Moveable Greeting Card Turntable from Old Floppy Disc

Would be a great way to upcycle an old floppy disc into something fashionable.

http://buildmakecraftbake.com/2009/03/make-moving-turntable-greeting-card.html

DEVELOP FILM WITH COFFEE AND VITAMIN C

This project sounds cool but going to have to go on a far backburner until I am better off finanically to invest in some of the equipment needed. It said that color film will turn out black and white and grainy. This would be also be great to weave into a storyline - I will share this with Kyle and maybe it could go into a future video project.

http://photojojo.com/content/tutorials/coffee-caffenol-film-developing/

The following items are needed.

• Instant coffee (not decaf)
• Vitamin C powder
• Washing soda (cannot substitute baking soda)
• 2 gallons of room-temperature water
• Fixer
• Drop of dishwashing liquid
• A daylight developing tank & reel
• A roll of exposed film
• A bottle opener
• Scissors
• Measuring beakers (including one large enough to hold 16 fluid ounces)
• Measuring spoons
• 2 glasses
• A spoon
• A timer
• 2 clothespins
• Clothesline or coat hanger

Clipart from http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/film.shtml

Miniature Sponge Cake and Pie for Barbie Dolls

These are totally amazing! Alas, my great niece Mia will only be a year old and too young to play with these if I make them now, so putting this on the back burner for when she is older (or if I make them find a place to store them around here for the next few years).

The following blog has a tutorial on how to make the above with sponges.

http://cathiefilian.blogspot.com/2009/03/make-it-miniature-sponge-cake-pie.html?showComment=1237956720000#c8849612870659454409

"Miniature Sponge Cake Materials

• Flat, expandable sponges, yellow and pink
• pen
• quarter
• scissors
• white craft paint
• craft glue
• mini ribbons
• mini beads
• large button"

You use the bottom of the paint bottle as a template to cut the sponges into circle, glue them togetherthen cut up a wedge wet them then let them dry. After that paint the the top, bottom and side (everything except the wedge) white, glue the ribbon around the outer bottom edge and glue the beads in a design on the top. Looks like the button was used to make the cake riser, but is also look like the button is on top of a bottle cap and both are painted/decorated.

"Miniature Pie Materials:

• Bottle caps
• Tan felt
• Red seed beads (or color to match fruit of choice)
• Quick Hold craft glue

The bottle caps are the pie pan, you line them around the edge with tan felt, glue the seed beads in to represent the "fruit" then cover with little strips of tan felt for the top of the pie.

(Clipart from http://www.designedtoat.com/)

RAG RUG

This was posted by Flail of the flair on CO+K http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/rag_rug_get_rid_of_all_those_scraps

Her tutorial on how to make it is very entertaining and love how she showed used her teeth and toes to hold the fabric while she she is braiding the strips - more crafters (myself included) have probably resorted to such tactics, but just thought is was us!

FELT PEEPS

These were featured on One Crafty Place and would be perfect addition to the Dollar Store Challenge project I am working on.

http://stitchewe.blogspot.com/2009/03/felt-food-my-peeps-are-here-free.html

Free Easter Boarder Clipart from: http://www.clipartandcrafts.com/clipart/borders/pages/peeps-chicks-border.htm

Halloween Ideas

(picture is Kyle's Peacock Costume that I made for him when he was a tot)

Is a little early to be thinking about Halloween, but ran across this site and it looks like it has ideas worth looking into further when the time is closer (like the pumpkin stencils).
http://www.halloweencraftfreebies.com/
Family Fun always has a plethora of cool ideas too.
http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/specialfeature/halloween_ms_crafts/

RAINBOW JELLO ***ACCOMPLISHED (SORT OF)*** MADE JELLY JIGGLERS

I ran across this idea at Enchanted Learning for a St. Patrick's Day Treat
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/stpatrick/rainbowjello/
It is basically 7 layers of jello (Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple) and you pour each layer separate into a clear glasses to make the rainbow.

As none of us are really jello freaks but we do like gummy type stuff, thinking of trying the same concept of making them into jello jigglers

http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1811,158173-224203,00.html
JELLO JIGGLERS GELATIN SNACK
Printed from COOKS.COM
2 1/2 c. boiling water
4 pkg. (4 serving size) or 2 pkg. (8 serving size) Jello gelatin, any flavor

Kitchen Tools: measuring cup, mixing bowl, mixing spoon, 13 x 9 inch pan, metal spatula, fun shaped cookie cutters

Stir boiling water into gelatin. Dissolve completely. Pour the mixture slowly into 13 x 9 inch pan. Refrigerate at least 3 hours. Jigglers will be firm after 1 hour but may be difficult to remove from pan. Dip bottom of pan in warm water for 15 seconds to loosen gelatin.

