Cute Crafties: Valentine's Day Card Ideas

Introduction

Quilling, or paper filigree, is the art of creating intricate shapes from strips of paper. The technique is simple: After a long, narrow ribbon of paper is rolled around a needlelike tool, the strip is slipped off, arranged with your fingertips into the desired shape, and then glued to a background of contrasting paper, fabric, or wood.

Quilled motifs such as flowers and hearts express sweet sentiments for Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, but they also add an elegant touch to cards for any occasion.

Step 1

Gather Materials

Don't let the elaborate effects fool you; quilling is simple. You need only a few basic crafts items.

Clockwise from top:A round-headed pin is useful for precise glue application.

A slotted quilling tool lets you create coiled shapes with ease.

Fine-pointed tweezers are essential for tiny shapes.

Use small sharp scissors to cut fringe.

Quilling paper comes in a variety of colors and widths; most of our projects can be made with standard precut strips. If you prefer, use a paper cutter and medium-weight paper, such as vellum or stationery, to make your own; construction paper is too heavy and will not roll easily.

Step 2

Basic Quilling Shapes

Experiment with basic techniques before starting a project.

Loose CircleCreate a tight circle, but do not glue. Instead, lay it on a flat surface, and let it expand. When satisfied with the shape and size, glue the end of the strip to secure.

Loose ScrollForm a loose circle, but do not glue closed.

MarquiseFashion and glue a loose circle; pinch each end.

Connected ScrollsMake several loose scrolls; position with unrolled ends pointing the same way. Curve each over rolled end of next scroll; glue.

Open HeartFold a strip in half, and crease. Roll each end toward center.

V ScrollCrease paper at center; roll ends outward.

S ScrollForm an S shape by rolling one end toward center, and the other in the opposite direction.

C ScrollRoll both ends of a strip toward the center.

Step 3

Open Hearts

Open heart shapes are used in the quilled heart valentine. To make open hearts, fold a strip in half, and crease. Roll each end toward center and glue to card.

Step 4

Tight Circle

Tight circles are one of the most basic quilled shapes, and are used to make the quilled frame cards.

To make a tight circle, slip paper into the slot on the quilling tool, placing paper's end flush with edge of slot.

Step 5

Complete the Tight Circle

To complete the tight circle, turn tool until strip is rolled into a firm cylinder. Remove paper from tool, and glue closed to complete your tight circle.

Step 6

Teardrop

Another common shape is the teardrop, which is also used in the quilled frame cards. To make a teardrop, create and glue a loose circle; pinch one end to form a point.

Step 7

Frame

If you want to design a frame or border for your card, create a freehand pattern that incorporates several of the basic shapes you've learned. Alternatively, you can purchase a published pattern, many of which are available in clip-art books.

Here, we arranged a series of fleurs-de-lis, each made from three V scrolls of graduated sizes, and one teardrop. Form and glue individual shapes, using the pattern as a guide. Then use a ruler to draw a rectangle on the card. Dab points of glue on undersides of quilled shapes and position them, standing on edge, along the pencil line. Hold in place for 15 seconds to allow glue to set.

Step 8

Fringed Flower

Fringed flower shapes are used in the quilled floral cards. To make a fringed flower such as a daisy or a zinnia, scallop the top of a strip of paper, and then cut fringe. (To create flowers with centers, glue together two strips of paper, each a different width and color, end to end; then fringe.) Roll entire length of paper into a tight circle, as shown here.

Step 9

Complete the Fringed Flower

Glue closed. With your fingers, spread the fringe and separate it into petals. Curl the petal ends outward and downward with tweezers to achieve desired shape.

Step 10

Bells

Bells are used to make the quilled lily-of-the-valley card. Roll and glue a tight circle. Using your finger, push center of circle to create a cone. Secure the end with glue. If desired, spread a light layer of glue over surface of bell; this will help the bell keep its shape. Or spread glue inside to hide the glued area. Positioned along four leafy stems made from strips of green paper to complete the lily-of-the-valley.

