Crafters UNITE!

[genghisfawn]

I absolutely LOVE some of the ideas here! Thank you so much for the inspiration!

I got together with a friend yesterday evening and decided to use up some scraps. My vanity corner (consisting of a large mirror, makeup stand and chair by my closet) was missing a bit of razzle dazzle, so I used some leftover upholstery canvas, some strong cotton (quadrupled) thread, a curved needle (inherited among multiple notions from my grandma) and some big red buttons (they're a little crooked... I'm not used to curved needles!) to make this cushion for my chair:



Oh, the stuffing? Plastic grocery bags. I had so many that I just wondered... and it worked! They compacted beautifully and there's just a hint of rustle when I sit down.

There. Completely recycled and jazzing up my bedroom!

[chai~]

http://craftgawker.com/

such an awesome place for inspiration!!!

[Logicaly]

Great, another site for me to be addicted to.

I am leaning more and more towards trying out quilling, some of the things I see people make is beautiful.

[DamonK]

I'm currently working on two blankets. One is driving me batty, but I know once I get this row done, it will become easier.

The other... well it's easy as hell.

That is all.

Oh... and Juney? If'n you figure out dryer sheets, lemme know.

[Truly Scrumptious]

A few weeks ago, I made soap for the first time. I started saving the little end pieces of soap about a year ago, and when I had what I thought was enough, I grated them, added a little water, and packed them in muffin tins. They didn’t hold, so I took them apart, dried them again, and started over. This time I melted them in the microwave. Now, the instructions said to make sure to use a large bowl because the soap would rise, but I really wasn’t prepared for the soap soufflé that rose (and rapidly fell) and made a huge but beautifully scented mess in the oven. I salvaged as much as I could, and ended up being able to make exactly 2 muffin sized bars of soap (kind of anticlimactic after a year of scrap saving, but it’s a learning process, I suppose). They held together perfectly and popped out of the muffin tray a week later, and while they were the strangest looking bars of soap I’d ever seen, I adored them. They were rich, creamy, and smelled heavenly. Not my finest crafting effort, but I’m already back to saving scraps so that I can try it again. I have this vision of making white soap with chunks of coloured soap throughout, sort of a mosaic effect. (It always comes back to mosaics with me.)

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by June

I guess this is kinda crafty.

Yesterday, I made laundry detergent with one of my friends. The recipe can be found >Here<.

We grated the Fels-Naptha in my food processor using the cheese thingy, then put it in a bowl and redid it with the blade so it got powdery, then mixed it with the Laundry Soda and Borax. It smells delightful and I am on my third load with it. It does not suds up at all, and the Fels-Naptha dissolves in cold water, which is what I generally wash in.

For about $8, you can make a ton of laundry soap, and you only use about a tablespoon each time. Because I wasn't sure about using so little for a large load, I used about 1/4 cup.

Next, finding an alternative to dryer sheets, because I am addicted to them, and they have really horrible stuff in them.

We also made deoderant using coconut oil, baking soda, cornstarch and some escentual oil. I am wearing it now to test. We put it in existing Secret containers that we had cleaned out. It rolls up, but is a little bit soft. I will update this later after I have tested it during exercise.

You could try a damp cloth with a few drops of essential oils on it in the dryer. I do this to freshen up a blouse or a pair of slacks....a little like home dry cleaning, lol!

[1QuirkyKiwi]

I’ve just made this Lingerie bag set….this is one of two sets made with the last pieces of the Broderie Anglais fabric. I’ve made another two sets with vintage polka dot fabric….I’ve still to sew the lace on.

These sets are going to a charity Valentine’s Raffle as prizes….

The set consists of:
Bustier style Lingerie bag



Moontime Pad bag



And a Laundry bag



Next up to make is some more body butter and facial moisturiser.

[Medusa]

This is where I confess that last night Jack and I stopped at the Dollar General to get her favorite gum (since she quit dipping and chewing nicotine gum, she now chews a case a week of Mentos spearamint) and discovered that ALL of the Christmas decorations left in the store were on clearance for 10 cents each.

There were ornaments and beaded garlands and boxes and bags and and and.

I spent $7 and got enough crap to dismantle and make my next art project (a giant ode to the blessed virgin Mary) realllly fabulous.

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by Medusa

This is where I confess that last night Jack and I stopped at the Dollar General to get her favorite gum (since she quit dipping and chewing nicotine gum, she now chews a case a week of Mentos spearamint) and discovered that ALL of the Christmas decorations left in the store were on clearance for 10 cents each.

