Bluebell Crafts

Many times, you have some free time to spend and you are confused as what to do then? There are many great ideas to utilize that time efficiently and creatively. One of them is making or designing some craft work. Craft is the art or skill of doing something in an artistic way. There are lots of craft ideas such as candle making, scrap booking, fabric painting, painting projects, knitting etc. Among these, knitting is the most favorite craft work for women and many of them love to knit soft toys such as dolls.

Requirements for making a knitted doll
The knitted doll is very soft and simple to make. You can make it with any soft yarn kept for baby clothing that will really make it a gift for your kid. For making this, you need to have scissors, darning needles, ruler, knitting needles of size 8, cream colored ball of yarn or nay other color of your preference, a piece of 5/16 blue sheer ribbon, 5/16 blue elastic.

Steps to make a knitted doll
1. You need to cast on 34 stitches with the help of soft colored yarn but remember to leave a 5 inch end that you will sew later.

2. You have to knit eight rows so that the bottom of the doll is formed.

3. Then, change the pattern to create the body of the doll and for this you need to knit one row, purl one row till you complete 62 rows.

4. Next, cast off your stitches and cut the knitted piece from the ball of yarn again leaving 5 inch that you will sew later.

5. Now thread your darning needle with any of the 5 inch end and sew the end in the closest side. This will later roll up the sides of the doll such that the stitching is not shown.

6. Again, thread your needle with remaining 5 inch end and sew it to the closest side so that you can roll up the knitted side to form the doll.

7. Once you have the knitted piece complete, you need to roll and shape it up in the form of a doll. You have to lay down the knitted piece front side down on your work surface but keep the backside facing you flat.

8. Next, roll the edges tightly starting from each end so that they meet in the middle but remember to keep each rolled side even in size.

9. Now, turn the knitted piece that you have rolled up over your work surface. This way, the rolled side should be facing your work surface and the other side with eight knitted rows towards you.

10. Then fold the rolled knitted piece almost in half and the edge of the side you have just folded should be touching the top edge of the eight knitted rows.

11. Next hold the folded knitted piece tightly with one hand and wrap elastic twice over the folded area nearly one and half inch down from the top. This will make the head of the doll and also secure the fold you made to form the body of the doll.

12. Now, partially unroll the folded over knitted piece below the elastic but you need to unroll the knitted piece till you get the resemblance of the arms on either side of the body and also knitted areas stretched between them.

13. Now, flip the partial unrolled portion below the elastic over the head. This will make a hood covering the head with rolled up arms near the elastic that divides and creates the neck and hands.

14. You need to cut 15 inch length of sheer blue ribbon and wrap this blue ribbon round the hood from back to front in same position as the elastic. You can tie a bow in the blue ribbon with the bow in front of the doll. You can trim the end of the ribbon at a slant.

Thus, you have a knitted doll that you can gift to your kids or decorate it as a craft work piece.

To know more, visit our recommended website craft-books.net

Your best friend from college is getting married. You’re the maid of honor. You’re thinking there is no way you’re going to get her a toaster or blender. Why not make her a bridal shower scrapbook?

Once the invitations are chosen, save one, completely filled out to put at the beginning of the scrapbook. When you send out the invitations, ask each guest to mail you one photo of the bride with the guest, along with a few sentences about how they know the bride, or a special moment they’ve shared with the bride. Another option is to have paper and pens available at the shower and have all of the guests write their thoughts while at the shower. For those guests who can not attend, it’s wonderful to have their photos and thoughts also. Since you want the paper to be acid free and lignin free, consider mailing the paper with the invitations.

Did the bride register at a particular store? Go to the store and take photos of the store, from the outside. If the bride goes with you, take photos of the bride standing outside of the store. If the store has a catalog, take a photo of the store catalog.

If the shower is held in a reception room, take several pictures before your guests arrive. If the shower is held in someone’s home, take photos of the outside of the house. Then take some photos of the decorated room prior to everyone arriving.