Step 11

Script

Quilled script is used to make the scripted valentines. You can write a message in your own hand, adapt one from a calligraphy book, or create one on a computer. Lay short strips of quilling paper along the curves of each letter you want to form. Shape ends with quilling tool, or use scissors to curl paper as you would a ribbon; cut strips to correct length. Trace message onto paper. Glue at intervals, one letter at a time. Turn quilling paper on edge; use tweezers to hold it in place for 15 seconds to allow glue to set.

Read more at Wholeliving.com: How to Make Quilled Cards - Martha Stewart Crafts 

Cute Crafties: Heirloom Family Tree in Glass Dome

Introduction
A random assortment of family keepsakes, from a grandfather's spectacles to a baby's christening spoon, takes on a cohesive, deliberate look that's almost Victorian when encased in a delicate glass dome. The little tree is a lightweight branch bought from a florist, then spray-painted matte gold and held upright with epoxy.


Step 1
Using saw, trim and prune branch to fit inside dome. Sand bottom of branch so it rests flat. Spray-paint, and let dry.

Step 2
Determine spot on wooden base to anchor branch so dome fits over it. Mix epoxy, following package instructions, and adhere branch to base. Let dry completely, and cure.

Step 3
Print the name-tag templates* and write names and birth dates. Using craft knife, cut out name tags on mat.

Step 4
Carefully position and hang family curios and keepsakes, starting with the name tag of the family member of your choice at the bottom and working up. Use small balls of museum wax to balance or anchor things in place and to attach tags. Cover with glass dome.

{* http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/2010Q4/msl_1110_familytrees_heirloom.pdf }

Cute Crafties: Scrapbook Covers with Monogrammed Velvet Ribbon

To imprint monograms on velvet ribbon, you'll need an iron, rubber stamps, and velvet ribbon wide enough to accommodate the stamps (silk ribbons and silk-rayon blends work best).

Stamps that have intricate patterns or are too shallow will produce less-than-perfect results.

Plan on making a test ribbon or two with your chosen materials to determine how much heat, time, and pressure produce the best imprints.

How-To
1. Cut a ribbon to desired length; to create a monogrammed ribbon for a photo album, cut the ribbon the length of front and back covers, plus binding, and 2 extra inches (the extra ribbon on ends will wrap around inside covers). Use a fabric pen on the reverse side of the ribbon to mark stamp placement.

2. With the steam function off, preheat the iron to the cotton or wool setting. Place the rubber stamp, relief side up, on a sturdy, heatproof surface. Place the ribbon, pile side down, over the stamp. Using the portion of the iron's soleplate that has no steam holes, press down evenly on the ribbon, covering the stamp.

Hold the iron in place without moving for 10 to 30 seconds. Then lift the iron straight up off the ribbon. (If the ribbon sticks to the iron, the heat setting may be too high or the velvet used may contain heat-sensitive synthetics.) Gently remove the ribbon from the stamp, and check whether the image is clear. Let ribbon cool.

3. To attach the ribbon to a photo album, carefully apply a low-moisture paste-style glue, such as Yes Paste, to inside front cover, and secure ribbon end. Let dry 5 minutes. Then wrap ribbon around album, and glue other end inside back cover.

Cute Crafties: Baby Kimonos

Though in modern Japan, kimonos are worn mostly on special occasions, many features translate wonderfully to everyday baby clothes. Wrap shirts or dresses are ideal for babies, who dislike having clothing pulled on or off over their heads. Kimonos tie or button securely closed, and the fasteners are out of the way, so curious babies aren't tempted to toy with or nibble on them. And the double layer of material across the chest will add extra warmth where a toddler will need it most.

Our kimono is amazingly versatile. Basic and clean of line, it takes on different personalities depending on the length and the fabric it's made from. Short kimonos make lightweight, comfortable shirts. Longer kimonos can be dresses or coats.

Tools and Materials
Pattern paper
1 yard of fabric
2 yards of single-fold bias tape
10 inches of thin ribbon
Sewing supplies

Baby Kimonos How-To
Preparing the Pattern
1. Download and print our template, and use it to make a two-piece pattern.

