Handmade geometric stamps for Handmade Living By Kate on January 11, 2012 I‘ve tried to make my own rubber stamps on many occasions but never really got the hang of it. I think half the reason is that it’s impossible to buy the proper carving blocks here in the UK. So…I put an article together for this months issue of Handmade Living on easy rubber stamps. These stamps are made from erasers, using a craft knife and ruler. If you want to see how hand carved stamps are done the proper way then check out this ace tutorial at Geninne’s Art Blog. Hama bead weaving tutorial on its way early next week! You can pick up a copy of Handmade Living from Morrisons, Asda, Sainsburys, Martins, WH Smiths, Hobbycraft plus a number of independent shops and newsagents.
Upcycle: Pillowcase to top tutorial I teased some post a go asking what could I make with a pillowcase, ribbon and some lace? Here is the answer =] A pretty vintage top. I loved the flow this particular pillowcase had and since it was one of the last sets Ken had before we moved together, I didn’t think he’ll miss it hehe (it’s for a single bed and there is another one in case we need it) There are so many possibilities and well pillowcases are easy to find right? I really liked the green and mixed it up with some vintage lace I had hanging around, I used ribbon for the straps and even tho there is a lof of pillowcase dresses and t-shirts out there, I wanted to show my version because I made it so to be very loose-fitting and comfy. To make this top is super easy and you dont need a serger at all (even tho if you have an extra one you can always send it my way! * This tutorial is provided for personal, non-commercial use only.
Bubble Printing Fun!!! - StumbleUpon This weekend we were doing bubble activities galore: playing and printing with bubbles. Cassie enjoyed both. What inspired us to do this was when we were at friend's house and they had Crayola Colored Bubbles. When you play with these bubbles they actually are colors. This was cool, but I will warn you that these colors get all over clothes and pavement/patios. Even though they are washable I would still wear old clothes. First you need some water, tempera paint, and dish soap. We mixed about a 1/2 cup of water, 2 Tablespoons of paint, and a few squirts of dish soap in each container. Then add a straw to each container and make sure you blow into the mixture. Once you have a huge bubble foam on the top of the container you are ready to lay a paper on top to print the bubbles. Here is our best bubble print.... we made lots and lots. I made the bubble prints into cards. Now back to blowing bubbles and trying to catch them. Have FUN Exploring Bubbles What is your favorite bubble activity?
How to Quilt: Scrap Quilts How to Quilt>Scrap Quilts Bonnie Hunter is a quilter who specializes in scrap quilts using fabric from thrift shops or donations from friends' closets. Recently she visited with us for our Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation, and the specific topic was how to choose the garments at a thrift shop that will make great fabric for a quilt. Here is a sampling of her answers: Penny: How do you know whether a particular garment would make a good fabric for a quilt? Bonnie: I look for garments the same way I look for fabric. If it says 100% cotton, then that’s the first thing I’ll look for. The next thing I check is how the fabric feels in my hand. I look for the same kinds of things when I look for articles of clothing to cut up for fabric. Penny: You don’t use polyester? Bonnie: No, I don’t. Men’s shirts, so far, have not incorporated spandex. Penny: How do you estimate how much fabric you’ll be able to get from a particular garment? Bonnie: The size of the garment will give you an idea.
