Home Sewing Box Essentials

When it comes to putting together a home sewing box or kit, it is important to be prepared for all of those home mending jobs.

You can store your mending items in a large metal tin, a shoe box, rubbermaid or plastic bin or go out and purchase a box that is specifically made for housing sewing supplies.

Here are the items I feel that every home sewing box needs to include.

1. Sewing Thread (Basic Colors) – white, black, brown, red, green, yellow, orange, tan
2. Needles – various lengths and tips
3. Straight Pins – one box of pins (I prefer rust-proof pins)
4. Measuring Tape
5. Scissors – I recommend a high quality pair of fabric scissors
6. Buttons – You will want to stay stocked with various colors and sizes of buttons
7. Safety Pins – I recommend various sizes in both silvertone and goldtone metals
8. Seam Ripper – Every good sewing box needs a great seam ripper tool.
9. Needle Threader – Even if you have great eye sight, a needle threader can save you precious time when you are in a hurry.
10. Iron-on Patches – I keep white, black, denim, navy, tan and brown iron-on patches in my sewing box at all times.
11. Fabric Glue – If you are in a hurry and need a quick fix, you can hem a pair of pants or fix a seam with a few dabs of fabric glue.
12. Thimble – Protect your fingertips and invest in a good thimble.

What kind of items do you like to keep in your sewing box so that you are always prepared for mending emergencies?

Shelly

How To Make Felt Valentine’s Day Refrigerator Magnets

When it comes to making Valentine’s Day crafts with older kids, this is a quick and easy project that will cost less than $1.50 to make. I recently made this project with a group of girls that range in age from 8 to 11 years old.

Here is what you will need:

red and pink craft felt
red embroidery floss with blunt tip sewing needle
2″ wide piece (strip) of magnet
scissors
paper patterned heart measuring 3 1/4″ wide by 2 3/4″ tall
disappearing ink marker
all-purpose craft glue

Pattern: You can just free-hand a heart pattern by folding a piece of paper in half and cutting it into a heart shape that measures approximately 3 1/4″ wide by 2 3/4″ tall.

Trace your heart pattern onto a piece of red felt. Using scissors, cut off 1/4″ around the edges of your paper pattern and then trace the smaller heart that you just made onto a piece of pink felt using a disappearing marker.

Using a blunt tip sewing needle and three strands of red embroidery floss, hand stitch the word LOVE onto the pink heart. Once that has been completed, use three strands of red embroidery floss to blanket stitch or simple whip stitch the pink felt heart to the red felt heart. You will want to stitch around all of the edges to attach the pink heart to the red heart.

Cut an 8″ long by 1/4″ wide strip from red felt. Using the photo for reference, make an arrow from the strips and hand sew them to the back side of the red felt heart. Once completed, use all-purpose craft glue to attach a magnet strip onto the back of the red heart. Let dry for 1 hour and then your new refrigerator magnet is ready to use!

This craft project idea is copyright 2010 by Work At Home Business Options, All Rights Reserved. Please do not reprint this project, instructions or photo without our permission.

Frugal Valentine’s Day Card Holder Ideas

When our daughter was little, every year we would sit down and make our own handmade Valentine’s Day greeting card holders. Since this holder was only used for a few days every year, we would always try to make one with items we had around the house… aka…the frugal way of doing things :)

Here are a few ideas that we did over the years.

1. Take 2 foam or paper plates and cut one of those plates in 1/2. Use a hole punch to punch holes around the edges. Using some ribbon or yarn, thread the ribbon through the holes to attach the two plates together. The 1/2 plate should be the one on the front. Then use stickers, left-over gift wrap, contstruction paper, magazines, etc and let the children decorate their new card holder.

2. Take a cereal box and cut it in half. Use construction paper, stickers, gift wrap, magazines, etc and let children decorate their own box.

3. Plastic or paper shoe boxes make great card holders. Give children some crafting and art supplies and let them decorate shoe boxes to hold all of their Valentine’s Day goodies.

4. Empty round cardboard oatmeal containers. These containers are the perfect size to hold those little Valentine greetings the kids exchange at school. Give your child some craft and art supplies and let them decorate their own container.

Making your own Valentine’s Day greeting card container doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Look around your home and grab up some of your left-over arts and craft supplies and let your children spend the afternoon crafting up some Valentine’s Day Items!

Shelly

Valentine’s Day Family Craft Activities

Do you enjoy decorating your home for Valentine’s Day? Are you looking for some easy family craft activities that incorporate the Valentine’s Day theme?

When our daughter was a little girl, we enjoyed decorating our home for each and every holiday along with the various seasons…and Valentine’s Day was no exception.

Here are some crafty ideas that you can make with your children this year.

1. Cut out pink, red and white hearts (various sizes) from construction paper. Use a hole punch and punch a hole in the center top area of your heart. Thread some satin ribbon through to make a hanging loop. Give the children some glue and let them glue on some rhinestones, beads, charms, glitter, buttons etc. Then use some suction cups and hang them up on your windows or household mirrors.

2. Homemade Valentine’s Day Cards…you can make them simple or elaborate using construction paper, stickers, markers, glutter glue paint pens, etc.