Choose a fun shaped cookie cutter. Press the cutter into the Jello and then lift the cutter straight up. Use your fingers to remove jigglers from the pan. Let Mom help with a metal spatula.

Maybe can make this in a flat pan, do the layers separately then use a glass to cut into circles?

I had to look up the order of colors in the light spectrum - I remembered there was an acronym for it, but not what it was, so I had to look it up and it is:

ROY G BIV

http://www.tooter4kids.com/Light_Color/Rainbows.htm

*********UPDATE***********

I made a version of this - instead of layers in a cup, I made jelly jigglers and cut them out with a cup, then cut them in half then set them upright.

I posted a how-to over at CO+K

http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/rainbow_jelly_jigglers

DIY Buttons **Accomplished a Singeleton Button***

As buttons run a dollar or more for a few, I have been on the prowl for different ideas to make my own. Here are some

DORSET BUTTONS
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/42688/how-to-make-dorset-buttons
from the above link
"The Dorset button has a long history, originating in the 18th century in Dorset, England. Originally, they were made on a disc cut from the horn of a Dorset Horn sheep, which was covered with needle-worked thread. Later, button makers began using metal rings as the basis for these buttons. We're going to make a simple form of Dorset button called a crosswheel, but there are lots of different styles, some of them involving intricate weaving. Once you have these basics down, experiment—the British Button Society offers some inspiration"

The basic concept is it is made from a plastic bone rings and either yarn or embroidery floss wrapped around the ring and made into a design. The design featured looks like a spoked wheel.

SINGLETON BUTTONS
Here is tutorial on how to make Singleton buttons
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/42746/how-to-make-singleton-buttons.
The site indicates this is a type of dorset button. In looking it over the difference in the above is that the basic concept seems to be making a fabric yoyo around a plastic bone ring; will involve a lot of hand sewing and will be tedious and time consuming, but doable.

Instead of buying bone rings for either of the above though, think I will look around the house at what I can find to recycle that is similar.

POLYMER CLAY BUTTONS
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/42746/how-to-make-singleton-buttons
The basic concept is rolling the clay flat, then using something small and circular (like a spool of thread) and to make it textured by using another button and pressing it into the clay or even making a design with a fork.

You can also make them with more than one color by rolling the center into a cane then wrapping another layer around it.

Next time I find Fimo or Sculpey clay on sale, I will buy some and give this a whirl.

****ACCOMPLISHED***

I made a Singleton Dorset buttons to use for Craftster's April craft challenge and the buttons were used as the center to flowers on facinators

http://craftsandcreationswithkathy.blogspot.com/2009/04/diy-fabric-buttons.html

RAINSTICK FROM CARDBOARD TUBE

(free clipart from http://www.free-clipart-pictures.net/spring_clipart.html)

My son loves the sound of the rain and as a present for Easter I want to make him a rainstick out of a cardboard tube.

I couldn't remember exactly how these were made so I surfed and found this one which is as close as I can recall except it uses popsicle sticks instead of cardboard inserts, uses pasta and rice in addition to beans and is decorated in yarn instead of painted.
http://www.mycraftbook.com/craftidea.asp?craftID=297



This one at Enchanted Learning is interesting - it uses 2 coiled up pieces of aluminum foil and it is easier to follow as it has diagrams. It uses Small dried beans, unpopped popcorn, rice, or pasta.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/music/rainstick/

Edward Scissorhands ***ACCOMPLISHED***

Kyle saw this movie for the first time a week ago and loves it, so I am going to add something Edward Scissorhands to my project list, but not sure what I am going to make yet. I think he would like to make (or maybe like for me to make him) a folder for school and maybe a t-shirt.

Over at Threadbanger there was a thread for posting stencils

http://forum.threadbanger.com/showthread.php?p=2422

http://www.flickr.com/photos/outsapop/

(it indicates that they are copywrited and to contact her for permission, which I have at flickr mail). I really like this one as it is full body and easy to make out. UPDATE: I received permission from the user and created this notebook, but may stencil a T-Shirt also.

Here is one of the face only

http://www.spraypaintstencils.com/a-zlistings/edward-scissorhands-stencil.gif

I am just afraid I would totally botch this and it would come out looking more like Jim Morrison than Johnny Depp.

