Hey Pin head!

Well, we're back from Montana. And I must say as much as I enjoyed it, I'm very glad to be home. I can work on my blog, and make earrings and...
figure out new ways to make new things from old stuff!

I got back into my studio and started sewing some great purse size/open up to be big bags.  (see my website for an example: http://www.arttowearbydee.etsy.com/ And as I was picking out pins and needles from my pin cushion, it dawned on me that I had today's great project!

This pin cushion is 29 years old, so it may look a bit shabby. It has gotten a lot of use but is still going strong. When my girls were babies (being twins) I used a whole lot of baby wipes. And it was a shame to throw away the sturdy plastic containers. And so I used them for everything from storing their small toys, jewelry, puzzle pieces to...

wet ones/ pin cushion

You will need:

~an empty cyclindrical wet wipes container

~fabric

~piece of foam

~glue (glue gun, spray glue, or our good old 'strong glue' like E6000)
~optional trim: lace, ribbon

Take a piece of paper and fold around the container, this will be the pattern to go around it, leaving an extra inch for overlap.
Measure from the bottom to the where the lid fastens. Cut your paper pattern accordingly so this will be your height.
Put this paper pattern onto your fabric and cut leaving a 1/2 inch border all around. You will be folding this excess under so you have a nice finished edge.

Now take another paper and put under the lid and trace around it. This will be your pattern for the top. You will place this on your fabric and cut around it leaving a 2" border all around. Because this has to cover the top and hang over the edges also.

Use the same pattern to cut your piece of foam. You can get this from a packing box, that perhaps some electronic equipment came in, or from a fabric store. I always seem to have this stuff. Not sure where I snagged it, but I save everything.

Anyway... now you will iron the edges of the main fabric under, so it fits exactly around the container, but no frayed edges are showing. Adjust the ironed edge accordingly. You should have an inch extra to wrap around, so just iron a nice edge on one side. The frayed edge will be underneath.

You don't have to iron the edge of the top circle, if you are using a piece of lace to cover it. If not, iron it under about 1/4" and use your glue to fasten it down. If you can sew, sew the edge under. You can also sew the edges of the main container fabric also instead of gluing. And since you are using this for a pin cushion, I'm assuming you are someone who sews.

Take the glue and spread it around the container and press the fabric onto this. Remembering to start with the frayed edge and wrapping over it with the finished edge.  Use rubber bands or masking tape to hold it securely til dry.

Put glue on the lid and press down the foam. Put glue on the foam and edges of lid and press your fabric circle down on this. If you are using lace add some glue to the lace and press onto the edge of the lid. This should overlap and hang down over the edge of the fabric to cover the raw edge.

I store lots of sewing goodies inside the container, so it does double duty while taking up a small space on your table.

TIP OF THE DAY:
Summer time = swimming. And if you get swimmer's ear (water trapped in the ear canal) from swimming or even in the shower... here's a household solution. Take a cotton ball, and soak it with rubbing alcohol. Drip 4-5 drops into the ear and keep your head tilted so it can dry it out for a couple of minutes.
(If you look at the ingredients of a purchased bottle of Swim-Ear you'll see 95%Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). This is a drying agent.
As always, keep out of eyes.

That's all for today!
Dee

Play your Cards right!

I love making new things from old stuff!

Greeting cards are one of my very favorite things to recycle. There are such beautiful designs, funny or cute or quirky, it's a shame to throw them away after the big day.

So start saving those Christmas cards and greeting cards that you receive. I will have loads of things to do with them.

This little gift box is perfect for gift cards, jewelry, cash, etc. Add a ribbon around it, some tissue paper inside, and you've got an already decorated box.

Today's project is:

Pillow gift box

you need:

~ a used greeting card (the larger, the better)

~ scissors

~ exacto knife

~double stick tape or Elmer's glue or Tacky glue

Step one is to make flaps on the 'open' edge of the card.

Keep it folded, crease a fold about 1/2" wide through both sides. Crease the fold with a popsicle stick, edge of scissors or your fingernail. Then open up the card and fold both flaps outward.

Next, you will cut the top and bottom of the card in an arc. Cut right off the edges, through the folded flaps.

Then open the card, design side facing up. You'll take the exacto knife, and gently score under the cut edges mirroring the arc. (not on the flaps)

See dotted lines in the picture below.

(These score lines aid in folding the top and bottom of the gift box closed.)

Now take the double sided tape and put on one of the flaps. Fold the flaps inward and close the card. Press up and down to seal securely.

OR glue one flap and close the box, and hold til dry. (You can use clothes pins or paper clips to keep it tightly together as it dries.)

