DIY Cloth Crayon Roll

  Purchased Cloth Crayon Roll to be used as a pattern. See example below.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

^^I found this handmade cloth crayon roll at Goodwill for .99 cents whilst in port last month. After a thorough soaking and hand washing to remove some splotches of blue marker ink; followed by an ironing, the crayon roll is almost as good as new. Part of the reason I bought it was to use the roll as a pattern to make more rolls. Have you seen the prices for cloth crayons rolls on shopping sites-Etsy for example? $$$ In addition, it was also easy to make a pattern from it and is a perfect sewing project for your budding seamstress and/or seamster.


 This is my test piece. Needs some finishing on the details and a good ironing. Not perfect but we'll get there...Effervescent Ethel claimed the test piece as hers hot off the press.


(Notice that I bar tacked where the two fabrics meet in the center. Although the tops of the pockets have yet to be reinforced. Both stress areas.)

Need:

-about 1/4-1/3 yard of scrap fabric or fat quarters (1 fat quarter for main fabric, the other fat quarter for the contrast)
-sewing machine
-fabric shears
-thread
-bias tape for the edges (or make your own bias tape with fabric)
-ribbon for the ties (or you can use some of the contrast fabric to make the ties)
-Fray Check™ if using ribbon ties (optional)
-lightweight batting, interfacing, lightweight woven fabric such as flannel or muslin cloth for stability


The dimensions are: *13" x 6 1/2". The ties are roughly 21" long.  *The size of the roll will vary depending on what its purpose will be: regular crayons, "Twistables@, color markers (Pipsqueaks™ or the thicker ones?), colored pencils, etc.


Tip: Remember to reinforce the seam at the top of each pocket and where the ties are attached. Wouldn't hurt to bar tack the corners as well.


Cost: insignificant. Try to keep the cost at or around US$5 or you're defeating the porpoise-so to speak.

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Rest in Peace Robin "Peter Banning" Williams :(

IKEA hack: LAMPAN

Greetings from 19.0000° N, 71.0000° W

It's been a busy, rollicking time on the high seas this summer, landlubbers! ...Managed to squeeze in a quick crafty project yesterday afternoon. We have a new onboard pet: a cat we lovingly have christened Shark Bait. Supplies needed: double sided tape, wood beads, antacid, glitter pens, citrus.



The blank canvas

The Hack

LAMPAN lamp available here: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/?query=LAMPAN

For more IKEA hacks go here:

http://www.ikeahackers.net/

-IKEA lamp 'LAMPAN' (US$4.99)  <<--Don't forget to buy a lightbulb at IKEA while you're there! Yes, I forgot. A lifetime of seafaring life has done a number on me brain.
-lightbulb (40 watts or lower)
-glue (optional)
-decorations : Effervescent Ethel and I used two packages of self-adhesive (no need for glue!) rhinestones picked up at Michael's and used a coupon for 40% off on one of the packages. I didn't realize until we returned to our belòved Ebony Oyster that the package of rhinestones on the right are not individual pieces rather a strip. We also scoured the craft barrels and found two vintage buttons to decorate the top of the lamp.

Lamp displayed on a makeshift table until I can find a sturdier table.

 Cost: approximately US$15

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DIY Fairy Door

DIY Fairy Door inspiration:

https://www.google.com/search?q=DIY+fairy+doors&es_sm=119&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=uWzaU8iZIYLcoAS81IDYCw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=1171&bih=811

https://www.google.com/search?q=DIY+fairy+doors&es_sm=119&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=uWzaU8iZIYLcoAS81IDYCw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=1171&bih=811#q=DIY+fairy+doors+Pinterest&tbm=isch

We used:

-popsicle sticks and tongue depressors
-glue
-soda pop bottle cap (To make the soda pop bottle cap adhere to the door I used some unbaked Fimo, glued it to the inside of the bottle cap then attached it to the door with more glue.)
-buttons
-Found items from nature: tree bark, pinecones, sticks, rocks and stones, etc.

