FREE PROJECT IDEAS will be updated on a continuous basis.

PAPER DOLLS ARE FUN AND EASY!

Download a peper doll template from the web. I really like the one by Mirkwood at http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/mirkwooddesigns/paperdoll.htm. After you print it, glue the page on cardstock paper and then cut it out. You can cover it with all your specialty paper scraps or from magazines or simply use some color to beautify the surface. Also, you can take your stamp pad and stamp on it. Have fun!

LEAF PRINTING on Greeting Cards

Collect leaves of different shapes and sizes. On the back side of the leaf where the "veins" of the leaf are raised,color the leaf with a wet marker and then immediately turn it over and rub the surface across your greeting card. The result is just beautiful but be prepared to embrace imperfection because it may be difficult to get every detail. Add different leaves and try overlapping them in a variety of colors for a beautiful effect.

FINGER KNITTING

Instead of using traditional knitting needles, there is a simple method to knit using the fingers of one hand. You weave yarn around your fingers on one hand and use your fingers on your other hand to manipulate the yarn to knit.

That is the basic concept and you can read and see pictures about it or watch a short video on utube that is very helpful.

PRINTMAKING

There are many ways to make prints from the basic to the complex. The following project is adapted from one that I did with my children and is suitable for both children and adults.


Materials:

Potatoes (larger baking type) and thick carrots (if you want to use only one vegetable, use the potato)

Knife

Acrylic or poster paint

Dish/tray for paint(s)

Paper


Process:

The good news is that you do not have to scrape the vegetables clean! The vegetables are used for a shape silhouette. Cut the potato in half; it can be cut lengthwise if you plan to use a larger surface to create a design or in half horizontally if you need a bigger grip to hold the potato during the printing process. Cut the end off the heaviest part of the carrot.

Optional:

You can use a melon cutter or other kitchen tool if available to carve out a pattern in the potato.

Place your paint in a dish or tray. You can use a different color for each surface. So if you have one potato and one carrot, you have 3 surfaces and the opportunity to work with 3 different colors. Dip the exposed surface of the vegetable in the paint and scrape off the excess against the edge of the tray. Press firmly down on paper and lift off. Repeat this with different colors/surfaces until you have the desired design.

Paper

You can choose to make designs on pre-cut cards or on a large piece of oaktag which can be cut up into smaller units for cards. The latter is fun and quick and sometimes makes more interesting cards!

OFF THE LOOM WEAVING

Understanding how to weave and setting up a loom can be daunting for some people. However most understand the premise of weaving as “over one and under one” repeated across the fabric. This can be done without buying a loom or special tool, you just need 2 hard back chairs where you can tie the yarn through and around the bar across the back.


Materials:

2 hard back chairs that have an opening on the back. Ladder type chairs or spindle chairs work well for this project.

2 balls of yarn which are visibly different from each other (esp. a ribbon and a novelty) and have over 100 yds per ball..

Tape measure

Scissors


Process:

Cut 12 pieces of each yarn in lengths of 80 inches. Tie one end from ball “A” to one end of ball “B”. Repeat this so you have 12 pieces of yarn and each piece has both yarns attached.

Take one of the double yarn pieces and thread it through the back of a chair, letting it hang down. Continue with the rest of the yarn ends threading them equally across the back.

Take your other chair and with the back facing the back of the other chair, tie each yarn around the open back of the second chair to create a loop and there will be 12 loops in all. Be careful to maintain the same yarn on top.

When it is all threaded and tied, move the 2 chairs apart to create tension. This will be your “warp”. Use the remaining yarn as your filler or “weft”.

Weaving:

The weaving process: Thinking of Color “A” as ribbon and the novelty yarn as Color “B”, as you weave, you will be alternating placing your yarn under Color A and then the next row placing your yarn under Color “B”. It is important to place the shuttle over and then under consecutive warp yarns. If you make a mistake, it will be easy to see and fix before you complete your next row. However, if you make a mistake and do not see it until far into the project, do not worry. The contrast of these 2 yarns is very forgiving to the eye and will be hard to see the error.

Weaving with yarn on shuttles:

Yarn shuttles are optional and are simply a flat holder for the yarn to be wrapped around. Before you weave across each row, unwind enough yarn off the shuttle to be woven across the warp. You can weave with only the novelty yarn or make stripes by alternating with the ribbon yarn. Although the ribbon yarn occupies more weaving space because it is a flat yarn, you will have fewer yards of the ribbon yarn available after setting up your warp.

Beginning the project:

Starting about 8 inches away from the chair tie, take your yarn/shuttle and go UNDER all the Color “A” yarn (eg. ribbon). Let the first end of this weft yarn hang a few inches over the warp as we will take care of it later. On the next row, using the same yarn or the Color "B" yarn, go OVER all the Color "A" yarn. Repeat alternating the over and under weave. You can use only one yarn to fill, alternate yarns or simply fill it as you wish. Most important is that your weave is consistent.

Finishing:

When you have finished weaving, you are ready to take your beautiful new scarf off the chair backs. One at a time, untie the bow and make a gentle knot against the fabric, but do not push it too tight against the woven area. This will keep it from unraveling. Continue across the chair back opening all the yarn ties and knotting each set. Then repeat this at the next chair.

Lay the scarf on a flat surface and cut the ends (which are fringe) to make them even on each side. You will have some “tails” of yarn and with your fingers, simply weave them gently in place in the scarf fabric.

That’s it! Enjoy!

TIPS:

Remember that in weaving, the yarn color that you go over in one row is the same color that you go underneath in the next row.

Try to be loose and consistent in your weaving. If you pull too tight around the edges, the width of the scarf will shrink. Also, do not “pack” in the yarn filling (weft), you may run out of yarn and your scarf may be too bulky. Let the weft set gently against the preceding row.

There is no right or wrong way to use color as your weft. You may choose to alternate colors or to use one yarn as a weft for half the scarf and one color for the other half of the scarf. Changing colors in your weft produces stripes.

If you alternate colors for each row of weft, make sure that at the end of each row, the previous yarn lies next to the last warp yarn so that it is held in place on the next row as you weave.