3. You can make a heart banner by cutting out and decorating paper hearts from construction paper. Use a hole punch and punch a hole in the side of each heart and thread them together with satin ribbon or yarn. Then proudly hang up your banner some where in your home.

4. If you are crafting with older children, consider doing some baking. You can bake cupcakes and cakes and decorate them in a Valentine’s Day theme. Children love to add sprinkles and little candies to the frosting!

~ Shelly ~

Kids Craft Project – Beaded Felt Ornaments

This is a really easy craft project that you can do with older children and it only requires a few supplies. Since there is a little hand sewing involved, I recommend ages 7 and up with adult supervision.

I find that this is a great group project for scouts, youth groups, after-school programs etc. because they are quick, easy and inexpensive to make.

These ornaments would look cute hung off a holiday tree, garland or your holiday packages.

Supplies Needed:

Green Felt Sheets
Red 2 MM or 4 MM Round Beads
Dark Green Sewing Thread and Sewing Needle
Scissors
Red Satin Ribbon 1/4″ Wide
All-Purpose Craft Glue

Pattern: You need a 3″ diameter circle (I used the bottom of a drinking glass). Use a bottle cap to to make a 1″ diameter circle inside your large circle so that you have a wreath shape.

Trace your pattern onto green colored felt. You will need two wreath shapes out of felt for each ornament that you make. Using some dark green sewing thread, hand sew on red beads to the front side of one wreath shape.

Place two felt wreath shapes together and whip stitch the center circle closed. Once finished, whip stitch the outer edges closed. Cut a piece of red satin ribbon that measures 1/4″ wide by 5 1/2″ long and tie it into a bow. Glue this bow to the top of your ornament.

Using doubled green thread, make a hanging loop and attach it to the top of your ornament. Let it dry for 20 minutes and then its ready to be hung onto your holiday tree.

Project copyright 2009, Work At Home Business Options, All Rights Reserved.

Kids Craft Project – Beaded Wreath Holiday Ornaments

When our daughter was young, we spent a weekend afternoon crafting up some cute holiday wreath ornaments using beads and lace. You can find the craft supplies listed for this project at your neighborhood craft supply store.

The following project would be suited for children over the age of 5 with adult supervision.

Materials Needed:

6″ piece of pipe cleaner (I used clear ones)
16″ to 18″ piece of red flat edge lace that is 1″ in width
1 package of green plastic tri-beads
1 package of clear plastic tri-beads
1 flocked teddy bear measuring approximately 1 1/4″ tall
4″ piece of gold metallic cord
all-purpose quick-drying craft glue
scissors
ruler

Note: When you purchase the flat edge lace (non-gathered lace) look for a pattern that has a hole that runs along the edge so that you can thread your pipe cleaner through it.

Step 1: Cut off a 6″ piece of pipe cleaner and a 16″ to 18″ piece of lace and set aside.

Step 2: Slightly pinch one end of pipe clear and then thread on a green tri-bead. Start threading on your lace followed up by a clear tri-bead. You will want to continue this pattern for the length of your pipe cleaner. (green bead, lace, clear bead).

Step 3: Once you have the pipe cleaner filled up with beads and lace, shape it into a circle and twist the two pipe cleaner ends together. It should look like a wreath.

Step 4: Glue the flocked teddy bear onto the wreath as shown in the picture. (he should look like he is sitting inside it). Finally, take a 4″ piece of gold metallic cord and thread through the lace at the top and form a knotted loop so that it can be hung on your holiday tree.

Shelly

Holiday Craft Project – Clay Pot Toy Soldier

If you enjoy making homemade holiday craft items, I think you will appreciate this inexpensive clay pot toy soldier project.

Ages: 8 and up with adult supervision.

Materials Needed:

all-purpose craft glue or hot glue gun
1 wooden candle cup
1 1/2″ diameter wooden ball (flat ends)
3″ clay pot
two 2″ clay pots
acrylic paints: peach, red, pink, black, yellow and brown
paint brushes
clear acrylic sealer in a spray can
several sheets of newspaper (because you will be painting)

Note: If you have paint markers, you can use those to add facial details and clothing accents if desired.

Painting: Paint the wooden candle cup and both 2″ clay pots solid black. Paint the large clay pot red and the wooden ball for the head peach. Once they are dry, go back and add the details as shown in the photo to make the face, hair and clothing accents. Once your pieces are dry, spray with a clear acrylic sealer and let dry for 1 to 2 hours.

Assembly: The easiest way I found to assemble the toy soldier is by using a hot glue gun. You can use craft glue but it takes forever to dry if you have the patience for it. Turn your clay pot upside down and hot glue the head on. Once it has dried, turn the candle cup upside down and glue it on top of the head. Turn your small clay pots upside down and glue the large clay pot on top (gluing the body to the legs).

You will want to let this project dry completely before moving it around.

This craft project article is exclusive to Work At Home Business Options and can not be reproduced without our permission.

Kids Craft Project – 2 Easy Reindeer Holiday Tree Ornaments

When it comes to keeping the children busy during those cold winter days, as parents…we often look for inexpensive craft projects. About 15 years ago, my daughter and I spent an afternoon making some cute reindeer holiday ornaments.

