Crafting tips and tricks and a easy to make children's crafts and home decor

November '98 thru September '99 Tips are available here!

Crafting Tips from Linda & Stacie

Golf tees make great wooden snowmen noses. Just cut the large end off and glue the remaining part to your snowman.
***************************************************************************************************************************
When you hang flowers to dry, use a rubber band instead of twine because the rubber band will shrink with the flowers as they dry.
***************************************************************************************************************************
When pressing flowers, use flat coffee filters to keep the petals smooth and help them dry.
***************************************************************************************************************************
For those of you who paint with oil and do not like cleaning their paintbrushes with solvents, Murphy's Soap Oil, Baby Oil or light mineral oil can also be used. Then follow up with soap and water.
***************************************************************************************************************************
Keep a notebook by your "favorite" chair to jot down your new project ideas.
When inspiration strikes, you are ready.
***************************************************************************************************************************
If you make gifts from fabric, use leftover pieces to make a matching gift card. Dip the pieces in white glue that has been thinned with a few drops of water. Let dry then press out any wrinkles. Cut out
stiffened motif, then glue to heavy notepaper for cards.
***************************************************************************************************************************
To stain and seal the surface of a wooden bowl or cutting board, use a strong brew of tea and stain the raw wood. Then rub the wood with mineral oil, use in a cloth. Rub until it is well covered and really
worked into the wood. Take a clean dry cloth and rub the excess oil off until you can rub it with your finger and get hardly any oil off.
***************************************************************************************************************************
Use plastic film containers to mix small amounts of paint. The lids are tight and will keep the paint from drying out. Paint a dot on the top so you can se the color at a glance. You have the exact color to finish your project when needed.
***************************************************************************************************************************
Keep a box of baby wipes on your painting table for easy clean up.
***************************************************************************************************************************
Use a plastic see-through hanging shoe bag to store sewing supplies and patterns.
This also works great for office supplies.
***************************************************************************************************************************
Good recycling idea: To store fabric scraps, roll it tightly and insert it in a cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels. On the outside you can write the type of fabric and yardage. This also saves space when
storing.
***************************************************************************************************************************
When working with plastic canvas, keep an emery board handy for filing off nubs and rounding corners after you cut your canvas.
**************************************************************************************************************************
To paint small wooden pieces, such as hearts, without getting paint all over your fingers, stick them on a piece of masking tape then fold both ends in so you have non-sticky places to hold onto.
***************************************************************************************************************************
Try storing your paintbrushes with handles down, in a roll of toilet paper. The bristles are always up and never get out of shape. Also, you can tear off a piece of tissue to wipe off your brushes.
***************************************************************************************************************************
Old plastic ice cube trays make great containers for mixing and holding paints. Simply soak the trays in hot water and the paint will peel right off.
**************************************************************************
Here is a great carryall for sewing, knitting or small art supplies. Stitch the bottom ends of three
plastic sealable freezer bags, in different sizes, to a cloth place mat. You can just roll it up and
take it along anywhere.
************************************************************************
We have found that rubbing alcohol works best for cleaning your paint stained water containers.
Use a cotton swab dipped into the alcohol to get into the corners.
***************************************************************************
Bread Dough Clay - Bread Jewelry
Bread, white, one slice.
White craft glue.
Acrylic paints or food coloring. Choice of colors.

Remove crust from bread.
Tear bread into small pieces and place into a bowl.
Use a craft stick to mix bread pieces with 1 Tablespoon of glue.
Rub hand lotion into your hands.
Shape dough into a ball and knead for five minutes. Dough should
resemble clay.
To color, break off desired amount and place a small amount of paint or
food coloring in center of the piece and knead until the color is
blended.
(Place unused dough in a sealed plastic bag).
Roll the dough into the size and shape of beads you wish.
Push a toothpick or wire, through for the hole and let dry in the sun.
Turn beads occasionally.

--Have a quart mason jar, a short string of lights, and some potpourri? Put the lights inside the jar, fill with your favorite scented potpourri. Add a crocheted doily over the top of the jar (of course, leaving the end of the lights out to plug in). Once the doily is over the top, secure with a ribbon around the "neck" of the jar. Plug it in and you have yourself an attractive item for any place in your home. It also smells wonderful as the heat from the lights spreads the scent throughout your home. (I have been using mine and no problem with fire, but if you are leery, keep an eye on it. -- Ange)

Cherie of Cuddle Bug Baby Products has provided a few tips this month.
Visit her web site at http://www.CuddleBugBaby.com
Babies need blankets and Cuddle Bug Baby Products can provide very best!

--To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

--To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.

--To easily remove burnt-on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop-skillet will be much easier to clean.

--Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces-no more stains.

November

--When starting your garden seedlings indoors, plant the seed in egg shells. Simply crack the shell around the roots and transplant them. The shell decomposes and is a natural fertilizer!

--You can also use egg shells or peanut shells in the bottom of your houseplants to cover the drainage holes. Again, it's a natural fertilizer.

--Use life saver candies to hold candles in the birthday cake! Either the soft or hard ones will work and the kids love them!

--Double stuff oreo cookies are fun to make and eat with the kids. Take a popsickle stick and push it between the cookies in the creme. Dip the whole cookie in melted Hershey kisses. Decorate while cooling on wax paper by making faces with M&M's or sprinkles!

------Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

------Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats in the pan -the marshmallow won't stick to your fingers.

------To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.

------Use a meat baster to "squeeze" your pancake batter onto the hot griddle -perfect shaped pancakes every time.

------When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead -no white mess on the outside of the cake.

------Use Polident to clean silverware!
Fill the sink with warm water, lay the silverware in the water, then drop in 3 poilident tablets.
Let them soak for about an hour, drain the water, now fill the sink with hot, soapy water.
Wash utensils and rinse well with hot water. Dry with a t-towel...you will be amazed, they look like new!
Try this on aluminum pots too!
Thanks to Nancy Fechner for this Great Tip!

------Baking Soda & Window Screens
Use 2 cups of white vinegar & about 4 large tablespoons of ARM & HAMMER BAKING SODA
Clean the aluminum screen doors at home. Be sure you rinse really well with clear water to get all the
baking soda grit off the door. You'll be surprised how shinny the screens become.

Thanks to Nancy Fechner for this Great Tip too!

CHECKS ~ MONEY ORDERS

View Shopping Cart * Check Out Now

Please sign our GUESTBOOK | Read what others are saying!

Questions? -- Email Linda

Pine Hollow Handcrafts

Pine Hollow Handcrafts
A Cameo Designs Creation