2. Use our pattern full-size for size 0 to 3 months. For bigger babies, enlarge it as follows: For 3 to 6 months, photocopy at 105 percent; 6 to 12 months, 110 percent; 12 to 18 months, 115 percent; 18 to 24 months, 120 percent; 24 to 36 months, 125 percent. If you are using a thick fabric, use the next size up.

3. After you have assembled the pattern, lay the fabric wrong side up, pin pattern pieces on top, and cut out (a 3/8-inch seam allowance is included in the pattern). Mark dots on fabric pieces.

Sewing the Kimono
4. Make ties: Cut 21-inch piece of single-fold bias tape. Open tape, fold in half, with right sides facing, and sew along crease parallel to fold. Trim close to stitching. With loop turner, turn inside out; press. Cut into three equal pieces. Lay main-garment piece flat, wrong side up, front toward you. Lift fabric at angled cut at the shoulder; pin two ties at dots, positioning as shown. Fold up sleeve hems by 3/8 inch twice, pin, and topstitch.

5. Lay front-flap piece wrong side up; fold left side in by 3/8 inch twice; pin and topstitch. Place front-flap piece on main-garment piece over the right sleeve, right sides facing; align angled shoulder edges, sandwiching in ends of ties, and pin. Stitch along angled edges with 3/8-inch seam allowance. Zigzag edges. Beneath angled shoulder, fold side edge of main garment under twice by 3/8 inch; topstitch to hem. Fold kimono in half along shoulders, right sides facing. Pin along sides and underside of sleeves. On left side (with garment front facing you) at dot under the arm, pin a 5-inch ribbon. Hand stitch another 5-inch ribbon at dot on edge of front flap. (These provide inner ties.) Sew along pinned edges with 3/8-inch seam allowance, catching tie. Zigzag edges. In curves under each arm, make 5 cuts in seam allowance without cutting through straight stitching. Hem kimono as sleeves were hemmed. Turn right side out.

6. Pin the third 7-inch tie at dot on angled edge of garment front, as shown. Cut 8-inch piece of bias tape. Open, pin to angled edge, right sides facing, starting at neck and aligning edges as shown; sew along top crease, catching tie. Fold tape over fabric edge, refold at crease, and hand stitch to wrong side of garment, sewing to end of tape. Press.

7. Trim away point of fabric extending beyond angled edge of front flap. Cut a 12-inch piece of bias tape, and use it to cover the raw edge of the neckline as you did the angled shoulder, turning ends of tape under to hem. Press.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Baby Kimonos - Martha Stewart Crafts

Cute Crafties: Animal Hat for Little Kids

Bear cubs are almost always warm, and have no need for hats. Your infant, though, has less natural insulation to protect him from the chill. A teddy bear toque keeps the heat in and provides a cheerful playmate. Even better, it can be made from a plain knit hat using nothing more than some cotton batting and a few quick stitches with contrasting yarn. Look for a tall hat with a rolled edge, like this one, or unfold the cuff of a ski hat. The end result proves it: Two heads are cuter than one.

Animal Hat How-To
1. Begin with a knit hat that has a little extra height. Put a marshmallow-size ball of batting inside peak of hat, and squeeze bear's neck to shape head. Mark eyes and nose using a fabric pencil.

2. Remove stuffing; create eyes with knots of contrasting yarn. Sew a yarn "X" for nose. Replace batting.

3. To shape head, loop a rubber band at neck to hold in place; wrap matching heavy button thread around neck three or four times, just above rubber bank; knot. Repeat twice more to shape ears. Remove rubber bands.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Animal Hat - Martha Stewart Crafts

Cute Crafties: DIY Leather Planner

There are many reasons leather is the best material for everything from day planners to checkbook covers: It's durable and weather resistant, conforms to different shapes, and develops a soft, well-worn feel.

But perhaps the best reason is that you can easily fashion little luxuries from it yourself. Making you own accessories costs far less than buying the finished products, and you can use surprising colors and details that you won't find in a store.

