crafting

Every year through the mail we receive order forms with selections to order Christmas cards from NRA and Ducks Unlimited. Though some of all sales from the Christmas cards help fund their yearly events, the cards are quite pleasant. They make the Christmas cards from recycled paper and made into heavy card stock.

With each of these yearly sales events for Christmas cards, I find it a shame to throw the sample cards away. So, I decided to put theses sample Christmas cards to use in my home for Christmas and winter decorations.

The following are some tips for using sample Christmas card samples or even for the Christmas cards you receive from friends and families. The sample Christmas cards from NRA and Ducks Unlimited are 5″x7″ with what the sayings for inside the Christmas cards on the back.

Idea One: Framed Christmas Card Decorations.

The Christmas cards samples arrive as postcard samples rather than the actual folding card. With these types of sample Christmas Cards, I have framed them to use as a way to add color and Christmas decorations to any room in my home. You can arrange the framed Christmas cards in any many to decorate a wall in any room in the home.

Idea Two: Laminated Christmas Silverware or Drink Table Decoration

Laminating the sample Christmas cards can add to any table setting for the Christmas holiday and throughout winter. To cover the printed backs of the sample postcard-style samples, cut a piece or two of tissue paper to the size of the cards and sandwich it between the Christmas card sample and the laminating or clear contact paper.

The laminated Christmas cards can be used underneath silverware or as a coaster for drinks at the dinner table. Also, by adding names to the laminated Christmas cards, they can be used as place cards for guest seating arrangements at your special Christmas meals.

Idea Three: Christmas Window Decorations, Table Runners, and Garland

Using the same method as the table decorations, you can make window decorations with one or two simple steps. Once the Christmas card samples are laminated, punch a hole at the top of the laminated Christmas card. Place a suction cup hanger on your window and hang the card. You can also add a piece of ribbon
through the punched hole to create a hanger for the card. This type of decoration can also be used on the refrigerator and mirrors throughout the home.

For the table runners, there are two ways that this can be done. The sample Christmas cards can be placed end to end to create a runner. They can also lay them out with a spacing of two to three inches apart. By using the second method, stickers or other flat Christmas decorations can be used to add an extra touch of Christmas splash.

For the garland, cut the sample Christmas cards apart. Punch one or two holes in the ends of the Christmas cards and use red, white, green, gold or any other colors to tie the Christmas cards together. Cut the end ribbons long enough to enable the garland to have a swag.

This particular idea can be used to decorate any child’s bedroom. Also, college students living in a dorm room can use this idea to help decorate their room for the Christmas holiday for next to nothing.

There are many other ways to use sample or prior years’ Christmas cards to help decorate your home for the holidays. There isn’t any limit to the ways Christmas cards can be used for crafts.

Over the years I have found several different styles of Christmas crochet patterns that I have used. Many of these free Christmas crochet patterns I have found in the sites listed below, I haven’t used. Many of them I have seen from other people who love to crochet. For those of you who love to crochet, I hope this list of free Angel Christmas crochet patterns are ones that you will enjoy making.

Don’t forget for anyone that has a set limit on Christmas gifts, this same list can help stretch your Christmas shopping budget. After all, there are quite a few people who love to receive gifts that are homemade from people they know. This way over the years they will have a little something to remember their friends and family with. As many of us know, friends and family move away due to marriages or changing of careers that leave miles between.

Crochet Pattern Central - Crocheted Christmas Patterns

There are eight categories of free Christmas patterns that you can crochet. These small Christmas crochet patterns are great for beginning crocheters. Many of these free crocheted Christmas patterns would be a great way to decorate a Christmas tree.

Free Christmas Crochet Patterns at About.com

There are four crochet patterns for Christmas at this link. You will find a topper for a towel, a pillow, ornament, and ideas for turning a granny square into Christmas crafts.

Craftown Christmas Crochet Patterns

There are 21 different crochet patterns to make for Christmas. There are a few Christmas crochet patterns for collars, wine bottle covers, magnets, coasters, and candles.

Free CrochetnMore Christmas Crochet Patterns

This site has some of the same patterns seen on some of the other links in this article. However, there are crochet patterns for garland, reindeer, bookmarks, and door hangers.