Now you gently ease the curved tops and bottoms down to close the box. (See picture at the top of this blog) It puffs up a bit, therefore the name "pillow box".

It may seem a bit complicated at first, but if you do a bunch, you'll be cranking these out in no time. I always have some handy for special occasions (and to put my recycled aluminum can earrings in).

And remember, if you mess up, throw it away. It's not brain surgery, no one will die if you don't do it the right way. That's the beauty of recycling, you are giving something a second chance where most people wouldn't. So no guilt.

Keep trying and with every attempt you'll get better and better.

tip of the day:

I don't know about you, but I get WAY too many catalogs in the mail. Instead of throwing them away, here are a couple of ideas.

1. use them for a 'gluing station'. If you use a glue stick for your projects, go ahead and smear off the paper onto an open catalog page. If you have more to do, just turn the page and you'll have a fresh surface to get sticky.

2. If you have kids in the house, give them a 'treasure hunt' through the catalog.

ie. Give them a list to find, such as a 'blue' thing, a 'round' thing, a 'dog', etc. They can rip out the page when they find it until they collect all the treasures that you have selected. Then they get a treat.

I have loads more, but that's all for now.

Dee

That Caps it!

I love making new things from old stuff

Right now, Tom and I are in Helena, Montana. We attended a great wedding and the following week was an awesome family reunion.
Of course there was lots of food, and fun, and beverages being consumed. And where's there's bottles, there's bottle caps! And when I see a bunch of cool designs, I get ideas.

Today's project is:
Bottle Cap Magnets

you need:
~ bottle caps
~ pliers
~ strong glue (E6000, or Amazing Goop or Gorilla Glue)
~ magnets (round ones preferably)
~ hammer
~ cardboard (2 small pieces)

As you see in the above picture, you start with prying the edges open a bit with your pliers. (that's the second row of caps) Work your way around the cap a little bit at a time. You don't have to stretch it out fully, just enough so when you hit it, it will flatten outward.

Then you take your hammer, the cardboard and the bottle cap. Sandwich the cap, "good side" up,  between the two cardboard pieces and on a hard surface (sidewalk or driveway) and hit it gently all around to flatten it out. Then turn the cap over, and repeat hitting it, so that it flattens out evenly. (see picture above, last row)
The cardboard protects the cap, otherwise the hammer will give it a worn out, scratched up look.

Then squeeze a blob of glue on the magnet and press onto the 'wrong' side of the bottle cap. Wait overnight to let it cure fully. The next day, you'll have a nice assortment of magnets. Great gift for friends with favorite drinks.  Bring a six pack along with the magnets, and you'll be the Best Guest!

tip of the day:
Since we're talking about magnets... do you ever get advertisements that have a magnet on the back? Sometimes different events advertise this way, realtors give you a magnetic mini- calendars, companies have their business cards on a magnetic backing.
Well, don't throw it away, you can recycle the magnet.
Take one of your own photographs, place the magnetic card on it, trace around it, cut it out and glue onto the 'non-magnetic' side. And voila ~ you now have a cool personalized magnet instead of a pesty advertisement.

That's it for now

Dee

Easy as Pie!

I love making new things outta old stuff!

July is over, and August is here. Where is the time going? We have weddings, reunions, graduations, housewarmings, and it's always nice to bring a handmade gift. This one is super fast and super easy, and not only useful, but recycled!

PROJECT OF THE DAY:

Pie Plate

you need:

~ a plate

~ an old style champagne glass

~ glue: E6000 or Amazing Goop

You can find fun and funky plates at the local thrift shop, garage sales, dollar store or hidden in the back of your cabinet.

The reason you want to use an old fashioned champagne glass for the base, is because it's squat, with a wide bowl. This makes it more stable. You can usually find these at the same place as the plates.

If you can't find a glass, you can use a ramekin, or custard dish.

Turn the plate upside down, find the center. Put a lot of glue on the bottom of the champagne glass and press it onto the plate. Hold for a few seconds, then turn it over and put some books or heavy object on the plate to weigh it down overnight.

In the morning you'll find a cute and functional gift that you can say "I made it myself"! Bring a cake or pie to serve on it, and you'll be the 'sweet' hit of the event.

tip of the day:

I love summer, but it brings bugs. I found that the main ingredient in most 'sting sticks' is ammonia. I am allergic to deer fly bites. But when I rub ammonia on immediately after a bite... no pain, no swelling.

This works for mosquito bites also. If you get to the bite right away, it really relieves the itching. I carry a cotton ball soaked in ammonia in an empty film canister wherever I go during the summer. This has come in handy for many friends and neighbors (and me) to help relieve bites and stings. *make sure to keep it away from eyes!

That's all for now

Dee