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Altered matchboxes are easy and fun to make! To view a step-by-step tutorial with photos for making these paper boxes, check out the Matchbox Valentines How Tuesday post on the Etsy Storque blog. These little boxes are approximately the size of standard, store-bought, 32-count matchboxes (1.5″ x 2″ x .5″). They make lovely mini gift boxes, and are also fun to swap! Download Rachel’s matchbox template. Instructions: Print out template on card stock at 100%. Optional: Want to include a little card or mini zine in your matchbox? Want even more matchbox fun?! Here is a newer Envelope-style matchbox template: The inner drawer of this matchbox is exactly the same as my original Matchbox Template above, but the outer wrap differs significantly. Download the Envelope-style Matchbox Template PDF here. Here are the basic instructions which are also printed on the template: Print out template on card stock at 100%. Writing the instructions is the most difficult part of making these templates. Also…

How to Crochet with Pop-Tops Crochet a Flower With Pull Tabs For crafters who want to know how to crochet with pull tabs, we've come up with this free crochet pattern that will teach you how to crochet a flower. This is our first DIY project and it's a good introduction to recycled crafts. This crochet flower can be made into a Christmas tree ornament, a brooch or incorporated into a larger project. To download a printable version, click here » Step 1: Materials & Tools 6 pull tabs Crochet thread (1 or 2 colors). Step 2: Prepare Your Pull Tabs Choose tabs that are in good condition. Step 3: Start Crocheting Begin crocheting the center of the flower using a single stitch to cover the 'thin side' of the tab (top figure) (the side that's pulled when a can is opened). Step 4: Connect the Circle Pull the line of tabs into a circle and crochet them together (top figure). Step 5: Add Color to the 'Petals' Cover the outer ring of the pull-tab using a double stitch with different colored thread. Step 6: Cover and Connect

DIY Photo Canvas Hey there! So, I have seen so many cool DIY photo canvas projects on Pinterest and I had to do one of my own! My son is playing his first season of tackle football and I have taken a ton of pictures! It was so quick, easy and cheap! I started with 2 pieces of scrap MDF that I cut down to 8 1/2 x 10 1/2. I used a TON of wood glue to attach the 2 pieces together. Next, I broke out the black acrylic paint and covered all four sides and a little onto the outside edges. I printed out an 8×10 black and white, through walmart.com, and attached it with a spray adhesive. For the finishing touches, I used a stencil brush to dry brush the black acrylic onto the actual picture (all around the edges) and followed up with Modpodge, using the same dry brush technique for a textured, canvas-like, finish! That was it! I had to make several for him and he thinks they are pretty cool:) I want to do more around the house! There are only a few more days left to enter our Lisa Leonard Giveaway! ~Ashley

Tooth Fairy Bags We thought we'd try to make the whole Tooth Fairy ritual a little more fun by making a colorful bag complete with a special tooth-shaped pocket for the baby tooth. The Tooth Fairy can take away the tooth and leave the loot in the bag. This is a really quick project. So quick that you might want to whip up a few in different colors for the different kids (and teeth!) Materials To make 1 3-inch x 3-inch bag: 1 piece Wool Felt in a bright color of your choice1 piece Wool Felt in EcruEmbroidery Thread in IvoryEmbroidery Thread to match your bright colored feltAt least 28-inches of a white cotton yarn (I used Blue Sky Alpaca Organic Cotton in Bone)One Free Tooth Template, available here, downloaded, printed, and cut out. Cutting Trace the tooth template on the ecru felt and cut it out. Cut the bright felt into a 3-inch x 8-inch rectangle. Cut the yarn into two 14-inch pieces. The Top Hems Fold and pin each short side in 1/2 an inch towards the wrong side. The Tooth Sewing up the Sides

Tracy's KILLER Garlic Bread & shutterbean While we’re on the subject of soups, I thought it would be nice to share my SECRET recipe for the most KILLER Garlic Bread. What goes better with soups than garlic bread? Not much! My neighbor taught me to add dill in the garlic butter. If you were to ask me what my death row meal would be, I’d immediately tell you a buffet full of this KILLER GARLIC BREAD. And we’re off! Get your butter ready. Chop up your garlic, nice & fine. Put the garlic and the butter in a microwave safe bowl & melt in the microwave. Time for the dried herbs! Put all the herbs in the melted butter. Let the butter sit until it gets harder. Now smear it on your bread! Put the halves back together again. Unwrap your bread and put it under the broiler for 2 minutes. Wait for it to cool slightly and cut up your bread with a sharp knife. Brace yourself. Tracy’s Killer Garlic Bread (recipe by me!) Place the stick of butter and chopped garlic in a microwave safe bowl. Shutterbean Notes:

I Love You Pop-Up Card Tie dyeing You will need: Ironed cotton fabric or t-shirt etc. Dye of your choice (hot water, cold water etc.) Water Large saucepan Bucket Wooden spoon/ chopstick (will stain with dye so not to be used with food) Marbles String/elastic bands Pegs Rubber gloves I used ‘ Dylons hot water dye No.16 Arabian Night’ when I tie-dyed, but you can also use cold water dyes for similar results (this may be a safer choice if tie-dyeing with younger children) but remember when you buy the cold water dye to also get the fixative needed. What to do 1. Circles – Tie small round objects such as marbles or stones into the fabric, hold in place with string or elastic bands. Concentric pattern – Pinch the centre of the fabric and let it fall into drapes. Bold stripes – Knot the fabric at intervals 2. 3. 4. Back to the Fabric and Sewing menu...

