Magnet Message Board

Magnet Message Board

Recycling is so fun!  I pick up a bottle cap, head to the trash, and Wait! Whoa! I can use this.

I wash up a cookie sheet, no longer fit for the eyes of company, but magnets sure stick to it.  I can use this.

The orange juice can once housed delicious juice, but now?  I know it can be used for something.  I can use this.

One small snippet of fabric used to fashion my Granddaughter's quilt.  It's too cute to throw away, too square for a strip quilt, too little to create a patterned new one, but, I can use that.

This craft idea came from a great local crafting duo who spend many Sundays sharing great ideas.  Craft redo

When I couldn't attend, Sally, my constant craft companion and friend went and shared this with me.

I loved it! 

                                         Here is Sally's. 

          Here is mine. Although I have not finished, you get the idea.


We set out to get organized, and organized we became.  All of these organizers have the same foundation, but each is unique in its own purpose.  The first is a message board.  Sally's shows off cute little pictures on her magnets, and mine is a way to keep my computer cords & things in order.  You can be as creative as you wish in making yours.

Here is what you will need:

Cookie sheet with holes punched for hanging cord or ribbon
Fabric scraps
Ribbon
bottle caps
pill bottles
other containers
magnets
glue

Step one:  Drill two holes in the top of the cookie sheet for hanging.  You could also take a good size nail and hammer the holes through the metal that way.

Step two: pick out two or three fabrics that coordinate.

Step three: Cut them to fit the cookie sheet.

Step four: Glue them down.  (I used a spray adhesive and it worked well.)

Step five: Find a ribbon (fabric also works) to cover the divide between fabrics and sides if you wish.

Step six: Attach magnets to whatever containers, bottles, embellishments you like.

Step seven: Hang your organizer and begin enjoying.

Metal Stamped Jewelry

Today I found a craft I absolutely love.  It is the stamping of letters into metal objects.  When my daughter was married, her theme was live, laugh, love.  Oh how I wish I had this craft knowledge at that time.  She had asked me to make all of the jewelry for her bridesmaids and herself out of my gourds (tutorial to come).  Making the tiny flowers from gourd shards and seeds was easy, but painting on the live, laugh, love gave me fits.  I have never had good penmanship.  No matter how hard I tried, the words always looked flawed to me.  The jewelry turned out adorable, despite my penmanship shortcomings.  I had visions of making table embellishments with the words as well, but couldn't make them meet my need for perfect lettering, so I didn't even approach my daughter with the idea.  Now, I have found the metal stamping kit, and I know I could have used it to create the table centerpieces that would have carried her theme into the reception.

I found the cutest candle that would have been perfect with her theme.  This one came from Pinterest, and I no longer have the name of the person who posted, but I want to give them credit.  This idea is just the kind of project that I can do.  I use metal washers as backs for many of my gourd necklaces so I have plenty on hand.  Aren't they adorable?  Adding jute to hold them to the candles makes them so "country".  But what I really like is the ability to stamp words onto the washers.  This one has the live, laugh, love theme.  I can see doing this in eat, pray, love, or putting faith based words like "the fruit of the Spirit. If I did this one I would make a centerpiece of three of these candles and stamp one word on each washer.

Taking this simple design, I added names to my Valentine's Day gifts for my granddaughters.  The stamped washer was easily attached to the end of the paper beaded necklace (tutorial in the archives on the right side of the blog) I made for one of the girls.  It was so cute.

Then I worked on one of the candles for myself.  Again, it turned out so well.

To make these stamped washers you will need a metal stamping set.  I searched the hardware stores in my area and found none available, so I went to my faithful Amazon.  I learned early on that I could actually get things I needed here and spend quite a bit less than shopping in my local area.  Because I live in a rural area, it takes about 20 minutes to drive anywhere to find my materials.  For me the cost of gas is far more than any shipping I might have to pay, and the products are at my door in as little as two days.  I have listed two products (links on the top right) that would be perfect if you are interested in trying this craft.  One is the metal alphabet punch stamp set, and the other is a nice idea book.  Check them out.  As I make more items I will post the pictures.

Making your stamped washer

supplies:

various sizes of washers
sand paper (optional)
anvil or metal/concrete base
hammer
metal alphabet stamp set
permanent markers
jute or other stringing material

Step 1.  Laying your washer on top of your anvil, position your first letter,
Step 2. Strike the letter with your hammer. (I do this about 10-15 times while holding the punch steady.)
Step 3. Position your next letter and repeat this process until all letters have been imprinted.
Step 4. (Optional) use the sand paper to created a distressed pattern on the washer.
Step 5. If you want color, trace the imprinted letters with the marker.
Step 6. Attach your cord in whatever fashion you choose.

