booking scissors, and use your corner punch to add a decoration. Place over the corner of your book page as in the photo. If you don't have these scissors or corner punch just cut straight and stamp or draw a cute design on the envelop corner.

Monday, April 13, 2009

PICTURE FRAME WOODEN TISSUE BOX COVER


This decorative tissue box cover will display 4 photos and is constructed from 1/4" MDF or Plywood. The 4 sides are cut out with a 45 degree angle cut on 3 edges and the top is angled on all 4 edges. Openings are cut in all 4 sides to form picture frames, and an opening is cut in the top for access to the tissues as seen in the attached picture, also provided is a complete diagram of the required pieces. Cut 4 pieces of card stock 4" x 5" and lay one over each opening in the 4 sides, using a 1/2" wide stripe of tape secure the card stock squarely over the openings. This will form pockets to hold the photos in the frame openings. The 4 sides are glue together at the angled edges and the top is glued onto the sides with angled edges of the top and sides joining together. A handy way of clamping the sides is by stretching 2 large rubber bands around the 4 side to hold them in place while the glue is drying. The top can be clamped in place by setting a 2 or 3 pound weight on it while the glue sets. Lightly sand box and paint or decorate to your own taste.
Highlight pattern then print



Note: If you do not have the tools to make this box you can purchase one all made from http://www.woodcrafters.com/ . All you need to do is cut the picture frame holes in the 4 sides and tape the card stock over the holes to form your photo pockets.

FREE SWIRL BOX PATTERN


This swirl box works better if glued.
Remember to keep the swirl on the outside
when folding. Dotted lines should be folded
so they are hidden inside the box. Highlight
pattern to enlarge then print.


Sunday, April 12, 2009

PATTERN FOR WHITE BOARD SUDOKU GAME

Free pattern to make your own reusable Sudoku Board. Do you ever get tired of completing sudoku sheets and throwing them away. With this eraseable board you can take games from a book or daily paper and put it on the board with eraseable marker, play and erase clean for a new game. When not in use it can be hung up as a decorative sign on the flip side.
The sudoku game board. Which is the back
of a dollar store door sign.









Materials needed = One tin sign bought at dollar store. Pkg. of double auto pin striping.
If you can’t find the double separate sizes can be found. Marker used on erasable board. (Marker in photo has magnet and eraser on one end)

The directions for making this game board are quite simple.
Mark off the overall square first using Automotive pinstriping1/8.
Mark off the tic tac toe grid using the same 1/8” striping.
Mark off the smaller squares with 1/16” striping .
See diagram below for sudoku grid layout
Highlight diagram to enlarge and Print








Saturday, April 11, 2009

POSTER BOARD TISSUE BOX COVER PICTURE FRAME


FREE PATTERN FOR THIS ATTACTIVE PICTURE FRAME TISSUE BOX COVER!!!!!!

Below is a complete materials list and a drawing to make this item. All the materials can be purchased from your local Walmart or Craft Store.


MATERIALS:
A piece of card stock or poster board approximately 20” x 12” or large enough to accommodate
the overall pattern.
Four additional pieces 4”x 5”. These serve to make the pockets for the photos.
Double stick tape.
An exacto knife or sharp scissors.
1. Start by sketching template using measurements provided.
2. Cut out pattern on all solid lines.
3. Trace open areas in center of each square using provided template.
4.Removing center pieces. This makes picture frame area.
5. Score and fold on all dotted lines. All folds face in the same direction.
6. Apply double stick tape to all shaded areas.
7.Tape 4x5 pieces to inside back of each open area. This should be done with regular tape not the double stick. You want it to form an open sleeve to allow for the insert of a photo.
8. Fold to form a five sided box. Four sides and a top. Peel and stick taped tabs on the inside
area of the formed box.
9. Take 4x5 pics and slide into sleeve space.

Highlight patterns then print.
Box Pattern
















Cut Out Pattern