Crafts on a shoestring
74Scraps Can Be Used For Many Projects
Lately I've been thinking a lot about DIY crafts (Do it yourself) and crafts on a budget. Partly because it helps save our resources so we don't bleed the planet dry, and partly because if you've been doing crafts for over forty years like I have, you end up with all kinds of scraps and bits and pieces left over that are too good to toss but cost money and space and time to store and organize.
One of my favorite sites for DIY crafts is http://www.threadbanger.com. I've already done several of the projects from that site.
Pick any craft and odds are good you'll find many sites on line with free instructions, illustrations and videos.
I particularly enjoy making quilts out of leftover bits from sewing clothing, items made from worn out denim jeans, and reusing old t-shirts. There is no reason any of these need to go to the landfill.
Even if you have none of your own scraps, if you put the word out, things will come to you. If you know people who sew put a bug in their ear that you can use any scrap no matter how small. If you knit or crochet, take it out to the park or lunchroom with you. You'd be surprised how many people have bits of yarn from aunt so-and-so hidden away in their closet that they really want to give to someone who will do it justice.
As far as t-shirts go, at least in the USA, every time you enter a run, or work at a festival, or have a company picnic, you seem to be given a t-shirt. You can use t-shirts cut into a long spiral strips to make t-shirt yarn or you can cut the front and back off to make a blanket or a pillow or many other items. There is a whole new wave of books out now on just how to do that.
Right now I am making a postage stamp quilt out of bits and bobs of fabric. Each square is just 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" so I can use pretty small scraps for it. Just like our foremothers did, these quilts were designed to make the most of worn family clothing to make blankets to stave off the freezing winters. Even in a small family, you can probably find enough discarded clothing to make at least one quilt.
I also enjoy making small fabric postcards and brooches (pins). Those take the tiniest snippets of fabric, lace, buttons, charms and ephemera. It's a good way to use up leftover beads & trim after your main project is finished.
Don't be afraid to trade. If you have piles of leftover yarn trade it with someone that has piles of leftover fabric. I know http://www.etsy.comhas a category for supplies where you can post your leftover craft items & someone else can snap them up for whatever price you put on them. I'm sure other sites do that as well. I've seen people devote a page on their website to items they have to trade and 'destash' from their personal stash.
These projects are a lot of fun and give you a warm feeling inside. It's a great way to teach your children about thrift and creativity. And you'll save money because you will be using things you already paid for years ago instead of buying new.
Postage Stamp Quilt
Make a Collage
100 Things to Make With Bits & Pieces
T-shirt yarn:
1. bathroom rug
2. throw pillow
3. wall hanging
4. comforter
5. picnic table tablecloth
6. body pillow
7. sewing machine dust cover
8. replacement for canopy cover
9. picnic blanket
10 retro skirt
Old t-shirt fronts and backs
11. picnic blanket
12. headbands
13. backpack
14. laundry bag
15. halter top
16. paint smock
17. garden 'bras' to support fruits and veggies
18. shop rags
19. cat toy
20. dust mitts
Worn denim
21. quilts
22. bellbottoms
23. pants converted into skirts
24. hat
25. table runners
26. hot pads
27. place mats
28. pins and necklaces
29. camera case
30. guitar case
Fabric Scraps
31. postage stamp or string quilts
32. fabric postcards
33. pins
34. earrings
35. house slippers
36. potholders
37. hats
38. aprons
39. skirts
40. ties
Found Objects
41. collages
42. decoupage
43. papier mache'
44. jewelry
45. greeting cards
46. journals
47. shadow boxes
48. time capsules
49. found art
50. puppets
Scrap Wood
51. atlatls
52. birdhouse
53. folk art
54. dollhouse
55. dollhouse furniture
56. whirly gigs
57. whittled animals
58. walking sticks
59. jacob's ladder
60. change dish
61. bowls
62. spoons
Out of Gourd scraps
63. earrings
64. marionettes
65. play armour
66. mask
67. doll
68. wind chimes
69. planter
70. nick-nack dish
Mismatched Socks
71. doll clothes
72. beanie (skully)
73. sock monsters
74. sock monkeys
75. catnip mousies
76. fingerless gloves (mitts)
77. draft stoppers
78. sleeves to protect jewelry while traveling
79. tied to your belt for a quickie 'purse'
80. to hold your juggling balls or any small object you don't want to lose in a giant bag.
81. dog tug of war toy...stuff with rags and knot the end
Leftover Paper
82. Blender paper
83. origami
84. greeting cards
85. paper flowers
86. rolled up newspapers can be used to make furniture
87. paper airplanes
88. shredded paper can be used as packing material
89. confetti eggs
90. papier mache masks
91. love letters
92. gift wrap
93. party hats
94. party favors
95. garlands and leis
96. use old phonebooks for pressing flowers
97. compost shredded paper
98. paper dolls
99. kirigami
100. crowns
If you don't know any of these terms, you can research them using your favorite search engine or the public library. This list is by no means exhaustive, but a jumping off point on a new craft adventure.
