Craft Tips

I like to sew and have found this to be very helpful plus it is a great way to recycle. I was getting tired of strings being all over the place so I started using empty tissue boxes. I set them beside my machine where I can quickly drop my cut thread in. It works well also when I am hand sewing. I can set it next to me making it very handy. Another thing I find very useful is buying the plastic organizers at the hardware store. The small clear ones designed for screws and such. These work great for buttons, elastic, pins, needles, etc. It is small enough to keep handy next to the sewing machine. Just a couple of ideas that I use around my house. I hope they can help someone else. Tammy Billyard, Florence, AZ

I am a craftaholic and this tip really helps me save money. I love the Victorian look--especially for Xmas and that means using tassels. I ordered a tassel maker and the supplies and effort cost just as much as buying them ready made (although I never pay full retail price for anything!). So I shop a local store that sells trims and such at rock bottom prices. they sell fringe at $.99 a yard--of all sizes and colors. I just buy a few yards and when I need a tassel, I roll up the fringe a few inches at a time, gluing with either hot glue or tacky and voila--I have a beautiful tassel. If I’m attaching to the bottom of a globe ornament, I usually cover with some matching trim (also purchased at my great discount store).

These tassels are gorgeous and you can completely tailor them to your specific needs--I also combine fringes for a multicolor look--no one can believe I didn't buy them--but to me it's an insult when people say "it looks store-bought"--you can't buy the things I create in a store!! Even if you don't publish this hint, please pass on to your subscribers, as it saves so much money! I also insert the wrapped fringe into beads and painted wooden cups (very small ones) to make more ornate tassels--trimmed with buttons, shells, ribbon roses, etc., just let your imagination go with it!!
Paula Finney, Scottsdale, AZ

When you next get ready to do a Cross stitch project and you don't want unsightly knots in your projects do this. Cut a long strand of floss and remove one strand from the six original strands. Take both ends of the floss and thread them through the needle. Then make your first cross stitch in the pattern and bring the needle through the loop at the other end and you have your thread firmly anchored to the pattern with out a knot.
Marie B. Wise, Dayton, TN

I use an old cookie sheet to do a lot of my crafting on. You can rest your glue gun on it, the drips fall on the sheet, the sheet also keeps the gun from falling off. It catches, the glitter, cuttings and also holds the craft nicely in place, especially if it is round, it wont fall off! When I am done, I just load up my crafting stuff, put it on the cookie sheet and its all there for me the next time I use it. Its also great for painting and doing Modge Podge. Just lay a piece of paper or newsprint down and when your done, throw away the paper!
Laurie J. Leblanc West Columbia, Texas

These are towel holder rings. You take a plastic lid from a can of slim fast or powdered baby formula. Cut about a 2 inch hole in the center of the lid. Then you take yarn and crochet a single crochet all the way around to cover the lid, approx. 140 times. Single crochet across top 18 times, turn. Single crochet 16 times across top, turn. Single crochet 14 times, turn. Single crochet 12 times, turn. Single crochet 10 times, turn. Single crochet 8 times, turn. Single crochet 6 times, turn. Next 10 rows Double crochet 4 times across. Then single crochet 5 times between the two middle double crochets. (to form button hole). Sew a button on the back and hang on refrigerator or oven door. Put a towel through the hole of the project. Decorate the other side with whatever you like. I usually put a small (doll style) craft hat with flowers and a ribbon for a bow. Susan Wood, Matthews, NC

When sewing a project that includes a lot of gathering, use clear elastic together instead of the standard basting stitches. If you divide the area you need to gather into quarters or eighths and mark these places, then make the elastic an inch larger than the finished gather is supposed to be. Divide and mark the elastic in the same sections as the material, match these marks and pin. Stretch the elastic to fit the material and sew. When you are finished, the gathering will be done.
Carrie Atkeson, Phoenix, AZ

When you make the base of the fan cut a half circle of corrugated cardboard glue 11 forks evenly spaced around put the lace on however you want then take a thin piece of cardboard over the already glued cardboard decorate with flowers and your finished.
Arleen Estle, Jay, ME

I use those acid free top loading plastic pages, which are available in your favorite stores, to keep track of those loose leaflets and directions that I have cut from magazines for various craft projects. They are all neatly tucked away into notebooks, where they stay neat and clean until I use them. What really makes it nice, especially if it is counted cross stitch or crochet directions is that the whole page can be removed and my patterns are protected. To keep track of where this pattern is, I have what I call my where is it page. It is simply a plastic page with a plain piece of paper in it, on which I have written where the project sheet is or if someone has borrow edit, who and where it is and the date on it. You can also make an index for your notebook if you wish. Hope this helps someone with their loose leaflets and articles they want to.
Ruth Arleen Estle, Richmond Dale, OH

When knitting if you need to put down your work and you don't have a point protector handy, try using one of those erasers that fits over the end of your pencil. It's soft, so even if your needle doesn't fit snugly into the opening, you can jam it in. This is also useful when you are crocheting, especially with slippery yarn. To use up yarn scraps: Start a yarn ball! Just tie the scraps together. As long as it doesn't get too big , you can stash it in your bag. Just make sure you don't start using it for a project! When knitting or crocheting: To help keep yarn tension even, wear a smooth gold ring on your ring finger and thread the yarn through it. This is especially helpful to those with arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome. To remove wrinkles from yarn that has been ripped out: Wind the yarn around a large box, like a suit box. Tie it in four places with contrasting color yarn and remove the hank from the box. In the microwave, boil a bowl of water, turn off the microwave, and put the hank beside the bowl. Leave it in the microwave for about 20 minutes. Then lie the hank flat on a towel and let it dry completely. Wind it loosely into a ball. When knitting: Try putting your ball of yarn into a Ziplock bag, almost completely closed except for where the yarn comes out. This prevents tangles and knots. When using carpenter's glue: Always use a toothpick or a brush to apply it. It gives you a more professional look, and it keeps the glue from clumping in big hard lumps around where you glued it. Sorry these are almost all knitting or crocheting, but that's what I do!
Kelsey Innis, San Francisco, CA

First of all, let me say how much I enjoy my Free Stuff Updates...they are great and take me just where I want to go!! My craft tip is for those who do Tole and Decorative Painting....when you are done painting and want to get that great edge back on your brush...and keep it that way until the next time you use it...try this....clean the brush(I use acrylic, so therefore I clean the brushes with water) and squeeze the bristles between thumb and forefinger to get rid of the excess moisture. Then, take an envelope (unused) and run the damp brush over the glue area of the envelope and then pinch the bristles into shape and store them till next time...the glue acts as a sizing and keeps the bristles in check. You can usually buy odd-sized and old unused envelopes from Hallmark stores and stationary stores.
Pati McBride, Scottsdale, AZ

I have purchased many commercial paint brush cleaners and have found a product that works quicker & better for me than any of the ones made specifically for brush cleaning. It's 409 cleaner. It can be found in the cleaning & laundry supply section of any grocery store. I spray it on my brushes and work it through as any other cleaner - then rinse well and stroke your brush over a bar of Ivory soap to hold it's shape. (Be sure to rinse your brush before using to remove the Ivory soap.)When traveling with your paint brushes, use a wooden dowel that's longer than any of your brushes to rubber band your brushes onto. This way you they can travel either horizontally or vertically without damaging the bristles.
Sondra Hanson, Missoula, MT