Hi All!

I know that we have a number of artsy-crafty people on this site. What are some of the things that you like to make, please?

Crafts can be made of so many different types of material - paper, wood, glass, ceramics, plaster, objects of nature, string, metal, cloth, rubber, leather and other types of fabrics as well as other types of material and things too. They can be placed on tables and other horizontal surfaces, hung on walls, used as yard and porch decorations, tree decorations, door decorations, attached to clothing, possibly used as clothing of some sort, used in the hair of a person or adorning a pet in some way - just about anything goes with what to make and how to make crafts and where they might be placed...

I can think of the primary Western World holidays when someone might want to make a craft of some sort - Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc. What about for some Eastern World holidays? Perhaps for special events that might only take place once in a person's life like graduations, retirements, etc. Let's not forget birthdays!

Perhaps you like to make crafts in general to give as gifts to loved ones, friends, co-workers, etc. with no special occasion being associated with making the craft? Perhaps you might make a craft just simply out of friendship with someone or for you to pass the time, or even to make to be used as a keepsake someday for your children.

Any successes with making crafts in order to make a profit on a regular or temporary basis?

Posting what materials to use and how to make the crafts, and of course, images, would also be great!

Please share what crafts you like to make for various reasons!

Thanks!

Hi,
For Christmas, I like to paint on clear, round, glass ornaments. I personalize them and paint something that describes an experience they had that year. I add a decorative bow. I also put the year on it. People love them. I have a few friends that have a collection of them. :D

Something I just started... I found these mini picnic baskets (about 10 inches long) and I paint and decorate them with different themes. I découpage retro and pop art pictures and embellish with fun miniatures. I add "cartoon speech bubbles" with funny phrases and quotes. My friends use them as purses.
L:)L

Hi, summer7!

Do you have any images of what you've done that you would be willing to post here?

I'd also like to know what the kind of paint is that you use on the glass ornaments, please?

Thanks!

Hi Summer,
Love your idea of basket decoration.

Look forward to seeing some pics.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Clough

Hi, summer7!

Do you have any images of what you've done that you would be willing to post here?

I'd also like to know what the kind of paint is that you use on the glass ornaments, please?

Thanks!

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I'll take some pix next time I get crafty. Also, the paint I use is acrylic. I put a high gloss finish on it with this stuff called Mod Podge. Be sure to dab it on and not stroke it on when the paint is dry because it tends to pull a little of the paint off that way. It goes on milky but dries clear and glossy.

There are different types of Mod Podge. It works as a glue too and is great for decopauge. I provided a link below so you can check it out.

Click here: Mod Podge, Glue & Decoupage Products from Plaid Enterprises

Have fun :D:p:)!!!

Interested, oh yes I am! Come November I think I may start something... Hmmmm, I got to do something for the holidays!

Okay, I was hoping that this thread would "take off" and have a life of it's own. But, maybe it will and maybe it won't...

I've carefully worded the original post so that it will get excellent exposure when people do searches for things on the Internet. I can also see that it's already gotten about 100 views by people, even though very few have posted on it.

Will just have to see how things go...

I am still hopeful, here! :)

Thanks!

I love making things to suit my purposes for around the house and inside, but I don't think they would be considered crafts.:(

I used to paint frames (for pictures) for people, but I gave them all away. I don't do that any more because I don't have the time or the eye sight.:)

Attachment 25479
This is my messy craft and whatever bench

Attachment 25480
This is my craft closet full of things to do
Attachment 25481
These are some balls I made for the garden, hopefully they look like concrete:D

Attachment 25482
Windchime, I have made a couple from odd scrapes.
I'm sorry, I forgot to flip it before and now I can't figure out how:eek: Please ignore the dead plant, it died a miserable death and I forgot about it.
Attachment 25483
Fan pull:)

Dahlia,
Nice collection.
Are those bottles/jars filled with all edible things?

Love your fan pull,gives me an idea, I need a fan pull.Think I am being inspired to make something like yours.:)

.

Hey, let's second that on the fan pull. Great idea!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by firmbeliever

Dahlia,
Nice collection.
Are those bottles/jars filled with all edible things?

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Yes, all edible..
Chicken and beef stock, pickled beets, pickled dill asparagus and green beans, Grannys corn, chutney and jams.

I'll be making regular green beans in the next couple weeks (maybe) if I find the time.:rolleyes:

The pickles sounds yummy. :)


Look forward to seeing more crafts.

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Haven't been doing much craft work lately, but looking around for ideas. Here are some I found interesting.

Amazing craft works.
Flickr: The CRAFT Pool
crafty fun! - a set on Flickr

Gift in a Jar Recipes, Jar Recipes, Jar Mixes

Easy Homemade Crafts and Gifts

Candle Making, Candle Crafts, Candle Safety



.

There are a bunch of Craft Ideas and directions here:

Craft Kits - Craft Kits

Other ideas are to make pet treats

Dog Treat Recipes - Dog Treats and Dog Remedies

Or if you are into organic these are directions for organic recipes that could be a great craft.

Organic Recipes - Organic Items

Have fun!
HTH

So, what about some crafts that members have done, please? I realize that we might not have the "pool" of members here like we used to, that might be actively involved in that sort of thing.

Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally posted by Just Dahlia

What am I? Chopped liver?

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Your stuff is great, Just Dahlia!