Jar Lid Covers for Gift Jars for Christmas Presents

I thought the jar lid cover crochet pattern would be great for those who are making gift jars for Christmas. This will add an extra touch of your homemade goodness to your gift.

Now that you have a few ideas on how to decorate your home or tree for Christmas, you can do this on a very small budget. Also, all of these ornaments can be great gifts too. Especially for children who are moving away from or even in college. Many of them can be used straight through the winter months.

Mosaic bathroom tile designing doesn’t have to be a difficult tiling project. With the many styles of other tiles that are available, anyone can create a mosaic bathroom tile pattern without difficulty.

The following mosaic bathroom tile pattern used angel tiles from Mosaic Tile USA. The sizes of the mosaic tiles are 6 x 6. The cartons of tiles cost $263.40 per carton, cover 12 square feet per carton, and have 50 pieces of tile per carton. These tiles would cover the floor of my bathroom fairly easily due to the fact it is a small bathroom in a small older home.

The colors chosen for this mosaic pattern from Mosaic Tile USA are as follows:

T472 Light Green

T473 Green

T474 Teal

Custom Building Products #UTSA7 7LB Universal Tile Adhesive

Notched Trowel, tile cutter, and grout float

Tile Spacers

Lay out the tiles in the following order in the shape of your bathroom floor, teal, light green, and green until the width of the first row for the bathroom is done. With the last color of tiles on the first row, lay the next color of the sequence above that tile and continue until the shape of the bathroom floor is done. Remember, account for cutting the tiles around the vanity or sink pedestal, tub/ shower, and toilet when laying out your pattern.

Start with the last row that way laid out in the mosaic tile pattern. Start stacking the tiles from right to left with the tile on the right being on the bottom. You will be starting on the left-hand side of the bathroom with the wall furthest from the door. So you will want the first tile to be on top with the sequence of tiles for the row to be in order.

Spread a small area of tile adhesive, starting with the far end of the bathroom away from the door in the left-hand corner. Start with the first tile on top of the stack and lay down on the grout. Place a tile space at the top and bottom corners of the tile to create a spacer for when it comes time to grout.

At any time there is a cut to be made around the toilet, vanity/sink pedestal, and tub/shower areas, do those as you are lying the tile. But, remember not to place the tile adhesive on the floor until you are ready to lay the tile in this area. Continue the mosaic tile laying and cutting process until finished.

Once you have your mosaic bathroom tile floor completed, let the adhesive dry according to the directions on the tile adhesive.

After the tile adhesive is dry, follow the instructions on the grout container for grouting the glass mosaic bathroom floor. Let the grout dry per the time instructed on the grout container.

Finding wall stencil downloads for free doesn’t have to be a chore.

Getting free stencils to use for decorating walls in any room of the home can save on any decorating budget. Free wall stencils on the internet can be downloaded and printed with ease.

The only thing when using a free wall stencil download from the internet, you will need to have other materials to create the actual stencil that is found in stores. However, by using the free wall stencil downloads from the internet, you will be able to find more patterns to use than in the stores where wall stencils are sold.

When it comes to cutting the free wall stencil designs from the downloads, a person will need patience and a steady hand. For novice stencilers, it is best to start with simpler stencil patterns to practice on cutting out the stencils from the free downloads.

Instructions for how to cut out wall stencils from downloads can be found here. This how to article also has a list of materials needed to create the wall stencil from the downloads.

Online Sites With Free Wall Stencil Downloads

Spray Paint Stencils

The Spray Paint Stencils site has 34 categories of downloadable stencils. The free wall stencil downloads include animals, alphabet, fantasy, flowers, sports, and many more.

Free Stencil Collection at About.com

This collection has a wide variety of wall stencils to choose from. There are sea, nature, flowers, border stencils intertwined in each of the selections, and more.

Other Free Wall Stencil Downloads

Buckingham Stencils

Buckingham Stencils has 3 free wall stencil downloads. The free wall stencil downloads are free carousel pony, cow and moon, and monarch fairy. These three free wall stencil downloads would be great for any child’s room.

Tiki and jungle theme rooms do not have to be ugly or gaudy. There are several baubles that can be used as Tiki or jungle themes for every room in the home.