Cost: ø

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Pressed Flowers Part II

Part I here: https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1496409556250649467#editor/target=post;postID=2795512611010934639;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=1;src=postname

If you want to frame your pressed flowers, this is what I used. I'm new to press flower crafting, so I'm not sure if I am supposed to use a fixative to preserve the flowers. I'll check into that...

-frame
-complementary background paper
-pencil to sign and date ( I also wrote the name of the flower on the back of the paper.)


Cost: $1 for frame from Dollar Tree
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Friendship Bracelets *EASY*

http://www.the-red-kitchen.com/2012/02/simple-braided-friendship-bracelet.html

I think we broke a personal record because the last 3-4 crafts we've attempted have been
utter fails. Captain Mad Ellen was about ready to abandon ship until she remembered an easy summer craft from years past-friendship bracelets:

"Friendship bracelets are a great craft that you can take anywhere! They're especially nice for people who have failed repeatedly at learning to knit and crochet (CME: or craft). " (http://www.instructables.com/id/how-to-make-a-friendship-bracelet-1/)

Need:

-embroidery floss
-scissors
-tape or safety pin (to hold down the bracelet as you work)
-beads or similar to decorate (optional)

Cost: a package of embroidery floss with 56 skeins/27 colors at Walmart for around $4.00. This was my first time using embroidery floss aka "friendship thread" from Walmart. I won't be buying it again. Poor quality. FYI


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https://www.etsy.com/listing/98215760/chasing-pirates-woven-friendship

Pirate Treasure Chest Printable

Source: http://blackwidow12.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/papercraft-pirates-treasure-chest/

Click on link above to print the treasure chest, birds and keys. 

• 
  
• What Star Wars character is really a pirate?..........AARRRRGGH-2 D-2!

Lego Travel Kit

Source: http://mamapapabubba.com/2014/06/11/portable-lego-kit-for-little-travellers/#_a5y_p=1878674

 I came across this LEGO travel kit via Tinkerlab and it's the *perfect* provision for when we set sail next week on a road trip due north.

Lego Travel Kit:



-metal lunch box (we picked up ours at Toys R Us. I was looking for a Lego Movie metal box but they didn't have any at our local Toys R Us. A My Little Pony lunch box will no doubt make Effervescent Ethel very happy!)
-felt or similar to line the box
-scissors or Exacto knife (we quickly learned that an Exacto knife works much better than scissors)
-tacky glue, Alene's™ for example
-Scotch™ brand mounting squares http://www.amazon.com/Removable-Mounting-Squares-squares-108/dp/B00099E8DM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1404850783&sr=8-2&keywords=scotch+brand+mounting+squares
-elastic headband (optional but recommended. I picked up a set of 5 at Dollar Tree. They also sell them in more gender neutral/masculine solid colors such as black, beige, brown, white, blue.)
-10" x 10" Lego building plate http://www.target.com/p/lego-bricks-and-more-creative-bucket-10662/-/A-15026917#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=lego+bricks
-adhesive letters to personalize (optional)
-pencil
-scrap piece of paper to make a pattern
-box of Lego Bricks and More Creative Bucket purchased here:  http://www.target.com/p/lego-bricks-and-more-creative-bucket-10662/-/A-15026917#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=lego+bricks

Drawstring pouch to hold the Legos pieces (optional):


-scrap fabric
-fabric tie or ribbon for the drawstring
-thread
-sewing machine



What I DIDN'T do:

-I didn't add the green "fence".  It simply did not work.
-I didn't sand the edges of the building plate.

A small My Little Pony surprise package and building instruction booklet were included.

Cost: Approximately $50.00 and which is very unusual for me to spend on a craft project although EE was in need of a box of  generic pieces of Legos for creating (most Legos now seem to come in sets and limit the child to what they can build). The Lego Bricks Bucket was purchased at Target for $29.99. You can also find bulk Legos on Ebay and Goodwill.com. I did some price comparison shopping and for only a few dollars more I was able to justify buying a new bucket of Legos.  The drawstring pouch holds about 3 cups of Legos give or take. The remainder will be kept in the yellow bucket and EE can use them in her room to build other things and for homeschooling purposes. That makes me feel little less guilty (about 10% less).

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