This is off subject, but at the same site and really cool - Predator

http://www.spraypaintstencils.com/a-zlistings/predator-stencil.gif

FISH POND JELLO

Kyle is a little old for this and never cared for jello, but want to keep this in mind for a future crafty project.

It was posted over at Three Princes Designs

http://threeprincedesigns.blogspot.com/2009/02/fun-with-family-friday-f-today.html

It is just made of blue jello gummi fish in a clear plastic container and it looks like a finshing pond.

The instructions indicated to make the jello according to pkg and pour into a clear containter and set up to a soft consistency the pour in some gummy fish and put back in the fridge until it is set.

I also found the same concept over at Enchanted Learning

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Cupofish.shtml

On this blog it also has the same thing except either in clear plastic cups, a large clear punch bowl for an aquarium look or freezing them into popsicles - how cool (pun intended) is that!

Pysanky Eggs

In the most recent Parks and Recs book a class is being offered on creating Pysanky Eggs and it sounds fun and interesting, but as I am strapped for cash I am not going to be able to aford the $40+ fee, so I have started scouring the internet for information on how to make these and ran across this site.

http://www.learnpysanky.com/getting_started.html

ROSES MADE OF RIBBONS

Here is the link on how to make them.

http://mycraftthingies.blogspot.com/2009/02/ribbon-roses.html

Instead of making a bouquet/flower, I think I will try making the flower and then putting it on a pin or a barrette.

31 DECORATIVE CAKE HOW-TO'S AT PARENTING.COM

Parenting.com has instructions for making 31 different mind blowing decorative casks the will wow any birthday child (or even an adult - I think we will make either the bulldozer or dumptruck for Marv's next birthday).

Above are just a few. See the link below for details.

http://www.parenting.com/article/-/Recipe/31-Birthday-Cake-Pictures-Designs-for-Boys-and-Girls

HOMEMADE RICTOTTA CHEESE

The following is a recipe for A Good Appetite
http://agoodappetite.blogspot.com/2009/03/homemade-ricotta-lemon-ricotta-pancakes.html

Below is a condensed version of what is on that site:

• 1 gal. milk, (1% or higher - the higher the fat content the more cheese it will make).
• 1 qt. buttermilk
• Cheesecloth
• A thermometer
• A collander

(Makes about 1 lb.)

Place buttermilk and milk in a pot, heat on med-low heat until it reaches 185 degrees F. it will begin to separate into curds and whey. Stir occasionally to make sure no curds stick to the bottom and burn.

At 185 degrees, the whey becomes clearer as the curds coagulate more.

Pour the curds into a cheesecloth lined collander. Tie the ends of the chesecloth together and hang for 10-15 minutes.

Remove from cheesecloth and place in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

The site also has a recipe for Lemon Ricotta pancakes that sound yummy.

BATHTUB CRAYONS

Kyle loved stuff like this when he was little and going to keep this on my to-do list for maybe making a present for Mia or another youngster in the future.

Pepperpaints has the tutorial over at http://pepperpaints.com/2009/02/27/bathtub-crayons/

You just need:

• Several bars of Ivory or gycerin soap


• A grater


• Measuring Cups


• War Water


• Food Coloring


• Cookie Cutters

You grate the bars of soap up, slowly add up to a cup of warm water to 1 cup of grated soap. Add food coloring and stir until stiff - add more water if too thick or more soap if too thin, then spoon the mixture into the cookie cutters and then freeze them until they are solid, the remove them and allow them to dry at least overnight.

Sugar Hair Removal Recipe

This is from an e-mail that I receive from Looking Good

"This recipe for hair removal and save a bundle on systems that cost a fortune. This recipe costs about $1.00 to make.

Give it a try it really works.

• Juice of 1/2 a lemon, lime.
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup honey

Mix all ingredients and Put in microwave and cook stirring occasionally until it has boiled about 2 minutes, stir it and microwave again for about 20-30 seconds.

Let it cool till it is warm and you can spread a THIN strip onto your skin. Make sure your skin is clean, so the oils in your skin and hair don't keep the sugar from sticking.

Dust the area with cornstarch first then using a small knife with no blade, a plastic putty knife, or a tongue depressor apply where needed."

Mini Dress Form Jewelry Stand

I found the gem of a tutorial over at Craftchi.

http://craftchi.com/blog/?p=943

It involves making a jewelry stand out of a Barbie type doll, fimo/sculpey clay and a wire hanger and it is very retro awesome cool.