Make Your Own Cards With Pen and Ink
Tatting
Aids Quilt
Tie Dye a T-shirt
My Craft-a-day blog
- Retail Therapy
My daughter and I practiced some retail therapy yesterday by going to Joann's and Art Supply Warehouse. We also drove to Pearl in Huntington Beach only to find a vacant building. And another one bites the dust. Thank you economy. At Joann's they were having another 10 for $10 Simplicity pattern sale and I finally got the archery costume pattern I've been trying to get since before Halloween. I also got some patterns for pillows and home dec items. And another apron pattern or two. Sadly and a commentary on our times, Joann's now has their beads under lock and key. They installed glass cases for almost all the beads and now you have to wait for an employee to come and unlock them as they stand there and wait for you to decide. Unfortunately, but a sign of the times that theft is way up. Beads are just too easy to shop lift for those with sticky fingers. But how embarassing would it be to get arrested for a handful of baubles? At Art Supply Warehouse I finally got some water soluble wax crayons for mixed media. I've really admired Willowing's work with wax crayons. Those cost me dearly, a set of 24 was about $30.00. But supplies like that last for years if you take care of them. I already have water color pencils but being a fine pointed tool it takes too long to cover a big area, so the water soluble crayons will be a great help when I need to cover a lot of space fast. If you have no idea what I'm talking about I'll make a video soon. I also got 2 square canvases and some more gesso. I feel like I'll go mad if I don't start painting again. Its so hard justifying buying art supplies when I'm making no sales, so please buy something so I can stop feeling guilty.
- Little Girl's Room
I'm getting ready to have my daughter visit. Which means I have to hide the things I'm making for her for Christmas. HAHA. I picked up some root beer colored beads last night at Michael's. I suppose it's a sign of the times that now they have a combo lock on their bathroom and their employee's lounge. Those didn't exist when I worked there. Very inconvenient when you have to use the restroom. And they no longer just tell you the password. You have to wait for them to page someone to come to the door and unlock it for you. Kind of like being in second grade eh? I'm surprised they don't come in the stall to watch you. At any rate, I got my beads, and got to work on my beaded collar for about an hour before bedtime. I think I have enough beads in the right colors now to finish it. It's getting pretty heavy, but I actually like the way the weight of a beaded garment will hug your body. I met two knitters at the Nanowrimo meeting yesterday. They just learned so I'm looking forward to seeing them again so I can teach them to knit a hat to go with their scarves. One of them told me about a site called 'Write or Die". If you have trouble writing blog posts in a timely fashion you might want to check it out. I tried it last night but I was so tired, I'll have to try it again. You set it for how many words you want to write and in what length of time, and then the timer keeps you on track. Sometimes I think my blog entries are a little on the slim side so I will definitely try it. Otherwise I tend to daydream instead of write.
- My Life in a Vlog
I've decided to make a vlog about what I've been up to lately and as soon as it uploads to youtube I'll share it here. It is me talking about Nanowrimo and Halloween 2009. And it highlights some of the projects I'm working on right now. Sometimes I forget I can make videos and weeks go by without me making one. I make them with my Canon Power Shot and Windows Movie Maker. I'm working on 2 aprons. I'm also making a knitted rug. And a beaded collar. And writing 1,667 words a day for the National Novel Writer's Month. It sounds like a lot but I still have time to blog and watch too much TV and sit around daydreaming.
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Comments
MOONMAIDEN *gasp* You're BAAAAAAAAAAACK! *slides on socks, crashes into the wall* Hey - great hub. I am comin' over to do quilting withya. I'll bring my scraps. I'll start walkin', so I won't be there for about...oh, 6 months! That should give ya time to 'prep'!
Great ideas Moonmaiden! I love the quilt... Bet it is soft!
Creativit: Thanks for your support.
teeray:
Laughs, Teeray you are a total crack-up. If you knit while you walk you'll have scarves for everyone by the time you walk to CA. Thanks for the warm greetings.
Cindy thanks. You slid that comment in while I was editing.
Ummm I don't knit, Moonmaiden, but you can show me how to knit once I get there! I can spell 'k-n-i-t' and p-e-a-r-l tho' and I know that you're supposed to have the TV or radio on when you're knitting 'cos I watched my gram do that a lot! I'll carry a radio in my backpack just in case your TV goes 'on the fritz' on my way over heh. So I think I am on the right track and could learn to knit pretty quickly, eh?
Hah!
I'm sure you could do anything you set your mind to, and it's PURL. Laughs. I may have to write another hub after getting all these warm fuzzies.
Moonmaiden, I did the T-shirt quilt about 30 years ago. This is a great way to do concert T-shirts if you wear them out. Unfortunately for me, my quilt was lost in a house fire. I am with you on recycling items into our crafts, Your hub provides a lot of good suggestions. Thank you for sharing your crafty experience. C.S.
Hi C.S.
Thanks for sharing your personal story with us.
I particularly like the t-shirt pillow ideas. Those are pretty cool - got more pics of some of those? Okay I got it - P-U-R-L lol
Actually the pillow is made from a sweatshirt. Cut a rectangle out of cardboard in the largest size that will fit on the front of your sweatshirt, and cut the front and the back at the same time. Sew the seams leaving a 5" gap and turn right side out and stuff with filling. Hand stitch opening shut with a blind stitch or an overcast stitch.
Since I wanted to put my juggling balls inside mine, I fastened it with buttons instead and used the six juggling balls as the filling. Or you can fill it up at the park with a sweater or some scarves. That way you can use it on a train or bus and then wear the sweater when you get out in the cold again.
Great ideas! I get blocked occassionally on new ideas. Thanks for yours. I've made the t-shirt quilts for my niece's and nephew's graduations.
Creativita says:
17 months ago
Good job, moonmaiden...so many things to make, so little time. -Helen