Are you serving food? If it’s prepared ahead of time, take photos of the table with all of the food on it.  Did guests bring the food? If so, provide them with paper to write down the recipe, which you can then include in the scrapbook you are making.

When the bride begins opening her gifts, try to take one photo of each gift. Jot down who gave her the gift and try to include a photo of the guest on the same page as the gift photo from that person. Make a point of getting at least one photo of each guest in attendance.

If you play any type of games that involve writing, try to use acid free, lignin free paper so that you can include the game sheets in the scrapbook.

If the bride has thank you notes, include a blank thank you note in the scrapbook, so that she’ll have the memory of what notes she used.

Using all of the above suggestions, you can create a very special memory for the bride to be and I guarantee that the bride will appreciate this scrapbook much more than a toaster or blender.

Lace makes attractive material no matter where you add the designs. If you have already made decorative towels, you are ready to add your lace and serger edges. If you have not stitched your decorative towels, you will need to learn the steps to get started. Otherwise, you can add lace trimming and serger edges to finish towels you have purchased. Terry cloth towels look great when lace and serger finishes are attached. To get started, continue reading.

How to get started with lace trimming:
To get started you will need a plain or unadorned towel, and lace edges, as well as a galloon, i.e. the ornamental trimming lace. The narrow bands of embroidery should consist of lace, braids, or thread colors of gold and silver. Preferably, you want lace. Make sure that the material is machine washable. Purchase the medium-weight lace, such as the taffeta, satin, or polyester.

How to create lace trimming for bathroom towels:
Once you have your materials gathered: (1) use the decorative trimming and cut an inch of the lace, cutting until it extends considerably a distance of your towel width. About a half-inch, fold the fabric under, folding it at the ends. In the desired position, pin the lace to your towel. You want the pins over the lower borders or edges. (2) Along the ends you have folded, stitch. Stitch along the edges of your scallop sides, keeping your stitching in a straight line. (3) Use the edges of your lace and repeat step one. You want the lace this time to fasten to the lower borders. Along the end folds, stitch and continue to the upper borders. Keep in a straight line. You should be finished at this point, unless you need to finish the upper borders of your lace. In this instance, on the opposite side of the bias band, cover it. Now you are ready to create your over-lock finished edges.

How to create serger, finished edges:
You will need plain material and a special needle, such as the tapestry. In addition, you will need nylon, combined threads of wool, contrasting threads of normal value, etc to get started.

How to stitch:
(1)    Your serger should be set at three-threads, to equalize your stitch, which creates the serger. Both of your loopers should be threaded as well. Use your nylon threads and common thread. Heave the thread through your needle and prepare your stitch so that it is set to desired widthwise position. The length should be set at least one (mm) (2) along the selvages, start stitching whilst holding in place the tail string tight. You want to avoid trimming the edge of your cloth. The tails should be left at the extremity of your cloth. (3) Now, you will need a stitching needle. Thread it. About one inch and begin weaving your tapestry needlework so that it falls beneath the stitches at your serger. The tail strings may have extra length, which you will need cutting tools designed for sewers to cut it off.
(2)    Once you finish your lace and serger, you may want to add a few other bathroom accessories to set off your patterns. Try considering creative towel hooks, rings, and bars.

A variety of rings, hooks, and bars are available online, including the medallion designs, which comprise bold backs. The stylish designs will offset your new-laced towels. You can also find the iron bolder, which tie back. The items bring luxury to your bath. Décor wooden pole sets are available, as well as many other designs to bring out your new towels. Now that you have your rings, hooks, bars, and towels you might want to offset the room further by adding bordered mirrors.

Doll dresses are fun to make. First, however you must learn the rules for beginners to make quality designs. To start you will need to consider fabric. Some people like multi-colored clothing, however the clothes must harmonize to deliver quality dresses.