That's it!  It's quick and easy.  Enjoy!


Share your stories. Email your fond memory or story to admin@explorecreatecraft Please put "story" in the subject line.  If you have a particular page you would like your story posted, please put that in your message along with the story.

And when you just don't have the words to express in times of sorrow, turn to this book for just the right words to say.

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One of my favorite memories has been running a roadside stand.  It was here that I met a beautiful lady who will always have a place in my heart.

My love of God has brought me through an abundance of pain and conflict.  He has brought me to His truth in a ministry of love.  We strive to live what God has set before us and in that life, provided
ministers who teach accurate information, and access to resources like online classes and Sunday teachings at Living Hope International Ministries .  In God I found my way when the world said I couldn't, and brought people into my life that always brought me back to God's wonderful Word.  The story below reflects just one small part of a life centered in God's Love.  Enjoy.

An acre of Love and Laughter

It wasn't easy making ends meet in the 90's.  I had quit my job teaching in order to raise our children and the farm.  Everything was falling into place.  I could grow my gourds for crafting, farm the land side by side with my better half, and be the best stay at home Mom in the world.

We'd rise early to ready the tractor for the day ahead.  Engines were running long before my senses.  I emerged groggy eyed and exhausted from sleepless nights, as one by one each of the five children would wake crying out from troubled dreams, or restless tummies. A soft rub on the cheek, a soothing melody sung in quiet whispers,  would drift them back to sleep.  I'd spend the remainder of my night in broken dreams intertwined with gourds and fallowed fields needing as much attention as the children.

The garden blossomed with the fields.  The corn grew strong and tall as did the gourds.   

But a silent mind conjures false realities. 

A bumper crop was growing.  We might be able to pay off the farm. 

The gourds grew large, still green, but promising.  A good kettle gourd could shape itself into a beautiful lamp, or a basket deeply woven into shapes and forms that translated our life.  Either would bring a great price at local craft shows. 

But our mind's reality falsely paid the price of extravagant dreams.   

An early September frost invaded the fields cutting short the corn, killing the gourd long before its time.

Without the crop, our pockets stretched until frayed patches of fabric dressed the children, and milk became a luxury.  Dipping into our reserves, we survived on an acre of love and laughter.   

Winter came and went ushering in a Spring of new hope. Day by day I watched the children decorate the garden with laughter.  A wiggly red worm brought giggles and grins. The tomato hornworm amazed their senses.  The joy of this simple life defined our family.  We thanked our God as plants grew strong and new hope grew with them.   
The beans and potatoes fed our appetites; the gourds, our spirits.  We crafted birdhouses and set them out to dry by our roadside vegetable stand. 

Customers came in hurried minds, quick to grab a handful of nature after busy days confined to cubicles and windowless rooms.  They loved the fresh produce and adored the gourds crafted by tender fingers.

She came alone, this angel sent from God.  She asked for beans and peppers, green from sun kissed days.  And she eyed the birdhouse gourd painted by tender toddler hands.  She kneeled before the child whose hands finger painted her heart upon the gourd.  "Did you help your Mommy plant this gourd?  It is a beauty fit for a royal bird." 

My daughter nodded in silent pride as this angel paid for the little birdhouse gourd.  "But this is too much," I protested.  

She winked and placed an extra quarter into the palm of the child when she thought I wasn't looking.  As she left she spoke to the child. "You help your Mommy now, you help her paint the  gourds."

I looked at my child as she beamed in delight. 

A crafter had been born that day.

 

Rolled Paper Necklace

Day by Day  Crafting!

 

Rolled Paper Necklace

I was looking for an inexpensive way to create something cute for my Granddaughters for Valentine's Day.  Both of them enjoy playing dress up and like costume jewelry. 




When I began looking at what I could do to create a cute piece for them, I found that paper jewelry was so cute and easy to do.  Not only can you make beads quickly, it is also a craft that children can make as well. 

This is the style of necklace that I put together for them.  The ones I made for them were longer and in whites and pinks for the holiday.   I didn't take a picture of them before sending them off so you will have to imagine how cute they were.  I added a little heart with their names engraved at the center of their strands.

