Craft Books on Kindle for 89 Cents

Amazon currently has select craft books on Kindle for 89 cents which is a great deal! Check out the links below to see what is available!

Free Craft Supplies from Listia!

Free Craft Supplies? You Bet!

Yes you heard correctly there is a source for free craft supplies and I have gotten more stuff from this site than you can shake a fist at.

If you haven't heard of Listia its a free auction site where you bid on other people's stuff using credits instead of money.

Right now when you sign up you can get 500 credits to start bidding on items. You can earn even more credits by inviting friends to use Listia, listing items you have that you no longer need, sharing specific auctions on facebook, completing offers, or by purchasing credits.

So what are you waiting for go join and get crafty! :)

more free stuff on Listia

Adjusting Thread Tension on a Sewing Machine

If you are looking for a tutorial on adjusting thread tension on a sewing machine but are clueless as to what the numbers next to the lever thingy are The Singer Sewing Company has a great tutorial with a segment explaining thread tension and how to adjust it to avoid a big ball of knotted thread on the back of your fabric! Although the video is specific for Singer Models, thread tension should be the same for any brand.

 

String Bib to Snap Closure Bib Tutorial

LiL Pumpkin has this really cute string tie bib (I hate tieing it on her) that I wanted to refashion so It was easier to put on.

TO

Please note a you can use a sewing machine if you would like, but I hand sewed everything (thanks to fact I still haven’t learned how to thread my sewing machine lol). Also this is not perfect and I don't claim to be a professional... yet.

What you will need

Another bib with a side closure to make the pattern

Large piece of scrap fabric (It doesn’t have to match the fabric persay) I used part of an old receiving blanket 

Embroidery floss or sewing thread (any color will do)

Needles

Snaps (pick a size any size)

A note before you get started my bib had a plasticy back so it was a bit difficult to sew.

Lay out your fabric right sides together and place the side closure bib on top.

Using a pen trace the top part (neck) of the bib onto the wrong side of your fabric add some space on the rounded area to allow a good fit around the neck

After tracing pin your fabric together and sew along the line you made with leaving the opening.. well open. 

Then cut leaving a bit of fabric out (see photo)

Cut off the strings from your string bib. (yes you are seeing this picture twice in one post)

Using a skewer or crochet hook turn your fabric right side out and fold in fabric on the open end

Iron the piece that you just sewed to hold the fold.

Sew the open end to the left side of the bib

Ok now if your handsewing is really bad as mine is you can hide it by ironing a coordinating hem tape and fusable webbing (don't be like me and accidentally iron the vinyl, which is a picture I didn't post) I used one of the strings from the bib.

Attach your snap to the end of the fabric (I used a hot glue gun) and the other side onto the other side of the bib and you have a converted bib J

Free Dr Seuss Coloring Pages

My lil Pumpkin has discovered crayons today. I held off on teaching her how to use art supplies until she understood not to eat them, of course the first thing she did is put the green crayon in her mouth thinking it was a green bean (which she loves green beans). After numerous attempt and many 'no's' later she finally figured out that you swipe crayons on paper, and the table. Thankfully the crayons I got her are soybean crayons made by Prang which are eco friendly you can buy them here

Anyway I rounded up some Dr Seuss coloring pages for your enjoyment (heck even I still love coloring in coloring books!) below.

HP the Lorax Coloring Pages

Random Dr Suess Coloring Pages

Printable Seuss Worksheets and Coloring Sheets

Print and Play Dr Seuss Activities

Flowers From Baby Wipes

At the request from a friend on facebook I am posting this tutorial on how to make flowers (or Truffula trees) from baby wipes. Here is what you are going to need for this tutorial.

2 dry baby wipes
1 tie wrap, ribbon, pipe cleaner etc.
3 sissors


You have the option of dyeing the wipes using the sharpie tie dye method before making this but for the sake of my sanity (I don't really want to wait a whole day for the wipe to dry) I didn't dye them.


1. Stack your baby wipes and cut down the middle as shown by the placement of the sissors

2. Stack the 4 pieces and fold in the accordion method

when you are done it should look like this:

3. Wrap your tie wrap in the center tightly

4. starting with the top layer pull the top layer away from the bottom layers and do the same with the ones below.

5. Voila! Your very own baby wipe flower!

Toilet Paper Tube Robot Craft

Once again Crystal over at Surviving a Teacher's Salary has got her creative juices flowing and created these cute robots out of empty toilet paper tubes (do you know how many of these we throw out!) you can find the tutorial to craft these up here!

I think I might make some myself and try to use fabric scraps I've got laying around.