You can make several of these in just a few hours and use them on holiday packages or your christmas tree.

Clothes Pin Reindeer Ornament

scissors
all-purpose craft glue
paint brush and brown acrylic paint or brown marker
2 wooden craft-type clothes pins
2 tiny wiggle eyes
4″ piece of red embroidery floss
scrap of green felt
2 small red pom-poms

Using brown paint or a brown marker, paint on the reindeer hooves and set aside. Using a piece of green felt, cut out a small holly shape and glue 1 small pom-pom on the center of the left, set aside to dry. Take the red piece of floss and tie a knot in it to form a loop. Using the picture as a guide, glue the 2 clothes pins together, sandwiching the red floss loop in the center. Glue on the wiggle eyes, pom-pom nose and the green holly onto the head. Set ornament aside to completely dry.

Wine Cork Reindeer Ornament

scissors
all-purpose craft glue
paint brush and brown acrylic paint
1 gold chenille stem
2 tiny wiggle eyes
1 small red pom-pom
4″ piece of craft wire

Paint the wine cork with brown paint and set aside to dry. Cut off a 4″ piece of wire and twist it close to form a hanging loop. Cut your gold chenille stem in half and shape it into antlers as shown in the photograph. Using the end of your scissors, make a small cavity in the top of your wine cork. Squirt a nice side glob of glue down into the hole and insert your wire hanger and antlers. Glue 2 tiny wiggle eyes on the front of the face and a red pom-pom for the reindeer’s nose.

This article is copyright 2009 by Shelly Hill and can not be reproduced without my permission.

Kids Craft – Holiday Snowman Ornaments Project

Many years ago when our daughter was a little girl, every holiday season we looked forward to making homemade ornaments for our holiday packages. Over the years, our gift recipients looked forward to seeing what we would come up with for their package embellishment.

This snowman ornament is easy to do and only takes a few basic crafting supplies. I believe that its suited for children age 5 years and up, with adult supervision.

Supplies Needed:

tongue depressor sticks or popsicle sticks
basic white all-purpose craft glue (the kind that dries clear)
piece of string or yarn measuring 4″ long
piece of cotton fabric measuring 1/4″ by 4 1/2″ long (scarf)
acrylic paints: white, orange and black
paint brush
toothpicks
scrap piece of black craft foam or felt
newspaper (used to cover your work surface)

Step 1: Lay tongue depressor sticks on the newspaper and have your child paint them white, letting each side dry for 15 minutes before flipping it over to paint the reverse side.

Step 2: Paint 1/4 of the top of the stick black with acrylic paint and let dry. This black area will become the top hat.

Step 3. Using a piece of black felt or black craft foam, cut out a piece that measures 1/8″ of an inch by 1 1/2″ in length. Glue this piece to the stick to form the brim of the top hat. Let dry.

Note: If you are using a popsicle stick, you will need a smaller piece of black foam that measures 1/8″ by 1″ in length.

Step 4. Dip the end of the paint brush into black paint and use it to dot on 2 snowman eyes and then 3 round dots further down on your stick to represent 3 coal buttons.

Step 5. Using orange paint, have your child paint on a triangular shaped nose (under the 2 eyes).

Step 6. Dip one end of a toothpick into black paint. Dab on 5 little dots under the orange carrot nose to represent a mouth. Let your snowman completely dry.

Step 7. Once project is dry, flip it over and glue a string or a piece of yarn near the top backside to be used to hang the ornament onto your package or holiday tree. Finish up your project by tying a piece of fabric around the neck area to give him a scarf.

This article is copyright 2009 by Shelly Hill, all rights reserved. If you would like to reprint this article, please contact Shelly directly.

2 Fun and Easy Refrigerator Magnets Kids Can Make!

Summer is just around the corner and soon the kids will be out of school for their Summer vacations. You might be asking yourself, “How will I keep the kids busy?”

I think these craft ideas are great for bible school, girl scouts, cub scouts, daycare arts and crafts projects and even to keep your little ones entertained if you are a busy mom who works from home.

Index Cards Art-Work Magnets

Clear Contact Paper or Laminating Sheets
3 x 5 blank index cards (no printed lines)
markers, crayons, colored pencils, water paints, stickers, etc.
2″ piece of magnet

Have the kids draw and color on the blank index cards or have them write a poem or a story. When finished, you will want to seal the index card by using clear contact paper or self-stick laminating sheets (office supply store). Glue a magnet piece to the backside and you have an instant refrigerator magnet.

Recycled Game Piece Magnets

dominoes, playing cards, plastic coins, dice, miscellaneous game pieces, etc.
all-purpose white craft glue
magnets (round disk shaped ones work best)

Collect miscellaneous game pieces that are no longer needed and recycle them into refrigerator magnets. All you need to do is glue the magnet onto the back sides and let them dry for 30 minutes. If you are using paper bills (money) from games, you will first want to laminate them or cover them with clear contact paper before gluing the magnet onto the backs.

Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a Manager with Tupperware. You can contact Shelly at:
Web: Classy Home Business Women
Web: Shelly’s Tupperware Home Business

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