The questions keep on rolling in! Put your thinking caps on - we have an "out of the box" question. Reader Linda V. asks: I would really like to see some projects created with the great containers from these chocolates! With Valentine's Day around the corner, the heart containers will be up for grabs! I also have Christmas trees, a star, a pyramid, a bunny, etc. these just have to be great for SOMETHING!
Does anyone have any good creative ideas for reusing these boxes?
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Conversation hearts are one of those love-'em-or-hate-'em kind of candies. They're not my favorites (they remind me of heart-shaped Tums), but they are one of those classic, iconic candies nonetheless. If you'd rather non eat them, how about crafting with them instead? Katie from Sew Woodsy turned a box of them into a set of magnets, sealing them up with a coat of sparkle Mod Podge. (Gloss or matte Mod Podge would also work if you don't have any of the glittery kind or if glitter just isn't your bag.) [how to make conversation heart magnets]
Project estimate:
Total: about $0.50 and up
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Here's a simply sweet idea: a simple paper heart coupled with a lollipop flower. This idea is quick and easy enough to repeat for every kid in the class, yet clever enough to be unique. The secret to these lollipops? Cover them with tissue paper and floral tape. I designed this project for The Spotted Canary, so pop over there to find the full project instructions: [how to make a lollipop heart valentine]
You can find green floral tape in the flower section of the dollar store, or use colored masking tape (also called "washi tape") for a different twist. I love this project because it is very basic, but you can dress it up with your favorite stickers. I am always looking for a good use for my sticker collection!
Project Estimate:
Total: $2 and up
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Reader Blair liked our t-shirt yarn dishcloths, but had a major question about t-shirt yarn: "So I don’t know how when one piece of yarn ends, to begin again with a new one… Does that make sense? Someone please email me.and tell me!" Well, Blair, I'll do you one better and write a whole post about it! How do you turn t-shirts into yarn, and then attach the ends? Read on!
There are a few common methods for making t-shirt yarn. The photo from the top of the page is from Let Birds Fly - she has a great visual tutorial for making t-shirt yarn. The method she uses for making the yarn involves doing "diagonal cuts" to make a continuous spiral of t-shirt yarn.
This seems to be the most common method for cutting a t-shirt into yarn, and it also seems the most time-economical.
When you get to the end of one piece of yarn you can attach it like this:
Amanda's Happy Hearth shows how you can attach yarn ends simply by stitching through the ends of the t-shirts. Amanda's tutorial also shows how to create yarn from the non-tubular parts of t-shirts (like the upper chest section), and is good for using the entire t-shirt with almost no waste.
Another way to attach ends is by just tying the ends together in a square knot (if you don’t mind the nubs in your finished project), or just twist them together when you are crocheting or knitting to create a more seamless join. I used this method when I made my recycled fabric rag rug over at CROQzine. This is also the method used by Meridian Ariel in the photo of knotted teal yarn above and below.
As you can see, the knots add a certain amount of rustic charm to your knitting project. You'll have to decide if it's right for your project.
The third method is the easiest and least visible once it is worked into a knit or crochet project.
To join t-shirt yarn, cut a small slit in the end of each piece of t-shirt yarn. Slip one end through the other. Push the opposite end of the first piece through its own hole. Pull tight to secure.
So, there you have three methods for joining the ends of t-shirt yarn or rag strips! Hope that helps. Here are some t-shirt yarn ideas for you to get started with once you have a ball of yarn or two:
1. Reusable T-shirt Yarn Swiffer-Style Duster Knitting Pattern by Verdigris Knits
2. Recycled T-shirt Yarn Macrame Hangers by The L-T Experience
3. Rainbow T-shirt Braided Rug by Sew Liberated
4. Recycled T-shirt Yarn Flower by Little Treasures
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I have always been a fan of woven hearts, but I only recently learned how to make them. Guess what, they are a tiny bit harder than they look! Over at The Spotted Canary, I posted a template and a tutorial for making your own woven heart pockets. I suggest starting with the simple 2-strip version to learn with. Once you master it, you can move on to the more complicated versions, with more strips or wavy lines. [how to make woven heart pockets]
The fun thing about these hearts is that they are pockets, so you can slip a treat inside for your valentine.
Project Estimate:
Total: FREE and up
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No matter how small your budget, this is a diamond necklace you will be able to afford! It was designed by Clemence of Oh the lovely things, who also made a printable template you can use to make your own diamond shape! The shape is cut from scrap leather; if you you don't have any bits of leather laying around, look for cheap leather items (or fake leather items!) at thrift stores. You could also make them in many other shapes, or make them out of any suitable materials you happen to have laying around. [how to make a geometric diamond necklace]
Project estimate:
Total: Free and up
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Our friends over at HowDoesShe? have put together a great list of over 50 Valentine's Day Ideas. The list includes printables, pennant banners, treats, decor, gift ideas, cards, things for the classroom, activities and more! With ideas like 14 Days of Gifts; Valentine's Day Countdown, 12 Simple Ways to Say I Love You With Food, and Shower Love Notes, you can't go wrong! [View the Valentine's Day roundup]
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Time to put that New Years resolution to lose weight to the test. Make your own diet belt to track the inches you lose through dieting (or the inches you add through breaking that diet). For better or for worse this belt will tell you how your circumference is changing, the nylon belt won’t stretch like leather so you won’t need to worry about your measurements becoming inaccurate over time. Best of all, if you don’t want to broadcast your width to the world you can flip it the belt around and your measurements are private!
But, hey; maybe you don’t care about your waistline. Maybe you just need to measure stuff and don’t want a folded-up Ikea measuring tape in your wallet all the time. For all your measurement needs, the diet belt has you covered.
Project estimate:
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A while back one of my friends gave me a huge bag of extra scrabble tiles. Ever since, I've been mulling over what to do with them. One of my favorite ideas that I have come across so far is turning them into coasters, like Krysta from Domestic for Dummies did after she saw a set for sale for $26. If you happen to have tiles laying around anyway, you can whip up your own for a heck of a lot cheaper! Use drink-related words to up the clever quotient, or arrange the letters any other way you like. If you don't have the right letters to make enough words for a full set of coasters, even random letters will work! [how to make Scrabble tile coasters]
Project estimate:
Total: $1 and up
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Ahhh, Magnets. One of the most useful craft supplies around. Who doesn't love magnets? I particularly love those little business card ones you can get in the Yellow Pages -- they're fun to alter and craft into a unique decorative magnet. Reader Jen G. asked on our Facebook page: These thin, 3in x 4in magnets were destined for the trash, but I saved them. Now which crafty projects can I make with them? Please share your ideas with me!
Jen's magnets are a little larger than regular business card magnets, so what can she do with them?
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