Leather is forgiving to work with -- it doesn't fray, so there's no need to finish edges, and if you purchase a 1/16-inch or thinner hide, it can be fed through a sewing machine. You'll need sturdy poly-cotton thread, a leather needle, and a Teflon pressure foot, which will keep the leather steady. Raise the tension according to your sewing machine's instructions, and make the stitches slightly longer than you would with fabric, to prevent the leather from tearing. Mark lines by scoring with a bone folder before sewing.

Tools and Materials
One hide (5 1/2 square feet) leather
No-slip ruler
Rotary cutter
Multipurpose cement
Poly-cotton thread
Sewing machine equipped for leather
Leather hole punch
1/2-inch binder rivets
7-inch 6-ring spine
Rivet setter
Mallet
Paper inserts
Grommet kit or elastic cording (optional)

Leather Planner How-To
1. For standard refills (6 3/4 by 3 3/4 inches), use a rotary cutter to cut a rectangle of leather that is 10 3/8 by 7 1/8 inches. Mark the midpoint of the length, and score with the bone folder. For the closure, cut a 3 1/2-by-1-inch tab to fit in a 3-by-1/4-inch strip.

2. Cement a 1/4 inch of the tab halfway up the inside of the back cover of the planner; let dry, and then sew. Cement the strip halfway up the outside of the front cover; let dry, and sew ends. For side flaps, cut two 3 1/4-by-7 1/8-inch pieces. Cement them on all but the inside long edge; let dry, and then sew all around, leaving a 1/4-inch border.

3. Backstitch at start and finish. Place the spine on the halfway point, mark each hole with a pencil, and punch out marks with a hole punch. Align bar over holes, and stick rivet posts through each one; snap the cap pieces onto posts from the other side. Position rivet setter over each rivet head, and pound them into place with the mallet. Fill binder with paper inserts. Use flaps to store loose items.



Read more at Marthastewart.com: Making Leather Accessories: Day Planners - Martha Stewart Crafts

Cute Crafties: Lace Picture Frame Mat

A photograph surrounded by a lace-printed mat is a charming hand-made gift. Here, we coated lightweight lace trim with brown ink, and pressed it against the mat to leave its fragile impression. The gift tag (pictured at bottom left in the photo) was made using the same method.

Lace Frame How-To
1. Learn the lace-printing technique.

2. Carefully apply strips of painters' tape to the four corners of a photo mat, so the edge of the tape runs from the inner corners to the outer corners, enabling you to create a mitered effect. On two sides of the mat, make pencil marks on the tape to serve as guides so you can position the lace in a straight line.

3. Ink the lace and print borders on the two marked sides, using the technique described above. Peel off the tape while the ink is wet. Let dry 30 minutes.

4. Retape the four corners, this time exposing the other two sides of the mat. Repeat the process.

Cute Crafties: Wall-Mounted Organizer

Maintain order in the house with an easy-to-make wall-mounted wire organizer.
Whether your work space is an office or a garden shed, this wall-mounted wire organizer can help maintain order.

Wire Organizer How-To
1) Wrap 14-gauge wire tightly around a 1/2-inch wooden dowel 3 times to create a loop; measure 5 inches along wire, and repeat, continuing to wrap and measure until you have 5 loops along 20 inches of wire. Snip off excess at first and last loops.

2) Form a diamond shape: Bend wire at loops, overlapping first and last. Using flat-nose pliers, twist 28-gauge wire around overlapped loops to secure. Repeat to make 3 more diamonds. Using nails, hang diamonds on wall in a larger diamond configuration. Slip in business cards, photographs, seed packets, and anything else you want to have handy.



Read more at Marthastewart.com: Wire Organizer - Martha Stewart Crafts

Drivin me CRAZY!!

I really don't like the way my blog looks. So for the past TWO day I have been tryin to upload a new template. And it won't upload! It's makin me mad! Cause I really like this one and it's prefect! Expect for the part about not uploadin. La de da di da........What are ya gonna do?! :/