Decorating your home in jungle and Tiki themes can be a fun way to create an island or feel of the wild. There are some items in the Tiki and jungle themes that people can intertwine with the two styles of decorating that can create a totally different feel for a room.

Compare the types of animals, flowers, other types of plants, and colors that are found in these two themes. A person could create a totally different theme for a room. One example, are the colors and contrasts of the birds in each setting. Each color of the birds could give a person a way to paint and hang window treatments for a room. There are several ways a person can use the two themes to decorate a home.

Jungle Themes for Home Decor

Using Jungle themes to decorate the home doesn’t have to be gaudy or expensive. A great example of jungle themes is African Jungle Themes. With an African jungle theme, there are wonderful prints can be incorporated into any room. There are more than animal prints to use in a room’s decor. Other African prints can add an additional flow of color and beauty to any room.

By listening to the music that people play during the original Tarzan movie can also give a person more ideas on how to decorate their home. Instruments that you hear in the music of movies and other shows that have jungle scenes can give anyone an idea on using instruments for decorating.

Wall coverings can be added to any room being decorated in jungle themes. If you would prefer not to cover a whole room in a jungle theme, the wall coverings at CreativeWallCovering.com can give you great ideas on what to add to any room.

Tiki Themes for Home Decor

The Tiki genre of the home decor can be found in any of the late 50’s and early 60’s music and movies. This genre of the Tiki themes includes music and movies from Hawaii. The Tiki huts, Tiki cocktail bars, and restaurants. Tiki mugs and torches are now becoming popular again as a way to add an element to outdoor decorating.

The various musical instruments that can be used as part of a room’s decor. Each instrument represented in the Tiki music genre serves a purpose the same as any other musical instrument.

However, with either of the pop culture genres of Tiki decor, many of these items can be found at such stores like Hot Topic, Amazon.com, and various other exotic stores. Each of these places have unique jungle and Tiki items that can be used as decor in any home.

Looking at the covers of LP albums of the time can give you more ideas in decorating your home through a Polynesian or Hawaiian flair. For example the cover of Les Baxter’s album Tamboo, can give you several ideas in using Tiki and Jungle tribe objects in decorating your home.

In some aspects from around the world, both the jungle and Tiki anyone could combine decor to create a unique room. In some countries where there are different types of jungles, bamboo and other things found in those jungles could create a further distinctive home decor.

Macaroni can be used for more than mac and cheese or goulash. Macaroni can be used to create art. Macaroni art can entertain kids for hours on end.

Kids can make different types of pictures with macaroni. Macaroni can be used as purchased or died to make different colors for art projects. Kids can even help color their macaroni for their art projects.

There are several ways children can make macaroni art. The main ingredient needed for any type of macaroni art is the child’s imagination. Once the imagination is unleashed, the art project will take on a life of its own.

Dying the Macaroni

Dying the macaroni is the messiest part of the whole project. The macaroni when purchased comes in a dry, hard form. Macaroni is actually very porous. The absorption rate will take a few minutes to a few hours depending on the amount being dyed. The drying time will take at least 24 hours.

Food Coloring Dye Instructions

2 Tablespoons of Rubbing Alcohol
4 drops of food coloring
1 Cup of uncooked macaroni
Ziploc Storage bags and containers
Paper towels
Baking Pan

Mix the rubbing alcohol and food coloring in a bowl; set aside.

Pour the cup of dried macaroni into the storage bag and add the food coloring and alcohol mixture. Mix well until the macaroni is cover in the wet mixture.

Line the baking pan with the paper towels. Pour the colored macaroni onto the lined baking sheet. Allow to dry approximately five minutes. Once the macaroni is dry, pour each color of macaroni into the storage containers.

Continue the process until you have the quantity of colors wanted or needed.

Other Items Needed

White Glue
Construction Paper
String cut into one to two foot lengths for jewelry or longer for necklaces. If you choose to make hanging style decorations, cut the string accordingly.
Large plastic sewing needle. Thread the string through the eye of the needle and tie one end off or tape down on a work surface to keep the macaroni on the string.

Once you have all the materials needed, find a place where the children can glue the colored macaroni onto construction paper to make pictures and designs of their choices.

For the macaroni jewelry, string the macaroni onto the thread and needle. The color combinations used are at the discretion of the maker.