I'm just trying to find others on this site with "like" minds. The Art and Crafts sections of this site used to be really "alive" a couple of years ago. Some of those people that participated have now moved on... Some of us also really miss the way that things used to be in those forum topic areas.

Thanks!

So, anymore takers and sharers here, please?

Thanks!

It's Winter now, things will be coming up really quickly... Hopefully:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Just Dahlia

It's Winter now, things will be coming up really quickly...Hopefully:)

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I hope so, too! :)

Thanks!

Oh wow, I just found this thread, I'll have to take photos of my crafty creations and post them tomorrow :D

Lots of great ideas on here!

Thanks, shazamataz!

That would be wonderful! :)

I did not get too far this year with any creations but graham cracker ginger bread houses with 7 kids:) But, I love seeing all of your ideas you guys!

The houses my kids and their cousins made:)

Those look great Start! I bet it was lots of fun and sloppy:D

Those are cool, starty!

What an excellent project for kids! :)

Thanks! It was great and I learned that by cooking sugar, you can use it for glue before the kids get real frustrated that the house pieces won't sty put! We had great fun!

How does one cook sugar, please?

Thanks!

All you do is get out your nonstick frying pan add sugar on low till kind of melted then put edges of graham crackers on it then stick the two together... and then you have pre-made houses that the kids can decorate without the sides sliding around as you try to add everything! Found it in a magazine and it worked great!!

Thanks for the explanation, starty!

I just found this.

Here are a few pictures of the tables I make;

Attachment 27753

Attachment 27754

Attachment 27755

Great stuff there, Alty!

What do you use to cut and form the wood, please?

Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Clough

Great stuff there, Alty!

What do you use to cut and form the wood, please?

Thanks!

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I have a lot of tools Clough. The tool I love the most is my mitre saw.

As for forming, there's nothing. I cut the desired lengths, decide how I'm going to put them together (the table shown is put together with dowling), router (if that's that look I want), sand, stain and top coat. Voilà. :)

Each design is drawn out, the lengths measured, everything decided before I ever cut a single peace.

The ones shown are made of oak. The big one was a birthday present for a friend and the little one went to Jared's teacher as a year end present.

No using of a router? That would seemed needed to round or chamfer edges.

Thanks!

Clough, you missed it.

Quote:

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As for forming, there's nothing. I cut the desired lengths, decide how I'm going to put them together (the table shown is put together with dowling), router (if that's that look I want), sand, stain and top coat. Voilà.

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Oh, you're correct about that! I'm sorry that I missed it!

You're very handy!

I'm very interested in what you use as a stain and finish on anything that you do, please?

Thanks!

I like water based stain and finish.

I do have to say that the best finish I ever got was not a water based. It was a finish my husband had bought for a project he was doing. The finish I got was great but I hate to use a product that leaves you feeling light headed and actually eats away at the brush! :eek:

I love the mahogany look. It's not easy to get the exact look, it really depends on the wood. The oak (because it's a hard wood) doesn't take the stain as well as, say, pine. But, the oak is more even then the pine.

I really like cedar. I don't usually stain it, just put a coat of finish on the top, leave the bottom so that you can still smell the cedar. Ahhh. :)

My husband bought me a specialty wood a while back. I believe it was called "purple heart" but I'd have to ask him to make sure. It's red. It's a hard wood and sanding it took almost a week. I have cut the pieces but I've never put them together. I'm afraid that it won't turn out the way I want it to and I know I'll never have the money to buy that wood again.

Maybe this year I'll finally do it. ;)

Do you have a compressor?

Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Clough

Do you have a compressor?

Thanks!

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I wish!

I work in my garage, not a lot of room.

I use my dads old table saw (when the wood is too big for the mitre saw). I have a mitre saw, a new band saw (last years Christmas present), a small lathe (love it!) a planer (that was also a Christmas present) a band sander, a regular rotating sander, router, and a few other things.

I have to improvise a lot. It would be a lot easier if I had all the tools I need, but I make do with what I have.

I don't only make tables, I make toys, key boxes, jewelry boxes, you name it. If it's made of wood and smaller then my garage, I can make it. ;)

It all started a few years back. My friend had this beautiful key box that she had bought at a craft sale. I really wanted one, but at over $200 I wasn't going to buy it. So I decided to make my own. I had never used a tool in all my life (my dad was very strict about that. Girls don't mow the lawn or use tools. Become a doctor, fine, but tools, that's a guy thing).

So I went home, told hubby what I wanted to make, told him I wanted to make it, got some wood, asked for some help with the tools and then put together the ugliest, most uneven, not at all functional key box in all creation!

I could have given up right then and there, but I was determined to make it. So I tried again. This time I didn't wing it, I measured, I drew out my plans, I took my time and voilà, I had a great key box.

I made dozens of them, for friends, family, presents. They're always well received and by now I could make one with my eyes closed.

So I expanded. I wanted an end table, a very specific design, not laminated, 100% wood. I couldn't find one. Most designer furniture is laminated, and expensive!

So I made it. It's still in my living room today. Sadly the puppy liked a bit too much, chewed one of the edges. He's earned his name, that's for sure.

I'd love to make this a business but, like the purple heart wood, I'm afraid.

Hey, Alty!

What you've posted is incredibly detailed and very intereting!

But, I'm still interested in, is the staining and applying a finish process that you do.

Thanks!