To make sure that you accomplish quality doll dresses, you will need the right equipment and tools. You will need a sewing machine, cleansers, universal needles, including stretch needles, pins, olfaa panel, and a rotary or gyratory cutter. You will also need hand-sew needles, dressmaker scissors, sewing scissors, fabric glue and pen, greaseproof paper for tracing, pencil, measuring tape, lace, ribbons, fasteners, elastic, paper scissors, etc.

Before you get started, you will need to clean your sewing machine. Use “Dust Away,” to spray your machine near the bobbin region. You will also need to clean the bar where the needles are installed, as well as the “tension” discs at the top. Once you clear the machine of dust, use a drop of oil.

Now you are prepared to make doll dresses. Before I forget, make sure you have thread, specifically DMC broder if you intend to make French dresses.

How to trim:

You can use the pin tuck method to trim your doll dress. You will need twin needles, and a foot that is designed for pin tucking. Set up your machine. The right needle should be clockwise while the left counterclockwise. At the “tension” discs, you should have the left needle threaded on the same side, and the right needle threaded on the right thread. To keep your dresses fresh, you can use starch to spray your dress prior to pin tucking.

How to pin tuck skirts:

When pin tucking skirts make sure you leave some space.

How to pin tuck sleeves and/or bodice:

Take a square of your fabric and pin tuck it. You can cut out the upper section of the dress and/or sleeves after. Keep in mind when you start pin tucking for sleeves and bodice, the fabric size is modified, or reduced.

If you are not familiar with pin tucks, you can tuck your doll dress. To tuck you merely consider the size and width of your garment. To start you press down, pressing the folded center. Along the fold and edge of your fabric, stitch the width precisely. As long as you stay consistent within your stitching lines, you will do fine. You should always start sewing at the grain after pulling a single thread.

After you complete your dress, or near the finish, you may want to consider bows, tassels, smock, or hand sewn objects. Hand embroidering is ideally used in finishing. Use a range of DMC embroidery to make finish your dress.

Smocking is the added finishing whereas you use patterns to complete your dress. Silk ribbons, satin single and double ribbons make up a great pinafore, or back dressing.

Tassels are easy to make, yet you will, need crochet threads and/or embroidery thread to complete your mission. You will also need cardboard in which you will need to cut out a part a length longer than your tassel. Use your thread, wound it around the cut part, and continue until you have achieved the thickness you desire. At one end of the part, use the same thread and channel it through the thickness. Next, tie the thread so that it knots and at the opposite end of your part, cut. Do not cut your thread. Now you are ready to make your tassel.

To finish, at the knotted region, convey your thread so that it meets with your tassel. Next, wound another part of thread about the finish of your tassel a few times. Knot the area so that it is taut. At the finish of your tassel, skid the thread in to fasten your finished work. If the finish necessitate cutting to make sure it is constant, do so now.

Wind chimes are used all over the world to scare off evil spirits from homes and birds from the fields. Wind chimes were also brought into temples for the tranquility they brought. Today, we use wind chimes decorative items indoors and out.

You’ll find wind chimes made of everything from huge pipes of metal to delicate porcelain sticks, anything that will make a lovely noise.  Some wind chimes don’t tinkle, wooden ones make more of a clunking noise but still contribute to the ambiance in a garden.  All sorts of household items can be used to make your own wind chimes and today we’ll discuss how to make chimes using old cutlery – knives, forks and spoons (look for them in junk stops or car boot sales).

You will need:

6 each – soup spoons and dinner forks
1 Butter knife
8-10″ Metal or wooden plate or circle
1/8-inch bit and drill
Rubber mallet
Different lengths of heavy fishing line
26 crimper beads
Pliers
Wire, if using a wooden or metal circle

Instructions

1.    Find the cutlery pieces you’ll use for your wind chime. The butter knife will be used in the center of the chime as the clanger and the spoons and forks will be located around the edge of the circle. You can use other headers such as sticks, plates, tea pots, etc. Beads and other embellishments can also be used.

