Crafts
Updated 2/7/04...
Hello! I'm glad you stopped by! I really enjoy crafting, but for me it's always a matter of finding the time to do all of the projects that I love. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. It's hard to be at one with your glue gun or crochet needles when you've got little ones around. Those dishes in the sink and the piled up laundry seem to have such loud voices, don't they? They're always calling for your attention!
But, when I can sneak away, I love to do crafts of all types. I especially like to try my hands at new things. The crafts I like most are: Cross-stitching, crocheting, painting and stenciling, and general crafting. I have set up a new crafting area in our spare room, so hopefully my new "creative space" will allow me to produce even more great crafts! As soon as I get it organized (yes, I'm still working on this! )the way I want, I'll share a picture or two here. But... Right now it's very cluttered with all my craft supplies! (And other junk!) ;)
Quick Craft Ideas:
Make a pretty gift by painting a terra cotta flowerpot and coating it with a durable, weatherproof clear glaze. Give with seed packets or nursery-grown plants.
Use enamel paint to stencil designs on ceramic tiles. Add self-adhesive cork or felt pads to make a great looking trivet
Display pictures in a new and different way: glue (with white glue or glue gun) several onto wide ribbon and hang on the wall or on a bulletin board. (Great way to use up those double prints!)
Lay ceramic or glass tiles in concrete to create an interesting garden stepping stone...
Personalize a child's plastic resin chair with waterproof paints.
Use scraps of fabric, ribbon and potpourri to create beautiful sachet.
Make a "mug mat" by sewing two small potholders together and enclosing some cinnamon potpourri.
Have your kids create great holiday and birthday gift bags by sitting them down with grocery sacks, paints, markers/crayons, and stickers. Make handles out of yarn or paper twist.
Make ornaments out of cinnamon/applesauce dough by cutting with cookie cutters. Use to hang in closets for a wonderful scent!
Use Glass Etching Cream to jazz up mirrors, windows, glass vases, jars, just about anything! Be sure to follow the directions exactly and adhere to the safety warnings!
Dress up a inexpensive purchased vinyl photo album or scrapbook: Paint the outside of the album with acrylic paint in your choice of colors. Then, using decopage medium, apply ribbons, rickrack or paper cutouts. You can also sprinkle with glitter and glue on buttons and charms.
Personalize a wooden picture frame by decoupaging clip-art cut-outs, photos, and words cut out of magazines and newpapers. Carry out a theme for Mother's Day, Father's Day or your favorite Grad.
Make a cute summer gift by painting a large clay pot with outdoor themes and give with a citronella candle inside.
Be sure to save the flowers and petals from your garden to create potpourri by adding a few drops of essential oils.
Stock up on canning jars now for crafts and gifts later on in the year!
Craft project: You will need Liquid Potpourri from you craft store or Wal-Mart.
Heat 1 cup of the liquid and then add 4 packs of Knox Gelatin, stir to mix well. Add another cup of cold liquid and pour into jars ( just about an inch or so for small jars). You can place in the refrigerator until set. They last about 6 weeks.
(It's not necessary to put them in the fridge.)
Top the plain cover with fabric or cover the open jar with an open fabric, lace, tulle, or mesh and tie with ribbon. You can use the tiny canning jars, the ones used for preserves, too.
This would be cute too with baby food jars that you have painted, etc. I'm going to try making some to give as gifts.
You could tailor this to any season or holiday just by changing the way you decorate the jars and the scent you use.
Decorate plain soaps with pressed flowers and leaves for a special gift. Press leaves onto soap surface and brush on a coat of melted wax. Tie with raffia for a natural look. (You can also use this same technique to embellish candles, but please use them for decorative purposes only, or burn them only with extreme caution, so to avoid the "additions" catching fire.)
Crafts 
