Crafting for a Cause

Todd told me that a high school classmate has a daughter that would be having extensive medical care over the next few months.  He mentioned it because the classmate contacted him wanting to know if he could donate a quilt to the silent auction benefit they will be holding later in the month.  He does quilt, but he doesn't make quilts.  He mostly makes quilted stockings, that are beautiful btw.

We put our heads together to come up with something we could donate because if this was either of our daughters, of course, we would hope others would be able to help.  For the silent auction, we decided that he would donate one of the stockings and one of us would make a set of 6 reusable shopping bags.  (For those that know me, those shopping bags are the extent of the sewing I do.)

After more thinking on it, I realized the girls are really liking making the heart necklaces we made at Girl Scouts and I could make some other stuff.  Todd contacted the classmate and presented the idea of having a table that was stuff for sell instead of silent auction.  My idea was that if there was several of similar items, people could just choose what they want with a portion of the sale going to the benefit and possibly make more for the benefit instead of counting on people to bid up the items on the silent auction.  The classmate loved the idea.  So we are busy making things to sell.  Here are some of the items we are making with instructions (or links to instructions).

Hemp Macrame Necklace -- Don't ask how long I made the string.  I didn't measure.  I know the knot string was as long as my arm span.  The anchor string was shorter.  It was more the length of what I thought I wanted the finished product to be.
I created this using square knot sennits attaching small wooden beads at random intervals.  The small beads are attached to the knotting string.  When I reached what I thought would be middle, I added the first larger bead to the anchor string.  Add 1 complete square knot sennit, then add the next large bead.  Repeat 1 more time.  

Heart Necklace -- This is the necklace the girls like to make.  I introduced the oldest daughter's Girl Scout troop to this craft, but it has been a hit with both girls.  I found the instructions to this on at Family Fun, but modified it to not include candy or note.

 

Washer Necklaces -- Love these necklaces.  I found the instructions on this website.

The Mistake -- :)  The girls got a little wasteful with the wire for the hearts above.  I hated to see the materials go to the trash, so I got creative.  This is what I came up with.  Obviously it is made a lot like the heart, but I added the bead on the bottom to give it something different.

I will add more pics if we come up with anything else interesting.

Clippity Clip or Way to Hold my Work Id

Every couple of years or so I get the urge to have something new to hold my id.  Yes, I could go buy something, but I would probably lose it or break it.  The first few I had were just the plastic / metal combo that can be found at any trade show.  Boring, huh?  The stretchy kind I always break.  (My co-workers would definitely tell you I am a person with undiagnosed ADHD.  :) )  Then I have had a couple that I made myself, but nothing cool.  Here is the one I just made.  Hopefully it holds up for a while.

The beginnings

 I went to the local big box store and found a nice necklace pendant in the craft section.  The badge clip was found in my junk drawer, but I did see them in the office supply section of the same store.


The colorful heart and the hanger piece will be saved for some other project.

Cut off the plastic badge holder from the clip.

Then use the jump rings to attach the pendant to the clip.  I used 2 jump rings to attach mine.

At this point you could use ribbon to add a little more pizazz.  I like mine plain.

I then attached a key ring clip thing to hang my id from.  (Sorry didn't think to include that in the beginning pic)

Finished project

I left the heart free hanging so I can clip it to my pants pocket (my normal place) or clip it to my collar depending on what I am wearing and which way the clip needs to lay.

Crafting Sunday -- Earring Holder

The oldest daughter decided she wanted something new to organize her earrings.  Off we went to the local jewelry store.  No dice.  So off to the local craft store, which had some cute *PINK* choices.   Pink definitely wouldn't be her choice.  We decided to get the creative juices flowing and come up with something functional that she liked. 

Materials:

Ceramic or Cardboard Letter  (She chose the first letter of her name of course.)
Tulle -- We bought a fourth of a yard, which was way more than we needed.
Craft glue
Quilt binding (optional)





I really had the grand plan to do this project with daughter #1's help.  Random took over though.  He does like to create, so it was ok.  It probably came out better that way.  :)

Step 1:  Decide how long and wide you want the tulle to be.  This will be the area you hang the earrings.  We did a double layer to give extra support.
Step 2:  Sew the edges.  Random did a rolled edge on the open sides.  I had intended to use quilt binding around the outside, but daughter #1 liked the look without the binding.

 Step 3:  Glue the sewn tulle onto your letter. 

And, of course, the finished product.