Chalkboard Bubbles Aug 31 Here is another idea we did for the Kirtsy Party at Blogher. The theme was “Voices of the Year” so the whole party was branded with talk bubbles. For the photobooth of course we did chalkboard talk bubbles that people could write in themselves and then get their picture taken. Materials: Black on Black Foam Core $5, Exacto Knife, Chalkboard Contact Paper $7, and Chalk Step One: Separate the backing from the chalk board Contact paper and lay it onto the foam core smoothing out the bubbles. Step Two: Draw the shapes of the talk bubbles onto the Foam Core with chalk. Step Three: Cut them out with an Exacto Knife Step Four: Write something on it, hold it above your head and take a picture! Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
No-Carve Stamps By Jeromina Juan Ever wonder about the possibilities of designing your own stamps without having to carve anything? There is a simple way! You’ll need one ordinary household object – silicone caulking. Yes, the one you use on your bathtub, sinks, and windows! With no carving to do at all, this task cannot be simpler. Materials 1/8″-thick acrylic plexiglass; can be found at hardware storesX-Acto knife Metal ruler Silicone rubber caulking (clear); can be found at hardware storesWater-based paint BrayerNote: You can cut plexiglass to size by scoring a straight line several times using an X-Acto knife and metal ruler, and then placing the plexiglass on a table with the score line over the edge and snapping it in one quick motion. Directions Step 1: Sketch your designs on paper. Step 2: Hold the caulk tube vertical and tap it against a flat surface 8-10 times to remove any air bubbles. Step 3: Let the caulking cure for 24 hours, and then your stamp is ready. About the Author: Related
Making a Mosquito Trap To keep mosquitoes from ruining a picnic or camping trip, it is nice to have an enticing trap to lure them away from you. This guide is about making a mosquito trap. Solutions Read and rate the best solutions below by giving them a "thumbs up". Tip: Making a Mosquito Trap Because mosquitoes are attracted to the CO2 we breathe out, I started looking for ideas that used CO2 as the bait for the mosquito trap. I found a cached link on Google here. Thanks to the students for their hard work on this project. Supplies: 1 2 liter soda bottle a sharp knife black paper tape candy thermometer Take a 2 liter soda bottle. Make a simple sugar syrup. Ingredients: 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 2 cups cool water 1 tsp. active dry yeast Directions: Bring 1 cup of the water to a boil. Dissolve the sugar into the boiling water. Once the sugar is dissolved completely, remove the pan from the heat. Be sure to seal the two parts of the bottle with the tape. By Susan Sanders-Kinzel Tip: Vinegar and Sugar Water For Mosquitoes
How to Make Leaf Skeletons I wanted to share with you a project from one of my readers who shares with us how to make leaf skeletons. I LOVE this! I have several leafs in various forms displayed in my home and knew I needed to make some of her leaf skeletons to add to my decor. I love how a pattern of leaves can enhance the beauty in your home. So I asked Heather if she would mind sharing her project with you. I have spent hours and tried various ways of making these. You need washing soda, not baking soda! Gather your leaves. Washing soda is a strong base so you may want to wear gloves when handling the leaves. You will add 3/4 cup of washing soda and 4 cups of water to your pot of leaves. Keep going, you will need to add more water so your pan doesn’t dry out. When 1.75 hours are up fill a glass baking dish with cool water. I carefully removed them and rinsed with water and added clean water to the pan. If you’re still with me, this is what I ended up with… I have a maple leaf which turned out not so well.
Fun with stripes- Quilting Tutorial Probably many of us like using strip piecing in our quilts. But how about using striped fabrics ? Instead of piecing strips use some striped fabrics... The fabric I used for this tutorial is a heavy cotton canvas from Ikea. I always prewash these fabrics because they shrink. So, what can we do with these fabrics ? ------------------------------------------------- Cut a square then cut it on both diagonals From two squares we can make two blocks like these Using 2 green squares and 2 red squares from half of the triangles we can make these 2 blocks or these ones and using the other half ( see the placement of the white stripes on these triangles) we can make one of these three blocks ( hard to choose just one ! ---------------------------------------------------- The next two methods apply for fabrics with stripes of the same width. From a long strip cut rectangles; the width of a rectangle = the width of a strip +0.5" (for seam allowances) ; offset the rectangles and sew them together. Geta
Crepe Rose Today I came across these super cute Crepe Paper Rose Pomanders made by Shelley Smith from the House of Smiths blog. Shelley’s easy and inexpensive DIY project is perfect for any wedding reception or bridal shower decor. Make sure you head over to Shelley’s blog for more DIY projects and tips. Here are the DIY step-by-step instructions from Shelley: Craft Supplies Needed Styrofoam Ball Forms Crepe Paper Streamers {Color of your choosing} Glue Gun & Lots of Glue Sticks Roll of Tape Measuring Stick 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Here’s another way Shelley displays some of these rose pomanders. {Photos provided by House of Smiths} You Might Also Enjoy
Do-It-Yourself Pinhole Camera (Part 1) What is a pinhole camera? It's a camera with no lens. Pinhole cameras are usually homemade and can be made of almost any box that is dark and hallow. The thing I love about pinhole cameras is that it creates photos similar to a holga (or many other plastic toy cameras). This first section in our D.I.Y. is dedicated to introducing you to pinhole photography and getting inspired for the upcoming project! Here are some inspiring pinhole camera photos: here are two pretty pinhole photos by infaready. [source] [source] [source] [source] [source] Here are some neat handmade cameras: [made from Coke cans! [made from Legos! [made from a mr. potato head! [pretty box camera with woodgrain laminate. source] and here's a photo taken with the above camera! are you excited? more parts to this D.I.Y. coming soon!