How To: Create a Paper Cut Map of Your Favorite City Just Crafty Enough I have a thing for maps, especially city maps. I love the way that admiring a map instantly reminds you of the myriad of reasons you love the city you live in. It can also quickly take you back to an incredible journey you took long ago, or catapult you forward in a longing reverie of a far-away place yet to be visited. Like most things, I think I'll enjoy this paper cut map even more because I'll have made it myself, so I plan to give this project a try. This bright orange DIY map of Amsterdam from Just Crafty Enough has inspired me and the steps look simple enough: 1) Find a detailed (but not too detailed) map of your city of choice. 2) Use a thin black marker and a ruler to emphasize the lines that you are going to cut out. 3) Scan the map (with your markings) onto your computer and flip the image (so that the correct side will be outwardly facing when you mount it.) 4) Grab your exacto knife and cut away! 5) Spray adhesive onto your freshly-cut map and mount it.
Sew a Skirt in One Hour In this week’s How-Tuesday post, you’ll learn how to stitch your very own custom skirt and update your wardrobe in a flash! Brett Bara, author of Sewing in a Straight Line, will guide you through the process. When you see how easy it is to sew your own quick and comfy skirt, you won’t ever want to purchase this wardrobe basic off the rack again. With just one yard of fabric and a mere sixty minutes, you can whip up a fantastic little number that looks like a million bucks. You can easily adapt this pattern to make a variety of different looks — try a narrower elastic waist, a longer length, or even less gathering to suit your own personal style. Materials You’ll Need:- Approximately 1 yard (91cm) medium-weight fabric* - 1 3/4″ (4.5cm) wide elastic (the length of your waist circumference) - One large safety pin - Scissors or rotary cutter - Thread - Iron - Sewing Machine *Note: This garment is sized to fit your measurements, so the exact amount of fabric needed will vary. Directions: 1. 2.
Low-cost Spherical Speaker Array The goal of this project was to be as cheap as possible. You'll want eight (8) loudspeakers. I would have used these speakers: $5.50 speaker but All Electronics was out of them. $7.50 speaker The important considerations were an impedance of 8 ohms (which is normal for home stereo speakers) and good frequency range. While at All Electronics, get some Speaker Terminals. I used four (4) "quad" terminals, but the four-pair ones look good. (NB: If all electronics doesn't have these anymore. The other major elements in this project are the bowls. Reda Bowls Insanely cheap. UPDATE: These bowls are no longer sold by IKEA. Finally, the miscellaneous hardware. 8 speakers x 4 mounting holes = 32. Also: - weather stripping - speaker wire ( I had some 18 gauge stuff lying around the house, the project only needs a few feet.) - heat shrink tubing
I ♥ mathematics {platonic solids garland} Oooh….it’s been I while since I last posted. We had a smashing Christmas and new year. Hope you all did too! My computer died just before Christmas and it’s taken my hubby and I a while to bring it back to life…which is why it’s been a bit quiet. I lost 3 months worth of work (new years resolution no.33 = backup files more regularly!). Now seems like a good time to thank all you lovely lot for visiting minieco over the last couple of years. In between posts I regulary use pinterest so do pop over and check it out if you haven’t already. There seems to be a bit of a Polyhedra craze going on at the moment. I have put together some templates for a ‘platonic solids‘ garland. Simply chop, score and glue together. Don’t forget to thread your cotton in whilst glueing the pieces together….I forgot! I’ll try to get a better photo of it in situ…our conservatory is really bright and sunny but the rest of the house is pretty dark (especially in this miserable weather).
Make Your Own Knitting Nancy There are all sorts of gadgets to create your own knitted chains or I-cords using a knitting mushroom, knitting tower, knitting spool/cork, knitting Nancy (or a knitting Ned) and so on that it makes your head spin! For my first grader’s beginning handcraft unit we began with braiding, knot-tying and finger knitting and worked our way towards using a Knitting Nancy. I realized the day before the lesson that I had neglected to purchase a Knitting Nancy ahead of time and it would be a week or longer before we would have one in our possession. A quick Google search brought up an easy one made from a toilet paper roll and four popsicle sticks or pencils. I was thrilled to stumble upon this version of the Knitting Nancy for many reasons: :: It used resources we have readily available in our house. :: It is easy to construct. :: It is durable and long lasting. Sweet! Materials A wooden spool (any size will do though I found the smaller ones split when nailed in to) A hammer A large needle
Keyboard Cat Have you looked at your desk latley and said.... this clearly doesn't accuratley reflect my sheer nerddom? Well, let your desk reach new nerd heights. Presenting... the unholy fusion of longcat and keyboard cat, with a little extra nerd thrown in for good measure. And it keeps your wrists comfy! Hand embroidered and made out of a tea towel. Longkeyboardcat is loooooooooonnnnggg. This guy was actually a birthday present for my geeky husband, so he's sitting on his desk now. Keyboard cat is pretty easy to make. Here's the basic idea of him. Kitteh embroidereh! Cut out his head, make him some dorky ears, and stitch that kitty together. Stitch and turn that kitty some legs and a little tail, and the fill them up with just a little bit of rice each. Give that kitty some legs! Turn that kitty right side out, fill him nice and plump with rice, and stitch that edge shut. Congratulations.