2.    Put the spoons and forks on a flat surface and flatten with the mallet; it is very effective if they are twisted and the flattened. Once flattened, drill a hole in the middle, near the end of the handle of each piece, so the cutlery piece dangles downward. Set these aside while you get on with the rest of the project.

3.    Using the same bit, drill a hole through the center of the metal or wooden plate. The butter knife will hang there. For hanging the forks and spoons, drill 12 evenly spaced holes around the outer circle of the plate. If using a wooden or metal circle, attach the wire in an + across the circle and drill 12 holes evenly spaced around the circles for the forks and spoons.

4.    Cut six – 5″ strips, six – 7″ strips and 1 – 10″ strip of fishing line.

5.    Thread the ten-inch strip through the hole in the butter knife. Use pliers and a crimper bead to secure the knife to the fishing line and then attach the fishing line to the + in the circle or the centre hole of the plate, secure with another crimper bead.

6.    Using 3 of the 5″ strips of fishing line and 3 of the 7″ strips, thread the fishing line through the hole in the spoons and secure each piece to its line with a crimper bead.  Do the same with the forks using the remaining 5″ and 7″ strips.

7.    Alternating spoon and fork, thread the fishing line attached to each, through the holes on the outer rim of the plate or circle. Loop the line back on itself and secure with the crimper bead and pliers.

8.    Lastly, loop a 4″ piece of fishing line and thread both ends through the plate. Secure with a crimper bead under the plate. Use this loop to hang your new silverware wind chime.

9.    Hang where the breezes will catch it and enjoy.

A garden scrapbook can offer a lovely, natural element for anyone reading your storybook. Flowers are among the most popular items used in scrapbooking and using flowers in a scrapbook is very much a part of crafting the scrapbook story of your garden.

How to dry flowers for scrap booking

You can use corsages, bouquets and any parts of the flower to craft your garden scrapbook. Once dried and compressed, the flowers should be laminated. Use Xyron sticker creation machine or any acid-free product to laminate your flowers.

Then glue or tape the flowers in place so that they are stuck securely on the page. The compressed and dried flowers can be lined up or placed at an angle – anything that pleases your eye, and added to your scrapbook page.  Once you are happy with the arrangement, smoothly glue them near your photographs and notations.  You may have seen flowers preserved in bibles. The process in scrapbooks is similar, only you will want to position and stick the flowers in place so that they do not fall out.

You can collect flowers, seed heads, leaves, grasses etc. at almost anytime of the year.  Every season offers you wonderful plants and flowers to add to your garden scrapbook. But collect the plant material after the dew has evaporated so that it is not too damp. Read the rest of this entry »

As a kid did you ever cut pictures out of magazines and paste them onto paper and then make a book out of those papers? You may have collected other bits and pieces like stripes of lace or ribbons, cards or tickets and pasted those around or along side the pictures. Remember too, how all your hard work got stuck into a drawer and you found it years later in bits?

Now there’s a grown up way to preserve your treasures and memories – Scrapbooking.

The concept behind building a scrapbook of memories hasn’t changed much. You can still put photos, cards, newspaper clippings, poems, tickets and odd bits of stuff that remind you of events, people, those times you cherish into your scrapbook to preserve and/or display those memories.

Scrapbooking techniques and tools, however have changed substantially since you were a kid. Scrapbooking albums have replaced the messy bundles of paper. These albums are generally bound or placed in a binder. In this way, all your hard work stays together and won’t fall apart. Furthermore, new specialized covers provides protection from the outside elements. Read the rest of this entry »

To begin with, you need to know the crochet abbreviations to help you relate to the process. Crocheting experts and amateurs alike use these terms, plus others:

• beg  (beginning)
• bet  (between)
• bk lp  (back loop)
• ch  (chain)
• ch-  (previous chain)
• cont  (continue)
• dc  (double crochet)
• dec  (decreasing)
• dtr  (double/triple crochet)
• ft lp  ( front loop)
• hdc  (half-double crochet)
• inc  ( increasing)
• lp  (loop)
• yo (yarn over)