Woven Felt Place Mats Handmade placemats are a great way to add some color and a unique touch to your table. I wanted to create a modern set that would work well for outdoor dining in the summer that would also be easy to make. These woven felt placemats require no sewing so they can be a fun all-family project! Materials These materials will make a set of six 11-inch x 17-inch place mats: Finished Measurements 11-inches wide x 17-inches long Cutting Cut each of the ecru felt pieces to be 12-inches x 17-inches (you'll be cutting the width down to 11-inches in the last cutting step). Cut all of the green felt pieces into as many 12-inch x 1-inch strips as you can (make sure you have at least 84 strips total.) Mark and cut one of the ecru pieces with a water soluble fabric marker as follows: Using a rotary cutter cut along all 10 of your vertical marks. Using a pair of scissors cut the vertical slices so that they meet up exactly with the horizontal markings. Weaving Finishing

Drink Can Tinwork Tinwork Embossed tinwork is sometimes used to decorate rustic style photo or mirror frames, or just to make decorative items such as Christmas tree decorations. The metal used is usually thicker (tinplate) and is normally worked with hammered tools - I wanted to try to get a similar effect, but with a bit less effort. The Most Popular ArticleOn Atomic Shrimp No, really! More Metalwork If this project interested you, you might also like Lost Wax Casting Safety This project makes use of very thin sheet metal that is likely to have sharp, jagged edges and is prone to springing back. Great care should be taken to avoid injury. This project probably isn't suitable for children - and certainly not without supervision. Updated Autumn 2010 - now with Video Goodness! Please note: Before, during or after the video, the player may display advertisements or links to additional videos - these are not affiliated to Atomic Shrimp and the selection is something over which I have no control. Materials Finished

Something Special Card + Envelope Tutorial We hope Jennifer Casa’s Something Special Card + Envelope Tutorial inspires you to create something beautiful for someone you love. Learn more about Jennifer in her introduction, and make a visit to JCasa*handmade part of your daily routine. After you make the basic card + envelope as a foundation piece you can then embellish, embroider, quilt, print… Do something to make it unique! Mix things up, and personalize your card to make it the perfect something for your special someone. From Jennifer: Our lives are overrun by email, texting, and virtual hellos-– With this simple fabric card + envelope project, I encourage you to take a step back from the everyday and make something memorable, something as one-of-a-kind as your special someone. Finished Measurements Envelope = 5.25” x 7.75” Card = 4.75“ x 7” What you need Let’s make the envelope first! 2. 6. 9. Form envelope as follows: Now let’s get to the card! 2. Tuck the card inside the envelope + present to someone special.

Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies These are divine. Truly. They taste just like your favorite breakfast treat but in fabulous cookie form. I wish I could take credit for the idea, but I stumbled on something like it and thought I would give it a whirl. My tummy is glad I did, but my thighs? Not so much. Cookie Ingredients:- One batch sugar cookie dough (you can make your own, or just buy a roll)- 1/4 stick butter, melted- Cinnamon- Brown Sugar Cookie Instructions:- Roll out sugar cookie dough into a large rectangle (flour your rolling surface to avoid stickage!) Glaze Ingredients:- Butter, melted- Milk, warmed- Powdered (Confectioner's) Sugar- Vanilla Glaze Instructions:- Mix equal parts butter and milk- Add a dash off vanilla to butter/milk mix for flavor- Very slowly drizzle butter/milk mix into confectioner's sugar, stirring constantly until you get desired consistency

paper crafts: make a panda gift candy box tutorial Paper crafts: make a Panda Gift Candy Box tutorial Paper crafts: make a Panda Gift Candy Box tutorial In the summer times, let your kids make a special candy box, this crafts only needs paper Christmas craft ideas: paper snowflake flower tutorialChristmas craft ideas: paper snowflake flower tutorial Snowflake flower tutorial This snowflake is easy to do with the children. Will need: Paper, A4 or A5, scissors, glue and Paper craft: mother’s day card and canvas Paper craft: mother's day card and canvas Whoa. Mother's Day is definitely creeping up on us. Quilling art: Female characters in the wonderful paper artFemale characters in the wonderful works of Eugene Evseeva. 2.Quilling art: Female characters in the wonderful paper art 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. see more:

Silk Lotus Flower The silk lotus flower is easy to construct, but looks very luxurious. You can make it in any size, but pick fabrics that tend to be stiff, like silk taffeta or dupione. You can singe the edges of the petals with a flame, or just leave the cut edges raw. After you master the basic technique, you can experiment with different petal shapes. Become a Threads Insider today to get access to this and other exclusive Insider-only blog posts. Become an Insider and enjoy unlimited access to: All-time favorite articles from Threads Special Insider discounts and offers Digital access to our most recent issues And so much more!

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