Inkling: paper bird centerpiece It was time to get serious about a spring table centerpiece and after much thought or at least five minutes of thought - I decided I needed some blue birds. To make these little paper birds, you will need: Paper to form the bird (I used kraft paper) Masking tape Pretty paper to cover the birds (I used blue rice paper) Glue Start by forming a shape of a bird with the kraft paper. Cut strips of your pretty paper and glue to your bird shape leaving the beak area uncovered. Use your birds to add a touch of spring to your craft projects or home décor. I have a feeling I’ll be making more of these little birds and adapting them for all of the seasons. This project is entered in the CSI Easter Challenge …………………………………………………………………… This project is linked at the following: And other link parties that I participate can be found here.
Make a Hanging Notepad This Friday, April 22, marks the 41st Earth Day. To help us celebrate, Eleanor Williams, program coordinator of SCRAP (a.k.a the School & Community Reuse Action Project) has created a How-Tuesday project centered around repurposing discarded bits and bops into a handy notepad — perfect for writing grocery lists, to-do lists, memos, and notes of all kinds. SCRAP is a nonprofit organization located in Portland, Oregon that inspires creative reuse and environmentally sustainable behavior by providing affordable materials and educational programs to the community. We accept donations of gently used art and craft materials. We then offer these materials to the public in our creative reuse retail store. With an amazingly diverse array of materials coming into SCRAP every day, our staff and volunteers are always coming up with new ways to utilize old stuff. Supplies you’ll need: Directions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Recycling Projects | More How-Tuesday Posts
Modular Cat Ladder (or shelves) My cats are bored. If you're honest with yourself, yours probably are, too--let's face it, the average urban dwelling doesn't offer much in the way of excitement for felines genetically predispositioned to hunting in the jungle. So, in order to give them some exploration options (and because I thought it would be adorable), I decided to give them access to the top of my entertainment center from the back of one of my couches via a series of shelves spaced on the wall at with cat-navigatable spacing, aka a Cat Ladder. (couch on the left, entertainment center on the right) My requirements for this cat ladder were: 1. Some internetting turned up some interesting homebrew results using Ikea components, so I decided to go to Ikea and see what I could see that matched up with my requirements. Ikea Materials list: Optional mounting supplies: Stud Finder/Level/Drill with screw attachement Directions: 1. 3. 4. 5. 5. 7. 8. 9. Install in the location of your choice by whatever method you want.
A Rose is a Rose? Here's a new one! When is a rose not a rose? When it is picnic spoons. Really! These are fun and amazing. Materials: heavy duty plastic spoons pin back (optional) Goop glue (optional) Tools: candle ceramic tile (optional) garden clippers pliers Hold a plastic spoon about an inch above a lighted candle; bowl facing down. Place them together and melt the handles just under the buds. When the handles melt, pull them off of the rose bud and push the bud onto a ceramic tile to flatten the melted area. Melt the rest of the spoons but this time heat the underside of the bowls. Snip off the handles with garden clippers. Hold the tip of the petal with the pliers and heat the place on the spoon where the handle was until it begins to melt. Here you have a glossy, porcelain-looking rose. These spoons came from Wal-Mart (next to the paper towels). Hot glue silk rose petals to the base of the rose if you wish. There is a slight stinky melted plastic smell so you may want to open a window.
Embroidered Cork Jewelry Pop open a bottle of wine and have a jewelry party with us! Macedonia-based artist Maya Kuzman, a.k.a sewella, shows us how to make textural jewelry with cork and embroidery floss in this week’s How-Tuesday post. You will never look at a wine cork the same way. I’m incurably in love with crafts. To mark the advent of spring and show awareness of our beloved Earth, I have prepared a cute recycling project consisting of cork embroidered discs. Materials Needed: Cork Embroidery thread Embroidery needle Thimble Scissors Directions: 1. As you can see, they are all different. The outer surface of the cork does not reveal the inside, so cut a thin slice to see if it is the type you need. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. back front 7. 8. Below are some of the pieces I have made. Thank you to Maya Kuzman for sharing this project with us. More Things to Make | Jewelry on Etsy
Water Balloon Luminaries A fun and easy project with a beautiful payoff. Learn how to make these Balloon Luminaries. You will need: High-Melt Paraffin Wax (IGI 1260)Party BalloonsDouble BoilerCookie Sheet Instructions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Here is an example of these luminaries when using dye. it's overflowing: Overflowing with Creativity #10 Overflowing with Creativity Crafts & Snacks Features 10 Candy Jar Etching ~ Crafty, Scrappy, Happy Pretty Cake Stand Tutorial ~ Uncommon Pinwheel Wreath ~ Loopy Loop Creations Hometown Canvas Art ~ Superfluous Toddler Boot Tutorial ~ Mommy to a Little Lady{bug} Almond Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting ~ Dwell on Joy Baby Shower Wreath ~ Jaihart Birthday Mantel ~ 52 Mantels Airplane Birthday Party ~ Southern Lovely Homemade Potato Chips ~ Life’s Jewelry Box Subscribe, Learn More, or connect with Aimee on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. ItsOverflowing.com is an amazon affiliate, but this does not affect the linked product's purchase price one bit. Posted By Aimee at 4 Comments Tagged With: featured crafts & decor, featured recipes Comments Aimee - ItsOverflowing.com says: 02/29/12 at You’re so welcome! Speak Your Mind My Latest in Your Inbox Return to top of page Copyright © 2016 Designer Blogs· Built on the Genesis Framework
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. You can find more great projects from Heather at her blog The Other White House. 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. 37.1Kstumbleupon