There were ornaments and beaded garlands and boxes and bags and and and.

I spent $7 and got enough crap to dismantle and make my next art project (a giant ode to the blessed virgin Mary) realllly fabulous.

Photos when your project is done; please and thank you!

[MsDemeanor]

Originally Posted by June

I guess this is kinda crafty.

Yesterday, I made laundry detergent with one of my friends. The recipe can be found >Here<.

We grated the Fels-Naptha in my food processor using the cheese thingy, then put it in a bowl and redid it with the blade so it got powdery, then mixed it with the Laundry Soda and Borax. It smells delightful and I am on my third load with it. It does not suds up at all, and the Fels-Naptha dissolves in cold water, which is what I generally wash in.

For about $8, you can make a ton of laundry soap, and you only use about a tablespoon each time. Because I wasn't sure about using so little for a large load, I used about 1/4 cup.

Next, finding an alternative to dryer sheets, because I am addicted to them, and they have really horrible stuff in them.

We also made deoderant using coconut oil, baking soda, cornstarch and some escentual oil. I am wearing it now to test. We put it in existing Secret containers that we had cleaned out. It rolls up, but is a little bit soft. I will update this later after I have tested it during exercise.

I follow a fun blog full of recipes for cleaning supplies, food, and general all around how to make your home better on the cheap. Check the archives for recipes to make laundry soap, dryer sheets, household cleaners, carpet stain remover, etc.

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/

[deedarino]

Hi everyone...I love this thread. Your craftiness is awesome!

I have always been crafty, I love working with glass or mosaics. For the last several years, I have been addicted to soapmaking (which I am hoping to make into a business!) I also make sugar scrubs, candles, masks, lip balm...etc.

Pinterest is my newest favorite thing to waste time to...I am thinking of making pinterest collage pictures.

On another note: The best fabric softener is about a cup of vinegar with a little essential oil added to the rinse cycle.

I haven't tried this one yet but lots of my friends swear by "milk of magnesia" as a great healthy deodorant.

[Stitch]

So I am working on this rather complicated scarf right now, well the boring part of it and I feel like my brain will die if I just keep knitting round and round for what feels like forever.

Anyway.

Everyone is really impressed by what I have knitted.
But I'm not.

Sure I made the pattern, (took a photo from photoshop, took the colour away, threw it on an already made grid and figured it out - not that hard)
And once I figured out how to do intarsia, which is easier than I thought... it felt like knit by numbers. Very slow, very frustrating, but not that hard.

So I feel like I haven't impressed myself with this project, but I enjoy everyone's reactions.

I feel like I figured out how to do that, that I can out do myself.

What does it take for you to impress yourself?

[girl_dee]

Originally Posted by Ink

So I am working on this rather complicated scarf right now, well the boring part of it and I feel like my brain will die if I just keep knitting round and round for what feels like forever.

Anyway.

Everyone is really impressed by what I have knitted.
But I'm not.

Sure I made the pattern, (took a photo from photoshop, took the colour away, threw it on an already made grid and figured it out - not that hard)
And once I figured out how to do intarsia, which is easier than I thought... it felt like knit by numbers. Very slow, very frustrating, but not that hard.

So I feel like I haven't impressed myself with this project, but I enjoy everyone's reactions.

I feel like I figured out how to do that, that I can out do myself.

What does it take for you to impress yourself?

That sounds amazing!

What impresses me on anything that i've done are the pieces i made from what would have been thrown away. i just look back at the finished product and think WOW, all from scraps.

i just think it's pretty cool

[amiyesiam]

Originally Posted by Ink

So I am working on this rather complicated scarf right now, well the boring part of it and I feel like my brain will die if I just keep knitting round and round for what feels like forever.


Anyway.

Everyone is really impressed by what I have knitted.
But I'm not.

Sure I made the pattern, (took a photo from photoshop, took the colour away, threw it on an already made grid and figured it out - not that hard)
And once I figured out how to do intarsia, which is easier than I thought... it felt like knit by numbers. Very slow, very frustrating, but not that hard.

So I feel like I haven't impressed myself with this project, but I enjoy everyone's reactions.

I feel like I figured out how to do that, that I can out do myself.

What does it take for you to impress yourself?

I impressed myself when I figured out how to drop stitches off the needles and reknit and put back on the needles lace knitting and have it be right. (rather than unknitting entire rows to fix something)

Have fun with the scarf!