Another way colored macaroni art can be used and created by your children, is to use it as part of the tinsel for your Christmas tree. Strung macaroni can also be used as part of a birthday party decoration.

During the long Thanksgiving breaks for kids from school, these fun crafts and activities can keep them occupied. Not only will these free, printable Thanksgiving crafts keep them busy, they will also learn more about Thanksgiving through many of these crafts.

Kids whether they will admit it to you or not, they do like things that are fun to do while they are learning. Often kids become bored with the normal learning experience.

Enchanted Learning: Free Printable Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

There are 15 free, printable Thanksgiving crafts for kids at Enchanted Learning. Below the free printable craft projects, there are free printable Thanksgiving books. However, you will have to sign up at the site to gain access to all the pages of the books listed on this site.

Amazing Moms Free Printable Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

There are 10 free printable Thanksgiving crafts for kids at Amazing Moms. There are some really cute and easy to do crafts here for the kids.

Danielle’s Place Free Printable Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

Danielle’s site has a wide variety of different Thanksgiving crafts for kids to make here. The selection of crafts have pictures and complete instructions.

DLTK Thanksgiving Crafts and More

You will find Thanksgiving crafts, poems and songs, coloring pages, games, and more for the kids to do while waiting for all the goodies for Thanksgiving dinner to be fixed.

Any time of the year birds can be found around any neighborhood. Birds found in your neighborhood, build them a log cabin birdhouse. Log style toys are the easiest to use for making a log cabin bird house.

A log cabin birdhouse can be a way to decorate your yard. Creating a log cabin birdhouse will give birds a safe habitat any time of the year. Not only will a log cabin birdhouse create a habitat, it is also created from earth friendly materials.

Materials Needed for a Log Cabin Birdhouse

Tumble Tree Timbers - Tumble Tree Timbers are found at K-Mart for $9.99. From the Tumble Tree Timbers, two timber number five pieces, nine timber number three pieces, fourteen timber number one pieces, six roof slats, two roof holders, two roof supports, and one chimney piece will be used to create this birdhouse.

Gorilla Glue - Gorilla Glue will be used to glue the logs of the Tumble Tree Timbers together.

Polyurethane - Polyurethane is used to cover the log cabin birdhouse for protection from the elements. It can be purchased in a quart sized can or in spray form. If purchased in a quart can, a small paint brush will be needed for application.

Plywood - A piece of plywood the size of 8 1/4 inches x 8 1/4 inches to which we will attach the birdhouse. This will enable you to attach it to a post or other stand.

Assembling the Log Cabin Birdhouse

Step One: Birdhouse Base Placement

Note: Using the Gorilla Glue, follow the wetting of the sections so the pieces will stick to each other. I did not use clamps during the process of building the birdhouse.

Glue one number nine tree timber to the back slots to the two timber number five pieces as shown in view one of the slide show Log Cabin Birdhouse. Glue one each of the Timber number one to the front slot of the base as shown in views 1a and 1b of the Log Cabin Birdhouse slide show.

Let the birdhouse base set for 10 to 20 minutes before moving to step two.

Step Two: Base on Base Placement

Slide the base of the birdhouse onto the wooden square and mark the area for placing the log cabin birdhouse onto it. Remove the base, place the glue between the markings and replace the base. This will help with place the birdhouse in the exact position on the base and allow for placement on a stand.

Step Three through Five: Wall Building and Placement

With the remaining eight number three timber pieces, follow the pictures in the slide slow, Log Cabin Birdhouse. Make sure to add glue to the tops and bottoms of each piece in the steps. View steps three though five in the Log Cabin Birdhouse slide show. Apply a small amount of pressure on each step to insure the logs stay in place.

Step Six: Eave Post Placement

In this step, you will need eight of the number one logs. One set of four number one logs will be facing away from on the first layer. Set the roof holder timbers in the slots facing you. The second set of four number one logs will be facing away from you. Be sure to place glue on each of the log pieces when putting them in place.

Step Seven: Roof Support Placement

Place glue on the four number one timber and roof support slots. Set the roof supports in place and let stand for half an hour before proceeding to step seven. See the picture in the slide show for the roof support placement.