Instead of using the doll as the base itself, I think I will either make a duct tape form of the doll or mold it in the clay or mold it on the clay on the duct tape form. Decisions, decisions.

Also, instead of candle holder, I think maybe an old thread spool glued to a base (maybe of clay also) would be cooler.

Make Skull Beads without a mold

Creative Kismet posted an awesome tutorial over at her blog on how to make skull beads without a mold and using a broken pencil tip to create the eyes, nose and teeth in polymer clay then paint the features with black acrylic paint.

http://blog.creativekismet.com/2008/10/20/tutorial-no-mold-polymer-skull-beads/#comment-103567

The awesome clipart to the left is free from http://www.rottentoons.com/skull-clipart.php

and they have several other free cool skulls for (non-commerical use only)

Horror Cartoons & Skull Logos

HANDMADE HANDLOTION

Sonoma Garden has a how to make Handmade Handlotion and even had label that can be downloaded put put on jars.
http://asonomagarden.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/how-to-make-handmade-handlotion-w-label-download/

She indicates she makes several jars in less than 5 minutes with only 4 ingredients the cost is less than $1 a jar.

Recipe from her site:

• 1 1/4 cup hot water
• 1/4 cup emulsifying wax
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 24-36 drops essential oil

In a pyrex measuring glass I combine the olive oil and emusifying wax and microwave for 1 minute until it is all melted.

I have found that our coffee mugs hold almost exactly 1 1/4 cup of water, so I fill is up and microwave that for 1 minute. While that is heating up, I add the essential oil into my melted wax/olive oil mixture.

Then pour the hot water into the wax/olive oil mixture and watch it turn milky white. I then pour the hot lotion into wide mouth pint size jars and let cool overnight. The next morning you’ll have a fresh jar of homemade natural hand lotion!

A site that is suggested that ingredients be purchased from:

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/cgi-bin/Main.pl?AID=099823&BID=30

There is also another recipe at Montisorri by Hand
http://montessoribyhand.blogspot.com/2007/08/make-your-own-hand-lotion.html

Here is that receipe from that blog:

• 6 oz. liquid oil (such as canola or olive oil)
• 3 oz. solid oil (coconut oil, shea butter, etc.)
• 1 oz. beeswax (find it here, along with other organic products)
• 9 oz. of water
• 20 drops of orange essential oil
• 30 drops of vanilla essential oil

Pour the 6 oz. of liquid oil into a 16 oz. heat-proof measuring cup. Add pieces of solid oil to the liquid oil until the total volume reaches the 9 oz. mark, then add the 1 oz. of beeswax. Put the measuring cup into a pot filled with water and place it over medium heat on the stove top. Stir until the all of the solids melt. This can take a little while.

Remove the measuring cup from the water and let it cool to body temperature. It will become more thick and opaque - keep stirring it as it cools. Briefly place the 9 oz. of water in its own container into the pot (still filled with hot water) to bring it up to body temperature.

Pour the 9 oz. of water into a larger mixing bowl. Get out your hand mixer and turn it on high speed. Slowly begin pouring the oil mixture into the water. Continue processing until the mixture reaches a thick, creamy consistency. Turn off the mixer and add the drops of essential oil, then mix it up a bit more.

ANGRY CHICKEN "TIE ONE ON" CHALLENGE

This looks like a fun challenge - you make an apron but you are not allowed to spend any money - only use things you currenty own.
http://angrychicken.typepad.com/tieoneon/

I might make the heart apron that I already spent money printing off the pattern and instructions at the library and if I recall, it was a free project from Jo-Ann Fabrics that I found online a few months ago.

There is also the 'butt apron" that a user on Craftser (need to look up who) posted using the back of an old pair of jeans and I already set aside pair of Kyle's jean short (he won't wear jean shorts because he thinks they doesn't think jean shorts in general look masculine enough on men).

I have also been thinking about the now too small sleeveless, shapeless, shift dress that I bought because I love the band of African critters at the bottom and only wore a few times - it could be cut up to make a cute apron (or it could end up being a tote bag of a kimono style shrug or top).

Deadline is April 30, 2009

Here is a link to 52 different free apron patterns over at Tip Junkie for some more inspirations:
http://tipnut.com/56-free-apron-patterns-you-can-make/

HOMEMADE NUTELLA

Angry Chicken posted 3 different recipes with a review of each - not sure which one I want to try!
http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/2008/12/chocolate-hazel.html