When I first started looking at making paper jewelry, I found that this craft is being used in poorly developed countries by the women in order to raise funds to help feed and clothe those in need.  I hope that I can pass this worthy endeavor on to my Grandchildren so that one day they can make and sell these paper beads for their own charitable cause.

Supplies:

white paper

magazine pages

newspaper

permanent

glue

ruler

tooth picks or straws

sealer

wire, yarn, string, or other element for stringing.

 
To make your beads, choose a paper for your project.  I actually used all three of the papers listed.  I wanted a variety of colors. 



I wondered if the pages from a popular design magazine would provide beads that were more trendy than my hand marked beads.  I found that they did not.  A picture design that was being used for pillows and upholstery in the magazine did not translate onto the beads because the rolling of the paper only exposed the side color, but fused the other colors together as the bead was rolled. So what I looked for when using these magazine pages was a dominant color.  If the design was made up of creams and browns, your bead would end up quite dark.  If the design had a lot of yellow and white, the bead would be lighter and take on the yellow color. 



Whichever end is rolled last will be your final color in the beads that are cylindrical, while the triangular cuts take on most of the colors in the strip.  Newspaper print is basically gray, but hints of color can 
show through as you choose where your strips will be cut. 
When you want a set color scheme, use the markers and design your own. The necklace shown has beads from all papers and uses a variety of shapes and sizes.  I wanted as many different examples as possible as I strung beads. 

First I made the white paper bead.  Mark 1/4 inch segments along each side of the paper.  Draw one of two types of lines: 1.  Draw a diagonal line from one side to the other: the base of the 1/4" line on one side to the top of the 1/4" line on the other.  2.  Cut straight 1/4" lines in to strips. 

 

Next choose a tooth pick or straw to roll your bead.  I like to use the small coffee stirring straws as they not only give a perfect hole for stringing, but if you cut them just a little larger than the bead being rolled onto them, the straw color will make a nice bead edge color.  The drawback is that when you make these beads for children there is a danger that the straw could come out and could become a choking  hazard.  For the most part, I am stringing these beads onto jewelry wire and I don't make these straw filled beads for children.  The paper beads themselves could also be a hazard though, so I am always careful of who the finished product will go to.

 
To roll your bead, put  some white glue on the paper back.  If you are rolling on the straw, put some of the glue on the straw as well.  Don't put glue on a toothpick, and be sure to leave the initial end that begins the roll onto the toothpick glue free.   

Many bead rollers don't use any glue at all when they roll.  They simply roll the bead tightly onto the toothpick and only put a dab at the very end to hold the bead together.   I personally like the straw and lots of glue as I find it easier to roll.

Now roll the bead.  If it is a triangular piece of paper, the bead will turn out more round.  If it is a 1/4" all the way across, the bead will end up cylindrical. 

 







Once rolled and secure, set the beads upright  on the toothpick and set them for drying.  Brush the beads with sealant, let dry, repeat for at least three coats. You can find a good sealant here: 
sealant

 
 

Now the beads are ready to string. Choose colors, or by size, or shape, or combine everything as I did.  This is where it is fun as you see your creation take shape.  I used a filler spacing bead just to make a nice consistency in my necklace.  I love the results.  I hope you do to.  Enjoy. 

  Heart of Crafting 

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Recycled Wool Sweater Mittens

Day by Day  Crafting!

    
    It's time for mittens!








I love these mittens.  They are so cute, so easy, so warm, and they are made from recycled sweaters and wool.  

To make a pair you will need thrift store wool sweaters, fleece for the lining, and embellishments.

Half of the fun of making these mittens is shopping for the wool.  For about $10 I can find wool suits and beautiful wool sweaters (sometimes the ugly sweaters make the cutest mittens) that will make several pair of mittens.  

Take a few hours and shop the local thrift stores.   You will want to find items that contain as close to 100% wool as possible. Then look for those inexpensive fleece wool blankets.  I have found them for as little as $2.50 each.  They come in so many cute prints and just about every color you can think of.  You can make your lining as cute as your wool exterior.

Once you have your wool, strip any buttons from it and throw the wool in the washer on hot.  You want the wool to shrink and felt together to bind the fibers to make an extremely tight woven fabric that will withstand the cold.  The higher percentage of wool, the tighter the fiber will become.  Dry on hot as well.

Now the fun begins.  Using the patterns that you can download here, cut out a variety of wool for each section.  Sometimes the most unusual combinations make the most adorable mittens. 