And, if you want to crochet, you’ll need to learn how to handle the hook, work jointly, chain stitch, slip knot and crochet a single row, so read on and we’ll talk you through it. Read the rest of this entry »

Scrapbooks are great fun to make and to look at. They tell a story about the person who made it and the people preserved in its content. Scrapbooks can include photos, journals, letters, report cards, tickets, greeting cards, certificates, stories, school exercise books,  dance cards and programs, brochures, footprints, pressed flower corsages, ribbons, lace and so much more.

Each detail that goes into your scrapbook will add to the memory package you build. When you create the time capsule – your scrapbook – you carefully preserve the period of time covered in your story. Time capsules can include just about anything – photographs, clothes, hand/foot prints, CDs, details of family members like names, weights, heights, relationships, genealogy and more. For instance, you can make a scrapbook that covers the time from your baby’s first step up to this very moment – however old your ‘baby’ is now. Read the rest of this entry »

Adhesives – Which Ones to Choose?

Using the right adhesives to keep your scrapbook materials together is really important. Equally, chose the correct adhesive to use with your photos.

You can choose glues, paste or tape to create your scrapbook. The best materials to use should always have the words “pH neutral”, “Acid-free”, “Archival Safe” or the “CK OK” seal somewhere on their labels. For best results, your adhesives should also be lignin-free.

The Photo Activity Test or PAT is an internationally recognized, standardized test used to determine  whether or not materials such as papers and adhesives can be used for photo storage or archival purposes and won’t damage your scrapbook or whatever you put in it.

Adhesives which are safe include acrylic-based or starch-based products. Mounting square, photo corners, tape runners, double sided tape, vellum tape and acid-free glue (liquid or stick forms) can all be used safely.  Avoid purchasing adhesive that run, relax, transfers or have a strong odor.  Recent studies have shown that rubber cement and other strong smelling adhesives will damage photos over time.

TIP: Use heavy papers when crafting your scrapbook.

In craft stores, you will find a wide selection of glues, including sticks, bottled liquid glues, glue pens, etc. Always read the label and test the products, if you can, to see which are best suited for your scrapbooking projects. For smaller projects, the glue pens are great. Apply enough force to stick smaller objects together or onto the pages.  If you want to embellish, you can use the two-way pens. Avoid ordinary glue sticks or the glue your kids use at school.

Cellophane tape is great to use as an adhesive. Tape is usually easier than glue to use. When choosing tape, however, makes sure you use a tape roller. Using tape also allows you to change your mind and easily remove and re-stick the item.

Using Photo Splitters. 

Photo splitters are easy to apply, acid free, photo safe and convenient mounting squares that permanently attach memorabilia, photos, certificates and awards, news clippings, letters, post cards, and other papers in scrapbooks or memory books. They are double sided, so just peel off the protective cover and stick the item onto your scrapbook page.

Glues and tape are cheaper to use than the Xyron machines, however these machines do help make up quality scrapbooks. Xyron machines can be used as laminators and for making stickers. The machines are also ideal for creating multi-scrapbook projects.

In addition to the machines, glues, tapes, you may want to invest in photo splits and precut tape, and a pair of Honey Bee Craft Scissors from EK Success. With their non-stick blades, the stickiest of adhesives won’t be a problem because the blades stay adhesive-free and smooth.

Scrapbooks are a way to bring your family together.

Scrapbooks help to recall memories of the people and event in your life, they spark fragmented memories, and bring the past to life.  When crafting your scrapbook, you’ll want to use only those materials that will keep your memories safe.  With all the time and effort you put into scrapbooking, you don’t want to have it all fall apart because of the wrong choice of something so elemental as the correct glue!

Choosing The Right Adhesives for Your Scrapbooking