Step Eight: Roof Slat and Chimney Placement

With the side of the slat with the groove up, glue the top side of the first slat and lay in place leaning on the roof support. Glue the top and bottom of the next roof slat and lay in place. Glue the bottom of the third roof slat and lay in place. Repeat the process for the other side of the roof.
Views of slat placement can be seen in 1a, 1b, and 1c of the Roof Slat pictures in the slide show.

Let the roof slats set for 30 minutes before proceeding to adding the chimney. Once the slats have sat for 30 minutes, apply glue to the v-shape of the chimney and place it wherever you would like.

Step Nine: Polyurethane Application

Polyurethane should be applied per the directions on the can and in a well ventilated area.

Now that you have glued and placed all the pieces in place for the log cabin birdhouse, let set for three to four hours before moving. If the birdhouse doesn’t appear to be dry, let set for twenty-four hours.

Every year there are millions of people who have garage sales to sell their unwanted items. These unwanted items can become treasures to others at a much cheaper price than purchasing these items new in a store.

While there are as many people that have garage sales, there are just as many people who tend yard sales every year. These garage sale attendees love the challenge of finding a good bargain. There are also those that attend garage sales for the sole purpose of adding items to their own personal collections such as books, toy collectibles, and various other items.

Many people furnish their homes with garage sale furniture for a fraction of the cost. You can find bedroom furniture, dining room furniture, living room furniture, and large appliances at garage sales. Many times there is nothing wrong with the pieces of furniture that you buy at a garage sale. Many times people who are selling these pieces of furniture have recently purchased new furniture for their homes. The same usually applies to appliances due to the fact that the previous owners often remodel their kitchens.

You can also find various home decorations to decorate your home with at small cost to. Many times you can find pictures, knick knacks, and other items that are nearly new. You can furnish a home from visiting various garage and yard sales for a tenth of the cost compared to retail stores.

In some cases with the items that you find at one of these types of sales, a little repair to the item can give you a working item for just a few dollars more if you are willing to put in the time to fix it. For example, someone is selling an electric range and one of the burners is no longer working. You spend a $100 for the stove and approximately $15 to $20 for the new burner, and you more than likely saved yourself at least the $125 over purchasing a new stove.

You will find some items that will need to have a little cleaning done to them and they are brought back to life. Many times it is just washing the dust and dirty off the item. For example, you give twenty-five cents for a pie plate that is a little dirty. Clean it up with a little elbow grease and it’s just like new. This is much better than paying upwards of $5 for a pie plate at the local store.

In some instances, you can also find new clothes that the person has purchased and never took the price tag off of the piece of clothing and are selling it at a fraction of the cost they paid for it. This is a good way to purchase yourself a new wardrobe for the year.

There is nothing like the rush you will have from finding bargains like these at garage sales. The amount of money that you can save by purchasing items and refurbishing them yourself is miraculous. So if you’re in the money saving market as well as loving the hunt for a good bargain, garage sales may be something you want to try.

Sorry I haven’t posted anything new as of late. I have been sidetracked with my daughter and her college going ons, NaNowriMo, and writing more articles.

Get free printable birthday items online. The free, printable birthday printable will help in these tough economic times. You will find word searches, party invitations, iron-on transfers, and birthday cards. By using the free birthday printables, you can print them when you need them rather than buying more expensive cards at the store.

Birthday Printables

Printable Birthday Word Search

A free printable birthday word search. This free word search for kids comes with word list, puzzle, and answer guide.

Printable Dinosaur Birthday Party Invitation

A blue dinosaur with yellow feet holding a balloon party invitation.

Printable First Birthday Iron on Transfers

Nine bear iron on transfers for a first birthday. Each iron on bear is a different color.

Free Birthday Downloads

Free Printable Coloring Pages

You will be able to print 10 different birthday coloring pages. Each coloring page has a different theme.

Free Printable Birthday Cards

Free Greeting Island Printable Birthday Cards

At Greeting Island birthday cards, you will find five pages of birthday cards for kids and adults. You can add your own text to each of the cards on any of the pages. You can even add your own pictures to the cards.

Free Printable Net Fun Cards for Birthdays

The free printable birthday cards at Net Fun Cards has plenty of cards for family, friends, co-workers, and belated birthdays.