I found a great video that is really good at explaining how to sew the mittens and what cautions you need to take in order to avoid two right hands instead of a set pair.  I would step by step it out for you, but this video is so much better than me trying to explain it.  mittens video

If you would like a pre-made pair of mittens, visit my store. http://explorecreatecraft.homestead.com/Store.html

Making A Corn Massage Bag

Day by Day  Crafting!

Making a Massage Corn Wrap

 I believe than this craft would be on my top 10 list of favorite crafts to make.  I have used it more than anything I have made to date. 

As I age, I have aches and pains in muscles I didn't even know I had.  My circulation is poor and I am always cold.  A corn bag takes care of the aches, soothes the pain, and offers so much warmth to my hands, feet, head and neck.  I can warm my bed and it acts to massage when I lay it on the floor and roll my feet across it.  The corn heats in seconds offering relief instantly.  I love it! 

 Supplies:

Field corn (whole kernals)

Fabric

Making a corn wrap is so easy.  Simply find a cute fabric, cut two pieces (20" in length, 5 " wide).  Place the two pieces right sides together and stitch around leaving an opening to fill with corn.  Turn right side out.

Next, divide the strip into thirds.  Mark a line down the fabric at the thirds lines. 

Begin filling with corn.



When you get the first third filled, stitch down the marked line sealing in the corn at that end.

 

Now fill the other end, stitch as before.   







Finally, fill the last section up to the opening.  Pin the opening shut and stitch across sealing in the last section.  Trim the loose threads.  Your corn bag is ready to heat and use.  Enjoy! 

It is a good idea to create an outer pouch to hold the bag.  Make it the same way as the corn bag only don't divide it into thirds.  Instead, leave the opening at the end.  Fold down the raw edges, fold down again to form a casing.  String a cord through the casing.  Slide the warm corn bag into the pouch before using.  Drape the corn bag with the pouch attached to your neck, feet, etc. The pouch can be removed and washed after use.  Using the pouch will help keep your corn bag clean as the bag of corn itself can not be washed without ruining the corn inside.  

If you would like a pre-made corn bag, visit my store: http://explorecreatecraft.homestead.com/Store.html

Natural Wreaths

Natural Wreaths

One of the most satisfying  projects for me is an all natural wreath.  What could be more simple, low cost, and beautiful than making your own wreath from the materials in nature.

 

My favorite medium for a wreath is the grapevine.  Since I live in a rural area, I have easy access to natural grapevine.  I find it growing along our fence rows, in the ditch behind our mailbox, and even creeping up the back of the house.  It's everywhere.  

If you live in the city, but take walks in the forest or on natural trails, you will find grapevine.  Look for vines running up trees and into bushes.  They tend to take over the host plant with their curly q's grabbing every twig in their path. 

The grapevine is easy to spot.  It has five leaves in a fairly well spread out distance between clusters.  When you are looking for your vine, be sure that you have not confused it with poison ivy (which tends to grow in the same areas and often mingles with the grape vine).  If you see any sign of a three leaf vine in and around the grapevine, leave and find your grapevine elsewhere.  It is not worth it to try to pull grapevine if there is even the slightest chance you might be exposed to the ivy vine.

I like to pull the young vines that are thin, and can be traced right down to their roots in the ground.  Often they are well spread over the limbs and bushes, but because they are young, they are flexible and easy to pull out.  Carry a pair of heavy duty scissors or pruners with you.  It makes it so much easier to cut.   As I pull, I wind.  It makes it so much easier to wind and shape as you go.  The vines have not dried out at this point and will bend and shape into your ideal size if you wind them on the spot.

I also look for natural objects to incorporate into my wreath.  Acorns, pine cones, dried weeds (or ones that can be dried) like Queen Anne's Lace and milkweed pods, are just a few of the many natural wonders you can find to adorn your wreath. 

If you look at the pill bottle organizer, (Jan. 24th post) you will see one of the flowers made from Money plant. They make wonderful wreath fillers.  I also use my little gourds (spinners that look like mini bottle gourds are very cute) to decorate the wreaths.  The bread dough roses, pussy willows, gourd buttons & seeds,  just about any of nature's abundance gives beauty to your wreath.  I even use feathers and horse hair to embellish my wreaths.  But I think my favorite filler is the green snowball bush flower.  If I pick it before it has the chance to turn white, it will dry and keep its green color.  It is thick, intricate in each tiny little green floret, and it lasts. 

Simply use your creativity to fashion the wreath that fits your style, personality, and special occasion. 

Assemble your wreath using hot glue to arrange whatever embellishment you choose for your wreaths.  Have fun creating your own special wreath today.